Tyler bit the inside of his cheek—hard. The urge to laugh was kicking his ass—doubly so since Jace was clueless, and every word the woman spoke was directed Jace’s way.
“I’m not sure,” Jace said, sounding regretful. “Really, we wanted to check out your services and see if anything caught our eye.”
A bright smile lit her face. She waved them inside. “That’s fine. There’re brochures on the counter. Look over the list and let me know what you need when I get back. If you think you’ll still be here, I could bring you a glass of wine from the bar.”
Jace didn’t look anywhere near as uncomfortable as he should have, considering the woman probably intended to slip a roofie in his drink. “No, thank you. I can’t promise we’ll still be here, and I don’t want to put you out.”
“Okay, well, I’ll hurry.” The woman grabbed a sign and stuck it in the sand in front of the tent’s opening, informing everyone she was temporarily closed. “This way, you’ll definitely be first when I get back,” she said with a wink as she headed out, leaving them alone inside the makeshift hut.
Tyler waited until the woman’s shadow disappeared before speaking up. “She said fifteen minutes. I wonder how accurate that timing is?”
“Why?”
“Because I want to do this,” Tyler said, smacking Jace’s ass hard enough his palm stung. Jace had it coming, even though Tyler couldn’t decide if it was more for not believing him when he said the man was hot, or for letting that woman flirt with him. A low moan filled with longing escaped Jace before Jace bit his bottom lip, stifling the sound.
Tyler’s gaze fixated upon him. “Oh my God. You liked that,” he accused.
Jace’s gaze skittered away. He didn’t respond.
Tyler spanked the man again. This time, he was watching, and Jace couldn’t hide the desire written in his every line. Lust slammed into Tyler’s gut. His dick stood at attention. Tyler’s mouth went dry. He wanted to push Jace, see how far the man would go. After the first time they’d slept together, Tyler had tried taming his nature. Now his kinks were clawing at his skin. He needed to know.
Tyler pulled Jace deeper inside the hut. Once they were somewhat hidden from sight, Tyler dove his hand inside Jace’s swim trunks. Jace went from half-hard to stiff in an instant against Tyler’s palm. There was no calling his desire back now.
“I want inside you.”
Jace’s gaze collided with his. “Now?”
Tyler nodded. “I can make you come before the spa woman returns.” Without waiting for Jace to agree, Tyler inspected the oils around the massage table. When he found something he could use, he shoved his shorts down and coated his cock in the oily liquid. “Shorts off, Jace. I’m about to fuck you.”
Jace glanced around as if looking for an escape. There wasn’t one. “What if we get caught?” he hissed.
Tyler stroked himself, taunting Jace with the sight. “Shorts off,” he repeated.
With his bottom lip held between his teeth and blushing, Jace shoved his shorts down his hips. Triumph roared through Tyler’s veins. He didn’t waste any time leaning Jace over the table and pushing his way inside.
“Goddamn,” Jace cursed as he took Tyler to the hilt. A woman walked past the opening of the massage stand. They froze. Her back was to them. She paused as if searching for something. Tyler put his hand over Jace’s mouth and pivoted his hips, moving slow. He pressed his lips to Jace’s ear. “What do you think will happen if she sees?” Jace couldn’t answer with his mouth covered. Tyler didn’t need a response. The woman moved on, taking away the chance of getting caught. “Too bad,” Tyler breathed. “Someone should witness me getting to pound this sexy ass. Damn, the way it grips my dick, pulling me deeper. Fuck. And this,” Tyler added, swiping his palm up Jace’s erection, wetting his hand with the man’s pre-cum. “Goddamn, you’re always leaking like you’re coming the whole time I’m inside you.” He licked his palm, savoring Jace’s salt.
Jace whimpered. His ass tightened on Tyler’s dick.
“Jesus, Jace.” Tyler pumped faster. “Let me see you come on that towel. Please? I need it.”
Jace grabbed the towel. He jacked his cock. Tyler tried getting deeper as Jace brought himself pleasure. Jace moaned. Tyler slapped his hand over the man’s mouth again. He was too close to get busted now. Jace tongued Tyler’s palm. Tyler’s mind went blank. This man would let Tyler do anything to him. He was fucking perfect. His orgasm hit without warning. Thankfully, Jace wasn’t far behind him. They rushed through cleaning up before they got thrown out. Even as he swiped away the mess, Tyler couldn’t stop staring at Jace. Jace had seriously just let Tyler fuck him in public. The fact they hadn’t been seen didn’t mean a thing. Tyler’s stomach was in knots. All the possibilities crowded his mind.
“What?” Jace asked when Tyler’s stare obviously became too much for him.
“Do you really want a massage?”
A slash of white teeth appeared. “I think I’m as relaxed as possible now. Why?”
“I don’t want to share you,” Tyler admitted, surprising even himself.
*
Jace let Tyler keep him holed up in the room until hunger had him begging for a break. His face burned every time he thought of what they’d done on the beach. Even now, Jace had no clue how Tyler had so easily convinced him to strip inside that hut. Butterflies stirred in his stomach each time he pictured the way Tyler had looked at him before telling him to take off his shorts. After years of feeling unwanted and unattractive, in one heated glance, Tyler had changed Jace’s entire mindset. He’d felt powerful—like he’d driven Tyler to the point he couldn’t make it back to their room without having Jace. Being with Tyler was liberating in a way Jace couldn’t articulate.
They chose a table outside near one of the resort’s many pools. There was a bar slash club in a glass-enclosed ballroom within sight. The music inside spilled out into the restaurant, but not so loudly they couldn’t hear each other speak. From where they sat, they could see the club’s patrons on the dance floor and see the bartender slinging drinks. Jace ordered a daiquiri and Tyler asked for a beer. As they waited for their drinks, Tyler stared at the menu. Jace stared at Tyler.
His beard was getting thick. Damn, Jace loved the way it felt against his bare skin. He had beard burn in so many places, Jace should be blushing. Wasn’t happening. Even after hours of playtime, he still wanted to lick the cords of Tyler’s neck and beg the man to go back upstairs with him. His stomach growled, reminding him of the food he’d begged for earlier. Tyler’s gray eyes lit with humor as he glanced up from the menu and caught Jace staring.
“What are you thinking about?”
“You,” Jace answered without an ounce of shame.
Dimples appeared at the corners of Tyler’s mouth. “I meant, what are you thinking about getting?”
“Oh.” Jace dropped his gaze to his menu. Heat filled his cheeks. “Um. I have no idea. What about you?” he asked, meeting Tyler’s stare once more.
Tyler was chewing his bottom lip and watching Jace with hunger in his eyes. Jace could barely breathe. “Let’s go back to the room.”
A chuckle escaped Jace. “Food. It’s time for food,” Jace reminded Tyler, hoping he wouldn’t give in to temptation. Seriously, they needed to eat if they wanted to keep up this pace.
“They have room service.”
Jace wondered why they hadn’t thought of this glorious amenity earlier. “That’s true.” Even Jace was shocked by how levelheaded he sounded, considering how his dick stirred at the realization they could go back to the room and still have dinner.
Tyler cast a quick glance around. “Damn. Where did that waitress—hey. It’s Jimmy and Eli.”
Jace’s head whipped around. Jimmy and Eli were seated two tables over. As if they felt their combined stare, the pair glanced over. Jimmy’s bright smile took Jace by surprise. The man had changed so much since meeting Eli. At one time, that bit of knowledge would’ve bothered Jace. Now he only felt r
elieved Jimmy hadn’t curled up in a bottle and died. Jace glanced Tyler’s way. His pride for Jimmy showed in his every line. His own smile grew in response.
“We should invite them to eat with us.”
Tyler’s gaze shot to Jace’s at the offer and lingered. “Are you sure?”
It drove Jace a little crazy Tyler worried over his feelings every second of the day as if his own didn’t matter. “Of course. We came here for them. Not to mention, now is your chance to get some quality time with Jimmy.”
“I thought you wanted room service.”
“For the love of—would you go ask them to join us already?”
Instead of doing as Jace urged, Tyler waved at them and pointed at the empty seats at their table. Eli and Jimmy exchanged words before coming to their feet.
A snort left Jace. “Or you could wave them over.”
Tyler winked. “You’ve had me hard since agreeing to go back upstairs. No way was I walking up to Jimmy with my hard dick all in his face.”
A bark of laughter escaped Jace. He slapped his hand over his mouth, trying to hold back the sound.
“I’m surprised to see you here this early,” Eli said, pulling their focus his way.
Tyler sounded happy when he responded. His tone had Jace’s smile growing by the second. “We decided to come a few days early and get in a much-needed vacation.”
The pair moved their chairs closer before sitting. Jimmy looked at Jace. “I know it’s been decades since Tyler’s had any time off. How long has it been for you?”
Jace shrugged. “I don’t know if it counts as a vacation, but I went to New York a few months ago with Adam to help him find a place to live.”
“Adam is living in New York?”
“Who’s Adam?” Eli asked at the same time.
Jimmy answered, saving Jace from having to explain. “He’s Jace’s nephew. Jace has raised him since his parents passed several years ago.”
Eli nodded.
Jace answered Jimmy’s earlier question. “He moved to New York to take an internship, doing makeup for stars and models.”
“That’s amazing,” Eli said. His sweet smile gave Jace the impression he meant it.
Tyler linked his fingers through Jace’s under the table. Jace’s spine relaxed against the chair at the contact. “Yeah, well, he’s young. He should get at least one chance to follow his dreams. I’m glad he was brave enough to take the leap.” As Jace said the words, he realized Adam and Eli were probably very close to being the same age. It was almost funny. At one time, he’d seen Eli as young too, but now he’d gotten to know the man. Now Eli seemed closer to the rest of them in age. Life had aged him well beyond his years.
The waitress showed up with two waters with lemon and saved Jace from saying as much aloud. “I thought I’d lost you two for a minute there,” she said, setting the waters in front of them.
“We spotted family and decided to join them,” Jimmy said, answering for them. Tyler’s grip tightened on Jace’s hand at the claim.
“It’s a small world,” she said, sounding as if she was merely holding up her end. “Is everyone ready to order?” As she went around the table, taking everyone’s order, Jace stared at Tyler’s profile. Jimmy had called the man family again. Tyler’s reaction made Jace want to take back everything he’d said outside the gym that day. At the time, he’d been angry and hurt. He hadn’t considered how his words cut. Now he realized how much Jimmy meant to Tyler. He was the same with Jimmy as Jace was with Adam. Jace wanted them to have a real shot at being family.
Jace waited until their server left them alone before speaking up. “So, Jimmy, you must have some awesome stories about Tyler.”
Jimmy brought Eli’s hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to the back of it before responding. “Not me. I’m not the one with the stories. Tyler is the one who used to come home and tell me about all the craziness he dealt with that day.”
“Really?” Jace asked. Even he could hear the disbelief in his voice. Tyler never talked about work.
A low chuckle rumbled from Tyler. “I was a patrol officer back then. Things were different. I could see the humor in the bullshit. Now there’s nothing about my job I want to talk about.”
“I think I want to hear some of these stories,” Eli said, keeping the conversation rolling.
Every time Tyler glanced Eli’s way, his expression underwent a subtle change. He became softer, as if adjusting to Eli’s needs. This man, he was so fucking amazing. Jace’s heart swelled with pride.
“I pulled over the governor for speeding once.”
“Gave him a ticket too,” Jimmy added.
Tyler shook with laughter. Yet he still traced a pattern on Jace’s hand without stopping. “In my defense, I didn’t like him.”
Jimmy took a sip of water. “Is that still a black mark on your record?”
“It was worth it,” Tyler said with a shrug.
Jace couldn’t concentrate. Tyler’s hair fell in just the right way. Good humor shone brightly in the man’s eyes. He was perfect. “You’re amazing.” Tyler’s gaze moved to Jace. His mouth lifted in one corner, making him look cocky. Jace’s mouth watered in response. God help Jace. He might kill anyone if they tried taking this man from him.
*
Tyler could barely concentrate with Jace watching him the way he was. There was so much heat coming from Jace’s stare, Tyler wondered if anything he said made sense. He was on top of the world and didn’t have enough words to express his jubilation. Tyler wondered if his body would withstand the torment of this dinner. Their bed called his name. He somehow made it through the meal by telling tale after tale of his time on the force. Every time he thought the topic had gone stale, Jimmy remembered another one.
“Tell the story of the orange juice ass whoopin’. I still crack up when I think about it,” Jimmy said, pulling Tyler’s focus away from eating Jace alive with his gaze.
Tyler snorted at Jimmy’s request. “Ha. I’d forgotten all about that.” Jace stared at him expectantly. There was no way he was passing up on holding Jace’s attention. “Okay, so when I first started as a patrol officer, I got a call about an attempted robbery in the parking lot of an apartment complex. When I showed up, there was this tiny blonde woman sitting calmly on the curb with a gallon of orange juice by her feet. The EMTs were treating this behemoth of a woman. She was covered in tattoos and looked mean as hell, but she was also bleeding from several cuts on her face, arms, and head. Anyhow, as I approached the little blonde, she smiled up at me. She had such a sweet smile. When she spoke, her voice was soft and with deference to my position. So, I asked her what happened.”
Having already heard the story, Jimmy chuckled. Tyler bit back a laugh and continued. “She said she’d pulled into her usual parking space and popped the trunk of her car to get out her groceries. When she circled the car, the other woman had approached her, saying, ‘You shouldn’t leave your trunk standing open while you carry your groceries in. Someone might steal your shit.’ The blonde said the way the other woman spoke immediately had her hackles up. She told the tattoo lady, ‘One, I’m still standing here, so no one’s stealing from me. B, mind your business.’ At the lecture, the tattooed woman reached around her and snagged a gallon of orange juice and calmly walked away. She said, ‘I thought, oh, this bitch thinks I won’t fight her. Long story short, I got my juice back,’ she said toeing the gallon at her feet.” Tyler swiped his eyes. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This other woman was four times the size of this tiny blonde. Before I could temper my reaction, I said, ‘What the hell were you thinking? She could’ve killed you. What if she’d had a gun? Or a knife? Or hell, she could’ve beaten your head into the pavement. All for a gallon of juice.’ The woman shrugged and said, ‘I was thinking I’d stood in line behind some hooch super-couponing for twenty minutes to get that orange juice.’ She looked at me and her face hardened. I almost took a step back because I could see the crazy in her eyes. She said, ‘Bet
she don’t steal again.’”
Jace’s laughter made Tyler wish he could keep him that way forever.
“I’m guessing you have thousands of these stories.”
Tyler nodded. “But most involve pulling over people with objects shoved up their ass. Drugs, live ammunition, sex toys while just out for a drive. Seriously, we’re living in a generation of people with crazy shit up their asses.”
Tyler had to force himself to stop staring at the way Jace’s eyes shone with happiness. He focused on Eli and Jimmy. At some point, he’d lost them. They were sitting with their heads together, quietly talking. Pride rose in Tyler’s chest and choked him. All this. This was what he’d dreamed of for Jimmy—a normal life. Happiness. Jimmy deserved all of it. He’d paid for it in blood. Tyler blinked. His eyes burned. He wished there was some way he could express how he felt, but Jimmy would never accept it. This was as close as they’d ever be. It had to be enough.
Jimmy’s head jerked up, as if he heard something in the distance. He smiled at Eli. “They’re playing the first song we ever danced to. Let’s go.” He stood and grabbed Eli’s hand, all but dragging Eli from his seat. Eli’s laughter let Tyler know he wasn’t bothered. As the door to the bar opened, music spilled out. Tyler could see the pair through the glass. He watched as Jimmy pulled Eli into his arms on the dance floor.
“You’re so fucking proud you can’t stand it,” Jace said, capturing Tyler’s attention.
Tyler flashed Jace a sad smile. “When I took Jimmy in, he was like an injured wolf. He snapped and snarled. I knew he’d either heal or rip my throat out while I slept.”
“Why’d you do it?” Jace asked, taking Tyler by surprise. “I mean, no one would’ve batted an eye had you taken him to a foster-care home and left him to his fate. That’s what any one of your co-workers would’ve done.”
Tyler’s lips twisted into a sad smile. He reached over and took Jace’s hand before bringing it to his lips. “You don’t want to hear this.”
Jace looked thoughtful. “Yeah, I think I do. It’s part of you, and I’m coming to realize I want all of you.”
Unarm (Hooked Book 5) Page 8