Equation for Love

by Sutherland, Fae

  Later, though, when they lay damp and tangled on Skye's bed, and Liam made a hundred excuses to himselfwhy he didn't have to leave, he realized it wasn't about jealousy.

  It was about sorrow. Because he'd been stupid enough to find the one thing he'd always wanted in the one manhe couldn't have.

  Love.

  * * * *

  It was Friday. It was five P.M. It was their roomat the MGM Grand, same as every other time they'd met. But Liamwasn't here, and Skye was beginning to think he wasn't coming.

  In fact, he'd begun thinking so on Wednesday morning when he'd woken up alone with Liam long gone. He didn't even know when Liam had left. Skye hadn't planned on falling asleep, but suddenly it was nine hours later and he woke up naked, slightly sore and alone in his bed. Calls and texts hadn't been returned, and Skye hadn't beensure what to do.

  So he got the hotel room today, like always. He waited, like always. He waited some more. Liam was an hour late and still not answering texts or calls. Skye plopped down on the floor next to the mini-fridge, yanking it open and grabbing a five-dollar candy bar and tearingit openas he dialed Liam's number again.

  This time he let the voice mailkick in.

  "So this is what being stood up feels like. What number lesson is this, Liam? I've lost count. Well, your thorough teaching style is appreciated, so I'm going to leave now and I expect Monday you'll have a new lessonfor me. Please do not repeat this one."

  He hung up and tossed the phone onto the floor. He'd just finish his candy bar and go home. He tried telling himself Liam had just gotten busy or he'd forgotten...but that wasn't the truth and Skye knew it. The problem was, he didn't know what the truth was. Maybe Liamjust didn't want to see himanymore.

  That thought was most depressingofall.

  Chapter 10

  Liam sat on his motorcycle, staring up at Skye's condo. He was beinga fool. He knew it and he worried very soon Skye would know it, too. Of course, Skye was just inexperienced enough not to recognize the absolute absurdity of Liam falling for him. Hell, Skye damn well might think it was--God forbid--a good thing. He hadn't missed all those soft looks, the way Skye asked if their time together was business or maybe more. Skye was falling, too, but at least he had the excuse of naïveté to fall back on. Liam knew how the world worked, this one inparticular.

  And yet here he sat, about to be an idiot and go up there and layclaimto the manallover again.

  Well, ifhe was going to go down like a captain with his ship, he might as well enjoy the ride to the bottom. He climbed off his bike and strode past Skye's garage and up the walk to his door. Liamhad no doubt he was home. He'd seen lights come on and go off a couple times while he'd been debating his own downfall there bythe curb.

  He strode up to the door and knocked with as much authority as he could. He'd been told he had a cop's knock. The kind you didn't dare ignore because it sounded bothurgent and intimidating.

  A couple of seconds later, Liam saw a shadow move across the peephole, followed by a muffled thud against the door. He couldn't help it; his lips twitched because he was pretty sure Skye had seen him and immediately flattened himself against the door in surprise. Liam could almost see the wide eyes and the openmouth.

  Mmm, open mouth.

  "Openthe door, Skye. I know you're inthere."

  Another few heartbeats and the door cracked open, safety chain still on as Skye peered out at him. Liamlifted his brows.

  "This is not the 'open' I meant, myown."

  Skye narrowed his eyes impudently. "Well, if I just flung the door open, I have a pretty good idea what would happenand, since I'mnot sure I'mevenspeaking to you right now, you get the safety chain." He licked his lips. "What do youwant?"

  Oh, what a loaded question.

  Liamleaned closer, and even with the door and the chain between them, Skye's breath quickened. "I want youto let me in. Openthe door, Skye, now."

  Skye hesitated, then pursed his lips and shut the door. The chain rattled briefly and a second later, the door opened, Skye peering at him with a mixture of uncertainty and obvious annoyance. Oh, he was peeved, for sure. And beinga brat about it, too.

  Had Skye forgotten how much Liam liked a bratty

  sub?He swept inside and caught Skye around the waist as he did, kicking the door shut. Skye's eyes widened and he brought his hands up against Liam's chest, as if he was going to shove at him, but instead just rested themthere, staringinto Liam's eyes.

  "You didn't come. You didn't call." The hurt in his voice was blatant, and guilt wrenched Liam's stomach

  tight."I know." He bent his head and nuzzled Skye's mouth, breathfanningacross his parted, beautifullips. "I was an asshole. Say you forgive me, my own," he whispered, tongue slipping out to touch Skye's lower lip. "Sayyou're stillmine."

  Skye trembled, the stiffness seeming to flow right out ofhimand he sagged between Liamand the wall. "I forgive you,"he breathed.

  Liam smiled, triumph rushing through him, and he pressed closer, his knee nudgingbetweenSkye's thighs. "And?"

  "And I'mstill yours..." Skye let out a rush of breath and wrapped his arms around Liam abruptly, breathing harder. "OhGod, I thought..."

  Liamshook his head, reaching up to press his hand against Skye's mouth. "Whatever it was, you were wrong. So was I."Liamdecided in right then that loving Skye wasn't a crime he had to avoid. He could love him--only if he was willing to let himgo. He just had to love him and let him go when the time came. Until then...untilthen, Skye was allhis.

  Liam was determined to love him so fucking good that when he was old and someone asked about the first man who'd ever loved him, Skye would go all wistfuland soft-eyed and think ofLiam.

  But loving himwasn't all Liamhad to do. He had a job to do as well. He smiled as he slid his hand from Skye's mouth up into his hair. "Since we've missed your last lesson, I thought maybe a little home study would be inorder. Are youup for it, myown?"

  Skye nodded, breath quickening. "Definitely. What...what lessonis this, Sir?"

  Liam tilted his head, brows knitting as he thought about it, then chuckled. "I think I've lost count again. But either way, I assure you it's a very important lesson."

  Skye laughed, dark eyes no longer wary or hurt, but lit up and warm with arousal. "I'm sure it is. By all means, Sir, your pupilis eager to learn."

  "Well, first things first...you're special, Skye. And if a guy ever stands you up again, and if you decide he's worth a second chance, make sure he makes it up to youina bigwayfor beingsucha jerk."

  Skye grinned, eyes dancing with mischief. "Does this meanyou're goingto do proper penance, Sir?"

  After the last two days ofstruggling with what to do and emotions he didn't want to feel, Liam would welcome absolution. He nipped Skye's lower lip gently, brows lifting as their eyes met. "What sort of penance do youthink is appropriate, myown?"

  Skye leaned his head back against the wall, arching against Liam. "I don't know. Shouldn't it involve you beingonyour knees, though?"

  Under normal circumstances, Liam would balk at the idea of going to his knees for a sub. For anyone. But Skye wasn't just anyone, and there were allsorts of beautiful, favorite parts of his lover available at that level. Which was, he thought, exactly what Skye was

  after."Hmm, you're right. It probably should," he murmured, and began kissing his way down. His hands slipped down along Skye's sides, then back up, shoving his shirt out of the way to bare pale, flawless skin that was warm and sensitive beneath Liam's lips. When his lips brushed along the waistband of Skye's pajama pants, Liam settled on his knees, hands splayed on Skye's hips. He glanced up at the young man, lifting one brow. "You were very right, my own. This is where I want to be right now."

  Before Skye could respond, Liam pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss against the hard ridge of Skye's cock through his pants, and he let out a shuddery halfcry, hands sinkinginto Liam's hair.

  "OhmyGod..."

  Liam scraped his teeth against the cotton-covered

  ridge an
d glanced up at him. "That's right, my own...exactly what I want to be to you." His god, his world, his breath. Even if it was temporary. Maybe especiallybecause it was temporary.

  * * * * Skye didn't think he had any choice in the matter. Liam was rapidly becoming all-consuming. It was frightening, but exhilarating at the same time. He'd longed for something special, something romantic and wild and sexy...which was what he'd gotten. It wasn't logical in the least, but Skye was starting to see there was far more to the world than only what was logical and easily understood. He didn't understand Liam or the way Liam made him feel, but that was okay. He didn't feel the need to pull it all apart and examine it to figure out how it worked. And that was just as new as allthe emotions and needs and new thoughts inside him.

  Oh God, the heat and dampness of Liam's mouth through his pants. He was a little bit embarrassed Liam was seeing him in his pajamas, but at the same time grateful because the thin cotton of his pajama pants allowed Liam's searing mouth to be far more thoroughly enjoyed than otherwise. His brain started to wander down the path of the different heat transferring properties of cotton as opposed to other fabrics, but Liam's tongue was suddenly on his lower abdomen and Liam's hands were dragging his pajamas down and Skye forgot what he'd beenthinkingabout.

  "Ohhh..." He shuddered, breath hitching. The pajamas ended up bunched around Skye's thighs and his cock sprang free--hard, and slick at the tip, and seeming to beg Liam's mouth to pretty please suck it. Or maybe it was onlySkye's imagination.

  Liam grinned up at him, lips brushing almost chastely across the head. "You did miss me last night, didn't you, my own?" He licked his lips, and Skye's knees went weak at the expression on Liam's face-what does it taste like? His mouth watered remembering what Liam's cock tasted like. Did he taste as good to Liam?

  "I did...I don't think that's anything to do with my, um..." He gestured, shrugging. "I don't think I can be held responsible for that."

  Liam laughed, shaking his head as he wrapped his fingers around the base of Skye's cock. "Is that my fault, too? More penance, I think, then. I'mjust racking up the sins, it seems."

  Skye opened his mouth to respond, but whatever he'd been about to say flew out ofhis head when, in the next moment, Liam's hot, wet mouth engulfed his cock from base to tip, and Skye almost fell over. Would have, if not for the wall holding him up. God bless the

  wall.He pressed his hands against the wall, panting

  heavily. "Liam, oh... Sir, Liam please, I think...can

  we..."Liam lifted his head, and God, the way his cock slipped out of Liam's mouth with an obscene, wet sound made Skye die inside. It was dirty and sexy and he didn't even know what else... It was alljust so much.

  "Can we what, my own?" Liam's hands started stroking, almost idly, like he couldn't stop himself from touching Skye, making him feel good, even for a few seconds.

  Skye shivered. "I...I think I might fall."He laughed a little because it sounded ridiculous, but it was true. "Can we... My bedroom's right up there, you remember?" He pointed up toward the loft.

  Liam smiled--he had the most beautiful smile--and pushed to his feet. He tugged Skye's pajamas up as he rose and thengrabbed his hand. "I do remember. Come with me, my own. As much as I like the idea of pleasuring you until you can no longer stand, the bed sounds like a better idea."

  Skye wished he hadn't said anything because being pleasured until he couldn't stand? It sounded like a winning plan, to be honest. But they were already halfway up the stairs, and besides...maybe if they were in bed...maybe Liam would stay this time? He remembered waking up the morning after the club and the breath-takingdisappointment at Liam's absence.

  He should get used to it, Skye knew, but he refused to think in terms of failing. His plan was to make Liam fall in love with him, just like Lindy had told him to. He'd for sure never get very far if he spent all his time preparingto fail.

  Bolstered by his internal pep talk, Skye tugged on Liam's hand at the top of the stairs and when Liam turned, he wrapped himself around the other man, kissinghimboldly.

  Liam groaned in response and turned to pin him against the wall. Skye loved how he did that. It was such a controlling move, dominating--it made his knees weaken. Liam took control of the kiss in a heartbeat, and before Skye knew it, his pajama pants were on the floor and his T-shirt was gone, tossed somewhere out of sight. Maybe over the railing... Who knew? Who cared?

  All Skye cared about was the fact he was naked, Liamwas kissing himsenseless and he was pretty sure, even as an inexperienced former virgin, that this was not the reaction of an escort to his client's hurt feelings. Liam cared. He had to. Skye didn't believe for a second that tonight was about anything other than Liam seeking to make amends and apologize in his own way for whatever had caused him to no-show the night before.

  Skye had all kinds of theories about what the reason for the no-show was. Hopeful, probably naïve, crazy theories about feelings and fears and boundaries crossed into dangerous territory. Lindy would say he was a fool. A week ago, he would have agreed. But that was last week.

  This week, there was Liam and everything had changed.

  He laughed breathlessly when Liam broke the kiss and tugged him toward the bed, which Skye wished he'd taken the time to neaten and make presentable beforehand. Well, he hadn't known Liam was coming and it wasn't as if it would stay neat anyway. It was hard to regret anything about his bed when Liam tumbled him down onto it and rocked hard and sultry betweenhis thighs. God, the mandrove himcrazy.

  He was wearing too many damned clothes. Skye tugged and yanked at Liam's T-shirt, raking it up and baring gorgeous, golden skin. Long and lean with muscles deceptively strong. Liam might not be one of those gym bunny types, but Skye liked his leaner, whipcord strong build even more. Far more. Good God, just looking at Liam did things to Skye no one else had ever done.

  The kiss broke and they were both panting. Liam grinned down at him, chuckling while Skye proceeded to yank his T-shirt off over his head. "Impatient little wanton, aren't we?"

  Skye lifted his head and gave his jaw a bite. "It's your fault."

  Liam slid his hand up Skye's side and across his chest, giving his nipple a light twist that sent shivers down Skye's spine. "My fault, is it? What, because I didn't give you your fix last night? Are you becoming a junkie for me, myown?"

  If only Liamknew how true it was. Why bother to deny it? He nodded, arching beneath him, one leg hooked high against Liam's hip. "Didn't you intend that, Sir? It's a shame if you didn't because it's happened." He smiled, sliding both hands down Liam's chest, the crisp dusting of auburn-gold hair tickling his palms. "Now what are you going to do with a junkie on your hands?"

  Liam laughed, rocking his pelvis against Skye, sending a shudder of pleasure rippling through him. "I think I know what to do withyou on my hands, darlin'."

  Ohand God, yes, did he ever.

  Skye's hands slid down between them, fingertips raking over Liam's hard stomach on their way to the button of his jeans. "Then do it," he whispered, arching as he yanked the buttonopen. "Do it..."

  His breath caught when Liam flipped him over, jerking Skye's hips up. His heart thumped heavily, breath fast as he glanced back over his shoulder, watching Liam finish undoing his jeans and shove them down. His cock was so beautiful.

  No such luck, though, because Liam was already tearing open a condom. Skye knew there wasn't going to be any time for lingering foreplay. Not that he minded...it was all a matter of which mind-bending pleasure he got to experience today. There was no lesser-than; it was like getting to have chocolate cake instead of chocolate ice cream. Who'd turn down either? Not Skye.

  "Please...Liam, hurry..." He already was hurrying, but Skye couldn't help the impatience. He blamed it solely on Liam because never before in his life had he been this way. He spent hours on a single math problem; patience had never beenSkye's problem.

  Until Liam, anyway. Liam inspired an impatience in him he hadn't thought he was capable of. It was a craving, a
yearning, and Liam was the only thing that satisfied. Some part of Skye's mind pinged in warning-it was a dangerous man he was addicted to...dangerous to his heart anyway.

  But he didn't listen. He didn't care. Liam was moving over him, holding him close, murmuring sexy, sweet things against his ear and then, oh God, his cock was pushing inside and Skye couldn't think of anything except, Yes, please God, stay there forever. Maybe he would. Maybe wishes weren't childish and stupid and maybe this one would come true.

  His eyes closed with a long, shuddering moan as Liam sank into him, deep and without hesitation. Like Liam owned him. Didn't he? Which Skye found amusing in a distant sort of way, considering that every time they met, Liamwalked out with Skye's cash in his pocket. God, though, Skye would give his entire bank account for the things Liammade himfeel.

  The best part, though, was the feeling Liam would still give him all of this without a dime changing hands. He didn't know why he believed that when logic told him otherwise, but he knew it was true, nonetheless. And honestly...the money part was kind of sexy, in a waySkye hadn't anticipated.

  "You're mine," Liam whispered against his ear on ragged breath. Skye smiled to himself. Liam had no idea, he didn't think, how true it was.

  The devilhad gotteninto him, clearly, because Skye had no other explanation for the way he turned his head, gave Liama tauntinggrin, and said, "Prove it."

  Oh. My. God. Best decisionever.

  Liamgrowled, in the rough, possessive way he had, and his strong hands curled around Skye's wrists, tugging them behind his back so Skye dropped to his chest onthe bed, ass stilllifted highinthe air. His breath caught in his throat as Liamcaged his wrists at the small of his back in one strong hand and the other closed on his hip, holdinghimsteady.

  "You need proof, my own?" Liam's hips snapped hard once, thenagain.

  Skye cried out, hissing through his teeth in pleasure. He shook his head. "No...you're the one who keeps repeatingit, Sir. Do youdoubt it?"