They didn’t say much on the drive back to Havendale. Blake basked in the buzz of his few beers, thankful that Linc had had only had one so he would be able to drive. As they passed the sign for the Havendale exit on the Interstate, Linc reached over and laid his hand on Blake’s thigh.

“I had a great time tonight.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. And now that you’ve had a little time to think, you still want to come back to my place? Maybe watch a movie or something?”

It was a poorly veiled invitation, but Blake accepted. “I’d like that.”

Linc squeezed his thigh. Blake covered Linc’s hand with his own, leaning back in the seat with a grin.

They pulled into Linc’s driveway a few minutes later. He lived in one of the many newer neighborhoods in Havendale, the houses near cookie-cutter duplicates of each other. Blake didn’t even take time to notice any more than that. He climbed out of the truck and met Linc in front of it.

Linc reached for his hand, threaded their fingers together, then led him into the house. When Linc closed the front door behind them, Blake spun around and pushed Linc back against it.

“We’re not really going to watch a movie, are we?”

“I was hoping for the or something option to be the one we went with, to be honest,” Linc answered.

“Good.”

Linc grinned that wicked grin again and pulled Blake to him. This time, Blake felt the kiss all the way to his toes. He clawed desperately at Linc’s shirt, eager for another sight of his bare chest and amazing everything. Linc complied with his demanding hands, helping Blake get the fabric over his head.

Blake looked his fill. It had been a long time since he’d been this close to a half naked man.

“Damn,” he whispered. He reached out and dragged his finger down Linc’s chest, over one nipple, which perked up at his touch, and then down over the bump bump bump of Linc’s abs. “Your body is amazing.”

Linc shivered, then grabbed his hand. “Thank you. Come on.”

He led them through the house, a dim light over the kitchen stove the only light in the house. It was just enough to see by, and Blake followed Linc eagerly down the hall. In seconds, he was flat on his back on Linc’s bed with Linc climbing on after him.

“I can’t wait to get my hands on you,” Linc groaned. His nimble fingers went for the buttons on Blake’s shirt, slipping them through the holes quickly until he’d bared Blake’s chest and stomach to his gaze.

Blake worked on his body, and although he wasn’t anywhere near Linc’s level of ripped, he was proud of what he had. Linc bent down, trailing eager, biting kisses down Blake’s chest to his stomach. He nipped at the tender skin above the button on Blake’s pants, then looked up. “This okay?”

“Yeah. Please.”

Linc made quick work of the button and zipper, peeling the fabric back to reveal the tight boxer briefs Blake wore beneath. They concealed little, letting Linc know with no uncertainty just how much of an effect he was having on Blake.

He gave the pants a tug, sliding them down Blake’s hips and legs. Pausing only to tug Blake’s boots and socks off, he had Blake dressed only in his boxers a minute later.

“Your turn,” Blake husked out.

He pushed up to assist, but Linc stripped himself naked in seconds, kicking off his boots and jeans. His erection stood proud from his body, hard and already leaking. Blake reached for it, wanting nothing more than to touch and taste.

“Oh fuck,” Linc groaned as Blake licked his first stripe over the mushroom tip of Linc’s cock.

Blake got off on this part the most, the control of it. Having someone else completely at the mercy of the pleasure he could provide. He fisted the base of Linc’s dick in his hand and gave it a long stroke. He followed fist with mouth, taking Linc as deep as he could into him, then back again.

Linc bucked into his mouth, reaching up to fist his hands in Blake’s dark hair. “Sorry. That feels so fucking good.”

Blake blew a quick, teasing breath over the tip before sucking Linc in again.

“Your mouth. Damn. Yeah. Just like that,” Linc growled out the words as he gently moved in time with Blake’s strokes. After another minute, he tugged Blake’s head away, leaning down to devour his lips in a heated kiss. He broke away, his hand still tangled in Blake’s hair.

“Love tasting me on you. Gotta stop that, though, or this will be over before we get started.”

“Wouldn’t want that, would we?” Blake’s voice had dropped low and Linc responded to his tone by kissing him again. He tugged at the shirt still draped over Blake’s shoulders and tossed it aside before pushing Blake back onto the mattress.

“My turn,” Linc promised as he striped Blake’s boxers off and tossed them onto the floor. He lowered his mouth to Blake’s cock, giving it the same teasing lick Blake had given him minutes before.

Blake arched up into him, spreading his legs to give Linc even better access to his body.

Linc pulled away with a grin, stroking Blake while he watched the reactions Blake couldn’t hide if he tried. “You’re so responsive. Look at you. Ready for me already, aren’t you?”

Yeah. He was. It had been so long— too long— and he didn’t want to wait anymore. Linc left him long enough to grab lube and a condom from the nightstand before returning to his position between Blake’s thighs.

Linc coated his fingers in lube, then reached for Blake’s entrance. He bent over, licking his way down Blake’s cock as he used the slick to open Blake up. Blake relaxed into the touch, let his body remember the sensations. He loved this, the careful preparation from an eager partner, the teasing touches and heat that burned deep in his belly as the anticipation built.

When Linc finally deemed him ready and sheathed his cock in the condom, Blake wrapped his legs around Linc’s back. Linc leaned in, their eyes locking together as Linc began to push inside. Blake reached up to grip Linc’s arms as the stretch began to burn. It had been so long. He breathed through the pain, thankful for Linc’s ability to read his body. He hadn’t forced his way further, just waited until Blake was able to relax into it, before he moved deeper.

By the time Linc was fully inside him, the pain had eased as his body remembered. Flames engulfed Blake again.

He wanted.

Again, Linc read his emotions and began to move, driving into him forcefully as Blake arched up into each thrust. This man knew exactly what he was doing and Blake pulled his legs up further in response. He wanted Linc deeper, as far inside as he could get. Sweat dripped down Blake’s neck, his thighs burned from the pull, and his dick jumped at every brush against his prostate.

“Fucking hell, Blake,” Linc groaned. “You feel so good.”

He released his tight grip on Blake’s hip and grabbed his cock instead.

The additional stimulation nearly sent Blake over the edge. He fought it, wanted to stave off his release for as long as he could. It built inside him though, his breath hitching as Linc hit that spot deep inside him one last time as he twisted his fist over the sensitive tip of Blake’s cock and that was it. All it took for Blake’s body to explode into action, his cock spurting up over his stomach and onto his chest. The shock of it had him arching up, his hole tightening around Linc’s dick until Linc had to stop moving as the spasms of his release overcame him.

“Oh my God,” Blake moaned. He managed to force his body to relax, his thighs trembling in complaint of their stretched position. He reached for Linc, pulling him closer for a heated kiss. Linc slowly began to move inside him again, seeking out his own completion. Blake forced his thighs wider, let Linc sink deeper than he thought possible inside him.

“Come on,” Blake teased. “Fuck me like you mean it.”

Linc groaned, lifting up and grabbing Blake’s hips again. Only a few more thrusts and he slammed once, twice, and a third time before he began to spill. He was gorgeous like this, his head thrown back, long throat exposed.

Blake reached up and traced his fingertips over Linc’s twitching abs, moving away just in time as Linc collapsed onto him with a trembling laugh. “That tickled,” he grumbled.

“You liked it,” Blake teased.

“Yeah.”

“Fuck, I don’t even know my name right now.”

Linc lifted his head and grinned. “Good. Means I did my job.”

He pulled out, and Blake hissed as his sensitive entrance was exposed to the chilled air.

“Hold on. I’ll get a towel.” He hurried away, pulling the used condom off as he went. When he returned, he swiped the towel over Blake’s ass before tossing it off to the side.

“Such a gentleman.”

“This gentleman doesn’t want to roll over into a wet spot.”

“I think it’s too late for that.”

Linc grinned. “Probably so.”

He laid down beside Blake, propping his head on one hand while the other traced over the mess on Blake’s chest. “I missed some.”

“You think? I’m going to need a shower after this.”

“That can be arranged.” Linc leered at him and leaned in to steal a kiss. Their tongues tangled and Blake, unbelievably, felt his body beginning to respond again.

With a sigh, Blake pushed him away. As much as he wanted a round two, he needed a break first. His body was already starting to remind him that he’d not stretched that way in a long time. He ached, in a good way, but ached nonetheless.

Linc returned to his earlier position, tracing his fingers over Blake’s body. Exploring him, learning each dip and curve, before moving on to the next. Blake relaxed into it, let himself enjoy the tenderness he’d not been expecting. He’d not thought ahead to what sex with Linc would be like, hadn’t really imagined anything more than getting off, but this, this sweet moment of quiet pleasure, he’d remember for a long time.

“Thanks for tonight,” he whispered, trying not to break the mood.

“I feel like I should be thanking you.”

“For what?”

Linc shook his head, but Blake swore his cheeks colored a bit. Was Linc really blushing?

“I had a great time,” Linc admitted, almost as a confession.

“I did, too.”

The whole conversation was beginning to verge on awkward, and Linc must have sensed it too because he swooped down for another kiss.

“So tell me how it’s going for you back in Havendale?” Linc finally stopped the teasing exploration and snagged Blake’s hand with his own.

Blake thought over his answer for a moment. “It’s good. Caroline is loving it, which is really why I moved across the country. It was hard enough raising her on my own with only my ex’s visitation with her. But being out there on my own just wasn’t something I wanted for either of us.”

“Your family is pretty incredible. It was one of the things that drew me to the company in the first place.”

“You know, I didn’t know it was weird for a long time, what my family has. When I was a kid, I thought everybody had a bunch of aunts, uncles, and cousins that they saw all the time. I mean, my mom’s family isn’t as close as the Bartletts, but it didn’t occur to me then because my dad’s family was always around.”

“I have a brother who lives in Georgia,” Linc said after a moment. “I see him maybe once or twice a year. I can’t tell you the last time I saw my cousins. Probably at a family reunion or something, but it’s been years.”

Blake nodded. “And that’s normal. Right? I get that. But I wanted Caroline to have the security of them being close. I took that for granted until I didn’t have it.”

Linc gave his fingers a gentle squeeze. He looked up and searched Blake’s eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry for your loss. Which I admit is weird to say right now, but I am. You shouldn’t have had to go through something like that.”

“Thanks,” Blake replied. His heart ached with it sometimes, knowing what they’d lost. What Caroline had lost.

Linc leaned in and kissed him again, this time gently, just their lips tangling together softly. When he pulled away, he searched Blake’s gaze quietly before he gave him a mischievous smirk.

“I’m glad you came back, though. It’s been really nice meeting you.” Linc wiggled his eyebrows and the heavy mood lifted.

Blake laughed. “Yeah, I bet. Well it was really nice meeting you too.”

A buzzing sounded from the floor and Linc glared over his shoulder at their discarded clothes.

“Someone calling you this late?” Blake asked.

“No. That’s the alarm I set earlier. I didn’t want us to get sidetracked and lose track of time. I know you needed to be home for Caroline.”

That was… sweet. Blake hadn’t even thought about it. He glanced over at the alarm clock beside Linc’s bed and flinched when the display showed him that it was just after two in the morning.

“Thank you.”

Linc kissed him again before rolling away and climbing out of bed. He dug through the pocket of his jeans until he could get to the phone and stop the alarm.

“Come on,” Linc said. “Let’s get you cleaned up and back home.”