He nods, looking down at the ground. “I wish they could’ve met you.”
I push off my car to step up to him and wrap my fingers around his wrist before I remember the paparazzi could be lurking out here somewhere. I let go and shove my hands in my pockets. “I wish I could’ve met them, too.”
When Merrick meets my gaze, his eyes roam my face for a few seconds before he says, “Do you still want to come to my hotel room?”
I study his beautiful face, my eyes tracing invisible lines over his cheekbones and angular jaw. His perfect lips call to mine, and the intense look in his narrowed eyes plead for me to say yes.
Why this god-like man wants me, I’ll never know. Not only is he handsome enough to get anyone he wants, he’s rich and famous. He’s everybody’s wet dream, but he’s here in this small town doing everything he can to prove to me he wants me.
As perfect as someone can seem, there’s always more. Me and Merrick have history, and it hasn’t always been good. We’ve had tough times. We’ve had fights. I’ve been angry and annoyed. But I’ve also been the happiest I’ve ever been when I’ve been with him. Our good times outweigh the bad, and isn’t that what love and relationships are all about? You’ll never have perfection a hundred percent of the time, but you have to decide if that person is still worthy of your time and affection in spite of whatever negatives there might be.
Will I be wasting my time and setting myself up for disappointment again? Or will things turn out okay? At this point, it’s hardly a question. Merrick fucking Kingston will always own my heart. He might as well tattoo his name across it, because I’ll never find anyone who makes me feel the way he does.
“Yes.”
29
Merrick
Present Day
At the hotel, I do my best to appear cool, calm, and collected, however I’m anything but. My heart thrashes against my ribs, and my cock and my brain are working together, because the second me and Ali are behind closed doors my dick thinks it’s time to get hard. But in defense of my dick, I’ve been thinking about fucking Ali for a long time.
“I’m gonna shower,” I say, gesturing with my thumb to the room behind me. “There’s another shower in the other room if you want to as well.”
“Uh, yeah, okay,” Ali replies, seemingly as nervous as me.
“Oh, I can give you fresh clothes, so you don’t have to put those back on.” I head to my room and grab a shirt, some boxers, and a pair of shorts. “Here,” I say, handing them to him when I get back to the living room area of the suite.
“Thanks.”
Fifteen minutes later, I step out of the bathroom wearing only a towel around my waist. I drop into a chair in the corner, needing a few minutes to collect myself. Just because Ali decided to come with me doesn’t mean we’re going to have sex. I shouldn’t expect that, and honestly, I’m happy he decided to come at all. We could watch TV, eat some food, and maybe if I’m lucky he’ll let me kiss him again. It’s only been five years.
Ali knocks on my partially open door before stepping inside. He’s only wearing the boxers I gave him, and my cock stirs to life under the towel as I study his near naked body.
His flawless brown skin glistens with remnants of shower water. Ali’s body is perfect. He’s cut without being too bulky. His abs are well-defined, and his chest has a dusting of hair across it that screams for my hands to touch.
“Hey.” My voice comes out breathier than I intended.
Ali slowly walks toward me, his eyes perusing my bare torso. “Hey,” he replies.
I stand up. “Did you need different clothes?”
He shakes his head and comes to a stop directly in front of me. “I’ve been dying to touch you, but we’re always in public.”
Before I can say anything, he reaches out and places his hands on my chest before letting them travel lower.
I gulp and lick my lips. “I don’t want you to think we have to do anything.”
“Merrick?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
This is the moment I’ve been waiting five years for. I’ve dreamt about this. I’ve thought about how it would feel to have his lips on mine again, and now it’s here. I have to take my time and enjoy it. I don’t know what’s going to happen later, but this has to be perfect.
I close the distance between us, bringing us chest to chest as I softly caress his cheek before cradling the back of his head and threading my fingers through his wet hair.
Angling my head down and to the side, I press my lips against his in a series of soft kisses. I bring my other hand to his lower back because I’m desperate to touch him, and then I lick the seam of his lips. Ali parts them, allowing me access.
My tongue softly dances across his, and when he moans I release my own. Ali’s arms connect around the back of my neck, and because I’m in no mood to rush, I languidly enjoy exploring his mouth with my tongue.
My pulse races, and soon, our soft and sensual kiss begins to turn frenzied. His tongue dips into my mouth and twirls around mine as one of his hands travels down and rests on my ass. I arch my back and let him feel what he’s doing to me.
Ali moans into my mouth, and I pull away just slightly, enough to bite his full bottom lip before swiping my tongue across it.
I bury my face in his neck and pepper kisses down to his shoulder, then work back up to his cheek. After tightening my grip in his hair, I tug, yanking his head back so I can lick and kiss the hollow of his throat.
Ali takes over and brings both hands to my face and forces his lips against mine. We kiss for another long minute before we pull apart, breathless.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long,” I say, pressing my thumb to his swollen lips. “You have no idea how many nights I went to bed thinking about your mouth.”
He twirls his tongue around my thumb before releasing it. “I hope it was worth the wait.”
I rest my hands on his hips. “So much better,” I reply with a smirk. “You’ve always been so skilled with your mouth.”
Ali’s fingers dip inside the towel. “Oh yeah?”
I tilt my head back and groan. “You’re not gonna believe me, but I actually didn’t expect anything to happen, so I don’t have lube or condoms up here.”
“Then I can just use my skilled mouth,” he says without missing a beat, loosening the towel.
I bite down on my lip and stare into his whiskey-colored eyes. “It’s been a long time, don’t show off too much or I won’t last long. Also, don’t worry, I’m clean.”
Ali nods slightly, walking me back to the chair. He yanks the towel off my waist and pushes me into the soft cushions. “Just sit back and enjoy.”
He lowers himself to his knees and settles between my thighs. His large hands travel from my knees to my hips before he brings his right hand to grip the base of my cock. Torturously slow, he moves his fist up and down the length of me.
Our eyes connect before he parts his lips and sucks the tip into his mouth.
I throw my head back. “Fuck!”
He moans and twirls his tongue around my crown before taking me deeper. His hand continues to jack me slowly while he teasingly tastes the pre-cum leaking from my slit, then he swallows me whole again.
Ali’s free hand finds my balls and massages them gently while he keeps that talented mouth wrapped around me.
“Fuck, baby,” I moan, leaning forward to push a few strands of hair out of his face.
His cheeks hollow as he sucks me deep. When he frees my cock from his mouth, he moves lower and licks my balls while stroking me.
“Holy shit,” I breathe.
I wasn’t lying when I said it had been a while. I already feel like I’m about to combust.
His tongue licks a path back up my shaft until I’m fully enveloped between his lips. He goes to work, stroking and sucking me, his pace quickening.
As much as I want to come, I need him to come, too. I need to see it. I can’t be the
only one who’s getting something out of this.
“Baby,” I whisper.
I don’t know if he can hear me, or if he’s choosing to ignore me, but I try again.
“Ali, baby. Please.”
He pulls off me and his lust-filled gaze meets mine.
“Come to the bed with me.”
I stand up and pull him to his feet before bringing him to the bed. I quickly push the boxers down and he kicks them to the side.
His erection is thick, the veins protruding on each side.
Without thinking, I reach out and grab a hold of it. The heated flesh is rigid and velvety soft in my grip.
Ali gasps. “Shit.”
“Get on the bed,” I tell him.
He obeys, quickly laying on his back. I climb onto the large bed and lie on my side, my face near his cock. Ali shifts to his side and takes my shaft in his hand.
I lean in and lick around his cockhead, causing him to gasp just as he puts me in his mouth. We spend the next couple minutes tasting each other, but I can’t hold out any longer. Next time I’ll be sure to enjoy the feel of his cock in my mouth, but he’s already brought me right to the edge of orgasmic bliss.
I jack his cock harder and faster, and he mimics my moves.
“Fuck,” I grunt. “I’m about to. . .”
I release his cock so I don’t squeeze it too hard when I come. My body tenses up and then I have the strongest orgasm I’ve had in a long fucking time.
Ali’s free hand strokes his cock as he swallows down everything I have to give him.
“Oh shit,” he grunts, releasing me just as cum shoots from his cock and lands partially on him and the blanket. I quickly bring my mouth to the tip and catch the rest.
“Mm,” I moan.
“Fuck.”
We both flop onto our backs, completely spent, trying to catch our breath. When I finally get up, I see a small amount of cum on Ali’s hip.
“You’ve always been so messy,” I tease, straddling his legs.
He glances down at me and I lick it up. A sinful moan leaves his lips. “But you love cleaning my messes up.”
I continue to crawl over him, my semi-hard cock against his. “I do.”
Ali grins and runs his hands up my arms. “Disgusting perv.”
I slip my tongue between his lips and taste myself on his tongue while allowing him to do the same to me.
“You’re fucking right about that.”
30
Alejandro
Present Day
“So, you look. . .pleased,” Jordy sings.
“Pleased?” I choke out a laugh. “Do you mean happy?”
He grins. “No, I mean it looks like you’ve been pleasured recently.”
I nearly spit out my water. “What? I look like I always do.”
“Sure. Where have you been lately? I’ve stopped by a couple times throughout the week, but you haven’t been here.”
“So why didn’t you text me?”
“It’s not about that,” he says, swiping his hand through the air. “You’ve been with Merrick, haven’t you?”
“Well, we’re friends, so yeah.”
“Oh, now you’re friends.”
“Shut up. Why are you here anyway? Just to give me a hard time?”
“Oh honey, I’m not the one giving you a hard anything.”
I put my water bottle down on the counter and narrow my eyes at him. “You’re annoying.”
He smiles. “I know. Now tell me what’s going on with you and Merrick.”
I turn my back to him and pretend I’m busy washing a cup in the sink. “Nothing.”
Jordy gasps dramatically, hurrying into the kitchen to tug on my arm. “Oh my God, you did it.”
I hope I don’t look as flushed as I feel. “I didn’t do it, Jordy. And what are we? Ten?”
“Is his cock ten inches? Because that’s all I care about.”
I bark out a laugh, then pin my lips together. “You’re crazy.”
He pouts. “I just want the juicy details.”
The truth is, we haven’t done anything more than what we did in his hotel five days ago. Have we talked? Yes, we talk on the phone all the time. We text, we flirt, we tease each other. It’s been fairly normal. We’ve hung out at my mom’s house once, but his bandmates came into town two days ago and he’s been busy with them.
He hasn’t brought up when he’s going to tell them he’s gay, and I haven’t asked. I’m not going to be the one to pressure him into it. This is just another thing he’s going to have to do on his own.
“Fine. Don’t tell me,” Jordy huffs. “Just be careful.”
“Careful?” I question.
“Don’t get your hopes up. He may not come out and things might not work for you two.”
I furrow my brow. “Why do you say that?”
Jordy grins. “I knew he was gay, and you just confirmed it.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. I already told him you know.”
He looks surprised, but he just says, “Anyway, I say it because it’s true. I’m not saying that to be mean, honey. I’ve been with my fair share of guys who want to suck a dick behind closed doors but aren’t willing to hold your hand in public. It sucks.”
“He told his brothers.”
“That’s good,” he says with a nod.
“He said he’s going to tell his bandmates, and they’re in town now, so he’s taking the steps.”
“Then I hope he does it, and I hope it works out well for him. He deserves to be happy just like anyone else.”
“You don’t think he’ll come out, do you?”
“Publicly?” He shrugs. “Not sure. It’s a mean world, and it takes a lot of courage to be authentically yourself, especially when you’re such a public figure.”
“I’m holding out hope.”
Jordy squeezes my shoulder and gives me a sad smile. “I hope it works out.” He straightens up and glances at his phone. “You gonna hang out with us this weekend?”
A knock on my door keeps me from answering. When I pull it open, I’m surprised to see Merrick on my doorstep.
“Hey.”
He smiles wide and steps forward, and before it happens, I can tell he’s going to lean in for a kiss.
I step back and say, “Jordy’s here.”
Merrick straightens up and looks past me, finding Jordy settling himself on the barstool and waving with a grin on his lips.
“Hey, Jordy,” Merrick greets with a nod.
Then he grips my hip and leans in and kisses me anyway. “Missed you,” he growls in my ear.
My body is on fire as I close the door.
“I didn’t mean to ruin any plans,” he says, sauntering into the living room.
“Um, no. I. . .we didn’t have plans. Jordy just shows up.”
Jordy looks like the cat that ate the canary. “Well, my best friend disappeared on me for a while. I had to check in and make sure things were okay.”
Merrick grins. “He’s been with me, so you can rest assured he’s been taken care of.”
“Mm. Seems like it.” Jordy hops off the stool. “Well, it’s really good to see you, Merrick. I was inviting Alejandro to come out with us this weekend. Do you want to join us?”
Merrick glances at me for a second before shrugging. “Sure. I’m down.”
“Great!” Jordy exclaims, heading for the door. “Talk to you both soon.”
Once he’s gone, I walk toward Merrick. “You kissed me.”
“I did.”
“In front of someone.”
“It’s not like he doesn’t know.”
“I know, but. . .”
“I missed you,” he says with a crooked grin.
I roll my eyes. “It’s only been a day and a half.”
“Way too long if you ask me.”
“How’s things going with the guys?”
Merrick sits in the middle of the couch. “Good. Sky’s already ready to leave,” he says with a chuckle. “
We got together and talked about what each of us have been working on. Well, it’s mostly me and Sky who do the writing. We’ve already put music to one of the songs. A rough draft, but still.”
I nod. “That’s good.”
The silence between us stretches. He knows I’m curious if he’s said anything to them, but the fact that he hasn’t told me he has lets me know it just hasn’t happened yet.
“How long are they going to be in town for?”
“A couple more days, probably. I mean, we’re still not required to be anywhere right now, so they can always come back.”
He shoots me a nervous look, like he’s hoping I don’t question when he’s going to tell them, and fear settles in my stomach.
Merrick may never be ready, and while it’s upsetting for me, I feel even more sad for him, because he’ll never be able to live his life the way he wants.
31
Merrick
Present Day
“Are you sure we should be here?” Ali asks for the second time, glancing around.
I lean back in the booth and smirk. “You’d think you were the famous one.”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”
“It’s my brother’s bar. He’s not gonna let anything get out of control, plus it’s not even that busy yet,” I say, inspecting the room.
“It’s Friday, it’s bound to get busy.”
“So? We’re just hanging out. Those two guys over there are hanging out,” I say, gesturing to two older guys at the bar.
“Yeah, but I can’t get what Jordy said out of my head. I wonder if people look at us and know we’re not just friends.”
I bite down on my bottom lip and smirk, leaning forward. “If we’re not just friends, what are we?”
Ali points at me. “See. That’s what I’m talking about. If anybody saw the look you just gave me, they’d know something.”
I sit back again. “Fine, I won’t look at you like I want to devour you, but know I do.”
“When are we gonna be alone again?” he asks quietly.
Risking it All: An M/M, rockstar, second chance romance (Kingston Brothers Book 4) Page 12
