by Sean Michael
And it felt so good. Ryan didn’t know how long it was going to last, but it didn’t matter. He was going to enjoy every single second of this as if there were nothing else in the world.
Of course, when Alex reached around and grabbed Ryan’s cock, it all got better.
“You feel like heaven,” Alex said softly. “Pure heaven.”
“Heaven.” He was going to lose his mind.
Alex squeezed his hand around Ryan’s cock and moved it faster. “Don’t want it to end.”
“No. No, me either.” Not now anyway.
Alex dropped kiss after kiss on the back of Ryan’s neck, lips warm and lingering, tongue dragging over his skin as Alex continued to rock into him.
Ryan’s body burned, the pressure perfect, delicious. Time totally disappeared. All that existed was him and Alex, the way their bodies moved together, and the pleasure shared between them. He could do this for the rest of his life.
It turned out, though, that he couldn’t, because all of a sudden he knew he was about to come, the pleasure turning into something bigger, something that settled in his balls, making him need to explode.
He tried to warn Alex, but it was too late. He was coming.
Alex cried out, bucking into him a few times, which made him sparkle and dribble a little more come. Then Alex froze, whimpering softly.
Good. It was so good. It had to be good.
Alex leaned against him, entire body slumping into his. “God. That was amazing. I hope it was good for you too.”
“Yeah. Yeah, that was… whoa.”
“Awesome.” Groaning, Alex pulled out of him.
“I’m all about awesome.” Ryan moaned, suddenly empty and raw inside.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked immediately, hand touching his shoulder.
“Yes. Yes, I feel empty.”
“Lemme hold you?” Alex tugged at him, turning him toward Alex’s tall, rangy body.
“Please.” Another first. Not being held in bed—every time it thunderstormed he had that—but being with a lover.
They got settled on their sides, face-to-face, Alex’s arm and leg over Ryan, not heavy but holding on. Alex’s smile reached his eyes and was as warm as the rest of his body.
“Hey. That was… wow.” Ryan leaned in, rubbed their noses together.
“Uh-huh.” Alex turned it into a rubbing of their lips. Not quite a kiss, but a warm connection. “I would definitely put it on the do-it-again-with-you list.”
“Oh good. I could be all over that.”
“Cool.” Alex laughed, the sound again one of joy, then licked at Ryan’s lips and cuddled in closer. “You’re better than dessert any day.”
“We still have sandwiches.”
“Well, you’re better than sandwiches too.” Alex kissed him, tongue delving into his mouth. It made him ache a little—this connection, this wonder.
Alex groaned as their tongues danced together. “God, I want you. I mean, we just came, but I so want to go again. Isn’t that crazy?” Alex looked like he was pretty happy about it, though.
Before Ryan could make any reply, his phone buzzed, the sound slightly muffled by his pants, which were somewhere on the floor.
“I have to check that. Just in case.” Mom was there, but emergencies happened.
Alex pouted, the look adorable. He rolled away, though, giving Ryan space to get up and check his phone.
Daisy has fever. Taking her to the hospital. Mel has Rosie + Daffy. You stay on your date, that was just fyi.
What? Which hospital? I’ll meet you there. He grabbed his briefs and dragged them on. “One of my little ones is headed to the hospital.”
U stay there we’re good.
“Oh man, I’m sorry. Is it serious?” Alex rolled his eyes. “Sorry, that was a stupid question—she’s going to the hospital, so of course it is.”
“Bad fever. My seven-year-old, and the fifteen-year-old has the others.” God, what if they got sick too?
“You want me to drive you over?” Alex asked, sitting up and blinking, hair all tousled. “I’ve got access to my aunt’s car.”
“I have my car, but thank you. Really. This was… it’s still wow.”
“Did you want me to wrap your sandwich to take back with you? And maybe a cupcake? You’re going to be hungry in a bit, I bet.” Alex climbed out of bed, grabbed a pair of underwear, and pulled them on.
“I would love that.” Ryan got everything straightened, washed his face, and found his shoes.
By the time he was all set, Alex had a little bag for him. “I threw a Coke in there as well. I hope your little girl is okay.”
“Can I have another kiss? Just one more?”
Alex stepped up close and cupped Ryan’s cheeks in both hands. Then he brought their mouths together, tongue slipping in between Ryan’s lips. Ryan felt that kiss down to his toes. “Call me, huh? Let me know what I can do?”
“You’re sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. And call me anyway—let me know she’s okay.” Alex squeezed his shoulder. “She is going to be okay.”
“She’ll be fine. Thank you. I…. Thank you.”
Alex kissed him again. “Go.”
“Thanks.” Ryan headed off at a run, calling Mom on the way. “How is she? I’m coming.”
“Feverish, but sleeping. They took her temperature, and we’re waiting for the doctor to see us.”
“Okay. We’ll switch off, and you can go home and spell Mel, huh?” He pulled out, tires squealing.
“Yeah, that works for me. Drive safe, son.”
“Will do. I’ll be right there.” He turned his phone off and drove like a bat out of hell. One of his girls needed him.
Chapter Six
ALEX WARMED up his sandwich and ate it with a glass of milk in front of the TV. He scrolled through about eight thousand channels, and it was all junk. He did find a soccer game, though, from England, and he settled on that. After his sandwich he devoured three cupcakes. Lord, he was getting spoiled. He was going to miss chocolate when he went back out on assignment.
He checked his phone every now and then, making sure he hadn’t missed a text from Ryan. Poor man. At least here there were hospitals and doctors who knew what they were doing, enough medicine to go around. He figured that wasn’t going to make things any easier for Ryan, but it put his own mind at ease.
Finally he just sent a text himself, because he was curious and because he was pretty sure he cared. You okay, man?
Some bug. 3 are feverish and gross.
You home? He pushed away the little jolt of hurt that Ryan hadn’t texted him like he’d asked; Ryan had three sick kids at home.
Trying to get to the pharmacy with the 2 from hospital.
Two? Damn, that was up by one.
Need help? If he met Ryan at the pharmacy, he could wait for the prescriptions and whatnot while Ryan took the sick kids home.
There was a long pause, and then the phone rang. “Hey, Alex? I just wanted to say thanks and what if you get sick?”
“Hey, I have face masks. I’m around a lot of sick people when I go places to help. I have a great constitution.” And if he got sick, he got sick—he wasn’t about to leave Ryan alone with four sick girls. And what if Ryan got sick? He needed an extra pair of hands that weren’t attached to an elderly woman who was more at risk than a guy in his prime. “Bet you get sick before I do,” he teased as he got up and grabbed the keys to his aunt’s car.
“Butthead. Can you come? They’re sleeping, but I can’t just leave them.”
“I’ll come. I’ll do the pharmacy while you take them home, and then I’ll come and save the day with drugs and stuff.” He locked the door behind him and got in the car.
“You are a good man. I appreciate it more than you know.”
“You’re very welcome. Besides, I’d be a jerk if I couldn’t help you out. What’s the address of the pharmacy?”
Ryan gave it to him, and he headed off after turning the call off. It was
n’t going to take him more than ten minutes to get to Ryan.
By the time he got there, Ryan was texting madly, two pretty, blonde little girls sacked out in car seats.
He knocked on the car window, giving Ryan a sympathetic smile when he startled and looked up. “Hey. The cavalry of one is here.”
“Hey. Hey, can you just sit here while I put the prescriptions in?”
“Sure. I don’t mind putting them in, though, if you want to get them home.” Honestly, he simply wanted to help and was easy as to what form that took.
“You sure? I’d appreciate it. So much. Mel is running a fever too, and my mom’s older, so I don’t want her sick. Daffy’s the only one who’s okay.”
Alex nodded and held his hand out for the prescriptions. “You want me getting any of that electrolyte replacement stuff, over-the-counter stuff?”
“Can you? And some soup?”
“Chicken noodle? Consider it done.” He leaned in and kissed Ryan’s cheek. “Text me your address, and I’ll be along soon.”
“Thank you.” Ryan blushed, smiled.
“My pleasure.” He gave Ryan a little wave and headed in to hand in the prescriptions and pick up the other bits and pieces. He was given a time of twenty minutes at the counter, so he took his time going through the store. He bought chicken noodle soup with pasta stars, Pedialyte, and the adult version of same, just in case he and Ryan did come down with it.
For good measure, he threw in a few cold remedies, some painkillers, and bandages.
Oh, ginger ale. Ginger ale and condoms because he was nothing if not optimistic. He added lube too, in case Ryan didn’t have any or was running low. Then he added a few chocolate bars to his cart, and Purell, because keeping his hands clean would improve his chances to avoid this bug.
By the time he’d collected everything he wanted, the prescriptions were ready. He paid, loaded up the car, and put Ryan’s address into his phone so the GPS could guide him there.
Ryan’s house was adorable—the yard covered with bikes and toys, the three-story house painted a bluish-purple. It suited Ryan.
Alex grabbed the bags and headed up the front walk. He was about to ring the bell but decided at the last minute that knocking might not be as intrusive and was less likely to wake any sleeping kids. He could always ring if his knock didn’t catch Ryan’s attention.
A teenager who had obviously been crying answered the door. “Hello?” There was no question this was Ryan’s daughter. None at all.
“Hi there. I’m Alex—your father’s friend? I’ve brought supplies.” He lifted the bags in his hands.
“Hi. Come on in. Daddy said you were coming.” She sighed, one hand on her head.
“You’ve come down with it too, haven’t you?” He gave her a sympathetic look. He would have offered her some medicine but thought maybe Ryan would want to be in charge of what meds his kids got, so he held back.
“Uh-huh. Only Daffy didn’t.” She led him into an open kitchen, the fridge covered in magnets and papers and kids’ drawings.
“Lucky Daffy.” He started unpacking his bags, putting the ginger ales and Pedialyte into the fridge, then lining all the drugs up on the counter. “Can you point me to your father? I’ve got the prescription meds here for him.”
“I can. He’s upstairs in the little girls’ room.” She pointed up with a weak smile.
“Thanks. Why don’t you go lie down and either your father or I will come give you some stuff to help make you feel better, okay?” He gave her a warm smile and grabbed the prescriptions to head up the staircase.
“Okay.”
He heard soft crying and a low singing on top of that. Oh, that was sweet. He followed the noises and found Ryan holding a tiny blonde girl, singing her lullabies.
“Hey,” he whispered. “I come bearing drugs.”
“My hero. Rosie, this is Alex. He’s my very good friend.”
She looked up at him. “The spend-the-night friend?”
Alex’s cheeks heated slightly, but he gave her a grin and nodded. “That’s me.” He handed over the prescription bottles to Ryan.
“Thank you.”
“Is it yucky medicine?” she asked, looking like she was about to burst into tears again.
“I bet it’s not too bad. The Pedialyte is nice when it’s cold—it’s in the fridge. You want me to get some for her, Ry? Or some ginger ale?” He just wanted to help out.
“Some ginger ale, please. Her throat hurts.”
“You got it.” He headed back downstairs. He had a hunch he was going to be doing a lot of up and down over the next couple of days. At least there was something he could do.
The teenager was on the sofa, curled up in a blanket, crying softly. “I’m sorry I ruined your date.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. There will be other dates. Your father needed to be here with all of you. How about some ginger ale?” When he was little, his mother had always given him ginger ale. Granted, she usually went for warm and flat, but he preferred it bubbly. He thought it was better for the tummy too.
“Please? My throat hurts.” God, she was something else, obviously trying to be brave, but hurting nonetheless.
“You got it.” He went back to the kitchen and searched through the cupboards to discover where everything was. He grabbed a glass and put a couple of ice cubes in it before filling it up with ginger ale. He filled a second glass that was shorter and wider and would no doubt do better with the littlest of Ryan’s girls.
He brought Mel her drink. “Here you go, honey. You want me to put the TV on?” Distraction was probably the order of the day.
“I don’t know where the remote went.”
“Let me see if I can find it.” He did, but only after pulling up the cushion in the big easy chair. “Ta-da!” He handed it over to her. “If you need anything, just call out, okay? I’ll be helping your dad.”
“Thank you. Gran had to go home. She can’t afford to get really sick.”
“I know. You can just relax now, though. Your father has help, and you can doze and rest and get better.”
“’Kay. I will. I promise.”
He patted her hand and walked upstairs with the ginger ale for… Daffy? No, she was the one who wasn’t sick. He assumed she was asleep, given it was almost midnight. He knew that left Rosie and Daisy, but he couldn’t remember which was the younger of the two. He’d just listen and figure it out eventually.
There wasn’t any more crying to be heard, so he made sure he was very quiet as he went into the room where he’d found Ryan earlier. There he was, sacked out on the bed, little girl curled up in his arms. Now that was a sweet picture.
He put down the ginger ale and quietly made his way out. He’d check up on the other two girls, make sure they were sleeping okay, then see if he could find Ryan’s bedroom and take a nap—he was sure to be needed later.
One of the girls was holding the other, all curled up with dolls and stuffed animals in the little bed.
That was adorable. And showed him how, in essence, all kids were the same. They wanted to be together, to know they had a warm, safe place where someone loved them.
He left the door partway open so they’d be heard if they woke up and tried the next door. It was the bathroom. One sink, one commode, and one little tub-and-shower combo. That was not going to be fun when all these girls got older.
It had him smiling as he opened the next door, which proved to be the master.
The room was a mismatch: masculine furniture with hearts drawn on, a suspense novel next to a teddy bear. This was a man’s room with a lot of young feminine touches. He had to admit, it made him like Ryan even more. Everyone deserved a parent who treated them like the center of the world.
Alex toed off his shoes and sat on Ryan’s bed, the scent perfect and increasingly familiar. He undid his jeans, but didn’t take them off. That felt too forward.
He grabbed the blanket folded at the foot of the bed and pulled it over him as he lay dow
n. Ryan’s scent was even stronger with his head on the pillow.
He could get used to this.
Chapter Seven
RYAN WOKE up alone with a crick in his neck and a pounding headache and wondered where Rosie had gotten to. He found Mel still sacked out on the sofa, and Daisy in her own bed. Rosie wasn’t with Mel or Daisy, and Daffy wasn’t in her bed either, so he checked his room, thinking the little girls might have gravitated there out of habit.
Sure enough, there they were, settled in with Alex, a cartoon playing on the TV, all three asleep.
Oh good. He slid in next to the girls and stretched out.
Alex shifted and turned to look at him, blinking. “Ryan?”
“Uh-huh.” He smiled and reached out. “Thank you for coming.”
It felt good—dangerously good.
“Right.” Alex nodded, smiled at him. “You’re welcome. I hope you don’t mind. I figured I should sack out while I could, and then they crawled into bed with me about an hour later.”
“I’m surprised they didn’t freak.”
Alex shrugged lightly. “I think they were too sick to question it or freak out. I’m not sure they were even really awake.”
Rosie whimpered softly, and Ryan drew her close. “Shh, baby. Popsy has you.”
“Popsy?” Alex’s eyes twinkled. “That’s cute.”
“Popsy. Mel calls me Daddy, but the little girls had a daddy, even if they don’t remember him, you know?”
“Ah. That makes sense. Doesn’t make it any less adorable.”
“It is. I love it. Daffy decided on it.” She’d been a toddler at the time, and he didn’t know where it had come from. He didn’t care. It was his name, and he was proud of it.
“That makes it extra special.” Alex touched his arm, fingers gently brushing along his skin. “How are you feeling? Not succumbing to it yet, are you?”
“Not yet. Daisy’s fever is dropping. I didn’t wake Mel up.”
“She was pretty miserable when I last left her.”
“I’ll check on her in a bit.” It was early.
“You let me know when you’re hungry, and I’ll whip up some breakfast. After all, you were cheated out of half your dinner last night.” Alex yawned and stretched.