by Fel Fern
Shit. Preacher knew he was playing with fire but he didn’t care. When he left Black River Bend, he thought he’d never return to his hometown, and yet here he was, ten years later. Seeing Travis here again wasn’t an accident. Maybe fate landed him back here for a reason.
“Yeah, a little.” Travis put his hand on his bare chest and gave him a little push.
Preacher didn’t budge. He had no intention of leaving this office without getting back at Travis. Travis stole a kiss from him ten years ago. Preacher intended to do so much more this time around.
TRAVIS KNEW PREACHER was back in town. He heard the other fighters talking about it earlier that morning. Preacher had made something of himself since leaving Black River Bend ten years ago. Preacher won a couple of fights, two heavy-weight championships.
Travis looked Preacher up on his phone last night. He never followed the world of boxing but he did a little digging on Preacher. The younger guys in the gym worshipped him. Travis knew Preacher was doing his brother a favor.
The last time they’d seen each other was ten years ago. This man was a complete stranger. Preacher was acting like they’d known each other forever. They kissed that one time. So what? Travis shouldn’t be affected this much by Preacher and yet he was.
Part of Travis still couldn’t believe Preacher was standing this close to him. Preacher hadn’t let go of his arm either, didn’t move when he asked. Travis took a deep breath. God but the guy aged nicely. Preacher had more muscle on him now, as well as ink. Preacher still wore his hair short. Those piercing blue eyes could still pin him in place like a stuck butterfly struggling to get free.
“Let my arm go,” he said.
Preacher looked into his eyes. “Tell me the reason why you quit.”
“What does it matter to you?” He asked, annoyed. Why was Preacher even here? Few fighters came by the office. They understood it was Kurt’s personal space.
“Kurt was damn proud of you for being picked by some big fancy gaming company right after college. He said you were doing well, just got promoted last I heard.”
“My boss was a jerk.” The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself.
Preacher narrowed his eyes and he tightened his grip on Travis’ wrist, his bicep flexing. “What did he do?”
“None of your business.” Another shove and Preacher got the message.
“Kurt sent me up here. Said I should look at some promo stuff,” Preacher said.
“Right.” Travis abandoned his task of sorting through Kurt’s messy accounts and went behind his desk. There. The table provided a barrier between him and Preacher. “It’s on my computer. I haven’t had the chance to run to the printer’s.”
Preacher stood by his shoulder. Oh hell. Travis soon became aware of Preacher’s imposing and large presence. Preacher made it hard to breathe. Travis was a twenty-eight-year-old man. He shouldn’t act like some skittish prey animal around his old crush—except that crush never truly went away.
Just looking at Preacher made his dick hard. Never a good sign. Preacher wasn’t even that great looking, just handsome in a rough and tumble kind of way. Preacher’s physical presence was enough to stir the desire Travis thought he’d buried away a long time ago. Travis couldn’t even explain the weird sexual tension that had sprung up between them.
Ten years. Travis had dated more men, kissed plenty of them. None of them came close to the kiss he shared with Preacher a decade ago. He was a romantic and sentimental fool. Preacher might not even feel the same way anymore. For all he knew, Preacher had a dozen, a hundred names of guys on his phone he could call and hook up with.
Travis had grown up in a gym. He knew how fighters were. They only cared about getting some but they weren’t built for relationships. There was a reason every fighter he’d come across was single or had a string of lovers.
“I didn’t know you did graphic design,” Preacher commented.
“Well, you don’t know much about me,” he muttered.
Travis opened up the promotional fliers and posters he made on his computer. He bit his tongue. Travis sounded mean and he was never mean. This wasn’t like him at all. It wasn’t like Preacher committed a crime by simply asking him why he quit his job. Preacher even sounded concerned.
Travis was just taken aback, that was all. Even Kurt didn’t know why Travis was back in Black River Bend. His brother didn’t ask him anything, simply told him his old room was there if he needed it. Kurt was cool that way. His relationship with his brother had mellowed out over the years.
“We can change that,” Preacher said, putting his hand over his.
He couldn’t move the mouse, not with Preacher touching him. Preacher was distraction of the worst sort. This dangerous fighter was going to chew him up and spit him right out if Travis wasn’t careful.
“I dabbled in graphic design before, so it’s no biggie,” he said. “Kurt’s last assistant quit. I knew he needed help. He didn’t ask. I volunteered. Not like I was doing anything productive at home.”
Travis was babbling. He couldn’t seem to stop. Maybe all the excessive talking would put Preacher off.
“Did you hear what I said earlier?” Preacher asked.
Travis sure did. He wanted to ask Preacher what he meant by ‘getting to know each other’ but he didn’t dare. Travis wasn’t ready to get his feet wet in the dating pool again.
“Here are the posters,” he said. Travis shook off Preacher’s hand and opened up more files. Preacher seemed to sense he needed space because he took one step back. Good. Travis could breathe a lot easier now.
“They look good.” Preacher remarked.
“That’s all? You don’t want any changes made?” Travis asked.
“Nope. You did an amazing job.” Preacher caught him off guard and tipped his chin with his fingers, forcing Travis to look up at him. “Go out with me Travis.”
“What?” Travis thought he imagined Preacher saying those words.
“On a date. Dinner. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
“You don’t do dates,” he blurted.
“How would you know that?”
“Because guys like you aren’t interested in putting down roots. You’ve never stuck around in one place long enough to build anything.”
“Are you?” Preacher asked him, letting go of his chin. “Is that what you want? Put down roots?”
“Someday,” he admitted. “Right now, I’m feeling a little lost.”
“I found you.”
He shook his head. Travis did his best trying not to look at the thin, red fabric of Preacher’s shorts that barely covered his erection. Good thing Preacher couldn’t see his crotch under the table. Travis’ dick had gotten so hard that it pressed up against the zipper of his jeans.
“You’re just passing by. You came back to Black River Bend as a favor to my brother. Nothing more.” Travis stated.
“I didn’t tell you earlier but I knew you were back, too. Kurt mentioned it in our last conversation.” Preacher pointed out.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Travis demanded.
“I wanted to see you again.”
He swallowed. How many times had he dreamt of this particular moment in the past?
“Guys like you don’t date,” he repeated.
Travis felt foolish, not unlike a broken tape recorder that played the same little bit over and over again. The sooner Preacher left this office, the better, except a huge part of him wanted to say yes. To see where this particular path would lead to.
Chapter 2
“Let me prove you wrong,” Preacher said.
Another man would’ve gotten the message and backed away. Too bad Preacher had always been stubborn. Once he saw what he wanted, he went straight for it without apology. Travis was the one that got away. He wasn’t going to let Travis slip away from his fingers. Not now or ever.
“Your fight’s in a week. You can’t afford distractions.” Travis reminded him.
Travis had a point there but Preacher didn’t care. Win or lose it didn’t matter. His fight with Reyes was going to rake in money no matter what. Preacher hadn’t told anyone yet, but the fire was slowly going out of him. He didn’t even know if he still wanted to continue fighting.
Travis mentioned wanting to put down roots. Preacher never considered it before but people could change, even him.
He still didn’t know what lay in store for the two of them but he was ready to find out. Travis claimed a guy like him could never change. Maybe that was true but he could still prove Travis wrong. It wasn’t just Travis’ body he wanted to own. Preacher wanted to dig deep and know Travis better.
“Making excuses?” He teased.
“Don’t you understand the word ‘no’?” Travis demanded. “I’ll let it go because a guy like you probably doesn’t understand rejection.”
A guy like him? Travis was about to find out there was no one else quite like Preacher.
“What’s the harm in giving me a chance, Travis?” Preacher smirked. Damn it. Travis wasn’t biting. Preacher had to pull out the big guns. “Don’t make me use my trump card.”
“Trump card?” Travis asked, looking clueless.
“I can still back out from this fight.”
Travis’ mouth hung open for a few entertaining seconds.
Preacher had no intention to do that of course. He never backed out from a promise made to his best friend. Judging from Travis’ sheet white face, Travis actually believed Preacher would actually screw Kurt over. How little Travis thought of him. Well, for now it didn’t matter because he planned on showing Travis that there was more to him that met the eye.
His priority was getting Travis to go out with him. Preacher knew little about dates but he’d study up on it. Travis wasn’t like any of the guys he’d hooked up with before. He wasn’t just some die-hard fan who wanted Preacher to ride him all night.
Travis meant so much more. Preacher could sense it in his gut.
“You can’t do that,” Travis blurted. “This gym’s going to go down if you don’t fight Reyes. Kurt’s barely able to keep it afloat and he won’t accept any monetary help from me.”
“Sounds like Kurt.” Preacher knew his best bud had plenty of pride. Hell, it probably took a lot of guts for Kurt to reach out to him and ask for his help.
“He’s your best friend. You’re a prick if you don’t fight Reyes.” Travis clenched his fists by his sides. “How could you even do that to him?”
“Then agree to go out with me.”
“This is blackmail.” Travis looked adorable when he was enraged.
Preacher knew he was acting like the bastard Travis imagined him to be, but he didn’t care. Right now, all he could think about was jerking Travis to his feet, kissing the hell out of him and throwing him over the desk. He’d bend Travis over, jerk his pants and underwear down, then sink his dick inside Travis’ perfect and tight ass.
Preacher suppressed a groan. This was exactly what Travis could do to him. Reduce him to an animal. Preacher didn’t understand it himself. He never acted like this around any of his ex-lovers.
Preacher waited. Travis blew out a breath.
“Fine. One date and you’ll still fight Reyes?” Travis asked. “You swear?”
“That’s right. Pinkie promise.” Preacher beamed at him. It felt like he just won the fight of the century. “I’ll pick you up.”
“Wait, you don’t know where I’m staying.”
“Kurt’s old apartment, right? I’ll come by at seven.”
“What if Kurt sees you?” Travis asked, biting on his lower lip.
“You’re still worried about your brother? You’re no longer a kid, Travis. Kurt’s opinion doesn’t matter. Besides, you feel it too, don’t you? There’s chemistry between us. Admit it.”
Travis glared at him and crossed his arms over his chest. “So you’re not worried about Kurt at all?”
“Don’t get all worked up. I know Kurt won’t be home early tomorrow.”
“How do you know that?” He demanded.
“Because he and Seth, that young fighter, seem to have a thing. I’ve been here less than a day and I can tell they’re fooling around.”
“You serious?” Travis’ eyes went wide as saucers. “I mean, I kind of suspected something was going on but I thought I was imagining it.”
“I have good ears. I caught them whispering in the locker room earlier. They’re going to Seth’s place after practice.”
“Fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay then.” Preacher didn’t move towards the door, not yet.
He leaned over and stole a kiss from Travis. Travis gripped his arm. For all of Travis’ reluctance earlier, Travis didn’t resist him at all. Teeth clashed. Tongues tangled. Fuck, if this went any further, he wouldn’t be able to control himself. That was just how much Travis affected him.
Preacher pulled away abruptly. He only wanted to give Travis a taste, a preview of what was to come. Nothing more. Once Travis had one taste of him, he’d be hooked.
“See you,” Preacher said, before exiting the office.
While bounding down the stairs, he caught sight of Kurt cornering Seth. The two men disappeared into the locker room.
Travis was right. Kurt was crazily protective of his brother, even though Travis was 28 now. Preacher would cross that bridge when he needed to. Right now, nothing could ruin his good mood.
TRAVIS LOOKED AT HIS reflection in the mirror and wondered if he should change. He wore a checkered buttoned-up shirt, black jeans and he combed back his hair. Travis even wore his contacts for Preacher. Why was he worried about looking good for Preacher?
“He’s not just anyone, you’ve had a thing for him. You still do,” he muttered to his reflection.
Travis could still call off the date. He could text Preacher and tell him he changed his mind. Travis shook his head. He couldn’t do that. Not when Preacher threatened to back out of the fight.
Was Preacher even being serious?
Preacher might have a lot of faults but disloyalty wasn’t one of them. Why was Travis making such a big deal out of this? It was just one date. The outcome was going to be the same. After his match with Reyes, Preacher would disappear to God knew where again. To his next fight maybe, then it would be all over.
Travis was ever the pessimist.
“What if this time was different?” Travis couldn’t forget the kiss they shared in earlier, their first one since ten years ago.
All this time, Travis thought he imagined the unexplainable heat between them but he was wrong. That kiss had been intense, mind-blowing. He wanted Preacher to do more. Rip off his shirt. Have him right there in the office. Scary thoughts. One interaction and Preacher could turn a safe and boring guy like him wild. Travis was a little wary of this date but he was excited, too.
Travis returned to Black River Bend, feeling like a complete failure. He worked his ass off for Gold Griffon Gaming and for what? Only to end up a loser. Helping Kurt out had been a good distraction. Then Preacher came into the picture.
Maybe he didn’t need to take this date seriously. There wasn’t anything wrong with having a good time. He needed a break. Travis reminded himself not to have too many expectations—except something about Preacher felt different.
Travis’ phone vibrated in the pocket of his jeans. He took it out, saw it was a message from Kurt.
Kurt: Going to be home late. Remember to lock the door.
Travis rolled his eyes. He only forgot to lock the door once, back when he was 17. Kurt still couldn’t let that go? He sighed, tucked his phone back in the pocket of his jeans. Travis then heard the doorbell ringing. He gave his reflection another once over. He would have to do. There was no time to change.
He exited the bathroom. Travis answered the door and took a step back. Preacher looked good. He wore a faded brown leather jacket over a black shirt, blue jeans, and boots. There was something else. Preacher brought him flowe
rs. Daisies to be exact.
“Roses seem cliche,” Preacher said.
“Says who?” He asked. Travis accepted the flowers Preacher handed him.
He felt warm all over. Travis didn’t picture Preacher as the sort of guy who gave his dates stuff like this.
“The dating ebook I read in a single night.”
That got a laugh out of him. The fact Preacher went through the trouble of reading a book, told him Preacher was serious about this date. Travis felt tense all over just moments ago but he relaxed his shoulders.
He was forgetting something. Oh right. He should invite Preacher inside.
“Wait a sec, I want to put these daises in a vase. Come on in.”
“Sure thing.” Preacher said, stepping inside.
Travis grabbed an old vase that used to belong to his mom and put the flowers in them. He walked to the kitchen and added water. He sat the vase on the counter and found Preacher studying their old living room.
“Place hasn’t changed much,” Preacher said. “It always screamed Kurt more than you.”
Travis shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m usually in my room most of the time. After I left my job and moved back in here, I planned on renting an apartment but Kurt wouldn’t hear of it.”
“It’s good to save up on some cash. Shall we?” Preacher held out one muscled arm to him.
Travis accepted it and they left the apartment.
“Where are you taking me tonight?” Travis asked.
“You’ll see,” Preacher said with a devious smile.
Chapter 3
“Something wrong with your fish?” Preacher asked, concerned when Travis set his knife and fork down.
“No, it’s perfect. I just never thought you’d bring me to a pricey restaurant like this,” Travis said, then closed his mouth. A blush spread across Travis’ cheeks and neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I was just surprised, that’s all.
Preacher normally didn’t do fancy but he wanted to make an exception for Travis. “I wanted to bring you somewhere nice. You know, not my usual spots.”