by LaQuette
Elijah had made a promise, and he believed in keeping his word, so he bit his bottom lip and stroked his cock, just before sliding carefully inside Camden. Even with all the lubricant and the diligent stretching Elijah had added to their foreplay, the fit was so tight, it stole Elijah’s breath. When he’d finally bottomed out, he had to grip the bedrail to keep from falling over onto Camden.
He closed his eyes to savor the viselike grip Camden’s body had on his throbbing cock. Five years, and it was still exactly the same as that first night: tempting, self-indulgent, necessary. How could a man he’d only spent a handful of days with feel as important as his next heartbeat? Elijah didn’t know the answer to that. He didn’t even want to begin to think about why that might be. He wasn’t ready to face that, not with so much up in the air between them. The only thing he wanted was to hold on to the moment and make it last for an eternity.
He kept his movements achingly slow at first, taking a second to appreciate every inch Camden’s hole swallowed. Elijah pulled back until just his tip remained inside Camden and reveled in the mewling sounds of loss Camden made beneath him. As Camden’s hands snaked around, grabbing his ass, pulling him forward, begging for more, Elijah knew his plan to keep this at a slow pace was blown to hell. He held out for as long as he could, but with Camden’s hands pushing him forward, his restraint crumbled, and he fell forward into the decadent warmth of Camden’s body.
He braced himself on locked arms to keep from crushing Camden as he swerved his hips. The new angle must have been exactly what Camden wanted, because he circled Elijah’s back with his arms and pulled him down, flattening rough lips to his as desperate noises fell from his mouth.
If that’s what you want, I got you.
Elijah broke the kiss, hooking Camden’s legs over his arms and pressing them back, nearly folding him in half. Once Elijah was certain Camden was comfortable in their current position, he moved his hips, each thrust a slightly different angle searching for just the right spot that would put them both over the edge. As Camden’s mewling morphed into a rugged growl, Elijah was satisfied he’d found Camden’s prostate and continued to pummel the same spot until the walls of Camden’s ass began closing around him, strangling his cock.
“Please, please.” The single-word litany spilling from Camden’s lips kept Elijah on task. No matter how badly his muscles ached from the pace, force, and depth of his thrusts, no matter how desperately he wanted to let go and give in to the climax he could feel tingling at the bottom of his spine, he would keep pumping into Camden until Camden had what he needed. Because as he looked down into the man’s pleasure-tortured face, Elijah came to understand that meeting Camden’s needs was the only thing that mattered to him. It’s what he was made for.
Elijah released Camden’s legs, wrapping careful fingers around Camden’s cock and sliding his palm down its length. His hand and hips moved in tandem, and Camden broke apart right in front of Elijah’s eyes. His body seized and clamped down on Elijah’s meat, making his rhythm falter. By the time he’d found his stroke again, Camden’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. He closed his eyes just as the first jet of cum left his tip, burying his fingers into Elijah’s thighs as each wave of his release crested, fell, and then crested again.
Elijah held on for as long as he could, but all too soon the heaviness in his sac became too much to bear as the buzz of release spread through every nerve in his body. He leaned down, the warm heat of Camden’s climax painting his belly as he pressed his lips to Camden’s mouth. The kiss was brutal, as was the pounding Elijah’s need for completion insisted on.
Elijah knew he would pay for the abuse he was leveling on his injured thigh. He was healed, but there was a fine line between exercise and overuse of a muscle. If he’d been thinking straight, he’d have had Camden riding him to his climax, but having Camden spread open underneath him was too tempting an opportunity to pass up.
Everything about this moment, from the way Camden still grappled through the throes of his own climax to the zing of pleasure that spread through Elijah every time his balls slapped the crack of Camden’s ass, reinforced Elijah’s inkling that rational thought didn’t exist in this scenario.
There was no way it made any sense that having every inch of his cock buried in Camden would feel better than any breath he’d taken in the last five years, including those first ones off of the ventilator after his attack. There was no way Elijah’s body should feel more alive than he’d ever been, but simultaneously weaker, more vulnerable than when those hopped-up tweakers tried to stomp the life out of him. How could the simple act of connecting his body with Camden’s accomplish such harmony and chaos at the same time?
When Elijah’s hips slammed against Camden’s ass one last time, as his body seized, and he lost the will to hold back what he knew would be the best nut he’d ever experienced—including the ones Camden had torn from him during their one night together—Elijah realized there was only one reason any of this could be.
Elijah buried his mouth into the curve of Camden’s neck and roared as his release took control of him. If they were in his bedroom, Elijah might’ve been concerned about his mama knowing what naughty things her boy was up to. But here, within the walls of his safe space, his haven, he let go of all the frustration that settled in his chest. He let go of all the pain and misunderstandings that had kept a wedge between him and Camden all of these years. He allowed the joy of this moment to wash over him and pull him into the sheer bliss of having what his heart had always wanted. Camden.
When Camden’s arms cradled him into a strong embrace, he dropped his head on Camden’s shoulder and nearly sobbed as he tried to draw in his next breath. This place, in the center of Camden’s embrace, was always where Elijah was meant to be.
Now, he just needed to convince Camden of that.
Chapter Nineteen
“TELL me about your father.”
Camden was still half-buzzed from his orgasm, drifting somewhere between sleep and wakefulness as Elijah spooned him from behind. He could’ve sworn Elijah mentioned something about his father, but with the way Elijah’s spent cock rested in the slit of his ass, Camden was too distracted to swear to his own name, let alone the subject of Elijah’s question.
“Sorry, didn’t catch that.” Camden looked over his shoulder to find Elijah’s waiting mouth and smiled as he thought of the pleasure it had wrung from him only a handful of moments ago. “What were you asking?”
Elijah tightened the arm he had draped over Camden’s bare abdomen and pulled him closer. The solid wall of man pressed against Camden’s body was reassuring and comforting like a human body pillow customized specifically for him. Their first night together, there hadn’t been any intimate moments of pillow talk. There was just desperate coupling and the exhausted oblivion of postcoital sleep.
“Your dad,” Elijah responded. “What’s he like?”
Camden took a deep breath before speaking. There were so many ways he could answer that question. There were moments as both a child and an adult that Camden could see how much his father cared for him. He’d always been Camden’s greatest cheerleader. Whether it was Camden reciting his lines in a school play or graduating from an Ivy League law school at the top of his class, Michael Warren had pushed his only son to be the best at everything he endeavored. But all of his drive to make Camden perfect at everything often made Camden wonder if his dad pushed him so hard because he doubted Camden’s abilities.
“He believes in service. He believes serving in any public capacity is the highest honor any man or woman can hold.”
“That sounds admirable.” Elijah dropped a quick kiss on Camden’s shoulder. “My dad feels the same.”
Camden shook his head. These last few days he’d spent in Walter Stephenson’s presence showed him the man believed in his boys. He believed in their decisions and their life choices.
Camden was a man well over thirty, and his father didn’t seem to think Camden could tie his s
hoelaces without the older man’s guidance.
“Trust me, Elijah, your father might believe in service, but he doesn’t appear to demand you serve in the ways he deems appropriate.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
“Let me ask you this. Did you become a cop because your dad demanded it?”
“No.” Elijah’s answer was quick and succinct. If asked, Camden knew he couldn’t respond in the same manner. “I became one because I wanted to work from the inside to build better relations between my community and the police. I hated seeing how communities like mine were being labeled as wastelands because of criminal activity. I hated that the media and often law enforcement seemed to forget that there were good, hardworking people in Brooklyn who deserved their protection and dedication. My father was happy about my choosing to go into the academy, but it was never a requirement.”
“You’re lucky to have been given the choice.” Elijah must’ve heard the tiny hitch of regret in Camden’s voice, because he rose up on his elbow and pulled at Camden’s shoulder until Camden turned around and faced him.
“What do you mean by being given the choice, Camden?”
Camden took a deep breath before answering. He’d done his best to not think too much about the path he’d taken into his current career. Dissecting the intricate methods his father used to get Camden to this exact position took more energy than Camden had to spare.
“My father never asked me what I wanted to be. He simply told me where I’d be going to school and what I’d be studying. I think his words were something like, ‘Unless you have a way to pay for it, you’ll study what I tell you to.’”
“So, you wouldn’t have become a lawyer, a prosecutor, without him pushing you?”
Camden didn’t know the answer to Elijah’s question. He was a damn good prosecutor; knowing the answers to questions and how best to respond to those questions was a large part of his job. One would think a simple inquiry like this wouldn’t take much effort on Camden’s part. Yet, while Elijah waited for him to reply, Camden ached for someone else to hand him the answer, like a contestant on one of those game shows where he needed to phone a friend.
“There’s no easy way to answer that. I’m good at what I do. I enjoy it. Now, I don’t know if that’s because he forced me onto this path, or if it was because I’m a natural. I just know this life, this plan, is all I’ve ever had.”
Camden could see a spark in Elijah’s eyes. Confusion or curiosity, at this point Camden couldn’t tell which, mixed in with just a touch of sadness. He waited for Elijah to speak, to fill the gap of silence that appeared to be widening by the minute. But he said nothing, just continued to stare at Camden with his penetrating gaze.
He could feel the warmth of their intimacy being stolen from the room. He grieved its recession and snuggled closer to Elijah to reclaim it. “Please, don’t ruin this moment by making me talk about this. The only thing I want is to stay present in the now.”
Elijah’s gaze softened as he rubbed a gentle thumb over Camden’s lips. It was a simple gesture meant to do nothing more than comfort Camden. But the reassuring touch made him feel whole, as if his broken parts were being carefully sewn back together.
“You will always have a choice with me.” Elijah pressed his lips against Camden’s, then enfolded him into eager arms. Lying there, with his head on Elijah’s chest, listening to the lull of his strong heartbeat, Camden understood, for the first time in his life, what it was to just be yourself with no expectation attached to it. Camden wrapped his arms around Elijah’s frame and snuggled deeper into the embrace. He had to savor it now. Once this was all over, there was no telling when Camden would get the chance to experience this again.
“A-YO, Cam, you coming?”
Camden blinked at the sound of Emmanuel’s booming voice calling his name. He’d been staring in the bathroom mirror after their shower for what seemed like an eternity. Uncertain what he was looking for, he just knew something was different.
He’d spent two days in Elijah’s family’s presence, and in that time he’d broken his father’s cardinal rule. No one needs to know the truth but you.
He’d been trained by the best in evasive maneuvers during questioning. Yet standing with Elijah at his kitchen sink and later on in the garage apartment, he’d spilled everything inside his head and his heart, simply because the man touching him asked for the truth.
Camden and Elijah showered together and dressed before leaving their oasis. Elijah had gone ahead inside the living room while Camden excused himself to the bathroom upstairs just to process the new developments in his connection with Elijah. He couldn’t hide forever, since Elijah’s mother had caught him halfway up the stairs upon his hasty exit and told him the family was about to watch a movie.
He’d already been on edge from his emotional exchange with Elijah. But hearing Evelyn use the word “family” and knowing she was including him in that number made Camden’s already raw nerves cringe with overstimulation.
Fifteen minutes later, Camden was still trying to figure out how he could bow out gracefully. A feigned headache, perhaps? Maybe just plain old-fashion exhaustion would suffice? He shook his head, knowing Elijah would see through any excuse he made.
Camden inhaled slowly through his nose and let the calming breath escape through his pursed lips. He squared his shoulders, gave himself a nod, and resigned himself to feeling awkward and uncomfortable for the next few hours. He had no other choice. Elijah would know he was full of shit if Camden begged off family time. But worse, he’d be let down by Camden’s refusal. As long as he lived, Camden knew he never wanted to cause disappointment to cloud Elijah’s eyes again.
Camden made his way downstairs and stopped just short of walking inside the family room. The lights were low as the previews had already begun, and Elijah’s family had already taken their seats. Elijah’s parents were sitting together in the loveseat facing the large, flat-screen mounted above the fireplace. Emmanuel and Vivienne cuddled together on one sofa pushed against the wall, and Elijah stretched out on the remaining sofa on the opposite wall. The only other places available were the two armchairs positioned on either side of the fireplace. But they were facing away from the screen, and he wouldn’t be able to watch the movie from that position.
Maybe this was his out? Perhaps the lack of available seating could serve as his excuse to hide in Elijah’s bedroom. But just as Cam decided to escape, Evelyn caught sight of him in the doorway.
“Oh, there you are, Camden. The movie’s just about to start. Get on in here.”
He tried to paste a pleasant smile on his face but wasn’t sure he’d accomplished that when he caught Evelyn narrowing her eyes. Too afraid to draw more attention to himself, Camden decided the obvious solution to the problem was to sit on the floor in front of the sofa where Elijah stretched out.
Camden had just nestled himself into a semicomfortable position when Elijah’s breath warmed his neck. “You sure you’re comfortable down there? This movie is over two hours long, Camden.”
A cool shiver spilled down Camden’s back as he thought about Elijah’s question. The carpet provided some cushion, but not enough that his recently reamed ass wouldn’t notice how hard the floor was during a two-hour stretch of sitting on the floor. But what was the alternative? Unless….
“The couch is big enough for the two of us.”
Camden looked across the room to where Elijah’s brother and sister-in-law were stretched out against the length of the couch, positioned front to back with their legs entangled, and panic struck him. Is that what Elijah expected them to do? Yes, the couch was huge. It had to be custom-made to leave space for anyone else once Elijah lay on it. But as he gave it a quick glance, he could see where the two of them could fit if they positioned themselves in similar fashion to Emmanuel and Vivienne.
Camden swallowed; the thought of being pressed against Elijah’s flesh that way made him reconsider Elijah’s offer. Getting
aroused in front of Elijah’s family wasn’t his idea of a good time at all.
“Cam, come on.”
He imagined every eye in the room was on him even though a quick scan told Camden everyone except he and Elijah was staring at the screen. Don’t make this weird, Camden. You just spent the last hour making love to this man. Why should sharing space with him induce panic?
Camden knew the answer to that as sure as he knew his own name. Those moments inside Elijah’s hideaway were magical, something shared between the two of them. This, sitting here with Elijah’s family consuming mindless entertainment, this was real. They had manufactured all the moments they’d shared in front of the Stephensons to keep up the lie they were a couple. But now, even though Camden did not know whether he and Elijah would ever have the chance to become an official couple, the intimacy was no longer a lie.
You can do this. Camden nodded his head, conceding to Elijah’s request and stood up. Elijah repositioned himself on the couch so he lay on his side, making room for Camden to slip in front of him. It was strange. The simple move caused both panic and enticement in Camden. Everything in him wanted to be right there cuddled up with Elijah, but the uncertainty of his future, of their future together, gave Camden pause.
For these last few days, he’d played a role for the Stephensons. The only problem that remained was Camden soon realized he didn’t want it to be just a role any longer. He was enjoying the closeness he and Elijah were embarking upon. He was enjoying the space the Stephensons made for the man they believed to be Elijah’s significant other. But they’d leave by tomorrow evening, and he and Elijah would presumably return to their actual roles of disgruntled cop and annoying ADA. Or worse, Elijah would press Camden for a commitment he wasn’t certain he could make.
