by Tara Lain
“Back off, Merle. I’ll take him home.”
“No. You had your chance. You’re not reliable. Give me the damned address.”
“Merle—”
“Give it to me, dammit!”
Aaron recited an address, and Merle wrote it on an old phone bill in the bedside table. “I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Give me Tom back.”
“H-hello.”
“Do you have your jacket?”
“Yes.”
“Go outside by the curb and wait for me. I’ll be a few minutes, so don’t get anxious.”
“Thank you, Merle.”
“Hey, you saved me. It’s my turn.” He grabbed his own jacket and ran out the apartment door, down the stairs, and into the carport. It’s best if Tom stays outside so I don’t slug that damned actor and mess up his pretty face. “Go on. Leave Aaron’s house now. I’ll talk to you as I drive.” He started the Audi, and the phone switched to Bluetooth. Setting it down, he input the address into GPS and started driving.
The sounds of movement and muffled voices came through the phone.
Merle said, “Just leave, Tom. It’s fine. Come on.”
More movement. “I’m outside now, Merle.”
“Good. Kind of nippy tonight, isn’t it?” He stared at the map and turned right toward the Hollywood Hills.
“Nippy. That’s funny. Makes it sound like a little dog.”
“It must be a little dog night.”
Tom laughed.
“We’ll have you home to the boys in no time.”
“Oh—”
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t go into Mrs. A.’s at this hour. It’ll scare her out of ten year’s growth.”
Merle could hear her voice in his again and chuckled. Still, this presented a problem. Where to? Make a big production out of arriving at Ru and Gray’s and getting Tom installed in another bedroom?
“Merle?”
“Oh, I’m here. In fact, I’m almost there. I was just thinking. I have a small apartment nearby. That’s where I was when you called.”
“Oh good. I was afraid you might be….”
The words he didn’t say had to be a variation on “fucking René.” Merle ignored it. “Nope, I was just tucked in bed at my apartment, so I think we’ll go back there. It’s close and we won’t bother anyone. Tomorrow I’ll take you home.”
“That would be great.”
“Hey, I see you standing on the corner.”
Tom looked to his left.
“Other way.”
He looked right and smiled huge. No sign of Aaron—the turd. Calm down, Justice, you don’t know all the facts. He pulled over by the side of the road across from where Tom stood. Tom rose from the curb, looked both ways, and trotted to the passenger door. When he got inside, he looked at Merle—and his eyes filled with tears.
Merle reached out and clasped his big, strong arm. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “Sorry. I’m just so glad to see you.”
“Me too. Put on your seat belt.”
He did, and Merle took off from the curb so he didn’t jump out and bash Aaron Curtis in the teeth.
Chapter Fourteen
MERLE TURNED on Tom’s favorite Alicia album and let it sink in for a few minutes. Finally he said, “Do you want to talk about it?”
Tom stared out the window as he liked to do. “I didn’t want to leave with Aaron.”
“Good grief, Tom, then why did you?”
“I thought everyone wanted me to.”
That took his breath away. “Everyone—like me?”
Tom nodded.
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I thought you wanted to go, so I pretended like it was okay with me.”
Tom turned and said, “And I pretended like it was okay.”
“So there you go. Pretending is shitty.”
Tom snorted a laugh. “I feel bad for Aaron because he thought I wanted to go with him. He got kind of mad when I said I didn’t.”
“Didn’t what?”
“Didn’t want to have sex with him.”
Merle let out a slow breath. “I’m glad you told him that instead of going through with it.”
“Mrs. A. says it’s important to say no when you mean it.”
“Mrs. A. is one hundred percent right.”
“Still, I feel bad.”
“He’ll get over it.” Yes, it was a snarl.
“I bet he was surprised that you were mad at him.”
“Maybe.”
“I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.”
Merle glanced over at Tom, the glow from the streetlights alternately illuminating and hiding his pretty face. His hair had curled in the coolness of the evening, and the halo effect was back. “It’s my fault, Tom. I brought you and I shouldn’t have left you alone with Aaron. I should have taken better care of you.”
“Not your job, Merle.” Those sounded like someone else’s words.
“Hey, we take care of each other, right?”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“Did someone say it wasn’t their job to take care of you?”
Tom nodded and looked out the window.
“Your parents?”
“Yes.”
Don’t want to upset him, but— “It was their job to take care of you. They didn’t do their job.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
He nodded and stared at the scenery some more.
Merle pulled into the lot, drove back to his carport, and parked. “Come on.”
Tom followed him up the stairs to the apartment, and Merle keyed them in. “It’s not much, but make yourself at home.”
Tom looked around at the small living room with its kitchenette on one end and dining space next to it. “Wow. Is this where you live?”
Merle tossed his keys back on the small entry table. “Yep. I got this place about a year after I came to Southern California, and I just stayed. At first I had two roommates and then one and now none, but I never moved in case the whole TV thing blew up in my face and I was poor again.” He laughed.
“But now you have your house.”
“Yep. It took a lot of guts to buy it, but I figure real estate in Laguna is always good. If I get fired or the series gets canceled, I can sell it.”
Tom grinned. “Who’d fire you?”
“Lots of people.”
“They’d be dumb.”
“I totally agree.” He flashed Tom his best rakish smile and got the desired laugh. “Let’s get you settled in the guest room so you can get some sleep. Do you have to work tomorrow?” They walked down the short hall.
“Yes, but I told Billy I’d be late.”
“Are you working at my house?”
“Yes.”
“So we can stop to take the boys out and feed them and then go to the house.”
“Thank you for thinking of the boys, Merle.” Tom sat on the side of the double bed that Merle kept for company. “This is nice.”
“I’ll have a better place when my house is done. The bathroom is across the hall. The towels are clean. I’ll see if I have an extra toothbrush.”
Tom looked up with those big eyes. “Thank you for saving me.”
“I’m just glad you called.”
“I didn’t know who else to call. I was thinking maybe Billy if I couldn’t get you.” He looked at his hands folded in his lap. “I figured you’d be with René.”
“No. We left right after you did, and I came here.”
Tom glanced up quickly and then back down.
Merle swallowed a little too loudly. “I might have some pajama bottoms that will fit you, but they’ll be way too short.”
“That’s okay. I’ll wear my undies.”
“So, uh, sleep well.” He turned and practically raced to his own room before his nobility faded.
TOM STARED at his hands some more. Merle sure did want to go back to sleep. I must have bothe
red him. But I’m still happy he came to get me. I didn’t want to fuck Aaron or even suck his cock like he said.
Tom stood and walked to the bathroom across the hall. He glanced toward the other door just a little way away. That’s where Merle is. Light still showed under the door. Not asleep yet.
No toothbrush. Merle forgot. But Tom found some toothpaste in a drawer and put some on his finger and slid it around. After rinsing, he peed, washed his hands and face, and went back into the bedroom, stripped to his boxer briefs, and hung his jeans and shirt and jacket on hangers in the closet.
He pulled back the covers and found nice white sheets, then crawled in and flipped off the light beside the bed. Wonder if Merle’s asleep? I hope the boys are okay and don’t miss me too much. He almost never left them overnight. Mrs. A. wouldn’t like it if he did it very much. The boys wouldn’t like it either.
He sighed and stretched his hands behind his head. I shouldn’t have said I’d go dancing with Aaron. Why did I do that?
He followed the patterns of headlights streaking across the wall through a gap in the curtains. I like to dance. His lips compressed in a line. I wanted to dance, but not with Aaron. I wanted to dance with Merle. He smiled. I got to and it was rad. Merle’s the best dancer ever.
Oh boy. He shook his head. I really like Merle. I never should’ve said I’d go with Aaron when I wanted to go with Merle. That was dumb. And not very nice. He blew out his breath in a long stream and felt it tickle his chest. But Merle didn’t ask me.
Flipping to his side, he stroked the soft sheets. But maybe Merle wants me to ask him. When I called him, he came right away like—like nobody ever has. What would he do if I just told him?
MERLE FLIPPED over one more time. He was getting dizzy, and more and more confused. Tom’s in the other room sleeping like a baby. I’m lying here creating my own pornographic hall of fame. Tom nude. Tom sucking my cock. Tom fucking me.
He already felt like a dirty old man. Not literally. He was just a little older than Tom. Still, the designation applied. The guy’s been hurt by his family, probably hurt by more people than I can even imagine, and I’m perving on him.
He flipped again. But that erection. Okay, okay, it’s an automatic response. Fuck, if it’s so automatic, why don’t I get hard for René? Shit, René! How could he be telling himself there was potential in his relationship with René when he was lying here lusting after Tom? Why am I so cracked on the subject of Tom?
Time to think logically and honestly. Tom’s gorgeous. He’s not sophisticated and intellectual, which I’ve had enough of for a fucking lifetime. He’s deadly honest. Like I told Ru, that’s a rarity in my line of work. He likes me. Yes, I’m lucky enough to have a number of people who like me, but Tom likes me in an unconditional way.
Shit, I make him sound like a puppy.
So there were lots of logical reasons he liked Tom. Get over it and go to sleep.
He flipped himself into a fetal ball, back to the door, and tried counting his breaths to put him to sleep. His eyes got heavy and breathing slowed. Good.
The door creaked.
What? He flipped over again and faced the open bedroom door with Tom standing in it. Standing in it wearing a pair of white boxer briefs that did little to hide a huge erection. Morning wood not in the morning? One a.m. wood? Don’t look! He glued his gaze to Tom’s face. “Hi. Is something wrong?”
Tom’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Merle, I wanted to dance with you.”
“What? Oh. Well, we got to dance together, right? It was fun.”
“I only wanted to dance with you, not with Aaron. But I said yes to Aaron so I could have that one dance with you, but that was dumb because I didn’t want Aaron at all. I only wanted you, and then I went home with Aaron, which was dumber because I knew Aaron would want to have sex, and I knew I only wanted to have sex with you and so I never should have gone and I know he’s mad and—”
“Stop! Uh, what did you say?”
“About Aaron?”
“Fuck Aaron. Did you say you want to have sex with me?” Merle’s cock sprang to attention so fast the blood left his brain and he saw dancing spots. He blinked.
Tom smiled softly and pointed to his crotch. “Yeah.”
“It’s probably not a good idea. I mean, we don’t know each other well, but I really like you, and I wouldn’t want to hurt you.”
“Okay.”
“No, I mean—” Shit, what do I mean? He sat up on the edge of the bed and put his face in his hands, every nerve ending vibrating. “I’m really confused on the subject of you.”
Silence. Did Tom leave? Merle looked up.
Tom stood still as a Greek statue, his eyes riveted—to Merle’s hard-as-stone penis. Right, I went to bed nude. Well, shit.
Suddenly Tom dropped to his knees, grabbed Merle’s dick, and swallowed it to the balls.
“Holy shit!” Anything resembling a doubt vacated Merle’s brain as if Tom was sucking them out along with his rapidly boiling semen. His hips had no mixed emotions. He fell back on the mattress and thrust up so high he could practically feel Tom’s tonsils. Jesus H. Christ, the man might be unsophisticated in manner, but his oral skills showed a range of talent seldom duplicated. “Jesus, Tom.”
Tom popped off his lips. “You like or no?”
Some piece of Merle’s brain whispered You can stop this by saying no. Instead he yelled, “I like it. I love it. God, don’t stop.”
Tom laughed and wrapped his perfect lips back around Merle’s cock, sucking just the head and then opening his throat to take the whole damned thing. Swallow after swallow massaged every nerve ending on Merle’s penis until the thing sang love songs to Tom’s mouth.
Merle’s brain went nuts. He wanted everything. All of it. He grabbed a handful of Tom’s hair. “Wait!”
Tom stilled.
“Do you like to fuck?”
Tom popped off his lips. “Yes. I love to fuck, Merle. Do you want to fuck me or do you want me to fuck you?”
“Fuck me. Now, please.”
“Oh, that’s sounds wonderful. Do you have condoms and lube?”
Merle flailed toward the nightstand. Tom rummaged and came up with the prizes. While Merle’s brain fried and cock danced, Tom carefully fit the somewhat too-small condom on his giant dick and lubed it up, then gently inserted a lube-coated finger into Merle.
“Oh God, yes.”
“You’re kind of tight, Merle, and I’m pretty big. You sure you don’t want to fuck me?”
“No. I want all of it. All. Now. Hurry.”
“Oh yes, I want to hurry.” He pushed Merle on his back, pressed his legs on either side of his ears, and positioned that majestic pecker against Merle’s hole.
Merle bobbed up against it. “Push, Tom. Give it to me.”
“I love that you want my cock so bad.”
“I love it too.”
“Shall I push now?”
Merle’s eyes flew open. “Dammit—”
Tom grinned down at him.
“You devil. You know you make me nuts.”
“You make me nuts too, Merle. From the first time I saw you.” His hips pressed down. The pressure grew and grew. Merle’s hole burned like fucking fire until finally the huge head popped in.
“Shit!”
“Oh no. Did I hurt?”
“Jesus, it hurts so good. Just go slow for a minute.”
Tom sucked in an audible breath and pushed very slowly, forging that monster into Merle’s ass like the realization of a life dream.
“Ooooooh God, that’s good.”
“You like it.”
Merle lifted his hand to Tom’s face. “It’s perfect. Now do it harder.”
Tom planted an arm on either side of Merle’s head, his enormous biceps bulging and rippling as he took his own weight and thrust his hips forward, then pulled back, scraping every tiny nerve in Merle’s hole, then plowed back in and withdrew again like a tidal wave. Tom’s breathing rasped and soughed from his
lungs, his eyes open but unseeing as he seemed to focus on the movement of his body. “It feels so good. You’re so wonderful. I could do this all the time. I love it so much. I never fucked anybody so good before.”
“Oh shit, me either.”
“But it’s so good I’m going to come soon. Can you come too?”
“All I have to do is breathe on my cock and it’ll blow.”
“You won’t be able to reach it, Merle.”
“I was joking—” He looked up into Tom’s dancing eyes and started to laugh. “Just fuck me, you gorgeous thing!”
And he did. Oh shit, he did, until Merle’s balls squeezed like they were making orange juice. Merle threw back his head and yelled, “Holy shit!” His cock shot the first wad straight up onto Tom’s chest, with some splashing on his nose.
Tom thrust, froze, stuttered his hips, gasped, and seemed to hold his breath as two more of Merle’s shots landed across his bow.
So good. That’s bad. So good. That’s bad.
Tom landed on Merle but with only part of his weight, since he held himself on his two shaking forearms. Then he rolled to the side and collapsed on the mattress.
Merle’s breath came in gasps and he kept shuddering with spasms of pleasure. His ass hurt like fire, but who wanted to put out the blaze? He flopped an arm over his eyes. Fundamental instinct? Roll over and kiss Tom senseless for giving him the best sex of his life—by light-years. But kissing’s so fucking intimate and—Jesus, what have I done?
Tom’s breathing slowed. “Oh boy, I really liked that. I knew being with you would be the best thing ever.”
“Yeah. It was pretty great.” Merle flopped his arm back on the bed.
Tom turned on his side and stared at Merle. “It’s okay. You don’t have to be worried. I’m not going to ask you to be my boyfriend or anything.”
Merle’s head snapped to the side. “You’re—you’re not?” Okay, ultimate idiocy. He felt hurt. What a fucking imbecile.
Tom turned up his soft lips. “Naw. Somebody like you would never want somebody like me to be their boyfriend.” He blinked. “But I sure did like the sex. If you ever want to do it again, I’d be glad.”
Merle swallowed—hard. I’m going to fucking cry and I haven’t got an idea what to say.