Landon's Desire (Book Three of The Pulse Series 3)

by Rose, Jennifer

  “If you have to call me that, can you keep it private? The last thing I need are Rex and the guys hearing.”

  “Does it embarrass you?” Landon asked.

  “How’s Mik, did you get her settled in?” Carl asked, changing the subject, not wanting Landon to discover how much he actually enjoyed the nickname.

  “She’s going to be fine, the sickness is going to pass and she’ll be back to normal in no time,” Landon said, with confidence.

  Carl placed his elbows on the bar and leaned in. “So it’s just a bug, did you get her something from the drug store to settle her stomach, Gravol or something?”

  Landon breathed in the scent of Carl, sharp citrus, clean and fresh.

  “Yeah, I got her something.” Landon bent in closer still, giving the impression he was about to share a secret. “Fuck, you smell good.”

  Carl’s mouth gaped open, his eyes narrowed and he yanked out the cloth tucked into the waistband of his tight fitting pinstriped slacks. He lifted a wineglass and started polishing as he turned and walked to the opposite end of the bar. It was his signature move when dealing with Landon and his flirting and the heat that it ignited in his loins each time Landon opened his mouth.

  When Carl looked up again, like Landon knew he would, Landon made a pouty face holding up his empty glass. Carl stared angrily, grabbing a fresh glass and filling it with ice and cola. As he attempted to slam it down Landon’s hand wrapped around the glass trapping Carl’s fingers, holding tight.

  “Let go,” Carl demanded, cola splashed over their fingers.

  “Do you feel it?” Landon asked.

  Carl’s scowl turned to a confused questioning look. “Feel what?”

  “The spark,” Landon tightened his grasp. “The twinge in the pit of your stomach, the knot that forces you to take a deep breath when I touch you, stand near you, kiss you. Tell me you don’t feel it.”

  “You’re out of your mind, you need help,” Carl said, noticing they were being watched by Rex, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest with an intense stare.

  With his free hand, Landon fisted Carl’s vest, pulling him closer until his lips made the tiniest contact with Carl’s cheek.

  “Repeat after me,” Landon whispered against Carl’s cheek. “It’s time I explored who I really am.”

  “I know who I am,” Carl pulled back.

  “Do you, Carl?” Landon latched onto Carl’s wrist, the glass clattered onto the bars surface and Landon lifted Carl’s hand to his mouth, sucking the cola from his fingers.

  “It’s just a matter of time, Babes. You will give in and you will be mine.”

  The expression on Carl’s face was priceless as he stood staring at his hand, clearly affected by Landon’s flirtatious behavior. His chest rose and fell wildly as he swallowed hard, then walked away in a dramatic huff.

  Rex laughed as he sauntered over with a wet rag, lifted the glass and wiped up the sticky mess. “Take it easy on the guy, Lando.”

  “Keep your nose out of it, Rex.”

  “Why are you wasting your time on him?” Rex asked. “There’s a sure thing standing right here.” He fanned his hand over his front like the grand prize reveal.

  “As nice as that offer sounds,” Landon stood. “I’m not interested.”

  “The offer stands,” Rex cleared away his glass and said, “me and you would be great together.”

  “Not now, Rex, I have to go,” Landon said, with a polite nod.

  Rex was tall dark and handsome, he had charm, style and bi-sexual appeal pouring out his ass, but he didn’t do it for Landon. He was also pushy and full of himself and too much like Landon for it to work. But all the rejection in the world didn’t stop the guy from trying, again, just like Landon.

  Landon skipped the elevator, figuring he could make it up the stairs faster, racing up them two at a time until he stood outside of Carl’s door and rested on the frame, just as the elevator door opened and Carl stepped out.

  “For fuck’s sake, Ace, are you ever going to give up?” Carl asked, reaching above the door, taking a key from the frames fancy header and inserting it into the lock. “I won’t bother wasting my time telling you you’re not invited in, the words will fall on deaf ears,” he said, pushing past Landon.

  Landon stood in the doorway watching as Carl skimmed through his mail and tossed it aside. “Come in and close the door, or leave and close it behind you, either way close the fucking door.”

  Laughing, Landon stepped in and closed the door.

  “Help yourself to a drink, Ace.” Carl instructed. “I’m going to get changed.” He stopped in his tracks and turned. “Stay there, don’t get any stupid ideas.”

  Carl’s heart was racing as he changed out of his uniform into a pair of grey sweatpants and a tight fitting black t-shirt, with a bright red Rolling Stone’s lips and tongue logo. His mind was all a whirl with thoughts of Landon waiting in his kitchen and he had to take several deep breaths to stop his cock from twitching.

  As he walked from the hallway into the living room he saw Landon standing, scanning through his CD collection. His back was turned to him, which gave him an opportunity to ogle his backside. Landon had an impressive physique and a beautifully sculpted ass, like two perfect peaches trapped under a thick layer of denim. Carl licked his lips and watched as each movement Landon made caused his muscular back to ripple deliciously.

  Landon’s head turned slightly, his cheek plumped as he smiled. “Impressive collection you have here, all my favorites.” He spun around and laughed, “Nice t-shirt, Babes.”

  Carl rolled his eyes as he watched Landon place a CD into the player, hit play and walk over to the small sofa. “May I?”

  Nico and Vinzs’ Am I Wrong? started playing and Landon’s eyes met Carl’s as he picked up on the words.

  “Do as you please, you’re going to anyway.”

  “Why don’t you have a seat and let me get you a drink, Babes?” Landon offered.

  “Fine, but just one and then you leave, agreed?” Carl asked, sitting back on the sofa. “Two fingers of Jack over ice.”

  “Would you like that served up in a dirty glass?” Landon laughed at the overly manly drink order.

  Handing Carl his glass, he planted his ass on the sofa, leaving only a few inches of space between them. Landon sat back stretching his arm along the back of the sofa, with his ankle crossed over his knee, lessoning the gap.

  John Legend started singing All of Me and Carl squirmed in his seat, shooting back the contents of his glass, setting the glass of ice cubes on the coffee table, the ice cubes spinning in the glass like a cyclone.

  “Done,” Carl announced, moving to stand when Landon clasped his wrist and pulled him back into the sofa cushion.

  “I’m not,” Landon said.

  Carl’s breathing started to intensify as Landon drew closer. “You don’t have a drink.”

  “And you have no more excuses,” Landon whispered against his ear. “I can feel your pulse racing Carl, and I know it’s not from the booze. You want me as bad as I want you.”

  “I think you should go,” he said, as he pulled from Landon’s grasp and stood. “I want you to leave.”

  Landon smirked.

  “That’s what your mouth may be saying,” he said, his eyes traveling down Carl’s sleek body to his loose sweatpants. “But your body’s telling me something altogether different.”

  If the telltale erection tenting his sweats wasn’t notification enough that Carl was turned on, the small wet patch where the head of Carl’s cock pushed against the fabric, was a dead giveaway.

  Carl looked mortified as he adjusted himself and stormed to the door, “Out!” he hollered.

  Closing the door and pinning Carl against it, Landon frowned. “If you’re embarrassed, Babes, let it go. Get over it now. I get a boner every time I think of you and I’m not ashamed. Hell I have one now,” he said, forcing his arousal against Carl’s thigh. “See it’s normal. It’s gonna happen.”
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br />   “Not to me it’s not.”

  Carl attempted to shift Landon with no luck; he was a solid mass of sexual greed not about to be moved until he was good and ready.

  “Face the facts man,” Landon touched his forehead to Carl’s. “I turn you on, you’re horny for me and we are going to happen sooner or later, may as well give up the fight.”

  Landon’s hands ran down Carl’s arms to the tips of his fingers, he entwined them together and lifted Carl’s arms over his head. With the tiniest bit of apprehension, he tenderly touched his lips to Carl’s, waiting for him to react, when there was nothing more than a shift of Carl’s feet, he continued his quest. His lips were soft and full and Landon could taste Whiskey on his breath, as Carl gasped for air. Running his tongue across the seam of Carl’s lips, Landon smiled at the way Carl pursed his lips not allowing his tongue entry. He wouldn’t push him, he was more than willing to take a leisurely approach. Landon peppered tiny kisses from ear to ear across his jaw and ground his hips against Carl’s, listening to the way his breathing pattern changed from hurried to desperate as he took his time teasing his neck with burning kisses.

  Bringing Carl’s arms down with his, he veered him from the door and shuffled him to the kitchen counter, he released his hold and easily lifted Carl onto an empty space nestling himself between his thighs. Landon’s hand held the back of his neck as he kissed him a little rougher, slipping his hand under the tail of his t-shirt, his hand trailing up and down his spine.

  Tense was an understatement for the way Carl sat with his arms tight to his sides, his fist balled tight and his thighs squeezing Landon’s hips. He was going to do himself injury if Landon couldn’t find a way to make him relax. Landon peeled his arms from his side and pried his hands open, placing Carl’s palms to his chest.

  “Loosen up, Babes, I won’t bite,” Landon said, kissing the tip of his nose and pulling back to see his eyes. “That is, unless you want me to.”

  Carl tittered and pulled his hands away.

  “Don’t, Babes, don’t pull away.” Landon begged.

  “I can’t do this,” Carl whispered looking off to the side. “Don’t make me do this.”

  Carl’s words had no sooner left his lips, then Landon had lifted him off the counter and set his feet on the floor.

  “Never,” Landon held Carl’s face in his hands, the rare serious side of Landon presenting itself. “Never in a million fucking years would I force you to do something you don’t want to do. Never…never.”

  Breaking his hold he shifted to the door, opened it and stood with his back to Carl as he spoke, “You’re not ready and I have no right to push myself on you.”

  He turned to face Carl with an apologizing look in his eyes. “I think we could be good together, I truly do. But until you can admit you want me and trust me…I’m sorry.”

  “Ace, why the sudden about face?” Carl asked.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Landon said. “All’s good.”

  He ran down the back steps and out into the back alley, slamming his fists into the stucco wall. Then pressing his forehead against the tail of his truck, Landon roared at the top of his lungs. It was late and he didn’t much care that anyone may hear over the music from the club, the release felt great. He lowered the tailgate and sat, beating himself up for pulling a stunt as disgusting as Briggs had pulled on him. He leapt to his feet and ran to a dumpster violently hurling today’s contents from his stomach and wiping away tears. He wasn’t too much of a man to show real emotion, but tears were something better kept for private times.

  Apologizing to Carl had been easy, keeping his distance was going to be the hard part. Hell, they worked together, lived in the same place and shared the same friends.

  Who was he kidding; it was going to be pure torture.

  FOUR

  “You look better today, Princess,” Landon said, with a hug.

  Funny the difference a week makes. Mikala was looking more herself, the color was back in her cheeks, the dark circles under her eyes had faded and there was an honest to God smile on her face.

  “So much better Lando,” she said, looking around, making sure they were alone. “I saw the doctor. He confirmed the test results and started me on vitamins and a high protein diet, which is working wonders for the morning sickness.”

  “What did Mason say, he’s happy?”

  “Fucking ecstatic,” she confirmed and sat. “But he’s going to be brutal. I had to practically beg to get out the door this morning.”

  “He’s just worried,” Landon assured her. “He doesn’t want anything to happen to you two, he loves you to death. So, when’s the due date?”

  She grinned. “April first.”

  “An April fools baby, poor little fucker,” he laughed. “Maybe you can hold off until the fifth, and have it on my birthday.”

  “Bite your fucking tongue.”

  Mikala was glowing, she so deserved this baby, he thought. His mind wandered temporarily to the day Mikala and Mason buried their baby Charlie, it choked him up and he had to look away.

  “Landon,” she scolded. “This pregnancy is going to be different, I’m going to see a specialist and if I have to stay off my feet for the entire pregnancy, I will. Nothing’s going to happen to my little sprout.”

  “Sprout?” Landon asked, watching her rub her non-existent pregnancy belly.

  “Yes, Sprout,” she confirmed. “We don’t know if it’s a boy or girl and I don’t want to know, so instead of calling the baby it for the next six and a half months, he or she will be called Sprout.”

  “Who all knows?”

  “Just the three of us,” Mikala said. “We want to keep it quiet until I’m safely past the first trimester.”

  Landon grinned into her face. “I feel so privileged to be the only one.”

  “Feel whatever you want as long as you keep your mouth shut.” Mikala giggled. “How goes the pursuit of Carl?”

  Landon scrubbed his hand over his jaw. “The pursuit’s over.”

  “What?” Mikala asked, placing her hand on his arm and giving it a squeeze. “Are you throwing in the towel already? For Christ’s sake Lando, you can’t pack it in yet.”

  “There comes a time when you realize that pushing only backs you closer to the edge. I don’t want to become something to be feared.”

  Again the repulsive vision of Michael’s hands holding him in place as he unloaded his wad had Landon gagging. Reliving the sound of Carl’s plea not to be forced, only made his stomach churn more, he sucked in a deep breath.

  “Where the fuck is this coming from?” Mikala asked, shuffling her chair closer. “This doesn’t have something to do with that asshole Briggs does it?”

  “The more I hassle Carl, the more I remember how it felt. I won’t do that to him, I don’t want his first time to be a regrettable experience. He should feel safe and it should be completely consensual, without any pressure. He should at least care about the person.”

  “You think he doesn’t care about you?”

  “I think…actually it doesn’t matter what I think.” Landon stood. “Can I get you something, a drink, some munchies, a deep fried pickle and ice cream?” he laughed.

  “A bottle of water will do, thanks,” Mikala said her eyes set on Carl behind the bar.

  “Don’t get any ideas, Princess.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about Landon Kyle, I don’t interfere in my employees lives…by the way.”

  He looked in her direction, lifting his chin.

  “You’re fired,” she laughed, watching Landon pass by Carl without so much as a glance.

  “Carl,” Mikala hollered.

  He looked up from the beer tap he was cleaning with a cotton swab. “Yeah?”

  “I need to go over the liquor order with you, run up to the club and get the inventory list from Rex and meet me in my office.”

  “I’m on it.” He threw a hand towel over the beer tap and ran out of the room.

&n
bsp; “Your water,” Landon loosened the cap and handed it to her. “Mik, leave him be. I want him to come to me when he’s ready. No pressure, no guilt, one hundred percent on his terms.”

  “Fine,” Mikala held her hands up in surrender, “Carl’s off limits I got it.”

  ***

  “Will I hit send?” Carl asked, once all the boxes on the order form were ticked.

  “Go for it, then I want to talk while I have you alone,” Mikala said.

  Minutes later, Carl handed her a printed copy of the order conformation. Sitting across from her, he studied Mikala’s face, waiting patiently while she filed the order away.

  “So, we’re alone, what’s on your mind, honey?”

  “I’m not going to mention names, that way you won’t get pissy and I can safely say his name never crossed my lips.”

  “I don’t like the way this is playing out, I’m going to come out of this looking like an asshole I know it.”

  “Too bad,” she said. “You don’t need to say a word, just listen.”

  Carl placed an elbow on the desk, resting his chin in his palm pretending to show interest.

  “I think a friend of ours is having issues dealing with something of a personal nature that happened the night of a certain dinner party, when I made arrangements for him to be an escort,”

  “If this has to do with Landon, I’m not interested.”

  “No names, remember?” Mikala warned, before continuing. “Something happened that night, I’m not sure exactly what but it’s really bothering our friend. Whatever happened, it really affected him.”

  Carl knew immediately what she was getting at. He remembered Landon’s short tempered mood that night. The only mystery was what happened on Landon’s date, and what it had to do with the kiss he and Carl shared. Landon had definitely done a one eighty, he hadn’t been flirting or teasing in any way and Carl was missing the overt attention.

  “And, why are you telling me this?”

  “Carl, I need you to be totally honest with me,” Mikala came around the desk and sat in the chair next to him. “Can you be completely honest, I swear to God I won’t tell another living soul?”