by Jaclyn Quinn
Ryder turned as he walked, taking backward steps down the sidewalk. You totally got caught checking him out. The smirk on Ryder’s face confirmed it. “I thought we went over this? You know, for a lawyer, Avery, you sure do need to work on your listening skills.” Ryder winked then turned back around as he reached the parking lot.
Avery grumbled to himself, “What I need to do is stop listening to the wrong head.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” Not yet, anyway. But if Avery wasn’t careful, it would only be a matter of time before the wrong head made the decision for him.
Ryder stood in the doorway of the spare bedroom in Nina and Stan’s house. Chris looked so damn unhappy and scared sitting on the edge of the mattress. At Nina’s insistence, he’d put up the two pictures he’d taken with him. He didn’t have much in the way of clothes, but they’d all already decided to take the kid shopping, especially with school around the corner.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Give me a sec…” Ryder bounded down the stairs, grabbing the bag he’d left by the door, then hurried back up. “I brought you something.”
Chris’s head popped up. “You did?”
“Yeah, well, I figured…I can’t get your drawings back, but…” He handed Chris the bag and a sense of pride washed over him when Chris smiled from ear to ear. Ryder had no idea how to help this kid, but he’d done that. He’d put that smile on Chris’s face and couldn’t help but do an internal happy dance.
“These are for me?” Chris pulled the drawing pad and pencils out of the bag.
“Sure are. Sorry the pencils are used. I didn’t have anything new at my place.”
Chris looked up at him. “It means even more that they were yours. Maybe I’ll be as good as you one day.” Chris ran his hand over the supplies. “This is the nicest thing anyone ever got me.”
That was just wrong—on so many levels. Ryder suddenly wished he’d asked Avery to stop at the store so he could’ve gotten some new stuff. But he couldn’t ignore that just that simple, used gift had put a light in Chris’s eyes. Chris didn’t care that they were used. He cared that they were from Ryder, and that…well, that blew Ryder away.
Chris yawned and Ryder realized how tired he must be. He doubted he’d gotten any sleep the night before on that porch. “I think you should probably get cleaned up and get some sleep.”
Damn, there was that fear on his face again. “Are you staying?”
“No, I’ve gotta go home and get some sleep. I missed work today, but I have to go tomorrow.”
“You missed work…to find me?”
Good going, asshat. The last thing he wanted to do was make the kid feel bad. But when he took a closer look, he saw the surprise on Chris’s face. “Yeah…well, I was worried about you when you didn’t come back to stay in the laundry room last night.” Jeez. I was worried about you not sleeping in the laundry room? You are winning at life right now.
Chris smiled again, not as big as he did from the art supplies, but it was a genuine one. “I had a feeling you left that stuff for me.”
“Why?”
The kid dropped his eyes then stood up and put the drawing pad and pencils on the small desk in the corner of the room. “Because no one else saw me. Not saw me…” He huffed, like he was frustrated with himself. “I mean, no one ever paid any attention to me but you.”
Damned if Ryder didn’t feel that one like a jolt to the heart. He knew this kid’s pain, still felt the ache from it if he allowed himself to. Usually, he never did allow himself to, but Chris had a way of making Ryder want to be honest about their similarities. He wanted Chris to know that someone knew exactly how he felt. “I’ve been there, and it’s a shitty—” He cleared his throat. “It sucks.” Man he had a fucking way with words. “But I’m gonna tell you what you have that I didn’t, because I trust you to keep it between you and me, yeah?”
Chris blinked several times, nodding his head so enthusiastically his chestnut curls bounced with the movement. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”
“I was in foster homes when I was a kid. My parents never really took care of me…or themselves…so DYFS would come and put me in a place until they could get their act together. But I would have given anything for a safe, warm, loving home. You have that here with Nina and Stan. I don’t know how long you’ll be here, but just know, while you’re here, those two people downstairs will never make you feel like they don’t see you.”
The kid sniffled. “Thanks, Ryder. For…” Chris’s voice trailed off as if he was searching for the right words.
“Anytime, kid.” He surprised even himself with that one because he meant it.
When Ryder and Avery felt like Chris would be okay for the night—the last time Nina had checked, Chris was passed out—they decided it was all right to leave. Exhaustion was catching up to both of them as well. At least Avery had gotten some sleep the night before. Ryder had been up for—fuck, he wasn’t even sure how long.
Ryder squeezed Nina tightly in a hug. “I don’t know how to thank you and Stan for this.”
“You just did, honey.” She pulled back, holding his arms. “But if you insist on paying us back, you can let me make you dinner tomorrow night.”
Ryder chuckled. “I’m not sure you get how paybacks work.”
She laughed along with him, but then said, “I think it will be good for him. He’s comfortable with you.”
“Nah”—Ryder waved her off—“I’m just the only person he knows.”
Nina took his face in her small hands, her smile fading. “He’s comfortable with you. He trusts you, honey, and there’s a reason for that.”
Ryder gazed over Nina’s shoulder to avoid the scrutiny but found blues eyes staring intensely at him. He had no idea what the guy was thinking right now, but whatever it was made Ryder anxious. He huffed out another nervous laugh. “I’ll be over tomorrow night for dinner.” Avoidance always worked in this kind of situation, right?
“Good.” She turned and pinned Avery with a look only a determined woman could perfect. “That goes for you, too.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Avery replied, tucking his hands in his pockets as he stood there and looked all sexy and—how the hell does he still look so good after all we’ve been through today? Ryder narrowed his eyes at Avery, getting a what-the-hell-is-your-problem look in return. Then the man grinned, and holy fuck was he ever gorgeous.
By the time they made it to the car, Ryder felt bone-deep exhaustion. He was grateful now that Avery had driven. It didn’t take long to get back to Ryder’s place, but he’d barely managed to keep his eyes open. It was only eight at night, but it felt more like midnight.
Avery pulled the car into a spot and turned the engine off, but when Ryder yawned and scrubbed a hand over his face, Avery said, “Let me help you into your place.”
Ryder turned a cheeky smile at Avery, and to be honest, he wasn’t even sure where he’d mustered the energy for it. “Excuses,” he singsonged, but the word morphed into another yawn.
Avery rolled his eyes. “I’m having déjà vu.” He got out of the car while Ryder opened his door and got out.
The walk to his place seemed like a mile long, and then he had fucking stairs to climb. He hated stairs. Why did he move to a place with stairs?
“I have no idea, but let’s just get you up them,” Avery said.
Huh. Must have said that out loud.
Avery took his key from him and unlocked his door. As Avery looked around, Ryder realized Avery had never actually seen the inside of his apartment. It wasn’t too messy, but there sure as hell wasn’t a five-second rule. Not even he would risk the germs.
“Did you draw that?” Avery pointed to a picture of the Grim Reaper he’d done ages ago. As Avery stood there studying it, Ryder wondered if maybe he saw something Ryder didn’t.
“Yeah. Not my finest work, but…” Ryder peeled his T-shirt over his head and tossed it on the chair in the corner.
“That’s really damn
good for not being your finest”—Avery turned, his gaze scanning the length of Ryder’s bare skin—“work.” He rubbed his hands nervously together, averting his eyes. “I should go.”
Ryder took the few steps needed to be right in front of the sexy man. “Why are you fighting this so damn hard?” He moved in closer, glancing down between their bodies. “And I do mean hard.”
A low growl rumbled in Avery’s chest as he moved forward, backing Ryder up against the nearest wall—and hell fucking yes was there heat in those gorgeous, Caribbean blue eyes.
Avery pressed closer, holding Ryder’s arms down next to his sides, their cocks aligning through their pants. “Because you’re about to pass out from exhaustion, and I’ve been here once before.” Avery leaned in and licked Ryder’s bottom lip, and Ryder just about came right then in his goddamn jeans. “Do you know the difference between you and me, Ryder?” Avery rubbed his soft lips against Ryder’s, sliding the tip of his tongue in only enough for Ryder to get a teasing taste.
“What? What’s the…? What the fuck is the difference?” Jesus Christ, the man was melting all logical thought with just the tip of his delicious tongue.
Avery moved his mouth across Ryder’s jaw, licking a path up to Ryder’s ear. “When I’m drunk, I could get you from Jersey to anywhere and back. I remember everything.” Avery let go of Ryder’s left arm but growled, “Don’t move.”
“Hot damn,” Ryder whispered, but through his lust-filled haze, Avery’s words…from Jersey to anywhere and back…teased some distant corner of his mind.
Avery slid his hand over Ryder’s erection, and Ryder’s eyes fucking crossed then pressed closed from sheer desire. “I’m telling you right now”—Avery kissed Ryder again, but it was still barely enough to taste him—“if I ever take this”—he slid both hands back behind Ryder, cupping each rounded cheek—“you can literally bet your ass you’ll fucking remember it.”
All at once Avery pulled away, leaving Ryder confused and fucking aching. “Where are you going?” Shit, he sounded almost panicked, even to his own ears.
“I’m leaving before I do something I’ll regret.”
Ouch. Well, doesn’t that just fucking sting. Ryder averted his eyes, could feel his fucking face heating. “Wouldn’t want you to do that,” he said, his voice weaker than he wished it was in this moment.
Avery was back in his face, lifting Ryder’s chin until Ryder shifted his eyes toward him. “I’ll regret letting this happen right now, when you’re in the state you’re in. You’ve been up for over twenty-four hours.” He leaned in and softly kissed Ryder, melting all his defenses. “Trust me, if we go there, you’re going to need all your energy.” Avery winked, gave Ryder that smile that made his cock take notice, and whispered, “Night, Ryder.” Then the damn man chuckled. “That never gets old.”
Ryder was still standing against the wall for at least a full minute after Avery left. He licked his lips, hoping to be able to taste Avery and prove that really fucking did just happen.
…get you from Jersey to anywhere…
I remember everything…
Fuck, he had met Avery before, but even though those little snippets brought back a vague memory, Avery was right…
Ryder didn’t remember it at all.
Avery knew he’d had too many drinks to count. It had become some kind of competition, and lord knows who started it or why. All he knew was, the more he drank, the funnier—and sexier—the guy got.
“Okay, okay…sooo…you’ve seriously never gone skinny dipping? Dude, you’re totally fucking missing out.” Ryder picked up another shot, waited for Avery to pick his up too, and they both kicked them back.
“I already told you three times that I haven’t. Next question.” Avery slammed the shot glass down on the table they’d moved to in the corner of the bar. They’d sat next to each other, instead of across, and Ryder smelled so damn good.
This was just what Avery needed tonight after the dinner he’d had with his family. All he wanted to do was escape for a little while to a place where Avery Hamilton, Family Law Attorney and family disappointment, didn’t exist. He’d had no idea when he’d sat down at the bar tonight that it would be a heavily tattooed, pierced man who would help him make that escape. Oddly enough, he was liking the guy more and more as they sat there.
“Okay, um…ever…”—Ryder snapped his fingers, or at least he tried with his drunken motor skills—“fucked on the beach?”
“Are all your questions going to be about being naked or fucking?” Avery laughed.
“Is there anything else?” Ryder’s gray eyes were half-lidded, but Avery had a feeling it wasn’t just from lust. They were both so fucking drunk.
It was a good thing Avery had decided to walk to the bar tonight. Not that he’d planned on drinking this much, but he’d known the walk would calm him down from the uncomfortable dinner he’d had to sit through with his family. Jesus, his dad and brother could be so narrow-minded sometimes.
“Well…?” Ryder asked with a teasing grin, leaning his shoulder into Avery and nudging.
“Didn’t fuck, but let’s just say the waves weren’t the only things splashing on the jetty.”
Ryder tilted his head back and laughed, a deep hearty sound that sent a low humming through Avery’s body. Damn, this man was sexy. “Nice.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Okay, your turn.”
Avery stared at the man next to him, let his eyes roam over the smooth, tattooed skin at the base of his neck and wondered what those sexy designs tasted like. His eyes traveled back up, and even behind the man’s black frames, he could see the heat in his eyes. “Wanna get out of here?”
“Hell yes,” Ryder growled, sliding his body over to push Avery out of the booth.
Avery chuckled. “Wait, we still have to pay.”
Ryder reached in his back pocket, pulled out some money, and tossed it on the table. Then he looked up at the bar, getting the attention of the bartender, and pointed down at the bills. The guy behind the bar nodded, and again, Ryder was pushing Avery out of the seat.
Avery climbed out, leading the way outside of the bar, and as soon as the night air touched his skin, so did Ryder. He pushed Avery up against the brick wall and took his mouth—and holy shit, the guy could kiss. “I live over on Beach View,” Avery said as they broke apart.
“I’m closer on Sunset.” Ryder swept his tongue in Avery’s mouth, making his body fucking sing. Then he tore away and grabbed Avery’s hand. “Come on.” As he pulled Avery down the sidewalk, both of them staggering, Ryder looked over and said, “Hope you can remember how to get to your place from mine. We’re both fucking wasted.”
Not staying over then… Didn’t fucking matter. Avery needed to release all this damn tension, and he was going to let Ryder do it. “I don’t forget anything when I’m drunk. Hell, I could get you from Jersey to anywhere and back. Just don’t ask me to operate heavy machinery.”
“I know, I know…you told me. The only thing you need to maneuver is your dick into my ass. Think you can handle it?” Ryder pushed Avery back against another brick wall. Sunset Avenue was full of bars, stores, and restaurants. It was close to one in the morning, so traffic and the mass of people usually on this street had slowed down considerably. Still, if Ryder didn’t get them to his apartment soon, Avery was going to fuck him right here against the brick.
“Get us to your place, and I can show you how well I can handle it.” He squeezed Ryder’s ass and kissed the side of his neck, right above a dragon tattoo, finally getting a taste of that smooth skin.
“Hot damn.” Ryder grabbed his hand again. “Let’s go.”
They finally reached Ryder’s studio apartment, which was above a clothing store. It wasn’t huge, but it had a bed and that’s all that mattered to Avery. Their movements were uncoordinated as they bumped into chairs and walked into walls until, finally, they managed to get to the bed in the corner.
Avery pushed Ryder down on the mattress, got on his knees, and unbutt
oned the guy’s jeans. His mouth watered, but when he yanked Ryder’s pants and underwear down—holy hell, the guy’s cock is pierced. Avery had heard people did that sort of thing but had never seen one in person. Who knew it would be so fucking hot?
Ryder leaned up on his elbows, a cocky smirk on his face, and glazed-over, bloodshot eyes. “Ever sucked a cock with a PA?”
“PA?”
The guy tilted his chin toward his dick. “Prince Albert.”
“You named your dick Prince Albert?” Avery laughed.
Ryder barked out a laugh. “No asshole, that’s what the piercing is called.”
Avery leaned in, gripped Ryder’s cock, and ran his tongue around the silver ring. Ryder dropped back on the bed with an, “Oh, fuck,” as Avery pushed the head into his mouth and sucked. Time for talking was done. The guy’s dick could be named after the Queen of fucking England for all he cared. All he knew was he wanted it in his mouth. He wanted to drive Ryder wild.
And that’s exactly what he did.
It didn’t take long for Avery to make Ryder come apart. He popped the guy’s cock out of his mouth, just in time for white spurts to cover Ryder’s abdomen. Avery leaned his head on Ryder’s thigh, taking in deep gulps of air.
“Holy shit, you’re fucking good at that.” Ryder’s words slurred, his drunken state and orgasm-induced haze making his words slow. “Just give me a sec… I’ll show you how good I am.”
Avery closed his eyes for a minute, hoping the room would stop spinning enough to get off, because holy hell did he need to get off. Soft snoring drifted toward Avery’s ears and his head popped up. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Avery tapped on Ryder’s leg, slowly standing on unsteady feet. “Ryder, wake up.”