Happy Endings [Cedar Falls 20] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove)

by Shea Balik

  The dealer looked partly amused and partly annoyed. “Now Jesse, you know I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?” Jesse whined. “I never win. You need to take pity on me.”

  “Maybe you’d win if you’d quit telling her to hit you until you bust,” Ethan said from two seats over. Then he went back to studying his own cards while sipping on his drink with an umbrella in it.

  Jesse scowled over at Ethan. “Shut up, Ethan. No one asked you.”

  Ethan rolled his eyes and tapped the table for Yvonne to hit him. “When you keep interrupting everyone else’s game with your whining, you involve us.” Ethan smiled when Yvonne dealt him a six.” He held his hand over his cards, signaling he was done.

  Gabriel had the unfortunate experience of coming to Utopia with Jesse once. He wasn’t about to allow Jesse’s antics to interfere with his date. “Come on,” Gabriel whispered, praying Jesse wouldn’t see them. “Let’s go to the tables on the far side.”

  Lakyn’s eyes danced with amusement, but he nodded his understanding and allowed Gabriel to lead them to the opposite side of the room.

  Gabriel sighed with relief when Jesse or any of the others he was with didn’t stop him. “Thanks,” he told Lakyn as they sat at a poker table with two other players.

  “I’ve heard Jesse can be a bit…” Lakyn seemed to be searching for the right word.

  “Excitable,” Gabriel provided. “And that’s putting it mildly. He invited me to the casino my second night in town and I thought we were going to get thrown out when he started arguing with one of the dealers about giving him the wrong card.”

  Lakyn chuckled. “Yeah, his antics are legendary in Cedar Falls. There isn’t much that Jesse does that doesn’t become a full blown episode, including going to the casino.”

  “It wasn’t until later that I learned the man who manages the property is Zane’s husband and has only had to ban Jesse once for fighting.” Gabriel still couldn’t believe little, five-foot-four Jesse was in a fight. Then again, now that he knew Jesse and his ability to get into trouble, it wasn’t that surprising.

  After several hands of poker in which Lakyn won fifty dollars and Gabriel lost ten, they decided to move onto another game. Neither of them were gamblers and were just looking to have some fun before heading home. “How about roulette?” Lakyn suggested.

  “Sounds like fun.” The weird thing was, it did. Not so much the gambling, because Gabriel could take it or leave it, but Gabriel was having a really good time with Lakyn. More than he could ever remember having with anyone.

  He’d laughed more tonight with this amazing man than ever before. Who was he kidding? If Gabriel counted the amount of times he’d actually laughed in his entire life combined, it still wouldn’t beat tonight.

  “Are you following me?”

  Gabriel was startled to hear the angry voice as they approached the roulette wheel. He was even more surprised to find Mayor Murphy’s anger directed at them. “I told you I don’t want you anywhere near me ever again,” he viciously told Lakyn.

  “Since I was the one who fired you as a client, I can’t imagine there would be any reason why I’d follow you, Mr. Mayor,” Lakyn retorted. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a date we need to get back to.” Lakyn turned to Gabriel. “Let’s go play the slots for a while.”

  Gabriel silently cursed when he saw the mayor once more turning bright red. The man wasn’t about to let them quietly leave. Just as he thought, they hadn’t made it more than two steps before the mayor lashed out verbally.

  “How dare you,” he yelled loud enough to draw a crowd. “You’re the one who felt you could put your hands on me, not the other way around.”

  Lakyn laughed at the absurd statement before whirling around and confronting the mayor. “I’m a massage therapist. You came to me for a massage. Of course I put my hands on you. How else does one give a massage?”

  Gabriel could just feel this wasn’t going to end well. Lakyn didn’t need the residents of Cedar Falls to fear Lakyn was anything less than professional at his job. If politics had taught Gabriel anything, it was that it only took innuendo to ruin a person.

  As much as he admired Lakyn for standing up to the mayor, if he wasn’t careful, he’d end up with no clients and flat broke. Gabriel needed to find a way to diffuse the situation before it got out of hand.

  “Problem?” Jesse said as he suddenly appeared with Ethan, Flynn, Kit, Vail, Macon, and Danton at his side.

  Too late. It was officially out of hand.

  “You.” The mayor pointed a finger at Jesse. “This is all your fault.”

  Jesse’s eyes widened in a clearly fake innocent gesture. “Me?” he asked, putting his hand on his chest. “What did I do?”

  The mayor’s face grew a deep red. “You and your friends are responsible for turning my massage therapist gay.”

  Gabriel had no idea what he’d expected from Jesse but it wasn’t to hold his arms out from his body while crossing them. When Jesse started blinking, Gabriel thought he’d lost his damn mind, not that he wasn’t sure that hadn’t already happened long ago.

  “Um,” Flynn said. “Not that I don’t appreciate a reenactment of Barbara Eden’s iconic role as the Genie, but what are you doing?”

  Jesse kept right on blinking. “Since the mayor seems to think I have super powers, I thought I would put them to good use by making him disappear.”

  The entire crowd that had gathered to watch the scene burst out laughing, including Gabriel. He couldn’t help it. Jesse had a point. That anyone thought a person could be “turned” gay in this day and age was just stupid.

  The mayor only became more enraged. “When I once more win this race, proving the citizens of Cedar Falls don’t want you or your kind here, I will find a way to ban all of you from this town.”

  Jesse face was priceless as he stared at the mayor like he’d just grown two horns. “Well, aren’t you just a fun-filled little lollipop triple dipped in psycho?” Then he leaned forward slightly and whispered very loudly, “You know, I think you might just be missing more than just the odd screw. In fact, I believe the whole toolbox was taken. You might want to see someone about that.”

  Then Jesse cocked his head and said, “Hey, are you turning into a blueberry like Kyler did?” Then he grabbed the purse he had on his shoulder. “Wait. Let me get a picture, then I can compare the picture of you and Kyler. Maybe there’s some sort of virus going around turning people into blueberries.”

  “How dare you?” the mayor shouted just as Jesse pulled his phone out.

  Jesse sighed when he saw the mayor’s color returning to a ruddy hue. “Damn, I missed it.”

  “You are a menace,” Mayor Murphy told Jesse.

  Jesse smiled brightly. “Why, thank you.”

  Clearly realizing he wasn’t going to win, the mayor stormed off. Jesse, being Jesse, turned to his friends. “Do you think it was something I said?”

  Ethan shrugged. “Nothing more than usual.”

  “So want to tell us what that was about?” Vail asked Lakyn.

  Lakyn shot a glance at Gabriel then sighed. “The mayor was being an ass today during his massage and I told him to leave and he wasn’t welcome back. Then he saw Gabriel and me kissing.”

  Gabriel placed a hand on Lakyn’s low back in support as he explained the argument that ensued.

  “Well, I wouldn’t worry too much. Most of Cedar Falls doesn’t care whether you are gay or not. And if you have any trouble with business, just let me know,” Jesse offered.

  Gabriel already felt a little better. Even though Jesse had a way of turning situations like the one with the mayor into an all-out brawl, he also had a way of making a business successful that had once been failing.

  “Now,” Jesse said, rubbing his hands together gleefully, “who’s ready to gamble?”

  Gabriel and Lakyn joined the others for a little while, but the confrontation with the mayor had them both no longer interested in staying. After saying th
eir good-byes, they walked hand in hand to the parking lot.

  “Do you still feel like giving me that massage?” Gabriel asked in hope that Lakyn would say yes. Not so much to the massage, but to their having sex. He couldn’t exactly blame Lakyn if he’d changed his mind after everything that had happened, but Gabriel still could dream.

  “Of course.” Lakyn pulled him into a kiss when Gabriel stopped to unlock Lakyn’s car door for him. “I’m not about to give up the chance to have you naked and in my bed,” Lakyn whispered against his lips.

  Gabriel shivered at the imagery. “Neither can I,” he whispered back before giving Lakyn one more kiss and going to the driver’s side to get in. They may have had a few hiccups on their date, but if it was going to end up with the two of them naked and in bed, those hiccups were more than worth it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Excitement thrummed through Lakyn as they pulled into his driveway. The night hadn’t been what he expected. Actually, other than the mayor’s idiotic ranting, it went as well as any date Lakyn had been on.

  Gabriel was the perfect gentleman. Nothing between them had been awkward. Even when Gabriel had been talking about his childhood, Lakyn had felt even more drawn to him.

  “Wow,” Gabriel said as he turned off the engine and looked around Lakyn’s front yard.

  The daytime was beautiful, but at night, it took on an almost otherworldly realm. The lights he’d strategically placed lit up the stream, pond, and waterfall, giving them a blue-green hue, while the bridge had fairy lights leading right to the porch.

  It had taken Lakyn a couple of years to pull it off, mainly because he’d had to scrimp and save for every single light, but he had to admit it had been well worth it. “Thanks,” he said before opening his door. “Would you like to sit out on the porch for a bit?”

  “I would love to,” Gabriel said as he took Lakyn’s hand.

  They walked across the bridge slowly enough for Gabriel to have a chance to see everything before moving on. “Can I get you something to drink?” Lakyn asked as he opened the front door.

  Gabriel shook his head and continued to stare out at the front yard. “No. I’m good.” Then he turned to look at Lakyn. “Come sit with me.”

  They chose one of the two-person swings so they could cuddle together as they looked out over the lights. “Are there fish in the pond?” Gabriel asked.

  “No. I tried, but they only attracted the bears who, in an effort to get to the fish, tended to destroy things.” Lakyn shrugged. I’ve considered enclosing it so the bears can’t get to the fish, but it’s pretty hard to keep bears out, and I prefer to have it outdoors.”

  Gabriel leaned into Lakyn’s body, resting his head on Lakyn’s shoulder. “I agree. It’s perfect out here. How do you ever leave it?”

  Lakyn gave a light chuckle. “The need to eat, pay the bills, that sort of thing.”

  Gabriel’s body moved a bit as if he were amused at Lakyn’s joke. “Yeah, I can see how that might be a factor,” he teased. “I bet you spend a lot of time out here when you’re home.”

  Lakyn pointed to an area that was cleared of furniture. “I use that area for yoga and meditation every day. I even sometimes pull a mattress out here and sleep.”

  “Sleep?” Gabriel tilted his head to look at Lakyn. “Really?”

  “Only on warmer nights,” Lakyn admitted. “The sound of the insects along with the splash of the waterfall have a way of lulling me to sleep like nothing else.”

  Gabriel looked at the area Lakyn had pointed to, then turned back to him with excitement in his eyes. “Do you think that mattress would fit both of us?”

  Lakyn smiled at Gabriel, happiness bubbling inside of him that Gabriel would share his love of being outdoors. “Definitely.”

  Gabriel didn’t wait. He got up and pulled Lakyn up with him. “Let’s get it.”

  Lakyn would have to be an idiot to deny Gabriel’s request. He’d use any excuse to lie in bed with Gabriel. “Okay.”

  He kept the mattress in the second bedroom’s closet. Otherwise, the room was used as a small office. It had been his meditation room until he’d built the porch. Minutes later they had the mattress on the wooden planks. Then they went back inside for sheets, a thin blanket, and pillows.

  Lakyn also grabbed the lube and condoms. The last thing he wanted was for things to get hot and heavy and they have to run back inside for supplies.

  Once the mattress was made, they stared at each other for a full minute. Without a word, they started stripping their clothes off. They both knew the score, knew what the other wanted. There wasn’t much point in pretending this wasn’t exactly where this was leading.

  Lakyn was used seeing the human body. Sure, it was often covered up, but the sheet only hid so much. But even having seen Gabriel twice before wasn’t enough to prepare him for seeing him standing there, proudly erect without anything to cover him up.

  Instantly his eyes went to the thick flesh that curved up toward Gabriel’s abdomen. Lakyn unconsciously licked his lips in anticipation of getting a taste. Gabriel’s groan only added to the desire of feeling his lips stretched by that piece of meat. By the looks of it, Gabriel was a little shorter than Lakyn, but he was thicker.

  Just the thought of getting to feel Gabriel entering him had Lakyn clenching his hole in anticipation. But first he wanted to know what it would be like to feel that ass he’d gotten a glimpse of that first day, wrapping around his own cock.

  They both stepped onto the mattress. Moans rose up as their bodies touched. Hands groped, skin slid along skin, and their mouths fused in a kiss that had Lakyn’s toes curling into the mattress for purchase.

  Then they were tumbling down as their legs just wouldn’t hold them any longer. Their tongues tangled in a dance they both hoped to mimic with their bodies soon. Fingers stroked skin, enflaming them.

  Lakyn moaned when their groins aligned and steel encased in velvety softness thrust against him. He pushed and Gabriel easily moved to lie on his back, allowing Lakyn to drape over him.

  Nipping and licking along Gabriel’s jaw, Lakyn made a path down his neck. He stopped when he got to Gabriel’s flat brown nipples. Sucking first one, then the other, into his mouth until they were both tight nubs. Then he continued down, leaving a trail of kisses across Gabriel’s taut abdomen.

  When he reached Gabriel’s straining prick, Lakyn flicked his gaze to the amber glow of Gabriel’s eyes. Using the flat of his tongue, Lakyn swiped across the tip. Gabriel groaned low in his throat. His hips pushed up as he tried to get closer to Lakyn’s mouth.

  Not one to disappoint, Lakyn opened his lips wide and placed them over the wide head. Gabriel’s hands instantly landed on Lakyn’s head, trying to get him in place as he thrust. But Lakyn wasn’t about to let him control this. Not yet anyway. Lakyn wanted to drive him crazy first.

  With his hands on Gabriel’s hips, he forced Gabriel to remain still as he suckled on the tip.

  “Damn, that’s so good,” Gabriel cried out even as he once more tried to move his hips. But Lakyn wasn’t letting him move, not until he was done.

  He turned his head just enough that hair tumbled down the side of his face to caress Gabriel’s balls.

  “Fuck,” Gabriel cried.

  Lakyn smiled up at Gabriel, whose pupils had gotten larger. Then he slid further down until he had half of Gabriel’s dick in his mouth. As he pulled back, he made sure to tongue the thick vein along the underside.

  Gabriel started babbling incoherently. Just what Lakyn had hoped for. As a reward, he took all of Gabriel into his mouth, until the head was lodged in his throat. Then he swallowed.

  “Lakyn,” Gabriel shouted. His hands threaded into Lakyn’s hair tightly, as if he needed something to hold onto.

  This time when Gabriel’s hips tried to rise, Lakyn let him. He also grabbed the lube he had tossed on the mattress earlier and slicked up his fingers. On Gabriel’s next thrust, Lakyn pushed two fingers deep.

  That seemed to o
nly inflame Gabriel further as he started both thrusting into his throat and pushing down onto Lakyn’s fingers. That was fine as far as Lakyn was concerned. He loved that he could give Gabriel so much pleasure. It wouldn’t be for long, though. He didn’t want Gabriel coming until Lakyn was buried as deep in his body as he could get. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t bring Gabriel to the edge.

  Gabriel thrust for a couple of minutes before Lakyn felt the dick in his mouth throb. Pulling off, he grinned when he heard Gabriel whine.

  “Hands and knees,” he ordered as he reached for a condom.

  The moment Gabriel was in position and Lakyn was gloved up, he spread Gabriel’s cheeks wide and placed the tip of his cock at the hole that was winking at him, as if it were inviting him inside.

  Not one to disappoint, Lakyn pushed against Gabriel’s guardian muscles until he felt them give. He sighed as Gabriel’s channel wrapped around his cock, squeezing him perfectly. It was heaven and hell. Heaven because he couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment. Hell because once in he had to remain still as Gabriel adjusted.

  Clenching his teeth when those muscles contracted spasmodically around him, Lakyn fought for control he wasn’t sure he had at the moment.

  Then he only knew bliss when he heard Gabriel shout, “Move, damn it.”

  Not needing to be told twice, Lakyn grabbed Gabriel’s hips and thrust as deep as he could get before reversing direction. He set up a hard rhythm, needing to know Gabriel would feel him even tomorrow. It wasn’t something Lakyn normally thought about when having sex, yet, with Gabriel, it seemed imperative that this man not forget every moment they shared together.

  Too soon Lakyn felt that telltale tingling in the base of his spine. He wasn’t going to last much longer. He took one hand off Gabriel’s hip and moved it around to his thick girth, stroking him in time with his own thrusts.

  Sweet cries filled the air as Gabriel’s channel clamped down like a vise around Lakyn’s cock. Jets of warm fluid poured from Gabriel and onto Lakyn’s hand.

  Lakyn pushed in deep and froze. His balls unloaded and his seed filled the condom. The hand still gripping Gabriel’s hip held on tighter, most likely leaving bruises, but Lakyn couldn’t help it. He felt as if he were soaring and he had to hold on or risk never coming back down.