Free Chiaroscuro by Jenna Jones

tables?" Ben asked.
    "A bed, a futon, a couple of nightstands and a T.V." He climbed the stairs ahead of him, wondering if Ben was watching his ass.
    "If you need more people I can call my brothers."
    "I think we can handle it. The bed's not heavy, just awkward."
    "I'll get started with these boxes," Dune called from downstairs.
    "Thanks," Jamie called back and led Ben into his bedroom. "We took it apart already--mmph--"
    His words were muffled as Ben kissed him, as fiercely and hungrily as he had at the wedding, holding Jamie's face in both hands and pushing him against the wall. He tasted as warm and sweet as he had before, too, like cookies fresh from the oven.
    Jamie melted in his arms a moment, and then gently pushed on his shoulders. "Stop."
    Ben didn't pull away far, breathing against Jamie's mouth. "You never called."
    "I'm--we're--I'm kind of in a relationship." He looked at Ben through half-closed eyes.
    "Oh." Now Ben did step back, and sighed and scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Sorry. I didn't know you and Dune were dating."
    "Not Dune and I. It's--um--complicated."
    "Oh?" Ben arched an eyebrow. "Complicated how?"
    "It just is." He picked up a piece of his bed. "If you don't want to stay--"
    "Hey. I said I'd help, I'll help, even if there's no chance of me getting laid later." He grinned easily and picked up the other end.
    "Presumptuous," Jamie said. "What if I didn't want to sleep with you?"
    Ben laughed as if that were impossible. "Then I'd just have to convince you, wouldn't I?"
    ***
    In the car Micah said, "I still don't like him."
    "I know, baby."
    "What is he doing here, anyway? He barely knows you. Is he fucking Dune?"
    "I don't know," Jamie said with a sigh. "I don't think so. They don't click that way."
    Micah started nibbling his fingernails. "Do we click that way?"
    Jamie smiled at him. "I think we do, but I know what I'm looking for."
    Micah harrumphed and looked out the window, still tearing off his fingernails with his teeth. "Is he better looking than me?"
    Jamie reached for his nearest hand. "No."
    Micah smiled a little. "He's very tall. Tall, dark, and handsome. Isn't that supposed to be what everybody likes?"
    "I like short, sweet, and lovely."
    Micah blushed and looked out the window again, but left his hand in Jamie's. "So do I."
    "Micah." They were approaching Jamie's new apartment building. He thought it might not be the best time for this conversation--but he didn't know when a better time might come. "I know you don't think of us as boyfriends, but--well, what do you think of us as?"
    Micah blinked at him. "What do you mean?"
    "We've been sleeping together for a month. That makes us something. Boyfriends is the currently accepted term. Or lovers if you want to be cheesy about it. Or fuck buddies, I suppose, if we're desperate for a name."
    "Fuck buddies," Micah muttered and looked out the window again.
    "Buddies who fuck."
    "I know what it means."
    "So are we just fuck buddies, then?"
    Micah bit on his thumbnail. "If that's what you want us to be."
    "Micah." He pulled the car into the parking garage and looked directly at him. "I want to be your boyfriend."
    "Oh," Micah whispered. "Oh."
    Jamie waited, and when he didn't say anything else said, "Well, of course there's just being fuck buddies. That's a fine old tradition. Many people do it for years with no ill effects." He threw open the door and got out of the car.
    "Jamie--" He got out of the car too. "Don't be mad. Look, I--I--you know I want to be with you."
    "Yeah." He opened the back door of the car and lifted out a box. "I know."
    Micah didn't move from beside the car. "Jamie! You said you loved me once. Do you?"
    Jamie turned to look at him. "I did?"
    He nodded rapidly. "The day of the layoffs, when you had drunk so much. So I--" He fidgeted as if he didn't know what to do with his hands. "I didn't think you were serious. I know I'm not supposed to take you seriously when you've been drinking."
    "A good rule of thumb, that," Jamie