Heart of the Warrior

by Donya Lynne

  Arion’s foot bounced impatiently as he sat in his living room with the TV turned on to the pregame. The sun had set twenty minutes ago and he was starting to think Sev had changed his mind when the doorbell rang.

  In a flash, he was up and hurrying to the foyer.

  He swung the door open and smiled when he saw Severin. "Hi."

  Sev looked good. His long hair fell in wavy blond cascades over his shoulders and looked feather soft. He had on jeans, a pale blue knit sweater that brought out his eyes, and what looked like broken-in combat boots.

  "Hey." Sev stepped in and snaked an arm around his waist before kicking the door closed behind him. "I missed you."

  Ari closed his eyes and inhaled the soft fragrance of aftershave and soap. When he opened them again, Sev was watching him with a hunger that stirred Ari to the soles of his feet.

  "I can tell."

  "I thought about you all afternoon." Sev burrowed his nose into Ari’s hair.

  He thought he might implode from the heat that fired through his loins.

  "Me, too."

  It was clear what tonight was about. He had obviously used the game as a ruse to get Sev there, and they both knew it. Ari's hunger for Sev wasn't quenched, yet. In fact, what had occurred in the gym had only whetted his appetite. He felt like a kid after eating his first homemade chocolate chip cookie and couldn't wait to get his hands on another one. Or a whole batch of them.

  "You want a beer?" Sev said.

  No, I just want you. "Sure."

  Sev pulled away, took his hand, and they walked to the kitchen together. He let Ari’s hand go and set the six-pack on the counter and pulled out two bottles before twisting off the caps. He handed one to Ari. They both drank, staring at each other. The air between them was electric. It felt like a hundred invisible threads of desire reached from Sev’s body to his and that they were stroking him, caressing him, and burrowing into his skin.

  As if a gun had gone off to signal the beginning of the one-hundred-yard dash, both closed the short distance between them in a split second. Suddenly, Ari was in Sev’s arms again, just as he had been in this very spot six weeks ago, and Sev spun him around and back against the refrigerator before clamping his mouth over his.

  Flames burst through his groin and up his spine before shooting out through his limbs. The chemistry between them was unreal. Off the charts. Almost supernatural. They were like two land masses crashing together, causing an earthquake that shattered them to their core.

  When had a kiss ever assaulted his senses like this? Was this what a kiss was supposed to feel like? As if a waterfall of heat was pouring through his body like a tidal wave from the pit of his stomach? His knees wobbled, his hands trembled, butterflies danced in his abdomen, and his cock hardened in an instant. Was that normal? His body never reacted this way from kissing a woman. With a woman, he never got hard without having to fantasize, and even then it had never felt like this – like he had a steel rod in his pants. And what was that noise? Ah, hell. That was him, moaning deep in his throat with every breath he took. God, he was completely lost in Severin’s kisses.

  "Sev…"

  "Mmm?"

  "Spend the night with me."

  Sev made a noise that sounded like yes and assaulted his lips with increased fervor as his hands started to lift up his shirt.

  Suddenly, a loud pounding at the front door jolted Ari back to reality. He jumped and pushed Sev away. Breathlessly, he glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the front hall.

  "Fuck." He tried not to laugh at how jumpy he was, but ended up chuckling and shaking his head at himself. "That must be the pizza, but shit, they could have used the doorbell, for God’s sake."

  Sev chuckled at him and grabbed his beer off the counter and took a drink.

  Pound-pound-pound!

  "Okay, okay, I’m coming!" Ari called.

  "Not yet, but you will." Sev's voice and the heated sideways glance he threw Ari hinted of promise, and he grinned mischievously as he stepped aside to let Ari leave the kitchen.

  Ari's breath quickened, and he smiled. "I hope so."

  "Hey-hey! Anyone home?" Io called from the front porch, knocking again.

  Fear gripped Ari’s throat as panic rose in his heart. He froze in his footsteps.

  "Fuck, what’s Io doing here?" He glanced back at Sev with wide eyes. He hadn’t been expecting Io tonight.

  "Just tell him to get lost. You’re on a date."

  Oh, yeah, that would go over great with Io. He couldn’t even let Io get an inkling of an idea as to why Sev was here. He gave Sev a get-real look. "He’s my best friend. I can’t tell him to get lost. And I can’t tell him I’m on a date, either."

  "Why the fuck not?" Sev frowned at him.

  Ari shook his head. He didn’t want to have this discussion right now. "Just hold on. I'll deal with him."

  Sev sighed and meandered out of the kitchen to the living room as Ari checked himself to make sure the bulge in his jeans was covered by his untucked shirt, and then he took a deep, steadying breath before hustling down the hall to the front door.

  "Hey, bro! What’s shaking?" Io barged past him and into the kitchen.

  "Just getting ready to watch the game with Sev." Ari closed the door and tried to act normal, even though he was nervous as hell. He hoped his attraction to Severin wasn’t as obvious as he thought it was.

  He followed Io into the kitchen. "Why are you here, Io? I thought you had a date tonight." Well, dates. The two girls from last night at Four Alarm had apparently been good enough for a second go-round. Io didn’t usually dip into his women twice, but he supposed there was an exception for every rule.

  "I do, I do. On my way there now, bro." He stopped when he saw Sev on the couch in the living room. "Oh. Hey, Sev." Io glanced over his shoulder at Ari as if he needed to talk to him in the worst possible way.

  Sev nodded and held up his beer in greeting. "Io." He sounded irritated.

  Tonight was turning into a major bust. This wasn’t what he had wanted to have happen on his first date with Sev. It was a date, wasn’t it? Just as Sev had said?

  Ari drew up next to Io as he pulled one of the beers out of the six-pack. Fzt. He twisted off the cap and guzzled a healthy gulp.

  "Io, come on, why are you here?"

  "What’s up your ass? In a hurry or something?"

  Actually, yes. "Of course not. It’s just…well, the game’s getting ready to start."

  "Come here a sec." Io kept his voice low and motioned him into the other room. When they were alone, Io snickered. "Hey, I think Sev might be a faggot."

  Ari felt the color drain from his face and he stammered. "Uh-wh-huh-what?"

  Io huddled in close and chuckled quietly. "Yeah, man. I stopped by AKM to grab my laundry and bumped into Devon. Devon was in the showers today and heard two guys fucking each other or some shit. A little while later, he was walking past the gym and Severin was coming out. His hair was wet." Io looked at him as if he was waiting for Ari to connect the dots. "You understand? Sev was one of the guys."

  Ari was numb. What if Devon had seen him, too? What if he knew? What if…? Fuck, it was just a matter of time before everyone knew and it got back to his parents, wasn't it?

  Okay, he needed to slow down and chill. If Devon hadn’t told Io about him, then maybe he’d gotten out of the gym before Devon saw him. "Did Devon say who he was with?"

  "He thinks it was Bauer. Bauer came out of the gym freshly showered right after Sev did." Io kicked back another swig of beer, waggling his eyebrows at Ari. "Can you believe it? Sev and Bauer? Faggots? Shit, bro, we’ve got a fag on our team. And Bauer? Shit, I never would have thought. I’ve seen him with chicks. Hmm, maybe he’s bi. But Sev? A faggot? I mean, he's pretty enough, but…"

  This was Ari’s worst nightmare. "Stop calling him that, Io. You don’t know."

  Io rolled his eyes. "Think about it, Ari. When do you ever see him with a girl? With anyone? Sev’s a fairy, admit it."
r />   Ari shook his head and tried to think of something to say, but couldn’t.

  Io pointed at him as he drank then said, "You better be careful having him here. He might try to rape your ass." Io broke into fits of hushed laughter.

  "Ssshh. Keep your voice down, jackass. He’s just in the other room. And you don’t know what happened. Devon could have been mistaken."

  "Not likely."

  The doorbell rang, saving Ari from further humiliation.

  "That’s pizza." He led Io back through the kitchen to the front door. He could smell the pizza before he opened up, and it almost made his stomach turn with the shit Io had just unloaded on him.

  "Hi, that’s $24.59," said the delivery boy.

  Ari pulled thirty bucks out of his pocket and handed it over. "Keep the change."

  The boy nodded and tucked the money into his cash bag and trotted off.

  Ari closed the door and turned back to Io. "Io? Is that why you stopped by tonight? To tell me you think Sev is gay? Please tell me that’s not the reason." Ari was ready to boot Io out. It made him angry to hear him talk about Sev like that, and not just because it was Sev, but also because he knew that’s how Io would talk about him if he ever found out that he was gay, too.

  "No, man." Io seemed taken aback. "I wanted to know if you had changed your mind about going out tonight. I mean, hell, I’ve got two girls. We can share."

  "No, thanks. I’m not in the mood." In fact, Ari was feeling a little sick.

  "Hey, that’s cool. More for me." He snuck his hand inside the pizza box and swiped a slice. "See you tomorrow." Io winked over his shoulder toward the living room. "Remember, bro. Watch your back door."

  Yeah, my back door was gonna get good and unlocked before you stopped by, fuck you very much. This had been a disaster.

  Io saluted him and headed down the hall. And just like that, Hurricane Io swept out the door. He had spun in, done his damage, destroyed the wonderful mood Ari had been in, then blew out to leave mass destruction in his wake.

  Ari leaned back against the counter, the pizza box still in his hand. What was he doing? How was this going to work? Shit, he couldn’t even have Sev over without Io busting in like a wrecking ball.

  "Hey, is that pizza I smell?"

  Ari looked up and saw Severin leaning against the doorway into the kitchen, concern in his eyes.

  He lifted the pizza box and tried to smile, but he was sure it came out looking as pathetic as he felt. "Yeah, sorry."

  Sev stepped toward him. "Do you want me to leave?"

  "No." That much Ari was sure of. "Please stay. I want you to stay."

  "You sure?"

  Ari nodded. "Yes."

  "You’re not afraid I’m going to rape your ass?"

  If any color had remained in Ari's face, it drained out.

  "You heard us." Ari dropped his gaze to the floor, ashamed of how Io had talked about him.

  Sev chuffed. "Hello. Vampire here. Yes, I could hear you. It wasn’t like Io was really trying to keep his voice down."

  "Look, I’m sorry about that." Ari felt guilty.

  "Fuck, I’ve heard worse shit than that, Ari. I’m used to it. Although I’m surprised your best friend would talk like that."

  "He doesn’t know."

  Severin took the pizza box and placed it on the counter before digging out a slice. "Doesn’t know what?"

  "That I’m gay."

  Sev froze. "Say again."

  Ari sighed heavily. "Io doesn’t know I’m gay."

  "Why not?"

  Ari dropped his head back. "It’s complicated, all right?"

  "Well, uncomplicate it. How the hell does your best friend not know you’re gay?"

  How did he explain this to Sev when he was only really beginning to understand it himself?

  "Because until last month…when you and I…well, when we were together…I wasn’t even fully aware that I was gay, okay?"

  Severin stopped with his slice of pizza halfway to his mouth, and the two stood and stared at each other in stunned silence.

  "Come again?" Sev lowered the pizza back to the box. "Is this some kind of joke? Are you fucking around with me, Ari? If you are, tell me now. I mean, if I’m just some homo-erotic experimentation for you, let me know, because I don’t think my heart could survive if you—"

  "I'm not playing with you." Ari stepped forward and placing his hand over Sev's mouth to quiet him. He stared at his fingers and felt Sev's full lips press against them. Then he locked his gaze to Sev's and repeated with conviction, "I'm not playing with you. This isn't a game, a joke, or some homosexual fantasy I want to act out. I don't know why it took me so long to figure things out, but Sev, when you came here and we did what we did right in this very spot…I can't explain it, but suddenly I knew. I knew I had been living a lie. I knew I was gay." He paused and lowered his hand. "I knew I wanted you and no one else."

  Sev watched without saying a word, and the silence stretched for what felt like forever.

  "God, Sev, please say something. I'm dying here. I don't know what to do. I've never been with a male before, but I can't stop thinking about you. I can't get you out of my mind." He stepped closer and ran his hands up Sev's chest and inhaled a shaky breath as he felt himself drift further into Sev's personal space.

  Sev remained stoically still while following Ari with his gaze.

  Ari closed his eyes as if fighting himself then opened them and looked back into Sev's.

  "I've never reacted to women the way I react to you. I just figured something was wrong with me, or that it was normal – as dysfunctional as it sounds – that I had to fantasize about men to even tolerate being with females. But then you…." Ari's voice trailed off, and before he could stop himself, he leaned in and ran his nose up the column of Sev's neck so that his lips brushed over his skin.

  He wasn't sure, but he thought he heard Sev purr softly as his body rippled ever so slightly.

  "You came along, Sev. You changed everything. I know who I am now because of you." Their bodies had slowly come together, and they stood chest to chest. "I was meant to be with you."

  Sev's head turned into his. Ari felt him exhale more than heard it as Sev slid his cheek over Ari's hair then dipped his nose against his scalp. Ari felt like he was being claimed by a giant feline, which was fine by him. He wanted to be claimed. And Sev made the perfect lion with his mane of blond hair.

  He stepped back and lifted Sev’s hand to his mouth. Slowly, he drew his tongue around the tip of Sev’s index finger then sucked it between his lips, tasting a hint of pepperoni from the pizza Sev had been holding a moment ago. He moved to his middle finger, then his ring finger, his pinky, and finally his thumb.

  Sev stared at him, his mouth opened slightly, his gazed fixed on Ari's mouth like he was hypnotized.

  Ari had never seduced anyone, man or woman, but with Sev it felt completely natural. In fact, his body was almost commanding him to seduce Severin. He had never felt such a powerful pull to be with someone, but Sev had him enthralled.

  He released Sev’s thumb with a pop and leaned in close.

  "So, see, Io had it all wrong." He tugged on Sev’s sweater and slid one hand underneath it to play his fingers over the waist of Sev’s jeans. "It isn’t me who needs to worry about you. It’s you who needs to worry about me, because I want to invade you in the most unbelievable way right now." Ari had no idea where his words came from. He just knew that he was ready for more. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you for weeks. I’ve waited all my life for you, Sev. Now that I’ve found you, don’t make me wait, anymore."

  In a rush of movement, Sev growled, gripped Ari’s hips harshly, and shoved him back. "Bedroom?"

  "Downstairs."

  "Show me."

  Pent-up energy exploded between them, and Ari batted Sev’s hands away and spun him around before driving him out of the kitchen and directing him toward the stairs that led to the dimly lit basement. After nearly tripping over each other to
get to the bottom, Ari gripped Sev’s long hair like it was a horse’s mane and jerked his head back as Sev groaned and cried out.

  "I love your hair," Ari said, giving it another sharp tug. "I love pulling it."

  Where was this side of him coming from? It seemed more than just his sexuality had been in the closet his whole life. Finding the one he was meant to be with was waking up all sorts of new feelings and emotions, as well as a darker side to his libido.

  "Please, more. Harder." Sev seemed to enjoy the rough action as much as Ari did.

  Ari thrust his hand into all that glorious hair and maneuvered Sev to the bed and shoved him down face-first. Sev bounced then rolled over and they both hastily pulled off their shirts and unfastened their jeans, stripping off their clothes in seconds.

  Sev crawled backward into the middle of the bed as Ari rode up with him, hovering and stalking him. He had never wanted to have sex with anyone so badly that he had lost all inhibition like this, but it was as if he was suddenly someone else. And based on Sev’s reaction, he loved who Ari had become.

  Sev’s arms wrapped him up, and their mouths connected once more, hungry and greedy for each other as their cocks rubbed together to send tingles down both his legs and around the insides of his balls like tiny lightning strikes.

  Ari loved how Sev touched him and how he felt. Sev's touch was unlike a woman's. His hands were bigger, and the way he handled him was strong and gruff, full of lusty intent. No woman had ever touched him this way, and it was clear that this was how he had always wanted to be touched. It turned him on.

  What was even clearer was that Sev's was the kind of body he had always wanted beneath him. Powerful and masculine, with hard, rounded pecs topped with large, dark nipples. And God, the male had the widest shoulders he'd ever seen. He was built for brawn.

  "Fuck, you feel good." Ari trailed his lips over razor stubble – actual fucking razor stubble – and shivered with excitement. The faint beard growth was just one more physical sign that this wasn't one of his fantasies and that he was finally living his true self.

  "Mmm, so do you."

  And that was another sign. Women didn't have such sexy, deep voices that rumbled with masculine intensity in a way that shot a whole lot of sexual excitement up the backs of Ari's thighs to whip around the base of his spine before shooting down to his dick.