by Willa Okati
Slowly, he raised his hand to Seth's, covering it with his fingers. "I've ached for you for so long," he admitted. "Probably from the first moment I saw you. You're damned good-looking, you know that?"
The two shared a laugh. "It's not on purpose," Seth offered.
"Dumbass. I know. It was lust at first sight, sure, but you were straight. Shut up. You were, back then. I didn't have any idea this might happen. So I got to know you better, and the more I learned about you, the more I liked what I found. You're a fine cop, a good man, and a great friend. I watched you day after day, and none of the men I dated once or twice even came close to measuring up. You were the yardstick, Seth." Clay shook his head. "I couldn't believe it when you let me touch you… all the way. I thought I'd explode, but I thought for sure you didn't care about me in that way. I was just an experiment. I couldn't stand that when I loved you as much as I did. So I ran."
Seth shut his eyes tightly. After a moment, he shook his head. "We are two messed up fellas, aren't we?" he asked ruefully.
"You could say that." On impulse, Clay slipped off the chair and down onto his knees beside Seth. "So, we've got the basics covered. You're the ship, and I'm the anchor. You're hanging on and I'm full speed ahead."
Seth's cheeks pinked. "More or less. That is, if you're willing."
"I don't think willing is a strong enough word." Clay pressed in closer, gripping Seth's hands in his own. "More like jumping up and down and screaming yes!"
Seth laughed brokenly. "I kept going over and over things in my mind, right? The stuff we have scattered around the house. That broken conch shell we played football with. Your bottles of every-flavor juice that crowded out my plain old O.J. The way you always told me to wear my helmet." He squeezed Clay's hands. "How relieved you looked every single time I came home. And then I realized, we were home. Both of us together. We were what made that house a home. It's a cliché, but it's true."
"Like we belong together," Clay said quietly. "It's how I've always felt, too. Leave it to Anthony to figure out the real skinny before either of us did."
"Nothing like a woman." Seth sighed and leaned in so that his forehead touched Clay's. "It was the dumbest idea I've ever come up with, trying to convince Sophie I was gay, but on the other hand, it was the greatest stroke of luck ever. Better than Babe Ruth on a winning streak."
"You're mixing your metaphors."
"Isn't that allowed when you're spilling your heart?"
"I'll let it slide." Clay pressed his lips to Seth's forehead. Chaste, easy, slow. "What about this? Can you let this slide?"
Seth's hands tightened around Clay's. "No," he said hoarsely. "Not when I want to come along for the ride. And I do, Clay. I swear, I do."
"Then follow my lead. Close your eyes." As soon as the lashes fluttered shut, Clay began laying kisses over the whole of Seth's face. Forehead, cheekbones, the tip of his nose, and, ever so lightly, over each closed eyelid. Finally, he reached Seth's mouth, and spoke, knowing that his breath would tickle -- "And here? Can I kiss you here?"
"God, but I wish you would," Seth whispered.
When their lips touched, Clay almost heard the violins begin to play and the fireworks go off overhead. "That's good," he said, short of breath, "but this is the way real men do it." He freed his hands from Seth's and reached up to tangle them in the man's hair.
His kiss turned from gentle to bruising, thrusting his tongue into a mouth that opened wide and willing for him. Two tongues wrapped around each other in a rough dance, thrusting at one another without any need to go easy to coax the other into playing. Clay nibbled at Seth's bottom lip, then soothed away the sting, and dived back in.
When he pulled away for air, Seth's eyes were dazed. "Wow," he said faintly. "So that's what it's all about."
"And more." Clay would have dived back in for a second kiss, but once again, Seth surprised him.
Loosening one of Clay's hands, Seth brought it down to touch his groin. Clay's lips parted at the feel of the hard erection underneath Seth's pants, straining upward at his zipper. "Seth?"
Seth looked at him with confusion. "Is it normal?" he asked. "To get this horny off just one kiss?"
Clay had to laugh. "Call it a good sign that you're where you want to be."
"This isn't where I want to be." Seth licked his lips, closing his eyes halfway. "I'd like to be back in the yard, on that blanket, listening to the waves and the seagulls. Feeling you beside me. Showing me things I may have heard of, but never felt."
"Nothing's stopping us from going home now," Clay whispered. "We can get up and drive there right this second."
Seth started to open his mouth, then closed it. He shook his head. "No. First, I have to get one thing straightened out."
"What could you possibly --"
"Sophie."
Clay sat back, stunned. "What?"
"I owe her an explanation. An apology. Something. She might have been a bitch, Clay, but we were together for months. She needs to know the truth about me, and why I really have changed now."
Clay sighed. "Damn your sense of honor."
"It always has gotten me into trouble." Shyly, Seth nuzzled at Clay's face. "Can I try what you just did sometime?"
"Go ahead now, if you want." Clay shut his eyes. There was a moment's pause, and then, spurring a burst in his heartbeat, he felt Seth's lips on his face. Light brushes over his face, somehow better than the rough kiss they'd shared. This was Seth, giving of himself for Clay's own pleasure. Freely, no pushing or shoving.
Finally, the lips came back down to rest on Clay's, and Clay wasn't able to hold it in any longer. Grabbing Seth around the middle, he tackled him down to the floor, careful not to make any noise. One hand snaked down between them and gripped Seth's hard-on. Seth made a strangled noise and bucked up, filling Clay's palm with the feel of solid male flesh.
"It gets better," Clay whispered. "Remember what I did last night?"
Seth blinked hazily. "You mean -- right here?"
"Not a blow job. Something else. Do you trust me?"
Seth gazed at Clay for a long moment. Finally, he nodded.
"Help me with these," Clay instructed, his fingers going to the snap and zip on Seth's jeans. Together, they pulled the restrictive garment down to his knees, and then the tight gray jockey shorts. Clay breathed in for a moment, savoring the raw smell of pure man. He reached to take the tempting column of flesh in his own hand --
But Seth stopped him. "Not only for me," he whispered. "I can see you, Clay. I can almost smell you. I don't want this to be a one-way street."
A thrill of excitement coursed through Clay's veins. "There is something different I can show you," he said. "Think you can be quiet?"
Seth nodded.
"Then help me with my own jeans." Clay's hands were shaking almost too hard to manipulate the fabric. Seth wasn't much better off, but between the two of them, they managed to get all obstacles out of the way.
Once he was bare, Seth stared. Clay let him, knowing that this was, again, something entirely new to Seth. One forefinger stole out to touch. When flesh made contact, Clay hissed.
Seth jerked back. "Jesus! Did I scratch you?"
Clay laughed. "No way, moron. I say that with love. You're doing just what I like best -- well, almost best. There is absolutely no wrong here. Go ahead and touch me. Feel me. Look at me. It's all right. I promise you."
Slow and cautious, Seth reached out to cup Clay's cock in his hand. He ran his fingers lightly up and down the shaft, tracing each vein and circling around the mushroom head. "It's different," he said at last, voice shaking. "Not like mine at all. I mean, I've seen others -- locker rooms, showers -- but never one up close. In my hand." Clay saw him struggle to get a grip on the moment. "I didn't imagine I'd ever hold one."
"Hush," Clay soothed. "No talking. No thinking, unless you're doubting yourself."
"I'm not."
"Then just let it go," Clay encouraged. "Let yourself feel all you want. Or," he
said, carefully unwrapping Seth's hand, "we can do this."
"What are you…"
"Ssh. Watch. And feel. Above all else, feel." Steadying his hands, Clay brought their two erections into contact, and then laid his hands on top of both, holding them together.
"Oh, God!"
"Quiet! Jeri's going to wonder what's going on." Clay reached over to kiss Seth's lips briefly. "No thoughts, now. Just feel."
And with that, he began to stroke their cocks together, rough and hard. The way a man liked it, quick and harsh. Seth strangled a cry by biting at his forearm, and the sight of him, caught in a passion he was only beginning to understand, was almost enough to drive Clay over the edge.
"It gets better," he encouraged, picking up the speed of his stroke. He paused to slick his hands with the pre-come dripping from both of their cocks. "Like this. Feel?"
Seth nodded, then threw his head back, eyes shut tight. "Close," he managed to say. "Way too close. It's the way you feel, Clay. You're making me crazy."
Clay laughed through his shortness of breath. "That's the way it should be." Releasing his grip, he dove down and sucked Seth's cock into his mouth. He rode the movement as Seth gasped and fell backwards on his ass, following through, never losing contact. When Seth was stable again, he slid as much of the shaft down his throat as he could, then drew back up slowly, applying the suction he knew felt so very good.
"Clay," Seth whispered raggedly, "Gonna. Gonna come. Can't wait."
It's okay, Clay told him silently, and lashed the head of Seth's cock with his tongue. He felt Seth's balls draw up tight, and then, at last, his mouth filled with salty fluid. Lapping up each drop, swallowing it down with absolute pleasure, he ignored his own hard-on for the pleasure of tasting Seth.
As he had the night before, Seth hung limp for a moment, then shook his head. "You, now. I want you."
"It's too soon, Seth…"
"Just a taste." Seth was gathering his legs beneath him, shining cock hanging between his legs. The sight of it had Clay's pulse racing. Seth licked his lips. "I want to. Please?"
Gently, but with the force of a strong man, Seth pushed Clay over onto his back. Clay went with the motion, too stunned to protest. Was Seth really doing this? Did he have any clue what he was getting into?
Apparently, he did. Lashing his tongue over his lips one more time, Seth dipped down and pressed a kiss to the tip of Clay's cock. "It tastes different," he whispered. "Strange, but good. Like you smell, only stronger."
"It gets better," Clay managed.
"Kind of a novice at this," Seth warned.
"Like I said before? There is no wrong here." Clay reached for Seth, only managing to brush his skin. "Just do what feels natural. But do it fast, will you? I'm this close to coming, and you're just -- God, you're just --"
Seth took pity on Clay by moving. Slowly, he slid his mouth over the head of Clay's cock, his tongue taking curious swipes. Clay groaned and flung an arm over his eyes.
For someone who didn't have much practice, Seth seemed to have natural talent. He found exactly the right places to put his hands, where to squeeze, and where to stroke. Clay felt his balls being rolled in Seth's palms, and almost lost it then and there.
"My turn to warn you," he gasped. "Don't swallow if you don't want. It's okay."
Seth shook his head gently, sucking hard. His cheeks hollowed out. He wanted this, Clay could tell.
"Seth --" he managed to choke out before his own orgasm fell on him like a ravening tiger, clawing its way out from the pit of his stomach and roaring out of his cock. He came with such force that he was afraid Seth would choke, but although he looked startled, Seth swallowed like a man. Dribbles escaped his lips, and he chased after them as Clay spurted into his mouth, down his throat, across his mouth.
When it was over, Clay felt boneless and limp as he ever had. Seth pulled off and sat above him, staring down with worried eyes. "Did I -- I mean, was that okay?"
"Okay?" Clay croaked. "Any better, and you'd have killed me. Come here." He held one arm open for Seth. Seth crawled down into the grip with only a little awkwardness.
"I didn't know how much guys could like to do this," he confessed.
"You have a lot to learn," Clay said into Seth's hair. "It's okay, though. I'm here for the ride. Anchors aweigh, remember?"
Seth laughed. "This is… nice," he said. "I never thought, you know? But it's good."
"Then just enjoy it." Clay paused. "Until Jeri kicks us out, that is."
"Let's not give her a chance to." Seth sat up, offering Clay his hand. "Let's go home. What do you say? You and me, back at the place where all this started. It's our place. Let's christen it the way it should be."
Clay let himself be pulled up. Seizing Seth by the shoulders, he gave the man a long kiss. "Sounds perfect to me," he murmured. "Clothes, and then home."
Seth gave him a sideways looks. "Is right about now when one of us is supposed to say, 'this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship'?"
Clay considered the question. "Probably. Do you think it applies?"
"I'm pretty sure it does." Seth's smile was bright as his eyes. "Come on, big guy. I want to get out of here."
"Ready to face whatever comes next?"
"Ready, willing, and able." Seth took a deep breath. "As long as you're there, I can handle this."
"And I'm not going anywhere." Clay stroked Seth's arm. "We're in this together. And we can both deal with Sophie."
He held out his hand. "Partners?"
Seth gave him the look that Clay had fallen in love with months ago. He shook Clay's hand. "Partners."
And together, Clay knew they could face whatever the world threw at them.