by Faith Gibson
Trevor looked around the room, noting they were alone. “Are you ashamed of me?” he asked. Again, Jasper’s heart ripped into tiny shreds at how insecure his mate was.
Jasper moved from the seat across from Trevor to the one next to him. He took his mate’s hand in his and kissed his knuckles. “Gods, no. Is it wrong I don’t want to share you? I just wanted a little privacy so we could talk freely. You and I have secrets nobody needs to hear.” When the waiter came to take their drink order, Jasper didn’t release Trevor’s hand. Instead, he linked their fingers together and placed them on top of the table. The waiter couldn’t have cared less if they were gay. He was in charge of a private room, and his tip would reflect that.
“May I start you off with something to drink? A nice Sangiovese perhaps?”
“Do you want wine? I don’t normally drink it, but if you want a bottle, that’s what we’ll have.” Jasper wanted Trevor to have anything and everything he desired.
“I’ll have a whiskey and Coke. Hold the Coke,” he told the waiter.
“Make that two with my reserve of Jameson, and make mine a double.”
“Yes, Mr. Jenkins,” the waiter said and left to retrieve their drinks.
“Your reserve? You have your own whiskey here?” Trevor asked, rubbing his thumb along the back of Jasper’s hand. The friction was nice, yet it was stirring his beast, and Jasper wanted to get through supper without getting kicked out of his favorite restaurant for public displays of wild man-on-man sex.
“I do. When John Jameson traveled from Scotland to Ireland to start making whiskey, I happened to be on the same boat. At that point in my life, I was moving from country to country trying to find my place in the world. I was born in Northern Ireland. I already told you my father sold me to a chieftain. We fought in the Nine Years War, but our army didn’t have as much firepower as our enemy. After my athair was slain in battle, I left for Scotland. When I was sold as a boy, it meant I no longer had a clan. I had to go through my transition period alone all while keeping the truth of my nature from my athair.”
“What’s an athair? Is that like a father?”
“Yes. When the O’Donnell took me in, he became my father. Even though he bought and paid for my life, he treated me the same as his other sons. After the war, I had no one. I couldn’t go back to my birth clan. The King thought me dead. He would have killed my father if he knew I was still alive. Scotland was close, and I figured I could fit in there. As I traveled through the country, I ran across some Redshanks, a group of Scottish mercenaries. They were, as you say, badasses. I traveled with them for several years, fighting alongside them. They didn’t care that I wasn’t Scottish since I could best any of them with a sword or mace. I gave a false name, and I was able to mimic their brogue well enough. Anyway, the fighting ceased, and I began traveling across Europe. After a long while, I decided to go back to Ireland, to see home. That’s when I ran into Mr. Jameson. He and I became friends.”
Jasper waited until the waiter had set their drinks down and taken their food order before he continued. He picked up his glass and said, “I’d like to propose a toast.” When Trevor held his glass, Jasper said, “Here’s to fine whiskey and finer friends. Cheers.” They clinked their glasses together and sipped the special whiskey Jasper had shipped in from Ireland especially for him.
“That’s good. That’s really good,” Trevor lauded.
“It is. This whiskey helped save my life,” Jasper muttered. He would eventually get around to that part of the story, but for now, he wanted to keep their conversation light.
“Now that’s a story I need to hear,” Trevor nudged.
“I will definitely tell it to you. But not today. Today is for happy memories, and plans for the future. Speaking of which, have you ever been to Stone Mountain?”
“Of course. Growing up anywhere near New Atlanta, it was almost a requirement for at least one school fieldtrip to be to the park. Do you want to go?”
“I do. How about tomorrow? I was looking online, and they have this snow park. I researched the weather in the south, and we don’t get a whole lot of snow. Not like out west or up north. I miss the snow, so I want to go play. What do you say?”
“You miss the snow? I thought you came from the West Coast?”
“I lived in California for the last fifty or so years. Before that I was somewhere in Europe or the British Isles, mostly in areas that had lots of snow.”
“So what made you leave and come to the States?”
Jasper hesitated, hating to spoil the mood. On a sigh, he said, “Theron.”
Chapter Nine
The pain on Jasper’s face when he spoke Theron’s name was not a look Trevor wanted to see again. He should have known the reason Jasper left Europe. He wouldn’t ask Jasper to talk about that part of his past now, not while they were enjoying a delicious meal in a private setting. Trevor didn’t want Jasper spending money on him like this, but he had to admit it was a really nice gesture. Nobody had ever done anything like this for him. Travis bought him presents, but that’s because they were brothers.
Jasper had gone out of his way to make Trevor feel special. He squeezed Jasper’s hand and said, “I have never been to the snow park at Stone Mountain. I think it would be fun as long as you don’t hurl snowballs at me. You being a badass, you’d probably give me a concussion.”
Jasper laughed and leaned over, kissing Trevor softly on the lips. “Thank you,” he whispered before leaning away. “I promise not to hurt you with snowballs.”
The waiter brought their food and refilled their drinks. Trevor was getting lightheaded at the amount of alcohol he was taking in, but it was also giving him the courage to open up to Jasper in a way he normally wouldn’t. Jasper had to scoot over to make room for the two plates of food he ordered.
“It’s a good thing you have money,” Trevor said, pointing to the plates with his fork. “You eat a lot.”
“I’m a growing boy, what can I say?” Jasper smirked.
Trevor had seen Jasper in the gym. Had seen him pound a punching bag then hop in the ring and go toe to toe with Geoffrey Hartley, the owner of the gym, for a good ten rounds. It was no wonder Jasper ate like he did. His metabolism was crazy high.
“Jasper Jenkins doesn’t sound Irish or Scottish.”
“It isn’t. My birth name was Phelam O’Hearn, but when the O’Donnell bought me, I took on his last name.”
“So how did you come up with Jasper Jenkins?” Trevor thought it would be cool to change your name on a whim, become someone different, or move to a new city or country when the mood struck.
“Right after…” Jasper paused, took a drink of whiskey, and began again. “When I got away from Theron, I headed north. I was traveling through Romania when I came upon a caravan of gypsies. They invited me to eat with them, so I did. I spent the rest of the evening sitting around a fire, listening to stories in a language I could barely understand, but the messages were clear. They were a good clan who loved life. The eldest female in the group sat down next to me and grabbed my hand. She placed a red stone in my palm, closing my fingers around it.
“I will never forget her words. She spoke in a low voice yet her speech was as clear to me as if she were speaking my native tongue. She said, ‘This is jasper. It will aid you in your lonely journey, keeping you grounded with the earth below as well as with your spirit within. Keep it with you at all times, child.’ I opened my hand to find a stone the same color red as my hair. I did as she said and carried it with me.” He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a smooth rock. Trevor took it from him and ran his thumb over it. When he did, something flashed briefly in his mind. A fire maybe? He dropped it on the table and gasped.
“What is it? Trevor, what happened just now?”
“I… you’ll think I’m crazy, but when I touched the rock I saw something.”
“What did you see? I promise I won’t think you’re crazy.”
“It’s probably just my imaginatio
n. You told the story of sitting around the fire, but Jas, I saw a fire. It was just a flash, but I swear, I saw it.”
“I believe you. It did come from an old gypsy.” Jasper picked it up and put it back in his pocket. “That’s where I got the name Jasper from. I will tell you the rest later. Right now, I’m ready for dessert.”
“There’s no way I can eat anything else. I don’t have the same badass metabolism you do.”
“I was thinking of a different kind of dessert,” Jasper hinted, his voice low. His eyes held a lustful glimmer, and Trevor felt the intentions coming from the Gargoyle sitting next to him. If this was the pull of the mate bond, Trevor was in deep trouble. He had made up his mind earlier to see how things with Jasper progressed. He didn’t have to accept the bite that would bind them together forever. Not yet anyway. He wanted to give Jasper a chance to prove he was interested in Trevor for who he was, not because some unseen beings said it should be so.
“Let’s go,” he urged. Trevor had never given a blowjob, at least not one that ended the way it was supposed to. His one try had been a disaster, but the boy he was with at the time had been drunk. He blamed it on the alcohol. Jasper had drunk quite a bit, but Trevor knew he was nowhere near intoxicated. He probably didn’t even have a buzz.
The closer they got to Jasper’s, the more nervous he became. What if he did it wrong? Surely he could mimic the moves Jasper had made earlier. He had watched a lot of porn when he was younger and trying to come to grips with his sexuality. He knew the basics of giving one, and now he knew firsthand the joy of being on the receiving end. He didn’t want to think of how Jasper had gotten so good at oral sex, but he was appreciative of his skills. He wasn’t prepared to have sex, not that he wasn’t ready mentally. He was. Being almost thirty and still a virgin was not something to brag about. No, he wasn’t hygienically ready. He needed to get one of those kits that prepared him to take a partner, cleaned him out. He should probably buy stock in them, because he doubted Jasper would be on the receiving end of sex.
As they pulled through the gate and down the driveway, Trevor had to admit living in the middle of the woods in a nice log and stone home with Jasper was enticing. As a matter of fact, it was something he thought about. A lot. He had mentally added his furniture here and there. He knew where every picture would be placed, only he would be adding pictures of him and Jasper to the mix. He didn’t have much in the way of cookware since he ate mostly takeout or in the hospital cafeteria. The only thing he wasn’t sure about was where he could hide his journals. Would Jasper let him cut a hole in a wall like he’d done at his apartment?
“Honey, we’re home,” Jasper sang.
Was Jasper able to read his mind?
“Hey, Trev, don’t think too hard over there. A day at a time, okay?”
Trevor nodded. He wouldn’t tell Jasper he was ninety percent ready to make the move. He enjoyed spending time at Frey’s with Matthew, but that was a once in a while overnight visit. Before a few weeks ago, Trevor was content living alone. He had resigned himself to the fact he would never have a boyfriend. Now that he was seeing the others around him find someone to spend their life with, he ached for that, too. Now… now he had the opportunity to have a life with a beyond gorgeous man who was built like a god. Not only was he good-looking, but he was funny and kind and could bring Trevor to his knees with just a kiss. If Trevor only knew for sure Jasper wanted him for him, not because of the stupid bond.
“Do you have a camera?” he asked. He wanted to start making memories now. If they were going to try this, a day at a time, he wanted to document their time together. He wanted to replace the image of the sex pictures with photos of the two of them having fun.
Jasper shook his head, “No, only the one on my phone. Why?”
“If we’re going to Stone Mountain, I want to take pictures. I had a camera, but it died a slow death last year.”
“Then a camera we will get. Now, let’s get inside and relax.” Jasper climbed out of his jeep and said, “I’m thinking about trading vehicles. What do you think we should get?”
We? For Jasper to be taking things a day at a time, he sure was including Trevor in major ways.
“A Lamborghini Gallardo. It does zero to sixty in three point nine seconds.” Trevor was absolutely joking, but he was curious as to Jasper’s reaction.
“Yeah? Convertible or hard top?”
“Convertible, definitely.
Jasper pulled Trevor to him and kissed him on the top of his head. “People really would think I was on the take if I drove a two-hundred thousand dollar sports car around,” Jasper said, referring to the first time Trevor was in Jasper’s home and wondered how a detective could afford such a house. “Besides, I want something reliable in the winter. I know the South doesn’t get a lot of snow, but it does get that black ice. No, I was thinking something a little more practical, you know, that the two of us and Matthew could fit in comfortably. There’s nothing wrong with the Jeep, but I’m ready for a change. Maybe we can go looking together after New Year’s.”
“Sounds good,” he replied. Actually, it sounded terrifying. Trevor toed off his boots as soon as he was inside, leaving them by the door. If he was to ever move in, Jasper would need to get used to the way Trevor lived. Most of Trevor’s actions stemmed from rebelling against his mother. If he left his shoes by the door, she yelled for him to take them to his room. If he left his jacket over the back of his chair, she would fuss because he didn’t hang it up, even if he was going to put it on the next day. Everything she ever complained about, Trevor did the opposite of. Jasper didn’t say anything about his boots. In fact, he took his off and left them beside Trevor’s.
Instead of heading upstairs like Trevor was expecting, Jasper stayed downstairs. He took Trevor by the hand and led him to the sofa where they sat next to each other. Jasper linked their hands together and placed them in his lap. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Trevor took the opportunity to stare at Jasper. His beard was getting longer, and Trevor really liked the way it looked. He reached up and touched the whiskers, running his fingers down Jasper’s chin.
“Do you want me to shave?” Jasper asked with his eyes still closed.
“I like it. It feels nice against my skin.” Trevor thought back to that afternoon when Jasper had blown him. Every time his beard touched the tender inside of Trevor’s thighs, it sent sensual zaps right to his balls. Thinking about it caused his dick to start coming to life. He didn’t want to bother Jasper if he was ready to go to sleep, so he tried to think about something else. He found sitting next to Jasper with their hands clasped made that impossible. The man was enticing even sitting still.
“Trev...”
“Yes?
“Kiss me,” Jasper said, turning his head toward him. His eyes were now open, his intent clear. Trevor would never have to wonder when Jasper was in the mood. His eyes gave him away. He might not be able to tell what color they were, but he could tell when they darkened. Jasper grabbed his hips and pulled him onto his lap. With Trevor straddling him, their cocks were lined up perfectly. He licked his lips then did as Jasper asked. It started out slow, sensual. Their tongues lazily wrapped around the other, neither fighting for domination. Both seeking that place where they were on equal ground. Jasper turned his body so he was lying on his back, spreading his legs so that Trevor was nestled between.
Jasper grabbed Trevor’s hips again, urging him to slide their hard-ons together. Trevor didn’t want a repeat of earlier when he’d come in his jeans, even if Jasper had been encouraging it. Besides, he wanted the opportunity to go down on Jasper. He needed to please him. To make him feel good. He was ready to swallow him down and taste his spunk. Trevor broke the kiss and slid his hands under Jasper’s t-shirt, pushing it up so he could admire the detective’s defined abs and the V that pointed to heaven. He ran his fingers over every dip, every line on Jasper’s stomach before undoing his pants. Jasper raised his hips and helped push his jeans down his legs.<
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Trevor took a moment to admire the beautiful cock standing at attention, waiting for his mouth. Jasper’s pubic hair was trimmed close to the base. He was glad it wasn’t shaved. He wanted to enjoy the feel of it when he took Jasper all the way down his throat. At least that was the plan. He hoped his gag reflexes were as strong as he thought. Only one way to find out. Trevor took the tip of Jasper’s cock in his mouth, sliding his tongue through the slit. He pulled off, testing the taste of the precome. He liked it. Placing his mouth around the head once again, he took Jasper’s hardness as far in as he could and slid back up. Each time he sucked the prick into his mouth, he went a little farther.
“That’s it, Trev. Feels so good,” Jasper praised. He had one hand behind his head, one in Trevor’s hair. He was watching intently as Trevor continued testing the waters. Trevor felt the moans in Jasper’s chest, heard each time his breathing hitched. When Jasper’s hand tightened, he took that as a sign. “Trev, I’m close.”
Trevor added more pressure with his lips as he sped up his strokes. Jasper raised his hips each time Trevor bottomed out. Saliva was beginning to pool in his mouth so he swallowed on the next down stroke. “Oh, gods, Trev,” Jasper groaned. “Hang on, Baby.”
Trevor hung on as Jasper used his mouth. “Here it comes,” he warned as he bucked up into Trevor’s face, warm semen spurting down his throat. Trevor swallowed with each thrust until Jasper stilled beneath him. Jasper reached down and grabbed him under the arms, sliding him up his body. “That was perfect,” he assured Trevor before crashing their mouths together, hungrily licking and tasting. The man was going to cause Trevor to come by kissing him. Even though he’d just sucked Jasper off, the way he was kissing him was the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced. If Jasper made love half as good as he kissed, Trevor might never leave the bedroom.