“Come on.”
They walked into the park together. In a grassy area off to the side, a small crowd of people danced the Cha-cha Slide to the music playing. Old heads stood around ribbing each other over a game of horse shoes. And a group of kids shrieked and laughed as they took part in a hula hoop contest.
They stopped at the dessert end of the food line to drop off Danny’s treats. The woman there practically cooed over Danny, thanking him for contributing and complimenting the treat bags. To Jordan she gave a polite smile and a nod. Trying and failing not to see judgement in those sherry-brown eyes, Jordan returned the elder’s greeting.
With the dessert dropped off, Danny made a beeline for the grills, pulling Jordan behind him.
A big man with skin the color of earthy clay and a reddish-brown beard manned the barbecue operation. Tongs in one hand, he wiped the other on a white apron liberally splashed with barbecue sauce, and held it out to Jordan.
“JW. Good to see you. Thanks for having us out again.”
“No problem, Red,” Jordan said as they shook hands. “Wouldn’t think of having anybody else.”
“This your man?” he asked with a nod toward Danny.
“Yeah.”
“He’s cute.” Red looked down at Danny. “What can I get for you, lil’ bit?”
“I’ll take a pork steak, please.”
A russet eyebrow raised. “One pork steak? That’s it?”
“Well.” Danny’s dimple popped out as he gave Red a sheepish grin. “I didn’t want to be greedy.”
“If you’re here, you’re family,” Red said with a wave of his tongs. “Get what you want.”
“Then I’ll take some ribs too.”
“All right, now. That’s what I’m talking about.”
Jordan shook his head as Red dropped a pork steak and ribs onto Danny’s plate, both liberally dripping with barbecue sauce. He asked for a double serving of ribs for himself. They thanked Red and moved on to the side dishes, piling potato salad, spaghetti, and baked macaroni and cheese on their plates. As they sat down to eat, Jordan noticed Danny’s wiggle when he picked up a napkin to tuck into his shirt collar.
“Did you just wiggle?”
“I...” Danny bit his lip and hesitated. Then he sat up straight and pushed his shoulders back. “Yep. There’s no shame in my game. I wiggle dance when I’m about to eat some good food.”
Jordan had to laugh at that bit of honesty. “Wiggle away.”
Danny cut up his pork steak and took his first bite. Then he sat there with his eyes wide. “Oh my God. This is the best barbecue I’ve ever had in my life.” He took another bite. “The meat is so tender. And the sauce...” He licked the corner of his mouth where a drop of sauce had smeared. “I’d eat it by itself from a pudding cup it’s so good.” He eyed the big vat of sauce next to Red as if he were going to do exactly that.
Jordan laughed again. “I’m glad you like it. But don’t get any plans to steal Red’s sauce recipe. He’s killed a man for trying.”
Danny gasped. “Are you serious?” Then he shrugged. “Can’t say I blame him. This stuff is worth its weight in gold.”
Now Jordan was laughing so hard he had to put down the rib he’d only managed to take a single bite from. “No, I’m not serious.”
Eventually, his laughter died down and they settled in to eat their fill. Everything was delicious, and the Fitz’s Root Beer they drank to go along with the meal was icy cold. They didn’t leave a bite uneaten, but still found room for dessert.
Once they’d polished everything off, they made good use of the wet naps to clean the sticky barbecue sauce from their hands and faces.
“That was worth the food coma I’m going to fall into later,” Danny said as he reached out to wipe a spot of sauce from the corner of Jordan’s mouth.
Jordan got up to toss their plates and napkins in the trash, then pulled Danny to his feet. “Let’s walk it off.”
They strolled around the entire park. Whether it was games, watching the low-rider contest or just talking and laughing, everyone was having a good time. To his surprise, Jordan relaxed as he mingled. Danny’s constant presence at his side helped. People were drawn to him, striking up conversations that Danny gently pulled him into.
Jordan shook hands, listened as they talked about their favorite part of the party, and thanked people for coming. He even held a baby until someone asked when he and Danny were going to start a family of their own. Jordan hastily passed the baby back to its parent while Danny bit his lip to smother a laugh.
The father bounced the baby on his hip and the child reached a hand toward Jordan again. He wasn’t immune to babies and their demands, so he shook the pudgy little hand, then waved as the dad carried him away.
Danny wrapped his arms around Jordan’s waist and leaned back to look up at him.
“Can you imagine us as parents?” he whispered. “I can picture you trying to run out and fight crime but you can’t leave because Baby Blaze has your helmet and is using it for a teething toy.”
Jordan mock-shuddered. “Please don’t put the image of my helmet covered in baby drool in my head.”
Danny pressed his face to Jordan’s chest and laughed.
Jordan rubbed his back. He inched a hand down, fingers pressing on the curve of his ass. Danny snapped his head back up.
“Don’t you dare.”
“I’m kidding,” he said with a small grin. “I’m actually having a nice time. No need to activate the butt signal.”
“Jordan!”
Jordan turned at the familiar voice calling his name. His parents were approaching. His guilt kept him from going home as often as he’d like but he was always happy to see them. When they reached his side, he leaned in to hug his mother, her long black hair, silky from the pressing comb, brushing his cheek. And as he hugged his dad, he breathed in the scent of the sunscreen he knew his mom had made him wear to protect his pale, freckled skin from the sun. He tugged Danny to his side to introduce him.
“Mom, Dad. This is Danny. Danny, these are my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Wells.” His mother’s face lit up. It didn’t take a genius to see that she was thrilled. Despite her gentle nudges to find a partner, he’d been single for several years. She reached out and clasped both of Danny’s hands between hers.
“Danny, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hello, Mrs. Wells. Dr. Wells. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“It’s nice to meet you, young man.”
His mother finally released Danny, but she was still smiling at him.
“Oh, Jordan, he’s adorable. Where did you two meet?”
For a second, Jordan’s brain blanked. He hadn’t thought to come up with a cover story and neither of their first meetings was something he could talk about. He didn’t want any passersby to hear he’d rescued Danny as Blaze and there was no way he’d talk about BDSM with his parents. Luckily, Danny spoke up with a first meeting that wasn’t too far off the mark.
“He came to my rescue when I was having a little trouble getting away from some folks who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“I’m glad Jordan could be there for you,” his mother said.
“Me too. He’s been great.”
The four of them chatted for a few minutes. His father had started excusing himself and his mother so they could go and get food when Jordan sensed a shift in the party’s atmosphere. Conversations quieted, the music becoming louder in comparison. Footsteps approached from behind him and his mother’s face hardened as she looked over his shoulder.
The hackles on the back of Jordan’s neck rose. He already knew who he would see before he turned around. He turned, and sure enough, Leon was there in one of his track suits, a crowd of his associates behind him.
“Isn’t this cozy? Family and community all together.”
“What do you care about the community?” his mother snapped. “You turned your back on us years ago.”
“No, I’m still
a part of it. Just not in the way you all wanted. Pinning your hopes and dreams on one kid.” He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “As if that would make a difference.”
“Look around, Leon. One kid did make a difference. My kid.”
“Mom.” Jordan warned her off and stepped in front of his mother. He and Leon had one rule when it came to their war — no family would be harmed — but he didn’t trust the other man to stick to his word. “What do you want, Leon?”
Leon answered with a smug grin. “I came by to get a plate. Food is for everybody, right?”
Jordan wanted to wipe that cocky smile off his former friend’s face. But he didn’t want any trouble. There were too many vulnerable people around and he didn’t want the police or the P-Bots showing up. The quickest way to get rid of Leon would be to let him have what he claimed to have come for.
“Help yourself,” Jordan said through gritted teeth.
Leon snapped his fingers. “Go and get me a plate. And skip to the front of the line, I don’t feel like waiting.”
An underling took off to do as ordered. Jordan and Leon stood locked in a stare down, everyone around them tense. Leon moved, shifting to take a step closer to Danny.
“You must be the boyfriend. I’ve heard about you.” He held a hand out. “I’m Leon.”
Danny glared, not accepting the handshake.
Jordan gently pushed Danny behind him. “You don’t talk to him.”
“Why? Scared I might steal him too?”
Anger flared in his chest, bright and hot. His right palm tingled, the tell-tale sign that electricity was about to spark, until Danny slipped a hand into his. The power immediately retreated.
Leon grinned. “Careful, buddy. We wouldn’t want to shock the residents with any displays of anger.”
He took another step closer, although now his attention was solely focused on Jordan.
“You came to flex in my space. I’m here to do the same in yours.”
Of course. Leon never could let any slight go. Jordan didn’t react but he wanted Leon and his people out of there. The longer they were there, the more likely someone from either side was going to do or say something that popped off a fight. Thankfully, Leon’s underling returned at that moment with three foil-covered plates. Leon backed off.
“I’ll be seeing you soon.”
He left, his sycophants trailing behind him.
Jordan watched them leave, tense and wondering if he’d imagined that Leon had seemed to look right at Danny when he’d made that final remark.
Chapter Twenty-One
A
t the end of the long day, Danny returned with Jordan to his apartment. Jordan held tight to his hand as they walked back to his bedroom.
“Shower with me?” Jordan quietly asked.
“Of course.”
They disrobed before they went into the bathroom. Jordan turned on the water, testing it to make sure the temperature was right before pulling Danny under the three shower heads with him. Mesh sponges in hand, they tiredly soaped each other up. Danny was tired physically but Jordan’s weariness went deeper than that, he could tell. He’d lost his relaxed mood when Leon showed up and it never returned.
Blinking water from his eyelashes, Danny looked up at his boyfriend. “Thank you for taking me to the block party. I enjoyed myself.”
“I’m glad you came. Everybody enjoyed meeting you. And I haven’t ever spent that much time at the party. It was nice.”
“I’m glad you gave it a chance.” Danny hesitated before bringing up the elephant crammed into the shower with them. “I’m sorry Leon showed up and ruined it for you.”
Jordan’s full lips momentarily thinned with displeasure before he responded.
“He’s never come before. But like he said, he couldn’t resist getting a little payback on me, even if he had to make the entire neighborhood uncomfortable in the process.”
“He’s a jerk.”
Jordan huffed a laugh. “Yeah, he is. Come on, let’s dry off and go to bed.”
He twisted off the faucet and they stepped out onto the bath mat. Jordan reached for a dry towel, but Danny stayed his hand.
“Can I serve you tonight?”
Jordan looked surprised at the request but gave his permission with a nod.
“Yes, you may.”
Danny grabbed one of the big bath towels from the rack. He reached to start drying Jordan, but this time he was the one stopped.
“Take care of yourself first, angel.”
Danny hurriedly swiped the towel over his limbs and torso. When he was dry, he abandoned that towel for a fresh one to start on Jordan.
He began at the top. Stretching up on his tiptoes, he gently patted Jordan’s head and face dry. He moved to smooth the towel down the thick column of his neck, dabbing at droplets of water on his collarbone. When it came time to dry his chest, Danny spread the towel over both hands. Cupping firm pecs, he rubbed the towel in slow circles to dry golden-brown skin.
Danny followed the trail of silky black hair down to dry Jordan’s abs, allowing his fingers to play over ridged muscle once the water was gone. Jordan’s arms received special attention. He stepped close and used his tongue to lap away one sparkling droplet on the cut of Jordan’s left bicep before he dried all the way down his forearm, finishing with his hand. Their bodies brushed together as he circled around to repeat the process on the right arm. Jordan watched him, quiet as always, his gaze so fierce and intent that a shiver traced down Danny’s spine.
He went to his knees, slowly so he didn’t injure himself on the hard tile. Wrapping the towel around Jordan’s muscled thigh, he patted him dry from hip to foot. Before he moved to the other leg, he paused. Before his eyes, Jordan’s cock began filling with blood, rising proudly from the thatch of dark curls at his groin. Danny looked up at his Dom.
“May I touch?”
Jordan gave a tight nod for his answer.
Danny momentarily abandoned the towel. His fingers flicked away some of the water glistening on his lover’s veined shaft. His tongue took care of the rest. Then he pursed his lips and blew a soft breath to dry the moisture his mouth left behind. Bringing the towel back into play, Danny patted crisp pubic hair and heavy balls dry. Danny sighed at the virile beauty before him, his breath making his lover’s cock twitch before he moved on to the other leg.
By the time he stood to dry Jordan’s back, most of the water had evaporated from his skin. Still, he rubbed the terry cloth from wide shoulders to narrow waist to ensure no moisture remained. And finally, he dried the firm, muscled curves of his ass. There was so much strength there. As if it prove it, a muscle flexed when Danny let the towel fall away. He tossed it over the towel rack before returning to stand in front of Jordan.
“All done?”
Danny shook his head. “Not yet.” He quickly grabbed what he needed from the bathroom closet then grasped Jordan’s hand to tug him out to the bedroom.
“Sit down.”
Jordan let himself be pushed to sit on the foot of the bed. Danny climbed on behind him. Even after their hot shower, Jordan’s muscles were tense. Danny was going to take care of that right now.
He poured a little of the oil he’d brought from the bathroom into his palm. The scent of coconut rose in the room as he rubbed his hands together, warming up the oil. He set his fingers on the side of Jordan’s neck and began massaging the column in circles.
Jordan groaned.
“Too hard?”
“It’s perfect.”
Smiling, Danny continued. As he massaged tight muscles, he thought about how much he loved their contrasts. His small, dark topaz hands gliding over huge muscles wrapped in amber gold skin. It was a lovely sight. He would have to paint it soon.
As he moved down Jordan’s back, the big man began to relax under Danny’s ministrations. His thumbs got a good work out as he dug them into knot after knot, smoothing them away. When Jordan sighed with pleasure, his head falling forward on his neck, peace a
nd happiness flowed through Danny. This is what he’d wanted — to care for Jordan, soothing his stress and tension away. He leaned in to whisper in his ear.
“Better?”
Jordan stirred, lifting his head. “Much better. You’re too good to me. Too good for me.”
Danny didn’t believe that at all. Jordan was a good man and he deserved care and love. Even now, Danny was still filled with the urge to serve him. He wanted to be at his Dom’s feet. There was only one thing left to do. He slipped off the bed and kneeled naked on the floor in front of his lover.
“What are you doing?’
“What do you think I’m doing?” And then, because that was a little to sassy to suit his mood, he bowed his head. “I want to serve you, Sir. Make you feel good. Will you let me?”
He waited, his head still bowed. Jordan put a finger beneath his chin and tipped his head up.
“I would never want to see you scared or in danger. But I’m so glad I heard your yell and found you that night.”
Danny kissed the thumb that Jordan brushed over his lips. “Me too.”
Jordan took his hand away and braced both of them on the bed behind him. “I want you to serve me, angel. Make your Dom feel good.”
Warmth and happiness spread through Danny’s chest, even as desire pooled low in his belly. He pushed Jordan’s knees apart so he could slip between them. Taking his cock in hand, Danny stroked him a few times, working up pearly beads of pre-cum from the tip. He touched his tongue to one, tasting the heady musk of a powerful man. His mind starting to feel soft and floaty, Danny lapped the head once, twice, before succumbing to his need to suck it into his mouth.
He moaned when he had Jordan’s cock thick and heavy on his tongue, receiving an answering groan from above. Danny sucked, lips sliding up and down at a pace that pulled groan after groan of pleasure from Jordan’s throat. The fingers of one hand gripped the sheets, and his thigh muscles flexed and trembled when Danny licked down to tongue his balls. It was a fantastic rush to know that he gave this powerful man so much pleasure that he trembled from it.
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