by T. A. Chase
Colville laughed. “I’m not gay. I’m just saying if I was, I’d let your brother fuck me.”
“Okay,” he stammered. “Get ahold of me and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Great, Johnson. Look forward to that and to playing more All-Star games with you.”
Paul shot Kasey a glance after Colville walked away. “That was weird.”
“I know.” He shrugged. “I’m glad he was willing to try and diffuse the situation. I couldn’t think of anything to say.”
“You’ve got to be quicker on your feet than that, Kase. It’s not going away.” Paul looked back to where Roscoe stood glaring at Colville. “Besides I don’t think it was you. I think it’s more Colville and Roscoe don’t like each other. Anything either of them can do to annoy the other makes them happy. It’s a different kind of game.”
“Probably right.” He stuck his head under the water. “You want to join us for dinner? Garrett got us reservations at Emeril’s.”
“Sure. Thanks.” Paul grinned.
Gram heard a commotion. The determined pack of reporters swarmed Kasey and Paul as they stepped from the locker room. Kasey politely declined to do more interviews or answer any more questions. Gram waved from where he stood beside an exit door. Garrett had gone out to the limo already. The basketball players headed toward him.
“Hey, Johnson.” A voice rang out over the din.
Kasey froze and Gram saw a flash of fear burn through his lover’s eyes. He looked over Kasey’s shoulder to see who it was putting that emotion there. Roscoe, one of the NBA’s top stars, stood on the other side of the crowd. Gram shivered at the hatred in the man’s eyes.
“Turn and face him. Don’t let him know you’re upset,” Gram said to Kasey.
Kasey nodded and swung around. “What do you want, Roscoe?”
A look of surprise crossed the big man’s face. Gram wondered if it was the first time someone like Kasey had stood up to him. “I don’t like your kind. I don’t want to play with your kind.”
“What kind is that? A kid who can play basketball better than you?” Kasey took a step toward the forward while the reporters scrambled to tape or write down every word.
“You wish you were as good as me. I meant fags. I don’t like them and I don’t want them in my locker room.” Roscoe’s grin was full of malice. He knew he was starting a rumor that could ruin Kasey’s reputation.
“Well, considering my brother’s a fag, Roscoe, I’d rather be queer than a narrow-minded bigot like you. Don’t worry. I doubt we’ll ever play on the same team.” Kasey whirled around and faced Gram. His eyes sparkled with relief, excitement and an odd happiness. “I invited Paul to join us for dinner.”
“Great.” Gram pushed open the door, ushering them out. “Quentin and Garrett have the limo ready for us.”
“Mr. Johnson, are the claims Mr. Roscoe made true?”
“Mr. Johnson, are you gay?”
Gram blocked the doorway, keeping the reporters from following until Kasey and Paul were in the back of the limo. What the fuck was Kasey thinking? Getting into a shouting match with Roscoe and mentioning words like “queer” and “fag” wasn’t the smartest way to stay in the closet, even if he had managed to make it look like he was sticking up for his brother. As soon as the guys were in the limo, he moved out of the door way and sprinted to the car.
He literally landed on Kasey’s lap. “Drive, Quentin. Get the hell out of here.”
Quentin pulled away from the curb without running anyone over. The four men in the back of the car managed to sort themselves out. Garrett and Paul shared the seat facing Kasey and Gram.
Paul laughed. “I’ve never been chased by the press. It’s kind of scary.”
Garrett shrugged. “You get used to it after a while. I still say the most frightening experience is being chased by a mob of screaming fans. The guys are as bad as the women.”
“He’s right. I went with him to the Oscars last year. Holy shit. That whole red carpet thing. Scary as hell.” Kasey rested his hand on Gram’s thigh.
Gram leaned over and gave Kasey a quick kiss, glad the windows were tinted. “Congratulations, baby. Not only did you score the winning basket, you were voted MVP. Not bad for a first time starter. The fans love you.”
“At least the fans do. My fellow players aren’t too fond of me.” Kasey frowned.
“What was that whole shouting thing about between you and Roscoe,” Gram asked.
“Some smart ass comments, but it’s okay. It got handled.” Kasey looked out the windows.
Gram shot Paul a look. The other man shook his head slightly, letting Gram know not to push it. He would make sure Kasey enjoyed himself, but they would talk about this before the weekend was over.
Pulling up in front of the restaurant, Gram took advantage of Kasey climbing out before him to grope his lover’s firm ass. Kasey threw a glance at him over a shoulder. He winked and shrugged. Kasey shook his head with a rueful grin.
They made their way into Emeril’s and were led to a private room where they wouldn’t be bothered. None of them wanted to deal with fans at the moment. The night passed by with good food, wine and conversation. Paul fit in well with them. Gram enjoyed talking to Moorhouse and hoped everything worked out for the man.
When they returned to Le Pavillion, Garrett asked Quentin to drive Paul to his hotel. Gram was eager to get up to the suite and help Kasey celebrate in a different way.
Garret grinned at them. “I can feel the tension vibrating between you. Maybe I should have gone with Paul and stayed in his room tonight.”
Kasey blushed and ducked his head. Gram slid his hand over Kasey’s ass, giving one of those muscled cheeks a squeeze.
Garrett laughed. “Keep the noise down. I need my beauty sleep.”
“Fuck you, Johnson.” Gram flipped him the finger.
“Sorry. I never mess with my brother’s boyfriends.” Garrett strutted in front of them to the suite door. “No matter how much they might beg me.”
“You’re too much of a top for me.” He turned to Kasey as they entered their bedroom. “Your brother’s a conceited ass.”
“I know, but it’s part of his charm.”
Kasey gripped Gram’s jacket lapels and jerked him toward that tall body. Crushing their mouths together, Kasey demanded entrance. Gram didn’t argue. He simply opened up. Kasey thrust his tongue in, stroking the roof of Gram’s mouth and causing him to shiver. He broke the kiss off when they both ran out of air.
“I don’t want to talk about Garrett.”
Gram managed not to smile when Kasey started to tug Gram’s jacket off. “You’re right. We have better things to do.”
He took over the kiss, knowing the adrenaline from the win hadn’t worn off yet. The sex would be fast and hard this time. Within minutes, he was naked and Kasey dropped to his knees to swallow Gram’s cock down to the base.
“Fuck me,” he cried, his hips thrusting deep in Kasey’s warm mouth.
Kasey pulled away and grinned up at him. “No, you’re going to fuck me.”
“I can do that. Strip.” He went and pulled the blankets off the bed.
When he turned around, Kasey was naked and shaking with need. Gram grabbed Kasey’s hand, leading him to the bed. “Lay on your back.”
Kasey followed his orders, but stopped Gram as he was reaching for the lube. “Now, Gram.”
“I need to get the lube, baby. I don’t want to hurt you.” He caressed Kasey’s cheek.
Rolling over, Kasey took his cock in his mouth again. Gram gasped, gripping Kasey’s shoulders. Kasey licked and sucked, getting Gram’s shaft as wet as possible. Swipes of his tongue built the pleasure.
“Kasey, stop. I don’t want to come until I’m in you.” Gram squeezed the base of his cock, holding off his climax.
Kasey rolled onto his back, spreading his legs. The offering of his body like that made Gram’s breath catch in his lungs. He climbed between Kasey’s long legs and pressed his cock agains
t Kasey’s opening.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.” He hesitated.
“I ache right now, love. Please.” Kasey’s voice was strained and his lean body arched off the mattress.
“Bear down then. We’ll take it slow. If you need me to stop, tell me.”
He slid his hands under Kasey’s ass and lifted up while he thrust in. Kasey’s hiss caused Gram to pause.
“Are you all right?” Gram didn’t like the idea of not stretching Kasey.
“Damn it, Gram.”
Strong arms wrapped around Gram’s shoulders and suddenly he found himself on his back. Kasey straddled him and impaled that tight ass deeply on Gram’s cock.
“Shit.”
“Fuck.”
Their voices blended together perfectly as their bodies always had. Kasey’s inner passage massaged Gram’s cock with hard contractions. Each of his thrusts were met with Kasey’s downward pushes. Gram braced his heels against the mattress to provide even more leverage as Kasey rode him. There was no finesse or gentleness to their lovemaking this time. It was hard, fast and savage. He needed to get as deep as he could, so with a surge, he switched their positions again.
Kasey’s legs ended up over Gram’s arms and he spread Kasey wider, ensuring he nailed Kasey’s gland with every stroke. Kasey braced his hands against the headboard. The room filled with grunts and moans. Skin slapping skin.
“Right there. Again. Harder.”
Gram had to smile at Kasey’s demands. He obeyed them, moving faster and harder. His hands gripped those muscular thighs and knew Kasey would feel this lovemaking in the morning. There would be bruises marring that golden skin.
“Touch yourself. I want to feel you come on my cock.”
Kasey fisted his own cock and started pumping in time with Gram’s thrusts. Those eyes Gram had come to love rolled and that flat ripped stomach rippled.
“Gram, I’m gonna come.”
“Do it now.”
Gram’s next thrust pegged Kasey’s gland and his lover shot thick ropes of white come all over his stomach and hand. The tightening of Kasey’s ass put pressure on Gram’s cock to the point of pain. The tingling at the base of his spine exploded and he filled Kasey with his own liquid.
“Love you,” he whispered as Kasey collapsed on his chest.
“Love you too,” Kasey answered, rubbing Gram’s back with shaking hands.
Gram waited several minutes until he could catch his breath before he shifted Kasey to the side with a groan. Kasey winced, but protested Gram’s withdrawal as Gram climbed out of bed.
“I’m going to get cleaned up. I’ll be back with a washcloth to take care of you.”
After he cleaned them both up, he tossed the cloth in the sink and went back to snuggle with Kasey under the blankets. His lover’s head rested on his chest and Gram ran his hand over Kasey’s shoulders.
“Congratulations, Kasey.” He brushed a kiss over the crown of Kasey’s head.
Kasey’s reply was a soft murmur, so soft Gram didn’t have a clue as to what the man said, but he didn’t worry. He’d let Kasey sleep and they would have a talk about what Roscoe was shouting when they left the locker room.
Kasey rested his head on Gram’s chest, listening to his lover’s heartbeat return to normal. Their second round of sex created a deeper ache in his ass, but he didn’t mind. It helped remind him he had someone who loved him and wanted him. He loved knowing he was the reason for Gram’s satisfaction and exhaustion. Gram’s strong arms embraced him and rough fingers caressed his spine.
“As much as I love fucking you, I think this is my favorite part, being able to hold you in my arms as we fall asleep.” Gram sighed. “And getting to wake up next to you in the morning.”
Kasey cringed, glad Gram couldn’t see his face. His brave talk to Paul and Garrett about not caring what the world thought was hollow. He still hadn’t found enough courage to ask Gram to stay the night. He worried some reporter would get wind of their private relationship, stake out his condo and notice Gram hadn’t left.
“I’m sorry,” Gram murmured. “I don’t mean to make you feel bad.”
Strong hands rubbed Kasey’s shoulders. “No, you’re right. It’s been great these last couple of days.”
He pushed away, climbed out of bed and went to stand by the window. “I know my fears held us back from making a serious commitment to each other.”
“Hold it.” Gram’s voice held surprise.
Turning, he found Gram leaning against the headboard and frowning at him.
“I thought we were serious about each other.” Gram gestured around the room. “If I didn’t love you, I’d never have put up with all this secretive bullshit to see you.”
Kasey hung his head. “I was worried you’d get tired of hiding.”
“Hell yeah. I don’t like hiding. I’ve never lied or covered up who I was. Fuck anyone who hates me because I’m gay, Irish or own a nightclub. People hate each other for the stupidest reasons,” Gram said.
“I’m sorry,” Kasey apologized, not sure what else to say.
“The difference between us, Kase, is I have nothing to lose by being openly gay. I won’t lose my nightclub or my career. I don’t have endorsement deals to worry about. You do and that’s why I never pushed to make a public statement about our relationship.” Gram kneeled in the middle of the bed, holding out his hand to Kasey. “Come back to bed, love. As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter if we’re the only two who know or if the whole fucking world knows.”
Kasey stared at the man who had some who come to mean everything to him. He made his way over to Gram, letting Gram take his hand and guide him onto the bed.
Lying on his back, he cupped Gram’s cheek and laughed softly. “It won’t matter if I make a public announcement. Roscoe’s little scene after the game tonight will cause a media frenzy tomorrow.”
“We’ll deal with it then, baby. In here, nothing can touch us.”
Their kiss started soft, but morphed into a harder, deeper claiming. Gram was right. When they were together, the world didn’t matter. He blocked out all thoughts of anything except his lover.
“Love me,” he whispered against Gram’s lips.
“I do.” Gram proceeded to show him how much.
Chapter Twelve
Kasey’s cell phone rang the next morning while he was eating breakfast. Digging it out, he checked the number.
“It’s James,” he told Garrett and Gram.
“Take it. He’s probably freaking because you won the MVP at the game.” Garrett grinned.
Gram frowned, but nodded. Kasey knew he was thinking about the confrontation the night before.
“Hey, James. What’s got you up so early?” He wandered into the bedroom he and Gram shared.
“Is it fucking true?” James Kendall’s Jersey accent got thicker when the agent was excited.
“Is what true?” He frowned. It’s started all ready.
“Did you get in a shouting match with Roscoe after the game last night?”
It wasn’t the question Kasey was expecting James to ask. “Yeah. Some words were exchanged. The guy’s an asshole.”
“Hell. Everyone knows that, Johnson, but you have an image to uphold. You can’t be causing scenes like that in front of reporters, even if you were defending your brother.”
Kasey wanted to blurt out the truth, but he didn’t think it was something he should admit over the phone.
“When do you get back to Phoenix?”
He heard paper rustling and knew James was looking at his appointments.
“This afternoon around three.”
“Okay. I’ll meet you at Samson’s at five. We’ll discuss how we can use this to our advantage and how the MVP trophy has upped your desirability.”
Kasey had been looking forward to sneaking over to Gram’s apartment and hanging there for most of the night. He figured reporters would his condo staked out. “Fine. I’ll be there at five.”
“See you there, superstar.” James hung up.
He ended the call and flung his phone on top of his suitcase.
“The rumors start?” Gram wrapped an arm around his waist. “Is that why he called?”
“He wanted to know if the reports about Roscoe and me were true. He figured the comments I made were me sticking up for Garrett.” Kasey leaned back against Gram’s solid body, secure in knowing his lover would support him.
“Did you tell him the truth?” Gram’s voice was neutral.
Kasey knew Gram didn’t want him to feel pressured. “No. It’s not something I want to do over the phone. We’re meeting at five when I get back to Phoenix. He wants to do damage control, I guess, and also figure out how we can turn the All-Star game into a plus for me.”
Gram rubbed Kasey’s back. “Being the MVP gives you a little more for negotiations.”
“I hope so and I hope James decides to stick around after I tell him.” Kasey turned and faced Gram. “He needs to be prepared because the next time a reporter asks me if I’m gay, I’m not going to deny it.”
“But you’re not going to say yes, are you?” Gram studied him.
“I think it’ll be an admission by silence. By not denying it, I’m allowing everyone to draw their own conclusions.” He pressed a soft kiss on Gram’s mouth. “I want to be able to spend every moment with you I can and I’m no longer going to worry about reporters seeing us together without Garrett or one of the girls around. I’m twenty-three. I make an obscene amount of money playing a game. As long as my private life doesn’t affect my game, it shouldn’t matter who I see or what I do.”
“True, love, but not everyone agrees with you. Are you ready to deal with the consequences?” Gram cradled Kasey’s face in his hands. “To me, it doesn’t matter either way. I love you and I’ll be there to back you through it all.”
Kasey pulled Gram to his chest and kissed him with all the love in his heart. Winning the MVP trophy was a great achievement, but the greatest was winning the heart and love of Ingram Fletcher. It was the only one he’d cherish forever.
“Sorry to interrupt, kids, but Quentin called.” Garrett stuck his head in the room. “You’ll have to sneak out through the hotel kitchen. The manager’s cool. He helped me out the last time I stayed here.”