by Shea Balik
Spencer was poetry in motion as they touched, kissed, nipped, and fed each other needy sounds, letting the other know just how much they were enjoying every moment. One day he hoped to make leisurely love to this man, but after all this time, they both just needed.
“Please, Reese,” Spencer gasped as he added another finger. “I need you inside of me.”
How was he supposed to deny this man such a request? Not about to find out, Reese tugged his fingers free and reached for the condom. In record time he had himself sheathed in latex and pushing into the hottest, tightest hole he could imagine.
Yet, even as Spencer’s muscles squeezed him, they let him right in, until he was seated to the hilt. His gaze met Spencer’s and for the first time in his life, Reese would swear he’d found his forever place. That one spot where it would always feel like home.
Knowing he was becoming too fanciful for only their second time, Reese pushed that to the back of his mind and leaned down to kiss those lush lips as he started to thrust in and out of Spencer’s body.
Spencer sucked on his tongue, drawing him deeper into his mouth, which only added to the sensation of those muscles clenched around his prick. Each touch of Spencer’s fingers ignited a fire along his skin, trailing a path straight down to his cock.
It was as if everything they did added to the orgasm that was building with him. But he was determined to make Spencer tip over the cliff first. Reaching between their bodies, he wrapped a hand around Spencer’s long length, stroking him in time with his thrusts.
But all too soon, he could feel the tingling at the base of his spine signaling the end. Breaking his lips from Spencer’s he panted out, “Come, now.”
He heard Spencer’s needy cry as he threw his head back, showing off the corded muscles of his neck as fluid poured out over Reese’s hand. Unable to resist, Reese sucked along the spot where Spencer’s neck and shoulder met as his own release overtook him.
He hated that latex separated them in that moment, even though he knew it was necessary to keep them both safe. One day, they might be able to do away with the needed protection, but for now, he would bask in the afterglow of knowing that he and Spencer were finally were they belonged.
In each other’s arms.
CHAPTER 17
“Happy Holidays, everyone,” Anook said to those gathered around the tables that they’d put together to make one big table.
Not quite half of the local residents showed up, which was better than any of them had thought. Hell, Spencer was surprised anyone had come at all. They’d had snow the night before, which had been nice to see on Christmas Eve, but not so great to shovel or walk through that morning.
Then again, the locals, who mostly lived in the outlying area, had snow machines, which made it easier for them to get to town. In all, there were thirty people. Spencer and his friends, Reese, who insisted on bringing Sammy, Dane, who owned the bar were obviously all there.
“I would like to thank those residents who have called Mystic Pines their home for years for agreeing to join us,” Anook lifted his wine glass toward the group of eight.
“Since we may not all know each other, I’ll do a quick introduction.” Spencer forced himself not to groan. The last thing this already awkward group needed was Anook to talk more than necessary.
If it were up to Spencer, he’d tell everyone to eat and get the hell out. The tension inside the tavern was so thick he was sure he could cut it with his knife. Although, if he were being completely honest, that tension was caused by only one man. Everyone else had been getting along just fine until Jebidiah Peck, or JP, as he preferred to be called, walked in.
The man had been a burr in their side since he’d found out the land he’d sold them was going to be turned into a resort community that catered to the LGBTQ community. Suddenly, he claimed they’d swindled him. As if.
Hell, they’d told him about their plans for the resort and he’d been happy to help. It wasn’t until he’d discovered they were gay that he started to make waves. The fact that they were going to turn this into an inclusive resort had been the final straw.
Two weeks ago, he’d hired a lawyer to try and stop their plans. Luckily, they had been prepared thanks to a gossiping Harper Jennings, who had warned them what the old man’s plans were. So far, they’d been able to stop from being shut down, but they were still fighting the man in court.
Why JP felt the need to come today was anyone’s guess. Though, considering what an ass the man was, he was probably hoping to ruin their holiday cheer.
“This is a waste of our time.” JP slammed his hand onto the table as he spoke. “This town will not be some resort to heathens. I won’t allow it.”
“Thankfully, you don’t get to make that decision,” Axom said with a smug smile. “In fact, if I may, I believe the judge told you to, ‘stop being a bigoted pig and get a life.’”
JP’s face turned beat red and Spencer swore he could see steam coming out of the man’s ears. “He did not,” JP yelled. Then he turned his gaze to Anook. “Your father and grandfather would be ashamed of what you are doing to this historic town. It was our family’s legacy and you’re destroying it.”
“We aren’t destroying it, JP,” Anook bit out. “As for my father and grandfather, they loved Mystic Pines and hated seeing it fade away. It was why my father insisted on me going to college. He hoped I’d be able to find a way to once more put Mystic Pines on the map.”
JP slammed his fist onto the table. “Not by turning it into a circus.”
“JP, that’s enough,” Curtis Jennings barked out from across the table. “I don’t know why you are so against this idea, but I won’t listen to your bigoted rhetoric any longer. You’ve been spewing your hate for months and I, for one, am tired of hearing it.”
Harper, Curtis’s wife, nodded. “Me, too,” she said. “We happen to love this town and would like to see it prosper once more. If Anook thinks building a resort is the way to go, I am all for it.”
“It’s not the resort that’s the problem, Harper,” JP shouted. “It’s who they’re encouraging to visit.”
Lena Moss, who recently had the courage to come out as bi, stood up and glared at JP. “And what exactly is wrong with that?” Lena wasn’t small, she was a true Alaskan mountain woman. Born and raised to take on some of the toughest conditions nature has to offer, she gladly met each one, refusing to ever back down.
“You don’t have a say in this,” JP told her. Then he looked around at the other townspeople that were there. “None of you do. This town was built by the Pecks and the Jacksons. The rest of you only live here because we allow it.”
Harper and Curtis Jennings, who own the small grocery store in town, looked like they were both ready to punch JP in the mouth. Considering they were the sweetest people Spencer had ever met, that was saying something. They sort of reminded him a bit of Mike and Carol Brady from the Brady Bunch.
But it was Warren Burgess, a web designer who had helped put Mystic Pines online, who stood up. He’d been sitting next to JP and now stared down at the man. At six-five, he towered over JP, who had also stood up. But as JP was only five-ten, he had to crane his neck, which made the glare he was giving Warren seem ridiculous.
Spencer held his breath, afraid Warren might just pound the well-deserving JP into the ground. Yet, Warren didn’t move, nor did he say a word. Instead, it was his fiery wife, Maggie, who got into JP’s face. “If you say one more word against the LGBTQ community, I will take you out back and tan your hide, JP.”
That she was only five-one didn’t even phase Maggie. Between her bright red curly hair and her finger waggling at JP, Spencer hardly noticed the difference in their heights. Apparently, her diminutive size didn’t lessen the threat one bit as JP’s shoulders dropped in defeat.
“You can’t do that. I’m old enough to be your father,” JP told her with a slight whine in his voice.
“No one is too old to receive a whooping,” Maggie said emphatically.
“Especially if they’re too stubborn to see what they are saying is wrong.”
“But it goes against nature,” JP continued to argue.
“Actually, that’s not true,” Jeffrey Higgins spoke up, the last of the two townspeople to come to the dinner. He and his wife Grace were wildlife photographers. “All of Earth’s creatures have populations that are same-sex oriented as well as bi.”
Grace nodded. “There are also many documented ménage relationships within the animal kingdom.”
JP grimaced. “That is just wrong.”
He had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth than he was suddenly screaming in pain as Maggie took his ear in her fingers and yanked him toward the door. “Until you can learn manners, JP, you are banned from our establishments, do you understand me?”
“But I…” he started.
But Maggie had already shoved him out the door Harper had rushed over and opened, a feat for sure considering how small she was. Then Harper slammed it in his face, cutting off whatever he’d been about to say.
Maggie was the first to turn to those who were new in Mystic Pines. “We’re sorry. I wish I could say JP was the only one who felt that way about the resort you’re building, but there’s a reason why we were the only ones to show up tonight.”
Harper came up to stand next to Maggie. “But you have our support and we will do everything in our power to yank the others out of their antiquated thinking and into this century.”
That got several people to laugh, which helped to brighten the mood considerably. Although, there was still a lot of strain in the room, especially coming from the five newest members of Mystic Pines.
“I came here because I wanted to find a place that accepted me for who I was,” Blake Hobbs, a chef who dreamed of owning his own restaurant, said. “I’m beginning to realize that place doesn’t exist. Hell, it might never exist, but that doesn’t mean I won’t fight to make Mystic Pines the home I’ve always dreamed about.”
Rubius Rose, or Rubi to his friends, clapped and stood. “Brava, my friend,” he said. “Small minds are a part of life. But just like a cold, I shake them off, and forge ahead.”
Rubi shook his head, causing his long wavy black hair with streaks of blue highlights to brush over shoulders. Several strands had gotten stuck in his full beard, which Rubi quickly pushed away from his face before saying, “I came to Mystic Pines because I believe in the dream that Anook and his friends are trying to achieve. To create a place where everyone, no matter who they are, will be accepted, and I plan to help in any way I can.”
Then Rubi bowed. Although no one had clapped initially, it had been obvious Rubi wished for them to do so. Spencer even joined in, even if he’d wasn’t entirely sure why. He’d only met Rubi once before. At first, he’d thought Rubi was a drag queen, but he’d quickly set Spencer straight, so to speak.
According to Rubi, life was about living it. He claimed he didn’t have time to worry about labels whether it be pronouns, gay, bi, non-binary, whatever. He was who he was. In the end he felt none of the other stuff mattered. Either accept him, or don’t, he didn’t have the time to be bothered with whatever someone else thought of him.
It was a unique perspective that Spencer had found confusing yet still refreshing. Rubi never got offended at what someone said about him, while at the same time had no trouble telling that same person exactly who he was. Today, Rubi was a mix of elf, reindeer, and a present apparently, for he wore green pointed shoes that curled up at the end, faux antlers that were heavily interwoven between his wavy locks, and a diagonally green and red striped sweater with a bow around his neck.
Spencer had to admit, he wasn’t quite sure what the pink tutu over black trousers represented, but he had no doubt he’d find out at some point.
“How about we get back to why we’re here,” Anook said. He lifted his glass of wine and said, “Happy Holidays everyone.”
Short and sweet. After what had just happened, it was the best way to start their meal.
CHAPTER 18
“Why are we out here, again?” Reese’s head was constantly pivoting as each noise, or possibly perceived noise, was checked out while he and Sammy followed Axom back across the footbridge into a part of the forest he’d sworn to himself a week ago he’d never come near. Yet, somehow, when Axom showed up at his door, Reese found himself insisting he and Sammy come with the crazy man as he put up field cameras all around the area of the upside-down trees.
“I said you didn’t need to come with me,” Axom reminded him.
“If you didn’t want me here, why did you stop by my house, after you had to have known Spencer would have gone to the hotel, to tell me your insane plan?” Reese was sure he’d been hoodwinked into coming.
He could almost hear Axom roll his eyes at him even though he couldn’t actually see his face. “Because, it’s always best when going hunting to let someone know your plans. That way, if I don’t return, you would have been able to tell them where to search for me.”
That sounded logical.
Except…
“Yeah, but since I’m with you, shouldn’t we have told someone else where we were going in case neither of us come back?” Knots instantly formed in his stomach at the thought of what had happened out there the last time. Reese really didn’t want to come face to face with whatever had been in the woods with them.
“Anook and Cass know,” Axom told him as they arrived at the first of the inverted trees.
The moment he saw them, Reese’s heart sped up and that terror from the other day came racing back to the forefront of his mind. It was all he could do not to turn around and run back to town.
Sammy pushed against his legs, letting Reese know he was there for him. Gratefully, Reese ran his hand over Sammy’s fur, instantly feeling better. It helped that Sammy wasn’t on alert or wary. Hopefully that meant whatever had been in these woods before was no longer there.
Axom had already put down his large backpack, completely different than the one he’d used the other day. This one was more of hiker’s backpack with sturdy straps and made of tougher material.
“Why the different backpack?” he asked now that he had been able to find his voice again.
Axom pulled out several small, green-brown, plastic blocks with brown straps attached to them. “Because I needed something that would hold the weight of these cameras.”
As Axom went to work of attaching one of the blocks to the tree by wrapping the strap around the trunk, Reese could see that the one side of the block had a lens. It was currently closed, but it reminded him of a camera. A fairly small camera, but he imagined it needed to be so as not to be easily seen.
Each one was placed to show different angles of the upside-down trees. Even out in the open, knowing they were there, the cameras blended well with the trees. They were still visible, but one would almost need to know they were there to have picked them out.
The snap of a twig on the other side of where they were working had Reese whirling around. Sammy had also looked in that direction but after a moment, he didn’t seem concerned by whatever made the noise.
Hoping Sammy’s superior senses would know if danger were lurking around, Reese trusted his best friend would keep him safe. It was odd that he would have liked for Spencer to be there. He wasn’t sure Spencer could have done anything to keep him safe if something were out there, but he’d felt better knowing the man was by his side before.
“Wait a minute.” Reese turned back to Axom sure he’d been swindled. “How could Anook and Cass know we’re here? You didn’t call them, and we didn’t see anyone on our way here.”
Axom at least had the decency to turn bright red as he stuttered, “Oh… uh… did I… I mean…” Then he let out a long slow breath and shrugged. “Okay, so I did tell them before I left but neither of them would come with me. Since you offered the last time, I thought maybe you’d help me this time.”
Then he held out three of the cameras to Reese. “If you hel
p, we can get out of here a lot sooner.”
As much as Reese wanted to tell Axom exactly what he could do with his cameras, it wouldn’t do him much good. The fact was, they were back in these creepy woods and Reese really wanted to leave. Even though Axom probably deserved it, he couldn’t just leave the man alone, not after last time.
He could either help, or bitch and moan. The former would get him out of there a lot sooner, so he took the cameras. “Fine,” he told Axom. “But you owe me, big time.”
Axom grinned. “Don’t worry. I plan to make all those shirts, business cards, and leashes that I talked about with the name of your business. You just have to tell me what it is.”
Reese was stretching the strap around the first tree when Axom said that. Frowning, he clipped the ends together and looked back at the man. “Name? I just figured Mystic Pines Pet Day Care.”
Axom grimaced. “Really? That seems kind of lame, don’t you think?”
Reese went over to the next tree Axom had pointed to. “What’s wrong with it? I mean, this is Mystic Pines and I will be taking in pets either for the day or to board overnight.”
“Come on.” Axom sounded almost offended. “You have to be original. Like the Tavern.”
“The Frosted Mug?” Reese wasn’t so sure it was all that original. “I mean, it’s clever and all, but not exactly unique.”
“Yeah, well, Dane was going to name it the Mystic Pines Tavern.” Axom actually shuddered.
“Isn’t the hotel going to be named Mystic Pines Resort?” Reese wasn’t sure what difference any of this made and he really didn’t want to have to think of a name for his daycare on top of all the work he still had to do to get it opened. Assuming, of course, he could convince Spencer and the others to have pets stay at the hotel.
They had managed to put up a dozen of the cameras by then. It wasn’t until Reese went to grab a couple more out of Axom’s bag that he realized they were no longer near the upside-down trees. How he hadn’t noticed that Axom was leading them along the same path they’d used when chasing… It was not Bigfoot… Reese took a steadying breath after telling himself that a few more times.
