by Vera Quinn
“Fine,” Jarrod says, pushing me away with a scowl.
James chimes in, “Lidia might not show up anyway.”
I pat Jarrod on the back. “Feel better now?” Then I walk off to get myself a drink. As I near the bar, my feet falter a step and my breath hitches from my lungs at the smiling man standing before me.
Damn. He’s heart-stopping gorgeous. With floor to ceiling windows and all the sunshine behind him, he looks like a Greek god surrounded by a celestial glow. His olive skin is perfect, which mine pales in comparison. His nearly black hair has a hint of auburn at the tips, which is sinfully sexy. I suddenly have an itch to run my fingers through it and give it a tug.
“You must be Max. I’m Luke Keller,” he greets with a blinding smile that has me blushing. He extends a hand. I blink down at his calloused fingers and imagine how they would feel—Stop thinking with your dick, Max.
“You know my name?” Do I sound breathy? Shit. I do. “Yes—that’s my name.”
“Yes.” He huffs out a laugh and drops his hand. “I had the pleasure of meeting Jarrod. He told me to stay away from you, quoting, because you’re not here for all that,” Luke says, mocking Jarrod’s attitude, down to his finger pointing. “So I had to see for myself who this illustrious Max is.”
Can I just say, I melt right there. “Sorry about that. Jarrod tends to be overly protective.”
“I got that.” Luke scans me from head to toe.
I can feel the heat scorching my skin at his perusal. Is he thinking of me naked? “Well then.” Clearing my throat, I say, “I’m Max Frazier.” I offer Luke a hand, trying not to shake with nervousness. The instant our palms touch, electricity sizzles down my spine to my balls. I can’t be too sure, but with Luke’s eyes going wide, I have a feeling whatever current is running between us, he’s feeling it too.
We stand there for who knows how long. Our hands and eyes still connected like we’re under some sort of trance. With noise from the kitchen, I pull away. “Nice to meet you, Luke.” Feeling more flustered than before.
I turn and see Jarrod standing in the archway with a giant frown pasted on his face. Next to him, Tim’s grinning like he just won the lottery. I don’t know what’s up with Jarrod, but I want to slap that smile off of Tim’s smug face. If he thinks Luke and I are going to hook up, he’s sorely mistaken. No matter how sexy Luke is, there’s no way I’m fucking him.
Luke shakes his head and says, “No chance.” Then he walks toward the open slider, takes off his shirt, exposing every inch of his bronzed perfect six-pack. “Anyone up for a swim before dinner?” With that, he jumps into the pool.
What does he mean by no chance? Before I can ask, Jarrod drags me into the kitchen. After Tim and James head outside, Jarrod turns to me with worry creasing between his brows.
“What the hell, Jar?” I pull out of his grip, standing face-to-face with my friend.
“You’re keeping it light this weekend, right?” His condescending tone has me narrowing my eyes at him. Now he’s biting his pinky nail. “You said no hookups.”
“Stop biting your nail.” I slap Jarrod’s hand away from his mouth. “What’s your issue?”
“You want to keep it easy, but boyfriend, from the salacious way you’re licking your chops, you’re ready to take a bite out of Luke.”
“No, you’re seeing things.” I totally deny it, but truth is, I’m craving a Luke popsicle.
“Then tell me why your dick is in a happy place.”
I glance down and quickly roll my eyes. “Because my dick is always happy—and stop staring at it. It’s weird.”
“Whatever. Anyway, my point is that you’re here to relax, not to get boned. I think you need to stay away from Luke. Besides, you have heavy baggage most people don’t want to carry. That’s all I’m suggesting. And from what Tim mentioned, so does Luke,” Jarrod admits with a somber tone.
I don’t ask what Luke’s issue is, but studying him from afar, he doesn’t look like he has a care in the world.
I let out a long sigh. “Jarrod, I love you. We’ve been friends forever, but you make it sound like Luke and I are going to elope. I just met the man. He’s cute.” The scrupulous look on Jarrod’s face has me chuckling. “Okay, Luke is fucking hot. But I told you before, I’m here to take it easy. Nothing more, nothing less. All right?” I say with reassurance. But that lie doesn’t go unnoticed. Jarrod knows me like he knows his own dick—extremely well.
He directs his amber eyes at me. Calling me out on my bullshit, he asks, “Are you sure? From the way you devoured him with your eyes, I swear you were going to fuck him right there on the bar.”
Even though I’d give anything to be under Luke and have him show me how good it feels to be whole for the last time, Jarrod is right. I have too much baggage to start anything. In three weeks’ time, I’ll be one testicle less and will start my chemotherapy treatments a month after that. No guy wants to date someone who is losing a part of himself. The doctor said my prognosis is a good one, but what cancer is good. I shake the thoughts of dying out of my head.
“You’re right. I have too much baggage.”
“He is yummy though.” Jarrod pastes on a wicked smile that belongs on Joker rather than on his face. I know damn well what’s going through his mind.
“You said he has baggage too.” I narrow a caustic glare his way. Although, I don’t have rights to Luke, the possessive side of me doesn’t want anyone else to have a chance either.
“Jealousy doesn’t become you, boyfriend,” Jarrod says with a raised brow.
“Your sluttiness doesn’t become you either,” I counter, folding my arms across my chest.
“Touché,” he grouses with a smirk.
“I think a little swim would be nice before the rest of your guests come and monopolize the pool and your time,” I add with a smile.
“You’re right and the last person in the pool has to clean up after dinner.” He takes off toward the back of the house, not giving me any warning.
“Dick,” I yell out before following Jarrod to the pool.
Chapter Four
Luke
The second Max unbuttons his shirt and drops it onto one of the lounge chairs, he jumps into the pool. My attention tracks his fluid movements. I don’t know what it is about Max Frazier that makes me want to forget my promise not to mess around this weekend, but I’m undeniably attracted to that man.
With his blond hair highlighted from the sun, his lean runners build and that damn dimple on his right cheek, Max is extremely attractive. I have to keep the lower half of my body in the water or everyone will see my stiffened dick.
Jesus. Listen to me. I didn’t come here looking for a guy, yet I can’t ignore what my body craves. Maybe Max feels the same way.
While the rest of the men are talking at the far end of the pool, Max swims over to me, his eyes glued to my chest. I know he’s checking out my nipple piercings, and the thought of Max liking them has my balls tingling.
“So, Luke. Where are you from?” Max asks as he parks his sexy ass next to mine.
“Well, I’m from the Palatine area. How about you?” I ask, staring into his pretty blue eyes.
“I’m from Oak Park,” he replies. “But I live in Lincoln Park.”
“Nice area,” I say, leaving the edge of the pool and swimming out to the center.
“Well, what do you do in Palatine?” Max reaches my side and begins to swim around me.
“My family owns a landscaping business. And you?”
His eyebrow quirks up. “My family owns a construction company. It’s funny how similar our lives are.” Max dives under the water without a splash and comes up equally smooth.
“Damn, are you sure you’re not part fish?”
He chuckles as he twists and kicks back a little. “I’ve been training for the Ironman and swimming is part of the drills.”
“Ironman. Wow. Now I understand why you have a ho… um, a runner’s build. That’s a hard race.” Telling
him he has a hot as fuck body won’t help my attraction for Max.
“I know. Hence, the training,” he says, giving me that mischievous smile that hardens my dick even more. Trying to keep things light between us and not able to help myself, I reach over and push his ass under the water. He sputters up, coughing and gasping for air. “You’re a dick, Luke.”
The wicked glint in Max’s eyes has me swimming fast toward the other end of the large kidney-shaped pool.
“So, this is how it’s going to be,” he warns with a growl. “We’ll see.”
“You make it easy, Max,” I tease as I get out of the pool and quickly follow the downward path that leads toward the lake. Thinking I have a good start on him, I glance over my shoulder to see if I’m alone, and surprisingly, Max is right on my heels.
“What? Thought you lost me back there?” Max’s wide grin is too damn cute for words.
“No, this is my ploy to get you alone, sweetheart.” The second that endearment comes out of my mouth, I trip over some protruding rocks near the path, my feet almost toppling over each other. Not being deterred, I round the corner and see the pier. I race down it while avoiding Max’s reach and jump into the lake.
I break the surface, gasping out, “Fucking cold.”
“Are you all right?” Max laughs as he rushes to the edge of the pier. He lets out a loud hoot of laughter, which turns infectious.
Shivering from the cold water, I extend a hand, coaxing Max to come closer. “Help me out of here,” I say slyly, hoping he doesn’t see my intention.
He eyes me warily but steps closer and grabs my hand. The second I get a good grip of his, I yank him in and Max falls right into the frigid lake.
“Bastard,” he screeches, not going fully under. After getting his footing, Max tries to tackle me back in the water. I evade his arms, getting about four steps away when Max finally pounces on my back, trying to knock me down. After two failed attempts to get me under, I call a truce.
However, instead of letting him go, I wrap an arm around his waist and dig my other hand into his blond hair, pulling him in for a kiss I’ve been dying to take.
Max hesitates for a mere second or two before he opens for me. Tentative at first, then his warm ravenous tongue delves into my mouth, taking what I’m offering. Our chests are pressed tight together, which plays havoc with my taut pierced nipples. Feeling his rock-hard cock grinding against my equally rigid shaft, I lower my hand to his ass and pull him even closer to me, desperately seeking that connection.
I whisper against his sensual mouth, “I’ve been wanting to touch you since the second I saw you standing in front of that window upstairs. Max, tell me I can have you,” I plea, as I pull his hair and lick along his jaw. My tongue trails down to his Adam’s apple, nipping at his skin, coercing a whimper out of him. His thick dark blond lashes flutter closed as he leans into my touch. Not waiting for an answer, I take his mouth again with brutal need. I slip my hand down the front of his shorts to give a single stroke across his steely length with the palm of my hand. I want to convey just how much I want him. How much my dick, my mouth, my hands and my tongue want every inch of his heavenly flesh.
Fuck what I thought earlier about keeping this friendly between us. I want Max in my bed, through and through.
He rips away from my kiss and lets out a strangled whisper of yes, as I stroke his heated rigid flesh.
Slipping my hand out from his shorts, Max whimpers out his displeasure. I kiss him, sweetly this time to let him know I’m not done with him yet. I look into his beautiful deep blues and say, “We have four days to play, do you agree?”
For a second, I’m not sure if he understands what I’m proposing, but as his eyes widen in comprehension, he nods and kisses me between his answer. “Yes. Four days.”
Taking one last kiss from his sweet lips, I grab Max’s hand and lead him out of the water and up to the house to show him just how much we can do this weekend.
Chapter Five
Max
What the hell am I doing?
Here I am, ready to jump into bed with Luke, not thinking of the consequences of my—or should I say, our actions. I did say I want to take it easy this weekend and fucking around with someone I don’t know isn’t what I meant.
I don’t know anything about Luke. Though he has a sexy smile and is so fucking beautiful, I want to take a picture of his chiseled good looks with my phone and use it as my permanent wallpaper. I know I’m sounding stalkerish, but I can’t help how aroused I feel around him, or so possessive of his attention toward me.
I ache to taste his hard muscular body and what he’s sporting behind those trunks. Luke’s the total package where looks are concerned, but I’m not that dip-and-leave-with-no-strings kind of guy. I would hardly fall for the guy in four days. I want commitment, but what I have in front of me, with the surgery and chemotherapy, I don’t want to put anyone through that turmoil, especially, if I’m going to be an emotional mess in these coming months—and I know I will. No relationship can last under that kind of pressure.
But what if the cancer spreads? I want to slap down all thoughts of me dying.
“Hey.” Luke’s face is inches from mine. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
I stiffen under his scrutiny. If he only knew. “Luke, I need a minute.”
“Okay. If you think this is going too fast, I’ll understand.”
I shake my head, and before I can get a word of denial out, Jarrod steps through the slider and slips an arm around mine. He gives me a tug a little harder than I’m anticipating. “Come have a drink. Everyone’s finally here.”
My friend doesn’t look happy, but the disappointment across Luke’s face has me wanting to shake off Jarrod’s hand and go to Luke’s side. Luke shakes his head at me as though he might know why my friend is upset.
With Luke following behind us, Jarrod leads me to the bar where the rest of the group has already started on imbibing.
A round of greetings follow before Jarrod thrusts a shot glass in my hand. “Drink.” The demand in his tone stalls my hand from downing the shot.
“What’s going on?” I ask quietly, so only he can hear. At times, Jarrod can be tight-lipped where his emotions are concerned. From the sadness reflecting in his eyes, I know he’s hurting, but from what? I have no clue.
Tim chimes in, shifting Jarrod’s attention to him. “Come here, Luke. Where were you and Max?” Tim wiggles his eyebrows and then winks at me. I’d say Tim had one glass too many already. He narrows his blue eyes to me and then at Luke. “Did you guys have fun at the lake?”
“Leave it alone and kiss me. I’m feeling ignored,” James chastises, wrapping Tim in his arms and kissing him to shut him up. It works. Tim’s focus shifts to his boyfriend.
“That’s crap and you know it,” Tim says in mock rancor, then plants another long kiss to James’s lips. “Love you.”
“Love you,” James utters in a near whisper.
“O-kay,” Luke says as he walks around the bar. I track his motion, not able to take my eyes off of him and his glorious ass in those still wet swim shorts.
Jarrod clears his throat, catching me ogling Luke’s ass. I mouth what before downing the shot Jarrod gave me and then wanting a gin and tonic. I hate the look Jarrod gives me. I’m not his kid. I know what I’m doing…I think. “What’s going on with you?” I ask again, with a little more weight to my question.
Totally ignoring my question, he steps away from me and announces, “Now that everyone’s here, let’s get to the grilling. I’m starving,” Jarrod says, rubbing his flat taut stomach.
“You’re always hungry, boo,” Tim counters with a chuckle.
“I think you need to slow down on drinking, or there won’t be any left for us,” James says with a squeeze of Tim’s ass.
Oh, Jesus, help me. Watching those two is torture. I wish they’d go off and fuck each other already, so I don’t have to witness this lovefest.
Ye
ah. You can call it jealousy. It’s been a long time since I’ve been at the receiving end of such adoration from a partner. And seeing two people like Tim and James, so much in love, I desire that same passion, the connection they have.
I look over at Luke and can’t help smiling at the man who I have an instant connection with. He ambles over—his eyes scanning for Jarrod before he reaches my side.
“Is your friend alright?” Luke asks, compassion furrowing his brows.
I glance over at Jarrod. He’s dictating directions to James, who’s manning the grill. “I don’t know. He won’t spill.”
His rough hand caresses my arm. Luke tugs me to the bar. “How about a drink. I sure need one since it’s going to be awhile before we can disappear without Jarrod noticing.” He winks before he adjusts himself and rounds the wooden bar. “What’s your poison?”
“Gin and tonic, please.” I chuckle. “You know, I haven’t been this relaxed in a long while. And you, my handsome man, are the reason.” The second the words, my handsome man fell out of my mouth, a flush of heat floods my face. Of course Luke isn’t mine. I don’t know where that came from to say something like that. Don’t lie, asshole. You want him.
With a gleam in his dark chocolate eyes, Luke admits, “I have to say, I’m glad I came too. And you’re the reason, Max,” His admission melts my heart. He pops the caps off of a beer for himself and hands me my drink. “Cheers to us and to our four glorious days.”
I raise my glass to his and clink. “Here, here,” I counter with a bit more confidence at his declaration. I gulp down a mouthful because my mouth feels suddenly dry. My stomach is flipping about at the note of lust shadowing his eyes.
Oh yeah. Down and dirty lust. I can’t deny my wanton feelings for the man, but getting to know Luke, he’s also appealing with his clothes on. Soon enough, I’ll get lost in Luke’s arms, his mouth and yes, his dick. And if I’m really lucky, I can tap his beautiful bubble ass by the end of this weekend.