You And Me And The Moon

by Pepper Espinoza

  "I know how it sounds, I do. But I can't help it. My relationship with my parents has always been more than a little strained. Though I know that's nothing compared to..."

  "Me and my dad?"

  "Yeah. It feels like that's almost the natural progression of life. I don't want that to happen to me."

  Noah rubbed the back of his neck, picking through his brain for the right thing to say. "Holding her tighter isn't going to stop her from growing up. Besides, you have your own needs to think about sometimes. I'm not saying you should be focused on yourself constantly but..."

  "I know what you're saying. I'm sorry for earlier. For how I acted and what I said. I didn't mean it. I shouldn't have ever said it."

  "Don't worry about it."

  "I will worry about it. I was being a jerk."

  "Luke, seriously. It's not a big deal. I had time to do plenty of thinking while I was wandering around out here in the dark, and I've decided it's no big deal. I overreacted. If anything, I should be apologizing to you."

  "Why? What did you do except plan a lovely vacation for the two of us." Luke brought their clasped fingers up to his mouth and kissed the back of Noah's hand. "I'm going to show you how much I appreciate that. And how sorry I am for my temporary insanity."

  Noah's cock stirred as Luke's warm breath fanned across his skin. His spine tingled and his mouth went dry. It wasn't too unlike his earlier fear, except for the fact that it was far more pleasant. "Come here."

  He pulled Luke closer, and he was clearly ready for the kiss. They both moaned softly as their mouths met, and Luke immediately parted his lips, inviting Noah to take what he wanted. He plunged his tongue into Luke's mouth and wrapped his arm around the other man's waist, pulling him into a tight embrace. The breeze tickling the back of his neck would have been enough to make him shiver again, but the heat from Luke's body warmed him and warded off any possible chill.

  Noah was sure they kissed as much as any normal couple did. He certainly had no reason to think Luke was ever holding back from him, and God knew Noah indulged himself every chance he got. After so many years of denying himself the one person he wanted in the world, he didn't have the self-control necessary to hold himself back. But it still never quite felt like he had enough. No matter how often he kissed Luke, he wanted more. He didn't think it would ever be possible to be fully sated. Each caress made him yearn for another after it. The pressure of Luke's lips, the texture of his tongue, the sharp points of his teeth, the curve of his cheeks, all drove Noah out of his mind with desire.

  And then there was everything else Luke did while they were kissing. He often took Noah by the hips, holding him with his large, firm hands. Pulling him closer so the lines of their cocks were pressed together. Warmth seeped from his skin to Noah's, and their bodies fit so well together. There wasn't anything more comfortable, more natural, in the world. Despite the two years they'd been together, he still mourned the decade they were apart. They could have been kissing and holding each other since they were sixteen. But Noah intended to spend the rest of his life making up for lost time.

  When they finally broke apart, Luke looked at him with slightly widened eyes. "We should have been doing that since we got here."

  "Yes, definitely."

  "I hope nobody sees us between now and when we reach our room."

  "Why?"

  "Because I'm hard as a rock."

  Noah let his attention drift down Luke's body. "And those are some tight jeans."

  "Exactly."

  "I could solve that problem for you."

  "How?"

  Noah backed Luke up to the nearest tree, trapping him against the trunk. "I'll just take care of that right here. That way, we can avoid any possible embarrassment."

  "You were this close," Luke held up his fingers an inch apart, "to freaking out when I found you. Now you're saying you want to stay up here longer?"

  "I'm not scared anymore since you're here." Noah reached between their bodies and cupped Luke's cock. "Besides, I like the way you look out here in the moonlight."

  "We'll get cold," Luke pointed out.

  "I'll keep you warm." He pressed his lips to Luke's brow. "You're feeling a little flushed now, in fact."

  Luke parted his lips, like he had another protest to share, but Noah didn't want to hear it. He claimed Luke's mouth, silencing him with his demanding tongue, and began to work on Luke's fly. His cock bulged against the zipper, and Noah ran his finger up and down the teeth, applying just enough pressure to Luke's flesh to make him squirm. He didn't stop until Luke was moaning, his hips jerking as he sought out more pressure. Noah caught the zipper between his forefinger and thumb and slowly pulled it down, freeing Luke from the confines of his jeans.

  Chapter 4

  * * *

  It didn't matter that he was standing against a tree and his phone didn't get any reception. It didn't matter that the temperature in the mountains was far lower than what he had grown accustomed to, or that the only light they had came from the moon. It didn't matter that there might have been wild animals. It didn't even matter that he should have been the one trapping Noah against a tree so he could demonstrate how sorry he was. They were together with nothing in between them, and that was all that really mattered.

  Luke inhaled the fresh, thin air and closed his eyes. He was transported from Idyllwild to the Uintah Mountains, where he had spent so much time in his youth. When he and Noah had been completely inseparable and they could easily spend hours, even days, roaming through the mountains, camping, hiking, and searching for forgotten treasures and lost legends. They had been just friends then, neither one of them brave enough to take advantage of all the silence and solitude they so often found themselves in. But now they were older and everything was different. Now they knew exactly how to take advantage of silence and solitude.

  Luke's attention was locked on Noah. He was over thirty now, and he had a few wrinkles around his eyes. Luke thought that had more to do with the stress of his life rather than the duration. But he looked eighteen again in the soft light, with his eyes closed, and his hair falling over his brow. The undeniable look of contentment certainly helped the illusion of youth. He held Luke's length in place with one hand while he skimmed his lips over the shaft, dragging his mouth from the tip to the base and back again. His lips were smooth and warm and perfect. Luke definitely wanted more, but he thought he could spend the whole night simply enjoying the texture of Noah's mouth with each sweet caress.

  Luke lightly ran his fingers through Noah's hair, enjoying the way the hair feathered against his fingers. His thumb brushed against Noah's cheek, and he turned into the touch, seeking more contact without distracting his attention away from Luke's cock. A surge of love and desire welled up inside of him, filling him completely. His heart hammered with it. His flesh throbbed with it. He wanted to touch every inch of Noah. He wanted to kiss him and worship his body. He wanted to turn off his mind so it would be just physical--the purest form of expression. Noah always made him ache with longing, even though the very thing he ached for was always in his grasp.

  Despite their location and the relative danger of the area, Noah wasn't in any big hurry. He moved like he already had a plan of attack in mind, and he wasn't going to let anything shake him from that plan. Like no deviation was acceptable. He left a trail of kisses and let the tip of his tongue paint out a series of patterns, each one sending a jolt of electricity through Luke's body to the hollow of his throat.

  Noah gently pulled Luke's sac free of his boxers and cupped it lightly, flexing his fingers gently. He used his middle finger to caress the skin behind his balls, and then reached farther, until he was tracing Luke's clenched hole. Noah's finger teased him in slow circles, giving Luke just a hint of what he could expect later. His knees were already weakening, and the cool air served as such a sharp contrast between Noah's hot finger and hotter mouth that it made him heady. He was thankful for the tree behind him, and Noah's solid shoulders in front o
f him.

  His gratefulness only increased when Noah sucked the head between his lips, his tongue running over the slick skin and teasing his sensitive slit. Before Noah had returned to his life, he could count the number of blow jobs he had received on one hand. Lilah had never been that interested and he never dated after their divorce. Noah was aware of this, of course, and sometimes it felt like he was bound and determined to make up for all of that lost time. Or maybe Noah was still trying to make up for the fact that he couldn't remember the first time he had gone down on Luke--or the way Luke had returned the favor.

  Noah sucked lightly on the tip for a moment before releasing it from his lips and attacking the sensitized flesh with his tongue. Luke gripped the base and held his shaft still as Noah continued to lick and nuzzle his head. Clear fluid dripped from his slit, only lingering for a few seconds before Noah caught it with his tongue and cleaned it away. And then his lips were around the flesh again, his cheeks hollowed, and the pressure was amazing. It was almost uncomfortable, but Noah held back from crossing that line, knowing exactly how much he could suck before he needed to relax his lips and let Luke catch his breath.

  Noah didn't release his balls or pull his finger away from Luke's ass. His hand worked independently of his mouth, squeezing and kneading his heavy sac, while the finger at his hole promised eventual penetration. Luke widened his stance and bent his knees to give Noah easier access, his ass clenching each time Noah pushed a little. It felt like an eternity since Noah had played with his ass. He always held himself back, though Luke had assured him more than once that he really liked it. The hesitant touches only reminded him of how long it had been since Noah fucked him--he hoped that was on Noah's agenda for the night. Luke would be sure to suggest it if it wasn't.

  Luke tried to remain still, but when Noah closed his mouth around Luke's shaft again, he jerked forward. Once he felt the heat of Noah's soft mouth surrounding him, he couldn't help himself. He didn't even consider his action, he just did what came naturally and sought out more of that electric heat. He thrust forward until the tip of his cock was touching the back of Noah's throat, and his lips were pulled taut around Luke's throbbing shaft. Luke opened his mouth, wondering if he should apologize, trying to figure the best way to do that, but the words never happened. They lodged in his chest with his breath as soon as Noah slid his finger into Luke's clenched passage. The sudden pressure prompted him move forward again, and this time he buried himself in Noah's throat.

  Noah swallowed around Luke's length, massaging his flesh with the soft, pliable muscles of his throat. Luke cupped the back of his head, holding him in place, forcing him to keep his lips locked around the shaft for as long as he could. His heart thundered in his ears, marking each exquisite second. The pleasure was intense, and he knew he couldn't withstand the force of it for long. He would break soon. But until he did, he wanted to milk each second for everything it was worth. He wanted to be greedy. He wanted to absorb every moment of bliss he could possibly get, and he wanted it to echo through him until he was a quivering, gasping mess.

  He released Noah and they both dropped their heads back and gasped for air at the same time. Had he held him in place for too long? Luke was going to ask, or maybe just apologize, but Noah answered any and all questions by immediately swallowing Luke's cock again.

  Noah had started out slow, but there was nothing slow about him now. He attacked Luke, his lips and tongue his weapon of choice. His urgency electrified Luke's flesh, and before he even realized what was happening, he was holding the sides of Noah's head between two flat palms. Noah moaned, the thick, muffled sound one of unquestionable encouragement. Luke slammed his hips forward, burying himself once again in Noah's throat. This time, though, he didn't linger. He immediately slid out and slammed forward again, fucking Noah's mouth with his own heightened sense of urgency.

  Noah moved his finger quickly, stroking it in and out of Luke's body with each thrust of Luke's hips. Noah's moans vibrated through Luke's flesh, until he felt more than heard the hungry sounds. Luke grunted each time Noah's lips met the base of his cock. Those grunts were punctuated by a full-throated shout when Noah's finger scraped across his prostate. The sounds of his pleasure echoed off the trees around him and traveled up to the moon and down into the valley. He hoped nobody heard him, just because he didn't want anybody to investigate. He could handle the embarrassment of being caught with his pants literally down around his ankles, but he didn't think he'd be able to handle it if Noah stopped. He needed a bit more. Just a little bit more time, pressure, texture, breath, air. Noah. He just needed more of Noah.

  He didn't have any real warning before his balls tightened. Luke couldn't pinpoint any one thing that provided the final spark for his short fuse. It might have been Noah's lips or tongue. It might have been his finger or the way he moaned. It might have even been the rough bark against his cold skin. It began with a tightening in his stomach and a clenching in his throat. And then the back of his neck tingled and the muscles in his thighs flexed. He slammed forward once more, seeking out as much of Noah's heat as he possibly could. That's when he erupted, pumping stream after stream of come down Noah's welcoming throat.

  Luke tried to pull away first, but Noah held him in place, forcing him to remain still while he finished swallowing and licking his skin clean. Only then did he pull his finger free and loosen his hold on Luke's hip. They parted gradually, neither one of them eager to lose the warmth of each other's flesh. Luke's chest burned, and he didn't get a really good breath until Noah finally sat back on his heels.

  "Can I interest you in that dinner now?" Noah asked with a small smile.

  Luke studied him for a moment before chuckling. "Of course. That and anything else you want."

  "Anything?"

  "Yes."

  "You sure?"

  "Noah, you have my word that from now until when we leave, I'll be your personal slave. Anything you want, all you have to do is say the word."

  Noah stood, looped his arm around Luke again, and kissed him softly. Even without words, he knew exactly what Noah meant.

  Chapter 5

  * * *

  "You were right about this restaurant," Luke said between bites of his duck l'orange.

  "I tried to tell you."

  "I'll never doubt you again."

  "You better not. Or I'll start holding out on you."

  Luke snorted with amusement and reached for his glass. "You'll forgive me if I don't think that's a credible threat."

  "It's a highly credible threat."

  "Not really."

  "Yes, really."

  "You mean you'll start withholding sex, right?"

  "That's exactly what I meant."

  Luke snorted again. "Yeah, no, sorry. Don't see that happening in our lifetimes."

  Noah stiffened. "What are you saying? That I'm some sort of sex fiend?"

  "No. I'm just saying that you're a man of...certain appetites."

  Noah laughed, his faux outrage forgotten. "A man of certain appetites? You sound like somebody from Masterpiece Theater or something."

  "But you're not going to deny it."

  Noah casually reached across the table to touch Luke's hand. "How about I'll just admit to being a man with an appetite for one particular thing?"

  "Sex?"

  "Making up for lost time."

  "I suppose we both have an appetite for that. But I think we've been doing a pretty good job in the past two years."

  "It's been a good start," Noah agreed, releasing Luke's hand and sitting back in his chair. Luke would probably want to stay for dessert, and Noah didn't want to risk groping him in public. "Quite a good start."

  "I love you."

  Noah smiled. "I know."

  "I think it's good to have a reminder occasionally. I know that I can seem distracted or even distant and I..."

  "You're trying to raise a kid," Noah said, cutting him off.

  Luke looked at him with slight reproach. "I let you
have your apology."

  "Only because you were way too distracted to talk while I was sucking you off."

  "Even so. I think it's only fair that you let me have mine."

  "Are you going to go down on me?"

  "Not right here in the restaurant, no." Luke took a sip of his wine, and Noah noticed for the first time that his cheeks were a little flushed. Noah had only had one glass himself, but the bottle was almost empty.

  "At least not until you've had another glass of wine," Noah teased.

  "No, I probably shouldn't have another glass. Anyway, I was trying to say something before you interrupted me."

  "Right. Sorry. Carry on."

  "Thank you." Luke took a deep breath. "Since we've moved to California, you've been amazing. I never had any doubts about being with you, but if I'd had, you would have demolished them all. And instead of really appreciating everything you were doing, or trying to do, I just started taking you for granted. Like you would always be there, no matter what I did. I shouldn't have done that. I'll try not to do it again."

  "I can't really blame you for, as you say, taking me for granted. Since I'm never going anywhere, I guess it's pretty safe to do."

  "I still shouldn't."

  "So you've been happy then? You don't wish you had stayed in Utah? I know being in LA was a big adjustment."

  "Sometimes I miss our old life. I miss the restaurant, and I miss being near my family, and I miss the mountains. But that happens less and less these days. I'd be happy with you no matter where we lived."

  There wasn't a doubt in Noah's mind of Luke's sincerity. He knew when Luke was lying, or at least being evasive of the truth. But now his face was an open book. It still stunned Noah that the boy he had adored had grown into a man he could love openly, without reservations. His earlier insecurities had been completely washed away. He didn't even remember why he had been so upset. No matter how often they made up for lost time, the years he had pissed away would always linger in the back of his mind with a sense of regret.