by Rachel Reid
“Nice.”
An awkward silence fell between them. It had been a pretty excellent day all around for Troy, and he couldn’t help but think that the perfect way to cap it would be pinning Harris to a wall somewhere and kissing him breathless.
If Harris was into that.
“We haven’t talked really. Since we got back from Florida,” Troy said.
“I noticed that too.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you or anything. It’s not because we, uh. Y’know.”
Harris’s eyes twinkled. “You sure?”
Troy couldn’t lie to him. “Maybe it is. I’m kind of embarrassed about it.”
Harris huffed. “Well, that’s not what I want to hear.”
“No! I mean, I’m not embarrassed about...what we did. It’s because I kind of dumped a bunch of stuff on you and bolted.”
“You did,” Harris agreed. “But to be fair, it was a weird couple of days.”
“Yeah, well.” Troy ducked his head. “I also said that what we did wasn’t a big deal. But the thing is, it kind of...was.”
Harris’s eyes widened.
“For me, at least,” Troy said quickly. “I don’t usually...do that. I’ve only ever done that with, um...well, you know.” He hoped someday he’d be able to talk about being gay, about dating men, in a public place, but today wasn’t that day.
“I know,” Harris said gently. “When I left your hotel room after saying all that stuff, I spent the rest of the night thinking about what a big deal it must have been for you. All of it. What we did. What you were able to tell me. And I’m honored you trust me enough to share that with me.”
Troy nudged the leg of a bar stool with his toe. “I do. Trust you. And, um. I liked what we did. A lot.”
Harris put a hand on his arm, warm and steady. “Troy. Would you like to do what we did again?”
Troy’s heart sped up, but he managed to nod.
“Would you like to do it...right now?”
Troy couldn’t answer. He just stared, stunned at Harris’s easy proposition. His gaze focused on Harris’s lips, glistening with his last swig of cider.
Harris stepped slightly closer. “Because I would really like to.”
Troy felt light-headed and couldn’t think of anything except crushing their mouths together. His cock was already firming up, which was going to be noticeable in the snug jeans he was wearing.
“Yeah,” he whispered, then, more loudly and steadily, said, “Yeah. Let’s go.”
Harris stepped back, and Troy damn near fell forward trying to chase his warmth. Harris steadied him with a helpful hand and laughed. “You sure you only had two beers?”
“I’m not drunk,” Troy promised, straightening. “I’m just...eager.”
Harris leaned into him, his breath brushing Troy’s ear. “I can work with eager. Let’s get our coats and get out of here.”
Chapter Seventeen
“You wanted to kiss me in there,” Harris said as soon as they were alone on the snowy sidewalk.
“Was I obvious?”
Harris didn’t think he’d ever forget the hungry way Troy had been staring at his lips back in the bar. And he didn’t think he’d ever get used to Troy frigging Barrett wanting him. “A little.”
“Well, if I’m being honest, I still want to kiss you.”
Harris stopped walking and turned to face him. “Yeah?”
A car drove by, and Troy stepped away from him. “I’ll wait.”
Harris tried not to feel disappointed. Was he really expecting Troy to kiss him on a busy street, right outside a bar that was full of his teammates? That wouldn’t be good for either of them.
“I parked at home and walked here,” Harris said.
“Me too.”
“Should we go to your place then? We’re close to both.”
Troy chewed his lip. “Let’s go to your place, if that’s okay.”
“Definitely.”
Troy’s mouth curved into one of his rare and adorable little smiles. “I’ve been wanting to see where you live.”
That warmed Harris. “It’s not a palace, but I like it.”
Snow was falling all around them, gentle but fluffy enough to pile up on the sidewalk. It was a beautiful, quiet night. Once they turned onto Harris’s street, they were the only ones around. Harris took a chance and reached for Troy’s hand. He was thrilled when Troy tangled his gloved fingers with Harris’s without hesitation.
He was surprised, a minute later, when Troy tugged on their joined hands, pulling Harris close, and then kissed him. It was quick, and not exactly passionate, but it was so sweet and unexpected that Harris thought his legs might melt.
“That was cute,” Harris said when they resumed walking.
“I can be cute.”
“Is that how you imagined kissing me, back in the bar?”
“No. I’m waiting until we’re behind a locked door for that.” Troy’s low voice was full of filthy promise, and Harris picked up the pace.
Finally they were at Harris’s front door, and he managed to remember how to use a key despite the way Troy kept touching him. His fingers were gently brushing along Harris’s nape, then he kissed under Harris’s ear.
“Can’t wait,” Troy said in a low voice. “Been thinking about this so much.”
“Really?”
Troy nudged his crotch against Harris’s ass, letting him feel how turned on he was. “Mm. Open the door.”
Harris shoved the door open, hauled Troy through, and was immediately pinned against it as soon as it was closed again. Troy took his mouth the way they both wanted, hard and possessive and hungry. Harris moaned and went boneless against the door, letting Troy hold him up with a knee between Harris’s thighs, a hand on the back of his neck, and another on his hip.
“You taste like apples,” Troy murmured against his lips.
“Cider,” Harris rasped.
Troy dived in again, kissing him more slowly this time, as if savoring the taste. Harris was in heaven. If he could just stay here, exploring the slick velvety heat of Troy’s mouth with his solid body pressing against him, he’d be happy for the rest of his life.
Except his erection was grinding against Troy’s enormous thigh, adding some urgency to the situation. They needed to get to the bedroom.
“We should—” Harris tried.
“I know.” Troy dropped to his knees and practically ripped open Harris’s fly.
“I meant—” Harris gasped desperately.
“I know. Just let me—” He shoved the bottom of Harris’s coat up and out of the way, and dived in. Harris’s dick was encased in Troy’s warm, wonderful mouth, and he stopped caring about the bedroom. They could fuck right here in his tiny kitchen, or in a snowbank outside. He really didn’t care.
Troy was taking him deep, bobbing his head and sucking hard in a way that was almost aggressive. There was nothing gentle about it, and Harris fucking loved it. He let out a loud blissful moan and tangled his fingers in Troy’s silky hair.
Troy pulled off long enough to ask, “You like that?” His voice sounded wrecked already. “It’s not too much?”
Harris could only shake his head, mesmerized by how beautiful the man kneeling before him was. Troy’s eyes were dark with lust, his lips swollen and glistening.
Those lips curved into a shy, boyish smile. “I’m sorry if I’m being...”
“Eager?”
Troy wrapped his lips around the head of Harris’s cock and hummed an affirmative noise.
“Just—just so we’re clear,” Harris said unsteadily, “you don’t have to be gentle with me.”
Troy pulled back and stared at Harris as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just said. “I won’t hurt you.”
“I know.”
Troy sucked in a br
eath. “Shit. We need to get to your bedroom. Holy fuck.”
He stood, which allowed Harris’s head to clear a bit. “Let’s take our coats and shit off first. Feels weird to be wearing a parka with my dick out.”
Troy raked his gaze over him. “Looks good, though.”
Harris laughed and tucked his erection back into his underwear, then unzipped his coat. They dumped their outerwear and boots in a pile in front of the door. They didn’t get any closer to the bedroom because Troy immediately crowded Harris against a wall and kissed him again.
“Bedroom,” Harris said, laughing.
“Right. Yeah. Sorry.”
Harris took his hand and led him through the kitchen and toward the bedroom at the back of the apartment. “How about I give you the tour later?”
“Deal.”
Harris crossed his bedroom in the dark and turned on his bedside lamp.
Troy Barrett was in his bedroom.
The room was chaotically decorated with lots of photos of friends and family—including a whole cluster of framed photos of the dogs and cats the Drovers had owned over the years. There was also Centaurs memorabilia, concert posters, various prints that he’d bought on Etsy, Pride paraphernalia, and a lot of pillows on his bed. One was shaped like an apple.
“Wow,” Troy said. “This is...kind of exactly what I was expecting.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s very you. Shows your love of...everything.”
“I don’t love everything.”
Troy wrapped his arms around Harris from behind, and kissed down the side of his neck while Harris shivered with happiness and anticipation.
“I love this, though,” Harris sighed. He really loved that he never knew what to expect from Troy. It was exciting and a little bit scary, and that was exciting too.
Troy could probably give him exactly what he wanted, if Harris asked. If Harris could find the brainpower to form words now that Troy’s hand had dipped into his unzipped jeans, and was massaging his cock through Harris’s briefs. He groaned and tipped his head back, searching for Troy’s mouth. They kissed messily and awkwardly, until Harris turned so they could do it properly.
He slid a hand under Troy’s T-shirt, over the hard ridges of his abs. Troy took it as a hint, and swiftly yanked his shirt off. And, wow. There was Troy’s ridiculous torso again. Right there for Harris to play with.
“You are so fucking hot,” Harris said. “Thought I was gonna die on that beach. And not from the waves.”
“From the mile-long killer jellyfish?”
Harris laughed. “No. From how much I wanted you to push me down on the sand and straddle me.”
Troy caressed Harris’s beard. “Is that what you want? You wanna be pushed down and taken?”
Harris’s mouth dropped open because yes. “God yes. So fucking much.”
“You don’t want me to be gentle with you. That’s what you said.”
“I don’t. I want you to...” Harris couldn’t finish his sentence for some reason. Possibly because the reality of the situation was catching up with him. He’d never actually had someone treat him exactly the way he craved. He needed to be with someone he trusted, and who was willing and able. He may have found the perfect person.
He swallowed, and squared his shoulders. “I want you to be rough with me. I’m not a masochist but, just, don’t treat me like I’m delicate, okay?”
Troy brushed a thumb over Harris’s cheekbone, his blue flame eyes dark and intense. “You’re not delicate, Harris.”
Harris felt light-headed. Hearing those words, spoken so plainly by a man he was extremely attracted to, was almost too much. He’d waited so long for someone to say them. “I’m not.”
“I’ve been fantasizing about taking you apart,” Troy said.
There was no way any of this was real. It was too good. “You have?”
“I want to give you whatever you need. Will you let me?”
Harris didn’t answer. He just kissed him with no finesse whatsoever. It was pure need and lust because that was all that was left of him. His hands roamed over Troy’s hard, naked chest and stomach, around to the muscles in his back and shoulders. Troy walked them back to the edge of the bed, then broke the kiss.
“Your turn,” he said, fingering the top button of Harris’s shirt.
Right. Shit.
He watched as Troy opened the shirt, one button at a time. He slid it down Harris’s arms, and Harris shook it to the floor. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt underneath, and he supposed he’d need to take that off too. He let out a slow breath, then tore the shirt off quickly, like a Band-Aid.
And waited.
“Shit, Harris.” Troy brushed his fingertips down the long, vertical scar on Harris’s chest. “What—”
“Not now, okay?”
“But—”
“You promised.” Troy hadn’t exactly, but Harris didn’t want his scars to change Troy’s mind about how delicate he was.
Troy looked like he wanted to push it, but instead trailed his fingers into Harris’s chest hair, away from the marred flesh that Harris hated so much.
“Love all this hair,” Troy murmured. “So fucking sexy.”
Harris sighed with relief and pleasure. “That’s good. I’ve got plenty.”
Troy pulled him on the bed, then rolled so Harris was under him. Troy’s weight pressed him into the mattress while he kissed Harris’s throat, his clavicle, his chest, all while carefully avoiding the scars. Harris gasped when Troy captured his nipple with his teeth, almost too hard, which was exactly perfect.
“Fuck yeah,” Harris exhaled. “Just like that.”
Troy bit it again, tugging at the sensitive flesh with his teeth. Harris whimpered and squirmed, and Troy murmured, “God, look at you.” His words danced across Harris’s skin in a hot rush of air. “I could eat you alive.”
“Do it,” Harris pleaded mindlessly. He wanted Troy to hold him down and fuck him hard. He wanted whatever Troy had fantasized about.
Troy pushed himself up, straddling Harris’s waist and gazing down at him. In the dim light of the bedside lamp, Troy’s smooth skin glowed. Shadows pooled in the grooves between his muscles, accentuating them. Harris ran his thumb over one dark, firm nipple, fascinated. He heard a soft chuckle, and was startled to find Troy smiling at him. A bright, dazzling smile that fully reached his eyes.
“Wow.” Harris had lost any ability he might have once had to be cool. “What’s making you smile like that?”
“I’m happy.”
It was such a simple, obvious answer, but it made Harris beam back at him. “Yeah?”
“I’m gonna have sex with a hot guy.”
Harris’s stomach was an absolute mess of giddy excitement. “Do you want me to leave, then?”
Troy shook his head. “If you don’t know how hot you are, then maybe I need to show you.”
“Maybe.”
“Let’s start by taking these jeans off,” Troy said in a low, delicious rumble. “I want to see all of you.”
He stood beside the bed and watched as Harris removed the rest of his clothing. Then Harris was naked, sprawled out on the bed and trying not to cover himself while Troy inspected him.
“God, you’re even better than I imagined, Harris,” Troy said huskily. “I love your cock. Stroke it for me. Lemme see.”
Harris did as he was told, more than happy to give his dick some attention. He moaned with relief as he gave himself a few slow strokes.
Troy opened his own jeans and slid a hand down to fondle his erection through his underwear. “So fucking hot, Harris.”
Harris still couldn’t believe that someone who looked like Troy found him attractive. Thought he was hot, even. But now was not the time to protest because Troy was sliding his jeans and underwear down his hips and ho
ly fuck.
Troy’s cock was as stunning as the rest of him: long, solid and uncut, jutting out from a dark, neatly trimmed patch of hair like an offering.
Harris waited, still stroking himself, waiting to see what Troy would do next.
* * *
Troy exhaled slowly as his gaze raked over Harris’s body. He was entranced by every inch of him, from his broad, furry chest to his soft belly with its trail of hair leading to his plump, uncut cock.
And that scar. The one Harris didn’t want to talk about but Troy’s eyes kept returning to.
He forced his gaze away, back to where Harris’s hand was still obediently working his own cock. It had been too long since Troy had done this—really done this, without clothes and with enough light to see his beautiful partner. He didn’t know where to start.
“Come here,” Harris said.
Troy went, stretching out on top of Harris’s solid body and taking his mouth. Their cocks rubbed together as they kissed wildly. It felt so fucking good to be pressed against a man’s naked body. If it were up to Troy, he’d never be anywhere else.
But mostly it was incredible to be pressed against Harris. To be in his bed, making him gasp with pleasure. Kissing him.
“Want you to fuck me,” Harris panted against Troy’s lips.
Oh fuck. Troy had guessed that was where this was all heading, but hearing Harris say those words was unreal. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Want it hard.”
“Fuck.” Troy rubbed his cheek against Harris’s beard, trying to ground himself. “Mind if I suck your dick some more first?”
“N-no.”
Troy slid down his body. He grabbed both of Harris’s thighs, gripping hard, and pulled them apart and back, spreading Harris wide, stopping, he hoped, before the stretch became uncomfortable.
Harris groaned and rolled his head on one of the thousands of pillows piled on his bed. “Troy. Fuck.”
Troy dug his fingers into his meaty thighs, just enough pressure to make Harris squirm. “Okay?” he asked.
“So fucking good. Holy fuck.”
Troy dipped his head and licked up Harris’s shaft. God, he’d missed sex, and he’d missed giving head more than anything. It had been too long since Troy had gotten to do this, despite being twenty-five and horny most of the time.