by Trina Solet
"And how did that work out?" Cory asked him pointedly.
"It swallowed me up for a while then it spit me out," Alec admitted.
"You came here because you wanted a real life. What do you think I'm offering you?"
"But I have nothing to offer in return. I don't know a stable, loving relationship from a hole in the ground," Alec said.
"Maybe I can make you happy," Cory whispered. He wasn't sure if Alec heard him.
Alec was looking into the distance where the tops of the trees swallowed the sun as it turned the sky orange and red.
*
Alec looked from the vivid sunset to Cory. Cory's eyes shone with it, but he looked far away. Only a second ago, he had told Alec that he could make him happy. Now it was like he hadn't meant to say it. A stray thought had slipped out and reached Alec. What Alec noticed most was how lonely he looked, almost hopeless.
"If anyone could, it would be you," Alec told him because he had to give him something.
Cory turned to him with a hint of a smile. His eyes looked like they still held the sunset inside them and Alec kissed him.
Cory pulled away quickly and looked for Teddy. Of course Teddy was busy with the dog and hadn't seen a thing. Mom did though. She waved her beer glass at them.
At bedtime, Teddy asked, "Can I sleep on the porch with Cookie so she isn't scared all alone at night?" He was under the impression that Cookie would have to sleep outside. He was thrilled to find out that she could sleep in his room.
"She's an old dog. It wouldn't be right to leave her outside all alone," Alec told him.
Teddy agreed with this philosophy.
Alec put an old blanket on the floor of Teddy's room to make her comfortable. Curled up in bed that night, Teddy was a happy little boy.
"Are we going to have to get a dog?" Cory asked in a whisper as he and Alec left Teddy's room.
Alec simply pointed at Teddy's adoring face as he looked over the edge of his bed at Cookie.
"He doesn't even look at you like that," Alec told Cory.
Later that night, Alec heard Cory heading to his room after checking on Teddy. Alec came out of the den. He let his eyes roam Cory's body. Slipping an arm around his waist, Alec gently steered him to his bedroom. When Cory stopped him, Alec was intensely disappointed.
Cory didn't explain, but a few minutes later he showed up in Alec's room with a smug look on his face. Ready to go to bed alone and miserable, Alec glowered at him.
It turned out that Cory had gone to leave a light on in his tiny room so if Teddy came by, he would see the note that said he was with Alec. He just couldn't let Teddy worry.
"You want me, you got me," Cory said before he came over and kissed Alec.
Cory yanked down Alec's pajama bottoms, sliding his hands over his ass. He pulled Alec close to him, interfering with Alec as he tried to get him out of his jeans. Busy trying to grope Alec everywhere, Cory wasn't cooperating.
Getting the condom and lube was another struggle. Cory was everywhere. Every part of him wanted contact with Alec. He only settled down when he felt Alec's lubed fingers at his hole. Now that he was being good, Alec positioned him over his lap. He rubbed his ass as he fingered him. He didn't stop until Cory decided it was enough and got up. Bending double on the edge of the bed, he buried his face in the mattress and gripped the sheets.
Alec sank into him, feeling that welcoming tightness that wouldn't let him rush. That was good. He wanted this fuck to last forever. Running his hands all over, he felt Cory shudder. Next he felt him push back, wanting more. Alec grabbed his hips and pushed in until he felt Cory tighten against him. His body was a beautiful battleground, wanting him, resisting him, while Cory always demanded more.
"Don't hold back," Cory told him, but Alec couldn't listen.
Cory's body was his master, and Alec obeyed it. He pushed with steady pressure that Cory's body asked for. He didn't let Cory buck against him, trying to take more than he was ready for. He was such a hungry thing. If he was anyone else, Alec would have given him what he asked for, but not Cory. Cory was going to enjoy every hard inch no matter how long it took to drive it all the way into him.
*
Cory hadn't meant to tease Alec when he went to his room. It just worked out that way. Now he wondered if Alec was making him pay for it.
Cory had panted, feeling the head of Alec's cock merely nudge his hole. He remembered too well how good it felt. Every part of him was dying for Alec, but he filled Cory with agonizing slowness. Cory's insides stretched to accommodate him and pulsed around him. That first push seemed to go on forever until Cory was a shaking mess. Alec gave one last shove to make sure he was all the way in then he leaned over for a kiss. Cory twisted around and moaned into his mouth. When Alec pulled back and thrust forward again, Cory nearly cried out. Having to be quiet while being fucked like that was hell. He felt like every thrust went deeper inside him and took him higher. Alec's name wanted to burst out of him. His tongue wanted to taste the sound, his lips to shape the name Alec. Come on, it would feel so good to say it, say his name. It felt like a battle, Alec giving him an amazing fuck, trying to draw out his name, and Cory giving all he had just not to say it.
Arching, throwing his head back, Cory couldn't take it any more. Stopping Alec he turned over and wrapped his legs around Alec's back to bring him down to him and back inside him. As Alec plunged in, his eyes fastened on Cory's. Cory saw a desperate need there. Cory moved letting him know how he wanted it – harder of course. Smiling, Alec indulged him. His powerful thrusts shook Cory to the bone, pushed him to the brink. Thank God Alec was close too. Cory wanted him to come, and he wanted to come with him. Their bodies slammed together, driving them into each other not just physically. United, they came together, climaxing wildly, insanely ecstatic for an endless moment. Cory said his name without thinking just before Alec's lips were on his. He wasn't sure Alec even noticed. When Alec stopped kissing him, Cory said his name again. He said it breathlessly, like a man coming up for air.
"What?" Alec said.
"I was just practicing saying your name."
"That's not how you say my name. You have to scream it," Alec told him, the greedy bastard.
"Make me," Cory dared him, though they both knew that wasn't going to happen.
"I love you," Alec said.
That was playing dirty. Cory glared at him.
"Keep looking at me like that. That look means 'Fuck me like an animal,' right?" Alec said with an evil leer.
"Yes," Cory said. What else could he say?
The next time was slower. Alec kissed him everywhere until Cory pushed him off and returned the favor. Cory had Alec on his back. After he had tasted every inch of him, Cory straddled Alec and rode him. Alec took over at the end because he liked to show off. He claimed it was to give Cory a rest. Yes, it was very restful to be pounded by an insatiable beast with a big cock.
Alec was relentless. Cory knew they were going to be coming hard. He gasped Alec's name shamelessly now, begging, demanding, cursing him under his breath for giving him more pleasure than he could handle. Cory didn't want to come yet, not without Alec, but he was driven to it. Alec plowed him so hard, Cory couldn't help it. He shook under all that power, all that hard muscle slamming into him. He came and then watched Alec come right after. His neck corded, every muscle turned to steel. God, he was beautiful as sweat dripped off him, and he looked deep into Cory's eyes.
"I don't want to stop," he said, breathlessly then he dropped into Cory's arms.
They were a sweat-drenched mess of entwined limbs. As Cory wrapped his arms around him tighter, Alec murmured loving nonsense in his ear.
After he calmed down, Alec had something different to say.
"Remember, admitting my feelings and changing my nature aren't the same thing," Alec said.
Cory ran his hand through his hair. He didn't care about Alec's warnings right then. He just wanted to hold him while the words I love you were still ringing in his ears
.
Cory woke up in his own room. The open window let in a fresh green scent that made Cory smile. He could never remember waking up so happy. Now Cory had so much to look forward to. Teddy's running feet on the hallway floor were his signal to get up. Next he heard Cookie barking. He wondered if Alec might wake up with all that noise, but after that workout last night, it wasn't likely. Cory was feeling the effects himself. His body ached so sweetly, every twinge a reminder of Alec driving him over the brink and saying he loved him.
Chapter 23
All day Alec had been bouncing between elation and fear. He loved Cory. Damn. How would he defend himself against him now? He had pretty much admitted defeat. Just because Cory took it in stride didn't mean he wasn't going to use it against him. Then Alec caught himself smiling. He loved someone. He loved Cory.
When his mom dropped in for lunch, Alec did his best to keep that sneaky smile off his face. Mom sat on the porch to eat her ham sandwich. Teddy was out in the field with Cookie, enjoying his last day with her. When his mom asked Alec to sit and join her, he was instantly on high alert.
"Sorry, I'm afraid I have some important..."
"Oh, sit down. You're just delaying the inevitable," she told him then added, "In more ways than one."
Alec dropped into the chair, already not liking this conversation.
"You and Cory. Don't tell me you're just playing around with that sweet boy," she said.
"Are you asking me what my intentions are? You're supposed to ask him," Alec grumbled.
"Cory is an open book. He'd marry you in the blink of an eye and make you the happiest man on earth," she predicted.
"But this isn't me," Alec told her seriously.
"If you're living it, it must be you," she said reasonably.
"I'm unreliable, Mom. I'm afraid I'll hurt them."
"Then why haven't you left already?" she asked though he knew she didn't want him to go.
"Because I can't. I can hardly stand to think about leaving," Alec admitted.
His mom smiled at him kindly.
"Because they are your life. You found what you were looking for. Now just accept it."
"And you're not just saying that because you want me here, feeding you?" Alec asked her.
"Of course I am," she admitted easily. "I want you here and Teddy and Cory. So indulge your mother. You know I always get my way."
"Oh, God. Where are you hiding the shotgun?" he pretended to look under the wicker chairs.
"Don't worry. I won't try to arrange your life to my liking. Just make sure you don't miss your chance to be truly happy."
She hugged him, kissed his cheek then wiped off the lipstick.
When he came from work, Cory told them that Mr. Muldoon returned the saw but let Cookie stay over until the next day. They were all a little worried about Teddy's reaction when the time came to give her back.
The next morning, Mr. Muldoon was there to pick up his dog. Mom was at work, but Alec was up. He made sure to be there in case Teddy was sad to let Cookie go.
"I was expecting her to run back to me as soon as she got the chance. I guess she likes it here," Mr. Muldoon said. Cookie was very happy to see him.
"I think she likes Teddy," Cory said as he petted her.
"I'm sorry to separate them, but I'm kind of used to having her around," Mr. Muldoon said and winked at Teddy.
Teddy didn't seem upset as Cookie climbed in the front of the truck with Mr. Muldoon. He waved at them as the old truck trundled away.
"You're not sad to see her go?" Cory asked Teddy.
Teddy did look a little bit sad but not the way they expected.
"She's not ours," Teddy said. "Mr. Muldoon needs her, and I have you."
"That's a compliment," Alec said when Cory smiled uncertainly. "When I was his age, I would have traded my brother for a dog so fast. And we already had two dogs."
Cory turned to Teddy and said, "Thank you for not trading me in for a dog."
"You're welcome," Teddy said solemnly.
"He's so sweet," Alec said as he watched Teddy run off to draw. He was probably going to draw Cookie again. "I never had that kind of relationship with my brother. Ian and I took each other for granted. You guys know what you have and what it's worth."
Alec eyed Cory who was lost in a reverie.
"I feel greedy wanting more now that I have Teddy," Cory said in a low voice. "But I want to have a beat up old ring like Mr. Muldoon, one that looks like it's been there a thousand years and isn't ever coming off."
"So you can offer it as collateral for a band saw. You're too young to want to get tied down for life." It was just like what Mom had told him. Cory knew what he wanted. He even bragged about it.
"Just because you need to meditate on your life doesn't mean everybody is as clueless as you," Cory said, smug about his certainty.
"You just have a one track mind. You were denied a real family when you were a kid, and now you are fixated on that."
"In other words, I know what I want and you are clueless," Cory shot back at him.
Alec tried to stare him down but got lost in those beautiful, hazel eyes.
"I don't know. I'm starting to think I might be the man to put that ring on your finger," Alec told him.
Cory was startled by his words. He looked at Alec like he doubted his sanity. He eyed Alec suspiciously all morning until he went to work.
Alec didn't blame him. He didn't know if he could trust his own words either. All he knew was that if he left Cory, he would be walking away from the only man he loved. For Alec leaving was becoming impossible. He had planned it, but even if it was only Teddy, he wouldn't be able to leave. Now there was Cory. Just as Cory and Teddy were inseparable, Alec felt he was inseparable from them too. He had to watch over them.
Having those two come into his life wasn't something he could have imagined, much less what it would mean to him. When trying to figure out his life, he had wondered if he should try to have a real, committed relationship. But this went beyond that. This was total commitment in an instant, and Alec had made it without even realizing it, maybe the moment he set eyes on Teddy and later Cory. If he could only follow through.
That night, Alec tried to remove the doubt he saw in Cory's eyes. They were entwined together in Alec's bed. They were sleepy, but they didn't want to drift off yet. It felt too good to be in each other's arms.
"I'd rather break my legs than leave you," Alec said. His lips brushed Cory's hair as he lay on Alec's chest.
"Are those the only options? If you have two good legs, you'll leave?" Cory asked, raising his head to stare at him balefully.
"Are you going to take everything I say the wrong way?"
"Probably," Cory said, always ready and willing to give him a hard time. "I'm trying to piece together who you are with what you're saying. It's not a good fit."
"I'm having trouble with that myself. But do you really doubt that I love you and want to make you happy?"
"I didn't say that. But I can't know what's in your heart until you prove it."
"Isn't there any proof in saying it? I don't throw those words around without meaning them. I've never said 'I love you' to any man before you," Alec told him.
"That's nice, I guess," Cory said and allowed himself a small smile.
"So I guess it makes you a little happy to hear that I love you."
Cory looked down shyly. "Yes," he admitted.
Alec laughed and Cory looked up at him, chagrinned.
"Can we have a truce?" Alec asked him.
"Sure," Cory said with a shrug. "Look at you, how can I be mad at that?"
"That?" Alec objected.
"Just be glad you have all this going for you." Cory pointed up and down his body. "Or I would have kicked you to the curb by now."
Alec kissed him. He couldn't remember ever wanting to kiss anyone so much. He couldn't get enough of him. Cory was changing him all the time, or maybe he was just uncovering his secret longings and needs.
"Your dick?" Cory said, stroking it lightly.
"I was being deep."
"It doesn't look good on you."
"Don't you want me to grow as a person?" Alec asked.
"Not really. You're fine the way you are," Cory said and kissed him.
Alec grinned at him. "You like me."
"I didn't say that. I just don't want to see your version of self-improvement," Cory said as he dodged his kiss but not his groping hands. He pressed himself against Alec, his naked body hot, his cock getting hard again. "You must be doing something right. I didn't know anyone could make me feel this way. I love you so much that..." Cory stopped and frowned. He had made a confession he didn't mean to make. Blushing, Cory drew back.
"You didn't mean to say that, did you?" Alec said with a smile that only just curled his lips.
"It kind of just popped out," Cory admitted.
"It's out now. You can't take it back," Alec teased him. "And you're late coming out with that. I already told you I loved you."
"You want extra credit? A gold star?" Cory asked, looking put out.
"No. I want you. Give me," Alec demanded, dragging Cory down to him for a deep, long kiss.
After coming out of a dream of Cory's tight, sexy body, Alec opened his eyes to Cory in his bed, lit by early morning light. No more dreaming about faceless bodies. His dream was a living being, a real man who was within reach. Alec kissed his shoulder and smiled remembering how Cory had blurted out that he loved him. Now he was wrapping his arms around Alec before he was even awake. But as soon as he did, his alarm rang.
"Why so early?" Alec grumbled seeing Cory jump out of bed to get dressed.
"So I can sneak out of here," Cory told him.
Alec was going to talk him into staying when they both heard little running feet in the hallway. Alec slumped back, defeated.