Keeping Sweets

by Cate Ashwood

  “You have a good day?” he asked as casually as he could. He didn’t want everyone knowing how affected he was by this boy.

  “Yep. Went for a walk and had a nap by the water for a while. It was really nice to just escape for a few hours. I even found something on the beach.”

  “Oh yeah?” Bran asked. “What was it?”

  “I’m not sure, really. A glass ball of some kind. It’s kind of a green color, and about this big,” Evan said, demonstrating the dimensions with animated hands.

  “Probably a glass fishing float,” Bran suggested. “The fishermen in Japan use them to hold up their nets. Sometimes they’ll drift in to the beach. There used to be quite a few, but now they’re pretty rare.”

  “Japan?” he asked incredulously.

  “Yeah. Pretty amazing if you think about it. Something that seems so fragile travels thousands of miles across the ocean, going through violent storms and rough water, and comes up on the other side completely unscathed. Still perfect,” Bran said, his voice getting quiet.

  WITH dinner served and conversation traded among the men around the table, Bran didn’t have time to analyze what Evan had meant earlier when he said it had been nice to escape. It was probably for the best anyway. It had only been just over a week since they had met for the first time, and he was already so tied up in knots he didn’t know if he could ever feel normal again.

  The meal passed without incident, all the guys laughing and joking comfortably with one another before they moved as a group into the living room to watch a movie on the big screen TV. It wasn’t one that Bran had ever heard of before, but it wasn’t bad actually. For the most part, it managed to hold his attention for almost the full two hours, when he wasn’t sneaking glances at Evan from across the room.

  When they had moved to the sofas, Bran had made sure he chose a spot where there was room for Evan too if he wanted to sit next to him, but Evan had chosen to settle himself into one of the overstuffed recliner chairs on the other side of the coffee table.

  Bran was disappointed he wouldn’t be close enough to touch him, but contented himself with watching Evan’s reactions to the gunfire and explosions. He had been right about not being like all the other guys. Among the shouts of “Fuck yeah!” and “Awesome!” Evan cringed at the blood spatter and flying limbs. Bran smiled inwardly, glad that Evan had not resorted to posturing at false masculinity to fit in.

  The movie ended in a blast of fire and fury that killed everyone but the main character, who managed to escape at the last minute with some minor cuts and bruises. Typical action flick ending, and Bran wished real life endings were as predictable.

  Everyone got up, saying goodnight and heading for their bedrooms. Evan went right along with them. Bran shrugged off the disappointment that he hadn’t asked to stay with him again. Evan had his own bed to sleep in and would probably be a lot more comfortable without Bran draped over him.

  Bran climbed into the bed that seemed so big and empty without Evan’s little body curled in the middle. He punched his pillow a few times, trying to get comfortable. Though he tossed and turned, sleep evaded him. His body was completely done in with fatigue, but his mind wouldn’t shut down. Tomorrow was his scene with Evan.

  If he was this affected by him now, how would he be able to walk away after he knew what it felt like to be buried deep inside him? His heart sped in anticipation. There was no way he was ever going to get to sleep. With a resigned sigh, he swung his feet over the edge of the bed and headed downstairs to watch TV until he passed out.

  When he got downstairs, though, there was a familiar form reclined on the couch, snoring softly. Evan had opted to sleep on the couch again. Kellan and Riley must have been at it. Bran knelt down on the floor next to Evan, carefully brushing the hair back from his forehead.

  Evan stirred, nuzzling sleepily into Bran’s hand. How could he ever let this man go? The thought hit him like a ton of very unwelcome bricks. It was going to hurt like a bitch when he said good-bye, but the way he felt now was just too good to give up.

  He stood, gently pulling the still-sleeping Evan into his arms. He barely stirred, except to wrap his arms around Bran’s neck and rest his head against his shoulder.

  Bran carried him upstairs and carefully deposited him into the bed before crawling in after him. Evan huddled up against him, his chest rising and falling in an even rhythm. Soon, Bran was asleep too, comforted into a peaceful sleep by the man next to him.

  THE next morning, Bran woke before Evan. They were clinging to one another, limbs tangled together, snug and secure beneath the soft down blankets. Bran pulled him closer, inhaling the now familiar scent. If he was honest with himself, he knew that he had fallen for Evan the moment they met. He had been kidding himself thinking there was any way he could walk away from this trip unscathed.

  It would tear him apart to say good-bye, but it was really for the best. Evan needed to go to school. He was moving at the end of the shoot. His life was somewhere else. He was too bright, so very young, and had too much potential to waste his life. Bran would only hamper his opportunities for success, and Evan deserved every success there was.

  He ran his hands up and down Evan’s back, tracing gentle patterns against the soft fabric of his T-shirt. He could feel the warmth of his skin through the thin cotton. Evan opened his eyes slowly.

  “Morning,” he whispered.

  “Morning,” Bran replied. “Did you sleep okay?”

  Evan smiled and rolled onto his back, pushing his hands against the headboard of the bed, stretching out his limbs. “Perfectly. I don’t remember coming in here, though.”

  “I carried you up. You were still asleep.”

  Evan’s eyebrows knitted together. “You did?”

  “Yeah, you were sleeping on the couch again.”

  “Oh, yeah, Kellan and Riley were having another sleepover and I didn’t want to get in the way.”

  “You could have just come up here, you know. I wouldn’t have minded.”

  “Really?”

  “I would have preferred it.”

  Evan beamed at him. He pulled himself up on all fours, straddling Evan’s shoulders and hips. “Come on, sleepyhead,” he said as he rolled off the other side. “Today’s a big day.”

  Evan groaned. “I don’t want to get up. I want to stay right here forever!” he said, as he pulled the covers back up over his head.

  “You can stay there if you want to, this is where we’re filming. Just thought you might want some breakfast. Help keep your strength up.” Bran waggled his eyebrows. “You’re going to need it!”

  Evan threw a pillow at him as he disappeared into the bathroom.

  AFTER he had eaten breakfast, Bran disappeared back into the master bedroom upstairs to set up the equipment. There wasn’t too much to do, since he had taken care of a lot the day before, but there were lights and cameras to position for the best shots. He was filled with nervous energy and was already thinking hard about what would be happening in that bed.

  Evan came in about halfway through the preparations, freshly showered, hair still damp. Bran wanted to grab him and get started right away. Evan launched into a round of questions that he fired off so quickly Bran barely had time to answer.

  “You okay, Ev?” he asked, glad the crew hadn’t shown up yet so he could have a minute alone with him before they began.

  “Yeah. Just nervous, you know? Don’t really know what to expect. First time and all.”

  “It’s totally natural to be nervous. Just try to relax though, and do what feels good, okay? I’ll be right there with you. I’m not going to let anything bad happen. I promise.”

  The crew began to pile into the room carrying the extra equipment and extension cords. Evan smiled and moved out of the way, walking to sit on the edge of the bed until he was told where to stand.

  Bran remembered he had forgotten to grab the empty memory card from the bag downstairs. He left the guys to set up and ran to get it. Once he had loc
ated the card, he hurried back to the room. He felt like this was his first time too, but couldn’t wait to get started. He had a reason to pull Evan into his arms, to kiss him and taste him. He couldn’t wipe the goofy grin off his face thinking about it.

  When he got back to the room, though, his expression immediately fell. Pale and with lowered eyes, Evan sat staring out at an indiscernible spot on the carpet. Bran crossed the room in quick strides and sank to his knees in front of Evan.

  “Evan,” he said gently, not caring that the others heard him using his real name. “Evan, what’s the matter?” He brushed his hands against the sides of Evan’s face like he had done the other night, hoping he could calm him down.

  The boy was breathing heavily, showing signs of the beginnings of a panic attack. “Evan, look at me.”

  Evan slowly lifted his eyes to stare into Bran’s. “Evan, it’s okay. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  His lower lip trembled as he spoke. “Oh God. I don’t know if I can do this.”

  Bran nodded, disappointment knotting tightly in the pit of his stomach. He wanted Evan with a sharp desperation, but he would never act on it if he thought it would hurt or scare him.

  “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours? Tell me what you’re thinking. We’ll sort it all out.”

  “I’m scared, Bran,” he whispered. “What if I’m no good at this?”

  Bran smiled a little reassuring smile. “Is that all? Trust me; you’re going to do just fine. You have to tell me that you’re okay with this, though. I want to hear you say the words, okay, Evan? Tell me what you want.”

  Evan’s response was so quiet Bran almost didn’t hear it. “You,” he said. “All I want is you.”

  Happiness surged through Bran’s veins. He wanted to grab Evan and devour him, not stopping until they were both in such a frenzy they couldn’t tell which way was up, but he couldn’t.

  “You’ve got me, Ev. I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to take it slow though, and I want you to tell me to stop at any time. Any time you feel scared or overwhelmed or even nervous. You tell me and we’ll stop.”

  Evan nodded.

  “We’re gonna get started soon if you’re feeling better. Remember what I said though, any time you want to stop, you just tell me. Try and forget about everyone else, though. It’s just you and me, Sweets. Just us. You ready?”

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  Bran stood and signaled the crew to start filming.

  It only took a few minutes for them to get everything ready, and then the moment Bran had been anticipating was there. He felt like a kid on Christmas morning ready to unwrap what he knew would be the best present ever. He had to cap his eagerness. It was more than just taking things slow for Evan’s sake. He wanted to draw it out, make it last.

  He pulled Evan into his arms, then driving one hand through his dark hair, felt the silkiness brush against his fingertips as he angled his face up. Bran’s mouth came down, gently caressing. He felt Evan tense for a moment before he sighed and leaned in further to Bran. Evan wound his arms around Bran’s neck and pulled himself more forcefully into the kiss.

  Evan whimpered as Bran pulled away, breaking the kiss. Forehead to forehead, he searched Evan’s face for signs of distress, but all he saw were the hallmarks of arousal. His eyes were glassy and unfocused, pupils blown with desire, which made his normally velvety brown eyes a dark ebony.

  Bran couldn’t hold back. He was hooked. He took Evan’s mouth again, pouring everything he was feeling into it. Their tongues slid past one another, exploring the silky heat.

  He roamed his hands down the planes of Evan’s back, tracing the deep canyon that marked his spine. Bran could feel how hard the other man was as Bran’s hands delved lower, cupping Evan’s ass and pulling their groins flush together. Pushing back against Evan, he ground their hips together, creating a maddening friction with the rough material of their shorts.

  Without breaking the kiss, he moved them back toward the bed, supporting Evan’s head as he lowered him to the mattress. Knees bracketing the smaller man’s hips, he deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue into the moist heat of Evan’s mouth.

  He let one hand settle against Evan’s stomach. He teased his fingers nimbly at the waistband of his shorts, delving below the fabric to scrape the backs of his fingernails across the tender skin just above Evan’s cock. Evan thrust up beneath him, trying to increase contact, hoping to feel Bran’s fingers wrapped around him. There was more time for that later, though.

  He removed his hands from Evan’s skin and rubbed his palm across the bulge in his shorts. Bran knew he was being a tease; Evan was so responsive, countering each movement. Tremors ran through the lithe body. It made him hotter that he had completely banished Evan’s nervousness and a new unabashed sexual desperation had taken root in its place.

  Evan’s eyes were closed and his skin was flushed. His mouth was moist and swollen from the bruising kisses. He looked fucking edible. Bran didn’t even know where to start. He wanted his hands everywhere, touching everything all at once.

  “Bran….”

  “That’s it, Sweets… my beautiful boy….”

  Evan’s hands were on his back, tucked under his shirt, skin on skin. He wanted more. Bran pushed himself to his knees, grasped his T-shirt by the back of the neck, and pulled it over his head. He pulled Evan up with him. Taking hold of the bottom hem of Evan’s T-shirt, he quickly removed it as well.

  Shoving him back onto the bed, Bran braced himself as he kissed Evan’s neck, licking and sucking at the tender skin behind his ears, down his throat and across the delicate clavicle. His hips rolled steadily in a deliberate ebb and flow of movement, thrusting against Evan’s, mimicking what they were building to together.

  The rumbling reverberations of Evan’s chest as he moaned his approval made Bran even more desperate. He couldn’t get enough of the man pinned beneath him. He thought back to the first time he had had Evan naked and wanting. He remembered the way he liked to be touched.

  He continued his exploration, running his lips over the smooth skin of his pecs, slowly laving Evan’s left nipple. He gently tugged, pulling the sensitive bundle of nerves into his mouth, applying light pressure while he drew small circles with his tongue.

  “Oh, God. Oh my God,” Evan moaned. Bran was too far gone to stay in one place; he needed to touch him everywhere.

  Bran trailed his mouth lower, dropping tender kisses along his abdomen, hands running alongside his mouth, mapping the contours of his body with light pressure. Evan’s palm rested against the back of Bran’s neck, not pressing, just providing a satisfying weight, connecting them together.

  Bran fastened his mouth to the hollow next to Evan’s hip. He sucked, adding more and more force as his nimble fingers worked at unclasping Evan’s belt. He lifted his head to see the result of his work. His shorts were hanging open, revealing Evan’s hard shaft pushed up, leaking against his belly button. Almost as nice as the sight of Evan’s arousal was the dark red mark Bran had left on Evan’s pale skin.

  Whether or not Evan knew it, he belonged to Bran. The mark he had left was just one of the ways Bran would show him. Bran’s mouth watered in anticipation of what was going to come next.

  Evan was beginning to writhe against the bed. He needed more. Bran wanted to give him everything he wanted. He straightened out, bringing his mouth down on Evan’s once more. Evan kissed him with fervor, biting at his bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth. Bran reached up, grabbed a pillow from the top of the bed, lifted Evan’s head, and placed the pillow beneath it. He wanted Evan to be able to see everything that was happening.

  He kissed him again, speaking against his mouth. “Good?” he asked, wanting to be absolutely sure Evan needed this as badly as he did.

  Evan nodded as he kissed his way back down toward Evan’s open shorts. “So good,” Evan replied.

  “Oh God, Bran. You make me feel….” Evan trailed off.

  Bran wasn’t worri
ed that Evan had used his real name. He could edit it out later. Right here and now he wanted this to be real for him. For once, he wanted to have that physical and emotional connection with someone as himself, not as some fragmented and dissociated version of himself.

  Repositioning himself between Evan’s legs, he hooked his fingers under the waistband of his shorts and pulled them off in one fluid movement. Evan lay completely naked beneath him and for the first time, Bran was able to take in the sight of the man he wanted more than his next breath.

  Chapter 13

  EVAN tried to concentrate on his breathing. He couldn’t think. All higher brain function had fled. His sensory information centers were bombarded by signals from his entire body. He was dizzy with lust.

  He watched in a daze as Bran removed the last of his own clothing piece by piece, tossing the unwanted items onto the floor with casual disregard. This was the first time Evan was seeing Bran naked in person. It was better than he could have imagined. The camera and Evan’s imagination just didn’t hold a candle to the real thing.

  He wanted to touch and feel and take Bran as high as he had taken him. Not once in his life had he ever craved the feeling of someone thrusting into his body, but today he thought he might die if he couldn’t feel Bran inside him soon. He needed him. Wanted him fiercely.

  Bran returned to him then, claiming his mouth once more as he lined up the hard ridges of their erections. Bran grasped them in a firm grip, smoothing his fist down slowly before coming back up. The sensitive underside of Evan’s cock rubbed against Bran’s. He had never felt anything so exquisitely erotic.

  His orgasm started to build deep inside as Bran pushed him higher and higher with each stroke. Evan couldn’t stop the cascade of moaning that fell from his mouth, swallowed by Bran as he kissed him into oblivion.