Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles)

by Talia Carmichael

  “Remember that when you’re all over Bernie.”

  “There is nothing between me and Bernie,” Tomas stated again.

  “There’s medicine for denial.” Simon patted him on the shoulder.

  “It’s the truth.” Tomas pushed his hand away and stood, walking toward the kitchen doorway.

  “Miguel, I really didn’t believe you when you said Tomas didn’t have a clue. But he really is oblivious,” Robert said.

  “I forgive you for doubting me, querido. Don’t worry. When he does face it, he’ll be really entertaining to watch,” Miguel said.

  The men all started to laugh. Tomas ignored them and went into the other room. He took a seat at the table next to Bernie.

  “Why did all of your family go into the kitchen? What are they laughing at?” Bernie asked.

  “They have a case of the stupids.” Tomas met his pale green gaze.

  “Ah… ribbing each other again. Who are they picking on this time?” Bernie smiled that crooked grin.

  Tomas studied his lips, not really registering his question. An elbow hit him in the side. Tomas turned.

  “Did I hit you? So sorry.” Mackenzie smiled at him innocently.

  Tomas gritted out, “Do it again and I’ll break it.”

  “You can try,” Mackenzie said cheerfully.

  “I think Tomas was the one they were messing with this time.” Alex sounded a little too happy.

  Tomas turned his attention on him. Alex smirked. Tomas looked around the table, and the other men had similar expressions. From their looks, he knew they all knew what his brothers and cousins had told him in the kitchen.

  “Why are they picking on Tomas?” Bernie’s tone was sharp.

  Tomas glanced at him in surprise. His cheeks were flushed, and his fingers tapped against the table. Tomas put his hand over Bernie’s, stilling it. Bernie’s startled gaze met his. Tomas squeezed his hand.

  “It’s okay. They were being Neanderthals.”

  “Oh… he’s using big words,” Hector said, gripping his shoulder.

  “That’s not the only thing I’ll use upside your head,” Tomas replied.

  He winked at Bernie and released his hand. The others came into the room, and they rejoined the game or went to watch TV. Talking, laughing, and heckling started as they played poker.

  Later, Tomas followed Bernie up the steps to his condo. He caught Bernie as he tripped on the top step, righting him and smiling indulgently. Bernie flushed and hurried to open the door. Then he turned, standing in the doorway.

  “I don’t know why you walked me to the door. You usually just drive off,” Bernie rattled off in one breath.

  “I need a drink,” Tomas said, stepping toward him.

  Bernie backed up and tripped. Tomas caught him again before he could fall. Stifling a smile, Tomas set him on his feet and wandered to the kitchen. He flicked on the lights, went to the fridge, and opened it. He bent over and took out a bottle of water. He also snagged one for Bernie. A low sound came from Bernie. Tomas straightened and glanced at him. Bernie averted his gaze and sat on the stool by the island. He played with the place mat. Tomas walked over, placing the water in front of him, and leaned next to him.

  “Thanks,” Bernie said softly.

  He opened the water and raised it to his lips. Tomas stared at the long line of his neck as his Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. Clearing his throat, Tomas glanced away.

  “You’re welcome. Did you lock the door? You really should keep it locked. When Ramirez and I came by last night, it was unlocked. That’s not safe, kid.”

  “I’m not a kid. And don’t tell me what to do,” Bernie growled, his hand slamming against the counter.

  Tomas looked back at him. Bernie’s looked furious. His lips curled in a snarl. He shifted, almost vibrating. In that moment, it hit Tomas. He put down his water and started to chuckle.

  “What’s so funny?” Bernie snapped.

  Tomas sobered and watched him intently. “Damned if Ramirez isn’t going to win the bet.”

  “What about the bet?”

  “You know about that?” Tomas asked, shifting closer.

  “Yeah. And it seems as if you do too. I bet on it.” Bernie looked uneasy.

  “Who and what did you bet, Bernie?”

  “Ummm… on no one, and for never. You called me Bernie.” Bernie looked baffled.

  “Yeah. That’s your name.” Tomas shifted to stand in front of him.

  Bernie turned automatically to face him. Bernie’s T-shirt hung on his lanky frame. The baggy jeans pulled, cupping his cock. Bernie pushed his shaggy hair back from his face with one slender hand. Tomas held back a groan.

  “I bet never too. But, Bernie….” He trailed off, staring at Bernie’s face.

  “What?” Bernie asked, trepidation in his tone.

  Tomas said nothing, just continued to stare. A blush crept up Bernie’s cheeks. He licked his lips and shifted nervously. Bernie stood abruptly, then tripped. Tomas caught him and pulled him against his body.

  “We’re both gonna lose the bet,” he whispered close to Bernie’s lips.

  “What? Why?” Bernie sputtered.

  “Does your blush go all over?” Tomas asked.

  “I… don’t know. Let me go… Tomas,” Bernie whispered.

  The soft tone went straight to Tomas’s cock. He pulled Bernie closer and closed the distance between their lips.

  “Later… much later,” Tomas promised.

  “Wh—”

  He closed his lips over Bernie’s, cutting him off. Bernie gasped, opening for him. Tomas deepened their kiss, suckling his tongue fiercely. Bernie stiffened, and then relaxed. His arms came up, and he gripped Tomas’s hair. Tomas moaned into his lips. Bernie whimpered and moved against him. The feel of his body against Tomas’s drove all thoughts except one from Tomas’s mind. He wanted Bernie. Now.

  Tomas changed his hold, cupping Bernie’s ass. He lifted him up. Bernie wrapped his long legs around Tomas’s hips.

  Without breaking their kiss, Tomas stepped back and strode to the kitchen doorway. He grunted as his shoulder hit the frame. Tomas continued on, putting one foot after the other. Bernie ground against his aching cock. Cursing into his mouth, Tomas gripped his ass, pulling Bernie against him. Turning, he pressed him up against the bedroom doorframe. He thrust against him. Bernie let out a wild moan. Tomas took the sound down and licked along his tongue.

  Straightening, Tomas staggered and righted himself. He strode forward and lowered Bernie to the bed. He settled over Bernie, rocking against him. Tomas hissed at the friction against his hardened shaft. Gasping, he pulled his head back and thrust against Bernie. Bernie’s face was flushed, and he whimpered. Tomas leaned down and bit against the side of Bernie’s throat. Bernie arched and moaned, and then he stiffened, pushing Tomas back. Tomas growled and locked gazes with his.

  “This isn’t because of obligation, or pity sex, is it?” Bernie was hoarse.

  “Obligation. No.” Tomas smiled slowly. “But pity, on the other hand. This is all about that.”

  “I don’t want pity sex. Get off me.” Bernie scowled and pushed at him.

  “You didn’t let me finish.” Tomas settled more firmly between his spread legs before continuing. “This is all about you taking pity on me.”

  “What?” Bernie frowned, his nose wrinkling in a sexy way. Tomas kissed his nose, then leaned back.

  “You taking pity on me for being so blind about this. About us. Let me have you, honey.”

  “Why are you calling me honey?” Bernie looked confused.

  Tomas smiled wryly. It was a slip of the tongue. One that somehow felt right. He decided to go with the truth to answer Bernie’s question.

  “Now that I’ve opened my eyes to what you are to me, I want you to be mine. My honey,” Tomas whispered, leaning down.

  Bernie shivered, then shook his head. “This seems so sudden.”

  Tomas looked at Bernie in disbelief. “We’ve been hanging
out for almost a year. And hell, you cook for me almost every night. I’m at your house more than my own.”

  “Yeah. But until a few days… hell, a few hours ago… I was still ‘kid’. What changed? Or are you just horny?” Bernie looked mulish.

  “Now you choose to be difficult? You’re usually so agreeable.” Tomas groaned and rolled off him.

  Bernie put his hands over his eyes and shifted. Tomas caught his arm. He pulled Bernie against him and put his leg over Bernie’s, trapping Bernie against him. Bernie shivered, then pushed at Tomas’s chest.

  “Let me go,” Bernie gritted out.

  “After I answer your question,” Tomas snapped.

  “You don’t need to touch me for that.” Bernie subsided and glowered.

  “I find that I have to.” Tomas leaned down and kissed his lips softly. He leaned back, stifling a smile at Bernie’s cute baffled expression. He put his arm over him, stroking his finger along Bernie’s back. Bernie shivered, then moaned. Tomas made a mental note of his reaction. He cleared his throat, then spoke.

  “Yes, I’m horny.”

  Bernie stiffened, then tried to jerk away. Tomas held him.

  “Calm down and let me finish. Are you usually so disagreeable? I never noticed before.” Tomas watched Bernie in speculation.

  “I’m not. You’re the ornery one.” Bernie sounded affronted.

  “True. And you’ll do well with me to remember that. I am a lot to deal with. And I don’t plan on changing. I’m possessive, stubborn, and aggressive. And I have tendencies to… um… be mother hennish. Or so I’ve been told.” Tomas’s lips twitched.

  “You haven’t said anything I don’t already know.” Bernie pursed his lips.

  “Well, Mr. Know-It-Already, what you might not know is, when I get over being obstinate and decide I want something, I go after it with everything I have. And I don’t do anything half-assed. So are you ready for that?” Tomas gazed at him steadily.

  “For what? You aren’t making any sense.” Bernie wrinkled his nose again.

  “I’m usually better at showing than talking about it.” Tomas sighed.

  “No. Really? Had no clue from your seeming to be always telling me what to do.” Bernie’s tone was dry.

  “See? That’s one of the things I like about you. That smart mouth. Your ability to take my shit and give it back in your own way. You don’t vocalize your displeasure much. But I know when you’re really pissed at me, you make brussels sprouts. It’s your nonverbal way of letting me know you are.” Tomas chuckled.

  “I don’t do that.” Bernie flushed.

  “Yeah, you do. And that blush. I so want to know if it goes all over.” Tomas’s voice went low and deep.

  Bernie groaned and shifted against him. His cock was still erect. Tomas moved against him, letting him feel his still-hard shaft.

  “Uh-uh. I don’t know what this has to do with anything. I’m not going to fulfill some itch you have.” Bernie’s voice rose.

  “Calm down. This isn’t an itch, or obligation, or just horniness—although that is one part. You’re a very sexy man, Bernie, in a geeky way that pushes all my buttons,” Tomas whispered against the side of his face.

  The heat of Bernie’s face warmed his. Tomas licked along the blush staining his cheek. He pulled back and studied the eyes that had come to mean more to him than he ever expected.

  “With all that you know about me, are you ready to take me on? Try being together and see where this spark we have will take us?” Tomas studied him.

  Bernie bit his lip. Tomas blew out a breath. He wasn’t good at this verbal stuff. And although he was ready to go all in with this, maybe Bernie needed time to shift gears. Tomas knew what he had to do. Pulling in all his control, he breathed out again slowly.

  “You probably need time to think. So, think about it.” Shrugging, he loosened his hold and rolled away.

  A hand gripped his arm.

  Tomas breathed again. “I’m trying to give you time, kid. But my control isn’t good enough to keep lying here.”

  “I don’t want you to be in control.” Bernie’s voice was soft and seductive.

  “Be sure of this, kid.” Tomas glanced at him.

  “I’m not a kid. I’m your honey,” Bernie growled.

  He pulled Tomas to him and kissed him. Tomas fell back on the bed. Bernie followed him, straddling him. He kissed Tomas fiercely, his hands gripping Tomas’s face. Bernie rocked against him. Tomas sank his hands into Bernie’s hair, holding him. Bernie licked inside his mouth, moaning. The vibration went straight to his cock. Bernie sat back, unbuttoning Tomas’s shirt.

  Once it was open, Bernie’s hot hands ran down Tomas’s naked chest. Tomas moaned as Bernie scraped his nails over his nipples. Bernie leaned down and suckled his nipples. Tomas’s toes curled, and he whimpered. He held Bernie’s head against his chest. Bernie licked across to the other nipple, giving it the same suckling. He went from one to the other, licking and sucking them. Tomas rocked against the bed, moaning.

  “You’re sensitive. Good,” Bernie said against his nipple.

  “Do you need to talk so much in bed?” Tomas cried.

  “Oh, yeah. I’m going to tell you what I am going to let you do to me—fuck me deep and hard. Then I’m going to flip you over and ride your cock.” Bernie’s decadent whisper filled the air.

  “Then get on with it already,” Tomas growled.

  “So romantic.” Bernie made a “tsking” sound.

  “I’ll show you romance another time. Let me fuck you,” Tomas moaned.

  “Sure. I’m just waiting for you to.” Bernie smirked.

  Tomas grinned wickedly. “Hold on, then.”

  He rolled them over. Quickly, he took off Bernie’s clothes, then stood, shucking his own. Bernie reached over to the nightstand and pulled out a strip of condoms and lube.

  Tomas picked them up and looked at him. “Is that all? Hope you have more.”

  “I don’t. But if you use all of them, I’ll go somewhere you want to with no questions asked.” Bernie’s smile was a challenge.

  “And I the same. Prepare to lose. And I already know where I want to go.” Tomas liked the stakes.

  “Have at it.” Bernie waved his hand down his body.

  “And you call me romantic.” Tomas snorted.

  “You want romance? Okay. Then how about this?” Bernie spread his legs, playing with his dick. He closed his eyes, then moaned and arched his back. Tomas’s mouth went dry. Bernie ran his thumb over the head of his red-tipped erection. Tomas raised his eyes to Bernie’s. Bernie’s lids were at half-mast over those pale green eyes, and there was a wicked grin on those Cupid-bow lips. Tomas put his knee on the bed and leaned over, licking along the top of his lip.

  Bernie raised his head and closed their lips together. He pulled away and whispered against Tomas’s lips, “In me. Now.”

  “So demanding,” Tomas said.

  “Move it.” Bernie slapped the side of Tomas’s hip.

  Tomas jerked, startled. Bernie chuckled softly, then rolled away. Tomas stopped him with a hand on his hip. Bernie looked over his shoulder in question.

  “On your back. I want to see your face,” Tomas stated.

  Tomas pulled him back, positioning him. Blanketing Bernie with his body, Tomas shivered as their naked bodies touched. The silky feel of Bernie’s skin tantalized his heated flesh. Grunting, Tomas rocked his cock between Bernie’s legs. Bernie widened his legs, his hips cradling Tomas’s. Bernie countered his movements. They thrust against each other, rocking. Wetness coated them between their bodies. Tomas shifted and grabbed the condom and lube. He sheathed himself and put lube on. Tomas wet his fingers with the cool slickness, then reached under Bernie. Bernie canted his ass, giving him better access. Tomas pushed one finger between his cheeks. Bernie’s moan filled the air. His passage closed around Tomas’s digit, warm and tight. Tomas groaned, imagining how it would feel around his cock. He added more lube and another finger. Bernie opened up
for him. The sounds of need flooded from his lips.

  “Fill me… give it… to me… yes… right there…. come on, Tomas,” Bernie demanded.

  At the sound of his name, Tomas shifted, lining up his cock against Bernie’s pucker. He surged forward, filling him in one thrust. Tomas closed his lips over Bernie’s, swallowing his gasp. Bernie gripped his shaft, moving in a downward motion of his hips. Tomas grunted as he stroked in and out. Bernie sucked his tongue, his fingers digging into Tomas’s shoulder. Tomas moaned at the bite of his nails. Bernie shuddered, and wetness soaked them both as his cock pulsed with his release. Tomas stroked harder, watching his face. It was etched with harsh pleasure. Bernie’s eyes closed tightly, a grimace on his face. Bernie gasped, then seemed to relax. He opened bleary eyes and met Tomas’s gaze. Bernie smiled, a wanton grin, then put his hand in the middle of his chest.

  “Now that the edge is off, it’s my turn to fuck you.” Bernie’s voice was husky.

  “How the hell can you talk so clearly?” Tomas punctuated each word with a thrust.

  “The same way you can,” Bernie grunted.

  “I haven’t come yet,” Tomas said.

  “Before you do, you will be babbling incoherently,” Bernie promised.

  He pushed at Tomas’s chest. Tomas rolled them without separating them. Bernie settled his legs around Tomas’s hips and rocked. Tomas gulped at the fierce, wild look on his face.

  He is sexy. It was his last thought as Bernie drove him out of his mind.

  BERNIE SANK down onto Tomas’s shaft, squeezing. Tomas’s neck bulged as he shuddered. Smiling, Bernie lowered his lids and rocked down and up. Tomas put his hand over his head, gripping the headboard. Bernie leaned over and gripped his forearms. The muscles in his arms shifted under Bernie’s fingers as he moved. Tomas grunted with each thrust of his body.

  “Do you like the feel of me on your cock, Tomas?” he gritted out.

  “You talk too much.” Tomas opened one bleary brown eye.

  “One day, I’m gonna make you come just by talking to you. I won’t touch you, just watch you from across the room, and talk. About each thing we do. Every movement. The scents of us together.” Bernie rocked after each word.