Rain and Whiskey

by BA Tortuga

  Galen’s hand stilled on his back. “Yeah. Guess I was.”

  He looked, leaned to kiss the spot beside Galen’s lip were the beard didn’t grow. “You don’t have to.”

  “I know.” The skin under his mouth pulled tight as Galen gave him a lopsided smile. “I don’t drink anything I don’t see poured, or that isn’t opened at the table. Like the wine? I always ask for them to let me pull the cork.”

  He tilted his head. “Somebody slipped you a mickey.”

  It wasn’t really a question. It happened way more often that people admitted. Drove him fucking insane, ’cause the cops were always asking questions, hoping somebody saw something. Shit, he might serve a hundred guys on a Friday night, and they all fucking looked alike.

  “Yeah. Someone… well, someone I knew. Weirdest night of my life, let me tell you.” Galen’s muscles were rock hard under him. Must have been bad.

  “Someone you knew?” He shook his head. “That’s deeply fucked-up. So… he wanted and you didn’t?”

  That got him a laugh, the sound bitter and hard. “No. We were together. Or I thought we were. He did it so I’d be… nicer to his friends.”

  Shane frowned, eyes meeting Galen’s, hands reaching out immediately, sliding up Galen’s chest. “That’s fucking sick. What a lousy motherfucker.” He shook his head, almost growling for his Len. “What kind of a shithead wants to do that? People fucking suck.”

  Galen caught his hands, kissing his fingers, relaxing back on the bed. “Yeah. He was way more of a player than I thought I was, is all. I was out of my league. I’m more careful now.” Galen nipped his wrist. “I’ve never once worried about a drink you served me.”

  He grinned over, fingers stroking Galen’s cheek, tickling. “Good. I don’t want to be a player. I just want you and naps on the beach and periodic sex in a hot tub.” He tilted his head. “Oh, and pancakes. There’s something cool about you and syrup.”

  Shane winked, hoping to relax. Wasn’t a damn thing to do about the past, except get over it, and they had it good now.

  Galen nodded, that short beard scraping his palm. “I’ve never been happier, lover. My momma had a point when she said that life wasn’t for me.” Galen smacked his ass, sharp as fuck. “You are, though.”

  He snorted, wiggled, and reached for a little stuffed mushroom. “She hasn’t met me yet.”

  “She will. Only a couple of weeks now.” The mushroom was stolen right out of his fingers, Galen munching happily.

  “Yeah? Cool.” He pinched one of Galen’s nipples and went for another mushroom.

  “Watch it. That might fall off too.” Oh, that was better. Galen was laughing again, grabbing one of those little puff pastries with the sausage in it. Finger foods in bed. Was there anything better?

  “Nah, I’m putting up a supply of nipple bandages, so if it does, we’ll paste it back on.”

  Oh, yeah. Laughing hard enough to bounce the finger foods on the bed? Way better.

  DAMN. THE flight home was late, and Galen should have been sleeping as hard as Shane was, but he couldn’t. That was the best damned vacation ever. Not an exaggeration. Just the best. Shane was a fantastic person to see New Orleans with, bouncing from place to place, enjoying everything.

  And the sex. Jesus God, the sex. Surprising him with a nipple piercing. Even now it made him hard just thinking about it.

  Galen reached out and tweaked one of Shane’s nipples lightly, feeling the ring under the cloth of his shirt.

  Shane moaned, shifting, pushed toward his hand, just like that.

  Damn. Killed him every time. He could have Shane right here in front of all these sleeping folks if he wanted. Too bad the flight was so fucking short.

  He grinned, shifting in his seat, moving the arm up between them so he could lean and snuggle.

  Shane’s hand slid over his belly. “Mmm… you smell good.”

  “Smell like you and me.” They still smelled like the quickie they’d had at the hotel right before they hopped in the cab to the airport. It was hot as hell. “Glad we went?”

  “Oh, yeah. That was too cool—all of it.” He got a grin, Shane’s eyes still closed. “It’s one of those things that one day we’ll go ‘you remember when’ on.”

  “Yeah.” That sounded good, the “remember when” with Shane. It was kinda scary. But good. “Yeah, and we’ll have to figure out where to go next time.”

  “Somewhere cold.” Shane chuckled, nose wrinkling. “With snow.”

  “Snow?” Man, that made him think of Minnesota in the winter, and he actually shivered. “No thanks.”

  “No? I’ve never seen it, not really. Just flurries.”

  “No way.” He looked over, and damned if Shane wasn’t serious. “Well, that’s different. We’ll go skiing.”

  “You know how?” Shane chuckled, grinned. “I can water-ski. That’s gotta be close.”

  “I think snow skiing is easier. Colder. But easier.” He could rethink snow for Shane.

  “Yeah? I think the being in front of the fire, drinking Irish coffee and shit sounds decadent.”

  “I like Vermont. We’ll go.” God, that sounded better and better. He leaned, rubbing his cheek against Shane. “You make anything sound good.”

  Shane chuckled. “Chocolate-covered grasshoppers.”

  “No way.” That he could live without.

  The captain came on, announcing the descent into the airport, and the cabin lights came on. Galen sighed, sitting up as the flight attendant came by and asked them to put their seats up.

  He could still hold hands with Shane, though, and think about what he was gonna do to that fine ass and those hard little nipples when they got back into his bed.

  As much fun as it had been to go on vacation with Shane? Galen was looking forward to getting them back home where they belonged.

  Chapter Nine

  ON SUNDAYS, Galen let Shane sleep in. He could see a pattern there. Heck, he didn’t see the need for as much sleep as that boy got. But Shane looked good in his bed, so he wasn’t gonna bitch.

  Nope, he wasn’t gonna complain at all about that. Now, scrubbing his kitchen floor so it would be clean when his momma came in two days? That he would bitch about. Especially as there was syrup and beer and all manner of other stuff stuck to it. If even a trace of that was left behind, his momma would be horrified.

  He tried being quiet for all of a half hour, but damn, he didn’t work so good in the quiet. Finally Galen cranked up the Eagles and set to work, singing along with the CD player and really getting it done.

  It didn’t take long before he heard water running in the bathroom, along with splashing and clinking and whistling. The sounds drew him, because heaven knew what he was doing wasn’t what he wanted to be doing. Galen headed for the bathroom, hoping for a free show.

  Shane was naked all right, ass in the air, balls swinging, scrubbing the tub with an amazing enthusiasm, soapy water flying. Torn between cracking up and getting real horny, Galen grabbed a towel off the rack by the door and popped Shane with it, right on that tight, round butt.

  “Ow! Hey now, you break it, you buy it.” Shane looked up, bubbles on his tanned nose, nipple rings sparkling in the sunlight.

  The laughter won. Galen started with a chuckle, but soon Shane turned around and Galen was howling, holding his belly. There was a perfect little soap bubble balanced at the base of Shane’s cock.

  Shane watched him for a second, then the little shit moved and the water started flying, suds filling the air.

  “Jesus Christ, Shane.” He was gasping. “What the fuck are you doing?”

  “Cleaning.” Shane blinked innocently.

  “Using yourself as a sponge?” The rate Shane was going, the bathroom would be under water in no time.

  “I’m not really spongy, man, and the place needed a hosing. We fucking came everywhere.”

  Kid had a point. “No kidding. You should see the kitchen.”

  “I did. Over the table. Over the cabine
ts. In the chairs.”

  “Hell, yes.” He admired the view as Shane wiggled and jiggled.

  “You’ll need to wax that coffee table dealie too. Butt marks.” The bathroom was actually starting to look clean. Wet, but clean. It was an unorthodox way to clean, but Galen figured he could mop up the water after and then take a very clean Shane back to bed.

  His momma wasn’t gonna go in his bedroom.

  Those blue-sky eyes fastened on him, sharp, laughing. “You get sidetracked?”

  “Seems to be a habit around you.” No way he could hide it, the way his sweats stretched around his lengthening cock. God, he loved to watch Shane, and that was a hell of a suggestive pose.

  Those eyes dragged over him, going hot, hard little belly flushing a deep rose.

  Hottest thing ever, the way Shane’s little six-pack went red when he was wanting. Galen grinned. Too bad he wanted a clean bathroom almost as much as he wanted Shane. “Let me help. We’ll go fuck then.”

  “You do have the best plans, Len.” Shane grinned, winked. “Tub’s almost sparkly.”

  “Yep. So are you.” Grabbing a handful of towels, Galen started mopping up water, humming along with the music in the other room and watching Shane go. Shane was plumb cheery, cleaning with the same circle and swipe that he used at the bar. And didn’t that make things bob and dangle. Cleaning had never been so damned fun. Maybe he should have got Shane out of bed to do the kitchen. He managed to last until all of the suds were soaked up by the towels and the whole place sparkled.

  Barely.

  “Come on, darlin’. Let’s get out of the fumes.”

  Shane nodded, pushing right up against his back, arms sliding on his waist. “Right behind you.”

  “Fuck, you’re not careful, we’ll mess up all that hard work.” Thank God he still had his sweats on, or that sweet body pressed against him would make him crazy enough to do just that. As it was, he barely managed to move.

  They got into the bedroom before Shane’s hands were in his sweats, wrapped around his cock. Galen moaned, arching back then pushing forward, letting Shane know how much he liked it. Shane’s mouth was hot as fuck on his spine, teeth scraping, just a little. That hand kept working him, sure and steady.

  “Damn. Shane.” Galen was right there, right in the moment that fast. His cock was so hard a cat couldn’t scratch it, and his skin was overheated and damp.

  “Want you.” His sweats were pushed down, Shane kneeling behind him, mouth hot as fire.

  “Got me.” He couldn’t think, was probably glad he couldn’t. But oh, he wanted. Bad. Shane’s hand eased him down, bent him so that tongue could touch him.

  “Oh, God.” He spread, braced himself. Let Shane do whatever he wanted. Shane moaned, tongue circling his hole, the sensation making his knees weak. It shot right up his spine, bursting right in his brain and raising goose bumps. Made him pant. Shane’s hands tugged his cock, his balls, all the while that tongue went to town.

  “Shane. Damn. Please.” Hell if he knew what he was begging for, because he wanted that touch to go on forever and yet he wanted more. Wasn’t like him at all to stand there and take it, but Shane was loving him so good.

  Shane’s mouth slid up his spine, cock leaving wet kisses up along his thigh. “Want you.”

  “Bed.” The least they could do was give his shaking leg muscles a break. He snorted. And keep the come off the carpet. Shane nodded, pushing him onto the mattress, following him right along, prick rubbing, sliding.

  “Who knew scrubbing the tub would turn you into a maniac?” Galen grinned up, teasing a little, pushing up against that hot body, hands sliding down Shane’s back.

  “Just call me Mr. Bubbles.” They laughed together, Shane’s hand spreading his legs.

  “As long as it’s not Mr. Clean. He’s too fucking queer.” The laughter caught in his chest as Shane touched him just there, just right.

  “Oh, right there.” Shane damn near growled, touching, pushing. “Fuck, you’re fine.”

  It was a whole different side of Shane, and almost like looking in a mirror. It was damned hot. “What are you gonna do with me, lover?”

  Those pretty blue eyes shone. “Gonna make you scream, Len.”

  Lord. Galen arched, stretched, rubbing up and pressing against Shane’s fingers where they rested against his skin. “You can try, Shane. You surely can.”

  “Only my best.” Shane slicked those fingers, then pressed two deep inside him, curling and sending shocks through him.

  Fuck. It had been so damned long. His body instinctively tightened down, and Galen took a deep breath, trying to relax. Shane leaned down, lips brushing his throat, gentle and careful, distracting. Galen breathed, nuzzling Shane’s temple, loosening up. Opening for Shane.

  “Just want to love you, Len.” The whisper was low, husky, those fingers stroking deep.

  “Want you, Shane. Just… been a long time.” He breathed out again, feeling Shane touch him all the way in, inside him. God, yeah. “S’good.”

  “It is.” Shane got more slick, sliding inside him again, cheek brushing one of his nipples. Made him gasp. His nipple tightened up as his body loosened, and Galen spread even more, making an invitation the best way he could.

  Shane heard him, cock replacing fingers, nice and slow, spreading him, filling him up like sun in an eastern window.

  “Oh. Oh God, oh fuck. Shane. Love.” He was babbling. He knew it. No way could he stop. Full. He was so damned full, and the burn was almost too much, but it was Shane. Inside him. And that was the most amazing thing.

  Shane looked dazed, eyes wide. “Fuck, Len. I…. You feel so good.”

  “Mm-hmm.” He reached up and pulled Shane down for a kiss that pressed them together. Shane moved in him, and Galen moaned, his head about to explode and his cock aching.

  One hand found his cock as those hips started moving, taking him, tugging him. He moved right back, rising up and falling back, one hand on Shane’s hip, the other sliding up that sweet belly and chest to tug the ring in one of those nipples. A soft moan pushed into his lips, Shane shifting, sliding deeper.

  “More.” He nipped Shane’s lips, pinched that nipple a little, twisted the ring, daring Shane to go for that scream.

  Those blue eyes rolled, Shane slamming into him, jostling him deep. “Love.”

  “Oh yeah. Shane.” He was losing it, bucking and rolling, losing the need to challenge in the need to just feel. “Damn. Love you.”

  “Uh-huh. Fucking beautiful. Mine.” Shane groaned, hands grabbing the headboard, hips pistoning.

  All it took was Shane finding the right angle, pegging him just right, and Galen went nuts, crying out loud, shooting so hard, he thought his spine might snap. Yeah, that was pretty much a scream. Shane pushed inside him, jerky and graceless, heat filling him right on up.

  “Shane.” He panted, sweat drying on his skin, hand moving on Shane’s skin. Damn.

  “Yeah.” Shane kissed his shoulder, sliding out of his body with a sigh. “You good?”

  “God, yes.” He was better than good. He was melted. “I think you like to killed me there.”

  “No. Gonna keep you about, love.”

  He laughed, nodding and yawning. “Think I’ll keep you too. You even do bathrooms.”

  “Yeah, now that I know there’s that cabinet dealie under the sink? I’m gold.”

  Oh, that made him laugh even more. He laughed so much his belly hurt. Other things twinged too, reminding him that Shane had gotten past defenses that were years old. Made him feel like he’d stepped off a cliff. Of course, he was starting to get it through his thick skull that maybe he wasn’t alone on the ride.

  He wondered how Shane was at vacuuming.

  SHANE MADE sure to get his three good shirts pressed. One for after work Saturday, because he was working the day shift and he wasn’t sure whether old ladies went to bed before nine or not. One for Sunday—it was his best, white with little blue lines worked in…. Although…. White. Messy.
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  Hmm…. He threw a couple of good dark T-shirts in. Then the dark blue one for Monday. Two pair of jeans and a pair of swim shorts too, and…. Oh. His good watch from Pappy.

  He had tooth stuff and soap and such living over there already, right beside Len’s.

  He found undershorts and his good hat, but drew the line at boots. He wasn’t wasting money on socks that just got lost anyway.

  THE HOUSE was clean as a whistle. The toys were locked away in a trunk. The lube was tucked away in the nightstand, and he’d bought a box of condoms for the first time in forever. His momma would snoop, and if she didn’t find them, she would fret.

  The only thing left to do was go pick her up. He’d had her fly right into Key West on one of those little puddle jumpers, and he found a place to park with no trouble at all.

  He waited right outside the security gate, and sure enough there she was five minutes later, smiling and waving at him and then coming right up to hug his neck when she got close enough.

  “Oh, baby. It’s good to see you.”

  “You too, Momma. I missed you.”

  He looked at her face, the few lines there a little deeper, at her eyes, so dark like his, and smiled. For once he figured he had a home for her to come to that she’d be proud of.

  All the way back, she chattered at him, telling him all about the cousins and the aunts and uncles and about who was doing what to who, because that’s what mommas did. And when they got to the house, she looked around with eyes like a hawk’s, all the while exclaiming to him how pretty it was. If there was one thing out of place, she’d know.

  “So,” she asked as soon as she was sitting in his most comfortable chair holding a glass of sweet tea, “when do I meet this young man of yours?”

  His cheeks heated all the way back to his ears, and Galen chuckled. If she was already asking about Shane, she liked the house. “Saturday. He’s working late shifts until then.”

  “He’s a bartender, right?”