Plaid Nights Anthology

by Torquere Press LLC

  “I do, in fact. You mind if I sit?”

  “Of course not.” Riley waited until he sat before spreading out the feast on the coffee table, then sitting next to him on his couch. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better.” Much better now, because Riley chose to sit beside him on the huge sectional, close enough for Jeremy to smell his soap, which was sandalwood and lemon. “I should be back to work Monday. When I went in for the boot the doc told me to try to work from home this week, keep it elevated.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Riley handed him a Dr. Pepper. “Your favorite, right? Jean said so.”

  Jean was his unit admin, and she knew all. “Yep. Look, I like you a lot, but I don’t want you to feel as though you have to be nice because you feel guilty.”

  Riley drew back, brows lowering. “Not a pity meal, Jeremy. I wanted to see you. Took a day off to do it.”

  “Good. A date, then.” That was more than okay; they just needed to be on the same page.

  “Yes. Patty melts. Maybe snogging, since we’re both having onions. What’s so funny?”

  “Snogging. Your accent. You’re adorable.”

  “Oh, shut it.” Riley laughed, relaxing visibly. “What’s your favorite color?”

  “Camo,” he answered, not batting an eye. “You?”

  “Plaid.”

  “See? Nothing doesn’t go with those, right? Did you know Texas has its own tartan? Bluebonnet.”

  Riley cracked up. “Now I know what kind of kilt to get you.”

  “Hey, those are pretty expensive, aren’t they?” Riley was so damned pretty that sometimes he just wanted to keep the man talking so he could watch that expressive face move.

  “They can be, yeah. If you get a real one. My dress kilt is worth almost a grand.”

  “No shit?” He didn’t own anything that cost that much except his truck and his couch. His bed was nice, but that came from his mom, a hand-me-down.

  “Nope. Eat before it gets cold. No one wants a congealed patty melt.”

  “Ew.” Jeremy agreed with that idea, so he picked up his sandwich and surprised himself by inhaling it in maybe five minutes. The fries were gone, too, and he blinked at the empty wrappers. “Wow. I think I’ve been living on cereal and eggs too long.”

  “Man needs protein.” Riley peered at his boot. “So, six to eight in the boot, then physical therapy?”

  “That’s what they say. No hardcore weight bearing. Three weeks and I can walk in the boot, though, instead of using crutches.”

  “Oh, good.” Riley tilted his head. “Kissing isn’t heavy duty, right?”

  His heart kicked into high gear. “No. I mean, not unless you consider it a competitive sport.”

  “I don’t. Cupcake?”

  “Not yet.” He took a gulp of his Dr. Pepper, just wanting to make sure he was prepared for the so-called snogging. “Uh, you want to watch a movie? Since you’re off?”

  “I would love to.” Riley stood to take all the trash to the kitchen. “What shall I put in?”

  “Shit, I haven’t had a working DVD player in a year. I stream.”

  “Even better.” Riley sat close when he returned, close enough to put an arm around him.

  Jeremy thought maybe they really were dating. How fucking cool was that? He’d never tell anyone, but the tendon was totally worth sacrificing. The thought got reinforcement when Riley didn’t even wait for the movie to start before turning to face him, lips finding his for a slow, deep kiss that left Jeremy breathless. Oh, damn, that felt good.

  “That’s the kind of exercise I can get with,” he told Riley. “We might have to make it a regular thing.”

  “Absolutely.” Riley blinked, each individual lash discernible this close. “I’d like to keep going now, though, see if we can really get your heart rate up.”

  “I’m game.”

  “Mmm.” Riley kissed him again, then again, tongue pushing in to taste him, and Jeremy thought he’d never had a stranger date. Or a better one, for that matter.

  He couldn’t wait to see what sort of fireworks they set off once his foot was healed up.

  ***

  Riley crossed the long hall that separated his division of the company from Jeremy’s. Two weeks Jeremy had been back at work, and they’d not had a single date since. Riley missed his company and his kisses, damn it, and he was tired of the avoidance.

  Making out until you couldn’t see was all well and good, but Riley was hoping for some serious action now that Jeremy was on the mend.

  “Oooh, IT is crossing into marketing,” Alan said. A cubicle monkey in the advertising section, Alan had made more than one obvious pass at Riley. They’d had one disastrous date before deciding to be buds and have a pint now and then.

  “I know, right?” Riley caught the Nerf ball Alan tossed him and threw it back. “Jeremy in?”

  “Last office on the right.”

  “Thanks.” Riley had an excuse ready about why he had to see Jeremy should he need to trot it out, but their firm had a lot of cross-pollination going on. He found the door marked Jeremy Bonner, and knocked, the thought that Jeremy might not want to see him just crossing his mind. Shit.

  “Come in!” Jeremy hunched over a laptop like a gorilla guarding his food. The curve of his back looked painful, awkward.

  “Hey.” Riley shut the door behind him, not wanting the whole company to hear their conversation.

  Jeremy straightened slowly and swiveled his chair, blinking hard. “Hi! Riley. You’re in my office.”

  “I am. You are, too. All day. Every day. Are you avoiding me?”

  “What?” Jeremy stared, eyes wide. “No. Why?”

  “We haven’t seen each other in two weeks. I need my fix.”

  “Two weeks.” Jeremy sat back in his chair, the leather back hitting the desk behind him. “Wow.”

  “I know! You’ve been catching up on your work, but you need some time off.”

  “I do.” That laugh sounded rusty, but it was lovely to hear. “Lunch?”

  “No.” Before Jeremy could even begin to look hurt, Riley help up a hand. “Supper. Tonight. I want to be able to take my time.”

  “Do you?” Cheeks flushing bright red, Jeremy gave him a bright grin. “I’ve been cleared to exercise as long as I’m not putting pressure on the boot.”

  “Well, there, you see? I think we can give you some of that, for sure. Exercise.”

  “Works for me.”

  They sat and stared at one another for a moment before Jeremy cleared his throat. “Supper. When and where?”

  “Right? Uh.” Riley grinned. “I can bring stuff to your place. Popeyes?”

  “Oh, you’re my hero.” Jeremy chuckled. “Movies. Making out.”

  “You got it.” Buoyed, Riley bounced on his toes. He loved Popeyes and he would bring movies with lots of kilts in them to turn Jeremy on. Rob Roy. Brave. Oh, that tickled him. Not sexy.

  “I love it when you smile like that,” Jeremy told him. “Makes your dimples show up.”

  “I was thinking how Disney is not a seduction tool.”

  “No?” Jeremy waggled his eyebrows. “Tell that to Lady and the Tramp.”

  Riley threw his head back and laughed. Then he glanced at the closed door before walking over to press his lips to Jeremy’s. “I’ll be there, at your place, at six.”

  The expression on Jeremy’s face made Riley’s day, all astonished pleasure. “Okay. See you there. Uh, unless you want to give me a ride home. So I don’t have to take the bus.”

  “Shit. You took the bus to work? No way. I’ll give you a ride any time.”

  “Thanks.” Jeremy looked so relieved that Riley felt a little guilty. He’d never thought how tough it might be for Jeremy to drive.

  “No problem at all. What time are you out?”

  “I get off at five, but I can wait until whenever,” Jeremy said.

  “Five is good. I’ll come collect you.” Riley pressed one more kiss to Jeremy’s mouth, loving the littl
e gasp he received. He grinned, the guilt falling away in favor of expectation. This was going to be so much fun.

  Maybe it was stupid to get his hopes up, but Riley had a feeling he was going to get some tonight. Finally.

  ***

  “I’m so sorry, Riley.” Jeremy thought he might go up in smoke if his face got any hotter. He’d spilled an entire order of beans and rice on Riley, starting at the chest and ending at the thighs. So much for any mood they might have been creating. Killed it in a bad way.

  “No worries. Look, let me go get my bag out of the car. I can change into my gym clothes. They’re clean.”

  “Okay.” Jeremy sat, head down, pretty miserable, but there was nothing else to do. Riley had mopped up the mess and tossed the rest of the food into the fridge for later. All so he could sit. The accident had happened when he’d tried to get up to grab another drink.

  The seconds ticked by, and when Riley didn’t come back, he figured he’d really blown it. Oh, Riley didn’t seem like they type who would just cut and run, but how could Jeremy blame him at this point?

  “Can I toss my clothes in the washer?” Riley asked, causing Jeremy to jump a mile.

  “Sure. Of course. It’s back by the bathroom.”

  “Perfect.” Riley took a black suit bag with him to the bathroom, and Jeremy thought it was an odd choice for gym clothes. “Back in a jiff,” Riley called.

  Jeremy sat some more. Maybe he should see if he had any cookies. He usually had cut and bake ones in the freezer. Cookies were good, right? Warm. Comforting. Gooey.

  He levered himself up finally, deciding that cookies were the better part of valor, but when he turned toward the kitchen, Riley came out of the bathroom, and there was almost another terrible catastrophe. Jeremy damned near swallowed his tongue.

  “You—Riley, you’re wearing a kilt.”

  Riley grinned, twirling, which made the folds of plaid wool swirl out. “I am. I went out to get my bag and remembered I had this cleaned. Picked it up today. I thought I’d take you to Ruth’s Chris or Flemings or something once you got the boot off.”

  “You’re too good to be true.” This was better than any steakhouse. Riley wore a soft T-shirt that had a thistle printed on it and his kilt, the distinctive red plaid screaming Stewart. Jeremy sprang wood immediately.

  “Am I?” Riley looked down at himself. “You seemed such a fan of all things kilt…”

  “Oh, God yes.” Jeremy nodded so hard he thought his brains might be sloshing in his skull. Because they’d melted into goo. “I mean, you’re not some random Facebook guy in a kilt. You’re Riley. That’s so much better.”

  Riley’s cheeks flushed bright red. “Thank you. Erm, where are you going?”

  “I was going to make cookies.” Jeremy swallowed hard. “I would rather make out with you on the couch.”

  “I would rather take you to bed.” Riley took a deep breath, his muscles moving smoothly under the soft shirt.

  “Okay.” His voice tried to disappear into a squeak, but Jeremy swallowed it. “That might make me explode in little bits of joy.”

  “Just don’t do it on the kilt, right?”

  “I’ll try not to, but I make no promises.” He clomped to the bedroom, feeling so not sexy with his crutches and boot. Super unsexy next to the kilted amazingness of Riley.

  “You all right, then?” Riley asked him after he sat on the edge of the bed.

  “I am. Sorry, I feel super-awkward. You’re so damned sexy.”

  Riley laughed, but the sound held no mockery that Jeremy could tell. Surprise, maybe. Pleasure. “I’m a geek in a kilt.”

  “What?” Jeremy propped his bad leg up on the bed. “No, you’re totally hot. Got those rugby legs and your chest and belly are all ripped. I’m drooling here.”

  “How do you know my belly is all ridged? You haven’t seen it.”

  “I can tell by the way the shirt fits you.”

  “You want to see me with the shirt off?”

  “God, yes.” Jeremy wanted to see it all, but first he wanted to see just the kilt wrapped around that sturdy body.

  “Naked!” Riley did a little dance before stripping off the T-shirt.

  “Leave the kilt on? Just for a bit?”

  “I need to get another, eh? Just to wear for sex.”

  Jeremy stared at the insanely ripped chest and belly Riley presented and whimpered. Actually whimpered, his body shuddering with reaction. “You—Wow. I think you should take it off now, or you’ll have to dry clean it again.”

  Riley flushed all the way from his cheeks to his belly button. “Okay, love. Let me just…” He unbuckled and twisted and unwrapped. Boom. Naked Riley.

  Look at that. Riley’s cock curved up, uncut and deep rose, a heavy bush of red curls around the base. Jeremy had never seen anything that turned him on more, and he reached for his dick, surprised to find it still covered by cloth.

  “Yeah,” Riley said, eyeing him. “You’re too dressed.”

  “I am.” He struggled up to sitting again, flailing around with his hands because he had no idea what to take off first.

  “Wait,” Riley murmured, “let me help.” Stepping over to the bed, Riley reached for him, hands warm at his belly, tugging on his shirt.

  “Thanks. I’m such a dork.” Jeremy wanted to hide. He wasn’t disfigured or anything, but he was a dude. Nothing like Riley.

  “Stop it.” Riley paused to stare into his eyes. “You’re amazing. I can’t wait to see you.”

  His shirt went, then his pants and shorts, though they hung up on the boot. Jeremy ended up with everything wrapped around his one leg, the rest of him bare as the day he was born.

  “Nice,” Riley said, immediately grabbing Jeremy’s cock and jacking it with one hand. “Long and thick both. Oh, love, you make me want naughty things.” Just like that, Riley crawled up on the bed next to Jeremy’s hips and bent down, sucking him into that beautiful mouth.

  Eyes wide, Jeremy watched, hardly able to believe what he saw. Riley. Sucking him. That pale, freckled back called him to touch, stroke, and he wanted more. He sank one hand into Riley’s hair, holding on and rocking his hips.

  About the third time Riley went all the way down, Jeremy began babbling. “Oh, God. This is—your mouth is so good. Wet. Hot. Better than I ever dreamed.”

  Riley raised his head, lips bruised, shining. “You dreamed about me?”

  “Full color streaming porn with sound,” Jeremy gasped. “Come kiss me. Please?”

  “Yes. God, yes.” Riley surged up to him, mouth meeting his in a kiss that should have been in a movie. No awkward head tilting or tongue wrangling. Riley knew how to kiss, and took control of the contact, pushing into Jeremy’s mouth to taste.

  All Jeremy could do was cling to Riley’s shoulders and open up. He spread his legs to cradle Riley against him, and his foot didn’t even so much as twinge. The kiss sent him soaring, his heart racing, and when Riley pressed down to rub their cocks together Jeremy wanted to scream.

  “More,” he said when they broke for air. “I need more.” His hips pumped, and he remembered he had hands just in time to reach between them and grip both their dicks, driving them even higher. Jeremy stroked, amazed at how thick Riley felt, at how hot that thin skin was over the strong shaft.

  They moved up and down, back and forth, hot enough to start a fire together. Riley kissed him again and again, lips on his, tongue pushing him to taste back. They rutted on each other, and no porn movie could possibly be this hot, this real. He held Riley close, arching up as hard as he could to get friction. His balls drew up tight when Riley bit his lower lip, the sting like an electric shock to his body.

  “Soon,” he told Riley. “I can’t last.”

  “Good.” Riley drew back to give him what was either a wild grin or a sexual grimace. “Come for me, love. Come now.”

  Jeremy squeezed their cocks together, their rims catching, the extra fold of skin on Riley’s dick one too many added sensations. He lost it,
coming all over Riley’s cock and belly and thighs.

  Shouting, Riley bucked against him, and they were back from Scotland in a heartbeat, right back in Texas at a rodeo, riding hard. Jeremy hung on through Riley’s orgasm, his heart slamming against his breastbone and ribs, his ears ringing with his pleasure.

  “Oh, God, love,” Riley said. “If you like the kilt that much I’ll buy five.”

  Jeremy tilted Riley’s chin up with his non-spunky hand. “I like you. Any way I can get you.”

  Riley’s smile lit up the room. “Even if I got you broken playing rugby?”

  “Even then. I like all the parts.” Jeremy hoped they got the chance to like each other even more. Maybe even go beyond like.

  “Me, too,” Riley agreed. “I’ll even brave a Highland Games for you.”

  Oh, God. Jeremy thought it was definitely love. He hugged Riley tight. “I do adore all things Scottish.” When Riley laughed out loud, Jeremy grinned. “Well, everything but haggis.”

  The End

  If you liked this book you might like:

  Designated Bottoms Anthology

  “Chef on Chef” by Julia Talbot

  A Time To Heal

  by Anna Mansel

  A Scottish Highland warrior wakes up to find himself in the care of a witch. Their clans are at odds, they can’t trust each other…but their survival depends on them working together. And despite their best intentions, working together may lead to something more.

  Dedication

  Dedicated to M.E.L., who showed me the way and walked the path with me.

  Chapter 1

  Conall heard voices. His body felt heavy, as if weighed down by stone anchors. He tried to move his arm, but it refused to obey him. He could only twitch his finger with great concentration. He suddenly feared he was lying on the bottom of the river, his spirit trapped inside a drowned and rotting corpse. The choking panic shuddered his entire body.

  Opening his eyes took as much effort as lifting a log. And still, he thought he was dead, for the first thing he saw was an angel.