The door banged.
“Okay. I talked with him. We’re good.” Graham glanced between them and smirked. But before he could say anything, a knock at the front door had him running to answer.
“I’ve got to go help Sam,” Aiden whispered.
“Yeah. Um, I promised Graham I’d help him with things. He’s a little…nervous about meeting some of Sam’s coworkers.”
God, the guy’s voice sounded melodic, like music that wove through Aiden and made his breath catch. He’d never had this kind of a reaction to a man. Other than David Beckham. Unfortunately, he’d never had the chance to meet him. And, oh, yeah, Beckham was straight.
He nodded and backed away as he heard Graham ushering guests inside. He hurried out the door to help Sam and let him know people had arrived.
* * * *
A while later, Aiden realized, for the most part, it felt good to see some of his new coworkers outside the pediatrician’s office, getting to know everyone better. But unfortunately, one of the attendees was Julie, the new scheduler. She’d been flirting with Aiden full speed and he wasn’t sure how to let her down. He hadn’t hid his orientation and thought she would have caught on, but after she cornered him in Graham and Sam’s kitchen, he knew he had to be blunt.
He leaned against the counter, his hands gripping the edge, trying to feign interest in her story about her cat. She started getting a little too close, and just as he wished someone would come inside, Marc stepped through the door.
His eyes widened at the two of them and he turned toward the living room.
“Marc,” Aiden called, sidestepping Julie and striding across the room. “Go with me on this,” he whispered in Marc’s ear before he threw his arm around the man’s shoulders.
Julie’s puzzled expression told him he wasn’t being blunt enough, so he went for it.
“Baby, I wondered where you went. Here, come meet Julie. She works at the office with me.”
Thankfully, Marc smiled and went along with the ruse. “Hi,” he said, offering his hand to her. “It’s so nice to meet you and put a face with a name.”
Aiden saw when it finally sunk in.
“Oh, I didn’t know Aiden was…with someone,” she said.
“You don’t talk about me?” Marc asked, pretending to be insulted.
Julie hurried to elaborate. “No, I’m sure he does. I’m new at the office also.”
Marc smiled and slid his arm around Aiden’s waist. “Okay, honey, you’re forgiven.”
Aiden couldn’t say anything. The heat from Marc’s touch spread through him, down his back, heating his blood. If this simple touch aroused him so, he might explode if he ever had the opportunity to kiss the man.
The quiet stretched out until Julie finally said something about getting another hot dog and practically raced out the door.
Neither man moved out of the half-embrace. Marc’s fingers traced circles on Aiden’s back, and a small moan escaped his lips.
Marc looked up at him through thick lashes, the pupils blown in those sky blue eyes. He was obviously just as turned on as Aiden.
But then Marc pulled away. “I think she got the message,” he said, his voice strained.
“Yeah, thanks for helping. She didn’t seem to figure things out at work, and just now, so…yeah, thank you.”
“Anytime.” Marc winked before he hurried into Sam and Graham’s bedroom.
Anytime. Oh, God. How about now?
Chapter 3
Marc
During the party, Marc had met several of Graham and Sam’s neighbors and a few more coworkers of Sam’s, but he’d kept an eye out for Aiden, always aware of his location.
He’d tried to appear aloof, but when Aiden had caught him peeking for the second time and winked at him, he knew he’d been busted. Still, he kept his distance and mingled, ate a hot dog and tried some pasta salad.
After everyone had eaten, he’d helped Graham clean up the tables outside and toss out the used paper plates and cups, then had gone inside to find Aiden cornered by a pretty young woman with bright red hair. For some reason, it had jarred him. He’d been positive the man was gay, but maybe he was bi. He’d come inside to finally change into his suit. Some people were already in the cool water, just off the dock, and he had been ready for a dip.
When Aiden had called his name, then asked him to play along with a ruse, he’d frozen for a moment, but quickly decided to help. The girl—Julie—had finally gotten the message. Unfortunately, his dick had gotten the message, too. Lust had rolled off Aiden in waves and Marc had turned rock hard. He’d seriously considered dragging the man into a room, but had gathered his wits and darted into his friends’ bedroom.
Now, he quickly changed into his orange and blue board shorts and stripped off his shirt, tossing it into the backpack with his pants and socks. He left the shoes on the floor, near the wall, so no one would trip on them.
He opened door and quietly gasped. Aiden still stood in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, his arms folded over his chest, watching him.
Marc forced himself to walk toward the door that led to the deck. Aiden didn’t say a word, but his eyes never left Marc.
When he reached for the door handle, he looked at Aiden. “Are you going out on the boat?”
“Are you?”
God, his voice was so deep. “Yes.”
“Then so am I.”
Fuck.
A slow grin spread across Aiden’s face as he came to stand next to Marc. “Nice suit,” he whispered as he raised a finger to Marc’s lips, his touch feather-light. Thankfully, he dropped his finger before Marc did something stupid, like suck him into his mouth.
Marc swallowed hard and took a deep, shaky breath. “Um, are you…going swimming?”
Aiden shook his head. “I didn’t bring a suit.”
Marc immediately thought of skinny-dipping with him and all the blood rushed to his cock. Fuck. He’d just gotten his dick to behave and now he was in trouble again.
Aiden smirked as if he knew exactly what was going through Marc’s mind. He gestured for Marc to go out, and he followed.
Marc tried to play nonchalant, ignoring the heat, and made his way to the dock. He walked to a corner where nobody else was swimming and dove in. The cold water was a shock to his system, which definitely helped with the hard-cock situation, thank God. He splashed around for a few minutes, talking with some of the others, but when he glanced up, he found Aiden, sitting on the dock.
Sam was seated next to him on a folding chair, and they were talking, but Aiden’s eyes were on Marc. There was no doubt about it. Graham walked onto the dock and whispered in Sam’s ear, then announced they were ready to head out on the lake to watch the fireworks’ show.
The sun was already setting behind the trees and soon darkness would blanket the entire lake. Marc climbed the ladder to the dock and drip-dried while he waited to board the boat. Despite the lingering heat, a light wind made him shiver.
He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his small frame, wishing he’d brought a towel, then he felt one fall onto his shoulders. He opened his eyes and saw Aiden in front of him, pulling the towel around him like a cape.
“Thanks,” Marc whispered, immediately feeling warmer.
“Can’t have the sexiest guy I’ve ever met trembling, now, can I?”
His jaw dropped and he stayed quiet while Aiden chuckled. God, what was wrong with him? Usually he’d have a sassy retort for everything. He was never speechless.
Some of the guests weren’t staying for the fireworks because their own neighborhoods were putting on shows or they were too tired from the heat, so when the pontoon boat eventually pushed away from the dock, only eight people remained.
Marc slid onto the back side bench and Aiden settled next to him, leaving no room between them. Their thighs pushed together and Marc trembled, but not from being chilled. Images of Aiden pushing him down on a bed, nudging apart his thighs, and taking him from behind fill
ed his mind. He liked to feel the full weight of a man on him, skin to skin, body pressed to body, as a muscular man fucked him. Took him over and over. Slid balls-deep into his ass, but made him beg first.
He loved being submissive. To a daddy. Especially one in leather. God, did Aiden like leather? Aiden didn’t look too much older than his own twenty-nine years, but it didn’t matter to Marc. The whole “daddy kink” wasn’t about age for him, but about the way it felt to call him that. The way it made him so hard he could get off without even touching his dick. The dominant factor. Not that he was into full-blown BDSM.
The boat’s engine roared to life and soon they were in the middle of Wesley Lake, joining many more anchored boats full of people waiting for the show to start.
“Warmer?” Aiden asked, leaning in so close that Marc felt his breath on his ear, making him shiver again.
“Yes,” he whispered, shifting to get comfortable.
Aiden draped his arm on the rear of the bench seat, and instinctively, Marc leaned back, resting his head on Aiden’s arm and looking at the sky.
“I love how you can see the stars so much better at the lake than in the city,” Marc murmured.
“That’s one of the reasons I love living here,” Aiden commented. “That, and it’s just so much quieter. Simpler.”
“You live at the lake, too?”
“Not too far down the road from Sam. I bought a small house a few months back and met Sam when attending a Homeowner’s Association meeting. We talked and I found out he was a nurse, too. He mentioned the pediatrician’s office was looking to hire another one. I wasn’t happy where I was, so I applied, and the rest is history.”
The idea that this muscular, sexy man helped children made Marc’s heart stutter. If only Aiden also liked motorcycles and leather, Marc could die a happy man.
“Actually, yes.”
“What?” Marc scrunched his brow as he stared at him.
“I have a motorcycle.”
Fuck. He’d asked that out loud? And God, he did have a motorcycle.
Aiden leaned in so close, his lips caressed Marc’s ear. “And yeah, I happen to like leather, too. I’ve got a black leather jacket I’d love to see you in…and nothing else.”
Marc’s head spun and his dick twitched. If they’d been at a club, he would’ve wrapped Aiden’s arms around him as they danced, rubbed their bodies together until they went wild, then followed him into the men’s room and dropped to his knees.
But no. He was at a respectable party, with decent people, and wasn’t looking for a quick hook-up anymore. If anyone could change his mind, though, it would be Aiden a.k.a. Mr. Wright. Marc was firing on all cylinders, but tried to keep himself under control. Hard to do when Aiden rubbed the back of his neck with his strong fingers.
The fireworks started, and he leaned back as the sky exploded in patterns and a multitude of color. Red, green, blue, and white lit up the sky. New rockets whistled through the air before erupting over the lake, the sparkling designs mirrored in the calm waters below.
Aiden slipped his arm under Marc’s neck and pulled him closer. Marc sighed, his head on Aiden’s shoulder. He could feel the thump-thump-thump of Aiden’s heart, and his own heart raced to catch up. He glanced around the boat, but everyone was too busy watching the fireworks to notice they’d cuddled together.
“Do you want to go for a ride after this?” Aiden asked, his voice thick and low.
Marc couldn’t have said “no” if he wanted to. “Yes.”
From that point on, Marc couldn’t have told anyone anything about the fireworks. He’d become a huge bundle of desire, and all he could think about was riding behind Aiden on his motorcycle. But this man was still a stranger.
“Do you like dogs or cats?”
Aiden chuckled. “Both, actually. I don’t have either right now, but I’ve been wanting to get a dog. What about you?”
“I like cats, but I’m more of a dog person. I can’t have pets in my downtown apartment, though.” Marc searched for another question. Anything to make him feel like he wasn’t following his old habit of sleeping with strangers. “What’s your favorite food?”
“I love Italian, but I would say my very favorite food of all time is steak. Steak with a baked potato. Simple.” He leaned down again, his mouth on Marc’s ear. “Yours?”
“Roast beef. With potatoes, onions, and carrots.”
“Yum. One of my favorites, too.”
Marc smiled into the night and let himself relax. He knew asking a couple of questions didn’t make the man any less of a stranger, but it still made him feel better about things. Okay, one more question.
“Who’s your favorite singer?”
Aiden remained quiet for a moment. “I guess I don’t have one. I like a lot of types of music. Classic rock, blues, indie rock, pop. What about you?”
“George Michael.”
“From Wham!?”
Marc sat up and looked at him. “He started with Wham!, but his career went on for decades. His music is beautiful and deep. I went to several concerts over the years.”
“Okay. I’ll have to give his music a try.”
“That’s all I can ask, but once you listen, you will be hooked.”
Aiden snickered and Marc elbowed him. The man may be a walking God, but he was not going to put down George Michael.
“I know everything about the man and his music. Ask me anything.”
“Okay. Birthday?”
Marc rolled his eyes. “June 25th, 1963. Ask me something hard.”
Aiden chuckled. “Hmm, okay, how about this—when was Wham! formed?”
“In 1981.”
“I guess I’ll have to take your word for it. I can’t really check while we’re out here on the boat.”
Marc shrugged. “Trust me. It was 1981.”
“What’s your favorite song of his?”
“Oh, God, that’s like asking me to separate the grains of sand on a beach,” Marc bemoaned. “But I love ‘Father Figure.’”
“I remember that song,” Aiden admitted. “It’s nice.”
Happy to hear that, Marc settled his head on Aiden’s shoulder. He would make a fan of him yet.
* * * *
When they got back to the dock, Aiden helped Sam tie up the boat while Marc helped Graham pick up around the deck. Once the rest of the group had said their goodbyes and trickled out, Marc entered the house with Graham.
“He’s taking me for a ride,” he hissed, barely able to keep the excitement out of his voice.
Graham laughed. “What kind of ride?”
Marc glared at him. “On his motorcycle.” He walked into Graham’s room and shut the door so he could change.
By the time Aiden and Sam arrived inside, Marc had reapplied his gloss, fixed his eyeliner, and dressed, ready to go.
“I’ll come back and get my car later,” he promised his friends.
“Ready?” Aiden asked, holding the front door open.
Marc picked up his backpack, while Sam glanced between the two of them, furrowing his brow. Apparently he hadn’t been paying attention because he seemed confused.
“Tell you later,” Graham whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
Marc brushed past Aiden and stepped outside. The path leading to the road and the driveway lay up a hill, so they walked quietly in the moonlight, Marc in front until they reached the top. When he laid eyes on the motorcycle, he gasped and spun around.
“You have a vintage motorcycle?”
Aiden’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Yeah. It’s a 1969 Triumph 500. I rebuilt her myself. It’s a hobby. You know about motorcycles?”
“Some. I read. A lot.” Marc was completely impressed as he traced his hand over the cycle. The green paint job looked gorgeous in the meager light, with the long seat made of soft, black leather, and he couldn’t wait to ride it. “Great hobby.”
Aiden laughed. “I enjoy it. You have any hobbies? I mean, other than being the world’s fore
most expert on George Michael?” he asked as he grabbed the two helmets and offered one to Marc before he settled onto the bike.
“You always carry around two helmets?”
“No. But Sam had mentioned Graham wanted to see my bike and I brought it just in case he wanted a ride. Looks like he changed his mind, but glad I brought them both with me anyway.”
Marc put his on. It was a little big, but he was used to things being too big. It had been like that all his life. “Yeah. I love dancing. Reading,” Marc said, returning to Aiden’s earlier question and grinned. “And just so you know, the man was an amazing artist and had a fabulous solo career. I have several concert shirts, and all sorts of collectibles. You should see them!”
Aiden nodded, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight. “Sounds great. I’ve never been a fan of someone so much I collect anything. I’m impressed.” He patted the seat behind him. “Hop on.”
“Oh, wait. Let me throw this into my car,” he said, holding up his backpack. He tossed it into the back seat of his vehicle, then returned.
Marc struggled a bit. He was short and the bike wasn’t, but he finally got on, wrapped his arms around Aiden, pressing his chest to the man’s back. His heart sped up as Aiden started the engine.
“Hold on tight,” Aiden called.
Marc happily squeezed his torso and felt Aiden’s chuckle as he merged onto the empty road. He followed it around the lake until they drove over the dam, then onto the country road, where he sped up.
His soul flew as they rode under the open sky, the stars twinkling high above. Cool air blew against them and he scooted closer to Aiden, soaking up his warmth. It had been incredibly hot earlier, but the nights could get cool rather quickly.
Marc leaned forward, resting his head against Aiden’s back as they rode over the winding roads surrounding the lake and outlying areas. It was exhilarating and romantic and his heart felt free. The man was pure muscle and he felt safe with him, even after just meeting him. He breathed in deep and sighed. He could get used to touching Aiden. Hell, he already had a semi-erection and just the thought of touching Aiden without all these cumbersome clothes shot desire straight through him.
Everything He Wants Page 2