Heart of Glass

by Ari McKay

  “You’re lucky,” Asher said, gazing up at the tree house and imagining what young Zach must have looked like—all big brown eyes and tousled hair, maybe a tear in the knee of his jeans—as he climbed the tree. “I grew up in the city, and then I was sent to boarding school. No tree houses or looking for Ents.”

  “I’m sorry.” Zach’s voice was soft. “You know, when you’re a kid, you think it must be so cool to be from a rich family that can afford anything they want. Did you even get to be a kid? Jumping on furniture and playing in the mud, skinning your knees after falling off a skateboard?”

  “God, no.” Asher shook his head, smiling mirthlessly. “My father subscribed to the ‘children should be seen and not heard’ theory of parenting, and he certainly didn’t want me to have any kind of impact on the house outside of my rooms. I played soccer at school, but a skateboard? No, too undignified for Ted Caldwell’s son.”

  “I could teach you to skateboard now,” Zach replied, giving him a wicked smile. “What would the old man think about that? We could skateboard down Wall Street and maybe get on the news. ‘Asher Caldwell breaks arm in freak skateboarding accident.’”

  Asher laughed, delighted by the image Zach’s words evoked and the thought of his father’s face if something like that happened. “He’d be furious with me, which is nothing new, and he wouldn’t be able to do a damned thing about it. For one thing, I haven’t cared what he thought in years, and for another, he’s not speaking to me. So yes, I’m up for a skateboarding lesson.”

  “Good!” Zach seemed pleased. “I can get you into all kinds of trouble, and you’re a brilliant enough attorney to get out of it. It might be fun to make up for all the things you didn’t get to experience as a kid.”

  “I’m all for having my second childhood early, especially since I didn’t get a first one,” Asher said.

  No longer caring about his father’s opinion was one of the most liberating things Asher had ever experienced, and now he found himself ready to take that liberation a step further. There was nothing his father could do to him, except perhaps try to take back the apartment. Even cutting Asher out of his will wasn’t a threat with any weight to it, since the bulk of Asher’s money came from a trust left to him by his grandparents and the rest from his earnings from Caldwell and Monroe.

  If Ted Caldwell tried to get him out of the firm, it wouldn’t work; Asher had established his reputation and earned the loyalty of those who worked there, and besides, as little as Ted Caldwell liked having a gay son, he knew Asher would get bombarded with offers from rival firms if he was forced out. So Asher could do whatever he wanted, and there wasn’t a damned thing Ted Caldwell could do about it.

  “Perfect!” Zach laughed. “We’ll get right on it. In fact, if you want a little naughty adventure, I came prepared.”

  “I’m always up for a naughty adventure with you.” Asher leered playfully at Zach and reached out to grope his ass. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Oh, once we get a little farther into the woods, I can show you,” Zach murmured, then gave Asher a coy smile. “Did you know I was a Boy Scout? And that the motto of the scouts is ‘Be Prepared’?”

  “I think I know where this is going, and I like it already.” Asher felt a little flare of desire at all the possibilities, but he didn’t care what Zach had planned. He was going to go along with it happily, whatever it was.

  Zach guided them farther into the woods, until they were well away from the house. Around them stood a thick stand of evergreens surrounding a huge oak tree. Dropping the rope of the sled, Zach reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small bottle of lube and a couple of condoms.

  “If you’re in the mood for a little outdoor fun, I have everything we need. Well, everything except your cock inside me.”

  The little flare erupted into a full-grown bonfire of need, and Asher’s breathing hitched as he stared at Zach. “Can we? Right here?”

  “Oh, yes.” Zach’s smile was wicked. “We don’t even have to get all the way undressed in the cold, and I took a bit of time before I picked you up from your apartment to prepare myself.” He stepped closer and slid his arms around Asher’s shoulders, rocking his hips so Asher could feel how aroused he was. “I’ve been thinking about this for hours, and I’m about ready to explode from the wanting.”

  Asher didn’t bother holding back the low moan that rose in his throat, and he wound his arms around Zach’s waist, pulling him close. “All this time, and I had no idea… It’s probably for the best. If I’d known, I never could have sat there and eaten cookies with your family.”

  “I thought it best to surprise you,” Zach admitted. “I have to admit, Erik gave me the idea. He mentioned something about toys, and that got me to thinking about what could be useful in a situation like this.” He batted his lashes. “Care to find out?”

  “God, yes,” Asher growled, equal parts aroused and delighted by Zach’s surprise. He never would have guessed Zach would be interested in a scenario like this, much less initiate it, but he was learning there were hidden depths to Zach Richardson.

  Zach kissed him, brief and hard, then pulled back, giving Asher the lube and condoms. He unfastened his jeans and pushed them and his boxer briefs down below his hips, and then he gave Asher a heated look over his shoulder.

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  Asher’s attention was caught by the bright red something on Zach’s ass… no, not on. In. Asher’s cock stirred when he realized Zach was wearing a festive red butt plug, which meant he was already lubed and stretched and ready for fucking.

  “I think you’re perfect,” Asher said hoarsely. “And gorgeous. And hot.”

  Zach laughed, the sound one of pure delight. “And all yours, big boy,” he said, wiggling his hips again. “If you want me, that is. Before I freeze my buns off. Literally.”

  “Then I guess you’d better brace yourself against the sturdiest tree available,” Asher said, stuffing the condoms and lube in his coat pocket for the moment.

  “That’s what the oak is for,” Zach said. He shuffled the few steps to the tree and leaned against it, then glanced back and licked his lips. “I’m ready whenever you are. More than ready. I need you, Asher. I need to you fuck me right now.”

  There was nothing Asher wanted to do more despite the cold, and he hurried over to stand behind Zach, and fumbled with the fly of his jeans. “I need you too,” he murmured, leaning in to nip Zach’s earlobe. “More than anything.”

  His cock was hard and aching, and desperate desire made him clumsy, but he managed to get his jeans and boxers down and the condom on. He prepared himself with extra lube, and then he carefully eased the butt plug out.

  “What do you want to do with this?”

  Zach gave a low moan as Asher pulled out the plug. “Just put it in my jacket pocket,” he said. “I’ll wash everything later.”

  Asher fished a handkerchief out of his own pocket, wrapped up the plug, and slid it into Zach’s pocket. “Wash it good,” he growled in Zach’s ear. “We’ll have use for that again.”

  “I will. But if you don’t fuck me right now, I might die!”

  Moaning from the depths of his own need, Asher guided himself into position and eased into Zach, letting the slick heat of Zach’s welcoming body surround him slowly. When he was buried deep, he grasped Zach’s hips and began to move, wanting Zach too much to be gentle, and he claimed Zach with hard, pounding thrusts.

  “Yes! Oh, God, yes!” Zach moved with him, catching Asher’s rhythm and meeting every thrust, sending Asher even deeper. He threw his head back, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the rough bark of the tree. “More! You feel so good inside me!”

  Asher slid one hand around and curled his fingers around Zach’s cock, stroking it with a steady rhythm that matched the rocking of their hips. “You’re so hard. I’ll bet you’re aching for me, aren’t you? How badly do you want to come? How badly do you need it?”

  “I need
it more than anything,” Zach replied, his voice low and husky. “Please, Asher. I want to come. Let me come for you.”

  “Do it,” Asher commanded, fisting Zach’s cock harder. “I want to see you.”

  With a ragged cry, Zach thrust into Asher’s hand and came hard. He continued to move with small jerks of his hips until he slumped forward against the tree, breathing hard. Asher savored the feel of Zach’s body clenching around him, savored the pleasure of knowing he’d taken Zach to the edge so swiftly. But his own need was fierce as well, and he gripped Zach’s hips tightly again as he thrust deep. He wanted to bury himself so deep in Zach that he could no longer tell where he ended and Zach began. He wanted—craved—the connection he felt when they were joined, and he wanted to hear Zach’s little cries when Asher took him hard and fast. His own release overwhelmed him, and he cried out Zach’s name as he thrust deep one last time.

  Panting, he wound his arms around Zach’s waist and slumped against his back, nuzzling his cheek against Zach’s shoulder. “That was amazing.”

  Zach made a little purring sound of contentment. “Mm… yes, it was,” he agreed. He drew in a deep breath and released it on a sigh of contentment. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Asher said, chuckling quietly. He knew they needed to get a tree, but he wasn’t ready to move yet. He wanted to stay there with Zach in his arms for a moment longer.

  “Really? Good. I was pretty sure you’d like it, but I wasn’t positive.” Zach chuckled. “I thought there was a small chance I might shock you.”

  “I was shocked, but in a good way,” Asher said, stroking Zach’s abdomen gently. “I didn’t expect you to do something like this, but I’m glad you did.”

  “Good. I don’t want you to get bored,” Zach said. “I’ve never done anything like that before in my life, but for you, I’d do just about anything.”

  Asher drew back, but only long enough to deal with the condom. Zach pulled a baggie out of his pocket and handed it to Asher along with some tissues, and once they were both cleaned up and dressed again, Asher grasped Zach’s shoulders and met Zach’s gaze steadily.

  “Why would you even think I’d get bored of you?”

  Zach’s eyes widened, but he looked back without blushing. “Well, I know you’re used to a certain amount of variety,” he admitted. “You said you’d never been with anyone long-term, so I thought being with just me might get… well, boring. Repetitive. I mean, compared to what you’ve had before.”

  If someone had asked him a couple of weeks ago whether he thought he could be happy with just one man, Asher would have said no for that very reason: variety. He couldn’t have imagined having sex with the same man night after night without wanting something new and different—until he met Zach.

  “What I had before,” he said, resting his palm against Zach’s cheek and stroking it with his thumb, “was a string of men who were no more attached to me than I was to them. It was enough because I’d forgotten what it felt like to be truly desired.”

  Zach leaned into Asher’s touch, and there was a soft, warm expression in his gaze. “I do desire you,” he said softly. “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I do you.”

  “And that’s why you don’t have to worry about me getting bored with you,” Asher said. The way Zach was looking at him made his heart flip, and he couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss Zach, slow and deep.

  With a soft moan, Zach wrapped his arms around Asher, parted his lips, and kissed Asher back, pressing against him as though wanting to be as close as he possibly could despite their clothes. Asher continued the kiss, savoring Zach’s sweet yielding, and for a time, he felt like there was nothing else in the world but the two of them in the quiet woods. But eventually, he drew back with a rueful smile.

  “If we don’t stop now, I’ll have to fuck you again, which means your family won’t get their tree, we’ll miss the roast, and we’ll be in trouble with your mom.”

  “At least the tree won’t take long,” Zach said. “We passed by several good ones on the way here. I just wanted to get far enough away from the house that we could be vocal.”

  “You’re a wise man.” Asher smacked Zach’s ass as he let Zach go. “Let’s get the tree and head back. Your insatiable demands have made me work up an appetite.”

  Laughing, Zach led him back in the direction of the house, pointing out suitable trees along the way. At last they found one that seemed perfect, tall and symmetrical with lush branches and long, soft needles. Zach showed him how to trim the lower, sparser branches away before they chopped through the base. After carefully rolling the tree up in the tarp and tying it to the sled, they pulled their burden back to the house and got it inside.

  Mikey came over to grab Asher’s hand, pulling him slightly away from the others as they put the tree into a large base to keep it stable.

  “Did you see Santa?” he asked urgently. “Did he help you pick out the tree?”

  Asher squatted down to get closer to Mikey’s level and fixed him with a serious look. “We did see Santa,” he said. He and Zach hadn’t discussed how to perpetuate the Santa story, but he thought he could improvise well enough. “He was pretty picky about the tree too. He said he wanted it to be just right for you because you’ve been so good this year.”

  Mikey beamed. “Really? That’s awesome! I should get a lot of presents, then! Thanks, Asher!” He dashed off to the kitchen, yelling for his mother to tell her that Santa had said he’d been really good and deserved lots of presents.

  Zach and the others laughed, and Zach beckoned for Asher to join them. They’d set up the tree in the living room, right in front of a big bay window. “So what do you think?” he asked, gesturing to the tree. “Doesn’t your first lumberjack effort look great?”

  “I think I might need to invest in some plaid flannel shirts and my own ax,” he teased, moving to stand beside Zach and sliding his arm around Zach’s waist, a gesture that felt natural now.

  Zach leaned against his side, seeming perfectly comfortable with the display of affection in front of his family. The rest of them seemed to accept it as perfectly normal, too, as though Asher were already part of the family rather than the first boyfriend Zach had ever brought home.

  “Dinner, everyone!” Katherine called out, and they moved to the dining room, where a festive meal had been laid out. In addition to the promised roast, there were homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli with a rich cheese sauce, and rolls that melted in the mouth. The banter during dinner was light and easy, and Asher learned about Zach’s sisters and their career aspirations, and about Zach’s parents and their plans to take a trip to Europe the next summer. They didn’t press him for information, but seemed interested in what he did divulge.

  After dessert—a rich chocolate cake thickly iced with fudgy frosting—Asher was drawn into helping clear the table and handed a dishtowel to dry the plates Zach was washing. Then they all went into the living room to decorate the tree with the ornaments Zach’s sisters had selected.

  Mikey selected Asher as his personal ladder, asking Asher to pick him up so he could place his own favorite pieces. Then Katherine brought out a box that held seven ornaments, each one different but bearing the name of one of the family members. Zach handed Asher a ceramic fire engine with “Zachary” written across the side in flowing script.

  “Here, you can hang mine this year,” Zach said. “That’ll make it even more special.”

  Asher cradled the ornament carefully in one hand as he examined it, more deeply touched by Zach’s gesture than he could express. “Let me guess. You wanted to be a fireman when you grew up?”

  “I did,” Zach said, smiling slightly. “Plus red was my favorite color, and I just knew that particular ornament was meant to be mine. Of course, I was all of five years old at the time, and I think by the time I was eight, I had moved on to wanting to be a cowboy, but you don’t change a tradition, right?”

  “Of course not. B
ut I’m glad you didn’t become either a fireman or a cowboy, because then I might not have met you,” Asher said.

  It struck him, then, what he would likely be doing this weekend if Zach hadn’t become a lawyer, hadn’t joined Caldwell and Monroe, and hadn’t shown up at his door with those documents. He would be working alone at home, and he felt a surge of despair at the thought of returning to that empty life. He realized how much happier he’d been—how much more he’d been enjoying life rather than existing through it—since he and Zach began dating.

  Now he was here, feeling like he was accepted by Zach’s family already. His parents hadn’t provided good models when it came to marriage and family. But the Richardsons showed him what it could be like, and as scary and overwhelming as changing lifelong patterns of behavior was, he was finally willing to make that change. He wanted to make it because he wanted Zach.

  In that moment, he knew what he wanted to give Zach for Christmas, and he hoped Zach would accept it—and him—as wholeheartedly as he intended to offer it.

  “That would be a tragedy,” he murmured, meeting Zach’s gaze steadily.

  Zach leaned in to give him a brief, tender kiss. “I happen to agree,” he said. “And not just because I think the legal world would be worse off without my brilliant contributions.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” Asher dropped a quick kiss on the tip of Zach’s nose to lighten the moment before turning his attention back to the tree. “Do you prefer to hang your ornament up high, midway, or down lower?”

  “I’ve always put it up as high as I could reach,” Zach said, then chuckled. “For the last ten years or so, that’s meant right near the top. But I’m game for a change if you have a different idea.”