He Kissed Me Crazy

The Phone

Okay, it was time to admit it.

Tucker was… a little bugged by what Kendell had said.

First of all, Kendell had acted like he didn’t even want to go out with Serena, so what was he doing going off with a big ol’ smile on his face, like it was going to be the best damn thing in the world?

What the hell is that about?

Secondly, Kendell had acted like he might end up in her bed tonight.

Kendell.

Mr. Stoic with the women Kendell.

Yes, he`d skipped a few steps with Tuck—Stephanie!—but heading to bed the same day wasn`t like him, and bragging about it even less so.

Was Kendell that pent up that he’d lost his mind?

Hell, if you’re that bad off, I could just…

Tucker pressed his lips together as he tapped his pencil on the papers in front of him, completely agitated by the thought that had just crossed his mind.

The number of times he was starting to cross the line of their friendship was beginning to be atrocious.

No, asshole, you can not offer to jerk off another guy. It doesn’t work like that.

Despite his self-reprimand, an image of Kendell pushed against the counter sprung to mind. Kendell’s pants would be pulled down to reveal his naked thighs and his shirt pushed up to reveal his toned stomach. And Tucker would be leaning into him, Tucker’s hand a blur at Kendell’s waist as Kendell’s hands clamped on the edges of the counter and he panted haggardly between excited moans and sweet kisses…

I could give you the time of your life…

Tucker started, realizing he’d done it again.

Damn it.

He straightened, adjusted his papers, and forced himself to stare at the words he was supposed to be focused on.

Then glanced over at his phone.

7:18.

Kendell had left just over half an hour ago.

He would have met up with Serena by now. They would be sharing coffee, swapping funny stories, maybe eating cakes or those oversized cookies Kendell liked so much…

And after all that sharing, Kendell would lure her in with a ‘chaste’ kiss goodbye, and she would be done for.

Would they go to a hotel after that? Or did she live in an apartment close by?

Maybe she lived on campus.

Maybe Kendell would meet her roommate and charm her as well.

Maybe all three of them would start—

Tucker banged his head down on the table, needing the pain’s distraction.

What the hell is wrong with me?

He sat up and stared at his phone again.

7:19.

Tucker knew where Kendell was meeting Serena, and for some reason it was bothering the hell out of him.

He hadn’t planned to learn about it.

But Kendell had literally mumbled the cafe's name during breakfast a couple of days ago, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out why. It was a good café for first dates. Cozy. Nearby the university. And, of course, had those oversized cookies.

What more could you want?

Tucker swallowed, tapping his pencil again.

I could always check in to see how they are doing.

Make certain Kendell was saying the right things.

And if not, Tucker could text him some pointers.

What could it hurt?

Was there any reason not to?

If Kendell saw him, Tucker would just give him two thumbs up and, since Kendell had been coming to Tucker recently for advice, Kendell might even be relieved to see him there.

For emotional support.

With his decision made, Tucker rose to his feet and headed to the door.

He quickly grabbed his hoodie and shoved himself into it, stamped his feet into his shoes, and opened the door to leave, feeling lighter than he had since Kendell had left.

But he’d only taken one step out the door before he stopped in his tracks.

He was now nose to nose with a startled Kendell.

What the..?

Kendell’s eyes widened and he stepped back, clearly shocked to see Tucker right in front of him, but then Kendell's shock melted away and he gave a tight-lipped smile, looking Tucker up and down as he asked, “Where are you off to, Tuck? Have a date, too?”

Tucker felt a strange sensation in his stomach as he stared, mouth still agape, at Kendell.

Kendell was smiling still, but somehow it felt like he was furious at the same time, like his eyes weren't matching the upward twist of his lips.

“Well,” Tucker began, trying to recover from the surprise and throw off his strange reaction. But then he realized a very important detail here. “Wait, what are you doing here? What about Serena?”

Kendell’s smile cracked and suddenly his expression darkened. He pushed past Tucker into the apartment, saying over his shoulder, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“What?” Tucker felt an immediate roller coaster heaving in his stomach. It dropped low as he realized Kendell’s date hadn’t gone well… and then it rose back up just as quickly, skyrocketing to elation… as he realized that Kendell’s date hadn’t gone well.

Tucker winced at himself as he turned back into the apartment and closed the door behind him.

Stop it, don’t even think of being relieved. Not one crumb of relief do you deserve right now, so you shut up.

Kendell looked over at Tucker shrugging out his shoes and hoodie and lifted an eyebrow even as he scowled. He turned away to hang up his own coat and said in a grumpy voice, “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Tucker smiled in spite of himself, this familiar, grouchy Kendell reminding him of their early high school days. “Nah,” he said, sitting himself at the table again. “I want to hear what happened with Serena.”

There was no need to tell Kendell where he’d planned to go, anyway.

“But where were you going?” Yet apparently Kendell wasn’t letting it go.

“Nowhere,” Tucker insisted as he followed Kendell into the kitchen, watching Kendell grab a water bottle from the fridge. “Just out. So, what happened? Did she not show up?”

“Just out..?” Kendell looked at him sideways as Kendell put the water bottle to his lips and drank several gulps down.

Tucker had no idea why he followed the movement of Kendell’s throat on each swallow but he tore his eyes away as he said, “Come on, Kendell, I’m dying to know. She was so eager to talk to you yesterday.”

“Ha!” Kendell’s laugh was humourless as he put the bottle down and leaned back against the counter, making Tucker acutely aware of the fantasy that had played out in his mind only minutes before.

It didn’t help that the dress shirt Kendell wore stretched over Kendell’s athletic torso in a strangely revealing way.

Sh*t, what am I doing?

“She was eager to talk to me all right,” Kendell was saying, and his self-deprecation snapped Tucker back into focus, Tucker's cheeks heating with embarrassment for ogling his friend when he was having such a hard time of it.

“What do you mean?” Tucker asked, keeping his eyes on Kendell’s face.

“She came to that date,” Kendell began, pushing off the counter and stalking toward Tucker. Tucker barely managed to keep himself from backing away when Kendell stopped right in front of him. “Because she wanted to learn more about you.” Kendell stabbed the tip of his index finger into Tucker’s chest. “She wants you,” he said, and stabbed Tucker’s chest again. “Everyone wants you.” This time Kendell kept his finger touching the now sore spot on Tucker’s chest, his brow furrowed, staring at it.

“B-But that can’t be right,” Tucker exclaimed, flabbergasted. “Why would she do that? She never asked me at all, I swear. I wouldn’t have set you up with her if I had known.”

Kendell’s frown deepened, as if he were pondering that, while Tucker wondered when Kendell would take his finger off Tucker’s chest.

“Well?” Kendell said, still staring at the finger he hadn’t moved. Then his eyes flicked up to Tucker’s, their intensity making Tucker’s stomach clench. “Now that it’s clear she isn’t interested in me and wants you instead, I suppose you will ask her out?”

Tucker blinked. He guessed it would be normal for Kendell to expect that from him. Tucker really hadn’t been too picky about his partners in the past. And yet… somehow it stung to hear Kendell say that now.

“No, I told you already; I’m not interested in her.” Tucker turned away, not able to take Kendell’s stare any longer.

“But that was because she was interested in me, which is clearly not the case now.”

“Still,” Tucker said, deciding to go and get himself a drink of water as well. “I’m… just not feeling it with her. And what kinda girl does that, anyway?”

There was a pause behind him as he bent in the fridge and pulled out a water bottle. Then Kendell asked quietly, “Is there someone that you are ... feeling it with?”

Tucker felt himself stiffen and quickly relaxed his muscles, leaning back against the counter like Kendell had earlier as he made no comment, using the excuse of drinking the water to not answer.

Unfortunately, Kendell just waited, and when Tucker had a clear mouth, persisted. “Well?”

“Uh, nope, can’t think of a single girl I want to be with,” Tucker smiled and chuckled, but couldn’t look Kendell’s way in case he might give away his true thoughts.

“…Really.”

Tucker felt a shiver of excitement and quickly clamped it down. Kendell’s voice had gone silky again. I wish he wouldn’t do that.

It was far too dangerous for Tucker’s equilibrium.

“I know, strange, right?”

“Yes, it is strange. Considering you forced us to host a party just to find yourself a girl. And now… you’ve completely given up?” Amusement played in Kendell’s voice and Tucker couldn’t help but look over at him.

He regretted it the moment he did.

Kendell, his arms crossed, leaning against the table, was looking strangely like the cat that caught the canary, his dark eyes glinting with mirth while his mouth had a devil’s smile playing on his lips.

“Why are you so happy about it?” Tucker said, raising an eyebrow and blowing out an affronted breath from his lips. “You’re in no better state, remember? We are both without a girl.”

“Darn, what are we going to do about that?” Kendell said, not looking the least bit unhappy about their situation.

Where in the world had the 180-degree switch come from? Wasn’t he miserable a moment ago?

"I-If at first you don't succeed, try, try again?" Tucker said, trying to hide the uncertainty in his voice with humour, putting his open bottle up in a cheers. "I'll take one half of the university and you take the other?"

Kendell pursed his lips, looking away as he seemed to contemplate Tucker`s words, and Tucker barely managed to contain his sigh of relief. Kendell`s scrutiny had been too hot.

"You're right. I should try again." Kendell said slowly, nodding, then pulled out his phone as he turned away. "I'll call Stephanie. Enough of this texting bullshit. I'll just call her and find out—"

Tucker blanked and acted out of blind panic. He dropped his water bottle into the sink and surged forward, grabbing the phone right out of Kendell's hand.

"Hey!" Kendell said, clearly affronted. "What the hell, Tucker?"

"I didn't mean to try with her!" Tucker's mind raced furiously as he raised Kendell's phone in the air, trying to keep it out of reach. "I meant trying with someone you haven't already tried with before!"

"But why would I want to do that?" Kendell protested as he tried to leap to take the phone back from Tucker. "I already know Stephanie likes me!" Their chests bumped together and their arms slid against each other's as Kendell grabbed Tucker's arm with both hands and tried to force Tucker's arm down.

"If she liked you, you wouldn't have to chase after her so much!" Afraid Kendell might succeed, Tucker turned to race down the hall, but he only made it four steps before he was barrelled into by Kendell and they both fell forward onto the laminate wood floor.

Tucker grunted at the impact but didn't waste a second in pulling his arm in and hiding Kendell's phone underneath him.

"Well, maybe I like chasing her!"

And Tucker could believe it. He heard the humour already in Kendell's voice as he felt Kendell sliding up him in a flurry to get a hand around Tucker's shoulder, where the phone hid. But Tucker curled his shoulder away from him, pinning Kendell's hand to the floor and keeping it there. "Give up already, she's not worth it!"

"Give me my phone, Tucker," Kendell said warningly, but he spoke right into Tucker's ear and Tucker stiffened, that voice bringing right into focus having Kendell's body on top of his, legs and hips and chest pressing down on him just as seductively as that terribly husky voice.

It made his skin come alive with tingles under his clothing and he clenched his teeth, holding in place, both hands now underneath him to keep the phone exactly where it needed to be.

"No," he said, his voice haggard but determined. "Not until you promise to leave her alone. And get off me!"

"I can't do that, Tucker," Kendell said, his voice also breathless, and Tucker could nearly cry as he felt his body react, wishing he was anywhere else. If Kendell realized that he was making Tucker hard...

Tucker felt Kendell's free hand slide gently around Tucker's ribs and Tucker stopped breathing, his eyes widening.

W-What is he—

And then Kendell dug his fingers in and wriggled them mercilessly and Tucker yelped, before laughter expelled from him as the tickling sent rushes of sensation through him that he couldn't resist.

"Aah, stop, stop!" Tucker cried through his laughter, arching and bucking to try and get Kendell off him as tears sprouted in his eyes, even as he hugged Kendell's phone closer to his chest.

"Give me my phone, Tucker!" Kendell said again, happiness in his own voice as he continued tickling Tucker without remorse.

"N-Never!" Tucker gasped, just as Kendell managed to get one hand on Tucker's clamped hands.

"Resistance is futile," Kendell said in a playful, robotic voice, as his other hand slipped under Tucker's shirt and he slid tickling fingers up Tucker's bare skin.

Tucker gasped, freezing as the tickling suddenly felt entirely different.

Even though it was the same motions, feeling Kendell's fingers on his bare skin lit a flame in Tucker he was all too familiar with.

Before he could stop himself, he groaned aloud, and grew rock hard against the floor.

But Kendell didn't seem to realize what he was doing to Tucker. There was barely a pause before Kendell continued his fingers brushing along Tucker's skin.

"My phone," Kendell said again, and Tucker tried with all his might not to make another groan as Kendell's hand slid along Tucker's ribs and over his shoulder blade and down his spine.

“I told you, Tucker: resistance is futile,” Kendell said with soft humour in his voice, probably thinking Tucker was trying to resist the tickling, but his voice was so velvety, Tucker’s mind imagined Kendell teasing in an entirely different way.

Tucker felt a shiver move through him and he knew he had to put an end to this, but wasn't sure how. He couldn't let go of the phone, and he couldn't turn around with an obvious boner in his pants.

He was trapped.

"Truce!" He begged, just as Kendell's fingers slid far too closely to the edge of his pants. "Truce, Kendell, p-please."

Kendell's fingers paused on his hip.

"You're just asking for a truce because I'm winning," Kendell said, and Tucker could hear the smugness in Kendell's voice still far too close to his ear. "Surrender now and perhaps I'll be merciful."

"Just get off me," Tucker said, finally noticing just how pressed against the floor he was, with Kendell's chest and shoulders against his back and one of Kendell's knees pressing into the back of his thighs.

"That's not a surrender," Kendell tsked and began smoothing his fingers across the back of Tucker's neck, sending sparks in their wake.

"You know I could overpower you if I really wanted to, so this is a truce, so get the f*ck—Ahh!"

Kendell’s knee had moved up to press into Tucker’s butt.

“Surrender,” Kendell said, his voice practically a purr.

“Kendell, you asshole, stop—Ahh!” Tucker’s cheeks burned at the sound he kept making, but the electric shock that shot up his spine every time Kendell pressed his knee unerringly against his asshole was even more mortifying.

“Surrender,” Kendell said again, and Tucker knew Kendell wouldn’t stop until Tucker submitted.

But he couldn’t do that. Kendell could not call Stephanie. Period.

He had to figure out something Kendell might want more.

But his mind was drawing a blank.

He felt Kendell bearing down again and he gasped out, “Wait—wait!”

Kendell stopped and asked silkily, “Phone?”

“No, but I-I have something better.”

“Hmm…” Kendell mused above him, and Tucker barely breathed, trying to keep his body from accidentally pushing up against the knee that was pushing away his sanity. “All right… I’m listening.”

“Get off me first,” Tucker said, trying to keep the desperation from his voice.

“No deal,” Kendell chuckled, not moving an inch, his free hand tapping a rhythm on Tucker’s back. His other hand was still wrapped over Tucker’s in their fight for the phone. It must be crushed under Tucker’s weight, but Kendell seemed to be ignoring that entirely.

When Tucker didn’t immediately say anything after that, Kendell’s knee started to slowly press in again.

“Wait, damn it, wait, I’m thinking!”

“Ah, so you were lying about having something better,” Kendell said with a tsk. “That’s not nice.”

“Hnnghhh!” Tucker tried to keep his mouth closed when Kendell’s knee slid into place again but he couldn’t completely contain his sounds, and his cheeks burned brighter with humiliation. “Stop it, you bastard,” he whispered hoarsely to the floor, his member aching miserably with how hard it throbbed in his pants. Every time Kendell pushed down, it also pushed Tucker’s hips into the floor, making for a doubly bad situation Tucker couldn’t escape.

“Those are rather pretty sounds for someone swearing at me so much,” Kendell whispered back, his own voice hoarse as his hand slid further over Tucker’s back, a shaky breath moving across the hair on the back of Tucker’s neck.

Tucker’s eyes widened, his body stilling in his shock as an outrageous question filled his mind.

Was Kendell… turned on?