Noel expected to get a text when Shane was downstairs, so the knock on his door a few minutes before nine startled him. He opened it to find a walking wet dream standing in the hallway. Shane had painted his clothes on in blue and black, and his dark hair had curled into adorable little ringlets. Even his posture—shoulders slightly hunched, hands in his pockets—was perfect. Perfectly handsome and perfectly fuckable.

Keen interest prickled his skin and sent heat coursing south.

“Hey,” Noel said because higher intelligence was beyond him at the moment.

“Hey.” Shane smiled. His first genuine smile in Noel’s company, and it sharpened his already gorgeous features into that hot, almost feral expression that turned his crank in a big way. “Can I come in?”

“Sure, yes.”

Shane stepped past him, his attention skipping around the room. It wasn’t much beyond four green walls. A bed in one corner, a table against a wall. A mini fridge and a hot plate. The only other door hid the pint-sized bathroom. He kept the place clean and swept, the trash under control. A few personal items sat here and there, though, and Shane went straight for the most private one.

A framed photo of his family, taken at Noel’s high school graduation. It sat on the table, on top of a small stack of Agatha Christie novels.

“Your family?” Shane asked.

“Yeah. There’s a lot of us.” Parents, two brothers and a sister. Noel didn’t offer more than that. He hadn’t expected Shane to be up here, and he was floundering a bit. No one came here.

“I like your place. It’s cozy.”

“It’s a place to crash.”

“No TV?”

“Nah. I didn’t want the hassle of a cable bill. I have WiFi on my laptop if I want to watch something. Or I listen to music or read.”

Shane wandered to the far wall, his leg brushing the bed. Noel’s bed. The memory of Shane nearly naked, stretched out on a bed, flooded his brain without permission. Noel bit his tongue to try and stave off another wave of arousal.

“So what do you do in your off-time, Officer?” The way Shane growled the word “officer” was both a challenge and an invitation. Shane braced his hands on his hips and rolled his shoulders back.

Noel licked his lips. “I work out a lot.”

“You got a gym stashed in here somewhere?”

“Under the bed.” Shane’s surprised look made Noel chuckle. “I’m kidding. I drive over to one in Elizabethtown. It’s not too far.” And it was small enough that he could get in and out of the showers without flashing his scars all over the place.

“Well, the extra effort definitely pays off.” Shane eyed him like he was measuring him for a suit. Up and down. All over. Not hiding his appraisal.

Blood pulsed into Noel’s cock. He couldn’t stop his hard-on now if he tried, and the khaki shorts he’d picked out weren’t going to hide it. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” Shane’s gaze dropped below Noel’s belt, and his feral smile went absolutely lustful. “If it’s about that, then the answer is yes.”

A rumble of nervous laughter cut off Noel’s question. “It’s tangentially related.”

“Oh?”

“Are you out?”

Shane’s eyebrows jumped. “Yes. I mean, I don’t run around advertising it, but I don’t lie if someone asks. My brother knows, and so do my coworkers. The important people. Are you?”

“No.”

“But you are gay?”

“Yes, I’m gay. I just…it’s hard being a gay cop, and I’m still pretty young. Still finding my feet and my place in the department.”

“There’s already a gay cop on the force.”

“Yeah, but he’s like a decade older with a lot more experience. And rumor is he played football in college. No one’s going to give him shit about it.”

“You’re afraid they’ll give you shit.” Not even a question.

The statement of fact made Noel’s arousal dim a bit. “Yes, I am. I’ve been bullied before.”

Something in Shane’s gaze shuttered. “I get that, and I don’t want to out you, Noel.”

“What is you do want?”

Shane’s nostrils flared. He took three long strides that put him right in Noel’s personal space, and Noel fought to stay still when instinct suggested he take a step backward. Shane’s right hand landed softly on his hip. Suddenly having Shane in his home didn’t seem so strange after all. It felt absolutely right.

“I want the same thing you want,” Shane whispered, silky seduction in his voice. “To find out what you taste like.”

Noel’s heart skipped. “I know what I taste like.”

Shane’s lips twitched. “Let me rephrase then. I want to know—”

Noel gave him what he wanted. He had no intent with the kiss, other than the action itself. Grabbing Shane and hauling his hard, lean body close, hips to hips, had the added benefit of allowing Noel to wrap his hand around the back of Shane’s neck. No softness. No exploration. Only two mouths demanding inside the other, and goddamn Shane tasted good. Mint and spice and everything nice.

Shane thrust his tongue into his mouth, licking, exploring, while hands plucked at Noel’s waistband. Beneath. Cool fingers met skin, and Noel shivered. His cock pulsed with want, and while he hadn’t expected their date to start with sex—end with, hell yes—he wasn’t going to say no to eating dessert before dinner. Shane directed him backward a few steps, and then Noel’s back hit the wall. Shane crowded into him, surrounding him, their hard cocks pressed close together. Noel rocked his hips, the friction sending happy signals to all nerve endings. Shane bit his lower lip.

Noel made a helpless, needy noise, because he fucking loved that, so Shane bit again. Noel tugged Shane’s head to the side and attacked his neck, licking and tasting the smooth skin that still smelled vaguely of shaving cream. Shane sighed, fingers digging into Noel’s hips, until Noel found a spot low on his neck that made Shane gasp. He played with that spot, teasing it with his lips and tongue, enjoying the various sounds Shane made. The way Shane thrust his hips, rubbing their cocks together, and there were too damned many clothes in the way.

Proving they were on the same wavelength as to where things were going, Shane retreated far enough to tug his T-shirt up and off. An expanse of smooth, tanned skin greeted Noel. Dark nipples. Taut, four-pack abs. Noel’s admiration of the dancer’s body in front of him was interrupted by fingers plucking at the hem of his shirt.

Nerves fluttered in Noel’s stomach. Strangers and one-night stands rarely noticed or cared about the scars, but this was Shane. He’d had conversations with Shane. This was a freaking date. He couldn’t explain keeping his shirt on without coming off like some insecure loser, so he yanked off his polo and took his chances.

Shane blinked at his chest, doing a piss-poor job of hiding his surprise. He didn’t pull away, didn’t frown or look disgusted. His right hand skated across Noel’s abs, up to circle the ugliest of the scars. The twisted bundle of puckered skin over his heart. One line cut dangerously close to his left nipple and traced down to the middle of his ribs. The other scars were scattered across his right pec and abs. One reached up toward his neck, a fine line that was usually hidden by his shirts.

Tenderness crept into Shane’s expression, and behind it something else. Something darker, more angry. Almost protective, like Shane was taking the scars personally, and that socked Noel in the gut with an emotion he didn’t recognize. Noel could see the unasked questions bouncing around in Shane’s head, and he didn’t want to talk about it.

Determined to bring them back to the subject not yet in his hand—or mouth—Noel asked, “Are you clean?”

Shane shook himself. His expression cleared, and he was back on track. “Yeah. You?”

“Yes. Good.” He grabbed Shane’s hips and turned them, pressing Shane’s back to the wall.

Noel went to his knees, then tugged open the button fly on those painted-on pants. Commando. The thought made Noel’s insides bunch up with desire and need and the primal urge to claim what was so clearly being offered. He peeled Shane’s pants down, pausing to yank his shoes off, and then Shane was naked.

Gloriously naked. His chest and abs were shaved smooth, but a tight nest of black hair surrounded his erect cock. A lovely uncut cock, longer than his own but not as thick. That pretty little butterfly tattoo.

Noel wrapped his hand around the base of Shane’s cock, pulled the foreskin back a bit more, then flicked the tip of his tongue into the slit. Shane gasped. Fingers threaded in Noel’s hair, urging. Not being passive in his own blowjob, and Noel kind of liked that. He took Shane into his mouth. Flavor exploded, so heady, so unique to Shane, and he wanted more. Noel licked and sucked the length of him, reveling in how the skin slid along the thickness, creating a simple rhythm. Until Shane’s hands clasped his head, stilling him. Shane took over, gentle thrusts of his hips, not going too deep or too hard. He fucked Noel’s mouth with such care that Noel rewarded him by rolling his lightly furred balls. One, then the other, then both at once. Shane’s hips stuttered a few times, and he thrust a little harder, control slipping.

“Oh fuck, that’s good,” Shane said on a moan. “Fuck.”

Noel explored behind Shane’s balls, rubbing a fingertip over the smooth skin before slipping farther back. Shane made an indecipherable noise when Noel pressed against his entrance—not protest, not quite surprise. He rubbed, curious, and got the same noise, a little higher pitched.

“Jesus Christ,” Shane said. “Oh God.” He tugged at Noel’s head until Noel reluctantly released the cock in his mouth.

He looked up and met Shane’s wide, burning eyes. “What do you want?” Noel asked.

“Wanna suck you before you fuck me.”

Hell yes. Noel’s balls tightened with want at the forthright way Shane said what was going to happen. Noel was versatile in bed, so the chance to pound Shane into the mattress delighted him. Especially if he was as responsive to being fucked as he was to having his dick sucked.

“Okay,” Noel said.

“Get naked and sit on the edge of the bed.”

The command in Shane’s voice prickled across Noel’s skin, firing up his blood. Shane might want to get fucked tonight, but he was far from submissive, and that turned Noel’s crank in a huge way. He wanted a partner in bed who challenged him, who wanted to play, not someone who laid back and took it while Noel ran the show. In his experience, the latter seemed to gravitate to him, while the former was pretty difficult to find.

Noel stood slowly, admiring every bare inch of skin on Shane’s torso and chest as he rose. Honed and cut, not a spare ounce of fat. A dancer’s body. Even his legs, while muscled, were lean and long. And for at least tonight, the entire package was his. Noel peeled out of his shorts, shoes and socks, then sat on the edge of the bed.

Shane hadn’t said anything about not touching himself, so Noel loosely stroked his cock. He’d meant it as an invitation, but Shane didn’t get to business. He crouched between Noel’s spread legs and licked his lips.

“Keep doing that,” Shane said.

Noel dragged his palm over the head, then down. So good. He circled his fingers and fucked his own hand, spurred on my Shane’s watchful, lusty gaze. He’d never jerked himself in front of someone before, and while he had no intention of coming until he was balls-deep inside Shane, he was enjoying himself. Enjoying the unexpected voyeurism of it all. His blood hummed. He tugged and rubbed, losing himself in the pleasure of it, until Shane knocked his hand away and sucked him into tight, wet heat.

“Oh my fuck,” Noel said. He clutched at Shane’s shoulders while Shane took him to the back of his throat. Pleasure made his heart thump, his belly tighten, his thighs tremble. “Oh yes.”

Shane pulled back, a wicked smile tweaking his mouth, then did it again. Far enough that Noel’s cock head bumped something. Shane gagged a bit, then tried again, and Noel nearly fell over backward from the ecstasy of it all. Noel was average length, but he was thick, and guys didn’t often try to deep throat him, but Shane was fantastic at it, and dear God, he could come like this.

He wasn’t going to tonight, but hell yes, he could. Another day.

Noel’s balls drew up, warning him, and he reluctantly pushed Shane away. “Too close.”

Shane wiped his chin with the back of his hand, lips shiny, cheeks flushed. God, he looked like sex incarnate. Eros come to life and in his room. “You got stuff?”

“Yes.”

Noel raided the bedside table, producing a condom and two lube sachets. The little packs were easier to carry around, and since Shane was the first guy he’d ever brought here for sex—although technically Shane had brought himself over—he’d yet to invest in a bottle of lube. He made a mental note to swing by the pharmacy, because he very much wanted this to be more than a one-off.

Shane had stood up, but he didn’t get on the bed with Noel. He was hesitating for some reason.

“What’s up?” Noel asked.

“Nothing.” He swallowed. “It’s just been a while since I bottomed.”

“If you want to switch it up, I’m fine with that.”

“No, just, you know, some prep?”

Noel grinned. “Done. On your knees, cowboy.”

Shane’s eyebrows jumped. “Cowboy?”

“The name Shane always makes me think of that western movie starring Alan Ladd.”

“The one where the guy dies at the end? That’s your association?”

Noel floundered a moment until Shane’s eyes twinkled, and he realized he was being teased. He smacked Shane’s hip. “Cute. I’m sure I can come up with something else to call you.”

“Actually, I like cowboy. As in ‘ride ’em, cowboy’.”

“Oh, I plan to.”

Shane shivered, then climbed onto the bed, hands and knees, close to the top of the bed. Noel didn’t have a headboard, and he kind of regretted that. Shane would have looked gorgeous gripping one. Noel ignored the fantasy and paid attention to the gorgeous man crouching on his bed, legs apart, waiting for him. His tackle dangled low between his spread legs, and Noel gave it an appreciative tug before ripping into the lube. Coated his thumb and two fingers, rubbing it a bit to try and warm it.

“Ready?” Noel asked.

“Hell yes.”

Noel pressed the pad of his thumb against Shane’s entrance. He rubbed and nudged, teasing the tight muscle. Over and around, a gentle push here and there. Shane was gasping, making fun little noises, occasionally jerking himself. Noel kissed the divot at the top of Shane’s ass. “Relax, I’ve got you.”

Shane gasped, and then Noel’s thumb slid inside. “Oh fuck,” Shane said. “That’s good.”

Shane pushed toward him, allowing more of his thumb in. Noel sawed in and out, steady, a bit farther each time, until Shane took his thumb on an easy glide in and out. He switched from his thumb to his forefinger, pushed all the way in a fantastic wet heat, then curled that finger a bit. Turned. Bingo.

“Shit!” Shane’s yelp turned into a shudder. He clamped down on Noel’s finger while Noel continued to massage that special spot. “Right there. Oh fuck.”

While he was distracted, Noel worked a second finger inside, then used both to drive Shane crazy. His own erection got impossibly harder, more insistent for release, from the simple pleasure of listening to Shane lose his mind over being finger-fucked. It was fantastic and it lit something deep inside Noel, in a place that didn’t feel physical. He didn’t understand it, and it didn’t matter right then.

He needed to get inside Shane really fucking soon, or this was going to be over way too fast.

Noel kissed his way up Shane’s spine, admiring the way his muscles bunched and shifted as he worked himself on Noel’s fingers. “You want three?” he whispered.

Shane threw his head back, giving Noel his profile. “Want your cock in me. Now.”

Oh hell yes. Noel pulled his fingers out, then wiped them on his own thigh. Suited up and used the second sachet to lube up. Left hand on Shane’s hip, he used his right to steady his cock. Held it while he pressed against Shane’s slicked entrance. He pushed harder, and when that didn’t work, smoothed his free hand up and down Shane’s flank.

“Let me in, cowboy.”

“Trying.”

No joy.

“Goddamn it,” Shane huffed. He pulled away, his face a twisted mask of frustration.

“It’s okay, let’s try something else.” Noel stretched out on his back and crooked a finger at Shane. “You ride me, cowboy.”

Shane’s frustration melted into a half-smile. He threw one leg over Noel’s waist. Noel steadied him with hands on his hips, while Shane reached behind to clasp Noel’s cock. He lined up. With agonizing slowness, Shane lowered himself, until the pressure on Noel’s cock head was almost painful. And then he was inside, sliding slowly, carefully into tight heat. Heat that had Noel’s balls drawing up, his release coiling tight inside his gut.

Chest flushed and head thrown back, Shane fucked himself in short, shallow jerks of his hips, taking a little bit more each time. Noel held on, mesmerized by the entrancing form above him, grip so tight on Shane’s hips his knuckles ached. Shane paused, panting, and looked down. Right into Noel’s eyes, and Noel’s heart tripped at the storm of emotion in them.

Noel couldn’t help himself. He thrust up, into Shane, and Shane roared. He slammed himself down, taking the full length of Noel’s cock on a pant and a wheeze, and Noel shouted at the sudden hot wow. Shane bent at the waist and captured his mouth in a punishing kiss, nipping at his lips, teeth scraping teeth. The angle gave Noel a little room to move, and he thrust up, gently fucking Shane.

Shane whimpered into his mouth—the sexiest kind of whimper, full of need and desire—then sat up. He scraped fingernails over Noel’s nipples, and he fucking felt that in his balls. Noel took his revenge by pinching Shane’s nipples. Shane’s head fell back, exposing his throat, and Noel wanted to suck on that again. To find that spot and drive Shane crazy.

So he hooked his arms under Shane’s knees, lurched up, and dumped Shane onto his back, still buried deep inside him. He nearly bent Shane in half to get at his neck, and the delighted shout he got from Shane jolted him out of gentle-fuck mode and into fuck-him-senseless mode. He drove himself into Shane, demanding release for them both.

Shane curled his arms around Noel’s neck and held on, alternately cursing and encouraging him. Huffing and panting and nibbling at Noel’s ear, while fingers scraped down his back, heating and waking the skin. Noel wanted to stay here forever, his cock in Shane’s ass, his mouth on his throat, driving them both toward the brink of orgasm. Pounding. Needing.

His release slammed into him out of nowhere, exploding like white lightning, taking him apart piece by piece before shoving him back into his body. Noel’s hips came to a stuttering stall, and he panted into Shane’s neck, trying to collect himself because, good Lord, he’d never come like that before.

He withdrew, aware of the sharp hiss from Shane, who was working his own cock with intense strokes. That wouldn’t do. Noel knocked Shane’s hand away, then sucked him into his mouth. Shane shouted. Thrust inside, hard, while Noel rolled his sac. And then Shane was coming. Noel sucked him through it, enjoying the salty, somewhat bitter taste of his spend, until Shane went boneless.

Noel tossed the condom onto the floor. He crawled up the bed to lie next to him and threw one arm across Shane’s chest. Shane’s head lolled in his direction, eyes half-lidded.

“I am so glad you work out,” Shane said.

The seeming non sequitur earned him a sharp bark of surprised laughter. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I’m not used to getting thrown around like that.” That devilish, feral smile returned. “It was fucking hot.”

Noel allowed himself a smug grin. “I needed you where I could kiss you better.”

“You mean eat my collarbone.”

“Hey, it’s your erogenous zone, cowboy.”

Shane chuckled. He rolled onto his side, then tucked his arm beneath his head. “So if two guys begin a date with fantastic sex, what’s a fitting way to end it?”

“An encore?”

“That’s a possibility.”

Noel traced an infinity symbol on Shane’s abs. “Or we could do what most people do at the start of a first date.”

“Awkward silence?”

He laughed. “Talking. I mean, what do we really know about each other?” Noel realized what he’d said and groaned. “What did I sound more like just then? A cop or a chick?”

“It’s a toss-up, Officer. Besides, there isn’t much about me that’s interesting.”

“I don’t know. Seeing as how I know very little about you other than your two jobs, I’d say anything you told me would be interesting.”

Shane sat up, some tension in his shoulders and the press of his lips. Noel backtracked, unsure what—jobs. Shane didn’t like talking about the stripping job. Fair enough.

“Okay, not work then,” Noel said. “How about we chat over food? I’m starving.”

The offer eased some of Shane’s stiffness, and he smiled. “That’s a plan I can get down with. Order in or go out?”

They’d made plans to hit a bar outside of town, but the idea of straying too far from his bed had lost its appeal for Noel. “There’s a great diner next door. How about I call in and then pick it up?”

Shane studied him. “I bet you eat there a lot. This place isn’t really rigged for cooking.”

“I do tend toward takeout since I’m one of those guys who burns water. Hence all of the working out.” Noel reluctantly rolled out of bed and found a paper menu for Dixie’s Cup under a stack of others on his table. “The night cook makes a mean B.E.L.T.”

“What the hell is that?”

“Bacon, egg, lettuce, and tomato with this fantastic dill mayo.”

Shane wrinkled his nose as he accepted the menu. “I’m not huge on bacon.” He scanned it. “Breakfast all day? Mushroom and spinach omelet and home fries. Mind if I use your bathroom to clean up?”

“No, of course.”

While Shane eased himself into the cramped bathroom, Noel called down to place the order, never more happy to spend a first date in his tiny, uninspiring rented room.