by Jamie Craig
“It’s exactly what I expected. And I mean that in a good way. Utilitarian and orderly, but not without your creature comforts. Cozy, too. I can easily see myself spending a few more nights here.”
“Even after we finish these cases?”
“Yes. I’m going to assume we’ll have something to talk about when we no longer have Hector Young and DA Horan between us.”
“I work crazy hours.” Though Duke seemed more than pleased by his response. “And this wasn’t the first time I’ve been shot. It won’t be the last, either.”
“I work crazy hours, too,” Scott pointed out. “In fact, these past few days have been really out of the ordinary for me. As for getting shot…” Scott swallowed something bitter in the back of his throat. It wasn’t something he wanted to talk about casually. “Just…be more careful and don’t get shot again.”
“Well, I can promise to be careful, at least.” Duke cupped the back of Scott’s head and tugged, pulling him closer. Their lips met, caressed, parted, in the space of a single breath. “I have no idea what I’m doing with this. With us. But I’m willing to figure it out if you are.” His mouth slanted. “Maybe I’ll just follow my gut on this one.”
“Maybe you should. I always follow my gut, and it hasn’t led me wrong yet.” Scott slid closer, hoping he wouldn’t have to put space between them again. “What’s your gut telling you now?”
“Forget the food.”
Scott was pulling at Duke’s shirt before he finished speaking. “Yes, definitely listen to your gut on this one.”
There was nothing tentative about their next kiss, bitter from the coffee, sharp from their hunger. Duke’s free hand slid around Scott’s waist and molded their upper bodies together even more, angling back to force Scott’s weight atop him. For a moment, Scott worried about hurting Duke, but he made no sound of discomfort, no wince of pain. He had to believe, considering all the other times he’d stopped when he’d felt a twinge, that the absence could only mean Duke was perfectly fine.
He was more than fine. He was hard as a rock.
There wasn’t enough room on the couch to actually do everything Scott wanted to do. They remained locked together in the kiss for what felt like an eternity. Their tongues slid together, and Duke’s lips were soft and firm at the same time. Scott dragged his hand down Duke’s chest to grip his erection, and his tongue watered at the weight against his palm. But Scott wasn’t going to suggest they move to the bed. Not yet. Scott was not interested in delaying things for another second. He needed to smell Duke’s skin, taste his sweat, soak in his warmth. Instead of limiting himself to the couch, he lowered himself to the floor, settling between Duke’s legs.
“What’re you doing?” Duke rasped.
“I’m going to get a taste of you,” Scott murmured, pushing Duke’s shirt up to kiss his stomach. He moved lower, mouthing Duke’s cock through his pants. The zipper pressed into his lips, but he didn’t care. The inside of his cheek prickled, and he could already feel the weight of Duke’s shaft pushing into the back of his throat.
Duke curved both of his hands over Scott’s skull, not holding him down but rather, exploring its shape. He spread his legs wider, giving Scott more room to get settled, and leaned his head back against the couch with a soft sigh.
“If this is your idea of paying me back for the massage last night, you have my blessing.”
“Well…not just that.” Scott fumbled Duke’s pants open, pulling down the zipper to get to Duke’s straining erection. He dragged his tongue across the base of his cock and over the rough hair, taking a deep breath as he did so. Later that night he would drag Duke into the shower and diligently clean and lick and nibble at every inch of his body. But before that, he was going to indulge his desire for Duke’s perfect cock.
Heat radiated from Duke, solid and reassuring even through his clothes. Even the shaft nestling against Scott’s palm as he pulled Duke’s balls free, too, felt feverish. It wasn’t a temperature. The hospital would never have let him go if he’d had some kind of complication resulting in an elevated body temp. No, the more time Scott spent with Duke, the more he discovered that he ran hot most of the time, even when he appeared calm and collected. Maybe it was the incongruity that always made it stand out, that someone as cool as Duke would have skin that should have been flushed with its heat.
Whatever it was, it made Scott ache to shed the rest of their clothes in order to savor it firsthand. For now, he had to content himself with the soft skin of Duke’s sac as he sucked into his mouth.
Duke groaned and jerked his hips. The fingertips at the back of his skull pressed harder, urging Scott even closer.
He rolled his tongue around Duke’s balls, sucking gently on each one, closing his eyes as Duke’s groans surrounded him. He might have done the same thing the night before. He honestly couldn’t remember. Even though every moment was branded in Scott’s memory, at that moment, he forgot everything that wasn’t the smooth texture of Duke’s skin against his lips, the rhythm of the pulse beating through his flesh. Other thoughts tried to intrude on the moment. What had Ben been ready to tell him? How well did Horan know Tana? What on earth would he have done if Duke had been really hurt?
Scott pushed those thoughts out of his mind. It was difficult to ignore work, difficult to ignore his fears. That was why he didn’t have serious relationships. He couldn’t give himself over completely to somebody else because there was always a part of him that couldn’t be shut off. But Duke groaned again and tightened his hold, and the world narrowed.
The scent lured him away from Duke’s balls, tempting him upward. He dragged his tongue along the prominent vein running the length of his shaft and stopped at the flared crown, already glistening with pre-come. He wanted to lick it away. It was what had drawn him, after all. But if he got his lips around the velvety head, he was going to swallow Duke down, and then, the end of this glorious exploration would already be in sight.
So he veered sideways, turning his head to trace along the ridge, and rubbed his thumb through the clear fluid, instead, drawing ever tighter circles until he reached the small slit at the tip. His nail caught on its edge, nothing harsh, nothing painful, but enough for Duke to hiss sharply through his teeth.
“James…” It could have been a plea, or a warning, or something else entirely. All Scott knew was that he loved the way his name sounded on Duke’s lips, no matter what the intention.
Scott soothed the skin with his tongue, running the tip over it again and again, until Duke hissed again. The drops of pre-come were almost intoxicating, and he wanted more of it. Behind him, the television droned on, the news giving way to much louder commercials, and then those commercials fading back to the anchor’s deep, rhythmic voice. Scott heard all of that with half an ear, using the voices and music to mark the passage of time as he licked every fresh bit of the salty liquid from Duke’s head.
But that couldn’t be enough to satisfy him forever. There was a world of difference between dragging the flat of his tongue across the crown, and wrapping his tongue around Duke’s shaft as he swallowed more and more of his length. He glanced up through his lashes, studying Duke’s face. His head was still back, his eyes closed, his mouth partially open to release his rapid, hungry breaths. Scott couldn’t remember the last time he had seen anybody look so perfect.
Holding the length away from Duke’s body, Scott sat up higher to get a better angle. The top of his head brushed against Duke’s stomach as he slowly sucked in the tip, his lips stretching to seal around the thick girth. The muscles in Duke’s thighs trembled, and his hands slipped down to Scott’s face, caressing his cheeks as he took more of the shaft into his mouth.
Scott swallowed his cock, angling it so the entire length went directly down his throat. He held it for as long as he could, swallowing around the shaft, before pulling back to gasp for breath. He barely had the chance to fill his lungs before Duke was gently pushing him, guiding him back down. Scott didn’t mind the small
show of dominance. In fact, his stomach tightened and churned in a delightful, uncomfortable way.
That was the rhythm they set. Slow and deep. Up and down. His mouth, Duke’s hands, everything adding to the escape they both sought. He could let Duke take the lead, because then he didn’t have to think, but he knew extending the control to Duke was a gift, too. Duke could forget for a few precious minutes about random gunfights and innocent men getting blamed for crimes they had no part of. Scott would do even more if that was what Duke wanted. It almost frightened him how much more he’d be willing to offer.
Duke began to thrust to meet Scott’s mouth, holding him down for a few seconds longer with each stroke. His breathing became more ragged, the occasional word slipping free. Scott heard his name more than once, until that was all there was, a litany as Duke pumped into his throat. When he felt the vein throb against his tongue, Scott cupped Duke’s balls and squeezed.
Duke jerked. A moment later, hot come hit the back of Scott’s tongue, the cock pulsing with each shot into his mouth. Scott sank down the length again, eager to get it all, and his first swallow around the head finally brought a wordless shout he felt all the way to his toes.
Scott’s own cock throbbed. It didn’t just throb. It ached. The pain spread to his lower stomach, tightening the muscles in his abdomen, and then reached around to his lower back in a strange, awkward embrace. His balls were heavy, smashed in his pants, and his clothes had never felt more ridiculously uncomfortable. But he didn’t let that distract him from the come hitting the back of his tongue. He swallowed again and again, coaxing every drop from Duke.
“James…James…” The hand on his head disappeared, gripping his shoulder instead. Duke tugged, but he refused to rise until he was ready, until he’d had enough to tide him over until they got into Duke’s bed. “Damn it, James, stop. Please.”
James blinked up at him. “What?” he asked innocently.
The gaze Duke leveled at him was pure black, the lids heavy. His nostrils flared, as he pulled again at Scott’s shoulder. “Play fair. If you don’t, I’ll end up tearing out my stitches getting to you.”
Scott smiled slowly. “When you put it that way, I have no choice but to play fair.” He slid his fingers beneath Duke, pushing past his sac to find his tight hole. “Of course, we might have different definitions of fair.”
The muscle clenched, then unclenched at his careful probe. Duke’s breathing quickened. “No, I could work with that definition.”
“So you don’t think this’ll tear out your stitches?” He teased the ring of muscle before slipping the tip of his finger inside. “I’ll be careful.”
“You just have to take it…” The word caught in his throat on a single, sharp inhalation when Scott pushed deeper inside. He licked his lips before finishing his sentence. “…slow.”
Scott dragged his tongue across Duke’s thigh, his gaze still locked on Duke’s face. “I can take it slow. In fact, you’ll be amazed at how slow I can take it.”
He sat back, pulling his hand free, and Duke responded with a small gasp. Scott’s head was spinning, but he managed to rid Duke of his shoes and yank his pants off. They would need to move to the bedroom sooner or later, but Scott wasn’t interested in moving right then. He gripped the back of Duke’s thigh and pushed up until the other man bent his knee, resting his foot on the edge of the couch. He gently cupped Duke’s balls, pulling them out of his way, and exposing his slightly stretched opening to Scott’s view. And his mouth. “Very slow.”
The sound that came out of Duke’s mouth when Scott traced the hole with the tip of his tongue resembled a whimper, but Scott couldn’t consider how he’d gotten this stoic man to crumble already any time soon. The twitch of muscles beckoned to him to do it again, though this time, he made sure to drag over it as well.
“Jesus…” Duke’s hoarse voice encouraged Scott to continue, keeping the pace far more languid than he normally would. “I can’t even remember the last time someone did this.”
Scott paused long enough to shake his head. “Either you don’t date enough, or you date the wrong kind of people.”
“Probably both. It’s a good thing I found you, then, huh?”
“Oh, now you’ve done it. I’m not ever going to let you forget you said that.” He returned to his previous task, wetting Duke’s trembling skin, preparing him. “When was the last time somebody fucked you?”
“A few years.” The hand that settled over Scott’s on his balls shook, much more noticeably now than before. “Something tells me you won’t make me wait a few years for it to happen again.”
“You’re a very perceptive man.”
Scott took a deep breath and pushed his tongue into Duke’s channel, not surprised by the heat, or the smooth, dry texture of his skin, or the way Duke moaned. Pleasure like an electric shock went through him, and the only desire he had was to fuck Duke with his entire body. His mouth, his fingers, his cock. Slowly, slowly, he reminded himself, even as that hunger crawled up his spine.
Duke’s other leg mirrored its mate, his heel resting on the edge of the couch to spread even wider for Scott. Worry twinged in the back of Scott’s mind at what the position might do for Duke’s stitches, but when Duke didn’t make any noise of discomfort, he let it go to focus on getting the man ready. With that long of a break between fucks, Duke was going to be tight. Scott didn’t want to hurt him.
Though the thought of just how tight he was going to be added a new throb to Scott’s cock.
His hand snuck from Duke’s balls to his semi-erect cock. He massaged the length between his fingers and palm, absently squeezing and stroking him while he moved his tongue in gentle rhythm. In response, Duke clenched his muscles, his entire body tensing and relaxing. There was still so much energy inside him. Scott could feel it, waiting for release, waiting for a chance to break free. His cock twitched and moved, each stroke bringing more blood to the area, until he was completely hard once again. That was Scott’s sign to lift his head.
“Where do you want it? The bedroom or…?”
Duke blinked, as if waking from a trance. “I…hadn’t thought about it, actually.”
“If you want me to fuck you in bed, you gotta tell me now. Before I lose my wherewithal.”
Another blink, followed by a slow sweep around the room to the stairs that seemed miles away. “Do you have a condom?”
“Of course,” Scott said, pulling his wallet from his back pocket. It was one that was a few months old, but it hadn’t expired yet, and if this wasn’t an emergency, Scott didn’t know what was. “No lube, though.”
“I’ll take care of that.” Duke lowered his legs to the floor and stood, his shirt falling straight though his erection poked through. “You get out of your clothes and I’ll be right back,” he said as he headed for the kitchen.
Scott stripped in record time, heedless of where he tossed his clothes. He had no idea what Duke had in mind, but if he didn’t want to have to wait to go upstairs, that was fine by him.
He was tearing open the condom when Duke returned, a bottle of olive oil in hand. His shirt was gone now, though the stark whiteness of the bandage on his side wasn’t what Scott stared at. He was too transfixed—again—by the sculpted muscles, the way his body narrowed down to his trim hips, the thick jut of his cock and all the pleasure it promised. Later, though. After Scott finally got to bury his own in Duke’s tight ass.
Duke came to a stop in front of him. “If we stay down here and fuck on the couch instead of my bed, I’ll have less room to move around.” He unscrewed the bottle and poured a small amount of oil onto his fingers. “You okay with that?”
“I don’t need you to move around too much,” Scott promised him. “In fact, I’ll do all the moving. You just hold on tight and enjoy the ride.”
“Like this?” His slick hand wrapped around Scott’s covered cock, squeezing tight.
Scott’s knees buckled, and he almost sank to the floor. He hoped when it was Duke’s as
s instead of his hand wrapped around his flesh, he would be able to handle it instead of exploding in his immediate pleasure. Duke smiled a little, and it felt like a hot blade had sliced right through his chest.
“Yes…yes, like that.”
Duke twisted his wrist, spreading the oil around his entire length. A few droplets rolled down to his balls, tickling along the way. When Duke took a step back toward the couch without letting go, Scott had no choice but to follow, stopping only when Duke reached the edge and finally released him.
Carefully, Duke laid back against the cushions, lifting the leg against the back while resting the other foot on the floor. His oiled hand dipped between his legs, fingers slipping between the cheeks to lube his hole as well.
Scott watched silently, his mouth dry as Duke’s fingers disappeared inside his channel. He fucked himself slowly, and Scott wasn’t sure if he was simply being careful, or if he was intentionally trying to drive him out of his mind. He had had visions of bending Duke over the back of the couch, or maybe sitting with Duke astride him, but this was better. In this position, he would remember to keep it slow. He would be able to watch the color and light in Duke’s eyes. He’d be able to kiss the man, and bury his face against his throat when it all got to be too much. And it would all get to be too much. Scott had no doubt about that.
Duke finally pulled his fingers free, his body slick and stretched. Ready for his cock. Scott kneeled on the couch, and kept his other foot on the ground. He hooked Duke’s leg around his hips and let Duke pull him forward until their mouths touched. He breathed in Duke, savored the taste of him, and let the head of his cock push against his opening, easily slipping into the tight channel.
For a moment, oddly terrifying, Duke closed his eyes. Scott had visions of pain lancing through his body, of vows never to do this again, of another trip to the emergency room and having to explain that he’d ripped out his lover’s stitches because he just couldn’t keep his cock to himself even after a gunshot wound. He held still, holding his breath, waiting for Duke to do something—anything—to let him know that he was okay.