Chapter 4

SEAN

Joshua’s youthful face never seemed more apparent than underneath the lights of Brickstone. He had just a thin line of dark hair along his jawline like he took some time cropping his beard just right. His skin was pale and unblemished. His face was striking. Like something you’d see on the cover of a magazine. But his eyes were soft. I always say an innocent kindness staring back at me no matter how long I looked at him.

But a few drinks changed the way everybody looked.

His eyes were slightly red and his cheeks had a pinkish hue. His smile was a little more mischievous. He still had that innocent stare but it looked like he was up to something.

“What was it like out there?” he asked.

“It was… different.”

“I can imagine. Being out in the field isn’t anything like Snow Falls. Where did you go exactly?”

“They sent me everywhere. The Middle East. Afghanistan. Europe. Asia. I got to travel the world.”

“Must’ve been exciting for you.”

“I got more than my fair share of excitement, sure. But I had a lot of downtime. It wasn’t all dodging bullets and running through explosions like you might think.”

“You were still out there risking your life.”

I took a gulp of beer and the memories of the life I’d lived were still vivid. Ten years and having only been discharged a month ago meant I didn’t have to think hard to remember.

“There were times that got rough,” I said. “When you’re in that moment and you see people around you getting hurt, you realize it doesn’t matter how strong you are. Nobody is invincible. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones to make it back.”

“The lucky ones. You’re back in the West Bay, I wouldn’t exactly call you lucky.”

We shared a laugh and another sip of beer.

The evening at Brickstone had worn on. The men and women around us had their fill for the night. It was a celebration even though it was just another ordinary night.

Bryce was gracious enough to give me the night off after not even an hour more of work so I could keep Joshua company. Bastard must’ve been reading my mind about wanting to spend so much time with Joshua.

“How about you?” I asked. “What have you been up to?”

“Me?” he said with a shrug. “What’s there to tell you? I’ve been here the whole time you were serving.”

“But you must’ve been up to something. How long have you been working at that garage?”

“Oh, I’d say about five years now. I got lucky. I was out drinking one night and ran into a guy who said he owns a garage. Said he would let me use it to work in if I paid my dues.”

“That sounds like a good deal.”

“You’re telling me. The guy saved my life. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be out on the streets.”

“I don’t believe that,” I said, shaking my head. “You were always the best mechanic in the West Bay, in all of Snow Falls. You’re talented. There’s always a place for someone like you.”

“Yeah…”

His cheeks started to blush.

What’s that now?

Seeing how embarrassed he was getting made me grin. He hid his smile by taking another big gulp of beer.

“What about before you started working at the garage?” I asked, deciding not to tease him any further.

“I was taking any job I could. You name it, I did it. Dishwasher. Flipping burgers. Cleaning. Moving furniture. Driving cabs. My sister got me a job working at a Chinese joint but it wasn’t really my style. I remember how pissed she got at me when I decided to quit. My heart just wasn’t in it though, even as much as I like Chinese food…”

He shifted his gaze toward the dance floor and my mind started to wander.

His sister… I shouldn’t… No, I have to.

“What happened to Lisa?” I asked.

“Lisa’s in North Peaks, like I said. She got married. Had a kid. Some rich banker guy. Something to do with money. She’s doing well for herself.”

“If she got married and found the man she was meant to be with, I’d assume she’s doing well.”

“I don’t talk to her as much as I used to. Every now and then I’ll get a message from her. She wants to look out for me because she’s my older sister but I always tell her I’m fine. Because I am fine.”

He stared at me, a smile slowly growing on his lips.

“What’s so funny?” I said, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

“I know. I know… how awkward it must be for you to talk about that with your ex-girlfriend’s brother.”

“It’s only awkward if you make it.”

“No, I think it’d be awkward either way.”

“You’re not my ex-girlfriend’s brother. We’re friends, too. Don’t forget about all the fun we had together. Hanging out and drinking and smoking.”

“I remember…”

He took another swig of his beer and smacked his lips in satisfaction.

“…This is just like old times. Thanks for inviting me out.”

“It’s my pleasure. I’ve only been here for a month, so I’m still new around here, too. Just trying to find my way around…”

“You plan on going anywhere, Sean?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. Even though it’d been so long since I’d seen him, I knew that look in his eyes now.

Where are you going with this?

“I got no plans at all,” I said. “If it’s up to me, I’ll stick around Snow Falls for as long as I can.”

“That’s good to hear. You were always a good man, Sean. The city could use someone like you around here.”

“I’m just an ex-Marine trying to make an honest living. I’m not special.”

“Like I said, we could use more people like you around here.”

He gave me a wink. I smiled back at him and his cheeks immediately started to blush. It was so obvious because of how pale his skin was.

“Hey, Sparrow!”

Tristan suddenly appeared next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

“What are you up to?” he said, his words slurred enough for me to know he’d been drinking. Of course, I could’ve figured that out just from the stench of whiskey on his breath.

“Just talking to an old friend here,” I said. “Joshua, this is Tristan. He’s one of the Chargers. Everybody calls him Mossy.”

“How you doing, Mossy? Nice to meet you.”

“Don’t let him fool you,” Tristan said. “Nobody calls me Mossy. I don’t even know where the hell it came from.”

I turned my head sideways and narrowed my eyes at him.

“…How drunk are you?” I said.

“Not drunk at all.”

“I hope you’re not riding tonight.”

“Relax. You know I’ve got a room in the back. Maybe I’ll sleep in your room tonight.”

“Why would you do something like that?”

“Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like you’re using it tonight, are you?”

He slowly rolled his head in Joshua’s direction. The Omega was already blushing so hard and now he was as red as a beet.

Oh, boy…

“Mossy,” I said through gritted teeth. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my friend. Why don’t you let me finish catching up with him?”

“Okay, okay,” he said as he drunkenly put his hands up. “I get the picture. Just make sure you’re here at noon tomorrow. Cade wants to talk about business, if you know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean…”

Tristan gave Joshua a wink and sauntered in the other direction.

“That guy is a Charger, too?” he said.

“Cade wouldn’t let a man like him into the club without good reason. I’m sure there’s one somewhere inside of him…”

I shook my head and laughed at Tristan’s interruption.

“…What do you think about going outside for some fresh air?” I said as I got up from my seat. “I could use a smoke.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

Joshua and I headed through the back exit of the bar. The back alley was dark except for the street lights in the distance and some of the moonlight shining above. The traffic was far away, so the only sounds were some cats scrounging around for scraps in the dumpsters.

I leaned up against the wall and lit a cigarette for myself. I held the pack out to Joshua but he refused.

“I quit,” he said.

“That’s for the best. Honestly, the only reason I smoke now is because everybody in my unit did. I’ll probably get around to giving it up eventually now that I’ve got nobody to smoke with.”

Joshua took the spot next to me. We both looked up toward the sky.

“When I was out there, some nights I just wanted nothing more than to lay back and look up at the sky. I didn’t want to think about anything else.”

“I know how that is. Sometimes you just need some peace and quiet.”

“It’s funny how that works. Even on the other side of the world, you’re still thinking about the same thing.”

“I was always thinking about you…”

What?

I slowly turned my head and blinked my eyes, unsure I’d heard him right. But when I saw how embarrassed he was, like he’d been this entire night, I knew I wasn’t mistaken.

“Is that right?” I said, unable to stop myself from smirking.

“No,” he said as he put his hands up. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… I…”

He dropped his head and sighed. I dumped my cig on the floor and put the butt out underneath my heel. My hand moved to his chin and raised his face up, forcing him to look at me. Those tender brown eyes made me feel like nothing else.

“You were thinking about me?” I said.

“I was… It’s just… You know, you being with my sister… And how you guys broke up… I didn’t wanna mess things up…”

I leaned forward and kissed him. His lips were soft against mine.

Damn…

I slid my tongue between his lips and tasted his tongue. But our kiss only lasted for a second before he pulled away.

“Sean?” he whispered, disbelief in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I… I didn’t figure you…”

“It’s a funny thing,” he said. “When you’re out there, surrounded by a bunch of other men… You start to realize what you really want.”

“Then you—”

“I want this.”

I cut him off with another kiss. There was nothing holding him back now.

I pushed him up against the wall and wrapped my hands around his head, sticking my tongue into his mouth so I could taste every corner of it.

His hands frantically unbuckled my belt.

That’s it…

The guy definitely wasn’t holding back with how fast he managed to unzip me. My jeans fell to my ankles. My underwear followed and my cock popped up hard and erect. He wrapped his hand around my shaft and a shudder shot through my spine.

“I thought about this a lot,” he whispered into my mouth.

“Have you now?”

“Yes… I thought about it all the time.”

“Why don’t you prove it to me?”

I looked into his eyes and put my hands on his arms, moving him so that we’d switched places. I pressed my back up against the wall and ran a hand over the back of his head. He didn’t need any guidance to lower himself down to his knees.

He looked up at me with those innocent brown eyes of his as he stuck his tongue out. I sighed a deep breath as the cold night air brushed against my flesh. He sealed his lips around my tip and sucked gently.

Joshua didn’t waste another second. He shut his eyes and pushed his face forward on my cock.

“God…”

I groaned from how good his mouth felt on me. So wet. So warm. My mind went blank as my focus turned completely to the way he worked my shaft.

He pressed his hands on my stomach to keep himself steady while he rocked his head back and forth. Slow, long, sensual sucks. He took my entire length down his throat, gagging just a bit before pulling off of me. The sloppy sound of my cock popping in and out of his lips filled the alleyway. I didn’t care if anybody would catch us now. Frankly, I didn’t think any of them would have the time.

Every muscle in my body started to tighten up. My balls were painfully swollen, filled with all of the cum I’d been holding back for so long.

It’s been too long…

“Shit, Joshua… I can’t take it…”

My fingers gripped his hair and my hips started to move on their own. Joshua didn’t protest. Messy gags filled my ears as if willing me to fuck his mouth even harder. I gave it to him hard and deep, making him choke on it. He stayed in his position, squatting down before me like he didn’t care that I was about to make him pass out.

“Josh…”

He didn’t need to wait much longer. My orgasm was building up inside of me. The dam was overflowing and now it was bursting. I pumped my cock into his mouth and lost myself.

“Josh…”

I groaned his name again as I came. A thick spurt of cum spilled out of me. Joshua gulped loudly and took it when another line of my seed came out. He massaged my cock with his tongue, sealing his lips around me so that not a single drop came out.

I emptied myself completely until my orgasm finally spared me. I braced myself against the wall, steadying my trembling knees.

Joshua freed his head from my grip and stood up straight, smacking the cum and spit from his lips with his tongue. His cheeks were still red and his eyes had a bit of a pinkish tint. But if he was embarrassed, he was proud of it, judging from the smile on his lips.

“Welcome back to Snow Falls,” he said.

“I think I’m gonna like being back here.”

“Yeah… I think I like you being back here, too. This isn’t… This isn’t awkward for you, is it?”

“Why would it be awkward?”

“You know, having dated my sister back then.”

I chuckled softly and put my hands on his shoulders.

“Joshua, that was 10 years ago. But… maybe you’re right. I just got back in town. There’s no need to rush things.”

“Yeah…”

I put myself back together and pulled out another cigarette.

“I should have some of the records for you tomorrow,” he said.

“Records?”

“The modifications. You’re looking into the accident the other night…”

“Right. I’ll be sure to stop by your garage. How’s tomorrow afternoon work for you?”

He gave me a nod, that same smile still tattooed on his lips.

“I’m looking forward to it.”