Jonah ached to kiss his smart mouth. “Just this once.”
“More like every day at work,” Avery fired back, heaving a sigh like he was really put out. “If I must.” Avery straddled Jonah’s thighs and reached between his legs. “I love your hairy balls,” he said, massaging Jonah’s nuts with one hand. “And this too,” he added, tugging Jonah’s trimmed pubic hair with his other.
“Goes with my hairy ass,” Jonah said, cupping Avery’s face. “I love all the ways you’re different from me. Soft where I’m rough and smooth where I’m hairy. Ride me.”
Avery positioned himself and aligned Jonah’s cock to his pucker.
“Nice and slow,” Jonah cautioned.
Avery lowered himself onto the first few inches, releasing a whimpering gasp that clawed at Jonah’s control. Bracing his hands on Jonah’s pecs, Avery rocked his hips until he’d buried Jonah’s cock to the hilt inside him. “I feel so full.”
Jonah kept his hands tucked beneath his head, but he really wanted to hold on to Avery’s hips while he fucked himself on Jonah’s erection. Avery smiled wickedly, sensing Jonah’s struggle and reveling in it.
“Look at those straining biceps,” Avery murmured. “You want to touch me so badly.”
“I am touching you,” Jonah countered. “In the most intimate way possible.”
“Mmmhmm,” Avery said, slowly grinding his hips. “I like the hair on your chest too. Not too thick but the perfect amount to run my fingers through or hold on to when I’m fucking you.” Avery demonstrated by fisting one hand in Jonah’s chest hair and tugging it while rocking his hips faster. “Makes me want to pet you.”
“Pet me,” Jonah said.
He’d never given his chest hair much thought. He knew a lot of guys shaved theirs off, and maybe he would too if he’d sported fur like an animal pelt. Jonah was so damn grateful he’d left his alone when Avery started purring in the back of his throat while smoothing a hand over Jonah’s chest.
Jonah stifled the urge to roll Avery to his back and pound his sweet ass. “I’m at your mercy,” he reminded Avery.
Avery chuckled, and his fluid hips momentarily faltered from their hypnotic rhythm. “We both know you’re much stronger and could do whatever you wish to me.”
“I am bigger and stronger, and I could hurt you, but I won’t. Not ever. When you believe me, I’ll pin you to the bed beneath my weight and fuck you.”
Avery moaned, rocking his hips faster. “So, this is a trust-building exercise.”
Jonah grinned. “I take my role as a mentor very seriously.”
“Mmmm,” Avery agreed, releasing his grip on Jonah to run his hands over his own smooth chest while riding every inch of Jonah’s throbbing cock. “And here I thought it was a test of wills.” Avery’s breath hitched every time Jonah’s dick nudged his gland. “You don’t want to lose control, but I want you to so very badly.”
It was almost Jonah’s undoing, but he just fisted his hands tighter.
Avery licked his swollen lips. “So close.”
“Are you talking about my control snapping or your orgasm?” Jonah asked, his voice sounding hoarse and raw.
“Both,” Avery said, his voice a higher octave as he inched closer to climax. Jonah expected Avery to reach for his dick and start jerking himself off, but he grabbed onto Jonah’s pecs again. Avery rode Jonah faster and harder, his tight ass bouncing against Jonah’s strained thighs until he cried out and splattered Jonah’s abdomen and chest with cum.
“I win,” Avery said, smiling triumphantly down at Jonah as sweat trickled down his body. He swirled a finger through the mess he made.
Jonah’s tenuous grip on his control snapped. He snaked a hand forward and grabbed Avery’s wrist, lifting the dripping finger to his lips. He sucked the digit into his mouth, tasting Avery’s salty essence. After he finished, Jonah released Avery. “You finished first, but you didn’t win,” Jonah said.
In the next heartbeat, he’d grabbed Avery’s hips and rolled him to his back, pinning the smaller man beneath him. Jonah gave them both what they wanted, snapping his hips forward hard enough to make Avery’s eyes roll back in his head. “We’re both winners.”
“Yes!” Avery cried out.
He fucked Avery relentlessly, reducing his lover to a quivering, moaning, and groaning mess. Jonah shouted victoriously as he came, pumping the condom full. When he finished, he moved to roll off Avery, but he tightened his arms and legs around Jonah, keeping him in place. They both knew Jonah could break the hold just as they knew he wouldn’t.
Avery slid his hands into Jonah’s sweaty hair and pulled him down for a long kiss. When they broke apart several minutes later, Jonah eased out of Avery, then lay down beside him.
“Now comes the favorite part of my fantasy,” Avery said. Jonah’s brain was too fuck-blissed to even guess, but luckily, Avery took pity on him. “After-sex cuddling.” Jonah lifted his arm and Avery tucked himself up against his side, resting his head on Jonah’s chest. He made these little contented purring noises that made Jonah smile. “God, cuddling with you is even better than I imagined. If this is a dream, I don’t want anyone to wake me up.”
“Does this mean you like me too?” Jonah asked.
Avery raised his head and looked into Jonah’s eyes. He expected a sassy or snarky response, but the tenderness in Avery’s gaze stole his breath. “More than you’re ready to hear.”
Jonah opened his mouth to say something, anything, but no words tumbled from his lips. So he kissed Avery again, hoping he could feel how much his confession pleased Jonah.
Once they parted to catch their breath, Avery smiled impishly, then said, “Now I want to live out my second favorite part of my fantasy.” Jonah quirked a brow. “Showering together. I want to run soapy hands all over your body. I hope you have a good hot water heater.”
Jonah mentally crossed his fingers that the appliance had one last ride.
“I guess we’ll find out.”
The next morning, his ringing cell phone woke Jonah from the deepest sleep he’d had in years. He glanced at the time and noticed it was only seven in the morning. Why the hell was Felix calling him so early?
“Hello?” he said gruffly.
“Be ready at eight.”
The ensuing groan disturbed Avery, who Jonah discovered slept like the dead. The phone hadn’t woken him, but the sound of Jonah’s distress stirred him. Jonah ran a hand along Avery’s spine to soothe him back to sleep, but his touch had the opposite effect. One moment, Avery was sound asleep, and the next, he was scooting beneath the sheets. Jonah’s eyes rolled back in his head when he felt the first press of Avery’s tongue at the base of his semi-erect penis.
“What was that noise?” Felix asked.
“Noise?” Jonah asked breathlessly. “I didn’t hear anything.” Avery giggled beneath the sheets. “Where are we going?”
“Jesus Christ,” Felix groused. “Don’t you know better than to answer your phone during sex? I’ll be there at eight thirty. Be ready.” Felix hung up before Jonah could respond. Avery sucked one of Jonah’s balls in his mouth, and he lost the ability to do anything but cry out Avery’s name.
Unfortunately, it happened at the same time Kendall burst through his bedroom door, shouting Jonah’s name. He was soaking wet with a towel haphazardly wrapped around his waist and soapy hair sticking up in all directions. Beneath the sheet, Avery stilled for a second before tickling Jonah’s taint with the tip of his tongue.
“Shut the door and go away,” Jonah growled at Kendall. He grabbed the pillow Avery had slept on and hurled it at his friend.
Kendall ducked to avoid it but didn’t step farther in the room. “Oh, wow. You have company.”
“You don’t have to sound so shocked,” Jonah groused.
“Forgive me,” Kendall said. “You’ve just lived like a monk for so long.”
“I’m not into voyeurism, K. Get out,” Jonah repeated.
“Oh, for fuck’s sakes,” Kendall said,
rolling his eyes. “I didn’t come here to watch or join in.”
“Then leave,” Jonah said, his voice straining as Avery sucked on his taint.
“The hot water heater crapped out in the middle of my shower. I must insist you fix it right away.”
“Sure thing. Now get the fuck out of here,” Jonah said tersely.
Kendall waggled his brows, then shut the door loud enough to make Avery giggle. Jonah reached beneath the sheets and tugged Avery up until he sprawled across Jonah’s chest.
Jonah nuzzled his nose against the sensitive spot beneath Avery’s ear. “Good morning.”
“Not yet, it isn’t,” Avery said. “I was trying to make it one.”
Jonah brushed a lock of hair off Avery’s forehead and took in his disheveled appearance and soft eyes. “It’s perfect.”
“I had big plans to make you messy,” Avery countered. “Maybe we need to alter them a little bit since you won’t be able to take a shower, and it sounds like there’s someplace you need to be soon.”
“I have ninety minutes before Felix picks me up to drive me God knows where. I’m willing to get creative if you are,” Jonah said, lifting his head and kissing the softest lips he’d ever known.
“What did you have in mind?” Avery asked in between kisses.
He rolled Avery onto his side with a playful growl. Jonah repositioned himself so his head was facing the opposite end of the bed. He would much rather have Avery straddling his face in a sixty-nine position, but this allowed Avery to have more control.
Jonah would’ve loved to drag out their pleasure and include more teasing foreplay, but things were still so damn new and thrilling. They spilled down each other’s throats without much effort or fanfare, but neither of them complained as they lay panting in the bed.
“I wish I could stay longer,” Avery said, pressing a kiss against Jonah’s chest. “There’s so much of you I haven’t explored yet, but I need to get home and get ready for work.”
Jonah held him tighter. “Don’t wash my scent off you yet.” He liked knowing Avery would go to work smelling like his soap and shampoo.
“I didn’t plan on it,” Avery said, smiling at him.
Jonah patted his ass, then eased out of bed. “I’ll go get your stuff from downstairs.” They’d washed their wet clothes after their shower and tossed them in the dryer before going to bed.
“Like that?” Avery asked, gesturing to Jonah’s nude body.
Jonah smiled sheepishly as he pulled a pair of basketball shorts from a drawer and put them on. “Better?” he asked.
Eyes locked on Jonah’s crotch, Avery said, “Barely, but I’ll take it.”
Jonah wished he could make Avery a cup of tea before he left, but he didn’t keep any on hand. He made a mental note to pick some up along with Betty’s preferred dog treats from the store. Avery hated coffee with a passion, so Jonah didn’t bother offering him a mug or make any for himself. He could wait until he gave Avery a proper send-off which included a lot of tongue and touching.
Avery sighed happily and leaned against the driver’s side door of his car. “I thought you’d be freaking out this morning.”
“Me too,” Jonah admitted. “It might come later.”
Avery laughed. “I’ll be ready. Have fun with Felix. Call me later.”
“I will,” Jonah said softly, kissing him once more before releasing him. “You were right, by the way.”
“I so often am,” Avery replied cheekily. “Care to elaborate?”
“You make me believe the boyfriend thing is a good idea.”
“With me,” Avery amended. “Don’t leave out that part.”
“With you.”
“It’s a fucking great idea,” Avery said. “You’ll see.”
Felix arrived at eight twenty, and he didn’t show up empty-handed either. He’d procured donuts and two tall coffees from Hermes, a Savannah landmark built in the late eighteen hundreds. The bakery was on the first floor of the massive Queen Anne corner store, and the Hermes family lived in the residential area above it. Sometime in the 1920s, the Gottlieb Bakery moved into the building. The bakery became Hermes-Gottlieb, but most locals still just called it Hermes. The stately building had recently undergone renovations to preserve history while bringing the beautiful structure up to current code. The current owners upgraded their menu to appeal to a broader customer base, but they never fucked with the original recipes that had made the pastries a household name.
“I hope they put enough syrupy bullshit in there to please you,” Felix said when Jonah got in his car. “This is some sea salt caramel concoction.”
Jonah took a sip and hummed appreciatively. “It’s perfection.”
“Glad you like it,” Felix said while reversing out of Jonah’s driveway. “I grabbed a variety of pastries since I didn’t know what kind you like.” He wouldn’t know Jonah’s coffee preferences either if Jonah didn’t have a terrible habit of drinking coffee in the evening.
“Did you see iced coffee on their menu?” Jonah asked.
Felix had just taken a bite of a glazed donut covered in cinnamon sugar, so Jonah had to rely on his partner’s scowl as an answer until he finished chewing.
“Coffee is supposed to be hot,” Felix said after taking a sip of his brew.
Jonah chuckled. “Does that mean iced coffee is on the menu, and you don’t approve?”
“It means I didn’t notice if iced coffee was on their menu because I wasn’t looking for it,” Felix countered.
“And here I thought reporters were observant and noticed everything around them.”
“I observe you’re filled with piss and vinegar this morning. You remind me of Pul after he’s taken a shit.”
“Uh, thanks, I guess.”
Felix chuckled and shook his head. “It wasn’t a compliment, jackass.”
Jonah laughed. “Who’s Paul? Your latest plaything?”
“Plaything?” Felix asked, disdain dripping off his tongue.
“You’re the slut puppy in this trio,” Jonah replied.
“Oh, man. I don’t think I’ll ever recover from such a harsh insult.”
Jonah laughed. “Who’s Paul?”
“I said Pul not Paul. It’s short for the Pulitzer Prize I’m going to win someday. He’s a fucking cat, dick breath.”
Jonah did indeed have dick breath, but he didn’t say as much. “You own a cat?”
Felix laughed. “No one owns a cat. The cat owns you.”
“Ah,” Jonah said. He’d witnessed the way Locke and Key pampered their ginormous Maine Coon cat named Bones. “I’m having a tough time picturing you spoiling a pet.”
“I’m not capable of affection? What do you call the donut you stuffed into your mouth in two bites?”
“I didn’t say you’re incapable of affection,” Jonah rebutted. “I just have a hard time picturing you using a baby voice when talking to a cat.”
“Pul would slit my throat in my sleep if I ever pulled a bullshit stunt like that. He has too much dignity.” Felix took another sip of coffee. “Don’t think all this talk about my cat is going to distract me from asking about your overnight guest. I’m assuming it wasn’t Kendall I heard in your bed.”
“Kendall and I are just friends,” Jonah replied. “Avery and I have…” How did he put it? Were they officially dating? How could they be when they hadn’t gone on a date?
“Avery yanked your head out of your ass,” Felix supplied for him.
“With both hands,” Jonah said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Good for you,” Felix said. “You look like a different man.”
Jonah felt different too. He hadn’t just touched the sun and survived; Jonah carried Avery’s warmth inside him, and it quieted the howling winds of discontent. “Thanks,” Jonah said simply. “So, where are we going?”
“Roswell,” Felix replied.
“Are we investigating aliens?” Jonah teased.
“Roswell, Georgia, not Roswell, New Mexi
co. It’s a suburb of Atlanta.” So at least a four-hour drive on I-16.
“Who lives there?”
“Agnes Cahill, the widow of Bo Cahill, her son, Darnell, and her daughter, Amelia, who goes by Millie. They saw my article and reached out to me late yesterday afternoon before I had the chance to track them down. I didn’t tell you last night because I was waiting for them to confirm the interview time via email, which didn’t come until this morning.”
Jonah bumped the fist Felix held up. “That’s awesome news. How’d they seem?”
“Eager to clear Bo’s name of this crime, at least,” Felix said. “How’d it go with you and Rocky yesterday?”
Jonah filled him in. Felix shared his enthusiasm for the new leads to investigate. “Earl’s father and brother both worked for the concrete company responsible for pouring the foundations, driveways, porches, and patios in the subdivision. Earl briefly worked for Locke-Tight also. We can’t chalk it up to coincidence.”
“Locke-Tight, huh? Any relation to Royce?” Felix asked.
“I’m going to call him today and ask. I think we have to look at the subcontractors involved in the subdivision project. We can’t afford to assume the location didn’t hold more importance to our killer than convenience and privacy in the early morning hours.”
Felix nodded. “I agree. Did you learn anything else interesting?”
“Earl’s boyfriend had given him a silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. His friend said Earl never removed it, but he wasn’t wearing the necklace in the crime scene photos, and it wasn’t collected for evidence either.”
“You think the killer took it?” Felix asked.
“I think it’s possible. Or maybe Earl and his boyfriend had a big fight, and Earl returned it. The necklace feels significant to me.”
“Every new clue we uncover is important. We’re going to solve this case,” Felix said excitedly.
Jonah hoped liked hell his friend was right.
Agnes Cahill sat regally, if not a little stiffly, in her son and daughter-in-law’s dining room. Jonah understood the wariness in her eyes when they introduced themselves. He was asking Agnes to turn her life inside out all over again and expose her wounds and heartache to complete strangers. It wasn’t easy for him, so it sure as hell wasn’t a walk in the park for her. She’d survived a brutal assault only to have her husband taken away from her. Thirteen years later, their name would make the papers again when her husband confessed to a crime he couldn’t have committed. Jonah had lost people he’d loved dearly, so he understood exactly what he was asking her to do. He didn’t take it lightly.
Ride the Lightning : Sinister in Savannah Book 1 Page 15