Wrestling With Desire (37 page)

Derek gazed around his yard and laughed at how 1950's it all seemed. He was distracted by Scott and Beck who appeared at his side. "Can we talk to you for a moment?"

Scott had been the one to speak, but they both had conspiratorial grins on their faces. Derek paused, distrustful of the expressions on their faces.

Reluctantly, Derek allowed himself to be led through the kitchen, down the hall, and up the stairs to the attic. "Okay, you have to close your eyes." Beck spoke this time.

Scott stood behind Derek covering his eyes before they entered the attic. Derek heard something sliding across the floor. He also heard his mother and Shannon's voices as they entered the attic as well. Finally, Beck spoke up. "Okay, I think it's ready. You can let Derek see again."

Scott removed his hand from Derek's eyes. The sudden brightness of the room blinded him for a minute. When his eyes adjusted, he saw it sitting in the middle of the room with a huge red bow on top. The TASCAM M-164FX 16 Channel Mixing Board with Digital Effects Derek that he had wanted to 330

Wrestling With Desire

by D.H. Starr

buy when he, Scott, and Beck had gone to Best Buy at the Copley Place Plaza. "Oh my God. I can't believe it." Derek walked over to the mixing board and ran his fingers over the controls. "Mom, did you get this?"

His mother shook her head. "Nope, this is from those two."

Derek turned to Scott and Beck in disbelief. "I can't...This is too much. I can't
believe
it."

Scott and Beck exchanged amused glances, and then Beck walked up to Derek. "Well, we could always bring it back."

Derek stood protectively between Beck and his new mixing board. "No way. This is awesome. But I didn't get you guys anything." Derek's mother and Shannon, clearly only wanting to see Derek's reaction, said they needed to return to the party and left the attic. Beck's grin spread from ear-to-ear.

"So you love it?"

Still in shock, Derek spluttered a reply. "Yes, I love it.

Thank you both."

Beck gave Derek a hug. "Good. I'm glad." She gave him a small peck on the lips. "Now, what I want for my present is acting lessons. Here." She pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from her front pant pocket. "I want to take acting classes which will be offered through community college. My parents say the tuition to Brandeis is graduation present enough. Well, that and the car they bought me so I could come home. I'm still convinced they bought the car more as a gift to themselves. My mom still hasn't stopped crying about me moving away from home."

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Wrestling With Desire

by D.H. Starr

Derek smiled. Only Beck would find a reason to complain about receiving a car as a present. "Sure. I'd be happy to pay for your lessons as your graduation gift."

Beck's face lit up. "Excellent, because I've already filled out the application form. All you have to do is write a check and—"

Derek gave her a hug, making sure his embrace forced Beck's mouth against his shoulder. "No problem Beck." The class would only cost $100 and he still had the $300 that he had saved up to buy the mixing board. She hugged him back, apparently unaware his action had been motivated by a desire to shut her up.

"Okay, well, I'll leave you two. Don't stay up here too long or I'm gonna send up the sex police." She turned to face Derek. "That would be your mother, in case you didn't know."

Derek gave her a heated glare which clearly conveyed the message
Shut up and leave already.
She smiled and left the attic, giving Scott a high five as she passed him.

Once they were alone, Derek rushed to Scott's side and gave him a huge hug. "Thank you so much. I love it." Scott hugged him back. "I can't believe I didn't get anything for you."

Scott held Derek at arm's length. "You really
are
clueless aren't you?" Derek's face must have reflected his shock because Scott's crooked grin crossed his face and he shook his head. "You have given me the greatest gift, Derek. You love me. You want me. You make me incredibly happy."

Derek didn't know what to say. "But that's not a gift, it's—"

His words were cut off by Scott's mouth. He allowed himself 332

Wrestling With Desire

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to be drawn in, his chest being squeezed until it molded against Scott's body. Derek opened his mouth, allowing Scott full access to him and their tongues danced and intertwined.

With one hand tightly wound around Derek's waist, Scott's other hand gently touched the side of his face, savoring the heat radiating from Derek's skin.

A tingling sensation shot up Derek's spine as Scott's thumb caressed his cheek as they kissed. His crotch began to grow and expand. "Mmmm."

After a few minutes, the kiss shifted from needful intensity to languid sensuality. Finally willing himself to pull out of the kiss, Scott continued holding Derek in his arms, allowing their bodies to sway gently. "Derek, you are my gift. End of discussion."

Tightening his arms around Scott and savoring the feel of their bodies together, he knew Scott meant what he said. He looked up and sealed his lips against Scott's, allowing him to enjoy his graduation gift a little bit longer before they returned to the party.

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Wrestling With Desire

by D.H. Starr

About the author

D. H. Starr is a clean-cut guy with a wickedly naughty mind. He grew up in Boston and loves the city for its history and beauty. Also, having lived in NYC, he enjoys the fast pace and the availability of anything and everything. He first became interested in reading from his mother who always had a stack of books piled next to her bed. Family is important to D. H. and his stories center around the intricate and complex dynamics of relationships and working through problems while maintaining respect and love. His favorite books tend to fall in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and coming of age.

To learn more about D. H. Starr and his books, please visit his website at www.dhstarr.com if you are 18+.

To view his young adult work and resources, visit www.dhstarrYAbooks.com.

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