Avery positioned himself, pushed through the tight ring of muscle, and met with resistance. He broke out in a sweat, his hunger to claim Kane coursing through his body with every beat of his heart. The only need greater than his own release was his desire to give Kane exactly what he wanted. He needed to make love to Kane even if it killed him and at this point, it just might. "I don't wanna hurt you."
"You won't." Kane's grip on his legs visibly tensed, and he pulled his legs tighter to him. Avery rested his hand on the back of Kane's thigh and pushed in. Snug heat gripped him as he sheathed himself in Kane's snug passage. Avery clenched his jaw; nothing had ever felt this good. Nothing. Avery's head dropped forward between his shoulders, he wanted to bury himself so deep in Kane he actually ached. He took big, deep breaths, drawing air into his lungs while allowing Kane's body to adjust to his.
How is this already the best experience of my life?
"Ahh." Kane's hips began to roll, forcing Avery to move. It wasn't the best option, he was already too close. Avery fought the urge to pound into that delicious heat. He steeled himself, easing forward in a slow, gentle thrust of his hips.
"Love the burn of you stretching me," Kane said, wrapping his legs around Avery's waist, lifting his hips, urging him on. Kane's strong fingers dug into Avery's shoulders as his lover kept him close, writhing beneath him.
"Yeah." Avery concentrated on keeping his load contained, the feel of Kane's body enveloping him, holding him just right there while making love to him completely overwhelmed him. He was in over his head and he knew it. He welcomed it, in fact. This was the man for him, always.
"Feels amazing," Kane panted, his voice husky with need, his warm breath heavy in Avery's ear. How could just the sound of the man's voice drive him to desperately want to buck his hips and end this agony?
"Yeah," Avery managed between clenched teeth. Kane lifted Avery's head, brought their lips together, and kissed him rough and sweet as he increased their pace. Kane's canting hips opened his body wider, letting Avery sink farther into his tight, hot channel.
"Fuck!" A slick sheen of sweat formed on Avery as he fought for control, his grip tightening on the bedspread. They never stopped moving, the erotic friction never slowed, their pleasure building in a heated frenzy.
"You feel so good, babe." Avery finally reared back, breaking the embrace Kane had on him. He pushed himself up on one hand and reached between their sweat-slickened bodies. Avery wrapped his fingers around Kane's cock and pumped with purpose.
"Come for me, Kane." The command ground out between gritted teeth as Avery's hips pistoned wildly in and out of his lover's body.
Kane threw his head back, his mouth open in a silent scream as he came. Damn, he was so beautiful to watch. His release wasn't an earthshattering roar, but more the quiet elegance he'd learned was just Kane's way. Avery drove himself harder and deeper into Kane. The prickling spiral of heat gathering in the base of his spine spread quickly to his balls, causing his thrusts to falter.
Kane was indeed Avery's perfect gentleman. That thought and the scent of his lover's climax combined with the contracting of Kane's muscles was entirely too much to endure and sent him toppling over the edge. "I'm gonna…" He screwed his eyes shut as his orgasm burst from his body, shooting deep inside Kane's ass, staking his claim with his seed. This moment was too good, too right, and the bliss overwhelmed him, his arm gave out, and he fell down on Kane's body, satiated. And completely head over heels in love.
Chapter 9
Kane woke slowly, but tried to resist. He grinned, thankful he'd taken the time to buy new pillows and burrowed deeper in the plush softness. Time passed slowly as his brain finally began to override his need to sleep. He didn't remember buying anything new. He sat up immediately, looking around the room. Not his room. A second more ticked by before he recalled he was still in Avery Adams's bedroom. That had him jerking his head toward the other side of the bed, before scanning the room. Avery was nowhere to be found. His eyes landed on the alarm clock that sat on the nightstand—ten thirty in the morning. He fell back on the mattress.
Taking account of the different aches in his body, Kane started with his ass and then worked his way to his head. His mouth felt like it was full of cotton, he clearly had a hangover, and was late for work. He shoved all that aside and listened intently, trying to find Avery in the condo, but he heard nothing. Either Avery was extremely quiet or gone. He didn't know him well enough to even guess, so he sat up again and reached for the phone. He would search for Avery after he called the restaurant and made his excuses for being late. A bottle of Tylenol, a glass of water, and a note rested right beside the phone.
Anchoring on his elbow, Kane downed the pills first, before he flipped on the lamp to read the note. The light pierced his brain, not in a good way, before his eyes adjusted to the bright glare.
K,
I don't think you're a big drinker. I could be wrong, and yes, I did get you drunk to help get you through last night. Get me drunk tonight? Call me when you wake. I'm at the office. I didn't want to disturb you.
Always,
A
Kane read the note once, then twice, before he felt the silly grin on his face. The aches in his body completely forgotten as he read the note for the third time. The smile never left his face. Always… For some reason the word did seem to fit last night. The idea of them being just a one-night stand didn't capture their essence near as closely as the word Always. Worries that this man could be nothing more than a player setting his game resurfaced, but he shoved them aside. If this was how Avery Adams played, then let the games begin.
It took a second more for Kane to put his responsibilities over his heart's desires. He called the restaurant first and left a message on the answering service when no one answered. Then he called Avery, who picked up on the first ring.
"Avery Adams."
That was a tone of voice he hadn't heard before. Strong, self-assured, very much cut to the chase. Kane gave a pause. He had no idea what to say. When nothing came, he forced out a croaked, "Good morning."
"Good morning. I hoped it was you." Avery's voice changed instantly back into the kind, caring man from the night before.
"You left me sleeping," Kane said, still searching for something to say.
"You were completely out when I left. I showered, dressed, turned on the news and you never woke. I figured you needed it. Did leaving you sleeping mess up your day? I considered that, I just had no idea when you went in to work," Avery said.
"No, not really. I'm usually there by now, but I don't have to be.
Paulie's got it, I'm sure."
"How do you feel?" Avery asked, his voice lowering an octave.
"My heads hurts?" Kane answered, not going where he thought Avery might be leading.
"What about the other parts?" Avery asked in his sexy voice, and he could feel the blush heating his cheeks. He never openly talked about sex.
"I'm a little sore. Not bad," he answered honestly.
"Good. What do you think about tonight?" Avery clearly went after what he wanted.
"I have to work," Kane said.
"Come over after, like you did last night. I'll make sure you get up in the morning. We can set the alarm," Avery said, efficiently attempting to tie up any loose end he could see in his overall plan.
"All right, if you change your mind, call the restaurant," Kane said, finally pulling himself up to sit on the side of the bed, neither his ass nor head seemed comfortable with the move.
"I promise, I won't. Have a good day. You've made mine better already." Avery's voice was fully in that sexy low thing he pulled off so well.
Me too. I'll talk to you later," Kane said and hung up the phone.
He only sat there a minute before he forced himself to begin his day.
Chapter 10
"Someone got laid last night. Dude! About time," Rodney said as Kane walked through the restaurant, officially three hours late. He had to give Rodney credit,
his hands never stopped working the glasses into the ceiling rack of the bar. His eyes did narrow, examining Kane's face as he got closer. "You drank, too? A fuck and alcohol. Whoa, man! Give me five!"
"You don't know that," Kane said, shoving his sunglasses up on his face, ignoring the outstretched hand. He'd only worn them in a lame attempt to hide his bloodshot eyes. Of course, a bartender could pick up on someone with a hangover—it was usually his handiwork that created the situation.
"I absolutely do know. You're late, wearing sunglasses, squinting, and walking funny. Let me see your eyes," Rodney said, rounding the corner to get a better look.
"Paulie! Your boy's here," Rodney called out to Kane's retreating back.
"I seriously think you need to be fired," Kane said, pivoting back on his heels, shocked at what Rodney had just done. What the heck was Rodney thinking calling Paulie out here!
"Whatever. Paulie, he's been drinking. He needs to be in trouble," Rodney called out, crossing his arms over his chest, grinning big as Paulie came through the kitchen door, drying his hands off with a kitchen towel.
"Rod, leave the boy alone. He needed a good drunk fuck," Paulie said, his gravelly voice completely amused.
"I'm standing right here. I can hear everything you say," Kane said to both of them.
"He's walking funny, too," Rodney said, hitting Paulie in the shoulder. "Show him how you're walking funny, Kane."
"That's it. This is completely inappropriate. I don't ask you about your sex life, I don't need you asking me." Kane went straight through the back doors to his office.
"I wasn't askin'. See how he's walking, Paulie?" Rodney made a big production, calling out after him. Kane could hear Paulie's cackle all the way back to his office. For good measure, Kane slammed his office door and then winced at the loud bang. Why had he done that? Not a smart move considering his present condition. Kane dropped down in his desk chair, pulled out a few more aspirin from his desk drawer, and downed them dry. The clock chimed noon, sounding very much like church bells reverberating right through his office. He let out an unsteady sigh, and prayed the medicine kicked in soon; he never let himself drink that much. He hadn't been at the restaurant for ten minutes and this already felt like an incredibly long day. The knock on his door had him narrowing his brow.
"Who is it?" Kane barked.
"Philip," the new waiter called out.
"If you're alone, you can come in," Kane said, pulling the receipts from last night's totals.
"Rodney said you needed this?" Philip said, bringing him a large piece of foam packing material from the wine bottles shipped into the restaurant.
"What for?" Kane looked up, clearly confused, but took what was being offered.
"He said you needed it to sit on." Philip looked sincere, but the bark of laughter from the other side of the door showed the kid had been set up. Kane stifled a chuckle, because Philip still didn't understand what he had done, or why it was so funny to everyone now gathering in his doorway. Kane tossed the foam and the kid out of his office and slammed the door again with a smile on his face.
Avery sat on the end of the bar at La Bella Luna, perched on the barstool he'd taken up residence on for the last couple of hours. Out of nothing more than desperation, and his inability to stay away from this man, he'd shown up at the restaurant around nine thirty. Kane and his crew didn't seem to mind him being there, so that was where he stayed—at the bar, out of the way of the busy dining room. Rodney kept him company as he could and supplied him with endless information about Kane. The more Avery heard, the more he liked.
Kane, for his part, pretty much ignored Avery—other than the first few minutes after his arrival at the bar. Kane went on about his night, running the restaurant like a well-oiled machine. There was nothing Kane couldn't do, no part of the operation he didn't jump in and help along when needed. If the kitchen got behind, he cooked. If the bar needed help, he mixed drinks. Kane cleaned tables, served food, and sat customers all with the patience of Job.
Rodney kept Avery's signature drink, Chivas and water, full, and Avery had drunk several glasses over the last few hours. He was a believer in the benefits of drinking before bottoming. If this continued between him and Kane, he'd get more accustomed to the invasion, but for now, he needed the liquid encouragement and relaxation.
Avery popped a few peanuts in his mouth as Paulie came out of the kitchen, pulling off his cap, and took a seat beside him. He didn't remember Paulie being so short or wrinkled when they'd previously met at Avery's table. Avery wondered if he might have been in the military at some point. He'd guess a sailor. His arms were tattooed up and down, his voice was harsh and gravely, and he was very direct, in a good way.
"So you're interested in my boy?" Paulie asked, angling up on the stool beside him. Rodney placed a whiskey in front of the man before he ever fully took the seat.
"Yes, sir, I am," Avery said, matching Paulie's sideways glance, trying to hide the grin forming. For all of Kane's baggage with his biological family, he sure had a group of solid people in this restaurant all looking out for him.
"Are you a good guy or one of those hippie free-lifers?" Paulie asked, the disgust clear in his voice. Avery barked out a laugh, so did the bartender, but Paulie's expression made it clear he didn't see the humor.
"Well, sir, I'm not a hippie, I don't guess. My ancestry might actually roll over in their graves had I chosen an anti-government stance. I might have had a moment or two of free love, though, along the way. I can say, since I met Kane, he makes me want to be a better man." Rodney reached out a hand to give Avery a quick good-answer slap.
"Kane Dalton's a good man, better than anyone I've ever known. He deserves that back. I heard you were here to get into politics. How's that gonna work?" Paulie asked, taking a big long drink of his whiskey without a single wince at the burn as he swallowed. Clearly whiskey was the man's drink of choice.
"Paulie, give the guy a break. It's their second date," Markie said, sliding a drink tray onto the bar.
"Date?" Paulie gave a grunt. "Nobody ever goes on a real date anymore! My Marjorie and I, now we had some good times out together. Kane deserves to be taken out on the town."
"Paulie," Kane warned, coming up from behind. He carried a rack filled with glasses. The restaurant was officially closed, and they were in cleaning mode now.
"Paulie! Paulie! Is there a parakeet around here? You do deserve to be taken out. There's nothing wrong in saying it, and I think this pretty boy has it in him to take you out, show you a good time." Kane cut his eyes over to Avery, clearly embarrassed. Avery just grinned back. This was a family. A tight family and he loved to watch them interact.
"I'm sorry," Kane shot out when Paulie was done with his rant.
"No need," Avery said. He tended to agree with Paulie, and he was definitely up to the task of taking Kane out on the town. By this time, most of the restaurant staff had gathered around them at the small bar. Rodney worked to supply everyone a drink, seeming to know what each person wanted without asking. Paulie was their patriarch, and Avery wondered if perhaps they were all a little misplaced in the world, but together they'd found a unit.
"Paulie, you know who his granddad is, right? He's President Adams," Kane interjected. The statement came out of nowhere and didn't fit the conversation at all. Kane had just tried to change the subject. Sneaky man.
"No kidding?" Paulie took the bait, turning fully on his barstool to face Avery. "Now that was a good man. A statesman. Our last true statesman. Best president we ever had."
Paulie went off on the wonders of Avery's grandfather's administration while Kane looked at him, raised a finger, and mouthed to give him a minute. Avery nodded, kept the amused smile on his lips at the old man who never stopped his lecture on the wonders of Avery's grandfather's policies. Kane held true to his word. He came back in a few short minutes, a duffle bag in one hand and coat in another.
"Lock up for me tonight?" Kane asked Rodney.
"Absol
utely," Rodney immediately shot back, giving Avery a wink. Avery pulled his wallet out, tried to pay. He'd had four or five drinks over the last few hours, but all three men were immediately on him. Apparently his money wasn't any good at the bar, which was a first for Avery.
"Go on! You two have some fun. The night's still young," Paulie called out, waving them on. Kane seemed more than happy to oblige, already halfway across the restaurant before Avery had his wallet tucked in his back pocket and his coat shrugged on.
"Good night, thank you." Avery jogged the steps until he reached Kane who now held the front door open for him.
"I was gonna change, but I didn't take the time. I'm sorry about that in there. He's getting old, too old really, to be doing all this," Kane said as soon as they got a safe distance from the front door.
"No, it's fine. They're protective of you. I admire that," Avery said, dropping his hands in his pockets. Kane seemed immune to the cold as they walked stride for stride toward Avery's apartment.
"He is, for sure. He's been like that since the beginning. He took me in when my parents kicked me out. I owe him everything. I'm not sure where I'd be today without him," Kane said. Avery jogged ahead, opening the front doors to his building for Kane. Security sat at their station, acknowledging him with a nod as Avery shivered in the warmth of the lobby. After a couple of steps, Avery reached out and took Kane's hand in his, entwining their fingers. Kane's hand was warm against his, and he imagined his body would be too. Neither spoke a word as they walked, hand in hand, toward his bank of elevators.
"I like your restaurant. Those are good people," Avery said, trying to find something to say. His entire body was focused on finally being able to touch Kane again. "You won't have to get me too drunk. I did lots of that work for you."
"Good, then we can get right down to business," Kane said quietly, looking around to make sure no one was in hearing distance.
Always (With Bonus Material) (Always & Forever Book 1) Page 8