Moaning with pleasure, he let his head fall back into the shower spray, reveling in the feel of Mark's hands massaging his scalp. He held onto Mark's shoulders while Mark's lips kissed and sucked up marks along his neck and chest.
When the teasing attention stopped, Chance opened his eyes again. Mesmerized, he watched while Mark worked shampoo into his own hair. Chance's hand fumbled against the shower ledge, searching blindly for the soap while he watched Mark's fingers work, unwilling to take his eyes off the incredible sight.
Chance's fingers wrapped around the bar of soap and he brought the fragrant bar to Mark's chest, slowly rubbing it over the soft patch of hair adorning him there. The extreme intimacy of washing one another struck Chance unexpectedly when his gaze and his hands met at Mark's groin. Mark's cock hung mostly flaccid, only slightly plumped in response to the attention from the washing. They were both soft and spent, drained of urgency—but still interested and reluctant to pull apart.
Mark's soapy hand glided over Chance's back, reciprocating the attention, and Chance shuddered. The extra, tender care and attention Mark was showing him now overwhelmed his senses. If their love-making continued much longer, Chance would surely lose himself completely to Mark, heart, body and soul… if he hadn't already. Nothing about their time together felt forced or contrived. It felt real and right, and Chance never wanted it to end.
Mark's hands worked their way down his back and over the swell of his ass, one soapy hand pressing between his cheeks and sliding over his still tender hole. The soap stung and burned, breaking through the romantic haze and making Chance gasp and jerk away.
"Sorry, baby." Mark tilted his head, placing soft kisses against Chance's eyelids and nose. Chance couldn't help but smile and cuddle back into Mark's arms, placing a few brief kisses of his own on Mark's chin.
Seconds later Mark left his arms, sinking to his knees and urging Chance to turn around and face the shower wall. Confused, Chance obliged and turned his back to the shower spray. The hot water running down his back felt good, soothing, and Chance relaxed, enjoying the feel of Mark's hands roaming along his hips and lower back.
It didn't surprise him at all when those hand dipped lower, one grasping his butt and the other fondling his balls. Chance moaned his appreciation and Mark urged his legs apart with gentle strokes along his inner thigh.
The grip on his butt became firmer and the hand on his thigh slid up his leg and onto the other cheek. Both hands massaged his butt gently for a few seconds before stopping to cup each cheek in one hand, spreading him wide. Chance looked over his shoulder at Mark and opened his mouth to object, feeling far too vulnerable, being bared this way, but the objection never passed his lips.
Mark buried his face between Chance's spread ass cheeks and his tongue grazed over his exposed hole. Chance squeaked in surprise and turned back to face the shower wall, leaning hard against it for support while his entire body vibrated with excitement. He spread his legs wider, allowing Mark's lips to kiss and nibble at the tender flesh between his ass cheeks, his tongue circling and pressing into the sensitive hole. The sensations were overwhelmingly good, soothing his aching muscles and sore skin in a way he never would have expected. Much to his surprise, he even noticed his cock straining back to life and taking an interest again. Chance closed his eyes and went with it, loving the unexpected pleasure.
Pressing his forehead against the tiled wall, Chance ran one hand over his own chest, pinching and twisting at his nipples. With his other hand he reached for his renewed erection, grasping it firmly in his fist and tugging quickly. He tried to match the rhythm of his hand with Mark's tongue as it speared in and out of his ass.
The sensual assault from Mark's mouth had Chance on the edge, and the sudden, tantalizing pressure of Mark's fingers slipping back between his legs to fondle his balls finished the job and sent Chance into another mind-blowing orgasm.
Chance felt Mark pull away from his ass and he slumped against the wall, struggling to catch his breath and come down from the sudden high of his orgasm. A sharp bite, followed by several soft kisses along the curve of his ass, drew Chance out of his stupor and he pushed back off the wall, standing up.
Mark's hands wrapped around Chance's waist, and slowly the older man climbed to his feet. Chance turned in Mark's embrace, wrapping his arms around the big man's neck and stretching up on his toes to kiss Mark. There were no words to express the way he felt, but Chance hoped that he could express at least part of it through that kiss.
Mark threaded his fingers into Chance's hair, holding him still and pressing him up against the wall. Mark's dick prodded along Chance's abs, Mark rocking gently against him. Chance moaned into Mark's mouth and slipped his hand between their bodies, grasping Mark's cock and working the hard length between his fingers.
Mark gasped, letting go of Chance's lips and burying his face in the hair on the top of Chance's head. Chance tugged on Mark's length and Mark began to thrust into his grip, snapping his hips erratically. There was no rhythm to his movements and Chance could tell Mark was already on the edge. He tightened his grip and rubbed his thumb over the tip, bringing it back and pressing the end of his thumbnail into the leaking slit.
Mark grunted and stilled, filling Chance's hand with his release. Chance continued to work Mark's dick, massaging until the tremors stopped. Mark lifted his face from the top of Chance's head and bent down, kissing him sloppily before stepping back and letting the shower spray rinse away his spend.
Chance fell back against the shower wall and Mark turned, reaching to shut the water off. The water stopped falling around them and Mark climbed out of the small shower stall. Chance followed immediately, not wanting to let too much distance come between them.
The glorious vision of Mark's nakedness disappeared behind a large white towel and Chance willed away his disappointment, reaching for another towel. He threw it over his head and scrubbed viciously at his wet hair, feeling awkward again and not knowing what to expect next.
Mark reached out and snatched the towel away from his head, taking his hand and pulling him close. Chance followed Mark willingly out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom.
"Tired, Chance? My flight leaves in a few hours, but we could nap a while, if you want."
Chance brushed his bangs out of his eyes and looked up at Mark, frowning. "You're leaving so soon? I'll see you again though, right? In Sacramento?"
Mark smiled. "Yeah, if you still want to. We've both been through a lot these past few days and we probably shouldn't make any promises just yet. But when you go back for school, if you're still interested look me up, okay?"
Chance rolled his eyes and climbed onto the bed, pulling the covers back and sliding between the sheets. He gestured for Mark to join him and Mark climbed into the bed beside him. Chance pulled the covers up over them both and curled around Mark, using his shoulder as a pillow. "You will see me again, Mark. You can count on it." Chance mumbled, drifting off to sleep with his arm stretching over Mark's chest.
When he woke the next morning, he was alone.
Chapter Fifteen
Saturday, August 14, 2010.
Mark swallowed hard, hoping to calm his frayed nerves and to keep down the contents of his churning stomach. The plans for the remodel were drawn up and had been approved by the city that morning. Not wanting to delay things any longer than necessary, Mark was busy creating signs to announce that the bar would be closing for renovations the following weekend, just after the annual party. Finishing with the last sign, he put the cap back on the pen and stood, considering where he should hang them.
A loud crash from behind made Mark jump, turning just in time to see Manny go down, disappearing behind the bar. Louie rushed in from the stock room, almost tripping himself, probably over Manny, and Mark had to suppress a snicker.
"Aw, no! Hey, man! Get your clumsy ass out from behind my bar. I don't have time to be cleaning up after you!" Louie turned his head in Mark's direction, his face twisted in a
comic display of outrage and disgust. "What the hell are you laughing at? I told you, I don't want Manuel anywhere near me. Can't you please keep that nitwit out of my work space, before I'm forced to break a bottle over his head?" Louie turned and stormed back into the stock room in a huff.
Mark raised his eyebrows and walked over to the bar, leaning across it to survey the damage. It was quite a sight. Manny, a muscular six foot tall Mexican decked out in cowboy gear, was sprawled out on his back, laughing hysterically. He was surrounded by a few dozen loose shot glasses that had spilled out from a crate he'd obviously tripped over. Mark wiped his hand over his face and then rounded the bar, bending over and offering his hand to Manny.
"You okay, hermano? Nothing broken, I hope?" Mark helped Manny back up onto his feet and leaned him against the bar. Manny was laughing so hard he'd turned purple and he had tears streaming down his face.
"Only my pride, mijo, only my pride!"
Mark shook his head and knelt down behind the bar, gathering up the shot glasses strewn across the floor. He had ordered a hundred of them to give away the following weekend to advertise for the coming re-launch and he was grateful that Manny's fall had only upset one case of them. They were heavy and thick, and they all seemed to have survived the fall. Picking up the last of them Mark paused, running his thumb over the new name of the bar and smiling. The glasses featured the word 'Play' in bright red letters, matching the script from Ricardo's old watch.
Manny crouched down beside him, flinging his arm over his shoulder and taking the glass from Mark with his other hand. He too ran a thumb over the logo, patting Mark on the back and squeezing his shoulder.
"It's a good name, Mark. And you'll turn it into a wonderful place. Ricky, he would have been so proud of you. He would have loved this."
Manny handed the glass back to Mark, and Mark returned it to the case, shaking his head and chuckling. "He'd have taunted me for being a coward. Back when we were planning this, he wanted to call the place the 'play pen.' In the end we'd settled on calling it 'Mark's Place' but, well, this is better I think. Catchier and more meaningful."
Manny slapped him on the back, rising and offering Mark his hand. Mark took it and allowed Manny to pull him to his feet. Manny kept hold of his hand and pulled him into a tight hug. Mark returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around his brother-in-law and holding on tight, grateful for the much needed human contact.
"You've done us all proud, mijo. You deserve this. You deserve to be happy."
Mark nodded against Manny's shoulder. "Thanks, hermano."
"Hey, boss man! It's six o'clock! Are you going to open them doors, or what?"
Louie re-emerged from the stock room, leading the servers and the other bartenders, who had been waiting in the break room, out into the main room. Mark sighed and pulled out of Manny's embrace, signaling for the bouncers to open the doors.
He leaned against the back wall, watching from the far wall as patrons flooded in through the open doors. When Mark realized he was scanning the crowd, looking for a head of blond curls over a pair of crystal blue eyes, he turned away, chastising himself for behaving like a love-sick fool. Chance would be there soon enough. He'd promised.
They'd spoken on the phone every day since they'd parted. Only a few hours had passed since their last call, but Mark was anxious to see Chance again in person, to hold him in his arms. Still, he felt foolish. There was plenty of work to be done, and he didn't have time to daydream.
Just as Mark pushed off the wall, determined to find something to do, Chance walked through the front door. Mark stopped and grinned, waiting for him to look his way. Chance spotted him almost immediately and grinned back.
For a moment they just stood there, staring across the room at each other, grinning like fools. Finally, Chance threaded his way through the crowd over to Mark and launched himself into Mark's arms. Mark caught him, holding on tight and kissing him breathless.
"God, I missed you." Mark whispered against Chance's lips when the younger man pulled back, gasping for breath.
"Well, you've got me now." Chance answered, lowering his feet back onto the floor and ducking his head, blushing a dark red. Half the people in the room were staring at them, smiling or laughing. Mark shrugged. They were only jealous… or happy for him.
"Yes, I have." Mark replied, wrapping Chance in his arms and holding on tight. The lights went down and the music started on the sound system, signaling the start of a busy night. Reluctantly, Mark stepped back and smiled down at Chance, not quite believing he'd come.
"Dance with me?" Chance grinned up at him and grabbed his hand, tugging him toward the dance floor. Mark laughed and followed after his young lover. He never knew what to expect anymore, and he didn't care. Half the fun of life was seeing how it all played out, right?
The End
About the Author
Mathilde Watson spent far too many years being practical, working multiple jobs and trying to worm her way into a steady career. Her dreams of writing and becoming a published author were put away because she foolishly listened to the adults in her life who insisted that writing was a frivolous hobby.
Over the years she tried her hand at many different jobs, but the need to put her ideas on paper never went away. The sudden loss of her last job left her with a lot of time on her hands, and she found herself filling that time writing. One morning she endured yet another lecture on wasting her time with silly stories, and in a fit of rebellion she decided to take a chance and submit one of her stories to a publisher.
She no longer believes in being practical or realistic.
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000913317319
Also by Mathilde Watson
Available at Silver Publishing:
Positive Reinforcement
AT PLAY
Play Along
Play Along Page 12