All or Nothing (Black River Bend Book 1)

by Fel Fern

  Preacher grunted. He had to get serious because Kurt had kept his training up. Screw trying to talk some sense into his best friend. Kurt didn’t look like he was in the listening mood. He dodged Kurt’s next blow, only to catch Kurt in the ribs. They pounded at each other. Preacher was aware the other fighters stopped whatever they were doing to watch this shit show unfold. They started to make bets. Preacher didn’t care. It felt like he needed to make his point across.

  Kurt had little say in Travis and his personal life. He didn’t even know what got Kurt all riled up. Travis said their conversation went well.

  They wore each other down. Preacher didn’t know how long it lasted but he felt like he went twenty rounds in the ring. Kurt and he ended up on the floor, unable to move a muscle. Preacher felt sore all over. He bet Kurt was the same. They’d both drawn blood, so the white floor of the ring was slick with it. They made a hell of a mess.

  Travis was going to be pissed at both of them.

  “Show’s over, get back to training,” Matt yelled to the other fighters.

  “You feeling better?” He asked.

  “No.” Finally, Kurt seemed like he was in the mood to talk. “Did you know the reason why Travis moved back here? Why he quit his job?”

  “Yeah, he told me.”

  “When?”

  “That morning when you sent me up to your office to check the promotional posters,” he answered.

  “He never told me anything.”

  Preacher craned his neck to look at Kurt. Shit. He busted up Kurt’s face. Not that his face was any prettier.

  “Some things are hard to say for him. He looks up to you, you know? The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint you,” Preacher said.

  “Me?” Kurt let out a dry laugh. “I’m a failure of a brother.”

  “No. You’re not. You did good, Kurt. You kept your dad’s gym afloat. You helped out all these fighters, these kids. They have a future thanks to you.”

  “What about Travis? He didn’t even tell me his boss was giving him trouble. I thought we were close.”

  “Wait a fucking second.” Preacher sat up slowly and grimaced. He put a hand over his bruised ribs. “This is about Miles?”

  “Travis has poor judgment when it comes to dating,” Kurt said.

  “I’m nothing like Miles,” he said, clenching his jaw. Preacher was a little pissed. If he wasn’t hurting all over, he would sock Kurt right in the face.

  “I know that,” Kurt grumbled.

  Preacher relaxed and he understood because he also wanted to hurt Miles in a thousand different ways. “You’re pissed you couldn’t protect Travis from a predator like Miles.”

  Kurt grunted. “You’re going to end up hurting him, too.”

  “I won’t,” he said with such vehemence in his voice Kurt finally looked him in the eye.

  “Give me a break, Preacher. You can’t settle down. You told me back when we were kids that living in this town felt like being in a cage to you.”

  “People change.”

  “Not you.”

  “I’ll tell you the same words I said to your brother. Watch me. Travis isn’t just a meaningless fling to me, Kurt.”

  “You’re serious about him. That’s new.”

  “Yeah, well. We’re still figuring shit out. I even agreed to postpone our next date until after you return from your stupid little retreat into the woods.”

  Kurt let out a huff, or was he laughing? Preacher couldn’t tell. They tore each other up real good.

  “I ought to drag your sorry ass to the hospital,” he finally said.

  “Why don’t you look at yourself in the mirror, asshole,” Kurt muttered.

  Things weren’t completely settled between Kurt and him. Preacher understood that by dating Travis and not telling Kurt first, he broke some kind of scared friendship bond between them. He took Kurt’s trust for granted and earning it back would take time.

  Well, if he was sticking around Black River Bend, he had all the time in the world.

  TRAVIS COULDN’T WAIT to get out of this damn elevator. The other people seemed to sense he was in a hurry because they parted like a wave when he reached his floor. Travis sprinted. A nurse yelled at him to stop running. Travis slowed down.

  Jeez. Here he was, acting like a worried kid but seriously? When Preacher called him, he was on his way back to the gym. His heart nearly stopped when Preacher told him they were on their way to the hospital. Travis was pretty sure when he left the apartment that morning, the world still made some sense.

  He finally reached the ward where Kurt and Preacher were in. Travis entered the room and took a deep breath. He swore, seeing both Kurt and Preacher lying next to each other, on opposite beds. Seeing him, Preacher sat up but he grimaced. Travis gritted his teeth. A nurse was checking Kurt’s arm, which was in a cast.

  “What the hell?” Travis could barely grit the words out.

  The nurse seemed to sense he was about to blow, because she said a quick sentence to Kurt, before leaving the room. Travis didn’t catch the words, because he was just that mad.

  “Hey, baby. You made it,” Preacher said.

  The bastard just smiled up at him like nothing happened, like he didn’t just go after his brother. To be fair, it seemed like Kurt started the fight first. Whatever. If Preacher thought one sexy smile from him was going to melt Travis into a puddle of forgiveness, then Preacher was wrong on so many levels.

  “Don’t ‘hey baby’ me.” Travis walked between the beds and glared at Preacher first, then Kurt, who couldn’t seem to meet his eyes. That was a first. “You two are the worst, you know that? You guys will be the death of me.”

  “We settled our differences the only way we knew how,” Preacher said.

  Travis breathed hard. He clenched his fists by his sides. Preacher touched his hand and that made him feel a little better. Travis softened. He knew how they were. One time, back when he was a teenager, just starting high school, he confronted his dad. He demanded to know why he had to teach Kurt and Preacher how to fight. He’d never forget his old man’s words.

  “Preacher and your brother are like two peas in the same pod. Travis, you’re a smart kid. You can settle any fight with a reason but those two? They can’t express themselves well. They get into brawls all the time. I want to teach them how to fight right.”

  Travis breathed in, then out. He chose to sit next to Preacher. Preacher put his hand on his knee and squeezed it. He could feel the tension slowly leaving his body. Travis looked at Kurt, to see how he’d react. His brother didn’t look happy but he didn’t say anything either.

  “You went to dad’s old cabin?” He finally asked Kurt.

  Kurt grunted. He took that as a ‘yes’.

  “Kurt, I’m just dating your best friend. That’s no excuse to have a meltdown,” he finally said.

  Preacher gave him a nudge in the shoulder.

  “Your words got to me,” Kurt finally said. “You were right. I was projecting my problems on the two of you.”

  That had been a shot in the dark to get his brother off his back but he didn’t say that out loud. Travis listened because it seemed Kurt had something else to add.

  “I was angry as well, not just because you got together with Preacher. I understand now. I won’t get in the way of your relationship. I’m just mad at myself for not being able to protect you.”

  Those words took him by surprise. “Is this about Miles? Kurt, the reason I didn’t tell you about him was because I was ashamed.”

  “Why? He’s the one who came onto you,” Preacher said.

  Preacher told him when he was ready to talk about Miles, he’d listen but right now, all Travis wanted to do was forget Miles.

  “I didn’t stand up to him. He was harassing me. Everyone in the studio knew it but they kept their mouths shut because Miles was the CEO’s son. I was the same. I was terrified to lose the job I loved. Then I realized I started dreading going to work,” he said.

  �
��Travis, he’s the one in the wrong,” Kurt finally said. “Give us his address. If there’s one thing Preacher and I still can agree on, it’s getting back at this fucker.”

  Travis couldn’t help it. His shoulders started to shake and a carefree laugh erupted from him. Preacher and Kurt traded worried looks.

  “We’re serious, baby,” Preacher said, squeezing his hand. “Miles deserves to be taught a lesson.”

  “I don’t want either of you to end up in jail,” he said. “Miles can’t touch me here anyway. He’s thousands of miles away. Oh shit.”

  “What’s wrong?” Preacher asked.

  “You can’t fight Reyes in this condition,” he said. “All the promotional materials are already printed. What about all the money we put into marketing? What are we going to tell our sponsors? What’s going to happen now?”

  Kurt looked at him grimly. “Sorry, Travis. This is all my fault. I should’ve held myself back.”

  “We’ll delay the fight. That’s all,” Preacher said with a shrug.

  “Delay? You sure?” He asked.

  Travis’ mind was already thinking up solutions. They needed to talk to their sponsors. Maybe he could see if he could still make changes to their marketing and promotion.

  Preacher kissed him on the cheek, a quick one. “Just gives me another reason to stay.”

  Just like that, Travis relaxed. Everything was going to turn out okay. He truly believed that.

  Chapter 7

  Preacher looked at his reflection in the tiny mirror of his Harley and sighed. He still looked like shit. No surprise there. Kurt and he were discharged from the hospital only yesterday. No matter what he did, he couldn’t cover up the bruises. He’ll have to do. Preacher got off his bike and grabbed the cherry pie from the back.

  Earlier, Preacher asked Kurt what Travis’ favorite dessert was. He picked up the box and headed inside the apartment building. Standing outside Travis’ unit, he knocked on the door. Kurt told him he’d be out all night, so Travis and he could have the place to themselves.

  Kurt and he weren’t back to being best friends yet, but he was working on it. Travis answered minutes later.

  “Hi,” he said. Travis looked good to eat in his buttoned-up white shirt and black jeans. Preacher whistled. “You dressed up for me? Nice.”

  Travis’ cheeks turned a little pink.

  Preacher took that opportunity to lean in close and kiss him on the mouth. Travis gripped his shoulders and responded passionately. Preacher was tempted to skip dinner altogether and move this to the bedroom. He was primed. His dick got hard just thinking about plowing Travis.

  Travis poured all this effort into making dinner, he reminded himself. It would be better to sate their physical hunger first, before sating their other appetites. He pulled away and put one finger against Travis’ lips.

  “Not yet, I’ll fuck you after we have dinner,” Preacher said.

  “Crude,” Travis muttered but he was smiling.

  “I brought you pie.” He held out the box to Travis, whose entire face lit up.

  “Thank you. Come right in, please.” Travis accepted his gift and retreated inside. Preacher closed the door behind him.

  “Something smells good,” he remarked.

  He saw Travis had set up the table. There was even a checkered table cloth, matching plates, and cutlery, even lighted candles. No wine glasses but he saw two bottles of beer. He couldn’t help but grin. Travis really knew him.

  “Its nothing special. Just lasagne and some garlic bread,” Travis said quickly, pulling one chair out.

  “It’s been ages since I tasted a home-cooked meal. I bet it’s delicious as it looks,” he said, taking a seat.

  “Stop bombarding me with compliments,” Travis muttered. “It's making me a little embarrassed.”

  “Don’t want to,” he said, smiling. “Kurt’s been telling me that ever since you came back, you’ve been cooking at home. I got envious.”

  “You haven’t even tasted my cooking.” Travis pointed out.

  Travis reached for his plate and served him a generous portion of lasagne. He topped Preacher’s plate with garlic bread. Preacher grabbed his fork, ready to dig in. He took a slice of lasagne and put it in his mouth. Preacher groaned as the heavenly mix of tomato and melted cheese collided.

  “Damn, baby. I didn’t know you could cook like this,” he murmured.

  “I just followed a recipe online.”

  “Don’t undersell yourself.” They ate quickly and finished off the lasagne. Travis got them extra dessert plates for the pie. Preacher noticed Travis got two big slices for himself.

  “You like pie, huh?” Preacher remarked.

  “Not as much as you.”

  “Oh?” Preacher grew amused. Was Travis trying to flirt with him?

  “Forget I said that.”

  “I can’t get it out of my mind now.” Preacher took a big spoonful of pie. “Guess what I’m thinking.”

  “I’m bad at guesses.”

  “I bet if I spread this cherry pie all over you it would taste so much sweeter.”

  Travis’ entire face turned red by now. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Want a bet?”

  Preacher stood up, dessert plate in hand. He still had three-fourths of his pie. Travis gobbled up his first pie, used a napkin to wipe his mouth and then followed Preacher into his bedroom. Preacher opened the bedroom door. He remembered Travis, all those years ago, quietly peeking at him and Kurt from this very corridor. He turned the knob.

  “I should’ve cleaned up a little,” Travis was saying behind him.

  Preacher entered the room. “Believe me, baby, this is spotless by my standards.”

  There were old posters of anime girls on Travis’ wall, a bed in one corner, a big desk with two computer monitors. Next to it was a flat-screen TV with multiple game consoles piled at the bottom.

  Preacher whistled. “You sure like your toys, don’t you?”

  “You knew what you were getting into,” Travis said, sounding defensive. “That you were dating a nerd.”

  “Relax, it’s not an insult. You used to work in the gaming industry but not only that, gaming is your hobby. It’s only natural you have all this stuff. I have nothing against sexy nerds.”

  Travis blinked at him. “I’m sorry. It’s just, growing up in this little town, I felt different from everyone else. I was this secretly gay kid who loved anime and gaming, and who also had a massive crush on his brother’s best friend.”

  Preacher set the plate of pie on the desk. That done, he yanked Travis close until their bodies touched.

  “Correction. You’re now boning your brother’s best friend,” Preacher grinned. “If you want, we can play video games together.”

  “Really?” Travis asked, wide-eyed.

  “In return, we’ll play the sort of games I like to play.”

  “What’s that?” Travis sounded and looked clueless.

  “Bedroom ones. Starring us,” Preacher gave Travis a small push towards the bed. Travis took the initiative and pulled off his shirt. “We should get a bigger bed. I’m not sure we can both fit in there.”

  “Already on my to-do list,” Travis told him. Travis shimmied out of his jeans, then his underwear. Preacher began to reach for the plate of pie he set down earlier but Travis hopped off the bed and touched his arm. “Wait. Back up a little.”

  Preacher took a step back, wondering what was going on in Travis’ head. Travis knelt in front of him and the sight of Travis, naked and willing, sent blood surging to his dick. Travis touched his denim-clad knee.

  “You help me get off before. Now it’s my turn,” Travis said.

  Preacher chuckled. He took off his shirt and unbuckled his pants. “You keep surprising me, baby.”

  Travis hooked his fingers into the belt loops of Preacher’s pants and lowered them to his ankles, along with his boxers, finally exposing his thickening prick. Preacher kicked his pants away. There was finally nothing between t
hem. Preacher had never held out this long before fucking someone but all that effort and the waiting was worth it.

  “I don’t want you to get sick of me so soon,” Travis said.

  Preacher frowned. Travis sounded completely serious. He speared his fingers into Travis’ hair and gave it a little jerk, so Travis could look up at him.

  “That’ll never happen. How many times do I have to convince you I’m not going to fall for someone else?” He demanded.

  Sooner or later, Travis had to get rid of these pointless insecurities. Preacher would just have to work harder at convincing Travis he wasn’t going anywhere.

  “I’m sorry. It’s still hard to believe we’re together sometimes. I tend to lose things. First, it was my job, then—”

  “Shh.” Preacher thumbed his finger over Travis’ bottom lip. “You worry too much, baby.”

  “Right. Sorry. I have an important mission, don’t I?” Travis eyed his dick like it was a lollipop.

  “Mission?”

  “To give you the best blow job you’ve ever experienced.” Travis hesitated. “Although, I don’t have much experience in this area or sex for that matter. I’ve only been serious with one guy.”

  “Don’t think, just do,” Preacher remarked.

  Travis pressed his lips to the tip of his cock and made a show of slowly licking at the pre-cum gathered there. Preacher couldn’t help but laugh. Travis acted like an amateur porn star but this particular show was just for him. Preacher appreciated that.

  “You’re doing a good job so far, baby,” he said.

  Travis looked pleased. He sucked and licked the entire length of Preacher’s dick. Travis seemed intent on exploring the entire length of him. Fuck, but Preacher was getting hard. At this rate, he’d blow his load right into Travis’ face. Preacher couldn’t let that happen. Not yet.

  “Take me in your mouth,” Preacher ordered, voice harsh.

  Travis obeyed him without question. He sheathed his lips over Preacher’s cock. Travis gagged at the size of his dick at first, but that didn’t stop him. Travis hollowed out his cheeks and tried again, getting it right the second time around. Travis used his lips, tongue and even a little bit of teeth as he blew Preacher. What Travis lacked in experience, he made up for with enthusiasm.