by K. Sterling
“Really? I live just about around the corner,” he said and Ben blinked in surprise.
“That’s crazy. We’re practically neighbors and I’ve never seen you before,” Ben said and Landon’s eyes dropped and he nodded slowly as he stared at a straw wrapper on the table. Ben curved his hand around Landon’s jaw and turned his face to his. “Come back to my place with me.” He let Landon see how badly he wanted him, how ready he was to let him in. Landon swallowed loudly and his eyes clouded over.
“I didn’t think it was going to be like this,” Landon said softly and Ben could only nod in agreement as the wild pounding of his heart slowed and the temperature in the room dropped. “Before anything else happens, I have to tell you something,” Landon’s eyes swept to the right and Ben’s hand fell.
“Ok,” Ben whispered. Landon took a deep breath and held it for a moment.
“I’m having an amazing time with you. Everything feels so…right and I can’t believe that this is happening.” His jaw twitched and Ben hated the way his stomach flipped.
“I know, it’s kind of incredible,” Ben said and Landon shook his head.
“No, it’s not, really,” he insisted and Ben’s brows rose and his head pulled back. Landon sighed heavily. “Why couldn’t we have met a year ago? Why did we have to meet now?” He asked and Ben’s cheeks puffed out and he shook his head.
“I don’t know. But we’re here now,” he offered and Landon groaned as he pushed his hands through his hair.
“That’s the problem! I’m leaving in nine weeks. This afternoon I was excited about landing the job of my dreams and now I’m kind of heartbroken because I think I’ve met the man of my dreams. Part of me wishes that I hadn’t asked you out,” he admitted and Ben could only stare as all hope, anticipation and adrenaline drained from him.
“You’re leaving?” He mumbled as he sagged in the seat and Landon nodded as he flicked a piece of the straw wrapper off the table.
“PixelWorks offered me a job. I’m moving to California,” he explained and Ben decided he hated California.
“But… Why did you…” He frowned as he looked at Landon. “Why did you ask me out if you knew this wasn’t going to go anywhere?” Ben asked and Landon squeezed his eyes shut.
“I know,” he groaned. “I said the same thing to Jason and I wasn’t going to ask you out but I was eating dinner with a hamster and I was so tired of being alone. I thought worst case scenario, I had a lousy time but at least I got out of the house. Best case scenario, I had a great time and met someone that I could have fun with before I left. Maybe we’d be friends and stay in touch,” he explained but Ben was still confused.
“You were eating dinner with a hamster?” He asked and Landon nodded.
“Keith. She belongs to my niece,” he said and Ben’s eyes narrowed.
“How drunk are you?” He asked and Landon was still for several seconds before he laughed.
“Not as drunk as I wish I was. Molly’s too young to understand gender and that some names are gender specific. Her parents are the type that bought her trucks when she was a toddler and let her wear Thomas The Tank Engine shirts, so they loved the whole Keith thing.” He paused as he waited for Ben to absorb everything.
“You thought the best case scenario was that we’d be friends? You didn’t consider the fact that we might hit it off and that we’d want more than a few months?” He wished his body hadn’t tightened and gotten warmer when Landon bit his lip and shook his head.
“Not really. Every guy I’ve dated has been a dead end. I’ve never gone past a few weeks with anyone. They’re either too shallow or too immature to take seriously,” Landon said and Ben pinched the bridge of his nose as he nodded in agreement.
“Me too, which makes this suck even more. And you didn’t think that there was a chance that we’d end up sleeping together?” He lowered his hand and looked at Landon expectantly. He shrugged as his finger traced the edge of the table.
“That was one of the better scenarios,” he admitted. “I thought it wouldn’t be bad if we were into each other enough to hook up a few times.” Landon’s lips pulled tight as he looked up at Ben. “But when you said you wanted to go back to your place, it didn’t feel like the kind of thing that I’d want to have happen once or twice and I guessed you might want more too.” His eyes were dark and deep when they met Ben’s.
Ben wished he could call for a time-out so he could talk to Michelle. He didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t out of his mind with lust anymore but he still wanted Landon. Part of Ben’s brain argued that if he didn’t find a way to get Landon out of his clothes and in his bed, he’d spend the rest of his life wondering what it would have been like. And there was no guarantee that they’d even like each other in nine weeks. They might have a falling out and never want to talk to each other again or they could burn out and lose interest. There were a million reasons it might not matter that Landon was leaving in nine weeks. Why not enjoy the incredible spark that existed between them while it lasted? In that moment, Landon was perfect. Tomorrow or two months down the road, he might not be. Part of Ben’s brain whispered that Landon would always be perfect and he could be the one. It warned that Ben was telling himself whatever he needed to feel good about talking Landon into going back to his place and possibly setting himself up for a broken heart. Landon’s hand slid across the table and covered Ben’s.
“I’m really sorry. I was so caught up in you and how much I wanted you, I forgot for a while,” he said softly and heat slammed into Ben. His jaw fell and it took him a moment to catch his breath.
“Get up,” Ben rasped and Landon’s eyes were wide but he slowly slid back.
“What?” He asked as he stood and Ben dropped a bunch of $20’s on the table as he followed.
“We’re leaving,” Ben announced and Landon opened his mouth to argue. Ben shook his head as he pulled Landon close and covered his mouth with his. This time, the kiss was urgent and hungry and when Ben raised his head Landon’s eyes were dazed and his chest rose and fell rapidly. “I don’t want to worry about what’s going to happen in nine weeks. We might not even like each other or California could fall into the ocean. Tonight, I want to undress you and taste every inch of you,” he stated and Landon’s eyes grew even wider. “If you don’t mind,” Ben added and Landon shook his head wildly. “Good. Let’s go,” Ben said as he pushed Landon toward the door.
Chapter 6
The walk to Ben’s apartment was a bit of a blur. The only thing Landon noticed was Ben’s lips. Every time he smiled or licked them, Landon got a little more disoriented. They could have walked to Canada and back, he wouldn’t have noticed. There was a doorman and Landon nodded as he passed but his eyes locked on Ben’s lips as they waited for the elevator. As soon as the doors shut behind them and they were alone, Landon reached for Ben’s face. His hands cradled Ben’s jaw and he moaned when his chest pressed against Ben’s and the solid heat of his body spilled into Landon. He angled his head and goosebumps covered his skin as his lips brushed across the luscious softness of Ben’s. Landon growled as he nibbled and sucked and a hoarse chuckle wafted from Ben’s throat as his hand pressed against Landon’s back, pulling him closer. There was a ding and they both jumped when the doors opened.
“To be continued,” Ben murmured as he backed Landon into the hall. A moment later, he unlocked his door and was waving Landon through. Landon’s eyes swept around the kitchen and living room as he slid out of his jacket and set it on the back of a dining chair.
“This is really nice,” he said as he took in rich shades of burgundy and navy and warm leather. It was all very clean and masculine yet comfortable.
“Thanks. Want a drink?” Ben asked and Landon smiled as he went to the window.
“I could really go for a drink,” he teased as he looked out and his eyes flared. “This view is incredible! You’re just a few stories up and not even a mile to the west but this is so much better than mine,”
Landon said and he heard a soft laugh from the kitchen.
“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t even look at the view until after I got the keys. Now, it’s the first thing I look at when I wake up every morning,” Ben said and Landon nodded as he stared out. Instead of the view, he tried to imagine Ben naked in front of the window and he was glad he had the sense to remove his jacket as heat washed over him. “Here.” Landon jumped and turned. Ben smiled as he pressed a glass into Landon’s hand.
“Thanks,” he mumbled as he raised the glass to his lips. He took a cautious sip and then hummed in delight. “God, that’s good,” Landon said as he held the glass up. Ben nodded as he leaned against the window and watched Landon.
“It’s a whiskey sour. I use a small batch craft whiskey and make my own sour mix,” he explained and Landon sighed and shook his head before he took another long sip then cursed under his breath.
“You’ve just ruined every other whiskey sour I’ll ever drink. For the rest of my life,” he complained and Ben laughed.
“Sorry?” He asked and Landon narrowed his eyes.
“Liar,” he said and Ben shrugged then drained his glass. He waited for Landon to finish his then set their glasses on the table.
“I’ll make you as many as you want. Later,” he said as he took Landon’s hand and pulled as he backed toward the hall.
Once again, Ben’s lips became the center of the universe as they made their way down the hall. When Landon finally looked away, he was in the middle of Ben’s bedroom. His eyes flicked around and a pulse of anxious need had him exhaling loudly as he reached for Ben. He refused to look at the bed behind him. If he did, he’d start to think and lose any semblance of smooth he had left. Jumping up and down like a six year old or clapping would probably kill the mood, so he stayed as still as possible as his hand slid around Ben’s neck. Their lips brushed and clung as Ben guided Landon toward the bed. They stopped and Landon was glad the light was low and Ben couldn’t see his hands shake as he reached for the button at his collar. Ben shook his head and Landon groaned as lips slid from side to side along Landon’s.
“Let me,” he breathed as his hand covered Landon’s and pulled it away. “I want to undress you,” Ben whispered as his fingers slipped the first button free and Landon nodded as he let his hand fall to his side.
Ben should have said “unwrap”. He undid each button with such excruciating slowness and reverence, Landon was almost frantic when Ben finally slid the shirt over his shoulders and down his arms. It fell to the floor and Ben’s fingers delicately traced the backs of Landon’s hands. Landon shivered as they slowly skated up his arms. Ben’s head tilted as his eyes followed his fingers and they were dark and large when they reached Landon’s. His hands worked with mesmerizing grace at Landon’s belt and Landon held his breath as Ben pulled it through the loops then sighed when it dropped. Prickling heat washed over Landon as he watched Ben’s fingers flick at the buttons of his trousers and he had to pull in a steadying breath as they slipped beneath the edge of his undershirt. Somehow, Ben managed to carefully pull it over Landon’s head and toss it aside without touching Landon’s skin. There was a rumbling groan and the muscle in Ben’s jaw twitched before he raised his hands and lightly traced Landon’s shoulders. Landon shut his eyes and silently begged for strength as Ben’s fingertips glided over his collar bone and down his chest. They settled into the grooves of his stomach and Landon’s erection throbbed as they swept toward the waist of his pants. Landon almost protested as those fingers swept around his side as Ben circled him. They glided down the back of his neck and Landon let his head fall as they splayed and trailed over the taut muscles of his back. When they slid beneath the waist of his pants and pushed, sending them down Landon’s legs, he was comforted by the loud hiss that escaped from Ben.
“Holy shit.” Landon felt the words against his shoulder and a cocky grin pulled at his lips. It died when he felt tugging at his boxers and they slipped past his knees. He swallowed hard as Ben’s hands curved over the cheeks of his ass and cupped. A squeak tickled his throat as a feather soft caress traced the cleft of his ass before Ben circled back around. His eyes were heavy when they found Landon’s then swept down his body. “Fuck,” Ben gasped when they reached Landon’s cock. His gaze was intense when it snapped back to Landon’s face. “I hope you don’t have to be anywhere any time soon,” Ben murmured and Landon shook his head. Ben grinned as he stepped close. “Good. I’m going to need hours,” he warned as his hands gently pushed on Landon’s shoulders until he was sitting on the bed.
“Hours?” Landon repeated as he watched Ben drop to his knees.
A soft laugh was the only answer he got as his shoes and socks were quickly discarded. His pants and boxers fell to the floor and Ben tugged his tie free as he stood. Landon’s eyes grew wider and wider as he watched Ben rapidly shed his clothes. Nothing he imagined could have prepared Landon for the body before him. Ben looked like he was carved from stone and his skin gleamed in the soft light as he approached the bed. Landon’s eyes drifted down Ben’s body and heat exploded as he took in the long, thick erection that hung heavily between his thighs.
He’d never asked but Landon imagined that it was the same with every gay man when they first found themselves naked with another man. He would never consider himself a size queen and appreciated men of all shapes and sizes but he automatically compared his partner’s cock to his own, regardless of his intentions. And Landon knew he was blessed, he’d never come across anyone larger. But a lifetime of stereotypes led him to assume that Ben was going to have the bigger dick between the two of them. As Ben kneeled on the bed and crawled over Landon he quickly compared and he had to suppress an entirely inappropriate and childish giggle as he realized he was just a touch longer and wider.
Landon’s little victory was quickly forgotten when he found himself on his back staring up at Ben. He’d never seen anyone so beautiful or potent as Ben hovered over him. When Ben lowered and his body and covered Landon’s, a current of heat and lust coursed through him as his arms and legs wrapped around Ben. Gasps, curses and moans poured from them as they pulled and writhed, trying to get closer and feel more. The smell, warmth and feel of Ben was intoxicating as Landon’s hands gripped and glided urgently. He was so hard yet miraculously velvety smooth and hot. There was a huff of steamy breath in the corner of Landon’s neck before the lush slide of Ben’s lips traveled up his throat and Landon groaned as his hand slid up Ben’s back. Landon tilted his head away, begging Ben to take more. Ben’s lips slid along his jaw before they swept under his chin and down. Landon arched when they glided across his chest and he hissed as they circled his nipple. Landon whimpered as Ben nibbled and sucked and had only a moment of relief before the muscles of his stomach flickered and bunched as Ben’s lips slowly traced every ridge and hollow on their way down. Landon’s hands were fisted in the duvet when Ben’s hand brushed down his rigid length as he settled between Landon’s thighs. Landon rose on his elbows and he licked his lips nervously as he watched Ben’s head fall.
“Oh, God! Please, don’t!” Landon whispered and Ben’s head snapped up. His brows pulled together as his eyes searched Landon’s face.
“You can’t be serious,” Ben said incredulously as his lips hovered over Landon’s cock. Landon’s sack tightened as Ben’s breath fluttered against his flesh. He bit his lip and groaned.
“Your lips have been killing me all night. I mean, seriously driving me out of my mind. I’m about to come just thinking about them around my cock,” he warned and things only got more painful as said lips spread into a wicked smile.
“That’s kind of the point, Landon,” he purred as he pressed them against the base. “If you think there’s any way you’re leaving here before my lips have covered every inch of this, you’re insane.” The words were damp and hot as they traveled up his length. “And I intend to make you come in so may different ways before I let you go,” Ben promised and Landon’s body became t
aut and slick as heat and lust rushed through his veins. Landon clenched his jaw as they slid back down his pulsing shaft. “I’ve needed to taste you all night. I need to taste your come,” he demanded as his head tilted sideways and his lips wrapped around the base and Landon gasped as Ben sucked.
“Jesus!” Landon fought to keep his eyes from rolling as he watched Ben suck his way up his length. Ben hummed in delight before his lips covered the head of Landon’s cock. Landon fell back on the bed and covered his face with his hands as Ben’s tongue swirled and teased the slit. He smothered a moan as searing wet pressure wrapped around his erection as Ben sucked. Landon’s shoulders came off the bed when Ben’s hand closed around the shaft and began to stroke in time with the rise and fall of his head. “Fuuuuuuck,” Landon groaned as pressure squeezed his sack. He grit his teeth and twisted, trying to keep the coiling of his nerves at bay as heat spilled from his groin. The head of his cock nudged the back of Ben’s throat and a hand closed around his balls. Landon’s head slammed against the bed as Ben kneaded his sack. Ben’s lips slid up and there was a soft pop as Landon’s head slipped free.
“Landon,” Ben’s voice was deep and low. Landon forced his eyes open and looked down. Landon’s jaw fell and the pressure pushed into the base of his shaft as Ben’s lips slid back and forth over the head of Landon’s cock. It was the most stunningly erotic moment of his life. Ben’s lips clung as they washed over the head and Landon’s chest started to heave as heat, pleasure and pressure swelled up the length of his erection. His eyelids started to fall and Ben whispered his name. “Stay with me. Watch,” he commanded gently and Landon nodded drunkenly. Ben’s hands worked at Landon’s shaft and sack as his lips swirled around the head. Landon’s nerves contracted as his heels dug into the bed and he couldn’t breathe.
“Ben!” Landon kept his eyes locked on Ben’s as his body jerked and he screamed as Ben’s lips closed around the head. Ben’s eyes never left Landon’s as he sucked. Come burst from the end of Landon’s cock and he bucked and shook as Ben’s hands coaxed every drop of Landon’s release from him as he drank greedily. Heavy waves of pleasure washed through Landon and he couldn’t stop his head from falling back as his eyes rolled. “Oh, my God…” He panted as he melted onto the bed.