Bros with Benefits

By Niki Pell

Tanner and Joey have had each others' backs since they were toddlers, been best friends through thick and thin. There's only one thing that Tanner's never told Joey, because he's scared it could change how Joey sees him. Over the course of a weekend, camping out in the woods like they always do, things change between them anyway. They tumble headfirst into passion together, and have to figure out where they stand afterwards.
Content warnings: Mentions of homophobia, bullying, suicidal ideation, explicit sexual content, light BDSM tones, cursing, horrible puns, and more cursing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Niki Pell
• Release date: Jan 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463624562

Niki Pell

Niki has been writing since they could string together more than one sentence at a time. Their work includes mostly queer characters, neurodiverse characters, magic, and being very dumb about feelings. They live in the Southeast US, with a cat, dog, roommates, and spends their time being outdoors, baking for their dayjob, and playing DnD when they're not creating books or art.

Book preview

Bros with Benefits

By Niki Pell

Copyright 2019 Niki Pell

All rights reserved

Created, illustrated, and published by Niki Pell

Distributed by Smashwords

This is a work of fiction. Characters, locations, and situations are fictional or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to actual people, living or not, actual locations or events are not intentional.

Contact the author at [e-mail]

A fresh bag of ice goes in a cooler with some beer and they take up their usual spot on a soft, grassy bank overlooking a bend in the wide creek. The water is deep and dark brown, hiding what they know are tons of fat catfish. They might not get many nibbles until later in the day, but they don’t have much else to do. The water brings a cooler breeze to the humid day, and they both lie down on the sweet-smelling grass for a bit.

Tanner hasn’t felt this relaxed in months. It was nice to put some more truth in the air earlier. Not that he’d ever maliciously lie to Joey, but there had been certain things he’d omitted in the past. Now it was mostly laid out in the open, and that little persistent anxiety that somehow Joey would find out his secrets and tell him to fuck off was gone. Joey knew, he knew the worst of it. And he had just lamented not knowing sooner. It was a better outcome than Tanner had ever let himself imagine.

As Tanner muses lazily on all this, Joey asks, Hey, can I see your rod? Not sure why Joey wants his fishing rod, Tanner still hands it over without question. Nah, your other rod. Joey snickers as Tanner whacks him harmlessly with the pole. Shit, I should’ve saved that one.

I’m sure you’ll repeat it like fifty times today, Tanner says with a sigh. You’re terrible. Awful. Not funny.

Joey sits up, rubbing the back of his head. He looks down at Tanner, eyes roaming down his entire body and back up to his face. Liar. You love my puns.

They make me wanna chuck you in the river, Tanner says, grinning. There’s a hum of arousal just there, growing stronger with the way Joey’s dark glances keep catching his eye.

Hey, can I borrow your phone real quick? Joey asks, patting his own pocket. He must have left his at the cabin. Tanner hands it to him before stretching himself languidly, arching his back. He doesn’t startle when Joey’s hand slides up under his shirt, curving around his side. He does start when Joey grips his other side and pulls him bodily from the ground and throws him through the air.

Contents

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Epilogue

Author Info

Dedication

This story is dedicated to all the small-town chucklefucks like me who struggled with cultural death, unfortunately attractive best friends, and far too many hours spent in church wishing you were literally anywhere else.

I love you, you made it out.

Chapter One

Tanner juggles the bottles of soda and bags of chips in his arms, opening the door with his foot on his way out of the gas station. A bottle nearly slips from his grasp, but another hand darts out and stops it. Smiling, he thanks the lady who helped him and silently thanks his lucky stars that he offered to pick up the last of the supplies for the camping trip. He knows if it’d been Joey, who sits in the truck waiting for him, he’d have stopped here and chatted her up for God knows how long.

All Tanner does is stand back, holding the door open for her. They pass each other and continue on their days. He manages to keep the bags and bottles clutched to his chest while he clambers up into the cab of Joey’s truck, slamming the heavy door behind him. They didn’t have those weird onion chips you like but I-Jesus, Joey! What the hell?! He glances up from setting his armful carefully on the floor between his feet and gets an eyeful of Joey gripping his hard cock through his shorts.

Joey just grins his sly grin as he adjusts himself. That girl, man! She made me think of Tina when she bent over to pick something up off the ground.

You can’t just whip your dick out at the goddamn gas station, you animal! What the fuck’s wrong with you?! Tanner berates him over the roar of the old pick-up starting up. Despite his protests, he can’t help but dart his eyes back at his best friend’s erection as he buckles his seat belt. Even trapped under the shorts and hopefully underwear (though it wouldn’t surprise him if Joey was free-balling), it strains up against the fabric. Afraid Joey’s going to catch him looking at his dick, he leans out of the window, the wind toying with his short red curls. You need to stop thinking about her, you’re gonna get arrested, he mumbles to the rushing air.

What’s that? Joey grunts.

Public indecency, dumbass-for chrissakes, man! Tanner turns back to yell at him some more and his heart jumps when he sees his friend’s hand pressing down on his cock again. Quit that before someone sees! I don’t want to spend the weekend in jail.

Can’t help it, I’ve already started. Might as well finish. You want me to have blue balls? I thought we were friends, Tanner. He sighs pitiably, and Tanner’s heart hammers in his chest even as he tries to come up with something else to yell at him. Why’d Tina have to dump me? At least before we fucked again, that was cruel. Break-up sex is always great.

Tanner huffs, his shock turning into that old jealousy that he tries to pretend doesn’t exist. You just liked that you had the same schedule at work and she brought the condoms.

I like someone who takes initiative, sue me.

Yeah, well I’d like to get to the cabin before you get us arrested. Dad would straight up murder me.

Joey laughs. The cab’s tall enough that the only person who’s gonna see my dick is a truck driver or you. Tanner glares at him at they come to a red light, crossing his arms and slumping down in his seat. He slides back up, realizing that makes it obvious he’s getting hard, too. Of course, Joey happens to look over right then. Hey! Whoa, I think maybe you protest too much.

The hell are you-what the actual fuck, Joey?! Tanner tries