by Eden Winters
Suddenly an image came to mind: Dustin, curled up in a comfy nest of those pillows, sound asleep. Though they’d taken the edge off at the pond, Seth’s cock, semi-hard since he’d arrived at the house, filled completely, demanding attention.
Across from the bed sat a dresser and mirror, the polished wooden top gleaming in the scant illumination of an antique oil lamp, refitted for an electric lightbulb. Again, the faint traces of lemon oil permeated the air. The mirror was perfectly situated to reflect the bed, and for a moment Seth wondered what images had appeared there in the past. A vision of Dustin came to mind, but this time he was neither asleep nor alone, his smoky baritone chanting obscenities as he pounded some willing partner.
How many men had shared Dustin’s bed, and had Dustin ever been on the receiving end? Seth certainly hoped so. Though he fully intended to catch tonight, one eyeful of the good doctor’s tight ass hiding under those carefully creased dress pants convinced him that he needed to do more than gawk. Normally, Seth bottomed—for Dustin, he’d make an exception. As he stood staring into the mirror, fantasy images filling his head, Dustin appeared behind him, enveloping him in a hug while nuzzling soft lips against Seth’s neck. Seth kept his eyes riveted to the mirror. His breath caught in his throat at the erotic display they’d created. He barely recognized his own face, so filled with passion. How long had it been since anyone had seen want in his eyes? Did he always appear slightly unhinged when aroused? If so, he must have looked like a lunatic at the pond.
A firm tug on his shirt pulled the tail from his jeans, and Dustin slid a hand underneath, cool against heated flesh, to stroke Seth’s bare skin. The faintest caress traced his abs, slowly moving higher, shooting fire straight to his groin. Dustin ran his other hand down Seth’s stomach, inching lower until the barest touch of fingertips dipped beneath Seth’s waistband, gently nudging the head of his cock. The wet spot in his boxers must have been apparent, telling Dustin of the depths of Seth’s need. Damn, but the man turned him on. He closed his eyes, focusing on the feel of Dustin’s fingers against his skin.
When Dustin removed his hands, Seth’s body, too long neglected, screamed no! A rumbling chuckle sounded behind him. “Not going anywhere,” Dustin murmured into Seth’s shoulder as he put nimble fingers to work opening Seth’s belt, followed by his fly.
Seth opened his eyes and stared at the mirror in time to watch Dustin slide a hand into his boxers, and he groaned at the firm squeeze wrapping around his cock. Watching the two of them like this sent a jolt of arousal through Seth, and nearly brought him to his knees. His cock filled even more, stretching the already taut skin of his shaft. Another scent teased his nose, overriding citrus furniture polish—a combination of Dustin’s own natural scent, a light, woodsy cologne, and something else Seth could only name “arousal.”
The touch on his flesh felt so different—his own hand had been his companion for too long. That’s Dustin’s hand! beat through his mind like a pulse.
Seth bit back the groan fighting to escape, chewing at his lower lip with the effort. He longed to shout and let go, but that would end things before they’d properly begun, and he wanted to make this last. They’d wolfed down the appetizer at the pond—now came the main course. As turned on as he was, the best he hoped for was to not embarrass himself and come before he’d even gotten Dustin naked. He hadn’t been this horny since his teens.
Meeting lust-filled eyes in the mirror, Seth held Dustin’s steady gaze while unbuttoning his own shirt. Dustin stepped back far enough for the crumpled fabric to fall, catching it at the last second and hanging it on the doorknob. Next, he worked Seth’s jeans down.
While Seth’s breath consisted of sharp, shuddery gasps, Dustin appeared utterly calm, even though the hard length he occasionally pressed into Seth’s crack proved his arousal.
Successful in wriggling his feet free of his tennis shoes, Seth allowed Dustin to tug his jeans off. He chuckled when Dustin neatly folded and placed them on the dresser. So much for ripping our clothes off in reckless abandon. His smile fell when he caught sight of the simmering hunger in Dustin’s eyes. He’d had three lovers in his life, four counting Dustin, and the others had never regarded him with such intensity.
He’d love to have helped with the undressing, but Dustin’s undivided attention held Seth captive. All he could do was watch in the mirror as Dustin stripped, revealing a chest more muscular than Seth’s, and sprouting a handful of rust-colored curls.
Seth watched, fascinated, while Dustin toed off his shoes, pulling off his belt and peeling his pants down at the same time. Dustin leered over Seth’s shoulder, slowly gliding his briefs over the prominent bulge they barely concealed, and then slipping them back into place, putting on a show. When he finally did pull them completely down, revealing a hard, uncut member, Seth unconsciously licked his lips. Damn, what a view. There didn’t appear to be an ounce of fat on the man, every muscle clearly defined, though his muscles were sleek, like a runner’s, not the bulging “my muscles have muscles” of some macho types Seth had run into back home.
He let his gaze travel down to Dustin’s flat belly. Like the man’s chest, and in keeping with Seth’s fantasy, a smattering of red hair sprinkled Dustin’s groin, his darkened length rising from the neatly trimmed strands.
Self-consciously Seth cupped his balls, hoping his nearly au natural state wouldn’t be a turnoff. Oh, he trimmed a bit, but nothing compared to the lengths Dustin apparently went to—extreme manscaping. He’d been too enthralled at the pond to do much looking.
Judging from the bodily reaction of the man now standing beside him, his hairiness wasn’t a problem. When they were both completely naked, Dustin inclined his head toward the waiting bed. Seth approached and Dustin flipped the covers back, revealing plain white sheets.
Firm hands on his shoulders guided Seth down to the firm mattress, but when he would have rolled onto his stomach, presenting his ass for the taking, Dustin stopped him. “I’m in no hurry, are you?” He turned up his lips in a pulse-quickening smile, lowered his head, and took Seth’s nipple into his mouth.
Seth raised his head from the mattress, watching. Dustin smiled around his mouthful and handed over a pillow. Tucking it under his head, Seth settled in for a front-row seat to the show, tangling his fingers in Dustin’s perfectly styled locks. As good as Dustin’s mouth worked his chest, though, Seth silently willed it lower. Fully erect and aching, he longed for release.
But, damn, that mouth felt good—hot, wet suction working down his torso, sending electric currents jolting throughout his body. Finally, after far too long, moist heat enveloped his cock, as Dustin sank his lips slowly down Seth’s shaft. Seth bucked without conscious thought, thrusting his hips, wanting more. Dustin chuckled, the vibration nearly sending Seth over the edge.
Seth dug his fingers into the mattress. Not yet! He couldn’t come yet!
Dustin released Seth’s cock and sat back. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck. Seth sucked in a breath, fighting a battle with pleasure overload. He won—barely. Dustin lowered his head and brushed his lips tentatively against Seth’s, nibbling for a moment before seeking entrance into Seth’s mouth.
Letting go of his built-up tension, Seth relaxed and let his new lover take the lead. The kiss started slowly, quickly escalating into a primal, needy thing that curled Seth’s toes and threatened to consume him.
Dustin eased down on top of him, and Seth pushed up, gliding his slender cock against Dustin’s thicker one. Dustin inserted his sparsely haired leg between Seth’s more heavily furred thighs, pushing them apart and settling between. He propped his weight on his arms and ground their erections together.
Seth roved his hands over the smooth expanses of Dustin’s muscular back and descended to grab handfuls of the solid ass he’d been admiring, dragging Dustin nearer and matching thrust for thrust.
When the kiss broke, Dustin nibbled Seth’s neck, worrying a spot beneath his left ear with a gentle application of teeth, and once again, Seth fou
ght for control. Warm breath gusted over his ear, and Dustin grasped Seth’s straining erection, working him to full advantage. “I’m gonna come,” came out of Seth, more whimper than words.
Dustin rolled off. Seth humped air, whining his frustration. What? No!
“You like to watch, don’t you?” It was a statement, not a question.
Seth saw no reason to lie. “Yes,” he panted out.
Dustin studied him for a moment before standing and offering Seth a hand. Puzzled, Seth placed his hand in Dustin’s and allowed himself to be towed from the bed, too lust-addled to move on his own. Dustin led him back to the dresser and placed a pillow on the hard wooden surface. With eye contact in the mirror and gentle touches, Dustin urged Seth to bend down on the pillow. A drawer slid open and Seth chanced a glance at the contents. It closed before he managed a full inventory, but at least it held condoms and lube.
Mesmerized, his gaze remained glued to Dustin’s hands, entranced as Dusty unrolled a condom over his length and liberally slicked the latex. Oh fuck yeah!
Dustin worked a slippery finger into Seth’s hole, and Seth pushed back with a moan. Soon one finger became two, until Dustin removed his fingers and something longer and harder brushed against Seth’s opening. Dustin stilled with the tip of his cock poised at Seth’s entrance. Only when Seth glanced up to meet his eyes in the mirror and utter a strained, “Okay,” did Dustin proceed, gripping Seth’s shoulders and slowly sinking in, never breaking eye contact.
Never had Seth had a front-row seat to his own porn video, and he examined the emotions flitting across Dustin’s face. Dustin grinned in the mirror and picked up the pace, thrusting in at a steady rate.
Seth nearly cried when Dustin withdrew. Next thing he knew, Dustin had flung him on the bed, flat on his back with his feet resting on Dustin’s shoulders. They locked gazes, never glancing away as Dusty slid back into him, breathlessly murmuring, “Oh, damn, but you feel good!”
Though he’d come once already at the pond, Seth desperately needed another release.
“Stroke yourself,” Dustin panted, nodding toward Seth’s cock.
Dustin jarred both Seth and the bed, the squeaking springs keeping time with his energetic thrusts. Thoughts faded away, Seth’s world tunneling down to the delicious sensations of Dustin inside of him and the growing friction of own his hand on his cock.
Those intense jade eyes shielded as Dustin closed his lids, throwing his head back in sheer ecstasy. Had any man ever looked so beautiful?
Dustin’s rhythm faltered before failing completely. He wailed out his desire, gripping tightly to Seth’s waist and burying himself fully. One, two, three hard thrusts, and he stilled, rapture etched on his features.
He held the pose, arms muscles bulging, then opened his eyes with a grin.
Seth’s control shattered. He groaned, shoulders leaving the bed. His body bowed, muscles spasming with the force of his orgasm. The first splash caught him on the chest. Suddenly, his grip slid more easily, and Seth rode out wave after wave of shuddering bliss. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
He collapsed, wrung out and exhausted, panting through the aftershocks and heart thudding a reggae beat.
Dustin eased out and reached over Seth’s shoulder to grab a tissue from a box on the nightstand. He wrapped the condom, and snatched another tissue to dab at the mess cooling on Seth’s chest and abs. Without looking, he aimed for the trash can and scored a direct hit. Impressive.
Ever so slowly, Dustin skimmed his fingers up and down Seth’s arms, nibbling at the hollow of Seth’s throat. Down and down he traveled, pausing to tease a circle around one crinkly nipple before lapping a swath over the slight bulge of Seth’s belly.
More relaxed and comfortable than he’d been in a long, long time, arousal zinged through Seth again. By the time Dustin’s mouth reached his groin, his cock had swelled to near-full hardness.
Dustin chucked. “I guess it’s true that you can’t keep a good man down.” He took Seth’s cock into the warm cavern of his mouth.
This was no slow lovemaking—this was what Seth imagined happened in the back rooms of clubs, a sucking intended to get him off in the shortest possible time. He stared, fascinated by the hollows forming in Dustin’s cheeks. With nothing else to hold onto, he braced his hands on Dustin’s shoulders.
Oh, God, yes.
The familiar tingling started low in his belly, and he cried out, filling Dustin’s mouth. If anyone had been in the house, they’d have heard him. Right now, who the fuck cared?
Dustin climbed up the bed in one fluid motion and kissed Seth deeply, the taste of come lingering on his tongue. If Seth hadn’t already peaked three times tonight, sharing the flavor would have been enough to set him off again.
Dustin pulled the covers over them both. “Good night,” he said, caressing Seth’s temple with his lips.
While Dustin slept peacefully beside him, Seth lay awake into the night. How the hell could he ever leave this behind to return to an empty life in Chicago?
Chapter 10
That night became the first of several dates ending at one of their houses, Dustin’s work schedule permitting. Having grown used to seeing each other daily, it came as a surprise when Dustin turned Seth down without offering much of an explanation.
“I’m sorry, Seth, but I’m busy tonight.”
“Busy doing what? Do you need some help?” Macaroni pie sizzled in the oven, the recipe procured from one of Aunt Irene’s handwritten cookbooks.
“Um… thanks, but this is something I have to do on my own. Can I come over tomorrow night instead?”
Only if you like leftovers, Seth nearly said. Needy much? Though they’d seen each other regularly for the past week, Dustin had made no mention of being exclusive, or if their being lovers even held any meaning beyond sex. It’s not like he’s expecting you to stay, Seth’s conscience justified, pissing him off. His conscience was supposed to be on his side.
“Yeah, it’s okay. I may go to the library tonight. Use the Internet.”
“Don’t!”
“Huh?”
“The library’s closed tonight. Mrs. Hopkins has the flu.”
“The library is closed because the librarian is sick? Doesn’t she have an assistant?”
“Assistant is sick too. Nasty bug going around. Highly contagious. She left my office not two minutes ago.”
“Oh.” Seth breathed a sigh of relief. “You could have told me you were working late. I cooked. Would you like me to bring you a plate?”
“No! I mean, dinner sounds wonderful, but my throat’s been kinda scratchy.” Dustin coughed on cue. “Maybe you should stay home, not risk catching this bug.”
“If you insist.”
A relieved-sounding sigh wafted from the phone. “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow, and remember, whatever you do, stay home tonight. In the house.”
Strange, but maybe Dustin was running a fever, making him delirious. “Okay. Take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything.”
“Will do. Good night.”
Whew, what a close call. Dustin stood on the roof of his truck in order to get a cell phone signal in the clearing behind Irene’s house. The passel gathered, one-hundred-fifty-plus strong around him. Several women scattered the bounty of a late-night run to a bakery thrift shop on the ground. “No one is to go near the house tonight, understand? No one!” He made one more phone call, ensuring the perimeter guards were in place, ever vigilant against attack. A light breeze carried the scent of home cooking to his sensitive nose, adding an additional burden. Seth had cooked. For him.
“But ever since she got sick, we always met at Ms. Irene’s house to eat before heading out into the night,” one of the elders protested, bringing Dustin back to the here and now.
“Irene’s gone, her great-nephew is living there, and he has no clue about his family.” And he’ll be leaving soon and won’t ever be the wiser. Seemed a shame, though, to watch the McDaniel family legacy fade and die. For more
than two hundred years, the passel had existed in harmony, for the most part, under the shrewd leadership of various McDaniels. And now the line had nearly died out. McDaniels made great leaders on the whole, but they weren’t the most prolific of families. Giving Seth up a second time just might rip Dustin’s heart out.
Monica approached, waiting while Dustin climbed down off the truck before assuming an “at ease, soldier” pose to his right, a position befitting the acting second-in-command.
“Are you announcing your intent to take Irene’s place?” This from Willie Timmerman from down at the Feed and Seed. Willie’s Uncle Junior must have put him up to asking. Willie seldom did anything without direction from his powerful uncle, one of the town’s leading citizens and the passel member most likely to issue a challenge. Why Junior hadn’t already done so mystified Dustin, but he fully expected opposition, someday soon.
“At the moment, I’m respecting the passing of our leader. When the time is right, I’ll recommend a successor or announce my intentions.” Aware of the sand trickling away in her hourglass, Irene had spent her last days coaching Dustin on what he’d need to do and say. He hadn’t learned nearly enough. If only they’d been given a little more time.
The blood began to sing in his veins, pulsing, exhilarating. He breathed in the scents of fresh mown hay, honeysuckle, and sweet summer evening. After dropping his jeans to the ground, he stepped out of them and neatly folded and placed his lone garment on the front seat of his truck. As interim leader, he fought the change, keeping a watchful eye. One by one, the passel groaned and moaned, their humanity melting away to leave behind a legion of possum bodies foraging in the night.