by Black Deja
Lucas swallowed while he watched the pickle enviously. He was jealous of a briny cucumber. If he dipped his dick in pickle juice, would Creed slurp him? He shivered with the thought.
“So, tell me what you know about me, Lucas.” Creed’s eyes were looking out toward the ocean, his gaze focused.
“What I know?” Lucas asked, his mind running over the few tidbits of information he held.
“Yes. I know you’re thirty-two, you’re a professor at the College of Charleston, you play music on the side—or you used to—and you bite your fingernails when you’re nervous.”
Lucas put his hand down. So, yes, he was nervous.
What did he tell Creed about himself? That he was beautiful was an understatement. His body was the vision of fantasies. He thought for a moment. “Well, you help run your father’s ranch.”
Creed’s family ranch was where Anthony learned how to ride years ago. He’d been working through trauma he’d experienced at work, and horseback riding was suggested as therapy. Well, it worked, and Anthony was able to get his life on track. He enjoyed it now, riding out at Creed’s ranch at least once a month.
“Okay. Yes. What else?”
Lucas gave it some thought. “You have a charity for gay youth, and you run a few businesses, one being Kaiyo Nami that sells products like your surfboard and other ocean sports equipment. Other than surfing, I don’t know any of your hobbies.”
Creed nodded while Lucas spoke, popping a grape or two in along the way. “That’s more than I thought. I’d like for you to see all of me, who I am. I want you, Lucas.” Creed turned to Lucas. “I want you forever. So, to get that, you and I are going to have to take some time to learn each other.”
Creed pulled the book out of Lucas’s hand then placed his head on Lucas’s lap. Unable to resist, Lucas ran his fingers through the strands of Creed’s hair, enjoyed the play of silk against his fingertips.
“Let’s start with the ocean. Do you hear the waves?”
“Yes.” Of course he did. Who wouldn’t? What was Creed’s point?
“Now, try listening with your heart.” Lucas was quiet as he tried to do what Creed asked. But, he only heard waves, nothing magical or heart-stopping. “The ocean is the earth’s heartbeat. It continues to go on, to thrive. And, the water? The water is healing. When my brother died, my family was crushed.”
Lucas heard of Creed’s older brother’s accident, of how he had missed a turn driving around a corner and spun out of control. It had been too late to save him. He’d died on impact.
“Niko was the heir apparent. I handled the business for Kaiyo Nami, made a few social appearances at my parents’ request, and surfed. But, when we lost him, that all changed. I became the one my father would groom to lead, so I stopped surfing, put on a suit and tried to become my brother. I’d also stopped eating, stopped taking care of myself and replaced my need to breathe with my need to work.”
Lucas tried to picture a broken Creed rather than the vibrant one he’d always seen. His heart went out to him, but he remained quiet and continued to touch Creed, offering comfort as he spoke.
“One day, my mom asked me to meet her. I told her I was on my way to a meeting, but she refused to hear it. Within moments, I got a message the meeting was rescheduled. She’d used her power that day to cancel it and insisted I come here to this beach.” Creed laughed. “When I arrived, I was in a three-piece suit, dress shoes and wore my frustration with her handling my life like a shield. I hadn’t been to the ocean since Niko died. I couldn’t.” Creed sighed, his breath brushing over Lucas’s thighs.
“My mother stood, one of our surfboards in her hands waiting. I stormed down the hill to her, ready to tell her to stop interfering in my life. But, when I moved closer, her eyes were wet, while her face was strong and determined. I’ll never forget it.
“She said, I have already lost one of my sons. I will not lose another. The business is not your heartbeat. This is, this water you love so much, have loved since a child. She thrust out the board to me. Your father and I have spoken. I was so angry with her, with them, with myself. If I’d done more, helped my brother, then he wouldn’t have been racing home late at night, tired from work. I screamed at her how it was my fault Niko was dead, that if I had been more of the son they needed, he’d still be here. And, when I fell, too broken by the tears, she caught me.”
Lucas’s skin was wet from tears he was shedding. He reached up to wipe them away quickly and settled his hand back in Creed’s hair caressing him gently. “My mother held me as I let it all go and then helped me take off the suit and shoes, then in my boxer briefs with a surfboard in my hand, I went back to the ocean. After that, I began to heal. The ocean cleansed me, eased the guilt that I carried. With time, I was myself again.”
Creed lifted up, took Lucas’s chin into his hand. “I’m not saying it’s the ocean that will heal you, Lucas. Maybe it’s your music, but whatever makes your heart beat, helps you to move past the pain, I want to be there to help you find it. And then, I want to share your joy.”
Creed bent, the kiss he shared with Lucas was soft and tender, and Lucas sighed into it.
∞ ∞ ∞
By the time they left the beach, the sun was setting. The orange and reds blended forming a backdrop any photographer would have been thrilled to capture. Lucas helped carry their possessions back to Creed’s Jeep, smiling at the creakiness of his clothes from the saltwater.
He felt the buzz in his pocket from a text message. Anthony.
You’re not home. Where are you?
Out with Creed.
Long pause.
With Creed?
Yes.
Where?
At the beach.
Another long pause. This time, Lucas imagined his brother, brow creased, worry lines etched into his flesh as he tried to puzzle this out. Good luck with that. He was still trying to figure this out himself.
What’s going on, Lucas?
Lucas shook his head. He barely knew.
I’m not even sure. We’re heading home now.
Okay. We’ll talk when you get here.
Okay.
Lucas felt two strong arms circle his waist and looked up into Creed’s eyes. What was it about this man that made him shudder? The need to be closer to Creed was coursing through his body, shocking him. He leaned into Creed before he even realized it, his body along the length of Creed’s, his dick rigid and aching in his shorts.
“Anthony?” Creed questioned.
“Yes.”
“He knows you’re with me?” Creed bent down, but instead of kissing Lucas’s lips, his mouth drifted along Lucas’s collarbone and Lucas shiver.
“Yes, I told him.”
“He’s going to want to question you. It’s going to be like he’s interrogating you, then he’s coming after me. What are you going to tell him?” His words vibrated against Lucas’s skin as he continued trailing kisses over his neck, and behind his ear.
Lucas had no answers and he didn’t care. He threw all thoughts of Anthony out of the window when Creed’s hand slid beneath the front of Lucas’s shorts and captured his dick in his palm. He whimpered with the sensation of being touched, helpless to need and thrusting forward to feel more.
“Will you describe the kisses we’ve shared? Tell him how you watched me surf? I saw you, saw how hard you were the moment I took my shirt off. You like what you see, Lucas? How about now? How about the way your cock feels in my fist?” Creed pulled harder, taking his thumb and rubbing it gently over the head.
When Lucas was going to cry out, to scream his pleasure uncaring of listening ears, Creed kissed his lips and swallowed the sound. His tongue ravaged Lucas’s mouth, and his lips battered Lucas’s own.
Creed lifted up and Lucas opened his eyes, his breath turned to panting as pleasure ran through him.
“Do you see me, Lucas?”
Lucas nodded while he fucked Creed’s fist, his gasps harsher as his balls boiled with the need to
come.
“Really see me, Lucas. No matter what Anthony says to you, what you decide when I drop you off tonight, I’m not letting you go. I’m not wasting any more time waiting for you to catch up.” Creed bent again, this time teeth instead of lips along Lucas’s neck. Sucking hard enough to make marks, he completely took over Lucas’s pleasure, stroking and pulling his dick, drawing moans and pleas out of Lucas that were foreign to his ears. Lucas’s knees buckled and he came, his seed rocketing from his body and over Creed’s fingers.
Dazed, he watched as Creed took one of them into his lips, sucking his fingers, tasting him. Smiling, he nodded his head as if judging Lucas’s flavor. Lastly, he pulled Lucas’s clothes together.
“We’re going to dinner this week, someplace nice.” Creed leaned over, kissed him gently. “I have to go out of town, but I’ll be back later this week. We’ll go then.”
Lucas nodded, but his heart was still racing and his breaths coming in fast. He couldn’t say a word if he tried.
“Nice to see you so accommodating. Should make you come more often.” Creed smiled.
Lucas groaned. He had to snap out of this, but he was boneless, the force of his orgasm had drained every last thought from him. Creed helped him get in, then walked around to the other side of the vehicle.
When he was behind the wheel, he said, “I’ll call you with the details.”
Details. Dinner with Creed. Life had taken a surreal turn in just days. What the fuck was he doing?
“Don’t think too hard about that, Lucas. I’ve got you now. Remember that.”
“You can’t say things like that, Creed.”
“Why can’t I when they’re true?”
“I just broke up with—”
“The man whose tongue was down that twink’s throat earlier? You two were done a long time ago. You just needed help realizing it.”
Near the house, Lucas’s phone dinged again. Probably Anthony checking up on him, but he’d respond anyway. No need ignoring him, which would probably make things worse. Lucas prepared to send a quick text when he realized it wasn’t Anthony but a message from Ira.
What are you doing, Lucas?
What did that even mean? More importantly, why was Ira texting him?
Too impatient to let someone else have you? Needed to embarrass me in public with that man’s hands all over you?
In shock, Lucas watched his phone flash with another text.
Are you so jealous of what I have now that you would let that animal have you?
Lucas put the phone down. He looked around, tried to see if somehow Ira was out there, watching them. But that didn’t make any sense. None of this did. What he was doing with Creed and what were these texts he was getting from Ira?
“Lucas, what’s wrong?”
Lucas looked over at Creed. He wouldn’t ruin whatever this was even if he didn’t fully understand it. No matter how Lucas wanted to fight it, the day had been beautiful. He’d enjoyed being with Creed, how they fit. Yes, Creed overwhelmed him, made him feel and want in ways he never had. Being manhandled, held against the car unable to move. It made him harder than he’d ever been before.
And, Creed was funny, genuinely seemed to care what Lucas thought, what he wanted. He liked it.
He wasn’t going to let whatever the hell was wrong with Ira tarnish that.
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing. You’re shaking.” Creed drove to the side of the road and parked, then turned toward Lucas.
Was he? He hadn’t realized it.
“Who was on the phone, Lucas?” Creed’s tone was concerned.
“Ira, but it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t matter.” And, he didn’t. Ira broke up with him after all, strutted out of his life with his new arm candy throwing away all they’d had together. It had been his choice. It was time for Lucas to make some choices of his own.
“He doesn’t matter?”
“No, now can we get home so Anthony can interrogate me already?”
Creed laughed, and with that, he pulled the Jeep onto the road.
∞ ∞ ∞
When they’d made it back to Anthony’s house, Lucas saw the lights were on.
“Your brother’s waiting,” Creed said. He’d changed into another pair of shorts and put his shirt back on. Lucas was still in his semi-wet clothes. “You could have taken those off. I wouldn’t have minded.”
Lucas shook his head and reached for the door. He might as well get this over with. How would he answer Anthony’s questions? He didn’t even know. Before he opened the door, though, Creed reached over and took his hand.
“I’m serious about this, Lucas. I need you to understand that I have wanted you for years.” Lucas turned back to look at him, saw the earnestness in his eyes, the way he leaned toward him hopefully. “I’m not going to stop trying now that I’ve been gifted with this chance.”
Lucas opened his mouth to speak, to argue or to say this was insane, but it was Creed’s phone that went off this time.
Creed looked at Lucas deeply, willing him to understand, then picked up his phone from the console, glanced at the screen, and laughed.
“Okay, my ass is being threatened to let you go in the house.” Shaking his head, he leaned over and kissed Lucas thoroughly. Lucas tasted the salt of the ocean water along with the fruit they’d had. Creed’s scent combined with the scent of fresh air and sun was enticing.
“Creed. I…” Lucas didn’t know what to say. He just sat there staring at Creed.
“Go, before your crazy ass brother actually does come out here. Pretty sure he and I will be having our own little talk. When I pick you up later this week for dinner, if I’m bruised, you’ll know who did it.” Lucas didn’t deny it. Where he was concerned, Anthony was more than a little protective. He’d have to talk to him, make him see he wanted this.
Oh, God, he wanted this. He had to get out of this car.
“Goodnight, Creed.” He opened the door, slipped off the seat and grabbed his bag. Then he turned toward the house. Anthony stood, a shadow in the window, his arms crossed and waiting.
Sighing, he went to face him.
When he’d made it to the step and the door opened before he even touched it, he heard Creed yell, “This week, Lucas. Be ready. Oh, yeah and good luck!”
Lucas looked at his brother who stared down at him. Funny how he was the oldest, but Anthony acted like he was.
“Stop glaring at me. I’m not one of your suspects,” Lucas said. He walked to the bedroom he occupied in Anthony’s home and noticed Chester Cheetah was nowhere to be seen. Smart cat. He wished he could go hide with her.
Anthony followed him. When Lucas moved to shut the door, Anthony stopped it with his hand. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before. Apparently, Creed wants to with the way his tongue was down your throat in his Jeep. What’s going on, Lucas?”
“Anthony, I’m willing to talk to you, but if you don’t let me shut the door so I can at least shower and change, get comfortable, we will not be talking. In fact, I’ll grab my keys and go back to the house.”
“There’s nothing at that place that belongs to you. All packed up.” Anthony folded his arms and waited.
Lucas nearly growled. “Okay, I’ll go to the park. Somewhere. Anywhere that’s not here if you don’t stop pulling your hard cop routine on me right fucking now.”
Anthony’s eyes blazed a moment, but then he shook his head and smiled. “Fine. You’re right. I’m being an ass. I just—”
“Love me. I know. Shower, change and maybe even tea, and I’ll be ready. Good?” Anthony nodded, the air sailing out of his chest a little.
“I’ll make it. I still have some of those little bags from the tea house we visited. I could get you a cup?”
And, that was one of the reasons Lucas loved him so much. Yes, he was an overprotective bear, growling, and huffing at anyone threatening those he cared for, but Anthony was also tender and sweet and kind. Too bad he never
let anyone else close enough to see it.
Lucas nodded to Anthony, then shut the door and went to take his shower.
When he entered the entertainment room refreshed and wonderfully sand free, a hot cup of tea waited on him and even a few of the crackers he enjoyed so much. A blanket sat on the couch probably for him to wrap himself in while he and Anthony talked.
Lucas sighed.
“Is that a good sigh or a bad sigh?” Anthony asked as he came in the room. He was no longer in his uniform. Instead, he was wearing sweats and a t-shirt that had seen better days. In his hand, he held a bottle of beer.
“It’s a thank you for taking care of me in this mess sigh.”
Anthony nodded. “I’ll always have your back, Lucas. Come on. Sit down and talk to me.” He moved to the other end of the couch, stretched out his long legs and waited.
Lucas walked to the other side, picked up the blanket and snuggled in. Reaching out, he lifted the cup of tea and brought it to his lips. The heat was nice, warming him inside and out.
“This is delicious. Caramel?” He drank more and settled into the inviting softness of the couch.
“Figured you might enjoy that one.”
It was sweet with a hint of some other flavors that combined to make a lovely tea. “I do.”
“So?” Anthony asked.
“So,” Lucas said.
“Come on, Lucas. What’s happening between you and Creed? I love the man, but I will break him if there’s anything going on you don’t want.” Anthony eased forward. “The sudden need for a lunch date? Yeah, we go out to eat every now and again, but Creed’s time is demanded often which means I don’t see him as much as I used to.” Anthony’s brow creased.
“Then, we’re on the phone, and I tell him what happened with Ira? Suddenly, he’s wanting to go to lunch. Can’t pretend I didn’t notice the way his arms were around you or the way you were looking at him. My best friend and my big brother? Can’t unsee it no matter how hard I try. So, I ask you, Lucas. What the fuck?”
Lucas looked up at Anthony then away. “I’m not sure, Anthony. He said he’s been wanting to get to know me for a while.” The room was darker now, the light from a lamp glowing. Music played in the background, a Bruno Mars song that talked about taking trips to Puerto Rico. Chester was stretched out on the carpet, licking herself and Anthony was watching Lucas. He put the cup of tea down and turned to face his brother.