by Carol Lynne
Bear’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, can I? I haven’t fished since last summer.”
“Sure, come by anytime.” Sam looked at Jace and grinned. “On second thought, you’d better call first.”
“Promise,” Bear held his hand up. “We’ll be gone for about three weeks. First we’ll visit my folks and then Liam’s mom. Football conditioning starts in July. It wouldn’t be a good idea for their new Coach to miss it.” Bear beamed.
“Those opposing teams aren’t going to know what hit them. Jace and I’ll come to as many games as we can.”
“Thanks.”
Jace stepped forward and shook Bear’s hand. “Congratulations on the new job. You’ll make a heck of a teacher and a hell of a coach.”
Bear smiled and preened. “I like to think so.”
Laughing, Sam gave his big friend another hug. “We’ll catch up when you get back.”
With one last wave, they walked across the yard to their stuff. “I’ll get the chairs if you want to grab the cooler,” Jace said.
Sam looked around the yard. “Do you think we’re being bad guests by leaving so soon? He knew he should stay and mingle, but his mind was on Lark. Where had he gone?
“I don’t think so, but it’s up to you.” Jace ran a hand down Sam’s back. “We can always leave for awhile and then come back. I have a feeling the party will go on for quite some time.”
“I’m just…can we find Lark?” Sam looked over at Kade. Leaning against the corner of the house, talking quietly to Joe, Kade didn’t look any better than Lark.
“Sure. We’ll leave this stuff here for now.” Jace took Sam’s hand and led them to the front of the house.
Sam stopped in his tracks. “Lark?”
There was Lark, sitting proudly on the seat of Kade’s Harley. Although he definitely showed signs that he’d been crying, he was all smiles. “What can I say? I’m a stubborn sonofabitch.”
Sam started to go to him, but Jace held him back.
“Let me talk to him for a minute?” Jace asked. “Since we know Lark’s okay, there’s no reason to leave the party. Why don’t you go get something to eat and I’ll be there shortly.”
Sam studied Lark. “You sure you’re okay?”
“No, but I will be,” Lark answered.
Jace watched Sam leave before turning back to Lark. “I’m going to tell you something that could lose me a friend.” He took a deep breath. “Kade has HIV. That’s the reason he won’t get involved with you. You need to understand that it’s nothing personal against you. He’s made the decision to abstain from sex of any kind. It’s the only way he knows for sure that he won’t put someone else through what he’s going through.”
Lark crossed his arms defiantly. “I appreciate you telling me, and to be honest, I already had an idea of what was wrong with him. I mean, it was obviously something big and no-one was talking about it. You don’t have secrets like that when someone has cancer or another illness.”
“So you understand?”
“No, not at all.” Now Lark seemed to be measuring his words very carefully. “Did you know I’m Canadian?”
Jace couldn’t quite figure out what that had to do with anything. “No, I didn’t.”
“Well I am. My parents moved with a group of their friends to Canada in the early eighties. You see, they wanted to grow hemp for oil and clothing, but the United States government wouldn’t allow it. Anyway, they went together and bought a large piece of land. We grow a number of crops, hemp only being one of them.”
Jace shook his head. “I’m sorry but you’ve lost me. What does this have to do with Kade?”
“My parents are what you’d call free spirits. Their friends are also their lovers and everyone is okay with that.”
Jace was shocked. He’d never known anyone who grew up in an environment like that.
“When I was seventeen, a man came to live with us. He was looking for a purpose.” Lark’s face grew dreamy. “He was my first, and I loved him deeply.”
“So what happened to him?” Jace couldn’t resist asking.
“Nothing. He’s married now. Still lives in the compound as a matter of fact. The reason I told you about Bo is because he too has HIV. He had it when he came to us. Before accepting him into the fold of our large extended family, we did our research.”
Lark stopped and put a hand on Jace’s shoulder. “I know how to keep myself safe. I also know that life doesn’t have to stop just because you’re positive.”
Damn. Maybe Lark was just what Kade needed. Making a decision, Jace reached out and hugged the small man. “I’ll do anything I can to help.”
“Hey, what the hell’s going on?” Kade’s voice rumbled behind them.
Jace pulled back and gave Lark a wink. “Nothing, just consoling a friend.”
He turned to Kade. “I don’t suppose you could give Lark a ride home? The way he’s dressed he might get arrested for hustling if he tries to walk.”
Lark punched him in the shoulder. “Stop. I don’t look that bad.”
Jace mouthed the word ‘Please’ to Kade.
Kade stared at him for several seconds. “I’m headed home anyway. I guess I can give him a lift.”
“Thanks.” Jace waved goodbye and walked towards the backyard.
Before he disappeared around the corner of the house, he turned back. Kade was digging his jacket out of the motorcycles saddle bag. He handed it to Lark and was demanding he put it on.
Jace grinned and continued on his way. Kade was a smart man. In those low-rise pants, half of Lark’s ass was proudly on display. Chuckling, Jace went to find the only ass he was interested in seeing.
Sam ran his hands over Jace’s shoulders, touching the marks he’d made. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
Jace grinned and rolled over on top of him. “Are you kidding? It just keeps getting better and better.”
“Yeah, it does.” He pulled Jace’s head down and kissed him. Wrapping his legs around his man, he thrust up. “Can’t get enough.”
Jace chuckled. “You’ll have to give me a few minutes. I’m not as young as you.”
“Okay. Maybe I’ll just rub myself off. I’ve got at least two more in me before the night’s over.”
“God, you’re a nympho. And I love it,” Jace added.
“Only with you,” He groaned as Jace started moving.
“I want you to give up your room at BK. Come live with me,” Jace said, nipping at Sam’s neck.
Tilting his head further to the side, Sam dug his heels into Jace’s back. “I’d love to. Do you think we’ll ever make it to class and work?”
“Mmm, we may have to adjust our schedules a bit.” Jace ground down and dug his teeth into Sam’s flesh.
“Oh fuck!” Sam yelled as his balls drew up tight. Instead of releasing him, Jace bit harder. Sam jerked as he came, moaning Jace’s name over and over.
“We’re both going to look like lepers by the end of summer,” Sam mumbled, coming down.
“By the end of summer hell, more like by the end of the night,” Jace laughed, soothing Sam’s neck with his tongue.
“Maybe you should start marking me a little lower. That way I can hide it.”
“Hmmm, how low?” Jace started licking his way down Sam’s chest.
“I’ll let you know when you get there,” Sam teased, spreading his legs wide in invitation.
Jace sat up and looked down at Sam’s exposed body. “Looks like I have my work cut out for me.”
“It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it,” Sam joked.
“Not someone, me.” Jace twisted Sam’s nipple. “Remember that.”
“No one else. Ever.” Sam moaned.
About the Author
An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writi
ng steamy love scenes.
Email: [email protected]
Carol loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by Carol Lynne
Campus Cravings: Coach
Campus Cravings: Side-Lined
Campus Cravings: Sacking the Quarterback
Campus Cravings: Off-Season
Campus Cravings: Forbidden Freshman
Campus Cravings: Broken Pottery
Good Time Boys: Sonny’s Salvation
Good-time Boys: Garron’s Gift
Good-time Boys: Rawley’s Redemption
Good-time Boys: Twin Temptations
Cattle Valley: All Play & No Work
Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Mistletoe
Cattle Valley: Sweet Topping
Karaoke at the Tumbleweed
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