“Maybe,” Alex agreed. “Or possibly I can’t get off without the thrill of the hunt.”
“Oh—a challenge.” Tate’s nails dug in slightly as he closed his hand on Alex’s skin. He glanced over his shoulder at the nightstand behind him. “Have you considered trying toys? I have an interesting selection.” He tipped his head back toward Alex with an inviting grin.
“See, this is why I went with polite,” Alex said sharply, resisting the urge to get up out of bed. “I’m not some fucking mountain that needs to be climbed, Tate.”
“Oh, I think you are.” Tate came up on his hands and knees, easily straddling Alex before he could act on his instinct to move. Tate sat back on his heels, placing his fists on his hips as he looked down at Alex with a raised eyebrow. The cheeks of his ass nestled comfortably around Alex’s cock, and Alex could feel the small grinding action of Tate’s pelvis against him. “I want to map every inch of your body. I want to find your hot zones, the pathways to your enjoyment. The places to rest. The places where I can listen to the very heart of you.”
Alex’s cock, already hard, throbbed at Tate’s words.
Tate leaned forward to pin Alex’s wrists to the bed, coming down until his chest was lightly brushing Alex’s skin. “Besides,” he breathed into Alex’s collarbone, his words like warm fingerprints against Alex’s skin. “You might be pretty damn good with your fingers but I’m a fucking genius when it comes to my tongue.”
As if to prove his point, he traced the shell of Alex’s ear with his tongue, taking the lobe into his mouth and biting gently. He shifted back and forth slightly so that the tips of his nipples rubbed against Alex’s chest, and Alex was surprised to hear a small moan coming from his own mouth.
Tate worked his way down Alex’s neck, testing his teeth against Alex’s collarbone—a sharp nip here, a soft kiss there. Alex closed his eyes and gave in to the pleasure of being touched all over as Tate released his hands and shifted off of him but continued to touch every part of his body.
Every part but one. Tate pinched and licked Alex’s nipples. He stroked Alex’s skin and lightly dragged his nails across Alex’s belly. He kissed and sucked the soft skin of Alex’s thighs. He sucked hard on a hip bone until Alex knew there would be a purple bruise there tomorrow, and then licked the pain away. Alex spread his thighs open wider, his hips pushing ever so slightly into the air, begging for it, but Tate studiously avoided any contact with his cock. Alex could feel himself getting harder until he ached with it; he could smell his own scent in the air.
He was just about to beg when Tate rubbed his nose along Alex’s belly, rolling his face and bristly chin against Alex, inching his way down until Alex knew Tate could feel the wetness there, seeping through the material. Tate’s hair was a tousled mess underneath Alex’s hand. He gently cupped the back of Tate’s head as Tate looked up with a smile. He began pulling Alex’s briefs down.
Alex had to let Tate’s head go in order to get the briefs off, a sudden, driving need to do so overwhelming everything else.
“You’re uncut.” Tate’s expression was one of unadulterated delight. He settled in between Alex’s spread legs and knelt to exhale lightly over his cock.
Alex shuddered. He was just getting used to how that felt when Tate took him firmly by the shaft and licked a long stripe up his cock from balls to tip.
The feeling was electric. Alex gasped and thrust his pelvis up blindly, his hands twisting in the bedsheets. Humming happily to himself, Tate slid his left hand around Alex’s hip to knead his ass. Tate took Alex into his mouth, using his tongue to create suction and a sliding friction against the underside of Alex’s cock, using his right hand to work his foreskin up and down his shaft. Just when Alex thought he could take no more, Tate pulled off and nuzzled his balls. His late-day stubble was thrilling, the sensation almost too intense, and Alex shifted a little.
With a chuckle, Tate folded his tongue into a point and began to tease Alex’s hole. When the stiffened flesh pushed inside him, Alex moaned, the sound pulling itself out from deep within him. No one had ever touched him like this before, and it turned him inside out. Tate tongue-fucked him for what seemed like hours, alternating between pushing his tongue inside Alex as far as he could go, with small little licks of the edges of Alex’s hole, and long swipes over its surface.
With each pass, Alex could feel the tension ratcheting ever tighter in his body. He writhed and twisted when Tate pushed up inside him, he shuddered when he heard the smacking sounds of Tate’s mouth meeting in wetness against his own body. A shudder coursed through him when all stimulation stopped momentarily, and he opened his eyes to watch Tate pour some lube into his palm, his smile wickedly promising that he wasn’t finished with Alex yet.
He gasped and thumped his head back against the pillow when Tate took him in hand again. It was almost more than he could stand. More than once, he felt as though he needed to shift away, to beg Tate to stop. Only stopping was the last thing he wanted; the conflict between the two feelings resulted in one of intense pleasure. Tate slid two fingers deep inside Alex and began to push them upward with a pulsing movement, flicking his tongue rapidly along Alex’s sensitized skin. The wave crested and broke.
Alex curled up with the force of his coming, dropping his shoulders back with a little cry. Tate followed his movement, never letting up on the stimulation, continuing to take him apart from the inside out. Alex’s orgasm rocked through him with wave after wave of reaction shuddering through his body until it finally played out. Alex felt as though he were melting into the mattress as the blissful afterglow washed over him.
Tate pulled himself up beside Alex with a self-satisfied smile. His mouth was wet with saliva and Alex suddenly had to taste himself there. He grabbed Tate by the back of the head, pulling him down for a messy kiss. Tate made a little yelp at the unexpected movement, but then willingly gave into it. Alex dug his nails into Tate’s skin and smiled when Tate moaned into his mouth. When they parted, Tate curled up alongside him, draping an arm diagonally across Alex’s abdomen, reaching for the opposite hip, turning toward Alex so that he could insinuate a leg between Alex’s as well.
“That was amazing,” Tate murmured into Alex’s neck. “You were amazing.”
“And apparently humorous as well,” Alex said dryly.
Tate snorted. “Bite me,” he said. “Again.” His grin was wicked.
Chapter 7
TISH came out on the back porch as they pulled up in the driveway later that afternoon. She said something over her shoulder toward the house, and the door opened as Duncan joined her.
“Uh-oh,” Tate said, like a naughty schoolboy. “I think we’re in trouble.” He gave the word a singsong note as he shot Alex a look that was deliciously seductive and affectionate all at the same time.
Alex was grateful for the sunglasses that shielded his expression when he backed the van up to the porch. Julie appeared at the front door and stepped out on the porch, moving toward the van with a determined stride.
“We woke up and you two were nowhere to be found,” Tish said lightly, as she met Alex at the back of the van. Julie joined them, shading her eyes with one hand as she watched in silence.
Alex shrugged. “Sorry. We just ran up to Tate’s to pick up a spare mattress.”
“Uh-huh.” Tish’s smile patently said she didn’t believe that was all they did. “Duncan, why don’t you help Alex move the mattress inside? Tate and I will take a run into town and pick up some things we’ll need if we’re going to be abusing Alex’s hospitality for the next few days.”
Duncan raised an eyebrow. “What’s he need help for? He can carry it up by himself.”
Tish narrowed her eyes. “The issue is not whether or not Alex can carry the mattress up, and you know it. The issue is the awkwardness of moving something this long by yourself and the fact that it is the polite thing to do.”
Duncan glanced quickly at the afternoon sun, which was starting to slant through the trees. “It’l
l be dark soon,” he said by way of warning. He stepped forward and grabbed the end of the mattress nonetheless, pulling it out of the van and propping it alongside the porch. Alex followed suit with the box spring.
“No use arguing with her,” Duncan said to no one in particular.
“We have plenty of time,” Tish said calmly, filching the keys from Alex’s hand. “Tate? With me?”
“Sure!” Tate winked at Alex as he climbed back into the van.
“I’m coming too,” Julie announced. She started for the other side of the van but Tish cut her off.
“Not this time.” Her voice was pleasant but quelling at the same time. “I’d like a word in private with Tate.”
Tate stuck a hand out the window and waved mockingly as they drove off.
“Hope they bring back some more ice cream,” Duncan said. He hefted up the box spring and began carrying it into the house.
“Wait for me!” Alex called out. He leapt forward to hold the door open for Duncan. “I haven’t cleared the room it’s going in yet.”
They ended up leaving the mattress set propped against the counter in the kitchen as Duncan followed Alex upstairs to the spare bedroom. Alex glanced back over his shoulder to see Julie standing forlornly in the foyer looking up at them. He told himself it wasn’t his problem. When they reached the top of the stairs, Duncan ducked into the bathroom while Alex went into the bedroom and began shoving things aside.
Nick appeared at the door, looking disheveled and sleepy. “Need some help?”
“Just push everything to one side.” Alex went over to one of the windows to open it. Fortunately, the screen was still intact. The window opened when he leaned into it and applied some force. Caulking crumbled onto the sill. He mentally added it to the fix-it list. The bottom of the list. Windows were expensive to replace. He picked up the broom and began sweeping the sawdust into a pile.
“Why is this light switch taped over?”
Alex turned to see Nick frowning at the silver band of duct tape covering the switch panel.
“Oh, that. I think there’s a short. When I turned on the light last week, it began to flicker overhead, so I turned it off and went to replace the bulb. Only when I touched it, the light flickered back on—despite the switch being in the off position. So I taped it up to remind me not to use it until I can get an electrician out here.”
Nick just shook his head. “You live in this firetrap? And you think my life is a little out there.”
They heard the toilet flushing from the other side of the wall.
Nick stood in the center of the room, a startled look on his face. Actually, Alex thought, not bothering to suppress a smile, he looked as though he’d been hit in the head with a two-by-four.
“Thin walls,” Alex said. He let his smile curve into a knowing leer as he continued. “Of course, we bats have excellent hearing.”
He found it interesting that when Nick blushed, the tips of his somewhat-pointed ears turned pink.
“Hand me that dustpan, will you? Thanks,” Alex said as he took the dustpan from Nick. “Glad to know Peter is feeling better,” Alex added. Never let it be said he couldn’t go for the jugular when it was appropriate. He was going to have to tell Tate about this later.
A red-faced Nick began stacking the tools to one side of the room.
When Duncan returned, the three of them got the mattress set up. Dusk was approaching; Alex could feel the coolness in the air as the sun went down and noted the corresponding rise in tension and irritability in Duncan and Nick. As the sun faded into twilight, Julie became more withdrawn. Alex wondered if she was regretting her decision to stay. He realized with a jolt that she must be terrified, and he honestly couldn’t blame her.
“What’s keeping them?” Nick said at one point. He’d been stalking back and forth from the living room window to the couch, where he would flop down for a few minutes before getting up to prowl around the room again. Alex had said nothing. He was getting worried about Tate, but he knew showing his concern would only agitate Nick more.
“Come on,” Alex said abruptly, when Nick had bounced up to look out the window once more. “Tate wanted those bandages off Peter before the change and we need to get him set up with plenty of food as well, before the rest of you guys head out tonight.”
“I’m not leaving you here in the house alone with Peter,” Nick said stubbornly. His tone was final. He threw an uneasy look in Julie’s direction and then glanced meaningfully in Alex’s direction.
Alex opened his mouth to speak, but Duncan forestalled him. “Nick’s right. Peter will be stronger tonight, and without Nick there to keep him under control, he might try to tear his way out of your house, and he’ll tear his way through anything that gets in his way as well.”
“Great.” Alex snapped his lips shut with the effort of biting back a suitable retort. “What’s to keep Nick from doing the same?”
Duncan grinned. “Nick’s got more damned self-control than any were I’ve ever met.”
Nick looked startled, raising both eyebrows at Duncan.
“Don’t let it go to your head,” Duncan said. “I’ll carry a cooler of meat upstairs while you two take Peter’s bandages off.” He headed off down the hallway toward the kitchen.
“Just when I think I’ve got Duncan pegged, he’ll surprise me with some shit like that,” Nick muttered as they climbed the stairs.
“I’m coming with you.” Julie hurried to follow Alex and Nick. They ignored her.
Upstairs, Peter looked decidedly unhappy. His sandy-brown hair was dark with sweat at his hairline and his face was flushed. “Did Tish go to get my laptop?” He sounded petulant. “And my glasses. I need my reading glasses.”
Alex noted the stack of paperbacks by Peter’s bedside, pulled from his own bookcases, as well as what appeared to be the remainder of his hidden stores of Godiva. Nick shot Alex an apologetic glance.
“You look like crap.” Julie crossed over to the bedside table to pick up the prescription vials one at a time and peer at the labels. “Are you sure this vet knows what he’s doing? Wouldn’t you rather see a real doctor?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. So just shut the fuck up, okay?” Peter practically snarled, causing Julie to look up in surprise.
“Hey, buddy,” Nick said, padding over softly to the side of the bed. He hitched up a hip and sat down on the edge. “Tish is bringing your stuff. Alex and I need to take off those bandages before moonrise, so can you sit up for me?” He reached out and took Peter by the arm. The oozing wounds underneath had seeped through the bandages in several places.
“Here,” Alex said as he picked up the bandage scissors that Tate had left behind. “You help Peter lean forward while I cut the bandages in the back. Then we should be able to just peel them off.”
“What can I do to help?” Julie stood biting her lip.
“Stay out of the way,” Nick said abruptly. He met Alex’s gaze over Peter’s shoulder.
Alex took pity on her. “There really isn’t much to this part. It’s the re-bandaging in the morning where an extra set of hands will be useful.”
Julie nodded and stepped back to make room for Alex to come over to the bed.
He knelt on the bed opposite Nick and worked the rounded end of the scissors down inside the bandage between Peter’s shoulders. Peter leaned forward with a sigh, resting against Nick with his eyes closed. Nick made eye contact with Alex again. Those hazel depths were hooded and wary, looking guarded and yet vulnerable. The concern for Peter there made Alex blink and look away.
Tate’s bandaging had included a couple of passes around one of Peter’s shoulders. Alex peeled back the material as he worked the scissors down along the remainder of the bandaging, cutting steadily through the layers toward Peter’s spine. He noted belatedly that Peter still must be completely naked under the sheets when he followed the line of vertebrae down to where the top of his ass was visible. Peter had obviously tucked the sheets aroun
d his hips, and his modesty amused Alex.
“There,” Alex said with relief, when he’d finally cut away the bandaging. He helped Nick ease Peter back against the headboard, grabbing some pillows to prop him up and setting aside the scissors.
“This is going to hurt a bit,” Nick warned as he took hold of the top of the bandaging material and began to tug.
“Fuck!” Peter snarled vehemently. “A bit? You call that a fucking bit? You’re pulling my goddamned flesh off here.”
“Peter…,” Julie began, only to trail off when everyone glared at her.
“You hold him, Nick,” Alex said. “I’ll take the bandages off.”
He began carefully working the material away from Peter’s skin. He could feel the heat of fever radiating off of Peter as he worked, and he shot Peter a small smile of sympathy. Nick had one hand on Peter’s shoulder; Alex noted that Peter held Nick’s other hand in a grip so tight that Nick’s fingers were turning white within it.
“I thought Tate slathered him all up with ointment so this wouldn’t stick.” Nick growled.
“He did,” Alex said, peering down into the bandaging to see what the holdup was. “Looks like one of these big lacerations oozed, and when it dried, the bandage stuck to it.”
“Great. Just great.” Peter whimpered a little and winced as Alex continued to tease the bandage off of his body. “Ow, damn it!” Peter snapped, glaring at him.
Alex let go of the bandage with a sigh. “I’m trying to help, Peter.”
“I know, I know,” Peter whined. “It just hurts, okay?”
Taking hold of the top of the bandage again, Alex curled his fingers firmly around the leading edge and gave it one swift jerk.
A howl tore its way out of Peter’s throat and his backhand connected with Alex, knocking him flat off the bed. Peter came up off the pillows, lunging for him, as Nick held him back.
“Peter!” Nick yelled. “It’s over, okay? He had to do it.”
Peter fell back on the pile of pillows, his eyes hot and angry until they closed. He scrunched up his face and lifted a hand to his chest, his fingers shaking as they hovered over one of the now-bleeding lacerations. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he murmured.
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