Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume One

by Mickie B. Ashling

He’d gotten a hotel room with the money, his first ever, and lingered under the shower as the hot spray numbed the scratches on his back and hips, dark bruises already coming out. The guys had used him hard, but it was worth it for the soft bed all to himself and the luxury of room service. It wasn’t until he lay in the large clean bed that night, staring at the ceiling, that loneliness struck him, and his pillow was soaked with tears before he could fall asleep.

  Chapter Six

  DANI’S HEART POUNDED as he approached Christian’s apartment complex. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. The building was clean and attractive, nicely landscaped. The rent would be steep. How could Christian possibly be interested in him, a guy without two nickels to rub together?

  No. Christian was a better man than that. Dani needed to stop putting him down. Money didn’t seem to matter all that much to the guy. After all, he’d bought Dani dinner without expecting anything in return.

  Heat flushed through Dani, his dick stirring with the memory of how he’d repaid him that morning. God, he wanted to do that again. Christian had been amazing. And his cock… Dani swallowed a moan. They hadn’t just fucked. Dani had been fucked before. Many times. But Christian had really seemed to care that he enjoyed it as much as Christian did. Had watched Dani’s face as he entered him. And there was a moment when they were drenched in sweat, Christian holding tight, giving all he had, when Dani felt truly wanted, cherished even. He’d loved that Christian cared. Loved Christian, in that moment.

  “Oh, hell,” Dani muttered, his breath a white plume in the cold air as he realized this feeling had been coming on for some time. It had been the welcoming smile Christian gave him each night at the diner that got him through the lonely days. The cup of soup or chips he’d add to Dani’s half sandwich as if he knew the nights Dani was especially hungry. Tears burned Dani’s eyes. It was the fact that there was one person in the whole world who cared he was alive.

  “What do I do?” he whispered at the sidewalk, keeping his head lowered so the occasional passerby wouldn’t see his miserable expression. He hadn’t meant to do it. How inconvenient for Christian, who probably wanted to enjoy a few weeks of sex with the little match girl. But love? Christian was so alive, full of purpose. Why would he love a little fairy like him?

  “But maybe we could be friends.” He confided his hope to the sidewalk. That would be nice. He’d had very few of those in his life. Gathering his courage, he started up the steps to the second floor. Christian’s car was in its spot, taking away his excuse not to see him.

  His timid knock was answered almost immediately. They stared at each other, the anxious look on Christian’s face slipping to a cool mask, squeezing Dani’s heart.

  “You came back,” Christian stated. He opened the door wider, motioning Dani in, though there was nothing friendly in his expression. Maybe he deserved that.

  Dani entered the apartment he’d thought he’d never see again, and hesitated in the living room. “I didn’t mean—”

  “I don’t suppose you did.” Christian’s tone was clipped, angry. He gave a sudden, impatient wave of his hand. “For God’s sake, put your shit down. Take off your coat.” Dani hastily set the bag of candles down and slipped off his coat, leaving them on the floor. Christian jabbed a finger toward the couch. “Sit there.”

  Dani scurried to the couch and sat with his hands folded in his lap, forcing himself to meet Christian’s angry glare, though his stomach rolled. Christian wouldn’t hit him, would he? Carl would slap him around when angry. Lots of men did. But he’d hoped…

  Christian stood over him, lips set firmly, but then his eyes widened as if he saw something in Dani’s expression that disturbed him. As the anger left his face, he sighed and took a seat beside Dani on the couch, hands clasped loosely between his knees.

  “I’ve got to tell you, Dani, I feel used,” he said with resignation, head turned away. “We fucked and then you left as if it hadn’t meant anything to you. Is that what friends do?”

  Dani wrung his hands together, wretched. “I’m sorry. I wanted to make it easier for you. You know, leaving before you had to tell me to go.”

  “Did I act like I wanted you to go?”

  “No—”

  Christian cut him off. “I looked for you. After my shower, I went to see if I could coax you back to bed, but you’d gone, without even a goodbye. Do you know how that made me feel? Never mind.” He went on before Dani could apologize. “I dressed and ran out after you. I drove around for an hour searching for you. It was like you’d dropped off the planet.” He finally glanced at Dani, and the pain in his eyes hurt. “Did I do something that made you not want to be with me?”

  Dani groaned, covered his face with his hands. “God, no. You made me long to stay. Made me feel wanted. I had to leave before I couldn’t. Before I begged you to keep me.” His heart pounded. What would Christian say? He’d never been this honest with anyone. He almost wished he could take the words back. He peeked through his fingers and saw Christian’s expression soften, and he touched Dani’s cheek. Dani flinched involuntarily, and Christian gave him a sad look. He took Dani’s hands in both of his, turning so their knees touched.

  “I’m going to tell you something that you have to believe,” he began.

  Dani nodded, breathless. Christian sounded so grave.

  “There’s going to be times I get angry with you or you get mad at me. That happens to every couple. But I promise you I will never, never hit you or purposely hurt you. I don’t do that. It’s disgusting. You have to trust me on this, or I don’t see how we can be happy together.”

  Dani’s mouth fell open and he was too shocked to close it. The slow grin on Christian’s face finally broke the spell.

  “You think we can be together? Like an actual couple—” His voice cracked.

  Christian’s smile broadened. “I’d like to try,” he whispered and leaned over, brushing their lips together. “But first—” His breath was warm on Dani’s cheeks, making his pulse leap. “—tell me why you left and why you came back.”

  Dani gripped Christian’s hands, pulse roaring as he took the plunge. “I left because I think I’m falling in love with you. I came back for the same reason.” He swallowed painfully. “I also need your help with something.”

  “With what?” Christian asked, his own voice sounding shaky. Dani noted he didn’t say anything about Dani’s declaration.

  He took the locket from his jeans and showed it to Christian. “This was my mother’s. The woman at the help desk in the library said to scan a picture of it into a computer and do a search on it.”

  Christian took the heirloom from him, examined at it closely. “What for?”

  Dani opened the locket, showing him the tiny picture of his mother as a young girl inside. “I’d like to find her family. She missed them so much.”

  “You want to talk to them?”

  Dani shrugged, not really sure. “I haven’t thought beyond finding them. Maybe knowing I had family besides Carl would make me feel less alone.”

  “Carl?”

  “My…” Dani grimaced, not wanting to say it. “He’s my drunk ass of a father. This is my mom.” He brushed a thumb over her face. “She died last year. Cancer. Her family should know.”

  Christian put a hand on Dani’s knee. “I’m sorry about your mom.” He gently closed the locket and handed it back. “If you like, I can take a picture with my phone, and we’ll search for it on my laptop.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Not at all. The library would have a better computer, but they’ll be closed soon. We can get a start on it, anyway.”

  He had Dani set the locket on the kitchen counter. Apparently he’d been making a sandwich when Dani knocked on the door. Taking up the knife, he slathered mayonnaise on a piece of bread and pressed it down on the mound of lettuce, tomato, turkey, and cheese. Dani’s mouth watered as he deftly sliced the sandwich in two. He placed half on a napkin, set it in front of Dani, and a
dded a pile of chips from an open bag.

  “Eat,” he said as if he made sandwiches for his guests all the time. For all Dani knew, he did.

  “Thank you,” he murmured and took a bite, almost moaning as the fresh taste burst on his tongue. He glanced at the microwave clock. What luxury to be eating this early in the day. Thoughts of getting a job of his own, having an income to buy his own food, lifted his spirits further. Maybe college? Christian could help him with that.

  Christian rose and grabbed a soda from the fridge and set it in front of him. Distracted, Dani thanked him with a smile and took several deep swallows of the sugary, bubbly liquid. It wouldn’t do to get ahead of himself. He’d need to save some money first.

  When they were done, Christian put the food away then took several pictures of the locket with his phone.

  “Follow me.” He motioned, leading Dani to his bedroom. A desk stood under one of the windows, and he sat in the rollaway chair and opened the laptop on the cluttered surface. After uploading the pictures from his phone, he typed on the keyboard, beginning his search. Dani leaned over his shoulder to watch, conscious of the muscular back he wanted to drape himself over.

  Heat rose from Christian’s body, surrounded him, the scent of his skin and citrus shampoo teasing at Dani’s senses. He tried to concentrate on the computer screen, but his body had different ideas, responding to Christian’s closeness. He needed that strong body at his mercy again, quivering under his fingertips and lips, moaning and writhing as Dani took him in his mouth. Dani had been with lots of guys, but he’d never wanted anyone this badly. Is this what love did? If so, he’d be heartbroken when Christian got tired of him.

  Christian’s breath hitched, and without thought, Dani nuzzled against his neck. He’d give his soul to lick the thick tendon so close to his lips. Abruptly, Christian dropped his hands from the keyboard and he turned his head, and Dani shivered deliciously at the flash of desire in his dark eyes. Christian gripped the back of his neck, pulling him down for a kiss, and Dani moaned into his mouth as Christian’s tongue probed deep, licking and tasting, starting that delicious ache in Dani’s balls.

  Christian pushed the chair back, and Dani eagerly straddled him, rubbing his cock against Christian’s own hardness. Christian devoured his mouth, sucked his tongue, until Dani whimpered, needing so much more. Thrusting his hands between them, he lifted the hem of Christian’s shirt and pulled it up his muscular chest and over his head. Christian’s breath came out in gasps, and he undid the button on Dani’s jeans.

  “Take your shirt off,” he ordered, and Dani hastened to remove it. Christian lowered the zipper on his pants, and then both hands slid down Dani’s back and into his jeans, cupped his ass. Yanking him closer, Christian lifted his hips to rut against him. Dani cried out, mind swimming with lust when a finger found his hole.

  Christian suddenly lifted him up until Dani was standing over him, dick on level with his mouth.

  “Take it out,” Christian said thickly, gaze intent on Dani’s open fly. His finger still nudged into him and Dani moaned, pulling out his dick. Oh God! Christian stared at his cock, and fire swept through Dani, his dick swelling even further as he leaned forward, offering it. He jumped, pleasure sparking through him when Christian licked the glistening tip and flicked his tongue around the head.

  Legs shaking, Dani whimpered again. Do it! A groan of frustration was pulled from him when Christian grinned, still teasing at his hole.

  “Fuck, Christian, suck me. Please,” he begged, unable to stop his hips from rocking. Christian gave a soft laugh and drew him in, all heat and wetness. He pulled back, lightly scraping his teeth along Dani’s length, sending pleasure spiraling through him. He did it again, and then Christian slid down in the chair, tilting his head back to take Dani in deep. Fuck! He tentatively thrust his hips, and Christian let go of his ass, dropping his arms to dangle alongside the chair, giving control to Dani. He couldn’t mean…

  Christian opened his eyes, and the wild lust in his gaze was all the permission Dani needed. He stopped thinking, plunging his dick into that fantastic mouth while Christian moaned encouragement, throat hot and so damned tight around him. Pleasure built and sudden tears filled his eyes. How was this happening? No one had ever… Not with Dani, that little fairy on the street corner. Good for sucking you off for a few bucks or a quick fuck behind the dumpsters for a fifty. No one had thought about him, and here was Christian…

  He yelped when Christian lightly slapped his ass to recall his attention, the pain somehow intensifying the pleasure to an exquisite pitch… And he was over, his orgasm ripping through him, shattering him as his mind reeled into bliss. But he fought to come back, desperate to see Christian’s face in that moment, needing to bring Christian this same ecstasy.

  His cock slipped from Christian’s mouth, and Christian licked his swollen lips, looking smug. Dani felt the sting of a blush in his face and bent down to kiss him, swallowing the words of love trying to spill out. He dropped to his knees, and Christian helped him undo his pants, pulled them off his muscular legs. Dani took Christian’s dick between his lips, already tasting the tang of precum. God, he loved a thick cock in his mouth, filling him, nudging the back of his throat.

  Too soon Christian tugged on his hair. Dani glanced up and saw the question in his bright eyes.

  He nodded, reluctantly pulling off him. “Condoms?”

  Christian answered by reaching down and opening the bottom drawer of the desk. A few foil packets and a small bottle of lube were all that were in there, and Dani’s heart squeezed. Christian didn’t play much. Dani hoped he wasn’t lonely. Anyway, he’d have to make sure Christian enjoyed this. After plucking a condom from the drawer, he deftly opened it. He paused with Christian’s proud cock standing before him, then he took it in his mouth again, wanting another taste. He laughed at Christian’s desperate moan and slid the condom down the thick shaft.

  After drizzling lube along the stiff pole, he straddled Christian’s lap again, positioning himself to take him in.

  Christian gripped his arms, concern sweeping his face. “I haven’t gotten you ready―”

  “Oh, babe, I’m ready,” Dani assured him and plunged down, loving the initial burn and pain that swiftly turned to pleasure as he rose up, rolled his hips, and pushed down to take the hard cock back in. Christian threw his head back, and his groans of pleasure were intoxicating. Christian gripped Dani’s hips, holding him down while he thrust deep inside him, and pleasure sparked behind his eyes when Christian stroked his prostate.

  “Found it,” Christian murmured triumphantly and plunged mercilessly into him, striking his prostate on almost each pass. Dani cried out, senses reeling. He grabbed his dick, Christian’s hand closing over his, and they pumped him together while Christian’s cock drove him higher.

  He yelped when Christian licked a hypersensitive nipple. Glancing down, he blinked blurry eyes to see Christian gazing at him, face flushed with lust and pleasure and an emotion Dani wouldn’t name. It couldn’t be love. Not for him.

  Christian’s gaze turned gentle. “My beautiful Dani,” he whispered and lowered his head to suck a tender nipple into his mouth. The sting when Christian nipped him sent him soaring. His orgasm struck hard, erupting between their fingers as he came with a cry, praying he hadn’t said the words of love dancing on his tongue. Christian groaned against his throat, shuddering beneath him, and Dani cursed the condom that kept him from feeling the heat of his cum inside him.

  They clutched each other, breathing hard, Dani’s body tingling, satiated, lethargic. He didn’t want to move. But Christian stirred and Dani climbed off his lap. After grabbing a tissue from the box on the desk, he stripped the condom from Christian’s dick and dropped it in the nearby trash bin. He still hadn’t met Christian’s eyes. What now? Most guys would laugh it off, tell Dani he was a good fuck and send him on his way. He didn’t want that from Christian, the hope screaming inside him making him shiver while Christian remained silent.
Say something!

  He started slightly when Christian stood and cupped his face with a warm hand, tilted his chin up. The wonder and joy in his eyes stole Dani’s breath, as did the fond smile that spread on his fantastic lips as he threaded fingers through his hair.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. Then he laughed, sounding self-conscious, melting Dani’s heart.

  He rubbed Dani’s head and then untangled his fingers and let out a soft curse. “Shit, I think I got cum in your hair. Will you shower with me?” he asked tentatively, when most guys demanded, and Dani could have gone on his knees for him again right then and there.

  “Yes,” he squeaked out with the nervous giggle some said made him sound girly, and hot blood flushed his face. He’d been slapped for it a time or two. Christian gave him a soft look, and he touched Dani’s lips with his thumb. He lowered his hand and gently rubbed one of Dani’s nipples.

  “I like everything about you, Dani,” he assured him.

  Dani’s heart squeezed. If only that were true. But Christian hadn’t seen him in lace yet. Would that be a turnoff for the definitely masculine guy?

  Christian sighed. “I’ll just have to prove it to you,” he stated and tugged Dani’s hand, drawing him to the bathroom.

  Chapter Seven

  CHRISTIAN TURNED ON the faucets in the walk-in shower, smiling to himself. He imagined to a guy like Dani the bathroom would seem luxurious with its tiled floor and shower and ample space. He’d never thought much about it. He attended college on a full scholarship and his parents paid for his room, so he only worked at the sandwich shop for spending money. He supposed his family was well off. He’d just taken plenty of food and a nice home for granted.

  While the water warmed, he turned back to Dani standing awkwardly in the doorway, and his heart sped up. The guy really was gorgeous with that slim, finely toned body, delicious cock, and flawless complexion surrounded by wisps of golden hair. The wide gray eyes and full lips were a little too irregular for him to be an angel, but definitely the subject of Christian’s wet dreams.