by Ruby Moone
“It’s all so quick. So new. We are bound to have things go wrong. I’m not much good at talking, and you see too much in what I say…or don’t say.” Michael shrugged.
Jack nodded and took hold of his hand. “Why don’t we stop all the talking and just go to bed?”
Michael squeezed his fingers and nodded. “I have a present I want to try out.” His voice was warm. Husky. “And I don’t mean the PJ’s.”
They got up, still holding onto each other, and Michael led them towards the bedroom. But they didn’t get very far.
The door buzzer sounded loud and scared the crap out of them.
Jack slumped against Michael with a hand on his heart. “Who the fuck is that?”
Michael was frowning as he marched to the intercom. He pressed the button. “Yeah?”
“Christian.”
Michael’s eyes widened. He looked back at Jack and shrugged. He pressed the button to open the door, and Jack went to stand beside him. When a sharp rap sounded, Michael opened the door and let in two men. One, a tall, blond, ridiculously handsome guy. He was slender, built like a swimmer, and looked like a model. On his heels was another man. One Jack recognised. He stared, eyes on stalks as Daniel McCafferty strolled in behind him. He was taller than Christian and bigger altogether. His hair was dark and his eyes hard. Everything about him was harder. The scruff on his chin was groomed, and a tattoo snaked up his neck and disappeared into the hair behind his ear.
Michael shook hands with McCafferty, and briefly made introductions. Jack nodded at him and stayed beside Michael.
Daniel McCafferty reached into his jacket and took out a familiar looking packet. It was the money he’d given to Bryce.
“This belongs to you.” He gave it to Michael who took it, holding it like it was a bomb or something.
“Ah, thank you.”
McCafferty turned his full attention on Jack. “I owe you an apology,” he said. “I apologise for Bryce’s actions. The debt died with your brother. Bryce took it upon himself to earn a little extra at your expense. He won’t be bothering you again.”
Jack swallowed. “Thank you,” he managed.
“Are you recovered?” He glanced at Michael, then looked back at Jack.
“I am. Thank you.”
McCafferty’s eyes bored into him and he had to look away. “I’d like you to know that your brother didn’t come to me for money to buy drugs.”
“He didn’t?” Jack looked back up at him.
“No. It paid your rent.”
Jack felt his jaw drop. There had been a couple of months after he’d been made redundant that Nathan had managed to pay the rent for them. He’d never said where the money came from.
“I… thank you.” It was good to know.
McCafferty reached back into his jacket and took out another packet. “This is compensation for what Bryce put you through.”
Jack was sure his mouth was hanging open. “Um, it’s okay, I don’t need…”
“I insist.” McCafferty’s eyes were hard and unyielding.
Jack took it and cleared his throat. “Thank you. That’s very…kind.”
McCafferty nodded.
Michael stood beside him and slid a hand around his waist, giving him a small squeeze.
“I appreciate you coming and telling us, and for compensating Jack. He’s had a rough few months at a time when he was grieving for his brother.”
Christian gave McCafferty a speaking look, and McCafferty looked uncomfortable, but just nodded. He looked back at Christian and the look they exchanged was something clearly just between the two of them.
Both men turned to leave, and Michael showed them out.
He shut the door behind them and turned to face him, one hand still holding on to the ten grand. “Well…”
Jack stared open-mouthed for a moment, then laughed. “What the fuck?”
Michael laughed too. “I know!” He turned the package over in his hands for a moment, then put it on the bookshelf, patted it, and then shrugged.
Jack tore into the package that McCafferty had given him, the ‘compensation,’ and it looked suspiciously like ten grand—exactly the same as Michael’s bundle. He looked at Michael and couldn’t help grinning.
Michael smiled. “Well, it doesn’t bring Nathan back, or take away the months you lived in that shitty place, but it’s good to know Nathan wasn’t buying drugs, and now you have some money behind you. Gives you options.”
Jack glanced at him and nodded. He put the money down and put his arms around Michael’s neck.
“I have a feeling that our life will never be boring,” Jack murmured.
Michael laughed. “You might be right, but maybe I should mention that this is only the second time I’ve had anything at all to do with Daniel McCafferty. His is not a crowd I usually run with. Don’t get excited.”
Jack laughed with him then pulled away to look at him. “They make for a pretty hot couple.”
“Hot?”
Jack nodded.
“Couple?”
Jack laughed again. “Don’t tell me you couldn’t feel the tension between them? Are they fucking?”
Michael screwed up his face. “They’re cousins!”
“I think it’s allowed,” Jack laughed. “First cousins?”
“Well, no. I think it’s second… or maybe…” Michael laughed and shook his head. “I don’t care what they are up to. It’s Christmas, you’re safe, we’ve got the cash back, you’ve got a tidy sum and I love you. Nothing else matters at this moment.”
Jack pulled his head down and kissed him. Thoroughly. When they came up for air, they were both panting.
“Where were we…” Michael whispered.
Michael took Jack by the hand and led him to the bedroom. Put on the lamp and turned down the bed. Christian and Daniel’s intervention had broken the tension a little, but he still felt nervous about taking Jack to bed. He had so little experience, but he wanted to make this good. The best. Wanted Jack to feel utterly loved, adored, and protected. Wanted him to feel safe. He hesitated, but Jack put the condoms and lube on the bedside table, then wrapped his arms around him, kissing his neck, nibbling his way up to Michael’s ear, making him gasp. The nerves fled to be replaced with an aching need that gripped him hard and he realised this wasn’t about performance, this was about loving Jack. That was all.
He ran his hands beneath Jack’s pyjama top to feel the warm skin underneath, then pushed it up and over his head. It dropped on the floor. Michael pushed his hands beneath the waistband of Jack’ pyjama bottoms and slid them down. Jack kicked out of them and stood. Naked in the lamplight. Unspeakably gorgeous. His body was long and lean, a smattering of hair between his nipples, and a darker trail from his navel to his gorgeous cock below that stood firmly to attention, the tip shiny and beaded with moisture. His hips were narrow and his legs slender but strong. The strength that Michael knew ran through every fibre of his being was echoed in his taught body.
He stood still while Jack undressed him, kissing bits of skin as they were revealed. He kissed and licked his collar bone, then licked and nipped his nipple, making him gasp. Jack slid Michael’s sweats down his legs, and they stood before each other naked. He sank his fingers into Jack’s hair and pulled him closer. He felt the shudder that ran through him, saw his pupils dilate at the action. He seemed to like him taking charge, so he pulled him gently, so he could kiss him. Jack’s arms came around him and held him tight. He kissed him, and when he gasped, slid his tongue into his mouth as he had done countless times now, but this was different now. Kissing Jack knowing that he loved him. That Jack loved him back. He moaned softly into his mouth and the kiss deepened. He ran his hand down Jack’s spine and over the curve of his arse, loving the hard, muscled feel of him. Jack melted against him, kissing with abandon, opening the deepest parts of him, trusting him.
Michael pulled away, breathing hard, and then swept Jack into his arms, and deposited him on the bed without too muc
h staggering. Jack laughed delightedly and pulled him on top of him. Michael wanted nothing more than to sink into him and fuck him. It was hard, but he pulled back. He kneeled between his legs and kissed his stomach. Kissed down the hard muscles of his abdomen and skirted around his hard, weeping cock to his hip. Jack moaned and thrust his hips as if seeking friction.
“Michael,” he gasped.
Michael loved every inch of him. Licking and kissing his skin, taking in the scent of him. The taste of him.
“You’re killing me.” Jack was moaning and writhing beneath him.
Michael suckled hard on Jack’s nipple, making him cry out again. He kissed his way back down his stomach, and this time took hold of his beautiful cock and swallowed him down as far as he could. Jack wailed, loudly, bucking against him and clutching his head, holding him and thrusting gently into his mouth.
He pushed him off after a moment, panting loudly. “Enough. I want to come with you inside me.”
Michael grabbed the lube and squirted a generous amount onto his fingers. He warmed it a moment, making Jack smile. He pulled up his legs, opening himself, exposing himself and Michael’s breathing hitched.
“Like this.” Jack’s voice was a hoarse whisper. “I want to watch.”
Michael leaned down and kissed Jack’s cock, kissed his balls, and then kissed the soft skin beneath before sliding his fingers over his hole, pressing, gently at first, then pushing. Jack moaned as his finger slid inside and Michael couldn’t breathe at the sensation of sinking into Jack’s body. He could only imagine what it would be like to sink his cock into him. He’d not last two minutes.
Jack pushed against him, wanting more. He added another finger and worked rhythmically to stretch him, open him, ready him. He’d only tried this once before and it’d been a disaster, so he’d read up online how to satisfy a partner, how to prepare them. How to make it good. He pushed further in, seeking his gland, and when he found a soft spongy mass and pressed, Jack lifted off the bed with a high-pitched moan making Michael grin.
“Enough, enough,” Jack panted pushing at him. “Now. Oh, God, Michael, please now. I’m ready, I swear I am.”
He grabbed the condom with shaking fingers and suited up, slathering more lube on himself, then pushing Jack’s legs right up to his chest, lined himself up, and pushed. Jack bore down against him and Michael’s cock breached his entrance. He was inside. He was inside Jack. He moved slowly, inching in bit by bit, and Jack panted and clutched at the bedding, eyes screwed tight.
“You okay?” Michael whispered.
“Yeah, give me a minute, you’re fucking enormous.”
Michael leaned forward and kissed him. He’d never worried about the size of his cock before. What if he couldn’t take him? What if he was too much? He couldn’t ever hurt Jack. He started pulling back, but Jack grabbed his arse.
“No. Don’t go, push. Now. Now.”
Michael pressed and slid all the way in to the hilt.
Jack was panting. Eyes wild. “Oh fuck. Oh, fucking hell.”
Michael pulled back an inch then thrust gently, and Jack’s eyes rolled. “That’s it. That’s it. Hard. Harder.”
Michael braced himself and, pulling out, thrust back harder and when Jack’s eyes fluttered closed and his mouth went slack, he allowed himself to fall into a rhythm that felt so perfect, so natural. He thrust hard, but long and deep, capturing Jack’s mouth and kissing him, pushing his tongue into his mouth echoing the thrusting of his hips, as Jack’s legs locked around him and he pushed back in time and they rocked together.
Michael pulled back. “Look at me.”
Jack opened his eyes.
Michael braced himself on his elbow, still thrusting, then took Jack’s cock in his other hand and pumped.
“Keep looking at me.”
Jack kept his gaze on Michael’s as his face contorted, his body locked, and he cried louder and louder as he came, tears leaking from his eyes. Michael held on with everything that he had and fucked him through it until his orgasm hit him and he came so hard he couldn’t see anything but Jack’s gorgeous, tear-filled eyes.
They slumped together, hearts thundering.
It was a long time before either could move. Eventually, he felt Jack’s fingers drifting idly over his body.
“That was stupendous.” Jack’s voice was a whisper in his ear.
“It was more than stupendous. You are more than stupendous.”
Jack chuckled. “Happy Christmas.”
After an age, Michael rolled off him and removed the condom. He tied it off, threw it in the bin by the bed, and flopped onto his back. He’d never experienced anything like that in his entire life. Jack rolled over and lay on his side with his head propped on his hand.
“This is what I always knew home would feel like.” He ran a finger down Michael’s chest.
“How does it feel?” Michael captured his fingers and kissed them.
“Safe. Warm. Loved.” He leaned down and kissed him. “I love you.”
Michael looked and smiled. “I love you too.”
“What will we tell them in the office?”
“I’ll tell them that I love you.”
Jack laughed. “No, really.”
“Well, have you thought about finding a job doing what you are good at?”
“And what’s that?”
“Graphic design? Much as I love having you here, working together and living together might be pushing it a bit.”
“I love being with you all of the time.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want you to find out what a grumpy git I am.”
“Too late.” Jack laughed.
Michael kissed him and threaded his fingers through his hair. “Maybe you need to find your feet. Branch out. Find out what you can do.”
He felt Jack retreat although he never moved, so he rolled over, taking Jack with him, so he was laid on top of him.
“And before you get me wrong, this is not me trying to get rid of you. Like I said, I’ll always be here for you. I’ll always love you whatever you decide to do. Just… Think about what you want to do with your life and I’ll help you achieve it in any way that I can.” He kissed him gently.
Jack kissed him back and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I think… I think I will always be a little insecure.” He frowned. “Don’t get mad and give up on me.”
Michael stroked his face again. “Never. If it gets to be a problem, then we’ll get help.”
Jack’s eyes widened. “Help?”
Michael’s chest tightened. “Yes. Therapy. Help. For me too.”
“You’d do therapy for me?”
“I would.”
He meant it.
Jack lips trembled. “I’d do it for you too.”
They kissed a little while longer until Michael rolled onto his back and Jack curled against him, head on his chest.
“This will always be home?” Jack snuggled tighter against him.
“Wherever we are will be home. As long as we’re together, we’ve got home.”
“Yeah,” Jack whispered. “Home.”
**** The End****
About the Author
My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal.
I write gay romance after falling in love with the genre. I have read some fabulous books by amazing authors and knew I simply had to have a go. My head is always full of characters, but when I saw a submission call from JMS Books on Facebook I decided to give it a shot. I submitted my 12,500 word Novelette for their ‘Hurt Heroes’ call and guess what? She offered me a contract!
My very first publishing contract. I now have two other stories due for release and I am still dancing on air, and still writing about men who fall in love with other men.
www.rubymoone.com | [email protected]
Christmas Titles from Ruby Moone
The M
istletoe Kiss
By 1816, widowed bookseller Lawrence Fenton has spent a lonely lifetime hiding who he is. He has convinced himself his feelings for his far too young, gorgeous, but troubled assistant Christy Shaw are nothing more than pride in his protégé and concern for his plight.
Christy’s life involves walking fine lines: one between his mother and his abusive stepfather, one where he must keep his needs hidden, and hardest of all, one where he must keep his feelings for his serious employer to himself.
Lame since birth, Lawrence cannot imagine anyone wanting him, least of all Christy. But when Christy’s life threatens to spiral out of control, Lawrence steps in. Then Christy’s emotions spill over into a kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas. Will Lawrence be able to face the long-buried truth about himself and keep Christy by his side?
BUY HERE
The Wrong Kind of Angel
A reluctant angel, three not terribly wise men, two gorgeous men on a starlit chase to find a child ... It can only be Christmas.
It’s Christmas 1817 and Captain Charles Farrington has accepted that he is destined to live alone. That is, until Christmas Eve, when a startlingly handsome man crashes into his home and his life.
Harry Valentine is a man on the run. A man with secrets. He hasn’t time to fall for the angel who rescued him and, in any case, he knows that once Charlie realises the truth about him, there will be no future for them.
Harry’s warmth makes Charles face up to the demons in his past and shows him that he can have a family. All he has to do is persuade Harry to stay. But Charlie knows that, despite whatever Harry says, he’s the wrong kind of angel for happy endings.
BUY HERE
The Christmas Curse (FREE)
It’s almost Christmas 1806, and government agent Jared Templeton finds himself adopted by a beautiful stray dog as he walks his customary route each night to his Mayfair home. Having never owned a dog before, Jared is surprised to find himself talking to the beast. It’s wonderfully easy and lifts some of the heavy burdens he carries.