by Lynn Hagen
“It’s not something I care to discuss.” Matthew’s gaze zeroed in on Darien’s chest. Darien hid his smile at the way Matthew openly ogled his body. He flexed his right pec, and Matthew’s brows rose.
“How about we get that dinner to go?” Darien asked. “We could take a walk.”
Matthew’s gaze shot to the door. He shifted in his seat and frowned. “I’m not sure about that.”
Something was definitely going on. “I’ll keep you safe,” he teased, though he meant it.
Matthew finally nodded. “Okay.”
“Give me a sec to tell Halo to bag our dinner.” Darien got up and headed to the counter. He didn’t like that Matthew seemed so jittery. Darien had seen him pissed, drunk, clingy, and congenial, but never nervous. That bothered Darien more than he cared to admit.
“Can you make that steak dinner to go?” he asked when Halo emerged from the kitchen.
“I can do that.”
Darien pulled out his wallet and settled his bill. Not long afterward, Halo brought him a plastic bag, complete with napkins, cutlery, and two cans of soda.
“Thanks.” Darien grabbed the bag and stopped at his table. “Ready?”
Matthew slid from the booth and followed as Darien led them from Gallagher’s. He took Matthew to one of the houses his crew had rehabbed, since the place had a nice back deck. It was the same house with white oak flooring that Jordan had gone gaga over, and the same house Matthew had fled from. But Darien had returned here because, damn, it really did have a nice back deck.
Darien sat on the step and set the bag aside. Matthew simply stood in the grass, glancing around.
“I don’t bite.” Darien patted the space next to him. “Have a seat.”
Matthew sat, slid his sandals off, and wiggled his toes. “I’m sorry I’m so preoccupied.”
Darien pulled his boots and socks off, sighing at the feel of the warm air ghosting over his bared toes. Too bad this wasn’t his house. He could imagine sitting out here like this after a hard day’s work.
“I can help you take your mind off things.” Darien pulled Matthew closer, tilted his head back, and brushed his lips over Matthew’s.
Matthew moaned, and Darien took that as a good sign. He swept the interior of Matthew’s mouth with his tongue, groaning himself at how sweet the man tasted.
He started to lean in, but Matthew surprised him by pulling away. Matthew licked his lips, his breathing ragged, then hopped up from the step and moved to the lawn.
“What’s wrong?”
Matthew pressed his fingers to his lips. “Would you be willing to sign something?”
Darien’s cock had been running the show. It took his brain cells a few seconds to kick back in and take over. “You want me to sign some kind of waver to kiss you?”
Matthew paced in front of the steps. He looked like a caged animal that was deep in thought. His shoulders sagged and he waved a hand in front of him. “Never mind. That was a stupid thought.”
“I’m obviously not kissing you thoroughly enough if you’re able to think at all.” Darien leaned back on his elbows and spread his legs, planting his feet farther apart on the steps. “Get back over here so I can taste you some more.”
Darien chuckled when Matthew launched himself into his arms, straddling his lap. “Just don’t hurt me.”
He had no idea what that meant, but Darien didn’t plan on hurting Matthew. He planned on fucking the guy into a coma. Darien had even thought ahead when he’d gotten ready for dinner. Inside his pocket was a condom and a packet of lube.
That might’ve been presumptuous, but he was hoping Matthew truly did feel the same attraction Darien felt.
And he’d been right.
Their bodies molded together, their hard cocks lining up as Darien grabbed Matthew’s hips and plunged his tongue inside his mouth. Matthew wiggled against him, driving Darien crazy with need.
He broke the kiss and peppered kisses and nips along Matthew’s jaw. “Get naked, handsome.”
One of Matthew’s brows rose. “Out here?”
“Nobody’s around. We’ll be fine.” Darien reached between them and unfastened Matthew’s tight jeans. “Need to feel you in my hand.”
Matthew rolled off Darien and wiggled his way out of his jeans as Darien pulled his shirt over his head. Watching Matthew undress was a bit comical. He must’ve painted those jeans on because he was wrestling to get them down his legs.
Darien shoved his jeans and underwear down and off, his hard cock slapping his stomach. He set his jeans aside, wanting them close when he needed to go for the supplies.
As soon as Matthew was free of his clothing, Darien settled his soon-to-be lover on the steps, lowered himself to his knees, and kissed Matthew’s inner thighs.
“Darien?”
“Hmm?” He nipped Matthew, eliciting a gasp.
“I thought you were hung up on me sucking you off?”
Darien curled his arms around Matthew’s upper thighs. “Oh, I am. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to treat myself to your taste.”
Matthew hissed when Darien mouthed the man’s heavy sac. He lapped at the wrinkled skin, moving his tongue lower until he reached the skin that lay between Matthew’s balls and his puckered hole.
“Jesus,” Matthew moaned.
“Darien. Get it right,” Darien teased. He spread Matthew’s cheeks apart and licked at the pulsing entrance.
“Fuck!” Matthew squirmed. “I’ve never had anyone do that before.”
With a shit-eating grin, Darien licked and sucked, pressing the tip of his tongue just inside Matthew. The muscle clamped around his tongue as it pulsed. Darien was shocked when Matthew cried out his name. He pulled back to see cum coating Matthew’s hand and chest.
“You have an easy trigger, sweetheart.”
“Been a long while,” Matthew said between pants. “But luckily my recovery time is still phenomenal.”
Darien moved over him and kissed his jaw. “But mine isn’t, and I’m dying to be buried balls-deep inside you when I come.”
Matthew hooked his hands under his knees, pulled his legs back, and spread himself like a buffet. “I’m all yours.”
Darien stared at the hole glistening with his saliva. His cock throbbed as he reached for the packet of lube. From the brief encounter he’d had with Matthew’s ass, he knew he had to take his time and stretch him.
He tore open the packet with his teeth and wet his fingers. Darien fused their lips as he drove two fingers inside Matthew’s tight body. Matthew hissed into Darien’s mouth as he wiggled again.
Kissing Matthew was like kissing liquid sunshine. Darien couldn’t get enough of his sweet and delicious taste.
“I need,” Matthew whimpered against Darien’s lips.
“You asked me not to hurt you,” he reminded Matthew. “Need to get you ready.”
“I wasn’t talking about…I’m ready.” Matthew tugged at his shoulders. “Get inside me.”
His hands wandered down Darien’s chest, skimmed over his biceps, then traveled down his sides. Matthew grinned as he gripped Darien’s ass. “Nice.”
“Got something even nicer for you.” Darien grabbed the condom from his jeans and rolled the latex down his length. “You ready for it?”
Matthew nodded. He spread his legs once again as Darien lined the head up with his lubed and stretched hole. They both groaned as Darien inched inside the tight, gripping heat. He braced his hands on either side of Matthew’s head, struggling not to come before he was even fully seated.
“Burns.” Matthew winced and gasped. “But don’t stop.”
“Don’t plan to.” Darien wasn’t a spring chicken, and even after all the shit he’d talked, he prayed he could please the younger man. He was pretty sure Matthew was worldly, and had had the best lovers at his disposal. Darien was just an ordinary Joe, but he’d never had complaints in the past, and hoped he didn’t have one now.
He reared back and pulled Matthew to the edge of
the deck, then tossed Matthew’s legs over his arms. They locked gazes as Darien eased back, then slammed forward.
“Fuck!” Matthew’s head thrashed around. His hands curled into the wood of the deck as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. “Do that again.”
With a grin, Darien did it again, and again.
“Faster,” Matthew begged. “Harder!”
Darien set up a punishing rhythm, watching as his cock pushed in and out of Matthew’s body. His gaze traveled to Matthew’s bobbing cock, and his mouth watered. He was tempted to pull out and suck Matthew off.
He didn’t, though. Darien didn’t have the control to leave Matthew’s body. Not when it gripped his cock with a tight hold, causing the buildup to race up his spine.
“I’m close,” he warned.
Matthew’s gaze shot to Darien’s as Matthew wrapped his hand around his shaft. He licked his lips, moaned, then started masturbating. That was all it took. The erotic sight of Matthew pleasuring himself sent Darien over the edge. His tendons stretched and his muscles locked into place as Darien’s seed erupted into the latex.
“Darien!” Ribbons of cum shot from Matthew’s cock, hitting his chest and chin. His hole clamped around Darien’s shaft, making it almost impossible to move.
Darien collapsed over Matthew, careful not to crush the slim man. Sweat dripped from Darien’s scalp as he eased out of Matthew’s body, keeping one hand on the base of the condom.
“Oh, God,” Matthew moaned. “That was…fuck.”
Darien tied the rubber off at the end and set it aside. He kissed Matthew’s throat, then pulled him into his arms. “I agree.”
He held Matthew, but his mind raced. He thought a quick fuck would get Matthew out of his system, but instead, Darien began to plan their next encounter.
Chapter Seven
Darien hooted with laughter as Matthew held his side, laughing so hard tears ran down his cheeks.
“I got one that can top yours,” Casey told Cory. “I went over to my sister’s house one night. Didn’t bother telling her I was coming by. I walk in and, bam, right there on the coffee table is her vibrator, and I can tell it was just used. She screamed. I freaked out and ran out of the house. She still can’t look me in the eye to this day.”
Matthew sat there with his mouth hanging open. “I don’t think I’d be able to look her in the eye, either.”
Darien rocked back in his chair while they talked at their table in Gallagher’s. Matthew had to admit he was glad he’d joined Darien and his men for dinner. He’d hesitated when Darien had invited him, afraid his employees wouldn’t accept Matthew, but now he saw just how down-to-earth they really were.
Darien nudged Matthew’s foot with his own. “Your most embarrassing moment?”
Matthew shook his head. “I have too many to count.”
“Aw, come on,” Jordan said. “You got to share at least one.”
Max, Cory, Casey, and Darien nodded.
“Okay.” Matthew cleared his throat and tried to remember an embarrassing, yet funny story. Most of his embarrassing moments were truly fucked-up, but he remembered one that still made him snicker to this day.
“Well, I grew up in a two-bedroom apartment with five brothers. You can imagine we were always stepping on each other’s toes. I can’t count how many times I’ve walked in on them having sex. But that isn’t the embarrassing thing.”
“Five brothers in a two-bedroom?” Casey whistled. “And I thought I went crazy just living under the roof with Karen.”
“Anyway,” Matthew continued. “Seoul and I went to my house to grab something to eat before we went to shoot some ball, and I walked in on my youngest brother.”
“Naked?” Cory grinned.
“Not quite,” Matthew said. “He had on a pair of silk underwear and one of my mother’s wigs.”
Jordan and Max laughed as Casey grinned.
“And?” Darien prompted.
“He’s the leading act at one of the hottest drag shows in Virginia,” Matthew stated proudly.
“Not really embarrassing,” Cory said in a singsong voice. “You can do better.”
Matthew’s face heated. “I once caught my mom having sex with her boyfriend. I was traumatized after seeing her head bobbing. I’d gotten up in the middle of the night to get something to drink. I was so mortified and scared they’d see me that I hid in the pantry. Our dog thought it was a game and kept running to me, barking. My mom finally came in there to see what all the noise was about, and I don’t know who was more embarrassed. They’d been in the living room, so she knew I’d seen her.”
The table erupted in fits of laughter. Darien nudged his foot again, winking at Matthew before taking a drink from his bottle of beer. Matthew’s insides warmed. “You?”
Darien shook his head. “Most of my embarrassing moments were because of these clowns.”
Matthew had a close friendship with Seoul and enjoyed Dagger and Glen’s company, but he’d never felt such a level of brotherhood as he did with these men. He envied their close-knit family-like ties.
“You still have to share one,” Matthew said.
Before Darien could, Matthew’s phone rang. He’d replace the broken one this morning after making the long drive into Chillicothe. It was the closest place that had iPhones.
Matthew excused himself and headed toward the back of the tavern, plugging one ear with his finger as he pressed his phone to the other. “Matthew Honeywell.”
“Mr. Honeywell, this is Paul Acosta.”
The lawyer was the last person Matthew wanted to talk to. If he was calling, that meant William hadn’t fallen off the face of the earth. “Hello, Paul.”
“I’m sorry to call you so late, but I have some disturbing news.”
Matthew’s heart sank. “What is it?”
“It seems Mr. Black has some incriminating photos he’s threatened to release if you don’t meet his demands. I’ve already arranged a flight out of Virginia to meet with you so we can try to resolve this matter.”
“Photos?” Matthew remembered a few William had taken with his iPhone, but Matthew had made sure they’d been deleted. He knew better than to let William keep them. “Has he shown you these photos?”
“No, but his lawyers say they’ve seen them, and they are damaging.”
“Then he must’ve had them photoshopped,” Matthew argued. “I want an expert to check them out to verify they’re real, Paul.”
Matthew felt a hand on his back. He glanced over his shoulder to find Darien standing right behind him. His pretty, blue eyes were filled with concern.
“I’ll be right back,” Matthew said to Darien.
Darien nodded, hesitated, then walked away.
“William’s lawyers have to show you those photos.”
“They do, but Mr. Black could leak them to the press if we fight him on this.” Paul sighed. “Do you still want me to make that flight?”
“Yes,” Matthew said. “And bring a copy of those pictures with you. I have a feeling William will leak them even if I pay him, which I won’t.”
“Very well. I’ll be arriving in Wildfire tomorrow afternoon.”
Matthew hung up and forced himself not to throw his phone. He didn’t know what to do. It didn’t matter what he said or that he was innocent. The damage would be done.
Tears sprang to Matthew’s eyes. He seriously considered Seoul’s offer, but dismissed the idea. As badly was he wanted William to disappear, he wasn’t going to hire a hitman to do the job.
“I’m not trying to be nosy,” Darien said from behind him, “but you look like you’re about to fall apart. Why don’t we get some fresh air?”
Matthew followed Darien out of the bar, keeping his head hung so no one would see the angry tears in his eyes. As much as he’d been enjoying himself, he wouldn’t be very good company now. The fresh air didn’t help. Matthew was twisted up inside and wanted to scream his head off.
Darien grabbed his hand and they started wa
lking. He didn’t pry. He just walked silently next to Matthew. When they reached city hall, Matthew took a seat on the steps. “I’m royally fucked.”
“How so?”
Matthew sat there and told Darien everything. Telling the whole sordid story to someone else made him realize just how big a fool he’d been. He also realized he sounded like a loser for being willing to deal with William’s bullshit just so he wasn’t alone.
“That’s…fucked-up.” Darien rested his arms on his knees and clasped his hands together. “Is that why you kept running from me?”
Matthew nodded. “If that had happened to you, wouldn’t you be afraid to let anyone else get close to you?”
“Yeah, I would.” Darien leaned over and kissed his temple. “Thank you for trusting me.”
“It was more about being horny, but you’re welcome.”
Darien grinned. “Still, you let me in when you had no idea whether I’d screw you over or not.”
“I grew up poor, Darien. I worked my ass off for what I have. I’m not about to let some skank take that away.”
“And you shouldn’t,” Darien said.
“I don’t know what to do. Seoul said he would have some investigators dig into William’s life, but I don’t think that’ll help right now. No matter what I say or do, if those photos go public, I’m ruined. The government will pull their contracts. My lawyers already smoothed things over with them once. Twice? Not a chance in hell.”
Darien growled. “I might be able to help.”
Matthew glanced at him, his brows raised. “How?”
“I have some friends who could silence him.”
Matthew sighed. “Seoul already offered to have William ‘taken care of.’ I’m not going that route. I couldn’t live with myself.”
“Not killed,” Darien said. “Silenced.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Not if my friends scare William so bad that he never bothers you again.”
“If that’s the case, I can have Dagger call his friends.”
“Then do it,” Darien said. “You can’t let this man bleed you dry.”
Matthew knew he had to become proactive or risk losing his fortune. It wasn’t just the money, though. If he’d done what William had accused him of, he’d take the blame, but he hadn’t and he refused to be branded a rapist for the rest of his life.