by J. S. Finley
Thomas laughed and followed after Clay, clomping down the stairs, leaving them alone. Brent shut the door and turned.
Warmth filled Jake and he stepped closer to his lover. “We have some good friends.”
Brent placed his hand on Jake’s chest and he put his on Brent’s hips.
“We do. I think this weekend is going to make us all stay in touch a little more.”
He nodded, letting his fingers linger on Brent. “I agree.”
“Let’s get our suits on and join them.”
“Sure.” Jake pulled Brent close and melted against him, holding on tight. “You’re right about the moving in thing. I want to be with you. There is no doubt in my mind at all. But I want it to last.”
Brent sighed and kissed his neck, right under his earlobe, sending shivers down his body.
“Me too, Jake, me too,” Brent whispered.
Jake wasn’t sure what would happen once they left here, but he couldn’t last if he didn’t have Brent in his life. One way or another, they’d find a way to make it work, because he wasn’t going to give up.
12
It was awesome and weird being with Jake with the guys around. He’d played the straight role for so long it was shocking to have Jake come up and kiss him in front of their friends.
After forty minutes in the tub, they got out and headed inside. This time, they worked together to cover the tub, and they finished the task quickly. When they went up to change, Jake pushed him up against the wall and began grinding against him.
Jake leaned back, his eyes wide. “I want to suck you, but I’ve never sucked another guy’s cock.”
“I think you putting your lips near my dick would be enough to make me come.”
Jake’s smiled and nodded before he dropped to his knees and placed his hands on the waistband of Brent’s swimsuit. He glanced up as he pulled down Brent’s suit. Jake on his knees, staring up at him with his big beautiful eyes, mouth open, was one of the most erotic things he’d ever seen.
Brent liked sucking cock. It turned him on to have his lips around a guy, sucking and taking his load. He considered himself a cocksucking pro. Jake had never had a cock in his mouth, so Brent had low expectations. He wasn’t going to hold Jake to his earlier bravado. When Jake leaned in and kissed the tip of his dick, Brent thought he was going to shatter.
Jake licked his length then sucked down on him, taking him a little too deep. He pulled off, gagging, then looking up, his brows creased.
“Sorry.”
Brent’s heart twisted, he didn’t want Jake feeling bad, not when he was enjoying this so much. “Don’t be sorry. It was awesome.”
Jake frowned. “I don’t—”
“Hey, I know you’ve never done this before. I don’t expect you to be an expert at it. Go slow and do what you like. It all feels good.”
“So if I lick like this”—Jake’s tongue ran over his length then back down—“do you like?”
Brent hissed in a breath, his whole body tightening before he relaxed. “Fuck yes. So good.”
Jake chuckled then licked him again. Brent clutched Jake’s hair, trying hard not to force him to swallow his cock. He wanted to face-fuck Jake, but he wasn’t going to force it, not yet.
Long licks and little nips to his hips, balls, and cock were driving Brent crazy. He needed to feel the heat of a tight ass, but Jake wasn’t ready for anal yet.
Jake started toying with the tip of his dick, flicking his tongue over the sensitive nerves. It was too much. He needed to grind hard and pump his hips. Brent roared and reached down, grabbing hold of Jake’s arms, pulling him up. He pressed Jake against the wall as he shoved Jake’s swimsuit to the floor. Brent took both of their cocks and squeezed them together, jacking.
“Aw fuck, Jake, you take me to the edge of my sanity. I can’t fucking get enough of you.”
Jake arched against him, throwing his head back. They were both grunting, their breath coming in gasps as he worked their cocks. Everything else was forgotten as they came closer to orgasm. He was going to come and so was Jake. There was no thought other than getting them to completion.
Brent leaned back, his gaze connecting with Jake’s. This was more than sex. He felt connected in a way he’d never been with another partner. Jake meant the world to him. He pressed his lips against Jake’s, desperation pushing him closer to the edge. A horn honked outside, but he wasn’t going to let it interrupt them.
He claimed Jake’s mouth and used all his tricks, pushing them both over the edge. He came hard, his body pulsing as his balls emptied. Jake leaned against him, clinging tightly as he rocked his hips, finishing his orgasm.
“Hey you two, stop it with the sex and get down here,” Thomas called out.
Jake pushed out of Brent’s hold, worry clouding his eyes. Brent cupped Jake’s cheeks, catching his attention.
His heart twisted and he smiled, running one thumb over Jake’s lips. “It will be okay.”
Jake blew out a breath and nodded. Brent worried how their friends would react, but he had faith they would be understanding. Thomas and Clay didn’t seem to have a problem. He only hoped Lane and Mike were okay with them.
Jake was worried, which Brent understood. His friend had only begun living with the frightening reality someone might hate you for who you loved. Brent leaned in and smoothed his lips over Jake’s. His fingers grazed over Jake’s shoulders then his back. He ended the kiss and gave a little peck to Jake’s nose before leaning back.
“Let’s get dressed and go down. It sounds like Lane and Mike are here.”
“Sure.” Jake stepped away and grabbed his clothes then tugged them on while Brent dressed. They were about to leave the bedroom when Jake stopped him.
“You know you make me feel better. No one has ever helped me the way you do.”
Brent cupped his cheek and nodded. “Love, you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“You said it again.”
“What?”
“Love, you called me my love earlier.”
Brent ducked his head and smiled, his cheeks heating before he looked up, their gazes connected. “It’s true. I love you, even if it’s only as a friend. I do love you. I’ve spent some of my most desperate hours on earth with you. We’ve done some crazy shit together. You saved my life, and I’ve saved yours. What we’ve got will grow into something more, and when that happens, my love will only grow deeper.”
“Hey, come on, Lane wants to see you,” Clay called out from downstairs.
Jake’s eyes were filled with moisture, and his cheeks were pink. He nodded before leaning in, brushing his lips over Brent’s.
“Let’s go.” Brent grabbed Jake’s hand and led him downstairs. He let go before they were all the way down, mainly because holding hands while walking down the stairs was difficult.
The guys all stopped talking as soon as they stepped in the room. Brent’s lips spread into a smile when he saw Lane and Mike. All six of them were together again, and this time, he had Jake as his own.
“So you two are finally together.” Lane pulled Brent into a hug. “I’m glad for you.”
“Thanks,” Brent said, not surprised Clay and Thomas couldn’t keep their mouths closed.
“Hey, Jake, I’m happy for you,” Mike said.
“Thanks.” Jake moved close to Brent and took his hand.
“It’s great, but weird,” Lane said.
“A bit, maybe.” Brent turned and stared at Jake. “But I’m happy.”
“You know, after we spent years protecting people in some weird foreign country and almost getting our asses blown apart more than once, someone deserves to find love. I’m happy for you two.” Mike patted Brent on the shoulder as he walked past. “Really, it couldn’t have happened to two better guys. I’m glad you found each other.”
Brent hadn’t felt this good in years. Since leaving the military, he’d been drifting. Having these men back in his life, especially Jake, would make everything
better.
They spent the day catching up with each other. Clay had his usual cop-on-the-street stories, and Lane had a few interesting bits from being a nurse. Thomas shared a few tales from the sea, and Mike talked about working security detail for superstars. He and Jake appeared to have the most boring lives of the group. They’d both spent the last few years studying. Now they were ready to really live.
Before the sun dipped too low, they dressed warmly and headed out to the front yard of the house to explore the area. They ended up in an epic snowball fight. Guys switched allegiance. Short snow walls were quickly erected to provide cover. In the end, Jake and Brent thought their team won, but Mike and Lane were convinced their team took the prize. Wet from melting snow, they headed inside and grabbed beers as they hung out, shooting the bull until the wee hours of the following morning. It felt right heading up to bed with Jake by his side. Not once had any of the guys said anything negative about them being together.
They slept late the next day, enjoying a big breakfast before deciding to go into town and see the sights. The day had warmed to forty-five degrees, and the wind was light. Most of the snow on the roads had melted, and it was safe to drive again.
It felt good being out with the crew. He and Jake didn’t hold hands away from the house, but he enjoyed their day together. It was like he’d found the perfect person to live his life with.
Time was passing too quickly. This week spent with Jake wasn’t enough. He wanted to be with him full time. Panic rose and he decided he couldn’t move to Atlanta and not live with Jake. They were having a great time, staying up late, watching movies, drinking probably too much, laughing at jokes and having fun. They had more than one pool tournament, but didn’t venture into strip pool. He was having the best time of his life, even with the specter of leaving hanging over his head.
The fourth night together, he couldn’t sleep. Jake woke when he got up to leave their bed.
“Hey, what’s up?”
He paused and closed his eyes, pain knifing him in the heart. He couldn’t walk away from Jake, but they didn’t even live in the same city. “I can’t sleep.”
“Talk to me.” Jake touched Brent’s hand and he turned, dropping into bed. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“We’re leaving in a few days. I don’t know how I’m going to go back to life without you.”
Jake slid his hand over Brent’s chest and lower to his hip. It felt great having Jake’s hands on him. Every minute spent with this guy was magical. No doubt, he needed Jake in his life.
“I know. I don’t want to be without you,” Jake whispered.
“My lease is up in two months and I can move to Atlanta.”
Jake placed his hand in the center of Brent’s chest, the touch comforting. “Do you think we could move in together?”
His whole body tingled. “Would you really want me in your space all the time?”
“Yes, I do want you there, in my space. It would be great being with you. I’ve grown used to having you in my bed. I like this and can’t imagine sleeping in the same city but not being in the same room. I need you in my life.”
Brent rolled on top of Jake, staring down into his lover’s eyes. “Before we do this, I want you to be really sure. You know, some people can be terrible toward gay people.”
Jake huffed out a breath. “I know, but you’re worth it.”
Brent stared into Jake’s eyes, deepening the connection between them. Only hope was found in Jake’s gaze. “Okay, once we get home, I’ll start the process of moving. I don’t have much furniture. A bed, a couch, and a desk—not too much.”
“My bed is small and old.”
“I have a queen-sized mattress.”
“Well, that was easy. Yours stays and mine goes.”
Brent brushed his lips over Jake’s. They were both hard, and it wouldn’t take much to convince Jake they should have sex. He was enjoying how Jake explored his body, his tentative touches, which turned bold when Brent moaned and pushed into the touch. Jake was willing to do anything, though they hadn’t had penetrative sex yet. He wanted to wait until they were alone and nothing would interrupt them. For all he knew, Jake might be too sensitive to have anal, and he hadn’t brought condoms for this adventure since he hadn’t thought he would be having sex. Sure, he could go into town and buy some supplies, but really, the first time they tried anal, he wanted everything to be right.
After he and Jake made love, they cuddled, holding each other tight. He was moving to Atlanta. The thought of moving scared and excited him. If things didn’t work out with Jake, he would be devastated. But moving would give them the best shot at making this last.
13
Most of the snow had melted by morning, leaving little rivulets of water running down the hillside. The view was still beautiful, just a different kind of pretty. They packed snacks and headed to the lake to fish. Being back with the guys was amazing. Since they didn’t have to worry about someone trying to kill them like they had in the military, everything was more relaxed. The guys told stories, but they all agreed Clay had the best ones. Being a cop must be wild. Clay’s stories made it seem crazy.
They caught enough fish for dinner, which was awesome since none of them wanted to head into town to do more grocery shopping. They had two nights left, and wanted to make the most of their time together.
After dinner, and a bit too much tequila, they all stripped and headed out to the hot tub. He and Brent were in one corner, hugging and touching.
“So next year, we’re doing this again, right?” Lane asked.
“Yeah, we’re going to do this again,” Thomas said.
“Awesome. I’ve had an amazing time,” Clay added.
“I miss you guys.” Jake squeezed Brent’s shoulder. “Thank you all for being so accepting of this thing between me and Brent.”
Thomas moved close and put his arm around Brent. Bubbles frothed around them as Thomas blocked a jet. “How deep is this thing you two have going?”
Jake turned to look at Brent and smiled. “He’s moving in with me.”
“Whoa, no way! That’s great,” Thomas said.
“We’re happy.” Brent leaned over and kissed Jake’s cheek. His heart expanded.
The guys smiled and nodded. Not a one of them had said anything negative to them about their relationship. Maybe he was being ridiculous thinking it would be easy, but he liked that they had no real problems.
Talk turned to what everyone was hoping to accomplish this year. All of the guys seemed to be hopeful about their future. Clay was hesitant about the next year, but when Thomas questioned him, he blew off Thomas’ worry. Jake noticed the way Brent had narrowed his gaze, but Clay swore everything was okay.
After getting out of the hot tub, they dressed in comfortable clothes, lit the fireplace, and stayed up until the sun turned the horizon pink.
He and Brent fell into bed close to six thirty and slept until after two in the afternoon. When they woke, depression hit him. He only had one night left with Brent and his friends, and he’d slept most of the day away. This wasn’t at all how he’d thought the week would go.
Brent was the man of his dreams, and it seemed like everything was falling into place. The last night together, the weather had warmed from the frigid temperature around the snowstorm to close to sixty degrees. They decided to eat dinner outside since it felt so good. It was nice being out on the deck. Lane was helping him build a fire in the fire pit.
“So you and Brent, it's the real thing, right?”
Jake nodded and met Lane’s gaze. “Sure is. I can't explain it, but he's the one.”
“I'm really happy for you.”
“Thank you. Having support from you guys makes all the difference. I know I should be happy having him, but it’s nice you all like him.”
“He’s a good man and so are you. I don’t know what we would do if either one of you were dating a tool.”
Jake laughed and turned to see Brent steppin
g out of the house. He bounded over, pulling Brent into a hot kiss. The other guys came out and ribbed them but weren’t mean.
Mike had brought out hotdogs and skewers, Thomas had bags of chips, and Clay had some fruit. They set up the food and began cooking hotdogs while they chatted.
Any hesitations or weird feelings they had from being apart had faded. He felt at ease with these men. He wished his life could be lived this way all the time. If he had these five men at his side every day, he would be happy. But maybe he could be happy having them as friends once again. They were the best men he’d ever met. Letting their friendship die out would be a tremendous mistake.
The fire didn’t die down until after midnight. It had grown colder, and he and Brent were snuggled together in one large chair.
“I don’t want to leave,” Clay said.
“Neither do I,” Thomas added.
Mike tossed a marshmallow into the flames. “We could hunker down and stay.”
They all laughed then Mike stood and stretched. “We have to leave early.”
“This sucks,” Clay said.
“We aren’t going to go this long again without getting together,” Lane added. “You men are the best people I’ve ever known. I need you all in my life.”
Thomas got up and began the task of putting the fire out. The rest of the guys were slow to get to their feet. Hugs were given, and it seemed like no one wanted to really let go. Jake was happy to go to bed and hold Brent, keeping him close for one more night.
After making love, he clung to Brent, desperately wanting the hours to stretch out. When he woke the next morning, Brent wasn’t in bed with him. Panic spiked and he hopped up, racing to the bathroom, finding Brent there.
“I thought you were already gone.”
Brent turned, his eyes filled with love. “I would never run out on you. Come here, I need to hold you.”
Jake went to Brent and didn’t let go. Sex between them was good, but Brent took it to another level when he led him back to the bed. Jake was left breathless as Brent kissed and licked his chest and neck, then moved lower to his dick and balls.