“What?”
“You’re cute when you’re worried.”
A small smile curled Danny’s lips and one of his dimples peeked out.
The sight of it tripped Jordan up and before he realized it, he was making a heartfelt admission. “I haven’t had anyone take care of me like this for a long time. It’s nice. Thank you.”
Danny ducked his head. “You’re welcome,” he said as he fussed with the first aid supplies. “I should clean up and throw all this away. I’ll be right back.”
He disappeared into the bathroom again. The water turned on, running for longer than it usually took someone to wash their hands. He was clearly nervous but he hadn’t asked to leave. Jordan hoped that and Danny treating his wound meant he still had a shot. But he needed to tread lightly.
The water finally stopped running. A few seconds later, the bathroom light clicked off, and Danny reappeared in the darkened doorway.
“Will you come over here and talk to me?” he asked softly.
“Of course.”
Jordan let Danny approach at his own pace. “You know you can leave at any time, right? Just say the word and I’ll take you home.”
“I know. I don’t want to leave.”
“You know who I am now.”
Danny nodded slowly. “Are you going to erase my memory?”
A smile tugged at Jordan’s mouth. “No. I don’t have that kind of power.”
Danny came a few steps closer, until he was standing in the space between Jordan’s spread thighs. “Are you going to kill me?”
“Hell no. I would never hurt you.” He tentatively put his hands on Danny’s hips. When Danny didn’t pull away, Jordan slipped his hands beneath the borrowed t-shirt to caress him, thumbs slowly rubbing back and forth over his pelvis. “I apologize for not telling you before.”
Danny laughed. “I’ve seen a million superhero movies. I know you can’t share your secret identity with everybody. That would defeat the point.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Jordan said with a nod. “But now that you know, do you still want to be involved with me?” Jordan went still after asking the question, watching as Danny pursed his lips. He’d understand if Danny said screw this, take me home. Admiring and drawing superheroes was one thing. Being involved with a hero was a different story altogether.
“I’ve been thinking of two men — Jordan and Blaze — for days now. I couldn’t think of one without my thoughts turning to the other. Now I know why. I like both men because they’re the same man. So yes, I still want to be involved with you.”
Thrilled at that answer, Jordan slowly tugged him even closer, before sliding a hand up to grasp the back of his neck. “There’s so much more we need to discuss. But for tonight, can we finish our kiss?”
“Yeah,” Danny said as he leaned down.
Their lips came together, slowly at first, with gentle kisses and shared breaths. Jordan pulled back an inch, enough to look into the eyes of the man he wanted to claim for his own. He searched, looking for that last bit of assurance that Danny was on board. He found it, shining in night-dark eyes: arousal, trust... acceptance. That last one meant the most to him. And just as importantly, there was no hesitation, no fear. With a pleased growl, Jordan tightened his grip on the nape of his lover’s neck, and pulled him into another kiss. Gentle went out the window, and he ravished Danny’s lips in a kiss meant to claim and dominate.
This kiss was better than the ones they’d shared before. He didn’t have the fact that he was hiding a secret identity hovering in the back of his mind. Tonight, he was free to kiss and touch Danny the way he wanted without worrying about maintaining an emotional distance between them.
He swept his hands up and down Danny’s back, eager to touch all of the smooth brown skin he’d longed to have under his hands ever since he’d first laid eyes on this man. A soft whimper came from Danny, and his hands came up to rest on Jordan’s shoulders.
Jordan pushed a hand into the too-big sweats, and they easily slipped off Danny’s hips and down to the floor. Apparently, Danny’s underwear had gotten wet too, because he came into contact with warm, bare skin. He cupped that deliciously pert ass, squeezing, kneading. He wanted to roar in triumph now that he finally had his hands on what he’d longed for. Jordan poured that energy into their kiss, laving Danny’s tongue with his own, sucking and nibbling at his full bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth. And Danny, his sweet submissive, let him lead, taking his passion and giving it back in sharp moans, his little hands clutching at Jordan’s shoulders.
When his knees started to buckle, Jordan picked him up and turned to lay him on the bed. He pushed off his own shorts and briefs before bracing one knee on the mattress. Danny looked up at him, smiling softly... until his eyes lowered to Jordan’s erection. The smile abruptly dropped off his face.
“Oh, wow. That’s... Okay. Umm... Yeah. I can handle...” The words trailed off before he raised his gaze back to Jordan’s. “How were you hiding that in your tight pants?”
“Relax. I only want to feel you against me tonight. Is that okay?”
Danny nodded with obvious relief. “That’s fine.”
Jordan straddled Danny’s hips. They kissed again, this time with the added thrill of having Danny beneath him. He lowered his hips, letting the heavy weight of his cock drag along the flat plane of Danny’s stomach, then down to the crisp ebony curls at his groin, and finally, he dragged the slick head of his cock up the length of Danny’s shaft.
Danny moaned and tried to spread his legs. Jordan stopped him by squeezing him with his thighs. At that slight restriction on his movements, Danny bit his lip, rolling his hips up so that his stiff cock slid across his belly. Jordan took note. They’d talked about restraints and Danny had seemed very into the idea. Now was a good time to test the waters.
He grasped one wrist, then the other, holding them captive in his grip, and raising Danny’s arms above his head. Danny’s pulse became a visibly rapid flutter at the base of his throat. “You like that?”
His eyes closed, Danny nodded, tight and frantic.
He had an answer, but Jordan wanted to hear the words. “Tell me, Danny.”
“I like it,” he said in a tight whisper.
Jordan squeezed his slender wrists, pressing them harder into the pillow. In response, Danny whined, soft and hushed. Jordan leaned down, and pressed his lips to Danny’s ear, making him shiver as he whispered against the sensitive skin. “You want me to hold you down and take control of your body?” He raised back up, waiting for his answer.
“Yes. Please.” Long eyelashes fluttered open, revealing eyes gone hazy with lust. “Please control me.”
“I will, baby. I’ll take care of you.”
He kept hold of Danny’s wrists with one hand while slowly reaching down with the other to grasp his lover’s cock. It was hot and desperately hard. Wet, spilling pre-cum onto his belly. Jordan slowly began to stroke. Long and languid, pausing to dip his thumb in the wetness on the tip, swirling it around to tease the sensitive head. He dragged his thumb down the length of his shaft, smearing the slick fluid until there was none left. Then he started the process again. Over and over, until Danny writhed and sobbed beneath him.
Taking that as his cue to push it to the next level, Jordan stroked him faster. He squeezed on the upstroke, feeling the hard shaft throb against palm. Danny’s eyes drifted closed again at the more intense grip on his cock. His fingers twitched in Jordan’s hold but he didn’t try to pull away. Jordan kept up with his quick strokes, working him closer to climax. Suddenly, Danny was straining and pulling against his hold.
“You need to safe word, baby?”
“No!” Danny quickly gasped out his answer. “Keep — don’t stop.”
Jordan squeezed his wrists harder, just shy of leaving bruises on the delicate skin. He even locked his thighs tight around Danny’s legs, giving him more of that restrained feeling. And he pumped and stroked, pushing him closer and closer to th
e edge. Until finally, he fell over it.
“Ahhhh!”
When Danny came, it was with his whole body. His head thrashed on the pillow, lips parted to let out more of those sharp, breathy moans. The warm glow of the bedside lamp gleamed off his mahogany skin as he arched his back, and his swollen cock spilled his release in pulses, rivulets of the creamy liquid running down his side to drip onto the mattress.
“Fuck, that’s beautiful.” Jordan cursed, low and raw before taking his own throbbing cock in hand. A few rough, dry strokes and he came too, turning at the last second to spend on the sheets instead of all over Danny’s gorgeous body the way he wanted to.
It took them both a few minutes to ride out the last few trembles of climax and for their breathing to return to normal. Jordan slowly released his grip on Danny’s wrists and eased off him onto the mattress. Danny was limp, so Jordan gathered him close in his arms.
“That was nice.” The words were slurry with sleep.
Jordan kissed the top of his head. “Rest. I’ll take you home in the morning.”
“M’kay.”
Danny’s body grew heavy as he faded into slumber. Jordan continued to hold him, as if he could keep him safe within the circle of his arms. He’d almost gotten Danny hurt tonight. Having someone in his life — someone who might be harmed because of him — scared him like nothing else could. But Danny was willing to try and he didn’t want to let him go. So, for now, Jordan put his worry away and let himself rest.
Chapter Ten
D
anny woke in an unfamiliar bed. He’d barely scrunched up his face trying to remember where he was, when it all came flooding back. Jordan was Blaze. Blaze was Jordan. He’d discovered the truth last night in the alley when they’d kissed and they’d been attacked by Red Vest goons immediately afterward. And Blaze errr... Jordan had brought him back to his place. He shifted as he remembered what they’d done before falling asleep.
“Good morning.”
The rumbly voice came from behind him. “I should have known you were already awake.” He stealthily rubbed a hand over his face to knock off any sleep crusties before turning over. Blaze lay propped up on one elbow watching him.
“Did you sleep okay?” Jordan asked.
“Yeah. Orgasms are a great aid for a good night’s sleep.”
“Glad I could help with that.”
“So,” Danny plucked at the sheet, knowledge of Jordan’s dual identities sitting a little strange in his head in the bright light of day. “Should I call you Blaze or Jordan?”
“I’m Blaze on the streets. I’m Jordan here in the privacy of my home and with the people in my personal life.”
“Okay. I’m still just Danny by the way.”
Jordan reached down to caress Danny’s sheet covered hip.
“I don’t think you’re just anything.”
The fondness in Jordan’s eyes and voice as he spoke set warmth unfurling low in Danny’s stomach. Unable to come up with a response, he shyly ducked his head. Thankfully, Jordan changed the subject.
“Would you like to take a shower?”
For some reason, the thought of using Jordan’s shower felt too normal a thing to do after what he’d learned last night. He had questions that needed to be answered before he could go about treating this like the usual morning after a hook-up. “That’s okay. I’ll shower back at my place.”
“Then let me make you breakfast before I take you home.”
They made separate stops in the bathroom, then Danny followed a bare foot and bare-chested Jordan into the kitchen. Danny wore the oversized clothes he’d been given last night. He sat down at the black marble center island while Jordan went to the fridge and got out the ingredients for omelets.
“What do you like in yours?”
“Dump everything you’ve got in there.”
“Got it.”
Danny watched Jordan as he cracked eggs and chopped veggies. It hit him that this was his first time seeing Jordan in daylight. He’d seen Jordan’s two night personas, the tough vigilante and the sexy Dom. Now he was seeing the man, warmed by the sunbeams falling through the skylight. Danny liked what he saw. He let his gaze roam from Jordan’s distinguished brow down to his shadow beard, pausing to linger over the sensuous pink lips that kissed him with such passion.
He moved on to a strong neck, braced on either side by shoulder muscles so thick and defined, he was blessed to have had his own arms around them during their wild escape. Below those broad shoulders was a chest that somehow seemed even wider than it did when covered by black leather. The urge to cup those pecs with his hands and squeeze was so strong, Danny had to press his hands between his thighs to keep from reaching out for them.
A sprinkling of dark chest hair turned into a fine trail that followed the center line of Jordan’s abs and disappeared into the black sweats he wore. And those amazing arms. Those big, lickable arms. They could easily crush Danny’s bones into dust. But they’d held him gently as he’d fallen asleep last night.
Danny also noticed the lines of stress around Jordan’s mouth and the tense set of his shoulders. His fingers itched to soothe all of that tension and stress away. He remembered what Jordan said last night, that he hadn’t had anyone to take care of him for a while. It hurt his heart to think of Jordan fighting so hard for others with no one to look after him in return. He could be the one to take care of Jordan. They needed to talk before that could happen obviously. Except... he was already picturing himself subbing for Jordan, making him feel good. He wondered if Jordan liked back rubs.
“Are you all right?”
“Huh?” Danny looked up, realizing that Jordan was talking to him. “Oh, yeah. I was daydreaming.”
“The omelets will be ready soon.”
Danny hopped up from his seat. “I’ll get us drinks.” Jordan told him where to find glasses and he poured orange juice for himself and ice water for the chef.
By unspoken agreement, the conversation stayed light while Jordan cooked and as they ate. They talked of the weather, how the Cardinals would do this year, and even a bit of Danny’s work. But once they’d both finished eating, the mood changed and became serious.
“You have questions,” Jordan said as he pushed his plate to the side.
Danny set his fork tines down atop his own empty plate. “I do. But I’m not sure what I can ask.”
“I told you once before you can ask me anything. I meant it.”
Danny nodded. He started with the obvious question. “How did you get your powers?”
“I was out raising hell with friends one night, when it started to storm. There was... an accident and someone close to me died. I couldn’t believe it, and I couldn’t do anything but scream with rage and grief. A power line snapped, landing in the puddle of water I kneeled in. I got the full blast of the shock. It burned and hurt but somehow it didn’t kill me.” He raised a hand, a small blue ball of electricity crackling on his palm. “And now I can do this.”
“Does it hurt when you use the power?”
“No. Although it can wear me out if I use it too much.”
“You have to recharge like a battery?”
Jordan’s serious face eased into an amused smile. “Something like that.”
“What else can you do? I know you can jump pretty high from personal experience.” Danny’s head spun for a moment when he remembered the dizzying feeling of seeing the street far below him as they bounded from building to building at a faster speed than he’d ever moved under his own power.
“Accelerated healing like I mentioned last night. Enhanced reflexes, strength, and speed. But that’s about it. I had to train to learn how to fight.”
“Who knows about you?”
“My parents. Couldn’t keep the secret from them since my powers were completely out of control when I first got them. Nina, my cousin and shop manager. Some of the other local heroes. And... that’s it.”
Danny noticed the hesitation but let it go for n
ow. “Are there any rules to being in the loop? I already know not to tell anyone you’re Blaze.”
“It’s probably best that you don’t even mention that you know Blaze’s other identity. You never know who is listening and information like that could put you in danger.”
“That’s fine with me. I think I’ve had all the danger I can handle for several life times.” Danny set his elbows on the table, propping his chin up on his hands. “How often do you put on your Blaze gear?”
“I go out five to six times a week.”
“Always at night.”
“Yeah, usually midnight to about four. I was out earlier than usual last night because I’m working on something.”
“That means no midnight star gazing dates then?”
The quietly amused smile made another appearance. “I’m afraid not.”
“Have you ever dated anyone else who knew you were Blaze?”
“Yes.”
Before Danny could continue that line of questioning, Jordan stood up from the table.
“I should get you home before morning rush hour hits. We can talk more later.”
“Right.” Danny rose too and carried his dishes to the sink. After rinsing them off and drying his hands, Danny stepped close to Jordan, wrapping his arms around his waist. Jordan looked down at him, clearly surprised at the spontaneous hug.
“I wanted to hug you. I hope that’s okay.” An expression that he couldn’t decipher passed over Jordan’s handsome face before he nodded and returned the embrace.
“Yes. Hugs are okay.”
They stood pressed together for a few moments before Danny stepped back. “Let me get my clothes from last night and I’ll be ready to go.”
Jordan followed him back to the bedroom to throw on a t-shirt and tennis shoes. Danny put on his own slightly damp shoes, grimacing at the feel of them on his bare feet. They took the elevator downstairs, stopping at the ground level. Danny noted there was a code required to access the below ground level where Jordan kept Blaze’s car and gear. They didn’t go into the shop, but he could see it through the glass wall of the building’s small lobby.
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