by R. Cayden
They paused, their boots heavy in the track Declan had been cutting through the snow every evening. The house was barely out of sight, but the woods were totally quiet, making it feel like they were far away.
Declan tapped the side of his head. “It’s good to clear out the cobwebs, go for some fresh air. When my uncle and my father were fighting over the family business, going out for a walk in the mountains was one of the only ways I could get myself thinking straight.”
“What were the other ways?” Seb asked.
Declan grinned. “You could probably guess.”
Seb laughed. He felt warm inside of his jacket, and as more snow started to sprinkle down, his worried thoughts really did empty from his mind. Declan had been so insistent on checking with security, Seb wasn’t even worried about their safety.
“It’s a hell of a thing, though,” Declan continued. “Having to turn against your family like that. When my uncle took things in a bad direction, I wasn’t sure, at first, whether I’d be able to stand up to him. And even though I knew there was no other choice, it still hurt like hell to turn my back on someone I cared about.”
Seb stepped closer, craving Declan’s gravity. “I know what you mean. I feel guilty sometimes, having to lie to my father to keep my research safe. But then I remember how happy he is to lie to me, if he thinks it’s going to get him what he wants.”
“You can outsmart your old man, that’s good.” Declan laid his hand on his scarf, and Seb imagined the scar beneath the black fabric. “Just make sure you keep yourself safe, Seb.”
They started walking again, circling back around toward the house. “You still have some family, though? Your nephew?”
“That’s right,” Declan agreed. “And my sister. But we’ve lived on opposite sides of the country so long, I rarely get to see them. I’ve been flying solo for a while now.”
Seb entertained himself with the idea that he and Declan were alike in that way, both nearly on their own in the world. It let him fantasize that their time together could keep going, even after the threats passed and Declan wasn’t working for his father any longer. “Flying solo,” he said. “I’m familiar.”
Declan glanced over his shoulder. “You’re a good-looking guy, Seb. You never have a friend out here? A boyfriend from college?”
Seb laughed. He’d never exactly put himself out there, but neither had anyone really made a move his way. “I’m picky and particular,” he said.
Declan chuckled, his low voice always so pleasing to Seb. “I’m sure you are.”
“What about you?”
“I’m picky, too,” he said, pushing a low-hanging branch out of the way, then holding it back for Seb to pass. “Tequila and a game of poker are better company than most men.” He let the branch swing back, then followed along behind Seb. “Not everyone, though.”
Seb glanced over his shoulder, and when he saw Declan’s cocky grin, he thrilled at the flirtation. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, letting a soft tease enter his voice, too.
“You should.”
They kept on for a while, and when they were nearing the house, Seb slowed his pace and let Declan walk by his side. They swayed back and forth a bit, bumping into each other with their shoulders. When they reached the driveway, Declan paused, then pulled his pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.
Without intending to, Seb frowned slightly. And somehow, Declan caught it.
“What?” he asked. “You don’t like smoking?”
Seb held his hands behind his back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make a face. Smoke isn’t the worst smell in the world, but it’s not exactly my favorite.”
Declan puffed in on the cigarette, then let out a stream of smoke to the side. “Nothing to apologize for. Why don’t you head back inside and warm up? I’ll be back after I finish this.”
Seb nodded, then headed into the house, kicking off his boots and tossing aside with his jacket at the door. Ellie was up, and he took a minute to give her some more water and a treat and to rub his hands on her soft fur. Beneath the down jacket, he had gotten warm on the short hike, and the air felt good on his skin.
The door slammed as Declan came inside. When he rounded the corner, he had the same glow on his skin from the walk as Seb did, and his hair was swooped back like a silver wave.
Seb’s breath caught, and Declan headed straight to him. “Beautiful property, isn’t it?” he asked.
“It is, yeah. Thanks for getting me out there finally.”
Declan took another step closer. He held his gaze steady, and Seb felt hypnotized by his own want and need, and how close Declan was to his fingertips.
“We’ll get you out for walks more regularly,” he said. “It’s good for both of us.”
“Yeah?” Seb asked. He inched himself closer, then placed his hand on Declan’s chest. “That sounds nice.”
Every time they’d hooked up, it had gone the same way. Declan jerked Seb off and pawed at his body while Seb whimpered and moaned with pleasure. Sometimes, Declan would jerk himself, too, but usually he just focused his attention on Seb.
But as much as Seb could appreciate his good fortune, he was growing hungry for something more. The air crisp on his skin, he reached down and trailed his fingers up along Declan’s crotch, tracing the thick bulge in his denim. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to do; he just knew that he wanted to touch Declan again.
Declan groaned quietly, then took Seb’s chin in his fingers. “You like that, Seb?”
Seb whimpered and pressed his hand flat against Declan’s cock. He stiffened with the desire to feel it in his palm and to taste Declan’s tip. “I want it,” he whispered. “Can I have it?”
Declan sucked in a sharp breath. “Yeah,” he said, “you can have it.”
Every other thought emptied out of Seb’s head as he fell to his knees, then pressed his cheek against Declan’s bulge. He’d watched so many videos of men giving each other blowjobs, ever since he was a teenager, but he’d never actually gotten to do it himself.
And always, no matter what, he had imagined himself as the guy giving the blowjob, never the guy leaning back with a groan.
“Fuck,” Declan whispered as Seb tugged at his jeans.
Seb took the cock in his hand and felt how rigid it was when he closed his fingers lightly around the base. When warm breath landed on Declan’s tip, the man twitched, then slammed his hand against the counter to steady himself.
Seb darted his tongue out and began to explore. He danced his lips along Declan’s shaft and kissed at his fat head and licked the pearls of precum out of his slit. He tried different ways of swirling and sucking and moaned when he found the right way to squeeze Declan’s shaft, making the bodyguard’s knees almost buckle.
Lost in the musky taste and the velvet, rigid length, Seb had no idea how much time passed. He just kept softly exploring while Declan made louder and louder grunts, hitting the table and cursing under his breath.
It felt good. It felt so amazingly, illogically good, Seb started to lose his mind over it. He shoved his hand down his pants, but the second he grabbed his own cock, he felt like he was going to spill over the edge. Gripping his base hard instead, he stretched his jaw, then swallowed Declan as far back in his throat as he could manage.
“God, fuck, you’re going to make me shoot my load.” Declan was rocking his hips, his hand tight on Seb’s shoulder.
Seb sucked his lips up the shaft and released it with a pop. “In my mouth,” he gasped. “Please.”
“Fuck,” Declan growled again, then placed his hand lightly on the back of Seb’s head. Seb kissed at his tip, and licked the salty precum from his purple slit, and played lazily with his balls.
“Fuck!” Declan gasped again.
Seb pursed his lips and pressed them down Declan’s length, tight and wet the whole way. Declan’s balls shot up close to his body, and when Seb swirled his tongue, hot, sticky cum sprayed inside his mouth, coating his tongue. He swallowed it i
n gulps as Declan threw his head back with a groan. The world spun, and stars exploded while Seb stroked himself over the edge, spilling load after load onto the floor at Declan’s feet, overcome with the musky taste on his tongue.
When Seb finally managed to pull his lips back, Declan yanked him to his feet. Seb felt the hot stubble on his cheeks as they kissed, wet and hungry.
“Wow,” Seb said with a ragged breath.
“You sure know what you’re doing,” Declan said with a wink. He grabbed a couple of napkins from the counter, then gently wiped Seb’s mouth. “That was something else.”
“It was actually my first time,” Seb said as Declan cleaned them both up. “Should I have told you that first?”
“Fuck. Didn’t realize that. Might have tried to make it more special for you, if you had told me.”
Seb had a sloppy grin on his face, the glow from the orgasm still warming his skin. “That was pretty special,” he said. “Trust me.”
Declan smiled, then pulled him in for another kiss. He went and got them a couple of glasses of water, sliding one across the table as he grabbed the walkie. “It’s Declan,” he said into the static. “Over.”
Seb slowly composed himself. His hands stopped vibrating as he drank the water, and his breath returned to normal. Still, he couldn’t take his eyes off of Declan, standing there with his back straight, so handsome that Seb could barely believe it.
“It’s Declan,” he said again, pushing some buttons that beeped. “Over.”
Declan turned to Seb. His eyebrows were furrowed, worry clouding his face.
“Is something wrong?” Seb asked.
“No answer,” Declan said. “That’s weird.” He crossed to the window, then peered outside. They stood like that for a minute, Declan listening carefully.
“Listen,” Declan said, turning sharply. “We’re going to lock you in the bathroom in my wing for just a minute. It’s the safest place, considering the elevated windows. I doubt there’s anything going on, but I want to be secure, okay?”
Seb nodded as Declan returned to him. “Of course. Whatever you think.” Anxiety spiked up Seb’s spine, but when Declan held his eye and smiled, a shiver of confidence warmed his skin. Seb just knew that there was no way his bodyguard would let him down, the trust between them stronger every day.
“Sit tight, Seb. I’ll be back soon.”
Declan
The second he locked to the door behind him, Declan’s eyes narrowed into slits, and his senses flashed to full attention, the fuzzy pleasure of the orgasm fading. He headed over to the security set, punched a few buttons, and saw exactly what he was afraid he was about to see.
“Damn it,” he cursed, ice chilling his skin. One of the security boxes was quiet and empty, and in the other, he could just see the limp arm of a guard, sprawling out onto the ground.
Some animal part of Declan sniffed the danger in the air. He knew this was different than last time, worse than some local gang without the chops to fight.
But much more than that, it was different than last time because he wasn’t just fighting for some job now or to keep Big Paolo off his back. He was fighting for Seb, and the thought of losing that guy made it impossible for Declan to deny the truth of his feelings.
Guilt gnawed at his guts. If he had let his heart get in the way of his head and taken a blowjob when he should have been focused on Seb’s safety, he’d never forgive himself.
He took a second to ready his Glock, then punched in the emergency code that would let Seb’s father’s team and his contact from Big Paolo both know it was time to act. He then crept down the hall to peer out the front windows. Sure enough, there was a slim row of tracks, hugging the curves in the earth so carefully they were almost invisible. Declan kept his body tight against the wall as he made his way toward Seb’s wing and straight to the lab, the intruders’ point of focus during the last attempt.
This time, he didn’t have the chance to position himself or scope the scene. The second he stepped near the doorway, a shot rang out. Declan felt a flash of pain, fire against his bicep, and he threw himself backward against the wall. Sucking in a breath, he pressed his hand over his arm, wet with blood. It was only a graze, and the shock of it numbed the pain, but the round had done its job and made clear what Declan was dealing with. He heard muffled voices and knew he couldn’t stay in that spot much longer.
But where to go? His instincts tore him between Seb and the laboratory. Seb might well have been safe and running to him would only draw attention, but as Declan gripped his Glock, he wasn’t sure if he had what it took to dive back into the laboratory.
Fuck, he was not planning to die in New York.
Luckily, the creak of a floorboard grabbed his instincts, and without a second to think, Declan dived across the floor and into the laboratory, training his weight toward the sound and knocking a man backward in the process. Grunting, he grabbed the man’s gun as he tumbled, taking position behind a large desk by the entrance. The emergency alarm finally started beeping over the speaker system, arousing Ellie’s barks from Seb’s bedroom, and when a couple of shots rang out, Declan was able to use the noise to position the intruders in his mind.
Instead of launching another offensive, he grabbed the man he had downed by the neck and yanked him close. The man struggled and kicked as Declan tightened his arm around his neck, then jerked him to his feet. With a death grip strong enough to strangle the intruder, Declan held the man like a shield, not leaving more than a stray few inches of himself available to a smart shooter.
Blood dripped down his arm, hitting the wood floor. He was about to pull the kind of stunt he was famous for, but his stomach still twisted tight.
It was always a shot in the dark, whether those plans of his would actually work.
Pressing the Glock straight to the man’s head, he let out a growl. “Tell whoever the fuck is sending you that we’re done with your shit! They mess with me, they mess with Big Paolo, and they mess with Anthony Pierce’s crew, and they mess with the whole Quinn gang.” He cocked the gun, then pressed it harder to the gasping man’s forehead. “Do I need to squeeze this trigger to make my fucking point?” he yelled.
The two people across from him were masked, a woman and a man each with their guns cocked and cases by their sides. They didn’t budge or move but just held their sights on Declan as one impossible second after the next passed.
Declan would never actually shoot the man. He just didn’t have it in him, especially not when the intruder was already choking and sputtering. But the more time passed, the more he realized that the man’s friends might have quicker trigger fingers than he had hoped.
A twitch of the woman’s shoulder was all he needed, and Declan threw himself to the ground just in time to dodge another bullet. He kicked the intruder forward as he released him, light flashing in his eyes. His energy spiking, he flung himself around the desk and returned a few fast shots. A rapid volley of bullets sent him back to hiding, and Declan braced himself under cover while the intruders made their exit. By the time he could poke his head out, the scene was empty.
He grabbed his arm, which was now throbbing with pain, blood leaking through his shirt. Holding his gun in position, he rushed his way to the window, watching as an SUV spun into the driveway and swooped up the intruders. His gun still in position, Declan stumbled back across the mansion, rushing to what truly mattered.
“Seb!” He whispered the name under his breath as he rapped on the bathroom door. “Are you safe?”
“I’m here,” Seb answered, fright edging his voice. “I’m here.”
Declan pressed his hand to the door. He wasn’t ready to open it yet, scared to make Seb even a hair more vulnerable.
“Are you okay?” Seb asked. “Are you injured?”
“I’m fine,” Declan answered, his voice thin. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw the reply to his emergency code, alerting him that local police were on the way.
“Ellie?”
Seb asked, still panicked.
“She’s good,” Declan grunted again. “Safe in your bedroom.”
Declan kept his hand pressed to the door, sensing Seb on the other side. The best thing was to wait until the backup arrived and to assess the situation from there.
For now, all that mattered was their safety and that Seb knew he wasn’t alone.
* * *
SEBASTIAN
The police didn’t leave until late that evening, and even then, they kept a couple officers posted outside. Seb was shaken, of course, and every now and then he still chilled with dread or jumped with panic out of nowhere. But thankfully, with a pill and a glass of wine, the worst of it had passed.
“Your father sure did find new guards quickly,” Declan said. He was standing at the tall laboratory windows, his hands folded behind his back as he stared over the trees, and skepticism dripped from his voice.
“Like I said,” Seb answered, “he waves his hand and things happen. I’m just glad no one died.” Another shiver hit his skin at the thought of it. Both of the on-duty guards had been injured, which was bad enough. Had something worse happened, Seb would have fallen apart.
Declan stalked slowly along the windows, peering over the property. “Sure. I’d still like to run some background checks on these new hires, though. Something here isn’t adding up, and I’m not sure your father’s assistants are paying enough attention to keep things secure.”
Seb nodded, but when he caught the scowl on his face, he cleared his throat. “The police are still here,” he said. “I’m sure you can take a break from watching.” He agreed that something wasn’t adding up, but the need to touch Declan was trumping any other concerns he might have at the moment.
Declan shook his head, then looked back just long enough for a glance. “Better safe than sorry,” he grumbled.
Seb returned to the task in front of him. The people had grabbed some equipment on their way and ripped apart a couple of cabinets. The mess made Seb’s stomach churn, and trying to recall what all was stolen was giving him a headache.
