Chapter 21

A few hours later they were settled in an A-frame cabin, while the temperature outside dropped below zero. The red house sat in a long line of other houses that looked exactly the same except for color. They were all bright against the white snow and ice—red, yellow and orange.

Inside, Gaige expected rustic but he got modern. The wood walls were painted gray. The furniture had clean lines and little fuss. There was a small living area with a child-sized couch and a chair that led to a kitchenette. To the left sat the bed, which took up almost all of the alcove space.

Gaige didn’t know who the house belonged to or how Alec got it. He chalked it up to one more way Alec made things happen without a fuss.

Really, Gaige was just happy to be warm again. It took him forever to de-thaw from the vault trip and walking outside for just a few feet. Being this close to the Arctic Circle meant white skies and numbing temperatures. But now they were inside, where Gaige had been typing and searching for long enough that his back ached from bending over the laptop.

His plan had worked back at the vault. Put the wireless drive on the counter then beam the hard drive of the security computer right onto it. The riskiest part had been hiding it in his palm, but that seemed to work. It had almost been too easy, but he wasn’t about to question their luck. Not when he finally found what he’d been looking for.

Gaige leaned back in his chair, ignoring the knots across the top of his shoulders. He was about to call out for Alec when he appeared with coffee in hand.

“Well?” Alec asked from right behind Gaige.

He pointed at the laptop screen. “See this?”

“I can pretend I do.” Alec shifted until he stood next to Gaige. He frowned at the computer screen but quickly gave that up and pulled the second dining chair around to sit with Gaige.

“The code. It repeats.” Even though it was a big deal and a major find, Gaige knew it sounded like nothing.

“Okay.”

Gaige didn’t get sidetracked by Alec’s lack of enthusiasm. Non-computer people usually just wanted their email and word processing to work. The rest of the system didn’t matter. For Gaige, everything that happened behind the scenes held more of a thrill. That’s where the coder’s brilliance and identifying behavior could be found.

“I searched through historical footage and checked the current feed. Here is the video from inside vault number one.” Gaige called up the image. “Boring, right?”

“In the world of security, I’d guess boring is good.”

Gaige couldn’t really argue with that. “True, but it’s fake. Nothing changes, which makes sense since nothing is in there, but it’s a looping algorithm. The video feed isn’t actually from the vault.”

“Where is it from?”

“I should say, it’s not what is currently happening in the vault. It’s from some point in the past and it’s playing over and over as if it’s real time.” That was more accurate. The footage likely did come straight from the vault. Just not today. Not recently. Not since someone had tampered with the feed, and he intended to pinpoint that date. Knowing when could help them in figuring out the “what” here.

“Anything could be in there.”

Which meant Seth was right and the unscheduled seed deliveries were really about something else. Gaige hated to admit that, but the additional seed delivery was not an innocent mistake or a screwup. “I’d love to find the video showing it being opened, but I’m sure whoever created the fake trail was also smart enough to destroy the evidence of the real footage.”

“Sometimes people keep things like that to prove their brilliance.” Alec sounded like he was talking from experience.

Gaige wanted to ask but didn’t. They were there for a job and he intended to do it, frostbite or no.

“There’s more to go through.” Gaige stretched an arm behind his head. “I figure I have a few hours of work left tonight.”

“No.”

Gaige slowly lowered his arm again as he glanced over at Alec. “What?”

“I don’t want you working all night.” Alec pushed back from the table and stood up.

“What do you want?” But Gaige knew. The energy in the room had changed. It became charged with an electricity that had nothing to do with discovering code.

No, Alec stood there with his hands at his sides and an obvious bulge in his pants. What he had in mind involved testing out that big bed…or maybe the kitchen table, though Gaige doubted it would hold their joint weight.

“You.” Alec put his hand on the back of Gaige’s chair. “Inside me.”

It took a second for the words to register in Gaige’s brain. “You’re going to bottom?”

The idea sounded pretty fucking fantastic. Gaige was versatile but he loved that Alec demanded control and used it to get them both off. He respected anyone who knew what they needed in bed and went after it. But the idea that Alec trusted him enough to forfeit just a bit of that iron will? So damn sexy.

This was happening. Alec took the few steps that separated the living area from the bed. He bent down and dug around in his bag. When he stood up again he held a condom.

He shook it in the air. “The way I see it we can spend the next hour talking about having sex or actually having sex. Choose wisely.”

That’s all it took. Gaige almost dove on top of Alec. “Fuck work.”

“This is the only time you’ll hear me say this, but…right answer.” Alec threw the condom on the mattress behind him. Then the tube of lube. He’d come prepared and he didn’t plan on wasting all that planning.

Gaige got up then. He stood in front of Alec. Trailed a hand down his chest and over that flat stomach. Kept going until his fingers settled on Alec’s erection. “It seems like one of us has a head start.”

Alec called up all his strength not to lose it right there. His muscles shook. His brain tumbled until the need kicking in his gut took over. They’d been in bed together, touched each other and shared things, but this seemed bigger. He was ceding some of his control. Trusting Gaige, despite the sneaking and the half-truths.

They’d gotten through those rough moments and shared information Alec never shared with anyone. He wanted that to matter. Needed it to.

“You’re pretty fucking sexy when you work. Sitting there, concentrating. So consumed with getting to the answer.” Alec touched Gaige then. Brushed his hands up and down Gaige’s arms. Remembered how he focused, blocking out everything but work. Alec did the same and loved seeing the trait in Gaige. “It’s stupid hot.”

He wanted Gaige naked and sweating and hopefully doing a little begging. But Gaige beat him to the start. He slipped his fingers under the hem of Alec’s sweater and lifted it up and off. Next came the two long-sleeve shirts underneath.

The quick striptease left Alec naked from the waist up. The flare of heat in Gaige’s eyes suggested that was not good enough.

Alec toyed with the idea of taking over, but this night was about letting Gaige lead. Seeing desire swamp him.

He sat on the edge of the mattress and maneuvered Alec to stand between his open thighs. Alec watched, loving his view as Gaige tugged on Alec’s belt. Gulped in heavy breaths as Gaige’s fingers worked.

With the belt open, next came the button. Alec almost ripped that off for Gaige, but he fisted his hands at his sides instead.

“You like glasses and me on the laptop. My junior high years would’ve been much more enjoyable if you’d been around.” Gaige leaned forward and pressed a kiss against Alec’s bulge.

Damn that was sexy. Set-his-cells-on-fire sexy.

“I wasn’t out back then but I still would have been all over you.” Alec never would have stood a chance against a younger version of Gaige.

“My teen self thanks you.” Gaige pulled Alec’s zipper down and didn’t stop there. He started stripping the rest off and not in some lazy way that had clothing falling gently off the side of the bed. Nope. Gaige pulled until Alec stood in front of him wearing nothing but a thick pair of socks.

Alec lost the ability to think.

Just when he was about to say something dirty, Gaige leaned forward, sweeping his tongue up Alec’s length. Didn’t use his hands or swallow. This was a warning shot and it jolted right through Alec. Burned away every stray doubt.

He loved the sweep of Gaige’s tongue, but he refused to be a bystander in this. He went after what he wanted and slid his fingers into Gaige’s hair. Brought him in closer.

“More.” Alec wanted to shout the command but he bit it back. Tamped down the energy crashing over him.

That was almost like begging, but Alec didn’t care.

And Gaige dove in. He used his hand and his mouth. His fingers wrapped around Alec’s base as his mouth traveled down. He used his tongue to press against Alec’s fullness, easing it toward the back of his throat.

A strangled sound escaped Alec’s throat as his hips pressed forward. He wanted more. Craved it.

Gaige gave it to him. He picked up the lube as he slowly eased Alec out of his mouth.

He was erect and ready now. From his position above Gaige he could see everything and the anticipation nearly killed him. The move of Gaige’s fingers. The warm breath blowing over Alec’s skin.

Alec took it all in, savored it. Excitement turned to a loud thumping need inside him. He wanted to draw out every second, just as he ached for the surrender yet to come.

While the battle raged inside Alec, Gaige stayed calm. He flipped open the top of the tube and squeezed lube onto his fingertips. Rubbed them together while Alec watched. His gaze never left Gaige’s hand except to bounce to his lips. He remembered how Gaige tasted and what he could do with that tongue.

Gaige bowed his head. Slid his tongue over Alec from base to tip. Licked and sucked until Alec groaned and his knees buckled. And when Alec started to shift his legs and push to get on the bed, Gaige slipped a finger inside him, using the lube to ease his way.

The sensation of being stretched and full hit Alec. He tried to keep his eyes open but they kept drifting shut. He could feel his mouth drop and his whole body lean into Gaige because he couldn’t stand on his own much longer.

He wanted to be fucked. Hard, possessed.

Cutting right to it, Gaige pulled Alec down on the mattress. Before Alec’s back hit the bed Gaige had his shirt off and his own pants unbuttoned. Alec was ready, and Gaige didn’t appear to be far behind.

He kicked his shoes off, nearly taking out a nearby lamp. Next came the slow, enticing climb up Alec’s aroused body. Kissing his way up Alec’s thighs to his cock. One more lick and Gaige kept moving, even as Alec tried to hold him there for more.

Gaige dragged kisses over Alec’s stomach to that patch of hair on his chest as he moved. The battle ended when Alec pulled Gaige up higher. He didn’t say anything as he brought Gaige’s mouth down for the hard kiss he needed as much as he needed air.

Their lips met, and the touch wiped Alec’s memory clean. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.

As the kiss raged on it blocked out every sound and thought. When Alec finally dropped his head back onto the mattress, he stared up at that amazing face. He’d spent so many years wandering in a sort of cold darkness. Now he knew fire lurked underneath the surface, just waiting for the right man to make him burn.

“You ready?” This time Gaige was the one who asked permission.

The question made Alec smile. At least he thought he did. He was too far gone to actually know. But he did grab the condom packet and open it. Without breaking eye contact, he slipped his hands between their bodies and rolled it on Gaige. The move had Gaige gulping in air. Then his body took over. He pushed Alec’s legs up until he could fit between them. Rather than diving in, he took his time.

Alec teetered on the edge. He wanted to soak in every minute but his brain kept blinking out. His hands shook and he hoped he could make it last just long enough to drive them both wild.

Right then Gaige ran his tip between Alec’s cheeks. Back and forth, letting the lube guide him in. He pressed forward. Not a deep thrust like Alec wanted, but a slow slide. Enough to tempt them both while driving them mad with the need to finish this off.

Alec squirmed as he pressed his inner thighs against Gaige’s hips and pulled him in deeper. His hands went to Gaige’s chest then slipped lower. Right to where their bodies met.

Gaige didn’t hold back. He slid in deeper, inch by inch. Alec’s body closed around him. With each push Alec’s hips lifted, and he made a strange noise that ended with a sigh.

With his mouth open, Gaige leaned down. The move morphed into a thrust. Alec’s body jerked as the plunging started. Breathless but still able to think, he tried to lift his arms, but they fell back against the bed.

Gaige just watched him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Alec could hear how breathless he sounded, but he rushed to assure Gaige he wasn’t hurt.

No, this fit, so tight, stole his ability to speak. And when Gaige slipped his thumb over Alec’s bottom lip, Alec bit down.

Still, Gaige didn’t move or even try to thrust. “You sure?”

Alec’s arms wrapped around Gaige’s waist then. “I have done this before, you know. Admittedly with a lot less talking.”

His voice sounded strained even to his own ears. His body bucked, and when Gaige pulled back and plunged deep again there was no mistaking the sound they both made. That was pleasure. Alec was hypnotized by the sound. By the way Gaige’s body grabbed on to his.

Gaige stilled inside him. The not moving nearly broke Alec. He finally lifted his head off the bed and stared at Gaige. “You need to move or I’m going to take over.”

He clenched his body around Gaige to make the point. Let his inner muscles grab hold.

Gaige groaned as his teeth slammed together. “Then I’ll move.”

His hips flexed, and he pushed inside. Relief washed through Alec. The sweet friction had him gasping for breath all over again. Forget waiting. Forget slow. They hit a steady rhythm that stole Alec’s strength.

Gaige really began thrusting then. Their bodies rubbed together, touched everywhere. And when Alec lifted his legs, bringing his knees a bit closer to his chest, Gaige went harder.

The bed shook. Alec’s fingers curled into the comforter underneath him. He needed to hold on to something as the tightening inside him ratcheted up. He took it all and wrapped his legs around Gaige’s back. With each thrust, his limbs slipped until they fell to his hips.

Gaige pumped into Alec until the orgasm tore through him. At the last minute Alec reached down to touch himself, but Gaige’s hand was already there. His palm touched Alec’s stiffness. Wetness coated Gaige’s fingers.

Alec didn’t need anything else. Not another touch. Not another kiss. No, he was already there. All he had to do was ride it out until their bodies collapsed against each other. When that happened, Alec held on, digging his fingers into Gaige’s shoulders for leverage.

It took another minute for the last of the shaking to stop. Gaige balanced his weight on his elbows over Alec but his body fell. He landed with a thump and just laid there with his head on Alec’s chest. He enjoyed the closeness, Gaige’s scent, so he didn’t do anything except touch his fingers to the back of Gaige’s neck.

“Fuck yes,” Gaige said on a whisper.

That sounded about right to Alec.