Behind the Stick

by K. Evan Coles

  Luka cocked his head. “What’s going on in that head of yours, McKee?” he asked with a gentle frown. “You’ve looked like that a couple of times today, like you’re keeping secrets.”

  “I’ve been thinking that I love you.” Kyle’s voice sounded far steadier than he felt inside. He watched Luka’s expression freeze, and for just a second, Kyle wished the words back. He didn’t really want to unsay them, though, because he meant them. They were words Kyle didn’t want to hide from Luka any more. They felt good. Right.

  “Maybe this seems fast. I know we haven’t been dating for very long.” Kyle glanced at the darkened hallway around them and snickered. “This is probably the most unromantic place in the world to tell you, too, but I mean it. I love you, Luka. I’ve never been happier to know someone as I am to know you.”

  Luka’s blank expression morphed into a blinding grin. “I love you, too,” he said, his tone rich with emotion. He brought his hands up to frame Kyle’s face. “And I don’t care where we tell each other, Kyle, because I plan on telling you every place we go.”

  Kyle thought his heart would burst. He wound his arms around Luka’s neck and kissed him hard, aware that the door behind him had opened only after the solid mass at his back disappeared. But before he lost his balance, Luka hauled him up and off his feet. Kyle gasped at the shift in momentum and his whole body seemed to catch fire.

  “You’re so strong,” he murmured against Luka’s lips. Kyle wrapped his legs around Luka’s waist, and Luka walked forward several steps so the door clicked shut behind them. “Can’t remember the last time I dated a guy who could literally pick me up or wanted to.” Kyle ran his hands over Luka’s hair and groaned as Luka palmed his ass. His cock twitched between their bodies.

  Luka smirked. “Doesn’t seem to bother you.”

  “It doesn’t.” Kyle closed his eyes and drew Luka closer. “Maybe it should, but I’m always too fucking turned on to care.”

  Luka chuckled. He took several more steps and Kyle unwound himself so Luka could set him down beside the bed. They undressed each other, hands roaming as their clothes fell away. Kyle’s skin prickled and heat pulsed deep in his groin. He skimmed his palm over Luka’s torso and dipped his hand lower.

  Luka drew in a sharp breath. “Want you,” he whispered. “Need to touch you.”

  Kyle stepped away and turned the bedding down. Luka watched him the whole time, his gaze intense. He held a hand out after Kyle had finished, but Kyle shook his head.

  “Need the stuff,” Kyle murmured. “Don’t start without me.” He went to the attached bath for the lube and condoms in his kit.

  Luka had stretched out on the bed when Kyle returned, and Kyle paused simply to admire the beautiful body waiting for him. Luka’s cock lay rigid against his abdomen, and there was a wild cast in his gaze. But he held his hand out once more and he dragged Kyle down beside him when their fingers met.

  Kyle kissed along Luka’s chest, licking and nuzzling the skin, and teased Luka’s nipples with his tongue. Luka murmured curses, his hands on Kyle’s shoulders and neck, guiding Kyle with touch. Slowly, Kyle worked his way down Luka’s torso and pelvis, and Luka murmured an endearment when Kyle nuzzled Luka’s cock.

  “Love the way you taste,” Kyle said, his voice low. “Need the lube, darlin’.”

  He pressed his lips against the base of Luka’s cock and Luka moaned. Luka rocked his hips up, his hand trembling as he handed the bottle of lube down to Kyle.

  Kyle pushed up onto his knees. He wet his fingers, and though his cock jutted stiff against his body, he ignored it and focused on the man laid out before him.

  Kyle spread Luka’s legs and settled down between them, hissing at the sensation of the sheets against his erection. He wrapped a hand around Luka’s dick, then leaned in and swiped his tongue over Luka’s balls. Luka’s whole body jerked.

  “Oh, fuck.”

  Kyle closed his eyes. He rested his cheek on Luka’s groin and his skin prickled at the sensation of Luka’s fingers sliding through Kyle’s hair, rubbing his scalp, tugging here and there and keeping things interesting. Kyle mouthed the base of Luka’s shaft while he pumped, and he took care to caress Luka’s cockhead on each pass. Soon, Luka was panting and Kyle felt desperate to be touched himself. Reaching down, he wrapped his other hand around himself and fucked his fist, keeping his movements slow in a bid for control.

  “Kyle.”

  The plea in Luka’s voice caught Kyle’s attention. He opened his eyes and the hunger he read in Luka’s face made his balls tighten. Fuck, he was going to lose it before they even got started.

  Quickly, Kyle let go of himself, though it almost hurt to do so. Shifting his weight and position, he opened his lips over Luka’s cock and took him down in one long, slow slide. Luka wound his fingers tighter in Kyle’s hair and the sting of that possessive touch made Kyle’s cock jerk.

  Oh, God.

  Kyle swallowed. Luka swore and pumped his hips, using Kyle’s mouth. Kyle moaned long and low, a sweet ache pooling deep inside him. He didn’t care anymore where or how he came. He just wanted this man. But then Luka pushed at Kyle shoulders with both hands until Kyle pulled off.

  “Need you,” Luka murmured, his grip on Kyle tight enough to leave bruises.

  “Okay, Luka,” Kyle replied, his voice rough and reverent. He lifted his knee and straddled Luka, his own body pulsing with need, and the sweat on their bodies mingled. Luka ran his hands over Kyle’s thighs, raising goosebumps over the skin, and Kyle spread a hand over Luka’s belly. “Gonna ride you.”

  Luka bit his lip. “Yeah. Want that. Want you on my cock.”

  Kyle reached back and fingered himself, a low grunt rumbling through him. The flood of sensation made his head spin, as did Luka’s needy sound. Luka moved his hands over Kyle, touching him everywhere until Kyle’s whole body shook. Kyle was panting by the time he forced himself to stop, and he felt grateful for Luka’s steadying touch on his waist.

  “I’ve got you.” Luka’s voice was strained thin.

  He guided Kyle up and onto his cock. Kyle sank down slowly, his breath catching as Luka filled him up. He gasped when Luka wrapped him in his arms.

  Kyle’s throat went tight. He loved being like this with Luka, watching his face, kissing until he could barely breathe. Kyle set his hands on Luka’s shoulders and breathed through the ache in his body. He started rocking, each movement purposeful so the strokes were long and deep, and the pain transformed into pleasure. He was close, had been for so long, and every sensation running through him pushed him higher.

  Wonder filtered through Luka’s gaze. “Beautiful,” he murmured.

  Kyle was too far gone to reply. Luka hauled him closer, and his body surrounded Kyle’s cock with the heat and pressure he craved. Kyle’s breath stuttered. He stopped breathing entirely when Luka dropped one hand and fingered Kyle’s rim. It was all Kyle could do not to scream.

  Luka thrust up, his movements rough and perfect, and Kyle soared. His mouth fell open and he curled forward, his cock pulsing untouched between Luka and himself. Luka’s eyes went wide.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered, voice awed as he stared at Kyle.

  Trembling and slack-limbed, Kyle held on as best he could, coasting on the high and the knowledge Luka wouldn’t let him fall. Luka fucked Kyle hard, thrusts swift, and came with his face pressed into Kyle’s throat.

  They huddled together, their breaths slowing as they came back to earth, and Kyle started drifting. He peeled his eyes open when Luka stirred, but Luka’s hold tightened around him as Kyle shifted his weight, too. Luka laid Kyle down and shushed his sleepy protest.

  “Just lie with me a minute longer,” Luka coaxed.

  “Mmm, Luka. I love you, but we’re both a mess,” Kyle murmured.

  Luka made an agreeable noise. “Yeah, I know. You’re already half asleep though. How about you stay here, and I’ll clean us up in a minute?”

  Kyle smiled. “You don’t wanna take a shower?” />
  “I’d rather sleep right now,” Luka said. “I need to recharge so I can fuck you awake in the morning.”

  Kyle chuckled. “Oh, well played.”

  He closed his eyes, though, because Luka whispered, “I love you back, you know.” Those words followed Kyle down into sleep, and he knew Luka would be there when he woke up.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “That was a lot of fun, but I’m pretty sure you knew as much as the tour guide,” Luka said as they left the Widow Jane Distillery in Brooklyn. He smiled. “Based on the things you kept muttering under your breath anyway.”

  Kyle’s cheeks turned pink. “I’m a booze nerd, I guess. Besides, it was the guy’s first day. I’m sure he’ll know more than me by the end of the week.”

  Luka’s grin changed into something softer. “You try to see the best in people, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I suppose I do.”

  Luka captured Kyle’s elbow, slowing him to a stop. “It’s one of the things I love about you.” Luka glanced around, but they’d lingered for a while after most of the tour had left and the street was deserted. He leaned in and stole a quick kiss.

  The ‘I-love-yous’ they’d exchanged had been unexpected but perfect. After seeing so many happy couples and hearing Carter and Riley’s announcement, the mood had been just right. If Kyle hadn’t said it in that moment, Luka probably would have. He didn’t mind being beaten to the punch however.

  Kyle reached out and touched Luka’s face before he stepped back. His expression made Luka want to pull him in for another kiss, but they started walking again instead, heading for the subway on Van Brunt Street. It was too cold to linger outside.

  “You said there are more distilleries in the area?” Luka asked.

  “Yeah. At least a dozen, and maybe a dozen and a half by now,” Kyle said.

  “Are most of them here in Brooklyn?” They turned a corner and out of nowhere an icy blast of wind hit them. It snuck down Luka’s collar, making him shiver. He wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck. Kyle tucked his hand into his coat pockets and hunched his shoulders.

  “The vast majority are, yes. There’s at least one up near Yonkers, and more upstate if we ever want to take a long weekend now that Christmas is behind us. There are several near Saratoga Springs and the Finger Lakes area.”

  “Sure, that would be fun,” Luka said. “Let me look at my work schedule and figure out when I can put in for some time off. Probably not until after the holidays though.”

  “That sounds perfect.” Kyle nudged Luka with his elbow. “Anything you’d like to do when we take that vacation? I appreciate you nerding out with me about booze, but there must be something you’d like to do.”

  Luka considered the idea. “There’s a firefighting museum up in Hudson I’ve thought about checking out. It’s supposed to be interesting, and they have a bunch of cool antique engines and equipment.”

  “We can do that!” Kyle agreed. “Let’s look online and see what else is going on in that area.”

  “Maybe something active? If we’re going in January or February, we could go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.”

  “That sounds fun.”

  Luka slowed to a stop again. “God, you make me happy, Kyle.”

  “You make me happy, too,” Kyle said softly.

  He faced Luka, and Luka pressed another kiss to Kyle’s lips, intending it to be brief, but Kyle responded with more enthusiasm than Luka had expected. Luka let himself be drawn in, tasting the faint flavor of liquor on Kyle’s tongue. A car honking nearby reminded Luka where they were however, and as much as Luka wanted to continue, they were a long way from either of their places. Reluctantly, he lifted his head.

  “Mmm. Too bad we have a long ride back to Manhattan,” Luka said. “I don’t want to wait to get my hands on you.”

  Kyle slid a hand under Luka’s jacket. “The feeling is mutual. But it’s too damn cold to be standing around like this. Let’s get going. The sooner we leave Brooklyn, the sooner we get back to my place.”

  Luka shot him a quick grin and leaned in for another, longer kiss. Just one more until they were back in Chelsea.

  “Get the hell out of here, you dick suckers!”

  The shouted words pulled them apart. Luka spun to look behind him and tensed when he saw three guys moving toward them. Oh, fuck. They were big guys. Similar in size to him and Kyle.

  One wearing a red jacket sneered. “You heard me, queers. Get the fuck out of here and go back to where you belong.”

  Kyle bristled beside Luka.

  “Yeah, to Harlem,” a bald guy jeered. “Stick to your own kind.”

  Seething, Luka battled to keep his temper in check. “Look, we’re not bothering anyone here and—”

  “You’re sure as fuck bothering me.” That guy wore a baseball cap and his voice was quieter than the others. Colder.

  “We’re going, all right?” Kyle said. “Let’s get out of here, Luka.” He pulled on Luka’s arm.

  “Fuckin’ cowards.” The red jacket guy sneered.

  “What’d you expect from a couple of queers?” muttered the bald one.

  Luka’s pride told him to stay and stand his ground. To fight. But the larger, smarter part of his brain urged him to leave. There were three against him and Kyle and the odds were not in their favor.

  Luka held up his hands. “We’re going, just leave us alone.”

  Trying to keep one eye on them, Luka half-turned to leave, but before he could take a step, pain exploded in his cheek. Luka staggered back a step, and when he touched his face, his fingers came away wet with the blood that dripped from his nose.

  He staggered to his feet as the guy in the baseball cap went after Kyle. The bald guy lunged at Luka, and they grappled, each trying to knock the other down.

  Luka had the advantage of size, but the bald guy was strong and fast. The guy in the red jacket turned the tables against Luka even further when he stepped in and pulled at Luka’s arms. Luka grunted as the bald guy landed a punch to his ribs, and a blow to Luka’s chin made his head swim.

  “Don’t touch him!” Kyle shouted.

  Luka looked over in time to see Kyle pull away from the baseball cap guy and lunge at the two men surrounding Luka. But the guy in the baseball hat caught Kyle by the collar. He yanked Kyle back around and laid him out with a punch Luka swore he could feel, too. Kyle hit the ground hard.

  Luka cried out in fear when Kyle didn’t move. Everything became a blur as all three men descended on him, and though Luka tried to fight them off, there were just too many of them. He soon lost his balance and fell to the ground.

  “Faggots!” one of his attackers snarled. “You’ll get what you deserve.”

  Fear gripped Luka more tightly as he caught another glimpse of Kyle, who still lay motionless on the ground. And all along, the insults and slurs kept coming. The hate in the men surrounding him was palpable.

  What if we don’t survive this?

  “Kyle!” Luka reached out, but a hard kick to his side sent searing pain through him.

  He curled into a ball, trying to protect his head and vital organs. Another vicious kick to his midsection made Luka gag.

  Get to your feet, he told himself. Get to your feet. Get out of here. Get help.

  “What the fuck are you doing? Get away from them!” a man’s voice yelled in the distance.

  Then another voice, a woman this time. “I’ve called the cops. They’re on their way!” she shouted.

  A staggering relief swept over Luka.

  With one final kick and a “stay in Harlem where you belong!” the men who’d attacked Luka and Kyle disappeared, their feet pounding the pavement as they ran off.

  Luka struggled up onto one elbow and squinted at Kyle, who hadn’t moved. Luka started crawling toward Kyle, his body buzzing with a mix of fear and pain.

  “Stay still! Don’t move,” the woman’s voice called. She sounded closer.

  “Kyle?” Luka croaked, reaching for h
im. Kyle was still too far away to touch. “Kyle, answer me!”

  “Hey, take it easy,” the woman urged. She was right beside Luka now. He reached for Kyle again, but a wave of nausea made him double over, and he lay back down on the sidewalk. “You could hurt yourself worse,” she said.

  “Kyle?” Luka called again. “I need to know. Is he okay?”

  The woman disappeared for a second, then came back. “His eyes are open now. There are ambulances and police on the way. Just rest, okay? You’re both gonna be fine.”

  Luka heard the distant screaming of sirens. There were more people now, a man beside Kyle, and more voices. Luka rolled onto his side and saw Kyle’s eyelids moving in slow blinks. Kyle’s face was covered in blood, but he was staring at Luka, and when Luka reached out again, this time Kyle met him halfway. Kyle’s expression twisted when their fingers brushed.

  “I’m okay, Luka,” he said, voice gritty.

  Luka’s racing heart slowed a little. He kept his gaze trained on Kyle for as long as he could until the EMTs arrived and began checking them over. Luka did his best to respond to their questions, and he heard Kyle doing the same with another team of EMTs. Both were bundled onto stretchers, then loaded into separate ambulances. It was torture not having Kyle in sight anymore, but Luka knew he couldn’t get around protocol.

  His head started to clear as they drove, and the shakes started halfway to the hospital.

  “Shhh, you’re okay,” the female EMT said. She’d told Luka her name was Jen. “You’re safe, I promise.”

  “I know,” Luka said, his voice unsteady. “I’m a firefighter.”

  Jen gave him a reassuring smile. “Then you know it’s just the adrenaline wearing off.”

  “Yep. Still sucks though.” He managed a strained laugh. Jen squeezed his hand. “And I’m worried about Kyle.”

  “The guy you were with?”

  “Yeah, my boyfriend. If something happened to him…” Luka’s throat closed and panic swept over him again. His breathing grew short and shallow.