ConvenientStrangers

by Cara McKenna

  “Please tell me you haven’t got any condoms.” Please please please. Only thing that would keep them from taking things too far.

  “Should I lie?”

  “Ah, fuck.”

  They could. They so could. And was it really such a terrible idea? Awfully arbitrary, when Stephen thought about it. Bit tacky, but was that really his only trepidation? He didn’t feel any loyalty to Ethan anymore, didn’t think he had much fear of Adam getting attached to him in some fit of reboundy neediness. What exactly was stopping them?

  “Why aren’t we fucking again?” he asked Adam.

  “Because you won’t screw on a first date.”

  “Oh, right. And why is that?”

  He heard Adam’s soft laugh, right at his ear. “Beats the fuck out of me. Though it’s supposed to be my policy, too. Can’t for the life of me recall why, though.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Are you drunk?” Stephen asked.

  “Buzzed, maybe. But no, not drunk.”

  “Damn, me neither. So we’re not in danger of making some terrible, alcohol-fueled mistake.”

  “Sadly, no. It’d have to be a terrible, semi-sober mistake.”

  “What exactly’s so terrible about it, again?”

  “Well, I’d think you were a complete slut in the morning,” Adam said.

  “Cheers.”

  “And vice versa.” He kissed Stephen’s neck, sending shivers through him. “Can I be honest with you?” Adam asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m just starting to appreciate how much better it is, not being with my ex. And not being in a relationship where I spend every waking moment thinking everything to death.”

  “Sure.”

  “So if it’s not unforgivably skanky, can we just fuck around, and if something more happens, it happens?”

  Stephen smiled. “Yeah, we can do that.”

  “No more analyzing or questioning for the rest of the night.”

  “You’re on.”

  Adam sighed. “Nice. I was worried I’d lost the ability to just screw around like a twenty-something idiot.”

  “That’d be a shame.” He took Adam’s earlobe between his teeth, nipping hard enough to garner a happy gasp, then let it go. “Find us some condoms, just in case. Then, let the mindless debauchery begin.”

  Chapter Five

  Adam left Stephen’s warm body to sit at the edge of the bed, rooting through his bedside drawer for the condoms. He set a couple on the tabletop, wondering if they’d get used. If there’s a rifle hung on the wall in Act I…

  The look Stephen shot him as he turned around was dark and hungry. Fuck, it felt good to get stared at like that again.

  “C’mere.”

  Adam obeyed and they lay on their sides, stroking one another’s backs and arms as their hips ground together, cocks rubbing. Adam lost the will to kiss after a minute of the friction, reduced to moaning softly against Stephen’s mouth. He felt a palm slide to his chest, around his ribs and down his spine. He grunted as firm, insistent fingers delved between his cheeks, cock throbbing so hard he bet Stephen could feel it. He pressed his mouth to Stephen’s neck, kissing and tasting sweat, no chemical flavor there, no aftershave like he’d gotten so used to. Just skin. Perfection.

  Stephen slid his hand under Adam’s waistband, and the touch went from teasing to explicit in an instant.

  “Fuck.” He moaned as Stephen’s fingertips found his asshole, stroking lightly. If they kept this up, they wouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they’d fuck. Adam would be done in mere minutes. He needed a chance to regroup.

  “Lemme suck you,” he murmured.

  “Sure.”

  He grabbed Stephen’s arm, tugging. “At the edge of the bed.” Adam moved to the floor, relishing the moment the soft pile of the carpet would begin to grate on his knees. Sex had become a matter of maintenance those final couple months of his relationship, seeming to Adam to hover somewhere above shaving and vacuuming on David’s continuum of importance. He missed a taste of the dramatic, a taste of this sensation—on his knees with a man towering above him. Filthy had never been David’s style in the bedroom, and Adam missed it.

  Stephen settled himself and Adam stroked his thick thighs, breathed in his scent.

  “Be bossy,” Adam said. He caressed Stephen’s legs, ran his thumbs along the crease where they met his hips, traced his hidden erection but made no demands, physical or verbal, to see it. He wanted it presented, wanted to be shown. Stephen seemed to pick up on the nuance, and he cupped a hand over his bulge, rubbing idly, in no obvious hurry.

  Adam kissed his way up Stephen’s thigh, his breath catching as the warm weight of Stephen’s palm came to rest on his head.

  “You wanna see?”

  Adam craned his neck to meet the man’s gaze. “Yeah.”

  After a few more lazy, slow strokes, Stephen hooked a thumb under his waistband and pushed it down, freeing his cock. Goddamn. Adam felt woozy, from the sight or the smell or the intimidation, a purely pleasurable weakness.

  “You like it?”

  “Yeah. I like it.”

  “You wanna taste it?”

  Adam nodded. He watched, hypnotized, as Stephen fondled himself and scooted closer to the edge. He wrapped his hand around the base and angled his cock, offering it.

  Adam reached up, touching Stephen lightly. He memorized his hot skin, the heft of his flesh, clasped his shaft and squeezed to feel how stiff it was.

  As requested, Stephen got bossy. The hand on the back of Adam’s head urged him closer. “Don’t keep a guest waiting.”

  Adam leaned in, glancing Stephen’s head with his lower lip. He felt the twitch in Stephen’s cock, that little reaction enough to swamp him with desire. Felt so good to be wanted in this way. Felt so right to be sexualized after all that grown-up, equitable nonsense. He ran his tongue along Stephen’s length, stopping just below his crown. A sharp breath drew his gaze up. Just the mean, horny expression on Stephen’s face, staring down from—

  “Suck me.”

  Oh fuck, add to that the voice. Adam officially lost his mind, and good riddance to it. He wrapped his lips around Stephen’s head, slicked it with his tongue.

  “God, fuck.”

  Adam teased his slit, took him a little deeper. He had perhaps a minute to play before the hand on his head began issuing orders. Fingers clenched Adam’s short hair and beckoned him closer. He took another inch, another, high on the violation.

  “More.”

  Adam obeyed, wondering if this wasn’t in fact the biggest cock he’d ever had. Felt that way. Felt intimidating and scary. Felt wonderful.

  “I like watching you,” Stephen mumbled. “Like when you look at me.”

  Adam strained to gaze up at him again, and his attention seemed to affect Stephen as potently as the sucking. He kept their eyes locked as long as he could, then shut his, focusing everything he had on Stephen’s cock.

  “You’re good,” Stephen said, then made a sound, a sigh or laugh. “Jesus, you’re good.”

  Lust stoked by the flattery, Adam gave even more—laved Stephen’s head, took him deep and fast and reveled when the ache in his jaw arrived. He welcomed the discomfort, loving this sensation of serving a new man. He got lost in the act and role, not noticing at first when Stephen began to urge him away.

  “Stop, stop.”

  Adam released his cock, panting, and sat back on his heels.

  Another breathy laugh, a smile overtaking Stephen’s face. “You’re too fucking good at that. But I want more. If you do, I mean.”

  Adam nodded.

  “Get up here,” Stephen said, beckoning.

  Adam climbed onto the bed, sitting cross-legged and flexing his jaw.

  Mystery now divulged, Stephen pushed his shorts off. “I wanna fuck you, if you’re up for it.”

  Adam nodded. “You know, with plenty of prep, of course.”

  Stephen smiled, looking down
right mischievous. “Of course. Anything you’re not up for?”

  “Nothing too crazy. I don’t like being tied down or anything like that…I had a shitty experience when I was young and dumb, in my twenties. I wouldn’t say I’m still traumatized about it, but a little skittish, probably.”

  Stephen nodded. “No problem.”

  “I like it rough, but no props or gags or blindfolds or anything. Just hands.” Big, rough, bossy hands. Construction foreman hands a major plus. Preferably accompanied by a gravelly British accent.

  “Works for me. I don’t need anything elaborate.” Stephen relaxed against the pillows with a sigh. “Shit, it’s nice to talk with somebody about sex, someone who actually knows what the fuck they want. Wait, sorry—you must be sick of me bitching about my ex.”

  He laughed. “I’m not offended. It’s sort of sexy, you being on the rebound. If this whole thing is inappropriate or shallow, it goes both ways.”

  “Fair enough.”

  But something in Adam’s gut soured as he registered exactly how fresh Stephen’s breakup was. Awfully new. Awfully likely he could get back with his barely ex-boyfriend, once the dust settled. Awfully likely he might regret anything that happened tonight. But that was Stephen’s drama, Stephen’s consideration. Adam was single too, thoroughly single and in need of a rebound of his own. They were two grown men capable of making their own decisions or mistakes.

  He reclined on his hip and elbow, slinging a leg over Stephen’s thigh. He touched his throat, collarbone, chest, stomach. What an exciting man to have lain out on his covers. Pretty much Adam’s type personified, and here he was, stripped and ready and willing, as if room service had delivered him, made to order.

  “Straddle me,” Stephen said.

  Adam did, planting a knee on either side of Stephen’s ribs, balls glancing his stomach but still stifled by his shorts. Stephen’s hands stroked Adam’s arms and torso, his hips, finally sliding around to palm his ass. His cheeks were already spread, and when Stephen’s fingertips found his entrance through the cotton he groaned at the contact, so damn explicit.

  “When’s the last time you did this?” There was a cruel, sexy cockiness lacing Stephen’s question.

  “Two months, maybe longer.” A while, yeah. Oral was so much easier…and sad as it was, easy had trumped exciting in his and David’s sex life in the end. It felt like ages since he’d done this. Plenty long enough to make tonight’s activities ambitious.

  An approving noise hummed from Stephen’s throat. Adam wanted to fill a bathtub with that sound and submerge himself, roll around and get filthy from it.

  “You’re bigger than I’m used to,” he said, hoping the statement turned Stephen on even a fraction as much as the truth of it turned Adam himself on.

  “You still up for it?”

  Adam smiled. “Fuck yes. That wasn’t a complaint.” He wallowed in the change in Stephen’s expression, momentary worry morphing to something darker.

  “Maybe you could suck me first,” Adam said. “And get me ready?”

  “Sure. You got lube?”

  Adam dismounted, rolled over and reached under the bed, finding the bottle. He tossed it on the far pillow and lay down.

  Stephen moved, dropping to his elbows, knees between Adam’s legs. “What do you like?”

  “I’m not picky.”

  “Right. Maybe I’ll show you what I like, then?”

  “Yeah, sure. Just nothing painful.”

  “No worries.”

  Much as Adam loved being dominated, there was something to be said for a strong, bossy man, poised to serve.

  “I’ve missed this,” Stephen said, backing up, rubbing Adam’s hipbones.

  “Yeah?”

  He nodded. “Missed being watched, I guess.”

  Adam grinned. He’d be watching, all right. He wondered if Stephen’s ex had been self-hating enough to demand the lights stay off, or had he just always taken the victimized role, the submissive one who’d only let things be done to him, lest he claim any ownership of his sexuality. Adam had dated one of those. Hot and fraught for a night or two, yes, but—

  Oh fuck, he hadn’t dated Stephen’s ex, had he? No, no, that guy wasn’t an Ethan. Good. Don’t panic. Quit thinking.

  “Talk to me,” Stephen said, toying with Adam’s waistband, easing it down to expose the start of his hair.

  The distracting thoughts fled, leaving only decadent, curious anticipation. “Just ready to watch you.” He ran a hand over Stephen’s shaved head, liking the heat of his scalp, the bristle of his stubble.

  Stephen traced the outline of Adam’s erection, thumb on one side, fingertips on the other. “I can smell you.”

  Adam didn’t doubt it. Already his shorts bore a damp spot, his cock primed and impatient. “That feels good.”

  “Yeah, it does.” Stephen stroked the pads of his fingers up the ridge of Adam’s cock, violent pleasure streaking through his middle. The touch stopped just short of his head and Stephen gripped him, giving him light, maddening pulls through his briefs.

  “Fuck.”

  “How long since you’ve been spoiled this way?” Stephen asked.

  “Long time, it feels like.”

  “Good. Been a long time since I’ve done this kind of spoiling.”

  Adam’s head filled with warm, gooey self-satisfaction at the notion, cock going rock-hard.

  “There we go,” Stephen said, voice dripping with approval. Finally, he ran his palm all the way up, cresting Adam’s head, jolting his entire body.

  “Please. Suck me.”

  “We’ve got ages yet,” Stephen said, and his touch slowed, as if to punish Adam for his impatience.

  Adam twitched and writhed from the thorough exploration, fisted the bedspread and gritted his teeth to keep from issuing any more pleas that might further delay the payoff. At long last, when Adam’s shorts were soaked with the evidence of how badly he wanted this, Stephen pulled his band down, freeing his dick. The air of the room felt cool on Adam’s fevered flesh.

  Stephen lowered to his elbows, one hand sliding under Adam’s ass, the other grasping his shaft. “I’ve missed this,” Stephen murmured, eyes locked on Adam’s cock.

  “Me too.”

  No more taunting, no more waiting. Stephen closed his lips around Adam’s crown then slid them farther, swallowing half his length. Adam’s back arched and he ground his head into the pillow. He bit his tongue to take his attention off the pleasure. He was way too close to losing it, and mere seconds into the act.

  “Slow. Slow. I don’t want to come too soon.”

  Stephen did as requested. He gave head in a way Adam couldn’t have guessed from his demeanor—smooth and slick, graceful. He gave better head than Adam had ever had, of that he was positive. So good it felt like a performance, and he half bet that’s what it was, to Stephen. Indeed, he clearly had missed this. He seemed to be savoring it, as a man might his first glass of liquor after a long abstinence. He released Adam’s cock to cup his balls through his gathered shorts, hotter somehow than simple nudity.

  Adam found his composure and let the covers go, taking Stephen’s head in both hands. “Fuck, you’re amazing. Look at me.”

  Stephen opened his dark eyes, staring straight into Adam’s.

  “Nice.” He stroked Stephen’s head. “Feels so good.” And how long since this man had done this? More than a year, maybe? It charged Adam with a hot, selfish spark, to be the only one to enjoy this man, this way, since who-knew-when. The hand on his balls tensed, squeezing gently as Stephen’s mouth took more.

  “God, that’s perfect. Gonna imagine this while you fuck me.” A moan hummed through his dick. Stephen’s hand slipped deeper between Adam’s legs.

  “Fuck.” Adam spread his thighs wider, inviting the touch. The pads of Stephen’s fingers found him, circling, stroking lightly. Adam braced his elbows beside him and shifted his hips, thrusting just slightly, cock seeking the warmth of Stephen’s mouth, ass eager for the teas
e of his fingertips.

  “Yeah.” Adam groaned, head cloudy. It felt good to be the one indulged. As almost annoyingly equitable as his relationship with David had been, Adam had been the bottom, nearly always. Before the sex had cooled to oral-only in the final month or two, he’d gotten off mostly by his own hand, while David had fucked him. It had done the job, of course, been plenty hot. But this, now… Christ. Feeling this way with a guy again was as new and exciting as Stephen’s body or accent, any other unfamiliar thing about him.

  “Do you ever get topped?” Adam asked, barely meaning to.

  Stephen freed his gifted mouth. “Once in a while, sure.”

  “I’m not asking or anything. Just imagining.”

  “Imagine away. And ask away, if you want to sometime. Never hurts to ask.”

  Sometime. What did that mean exactly? If “sometime” didn’t mean in an hour from now, could it mean some time in the future, some revisitation of what to Adam felt like dangerously more than a simple rebound fling? They had chemistry, real chemistry. Shame to know that, then never act on it again…

  Stephen went back to sucking and Adam shut his eyes, all curiosity about the future of this affair lost to the pleasure. In his mind he got Stephen on his knees—no, on his back. Legs spread, Adam grasping his shins. Blue eyes watching as he pushed inside. “Fuck. Harder.”

  Stephen obeyed, hands clamping tight to Adam thighs as his mouth grew greedy. Hot, tight. Wet, and Adam lubed Stephen’s ass in his mind’s eye.

  The pleasure ebbed a moment, long enough for Stephen to murmur, “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “’Bout fucking you. On your back.”

  “It’s been ages,” Stephen said. “Since before my ex.” He went back to work, his words filling Adam’s head with nasty, heavenly ideas. Then, far too soon, he was close. He paused the movie playing in his mind and pushed at Stephen’s shoulder until he backed off.

  “That was perfect, but I’m too close.”

  “I won’t be offended,” Stephen offered with a smile. “Though I was supposed to be getting you ready.”

  “I know. Thanks, but I don’t want to be done yet. Done feeling this good, I mean. This hot. That would’ve pushed me over.”