by Lynn Hagen
I looked in the full-length mirror one last time, thankful I had the gayest friend who was a fashionista. He’d just saved me from a potential evening of embarrassment.
As far as fashion. Now if he could only save me from an evening of pure boredom.
* * * *
Embarrassment didn’t begin to cover my feelings as I parked my ten-year-old sedan among the fancy, expensive cars lining the driveway. My cheeks heated as I handed my keys over to a valet who looked at my car and gave me a warm smile.
At least the guy hadn’t been a jerk about my raggedly piece of shit. He simply slid into the driver’s seat and parked my tan car among the sea of luxurious shiny black ones.
With a deep breath, I walked inside the mansion. Why on earth did my boss teach at a local college when he was clearly a wealthy man? I wanted to ask when I saw him approaching me but wasn’t rude enough to let the question past my lips.
“You made it.” Professor Gilman smiled. “While in my home, call me Reggie.”
“You have a very nice home, Reggie.” I was shocked when he kissed me on the cheek. He smelled like Old Spice as he pulled away and waved at a guy who’d joined them. “This is my husband, Arnold.”
I stopped my jaw from dropping. Not only was I surprised Reggie was gay but that he was married. Arnold’s green eyes shimmered with delight as he shook my hand. “A pleasure,” he said.
Guests were gathered in the formal dining room, milling around and talking. I noticed the ratio of gay couples outnumbered hetero couples. But they were all around Reggie’s age. As I’d feared, I was the only young person there.
What shocked me even more was the music that played softly in the background. It was a mixture of blues and jazz. When a waiter walked by with a tray of wine, I grabbed a glass and guzzled down the contents.
I would need the wine to get through this evening. I felt as though I was crashing one of my parents’ parties.
“I wouldn’t drink that too fast,” someone with a rich, smooth voice said from behind me. “You don’t want to get drunk before dinner is served.”
That voice. I knew it. The sound had haunted my dreams. I slowly turned, empty glass clutched in my hand as I faced Devlin. Tall, sexy, masculine Devlin Haaz.
“What’re you doing here?”
Reggie joined us. “I see you’ve met my grandson, Devlin.”
No. This had to be some cosmic joke. There was no way the guy I’d jacked off to stood right in front of me, smiling at me with those perfect, white teeth.
“We’ve met,” Devlin said to his grandfather as he took my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Although Cinderella took off before I could get his number.”
Devlin wore a dark suit that probably cost more than I made in a year. And he looked dashing as fuck in it.
Reggie chuckled, smacked Devlin’s shoulder, and walked away to talk to some couple that had just arrived. My night had gone from boring to an inferno in the span of seconds.
“I’m not Cinderella.”
His smile was devilish and gorgeous. “That’s what it felt like that night. I thought we were hitting it off until you hightailed it out of the club. Did I offend your sensibilities when I talked of what I wanted to do to you?”
“I…you didn’t…” Had the temperature in the room grown by twenty degrees?
Devlin took my hand and led me from the room. I set the empty glass on some stand as we entered a large library that had built-in shelves, which were stuffed with tons of books.
I could get lost in this room for days. I loved reading. While others went out and partied, I preferred to stay home with my nose stuck in a book. This was a dream room for me.
To the right there was even a ladder to reach the top shelves. Before I could think better of it, I asked, “Why does your grandfather teach when he’s so wealthy?”
Devlin had released my hand but moved in behind me. His lips were close to my ear. “His husband insisted on him taking up a hobby, and my grandfather loves passing on his knowledge.”
He was so close that I felt the heat coming off his body and smelled his dark, alluring cologne. “I used to spend hours in here when I was a kid,” he said. “I wish I had the time these days.”
Devlin moved from behind me and walked toward a shelf. He touched the spines of a few books. “These days I spend too much time in boardrooms. Although I love the lifestyle running my own company has afforded me, I do miss sitting in here while getting lost in other worlds.”
“I know what you mean.” I joined him and saw classic works I’d cherished as a kid. “I work as an assistant for your grandfather and bus tables on the weekends. I hardly have time for pleasure reading anymore.”
“I saw that about you when I first noticed you.” Devlin smiled, but it wasn’t filled with lust. More like two souls who truly enjoyed their passion for books. “You didn’t look as though you belonged in Cherry Pit.”
“Me?” I pressed a hand to my chest. “What about you? I was there because my best friend needed to get out of the house. It’s not a place I would ever frequent on my own. I’m not really into clubs.” I waved a hand to encompass the shelves. “This is more my speed.”
“And I was there because I wanted to shake up my life a bit,” Devlin admitted. “I wanted to cut loose and have some fun. Though, as you said, it’s not a place I would normally go to.”
Maybe there was more to Devlin. I’d thought him a playboy from the way he’d acted. Could Mitch have been right? Should I give Devlin a second chance?
“You came onto me pretty strong,” I admitted as I bit my bottom lip. “I was already overwhelmed with everything going on around me.”
He took my hand and led me to a sofa. We sat, and Devlin smiled. “I’m sorry about that. Is this more your pace?”
“Definitely. I’m not used to sensory overload.” I thought about what I said and blushed.
Devlin chuckled. “I like sensory overload under the right circumstances.”
“Sex.” I slapped a hand over my mouth, shocked I’d said that out loud.
He nodded. “That would be the right circumstance.” He tapped the spot next to him. I scooted closer. “I should’ve taken things slower with you,” he said. “Asked you out instead of telling you how badly I wanted to fuck you.” His fingers traced my neck. “Though that hasn’t changed, Michael. Has anyone ever told you how gorgeous you are?”
I wanted to laugh at that. Gorgeous wasn’t a word I would use to describe myself.
“And you look amazing tonight.” His fingers slipped under the collar of my shirt. “I want to get to know you better, but I also want to strip you naked and make love to you on this couch.”
Mayday! Sensory overload! I felt as though my brain was about to short-circuit. I wanted Devlin as much as he wanted me, but if I gave into him right now, would he want to see me again? I wanted to hold out, but my body wasn’t listening to me. I was hard as fuck, and my hole ached to be filled.
“Might I remind you that there is a dinner party past those doors?” Had my voice really just squeaked?
“I locked it.” Devlin leaned toward me and kissed my neck. Shivers raced through me at the touch of his warm lips against my skin. That was all it took to unleash my inhibitions. I spun, cupped Devlin’s face, and shoved him onto his back as I kissed him until neither of us could breathe.
The guy growled. He actually fucking growled as he flipped us and placed me on the bottom, my back pressed against the cushions of the sofa as we tore at each other’s shirts. So much for returning it tomorrow.
Panting heavily, Devlin pulled back, and I stared into his hazel eyes. “Did I just unlock your inner slut?”
“Now I want to see yours.” I ran my palms down his chiseled chest, appreciating his fine-ass body. “Show me what you got.”
That devilish smile returned. “Don’t ask for what you can’t handle, Cinderella.”
A bark of laughter escaped me. “I should be saying the same thing.”
We rolled off the couch and hit the floor as we struggled to see who could get their clothes off first. By the way, I won. I was completely naked as Devlin shucked his pants and underwear off, tossing them aside.
He stood above me, looking like a fucking god. I rose to my knees and took his cock all the way down my throat.
“Jesus fuck!” Devlin grabbed my hair and pulled on it as I used my throat muscles to squeeze his hard length. My nose was buried in his pubes, and they tickled my nose before I pulled back and repeated the move over and over again while cupping his heavy balls in my hand.
“You trickster,” Devlin moaned. “And here I thought you were some shy guy who would need a lot of coaxing.”
I felt like Superman. One side of me wore my glasses and was a complete nerd who couldn’t flirt my way out of a paper bag. The other side wore a cape when it came to sex, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Fearless. Naughty. Greedy for dick.
Devlin’s dick.
I released his balls, slid a finger in beside his fat cock, and then probed at his hole. His ass clamped down on my finger as I pushed it inside him.
“Michael!” Devlin shot his load of cum down my throat as his hole pulsed around my finger. I drank every last drop before I pulled away, still down on my knees as I smiled up at him.
“How was that for a shy guy?”
Devlin wiped a hand down his face as he blinked. “I’ll never underestimate you again.”
When I stood, I pointed to my hard cock. “Tell that to him.”
Devlin grabbed his pants, and for a second, I thought he was about to get dressed. Had I been the one who’d underestimated him? Had he gotten what he wanted and now the fun was over? My heart sank until he pulled his wallet out and retrieved a condom and a packet of lube from it.
“Now it’s my turn to show you who’s a slut.” He winked, and my cock jumped for joy. “Bend your sexy ass over the couch.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I hurried behind the couch and gripped it, jutting my ass out as I spread my legs.
“Fuck, you really are gorgeous, Michael.” He slid his hand over my ass in such a sensual way that I whimpered.
He pressed his chest against my back and whispered into my ear. “Don’t worry, sexy. I’m gonna take good care of you.”
He pressed two lubed fingers into my ass, stretching me as I writhed. I fucked his fingers, bouncing up and down as he added a third. Just when I thought I would lose my ever-loving mind, he pulled his fingers free and replaced them with his cock.
“Hold on for the ride, darling.” Devlin gripped my hips and pounded into my ass, making me stranglehold the couch so I wouldn’t shoot over it.
The sound of skin slapping filled the room, along with our grunts and moans.
“Fuck, your ass is so tight.” Devlin practically snarled the words as his cock stretched me wide. I prayed this wasn’t our one and only time together. Not only was the sex phenomenal, but I really did want to get to know him better.
My first impression of him had been wrong, and I was glad we had a second chance.
“I have a better idea.” Devlin pulled free and led me to the polished oak desk. I lay my back on it, and he spread my legs, placing my ankles on his shoulders before he drove back inside my ass.
“Fuck!” I arched my back and tried to grab onto something for leverage, but instead, I knocked the lamp off and slid over the wood as he fucked me to within an inch of my life.
Devlin curled his fingers around my bobbing cock and jerked me off as he punched his hips forward.
“Come for me, Cinderella.”
I hated that name, but my body didn’t give a shit what he called me. White ropes of cum shot from the head of my cock as I cried out his name. Devlin thrust a few more times before he joined me, grunting out his release.
The guy had stamina that I envied.
He rocked inside me for a moment then eased out of my body, pinching off the condom as he removed it, tied it off, and tossed it into the trash. I hoped he remembered to dispose of it later or Reggie would have quite the surprise the next time he came in here.
Devlin lifted me up and pulled me into his arms. He kissed my jaw then my lips. “Now that we got that out of the way, how about we join the party? Then tomorrow, I’ll take you for a night out on the town.”
I thought he would get what he wanted and then give me some promise to call me. “Are you serious?”
Devlin rested his palm against my cheek and gave me the sexiest smile I’d ever seen. “Just as long as you don’t lose a glass slipper and I have to hunt you down again. This time I’m giving you my phone number, sexy.”
A chisel wouldn’t have been able to pry the smile from my face. “Call me Cinderella one more time and my inner slut will disappear.”
Devlin chuckled. “No promises, sweetheart. But I have a feeling I’ve just met the love of my life.”
My eyes widened, and my heart melted. There was definitely a connection between us. I felt it in my soul. I wasn’t sure what would happen between us, but I was willing to take a chance and see where this led.
“Me, too,” I admitted. How could I not fall for a guy who loved reading just as much as I did? There was definitely more to Devlin Haaz than met the eye, and I couldn’t wait to peel back his sexy layers.
Magic Fingers
“Bingo!”
“You cheated!” Rose, my nana, said as she glared at Mrs. Purdy. The entire room at Rusty Villa nursing home went silent, as if waiting for a loud argument. That would be the highlight of their day.
I rolled my eyes. This happened every time I volunteered for bingo. My nana thought that, just because I was running the game, I would side with her, even if she was wrong.
“Let me see your card,” I said to Mrs. Purdy.
The prize was a certificate for a dinner at the local all-you-can-eat buffet. It wasn’t a prize worth fighting over. I mean, have you ever been to one of those places? Yuck. I couldn’t understand how food was spread out in an open bar where people could sneeze and cough all over everything, but maybe that was just my little phobia.
Mrs. Purdy seemed determined to win, and Rose seemed just as determined for her not to.
After checking the card over, I saw that indeed she had won. “Sorry, Rose. She didn’t cheat.”
“Hogwash.” My nana crossed her arms over her chest. “She found a way to beat the system.”
I stifled a laugh. “The system? We’re talking about bingo. There is no system.”
Rose walked away in a huff, leaving her card and red dabber behind. With a roll of my eyes, I gave Mrs. Purdy her certificate and hurried to catch up with my nana. For a woman who was in her eighties, she was pretty fast.
“I can take you out to eat if that’s what you really want.” We walked down the tiled hallway with its horrendous orange walls. I’d been told the color was soothing for the residents, but it made me feel like stabbing someone. Really, who thought orange was soothing?
We walked into her room, which wasn’t very big. Not for the money I paid every month. I had to work two jobs just to make sure she lived a comfortable life.
She had a twin-sized bed with a large afghan blanket covering it, a thousand picture frames of her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and her late husband. There were fake plants in every corner, and the top of her dresser was filled with pill bottles of medicine she refused to take most of the time.
Rose patted my cheek with her wrinkled hand. “That’s nice of you, Jacob.”
“Jason,” I corrected. She always mixed me up with her late husband. I’d been told my whole life I looked just like him. A younger version, of course, since I was only twenty-six.
It was just in the face, because I was short and slim, whereas my grandfather had been tall and stocky like a lumberjack.
I was also proud that my nana was still clear minded at her age. She acted more like my age most of the time—except when she called me Jacob.
“So, did you
want to go get something to eat?” I sat in her rocker as she rummaged through her drawers. Of all her family, sadly, I was the only one who came to see her at least twice a week. Not one single person had offered to help me pay for this facility, and that totally pissed me off.
Rose had been a nurse for forty years before she’d retired. She’d spent her life helping others, and not one single family member helped out.
She came away with a small box and handed it to me before she sat on the bed.
“What’s this?”
“Your grandfather’s watch.” Her eyes misted. “I want you to sell it to help pay for this place.”
I cracked the lid open, and my heart kicked up a notch. It was a pocket watch that I recalled my grandfather having on him all the time. It even had a gold chain attached. Fond memories filled my head as I stroked a finger over it.
“I’m not selling this.” I looked up at her and frowned. “It’s a family heirloom.”
“Nonsense.” She waved her hand, but I could tell she was fighting back tears. “It’s just sitting in my drawer collecting dust, and you need it more than I do. I know this place ain’t cheap, Jacob, and selling it will help pay for a few months.”
There was no way I was hocking it, but knew better than to argue. I would keep the watch, and if she asked, I would tell her that I had done as she asked.
Not that I was into deceiving my nana, but a small white lie wouldn’t hurt.
“And we’re not going out to eat.” She looked out the window at the garden out back. “We both know you can’t afford it and the food here is free.” She turned to me and smiled. “Besides, Beatrice will give me her certificate. She does every time she wins one because she doesn’t like restaurants. Who doesn’t like restaurants?” she mused to herself.
I laughed and hugged her frail body. “I have to get to work, Nana. I’ll be back in a few days for your jazzercise class.”
Which I ran. I loved dancing, although with the residents, it was more like shaking your hips and putting your hands into the air. But at least they would get some exercise.
She patted my cheek again. “You’ll make some guy a happy man someday.”