Sharp Love (Gambling on Love)

by March, Ava

  “Not yet.”

  Another growl from Jack, this one tinged with frustration. Sucking Jack had done its duty, rousing Jack to a fever pitch. If he pushed Jack much further, he wouldn’t put it past Jack to toss him onto the bed and tackle him. An idea that held definite merit. Yet the next step was a critical one. There was no way Will could take Jack without considerable preparation.

  “Next, you get me ready.” Will climbed onto the bed, positioning himself on his back in the middle of the mattress, head resting on one of the pillows. Knees bent, he let his legs fall open. It was all he could do to keep his voice even, to keep the impatience from slipping into his tone. “The oil is in the bedside table. Top drawer.”

  A furrow crossed Jack’s forehead. Then he gave his head a short shake. “Yes, of course, Will.”

  His cock bobbing with each step, Jack crossed to the bedside table. The sound of wood gliding across wood filled the room as he slid open the top drawer. With the oil in hand, he got onto the bed and kneeled between Will’s legs. The mattress shifted beneath his weight, yet the sturdy bed made not a creak.

  Holding the backs of his thighs, Will drew his knees back, presenting his arse to Jack. Explicit instructions, he reminded himself. “Pour some oil onto your cock. Slick it up. Then oil your fingers and swipe them across my hole. Then push one finger inside and fuck me with it.”

  The scent of almond oil filled the air. Then slick fingers passed across his entrance, the touch light and teasing. For a long moment, Jack merely played. Coasting across Will’s hole, coating his skin with oil. A drop of fluid beaded at the head of Will’s cock, which was arched over his lower belly. Will gritted his teeth. He was an instant from urging Jack to stop playing and get on with it when a blunt finger breached his entrance and slipped inside him.

  Will let out a moan. “That’s it, Jack. Finger-fuck me. Nice long thrusts.”

  Jack, perfect man that he was, followed Will’s instructions. In then out, pushing inside of him, knuckles bumping Will’s arse.

  “Now two.”

  On the next thrust, Jack pushed two digits inside. But the stretch wasn’t even close to what Will craved. What he needed.

  He could feel the force of Jack’s gaze. Hot and heavy, filled with lust but also wicked wonder. “Do you like getting my arse ready for your cock?”

  The delicious rhythm of his strokes never faltering, Jack’s attention flickered up from Will’s arse. “Hell yes.”

  “More oil, Jack. You’ve got a big cock.”

  Jack pulled free—a slippery, wicked rush of sensation. The candlelight caught the stream of oil as he poured more onto his already slick fingers.

  “Now three.”

  With his free hand, Jack palmed one of Will’s cheeks, pulled it back, delivering a firm tug on his hole. Three blunt fingers made the breach, stretching Will’s muscles. Will let out a groan and couldn’t stop his eyes from drifting shut as Jack pushed full inside of him. Damnation, that felt good.

  Yet he wanted more. Wanted Jack’s cock filling him, stretching him wide open, possessing him.

  With each decadent thrust, the need built within. Stronger and stronger, until he couldn’t stop the command from leaving his lips.

  “Now I want you to fuck me.” He opened his eyes, met Jack’s gaze. And that command became a plea. “Please, Jack. Now.”

  * * *

  Jack took a moment. A short moment to push back the primitive need drumming heavy in his veins to mark Will as his own, and gathered his self-control. Then he gently pulled his fingers free.

  Will’s hole constricted. A quick contraction Jack swore he could feel grip his cock.

  Jack clenched his jaw.

  He guided his cock to Will’s entrance and pushed, increasing the pressure until Will’s body finally yielded and opened for him.

  A harsh wince crossed Will’s brow, closing his eyes. He put a hand on Jack’s thigh.

  Jack heeded the request, and even though his instincts screamed to sink fully into the tight, welcoming heat of Will’s body, he went still.

  A long breath whooshed from Will’s chest. “You’re a big man, Jack,” he murmured, voice thick and low, slow as poured honey. He pushed on Jack’s thigh.

  Jack immediately pulled free.

  Will tugged on Jack’s leg. “Now back in.”

  Yet Jack hesitated. That harsh wince had equaled pain, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt Will.

  Another tug to Jack’s thigh.

  “Come on, Jack. Back in. I need you.”

  Taking comfort in the knowledge that Will wouldn’t tell him to do something he didn’t want, Jack carefully did as bid.

  With only the head of his cock engulfed, the hand on Jack’s thigh pushed again. “Out then in, Jack.”

  Jack nodded. Then he added, because Will couldn’t have possibly seen the nod, what with the way his eyes were glued shut, “Yes, Will.”

  He repeated the motion—out then in. This time, he made it halfway inside before Will gave him another push.

  “Again,” Will said.

  He could feel the change in Will’s body as he eased inside for the fourth time. He didn’t need to push so hard to make the breach, the muscles guarding Will’s entrance not quite as tight.

  Inch by slow inch, he pushed forward, until the entire length of his cock was buried in Will’s arse.

  Will let out a sigh drenched in absolute pleasure. A smile curved his lips. His lashes lifted just a tad, just enough for him to catch Jack’s gaze. “Much better. Now fuck me, Jack. Nice and slow.”

  Jack grabbed hold of Will’s hips, and ever so slowly, drew back, savoring the lush tug of Will’s body along his length. Holy hell, that felt incredible. Will palmed Jack’s arse, and following the pressure of Will’s hands, he kept his thrusts slow and even. Did exactly as Will commanded.

  “That’s it, Jack. Fuck me.” Will gasped for breath. “Christ. So goddamned perfect. Don’t stop.”

  As if Jack would even contemplate such a thing.

  He could hear Will’s pleasure in the moans tumbling from his lips. See it in his heavily lidded eyes, in the flush tingeing his chest and in the sweat clinging to his temples. And it ratcheted Jack’s lust. Fed it. Yet Jack held onto his slow rhythm, held back the orgasm gripping his spine, refusing to climax before Will. He needed Will’s orgasm, his pleasure, first.

  And then those moans tumbling from Will’s lips shifted. Grew impatient. “Harder, Jack. Please, harder.”

  Releasing his hold on Will’s hips, Jack dropped down, braced his weight on his arms, and finally gave himself free rein to slam into Will.

  Will’s head tipped back, exposing his throat. “Oh, God, yes.” The hands on Jack’s arse no longer guided, but grabbed. Greedy. Needy. Wanting more.

  And Jack gave Will everything he needed. Hard, deep strokes. Plunging into him. Skin slapping against skin. Their sweat and their moans blending together. All the while, he reveled in how he could be the one to bring Will to such heights of pleasure.

  It was as though something inside him burst free. A weight lifted from his soul.

  He didn’t need to fret, to worry, when he was with Will. They were perfect for each other. They belonged together. Always had. And always would be together.

  “Love you, Will,” he whispered, hoarse and rough. Then he captured Will’s lips and set about giving his lover the ultimate pleasure.

  Will grabbed hold of Jack’s back, dove into the kiss. Tongues twining, bodies straining. Jack could feel the climax rushing upon Will. Could feel it in the tension gripping Will’s body, in the blinding intensity of his kiss. Then Will let out a grunt as hot seed splattered Jack’s belly, and Jack followed him over the edge, spilling deep within his lover.

  Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead against Will’s and struggled to catch his breath.

  Will’s chest heaved beneath his. A hand came up to palm Jack’s jaw, fingers lightly caressing his skin. “Thank you for letting me be your first.” />
  “It could only have been you.” Only Will could have given him the confidence in himself to shove his worries, his fears, aside. To put his past behind him and to grab hold of his future that contained a man he loved—had always loved—with every bit of his heart.

  And he had always loved Will. No matter the distance he had once tried his damnedest to keep between them, no matter how much he had once tried to convince himself being alone was safer than being with Will, his heart had always been Will’s.

  As if able to read his thoughts, Will brushed his lips across Jack’s. “And I love you, too, Jack.”

  Epilogue

  “Don’t tug the line.” Jack’s gloved hands settled over Will’s, correcting his movements for the fifth time since they’d left the stables. The man had the patience of a saint. “Hold him steady with your left as you guide him around the corner.”

  “Perhaps I should just have you drive me.” The book Will had purchased from the shop in the village wasn’t proving to be the least bit of help. His second driving lesson and he still was doing it wrong.

  “Nonsense. You’re doing fine, Will. Just takes some time to get the hang of it.” Once the brown gelding made the turn onto the lane that led to Will’s property, Jack removed his hands, giving control of the lines back to Will. “Now give him a cluck, ask him to pick up the pace to a smart trot.”

  Will did as instructed, and Luther obediently lengthened his strides. The wheels of the gig rattled over the dirt lane, the cool November air nipping at Will’s cheeks. Will might be proving himself a slow study, but the gelding didn’t seem to mind overmuch.

  A few days ago, Jack had showed up at his door with a horse and cart borrowed from His Grace’s stables. They had made the eight-mile journey to Tadley, with Jack driving of course, and once there, they’d had a bite to eat at a tavern then perused the livestock fair. With expert eyes and hands, Jack had narrowed the selection down to two horses, and Will had decided on the big-boned gelding with the kind eyes. And he’d also purchased the little donkey tied to the rail next to the horse. He didn’t need a donkey and he really shouldn’t spend his money unless absolutely necessary, but well, he hadn’t liked the idea of Luther living all alone in his small stable. The sun had seen fit to cooperate, the weather hadn’t dipped into winter yet, and he had spent the day with Jack. All in all, a wonderful day. Rather like today.

  And rather like most of his days now.

  Well, they did not get to spend all day, every day together. Jack had his duties to see to and Will had a property to manage. But be it only a shared supper at Drake Cottage or an afternoon call on Jack at the duke’s stables under the guise of a lesson on horse care, not a day had passed when he did not see Jack.

  The horse didn’t need any cues from Will to stay to the lane as it wound past the cottage. The stable came into view, a tidy paddock to the right and the great expanse of his property behind it, bordered by trees in the distance. At the sound of the approaching gig, George the donkey lifted his head from the autumn grass in the paddock, his long furry ears flicking forward.

  “Tell him to whoa first, then pull back gently,” Jack said as they reached the stable yard. “Only increase the pressure if he doesn’t heed.”

  Adjusting his grip on the lines, Will nodded. This time, the horse didn’t toss his head in protest but quietly slowed to stop.

  “Very good.” Jack stepped down from the cart. “I’ll hold his head while you see to the traces.”

  Will hopped down to the ground. Unhitching was actually easy. Just a few buckles to see to and leather lines to unwind, and the horse was free of the traces. Removing the harness without turning the leather into a jumbled mess...that was another task entirely. And putting on the harness correctly? Even after consulting his book several times, he had still needed Jack’s help today. Oh well. As Jack had said, it would take some time for him to get the hang of it. But the effort was worth it. Soon, he’d be able to take the horse and gig out whenever he had need. To peruse the fields, go into the village or just to visit Jack.

  Once he had pushed the gig under the overhang on the side of the stables, he led Luther inside and Jack helped him to remove the harness.

  “If you’d like, I can stop by tomorrow afternoon to give you a riding lesson.” Jack lifted the breastplate over the horse’s head. “A horseback riding lesson,” he clarified, before Will could make a comment.

  Reaching under Luther’s belly, Will unbuckled the girth. Likely would be easier to only deal with a saddle and a bridle, and the idea of being able to go for rides with Jack held definite appeal, but... “Allow me to master the cart first before you throw me onto the back of the poor beast. In any case, you’ve spent the afternoon here. I don’t want to pull you from your duties again tomorrow.”

  Come to think of it, Jack had been spending quite a few afternoons in a row at Drake Cottage of late. Will had been careful not to press him. Jack’s position meant a lot to him, and Will wanted to respect that. Yet Jack had been a rather consistent visitor over the past—he thought back over the recent days—week, going so far as to not only take suppers at the Cottage, but to stay the night and spend afternoons with him, only returning to Arrington Park in the mornings.

  “You’re not pulling me from my duties. His Grace told me I needn’t work full days every day. He’s remaining in Hampshire until after the New Year. If an urgent situation arises, he will know where to find me.”

  “He actually told you that?”

  Jack nodded. “A week ago, he came down to the stables, had a word with me while I was tending to a cut on one of the mares’ legs.”

  “Interesting.”

  Being as tall as he was, Jack was able to duck his head while simultaneously seeing to the buckles on the horse’s bridle. “I think he knows we are lovers, Will.”

  “Obviously.”

  “Obviously?” Jack’s head snapped up. “You’ve known he knows?”

  “I suspected as much when he offered to sell to me.” Before Jack could open his mouth, Will added, “And no, I have not said anything to him to confirm or deny the nature of our friendship. He’s an astute man, and he prefers men as well. Given the errand he asked you to tend to last we were in London, he trusts you a great deal. So please don’t work yourself up into a state worrying about the fact he’s aware of our relationship. He won’t discuss it with others, just as you don’t discuss his business with others. Simply be thankful you have an understanding, generous employer who is as loyal to you as you are to him.”

  A frown pulled Jack’s mouth, his brow a mess of wrinkles. With gentle hands, he slipped the bridle from Luther’s head then replaced it with a plain leather halter. Then he held out a hand and Will handed him the parts of the harness Will had removed. “Run a brush over him while I put this in the tack room.”

  When it came to activities that involved just the two of them, activities in the bedchamber or the parlor or even while making good use of the study’s desk, Jack’s worries and insecurities seemed to have disappeared. A blush would still stain his cheeks whenever Will gave him a particularly wicked command, and Will could still push him to the point where he struggled to form words—both traits Will hoped Jack never lost, because damnation, did he have a fondness for them. But that awkward nervousness, the stifling apprehension, as if Jack was fighting himself, hadn’t reared its head again. And Will was certain Jack truly believed they had a future together. Yet...Will wondered if Jack would ever be fully and completely comfortable with his preference for men.

  That was it—the tiny little rub, a small scar left from the night weeks ago when Jack had practically melted into a puddle of mortification when His Grace had come knocking at the door of his hotel room.

  It wasn’t as if he expected Jack to declare his undying love for him in the middle of the village. Their relationship was against the law, after all. They needed to be discreet. And he knew this was the last thing he should prod Jack about—the man needed to come to the re
alization on his own terms. Yet it felt almost, in a way, like Jack was slightly embarrassed that he loved Will.

  Will rolled his eyes at himself and grabbed a brush from the bucket hanging on a hook outside the stall. Now he was the one being ridiculous.

  Jack loved him. He knew it, he felt it. It was a fact. He just needed to have patience. Hell, barely a month ago, Jack had admitted he’d not been with another in six years because he was ashamed of his desires. Jack had come a long way since then. They both had. They had done it together with understanding and raw honesty, and he would continue to be understanding. To be patient. Because Jack...Jack was more than worth it.

  He heard Jack’s heavy footsteps approach. Bending down, Will swiped the brush down Luther’s leg “Are you hungry?”

  “Yes.”

  No surprise there. Jack was always hungry. “Will you go into the house and light the stove? I’ll finish here and turn Luther out into the paddock to join George. Then I can make us something to eat.”

  “All right. And Will?”

  He pushed to his feet and looked over the horse’s back to Jack. That furrow was still affixed to Jack’s brow. Patience, he reminded himself.

  “You are correct. It’s all right that he knows. The duke, I mean. And like you said, I should simply be thankful.” Jack took a deep breath, and those furrows left his forehead. “And I am.”

  With that, Jack turned on his heel and left the stable, the long length of his greatcoat slapping against his heels.

  Will blinked.

  Had Jack actually just said that?

  Yes, he had.

  A chuckle shook Will’s chest. Luther turned his brown head, giving Will a curious stare.

  Will patted the horse on the neck. “You know, Luther, I love that man.”

  The smile didn’t leave his lips as he finished brushing the horse. Then he turned Luther out into the paddock to join the donkey.

  He pulled open the kitchen door and was greeted with the scent of freshly made coffee.

  Jack set two plates on the table. His greatcoat hung on one of the two hooks next to the door, a bottle of wine already on the table. The kitchen was warm and comfortable and most of all, it included Jack. “I put a pot of coffee on. It’s chilly outside. Thought it might warm you up while you cook.”