by Jace, Alex
Arjen’s eyes darkened. He had always loved giving head. “You want it in your mouth,” Max prompted.
“Yes.” Arjen licked his lips.
“You want to please me.”
“Yes.”
“Go on.” Max pushed his head down.
Arjen took him straight into his mouth. His mouth was so hot after the cool water that Max groaned aloud; Max’s hand flexed in Arjen’s hair, forcing him deeper. Arjen made a stifled sound of need and sucked hard, his hands braced on Max’s thighs. It was utterly decadent having Arjen so devoted to his pleasure. Max wanted to drag it out, make it last forever, but that knot of tension in his stomach only tightened and he had to clutch Arjen’s hair and drag him closer as he shot his load down Arjen’s throat.
Arjen swallowed him down obediently. He licked his lips afterward, looking extremely satisfied.
The holiday melted into one long haze of sunlit warmth. They spent lazy mornings in bed, kissing slowly as they rocked together. Sometimes they wandered through little towns with market stalls set up on cobblestones, or strolled along beaches facing out onto the grey-green Atlantic. They spent hours messing around in the pool, splashing each other and laughing like teenagers, and in the warm evenings they liked to sit out with a bottle of wine and relax together. At nights Max was only too pleased to deliver on everything he’d promised on the plane. He wanted Arjen so happy, so satisfied, that he would stay with Max forever.
He dared to whisper that to Arjen as they lay together in bed. Arjen smiled up at him, sleepy and warm. “Forever is a long time. You might get bored with me.”
“Never.” Max found him endlessly fascinating. Infinitely rewarding. All the affection he poured into his relationship with Arjen he got back tenfold. It was one of the simple pleasures of life to sleep with Arjen in his arms. “I’d never get bored with you.”
“Good.” Arjen snuggled closer.
Max woke in heaven. His cock was being taken slowly into a very talented mouth. Glorious sunshine spilled across the rumpled sheets to dazzle Max’s half-lidded eyes. Arjen made a contented sound in his throat as he took Max deeper into his mouth.
It was pure bliss. The heat of Arjen’s mouth was unbelievable; Arjen’s cheeks hollowed as he sucked. Max groaned, his eyes falling closed again, lost in the sensation. He stretched and arched up into his mouth.
Arjen wrapped a hand around his cock to stop him pushing deeper. Max growled, and reached down to catch hold of his hair. He knew just how much Arjen liked it when Max took control.
Something metallic yanked at his wrist and his hand stopped after only an inch. His eyes snapped open. It took him a stunned moment of disbelief to realise what had happened. That little fiend had handcuffed him to the bed.
“Arjen!” Max was scandalised. This was not how it was supposed to go.
Arjen flashed him an innocent look under his lashes, and hummed as he sucked. His grip tightened rhythmically in time with the slow slide of his mouth. The effect was spectacular; Max clenched his teeth on another groan, fighting the urge to arch again into his mouth. He yanked at the handcuffs and only succeeded in bruising his wrists. “Let me go.”
He could feel Arjen’s smile around him. Arjen draped a warm arm across his stomach. He clearly had no intention of letting Max go.
Max yanked again, harder. He winced at the pain. The wooden bed frame creaked ominously; he pictured how much trouble they’d get into if they broke the bed in their holiday villa, and desisted. “Arjen! Uncuff me right now.”
Arjen pulled off his cock, letting the tip slide from his mouth. He had an utterly wicked smile. “Let me think. Hmm. No.”
He was absolutely irresistible like this, playful and teasing. Max’s voice dropped to a mock growl. “You’re going to be in so much trouble for this.”
“Then I’d better enjoy it.” Arjen lifted off his body with a sexy smile and straddled him, his lean thighs parted. He took Max’s cock in one slick hand and positioned himself ready to push down. Max tensed with anticipation, focused on that first sweet moment of entry, when he’d sink into that tight, squeezing body…
Arjen paused. “You wanted me to stop?”
“Arjen!” Max was going to strangle him.
Arjen was definitely laughing at him now, his dark eyes dancing. He squirmed around so that Max’s cock rubbed tantalisingly up and down his slick cleft. It felt amazing. A shudder went through Arjen and he moaned; Max’s muscles bunched as he fought for control. He tried putting a snap of command into his voice. “You start riding my cock right now or I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Glare at me?” Arjen’s smile was full of mischief.
“Arjen! Now!” At this rate Max was going to come before even getting inside him.
“You’re so demanding.” Arjen leaned in to kiss him, making it gentle. “I like you that way.” He began to slowly, slowly slide down onto Max’s cock.
That entry was every bit as exquisite as Max had thought. The first inch that slid into Arjen’s hot body forced a gasp from Arjen’s throat; Arjen’s head tipped back and his eyes fluttered shut as he moaned aloud, a sound of pure surrender. God, he was unbelievable. So tight, so gripping. Max’s fists clenched, his jaw tightening, the handcuffs creaking under the strain of holding him back. If anything, his helplessness made this even more intense than normal.
Arjen was biting his lip now, panting as he continued to sheath himself. He braced himself against Max’s bare chest with both hands to control the depth of Max’s penetration. The muscles in his lean body flexed delightfully. He slipped down another inch and his inner muscles squeezed tight, getting another helpless groan from Max. At last Arjen sheathed himself fully on Max.
“Jesus.” Max couldn’t seem to catch his breath, his heart hammering in his chest.
“Feels big.” It came out a whimper. Arjen clutched at him, clearly filled to the point of pain.
Max lifted his head from the soft pillow to capture his mouth. He kissed him to distract him, nipping his lower lip. Arjen relaxed into him with a sigh, his body finally unclenching. Arjen cupped his face in his hands and kissed him again. “Feels good,” Arjen whispered against his mouth.
“Good.” Max kissed him one last time. “Untie me, sweetling. I’ll make it even better.”
Arjen’s mouth curved against his in a teasing smile. “Nice try, Max.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Oh, I’m serious.” Arjen bit his lip in concentration, and started to ride him.
Having Arjen all slippery in his lap sliding up and down on his cock undid his patience in approximately half a second. Max yanked again at the handcuffs, badly wanting to roll Arjen beneath him and fuck him. Arjen was too dazed to notice, he just buried his face in Max’s shoulder with a groan. “That feels… I…”
This was pure torture. Max’s voice was getting hoarse. “Untie me, baby. Be good now.”
It took some coaxing, not least because Arjen clearly could only think about Max inside him, but Arjen finally uncuffed him. Thank God. Max dragged himself up to sit back against the pillows and pulled Arjen tight against him, taking him in an iron grip so that Max could control the depth and angle of his thrusts. He slammed home hard; Arjen gasped, clenching around him. “There,” Max growled, “that’s better, isn’t it. That’s what you need. A good, hard fucking.” Max lifted him up only to slam him back down. Arjen’s fingers bit into his arms as Arjen trembled in his lap. “You need to be taken. Owned.” Arjen could only clutch him and cry out as Max took him ruthlessly, reclaiming control of him.
Max’s orgasm was intense. He groaned aloud as he spilled himself deep into the tight grip of Arjen’s body. Then he rolled Arjen under him where he belonged and with a few hard thrusts he got Arjen crying out in desperation as he came, hot and slippery under Max’s weight.
Afterward Max laughed, breathless and filled with warmth. “You are in so much trouble. I should punish you for this.” He dipped his head to steal a slow, sweet kis
s.
“You should.” Arjen smiled up at him, warm and trusting. He tucked himself into the curve of Max’s body where Max was only too happy to have him. It was pretty much marvellous, to be honest. Max had never discovered this tender side of himself before and Arjen absolutely glowed from Max’s affection.
Arjen snuggled closer. “Ik lief je.” He said it like a secret.
“Hmm?” Max kissed the top of his head.
“It means I love you,” Arjen said in a shy whisper.
“It does?” Max was charmed. Arjen had never said that to him before, at least not in a language Max understood.
Arjen just nodded. He was adorable.
White drapes blew in the breeze that came in through the open doors. The doors stood open on the patio outside, the glittering pool, the miles upon miles of beautiful countryside. The colours alone were spectacular. The heat of the sun was already deepening. Another day in paradise.
“I’ve been on other holidays,” Max said out of nowhere. He was running his fingers lazily up and down Arjen’s spine. “Mainly about getting laid. Singles cruises, that kind of thing. I used to hook up every night. Fuck whoever I want and never have to see them again.”
Arjen stiffened in his arms, but Max tugged him closer before he could pull away. He kissed his temple. “Wait for the reward, Arjen. You should know the game by now. Delayed gratification.”
He tugged his beloved closer still. His voice dropped into a whisper. “This is so much better I can’t even say. You make me feel something that all those quick fucks could never manage. I don’t need to go out looking for hookups, because I already have someone so unique, so special that nobody else can ever measure up. I know how lucky I am.” Arjen coloured, half shy, half pleased. “I only want you,” Max told him, the complete truth. “Only you. Nobody else.”
Arjen wrapped his arms around his neck, leaning into him, relaxed now and trusting. “I’m glad.”
Max’s throat tightened as he remembered. “I can’t remember why that was even fun for me. My old life. Always searching for something, trying to boost my ego by proving that somebody wanted me. Never staying around long enough to build a relationship worth having. When what I really needed was this.” The simple pleasure of Arjen in his arms. Arjen had changed his life forever. Fixed the crack in his heart. Made him happier than he had ever imagined. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I’d like that,” Arjen whispered back, and as a scented breeze filtered into the little villa, they shared a gentle kiss.
PROOF OF POSSESSION
“Home, sweet home.” Max dumped his bags in the hall and looked around with satisfaction.
He was standing on the threshold of a beautiful sunlit house. A mirror shone at the far end of the hall, reflecting back the pale autumn day outside. At his feet his bags fluttered with the bright tags of a recent flight. He took a deep breath of the crisp air and let it go in a sigh.
It was turning into a perfect day. Not only was he fresh back from a holiday with the cute lawyer of his dreams, the lease was finally up on his old flat and today was the day—he was officially moving in with Arjen.
Almost perfect. “Max,” said Cate, the departing housemate, in a cool voice.
“Cate.” Max gave her a nod. She was a beautiful woman if you liked them that polished, her chocolate hair styled in ringlets, her lips glossed pink. She had never liked Max and Max had to admit she had good reason; he had incurred her wrath by treating Arjen badly. He had no intention of ever hurting Arjen again, but Cate was not the forgiving type. And she was currently eyeing him as though deciding where to stick the knife in.
They stood back so that a pair of movers could bring more of Max’s gear into the house. Cate picked up her oversized bag; she was wearing a white summer dress in defiance of it being October. The chill here had been a shock to the system after France, where late summer heat had lingered long past its leaving date.
“All right, Max.” Cate delivered the words in a voice that could have crystallised ice. “I’m trusting you with my friend. My best friend. Who is like a brother to me. I hope you and Arjen are happy here, but if you ever upset him, I’d like to point out that I know where you live.”
That surprised a laugh out of Max. Normally his powerful six-foot physique intimidated people. He was not used to being threatened by women who barely came up to his shoulder. “Understood.”
“Then we won’t have a problem.” Cate put her designer sunglasses on. She was quite alarming. Max was starting to reluctantly like her.
Arjen came barefoot from the kitchen to join them, smiling. He slipped his arm around Max and glowed so openly that Max melted immediately. Max tugged him closer and kissed the top of his head. He loved the way Arjen fit against him, his smaller frame just right for Max to put his arm around his shoulder.
Even Cate thawed somewhat at Arjen’s arrival. “You look brown.”
“The weather was fantastic.” Arjen leaned easily into Max. Max ruffled his dark hair. He did look brown; it was a good look on him, contrasting against his white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Must be all those days spent by the pool.
Cate wound her scarf around her throat. “Well, I need to pick up the keys at my new place, so I’ll leave you two to it.” She gave Max one last look of warning.
Arjen gave her a hug, and Max offered her his hand. Cate shook it, her grip cool, her expression hidden behind her mirrored sunglasses. Then she settled her bag on her shoulder and walked away into the autumn sun.
Max whistled. “That woman is terrifying.”
“Were you two fighting again?” Arjen’s brow furrowed.
“Nope. She was just telling me to look after you. Because she loves you.” He tipped up Arjen’s chin and stole a quick kiss. Arjen smiled against his mouth. He could feel Arjen’s fingers curling into the warm cloth of his t-shirt.
Then Max headed inside to direct the movers. He hadn’t brought much from his old flat; it only reminded him of how unhappy he’d been there without ever realising it. Not having friends, only hookups. Watching endless repeats on late-night television with canned laughter echoing around him. Finishing off most nights with a shot of whiskey to help him sleep. He’d ditched everything that reminded him of his old life, saving only one or two items that would fit into Arjen’s house.
Mainly that meant his DVD collection. Max had a feeling Arjen would appreciate his array of science fiction movies. Not the geek stuff like Star Trek, Arjen clearly had that angle covered already, but the real stuff where phasers weren’t set to stun. He pictured a whole future of evenings cuddled up with Arjen on the couch introducing Arjen to all the movies he’d missed while studying for law school. Maybe they should make popcorn.
“Ever seen Pitch Black?” Max turned back just in time to catch one of the movers totally checking Arjen out. Some crew-cut blond guy, a box in his arms, staring at Arjen’s ass.
Max’s eyes narrowed into slits. He wasn’t threatened, Arjen had made it clear that he was serious about Max, but it was insulting for another man to move in on his territory. Max was the only man allowed to look at Arjen like that, eyes sliding up and down every delicious inch of his body, wanting to eat him.
“Hey,” said Max icily. “Go put my stuff in Arjen’s bedroom.” He gave the mover a deadly stare. Mine.
The mover slid past him with the box, looking somewhat unnerved. Max held down his growl as the man passed.
His brow stayed furrowed afterward. It bothered him that the last person Arjen had shared this house with had been so unlike him. Cate was cool, educated, with a good job and a killer Home Counties accent. Max wouldn’t know a designer shoe if it kicked him. Now Max was taking her space in this house. Filling up the gaps she’d left on the bookshelves, in the kitchen cupboards. Max knew Cate had never been a rival for Arjen, they were just friends, but Arjen was supernova hot, anybody would want him. Arjen had other options than Max. Maybe better options.
Max told himse
lf not to be stupid, but suddenly he ached to be with Arjen. Arjen always made him feel wanted. Special. Irresistible.
He caught Arjen by the arm as Arjen passed, drawing him in close. Close enough to feel the heat of his body. Arjen paused, lifting his eyes to him. He really did look good enough to eat. “Let’s sneak upstairs,” Max murmured to him.
“We need to help the mov—”
“They can manage.” Max looked him up and down, lazy and hungry both at once.
Arjen reddened under his eyes. “We can’t just sneak—”
“Oh, we can.” Max took a fistful of his shirt and tugged him along.
He pulled Arjen into the second bedroom upstairs where nobody would interrupt them. Shafts of pale October light fell through a tilted window onto a bed. A purple pillow made a splash of colour against the white covers. In the far corner the desk gleamed, all black metal and shining glass.
As soon as he shut the door behind them Arjen was already protesting. “Everyone will hear.”
“Then you’d better be quiet.” Max yanked him tight against him by the loop of his belt. Arjen gasped. “Hadn’t you?”
“Max…” Arjen shifted against him. He was getting hard.
“Ssh.” Max dropped a hand to palm his ass. When he squeezed, Arjen rubbed against his thigh with a small sound of need. Max felt him up shamelessly, getting him hot and flustered. Arjen swayed into him, arms coming up around his neck, head on his shoulder. This was what Max loved—Arjen pliant in his arms. Max nipped his earlobe and Arjen shuddered against him. “You’re mine,” Max whispered in his ear.
Arjen tightened his arms around his neck. Max pushed a hand down the back of his jeans into his underwear to cup his ass. The feel of that hot, tight ass in his hand was incredible. He squeezed hard at the same time as he bit his earlobe and Arjen moaned aloud. “Oh, now you’re up for it?” Max teased him.