by Lynn LaFleur
“Kory and I are on the volunteer fire department. Four beeps means a structure fire that isn’t a house.” Kirk pulled off his sweatpants, tossed them on the unmade bed. “That smoke is in the direction of the saltwater injection disposal site about seven miles east of town.” He pulled on briefs, walked into his closet, and came out with a pair of jeans and boots.
“What does that mean?”
“It’s owned by Tharwood Energy. Could be lightning struck one of the storage tanks.” He sat on the edge of the bed long enough to pull on his boots, then grabbed his cell phone, keys, and wallet from the top of the dresser. “I have to go.”
“Go. I’ll clean up the kitchen and lock the door when I leave.”
Kirk gave him a quick kiss before he jogged past him, stopping only long enough to grab his jacket from the coatrack before he ran out the door.
“Holy shit,” Kirk breathed when the fire truck pulled to a stop several yards from the fire. Black smoke shot straight up before being caught by the wind and whipped into a hideous dance. Six of the eight storage tanks burned.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Clay Spencer, their fire chief, yelled.
Kirk hurried over to where Dylan Westfield and Quade Easton prepared to fight the fire with the department’s new foam truck. Thanks to a generous contribution when one of Lanville’s citizens passed away in September, the department had been able to purchase the truck that dispensed firefighting foam. The foam was used to fight specific types of blazes, including oil-and gas-related fires. Several of the firefighters had been instructed on how to use the foam, including Kirk. Made to extinguish flammable liquids, it coated the fuel source, preventing contact with oxygen, which snuffed out the fire.
Lanville’s ambulances arrived, along with fire trucks from neighboring towns. Kirk noticed them out of the corner of his eye, but he focused on getting in position on one of the two hoses that would disperse the foam. He gripped it tightly, knowing there would be a kick when the foam started flowing through his hose.
Several other firefighters got into position to help. A shift in the wind blew the black smoke toward the men. Kirk couldn’t see for several moments, but trusted his leaders to guide him and the other firefighters.
Rain began to fall as the foam left the hoses. He stood two men back from Quade, who held the nozzle that would adjust the foam’s flow. Lightning lit up the sky, thunder rolled. The rain increased until it came down so hard, it bounced off the cement almost to Kirk’s knees. Thankful for the protection of his turnout gear, he kept his position on the hose for almost thirty minutes, until the last flame died.
Kirk knew there would be spot checks to be sure all the fire had been extinguished. He waited for instructions from his chief as to the direction he should take. Kory joined him, and Clay sent them in the same direction.
Now that the danger of the fire had passed and the routine cleanup started, Kirk let his mind drift back to last night with Josh. He wanted many more nights exactly like it, falling asleep with his arms wrapped around his lover. Having those nights in Lanville would be impossible if he wanted to keep his secret. He couldn’t leave town without telling Kory, and his brother would wonder why Kirk would go out of town without taking Kory since they did so many things together.
He could do what he should’ve done years ago—be honest with Kory.
Kirk blew out a heavy breath. He didn’t look forward to that conversation at all.
Josh paced back and forth in his cabin, unable to do much of anything else with the rain pouring down outside. He kept going to the window and looking out, hoping to see Kirk drive up. Although Kirk hadn’t said anything about seeking out Josh once the fire had been extinguished, Josh hoped he would.
Kirk, a volunteer firefighter. Josh already admired the man for his work ethic and the way he got along so well with people. Now he had another reason to admire him. Josh thought fighting fires to be one of the noblest, most courageous occupations a man could have. And Kirk did it out of the goodness of his heart, simply to help people. He didn’t get any kind of compensation for putting his life out there to save someone else’s life.
Warmth spread throughout Josh’s chest at having met such a special man.
He already cared more for Kirk than he had any other man in his life. He hadn’t come to Lanville looking for love. He’d come here to work for two to three months before he moved on to the next town in his journey across the U.S. While he liked the small town, he couldn’t see living here the rest of his life.
Perhaps Kirk would go with him. They could travel together, see the entire U.S. Josh had plenty of money to support them for the rest of their lives.
As soon as that thought formed, Josh knew it wouldn’t work. Kirk had a life here with his family and his friends and the business that would be his and Kory’s someday. Josh had no right to try and take him away from everything and everyone Kirk loved.
The slamming of a car door filtered through the rain pounding on the roof. Josh hurried to open the cabin’s door. He pulled it wide as Kirk raised his hand to knock.
Kirk smiled. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. Get in here.”
Kirk stepped over the threshold. Raindrops dotted his hair. An invisible trail of the rain-scented liquid soap Kirk used followed him. He must have gone home to shower after putting out the fire, before he came over here.
Needing to know for sure his lover hadn’t been injured, he drew Kirk into his arms, held him tightly. “I was worried about you.”
Kirk returned his hug. “I’m fine.”
“So everything went okay with the fire?”
“Yeah. We put it out and did the cleanup in about an hour.” Kirk stepped back, took off his jacket, and draped it over the straight-backed chair at the desk. He wore a blue crewneck sweater almost the same color as his eyes. His gaze swept the room. “This is nice.”
“It’s comfortable. Nice bed and cable is included in the rental price.” He motioned toward the small kitchenette with its combination microwave and convection oven, mini-fridge, and two-burner cooktop. “Not as nice as cooking in your kitchen, but I make do.”
Kirk stepped closer to him. “You can cook in my kitchen any time you want to.” He cradled Josh’s nape. “Or sleep in my bed.”
The desire in Kirk’s eyes sent blood rushing to Josh’s dick. Now that he knew for sure Kirk hadn’t been hurt, he could concentrate on getting him naked. Grabbing a fistful of Kirk’s sweater, he tugged it away from Kirk’s chest. “This has to go.”
In a flash, Kirk pulled off the sweater and tossed it in the direction of the desk. Josh took a moment to admire the wide shoulders and strong arms before he kissed the center of Kirk’s chest. He kissed his way to a nipple, gave it a long lick before drawing it between his lips to suckle.
“God,” Kirk muttered.
Taking that to mean Kirk liked the attention to his nipple, Josh switched to the other one. As he licked and sucked the hard nub, he slid his hand to the fly of Kirk’s jeans. A thick bulge pressed against the zipper. Josh unfastened the waistband button, lowered the zipper. His knuckles brushed hard flesh.
Kirk hadn’t bothered with underwear.
A low groan came from Kirk’s throat. He cradled Josh’s face, kissed him passionately. Josh accepted the kisses while he tugged apart the placket of Kirk’s jeans. His lover’s cock sprang up, full and hard. Wrapping his hand around it, Josh pumped the firm column while they continued to kiss.
Soon only touching Kirk’s dick wasn’t enough. Josh ended their kiss, guided Kirk to the bed. As soon as Kirk sat down on the edge, Josh leaned over and took his partner’s cock in his mouth. Kirk released that sexy groaning sound again and arched his hips.
“God, Josh, you do that so good.”
Doing something he loved took no effort at all. The fact that it pleased Kirk made it even sweeter for Josh. Running his tongue along the heavy veins, he slowly moved back to the crown. A drop of pre-cum already seeped from the slit. Josh l
apped it up.
“You taste good.” Josh licked his way down to Kirk’s balls and nuzzled them. “You smell good, too.”
Gripping the back of Josh’s shirt, Kirk tugged on it until Josh lifted his head. Fire flashed from Kirk’s blue eyes. “You. Naked. Now.”
Josh wanted the same thing. Rising to his feet, he quickly pulled off his henley and threw it in the direction of Kirk’s sweater. He pushed his jeans and briefs down his legs, pulled them and his socks off at the same time. Leaning over once more, he gripped the waistband of Kirk’s jeans. “Lift.”
Kirk did. One good yank and Josh sent Kirk’s jeans, socks, and boots to land somewhere on the floor.
Kirk uncovered one of the pillows on the bed, stuffed it beneath his stomach. He lowered his head to his folded arms and spread his legs wide apart.
Josh suspected what Kirk wanted, but had to be sure. He stretched out on top of his lover, his dick nestled in the warm cleft between Kirk’s buttocks. “You want to be fucked?”
“Yeah.”
A nip on Kirk’s earlobe made him moan again. “How about my tongue in your ass first?”
“God, yes.”
Josh kissed Kirk’s nape while caressing his shoulders. He could see the pulse pounding in Kirk’s neck, could hear his rapid breathing. Josh continued to drop kisses down the center of his lover’s back until he reached his ass. Each cheek received a gentle nip with his teeth. “You have a great ass.”
Kirk arched his back and lifted his ass higher. “Stop being so slow.”
“I told you I like to savor.” He ran his tongue down the crack, stopped at the top of Kirk’s anus. “I like the buildup.”
Rising to his elbow, Kirk looked at Josh over his shoulder. “I’ve been anticipating your dick in my ass ever since you mentioned it last night. That’s enough buildup.”
Josh considered teasing Kirk a bit more, but the lust darkening Kirk’s eyes changed his mind. Josh pulled apart Kirk’s cheeks, drove his tongue into his partner’s ass.
“Fuck!” Kirk yelled.
Kirk could yell all he wanted to. In fact, Josh wanted to hear that sound of Kirk’s pleasure. He had purposely picked the most isolated cabin for privacy in case he met someone in Lanville and they came here for sex. Plus the pounding rain created a natural barrier to sound.
Pulling Kirk’s cheeks even farther apart, Josh began tongue-fucking his ass. Kirk lifted his hips to meet Josh’s tongue every time it dove inside, lowered them when Josh withdrew. It took only a few moments for them to establish the perfect rhythm, one he hoped would bring Kirk to a climax.
On second thought, he wanted to see Kirk come.
Josh rose to his knees. Kirk groaned again, but this time in protest. “Don’t stop! Man, that feels good.”
“It’ll feel even better as soon as I get my dick in your ass.”
Josh reached in the nightstand by the bed, removed lube and a condom. He rolled on the protection, then applied plenty of lube to his dick and Kirk’s anus. “Do you need me to prepare you with my fingers?”
“No. Just fuck me.”
Placing the head of his cock on the puckered hole, he slowly pushed until the crown slipped past the tight muscle and stopped to let Kirk get used to it.
Leaning forward, Josh braced himself with his straight arms and slid his dick in another inch. He pulled back, pushed forward a bit more. Back, forward, back, forward, until his balls rested against Kirk’s skin. He remained still for several seconds, letting Kirk adjust some more, before he moved again. He drew back until only the crown remained inside his lover’s ass, then glided his cock all the way inside him again.
“My God, that feels good,” Kirk said in a raspy voice.
It felt good to Josh, too, but he wanted more. He wanted to look into Kirk’s eyes while they fucked.
He pulled all the way out, nipped both cheeks with his teeth. “Turn over.”
Kirk did as ordered. He held both his legs behind the knees so they spread wide open. Josh wasted no time in thrusting completely inside the other man again. He watched Kirk’s eyes slide closed as a look of pure bliss covered his face.
Josh began a gentle pumping motion. “Jesus, you’re tight.” He picked up the speed of his thrusts. “Love the feel of my dick in your ass.”
“So do I.” Kirk opened his eyes, stared into Josh’s. “It’s perfect.”
Josh slid one arm beneath Kirk’s leg so Kirk could release it and have one hand free. Kirk touched Josh’s shoulders, chest, stomach, hips. Fingertips dug into Josh’s butt, urged him closer. Josh answered Kirk’s silent request and pumped quicker.
“Yeah, like that.” Kirk’s eyes almost singed Josh with their heat. “Just like that.”
Needing even more contact, Josh wrapped his free hand around Kirk’s hard cock and milked it while he drove his shaft more firmly into Kirk’s ass. The base of his spine tingled, his balls drew up tight. He wouldn’t be able to hold back his climax much longer.
Veins popped out in Kirk’s neck and temples. His body quivered, his cock twitched. Warm cum shot from the slit to land on his belly and chest.
Now that his lover had come, Josh thrust his dick all the way into Kirk’s ass and let his orgasm envelop him.
7
Kirk lay in the circle of Josh’s arms beneath a quilt, content to be close to his lover while he listened to the sound of the rain. The thunder and lightning had stopped, leaving a slow, soaking rain that would help put a dent in the drought.
“Are you asleep?” Josh whispered.
“No. Just enjoying the rain.”
Josh slowly caressed Kirk’s chest and stomach. “Aren’t you supposed to be at your folks’ house for lunch?”
“Yeah, at one-thirty. Kory called them on the way to the fire to tell them we’d be late.” Kirk glanced at the digital clock radio on the nightstand. “Which gives us about twenty-five minutes to get there.”
“Do you still want me to go with you?”
Unsure why Josh would ask that question, Kirk turned over so he could look into his lover’s eyes. “Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?”
Josh scooted closer until their flaccid cocks brushed together. “I don’t go around shouting ‘I’m gay,’ but I don’t hide it either. If for some reason the subject comes up with your parents, I won’t tell them we’ve been together, but I won’t lie about my sexuality.”
“You think my parents are gonna say, ‘hey, Josh, are you gay’?”
“Not that crass, no, but the subject could come up.”
Kirk played with the dark hair on Josh’s chest. “Do your parents know you’re gay?”
“Yeah. I told them as soon as I figured it out. They were and still are very supportive. They only want my happiness.” Josh propped up on one elbow. “You should tell your parents, Kirk. You’d feel better if you didn’t carry around such a huge secret.”
Kirk rolled to his back, ran his hands over his face. “How do I do that? I can’t just blurt out, ‘oh, by the way, I’m gay.’ ”
“A little more finesse would be good, but basically that’s what you do. You have to be honest with them, and with the rest of your family and friends. Don’t you think they’ll wonder why you aren’t getting involved with any of the women around here? You’re a very good-looking guy and several women who come in the store obviously have the hots for you. Kalinda would attack you if you gave her any hint of interest.”
Frustration welled up inside Kirk at the thought that he would have to go through this. “Why is it such a big deal to some people who someone has sex with? Being gay doesn’t define who I am. I’d still have blond hair and blue eyes if I was straight.”
“That’s true. And I know it can be maddening. I’ve gone through some gay bashing from people I considered friends. One minute I’m a great guy and fun to be around, the next I’m an outcast simply because I prefer men in my bed. Never has made sense to me.” Josh laid his hand on Kirk’s stomach. “You’ve been with women, haven’t you?”
> “Yeah, several times. I’ve partied with Kory and that always meant women. They never … appealed to me.”
“The same with me. While my high school buds were ogling the cheerleaders, I was admiring the football players’ asses in those tight uniform pants.”
Kirk grinned. “I know what you mean.” His grin faded as quickly as it formed. “I don’t want to lose anyone I love.”
Josh cradled Kirk’s cheek in his palm. “If they truly love you back, you won’t lose them.” He leaned over and gave Kirk a gentle kiss. “Now, we should get dressed and head for your parents’ house. I’m hungry for your mom’s fried chicken.”
Kirk agonized over when and how to tell Kory and his parents about being gay over the next week. He finally decided he’d wait for a natural time to bring up the subject. He wasn’t quite sure what would be a “natural time,” but putting it off as long as possible seemed good to him.
His plan fell apart when Josh invited him to go to Dallas over the weekend. Josh said they could have dinner with his parents Saturday night, then spend Sunday doing whatever Kirk wanted to do—eat out, go to a movie, go to the Cowboys game since they played at home this week. His father’s law firm owned a suite at the stadium and Josh could go to any home game he wanted.
Kirk couldn’t tell Kory he might go to a Cowboys game Sunday and not invite him. Kory would be crushed.
The “natural time” popped up a lot sooner than Kirk wanted. He couldn’t put off talking to his brother any longer.
Instead of hunting down Kory at work, Kory found him right before lunch. He stuck his head in the office while Kirk sorted bills for payment.
“Hey, bro, want to come over tonight and watch Thursday Night Football?”
It would be the perfect opportunity to talk to his brother. “Sure.”
Kory smiled. “You pick up a pizza, I’ll get the beer.”
“Deal.”
Once Kory left, Kirk leaned back in his chair and blew out a breath. He and Kory had shared so much since the day they were born. Kirk didn’t know what he’d do if Kory pushed him away after Kirk admitted the truth regarding his sexuality.