by J. O Mantel
“Don’t you dare call me that. You have no right to address me as such,” Hunter spat. Without another word he turned and walked toward the front of the store.
“Hunter? Hunter, don’t you dare walk away from me,” his father ordered.
“You taught me how,” Hunter snapped, not looking back.
When he reached the front of the store, Hunter apologized to the attendant and paid for the damages. Without turning, he quickly headed through the doors he’d entered and made his way back to Andy, who was still waiting for him by the cashier.
“What took you so long, and where’s the alcohol?” Andy asked, but Hunter didn’t reply. Instead, he stared at the cart full of groceries as he slowly placed each item onto the conveyer belt.
It only took a few minutes before they were both sitting back in the car in the parking lot. Hunter still hadn’t said a word, and he hadn’t started the car either.
“Hunter, what is going on?”
Hunter was finding it difficult to speak, he could feel the words rising in his mouth, but he swallowed them back down. Hunter stared at the clock on the dashboard, almost groaning at how late it was and the fact that he’d wasted so much time arguing with the worthless excuse for a human being that he refused to call his father.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Andy asked.
Hunter shifted in his seat and turned to look at Andy.
“I ran into Bradley,” Hunter told him.
“Bradley?” Andy questioned, like the name was supposed to mean something to him.
“My father,” Hunter confirmed.
“Oh. And what happened?”
“I pretty much told him to fuck off. After I managed to smash three bottles of booze.”
“Wow. I’m surprised you managed to only do that and not beat the guy.”
“Believe me, the thought crossed my mind, but all I wanted to do was get out of there,” Hunter said in the dark confines of the car.
“I bet that wasn’t easy.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Hunter told him.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“Yes, I’m sure. What I would like is for the two of us to go home, sit on the couch, and watch a movie. Would that be okay with you?”
“That would be more than okay, Hunter. Whatever you want.”
When they arrived home, a short while later, Andy helped Hunter with the groceries. After they finished, Hunter headed into his bedroom and changed. When he returned, he found Andy sitting on the couch, a bowl of freshly popped microwave popcorn in one hand, and in the other … “Is that chocolate?” Hunter asked.
“Yeah. You want some?” Andy offered.
“No thanks. How often do you eat chocolate, or candy, while we’re on the subject?”
“Maybe once or twice a day. Why?”
“And yet you still have a body that looks that good?”
“Are you checking me out … again, Hunter Cassidy?”
Hunter crossed his arms over his chest, and Andy couldn’t help but notice how fucking hot he looked. The white T-shirt he was wearing made his biceps bulge under the fabric, and as Andy lowered his gaze, he saw the evident bulge in Hunter’s briefs as he stared at the outline of Hunter’s thick cock inside the fabric. He never got tired of seeing Hunter like this. It was one thing to see Hunter with Lili, or Hunter the ‘dad,’ but Hunter the firefighter, was the hottest fucking sight Andy had ever seen. His dick immediately responded, and strained at the thought of once again having it between Hunter’s lips.
“Stop it,” Hunter ordered.
“Stop what?” Andy questioned.
“Looking at me like some lovesick puppy.”
“Well, in my defense, you wearing just that around me makes you a fucking cock tease.”
Hunter couldn’t help the flirtatious smile that swept over him. Andy placed the popcorn on the coffee table in front of him, and totally forgot about the bar of chocolate in his hand until it fell to the floor. He leaned forward and stood up off the couch. He inched toward Hunter who held out a hand and shook his head, “No.”
“No what?” Andy questioned.
“No, to whatever it is you plan on doing.”
“Plan on doing? All I want to do is fucking touch you.”
“You and I both know that touching leads to making out, and making out leads to, well … mind-blowing fucking pleasure.”
“I don’t see a problem with that. And just in case you’ve forgotten, we have the entire place to ourselves.”
This was totally nuts. Hunter sighed. He knew they were at an impasse and it wouldn’t be long before Andy was on his knees between Hunter’s legs, or at least he hoped that’s what would happen. He was all fucking sexed up, even with his messy black hair, and that’s exactly the way Andy wanted him. The fact that they were mere inches apart wasn’t going to help Andy’s throbbing erection if he couldn’t touch, or taste Hunter.
“What would you like to do?” Hunter asked.
“Oh, there are a lot of things that I would like to do, Hunter. But right now, I would really love to get on my knees and suck your fucking cock until we both come.”
Hunter’s eyes widened, and his dick stiffened in anticipation of the welcoming invitation from Andy. Andy didn’t move, and as his gaze lowered to Hunter’s lips, all he wanted to do was fuck that beautiful mouth of his.
“I. Want. You, Hunter. And only you,” Andy pleaded.
“Then why don’t you get down on your knees, crawl across the floor, and come and rectify the … problem I have between my legs,” Hunter ordered.
Andy contemplated Hunter’s offer, but instead of getting down on his knees, he took a step forward, grabbed a hold of Hunter’s shirt, and hauled him forward, crushing their mouths together in a hungry and desperate kiss. Andy was hungry for his mouth, just as Hunter was for his, and as their tongues intertwined, Andy’s hand crept up inside Hunter’s shirt. He pulled it over his head and threw it to the floor as Hunter repeated the same gesture with him. Immediately, Hunter knew they were headed for all kinds of trouble.
Andy grabbed a hold of Hunter’s hips and slid his briefs to the floor before removing his own. Hunter snaked an arm around Andy’s back and pulled him in closer and took full control of the now heated kiss. There was something incredibly fucking sexy about Hunter when he went all… alpha and took control, like what he was doing right now. All Andy could think about was how damn hot it would be to fuck Hunter with an unexpected intensity. Of course, he’d never had sex before, but the foreplay between them over the last few months was almost more than Andy could handle.
“Damn, you’re solid, and hot as fuck,” Andy stated, running his hand over Hunter’s muscles. As his lips met Hunter’s neck, he inhaled the strong, intoxicating aftershave. He smelled fucking delicious. He slid his lips across Hunter’s cheek and bit the skin of Hunter’s chiseled jaw and dimples, immediately feeling a rush of blood head south. He felt a pair of firm hands press against his ass as Hunter pulled him forward, pressing their bodies hard up against each other. When Andy’s eyes met his, Hunter’s eyes blew open when he returned the gaze.
“I thought you wanted to take things slow,” Andy panted, tilting his head backward as Hunter pressed his lips to the skin on his neck and gently tugged at it.
“I fucking changed my mind. I just need … to taste you … to feel you. I’m just not quite ready to be inside you, not just yet. Are you—?”
“Stop! Just stop thinking about it and do whatever the fuck you want to me. I’m so damn close, Hunter. I … I don’t think I’m going to last very long and I don’t want to come before … Holy. Jesus. Fucking. Christ.” Before Andy could form another sentence, Hunter placed his lips over Andy’s swollen head and slowly started licking his way up and down the thick shaft. Andy ran his fingers through Hunter’s now messy hair and slowly tugged at it as Hunter continued to swallow him deep.
“That’s it, o
h fuck, take it deep,” Andy ordered as Hunter tightened his mouth and continued to suck vigorously. Andy lowered his eyes and they landed on the top of Hunter’s head. Watching it move backward and forward along his cock was the hottest fucking thing Andy had seen. In only a few short months, Hunter had gone from a man who didn’t know how to suck cock, or engage in male-on-male foreplay, and turned into an all-out alpha male sex god. He had Andy to thank for that. Every opportunity they had to be together, the two of them were barely able to keep their hands off one another, and every inappropriate and insecure thought Hunter had, had been washed away.
Being on his knees and in between Andy’s legs, wasn’t going to help him resist the urge to pull away. As soon as Hunter moved back from Andy’s throbbing cock, Andy took the opportunity and lifted Hunter to his feet so they were standing at eye level.
“What are you doing? I’m not finished yet.”
“When did you become a dirty fucker?” Andy asked.
“The day I met you,” Hunter confirmed.
Andy’s erection brushed between Hunter’s legs, and he reached down to snake his fingers around Hunter’s thick length. He tugged at the skin gently, and as Hunter closed his eyes, a soft moan escaped his lips.
“Do you like me touching you?” Andy asked.
“Holy fucking shit, yes,” Hunter replied in a raspy voice.
Andy popped his tongue out of his mouth and wet his lips, imagining Hunter’s thick length inside him. He couldn’t wait for the moment when the two of them could finally have each other, all of each other.
“I want you to turn around,” Andy ordered with a whisper in Hunter’s ear.
Not wasting a moment, Hunter turned as requested and waited for Andy’s next order.
“I know we agreed to wait until you were ready … until we were both ready, but I really want to be inside you.”
“Do it!” Hunter ordered.
“What?”
“Do it. I don’t care what. I don’t care how. Just fucking put something inside me, anything,” Hunter demanded.
“Are … are you sure about this?” Andy questioned.
“Absolutely,” Hunter assured him.
Once Andy was certain he was good to go, he raised Hunter’s head and kissed the back of his neck. “I’m not going to put my cock inside you, not yet, but I am going to have some fun with you,” Andy told him.
Hunter’s breathing came in quick, short bursts, and as he turned his head to look over his shoulder, he felt Andy’s finger trace a line down his spine, to the top of his crack. Andy pressed against Hunter’s shoulder with one hand, and with the other, he prepared his index finger and slowly placed it in the crack. He pulled it out, before slowly sliding it between Hunter’s cheeks again. Just as he was ready to ease it inside him, he heard Hunter say, “Wait.”
Andy immediately withdrew his finger and leaned back.
“Are you all right?”
“I … I, ah ...” Hunter had difficulty finding his words, but as he felt Andy’s hand lift off his shoulder, he stood up straight, and turned to face him once more.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Shh,” Andy cut in, placing a finger over Hunter’s lips. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You’re not ready. I shouldn’t have pressured you into that.”
“You didn’t pressure me, I just ...”
“You don’t need to explain yourself to me, Hunter. You need time.”
Andy lowered a hand to Hunter’s chest and rubbed it over his heart. Hunter looked him in the eyes, and although he understood what he was saying, it didn’t help the sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn’t want to lose Andy, not after everything they’d been through. Hunter wanted to share everything with this man, the man who’d changed every dynamic in his life. Instead of Hunter embracing him, he felt himself allowing Andy to slip away, and he couldn’t let that happen. At the same time, he was terrified of the commitment.
“I think you need to be alone tonight.”
“What?” Hunter gasped.
“I mean, in your bed. I think we both need to be alone and re-evaluate what almost happened here.”
“That’s the last thing I want, Andy. I can’t… won’t lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me. I’m not going anywhere, except maybe to bed … in the spare room. I need to clear my head, and so do you.”
Andy grabbed his clothes and quickly dressed. He took a step forward and pressed a kiss to Hunter’s lips.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Andy told him.
“Andy, I ...” But Andy had disappeared into the spare bedroom, leaving Hunter with an aching heart and a throbbing erection that refused to subside.
Hunter lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to close his eyes and fall asleep. He tried to relax, but it was useless, all he could think about was the disappointment he’d seen in Andy’s eyes. Things hadn’t exactly gone according to plan, which had been to start the night with a movie and popcorn, and finish it in bed with Andy and a hot make-out session. Instead, Hunter, and the man who he’d finally allowed himself to be with, were now sleeping in separate beds, in separate bedrooms, and it made his heart ache.
And once again, I let my fucking insecurities and confused-as-fuck head get in the way of things.
He tried to ignore the fact that his entire body reacted at the mere thought of Andy lying naked beside him, not to mention his stiff cock brushing against the sheet around his waist. He was angry with himself over the entire situation, and the way the night had turned out. All he wanted to do was hit the rewind button and forget it ever happened. But this was real life, not some reality TV show he could pause, cut, and edit. He was single … sure, he was still hurting, and every memory of Bree still pained him, but he’d thought all that through before he and Andy decided to take their friendship, relationship, or whatever it was they were in, to the next level.
He’d known this was going to be difficult, he’d known there were going to be a lot of unanswered questions, but ultimately, he was the one who kept going back to Andy every single time the guy made any sort of advance toward him. Running a hand across his bare chest, Hunter massaged his stiff shoulder and waited for something … anything. The crazy thing was, he had absolutely no fucking clue exactly what he was waiting for.
“Hunter?”
A familiar voice carried into his room, and Hunter’s heart immediately started to pound rapidly.
“Bree?” he whispered. He sat up and opened his eyes a little wider, resting his head against the wall. “Is that you?” he questioned.
“Hunter, what are you doing?”
“Trying to sleep, but—”
“You know what I’m talking about. I can’t believe that after all the years we’ve known each other, you’re still being a smartass. What is going on between you and Andy?”
Hunter held back the lump in his throat, unsure if he wanted to scream or cry.
“I … ah, we …”
“I know, Hunter. I know everything.”
“You … wait, everything?” Hunter gasped. “Are you a ghost? A spirit? Or am I dreaming?”
“Call me your … conscience. You keep forgetting I’m watching over you and our daughter. I’m everywhere, Hunter, but that’s not what this is about. I want to know what’s going on with you and Andy.”
“Nothing’s going on,” Hunter told her.
“Yeah, I can see that. But why?” Bree questioned.
“What do you mean, why?” Hunter repeated, not exactly sure he’d heard her correctly.
“Why are you backing away from the one thing that makes you so happy?”
Hunter’s eyes remained locked on the woman standing in front of him, and as she took a step closer, Hunter adjusted himself between the sheets. When Bree was standing only a few inches away from the bed, she looked around the room, her eyes narrowing at the pile of unfolded laundry on the floor.
&n
bsp; “In all the years we were married, I would have hoped that at least I’d taught you how to fold your own clothes.”
“Sorry, I’ve been … preoccupied.”
Hunter felt the bed sink as Bree sat down beside him.
“I thought ghosts were only supposed to haunt you when you were bad, or they had some unfinished business. The last time I saw you, you were telling me that I—”
“Shh,” Bree said, placing a finger over his lips. “You’re right, that’s usually why we come back to haunt people. I also remember telling you, that I had no unfinished business.”
“So, why are you here?” Hunter asked her.
“Because apparently … you’ve made me your unfinished business.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Silence filled the room, and Hunter’s eyes wandered toward Bree, who’d now climbed into bed and lay beside him.
“I never really liked the color of this ceiling much. It’s a shame we never got a chance to paint it.”
“What do you mean, I’ve made you my unfinished business?” Hunter asked.
“You’re shutting Andy out because you’re still in love with me. Hunter … when I was dying, I made you promise you’d fall in love again, that you wouldn’t waste your time mourning over me. That’s not what I wanted.”
She brushed her palm over his back muscles and Hunter turned around. When his eyes met hers, he saw they were glistening, and he could feel his own eyes well up with tears. He slid down so his back was no longer resting against the wall, and he lay down beside Bree.
“Everything I do, everything I see, everything I touch … reminds me of you,” he said in a raspy voice.
“Babe, you know that I’m always going to be here for you and Lili, but I don’t want to be the reason for you not falling in love again. Hunter, I want you to be happy, and I can see how happy you are with Andy.”
“But why does it hurt so much? Why does it feel so wrong?”
“Because you let it. You need to let go, Hunter, let go of me and your insecurities.”
“But … that’s what I don’t understand. This thing with Andy, what we have… what we’re trying to have, does it make me gay? Bi? Or am I just floating around somewhere in between?”