Fire and Rain

by Andrew Grey

  Kip lifted Jos and positioned him higher on the bed. Jos gasped when Kip licked down to his belt, pulling it open and then teasing the line of skin just above his pants. Jos’s belly fluttered with anticipation and he pulled in his stomach, loosening his pants around the waist in the hope that Kip would get the message and accept his silent invitation. But Kip seemed in no hurry, stroking his hands up to Jos’s chest and then down his belly again and again until Jos was sure he was going to go out of his mind.

  His cock throbbed. Jos couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this close to coming in his pants. Sex hadn’t really been a part of his life since Isaac had come to live with him, and frankly, Jos hadn’t thought much about it before meeting Kip. In fact, for weeks he’d done his best to hide who he was and to protect himself and Isaac by staying under the radar. That was the exact opposite of what he wanted now.

  Jos moaned softly when Kip ran his fingers along the top of his pants. “Are you going to do something or just drive me crazy?” Jos asked as his frustration got the better of him.

  “Oh, I’ll do something,” Kip teased, licking a small circle and then dipping his tongue into Jos’s belly button. “How about I follow this trail….” His words fell off, and Jos held completely still as Kip began to open his pants. He didn’t dare move in case Kip changed his mind. “You’re okay with this?” Kip asked.

  “God, yes…,” Jos breathed, and Kip undid his pants, tugging the fabric apart and then pulling them away.

  “Jesus,” Kip whispered as he pulled Jos’s pants past his hips and ran his lips over Jos’s briefs-enclosed cock.

  Jos swallowed. “Is something wrong?” Jos asked, hoping like hell Kip was as turned on as he was.

  “Wrong?” Kip lifted his gaze. “Sweetheart…. Let’s just say I like your proportions.” Kip lifted the waistband of Jos’s underwear, then sucked on the head of his cock, which was already peeking out. “Damn.”

  “Oh,” Jos breathed. “I guess I’m okay.”

  Kip pulled his lips away, much to Jos’s disappointment, and kissed him once again, hard, possessively and yet sweetly, and with enough intensity to send ripples down his spine and legs. “You’re amazing from head to toe, and don’t doubt that.” Kip kissed him again and then worked his way back down Jos’s body, the licks and kisses becoming more and more intense until Kip sucked the head of Jos’s cock between his lips and kept going, taking more and more of him until Jos gasped for air.

  “Kip,” Jos squeaked.

  Kip hummed around him. “Fuck, you’re big,” he said with a groan, backing away.

  “You don’t have to if—” Jos began, but Kip took him again, deep and long, until Jos shook with the energy from him. His body was on fire, and he hoped like hell it wasn’t his fever returning. Then he realized it was—a fever, a need, for Kip. The way Kip touched him sent fire running to his brain, and there was nothing Jos could do to stop it. “Kip, I’m not….” Jos gasped and closed his eyes, trying to prolong what could not be put off. His cock had already been sensitive from all Kip’s teasing and the fact that Jos had ignored it for weeks. He balanced on the edge and ran his hands though Kip’s soft hair, trying to warn him.

  Kip backed away and stroked hard and fast. “Open your eyes. I want you to see me when you come.” Jos did, and the passion in Kip’s eyes was the last straw. He came in a mind-numbing rush, thrusting into Kip’s fist.

  Jos lay on the bed, unable to move, half floating, with Kip stroking his cheek. He felt Kip shift on the bed, and then he kissed him. Light kisses deepened quickly, and Jos tugged at Kip’s jeans, desperate to have them off.

  Kip helped and soon he was naked, lying on top of him. Jos stilled his movements and motioned for him to roll over. Kip lay on his back and Jos sat next to him. “It’s my turn to look,” he groaned and swallowed hard. Kip was male perfection. “They should make statues of you.”

  “Yeah, I can just see that,” Kip said.

  Jos ran his fingers over Kip’s chest and then down his belly, tracing the lines on his stomach.

  Kip laughed and actually tried to move away.

  “Ticklish?” Jos asked and grinned. “I’ll remember that for later.” He continued his explorations, which ended with cupping Kip’s heavy balls in one hand and wrapping the other around his thick cock. “Imagine you as a statue, standing in a square. There’d be so many accidents.”

  “I wouldn’t be naked.”

  “You make your imaginary statue, and I’ll make mine.” Jos licked up Kip’s length and then took his cock in his mouth, sliding it over his tongue. Salty bitterness burst on his palate, and Jos slid his lips down farther, stretching to accommodate his girth. The man was a mouthful, and Jos loved all of it. He swirled his tongue around the head and slid his lips along the shaft to a chorus of groans and muttered curses.

  “God, just suck me,” Kip moaned.

  Jos had always been good at taking instruction.

  Kip’s reaction was heady, adding excitement, and Jos sucked harder, loving the way Kip’s fat cock filled his mouth. He wondered more than once how he’d feel inside him, and his butt throbbed with excited anticipation combined with nerves that he pushed away, determined not to let what had happened a few days earlier intrude on his happiness with Kip.

  “Yes!” Kip hissed and thrust upward, pushing off the bed. Jos relaxed his mouth and let Kip move, taking in his half-lidded eyes and open mouth as he filled the room with sounds that were as melodic as any song he’d ever heard. “Gonna….” Kip groaned and pulled away. Jos dove onto him, taking him deep and swallowing hard as Kip tumbled into his release.

  Jos let Kip slip from between his lips as Kip panted and tried to catch his breath. Jos loved that he’d stolen it away. Jos lay down next to him. The window across from the bed was open slightly, and a cool breeze blew over his now hot skin. It felt amazing, and after a few minutes, once they had a chance catch their breath, Kip rolled onto his side and engulfed Jos in his arms.

  “I should go back to Isaac,” Jos said.

  “Stay. We’ll hear Isaac if he wakes up, but that isn’t likely now.” Kip tightened his hold slightly, his warmth encircling Jos.

  “Are you sure?” Jos asked. “I can just go back to my bed, and we can forget this happened, if you want. I mean….”

  Kip released him. “You need to explain.”

  Jos sighed. “This was wonderful, but you don’t need to saddle yourself with a guy like me. You deserve better, that’s all.” Jos didn’t move, but he also didn’t reach out to touch Kip. “I’m not good enough for you. Every time I make a decision, it’s the wrong one.”

  “So you’re saying that you know more about what I want than I do?”

  “No,” Jos said and rolled over. “I’m saying I don’t know anything, and you deserve someone better than a guy who can’t hold a job or manage to keep a roof over his and his brother’s head. You’re a wonderful guy. Not many people would take in Isaac and me. They’d call child services, and he’d disappear into the foster care system, and I’d spend all my time trying to jump through whatever hoops they set up in order to get him back.”

  “Hey, I know what I want and what will make me happy,” Kip snapped. “I don’t sleep with guys just because they’re convenient.” Kip pulled away and rolled onto his back. “Did you think this was some sort of requirement? Was it your way of paying me back because I took you in?”

  “That’s not what it was for me,” Jos said, knowing he was blowing everything. That wasn’t what he’d meant. He wasn’t a whore, and he didn’t sell himself. “I just didn’t want you to think….”

  “How about we worry less about what the other is thinking or might think and just say what we want? Okay? If you don’t want to stay with me, then you don’t have to. I won’t force you to do anything.” The hurt in Kip’s voice went straight to Jos’s heart. He hadn’t meant to hurt him. He’d only wanted to give Kip a way out.

  “You didn’t force me, and I know you never would. You
don’t ask for anything.”

  “I didn’t think I had the right. You need to be able to make your own decisions about what you want.” Kip stared up at the ceiling. “You keep saying that you don’t think you’re good enough, but what if I’m the one who isn’t good enough?”

  Jos giggled a little. “How is that possible? You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met.” Jos rolled over and slid his hands across Kip’s chest and around to his side. Then he moved in closer and rested his head on his shoulder. “You’re my hero.”

  “I’m just a guy, the same as you. People can hurt me the same as they can you. Hell, my mother wanted to drink and blame me for what happened to my sister more than she ever loved me.”

  “She was selfish,” Jos said. “My mom was too. She made sure she got what she wanted and needed. I had to fend for myself, and I know that if she’d have lived, eventually she would have treated Isaac the same way.” Jos grew quiet for a few minutes, thinking. “Maybe that’s the whole issue. We’re used to the people in our lives being selfish, so when we encounter someone who isn’t, we don’t know how to handle it.”

  “Maybe. You met Jeffrey.”

  “Was he your usual kind of boyfriend?” Jos asked. Kip deserved so much better than anyone like Jeffrey.

  “I guess so. He was nice enough to start out with, and then he got demanding and bossy.” Kip smiled. “Yeah, selfish. Maybe I have this ability to pick people who aren’t good for me. I have this instinct at work. I know when people are lying and when I can trust them. But in my personal life, I tend to pick losers.”

  “Well…,” Jos began quietly. “Maybe that’s why I should go back to my own bed.”

  “Now, don’t start that again. You aren’t a loser.”

  “How do you know? I ended up on the street trying to find a shelter for Isaac and me. That doesn’t sound like someone with a successful future ahead of them.”

  “The guys I dated were all successful. They had these great jobs. Jeffrey is a lawyer, and I swear Shakespeare had guys like him in mind when he said to kill all of them. But they were still selfish. You aren’t. I know that because you always put Isaac first, the way you should. So how about you stay where you are and stop putting yourself down.” Kip wrapped him in his arms. He was so strong and yet so gentle, at least with him.

  “Okay,” Jos answered and got comfortable. “You know, you make a good pillow. I really like it.” Jos patted Kip’s chest a few times. “It doesn’t fluff very well, though.” He felt Kip tense his muscles.

  “I’ll show you fluff.” The happy gruffness in Kip’s voice made Jos smile, and he closed his eyes, yawning before he could stop it. “Okay, well, maybe I’ll show you tomorrow.” Kip pulled up the blankets, and they both got comfortable. “Night, sweetheart,” Kip said and kissed him. Jos wasn’t sure what made him warmer, the kiss, the blankets, Kip next to him, or the endearment. Maybe for now it didn’t matter.

  Chapter 5

  KIP FINISHED his shift and breathed a sigh of relief. The last few days he’d been running nonstop. He would have thought it was still summer with the number of calls he was answering about pranks and mischief from the kids in the high school. Apparently one of the clubs at school had devised a new initiation. The Chevy dealership in town had a tall fence around their back lot, and the initiation involved breaking into one of the cars from the front lot and driving it through the gate into the back lot.

  “Good job apprehending that kid. That should put a stop to that,” Red told him as he left the station. The kids had so far ruined five cars.

  “Yeah. He thought he was really tough until I took him through the jail. He cracked fast when the whistling and catcalls began. Gave up all his buddies, and now we have all the kids responsible.” Kip was pretty proud of himself. “Say, I was going to dinner….”

  Red checked his watch. “Terry is at the pool already.”

  “Then why don’t you join me? I’m heading to pick up Isaac at day care, and then I thought I’d surprise Jos by stopping at Café Belgie. He started there three days ago, and by all accounts is doing great.” The smile burst onto his face with no effort at all. “I can meet you there in half an hour if that works?”

  “Great,” Red said, and they left the station and got into their cars. Kip drove right to the day care. Because of Jos’s work hours, it cost more to keep Isaac there until later in the day. Kip hadn’t told Jos that part and had simply paid them the extra for the first month so Jos wouldn’t have to worry. When he pulled up in front, Isaac raced out and into his arms.

  “Uncle Kip, look what I drawed,” Isaac said, jumping up and down. Kip took the page and stared at the various blotches of color. He knew better than to try to guess what they were. Instead he knelt down and let Isaac tell him. “That’s Spistachio, and he’s in his own stable with his horsey friends, Vanilla and Chocolate.”

  “He seems fixated on food,” Carrie, one of the caregivers, said as she came out to meet him. She always did that, and he thought she might have eyes for him. “Today he insisted the colors weren’t colors, but flavors of ice cream. Red was raspberry and blue was blueberry, brown was chocolate and yellow was lemon. Thankfully, orange was orange, and he got that one right.” She smiled with concern behind her eyes.

  Kip had noticed that as well. He tended to associate other things with food. “He and his brother have had a tough time of it. But things are getting better. Just humor him and make corrections gently. We’re hoping it will dissipate on its own. It isn’t just ice cream. When I got out a saucepan yesterday, he asked if we were having wacamoni and scheese,” he said with a grin. “That was the pan I had made macaroni and cheese in the last time.” Kip hoped having enough food on a regular basis would make that go away. “Say good-bye to Miss Carrie,” he told Isaac, and Isaac waved and took Kip’s hand, leading him to the car.

  Once Isaac was strapped in, Kip drove right home and hurried inside. He settled Isaac in front of the television and raced upstairs to get out of his uniform and into clothes for dinner. When he came back down, Isaac met him at the bottom of the stairs.

  “I’m hungry,” he said quietly, sticking out his belly and rubbing. “It keeps talking.”

  Kip got Isaac a cheese stick from the refrigerator and handed it to him. Isaac tore open the package and ate it quickly. “We’re going to get some more to eat where Jos works. So can you turn off the television, and we’ll go feed your talking tummy.”

  Isaac raced away, and Kip disposed of the wrapping. He caught up with Isaac as he came out of the living room and led him out to the car.

  The drive to the restaurant took less than five minutes. He got lucky and found a place to park nearby. Red was already at a table inside, so they joined him. “Jos already took my drink order, but he’s really nervous because you’re coming.”

  “Hi, Jos,” Isaac called, waving and grinning when he saw his brother. Jos brought Red’s beer, and Kip ordered one and asked him to get whatever Isaac would like.

  “I love this place. Terry wants to go to Europe, and I said we would after the Olympics.”

  “Sounds like fun. I never really thought about traveling much.” It had never been on his radar. Maybe he would someday, though.

  “What about you?” Kip asked Jos when he brought the drinks. “Have you ever wanted to travel?”

  “I used to dream about going all sorts of places. Now my hopes are a lot smaller and closer to home.” He said hello to Isaac and gave him a raspberry kiss on the cheek. “Have you decided?”

  “What would Isaac like?” Kip asked Jos.

  “Chicken bingers,” Isaac pronounced, like he was king of the booster seat. Jos nodded, and both Kip and Red ordered the steak frites. Kip figured he could share his fries with Isaac. Jos went to put in their orders, and Kip watched him go.

  “You got it bad,” Red told him with a slight snicker.

  “Got what?” Isaac asked. “Is he sick?” Isaac reached toward Kip’s head, and he thought the little guy was
trying to take his temperature the way Kip had when Jos was sick.

  “No, little man,” Red answered. “I was just teasing him.” Red made one of those faces like he had to keep an eye on everything he said. Kip nodded.

  “He’s really smart and picks up on everything,” Kip said with a hint of pride. He knew he shouldn’t become too attached to Isaac, but he was finding it hard to keep his distance. The longer Jos and Isaac stayed in his house, the more he liked it and the less he wanted them to leave. But he wasn’t Jos’s family, and once Jos was on his feet, Kip figured he’d find his own place and get on with his life.

  “Don’t know what that frown’s for,” Red commented as he followed Kip’s gaze. “You need to talk about how you feel toward him.”

  “That’s the problem. I can tell Jos what I want, but he isn’t going to believe me. He’s had too much hardship for him to believe anything. You know the situation. He still thinks he’s some sort of charity case. We just talked about it again last night, and I swear whenever I ask to talk to him, I can see the fear well up that I’m about to tell him and Isaac to leave.”

  Yesterday he’d wanted to talk about getting Isaac more comfortable in the room he was using and having Jos stay with him. Jos had seemed scared to death, and then he’d only nodded toward the end of the conversation. Kip had told him he could sleep in the bed with Isaac or with him, wherever he wanted. “No pressure,” he said over and over again. By the end of the night, he’d been more confused than ever. In the end, Jos came to him, and Kip held him all night. Having Jos in his arms was amazing, and they hadn’t done anything more than sleep. He didn’t want Jos to think he had to have sex with him or even that he had to sleep with him. That wasn’t a requirement, but the more he tried to tell Jos that, the more confused Jos seemed to get.

  “You have to give him time. Have you wondered if maybe you’re rushing things? You’ve known Jos a week. Let him decide what he wants to do and set the pace.” Red smiled. Kip had never really seen Red’s scars. Sure, they’d always been there, especially the one on his cheek. They made him look tough, but when he smiled, the scars completely receded and the man inside shone through clearly. Terry truly was a lucky man. Both he and Red were.