Broken Silence

by Jade Buchanan

  “Morning.”

  “I don’t get a kiss?”

  Matthew sighed before leaning down and giving Rich a perfunctory kiss on the lips. “I have a question for you.” It was probably easier to just say it and not drag it out.

  “What’s up?” Rich asked. He sat up in bed and stretched his arms above his head with a yawn.

  Matthew tried not to stare, but he wasn’t dead after all. Man, Rich had a nice body. One that he had complete permission to touch and stroke. He was a lucky man, alright.

  “I’m doing laundry this morning.”

  “Oh, geez. Thanks. I forgot about that. You want my clothes? Wait, are you offering to do my clothes, or you want me to wash my own drawers?”

  “No, I’m doing them together. Well, actually, Nathan is doing them now.”

  Rich made a face. “Nathan is touching my drawers? He’s not going to substitute them for pink panties or anything, is he?”

  Matthew snorted. “No, but he does want to compliment you on the shade of lipstick we found on your shirt.”

  “Lipstick?” Rich screwed up his face before it suddenly cleared and he looked straight at Matthew. “I can explain.”

  “Good, because I would love to hear an explanation.” Matthew sighed as he settled himself on the bed beside Rich. He would dearly love an explanation. Although, the fact that Rich wasn’t going to try and deny something made him glad he’d taken Nathan’s advice and just asked Rich outright.

  “I was at the blackjack table last night, after you left. There was a girl there, and my cards helped her win a big hand so she thanked me.”

  “Would that be Tammy?”

  “How’d you know?”

  “She also left a calling card in your pocket.”

  Rich shook his head. “Right, I forgot about that. I didn’t know what to do with it so I just put it in my pocket when she handed it over.”

  “Huh. Cause you couldn’t throw it out?”

  “In front of her? That would be rude.”

  Matthew laughed at that. Trust his man to think it was more polite to take a phone number from someone. “Was she pretty?”

  “Matthew, it wasn’t like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Nothing happened. I swear. I just helped her out, and it was completely innocent.”

  Matthew studied Rich’s face. He looked like he was telling the truth. “Why didn’t you say anything last night?”

  “We really didn’t say much of anything last night. Honestly, it wasn’t important. There were quite a few people I talked to last night after you left, male and female. None of them matter. I wanted to get back here to you. I honestly forgot about it, otherwise I would have said something.”

  Well, that was sweet. Matthew leaned in for a kiss. “Well, thank you for explaining that to me.”

  “Anytime.” Rich grimaced again. “Not that I’m going to be getting a lot of phone numbers in the future, but you know what I mean.”

  Matthew laughed. Yeah, that was his man. His man, he liked the sound of that. He kissed Rich again.

  “You have no idea what you do to me,” Matthew murmured.

  “Well, I do have some idea.” Rich arched his brow, before reaching for Matthew’s cloth covered dick.

  “Mmm.” Well, he wasn’t going to object to a little hanky panky this morning.

  With a low growl, Rich reached forward, picking Matthew up around the waist and tossing him back to the bed. Matthew landed on his ass, his legs kicking up in the air. He barked out his laughter, delighted. Lying back among the pillows at the head of the bed, Matthew lifted his arm to rest it beneath his head while Rich pulled off his sleep pants and left them both naked.

  Reaching over to the bedside table Rich grabbed the lube they’d left there the night before. He grabbed another condom and sent a wicked look Matthew’s way.

  Kneeling beside him, Rich bit the package open with his strong, white teeth.

  Licking his lips, Matthew waited.

  Rich knelt on the bed, sitting back until his ass rested on his feet. That proud cock stood up at attention, waving in front of him. Keeping his gaze on Matthew, Rich slid the condom smoothly onto his thick shaft, stroking it once it was on snugly.

  He glanced up at Rich, seeing the intent gaze staring back at him. Licking his lips again, Matthew angled his head and leaned forward to suck Rich’s dick.

  His lips touched smooth hardness, tasting latex instead of warm skin like he’d prefer. That wasn’t going to happen, though. Not while he was planning on that latex-covered shaft going somewhere else this morning. He sucked just the head inside, his mouth wide and saliva pooling around the thick cock, dripping down to wet his chin.

  Matthew grasped Rich’s hips, holding him steady. One of Rich’s big hands clasped the back of his head, but he didn’t apply any pressure.

  He backed off, licking the head of Rich’s cock once before staring up at man. Kissing down the shaft, Matthew reached the thick base, mouthing one ball carefully. He drew the skin into his mouth, tasting the salty sweet essence of Rich that he’d missed with the latex in his way.

  “I love the way you taste.”

  Rich pushed him back down to the bed, holding him in place with one hand while he grabbed the lube with the other. He rubbed his fingers together, warming the lube in his hand before reaching down and running his palm across Matthew’ dick, over his balls and behind to his ass.

  Matthew let his legs drop to either side, spreading as far as he could to give the man easier access. A considerable finger was run over his asshole, teasing his skin before delving inside. Matthew bore down on the digit, milking it like he wanted to milk Rich’s cock.

  One finger became two, and then three. Matthew was practically writhing at that point. He wanted Rich in him, now.

  “Fuck me. Now.”

  Rich reached up, grabbing a pillow and sliding it under his hips, causing Matthew’ back to arch even more. He pulled his own knees up, sliding his hands under his legs to lock them into place.

  Without a word, Rich fit the head of his dick against Matthew’ aching hole. They’d just fucked hours ago, but he wanted it again. Wanted a connection to Rich again. Their days here were numbered, and he wanted to take advantage of having Rich to himself before they went back home and back to their old routine.

  Rich thrust in without pause, that thick shaft entering him, sliding along his inner walls and abrading every single one of his nerve endings. Oh, that felt... oh, wow.

  “More.”

  Rich pushed up on Matthew’s thighs, pressing his knees tight to his chest, getting a good grip. He paused when he was completely seated inside Matthew, his eyes closed, his neck corded.

  Matthew leaned up, pressing his lips against that tight neck.

  Rich snapped his hips, pressing Matthew to the bed, holding him in place for his thrusts.

  Matthew panted, reaching for his own cock with one shaking hand, pawing at it until he had a good grip on it. He cried out, gasping for air, unable to breathe from the pressure in his chest. He was going to come.

  “More.”

  “Come for me, Matt.”

  He couldn’t stop himself, his body caught in Rich’s web, completely enthralled with the other man. His eyes shut tight, his body bucked beneath Rich’s strength and he was coming hard.

  Matthew dropped to the bed, his body nearly boneless.

  Rich froze above Matthew before his big body jerked. Matthew knew he was shooting his seed into the condom.

  They panted for air. Rich pulled out, landing heavily to the side of Matthew. He removed the condom, tying off the end and letting it drop to the side of the bed. Matthew turned over, sliding against all that coiled strength, nuzzling in and placing one thigh over Rich’s legs.

  He had no idea how long they lay there, both content to just bask in their afterglow.

  It wasn’t long before Andrew was pounding on their door asking Matthew to make breakfast. The rest of their day was spent in
lazy stupor as they sunned themselves beside the pool. Or, at least most of them suntanned while Rich did laps. Apparently he wasn’t one for lying around doing nothing.

  When Nathan had asked him if he was going to work on his tan Rich had given him a look that Matthew still giggled to think about.

  They got dressed in time to take the shuttle to the strip where they grabbed seafood for dinner. They spent an hour at the slots before they lined up to see the show. Matthew and Amanda loved it, Nathan and Andrew were nearly orgasmic in pleasure, and Tina and Rich made noises that indicated they weren’t quite as pleased.

  Matthew felt kind of bad about that, but since he’d loved it so much he couldn’t feel too bad that Rich hadn’t really enjoyed it. They were going to Hoover Dam tomorrow afternoon anyway, so he would make it up to him.

  “My hero!”

  Matthew turned at the high-pitched squeal from beside them to see a bleached blonde throw herself into Rich’s arms. What the hell?

  “Do you remember me? I’m Tammy!” she cried out.

  Rich let out a laugh. “Yeah, I remember you. Hi, there.”

  Tammy turned to Matthew and latched onto his arm. “Rick here is the best guy ever.”

  “Rich,” Matthew corrected without thought.

  “He helped me with my sister last night. She was sooo drunk. He brought her back to our hotel room and helped me get her in bed and everything. What a sweetie, huh?”

  Okay, what the hell? Matthew looked at Rich with an arched brow. “Yeah, that sounds like my Rich.”

  “Rick wouldn’t even let me pay him. I tell ya, this guy is one solid dude. He was so sweet. Suzy was totally throwing herself on him and everything. Kissing his face, and trying to take her clothes off and he just acted like the most gentlemanly person ever. Put her top back on her and wouldn’t let her go near any other guys either. My hero! I owe you all a drink or something.”

  “No, you don’t owe us anything,” Rich said, his face turning tomato red. “I already told you that, and I mean it.”

  Matthew was afraid to look at either Nathan or Andrew. He didn’t want to know what they had to say about this.

  “Well, it was nice to meet you, Tammy,” Matthew said.

  “Oh, you too. Any friend of Rick’s is a friend of mine! You all have fun in Vegas. I’m out tonight without Suzy, since she’s sooo hungover, so I’m hoping I win big. I hope you win big, too! Bye, Hero!” She kissed Rich on the cheek before hugging Matthew and practically bouncing away.

  The six of them were left in silence, before Andrew let out a weird noise and Nathan pulled him away at a fast clip with his hand over Andrew’s mouth. Amanda and Tina quickly followed behind them. Matthew watched Nathan and Andrew struggle for a moment before turning to the silent, hulking boyfriend at his side.

  “So, you helped Tammy at the blackjack table, did you?”

  “Shit.”

  “Rich?” What the fuck?

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I lied. Nothing happened. I swear. I mean, I didn’t really lie. I did help her out at the blackjack table. We got to talking and her sister ended up coming up to her just as I was leaving to come back to the condo. I just helped them out and got them back to their hotel room. Her sister was throwing herself at all these guys and Tammy was nearly beside herself trying to keep her safe and no one was helping them.”

  “So, you helped them?”

  “Of course I did. What else was I supposed to do? Just leave them there? I couldn’t do that. I just brought them up to their room, and helped her get Suzy calmed down. She was throwing up everywhere and Tammy was freaking out.”

  “Sounds like she was doing a lot of stuff.”

  “Yeah, I was a little freaked out myself. There were some big dudes out last night. If one of them had decided to take Suzy up on her offer, I don’t know if I could have stopped them.”

  Matthew shook his head. “Then why didn’t you tell me the truth when I asked you? Why did you make something up?”

  “I didn’t make it up. I just didn’t tell you the whole story.”

  “Rich, you did something nice for someone else. Why would you lie about that?”

  “I don’t know, I’m sorry.”

  That made absolutely no sense. Why would Rich lie? Matthew wasn’t sure what to believe. Was Rich making this up? But, it matched what Tammy had said and why would she say something different? She had nothing to prove. “And the phone number?”

  “Tammy kept saying she owed me money, and when I wouldn’t accept it she gave me the phone number so I could call her if I wanted her to buy me a drink or something.”

  “Or something?”

  “I'm sorry. I swear to you, nothing happened with the girl. With either girl.”

  “This isn't about the girls.” It was about the lie, and if Rich didn’t understand that then he wasn’t sure what more had to be said right now. He’d lied by omission. Matthew was so confused. He didn’t know what to say, or what to feel. He couldn’t understand why Rich hadn’t told him the whole story. It was innocent, and he honestly believed him the more he thought about it. He just didn’t know if he could trust that Rich wouldn’t do this again. Had something else happened? No, he couldn’t think that. He either trusted Rich or he didn’t. So, which was it?

  Andrew chose that moment to come charging back toward them. “What the fuck is going on here?”

  “Not now, Andrew,” Matthew said sharply.

  “I want an explanation. Who was that girl and what’s she doing with Rich? Tapping your way through Vegas, Lumberjack?”

  “Andrew, you’re about as useful as a chocolate teapot right now. Please, just go back to wherever you left Nathan.” Matthew didn’t want to deal with his friend on top of the Rich situation.

  Andrew gaped at him, obviously struck speechless. Finally Nathan came gasping up to them. “Geez, Andrew. Run much? How the hell did I not know you were that slippery?” He raised one foot and started massaging the toes he’d stuffed into his four-inch heels.

  Matthew threw his hands up in the air. “Please, Andrew, go!”

  Nathan put his shoe back on before grabbing the other man by the hand and marching him away again.

  Matthew turned back to Rich. “It’s not about the girls. It’s about the lie.”

  “I didn’t lie. Exactly.” Rich had the grace to look ashamed of himself. He hung his head and blew out a breath. “I just... I don’t know why I didn’t tell you the whole truth. I... What do you want me to say?”

  “Nothing. I don’t want you to say anything right now. Just... Take me back to the condo. I think I’m done for the night.”

  Matthew didn’t bother waiting to see if Rich had anything else to say before he followed the path Hurricane Andrew had taken before. Nathan and Andrew were sitting down beside Amanda and Tina. His friends all stared at him with differing looks of pity and anger on their faces. He didn’t need this right now.

  “I’m going back to the condo. Anyone who wishes to come with me can come. I’m not waiting for the bus, I’m taking a cab.”

  With that, he started to walk to the left before Rich grabbed his hand and pulled him to a stop. Matthew turned on him with a jerk.

  “The entrance is over this way.”

  Matthew nodded before sullenly following Rich. He noticed his friends left them alone. That was probably a good thing. He didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. He just didn’t understand what had happened. None of this night made any sense.

  He wanted a do-over.

  They waited in line for a cab and Matthew let Rich take care of all the details when they got in. Rich chatted to the cabbie for the entire drive back to the condo while Matthew sat silently beside him. He paid, too, while Matthew got out and stood waiting beside the car.

  Neither man said anything while they entered their condo and made their way to the master bedroom. Matthew pulled off all his clothes and started running hot water in the bathtub. He tipped in some of the bubble bath they’d bought t
he first day and watched the bubbles form in the tub. Ignoring Rich, he wandered naked down the hallway and opened a bottle of wine before pouring himself a glass. Carrying it back to the bathroom, he stepped into the bath and seated himself in the warm water. It was going to take forever to fill up this behemoth, but he didn’t care. He had time.

  Rich stood awkwardly in the bedroom, before he sat down on the bed with a sigh. Thanks to the fact there wasn’t a door between the bathtub and the bedroom, Matthew had a clear view when Rich dropped his head into his hands.

  It seemed neither one of them knew what to say.

  Finally, he shut off the running water and took a sip of his wine. Matthew finally closed his eyes and let the water relax his body.

  “I want a do-over,” he said into the silence.

  “God, I want that so bad right now.” Rich’s voice was tight.

  Matthew sighed.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I lied. I don’t know why I’m such a fuck-up. I’m so used to making things up for my friends.”

  Matthew opened his eyes and stared across the room at Rich.

  “It’s like it’s second nature now. Whenever I used to fool around with men I couldn’t tell anyone what I was really doing. So, I’d lie. I’d make up these stories about fucking some chick, or going on a supply run. I couldn’t even tell anyone that I was coming here this week with you. I lie. That’s what I do. I don’t even know if I could stop doing it. Nothing happened. I swear to you.”

  Rich looked so troubled that Matthew felt himself tearing up in response. He sniffed, determined not to cry in front of Rich. It wouldn’t help anything, but his chest was so tight with empathy. He didn’t know what that felt like, he didn’t know what Rich had to go through because of his situation. But, that didn’t mean that it was okay. It didn’t make it right. It didn’t erase the fact that Rich had done to Matthew what he did to everyone else. Matthew thought he was different. He thought Rich was different with him. Maybe he wasn’t as special as he thought he was.

  Rich couldn’t live like this. Or maybe it was Matthew who couldn’t live like this.

  “God, I’m such a fucking idiot,” Rich yelled.