The Glasshouse (Lavender Shores Book 6)

by Rosalind Abel

“I just got a call from Nick Epstein. He wants me to fly him to New York tonight.”

  “Nick is in town? Did hell freeze over?” Will’s older brother typically stayed as far away from Lavender Shores as humanly possible.

  Andre let out a knowing laugh. “Erica was throwing some party that she begged him to come in for. He and his dad got into it. So true to form, Nick is making a show of leaving in a huff.”

  “Sounds about right.” Another little detail clicked into place, and I scowled. “I am sure you being my twin has nothing to do with why he called you in particular for this job.”

  “Of course it does. Just one more big fuck you on the way out of town. And after this, I’m not sure if Mom and Kimberly Epstein’s enemy status is going to return to their normal frenemy homeostasis.” He laughed again, unconcerned. “But Nick is dropping a wad of cash on this flight, and I was thinking I’d hang out in New York for a few days. I could use some time away.”

  “Need me to watch Katniss?”

  “If you don’t mind. She asked for you specifically.”

  “Harrison and I were just talking about how we prefer the uncle role.” I debated for a couple of seconds. I didn’t want to take away from Harrison’s plan for the perfect evening, but I never told Andre no. Especially lately. “Harrison and I are actually in San Francisco tonight. Any chance she could stay with our folks, or Amelia and Bethany tonight, and then I’ll pick her up as soon as I get back into town tomorrow?” I rushed ahead, feeling guilty. “If not, we can come back right now. It’s not a big deal.”

  “No! That’s totally great. Don’t you dare come back.” Andre sounded genuine, and brighter than I’d heard in a while. Hopefully New York would offer some healing magic. “I’m sure one of them can watch her. I’ll let her know that you’ll get her tomorrow. Thanks for that.”

  “Of course. You know I adore her. And after an afternoon with screaming children, I love her even more. I’ve never heard her make any such noise.” I started to end the call, but then hesitated. “Andre? Can I ask you something?”

  He must’ve heard something in my voice because when he responded, he sounded cautious. “Sure.”

  As I spoke, my guilt grew. “Things with you and Meghan were always great. I don’t ever remember any drama with you two. But how did you know?” I shouldn’t be asking such things of him.

  There was a long pause, and then he let out a shaky breath. “Are you thinking Harrison is the one?”

  I was. I knew I was. “I… ahh… guess that’s what I’m asking you.”

  “It’s totally different, Adrian. We grew up with Meghan. But I do remember that moment, when it all clicked, and I just knew. Without a doubt, I knew. But that’s different than you and Harrison’s situation, obviously.” He sighed, and I regretted asking. He’d almost sounded like himself before, nearly. He surprised me by speaking again. “I can’t tell you what to do, Adrian. And I sure can’t pretend that I have any idea of what will help you be certain about you and Harrison, but when you are, don’t worry about what anyone else says. Just grab on. You never know how long you’ll actually have.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. Or how to apologize for the hurt I heard in his voice that I’d caused.

  He cleared his throat. “I’ll tell Katniss that she can look forward to being with you… and Harrison… starting tomorrow. Thanks for being there for us.” He was gone before I could reply.

  I returned my phone to my pocket and glanced back into the room. Harrison was still in the shower. I reclaimed my spot at the railing. At nearly forty stories in the air, it was a good thing I didn’t have a fear of heights. The glass railing truly provided the illusion of floating.

  Just grab on. You never know how long you’ll actually have.

  It seemed too much to try to figure out. Maybe there was nothing to figure out. Perhaps that was the whole point. If you tried to make sense of it, it wouldn’t be possible. Alex and Alan would never have made sense on paper, yet it was clear Alex wouldn’t have chosen anything else. Andre and Meghan had made more sense, but even with the tragedy at the end, I knew Andre wouldn’t have chosen anything different, either.

  Gradually, my thoughts gave way to the cool salt breeze that threatened to become a wind, playing against my face and through my hair. To the canopy of stars arching overhead as they disappeared into the ocean. To the glittering lights of buildings in the distance and traveling in a long line over the bridge.

  There was no way to figure it out. None of it.

  Though clearly, someone knew how that bridge worked, how after all this time it continued to keep thousands and thousands of cars a day safely zooming over the dark depths. But it was beyond my understanding. I wasn’t a scientist nor mathematician. I knew there were explanations about why the earth and stars moved, that it was simply a matter of numbers and angles. But that was beyond me as well.

  Or maybe, all those numbers and angles, all the math that went into bridges and glass balconies towering over a city, maybe they were just our way to quantify magic.

  I’d had a good life. A relatively easy, good life. I’d been fortunate, blessed, even privileged. But it never seemed like magic. It never felt like magic.

  With that thought, I was certain.

  I knew I had never felt magic before because I was feeling it now. For the first time. It had nothing to do with the beautiful hotel room, fame and fortune, or what made sense. Instead, it had everything to do with light-up shoes, a head on my chest at night, and a glasshouse.

  At my back, the doors opened softly, but I didn’t turn around, letting Harrison come to me. His footfalls were silent, then his arms encircled my chest and his warm body sheltered my back. His scruff scratched my ear as he whispered, “Sorry to ruin your pizza kink.”

  With a sigh, I leaned back against him and released the railing to grip his arm. “That’s okay. The next time we have pizza, I’ll dump it on you and then pounce before you have a chance to wash it off.”

  “I’ll make sure to stay on alert from here on out.” He kissed my ear, then let out a sigh of his own. “My God, this is beautiful.”

  “It really is.” I squeezed his wrist where my hand had come to rest. “Thank you for it.”

  Harrison didn’t respond, just pulled me tighter, and we stood there together, on a pedestal under the stars, lost to where one ended and the other began.

  Yeah. I knew.

  After a while, Harrison released his hold and began to move his hands gently over my body. Soothing and caressing at first, and then changing intention as he unbuttoned my shirt and started to slide it off.

  Though the touch of his hands on my skin, combined with the cool night breeze, only added to the overwhelming sensation, I trembled. “Are you trying to bring on hypothermia?”

  He pulled my shirt the rest of the way off and then moved slightly so we were side by side, and revealed that he was already shirtless, wearing only a towel. He glistened nearly as much as the starlight, and his skin was prickled in gooseflesh. “I think I have a way to keep us warm.” With a twist of his fingers, he let the towel fall to the ground and stood before me naked.

  Magic. So much magic.

  Turning away from the railing, I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his mouth to mine in a crushing kiss.

  Harrison instantly began to work on my pants as I used my heels to slip out of my shoes.

  Breaking the kiss for the briefest of moments, I stepped out of my clothing, and then our bodies crashed together once more.

  With the cold, damp breeze blowing over us, it was like hands all over my body as Harrison stroked down my back, dug his fingers into my ass, then traveled back up to sink into my hair.

  Though prickled with gooseflesh, Harrison was warm from the shower, and I sank my fingers into his muscles, unable to settle on only one delicious place on his body, my desire for him causing a fire in my gut. “I need you. I need to make love to you. Right now.”

  Harrison pulled away, just
long enough to motion toward the chaise lounge that was nearly as wide as the bed. Condoms and lube were already lying on the thick cushion.

  “You came prepared.” I chuckled and glanced around. “Out here? In the open?”

  He met my gaze, and even in the dim light, his eyes blazed in lust as he nodded. “Yeah. Right here. Under the stars.”

  I didn’t question again but started to lead him to the lounge.

  “One last thing.” He released my hand and moved to the far side and began to push it across the balcony. He stopped less than an inch away from the glass railing, adjusted some lever in the back, making the slope lay flat, then got onto the cushion, lay in the middle, and motioned for me to join. “Come on.”

  He’d turned off all the lights in the hotel room, and as I joined him on our makeshift bed, to our left was pure darkness, and to our right was nothing but stars and a few sparkling pinnacles of high-rises in the distance. For a moment, the sensation was enough to cause vertigo as I took my place between his legs. I reached out and grabbed the railing for support, nearly expecting it to have vanished.

  Harrison shifted to a partially raised position and encircled my cock as he smiled up at me. “You okay?” His voice held no concern. Only heat and a touch of humor.

  My body and brain battled. I might not be afraid of heights, but floating in midair was a new experience, though the stroking against my shaft was a grounding force. “I think you’re enjoying this. I didn’t know you were evil, Mr. Getty.”

  He cocked an eyebrow and glanced down where he held me before looking back up. “You seem to be enjoying it as well.” Still holding on to my dick, he shifted to a kneeling position and then lowered himself to his hands and knees, replacing his fist with his mouth, and causing me to shudder.

  The view of his body stole my attention away from everything else. The stars couldn’t compete with the wide expanse of his back flexing and shifting as he built a rhythm on my cock. Nor the tapering of his waist flaring to the full, firm ass.

  Forgetting we were hundreds of feet in the air, I released the railing and stroked my hands down his spine, and bent forward so I pushed deeper into his mouth as I gripped both of the globes of his cheeks.

  His throat tightened around my cock while my fingers explored his ass crease and found his entrance. At the feel of his slick, tight hole, I chuckled. “You already lubed up, didn’t you?”

  Harrison let out a chuckle of his own, which only served to cause me to shudder in pleasure at the feeling on my dick.

  I knew what he liked. After pulling back slightly, giving him a chance to suck in a breath, I thrust forward once more and simultaneously sank two fingers, a couple of knuckles deep, into him.

  Harrison moaned in pleasure and arched his back, forcing me deeper. I curved my fingers, hooking them inside, and took control of the blowjob’s pace, fucking his mouth as I pulled his body toward me, then relaxing my hold on his ass while I pulled slightly free once more, then yanked him toward me again as I shoved deep.

  His arms shook, and his body trembled.

  I leaned back to get a better view, to watch as my cock disappeared in between his lips, as my fingers sank in his ass. He was beautiful. The stars and moonlight caressing the beads of sweat that had started to form over his back. The mountains of muscle ever shifting, his ass clutching tight over my fingers as his back arched then clenched again. His full lips devouring me while he keened in desperation.

  I thrust, and pulled, and thrust and pulled, my fingers going deeper and deeper until I felt my orgasm build in my gut, felt it burn, threatening to explode. In one swift movement, I yanked my fingers from his ass and arched my hips backward, pulling my cock from his mouth.

  Harrison groaned, then panted. “I want your load, Adrian.”

  “Not like that.” I pushed his shoulder gently. “I know you want me to fuck you.”

  He groaned again. And despite his bad knee, made a solitary, graceful movement as he flipped to his back. “Yes. Adrian. Yes. I want you inside of me, buried deep. Fuck. Yes.”

  I snagged a condom, tried to open it, but couldn’t get my fingers to work so I ripped it open with my teeth. I shoved it over my cock and swirled my already lubed-up fingers around. I lined myself up and I met his gaze.

  Harrison hooked his hands behind the back of his knees and pulled them to his chest, spreading wide and revealing his entrance to me. “Now.”

  Once more forgetting how high we were, forgetting the railing, forgetting it all, I shifted to my feet, squatted slightly in front of him and shoved deep.

  Harrison yelled, “Fuck. Yes!” He pulled back on his knees farther, so I was forced to fall forward, catching myself with one hand beside his head and balancing on the far side with my toes.

  I began to pump. Arching up as best I could and then slamming back down. Going in deep, pounding against the spot that drove him crazy. I glanced down between us, seeing the glistening trail of precome spilling from his cock and onto his chest.

  “God, I love how much you want this.” I pumped again, slamming deeper yet, and then it was on me. There was no more holding back. “Take me, baby. Take all of me.”

  “Hell, yes, Adrian. I want you. All of you.” Harrison let go of his knees, hooking his legs around my waist, and pulled me to him in a lip-splitting kiss.

  I came, my orgasm surging as his tongue shoved into my mouth, as he tightened and squeezed on my shaft, milking me as I thrust. The stars in my periphery smeared at our movements, threatening to steal me away, so I slammed my eyes shut, losing myself to the sensation of his lips and his ass. My entire existence completely swallowed up by him.

  My legs began to tremble as the last shudders of my orgasm faded, and I broke our kiss, scooting back slightly, easing him onto the cushion as I slid free. I pulled off the condom, letting it fall to the floor, and then moved up to take my place beside Harrison. “God. That was unreal.”

  He smiled up at me, eyes blown and still filled with lust. He reached between us and began to stroke, and I captured his mouth in another kiss.

  His hips began to rock nearly instantly, and I knew it wouldn’t take long. I lowered my hand between us and slipped my fingers inside of him once more.

  And again, he arched his back, forcing me deeper as he groaned his pleasure into my mouth.

  I pulled away for a moment, needing to see the beautiful sight of his hand working his long, thick shaft. The night sky shimmered in the distance, reminding me where we were—I’d forgotten. Making love in the sky.

  “I love you, Harrison.” I captured his mouth again, overwhelmed by all that he was. All he was giving me. His other hand had slipped behind my back, and his fingers dug deep into my hips as he held on. I pushed my fingers deeper, stroking him inside, and then, with a muffled cry as I continued to kiss him, he came, shooting over my arm and the back of my shoulder.

  And still we kissed, as he shuddered, relaxed, and breathed in relief.

  After several more moments, our lips parted, and I pulled back somewhat again so I could see in his eyes. “I know I keep saying it, but I never knew it could be like this. I had no idea.”

  “Me neither.” He panted, still trying to catch his breath then looked around. “Really is almost like we’re among the stars.”

  “We are. And I don’t ever plan on coming back down.”

  We met in another kiss, hands trailing over our slick, damp bodies. And though I could have continued kissing Harrison for the next ten years and never moved from that spot and been just fine, the cool San Francisco breeze brought reality back once more and we both began to shiver.

  After a joint hot shower filled with just as many kisses, we dried off, and curled up on the bed, leaving the curtains open so that we fell asleep still nestled in the stars.

  The following morning was a typical San Francisco day—overcast with fog rolling in over the ocean, leaving the peaks of the Golden Gate Bridge visible from our window, but little else. Thanks to the soft lighting, Harr
ison and I slept much later than we would have back home. I lay there stroking Harrison’s back while he continued to sleep on my chest, as I stared out the window, replaying the events of the night before. Maybe a reenactment surrounded by fog would feel like we were making love in the middle of a cloud.

  “Your stomach is growling.” Harrison shifted a touch and ran his hand over the hair on my stomach.

  I hadn’t even noticed. “Sorry. Pizza seems like lifetimes ago. Did I wake you?”

  “Kinda.” He shook his head and rolled over to his side of the bed to stretch. “But I’m starving, so I don’t blame you.”

  Maybe food, and then sex. Leaning over the bed, I snagged my jeans from the floor and pulled out my phone, turning the power on. “Let me see if I can find us a drag queen brunch or something. It’ll be like Chuck E. Cheese’s, but for grown-ups.”

  “Gay grown-ups.” Harrison rolled back and reclaimed his spot on my chest. “And a whole different kind of screeching.”

  “You have a point there.” As my phone came on, before I could go to the browser, a slew of text messages and a voicemail came through. The voicemail was from Andre, from the wee hours of the morning. That couldn’t be a good sign. “Hold on one second; Andre left a voicemail. By the way, I forgot to mention, we’re watching Katniss tonight if that’s okay with you.”

  “Of course it is. I love her.” Harrison continued to run his hand over my chest and abs.

  I barely felt his touch, my anxiety percolating as Andre’s voice filled my ear. “Hey! Just landed with Nick and wanted to give you a heads-up. Apparently, Will got a call from some agent lady, and they did an interview. I guess it’s airing pretty soon. Didn’t want you to be caught unawares, just in case.” He said something else too, but I quit listening.

  Harrison propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at me in concern. “What is it? You just stiffened.”

  For a moment, I considered lying to him, figuring out a way to keep him from knowing. There was no way to keep something like that from him. Or anyone else on social media. But God, I didn’t want to be the one to tell him. “It sounds like Will is doing an interview.”