Jack

by A M Snead

  Lucas smiled and snaked his hand into his crotch. “You want substance…”

  His lips tight, Jack suppressed a grin as Gideon simply shook his head, a quirk of a smile on his lips.

  “Keep it corralled, Lucas,” Rich chuckled. “For the time being, anyway.” He cleared his throat and went on. “We’re pretty flexible with the time frame, so don’t feel that you have to rush through the build-up. We’re going for a movie-style skit, so it will be considerably longer than our usual scenes.” He glanced between Jack and Lucas. “So, relax, get comfortable in your roles, and”—he smiled and winked—“have fun.”

  “We can do fun.” Lucas wriggled his eyebrows and slung his arm around Jack’s shoulders. He planted a juicy kiss on Jack’s neck then licked his lips, exhaling hard. “Oh yeah, we can do fun.”

  Jack laughed; he was in total agreement—as was his cock. The man’s mouth was magical and proved adept in distracting Jack’s mind from unwelcome thoughts of Garrett. And with each minute that passed, it seemed, he needed a stronger dose of “distraction” than the one before.

  Why is that, Jack? His sister’s quiet voice whispered to him with an unusually serious note. He preferred her needling tone to this one. Jack made a conscious decision not to answer and turned his full, undivided attention on Lucas and the upcoming scene.

  Lucky for him, Derek and Zachary waited in the wings to provide their own level of distraction once Lucas stepped offstage.

  And then your full “romantic” scene with Garrett, Jill murmured, forcing her way to the forefront of his thoughts yet again. What’re you going to do then?

  Jack swallowed thickly, attempting to take comfort in the closeness of Lucas’ nearly naked body. I’ll play my part like a professional and be done with it.

  He swore he heard Jill sigh. Good luck with that plan, little brother. You’re going to need it.

  ♥

  Austin hesitated as he started to emerge from the veranda of the outside bar and approach the pool. Only one member occupied the sunning beds off to the side of the large pool, his tanned, muscular body stretched out and glistening in the sunlight. Lance. Sunglasses shielded his eyes and his only covering—a pair of tight black speedos.

  Remaining in the shadows of the trees near the veranda, Austin stood motionless, his gaze caressing the man’s fiercely masculine body. It was his job to see to the whims of the members and make sure they were taken care of at all times. He shifted anxiously then walked out to the pool. When he drew near the sunning bed, he paused, his eyes longing as he stared at the man whom he’d been secretly dreaming of since high school.

  Rather than approach him, he moved toward the pool instead but couldn’t keep his gaze from drifting back to Lance’s form, his skin glossy with tanning oil. The man’s arms were tucked under his head, his biceps flexing occasionally as he shifted now and then. Sunlight glinted off his glasses and made it impossible to detect whether or not his eyes were open. But Austin suspected they weren’t, as Lance appeared unaware of his presence.

  Austin’s heart pounded, and his hands flexed at his side as he longed to feel the man’s slick, heated skin beneath his fingers…feel Lance’s hands on him as well. But more than the man’s touch…Austin desired to see that long-time want in the man’s eyes. Surely any previous notion of the prominent Lance Cocker taking interest in someone of such low stature was simply the empty fantasies of a foolish school boy.

  Austin’s gaze roamed down Lance’s sculpted torso and lower to linger on the man’s package which seemed to swell thicker right before his eyes. Lance shifted, and his legs parted a bit more, allowing Austin a full, unobstructed view of his goods, starkly outlined beneath his very tight speedo swimwear. Austin’s breath quickened, and his hand crept absently toward his own crotch—when he glanced up to find Lance’s sunglasses slid down a fraction and his piercing eyes staring at Austin.

  With a small, startled gasp, Austin turned away and stared out at the pool. It was against club policy for the employees to ogle the members. He could get fired for his lingering gazes.

  A soft chuckle emitted from the man and Austin heard the bed creak as Lance sat forward. “You can look,” he said quietly, amusement in his voice. “I won’t tell.”

  “I-I apologize,” Austin murmured without facing him. “It wasn’t my intention to…”

  “To what…Austin?”

  The sound of his name on the man’s lips drew Austin around. He stared at Lance silently.

  The man stood up and removed his sunglasses, dropping them on the bed. “You’re Austin Cummings, am I right?”

  Austin swallowed thickly; he knew who he was? He nodded, unable to find his voice.

  “You probably don’t remember me,” Lance said and walked toward Austin. He thrust out his hand with a smile that nearly drove Austin to his knees. “We went to high school together. I’m Lance Cocker.”

  Austin’s hand shook a little as he slipped it into the other man’s palm. Lance instantly closed his fingers and squeezed firmly. Austin met his eyes nervously. “I remember you.”

  The smile on Lance’s lips widened a fraction, causing Austin’s heart to go crazy. “You do?” His eyes narrowed a bit as his smile adopted a smirk. “Or do you simply remember the family name? I can’t imagine that I, personally, left a lasting impression on you.”

  Austin shifted his eyes from the man’s face to their clasped hands, the heat of Lance’s body pouring into him. “You did,” he whispered.

  “Hmm.” Lance raised his brow and nodded, clearly pleased. “So, you were aware of me back in school, then?”

  Austin trembled as Lance continued to grip his hand. “Very aware.”

  “Were you aware that I was…” He cleared his throat and his voice lowered, softened. “…aware of you, too?” His hand squeezed a fraction—with invitation.

  Meeting the man’s stare tentatively, Austin slowly shook his head. “No,” he said quietly.

  Lance just gazed at him for a moment, then released his hand. A smile played at the corner of the man’s mouth. “I think you’re fibbing,” he murmured. “I know there were times you caught me looking your way.”

  “I didn’t…” Austin faltered and averted his eyes. “…take it to mean anything.”

  “Were you hoping it did?”

  Austin turned his back to the man, his breath uneven. “Yes.”

  Lance stepped closer, his body lightly brushing Austin’s—then withdrew and walked back to the sunning bed and sat down.

  “What did you think,” Austin whispered too low for Lance to hear, “he was going to be flattered?” He blinked at a sudden sting in his eyes and started to walk away when he noticed a couple of other members near the bar—watching them. Was that why Lance had withdrawn? He didn’t want to be seen socializing with an employee?

  “Where are you going?” Lance stopped him when Austin again started to head back toward the bar.

  Austin hesitated. “I…”

  “Isn’t it your job to cater to the wants of the members?”

  “Yes,” Austin mumbled.

  Lance picked up his sunglasses and slid them on then lay down on the bed again. “I could use another coat of oil.”

  It wasn’t uncommon for the cabana boys at the club to be seen applying tanning lotion to the members—both men and women. He approached the sun bed as Lance held out a bottle of oil. Austin took it and looked at the man, uncertain where to start.

  “Do my legs first,” Lance said, his voice relaxed.

  Austin glanced toward the bar and the two guys talking among themselves. They cast an occasional glance in Austin and Lance’s direction but seemed to be losing interest. Austin filled his palm with coconut-scented oil and, after a moment’s hesitation, began to rub his hands along Lance’s shins and calves.

  “Work it in good,” Lance murmured.

  Resting one knee on the end of the bed, Austin leaned into it, massaging the man’s firm muscles, slowly working his way upward past his knees.
Lance parted his legs, inviting Austin to move in between them as he rubbed up his thighs. Lance had nicely developed legs, muscular thighs, and his sun-warmed muscles flexed and shifted beneath Austin’s hands. Austin tried to control his breathing but found it impossible as his gaze repeatedly jumped to the man’s crotch which twitched at his every touch and swelled thicker and harder.

  “You have the hands of a masseuse,” Lance said quietly. “You ever thought about such a career?”

  “No,” Austin mumbled, his voice shaky.

  “You should.” He exhaled deeply and shifted his hips, drawing his legs up a bit, letting them fall open a fraction wider. “I haven’t seen you around since high school,” he said. “Where have you been?”

  Austin slowly ran his hands down Lance’s inner thighs, his fingertips grazing the man’s bulge. “I’ve…I’ve been traveling.”

  “Yeah, me, too,” Lance sighed. He slid his sunglasses down and looked at Austin. “I kept hoping I would run into you somewhere.”

  Keeping his eyes averted, Austin whispered, “I didn’t.”

  Lance slowly removed his glasses and propped up on his elbows. “Why?”

  Austin shrugged and shook his head but made no reply.

  “There has to be a reason you didn’t want to see me,” he pressed, then smiled. “Did you finally grow old enough to realize I was just an arrogant jerk?”

  “I never thought that,” Austin murmured.

  “Really?” Lance chuckled. “You’re probably the only one, then.”

  Austin looked up, his hands pausing, resting against Lance’s warm, oiled skin. “You were a politician’s son, that couldn’t have been easy, expected to uphold a certain image at all times. I would’ve hated that.” He looked away. “I actually kind of felt sorry for you.”

  Lance fell silent for a long moment. When Austin glanced at him, the man just stared back, a myriad of emotions in his eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered, a slight strain to his voice. “Most people just saw a spoiled rich kid when they looked at me.”

  “Not me,” Austin said softly.

  Lance gazed at him, started to sit forward, then looked uncertainly toward the bar. “Are they still watching?”

  Austin cast a discreet glance that way. “No.”

  Leaning forward, Lance rested his hands on Austin’s hips as Austin sat back on his heels. “You don’t know how badly I wanted to take you out on a date,” he said quietly. “Just say ‘fuck you’ to everything else and ask you out.” He squeezed Austin’s hips and leaned closer, his mouth nearly touching Austin’s lips. “I felt like an asshole for not doing so.” His lips trembled and grazed Austin’s mouth, but he pulled back before the kiss could be completed when the men at the bar looked their way. Lance lay back down and ran his fingers through his hair. “I shouldn’t have let anything stop me…like I’m letting it now.”

  Applying more oil to his palm, Austin leaned forward and slowly smeared it over Lance’s hard stomach. “You were a good son,” Austin murmured. “You had respect for your father and all that he’d worked so hard for. You didn’t want to ruin anything for him.” Austin rubbed his hands up Lance’s chest, hovering over him. “There was no shame in that then…or now.”

  Lance swallowed thickly and discreetly touched Austin’s stomach, tracing his fingertips over his skin. “You were the only one who looked at me like I was a real person…my own person.” His hands rubbed up Austin’s torso, his thumbs circling his stiff nipples. “I fell in love with that look,” he whispered thickly. “That same look that’s there right now.” His breath shuddered. “So many times, I wanted to come to you, tell you how I really felt inside…when I knew it wasn’t showing through on the outside. You owned my heart…my soul…and you didn’t even know it.” His eyes glossed as Austin’s filled with tears as well. “I wasn’t just afraid of stepping out of my role in life, I was…afraid that maybe you didn’t feel as much for me. That maybe what I thought I was seeing…wasn’t real at all.”

  Austin’s vision blurred and a tear broke free, sliding down his face. “It’s hard to be brave,” he murmured. “When your whole heart is at stake.”

  A tear seeped down Lance’s temple. “It is,” he whispered. “But when it’s for real…” His hands slid around Austin’s waist and flattened against the small of his back, drawing him down against him. “…it should be worth the risk.”

  ♥

  The knot was there in his throat, pushing a sting up into his eyes before Gideon was aware his vision had begun to swim and distort the scene before him. Neither of his boys were “acting” anymore, their words possessing an underlying meaning to them both. But the things they were saying, the quiet anguish displayed—it wasn’t affecting just them.

  An unexpected ache wrapped around Gideon’s heart and squeezed, causing pressure in his chest.

  It’s hard to be brave…when your whole heart is at stake.

  Had any truer words ever been spoken?

  56 “Just Desserts”

  “Try mine.” Marcus dipped his finger in the conglomeration of ice cream and toppings, then held it up to Garrett, who eagerly sucked it clean.

  “Yum.” Garrett smiled and leaned down to lick a smear of ice cream from Marcus’ lower lip before kissing him softly. “Very tasty.”

  “Now try mine,” Mickey said. He swirled his finger through his bowl of frozen dessert that was less drenched with gooey toppings but contained a large amount of chopped peanuts. “I like lots of nuts.” He grinned and offered his finger to Garrett as well.

  “I bet you do,” Garrett teased and drew the boy’s finger between his lips, sucking it for a moment before Mickey withdrew and Garrett chewed the bits of peanut. He licked his lips and went for a kiss from Mickey also, which the boy gave up willingly.

  Garrett sat between the two boys on the bed, his arms around their shoulders as they continued to finger-feed him from their bowls. Mickey seemed his old self at the moment, but Garrett couldn’t shake the recollection of the anxious look on the boy’s face when he’d asked Garrett to stay with Marcus. Nor was he oblivious to the occasional worried glance Marcus cast the other boy. It was veiled, hardly noticeable, but present nonetheless.

  It troubled him deeply that there might be something wrong that Mickey wasn’t telling them. The boy knew how much they all loved him—so why wouldn’t he talk? What disturbed him the most was that even Marcus appeared confused. They were two halves of one whole, there was nothing Mickey didn’t tell the other boy. Until now, it seemed.

  “So,” Garrett said, taking another “serving” from Marcus who, for whatever reason, seemed to be taking great amusement in feeding Garrett this way. “What have you two been up to? We haven’t talked for a while, so give me the scoop. Anything new that I don’t know about?”

  He watched Mickey closely and detected a mild tension grip him, yet the boy shook his head. “No,” he whispered. “Nothing new.”

  “Nothing at all?”

  Mickey shook his head and Marcus gazed at him uncertainly. “Nothing,” Mickey said. “Except this.” He grinned and smeared Garrett’s cheek with ice cream then laughed.

  “Ahh!” Garrett recoiled, and the two boys laughed. “You make a mess, you gotta clean it up.” He leaned his face toward Mickey and the boy giggled and slowly, sensually dragged his tongue up Garrett’s cheek. Garrett gave an exaggerated shiver. “Damn. That tongue…”

  “Do you like my tongue, too?” An impish smile played across Marcus’ lips.

  “Hmm, show me what it can do.” Garrett wriggled his eyebrows.

  Marcus scooped up some of his melting dessert and smeared it across Garrett’s lips, then commenced to lick it off. Garrett groaned and opened his mouth, allowing the boy’s tongue to dart inside. Just being in the boys’ presence caused a certain degree of hardness in his crotch but tongue-play never failed to turn him to granite in an instant. He understood Mickey had started this to distract Garrett from any further questions, but he was helpless against thei
r wiles.

  A cold, wet finger traced down the side of Garrett’s neck as he was lost in Marcus’ kiss, and Mickey moved closer to lick and suck his skin clean. Garrett groaned into Marcus’ mouth then shifted and grabbed Mickey’s lips hungrily. “Fuck, I’ve missed you boys.” He shuddered through the kiss.

  Mickey, who sat closest to the wall, handed Marcus his bowl and the other boy placed both bowls on the nightstand. The two of them worked together to unbutton Garrett’s shirt and expose his torso. Marcus grinned and reached over to one of the bowls and dipped his finger again, bringing it back to smear across Garrett’s chest. Mickey sucked the boy’s finger then they both went about licking the ice cream from Garrett’s chest. Marcus continued to add the sweet, dripping dessert to Garrett’s skin, wetting his nipples, tracing paths down to his navel as they took great pleasure in “cleaning” him up.

  “Ah fuck,” he gasped softly when Marcus swirled his slick tongue around Garrett’s stiff nipple then sucked it with firm pressure. Garrett’s back arched a bit and he gasped again, cupping the kid’s head. Mickey moved lower and teased his navel, circling it with the tip of his tongue then dipping inside. “Holy shit…” Garrett moaned unevenly, his stomach jumping. He reached over Mickey’s head and unfastened the button of his pants—and Mickey took it from there, working his hand down inside his jeans. “Uhh…” Garrett lifted his hips as the boy massaged him through his briefs. “Fuck, baby…your hands are still as magical as I remember.”

  Garrett barely heard the single knock, or the door open as the boys’ combined efforts carried him away into sexual bliss—effectively distracting his thoughts from the skit being filmed outside at this very moment.

  “You decide to have a party and don’t invite me?” Bailey huffed. “I see how I rate around here.”

  Garrett lifted his head off the pillow and grinned at the young man lounging in the doorway. “Well, you’re here now.”

  Sitting up on his heels, Marcus looked at Bailey then beckoned to him with swaying fingers. “Join us.”