Chapter 13

 

 

The next morning, O’Neil stood in the shower, under the steaming hot water, hoping the heat would take care of some of the ache. Most days, the pain was manageable, but all the strenuous activity of late, and it fucking hurt.

He stood under the spray with one hand high against the wall while he massaged the muscle the best he could.

Ryan stepped in behind him and pushed the massaging hand away to take over. He pressed hard with his thumbs, working into the muscle. “Bad?”

“Doesn’t usually get this bad. Most of the time it’s fine. This is the worst it’s been in months.”

“This helping?” Ryan asked, pressing harder.

Shannon groaned. “Fucking amazing.”

“That was you, last night.”

He glanced back, a grin on his lips. “Glad I pleased you.”

“Over and over.” Ryan pressed his erection against his crease. “I could please you now.”

“I need you.”

There was a snap from a cap, then fingers pressing into him, while he gripped his hard length.

“Fuck, Ryan.”

Ryan’s lips pressed against his shoulder. Then his tongue swirled as he scissored his fingers deep inside, while stroking his length.

“Now, I’m ready now,” he groaned.

Ryan chuckled before his cock replaced his fingers. The burn of his wide length stretching him quickly turned to pleasure. God, it felt good to have Ryan’s hands around his hips as he drove into him in a powerful thrust.

Both hands hit the wall as he pushed back. Ryan drove harder. It felt so damned good he forgot all about the shoulder.

“God, I’m not going to last,” Ryan groaned.

“Don’t need to.” O’Neil needed to come so damned bad.

A few more strokes and he came against the wall while Ryan bottomed out and held himself there, whispering Shannon’s name.

Fuck, that sounded good.

Ryan leaned back and O’Neil turned, pulling Ryan against him before taking his mouth.

“Shoulder feels better.” It wasn’t great, but Ryan had worked out most of the knot.

Ryan grabbed his sides. “Good. You going to the gym this morning?”

“Want me to?”

“I like having something to look at while I’m sweating my brains out. But if you need to do something for your shoulder, I’m not going to be upset.”

O’Neil chuckled. “I’ll be there.”

Ryan moved under the water to rinse off. “I’ll have a shake ready when you get down there.” He stepped out of the shower and quickly dried off.

O’Neil watched. Ryan was one gorgeous motherfucker. And he gave as good as he got. As if he read his mind, Ryan looked up and winked before dropping the towel on the counter and strolling out of the bathroom.

And that ass. Goddamn.

 

* * * *

 

Ryan never thought he’d feel so much so fast. And there he was, trying to figure out how he could keep up the act for the world. He toyed with hiring Shannon as a bodyguard, but he didn’t think he could get away with that long-term. Oh, it was tempting, though. But why would he really need a bodyguard?

He didn’t.

The phone rang and he glared at the caller ID. Mom, of course.

He picked it up as he threw everything into the blender for the shakes. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

“You haven’t called.”

“Manny’s doing fine. I’m busy, though. Getting ready for the gym.”

“I know. That’s why I called now. I wanted to make sure I reach you before you leave.”

“You got me.”

“How’s Manny?”

“Seemed good last night when he was hanging out with Aubrey.”

“Is she nice?”

“I don’t know. I met her briefly the night he met her. All I know is she’s interested in him, and no one else.”

She sighed. “That’s good. I wish it weren’t so hard for him.”

“Same here. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how to help him.”

“Hey, those ready?” Shannon said as he came down the stairs.

“Oh, you have a man there?” she balked.

“Yeah, and I really need to go. Bye, Mom.” He hung up. Ryan met Shannon’s gaze, a sheepish smile on his face. “Sorry. My mother is checking on my brother.”

“Don’t worry about it. I get it.”

“You going to work out?”

He nodded. “Cardio at least. We’ll see how the shoulder is doing. I don’t want to turn to pills. I avoid them when I can.”

He nodded. “Understood. But as long as you’re using them as prescribed, I don’t see the problem.”

“I will, when it’s bad. I don’t have them with me, though. They’re at home, because I so rarely need them.”

Ryan looked away. “Sorry.”

Shannon brought his face back with a gentle touch. “Not your fault. Why did you rush off the phone?”

“It’s early, and I don’t want her trying to change the fact I’m gay. I always have been.”

“And it doesn’t bother you I like women?”

Ryan shook his head slowly. “Not as long as while you’re with me, you’re with me, and not another person. I don’t give a damn who you were with in the past.”

O’Neil closed the distance. “I’m with you, only you.”

“Then I don’t see the problem.” Ryan grabbed his shirt and pulled him the rest of the way, then kissed him hard.

“I like this. You and me,” O’Neil admitted.

“Me too.”

O’Neil’s brow arched. “Your mom thinks you can change?”

He sighed. “I don’t know. She teases me I should try women, and she doesn’t seem to understand why I can’t switch sides.”

“Sorry.”

He smirked. “She says if I find the right man she’ll stop.”

“My mother doesn’t care who I’m with. She just wants me happy.”

“But your father does.”

He nodded. “Oh yeah. He hated the fact I was even considering a man. One who I thought I could have a life with until I got hurt, and he decided he couldn’t do it.” He blew out a breath. “But that doesn’t matter now.”

“Why?”

O’Neil leaned against the counter. “Dad is dying. My sister says he wants to talk to me, and I don’t give a fuck.”

“I’m sorry. You want to talk about it?”

“No. Not right now.”

Ryan nodded. “Well, we should go. Big day today. I have a feeling you plan to torture us again.”

“Oh, but you love it.” O’Neil pushed him back. “Besides, you’re due at the gym soon.”

“You coming over tonight?”

Shannon glanced at his phone and winced. “Probably not. I want to, but I need to deal with some family stuff before I can say. I don’t want to tie you up if I can’t come over.”

“I see. I understand. But if it’s anything I can help with, I’m willing.”

“If I need to talk, be there. That’s all.”

“I’ll have my phone by my side all night, and if you choose to come over, I’ll be here.”

He smiled. “You and the rest of your group are a lot more real than I expected. And you, damn, I never imagined you’d be so easy to be around.”

“Why?”

“You’re gorgeous, you’ve been in the spotlight since you were a kid, and you could have the attention of anyone you wanted. I just figured you’d be a douchebag like Jackson Crabtree.”

Ryan chuckled. “It’s not always true I can have who I want. Might be easier if I liked women.”

“Maybe. I’ll take my luck for as long as I can keep it.”

Ryan slipped a finger into Shannon’s belt loop. “This isn’t luck. We have something.”

His hand wrapped around Shannon’s waist. “We do.”

“Call me after you get done dealing with family stuff. I’ll likely be here.”

“Either way, you’ll hear from me.”

Ryan took another kiss. “We should go.”

“Unfortunately.”

“Yeah.”