Chapter Fourteen
“What does it say about me that I didn’t know my son could sing like that?”
Quentin shifted. “Don’t. Don’t do that. This isn’t a guilt you should be carrying.”
“But he’s my kid, Quentin. A father knows these things.”
“Usually. And if you were in his life but mentally checked out or purposefully walked away from him then you’d be right.” Quentin caressed James’ chest. “But he was taken from you. You have time now to learn things about him. The fact that he sings like an angel is just one of those things.”
“I can’t help feeling as if I’d fought harder, searched harder, calling in more favours…”
“Let’s be honest—if someone wants to fall off the face of the earth, it’s not that complicated. The laws are fucked up and most of the time is no help. So you can’t be carrying that either. He doesn’t blame you.”
“How do you know?” James asked.
“We had a talk on the way over. Smart kid you have there.”
James smiled. “I’m beginning to see that. I love him, Quentin. I love him so much it scares me.”
“As it should. Love is scary—carnal, parental.”
For the longest time, neither of them said anything. James loved the sound of the night away from the city core. He pressed his mouth to the top of Quentin’s head, while listening to the insects singing and the wind blowing through nearby trees. He inhaled—held it—exhaled.
“This feels good,” James said. “Being here, like this, with you.”
“Oh?”
“Do you know the only people missing from inside are your mother and brother?” James asked. “Can you see us, somewhere down the road, sitting like this in the backyard with our families inside making enough noise to wake the dead?”
“Over a game of dominos.” Quentin laughed.
“Oh boy.” James grinned.
Quentin sat up and turned to look at him. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
James nodded.
“Well, I actually like that thought—I like it a lot.”
“Good.”
James kissed Quentin then. There was something different about it. He dropped a hand to Quentin’s thigh while the other gripped his hip pulling him closer. He leaned into Quentin, moaning into the kiss.
“Wow.” Quentin whispered. “That was…”
Beth stuck her head out the door. “Hey lovebirds, um…The kids are tucked in.”
“Um…” James said, shifting to turn his whole body in her direction. “But Jordan wasn’t supposed to sleep over.”
“Oh please. You know that boy is always welcomed here. Besides, I don’t think you could pry Ellie’s hand from him right now so don’t even bother trying.”
James exchanged glances with Quentin. “Well, we’ll be back in the morning,” he said. “Let me go kiss Jordan.”
He left Quentin on the porch and made his way through the house. He found Jordan and Ellie in the sunroom. They were sleeping on separate sleeping bags but Ellie was clinging to Jordan’s hand. Slipping to his knees, he kissed Ellie’s head, then Jordan’s. He pulled their sheets over their bodies and after a second round of kisses, and whispering his love for both, he exited the room.
When he made his way back to the kitchen, Quentin and Beth were in deep conversation. He didn’t want to interrupt them but he needed to get Quentin alone. After watching them for a silent moment, he cleared his throat.
“Ready?” Quentin slid from the stool.
“Sure. My place or yours?”
Quentin smirked. “Which is closer, do you think?”
“Okay. That is my queue,” Beth said. “Gimme a hug you two and get out of here.”
James was the first to squeeze her, followed by Quentin and soon they were hurrying out of the house and down the driveway to the cars. It was hard to decide what to do but in the end, James suggested Quentin followed him back to his place.
The drive took a bit of time but eventually, they were at James’ place. Parking was another issue. But eventually, they were able to find Quentin a spot a little down the street in a paid parking spot. James insisted on paying for overnight. He had no intention of letting Quentin walk out of his bed that night. He smiled as they walked, hand in hand, back to his place. On their way there, a few photographers popped out of thin air and began firing off pictures. James wasn’t sure if he should release Quentin’s hand. Quentin answered that question by gripping James’ hand tighter as they quickened their steps.
The irritation that surged through James in that moment was unbelievable. But, he kept his cool. Thankfully, by the time they stepped through his doors, the reporters seemed to have had enough and veered away.
Inside, James closed the door, locked it and leaned his back to it.
“I’m sorry,” Quentin said. “This will never stop.”
“I know.”
“If you want out…”
“Quentin?”
“Hmm?”
“Stop talking.” James tilted his head to one side as he reached over to flip the lid up on the alarm. He tore his gaze from Quentin to set the alarm then closed it before returning his view back to Quentin. The man standing before him was so handsome and so scared. “I don’t want you to be talking right now unless it’s to scream my name.”
Quentin bowed his head.
“What’s this?” James asked, surprise in his voice. “You’re embarrassed?”
“I can’t help it. Like I said, you’re a different kind of man for me.”
“Well, what can I say? I’m a freak of nature.”
Quentin laughed. “Emphasis on the freak.”
“Get naked for me, Quentin. I want to see your body.”
“Why?”
James smiled, seeing the smirk that passed Quentin’s lips. That last question was a joke, he got that. He licked his lips but folded his arms behind his back and laced the fingers. Quentin toyed with the neck of his shirt, while swaying his body from side to side. James moaned. Seeing Quentin like that, made James’ knees tremble.
“Still want me naked, James?”
“Even more so now.”
Quentin turned his back to James and soon his shirt became loose and slipped off his shoulders. It pooled to the floor but James didn’t look at it. Quentin’s muscular back entranced him, the dark brown of his skin, the perfection of it—James wanted to get his hand on that flesh. Still, he stopped and waited. Next to go was Quentin’s pants and boxers. Quentin glanced over his shoulder then.
James exhaled. It appeared he’d been holding his breath and hadn’t even realized. “You. Are. Perfect.”
“I bet you say that to all the boys.”
James laughed softly. “Bend over for me.”
There were no words to explain the beauty of what James stared at. Quentin’s ass was just right—the kind a man would kill to get his hands on. James licked his lips and melted to his knees. He crawled forward and began by kissing up the back of Quentin’s legs to his thighs. He stopped drop kisses along Quentin’s crack, listening to his lovers breathing get faster.
Finally, he tasted Quentin, licking his hole and loving the way Quentin trembled. But even though he wanted this moment to be all about Quentin, James couldn’t help how hard his cock was, how hot his body became and how desperately he yearned to be deep inside Quentin’s willing body.
Quentin pulled away from his tongue and James growled.
“Do you want me, James?”
“Why is this even a question?” James slowly peeled his clothes from his body without rising. He stroke himself, as Quentin watched.
“Let’s take this to the bedroom.”
James agreed and soon they had condoms and lube on the bed beside them as Quentin flipped James onto his stomach. Without warning, Quentin’s tongue lathered James’ hole.
“Oh, Quentin.” James sighed. “Stick your tongue in.”
It took no time at all for the pleasure to take over completely. Soon James was mindless with need and burning. He arched his body and was rewarded with Quentin’s cock sliding deeply into him. James held his breath, bowed his head into the pillow and drew the material between his teeth. “Fuck—me!”
Quentin gripped his hips and drove home repeatedly. James couldn’t remember begin taken like that—ever. Though he’d bottomed for a couple other lovers, he’d stopped over the years but with Quentin, James wanted to give him everything. It was as though Quentin was storming his very soul, leaving pleasure as the footprints behind.
“I’m coming!” James cried, arched upward.
Quentin reached around and pinched his nipples making James’ impending orgasm rush through him like a stampede. James couldn’t react—all he could do was close his eyes, shout Quentin’s name and as Quentin slammed home one final time, James lost his mind.
“Tell me something.” Quentin leaned in to feather kisses against the side of James’ face. “Are you out for the count, or do you have enough energy left to fuck me?”
James smirked. “Let me see your ass.”