Push & Pull (The Midwest Series Book 2)

by Brigham Vaughn

  Lowell made a face. “Ugh. That sound delightful. Why do you camp again?”

  “Hey, no writing it off before you give it a try,” Brent said. “I’m going to show you the whole experience. I promise you’re going to love it.”

  “The whole experience, huh?” Lowell licked his lips. “That sounds promising.”

  “You really shouldn’t say stuff like that if we’re supposed to be keeping our hands to ourselves,” Brent teased. He shifted to face Lowell.

  “I probably shouldn’t,” Lowell agreed. His heart was beating awfully hard in his chest for some reason. “But you know how much I like pushing boundaries.”

  Brent swallowed audibly. “Yeah, I do.”

  “Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing if we broke a rule. Or two.” They were close now. Close enough Lowell could touch his lips to Brent’s if he leaned in a little. He could smell the sweet chocolate on his breath. He wanted to taste it on Brent’s tongue.

  “Maybe not.” Brent sounded a little hoarse.

  “And maybe last time was for the wrong reasons.”

  “This time wouldn’t be?”

  Lowell shook his head. “No.”

  The last time had been because he was drunk and lonely and pissed at his parents. Right now, the only reason was because he wanted Brent.

  “Then what are we waiting for?”

  Brent reached out, skimming his thumb against Lowell’s cheek. His eyes half-closed, and he leaned in a little. He held his breath, waiting for Brent to close the distance, but the sound of children hollering and laughing nearby broke through the quiet moment, and Brent pulled back with an annoyed sounding sigh.

  “Privacy,” Lowell said drily. “I think we’re waiting for privacy.”

  Brent put on his seatbelt. “Good thing we still have the hotel room for another night.”

  ***

  “Shower first?” Brent asked when they were in their room. Lowell looked at him for a moment. Things had suddenly gone very awkward, and he had no idea what to do next. Nerves made him antsy and uncomfortable. He’d never wanted anyone so much. Or been so nervous about what they were about to do. “I mean, do you want to shower? With me?” Brent sounded tentative, like he was afraid Lowell was going to change his mind and bolt.

  “Um, sure.” Lowell felt a little shy as he followed Brent into the bathroom. Brent turned on the shower, and they both stripped out of their clothes. They stood next to the shower in awkward silence as the water heated.

  “I’m sorta surprised you agreed to this. I figured you’d turn me down,” Brent said.

  Lowell stared at him for a long moment before he stepped inside, holding the curtain open for Brent. It was odd, but Brent seemed really into the idea, and he didn’t want to ruin that. “Just get in here.”

  Brent ducked under the water, then turned away, lathering his body with soap and whistling tunelessly under his breath.

  Lowell stared at him, unsure what to do next. Brent turned back and gave him a lopsided smile. “Oh, sorry, I’m hogging the water, aren’t I?” He grabbed Lowell’s hips and shuffled past him to trade places. Lowell froze, staring at him.

  “Is this not okay?” Brent asked. “You seem ... weird.”

  Lowell blinked a few times. “I, uh, have never done this before.”

  “Never showered with someone?”

  “No,” he admitted. “Well, this one time I got in a shower with a couple of fully-dressed people after a Jell-O wrestling party, but that doesn’t count, right?”

  Brent stared at him with his mouth open for a minute. “Wait, back up the bus. Please explain.”

  “Which part?”

  “All of it?”

  “I just never wanted to shower with anyone,” Lowell explained. “I mean, it seemed really personal and ... weird to do with someone else.”

  “I actually meant I had questions about the Jell-O wrestling, but you can tell me that later.”

  “Oh.” Lowell made a face. “See? I’m bad at this.”

  “Bad at what?” Brent cradled Lowell’s head in his hand and gently coaxed him to meet his gaze. “Because you’ve been pretty great today, at least from what I’ve seen.” He stepped a little closer. The feel of Brent’s naked skin rubbing against his gave Lowell a sudden inkling of why people liked to shower together. “And once we finish showering, I’d really like to get in bed with you. I don’t care what happens. I just want to be with you.”

  Lowell felt a weird jolt run through him. “I’d like that too.”

  Brent gave him a slow, crooked smile that made his heart beat way too fast. “Then I’m all yours.”

  The reminder that he could be in charge relaxed Lowell a little. He soaped Brent’s body thoroughly, taking his time to explore every hard inch. The sculpted muscles begged him to touch, and once Brent had rinsed the soap off, to taste.

  Feather-light touches and licks made Brent squirm, and Lowell explored that for a while. Brent groaned when Lowell dragged his teeth across his pec and bit lightly. And when he slid his fingers between Brent’s cheeks and teased his hole, Brent let out a strangled gasp.

  “Oh, fuck. I think I’m done here,” Brent said. He’d braced one arm on the shower wall and water dripped from his massive bicep. It made Lowell wonder how easily Brent could throw him around.

  Rather than answer verbally, Lowell rinsed and turned off the water. They dried themselves quickly, and Lowell shivered when they stepped into the much-cooler bedroom.

  “Want me to turn up the heat?” Brent asked. He ran a hand down Lowell’s back. His skin was warm.

  Lowell shook his head. They’d make plenty of heat in other ways, he was sure of it.

  “I want you to lie on the bed, face down,” he said.

  Brent raised an eyebrow but did exactly as Lowell instructed.

  June 7, 2013 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

  Brent

  Brent clutched the pillow beneath him and moaned, the soft wet feel of Lowell’s teasing tongue driving him insane. His tentativeness in the shower had completely disappeared, and Brent had happily let him take over. “God, Lowell, please.”

  The tormenting feeling disappeared. “Please what?”

  “Please, don’t stop.”

  “Oh, honey, I have no intention of stopping.” Lowell’s voice was warm, and it made Brent want to grab him and pull him close. But then Lowell parted Brent’s cheeks and dove in again.

  He groaned when Lowell flicked his tongue against Brent’s perineum, then dipped his head and sucked one of Brent’s balls into his mouth. Brent’s eyes rolled back in his head at the feeling, and he let out a little whimper. Lowell gently massaged it with his tongue until Brent squirmed. It was so good it was almost too much to take.

  Lowell released him and pressed a kiss to his upper thigh. “I think I should get you ready so I can fuck you.”

  The sound Brent made was wordless, but it left no doubt he was okay with that idea. Lowell teased with his tongue before beginning to work it inside Brent’s hole. It made Brent feel lightheaded. He’d been rimmed before, and he thought it was good then, but this was so much better.

  When Lowell drove his tongue deeper, Brent let out a strangled sound and collapsed forward onto his elbows. “Please,” he whimpered.

  “Oh, do you want something inside?”

  “Yesssss.”

  “You already had my tongue. What else do you want?”

  “Your fingers.”

  “Are you going to ask me nicely?”

  “Oh, God. Please, Lowell. Will you use your fingers on me?”

  Lowell didn’t answer. Instead, his touch disappeared, and Brent heard rustling sounds from across the room. The bed dipped when Lowell knelt on it again. “Some lube now. It’s going to be cold.”

  Even with the warning, Brent flinched when cool liquid dripped into his crack and slithered downward. Lowell caught it with a finger and dragged it up, circling his hole until Brent pushed back eagerly.

  “Do you like that?”r />
  “Mmhmm.”

  Lowell slid his finger out, circled the rim of Brent’s hole for a moment before sinking it inside again. “Mmmmm.” Brent moaned quietly.

  “Should I add another?”

  “Yes.” Brent could hardly manage more than one word answers. There was a drizzle of more lube, and then Lowell rubbed two cool slick fingers against his opening. The slickness helped ease the way inside, and he moaned.

  Lowell’s fingers were slender but long, and the way he moved them made Brent’s head spin.

  “Fuck,” he muttered when Lowell added a third. No one had ever teased him like that.

  Lowell leaned forward, pressing his chest along the length of Brent’s back to whisper in his ear, “Are you ready for my cock?”

  “Yes,” he panted.

  Lowell sat upright, and Brent heard the sound of tearing foil and then felt another dollop of lube. Brent shifted to his hands and knees again. Lowell gripped his left hip, and then he felt blunt pressure against his entrance. When Lowell pushed forward, Brent clenched down involuntarily.

  “You feel a little tense.” Lowell ran his fingers up and down Brent’s back and made him shudder. The movement pushed a little more of Lowell’s cock into him. Just the tip. It burned a little, but it was starting to feel good.

  “Been a while.” Brent couldn’t believe how breathless he sounded.

  “Well, the last thing I want to do is rush you.” Lowell rubbed his thumb against Brent’s tight ring. “So, I’m going to stay very, very still. And when you’re ready, you’re going to move back against me. Take me at whatever pace you need.”

  “Bossy little thing,” Brent muttered under his breath. But, damn if he wasn’t enjoying it.

  Lowell’s laugh was soft, and he ran a hand down Brent’s back again. Brent took a slow, deep breath and shifted back, feeling Lowell’s cock slide in a little farther. He did it again, taking a little more every time.

  “How’s that?” Even Lowell’s voice sounded a little strained now.

  “Good.”

  “Need more lube?”

  “I wouldn’t turn it down.” For a guy with a build like Lowell’s, his cock was surprisingly thick.

  He felt Lowell slide most of the way out and then the drizzle of more lube. This time, when Lowell pushed forward, he sank in easily, except for the last inch or so.

  Brent took a couple more deep breaths, bore down, and pushed back.

  He felt Lowell’s hips snug up against his ass, and Lowell let out a strangled sound and gripped Brent’s hips tighter. Lowell shifted, rocking inside Brent with short, gentle thrusts.

  “Oh, fuck.”

  “Tell me when you’re ready for me to really move.”

  “I’m ready.”

  Lowell began to thrust. Slowly, smoothly. With so much carefully controlled precision, it made Brent’s balls ache. And then every thought flew out of Brent’s head except for the way Lowell felt inside him. Lowell’s hands were sure and strong as they gripped Brent’s body, and his light panting was almost drowned out by Brent’s groans.

  Brent buried his face against the pillow to muffle the sounds he was making. With a final gasp, he shot onto the bed below him. His thighs shaking, he collapsed on top of it, not caring about the sticky mess. Lowell followed him down, still braced on his arms. He continued to fuck Brent, but his measured strokes grew harder and more erratic until he came with a shuddering groan.

  Brent let out a huge sigh of contentment when Lowell stretched out over his body, pressing a kiss to his neck, right near the hairline. It sent a shiver through Brent’s body. Although Lowell was beginning to soften, he didn’t pull out yet. They were both panting quietly, and Brent wanted to reach out and pull Lowell close, but he was too wrung out to even move.

  “What do you think, better than Micah?” Lowell whispered in his ear. Brent had a dim recollection of Lowell claiming his tongue was better than Micah’s, but at the moment, Brent really didn’t give a shit about anyone but the guy who had just fucked him into oblivion.

  Face still pressed against the pillow, Brent muttered, “Who the hell is Micah?”

  Lowell laughed and sat up, swatting Brent’s ass as he got off the bed. “Good answer.”

  Brent yelped at the stinging pain that sent a little shiver of pleasure through him, then grinned against the fabric.

  “I’m going to go take another shower,” Lowell said, his voice growing faint as he disappeared into the bathroom. A few moments later, the water began to run, and Brent turned his head so he could breathe better. Lowell hadn’t seemed like he was in a hurry to get out of bed this time, so Brent figured he shouldn’t push it by following him in to the shower. He wasn’t sure he had the strength to stand anyway. He was busy debating if he was ever going to move again, or just lie on the bed in a puddle of contentment forever, when he heard Lowell’s voice over the rushing water. “Are you coming or not?”

  Brent grinned, the invitation sending a sudden burst of energy through him. He jumped out of bed and wobbled when he realized his legs were actually a little weak and shaky. Lowell was soaping his body when Brent pulled back the curtain. Lowell regarded him with a serious expression but stepped back to give him room under the spray of water. Brent couldn’t quite identify the look in Lowell’s eyes—something soft and almost puzzled, maybe—so he didn’t reach for him. Instead, he turned and ducked his head under the water. He felt the soft, soapy scratch of a washcloth across his back and smiled to himself.

  Brent had gone up north to go bow hunting with his father while he was growing up. Other than spending some one-on-one time with his dad, which was hard to come by in a family of five, Brent was never that into it, but it had taught him a few lessons. When it came to skittish creatures like deer, patience and allowing it to come to you were the key.

  It turned out getting close to Lowell wasn’t so different.

  June 7, 2013 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

  Lowell

  Brent finished in the shower before him and disappeared into the bedroom. Lowell took his time, wringing out the washcloth and rubbing lotion onto his skin. He needed a minute to himself to think before he looked Brent in the eye again.

  When he’d run out of things to delay the inevitable, he took a deep breath and pushed open the bathroom door. He tried to act nonchalant as he walked toward the bed Brent was in, the one Lowell had been sleeping in for the past week. He wanted it to seem like he crawled into bed with Brent all the time, but his heart was beating way too fast in his chest to make that believable. He placed a knee on the bed and must have hesitated because Brent sat up.

  “Want me to move to the other bed?” he asked.

  Lowell shook his head and was grateful when Brent lay back. Lowell settled under the covers, pulling them up over them both.

  He glanced over at Brent, wondering if he would ask Lowell what he was doing, or why he’d done it.

  “Want to watch ESPN for a while?” Brent asked instead.

  Lowell nodded gratefully, his throat too thick to speak.

  He stared at the TV, but the words the commentators said made no sense and neither did the stats flashing across the screen. He was hyper-aware of the guy lying a foot away from him. Half of him was tempted to sidle over and let Brent pull him close. The other half wanted nothing more than to bolt for the other bed. This was hard. The last time he’d let anyone get this close ... Ugh, but he didn’t want to think about that.

  After a while, Brent sighed sleepily and flipped on his side, facing Lowell. His breathing was deep and even, and when Lowell snuck a glance at him, he looked peaceful. A little section of hair curled against his forehead, and Lowell was tempted to brush it back. He had to clench his hand into a fist to keep from reaching out, afraid he’d wake Brent.

  Once the urge passed, Lowell picked up the remote from where it lay on the bed between them and turned off the TV. It was early evening, and Lowell could see daylight around the edges of the curtains. But now that the screen was
black, the room seemed especially dark and silent. Lowell couldn’t reach the nightstand without disturbing Brent, so he tossed it blindly, hoping for the best, and when it didn’t clatter loudly against the wall or floor, Lowell breathed a sigh of relief that it had landed on the bed like he’d hoped.

  Brent muttered sleepily and flipped onto his other side, so his back was to Lowell. Lowell curled up beside him. It was too early to sleep, but physically, he was exhausted. His mind wouldn’t stop racing though.

  Lowell lay still for a long time, listening to Brent’s quiet, even breathing in the dim room. He inched forward slowly until he could feel the heat of Brent’s skin.

  Quit being such a drama queen, he chastised himself. It’s not going to kill you to fall asleep next to a guy you’ve fucked. Brent wasn’t Micah. Despite their friendship and the fact that they’d fucked in the past, Brent and Micah were nothing alike. Other than a few asinine comments at the beginning of the trip, he’d been nothing but nice to Lowell. Micah seemed nice at first too, he thought, but his brain rebelled at the comparison. Brent is nothing like Micah, he reminded himself again. Brent would never intentionally hurt me.

  Lowell took a deep breath and draped an arm across Brent’s midsection. His breathing remained even, and he didn’t stir.

  In the over-air-conditioned room, Brent’s body felt deliciously warm, and Lowell allowed himself to relax against him until they were spooned together.

  As the heat seeped into him, he finally felt his mind settle, and he drifted off.

  June 7, 2013 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

  Brent

  Brent awoke to Lowell curled up next to him, sharing a pillow. His hand rested on Brent’s stomach, and, in sleep, he looked soft and relaxed. His dark lashes were thick and dark against his cheeks, and his lips were slightly parted.

  There was barely enough light to see Lowell clearly, but Brent couldn’t stop staring. He’d expected to wake up and find Lowell in the other bed. The skating and great sex had made him pass out fast. The last thought he’d had before he fell asleep was, I wonder how long this will last?

  But Lowell was still here, tucked against his side. Brent didn’t want to read too much into it—with his luck, Lowell would wake up and bolt—but he couldn’t stuff down the little feeling of hope. And his relief at Lowell finally relaxing and letting his guard down a little around him was strong. Maybe, just maybe, Lowell was beginning to let him in.