Ryan felt Trent’s cock brush against the inside of his leg. Suddenly, Trent jerked his mouth away, causing his cock to slap against his abdomen. He stood, leaning in to take possession of Ryan’s mouth. Trent slid his hands down Ryan’s sides, gripping his ass cheeks. He pulled Ryan off of the strap-on and turned him against the side of the saddle stand. Ryan’s cock slid between the slats on the stand.
Ryan moaned as Trent slid his cock up into the crack of his ass. He arched back, rubbing his fingers over Trent’s throbbing, wet prick. Trent pulled on the leather straps over his shoulders, causing his wrists to yank away. He pulled hard as he pushed his cock into Ryan’s ass.
The leather reins were pulled tight as Trent pumped in and out in short, thrusting strokes that caused Ryan’s prick to rub the underside of the stand. Ryan was so close. Trent reached around, grabbing Ryan’s cock through the slats. He stroked him hard as he pumped in and out of his ass. Ryan cried out as his orgasm exploded from his cock. Trent held him tight as he pulled out, shooting his sauce up over Ryan’s backside. Trent eased the leather straps from his body, taking care of him.
They were breathing hard as they lay down on the blanket on top of the hay. Trent pulled Ryan in close and held him tight. He kissed his temple as Ryan put his head on his chest. Ryan brushed his fingers over Trent’s soft skin, tracing his nipple with his finger.
“I want everything with you, Ryan.”
Ryan heard the rumble of Trent’s words through his chest. He sat up to look at his lover. “Everything?”
“I want you to move in with me,” Trent said.
Move in? Ryan never expected Trent to ask him to move in together. This was the first time any man wanted more with Ryan. The question actually left him speechless. “Move in?”
Trent nodded. “I understand if you need time to think about it.”
Disappointment moved through Trent’s gaze. Ryan was still trying to process that Trent wanted so much more with him. Would they eventually marry?
“My place is closer to work for both of us,” Trent said.
It was clear that Trent had spent a lot of time thinking about this. Ryan did need time to think about it. He wasn’t out with his family or friends. What would happen if people found out he was gay and living with his lover? What would happen if anyone on SWAT found out? Their careers would be ruined.
“Can I think about it?” Ryan asked as he signed.
The excitement in Trent’s eyes died a little. “Sure. I’ll wait for you.”
Ryan put his head back down on Trent’s chest. This time Trent held him a little bit tighter than before. Ryan closed his eyes, listening to the steady beat of his lover’s heart. Deep down he was afraid to lose Trent, and he was afraid to love Trent. He resented how often he got hurt in the field. All he wanted to do was protect Trent from everything bad in the world, but knew he couldn’t with the type of job he had. Ryan twined his legs with Trent’s. He felt as though he was losing Trent, and their lives were just about to begin together.
“Don’t be afraid to love me,” Trent said.
Ryan leaned up to sign. “I’m not afraid of loving you. I’m scared I’ll lose you.”
Chapter Seventeen
The bomb was going to blow.
Ryan knew it without a doubt. The hair on the back of SWAT doc, Ryan’s neck was standing up. Someone was going to get hurt today. The block was cleared to deal with the suspicious package, and SWAT was called in to work counterterrorism. Terrorists liked to watch. There was a good chance the person was still on scene.
Three days ago, Ryan had been lying in his lover’s arms. Now he was back in the city dealing with real life.
Sweat dripped down the side of Ryan’s temple as he watched the team go to work with the remote-controlled robot. They were taking too long. Someone wasn’t going to walk away from this. He could feel it. He just knew.
The bomb squad’s robot lifted the black case and headed to the containment barrel next to the truck. If all went well, the case would be taken to their deactivation site. Uneasy, Ryan moved around the tactical truck to get a little closer. Things didn’t feel like they were going to go well. The bomb squad was taking longer than they normally did. What did they know that they weren’t telling anyone?
The case blew.
A fireball mushroomed up into the sky, sending the truck skyward. The blast blew outward, knocking everyone off their feet. Glass rained down onto the sidewalk from the buildings surrounding the street.
Ryan coughed as dust covered everything. Three SWAT members were on the ground. Ryan grabbed his medical bag and ran toward the fire-engulfed truck, sliding on his knees to the ground to assess the wounded. A quick head-to-toe of his first patient indicated minor injuries. He was already getting to his feet. Patient B was doing the same. It was Patient C that got his attention next.
“You’re going to be okay. Hold still,” Ryan ordered.
Blood was pouring from his neck injury. He had to stabilize his patient. Ryan turned to his medic bag and grabbed compresses to stop the bleeding. He cut away his pant leg, starting an IV directly into his leg. His patient was alert and complaining like a motherfucker, especially when Ryan put the IV directly into his tibia. There was a good chance the shrapnel missed his carotid artery. Had it hit his carotid, he’d be bleeding out. There just wasn’t enough blood that indicated a major bleed.
The ambulance came to a squealing stop outside the taped-off area. Paramedics rushed the scene as the fire department worked to put out the truck fire. Chaos turned the street into a war zone. There were more injured he needed to tend to. He couldn’t go for the ride along with his SWAT brother. Ryan stood up as his patient was taken to the ambulance. He looked around. Everything slowed down, and silence rang through his head as his adrenaline peaked.
There was blood on Ryan’s tactical pants.
Through the chaos erupting around Ryan, a car came to a quick stop outside the perimeter. A man got out of his unmarked and crossed the barrier into the war zone as though he belonged there.
Trent.
“What happened?” Trent asked.
“The bomb blew when they tried to load it,” Ryan signed.
Trent grabbed Ryan’s arm, his eyes going wide for a split second. He signed with his right hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“My house. Tonight,” Trent whispered.
The near-miss at the scene had put that possessive and protective gleam in Trent’s eyes. There was no chance Ryan would disobey his order tonight.
Ryan checked on some of the minor injuries that occurred during the blast. Everyone was going to be okay. Ryan headed to his car. He scanned the area, looking for Trent. He caught sight of him across the street with Shadow. The close call was enough for Ryan to decide what he truly wanted out of life. He wanted Trent.
He was going to his place tonight.
Chapter Eighteen
Trent was still in his uniform when he came through the front door of his place with Shadow. The lights were off, but something wasn’t right. Trent was certain that someone else was in the house. He looked over at Shadow, who’d gone to his dog bowl to eat. Trent frowned as he shut the front door, locking it.
Rose petals scattered the floor. He followed them upstairs to his bedroom. He expected to find Ryan. A bottle of wine chilled in a bucket on the nightstand. Strawberries dipped in chocolate were on a plate beside. A note was folded on the stand with Trent’s name on it. He opened it up.
My love,
Relax. Take a bath. There’s something we need to talk about. Love,
Ryan
Trent’s heart started to race. He could use a good soak after the
day he had. Seeing Ryan in the middle of that urban war zone nearly made him lose it. He didn’t want Ryan so close to danger. He didn’t want Ryan hurt, period. The thought that he could’ve been injured by the shrapnel of that bomb was too much for him to think about. Trent undressed and went to the bath. Candles w
ere placed around the edge of the tub. A lighter was lying in wait. Rose petals were scattered in the empty tub, waiting for it to be filled. Trent started the water, using the rose bubble bath on the edge to soften the water.
He sat into the filling tub, holding the note. He read it over and over. What did Ryan want to talk about? What more was there to discuss? Trent wanted him there every day. What happened next was all up to Ryan.
Trent’s eyes closed as he rested his head back on the wall. A little while later he opened them to see Ryan in the doorway holding a bouquet of red roses. Through the open doorway, Trent saw several bags of luggage resting by the closet. Trent sat up as Ryan crossed the tile to give him a slow, passionate kiss. Ryan helped him out of the bath, offering him the towel. Ryan grinned as he drank in the sight of Trent’s full-loaded cock.
Ryan handed over the flowers to sign as he said, “Get dressed. We’re going out to dinner and dancing.”
“Where?” Trent asked.
“We have reservations at the Valley.”
Trent’s gaze dipped over Ryan’s dress clothes. His sub was taking control of their evening out. He pulled him in close and gave him a sweet kiss. Maybe they would get their happily ever after.
* * * * Ryan always felt off balance from one of Trent’s possessive kisses. He stepped away, watching Trent dress. There was something really pleasing about watching a man putting on clothes. First came his black boxers and then his dress shirt. He slid his thick muscular legs into his pants and tucked in his shirt.
“Are you moving in?” Trent asked. It always excited Ryan when he heard the sound of Trent’s voice. He understood his reluctance to use it, but he secretly loved it when he did. Ryan especially loved it when his words slipped out during sex. “I was thinking about it.”
“Just thinking?” Trent asked. “Your stuff is here.” No, Ryan wasn’t just thinking about moving in with Trent. He was thinking about life a year from now, five years down the road. He was thinking about growing old with Trent. About buying the summer home on the Outer Banks he’d been saving for all these years.
“I’ve been thinking about you and me and our lives together,” Ryan signed.
“What do you want?” Trent asked.
Ryan signed as he said, “I was thinking that we should take it
slow. We’ve been rushing this thing. I don’t want us to burn out before we’ve gotten a chance to know each other.”
Trent frowned. “If you run from me, I’ll chase you.”
Ryan took his lover’s hands in his and pulled Trent to him, giving him a chaste kiss. Ryan put Trent’s hands on his chest to sign as he spoke. “I know you will. I want to date you properly. I don’t feel as though I got the chance to take you to dinner and to the movies. I want everything with you. I want to show you how much I love you.”
Tears misted Trent’s eyes. He fisted his hands in Ryan’s shirt, pulling him in close. He held him tight. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Trent.” Ryan knew the cost of Trent’s words. He kissed him gently.
“Come on. We’re going to be late,” Ryan said as he signed.
The Valley was a gay club in downtown Covington, Kentucky and across the river from Cincinnati. Trent insisted on driving, which kind of turned Ryan on. There was something really hot about watching a guy operating machinery, even if it was just his car.
A few minutes after they parked the car, they were walking up to the club. Ryan had made reservations for a VIP table. Ryan took Trent’s nervous hand in his as they went through the door. Red velvet and black trim poured through the club. Ryan could sense the trepidation in Trent as they moved inside. Vibrations from the bass in the sound system vibrated the floors. They were led to their table by the VIP hostess. A smile tilted up the corner of Trent’s lips as they sat down. He leaned in close to Ryan’s ear.
“I can feel the music,” Trent said.
Ryan grinned and signed, “I knew you would.”
After ordering drinks, Trent stood, offering Ryan his hand. “Come on.”
He led Ryan to the dance floor, taking the lead as he pulled him close. Trent pulled him in closer, grinding their hips together. He twirled him out, bringing their legs in tight. The music slowed, and Ryan held on tight to Trent’s hips as he brought their lips together. They kissed passionately. Ryan pulled away, realizing that they had stopped dancing and were only kissing. Ryan took Trent’s hand and turned away from the dance floor, heading back to their private table. Up on the walkway, Ryan bumped into another guy not watching where he was going.
“Excuse me,” Ryan said. The guy turned. It was Seth. “Hey, man. Good seeing you.”
Seth’s gaze bounced between Ryan and Trent before widening in surprise. A flush crept up his face. Seth lifted his beer, taking a drink. “I never expected to see you guys here.”
Trent came in close to Ryan, putting a possessive hand around his shoulder. “Same,” Ryan said. “Did you ever get that stuff figured out with work?”
His gaze flicked against Trent’s. “Not yet. I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”
“It will work out. Things always settle down the way they’re supposed to,” Ryan said as he signed. “You here with anyone?”
“No. I just stopped in for a drink.”
There was something bothering Seth. Whatever that thing was, Ryan knew he wasn’t the one to figure it out tonight. “You should stay for a while. Join us for one more drink.”
Seth set his empty beer on the rail. “I have to go. It was good seeing you guys.”
Ryan watched Seth head down the stairs. Trent pulled him in close, giving him a kiss on his temple. They headed toward their table.
Trent leaned in close. “You know Seth London?”
Ryan signed with one hand. “We went to the same college. We’re friends. Do you know what could be bothering him?”
Under the table, Trent held Ryan’s other hand, rubbing his thumb over the back. “He’s having trouble running the Risk Assessment Team. His team hovers. The guys on SWAT don’t like it.”
“I hope things settle down for him,” Ryan said as he signed.
“Enough about Seth. I’m sure he’ll figure things out or die trying,” Trent said. “Let’s talk about you and me and this trip you have coming up.”
How did Trent know about it? He hadn’t said anything. Ryan signed with his free hand. “Costa Rica?”
“TJ mentioned you were taking time off for it.”
Ryan liked the grin on Trent’s face. It was true. They needed to talk. In a few weeks, Ryan would be flying to Costa Rica for work at the clinic. He wanted Trent to come with him. Ryan’s heart raced as he thought about asking Trent on the long vacation. Ryan signed, “Will you come with me?”
Trent smiled, leaning in for quick kiss. “I was hoping you would ask me.”
Ryan shuddered when Trent’s hand slid up the inside of his thigh. “Let’s get out of here.”
On the way back to their car, they saw Seth take off on his motorcycle. A shiver rippled down Ryan’s spine. He wasn’t wearing a helmet. Worry had him watching Seth until he was out of sight.
“You don’t need to worry about him,” Trent said.
“Who?”
“Seth. He’s like a cat. He always lands on his feet.”
A smiled tugged at the corner of Ryan’s lips. “I hope you’re right.”
“Trust me, babe. I’m always right.”
Ryan loved Trent’s cocky attitude. He held Trent’s free hand as he drove back into the city.
They were going to have a long, happy life together. Ryan knew that there would be hot lazy summers and cozy winters spent next to the fire. He couldn’t wait to have it all with Trent.
“How do you feel about kids?” Trent asked.
Ryan’s mouth dropped open. “They’re okay.”
Trent smiled. “I’m more of a dog person myself.”
Relief poured through Ryan, and he smiled. His hand tightened onto Trent’s as his f
ree hand signed. “Me, too.”
Trent lifted Ryan’s hand, kissing the back of it. “I guess that makes us perfect for each other.”
Everything felt absolutely perfect, Ryan thought to himself as they crossed back over the Ohio River and into Cincinnati.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tatum Throne has a master’s degree in social work. She left the field of medical social work to be a stay-at-home mom and to pursue her dreams of writing romance. She has three rambunctious boys with her husband, AJ, and two rowdy hamsters named Nibbler and CJ. A rabbit named Coco has recently taken over her office space.
When not indulging her fantasies, Tatum enjoys baking chocolatechip cookies, hiking, spending time with her family, and spreading awareness of Eosinophilic Disorders.
For all titles by Tatum Throne, please visit www.bookstrand.com/tatum-throne
Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com
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