Luke narrowed his eyes, then nodded. “It’d do me no good to argue, will it?”
“Nope.” He threaded his arm around Luke. “Let’s go home.” He had to get Luke to understand he’d worked hard to make himself a success. He’d wanted to be the best he could for Luke because he’d planned this—he’d always known he’d return to his first love. He belonged with Luke. They were meant to be. No question.
****
Luke gave Carson directions to his house. Within twenty minutes, the driver stopped in front of Luke’s home. A shiver of embarrassment ran the length of his spine. He had a small dwelling, but he’d paid the loan off early and owned his car, too. He might have space enough for another person. Maybe. Would Carson be happy in Litchfield, in his two-bedroom house?
Would Carson really want to stay?
Luke unlocked the front door and gestured to Carson. “It’s small, but it’s mine.”
“Homes don’t have to be big.” Carson held the door for Luke and followed him into the living room. “This place is yours. That’s what matters and makes it special.”
“I’ll bet you have a huge house.” With a nice staff, lavish furniture, and no secrets in his past.
“Nah. I never bought a house. My financial advisor shouts at me almost daily to diversify beyond my investments, but I don’t want a house. I haven’t found anywhere I want to live.” Carson removed his coat. “This is a great house. There’s enough room to be homey, but not cavernous. I like it.” He stopped in front of a photo of him and Luke together. “You kept this.”
It wasn’t a question. “Yeah. We had fun that day.” Luke coveted those memories and replayed the moments of their trip to the pier when he couldn’t stand the loneliness. They’d walked the boardwalk together, eaten ice cream, posed for silly photos, and ridden every rollercoaster four times. He’d had no cares. The day belonged to him and Carson.
“Have you been back to the pier?” Carson asked.
“No.” When he’d been worried about paying the loan on the house, he’d been careful with his cash. Now, he wasn’t wild about spending money on frivolous things.
“We should go back,” Carson murmured.
If Carson stuck around, then he’d visit the pier again. He sighed. “If you want to take off your socks and shoes, we can go out to the patio. There’s more room out there and it’s quiet.” He removed his jacket, shoes and socks, then padded through the house to the sliding door. “I love spending time in my yard. I put in the landscape lighting myself, and there isn’t a weed in sight.”
“I’ve always wanted a patio.” Carson joined Luke beneath the awning. “It’s peaceful.”
“The neighbors are far enough away that it’s private, but still close enough that if something drastic happens, they know.” Luke chuckled. “When the Pattersons got the skunk, we all knew. You couldn’t miss the shouting.”
“I’ll bet.” Carson laughed. “Skunks. We don’t have those in my apartment building.”
“I guess not.” Luke sobered. “You live in a high-rise?”
“It’s tall.” Carson shrugged. “But there’s no yard or patio. I don’t even have a balcony.” He nodded. “Speaking of a yard, have you christened it yet?”
“No.” His cheeks and the tips of his ears burned. “I don’t tend to bring guys over.” He liked to keep his dating life and homelife separate. Duncan only knew where he lived because he’d followed him home.
“I’m the first?” Carson grinned. “Luke, I’m honored.”
“Second.” Luke averted his gaze. “Duncan was here first.”
“Duncan,” Carson bit out. “The jerk.”
“He’ll be crushed. He had his heart set on romancing you.” Carson might as well know the truth.
“Tough.” Carson wrapped his arms around Luke. “I can see working on my apps here. I like your collage of awards and diplomas on the wall. You’re a smart man. We could have a future here. I’ll bet the neighborhood is great for runners.”
He couldn’t keep up with Carson’s line of thought. “Yeah.” He had to be hearing his ex-boyfriend wrong. The words sure sounded like Carson wanted to stay in Litchfield. Why? Nothing exciting ever happened. The nightlife wasn’t great. The town featured no clubs and only a few family-style restaurants. Carson would end up bored in days. He’d complained about getting the hell out of the “one-horse town” when they were in high school. The town hadn’t evolved much since then.
“You don’t think I want to come home.” Carson let go and settled on one of the chairs. “I miss Litchfield.”
He sat beside Carson and rested his elbows on his knees. “You used to complain you hated it here.”
“I changed my mind.”
“What did you do when you left?” He wanted to know everything and understand why Carson would’ve changed his thoughts. How did he measure up in Carson’s life?
Carson laced his fingers together and leaned back in his seat. “I went to college, like you, but I drifted, too. Kind of sucked, really. I had plans, but I blew out my knee during our sophomore year, so I lost my spot on the cross-country team. I thought I wanted bigger things and all I had to do was chase them. I wanted to be challenged, and I needed to run.”
“Makes sense.” Carson hadn’t liked staying in one place for very long. Luke stared at the stars. He and Carson were two beings in a huge world. What they did wasn’t important—not in the grand scheme of things. Still, he couldn’t believe Carson, the man he’d loved so much, was back in his life. The odds weren’t in his favor for Carson to stay. “Is that desire what prompted you to create your app?”
“I wanted something that tracked miles, did elevations, but also encouraged me to keep running. I needed to be pushed, especially when I rehabbed my knee. Some days I didn’t want to move, and others I had too much energy. I wanted something that pushed me, but also rewarded me when I did my workouts. I made what I wanted, and it turned out others wanted the same kind of app,” Carson said. “I wanted things my way, which I guess is selfish.”
“Nah, you’re determined.” He knew Carson would do great things. The man had wild ideas. He admired Carson.
“You know, it sucked, though,” Carson said. He reached for Luke and held his hand. “I wasn’t happy.”
“Why?” He couldn’t imagine not being content. Carson had everything.
“I hate running alone.” He stared at Luke. “I missed you. No one quite fit the bill. Either they ran too fast, too slow, or didn’t want to stick with me.”
He missed having a running partner, too. “We went our separate ways,” Luke said. “It’s not terrible. People drift apart.”
“They can come back together.” Carson left his seat and knelt in front of Luke. “Hearts are strange things. They know what they want and won’t be denied—even if we think we’re in charge. They are.”
Luke reached for Carson, but something buzzed and he jerked. His phone. He tensed. “Shit.” He withdrew the device from his pocket. “It’s Duncan. Probably to chew my ass out for leaving him and to beg me to put him together with you.” Duncan always did have interesting timing.
“Don’t want him.” Carson palmed Luke’s thighs. His smile widened as he leaned forward and nuzzled Luke’s throat. “I need you.”
Chapter Four
Luke sucked in a ragged breath and palmed the back of Carson’s head. He needed to be craved in the same way he craved Carson. His phone rang again. “The last I looked, Duncan had called four times.” He nudged Carson back a bit. “One of us needs to talk to him.”
“No.” Carson shoved the phone into the grass. “I’d rather do this.” He kissed Luke. “Need you.”
Luke suppressed a moan. He couldn’t say no to Carson. He sagged in his chair, and the plastic scratched against the wooden planks of the patio. Crickets chirped, and his phone continued to buzz. His heat beat for Carson. Always had.
Carson ripped open the front of Luke’s shirt, sending buttons in every direction. He kissed Luke�
��s bare skin and pinched his nipples. “I love that you’re pierced. It’s sexy.” Carson feasted on Luke’s chest.
He loved it? Luke had assumed Carson would be repulsed. Fuck, yeah. The tingles in Luke’s belly spiraled through his body. He groaned and caressed the hairs at the back of Carson’s head. “Fuck.”
“Soon.” Carson opened Luke’s trousers again. “I want these off.”
Luke braced his hands on the arms of the chair and moved his hips enough for Carson to yank the pressed fabric down his thighs. Chilly air swirled around his dick, and blood rushed to his groin. He moaned. Only Carson could get him hard this fast.
Carson propped Luke’s legs on the arms of the chair, opening him. He withdrew a bottle of lube and a condom from his pants pocket. “I came prepared. Want me?”
“Yes.” Carson flowed in his soul. Luke sighed as Carson stroked his erection. The action was both hot and sweet. Fuck, no it was wild. His neighbors would hear them. Did he care? No. The chances they could be caught turned him on even more.
Carson massaged Luke’s hole and dribbled lube over the bundle of nerves. Luke moaned as the chilly liquid slid over his skin. He sucked in a ragged breath when Carson pushed one digit into his hole. He pushed forward and kissed Luke.
Every synapse in Luke’s brain misfired. His thoughts blurred, and he sucked on Carson’s tongue. All he could do was hold on. Holy shit. He rode Carson’s finger. Yes, he’d been alone for a long time and had been away from Carson for even longer, but when he and Carson got together, they did have fireworks. The craving hadn’t gone away. No, it was stronger.
“Like that?” Carson asked against Luke’s mouth. “Want more?”
“Yes. You in me.” He’d be tight, and he welcomed the burn. He panted. “Please.”
“Always.” Carson withdrew his finger and stood long enough to shove his trousers down around his ankles. He tore the wrapper on the condom, then sheathed himself.
Luke took the lube from him and slickened his own hole before caressing lube on Carson’s shaft.
Carson leaned over Luke again and lined his dick up with Luke’s hole. He pushed, going slow until he filled Luke to the hilt. Inch by inch. He stretched and worked into Luke. He wrenched the breath from Luke.
“Fuck,” Luke bit out. If he’d thought he was muddled before, Carson knew how to increase the thrill and mess him up even more. Although he had no words, he wanted to tell Carson how much he loved this. Being with Carson was like coming home. His world righted. They were meant for each other. Soon, he’d be strong enough to tell Carson the truth. Not yet.
Carson built into a steady rhythm. “Stroke yourself.” He kissed any response away.
Luke did as told. His senses ratcheted up to full volume. The crickets chirped in the yard, the scent of barbeque wafted around him, and the realization someone could be watching filtered through to him. He didn’t care. The chair scraped against the patio, and Carson’s breath warmed Luke’s cheeks. He rode the waves of pleasure. Damn. Being with Carson now was better than before. He met Carson thrust for thrust and sucked on Carson’s tongue again.
Carson wrenched his mouth free and growled. “Fuck.”
Luke couldn’t have said it better himself. He held on and enjoyed the sheer thrill of being with Carson. He held onto Carson’s shoulders. His heart had broken when he and Carson split, but now Carson had healed him. He’d never be the same.
Luke shattered as the orgasm overwhelmed him. He couldn’t hold back for much longer. He cried out, and the sound seemed to echo in the otherwise silent night. Cum shot onto Carson’s belly and landed on Luke’s abs. “Come for me,” Luke murmured.
Carson pushed harder and increased his pace. The chair creaked from the sheer force of Carson. Forehead to forehead, Carson stared into Luke’s eyes. “Shit.”
“Let go,” Luke whispered.
Carson’s words came out garbled as he slammed into Luke. His cock throbbed, and he closed his eyes.
Stars exploded behind Luke’s eyelids. The world seemed to stop. He slumped in the chair, overwhelmed and wrung out. He panted as the world righted again.
Carson stayed within him, but sank to his knees. “God, I forgot how sexy you are when you come.”
“You, too.” He’d never seen his O face and didn’t plan to any time soon.
“Fuck.” Carson withdrew and wobbled over to the other chair. “My knees are weak.”
“You’ve been using them.” Luke didn’t move. He couldn’t. “I want to do that again.”
“Me, too.” Carson reached for Luke. “After a shower?”
“Whatever you want.” He didn’t want this night to end.
Carson sat up and frowned. “Fuck. You have company.”
“You mentioned something about your assistant bringing my car back. Could be her.” Why was Carson trying to have a conversation? Hell, he couldn’t think straight. “Big deal.”
“Someone is pounding on your door.” Carson left his shirt open, but removed the condom. He pulled his trousers back into place and zipped. “I’ll answer it. Get yourself sorted out. I’ve messed you up big time. I like it, but if there’s something important brewing, you’ll want to be decent.”
His brain barely cooperated, but he managed to leave the chair. Luke wobbled into the house and ducked down the short hallway to his bedroom. He needed to unscramble his brain, but he had too much Carson on his mind. Now that they’d had their second act, he’d never be the same. Never.
****
Carson strode through the house and tossed the used condom in the garbage as he made his way to the front door. He hated pushy people, even if he could be the pushiest. He doubted Sindy would be the one causing this much noise. Knowing her, she was around the corner enjoying the champagne bar in the limo and waiting for his signal to drop said keys off.
Carson opened the door and stopped short. “Duncan.”
Duncan’s glare brightened. “Hi.”
“Hi.” His irritation grew. Who did this guy think he was? “Is there a problem?”
“Not now.” Duncan rested his hand on the doorframe. “I’m glad I found you. Were you checking out Luke’s house? It’s not much. My apartment is bigger.”
“It’s fine,” Carson said, keeping his voice level. He hated when people acted fake to get what they wanted.
“So, first thing, I’m glad I found you. But second, you’re with my boyfriend.” Duncan drummed his fingers on the door. “We’re having problems, so if you’re ready to leave, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
“Your boyfriend?” Carson folded his arms. “Interesting.” This guy thought he’d just walk away from Luke with no question or backward glance? No, Duncan thought he’d do it. He’d stomp on Luke while he pushed his way to the top of the dating pile. Asshole.
“Are you letting him down gently? You should,” Duncan said. “It’s been forever since you saw him, and even if he still loves you, you deserve better. I would be a great companion. I know fashion, culture, and how to behave at a party. I mean, Jesus. He walked out on the reunion and me. That’s no way to conduct himself. But he’s always been shy and clumsy at these things.”
Wasn’t Duncan a gem? If Duncan had truly been with Luke—Carson wasn’t convinced Luke and Duncan had actually dated—then Luke didn’t deserve a jerk like Duncan. But Duncan didn’t deserve Carson’s attention, either. “Don’t worry about Luke.” He’d be fine without Duncan in his life. “I’ve got it under control.”
“Good. Why don’t you get your coat and shoes? We’ll go. I’m dying to introduce you to my friends. You’ll love them, and I know they’ll adore you,” Duncan said. He offered his arm. “We’ll have such a great time. Better than so far.”
“We will.” Carson didn’t move. “I’m going to watch you leave.”
“We’ll leave separately so it doesn’t look so suspicious, good thinking,” Duncan said. “Just don’t take too long.” He inched close to Carson. “I’m attracted to you.”
&nb
sp; “Are you?” He didn’t detect attraction to him at all. Duncan saw dollar signs.
“We’re good together. You’re handsome. I’m handsome.” Duncan reached for Carson. “Come on. You don’t need to string Luke along anymore. You belong with me.”
“No, I’m good. Go on without me.” Carson stayed still. “I should stay here.”
“Don’t do this. Don’t choose him.” Duncan shook his head. “You can’t.”
“Why?” He cocked his head. “What’s so bad about Luke? He’s quiet?” He wanted Duncan to leave before Luke heard the argument. Duncan just wanted to cause trouble.
“He’s a nerdy, quiet, bookish guy. You need flash,” Duncan said. His voice cracked. “You need me.”
“How do you know? Luke might be perfect.” He already knew his heart—Luke was his other half.
“Do you really know him? Huh?” The vein in Duncan’s forehead bulged. “Do you know what he’s done?”
“I know enough.” If Luke had secrets, then it was up to Luke to tell him, not Duncan.
“He was a stripper. He sold his body. Those tattoos aren’t because he’s a badass. He sold his ass.” Duncan fumed. “He has no business being in the school, either. He’s a prostitute.”
“Shut up,” Carson thundered. “I’ve had enough. I don’t know why you think you can tell me this shit. It’s his news. You can fuck off. Get out of here. I can’t be with someone who spills every lurid detail of someone else’s life. I need privacy, and you’re not a private person.”
Duncan paled. “But we had chemistry. You’ve known him one day.”
Carson shrugged and folded his arms. “Note, you said had. Whatever we had is in the past.”
“I need you,” Duncan pleaded. “I can make you happy. We’re a good team and should be together. He’s a librarian. He’ll never leave Litchfield.”
“You’re no better than he is,” Carson said, his voice flat.
“I am.” Duncan paled again, then fell silent.
Luke stood beside Carson. “Go.” He pushed the door shut.
“What did you hear?” Carson asked. Fuck. He hadn’t wanted Luke to eavesdrop on the argument. He’d rather talk to Luke like adults.
Billion Dollar Love: Manlove Edition Page 30