Best Man

by Shelley Munro

  Jesse nodded, the beginnings of a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Suddenly his head wasn’t so befuddled with alcohol, his mind crystal clear with what he needed to do. “That’s pretty much why I don’t broadcast my sexual preferences.”

  Grayson went so still, Jesse wondered if he were still breathing. “You’re gay?”

  “Yeah. Since I was a teenager, although I keep it quiet,” Jesse said, his smile broad with a combination of relief and excitement. “Great. Since we’re both on the same page, wanna fool around some more?”

  Chapter Two

  Grayson’s heart thumped so fast he worried it might pound from his chest. Fuck, he’d really done it this time. He’d admitted he was gay then gone one better and proved it by sucking cock.

  His teammate didn’t seem to be taking it too badly. He cast the man a cautious look. Dark brown, almost black hair curled close to his scalp while sexy blue eyes twinkled back at him. Jesse stood slightly taller than him and appeared much prettier with muscular good looks that made women look twice. Grayson had watched them cast flirtatious looks at his teammate. Now he knew why the sexy man didn’t return the attention. Grayson had assumed Jesse had a girlfriend he didn’t talk about or else he’d been hurt and wasn’t looking. He’d asked Nolan but his friend had merely shrugged with unconcern.

  “Grayson? You okay?”

  Hell no! “Surprised. Stunned.”

  “Hard,” Jesse said with a chuckle and a glance at his groin.

  Grayson shifted a fraction to cover his erection. Difficult when his dick jerked under Jesse’s attention. Finally Grayson gave up and grinned back, albeit a little hesitantly. “Yeah, that too.”

  Hell, he didn’t think he’d ever felt so unsure. He’d had discreet relationships with other men but Jesse was the first he’d ached for on a fulltime basis. Despite his attraction, Grayson hadn’t let himself think about more than a casual friendship. Until now. What if his actions fucked everything up? What if loving Jesse had been a big mistake? Too late to take back his impulsive actions now.

  Jesse pushed up to sit on the edge of the bed beside him. He leaned close and kissed him on the lips. Shock held Grayson impassive. The kiss remained gentle and careful with Jesse treading easy, as if he were frightened he’d scare him.

  When they pulled apart long minutes later, they were both breathing hard.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  Jesse smiled. “It’s true I’ve been drinking but the first time I saw you I wanted you.” His grin faded, the echo in his blue eyes fading to serious. “The feeling hasn’t gone away. I can’t look at you without getting a hard-on.”

  Grayson scrutinized his teammate’s face, searching for truth. He didn’t take things at face value, not anymore. Sean, his very first lover, had cured him of blind trust, but with Jesse he badly wanted to take a chance. When he’d come into the bedroom, he hadn’t thought, he’d merely reacted. If things went wrong between them, it might screw up his chances of making the All Blacks. He knew Jesse held the same dream. A relationship between them might wreck both their chances.

  “Gray, I would never do anything to embarrass you or to hurt your rugby career. I know how much representing New Zealand means to you because I want the same thing.” Jesse rubbed his shoulder in a gesture of comfort. “I’m not experimenting with the lifestyle. I know what I want.” He turned his blue eyes on Grayson and they blazed with sincerity. “I’m not pretending it will be easy if things went wrong between us, but we want the same thing. I’d like to think we could work it out.”

  Grayson snorted. “If one of us were a female, we wouldn’t discuss this. We’d already be fucking.”

  “True. You prefer to top or bottom? I don’t mind.” Jesse stood and waggled his ass. “I’m easy.”

  Decision time. Grayson scanned Jesse’s muscular torso, his gaze dropping to the thick erection between his friend’s legs. Hell, he didn’t think he could turn his back and walk away. Not now that he knew his secret and definitely not since he’d touched the other man. Grayson stood and gave in to the impulse to touch, smoothing his hand down one biceps. “I’ll top.”

  “Damn.” Emotion shone in Jesse’s eyes. He pulled away and stooped to rifle through his bag. When he stood, he slapped a bottle of lube and several condoms on the wooden dresser between the two beds. That done, he sauntered over to Grayson and stepped straight into his arms.

  The honesty in his teammate humbled Grayson. And in truth, he didn’t want to talk, to think anymore. He wanted to fuck.

  Their mouths slammed together. Grayson jerked away with a curse and fingered his bottom lip.

  Jesse laughed. “I thought forwards were big and tough. Don’t be such a pansy. Come here and let me kiss it better.”

  Grayson put on a grouchy face and leaned close again. Inside, he smiled, feeling happiness and a sense of freedom he hadn’t experienced for ages. This time their kiss was smoother. Their lips slid together, bodies brushed, and he smelled the fresh scent of Jesse’s citrus aftershave. He grasped Jesse’s shoulders and let his hands drift over the other man’s back before they came to rest on his butt. Grayson squeezed the firm flesh, hardly daring to believe he could touch Jesse in such a personal manner without the other man thumping him for taking liberties.

  “On the bed,” he ordered.

  Jesse grinned and obeyed, flopping onto the navy blue covers. Grayson loved the grin and realized the other man hadn’t smiled or joked around much lately. Until now. The knowledge brought confidence and reinforced his decision to continue. His gut told him the future wouldn’t be easy but Jesse would make it fun.

  “How do you want to do this?”

  “Face-to-face and fast,” Jesse said without hesitation. “I’m horny as hell.”

  Grayson eyed Jesse’s long, thick cock and smirked. “No kidding?” He grabbed a condom and the lube then dropped onto the bed, spread Jesse’s legs and moved between them. “Can’t have that.”

  A fine sheen of sweat coated his friend’s chest and when he pressed a kiss to his abs, Jesse’s muscles flexed and rippled.

  “Fast, huh?” Grayson double-checked with Jesse, heart pounding. God, he wanted fast too. He hadn’t had sex with another man for months. Hadn’t found one he wanted to take the risk with until today. He grabbed a foil packet and ripped it open, rolling the latex onto his cock with quick, deft moves. Grayson paused to drop a kiss on the inside of Jesse’s thigh and took a sly nip when he noticed Jesse’s eyes had closed. “Don’t go to sleep, mate.”

  “Well, hurry,” Jesse snapped.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t. Alcohol relaxes me.”

  Grayson eyed the other man’s dick. “You don’t look relaxed to me.”

  Jesse opened his eyes to glare. “Gray, I’m dying here. Stop talking. I want you now.” He raised his knees, silently offering easy access.

  Deciding to take him at his word, Grayson picked up the bottle of lube and squeezed a dollop onto his fingers. The gel was cool and an evil grin formed. This would shut Jesse up for a while. He smeared the gel over his entrance, surprising a yelp from the other man. “Don’t be a baby,” he said with more than a trace of smugness. “I thought even pretty-boy wingers were tougher than that.”

  “Cold,” Jesse muttered.

  “Hmmm.” Grayson brushed his fingers back and forth across the puckered rosette. He leaned over and pressed kisses to his taut belly, his inner thigh and everywhere else he could reach before pushing a finger inside Jesse. His lover groaned, and his hips strained upward.

  “More, dammit, Gray. Put your cock inside me now.”

  Grayson figured Jesse knew what he could take. Who was he to argue? He spread lube along his length, repositioned himself and lined up his cock, determined to take it slow initially, despite Jesse’s demands. He wasn’t a small man and didn’t think pain contributed to great sex. He pushed inside, clenching his jaw at the heat, the snug squeeze of muscles.

 
“Gray,” Jesse whispered, totally at ease. “That feels great.”

  Grayson withdrew a fraction and thrust harder, past the ring of resistant muscle. One more withdrawal, another thrust and he glided in to the root, the tight, hot feel of Jesse, the way his channel clutched his cock almost ripped away the last vestiges of his control. “You okay?”

  “Hell yeah,” Jesse said with a lazy grin.

  One glance told him Jesse spoke the truth. He withdrew and set a faster pace, rocking his pelvis forward, varying the angle to get his lover going. Grayson gasped at the spear of pleasure arcing through him. He wasn’t going to last long at this rate. Jesse gripped his shoulders, muscles flexing as they moved together. The man’s straining cock brushed his flat stomach, the flared head gleaming with pre-cum. Grayson grasped it with one hand and squeezed while continuing to thrust. He writhed, his balls high and firm against his body while he basked in the velvet heat of his lover.

  His strokes became hard and jerky as need spiraled out of control. One thrust came hard on the heels of the other. Jesse let out a shout, his cock jerking beneath Grayson’s hand, and an instant later, his own orgasm thundered through him, strong and powerful. They came down slowly, sweaty bodies plastered together, arms wrapped around each other.

  Finally, Jesse pushed at his chest. “Dammit, Gray. You weigh a ton.”

  Grayson groaned but withdrew from his lover’s body. He sat up to deal with the condom before standing to grab a damp cloth so they could both clean up. He wandered back from the en suite and tossed the flannel at a frowning Jesse. He froze when trepidation hit. Damn, the sex had been incredible. He wanted another go-round. Surely Jesse felt the same? “Regrets?”

  “Yeah.”

  His teammate glared at him and fear and anxiety churned Grayson’s stomach until it felt like a concrete mixer set on high speed. Even pre-game nerves weren’t this bad.

  “I wish we’d done this sooner,” Jesse said.

  The fear melted away and he smirked at Jesse’s aggrieved tone. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll make up for lost time.” His grin faded when he recalled the suspicions that had brought him to the room in his search for Jesse. The shock of seeing Jesse naked and masturbating had driven all thoughts from his head. “I went for a walk in the bush earlier.”

  “Did you? I walked the circuit as well. I didn’t see you.”

  “Because I was hiding,” Grayson said. “I overheard someone talking about photos they wanted to sell. I think one of the guests or someone in the wedding party intends to take photos of Nolan and Cassie and sell them. No, wait. They said they already had photos.”

  “You suspected me?” Jesse asked at a low bellow.

  “No, not really. Four people walked past me after I heard the discussion. You. Two men I didn’t know and Cassie’s sister Serena. I wasn’t close enough to work out if the people talking about the photos were male or female, which leaves me with three suspects.”

  “Four, if you count me.” Jesse bounded off the bed to stalk the length of the bedroom.

  “I don’t suspect you.” Grayson’s lips twitched when his lover turned and paced toward him. “Pacing doesn’t look dignified when you’re naked, ya know.” He gestured at Jesse’s erection.

  “Fuck you,” Jesse muttered.

  Grayson wet his lips while his stomach fluttered at the thought that shot to prominence. Although he preferred to top, the idea of Jesse thrusting into his body sounded full of promise. Yeah, he liked the scenario. “That could be arranged. I think you’re the best man for the job.”

  “Be serious. Nolan and Cassie will be pissed if the newspapers and magazines get hold of intimate pictures. I presume that’s what they’re after?”

  “That would be my guess.”

  Jesse checked his watch before turning back to him. “Why don’t we go and see Nolan and Cassie? Tell them what you heard so at least they’re warned.”

  “I saw Nolan earlier. The two of them intended to sneak off and grab time alone. I don’t know if they’ll be back yet.”

  “I’m sure they won’t stay out too late, not with the wedding tomorrow. Let’s grab a shower before we go find them.” Jesse turned toward the en suite and paused to snatch up a condom plus the bottle of lube. “Might as well multitask.” He grinned over his shoulder, the cheeky expression making Grayson’s pulse rate shift up a gear like it did during an important rugby match. Hard to believe this was happening.

  “Great idea.” Damn, Grayson liked the way this man thought.

  Jesse flipped on the shower and stepped under the water even though it still ran cold. He grabbed Grayson’s hand and dragged him beneath the spray. “Just as well the shower isn’t enclosed in a stall,” he said. “You take up a lot of room.”

  “Humph,” Grayson said, the cold water a shock when it hit his heated skin. “You’re not exactly a mouse.”

  Jesse chuckled and crowded Grayson. He urged him face first toward the tiled wall. Before he could move, Jesse trapped him with his body and forced his hands against the wall. Grayson felt the nudge of Jesse’s cock between his buttocks. He could have fought but the position interested him. The thought of Jesse stroking inside him brought a surge of need. His dick reared into prominence and he leaned back, purposely waggling his ass and creating friction. Jesse’s cock slid along the crease between his butt cheeks, the man’s hiss of pleasure audible above the splatter of water. Grayson grinned. He hadn’t enjoyed sex so much for ages. Not so much the sex but being with a man, one he genuinely liked and had common interests with, made the encounter even more special.

  Jesse’s hand snaked around his hips to grasp his dick and pumped hard. His cock pulsed and thickened beneath the callused hand. Grayson relaxed, palms pressed against the tiles while the water poured over them.

  “Spread your legs for me, mate.”

  Grayson obeyed and shifted his legs so his stance widened. He felt Jesse’s fingers rub back and forth against his entrance, the enriched nerves twitching beneath his lover’s stroke. Then a finger probed inside, the touch bringing a burn plus a bolt of pleasure. Hell, it had been so long since he’d been with a man in this way. Jesse fingered him again and Grayson attempted to relax against the intrusion.

  “That’s good, Gray. Hell, you feel so hot. My cock is gonna burn inside you.” Jesse pressed a kiss to his shoulder and surprised him with a nip on the fleshy part where neck and shoulder met. Grayson jumped before he could control the move and Jesse’s soft laugh brought a flush of heat to his face.

  Jesse kept the pace slow, sometimes with shallow strokes and at other times pushing deep enough to graze across his gland. Grayson shivered, tension yanked tight inside. Another finger pushed into him as Jesse carefully stretched him.

  “I can’t wait to push inside you. You’re almost ready for me. Do you want me, Gray? Do you want me to fuck you?” Jesse’s husky voice made him breathless with impatience, with desire.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “The right answer.” Jesse withdrew his fingers and released Grayson’s cock. Instantly, sweet anticipation thrummed through him, the crinkle of the foil wrapping when it tore loud, even above the spill of the water from overhead. Jesse’s big body blocked the flow of water. Grayson quivered, the tension ratcheting sharply upward, his body a mass of nerves and desire. Part of him cried out for Jesse’s possession while the rest of him—the sane part—worried about the discomfort. He trusted Jesse but there was always the unknown factor.

  When he felt the cool gel at his entrance, he couldn’t prevent a jolt of surprise but he didn’t make the mistake of complaining. Grayson knew his friend would take delight in hurling his words back at him but they’d be along the lines of wimpy rugby players—the ones who played in the forward position and thought they were so big and strong. Everyone knew the speedy wingers were the ones who scored tries and won games.

  Jesse slipped two fingers inside him again, the lube allowing the digits to slide with ease. Another finger stretched him. Grayson g
roaned at the streak of pleasure that shot the length of his cock. Jesse removed the fingers and he felt the thick head of a cock probe him. With slow, careful moves Jesse worked into Grayson, thrusting and withdrawing in easy glides.

  “God, Gray. Damn that feels good. You’re tight. I love the way your arse grips me. Are you okay? Does it feel good?”

  Grayson grunted. He couldn’t do more with the wealth of sensations surging through him. Who knew the man he’d lusted after for so long had such a great way with seductive talk? Just the sound of Jesse’s smoky voice made his dick jerk.

  Jesse withdrew and pushed back inside, until he was balls deep. Grayson groaned. Now that he’d relaxed, each slow thrust lit up nerves inside. His cock leaked freely, so rigid and swollen, he thought he might burst. He needed to jerk off. Now. Grayson peeled one palm off the tiled wall but Jesse leaned over his back and forced his hand back.

  “Let me,” he whispered in his seductive voice. “I can give you pleasure.”

  Without another word Grayson relaxed, trusting the other man to keep his word and ceding responsibility. True to his promise, Jesse reached around Grayson’s body. He rubbed a finger back and forth across a flat nipple until it stiffened as much as his cock. Jesse pinched it, the twinge of pain darting across nerve endings and wringing a hiss from Grayson. One of Jesse’s hands finally curled around his cock. He closed his eyes and concentrated on every sensation, the rough hand that gripped and pumped his erection, the cock that thrust into him. Jesse quickened his strokes, pulling a moan from Grayson.

  “Damn, that feels great.”

  “It’s meant to bring pleasure,” Jesse whispered before kissing his neck.

  It did. If the sensations crowding his body became any more intense, Grayson thought his knees would buckle. And that would never do. He couldn’t afford to show vulnerability with Jesse. He’d never hear the end of the teasing. Jesse increased his pace, slamming into him, gripping his cock and pumping him hard.

  “Jesse,” Grayson cried out, the sound of his lover’s name raw and guttural. His cock jerked with explosive contractions and dense streams of cum spurted over Jesse’s hand and the wall.