Chapter Two
Deke knocked on the door, bracing himself for what promised to be several hours of obnoxious PDA.
Mark had warned him Jake and Shae were sickly sweet in love. He hadn’t needed the warning; he’d seen them up at the cabin and had been more than happy to vacate the premises in favor of bunking at Shae’s place.
And that was when he’d first seen the neighbor. Quite the stud and pretty much Deke’s type. They hadn’t interacted much at the time. He’d considered it, but Bryan had been at work a lot, so Deke had looked elsewhere for entertainment. He’d been wondering if he’d see the guy this visit and sure enough, Bryan was out there, pumping iron in his garage. Sexy as fuck, all slick with sweat and working out. Maybe Deke would get a chance to spend some time with him this time.
That thought had him grinning as the door opened.
“Baby brother!” Jake grabbed him up in a huge, back-slapping hug. “Shae will be along soon. He’s...indisposed.”
Deke snorted and wrapped his own arms around Jake, picking his big brother up off the ground, because he could. When you were the youngest, sometime you had to flex your muscles.
“I know what indisposed means, you know.” He knew damn well being soul mates meant connecting on a physical level on a regular basis, on top of the total “in love” vibe. He handed over the two-four of Moosehead he’d brought along and warned Jake, “They’re not cold.”
“I’ll cope. And I would hope so. He’s happy, well fucked, and full. That’s the best way to keep your mate.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Deke didn’t growl. Sure, he was jealous as fuck, but he knew Jake wasn’t trying to rub it in. This was less than a year old, and everything was still magical for his brother. Hell, this was soul mates, it should be magical forever, right? Deke might be the youngest of them, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want a soul mate, too. Especially now that he could see up close and personal how it worked, that it worked.
He followed his brother into the large kitchen and watched Jake open one of the warm beers. “You don’t have a couple in the fridge already?” He opened it up, laughing when he found it nearly overflowing with meat of all kinds. There wasn’t a green to be found. He was pretty sure he approved. He did manage to shove a few of the bottles of Moosehead into the thing, too.
“My mate is always hungry.” Jake smirked. “I have to keep him well fed.”
“Hey, I didn’t say anything.” Though he had to admit, he hadn’t ever seen any food locker this well packed outside of the Coast Guard dining mess.
“I live to serve. How’s work?”
Deke fought his smile. Jake had given up his firefighter position to work on the soulbond and Deke had to wonder if he regretted it a little bit.
“Work is amazing, as always. I prefer winter rescues, but there’s more action in the summer. Lots of idiots out on little dinghies.” He cracked his knuckles and grabbed a Coke out of the fridge. He’d switch to beer once it was cold. “I don’t have to ask how the bond is going. It’s written all over your face. Then there’s the whole...indisposed thing.”
“It’s amazing. It’s real. I love that it’s real.”
On impulse, he wrapped Jake in another hug. “Me, too, bro.” He stepped back and took a long swig of his Coke and if anyone told on him, he’d deny the hug and the words. It was rough being the youngest of five big dragons.
“Thanks. I’m fucking glad you’re here, man. I swear.”
“You just want to share your happiness with someone, and Mike will snark at you while Mark will sigh and be sad. And Luke... Well, who the fuck knows where he is—communing with the forest somewhere, no doubt.” That left only him.
“Luke’s sort of a freak. Oh, hey. Shae invited the neighbor guy for tonight, if that’s okay.”
Deke did his level best not to show Jake how okay that was with him. Now he wasn’t going to have to make up an excuse to go over there and see the guy. Which was a good thing, because he’d been trying to think of one in the back of his head since he’d seen Bryan working out in the garage and, so far, had come up empty.
“Sure. Not like it’s my place.” Jake and Shae could invite whomever they wanted.
“Well, still... You’re family. Bryan’s the neighbor.”
“Is there something wrong with him?” Deke asked. The way Jake kept asking if it was okay made him wonder. He sure as hell hoped not. He had his eye on the guy for a hook-up.
Jake sighed. “He and Shae tried to have a thing. It didn’t work out. They’re very close. It makes me growl.”
Deke laughed—that sounded so much like Jake. “So you’re saying you want me to occupy his evening? Keep him busy so he doesn’t mack on your bonded?”
“I’m saying if Bryan macks on my boy, I’ll take his head off.” Jake shook himself. “The little shit flirts like it’s going out of style.”
Deke laughed harder at that. He had a hunch Shae wasn’t happy with that attitude and Jake no doubt tried to keep it in check. Emphasis on the word tried. “I’ll see if I can’t help you out. I’d hate to have to bail you out of jail. Not to mention Mark might have words about that.”
“Oh, don’t even say that. Can you imagine? One of us in jail?”
“He would plotz. Hell, it might make him explode.” He could totally picture Mark’s face, all purple, Mark sputtering, too angry to speak, back stiff as a board beneath his uniform.
They both cackled at that.
“What’s funny?” Shae asked. Deke studied him and tried not to smile. Rumpled silver hair. Flushed cheeks. Loose pants and a T-shirt that tried, unsuccessfully, to conceal a stiff erection. Three guesses as to what they’d been up to when he’d knocked.
“Our big brother having apoplexy.” Deke went over to Shae, arms open wide. He made a show of hugging the guy, teasing the fuck out of Jake.
The low growl that filled the air made him grin even wider.
He pushed it further, kissing both of Shae’s cheeks before finally backing away. “You’re looking good.”
“I feel like a teenager again. We’ve been up to the cabin once again and it was wonderful. I could move there permanently, I think.”
“You should get Jake to take you up to the lair. I bet you’d love it.” Their home in the far reaches of Labrador was opulent, and set up for full-time play. They each had their own rooms. Private, and fabulous.
“The lair? Jake?” Shae turned to Jake, moving immediately into his brother’s arms. Creepy in an overly saccharine way.
“It’s where our heartstones live. It’s our true home,” Jake told Shae.
“Can we visit? I want to know everything about you, honey. Everything.”
Okay, Deke was going to barf.
“Of course. I wasn’t sure if you were ready for the family home yet. And I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share you with anyone who might show up yet.” Jake took Shae’s mouth in a passionate, sloppy kiss.
Deke began making gagging noises. “Still here, guys.”
“Uh, am I interrupting?” That gorgeous, dark-haired neighbor peered in, wearing a skin-tight T-shirt and stretch jeans.
“You are, thank the Goddess. Please, come in.” Deke held out his hand to shake. “Not sure if you remember, I’m Deke.” He was going to be sorely disappointed if Bryan didn’t remember him.
“Jake’s brother. I remember.” Bryan shook his hand and pure electricity shot up Deke’s arm.
Fucking A. They had chemistry for days.
“Good to see you. These two are...” He rolled his eyes when it turned out they were still kissing. “Still in the fucking honeymoon stage. It’s kind of sickening. Do you want a beer?” The Mooseheads had to be cool at least a little by now, even if they weren’t exactly cold.
“Sure. I brought a cold six-pack and some cupcakes.”
“Let’s have a couple of yours, then, and some of that dessert. God knows when the happy couple will feed us.” He wasn’t upset about having to entertain Bryan for a while. As long as he didn’t have to watch Jake and Shae climbing all over each other.
“If they disappear, we can order pizza. Come on. Backyard?”
“Hell, if they disappear there’s about five thousand steaks in the fridge—we can eat like kings.” He winked and they went out together onto the deck.
There were a couple Adirondack chairs out back and they sat, Deke sprawling there happily.
“So how long are you visiting for?” Bryan asked.
It took Deke a minute to answer, because he was admiring all the rippling muscles, the stacked, taut body. Bryan sported a shock of dark hair, a neatly trimmed mustache and beard, and Deke was struck by the urge to strip it all away, see Bryan on his knees, bare and bald, sucking his cock. God, he did love to play.
“I’ve got a week’s furlough. I’m with the Coast Guard.” There was a sudden huskiness in his voice from the images in his head.
“Very cool. A week is a good length for a visit.”
“Depends on whether or not I’ve got stuff to do, people to see.” Laughing, he tilted his head back toward the house. “These two are nice enough to have me over tonight but I have a hunch they’re not going to be able to keep their hands off each other for long enough to entertain guests.” He’d been invited to use the spare room, but he hadn’t yet decided to accept the offer, in case the lovebirds were gonna drive him a little crazy.
“Yeah. I haven’t seen much of Shae since he and Jake got together.” There was a hint of wistfulness in Bryan’s voice. “He’s a good friend, though.”
“Jake mentioned something about the two of you hooking up?” Deke figured he might as well find out from Bryan how much of a thing there used to be and whether or not the man was with anyone new.
“Years ago, yeah. We didn’t have a connection. It was like fucking a cousin or something.”
“Ew, gross.” He relaxed immediately. There was no competition here for him. Bryan was clearly not interested in Shae like that.
“I know, right? I mean, he’s a great guy and we totally wanted to make something sexual happen, but yeah, no.”
“It’s just as well, I think my brother might have torn your head from your neck if you were still together when he met Shae.” He wasn’t even joking, either.
“He would have tried, I guess.” Bryan flexed and Deke did his best not to laugh. Bryan was fine, but was long and lean, no match for his brother. Besides, Jake was a dragon, which gave him an unfair advantage.
Still, Deke was interested in Bryan and there was no need to insult the man.
“I’m glad it’s a moot point, I’d hate to have to pick sides against my brother.”
Bryan grinned in his direction, then took a long swig of his beer, throat working.
Deke managed not to moan somehow, not to give away how turned on he was. “So, what do you do, man?”
“I’m a mechanic. Nothing fancy.”
“No shit? What kind of cars?” He was always on the lookout for someone who could work with him on his baby Bug. She was ancient and required a special touch.
“All sorts. I specialize in the classics, though. The computer diagnostics feel like cheating, somehow.”
“So if I had a classic VW bug...?”
“Well, you do have, I saw it. Does it need work?”
“I baby her pretty good but now and then I need a little professional help. I don’t let just anyone touch her, though. I prefer to have someone I know and trust.”
“I’ll be happy to check her out while you’re here. I have a setup in the back of my place.”
“That’d be awesome, thank you.” And now he had a reason to see Bryan again.
“No problem.” Bryan stretched, and Deke found himself drawn in, caught by the visual.
He blinked a few times, wondering how long he’d been staring. To cover, he said the first thing that popped into his head. “So, you work out? I mean, you have a setup in your garage, eh?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I was a personal trainer for a few years. It didn’t work out for me, but I have all the equipment.”
“Sweet. And I’m surprised it didn’t work out. You’ve got a rockin’ bod.” Yes, that was him, flirting like he was getting paid. He usually didn’t try this hard. He usually didn’t have to.
“It was the training part that I didn’t love.”
“Were you a yeller or a bargainer?”
“I don’t like to yell. I just asked. I think I was supposed to be more aggressive.”
Deke had to agree. “That’s what it looks like to me. Kind of like a drill sergeant for people not in the army.”
“Exactly.” Bryan shot him a smile.
He smiled back, only a tiny part of his brain wondering where the hell Jake and Shae were. Most of him was more than pleased they’d gotten caught in each other, leaving him alone with this stud of a man.
“So what do you do for fun around here?” Please don’t say “go out with my boyfriend.”
“There’s everything, man—bars, movies, golf. What are you into?”
Deke shrugged. “I’m easy, man. I don’t get into the city much, and like to do as much as possible when I do.” Maybe Bryan would offer to be his tour guide to fun.
“There’s literally anything you could want. I was planning on riding my bike out to the water tomorrow, spend the day goofing off.”
“Goofing off by the water sounds fantastic. I love the water.” As if being in the Coast Guard’s rescue squad didn’t give that away. It made him happy, though, deep down. “And you have a motorcycle? Sweet.” Now he was picturing Bryan on the back of a bike, decked out in leather. It was a fucking pretty image.
“I do. You’re welcome to come. You have your license?” Bryan asked.
“Why? You got an extra ride?”
“I do, yeah. I have three and one that’s not running.”
“Very cool. Yes, I have my license and yes, I’d love to join you. We could bring some food, a couple beers...” Get to know each other better. A whole lot better.
“Yeah, if we drink them early, we’ll be good to ride home later.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Or we can start with lemonade. I’m pretty easy.” If he told Bryan often enough, the guy might get the hint.
“Yeah. We’ll stop at the store on the road.”
“Sounds great. What time do you want to head out?” He was going to get to spend more time with the stud. Go him. He took a swig of his beer, but his attention was totally on Bryan.
“Let’s say seven? I’m assuming you’re an early bird, of course.”
“I’m one of those sleep-anywhere-anytime people who can be awake whenever without too much hassle. Annoying, I know.” And for water, he’d go without sleep—there was nothing that revitalized him more than the wet stuff.
Bryan shrugged. “I’m not a sleeper. I only get a few hours a night. I watch a lot of late-night TV.”
Long, drawn-out moans drifted to them from the kitchen.
“Yeah?” Deke asked loudly. “You must have a decent cable package, then, because without the specialty channels there is a lot of crap to wade through. A lot.” He knew that well. If he was on night duty there was often nothing to do but wait.
“I have all the channels. All of them.” Bryan was talking loudly, too, and together they were mostly covering the sounds of Jake and Shae getting busy.
Deke laughed. “So you really only need a few hours of sleep a night?” He wasn’t much of a sleeper himself. It was something that had driven most of his lovers crazy. He never could understand that—it wasn’t like he was waking them up, but most people seemed to want you in bed with them while they were sleeping.
“Yeah, three or four. I can catch a nap and stuff, when I have to.”
Jake and Shae got louder, so Deke did, too. No way he was going to sit here with Bryan and listen to someone else have sex. “Sounds like we have similar sleep patterns. It works out really well when you’re an emergency worker. I’m always ready to go no matter when the call comes in.”
Bryan matched him shout for shout. “Rock on. There are very few classic car emergencies.”
That had him laughing happily, the sound booming out across the deck.
He didn’t know if it was that or if Jake and Shae had managed to find their orgasms and were ready to be social again, but he was still laughing as they came out onto the deck, Shae carrying a tray laden with steaks. About time those two remembered they weren’t alone.
“Hey, buddy,” Shae said, giving Bryan a smile.
“Welcome home, man. How goes?”
“Good. Good. How’re you?”
Bryan shrugged easily. “Same shit different day.”
It was clear that Shae and Bryan were good friends. Hell, the fact that Bryan hadn’t seemed to bat an eye at him and Deke having to come out and entertain themselves while Shae and Jake got it on in the kitchen spoke of a comfortable familiarity.
“Did you bring beer?” Deke asked Jake. He imagined those Mooseheads were cold by now.
“You, baby bro, are a beer snob.” Despite his words, Jake handed over a bottle, and passed a second one to Bryan.
“Ah. Perfect. I won’t even give you shit for making out while you had guests,” Deke told him.
Jake snorted. “You’re not a guest, you’re my brother.”
“And what’s Bryan? Chopped liver?”
Shae cracked up and took one of Bryan’s beers. “He’s my neighbor. We spend a lot of time in each other’s pockets.”
“I bet Jake loves that,” Deke noted drily. He didn’t even have to look to know his brother was frowning.
Bryan looked over at Deke, one eyebrow lifting.
“What? He’s a possessive son of a bitch—I thought that was patently obvious.”
Jake threw a fork at his head, but Deke managed to duck it. He stuck his tongue out at his brother. Being the baby meant he could get away with shit like that, even if they were hundreds of years old.
Bryan had caught the fork handily.
“Nice reflexes,” he noted, admiring Bryan’s muscles again, now that he had an excuse.
“You are a brat,” Jake accused.
He shrugged and shot Jake a shit-eating grin. “I am the baby.” He might as well use it as a positive for as much as the rest of them used it as a negative.
“How many of you guys are there?” Bryan asked.
“Five,” he and Jake answered together, before laughing.
“The Beteferoce brothers. Jake and I are the nice ones.” He winked at Bryan. He was pretty sure he wasn’t lying, either. At least they were the normal ones without hang-ups. Mark had the dead soul mate, Luke was a total loner, while Mike... Well, he had issues with a lot of their history and traditions. He wasn’t sure Mike even believed in the soul mate bond. Of course, he didn’t think Jake really had either until he’d met Shae. That had certainly made it more real for Deke, too.
“Good to know. Are you all so...stacked?” Bryan asked.
Deke felt the admiration in the look, in the words. “I’m the biggest of us. Jake is the smallest. So I guess yes, we are. Mark’s almost as big as I am and Mike’s pretty damn close, too. Luke’s not as muscled as the rest of us, but he’s the tallest. I mean damn near seven foot tall. He’s a freak.”
Jake burst out laughing at his words and Deke grinned.
“Wow. Wow, man. Seriously? Your poor mom.”
“Well, we didn’t exactly spring from her loins fully grown.” They hadn’t even sprung from anyone’s loins, in fact. Hatched, each and every one of them, from magical eggs.
“Yeah, I guess so, huh?”
“I bet you were a cute baby.” Okay, so he was flirting again, sue him. He wanted to get laid as much as the next guy and Bryan was hot, they had interests in common and had he mentioned Bryan was hot?
“I have no idea. My mom surrendered me to foster care when I was three.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Deke winced. Talk about killing the mood. He hadn’t meant to bring something like that up. He hadn’t known of course, but still.
“No worries. It’s been a long time. I’ve grown up.”
“And very nicely, I must say.” He gave Bryan a hungry grin.
“Are you flirting with Shae’s neighbor?” Jake asked.
“Shut up, brother.”
“You’re not allowed to flirt with him. He’s a nice boy.”
Deke was going to kick Jake’s ass. “You wouldn’t know a nice boy if he bit you in the ass.”
Shae was watching them, gaze following his and Jake’s conversation like they were volleying in tennis. Then he shot a look at Bryan. “Like you’re not even in the room.”
“I know, right? Like I can’t decide whether or not to flirt back on my own.”
Deke gave Jake one last growl, then turned his attention to Bryan. “My apologies for my brother. Sometimes he forgets what it means to be civilized.” It was the closest Deke dared come to, Forgive my brother, he’s an eight-hundred-year-old dragon without manners.
Bryan arched one eyebrow. “Come on, Shae. Let’s start those steaks.”
Deke shot a glare at Jake. They were both coming off like Neanderthal jerks and he blamed his brother.
“What?” Jake asked.
Deke had to roll his eyes, he really did. “Can I do anything to help, Shae?” he asked instead of saying anything else to Jake.
“Bry and I have it. Relax. Enjoy your vacation.”
“Thanks. Sorry about the bickering—brothers, you know?”
“There was bickering?” Jake asked, grin teasing at the corners of his lips.
Deke rolled his eyes again but refused to be drawn into another brotherly back and forth. He did not want Bryan to think he was an ass. He wanted Bryan to think he was the biggest stud on earth.
He totally could go out and find someone else to get it on with. Even as he thought it, something inside him rejected it. He wanted Bryan. Not just some guy, but Bryan.
“Another beer?” he asked as he stood, giving Bryan his best smile.
“Please, yeah.” When Bryan smiled back, the corners of his eyes wrinkled, and it was fucking adorable.
Deke cut back his groan at how sexy Bryan was and went back to the kitchen to grab a couple more cold ones from the fridge. He stood in front of the open door for a moment, letting the cold air wash over him. He had to get over himself. Well, clearly what he needed was to get laid. It had been a while.
Still, he wanted this man. Not some random one. This one. Deep and hard and fast.
And that was not helping him get a grip on his cock, his mood or his mouth.
He shook his head and cleared his throat a few times, then turned the tap on and filled a large glass with water. Once he’d drunk it, he was feeling more able to cope with everyone out on the deck without resorting to caveman grunts and clicks or bopping Bryan over the head and dragging him back next door to fuck into next week.
Now that would be fun. He would totally try that if not for the whole against societal-rules thing.
He grabbed bottles for all of them, and headed back out to the deck, telling himself he was going to behave.
Bryan was on his way in, and almost bowled him down. He nearly lost the bottle, but between the two of them, the beers were saved. “Damn! Good catch.”
“Sorry. Shit, man. Sorry. I was in my own head.”
“It’s okay, I wasn’t watching where I was going. And we didn’t lose any beer, so crisis averted.” And he had no problem bumping up against the object of his lust.
“Right on. I’m going to hit the head.”
“Cool. Hopefully we’ll have steaks when you get back, eh?” His stomach growled as if on cue.
“Yeah. These days Shae eats them almost raw.”
Deke grinned. “That’s how they’re meant to be eaten, man.”
Bryan made a face. “I like my food cooked.”
“Sure thing—a nice sear on the outside... Don’t tell me you’re a well-done-steak man.” He supposed nobody was perfect.
“No. No, but medium is good for me. Shae was the well-done guy.”
“I guess people’s tastes change.” Especially when they changed thanks to having a dragon lover...
“I guess. I’ll be right out.”
“Sure. See you out there.” He headed back out with the beer again, setting it on the table. “Man, Shae, it’s got to be hard for you, not being able to explain shit to your friends.” He’d never thought about that—the deal had always been to hide who they were, but there was a whole new element when you turned around and told a special someone.
“It is. It’s going to get harder in a few years because... Jake says we’ll have to go.”
Deke nodded. “People kind of freak out when you don’t age and there’s only so long you can say that good skin runs in the family.”
“Yeah. I’m still...working it out, I guess. It’s easier at the cabin, you know? More real.” Shae reached for Jake and, like a flash, Jake took his hand.
Deke didn’t know whether to be jealous or to roll his eyes at them again. Jealous was edging out a win.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. We’ve been doing it for eight hundred years.”
“I...”
“Shh. Come here, babe.” Jake kissed Shae, the connection almost glowing between them.
Okay, he was definitely jealous. Jake and Shae made the whole soulbond thing look pretty fucking good.
He pulled six of the steaks off, leaving the seventh on to cook longer for Bryan. It seemed a shame to ruin a perfectly good piece of meat by cooking it halfway to death, but humans had all sorts of weird habits.
Sleeping in pajamas, for instance. Who did that? Seriously?
“Steaks are done, guys, and Bryan will be back out any minute.” In other words, keep it in your pants, guys.
“Sorry. Sorry, it’s all so...” Shae waved one hand.
“Perfect?” Jake suggested.
“I was going to say intense, but yes.”
Deke shook his head. “I gotta admit, Jake. I never expected you to settle down like this.”
“I never thought I’d be able to, and here he is.”
“Congratulations. I’m really glad for you, brother.” He totally was.
“Thank you.” Jake smiled at him, then grabbed him in a rough hug. “I’m glad you’re here, Deacon.”
He hugged back, clapping Jake on the back. “Really? You sure I’m not cramping your style?”
“Of course not.” Shae pulled Bryan’s steak off. “You’re family. You are always welcome.”
The words honored him, pleased him more than he’d admit.
“Thank you, Shae. I can’t imagine anyone better for my brother.”
Shae pinked and Deke could see it, why Jake had accepted this one as his mated, his bonded.
“Seriously. You two are like...yin and yang, dark and light, pizza and beer. You belong together. Anyone can see it.” And yeah, definite jealousy on his part. Who wouldn’t want to feel what Jake and Shae obviously felt?
“It’s utterly repulsive.” Bryan bounced out and kissed Shae on the cheek. Jake’s growls sounded on cue, the fingers of his free hand curling into a fist before slowly relaxing.
Deke noticed Jake made no attempt to let go of Shae’s hand, but he didn’t remark on it. “Yeah, that’s what I was saying.” He winked at Jake. Hell, he had been saying that earlier. But it really was kind of amazing, too.
“Yeah, yeah. Look, there’s steak,” Jake said, pointing before grabbing one of the rare ones. “This one is mine.” It was pretty clear to Deke, Jake wasn’t really talking about the steaks.
“Excellent. Steak. Beer. Cupcakes.” Bryan grabbed his steak and if he was aware of the undertones, he was doing a pretty good job of hiding it. At least that’s what Deke thought before he caught sight of the teasing look in Bryan’s eyes. The guy was totally baiting Jake for fun.
“Dinner of champions.” Deke put a couple of the steaks onto a plate and grabbed some utensils, then sat and had a large bite. Never let it be said he was worried to be the first one when it came to food. Especially if that food was steak.
They all sat on the deck, eating and laughing, and it was easy, fun. Surprising, really.
It was Deke who rescued the cupcakes from not being eaten, taking three and passing the box around. Sweets. Yum. If there was anything that could give steak a run for its money, it had to be sweets.
Jake waved the box off while Shae took one and Bryan took two. Deke grinned at his fellow sweet lover, but didn’t say anything—his mouth was too full of cupcakes to talk.
Bryan licked the icing from the cupcake, completely unselfconscious. Totally sexual, though Bryan didn’t seem aware of that, which made it sexier. Deke could watch that all fucking night long. As it was, he was already planning tonight’s jacking-off session in the shower, complete with this visual running in a loop in his head.
Somehow, he managed not to moan—probably because his mouth was now stuffed with cupcake number two.
Jake and Shae weren’t paying a bit of attention, so he could admire openly. If Bryan noticed, it would serve his own needs.
He finished up his third about the same time Bryan ate the last crumb of his second.
“They’re good,” Deke said. “Where did you get them?”
“I grabbed them at the grocery at the corner. They’re decent, huh?”
“Yeah, very good. There’s a bakery out near the Coast Guard base. They do these mini salted caramel cupcakes that are to die for. They’re tiny, though, so barely even a mouthful each. People get weird if you take five or six at a sitting.” He would admit to having picked up a couple dozen for himself a time or two. They never lasted more than twenty-four hours.
“Salted caramel is heaven. Seriously. I love it.”
Deke would remember that. Didn’t hurt that he loved it, too. “Yeah, it’s like everything that’s right about dessert, right there. I like it well enough with chocolate, but with vanilla so the caramel can really shine? Damn.” If they weren’t leaving so early, he’d find something with salted caramel to bring tomorrow. He’d have to wait for their next...date? Was that what tomorrow was? He hoped so.
He wanted a date.
Hell, he wanted a blow job.
And he wanted it from Bryan, not some random hook-up, but this man right in front of him.
“There a bakery between here and the beach? We could see what we can find tomorrow on our way out.” He was hoping someplace had fried chicken and potato salad. Those were picnic foods. His stomach rumbled at the thought. It took a lot to keep a dragon fed.
“I’ll check it out on my phone, sure,” Bryan offered.
Jake looked up and blinked at him. “You’re going to the beach?”
“Yep. Taking a road trip—Bryan has a bike I can borrow. It’s going to be great.” He smiled at Jake, but mentally he was beaming a you don’t want to come message at his brother.
“Well, damn. We didn’t run you off already, did we?” Jake asked.
“We’re not going now,” Deke pointed out. “This is tomorrow.” Though, really, he could see that while things weren’t as desperate between Jake and Shae as they’d been when he’d run into them at the cabin, they clearly still needed each other to the exclusion of pretty much anything else. So his worries about them joining in were no doubt unfounded.
Which was good, because he wanted to play with the pretty neighbor. Like a lot.
He turned his attention back to Bryan, smiling wide, letting his admiration show in his gaze. Yeah, he wanted a piece of that. A great big huge piece.
“I promise to bring him back early and in one piece, Jake,” Bryan said, voice dry.
“I think he’s more worried about whether or not I bring you back in one piece.” Deke gave Bryan a wink as Jake chuckled.
“My money’s on me,” Bryan teased, and Deke almost—almost—growled.
“I’m tougher than I look.” And he looked plenty fucking tough. He’d bet Bryan was tougher than he looked, too, though. Something told him Bryan could take pretty much anything he could dish out. And wasn’t that an intoxicating thought?
“I’m not sure that’s even possible, given your incredible body,” Bryan said, then turned bright red.
He beamed at Bryan. “Thank you.”
Shae’s eyes narrowed. “Are the two of you hooking up?”
Deke kept beaming at Bryan. He sure hoped they were headed that way and he hoped the feeling was mutual.
“I just met him, man!” Bryan protested.
He tried not to be disappointed. Maybe Bryan didn’t like wearing his desires on his sleeve. He decided to go with teasing. “But you’ve got to admit, I’m a stud.”
“I don’t think anyone could deny that, man. Not at all.”
“They could try, but I might have to beat their ass and prove I am.”
Jake cackled. “Ah, flirting Deke-style.”
Bryan’s eyes went wide. “In what universe is that flirting?”
Jake snorted at the words and Shae elbowed him in the ribs, cheeks picking up a bit of color.
“I was flirting with you,” Deke told Bryan. “I like you. And I think you’re hot.” There. He couldn’t make it much plainer, could he?
Bryan offered Deke a half grin, but he ducked his head, too, seeming a bit flustered. He kept wiping his hands on his shorts. “Th-thank you.”
Deke nodded, pleased he’d laid it out there. Now Bryan knew and he knew and hopefully something would come of it.
He grabbed his beer and took a swig, only to find it was empty.
“You want another? I got some at the house, if we’re out here,” Bryan offered.
“I’m pretty sure there were a few in the fridge still.” No way they’d gone through his entire two-four and the two six-packs Bryan had brought. That was a lot of beer.
It wasn’t until Bryan was headed in to grab more that Shae looked at him. “Dude, you are thick.”
“What?”
“He invited you to his house to grab more beer and you turned him down?”
Deke played it back in his mind and then he saw it. “Oh, fuck. Excuse me, guys.” He got up and headed for the kitchen to see if he could salvage this, the sound of Jake and Shae laughing following him.
Jesus, he was obviously out of fucking practice.
“You find that beer or is it all gone after all?” God, he was lame.
“I got it. Here you go.” Bryan handed one over. “I got the other three.”
Damn, he’d totally missed the pass and it seemed Bryan wasn’t going to offer another one. Unless it hadn’t been a pass. Nah, Shae knew Bryan better than he did, right?
“Cool.” He nodded at the extra beers in Bryan’s hand. “I’m not sure our lovebugs out there want the extra beer.” Sure enough, when they hit the kitchen door, Jake had Shae in his lap, their mouths fused, their bodies rocking together. “Yeah, nobody out there’s interested in beer. I guess we’ll have to drink them ourselves.”
“We could always go take a look at your Bug,” Bryan suggested. “Let me see what she’s got under the hood?”
They wound up putting all four bottles back in the fridge. Deke put a hand on the small of Bryan’s back as they went down the walk. He liked touching Bryan, liked the way the connection seemed to almost sizzle. They went over to his car—might as well at least pretend that’s why they’d really left Jake and Shae’s and frankly, he adored his little Bug and didn’t have a problem showing it off.
He opened the trunk and let Bryan take a look at her insides.
Bryan bent over and started looking, touching, keeping up a running commentary about everything from how great it all looked to how awesome it was to see one of these so well preserved and refurbished. Deke was only half paying attention. Most of his focus was on Bryan’s sweet ass as he bent over the car.
He licked his lips and groaned when Bryan wiggled at him.
Bryan’s head popped up. “You okay?”
“I will be soon, I’m sure.” As soon as they got down to the real reason why they’d left Shae’s place.
“Yeah? You sure? What’s wrong?” Bryan put down the trunk and lovingly stroked the smooth metal and Deke guessed he wasn’t even aware he was doing it.
“I ache.” In the best fucking way possible and he knew exactly how to relieve it. Who he needed to get that done. He was about to say it when Bryan touched his arm gently.
“Let’s go in and I’ll get you a glass of water and some aspirin or something.”
“Oookay.” That was the weirdest version of come and see my etchings he’d ever heard, but he’d take it.
He followed Bryan into the house next to Shae’s. It was small, simple, and utterly masculine on the inside. They bypassed the living room and the kitchen, Bryan leading him down the hall to the first door on the right.
His ready grin faded a little when they wound up in a spacious bathroom instead of a bedroom. Maybe Bryan was a water-baby like him—the huge tub the room boasted certainly hinted at that. He could get behind some shower sex, even tub sex.
Before he could say anything, Bryan opened the medicine cabinet. “I’ve got Tylenol, Advil and some actual aspirin if you’d prefer.”
Deke was a little thrown and that didn’t happen often. “For...?”
“For what’s hurting.”
He was halfway through shaking his head when he remembered their pretext for coming in. Was Bryan so shy that he had to follow through on that before switching gears to what they were really here for?
“Those aren’t going to help with what I’ve got,” he told Bryan, keeping his voice low, his tone suggestive.
“No? What do you need?” Bryan asked. “I don’t have anything else, but there’s a twenty-four-hour pharmacy...” Bryan’s voice faded as Deke took his arm and pulled him close.
“What I need is easy.” Time to take the bull by the horns. “You.” He grabbed the collar of Bryan’s T-shirt and yanked him even closer, bringing their mouths together. Bryan’s lips were full and warm, soft. He loved how Bryan trembled against him, how there was a soft cry that vibrated between them.
He wrapped his hand in Bryan’s hair and tugged, tilting Bryan back a little. The beard was soft and he burned to remove it, to strip Bryan down to skin, to mark Bryan as his. Fuck, he hadn’t been so taken with anyone like this in a long time.
He slid his tongue along Bryan’s lips, asking for entrance. Bryan opened easily, sweet as fuck. Groaning, he pushed his tongue in, fucking Bryan’s mouth as he backed the man toward the small counter. He pushed Bryan up, muscling between his legs. The flavor of beer and steak were nothing on the pure male taste of this man. It made him want more, and he teased Bryan’s tongue back between his own lips, then began sucking on it. Fanfuckingtastic.
He deepened the kiss, reaching between them to grab Bryan’s crotch, roll the heavy balls roughly. Bryan made a strangled noise and bucked against him. Someone definitely liked that. He squeezed again, dragging his thumb along Bryan’s shaft.
If this was the reaction he elicited from Bryan with clothes on, how good would this be if Bryan were naked? If they were both naked? It was about time they found out.
Groaning, he pulled out of the kiss. “This really would work better on a bed.”
Bryan blinked at him a few times, like he’d been speaking a foreign language or something, and Deke couldn’t help but grin. Looked like his kisses were that good. Fucking A.
He nudged Bryan, and dragged his fingers along Bryan’s cheek. “You want to take me to your bedroom?”
“Oh, right.”
He raised an eyebrow. This was where they were headed, right? “Hey if you want another beer or some more cupcakes you could show me your kitchen instead. You’re sweeter than any cupcake’s going to be, though, and more intoxicating than the drink. I figured you might be when I first saw you last year.”
Bryan laughed, but he looked pleased at Deke’s words. Sliding off the counter, Bryan grabbed Deke’s hand and led him back into the hall, then to the door at the far end.
Bryan stopped in front of the door. “It’s messy.”
“I’m not here to judge your housekeeping.” Deke didn’t care if the bed was made or there were clothes on the floor. That had nothing to do with his interest here.
“I don’t usually invite guys back here.”
“I’m not ‘guys,’” Deke pointed out, nonetheless pleased by Bryan’s admission.
“No, you’re not at all.” Bryan opened the door and tugged him in.
Proving that he didn’t care at all about the state of Bryan’s room, Deke didn’t even look. Instead he cupped the back of Bryan’s head and tilted him, tongue-fucking the sweet, open lips with an eager passion. He slid his free hand down Bryan’s back, feeling the definition of the muscles, the shape of his shoulder bones and the line of his spine through his T-shirt. Deke worked his hand all the way down as they kissed, finally wrapping it around one succulent ass cheek. It fit perfectly in his hand.
He kept their bodies close, feeling the heat of Bryan’s growing arousal against his own despite their jeans. Fucking A. Groaning, he walked Bryan backward toward the bed, only stopping when Bryan’s legs hit the mattress.
Bryan grunted, jerking and trying to keep himself upright. Deke shook his head. Vertical was the last thing they wanted. He leaned hard as he deepened the kiss, and they went down together. Deke didn’t drop his entire weight on Bryan, but he let himself cover the muscled son of a bitch, let himself rock and drive them together.
The way they were going, they might not get their jeans off before they shared their first orgasm. Deke couldn’t quite work up the urge to care. He was humping this stud and there was an entire night spread out before them. He wanted to get off with Bryan. Specifically Bryan. Then, once the edge was off, he wanted to spend the rest of the night giving Bryan something to remember.
He bit at Bryan’s lips, letting his teeth sting. Bryan reached for him and Deke slammed down, grinding good and hard. He shoved a knee between Bryan’s legs, curling up so that he could bring his knee high enough to bump up against Bryan’s balls.
Bryan gasped, then bore down, rocked against him.
“Oh yeah. So fucking hot, Bry.” He watched Bryan’s face, loving the way blind pleasure danced there. He let his hand slide under Bryan’s shirt and up his chest, fingers finding one little nipple, and Bryan shook his head, grabbed his hand.
“No, man. They get sensitive.”
Deke tilted his head slightly. “Uh-huh. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but it’s not my thing.”
“Pleasure isn’t your thing?” Deke carded his fingers through Bryan’s beard, lightly scratching the skin beneath it.
Bryan’s eyes crossed. “I’m just saying that they get swollen, tender for a day or two, okay?”
“Very okay. I love the idea of you walking around, thinking of me every time your shirt brushes against your nipples.”
“Yeah, but you’re not the one who’s going to be aching.”
“You don’t think a little ache is a good thing?” He slipped his hand between them, palming Bryan through his jeans and giving the hard cock a squeeze.
“Makes me crazy.”
“That’s definitely a good thing. I’m dying to taste them. Say that I can?” It wasn’t like him to beg, but Bryan made him desperate enough that begging was on the table.
Bryan looked into his eyes, then took a breath and nodded the barest bit.
Bending, he flicked his tongue across Bryan’s right nipple, then he moved to the left and barely touched his tongue to the hard little tip.
Bryan shivered. “Damn. Damn, man. That’s... I...” Bryan swallowed. “More?”
He kept squeezing Bryan’s package, adding a little rocking to it, even as he bent to wrap his mouth around one of Bryan’s nipples through his T-shirt and started sucking.
“Oh, fuck!” Bryan rolled up, jerking hard underneath him.
“That’s coming, I swear. This first.” He would last longer—they both would—if they’d already come first.
“This... Jesus.”
Bryan’s nipple was hard and Deke bit down, drawing a wild cry.
He tugged open Bryan’s jeans and wormed his hand into them so he could wrap around the fat erection and squeeze. Bryan had a sizeable handful, and Deke jacked hard, base to tip. It felt good in his hand, like it belonged, and he kept it up, watching Bryan’s face. Every so often he’d bite one of those hidden nipples, making it sting.
Bryan writhed beneath him, bucking and twisting, crying out. It was intoxicating, having this gorgeous stud at his mercy.
He grabbed one hand, drew it up over Bryan’s head, and the motions slowed. He watched the long, stretched body, admiring how gorgeous Bryan looked. All these amazing muscles were his for the admiring, for the taking.
“Look at you. You were made to be bound and stretched out.”
Bryan tensed. “I’m not into that, man.”
He didn’t believe that—Bryan was bucking up, trying to get more, eager for each touch and his cock was harder than ever, leaking now, too.
“Come on, Bryan. You don’t have to fight me. Just come.”
“You say it like it’s easy,” Bryan panted, the words broken up by gasps and a single groan.
Bryan was so turned on and ready, Deke didn’t see how it could be anything but easy. He ducked his head and bit again, tapping the slit in Bryan’s cock, hard. Bingo. Bryan bucked up and shouted as come spilled over Deke’s hand.
He growled softly, yanking Bryan’s jeans open so he could taste, lick, lap. There was a dark ink on Bryan’s hip, filled in with the most amazing colors of the sea. It was the only mark on the deeply tanned skin.
He shimmied down Bryan’s body, kissing the tip of his cock and lapping up Bryan’s come first. Then he moved to examine the ink.
He stopped, finger tracing it, then he blinked. It was the Beteferoce family crest. In dragon tongue. What the fuck?
“Where did you get this?” he asked, tracing the tattoo. Who the fuck would even know what this was but him and his brothers?
“There’s a shop in the industrial area. It’s my only one. The owner did it.”
“Corryn? Seriously?” Deke frowned. What the fuck was going on? Why would Corryn do something like that?
“Yeah. Yeah, Shae took me over, introduced me.”
“So what’s the significance of this, then?” Seriously. It was fucking weird.
“I told him I wanted something that I could use as a base for everything, something sharp and different.”
“A base for everything?”
“If I decided I wanted more.”
“Ah... I see.” He didn’t, though. It didn’t make any sense that Corryn would give Bryan his crest. They’d only just met.
Maybe it was a mistake, a silly mistake.
“It’s just ink.” Bryan tugged up his jeans, hiding the tattoo.
“It’s permanently on your skin, I don’t think that’s just anything.” He gave Bryan a wink, letting it go. It wasn’t Bryan’s fault. Corryn had done this. And who would ever know? To anyone else, it was a design, dark and spiky. They didn’t have to make this heavy.
He nuzzled his way back to Bryan’s cock, breathing in the wonderful scent of it.
“Come up here and I’ll get you off,” Bryan offered. “It’s only fair.”
“Damn right. You smell good, though. You taste good, too.” He slid up Bryan’s body and took a kiss, sharing the man’s taste.
Bryan kissed him back, a bit more tentative this time, but the hand around his cock was sure, the touch firm.
“You into blow jobs?” Deke asked, wanting to feel Bryan’s hot mouth around his cock.
“Are there gay men who aren’t?” Bryan kept stroking.
Deke laughed at that. “Then would you?”
Bryan tilted his head, a small frown marring his forehead. “Maybe. If you ask nice.” By the time he was done speaking, the frown was gone and Bryan was clearly trying not to laugh.
“I made you come—does it get any nicer than that?” He asked, all but laughing himself. He liked laughing with Bryan; it felt damn good.
Bryan began to strip him, fingers tugging his pants and belt open. Deke loved the rough touch of those working man’s fingers, the warmth and the calluses both arousing.
Bryan made a happy noise. “Pretty, pretty. I do like a nice heavy prick.”
“And it’s all yours.” He clenched, making his cock jerk.
“For tonight, hmm?” Bryan licked all the way up the shaft, wrapped his lips around the tip and then pulled off with a pop.
Deke didn’t have an answer, he was too busy groaning. Fuck, that was good. Bryan repeated the actions again and again, slow and easy. He dropped his hands to Bryan’s head, fingers curling into the dark hair. He held on, trying his damnedest not to pull too hard. He wasn’t trying to control this, he needed the connection, needed to touch Bryan, needed to hold him. The sensation made him moan, made him shiver a little, and he told himself that was nothing but the touch of that amazing mouth on his cock.
He held his hips tight, the urge to slam into Bryan’s mouth huge. He didn’t, though. He held on. Bryan was eager around his cock, if not particularly experienced. How was it this sexy, beautiful man wasn’t an experienced cockhound?
He gave what encouragement he could. “Oh yeah, B. That’s it. Just like that.”
In response, Bryan licked the head of his cock again.
“Fuck yeah. God, sensitive slit, they make it so good.”
In response, Bryan focused on his slit for a few minutes, worrying the tiny hole with his tongue. Deke felt that all the way to his toes and he moaned. Bryan’s eyes opened and his gaze met Deke’s. He smiled down and nodded. “Love your mouth. More please.”
Bryan took his cockhead in, suction strong as he bobbed his head, taking more of Deke’s cock each time. Deke began moving with him, exulting in the tight heat until Bryan gagged and backed off.
Deke ran his thumb along Bryan’s cheek and touched the corner of his mouth. “Wrap your hand around the base of my cock. Squeeze me hard.” He couldn’t go too deep for Bryan that way.
Bryan followed his direction, mouth dropping down over his cock again, and sure enough, his hand acted as a barrier, keeping Deke’s cock from going too deep. He loved that Bryan had responded so readily to his suggestion. The fact that it had worked told him Bryan would learn to deep throat him in time. The enthusiastic blow job told him Bryan enjoyed this enough to revel in it, given the chance. Bryan was moving quickly now and his tongue slapping at Deke’s slit. The dark eyes gazed up at him, like Bryan was trying to read him to make sure it was good. It totally was.
Deke was fucking flying. Somehow this was the best blow job he’d ever had despite Bryan’s lack of technique.
Bryan rolled his balls, gasping as he found the bare skin there, too.
Deke grinned wide, feeling wild, feeling electric.
Bryan’s lips popped off his cock, making him groan. “Do you wax? You’re so smooth.”
“All natural, baby.” He knew it was unusual, but it was a quirk of being a dragon, not that he’d be telling Bryan that. Not that he’d be believed even if he did.
“Really? I wax my chest. That’s all.”
“You’re a hairier man than I am.” Reaching down, he rubbed Bryan’s head, then grabbed his hair and tugged gently. “You stopped.”
“Sorry. Sorry, man. I was distracted by the thought.” Bryan bent back to his work.
He didn’t know whether or not to be insulted about that. The thought Bryan had been distracted by was him, after all. Or maybe Bryan had been distracted by the idea of having his own balls waxed.
Either one worked for him. He started humping, hips pushing. “You like it, don’t you? All smooth and waxed.”
Bryan grunted around him, the suction going suddenly wild.
“Fuck!” Deke pushed up harder, cock sliding along Bryan’s tongue, and Bryan took it, slurping around him.
“Gonna,” he warned as the sight and sound and smell of Bryan filled him.
Bryan pushed his balls up, rolling them almost too hard.
He slammed up, coming hard, and Bryan pulled off, Deke’s spunk spilling from his mouth. Deke groaned at the sudden lack of pressure, his orgasm ending more abruptly than he was used to. He’d never had a lover not swallow before.
About to make a joke about Bryan not liking the taste of him, he caught Bryan’s gaze again and read the uncertainty there. The last thing Bryan needed was some offhand comment about refusing to swallow. No, Bryan needed encouragement to get even better, because if this was how well he did untutored, he’d be incredible once he’d learned more of the dynamics. There would be plenty of time to teach him how while there was no such thing as a bad blow job, there was such a thing as a great one. An amazing one. So Deke smiled and petted Bryan’s head, humming as the soft hair tickled his palms, curled around his fingers. “Good. Damn good.”
He lay back on the mattress, feeling melted. Not so melted he couldn’t encourage Bryan back up to lie with him, though.
“You have a comfortable bed, Bryan.”
“Thanks. I like it.”
“It’s not easy to find a bed big enough for a guy like me.” Of course, Bryan was a good size himself. Deke slid his fingers along Bryan’s back, lazily doling out pleasure.
Bryan stretched, moaning softly at his touch. “No? You live in the barracks?”
“I do. But most people don’t have huge ones.” He chuckled suddenly. “I’m not sure that came out exactly how I meant it.”
“Well, I do have a well-endowed...bed.”
Deke cackled, totally happy with Bryan’s response. He reached over and grabbed the lovely cock again. “Yep. You do.”
Bryan tensed a bit and almost seemed ready to back away, but when Deke rubbed the tip idly with his thumb, Bryan rocked and groaned for him.
“Mmm. You ready for round two or you want to nap a little?” He was easy—he liked fucking, but he liked snuggling, too.
“It’s not that late. I... I’m good.”
“You are, in fact, very good.” He let his fingers slide down to the base of Bryan’s cock, then slid over Bryan’s balls. Bryan was fuzzy, the dark hair silky and soft.
“You ever shaved these?” He carded his fingers through the tiny curls.
“No. No, it seems a little kinky, huh?”
That was kind of the point, wasn’t it? “Yeah, it is a little kinky. Kinky is good, though, huh?” Kinky was fun, was sexy, was awesome.
“I’m not really into that stuff. I’m a simple guy.”
Deke blinked at Bryan’s response. Really? He supposed that explained Bryan not wanting to have his nipples played with, but every time they touched, Bryan responded beautifully. He knew Bryan was sensual and wanton. Was Bryan really unaware of that side of himself, or was he shy?
“I’m into what feels good. And that includes kinky stuff.” Honestly, he was into everything. And you didn’t live as long as he did without knowing a whole lot of everything.
“Yeah. Shae’s into it, so I guess your brother is.”
“I think all the Beteferoce brothers have a bit of kink in them.” Okay, a lot of kink, but you didn’t scare off the hot dude you were in bed with.
“Beteferoce. Fierce beast. I like it. Mine is Besoin.”
Oh damn. Besoin. Need. And Bryan spoke French. Deke thought he might be in love. “Need, huh? That’s pretty hot.”
Bryan shrugged. “It’s the name I came with.”
“Doesn’t make it any less hot, baby.”
Bryan’s hips jerked against him briefly, and his cheeks went red. “Baby?”
Oh, yeah. His own baby boy.
He rubbed Bryan’s cheek, then his lower lip, the beard scratching against his fingers. “Yeah. Baby.”
Bryan’s cock moved against his thigh. “I don’t—you shouldn’t call me that.”
“Why not?” Deke knew Bryan liked it. He’d felt the response when he’d said the word. Both times.
“It’s not... Men don’t.”
Deke snorted. “I do.” He leaned in, taking a kiss.
Bryan groaned, then wrapped around him, tongue sliding against his. He took it and ran with it, grabbing hold of Bryan’s ass, squeezing. Fuck, it felt good in his hands, fitting like it belonged there. It was too bad they were both still half-dressed.
“We have too many clothes on, baby. Let’s get naked.”
Bryan nodded, reached for his T-shirt and stripped it off. He let Bryan admire for a long moment, showing off a little. He knew he looked good. Then he returned the favor, pulling Bryan’s shirt over his head. There was a lot to admire there, too, and the sweet nipples were the slightest bit swollen from his earlier attention. He could have so much fun with those. They begged for attention. Especially now that he knew how sensitive Bryan was there.
He touched one with his fingertip, a gentle press.
Bryan hummed, his eyes crossing. “Gentle.”
“I’m being gentle.” He couldn’t resist adding, “This time,” as he touched it again.
“They’re stupid sensitive. It’s crazy.”
“It’s a gift.” A gift to him and to Bryan. Although they didn’t call it nipple torture for nothing. Leaning in, he flicked it with his tongue.
Bryan’s moan rang out, sweet and wanton, and he lapped that firm little bud quickly. God, he loved these. Especially the way they got hard for him, and how warm they were. He pulled, starting gently even though he wanted to take a strong bite. Bryan arched for him, pushing the little nipple into his mouth, and he sucked more, jonesing on the way that Bryan’s body showed its desire.
He curled his hand around Bryan’s hip, tugging their lower bodies together and groaning when their cocks bumped and rubbed.
His baby boy was filling quickly, even after shooting, and it felt damn good.
“You got stuff?” Deke didn’t want to get all hot and bothered and ready to fuck only to find out they were missing condoms and lube.
“I do. I’m not sure we’re going to need them.”
“I want to be inside you. I want to feel your ass around my cock.” He stroked that sweet, tender nipple again. “I bet you’re tight as a fist.”
“We could 69,” Bryan suggested, hand going to his cock. “Or I could even suck you again.”
Deke was about to dismiss that idea out of hand, but there was something about the look in Bryan’s eyes.
“You’re not... Are you a virgin?”
“No.” The answer was immediate, flat.
“Specifically to anal, I mean.” Because obviously this hadn’t been Bryan’s first time with another guy. Hell, he knew Bryan and Shae had hooked up. Bryan had admitted it.
“No!” Bryan said again.
“Okay... Talk to me? I know you’re turned on by me.” By the things he’d said and what they’d done so far.
“It’s been a really long time,” Bryan admitted.
“Why?” He could tell that Bryan was sensual. He was a hot guy who should have had a line of men at his door.
“What do you mean, why?” There was a defensive tone growing in Bryan’s voice that he didn’t like. Bryan had no need to feel ashamed about his past experiences, or lack thereof.
Deke kissed the corner of Bryan’s mouth. “I mean you’re this good-looking stud of a guy. You could have anyone you wanted. So why has it been a long time?”
Bryan’s face went red, but he looked pleased at the same time. “Not that good-looking.”
Deke snorted. “You’re sexy as fuck.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m picky.”
“I like that you are, and I like even better that you picked me. And now that I know it’s been a while, I know that you’re tight and I want to feel you all around me, squeezing my cock, and I know how good I can make you feel, taking it nice and slow.”
“I’m not good at it, okay?”
That made him want to growl. Something had happened. “Did someone tell you that?”
“My body did. I tried it, I didn’t like it. It wasn’t good for me, so now I stick to hand jobs and oral, end of story.”
Deke had a feeling that wasn’t the end of the story, but he was more interested in showing Bryan that it could be good than delving why someone hadn’t made sure Bryan loved fucking. He couldn’t change the past, but he could totally change Bryan’s mind by blowing it with how good it could be. By helping him overcome his worries.
“Well, I do have experience with this and I know how to make it good for you.”
Bryan didn’t give him an enthusiastic yes, but he didn’t say no, either, and that was a start.
“I’m going to show you how good it can be if I take my time. I want to make this right for you. Give you the loving you deserve.” Deke brought their mouths together, tongue sliding along Bryan’s lips, begging entrance.
Bryan moaned and his lips parted, letting Deke in. He started the kiss off slow, working to build the mood between them again.
One kiss followed another, Bryan responding to him. When he rocked against Bryan’s body, the movement was returned. With every movement, Bryan proved that he was a sensual man who enjoyed being physical. Deke was pleased his instincts hadn’t let him down; he was more pleased that Bryan was letting him in.
Parting their lips, he took Bryan’s beard hair between his lips and tugged. Bryan laughed softly, but Deke had heard the excited gasp the laughter attempted to cover up. Smiling, Deke moved down to kiss the hollow of Bryan’s throat, then lick it. He took a wandering path down to Bryan’s nipples, kissing and licking the whole way.
When he got to Bryan’s right nipple, he teased the tip
“Damn!” Bryan jerked away, chest heaving like a bellows. “You can’t do that, honey.”
Well, really he could, but he didn’t argue semantics. “It doesn’t hurt, does it?”
Bryan shook his head, and Deke stroked Bryan’s abs, soothing the muscles.
“Mmm.” Bryan relaxed back, easing at his touch.
Pretty baby. He was eager to teach Bryan how to love every touch to his nipples, to learn to crave them. Being so sensitive was a magical thing if Bryan would let it be.
“So have you got supplies? In case we decide to go ahead with anything?” He was going to take his time with Bryan, make sure his lover wanted to try, but if Bryan did, the last thing they wanted was an interruption to get gloved up.
“Drawer in the bedside table.” Bryan stretched up, opening the drawer one handed.
Deke slid his hand down along Bryan’s side, fingers lingering on the tattoo. He swore he could feel it tingling beneath his fingertips.
“You don’t hate the ink?” Bryan asked, grabbing a tube of lube and a small packet of condoms from the drawer.
“Why would I hate the ink?” He was kind of annoyed that Corryn had put his family crest on some at-the-time random guy, but he didn’t hate it at all. In fact, it was a little hot. Like Bryan was already his. Maybe Bryan was.
“So?” he prompted. “Why would I hate it?”
“You seemed like it was weird.”
Sensitive to his moods. He liked that. Now he had to decide whether or not to tell Bryan why. He guessed he should. If they stayed together any amount of time, it would come up again.
“Well, to be honest, it was a little weird at first. Believe it or not, that’s my family’s name in the dragon tongue.”
“You’re into that role-playing-game thing like Shae? I hear military guys like that stuff.”
“Something like that. It surprised me to see it on you, you know? But now I’m thinking it’s kind of sexy. Hot.”
“I didn’t know that it was a character name, but it’s still pretty cool.”
“Not a character name, but actual family name. And yes, it’s pretty cool. I think it makes you sexier. So no worries, okay?” He nodded to Bryan’s hands. “You going to hand those over?”
“Yeah. Uh. Like I said, it’s been a while. Like a few years.”
He cupped Bryan’s cheek. “If you don’t want to do this tonight, we can totally wait. But if we do it, I promise I’ll make sure it’s fucking amazing.”
“And amazing fucking?” Bryan teased, but it felt like he was trying to cover up his nerves.
Still, he offered Bryan a laugh for the joke. “Absolutely. We don’t even have to go all the way. I’ll just touch your ass, your crack. You’ll tell me if you don’t like it, but I bet you do.”
He cupped Bryan’s cheek a moment longer, staring into his eyes, then took a kiss. Bryan immediately leaned into his touch, resting hard, a deep groan filling the air. The unconscious trust and submission in that movement told him there was a sub here, caught inside this stud of a man who thought he didn’t do things “like that.” It would be exciting as hell to teach Bryan about himself and his desires. Hells, if they were truly meant for each other, it would be exciting no matter which side of vanilla their lovemaking fell on.
Bryan lapped at him, tongue sliding against his. Groaning, he pressed closer so their bodies rubbed, the heat between them immediate, strong. He did like the wholehearted way this man kissed. Bryan cupped the back of his head and held them close.
Dropping the supplies beside them, he let his own hand slide over Bryan’s shoulder and down his back, headed for that gorgeous ass. Bryan rolled, hips sliding up toward his touch, eager as a cat in heat before shifting slightly, almost as if Bryan were shrugging him off. Deke suspected Bryan thought he shouldn’t like this. He backed off slightly, moving his hand to the small of Bryan’s back and teasing the nerves there with his fingertips.
“You have such good instincts, baby. Your body is eager for my touch. Which is good because I’m eager to touch you.” He nibbled on Bryan’s earlobe and then sucked softly.
Almost whimpering, Bryan pushed toward him again, cock hot against his upper thigh, his hip.
“Don’t think about what we’re doing, just feel.”
“You say it like it’s easy.” Despite his words, Bryan rocked slightly, and Deke wasn’t sure that Bryan even knew he was doing it or he might have stopped himself.
“You know what might help? Do you know what a safeword is?”
Bryan furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing. Then he tilted his head. “I am best friends with Shae, you know. I’m not like him, though. I’m sure it’s part of why we didn’t work together.”
“I think you should pick a safeword, though, so you know that no matter what happens, what’s going on, you can always make things stop completely.”
“I’m not into those games,” Bryan pointed out.
“Wouldn’t it help you to relax, though? If you knew that all you had to say was dirty socks and everything would stop, wouldn’t that make it easier to try new things? It’s the safeword that gives the sub his power. I want you to feel powerful.”
Bryan met his gaze and he held it. He wanted Bryan’s trust. No, he needed it.
“You think dirty socks is the right choice?” Bryan asked, not relaxing completely yet, but leaning against him.
Deke stroked Bryan’s spine, encouraging him to lean harder, to really relax. “Are you going to be able to remember it in a heated moment?” That was really what mattered. Well, that and that it wasn’t something that would come up organically during sexual situations.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s not going to be a problem. It’s rather memorable.”
“Then dirty socks it is. If you’re truly uncomfortable and you 100% want me to stop, all you have to do is say dirty socks.”
“Dirty socks.” Bryan snorted. “I can’t believe I have a...a safeword.”
“I’m going to do my best to make sure you never have to say it, Bryan. I want to love on you, to make you fly.”
“That sounds pretty good,” Bryan admitted, his voice thick.
Deke brought their mouths together again, initiating a soft kiss that quickly grew in intensity. Bryan didn’t stiffen, but leaned against him.
Deke let his hand slide along Bryan’s spine again. He stopped at the small of Bryan’s back when he felt a slight tensing of Bryan’s muscles, but it didn’t take long for that to fade and Bryan’s moan encouraged him to cup one of Bryan’s ass cheeks. He rubbed carefully before squeezing gently. Bryan’s hard cock jerked against him, telling its own tale of desire.
Encouraged, he grabbed hold of both cheeks and they fit perfectly in his hands. Squeezing, he let one finger slide along Bryan’s crack, and Bryan’s legs fell open, like he’d hit a button.
“I want to make it so good you beg for more.” If nothing else, he wanted to give this back to Bryan, so he could have the pleasure in the future.
Bryan arched at his words, rubbing their bodies together.
He took one kiss after another, groaning into Bryan’s mouth and focusing on making this man wild for him. He wanted to do the most perverse things, to turn Bryan inside out. More than that, he wanted Bryan to want them even more than he did.
He rocked against Bryan, like he was fucking him. That was coming. He was going to take his time prepping Bryan, though. And that meant long kisses to build up to it. Bryan held on to him, clinging like a limpet, rocking up into every single touch.
He slid one hand along Bryan’s side, then moved inward, finding one little nipple and teasing it gently. He loved the way a single touch there made Bryan’s cock jerk between them.
“Deke, man...”
“Shh. Shh. Trust me. Let me touch.” He knew how to make Bryan fly and he was going to do it. He held Bryan’s gaze as he touched again, keeping it gentle, knowing that would be enough to keep Bryan keyed up.
Bryan’s moan was pure music, deep and low and utter desire.
Deke slid his fingers lower, touching Bryan’s amazing abs, trailing his fingers along the definition of each muscle. Jesus, there wasn’t an ounce of fat on Bryan’s body, and he wanted to touch and lick—and bite—every inch.
He moved his fingers down a little farther, brushing the top of Bryan’s cock.
“You’re leaking for me.” He had to point it out, make sure that Bryan knew it.
“You’re inspirational, Deke.”
That made him happy, hearing that. Grinning wickedly, he bit at Bryan’s lower lip. He tugged on it, and alternated light with sharp bites. The soft beard tickled his chin, his lips, made him shiver. Groaning, he carded his fingers through Bryan’s beard before reaching for the lube so he could slick his fingers up. He wanted to bury himself in Bryan’s hole and feel the man rippling around him.
He used his knee to encourage Bryan to spread his legs. It took a moment, but Bryan let them fall apart.
“That’s it. You’re going to love this. I’m going to touch behind your balls to start with.” Deke got his fingers in behind the warm balls. He stroked the tiny strip of skin that waited there for him, scraping Bryan with one nail. Bryan cried out, so he did it again. “You see? This is all about playing with sensations to make you feel good. Now I’m going to touch your hole.”
He slipped his finger farther back, stroking across Bryan’s hole. Bryan spread for him, opening wide in a clear offer. There was a tension in the long limbs, too, though, and a glance at Bryan’s face showed him closed eyes and Bryan’s lower lip caught between his teeth. Deke moved in to lick at Bryan’s lips. He kissed and licked, working there until Bryan finally opened his mouth. For a moment, Deke dipped his tongue into Bryan’s mouth, then he took that abused lower lip between his own and sucked gently.
He kept sucking as he stroked his finger across Bryan’s hole several more times. Finally, Bryan relaxed, no longer tensing whenever Deke touched his entrance.
“A little more now,” Deke whispered. He pushed his lubed finger inside Bryan’s tight heat. It felt amazing—clenching around him, milking his finger easily. He fucked Bryan with his finger, in and out, pushing it as deeply as he could. All the while he kissed and nuzzled, licking Bryan’s lips.
When Bryan was whimpering and moving with him, he teased another finger against Bryan’s hole. When his boy didn’t tense, he pulled the first one out, and stroked Bryan’s hole with both fingers. Bryan’s eyes were still closed, but his mouth was half open, tongue sliding out to lick his lips.
“Yeah,” Bryan said softly, almost breathlessly. “Yeah, please, man. More.”
That was what he wanted to hear, those sweet pleas for his loving.
“I can give you more, baby boy. I can give you everything.”
He carefully breached Bryan’s hole with both fingers and Bryan clamped down hard around them, making him moan. God, Bryan was going to feel amazing around his cock. When they got there. He was taking it slow, no matter how much he wanted to sink himself into Bryan’s body right now.
He fucked Bryan’s mouth with his tongue, wriggling his fingers a bit, but not moving them in and out yet. He wanted Bryan to want this, to want more.
His patience was finally rewarded, Bryan bearing down, clearly trying to get his fingers deeper.
“So lovely,” he murmured against Bryan’s lips as he pressed his fingers deeper, working them in a little more each time he pushed them inward.
Soon enough, Bryan was moving with him, riding his fingers and offering him the occasional moan. Best of all was when he pulled his fingers away to add more lube and Bryan whimpered, body still trying to follow.
“Easy. We need more slick so I can add another finger.”
Bryan’s eyes opened to meet his, teeth worrying that poor lower lip again. “I don’t know. Three’s a lot.”
“Did you like two?”
Bryan’s cheeks went dark and he wouldn’t quite meet Deke’s gaze, but he nodded and the softest “I did” crossed his lips.
That honesty was heartwarming.
“Then trust me on this. I will take care of you. The stretch will be bigger, the burn stronger at first before it settles into the best ache ever. You’re doing so well, and I don’t want you to miss out on how good more can be.”
Bryan shook his head, but his hips bucked, sliding the still very hard and now leaking cock along his body.
“It’s okay to be nervous. You’re going to like it, though. And that’s okay too—you’re allowed to enjoy things you never thought you would.” He slicked his fingers up and set them against Bryan’s hole, stroking the wrinkled skin.
After a moment, Bryan relaxed for him and Deke moaned. “Your trust humbles me, baby.”
He very slowly pushed all three fingers in. He stopped for a moment with all three sitting barely inside Bryan’s body, waiting for a sign. He got it a moment later when Bryan shifted, wordlessly asking for more. Deke gave it to him, sliding his fingers in to the second knuckle. He stayed at that depth for a while, fingerfucking Bryan gently. He watched Bryan’s face. Even with his eyes closed, the pleasure was clear. It filled his heart and he moved a little faster.
Bryan gasped softly. “Oh damn. Damn. That burns.”
“Good, yes?” Deke didn’t just want Bryan to enjoy himself, he wanted to be sure Bryan knew it was okay to enjoy himself—that it was a good thing.
“Yes.” Bryan bit out the word, but his body told a different tale, moving with Deke, holding his fingers every time he pulled them back.
Stepping things up, he stretched his fingers wider, wriggling them as he did so. One of Bryan’s knees jerked, almost opening Bryan wider. He encouraged that, sliding his free hand along Bryan’s inner thigh and pushing. Moaning, Bryan grabbed his knee and held it there, giving Deke more room.
“Sweet, wonderful man. You deserve every pleasure.” He pushed his fingers in deep, searching for the tiny spot hiding within Bryan that could light Bryan up.
“Yes!”
That cry made his mouth dry, as did the way Bryan’s whole body seemed to push into the invasion now. He knew Bryan wanted that touch again and he gave it, stroking the sweet gland deep inside. He touched yet again, making Bryan twist and moan. He stayed right there for a while, holding true to his promise of not going too fast, of making sure that Bryan was totally ready. He wanted Bryan completely out of his mind with desire.
He kept working Bryan’s gland, now gently, now with more force. He stretched his fingers wide as he pulled them back, stopping right on the edge of letting them fall right out.
“Please. Please, don’t stop. Don’t stop, man.” It was clear Bryan trusted him to keep making it good.
Like he was going to stop. Not when he had Bryan begging for it. He tapped and tapped, making sure to vary his rhythm, to make Bryan jerk and twist. He watched the pleasure dance across Bryan’s face and kept touching, sliding his fingers in and out of Bryan’s body.
Bryan’s cries filled the air, and it made the growing darkness as the sun disappeared seem velvet, heady.
He pushed his fingers in deeper, coming up hard against Bryan’s gland and Bryan’s entire body jerked for him, shuddered from his touch. He did it again, then again, quickly becoming addicted to Bryan’s eager responses. This was what he’d known was hiding behind Bryan’s hesitation and inexperience. How wonderful was it that he got to be the one to open Bryan up to himself like this?
Bryan’s body tightened hard around his fingers as Bryan grabbed his other knee, spreading himself wider. “More. More. Fuck, I gotta to shoot.”
“Easy, baby, easy.” He dropped kisses onto Bryan’s face. He wanted Bryan to be able to enjoy a good, long fingerfucking. In fact, he was going to let Bryan come like this, show him how good this smaller penetration could be. “I’m going to let you come, but we’re going to take our time, so breathe.”
“Breathe...” Slowly the sensations around his fingers eased.
“That’s right, baby boy, you slow down now. Just like that.” He kissed Bryan, distracting him a little from his ass. “Better, hmm?”
“Yeah.”
One day it would be “yes, sir.” He knew it. He could read it in the way B responded to him, accepted his pushing, his guidance.
But for now, “yeah” was his cue and he began to move his hand again. Holding Bryan’s gaze, he pulled his fingers almost out, before pushing right back in. He touched Bryan’s gland again, then twisted his fingers together and nudged it a few more times. He spread his fingers wide, circling them to touch Bryan everywhere.
“Sexy boy. I fucking love touching you here.” He circled his fingers this time as he pushed them forward, knowing it would add to what Bryan was feeling.
“Feels...feels good. Damn. I never knew... Feels like electricity inside me.”
“I know it does.” He kept moving, keeping it slow and easy for now. The passion would build as he slowly brought the speed up again, when he went back to pinging Bryan’s gland with every thrust. He stroked Bryan’s cock—teasing more than anything, giving the man one stroke for every three or four pushes of his fingers into Bryan’s body. And each time Bryan squeezed hard around him, body clenching.
“That’s it, baby boy. You’re working my fingers but good.”
Bryan whimpered for him, and he shoved in harder, finding Bryan’s gland unerringly now.
Bryan met every thrust with a buck of his hips, like he was demanding it. Deke wrapped his hand around Bryan’s hip, the ink of his family crest burning his palm for a second. Then he grabbed Bryan’s cock, the flesh so hard and hot, the tip leaking and leaving Bryan’s belly shining with pre-come.
“It’s too bad you hate anal penetration so much,” he teased, double-tapping Bryan’s gland.
Bryan laughed, the sound wild and aroused, and hearing it made Deke’s balls ache.
He snapped his teeth together, punching his fingers in hard. Bryan grabbed hold of his arms, fingers digging in as he held on and began moving, pushing up to meet each thrust of Deke’s fingers. They ground together, their bodies slapping almost violently.
He wrapped his fingers firmly around Bryan’s cock, stroking in time with the thrusts of his other hand.
“Yes. Yes, there. Fuck. Harder.” Demanding. It was exactly what he wanted to hear. Someone wasn’t so shy or retiring when he forgot himself, when he was lost in pleasure.
“That’s it, boy. Gonna make you come so hard,” Deke promised.
“Not a boy.”
No. Not a boy. His boy.
He laughed in pure delight and bent to take one of Bryan’s nipples in his mouth. Covering his teeth with his lips, he bit down on Bryan’s hard little nub at the same time as he slammed his fingertips into Bryan’s gland.
Spunk sprayed from Bryan, thick, ropy jets of seed painting the lovely belly.
He groaned as Bryan’s ass squeezed his fingers, milking them, and imagined that sensation around his cock. He pumped his hips, his cock caught between his own body and Bryan’s, and it didn’t take much before he was coming, too, spraying all over Bryan’s hip.
Bryan moaned softly, eyes closed, face lax. There was a slight hitch of Bryan’s breath as Deke pulled his fingers out, and then a sigh as Deke rubbed both his and Bryan’s come into the hot skin.
Shifting, Deke settled, then tugged Bryan onto his side, pulling his boy close. He hummed happily, stroking Bryan’s back, feeling the heat from the strong muscles. “That was amazing. You are the hottest thing on two legs.”
“Man. That was stunning,” Bryan admitted.
“Yeah, it certainly was.” He shifted slightly to find that perfect fit, then began to stroke Bryan’s back again. He found that he simply couldn’t stop touching. So he didn’t. “Tell me you’re a snuggler.”
“Apparently, I am.”
Just like, apparently, Bryan liked anal. A lot. It simply took the right man and some care and attention to make sure he was enjoying it. Deke smiled and gave Bryan a quick kiss before lying back again, still touching, tracing all Bryan’s beautiful muscles. He could stay right here all night.
“Are you going to be weirded out if I close my eyes for a minute?”
“Why would I be weirded out?” Falling asleep after fucking was a time-honored tradition for guys, wasn’t it? Deke patted Bryan’s ass, wanting suddenly to spank it good and rosy. He pushed the thought away. He could be patient for Bryan.
“Who knows. I guess I usually don’t.” Bryan moaned and yawned, then cuddled in like a sleepy pup.
Which made the fact that Bryan wanted to now extra-special.
“Not weirded out. I’ll just have to join you—so I hope you’re not weirded out by my closing my eyes. I bet I’ll be longer than a minute, though.” He imagined they both would be. He liked that thought, of sleeping with his boy, of waking up with him.
“As long as you want.”
That was what he wanted to hear.
“Sounds good to me.” He let his eyes close, let the lassitude fill his body. He was practically purring as he fell asleep.