by Vera Quinn
Chapter Six
Luke
All through dinner, Max sends furtive glances my way. I recognize the heat radiating from his intense blue eyes, which has my dick stiff the entire meal. However, the cock-blocking friend of his, Jarrod, keeps getting in the way of our conversation. At one point, I ask Max about his Ironman race and Jarrod cuts me off, totally changing the topic. Actually, he’s been doing that all night. I don’t know what’s up his ass, but it’s starting to piss me off. I don’t give a fuck if this is his place, Jarrod has no right to act like an asshole, especially to me since I haven’t done or said anything to warrant such actions.
By the time I clean my plate, I’m ready for some alone time with Max. I grab a bottle of Jack—courtesy of Jarrod’s family and slowly make my way up the stairs. The instant I hit the second-floor landing, I feel a hand on mine.
“Where do you think you’re going?” The sensual cadence of Max’s voice has my dick go from soft to semi-hard.
Smiling, I turn to Max and tug on his hand until he’s in my arms. “Need some quiet time. Want to join me?”
Without a word, he leads me up to the third floor where he locks the door, separating us from the outside world.
As Max reaches the bed, he clears his throat, all seriousness centered on me. “I’m sorry for Jarrod tonight. Lately, he hasn’t been acting himself,” Max says with a blush across his cheeks.
“I don’t know Jarrod, but I think there’s more than just a protective streak. I heard through Tim that Jarrod asked a guy to come up for the weekend, and apparently the guy said yes, but hasn’t shown up.”
“I didn’t know that. I kept asking him what was wrong all through dinner, but he brushed me off.” Max lets out a long resigned sigh. “I’ll talk to him later, after the liquor is gone from his system.”
I open the full bottle of whiskey, take a healthy swig and walk over to Max who is standing right where I first saw him earlier today and pass the bottle to him. He tips a good amount of the dark amber liquid back and then places the bottle on the nightstand.
Without a word, I take my hand and trace the contour of his lightly stubbled jaw, down his neck to the center of his chest, where I can feel his breathing kick up. “I’m glad we’re here, and alone.”
I lean in and kiss him softly on the lips. “Me too,” Max utters under my gentle assault.
“Good. Now kiss me like you mean it.” And he does—without any hesitation. There is none of the trepidation I felt earlier at the lake, no boundaries between us. It’s just our mouths, hands and bodies, entwined with only one purpose in mind.
I remove my clothes with a speed with which the Flash would be impressed. The moment Max is bare before me, I lunge for him, not wanting anymore distance between us.
We fall onto Max’s bed, our lips melding, teeth biting and tongues fighting for dominance, all the while our cocks are lined up and grinding against each other. The friction feels so damn good that I pick up the pace with my hips while my hands and mouth do wicked things to Max’s body.
“Fuck me, Luke,” Max says between kisses.
“That’s what I’m aiming for, sweetheart,” I reply with another bone-melting kiss. He makes me lose all caution and I go for what I want—which is him.
“Less talking and more touching and kissing,” Max demands as he runs a hand through my hair and tugs my head down for another salacious kiss.
“Lube.” I say the one word that halts our action.
The hazy glaze of lust in Max’s blue eyes seem to dim a bit. “I don’t have any. Shit…if I’d known—”
I cut his words off with a peck. “Don’t worry. I have some. But I’ll need to head back down to my room. Are you okay with that?” I grind my dick against his as a message that I’m not going to take no for an answer. I want inside Max desperately and nothing is going to stop me.
He grinds his hips up to meet mine and nods emphatically. “So okay with that plan.”
I bolt out of bed, snag my swim trunks up from the floor and quickly put them on. I rush downstairs as quietly as I can without drawing any attention from the guys on the first floor.
Retrieving the bottle of lube, I step one foot out in the hallway and turn to come face-to-face with Jarrod.
Chapter Seven
Max
As I lay in bed waiting for Luke, I reconsider what I’m doing. Even though my head is telling me this is stupid, I’m already getting attached too fast. My heart is telling me to go for it. Luke promised me four days and I want them all.
As I’m battling the cancer growing inside me, I will remember and dream of the blissful days we had together. I want the pleasure of his body to take me away, to show me that I’m still whole. A man with all my functions in working order. This is how I want to enjoy the time I have with Luke.
I glance over at the digital clock and wonder what’s taking Luke so long with the lube. I’m about to climb out the bed to look for him when I hear the door open and shut. As I watch Luke ascend the stairs, the expression on his face has my heart falter a step.
Crap, has he changed his mind?
“What’s wrong?” I ask, sitting up with a frown.
He runs his fingers through his hair with a bit of frustration “I ran into Jarrod.”
On my knees now, I look to Luke for any signs of anger. “What did he say?”
Luke lets out a soft chuckle. Just like that, his laughter kicks the tension out of my body. “He gave me a verbal warning that if I break your heart, he’s going to kick my ass.”
“Oh my God,” I say with embarrassment. “That’s it?” I start to climb off the bed, but Luke wraps both arms around my waist and drags me against him, our bodies melding together. “I’m going to have a talk with him.”
“Don’t. He’s drunk and upset about that guy not showing up. Besides, he doesn’t know me and I get that.” Luke’s honesty has my insides turning to jelly. “But he’s right. Maybe we should take this slow.”
“Fuck that. No starting over,” I growl out, before capturing his mouth and drawing him in for a kiss he’ll never forget. Taking the initiative, I pull down his swim trunks. I let his dick slip past the waistband, his hard flesh slapping against his stomach. As I admire the veiny length and girth of Luke’s shaft, a shiver of excitement rushes through me, imagining how it’s going to feel deep inside me. “I must have done something good to have this beautiful cock come into my life.”
Luke’s laughter echoes in the room. “It’s all yours, baby.”
Like a gift, a pearl of pre-cum forms on the tip of his shaft and I lick my lips at the temptation given to me. With a wicked grin I say, “I want a taste.” And before he says anything, I slide my tongue out and lap up the fluid into my mouth. A groan of pleasure edges out between his lips. With his encouragement, I take him fully into my mouth until he hits the back of my throat.
“So good,” he moans, his fingers raking along my scalp and tugging with a soft bite of pain. I wrap a hand at the base of his meaty pole and then lick from my fingers up to his leaking head. With another deep swallow, I begin to jack him in rhythm with my mouth.
With another groan, Luke pulls away from me and says, “I want your ass.”
“You got it, baby,” I reply with another lick up his slick shaft.
As Luke slides from under me, he sits up and grabs my ankles, flipping me onto my back. Yet, he doesn’t relinquish his hold on my ankles. Instead, he spreads me wide and pushes my knees down to my chest, so my ass is fully exposed to him.
“Fuck yes. This is what I’ve been hungry for,” Luke says in a throaty growl. He licks my dick before taking me into his mouth, his teeth lightly grazing my sensitive flesh.
“I want more.” I keen out in pleasure as my dick weeps with fluid. Mouth, tongue, teeth—all the things I love about foreplay.
“Patience,” he says. But how can I be patient when Luke’s tongue trails to my balls, sucking each one into his hot mouth and taking full control of my body?
However, I’m grateful I listened to Jarrod’s suggestion and gotten a full wax before I came here, because from my balls to my ass, Luke’s talented tongue is making a meal out of me.
He spreads my cheeks wide and spears me deep, taking all that he hungers for. With one hand, he begins to caress—not tease—while his fingers and tongue invades my hole, stretching me wide.
“I’m ready, Luke. I’m done waiting,” I plead, desperate to feel him inside me.
“Hold on, Max.” He grabs a condom and quickly rolls it on. He then takes the lube and thoroughly slicks me up. Luke positions his dick at my entrance, his eyes meeting mine for approval.
I nod, not able to speak. Luke slowly sinks in until he bottoms out. We are completely joined. A low feral moan escapes Luke’s sexy-as-fuck mouth as he begins to move his hips in a slow smooth rhythm. “You’re so fucking tight.”
“Faster,” comes out of my mouth as I move my hips to encourage him. “Fuck me like you mean it, Luke.”
“You got it, sweetheart,” Luke says as he begins to piston his body into mine.
The euphoric bliss running through my veins has me flying so high that I don’t ever want to come down. As Luke fucks me into oblivion, I feel my body wanting to splinter into a million fragmented pieces.
Molding his body to mine, he takes my mouth in a voracious kiss. I’m lost in his taste, his passion, and I don’t want to be found. His body is demanding, pulling me closer to the edge. One jerk from my hand and I know I’ll fall into heaven.
Luke pulls out of me and flips me over onto all fours. I whimper from the loss, but not for long. Without losing a beat, he sinks back into my needy core. “Don’t come until I tell you too, Max,” he whispers into my ear before he bites my lobe.
He continues to fuck into me, the clawing rapture we both feel is riding us hard.
He grabs my shoulders and angles his hips, repeatedly slamming into my prostate, making me cry out in a greedy moan. With each thrust, Luke rockets me through the stratosphere. Again and again, he hits me right on point. I can barely hold back from spilling my seed.
Luke pulls me up, my back to his front while he plunges deep into my body. One arm holds me tight against him as the other hand begins to stroke me with equal fervor.
“Luke, I can’t…” I trail off, my brain not having enough oxygen to form words.
With his lips to my ear, he whispers, “Come with me, sweetheart.”
The cry I evoke probably can be heard throughout the house, but I don’t give a fuck. All the power on this earth won’t be able to stop me from spewing my cum all over Luke’s hand.
A savage shout tears from Luke’s lips as he comes inside me. As he slowly slips out, we both collapse onto the bed feeling utterly spent.
I don’t know if it’s the delirium of having the best damn sex in my life. Or that I passed out from exhaustion from lack of sleep and having the best sex in my life. I didn’t want this weekend to be the fuckfest, but one thing is for sure, I’m in Luke’s arms, all cleaned up and snuggly warm, feeling utterly content with the world.
Chapter Eight
Luke
The next three days were a blur of sex, food, laughing, learning more about each other and even more sex…but not in that order. Max and I never left each other’s sides for anything, except to go to the bathroom…and only sometimes.
Tim’s attitude about Max and I spending time together changes. He thinks I’m crazy for getting mixed up with Max. I asked why, but Tim won’t tell me the reason. James on the other hand, gives me the thumbs up to go for it.
Jarrod? Let’s just say, he keeps eyeballing me to death—a warning if I break Max’s heart, he’s going to cut out mine and feed it to the fishes. His words, not mine.
I don’t know what their issue is. Even Max is frustrated with Jarrod’s intrusion, but both of us try not to dwell on it.
To get away from the negative attitude in the house, I suggest a walk around the property. Spending some time outside the bedroom might help clear the animosity in the air. Max agrees.
As we explore Jarrod’s property, I learn a lot more about Max. “You’re right about how much we have in common. It is uncanny, including your family obligations of the business and nosy siblings. Are you sure we’re not related?” I narrow my eyes, but quickly laugh it off.
“Maybe,” Max chortles. “But I have to agree. My mom always says each person has a connection—no matter how small—to every person on earth. Like we’re linked together or something like that. Me? I think it’s all bullshit, but I love my mom not to contradict the woman.” His smile is filled with so much love when he talks about his mother that I have to look away.
Pain floods my heart at the thought of my mother, but I quickly shake it off since this topic of conversation isn’t going to be breached. I’m not ready to face my loss with a man I barely know. This weekend is to forget what’s coming, and I’m going to keep it that way.
“What’s this flower?” Max asks, pulling me out of my dour thoughts. He leans into the pink and fuchsia colored bloom and takes a healthy sniff, coming away sneezing.
“That’s Sweet Pea,” I say with a chuckle as Max rubs at his nose. So damn cute.
“Very…fragrant.” Max scrunches his face at the flower. “Pretty but…”
“Feminine smelling?” I laugh. “It is. Do you know flowers each have a meaning?” I ask, smiling at the delicious man before me.
“Really? What’s the meaning for Sweet Pea?” Max asks, a single arched brow raised in question. Hmm. He’s testing me.
I want to kiss that smirk—which I do before saying, “It means pleasures.”
That smirk turns into a full-blown white-brightening smile. “Like, you want to give me pleasure, or I give you pleasure?” The mischief in his eyes has me laughing.
“Maybe both. Neither,” I say with another belly laugh when Max’s smile drops into a frown.
Max walks ahead of me, pointing to several bushes covered with tiny white fragrant flowers. This time, the area is enveloped with the scent of Jasmine. “I know this smell. What does this flower mean?” He plucks a tiny bloom along with its stem and places it in the crook of his ear.
“Jasmine symbolizes sweet love, or sweet lover.”
“Oh really,” he says, accessing the surroundings. “Why do I get the feeling the landscaper set up the design to have a specific theme for love?” Max wiggles his brows at me.
“I have to agree with you. The perennials and annuals along the trail have the running theme of romance,” I say with relish. In all the years in the landscaping business, matching plants based on a theme, instead of color, tolerance and maintenance never occurred to me, until now.
We reach the lake and the private beach. There are several lounge chairs situated near the edge of the water, and farther inland, a group of seats circle a large firepit.
“This must be where Tim and Jarrod were talking about setting up dinner for tonight,” I say, studying the foliage around us.
Max sighs as he looks about the idyllic place. “I would love to live here forever. Away from all the crap life dishes out.”
I glance at Max, wondering what crap is going on in his life. “It’s a good place to hang,” I admit, turning my attention to the large lake. I’m surprised with the weather and calm water, there aren’t more people out enjoying the day.
“Luke, what are those?” Max runs a hand over tiny gold, red and pink flowers that sit in clusters. He leans in and sniffs the tightly packed buds of flowers. “These smell like… some sort of herbs?”
“Those are called Yarrow, or better known as Achillia Millefolium,” I explain. Then it dawns on me what the meaning behind these ferny florals are, and I hesitate.
Feeling the heat creep up my neck and to my cheeks, I turn away from Max’s scrutinizing stare.
“Luke? What is it?” The worry in Max’s tone has me facing the man and in this moment, I quickly realize what’s between us is not a simple hookup. I
’m stunned to admit to myself, but I genuinely like Max. Damn my feelings.
The way Max’s eyes soften, drinking me in, his feelings are as clear as it are my own. It’s scary to think, but in the three days of being around him, I feel near obsessive over Max. I can’t imagine or think that tomorrow will be our last day together. I’ll miss the way he makes me think, the way he challenges me in so many ways. But most of all, he encourages me in the simplest of things.
Our relationship started out as a flash bang of lust, but what’s growing between us is something I’m not ready to confront. I’m not ready to open up to anyone, especially where fears of commitment feel like a stranglehold around my neck.
We have one more day together, I don’t want any more emotions getting in the way of our bliss.
“How about a swim?” I defer, evading Max’s questioning eyes. I pull off my green t-shirt and start heading toward the water’s edge.
Max grabs my arm, stopping me from taking another step. The heat from his body plastered against mine sends electric currents straight to my balls. Without a word, Max leans in and kisses me across my jaw, then to my cheek and finally to my lips. His tongue pushes in, taking over control.
Like a junkie, I wrap both arms around his waist, deepening our connection until we are both breathless with heady lust.
“Tell me,” Max whispers against my lips.
It takes a beat before I realize what he’s asking. I look into his beautiful azure eyes and instantly fall. Not able to help myself, I give in to what he wants. “Everlasting love.”
“Everlasting love,” he repeats in a whisper and I feel his breath along my skin. Not able to resist what he’s offering, I take his mouth with absolute depravity. Tugging Max’s shirt off, wanting every inch of this smart, vivacious and sexy-as-fuck of a man on me. Skin to skin. Mouth to mouth. Groin to groin. I want no barriers between us. I want to leave a permanent mark on Max’s soul like he’s done to mine. I want him to walk away, not forgetting these four precious days.