Bringing Him Home

by Penny Brandon

  When he first saw him, Kyle had been shaken. The man had a body that stirred a deep, primal hunger within him, which had been surprising because it had been a long time since that had happened, but what had captured and snagged his attention most was the look in those hazel eyes. Desire was the first thing he'd noticed and it was the first thing Kyle had reacted to, but there had been something else present in the multiflecked depths, something not quite definable but definitely interesting. Right then and there, he'd decided he wanted to find out what it was, so when the door had been surprisingly slammed in his face, he'd decided to wait.

  It hadn't been easy, patiently waiting, especially when he'd heard the unmistakable sounds of the man masturbating. Lust had hit him full force, which had turned into a fierce arousal that refused to quit. He'd been tempted to ease the tension, as the other man was doing, but he didn't want to miss the opportunity of hearing every moan and harsh breath or the final cry of culmination. Control had been something Kyle had lots of practice at, but it had been sorely tested as he'd imagined the way the man's hand would move over his body, how it would at first caress, then grip his cock before starting a slow but powerful cycle of pleasure. And the one thing he definitely didn't want to miss was catching him coming out of the shower stalls.

  Now, with the man looking at him with an avid gleam, Kyle was glad he'd waited. He bent to pick up his bag and fallen jacket, astonished at how his hand was shaking slightly. He saw the other man pick up his own bag, and as the guy straightened, Kyle admired the flex of his muscles, the tightness of his ass. The man had a great body, and if that kiss was anything to go by, he knew how to use it. That they both wanted to fuck each other senseless was a given, but Kyle really wasn't after a quick, casual fuck; he'd given that up long ago, and he didn't see himself reverting back to the way he used to be, either, so what now?

  Tearing his gaze away from the man's ass, Kyle had to wonder what this could ultimately lead. But first, perhaps he should concentrate on where it should start.

  He followed the man across the parking lot toward the cafe. The low, single-story building was at the front of the large graveled area that was used primarily for the big rigs that stopped there. The shower block they'd just vacated sat at the side of the cafe, far enough away that the users would have some privacy, but not so far it could be used for anything other than what it was built for. Kyle realized they could easily have been spotted, and was thankful their liaison had gone unnoticed. Or at least he hoped so. Not that he cared what people thought, but a truck stop with big, burly heterosexual drivers would not be a place one man wanted to get caught kissing another.

  However, that didn't stop him from admiring the ass that paraded in front of him, or from appreciating the long legs that sauntered with just the right amount of confidence and swagger. Clad in light blue jeans, with a white T-shirt emphasizing the broad, well-muscled torso, the view from this angle was just as good as the front had been. "Hey!"

  The stranger stopped and turned around. That gaze of his seemed to pin Kyle to the pavement.

  "Yes?"

  "I don't know your name."

  A wide smile had butterflies dancing in Kyle's stomach and a slither of desire flitting up his spine, but because his cock was still hard and stuffed painfully into the tight confines of his jeans, he didn't appreciate the added stimulation.

  "It's Jared. You?"

  "Kyle."

  "Nice to meet you, Kyle." The pleasantries were said with a mock bow and a twist of Jared's lips. Humor danced in those eyes, but so did something else. Hunger?

  Shit! He liked the way Jared had said his name, with a soft edge that seemed to make a promise out of it, and right then Kyle didn't care that his cock gave a strangled twitch; in fact he kind of hoped Jared noticed.

  A few minutes later, they sat in a booth in a secluded corner of the cafe. Though it was early morning, the cafe was pretty full of rig drivers and tourists, alike, so they were lucky to have a little space to themselves. Kyle wanted privacy so he was able to talk freely. He wanted to ask Jared as many questions as possible so he could get some kind of idea if they had any similar likes or dislikes. And he wasn't just thinking of the sexual kind either, though he knew they would end up discussing that sooner or later. Just the mere thought had Kyle's blood thickening--and everything else. And he'd only just got his erection to subside a little! Damn it!

  "You hungry?" He asked the question to get his mind off the throbbing between his thighs. There was only one kind of hunger he wanted to alleviate, but he grabbed the menu off the table and quickly began to read.

  Jared had settled deep into the padded seat opposite him and had also picked up a menu, but though he glanced at it, he didn't seem particularly interested in the contents. Kyle watched him for a moment, fascinated by the play of emotions on his face. Jared was cautious suddenly, yet as their eyes met, the light in them belied the frown on his brow.

  "Jared, you hungry?" he repeated.

  Jared shrugged, and Kyle's attention was ripped from his face to the impressive width of the man's chest. Kyle suddenly found it was possible to get turned on just by eyeing the bulk of a man's pecs. This man's, anyway. Stopping his thoughts right there, he once again brought his gaze back to Jared's eyes. They were seriously fascinating, the different-colored hues making it almost impossible to look away. Would those eyes change color as some hazel eyes were likely to do when they were riding an emotional high? Kyle smiled to himself and decided he couldn't wait to find out if those flecks of color would darken or lighten when Jared was just about to come.

  Shit, there he was again, thinking of sex. It seemed impossible to think of anything else, though, not when the man he was so interested in, so attracted to was sitting close to him. If he reached out his hand, he could touch him, but he had a feeling Jared wouldn't like that. Not in plain sight anyway.

  The slightly awkward set of Jared's shoulders was more than likely due to his being uncomfortable in public with a potential lover. Kyle understood that, had felt it himself a few times when he'd first started dating. But he wasn't worried; once they got to know each other and were more comfortable in each other's company, then Jared wouldn't look like he was going to jump out of his skin if anyone made so much as a move toward him. At least Kyle hoped so. That's of course if they actually got past having breakfast together, because if Jared didn't loosen up anytime soon, it might not even happen.

  When the waitress arrived, Jared seemed to sink farther into his seat, and Kyle decided to order for both of them, chancing a look into the other man's eyes as he did so. "You okay with that?" he asked once the waitress had left.

  "Bit late now."

  "You could have said something."

  "Yeah, I know. Sorry, I'm just..."

  "A little uncomfortable. I figured," Kyle added at Jared's raised eyebrow.

  Jared took in a breath, then blew it out. He relaxed a little, which was a big improvement, and it made Kyle feel a little more hopeful.

  "Where are you headed?" Jared asked, toying with the salt shaker sitting in the middle of the table. It sounded like an idle question, but even as Jared asked it, his eyes bored into Kyle's, demanding an answer. The right answer.

  Kyle worried his lip. He knew this would come up, but he wasn't ready for it. Maybe they weren't going to get past breakfast after all, but for a totally different reason. He tried to sound nonchalant and casually shrugged. "Nowhere in particular."

  Jared's long, tapered fingers stilled. "You're a drifter?" The speculation in Jared's eyes was no less than Kyle expected--he'd seen it a hundred times--but there was no follow-up of disdain or derision, and for that he was grateful.

  "You could say that."

  "How about I don't say anything, and you tell me."

  The warmth that spread through Kyle's chest had everything to do with Jared's casual acceptance. He wasn't judging out of hand but was waiting for Kyle's explanation. There weren't many people out
there who would do that. He smiled and patted the bag beside him. "I can travel because I take my work with me."

  "Yeah? What kind of work do you do?"

  Kyle grinned, quickly noticing the way Jared's eyes darkened as he did so. His grin deepened, figuring he'd just got a glimpse of how Jared would look as he was coming. "You like computer games, Jared?"

  "Some."

  "Well, I write them."

  The surprise in Jared's eyes lightened them again. "You're kidding," he said, smiling.

  Kyle smiled back, leaning against the table between them. "Nope. I had a nice little business a while back, which I got out of. It left me financially secure, so I spend my time playing games and investing my money."

  "Nice job if you can get it."

  "It has its perks." Kyle hesitated, wondering if it was too soon to say anything more, but as Jared seemed to be waiting for him to add something, he jumped in with both feet. "Like being able to go where I want, when I want, and with whom I want," he added, knowing he couldn't make himself any more obvious.

  Jared started playing with the salt shaker again. Kyle watched him closely and was a little disappointed when he didn't say anything. Just then the waitress came with their order, and anything Jared would have said was lost as he picked up his fork and started eating.

  Kyle tried not to show his disappointment. He couldn't expect Jared to suddenly wax lyrical and start touting the possibility of an undying love, but he had thought Jared would have seen some sort of opportunity in Kyle being free of any ties or commitment and shown some interest. Maybe he'd been wrong. Maybe Jared didn't want anything from him. No. There was no way he couldn't, not after the kiss they'd shared. So what was he supposed to do now?

  He ate in silence, not really tasting the food on his plate or taking notice of anything else around him. He shook his head. He'd got it bad, he realized. Right now he was contemplating asking Jared right out if he could go with him. How pathetic was that?

  Suddenly Jared pushed away his plate and stood up. He fished out his wallet from his back pocket and threw some notes onto the table.

  Stunned, Kyle stared up at him. "I was paying for this."

  "You said you'd buy me coffee. This was more than coffee." He bent and picked up his bag, slinging it over his shoulder.

  Kyle didn't move, worried he was going to see Jared walk away but not knowing what to do about it. Then Jared leaned over him, one hand on the table, the other on the back of the bench behind his head. At that angle, in that position, Kyle got an eyeful of Jared's crotch. There was a distinct bulge behind the zipper of his jeans.

  "For the past five minutes, I've been doing nothing but thinking of fucking you. I can't stand sitting here a minute longer. I'm going. You coming with me?"

  The low rumble of Jared's deep voice vibrated through every bone in Kyle's body, and the double meaning was not lost on him. He jumped up out of his seat, nearly giving Jared a head butt in the process. He quickly grabbed his own wallet and threw a few more notes on the table, not caring if the tip he'd left was more than the waitress's wages; he was in too much of a hurry following the man who had just got his boner started all over again.

  He fell into step with Jared, noting they both had the same easy stride while taking a quick glance at Jared's profile. The man's jaw was strong, his lips full, his brow high, with a lock of dark hair that fell across it. He was good-looking with an air of brooding melancholy that Kyle found both fascinating and sad. Right now Jared's jaw was clenched tight, his lips had thinned out, and his brow was furrowed. Jared really needed to learn to lighten up and relax.

  They stopped at a large 18-wheeler, the cab shiny black with a silver decal that represented naked female curves. Kyle raised an eyebrow. Jared just shrugged. Anchored to the back of the rig was a huge trailer that was intended for livestock, though he could tell it was now empty.

  Jared unlocked the cab and swung himself inside, inviting Kyle to do the same on the other side. Over the last few months, Kyle had been inside a couple of rigs, and this was no different. The seats were wide and comfortable, the dash full of dials and levers that allowed the driver to know what was going on all around him at the same time.

  Jared started the engine, the roar of diesel turbines filling the empty space between them. Without a word, Jared put the rig in gear and pulled out of the parking lot before easing into the mainstream traffic and settling into a steady speed.

  Kyle waited about ten minutes before saying anything. He knew Jared had to concentrate on driving, but he felt there was something else keeping Jared quiet. After a couple of minutes of strained silence, Kyle couldn't take any more.

  "What were you hauling?"

  "Livestock."

  "I figured that."

  Jared glanced at him and then smiled. "Sorry. It's just that I'm not used to this."

  "This, as in inviting someone to take a ride with you?"

  "Yeah."

  "For a while there, I didn't think you were going to," Kyle said.

  "For a while there, I nearly didn't."

  Jared's honesty, though refreshing, stung. Kyle didn't like the idea that Jared had even remotely thought of not asking him to go with him. "Why not?" he asked, disgusted with himself as he heard his voice rise an octave.

  "I don't know what to do with you."

  "You don't...?" Kyle didn't know whether to laugh or get Jared to stop the truck. "You're fucking with me, right?"

  Jared shook his head. "No. I really don't do this, Kyle, but when I saw you, tasted you...I wanted you. Really wanted you."

  Kyle saw Jared's hands tighten on the steering wheel, and then Jared turned his head toward him. His eyes glittered with an emotion that wasn't too hard to define.

  "Well, that's nice to know."

  Jared's smile was grim. "Sorry. I'm not doing this right. Hell, I don't even know what I'm doing."

  Kyle sat back in his seat. He didn't really know what he was doing, either, but like Jared, once he saw him, Kyle had known he wanted him. "How about we take this one step at a time?"

  Jared nodded slowly. "Yeah, I think we can do that." He seemed to relax a little, which Kyle took to be a good sign, but he wanted Jared to loosen up completely.

  "So what's the first step? We stop somewhere and fuck each other senseless?" Though he'd used a teasing tone, he was serious. He wanted to fuck Jared until the man begged for more.

  Jared's laugh was like sweet music to Kyle's ears, and the tension that had strung Jared's body tight fell away. "I think that can be arranged," Jared said, glancing at him again.

  Kyle smiled in return, settling in his seat while letting the rocking motion of the truck relax him. He was tired, as he hadn't gotten any sleep last night. The group of teenagers he'd hitched a lift with had decided that the road trip they were on would go better with round after round of beer. After a few hours, they were too plastered to drive, and as they weren't anywhere near a rest stop, Kyle had thought it prudent to take over until he could get them somewhere safer than the side of the road.

  He'd pulled in to the truck stop and left the teenagers to their own devices and then decided to take a shower before getting something to eat and finding another ride. He looked over at Jared, who was concentrating on the road but seemed to know that Kyle was looking at him, because he smiled. Jared had a really nice smile, open and honest but with a sexy twist to it. He also had a great body, strong, with muscles that bunched and flexed with a fluid grace as he moved. Kyle had got a really good look at him that morning in the shower, but he wanted to see more, wanted also to see how it would react when Kyle was plunging in and out of him.

  Certain decisions led to certain consequences, and Kyle knew every decision he'd made so far had been the right one, especially the one he'd made after witnessing the need in Jared's expressive hazel eyes.

  He fought back a yawn but knew it was a lost cause. He needed to get some sleep because he wasn't going to be any us
e to Jared unless he did. He closed his eyes for a moment, and then snapped them back open when he felt a nudge to his ribs.

  "You falling asleep?"

  "Yeah, sorry. I drove all night with a bunch of teenagers," he explained.

  Jared jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Why don't you get in back?"

  Interest piqued, Kyle sat forward. "Is that how you like it?"

  "Not me, the bunk!"

  "I know, I know." Kyle inspected the bunk situated behind the rig. There was a mattress and a sleeping bag in there and not much else, but he was grateful for anything he could get right now. Climbing over his seat, he settled into the small cubby, which drivers used to sleep when on a long haul.

  It smelled of Jared. His scent permeated the air and the material of the sleeping bag. The clean yet musky smell filled his nostrils and caused his stomach to clench in desire. Hot tendrils curled through his chest and down to his groin, and his ever present hard-on got harder. He moaned softly, burying his face in Jared's pillow, trying to ignore the need to release his cock and rub it along the soft fabric of the padded bag beneath him.

  He closed his eyes and tried not to think of how he was going to have Jared. How Jared would feel beneath him, and how the hard length of his cock was going to glide into the tight channel of Jared's ass. He tried not to think of it, but the images in his mind wouldn't go away, and eventually they chased him down into sleep.

  Chapter Two

  Jared tightened his fingers around the large steering wheel, feeling the vibrations of the truck's engine through the palms of his hands. Kyle was asleep behind him, the man's soft breathing slow and even. The sound was soothing, relaxing, but it didn't stop Jared from wondering why Kyle was even here. What he was doing was so out of character he had to seriously think hard about why he was doing it. It was Kyle, obviously. He'd seen something in Kyle's eyes that told him this man was someone he'd be able to trust. He also couldn't ignore the fact that Kyle just did something to him, and he'd been right about how he kissed. Just the memory of that kiss had Jared's thighs tightening and his cock twitching in his jeans. He sighed, caught between physical lust and wary expectation. He wanted Kyle, wanted to feel his body beneath him, wanted to know how good it would be to pound into him hard and fast, but as foolish as it might seem, he'd wanted to get to know Kyle first. And then take him, hard and fast.