Scars

by Avery Ford

  Heat pooled inside of him, and he knew that if he didn’t back off, he was going to come prematurely. Henry was on edge too — Caleb felt it in the intensity of his kiss and the way he humped Caleb’s hand.

  Caleb loosened his hand and eased back. Henry whimpered and clung to him, and Caleb knew that there was no way they could stop at frotting. He needed to be inside of Henry, and he needed to drive him to climax over and over again.

  He closed his eyes tightly. He didn’t know if he had any condoms – or lube, for that matter. He certainly hadn’t used any in the few months he’d been out of the hospital, or the six months before that.

  But his bedside table had been carried into the truck, drawer contents and all, and if there was a God, he could be merciful.

  Caleb rolled them over so he was within reach of the bedside table. He reached out as he kissed Henry, fumbling with the drawer. Yes. His fingers hooked around the unmistakeable crinkle of a foil packet, and a few seconds more rummaging turned up a small bottle of lube. Perfect. Caleb broke away from the kiss to tear the condom packaging. Henry looked up at him, panting, and every fiber of Caleb’s being lit up. He wanted Henry with everything he was.

  “Oh, god yes,” Henry breathed. His body relaxed, and he stretched his legs and positioned himself. Caleb could tell by how he moved that he was experienced, and that he knew how to take cock. “Need you, Caleb. Fuck me.”

  Caleb rolled the condom down his cock, then popped the cap off the lube and coated his fingers. He fingered Henry, starting with one finger, but quickly increasing to two when he felt how easily Henry loosened for him. There was no doubt that he was experienced.

  “Oh fuck, Henry,” Caleb gasped. He plunged his fingers deeper, then crooked them. Henry cried out in pleasure and twisted on his hand, and Caleb forgot about all of his fears. The imperfections of his body, his missing testicle, and the ongoing struggles with his health no longer mattered. All he needed was this moment with Henry. All he wanted was to sink his cock into Henry’s tight hole and ram into him.

  “Fuck me!”

  Hearing Henry run his mouth was hot beyond belief. Caleb could listen to him talk dirty all day long.

  “Tell me how bad you want it,” Caleb growled. The grittiness in his voice surprised even him. “Tell me how bad you want my cock.”

  “Caleb!” Henry’s voice was pitched with delirious desire. “I want it so bad. Wanna feel you stretch me, make me yours…”

  God, does he even know how sexy he is? Caleb pushed his fingers in deeper, and Henry squeaked and ground his hips back in response. Henry was wet now, and Caleb was ready. He withdrew his fingers and moved between Henry’s legs.

  “I’m going to own you,” he panted. He pressed his hips forward and lined his sheathed cock against Henry’s entrance. “I’m going to take you so high.”

  “Please!” Henry begged. He squirmed and positioned himself beneath Caleb to adjust to his new stance. “Please, Caleb, no more talking…”

  Caleb didn’t plan on it. He pressed forward with his hips and pushed into Henry.

  Henry was experienced, but he was tight. Caleb grit his teeth and resisted the urge to grunt. Henry’s body was hot and tight, and they fit each other perfectly.

  “Holy fuck, Henry,” Caleb breathed. He pushed in as far as he could, then pulled back. Henry shuddered and lifted his hips, chasing him. Their bodies worked in sync, thrusting and humping. As hot as it was, and as fantastic as Henry felt, Caleb was caught up in the emotion of it.

  Having sex with Henry gave him confidence he never thought he’d have again. Even as his lungs started to burn and his breath caught in his throat, he didn’t let it get the best of him.

  Henry was fantastic. Caleb never wanted this to end.

  “Caleb!” Henry groaned. The bed creaked beneath their weight in time with Caleb’s every thrust. “Caleb, oh god! F-Fuck me. Keep hitting me right there.”

  Was he hitting Henry’s sweet spot? A surge of electricity shot up and down Caleb’s spine, and he uttered a noise under his breath and worked harder, hitting the same spot over and over. His hand traveled between their bodies, and he stroked Henry’s cock in time. He wanted Henry to come.

  Henry twisted and cried out in pleasure. His cries echoed through the room, and Henry was glad they didn’t live in an apartment. With a mouth like Henry’s, keeping quiet was next to impossible.

  “Gonna… oh Caleb, gonna come,” Henry moaned. Caleb felt Henry’s cock pulse, then shivered as ribbons of Henry’s release shot out to coat their stomachs. Henry’s body tightened around Caleb, milking him. Caleb couldn’t resist any longer. With a low grunt, he pushed himself deep and shot.

  “Caleb,” Henry gasped. He latched his arms around Caleb’s neck as they came together. “God, Caleb, oh my god.”

  “I know,” Caleb murmured. His heart was racing and his cheeks were flushed. Their hearts beat in time, and even though what they shared was based in lust alone, Caleb couldn’t stop himself from feeling for Henry.

  What they’d shared was perfect, and he couldn’t imagine sharing it with anyone else.

  Henry

  Henry woke up, but didn’t open his eyes. Caleb’s arm was tucked over his waist, and Caleb spooned him from behind. Caleb’s rigid cock pressed against Henry’s ass, and Henry hummed quietly in pleasure and pressed back against it. God, was he horny.

  Three days had passed since Caleb had taken him to bed and ravaged him, and Henry still hadn’t had his fill. He didn’t realize how much he missed sleeping beside another man until he spent the night with Caleb. Caleb made him feel safe and protected in a way Pritchard never had. In fact, Henry was sure that if Pritchard ever dared show his face in Blue Mountain again, Caleb wouldn’t hesitate to tell him to fuck off.

  Henry knew that what they had wasn’t a true relationship, but it was as good as he could hope for considering the circumstances. Within the next few weeks, he hoped he’d have a slew of interviews. If he didn’t have a lead on employment, his mother would make sure he lived up to his word and started working for his father at Weston Lumber.

  Henry couldn’t help but wonder if working for his father wouldn’t be so bad, if it meant he could stay with Caleb. In time, Caleb’s injuries would heal in full. The angry scars would fade in intensity, and maybe with the right treatment, become hard to see. The eye patch he wore at all times would come off for good, and his vision would be restored. They could have a life together.

  Henry rubbed back against Caleb’s cock and sighed. He was always horniest in the morning, and Caleb felt so fucking good inside of him. Last night they’d had sex until they were too exhausted to continue, and Henry wouldn’t mind an encore now that they were rested.

  If only Caleb would wake up.

  “Mm, Caleb,” Henry murmured. “Wake up, please? I need you.”

  Caleb’s arm tightened around him, but he didn’t otherwise reply. Henry moaned and ran his hand down Caleb’s arm. Caleb slept on his left side, and so the arm he folded over Henry was scarred. Gently, Henry let his fingers trace along the uneven skin. It didn’t bother him. Caleb was a beautiful person on the inside, someone righteous and unafraid to stand up for himself.

  Henry easily imagined how he must have looked on the job, suited up and protected against fire, weighed down with heavy equipment designed to save lives. Caleb’s body was muscular enough to have belonged to a firefighter. Henry loved every inch of it.

  “Need you,” Henry murmured again. He pressed against Caleb’s body, making sure he was flush with him. His fingers traced patterns on Caleb’s arm. “Mm, wake up. I want to have fun…”

  There was no response. Henry sighed and was about rolled over so they were chest-to-chest when Henry’s phone rang. He jumped and scrambled for it. An unknown caller with a North Carolina area code was on the line.

  Henry answered. His heart pounded. “Hello?”

  “Good morning. This is Lauren Ritter from Symestic Enterprises speaking. Am I speaking to Mr. Henry We
ston?”

  “This is him.” Henry’s heart was in his throat now, his pulse almost drowning out Lauren’s voice. “How may I help you?”

  Behind him, Caleb was waking up. His arm traveled up Henry’s waist to his chest, and he pulled their bodies close once more. Henry squirmed against him, and in response, Caleb pressed a heated kiss against the back of his neck and slid his cock against Henry’s ass. Henry bit down on his bottom lip to keep from moaning into the phone. It looked like he wasn’t the only one who had woken up horny.

  “I’m calling on behalf of Symestic Enterprises to thank you for sending in your cover letter and resume. We take all of our applications very seriously, and I’m happy to announce that among hundreds of other applicants, you were one of our top picks. We’d love to have you in for an interview next week. When are you available?”

  Yes!

  “Any time most convenient to you,” Henry said sincerely. “I’d prefer an afternoon interview solely because of the distance I’d need to travel, but if morning availability is all you have to offer, I’d be glad to accommodate.”

  It was too good to be true. Henry beamed, overjoyed. If the interview went well, he wouldn’t have to worry about being brought in to Weston Lumber. He had no interest in taking over for his father. The cutthroat world of business wasn’t for him. Symestic Enterprises was looking for an events assistant, not someone with the desire to one day run an empire. With some experience beneath his belt, Henry was certain he could climb the corporate ladder far enough that he’d be comfortable without feeling too stressed. Maintaining balance was the most important thing for him. He didn’t want to turn out like his parents.

  Lauren went on about details, and they set up a date and time. While they talked, Caleb’s grip loosened. He eased back from Henry, then rolled over and left the room. By the time Henry was finishing up the call, Caleb returned and sank back into bed, but the atmosphere had changed. The sexual tension between them waned.

  “Thank you so much for your time,” Henry told Lauren in parting. “It was great speaking with you.”

  “You as well, Mr. Weston. We look forward to meeting you soon.”

  The call ended. Henry whooped and punched a fist in the air, then clutched his phone to his chest. At last, his heart started to regain normalcy.

  He turned to look at Caleb to find Caleb giving him a strange look. It struggled to be neutral, but Henry felt like it edged on disappointed.

  “It was one of the companies I sent my resume to,” Henry explained. “They asked me if I could come in for an interview. I’ve got a really good feeling about this.”

  “Great.” Caleb’s voice was guarded just like it had been when they’d first met. Henry frowned.

  “It’ll only be for a day,” he said. “I won’t be gone long.”

  “I know.” Caleb didn’t lighten up, so Henry decided to change the topic. He’d call Beth and tell her all about the interview. There was no point in discussing it with Caleb when it so obviously hit a nerve.

  “Why don’t we go hop in the shower before breakfast?” Henry asked. “I’ll make bacon and eggs. Does that sound good?” He rolled over so he could wrap an arm over Caleb’s hip, and Caleb seemed to loosen up. The hardness in his eyes faded, and he managed a small smile.

  “Sounds great.”

  They got up together and headed for the bathroom. Since the first day they’d gone to bed together, Henry had been sleeping naked at Caleb’s side. Caleb wore only his pressure garments, and he assured Henry it was only because doing so would reduce the severity of his scars over time. Henry had no qualms about his body, and he was glad that Caleb was loosening up enough to be comfortable showing his own off, even if he kept wrapped up. The scars didn’t change a thing about how handsome he was. Henry wished Caleb could see himself through Henry’s eyes.

  The water heated, and Caleb turned on the shower. Henry stepped in first, letting the stream hit him, and Caleb stripped out of his garments to join him. At this point in his recovery, Caleb could shower normally. He’d told Henry all about his extensive stay in the hospital and the measures he’d had to take prior to this state, and about the skin grafts he’d undergone. Henry couldn’t imagine facing more pain on uninjured parts of his body in order to save the injured parts, but according to Caleb, he’d been lucky to keep all his limbs.

  He’d been hospitalized for a long time, recovering and working on rehabilitation. The man who showered with Henry that morning was a far cry from the man who’d suffered whatever fate Caleb had gone through.

  It bothered Henry that he knew so much about Caleb’s recovery, but nothing about the incident, but he didn’t dare say anything. The past was often difficult to face, and he didn’t want Caleb to close up again now that they had such a wonderful thing going.

  Henry took the soap and ran it under the water, then lathered it in his hands. He turned to Caleb. “May I?”

  “Go for it.” Caleb stretched his arms out, and Henry noticed that his right arm had lost some range of movement. The tightness of his skin as it scarred stole his range.

  Henry carefully lathered Caleb’s body, working tenderly along the worst of his scarring. He started near Caleb’s neck and worked his way down either arm, then let his hands trail unhurriedly across Caleb’s chest. His fingers swirled around Caleb’s navel and then dipped to his groin, and Caleb huffed out a breath and closed his eyes as Henry teased his cock.

  “If you keep doing that, we’re going to have to get clean all over again,” Caleb warned him. The hot steam from the shower swirled around their feet and misted in the air. Henry smiled and leaned forward, pressing a chaste kiss to Caleb’s lips.

  “I think I’m okay with that.”

  By the time they were done, the water ran cold. Caleb stepped out first and handed Henry the first clean towel before choosing one for himself. Henry watched as he dabbed his skin dry, moisturized, then struggled back into his pressure garments.

  “How often do you need to wear those?” Henry asked.

  “The doctors encouraged me to wear them twenty-three hours a day for the first year,” Caleb said. “After that, I can scale back slowly. I’m supposed to wear a ski mask compressor, too, but I can’t bring myself to do it with someone else living here.”

  Henry blinked. He had wrapped the towel around his waist, and he was ready to return to his room to dress, but Caleb’s statement caught him by surprise. “You’re not following through on treatment because of me?”

  “I don’t want to be a mummy,” Caleb shrugged. “There’s no promise it will even do all that much. Everyone’s skin heals differently. The best thing I can do is keep active, because it encourages recovery.”

  Henry grinned. “Based on the last few days, I think you’ve had more than enough exercise.”

  Caleb returned his grin. “It’s never more than enough. I could always do with some more.”

  They headed back to their rooms and dressed. Henry’s belongings were still in his room, his domed storage box peeking out slightly from beneath his bed. He glimpsed at it as he pulled on his shirt, wondering if he might add another item to his collection soon. The box was filled with memories, and it felt like over the last few weeks, he’d made more than enough of them to warrant another token.

  Henry dressed and headed to meet with Caleb as he left his room. They headed down the stairs together, and Caleb leaned against the counter while Henry occupied himself with making breakfast. As he heated the pan, Henry turned his head to look at Caleb. Caleb was reading something on his phone.

  “Looks like we’re in for a snow storm,” Caleb remarked. “Two inches. You remember the last time that happened?”

  “The whole state just about shut down.” Henry frowned. “I’ll stop by and pick up groceries after my shift today. Anything in particular you want?”

  Caleb’s gaze darted up from his phone and he looked Henry over, desire glinting in his eyes. “Whipped cream.”

  “Haha.” Henry rolled h
is eyes skyward, but couldn’t help but grin. “No, but seriously?”

  “More condoms.” When Henry shot Caleb a look, Caleb lifted his hands in defense. He held his phone in one of them. “Hey, if we’re going to be snowed in…”

  Henry still wasn’t used to hearing Caleb joke, and he laughed. Caleb laughed, too.

  Bacon sizzled on the pan. Outside, the sky grew gray. Caleb pulled Henry close and kissed him sweetly.

  Life had never felt this good, and Henry wasn’t sure it would ever feel that good again.

  Caleb

  Caleb couldn’t bring himself to go to sleep. The snow had started to fall later that afternoon, and while it had started as delicate specks of white against a gray sky, it quickly grew thick and heavy. Heavy wet clumps of it fell in sheets, obscuring the light and making the night come alive.

  It was the kind of night that was horror for a first responder. A state like North Carolina saw significant snow so seldom that it was unprepared to cope with the weather. Roads would shut down. Cars would stall. Motorists would skid out of control. There’d be collisions, injuries, fires…

  Caleb clutched the window frame. He was seated on the side of the bed right near the wall, looking out as the snow fell. The street outside the house was quiet. Not a single car dared make its way through the muck.

  Was Kota out there, responding to emergency calls? What about his brothers and sisters in arms? Blue Mountain had a minuscule volunteer firefighting team, and Caleb knew they’d be struggling if there were people out there willing to tempt fate by getting behind the wheel.

  If he were able to get out there to be with those volunteers, how many injuries could he help prevent? Would he save a life?

  The window ledge was cold, and Caleb gripped it a little more firmly. What upset him more than the idea of the weather was the fact that he didn’t miss firefighting as much as he thought he should have.