by Elise Whyles
“Jesus, that, uh…” Sean groaned. He slapped his hands against the wall, desperate to cling to anything that would keep him grounded. The world tilted, spinning madly with each languid kiss, every tiny caress from Luke’s calloused hands. Nails scraped across his nipples, teasing. Down, oh God. To taste him. What if I can’t do this? What if my attempt to pleasure him just turns him off? What if this ruins everything? Oh God, it feels so good. More. Must have more. Sean rolled his hips and ground against Luke’s arousal, his low, tortured groan almost physical in its intensity. He jerked when Luke’s hand passed over the aching flesh of his groin, and moisture soaked into his jeans.
Luke paused, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips before leaning forward to rest his forehead against Sean’s. “Yeah. For what it’s worth, I’ve had my share of fantasies about you. I could eat you whole right now, but I don’t want to scare the hell outta you. Want to take you in my mouth, taste you.”
The words were like a hot brand searing into his head. Sean swallowed against the fear and lust clogging his throat and nodded, bringing his hand up to run through the short hair at the nape of Luke’s neck. “I don’t know. What if I’m no good at this? I’ve…”
“Babe, just looking at you turns me on,” Luke ground out, grabbing his hand to press against the throbbing shaft behind his jeans zipper. “Whatever you want, however you want it. Just tell me.”
“Slow and easy, then.” He leaned up, his lips brushing against Luke’s. “But for right now, can I kiss you?”
Luke’s half smile faded as Sean pressed his lips to his. The subtle rasp of Luke’s beard against his drove him crazy. His heart racing, Sean shifted, his hand finding the front placket of his jeans. His cock throbbed, aching behind the denim trapping it. Already he could feel the building tension, the tightening of his balls as he pressed closer to Luke. He wanted, no needed, to feel Luke again. Needed the desperate heat, his lips on Luke’s as he ground against him.
Nervous anticipation tweaked his control, pulling at him until he hung on the edge as Luke let him in. Their tongues dueled, mating with the hot, wet glide of flesh against flesh. Sean groaned, the taste of coffee and pure Luke shot through him to his dick. He tensed at the feel of Luke’s hand on his before Luke turned him to face the wall.
“Trust me.” Luke nipped at his shoulder, pressing his hands against the wood before he slid his hands down Sean’s torso to the waistband of his jeans. Work-roughened fingers traced over skin, over muscle, sending waves of pleasure ripping through Sean’s body. He sucked in a quick breath when Luke’s fingers zipped over his navel before darting back upward. Blunt nails scraped through the hair on his chest, spreading over his pecs, teasing over his nipples. A shudder of want raced over his body, and he groaned. His body twitched when Luke nipped at his shoulder, his teeth trailing down his spine to the curve of his ass before trailing back upward. Sean turned his head, his eyes downcast, and stared at Luke, his body throbbing with need.
“Luke, please.” Sean’s words were smothered as Luke’s lips descended on his mouth. Soft, warm, Luke teased him. Taking tiny sips of his lips before darting away. Painting a path of moisture across them, his breath cool on the wet skin. Each swipe stirred the banked embers of need, his blood slowing to a thick ooze in his groin. His cock twitched, and the shaft pulsed with proof of his desire.
Tongues slid against each other as Luke pressed closer. His chest pressed tight to Sean, his hips rocking into his ass. Sean sighed, his tongue sweeping along Luke’s to learn every inch of the man’s mouth. He caught the faint hint of chocolate and something else, something sinful and delicious. Something he wanted more of. He cupped the back of Luke’s neck, his fingers locking together as he arched against the taller man.
His chest burning, he panted as Luke pulled back. He closed his eyes and willed his heart to quit racing, his blood to cool. What if he’d done it wrong? What if he wasn’t any good at this? What if he couldn’t…
“Sean.” Tender, warm, Luke’s voice pulled him back from the brink.
“Luke?” Sean turned, his hands landing on Luke’s bare chest.
“I, uh, think we better make dinner.” Luke’s hands soothed, petting him until the raw power of his need had calmed somewhat.
Sean felt his heart shatter, the knot of uncertainty growing in his belly. “Really? I was that bad, huh?”
“Fuck, man, if I don’t back off, I’m going to jump you. Not sure you’re ready for that.” He offered a rough chuckle that shook his entire body. “At least, for right now. I want you, but I don’t want to rush your first time. It’s a big step, and I want to be sure. I need to be sure you’re not just doing it for the sake of experience. Make sense?”
Sean’s gaze flew up, locking on Luke’s. He caught the tremble in his fingers as he palmed Luke’s broad shoulders. “Uh…”
“Take it slow, babe.” Luke pressed a quick, hard kiss to his lips. “I’m not going anywhere. You need to be sure, it’s a big step, and honestly, I’m not interested in a one-time deal. Dinner first, afterward we can cuddle, and maybe when we’re both ready a whole lot more.”
Sean watched Luke back away and shuffle to the sink with a wince, and he felt a hit of emotion. God, the man was sex in jeans, and he’d kissed him. He’d all but made love to his mouth, treated him like his kiss was the most important thing in the world. It was exhilarating, humbling, and it made him hornier than an alley cat.
He tugged at the snug denim at his hips and tried to think of something other than the taste of Luke on his lips. “You want some help with it?”
“Sure. You can fire up the grill. Not overly anxious to start another fire, so I figured we’d just use the indoor one.”
“Got it.” Sean reached past him to grab the platter with the meat on it. He shivered as his bare arm brushed against Luke, relishing the answering shudder racing over Luke’s body. Was he ready for more? Faggot, freak. His father’s voice stirred in his mind. It’s not right or proper for you to lie with another man. You’re going to burn for it, Sean, burn.
Sean ignored the hate-filled voice and shifted; the friction on his cock felt good as he glanced over at Luke’s naked back. He licked at his lips; it wasn’t wrong … if he truly wanted it.
Chapter 11
The sunlight glinted off the blade as he swiped through the hide. “Damn them. Why do they have to stick so close? This is my hunting ground, not theirs.” He tossed a bit of the hide aside and chuckled, his fingers plucking the prize from the still warm flesh. He held it up to the light and sighed. It would fetch a pretty penny. Heaving a breath, he spat a curse and tucked it into a bag. He had a buyer already lined up, and he’d finish this season before moving on. Maybe he’d head west: there was that coastal area just ripe for the plucking.
He heard the roar of an engine, lifted his head, and glanced east. The road to the station followed the edge of the woods where he hunted the most. As the vehicle faded into the silence, he glanced around. Bloody carcasses littered the ground. Hides and meat lay covered in flies. A large tank of gas sat beneath the shade of a tall pine.
“Tomorrow,” he promised with a slight nod and kicked the last carcass aside. He turned and headed for the tethered horse. His camp was a good four kilometers away, and he didn’t want to wait. Once he got there he’d call his partner, get the deal lined up.
“Yes, sir, tomorrow we’ll just burn those. Then we’ll see what we can do to get rid of those two nosy fucks.” He swung into the tightened saddle. He gathered his reins and turned, and with a slight glance at the carnage, he left. He nudged his mount into a trot and headed for camp as the sun began its slow descent into the Rockies.
* * * *
Sean lay curled up on his bed, his gaze locked on the silvery trails of light slipping through his curtains. He had no idea if supper had actually been edible. He’d spent the better part of the time with his mind replaying Luke’s kiss. Even now he could taste him; taste the subtle bite of coffee and lust on his tongue.
He kicked off the covers and rose to pad to the window. His palm pressed against the sill, he stared out over the yard. The shadows from the trees danced across the hood of the newer pickup as well as the older model he’d been using. He caught the scurry of an animal and smiled before it faded as his gaze landed on the quad. Had Luke seen the words written there? Had someone’s hate spilled over onto the man sleeping down the hall?
His hip pressed against the wall, Sean crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. More and more his thoughts had turned to Luke while he’d been away. Now he’d tasted him, felt his touch, his mind raced with thoughts. He wasn’t too sure he could stand to lose what he had. With a start, he realized Luke was more than just the object of his sexual fantasies; he’d become a friend in a short period of time. His no-nonsense approach to their job had given him a glimpse into the man behind the uniform. His daredevil attitude at times had driven him nuts, but it was part of the man he’d come to respect and trust.
A man he wasn’t fool enough to think he could keep. Could you handle a fling? Would it be enough? It has been years since you’ve felt anything like this. No, that’s not true. You’ve never felt this feeling, this burning, this want for another person. For years you’ve pushed and hidden your desires, tried to ignore them in the hopes you could be acceptable to Dad. Sean groaned at the thought. There wouldn’t be any doubt, Louis Tisman would have a field day. The bigotry from him knew no limit. He’d seen his father fire someone for the color of their skin, accuse them of stealing, of other things, and they’d vanished. Gone the ways of the wind. “Hell, he even sent men after me for being gay.”
The flashing dots on the alarm clock drew his attention, and he sighed. Nearly midnight, and he still hadn’t gotten a hint of sleep. He tugged a pair of boxers over his naked hips and crossed the room to his bedroom door. Quiet, dark, the hallway offered little by way of light, but he didn’t mind. One hand on the wall, he stalked the darkened corridor until he reached Luke’s room.
He rapped his knuckles softly before opening the door a few inches. He peeked in, his heart stuttering. Luke lay sprawled out on his bed, his chest rising and falling with the evenness of his breathing. A thin sheet covered his groin, but offered little by way of privacy. Even with the pale lighting in the room, Sean could see the hint of dark curls between his legs and see the flaccid bump of his cock.
He swallowed hard, his shoulder pressed against the door. His eyes locked on the tangled sheet, on what lay beneath it. The urge to crawl in next to him pulled at him, at his mind. Strong arms wrapped around him, warm lips against the nape of his neck. It would be perfect.
With a shake of his head, Sean backed from the room to head back to his room and lie on his tangled covers. Why Luke? Why not any of the guys from school? From the gay bars he’d gone to? He shuddered. He’d learned the hard way that gay men were easy targets to those who feared them.
He’d had so many chances to learn, to experience what was out there. The butterflies in his belly weren’t something he’d never experienced before. Attraction was something physical, something one couldn’t control. Yet, it went deeper than that. Luke meant more than simply a means to satisfy an urge. He was different, and what Sean felt went further than just physical attraction. Sean rolled over, punching his pillow and closing his eyes. Sleep, however, proved elusive, and the moonlight had slipped away into the darkness before it came.
* * * *
Rich, heady, the smell of coffee and food tickled Luke’s senses as he stepped from the shower. After drying off he tossed his towel on the rack before shaving and applying antiperspirant, Luke raked his hands through his hair and stared into the mirror. “Behave, old man, no need to scare the youngster away.” He turned to dress in his uniform. He headed for the kitchen, buckling his belt into place as he stepped into the room.
Sean leaned on the counter, looking half asleep. His dark lashes lay against his cheeks, and there were circles under his eyes. Luke walked over, pressed a hand to his back, and leaned down to press a kiss to the back of his head. “Why don’t you go back to bed for a couple of hours? You look like you’re going to fall asleep at the table.”
“Work to do.” Sean smothered a yawn and straightened. “I’ll be okay.”
“Sean, go to bed. If I need you to work, I’ll call, okay?” Luke palmed his cheek. “Doesn’t look like you got any sleep last night.”
“I think I got two hours.” A rueful chuckle escaped. “My mind just wouldn’t shut down. Kept thinking about you, about what’s happening.”
Ice settled in his veins as he settled on the chair next to the younger man. “It was a kiss, Sean.”
“Yes, it was. I’ve never been kissed like that before.” A frown marred his face as he toyed with a spoon. “Like my kiss was the only thing you were thinking of. Like there was nothing beyond us, beyond that moment. Sounds corny, but it wasn’t corny to me. I wanted it. Wanted you to kiss me again and again.”
“Did you ever kiss your girlfriend?”
“All the time.” Sean shrugged before he rose and grabbed the coffee pot. He poured two cups and set one in front of Luke. “But it wasn’t like us. It was plain.”
“Why didn’t you kiss anyone else? I mean, you two had broken up, so why wouldn’t you go out, have fun, play a little?”
“I did go out once. Went with a bunch of friends from school. It didn’t go well. One of the guys was obviously gay, and he got attacked at the bar. Four against one isn’t good odds. Then when we went to the gay bar it was worse. I felt so out of place, couldn’t relax, couldn’t have fun. Dad always told me only perverts would have sex with their own gender. I couldn’t help feeling everyone could look at me and see that upbringing.”
Luke nodded, understanding dawning. It wasn’t easy. Even with his parents there’d been a few moments of doubt, of self-recriminations and tears. They’d gotten over it fairly quickly, but the idea of their not accepting him seemed so painful. He leaned against Sean and pressed a kiss to his throat. “Get some sleep. I’ll call you in a couple of hours.”
“Be careful,” Sean warned as Luke finished his coffee, grabbed a bagel with bacon, and headed for the front door. “You never know who’s out there.”
Luke paused, his hand on the handle. He shot Sean a quick grin. “True, but I refuse to live in fear. I’ll see you shortly.” Luke closed the door behind him, hurried down the steps, and headed for where the quads were parked.
He ducked beneath a branch and froze. He stared at the house and back. “What in the fuck?” He whistled at the crudity. Was this what had Sean so upset yesterday? He shook his head and wiped the writing away. “Fruity Die—who the hell would write something like that? Bastard.”
The engine turned over with a quick flick of the key, purring as he backed up and headed west. He’d check the western trails and then head up to the lookout before heading back to the house. Shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours, unless he found anything. He gave a quick wave as he drove past the house and then turned down the slight incline to head for the river crossing.
Luke paused on the edge of the river bank, his gaze scanning the trees. Birds chirped merrily, in the distance he could hear the irate chatter of a squirrel, and he sighed. Learning Sean was gay was a shock, but it was a welcomed one. He licked at his lips, the memory of Sean’s kiss heady. He’d never known anything like what he’d felt when his lips had touched Sean. The heat that had steamrolled through him to settle in his cock. The need to taste, to lick, to suck at the warm, exposed flesh. The desire to have him spread out on his bed for him to devour was undeniable. How was he supposed to keep things platonic when he was handed a platter with a man on it who starred in more than one sexual fantasy.
Luke pulled out the box of chocolates he kept on hand from his front vest pocket. Absentmindedly, he popped the sweets into his mouth, his attention on the memory of the muscle beneath the skin on Sean’s body. If there was an ounce of fat, he hadn’t found it. Pure corded muscle,
rolling and flexing with each move. Dark hair teasing his palms, narrowing down beneath the waist of his jeans. Fingers flexing, Luke shook his head. Already he could feel his blood heating, his desire building. He shifted in the seat and groaned. His body ached. He’d jacked off twice the night before just to get some sleep. Would Sean be comfortable with that? Would Sean let him touch him, suck him off? Fuck him? His cock twitched in his pants, and Luke cursed.
He blew out a breath and revved the engine. There would be time for those thoughts later. For now, he needed to get out there on the trail. See what was what. There hadn’t been a fire in a week … maybe they’d gotten a break and the arsonist had moved on.
As potent as venom, the niggling thought he knew who was doing it and why whispered at the back of his mind. Experience had taught him to listen to the voice, but he just couldn’t let himself believe it was true. Their break hadn’t been amicable, but he didn’t think Tony would go so far as to start a fire in a national park as revenge.
Stranger things had been known to happen on occasion, but he wasn’t willing to jump to conclusions. He needed more proof. Luke heard laughter and glanced up. A slow smile spread across his face as he turned the throttle and eased his vehicle forward.
“Morning, folks.” After killing the engine, Luke shifted on the bike seat. His gaze scanned the four people sitting near a large blue and gray tent. Several bicycles rested on kickstands beside it, and he could see the taillights of a late model car beneath a canopy of branches.
“Morning, Officer.” The man stepped forward, his shorts wrinkled, shirt askew. The young woman smiled at him and continued cutting a loaf of bread.
“You folks in the park long?”
“Just camping for a few days. My wife and I got in last night.”