Nicolas

by Dianne Hartsock

  Nico’s pulse jumped, but he managed to keep his voice soothing. “Of course. Let me get the light.”

  When the room was once again dark, he stripped out of his clothes. His hands shook a little when he lit the candle on the table and climbed quickly into the warm bed. He could have sworn Jamie giggled under his breath when he spooned up against him. Cristo, he loved him. The heat of his body seeped into Nico, penetrating the chill that had touched his soul. The nightmare faded in the reality of the vibrant man. He sighed and closed his eyes, willing sleep to come. Instead, he became aware of every breath that lifted Jamie’s chest, the stroke of his fingers on the arm he had draped over his waist.

  Jamie clasped his hand and lifted it to his lips, and the press of that hot mouth against his palm filled him with sudden aching want. Jamie’s tongue licked up his hand, and his blood surged, heart thundering when those soft lips slid over his thumb and swallowed him in. Jamie sucked the thick digit and Nico’s cock throbbed in sympathy.

  With a deep groan, he pulled Jamie tight against him. Longing flooded his heart, and he trembled, overcome with the strong emotions swelling in his chest. Lust foremost. It had been long, empty years since sex had been anything more than sating a need. But love was there also, a sharp bliss piercing his heart.

  Jamie wiggled his ass, pushing into Nico’s swelling dick, and he hissed at the delicious pressure. Rising on an elbow, he watched his thumb pass back and forth between Jamie’s lips and shivered, feeling that draw down in his balls. Jamie glanced up through his lashes and caught his gaze. At his impish smile, Nico tugged his hand free and leaned, capturing those glistening lips in a kiss. He groaned into Jamie’s sweet mouth as their tongues slid together.

  Shifting his hips, he eased his cock between the mounds of Jamie’s ass, pushing until he nudged against his balls. He felt Jamie’s moan along the length of his body and his head swam, lost in a surge of pure lust. With his shaft snug in the tight hollow between Jamie’s thighs, he gave a few gentle thrusts, pleasure bursting through him at the tight friction.

  He reached around and gripped Jamie’s cock, hot and hard, ready for him. With a hiss of ecstasy Jamie thrust up into his fist. God! He’d never had a lover this responsive to his touch. Overwhelmed, nearly suffocating with emotion, he moved back and rolled Jamie under him, taking his mouth in a kiss full of heat and love.

  Jamie’s delighted laughter thrilled his soul, as did the hot kisses he planted on his cheeks and neck. With a laugh of his own, he pressed up on his arms, taking his weight off Jamie, and looked down the length of their bodies. The faint hint of breasts on Jamie’s lightly freckled chest made his mouth water for a taste. He ached to nibble the rosy tips. Sliding his cock alongside Jamie’s, the intimate crush of their balls devastated him.

  A soft breath from his lover drew his gaze back to his face. The flush of passion in the candlelight made him lovely, but Nico didn’t understand the sadness in his blue eyes. He pressed a kiss to his parted lips. “What is it, mio caro?”

  “I wish—” Jamie broke off and glanced away, the joy leaving his expressive face.

  Nico’s heart twisted, and he wanted to take away every drop of Jamie’s pain. “Tell me, my dear,” he begged. Had he done something wrong with the sensitive man?

  Jamie’s chest rose on a strong emotion and he looked down at their bodies. The misery in his voice brought the sting of tears to Nico’s eyes. “I wish I was what you wanted, not this soft—”

  Nico crushed their mouths together, stopping his painful words. “Tesoro mio,” he murmured between kisses, berating himself for denying his attraction for even one second. Gathering Jamie to him, he kissed his wet lashes and trembling mouth. “Jamie, angelo mio, you are exquisite! Intelligent and caring and beautiful. Everything I could desire. I’ve tried to protect you from Piter’s attention by denying my need for you. But I can’t resist your sweetness any longer.”

  Jamie’s eyes widened and he moistened his lips several times before he spoke, stoking the fire in Nico’s gut. “Make love to me,” he whispered, and rushed on when Nico began to pull away. “I want this. I want Piter to know we belong together.”

  Nico lost his breath, trembled, wanting Jamie more than anything else in life. Dare he take Jamie as his lover? Jamie looked at him with bright eyes, open, trusting. Nico drew in a ragged breath. He’d been alone for so damn long. Maybe Jamie was his answer.

  He leaned down and kissed him. “Ti amo,” he whispered against his soft lips. “I love you, Jamie. Wait,” he said, stopping Jamie’s reply with a finger on his lips. “Don’t say anything. You don’t know me. Not yet. But I will show you my secrets. If you love me after that….” He pressed his forehead to Jamie’s, looked in his eyes, and thrilled at the flash of anger in the blue depths.

  “Darling,” he murmured and kissed him, surrendering to Jamie’s urgent embrace.

  Chapter Eight

  JAMIE COULDN’T stop shaking, every flick of Nico’s tongue on his nipple sending a spark of pleasure straight to his balls. His dick ached, exquisite torture as Nico ground his thick cock against his leg, hot and hard, driving him mad with need. Nico nipped his breast and he cried out, arching his back as pleasure zinged through him. His lover’s tongue and lips soothed the sting, and he imagined that talented mouth on his dick, sucking and licking him to orgasm.

  Nico switched to his other nipple. God! He was going to come without ever having Nico inside him. The flicker of the candlelight caught his attention, and he watched the flame dance while Nico slowly drove him wild. Nico’s weight held him in place while his wicked tongue ravaged his nerves. Heat pooled in his groin, slid down to his tight balls. Desperate, he tried to distract himself, but the heady scent of precum mixed with the sweat of their bodies and candlewax, rushing him toward ecstasy.

  Nico raised his head and Jamie fell into his heated gaze, groaned when Nico nibbled his lips and gave him a naughty smile.

  “Baby, I’m not going to last,” he panted and heard the pleading note in his voice. He didn’t care. He needed Nico in him now!

  Lust flashed in Nico’s eyes, but he bit his lip as if fighting for control. “Are you sure?” he asked, voice thick.

  Jamie held his gaze, knowing Nico was asking for more than just a shared fuck. If they did this, he’d be twining his fate with a man he hardly knew. Joy suddenly swept through him. He was right where he wanted to be. He nodded. “Yes.” He looked across the bedroom. “The stuff’s in there.”

  Nico followed his gaze to the bathroom door and asked with humor, “The doctor keeps condoms in the guest bathroom?”

  Jamie hated the heat that rose in his face. “I found them in the medicine cabinet. Let me go clean up….” His voice trailed off in embarrassment.

  Nico shouted in delight, but Jamie wouldn’t meet his eyes until Nico touched his cheek. “You’re adorable,” Nico assured him and gave him a deep kiss before pushing him off the bed.

  Jamie hurried with his ablutions in the bathroom, though his eagerness made his hands shake. He grinned in the mirror before retrieving the condoms and lube from the cabinet. He’d have to remember to thank the doctor for his thoughtfulness when he next saw him. The storm must be keeping him stranded where he was.

  Nico sat in the middle of the bed, waiting for him, and Jamie’s heart pounded as he joined him, tossing the supplies by the pillows before crawling toward his lover. Nico pulled him in, kissed his face, murmured soft words in Italian against his lips. So sexy. He lowered Jamie to his back on the bed and nudged his legs apart, kneeling between his thighs. Jamie drew several deep breaths to calm his thundering heart. He usually bottomed, but it had been a while.

  He shivered deliciously when Nico planted hot kisses on his inner thighs, breath warm on his skin, and Nico drew Jamie’s knees up and spread him open to his gaze. Heat scorched Jamie’s skin. He’d never felt more exposed or more fucking hard in his life. He panted and stared at the dark ceiling, willing his muscles to relax. Anticipation made him trembl
e. Nico licked his balls, and he cried out in surprise, then groaned when that decadent tongue slid lower and circled his sensitive hole. He jumped with each flick of its tip over the puckered skin. It poked inside him and Jamie’s bones dissolved at the carnal act as Nico’s tongue slid in and out, teasing him open.

  All too soon, Nico withdrew and Jamie swallowed a sob, empty, when Nico sat up. He watched, nerves raw, while Nico slicked his fingers with lube. Nico’s wink shattered him, and he groaned as Nico slowly slid a finger into him. Jamie pushed down hard, needing so much more than this. Nico’s chuckle slithered up his spine as he added a second finger, making Jamie squirm with pleasure when he drew circles on Jamie’s dick with his tongue. Nico removed his fingers, and Jamie tried to breathe as Nico rolled on a condom and the thick head of his cock pushed at Jamie’s slick opening. With a gentle thrust, he was in and Jamie winced at the sting, grateful when Nico gave him time to catch his breath.

  Holding his gaze, Nico reached a hand between them and stroked his dick, the pleasure distracting him as he was stretched wide. Nico filled his ass, becoming part of him, inching inside until he was fully immersed. Emotion swelled in Jamie’s chest when Nico moved, slow jolts of pleasure. Soon enough Jamie begged, wild with the need to have Nico deeper, harder. Nico sped up, sure thrusts. He cried out when Nico changed angles, and with just a few plunges he was coming, his loneliness and pain leaving in a flash of ecstasy from his balls, spilling between them. Nico grunted, shoved harder, and with a shuddering moan came as well, whispering Jamie’s name and a string of words in Italian he couldn’t understand. But the tender tone melted his heart.

  He laughed a little, elated, and Nico dropped his sweaty face against his neck and covered his chin and jaw in passionate kisses. He turned his head and Nico claimed his lips, giving gentle kisses filled with love. Jamie blinked at tears, and he nudged Nico’s head up, needing to see his eyes. Happiness glittered in the hazel depths, and Nico’s smile stole his breath.

  “Darling,” he murmured, taking Nico’s tempting mouth. After a pleasurable moment, Nico rolled off him with a tired, contented sigh, and Jamie stretched, wonderfully sore. He sat up and grabbed a few tissues off the nightstand for the condom Nico removed, then left the bed and padded to the bathroom to clean up. Searching his face in the mirror over the sink, he noted the kiss-swollen lips and sated, happy look in his eyes.

  “It’s been a while,” he told his reflection and smiled. Whatever happened in the future, he’d have this perfect evening to remember. He returned to the bedroom with a damp cloth, but Nico already slept, so he set it aside and blew out the candle, then climbed under the covers, curling up against his lover’s warm body.

  The dream slammed into Jamie almost at once and he cried out, not wanting to be there.

  THE ROOM was hot from the fire and sweat burst out on his body. He grabbed his brothers’ hands, both of the boys younger than he and staring at the large man, their eyes wide. The butcher seemed surprised by their appearance on his doorstep and the older brother quickly cleared his throat. “Please, could you spare some scraps from your table? My brothers haven’t eaten this day, nor yesterday.”

  He ignored his own hunger. He’d promised Mama he’d take care of them. The man rounded the table he worked at and they took a step back, frightened by the blood staining his smock.

  The man’s smile didn’t reach his cold eyes. “Don’t be afraid. Come in! Sit by the fire. I have some stew left over….”

  The boy stared, rooted to the spot by fear as his brothers ran to the fire. He wanted to scream as the man came up to them, anything to stop the arch of the cleaver in his hand, but only felt the helpless tears wash down his face. He hadn’t saved them. At his turn, the sharp blade landed, slicing a path of fire across his tender throat. His breathing sputtered while he drowned in blood. The cleaver rose again, but he was already falling to the floor, his gaze imploring, turning to despair at the crazed look in the butcher’s green eyes….

  JAMIE WOKE, clamping a hand over the scream trying to force its way through his constricted throat. What a horrible dream! His heart thundered, and he lay a moment panting with fear, trying to calm the panic shooting through his body. It was only a dream. No reason to wake Nico. He rolled toward the warm body next to him, but couldn’t make out his lover’s features in the darkness.

  With care he reached out a hand and touched Nico’s face. His breath caught, then settled back into the rhythm of sleep. Jamie listened to him for a moment, wanting to be held against his strong chest. He ached to make love, drive off the nightmare, have Nico’s gorgeous cock press inside him. His lips parted as he imagined its delicious thickness sliding over his tongue, lodging in his throat.

  But more than that, he wanted to wake Nico up and talk to him. The man fascinated and frightened him at the same time. “What’s your story, baby?” he whispered, knowing there were depths to Nico he might never plumb. And who was Piter to him? He knew beyond a doubt they were linked together. He shuddered. The butcher in his dream had Piter’s eyes. Did that mean anything at all? Or was it his jealousy that gave the monster the same intense green eyes?

  He shook his head, ashamed of the destructive emotion he couldn’t control. He’d tried to guard his heart when they made love, but there had been a vulnerable look in Nico’s eyes tonight. His touch had been gentle and sweet, tender caresses, as if Jamie was a gift to be savored and treasured. His lonely heart wanted to open and let Nico move right in, filling the empty places. But he still had doubts. He didn’t know Nico, after all, not as well as he longed to.

  “I’m afraid,” he confessed to his lover’s dark silhouette. Not that Nico would leave him. He almost expected it and would live with that pain when it happened. But Nico was tortured by something in his past, needed someone to stand by him. Piter’s image sprang into his mind, his beautiful face framed by golden hair, the green eyes snapping with mischief, then narrowing on Nico with a look of hatred.

  Jamie shivered and leaned forward, kissing Nico’s mouth. “I’ll protect you,” he swore. Nico continued to sleep, his body worn from illness and his struggle through the storm. Jamie tucked the blankets around him and rolled out of bed. He dressed in his thermal shirt and pants and socks against the chill and went into the great room, closing the bedroom door with care behind him.

  The warm glow of the fire on the hearth drew him. He knelt and stirred up the coals, adding another log. A small clock on the mantle chimed three times, and he yawned, thinking with longing of the warm bed and Nico’s arms. But he couldn’t sleep with the worry that gnawed his stomach. How in the hell could he protect Nico from anything?

  He stared into the flames. He’d wanted to be left alone, months of isolation in a snowbound cabin. Time to finish his painting and maybe heal a broken heart. Instead, a gorgeous, angst-ridden Italian landed on his doorstep. Jamie lowered his lashes, embarrassed to admit even to himself that the danger and mystery surrounding Nico was a big part of his attraction. Had he given his heart too quickly? Would he regret it once he knew Nico better?

  “I need chocolate,” he decided and crossed the hardwood floor to the kitchen. He could reason all he wanted, but his heart had already made its decision. Shunning the bright overhead light, he turned on the softer light above the kitchen sink. Sugar and cocoa powder were in the cupboard, and he poured milk into a saucepan and began to warm it on the stove. Intent on not scorching his drink, he didn’t hear anything until there was a soft step behind him and arms suddenly slipped around his waist. God!

  Heart beating madly, he twisted his head around to glare over his shoulder. “You scared the crap out of me!”

  Nico’s hazel eyes twinkled with suppressed mirth. “Scusami, amore,” he murmured, nuzzling against Jamie’s neck. Jamie gasped at a sharp nip on his tender skin, then nearly swooned as Nico’s tongue licked the hurt away. He shivered, remembering the pleasure of that hot mouth on him earlier.

  “Did I wake you?” he asked, continuing to stir the hea
ting milk, though it was impossible to ignore the strong body pressed against him. Nico’s warmth seeped into his back and he groaned, heat flushing through him when Nico rocked his groin against Jamie’s ass.

  “You weren’t in our bed when I woke. I missed you.” Nico played with the bottom of Jamie’s shirt, and Jamie jumped when he tickled his ribs. He quickly lowered the flame on the burner to its lowest setting, then turned in Nico’s arms.

  He ran his fingers through Nico’s tousled curls. “I wanted you to sleep. Would you like a hot chocolate?”

  Nico’s lips lifted with a slow grin, and he ran his gaze down Jamie’s body. “There’s sweeter things I’d like in my mouth,” he suggested, sending a jolt of lust through Jamie. Nico leaned and ran his tongue over Jamie’s bottom lip, making him whimper.

  Jamie opened his mouth to invite him in and felt Nico jump as if startled. He glanced up and found Nico’s gaze riveted on the refrigerator. His heart thumped with apprehension. “What is it?”

  Nico stepped around him without replying, not taking his gaze off the pictures held by small magnets to the refrigerator doors. Jamie moved up beside him.

  “The doctor has children.”

  Jamie caught his breath at the dread in Nico’s voice. “Just one. His son Andy. Nico, what’s the matter?”

  The thick lashes blinked, and Jamie shivered when Nico’s fierce gaze met his. “Piter’s seen these. In nome di Dio! I have to stop him.”

  Jamie watched as he strode across the room, momentarily stunned by the panic in Nico’s voice. “Nico, wait,” he called and trotted after him, putting a hand on his arm to stop him as he headed for the front door. Nico gave him an impatient look, but Jamie was determined. “You can’t go out in the storm. Please wait until morning, at least.”