by Willa Okati
“No, I know I am. And what’s this about being ‘stuck with you’? I might as well turn that around and say poor you for being stuck with me. I’m not that easy to get along with. Ivan was about the only long-term friend I had for years. No, it’s true,” he said to Cade’s disbelieving scoff. “I walked around with a chip on my shoulder for years and years. Now I wonder if it matches yours. Probably does. I didn’t want a soulmate. But if it’s you, then that’s not such a bad thing. I could learn to live with that.”
Silence. Dennis had begun to learn how to read Cade’s moments of quietude, and thought this one would match up to a stunned expression, with a hint of a smile.
“That’s as good as a declaration of love, isn’t it?” Cade asked.
“Don’t push your luck.”
“It is,” Cade said. He scooted closer to Dennis, inviting him silently to do the same with his body language. They fit together rather better than Dennis would have envisioned, when he’d first met the man. “You really would want to give it a try? With me?”
“Rather you than anyone else I’ve ever met,” Dennis said honestly. He liked the feel of Cade’s hand in his. His fingers were longer, more agile, his palm dry and warm. “It’s funny. People always said ‘It’s different when it happens to you’. I never believed them.”
Cade fitted his palm to Dennis’. “Me either. Now I wonder. It wouldn’t be easy, you know. I’m rude and hard to pin down and I don’t take life very seriously. Usually. You might get tired of me.”
“I’m sorry, were you on your best behavior tonight?” Dennis asked. He enjoyed Cade’s huff of amusement in response. “No? Me either. What you see is what you get, and if you aren’t any worse than this on a regular basis, I have a funny feeling we’d work out just fine. Which is, as I understand it, kind of the point with soulmates.”
“To take each other as we are,” Cade said.
Dennis nodded. He stroked Cade’s skin, appreciating the texture and the lean muscles beneath. “Someone who’ll know I’m human, and deal with me accordingly. Same goes for you. And if you ever forget, I’ll remind you.”
“And if you’re being an idiot, I’ll tell you, and you’ll tell me.” The shape of Cade’s mouth changed beneath his questioning fingers, transforming from frown to small but widening smile. “That’s it? That’s all?”
“I think I could manage that much.” Dennis took Cade’s hand between both of his then reached to rest one palm at Cade’s nape. “I’m up for it if you are. At least giving it a try. You’re not what I expected, but I could get addicted to you. You’re what I needed. So. Want to?”
Cade’s shoulders shook briefly with amusement. “Oh, they’re all going to rue the day you and I crossed one another’s paths.”
“With any luck,” Dennis said. “Now shut up and kiss me.”
That, Cade would be more than happy to do. Only—
“You are aware Ivan’s out there, right?” he asked Dennis. “Odds are he’s listening as closely as he can to everything going on in here.”
“Of course I do.” Dennis grinned, lazy and naughty at the same time. Made him look like a high-school prankster planning serious mischief. “So when we get down to the good stuff, make sure and turn the volume up to eleven. No holding back.”
Cade whistled. “You can be downright evil when you put your mind to it, can’t you?” Of which he approved. He coaxed Dennis into his lap, astride him, Dennis’ knees to the floor on either side of his hips, and slid his hands beneath Dennis’ loose tee. Smooth skin, body warm, muscles flexing as he tickled them awake.
“Darn right.” Dennis tapped Cade’s chest. “Always remember, payback’s only a bitch on one side of the equation.”
“You and I are going to have so much fun together.”
“And you can start any time.”
Cade clicked his tongue in pretend reproach. “I am. Talking’s part of foreplay, isn’t it? And foreplay gets you more play.”
“I can think of better things for you to do with your tongue.”
“Is that a hint? Lucky you, I know how to take one.” Cade bent his head to nuzzle at Dennis’ neck. The spot he’d set his teeth to earlier would heal soon, but not soon enough for him. It would scar. So would Dennis’ bite. Marked for all to see.
And touch, he thought, stroking fingertips against the now fully set mark on Dennis’ elbow. Would that taste different—feel unlike the skin on the rest of Dennis’s arm?
Only one way to find out.
With one arm around Dennis’ back, careful to keep him from falling, Cade lowered them both to the floor. Moonlight sheeted over them, suggesting a blissful wash of sunlight during the day. Mmm. He’d have to bring Dennis back here. Bet you he likes to bask.
Dennis settled on the floor with a contented sigh. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. More.”
Cade hummed a reply into the dent between Dennis’ collarbones. Warm, firm skin that smelled of spicy herbs, springy with health, dusted with dark ginger curls from his nipples to his navel. He nosed his way down Dennis’ chest and took one of the flat copper nubs between his teeth to worry at it with a playful growl.
“Oh—” Dennis’ breath hitched. He thrust his hand deep into Cade’s hair and raised one knee, giving Cade more room to slip between his legs. Cade palmed his cock, pleased at the steady rise and sturdy stiffness growing under his touch.
Because he could—he had that option now—he chose not to let go. Cade scooted Dennis’ shirt higher, higher, and off, casting it into a corner. He pressed his mouth to Dennis’ nipples, biting until they were raised, then licking them furled. Curious, he nosed into the warm hair beneath Dennis’s arm and tickled at the sensitive skin with the prickliness of his own stubble.
Dennis didn’t lie idle. He brought his knee higher, then around Cade, humming and exhaling, then drawing in sharp sips of breath when Cade undid the drawstring of Dennis’ trackies and slipped his hand inside for a better grip. His nails drew light scratches down Cade’s back. A fine perspiration stung in the faint scrapes that made Cade arch his neck and hiss with appreciation.
“Like it rough, hmm?” Dennis asked.
“Rough and tumble,” Cade said, easing the loosened track pants down Dennis’ hips, and following that with the slide of his body. He pressed his nose to the crisp curls at Dennis’ groin as Dennis raised his hips to rub against him. “Only way to fly.”
Dennis hissed between his teeth. “God, don’t think I’m not tempted, but…”
The unspoken question mark pricked Cade’s curiosity. He raised his head, and delicately raked the soft skin around Dennis’ navel with his nails as he spoke. “Got something else in mind?”
Dennis’ grin widened, growing edges and a wicked curve. “Want to fuck you. Can I?”
Could he? Good God. Cade let out a quiet oof and reached for himself, not sure if he wanted a stave-off squeeze or a lickety-split decision to keep going.
He knew Dennis could interpret a hell of a lot from the tiniest of cues, and he did so now, laughing deep in his chest. “I take it you like that idea. Someone prefers to bottom, hmm?”
“Not all the time,” Cade said. Fair disclosure and all that. “But would I like to bottom for you? Hell yes. Bring it.”
Dennis slapped Cade’s biceps. “Then get yourself up here.”
“Unless you’re planning on using spit,” Cade said. Not that it would have stopped him at that point, but a man did have to set some ground rules. He stepped out of his jeans—with a helping hand or two from Dennis—handy man, that one—and kicked them aside. They could keep Dennis’ shirt company. He lingered for a moment, savoring the rough slide of Dennis’ hands on his bare hips.
“Spit?” Dennis said, not ceasing to stroke Cade across the grain, and into the sweet spot. “Please. You forget who you’re talking to. I keep supplies stashed everywhere. Try under the pot of fenugreek.”
“Greek style. I like the way you think.”
Cade had no idea what fenugreek looked like.
He did have a nose for trouble, and a decent instinct for getting himself in and out of same. He made a “Ha!” noise when he found the pot with the false bottom and tipped it on its side to spill out the goodies.
Packet of lube in his teeth, cock hanging heavy between his legs, Cade returned to Dennis and dropped the pouch on his stomach. “How’s that for delivery service?”
Dennis blew him a kiss as he sat up. “Not bad. Hands and knees, you. Now.”
He knew what he was doing, that one. Cade let Dennis manhandle him—well, more like ‘actively participated’. Love a good man handling. The floor suited Cade. Something raw and wrong and deliciously dirty about going at it like animals always had tickled his fancy. He bowed his head and rolled his shoulders, offering himself up for his mate’s delectation.
Dennis swore under his breath. His hands were everywhere, first stroking, then kneading. Slick fingers slipped into Cade, too fast and too rough and exactly right, one-two-three, no holding back and no polite pretense. “God, you…”
“Like what you see?” Cade asked, chuckling under his breath. He wanted to reach for his cock, and wanted to save it for Dennis, too. Decisions, decisions.
Dennis saved him the trouble of deliberation by draping himself over Cade before the question could drag on. Sharp and sexy. Hell of a two-fer. He nuzzled beneath Cade’s chin, nipping tiny love bites that Cade knew would show up like a row of carnelian kisses. “More than. But can you put your money where your mouth is? That’s the real question. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
“You’ve already had it twice.” Cade arched his back and shivered with anticipation. The roll of Dennis’ hips was fluid as waves marching to shore, and oh, so very promising. “Insatiable much?”
“You have no idea.”
“I’m starting to get an inkling.”
“Starting to,” Dennis said. Cade moaned as Dennis guided himself in, and sank deep. “Fuck,” he gasped. “Oh, fuck. Tight. Hold on.”
Cade braced himself—and a good thing, too. Dennis might have been a player, but he wasn’t playing now. The first stroke shocked Cade into a moan, the second a growl, and the third a chest-deep shout.
“Good?” Dennis asked, hand stealing beneath Cade to take him without prompting. He squeezed, clumsily but with enough affection to count, and rubbed his thumb at the most sensitive spot. “Sounds good.”
Cade rolled his head against the carpet. He’d have rug burns on his forehead after this. “Fucking fantastic, and you know it. Don’t stop, keep going— Dennis—”
“Not stopping. Never stopping.”
Eyes tight shut, teeth at his lip, Cade shuddered as Dennis kept his promise. Hard, fast, and fierce, he pounded Cade until they both shouted fit to make Cade’s ears ring. He came with a jolt, juddering forward and spilling over Dennis’ hand.
Dennis mouthed and licked at Cade’s nape. He’d buried himself deep, so deep, and yet still he moved, as if he wanted to go deeper still. Cade turned his head as best as he could, and to hell with awkwardness. He caught the edge of Dennis’ mouth with his teeth when the man gave one last push, then stilled and swore, spilling out a thick susurrus of words that turned the ripe air blue.
He collapsed atop Cade’s back and groaned. “God. Think you killed me.”
Cade snorted. “Wait till it’s my turn to do you.”
“Charmer, charmer, charming as always,” Dennis chided groggily. He eased himself out and down onto his flank, bringing Cade along for the ride. Not for cuddling on his chest, but for lying side by side with their foreheads pressed together.
“You love it,” Cade said, secure in his guesswork. He shifted his hips and purred in appreciation. He’d be feeling that for days. “Talk about setting the bar, though.”
“Gives you something to work toward.” Dennis cracked one sleepy eye open. “Swear to… I never met anyone else who’d talk straight after sex. Thought I was a freak.”
“You are. And so am I.”
“Good enough,” Dennis said. He yawned between the words, stretching his arms over his head, and curled up with one hand beneath his cheek. “And our studio audience…?”
Cade cocked his head. There was a certain horrified, deeply embarrassed aura to the silence outside. He sniggered, Dennis joining in. “Satisfied. Almost certain never to speak of this again. Not bad for a night’s work.”
“Not bad at all.” Dennis took a breath. “So. Still in?”
As if he had to ask! Cade took Dennis’ hand in his and laced their fingers. “You’d better believe it. It’s you and me, from here on out. Just as we are. Though there is the question of you leaving town next week for a vacation in the sun. How do you propose we handle that?”
Dennis grinned broadly. “I might have an idea.”
Epilogue
Sunlight.
Dennis burrowed his toes in the soft, brilliantly hot sands and crossed his wrists behind his head. He could feel himself baking up nicely beneath his layer of tanning lotion. To heck with caution. He lived in the heart of the city fifty-one weeks out of the year. He could overdose on Vitamin D on vacation if he liked.
Cade didn’t dislike it, either. Dennis put out a lazy hand to stroke down the length of his mate’s arm from marked elbow to wrist. Cade remarked on every single curious look they got, with their shirts off and their marks so prominently on display, and added some brightly colored commentary of his own.
God, but this was the good life. And he’d thought he wanted none of it?
Dennis whistled under his breath. I’ve never been gladder to be wrong.
Cade scooted an inch closer on the beach towels they’d laid side by side and took Dennis’ hand in his, toying with the knuckles. Paler by nature, he’d had a skin like a boiled lobster after their first day in Key West, but he was a trooper, that one. He’d come around. Might even have something resembling a tan by the time they went back to the real world.
Not that Dennis was in any hurry for that.
Languid, he idled on the sand and tilted his head to listen in on Cade’s conversation. Clever Cade, who had no shame, had turned the volume on his phone up to maximum decibels to allow Dennis the opportunity of listening in whenever he liked.
“Say what, again?” Cade demanded.
“From the beginning, or just the middle bits?” Nathaniel asked.
Dennis crinkled his nose. He could get used to having a kid brother, even if only in-law. “Tell the brat I said hello.”
“Dennis says hello, and also asks you not to be a smartass,” Cade said. “That’s my shtick.”
Nathaniel giggled. He was one of the few men Dennis had ever known who could pull it off without more camp than an army bivouac. “All right, calm down. I said, I hope you don’t have any plans for the weekend after you’re back from the beach.”
“Because…” Cade prompted. “Go on, say it again.”
“Because you’re going to help me move in with my mate,” Nathaniel replied.
“And does he know about this?”
“Not yet.”
“Is he going to know about it before we show up with a U-Haul?”
“Mmm… Maybe.” Nathaniel laughed again.
Cade made a pained noise. “Are we at least going to know his name before you shack up with the guy?”
“Oh, yes.”
“And it is…” Cade prompted, thumping his and Dennis’ joined hands into the sand. “It is…?”
“You’ll find out,” Nathaniel said. “But I will give you a hint. You know him. You’ve met him before. Twice, in fact.”
Dennis propped himself on his elbows. He’d gotten drawn into Cade’s obsessive-compulsive fixation on discovering the identity of Nathaniel’s soulmate despite himself. “Okay, so, Cade has met him. But have I met him?”
“Ooh, good question. And the answer is no, Dennis, you haven’t.”
Cade groaned. “You’re killing me here, Nathaniel.”
“I know. Have fun with the rest of your trip!”
“Arrgh.” Cade face-planted into the sand, casting up a cascade of granules that promptly coated Dennis in a fine, gritty mist.
Dennis clicked his tongue as he took the phone Cade pushed into his hand. “Drama, drama.”
“Has he always been such a little shit?” Cade asked. Dennis knew—had never had to learn—to listen to the tone Cade used, not the words. He couldn’t have been more pleased with the key to the city on a silver platter.
“You’re asking me? Besides, he’s your blood relation. I’m fairly sure that means yes, he was.”
“Hmm. Am I offended, or am I flattered?” Cade flipped onto his belly and tangled ankles with Dennis, heedless of the grit.
Dennis stroked a line down his back as a fair trade return. “Flattered, definitely.”
“Good answer.” Cade exhaled a long, contented breath. “Of all the places I’ve roamed, I’ve never been to the beach before. Never wanted to, and trust me when I promise you’ll be the one paying my doctor’s bills for skin grafts if I burn again.”
Dennis laughed quietly to himself. “You love it, and you know it.”
“Could be that I do,” Cade said. Cheeky, always cheeky, and it suited him. He stood with a rush of energy and scattering sand, pulling Dennis to his feet. “And it could be that I love you, too.”
“Such a charmer.” Dennis kissed the tip of Cade’s jaw. “So… Never been a beach bunny, hmm?”
He felt Cade perk up. “Never. Got another ‘first’ in mind for me?”
“Depends. If you beat me to the water, then I might just take you to Naked Thursday at the Cove.”
“Naked what?” Cade hooted. “That’s not real. Is it? Wait, is that an actual thing?”
Dennis tipped his head back to laugh, loud and happy. “Maybe. Catch me, and find out!” He tagged Cade on the sunburned shoulder and started running. No need to worry about tripping, for he was sure Cade would be right behind him, tackling him into the sand. Cade with him, by his side, the zesty relish that’d add spice to the rest of their lives.
And so he was.
ALL ALONG