Open Wounds: The Boxed Set

by Michelle Frost

  Theo’s eyes widened with surprise for a split second before his gaze softened. “You know you don’t have to take care of me, right? I’m a big boy. I can handle calling a Lyft when I need one.”

  Doing his absolute best not to bristle, Harbor huffed, “It just might have been nice to know my boyfriend spent the day flying all over the country. I know you don’t need me to take care of you. A ride from the airport doesn’t really qualify anyway.”

  “Okay,” Theo said, leaning back in to kiss Harbor again. “I’m sorry I didn’t text you. It all happened pretty quickly, and I knew you were doing family stuff today.”

  “Are you just saying that to shut me up?” Harbor asked, the tension from a moment ago draining out of him.

  “Absolutely not.” Theo winked at him.

  Harbor narrowed his eyes with a growl. He pulled the bag from Theo’s shoulder and let it drop to the porch as he spun them, pressing Theo’s back against his mom’s front door and claiming his lips in a demanding kiss.

  “Fuck yes,” Theo mumbled before tilting his head and sliding his tongue against Harbor’s.

  Harbor pulled back a moment later and drank in the sight of Theo’s face, happy to see that the bruises from the fight were healing well, but noticing there was a tightness around his eyes that hadn’t been there five days ago. “You okay?”

  Theo nodded, letting his head fall to Harbor’s shoulder. Harbor wrapped his arms around his lover and held on tight. “Theo?”

  “I’m good, Blondie. Just tired and ready for some home cookin.” Lifting his head, Theo kissed him again. “How are you? Other than irritated with your boyfriend?”

  Harbor let his eyes roam Theo’s face and down his body, from the maroon shirt that looked so good against his dark skin down to the worn jeans clinging to his legs and hips. He was tempted to drag him off the porch, settle them both on his Harley, and head directly home. His mom would kill him. It was barely enough reason to stay his hand. “Noticed that, did you? Afraid it’s going to take me a minute to figure out how to be good at it.”

  Theo gave a barely there shake of his head. “We’re in the same boat there. Guess we’ll have to figure it out together. How’s training?”

  “Good. I’m still sore. Rory wouldn’t let me have more than a couple days off.”

  “He’s a bit of hard ass, huh?” Theo let his hand trace down Harbor’s chest and stomach. “Can’t say I’m sorry about the results though.” Theo’s voice was teasing, but there was a tension in his body that Harbor had never encountered. Maybe his wounds were still bothering him? Or Harbor really fucked up with his questions.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  Theo’s dark eyes met his, and for a split second he thought he saw something there, some shadow he couldn’t name. “Positive.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I blocked off my whole morning for you tomorrow, Theo,” Ollie said from where he sat to Theo’s left around the large outdoor table on Stella Rourke’s back deck. A deep orange stripe on the horizon was all that was left of the setting sun. Long shadows stretched from the house and the trees as the lights set in the pathways of Stella’s rose garden and around the deck took over illuminating their party. They’d all stuffed themselves with the delicious offerings from Stella’s kitchen and the grill and now lounged back in the brightly cushioned chairs enjoying a reasonably cool late August evening.

  Theo smiled at the tattoo artist he already considered a friend. “Thanks, man. I’m not up for any real training, yet, so I figure another healing wound won’t hinder my schedule too much.”

  “You looked pretty spry in that salmon ladder video you posted yesterday,” Rory commented, taking a drink of his beer. The boisterous Scot seemed unusually subdued that evening, and Theo wasn’t sure why. Maybe he was just projecting. He could feel Harbor’s assessing gaze on him every time he thought Theo wasn’t looking. He wasn’t sure why he didn’t want to share the shitstorm he’d gone home to at the beginning of the week. That was a lie. He didn’t want to share because he’d never had anyone to share with, and it seemed like such a foreign concept now that he wasn’t even sure where to begin. And he really just wanted to enjoy himself, here in this moment, with his boyfriend’s family. Unreal.

  “I might have been a little ambitious with that. It totally kicked my ass,” Theo grimaced. “I’m still paying for it today.”

  “You’ve been using the bruise salve I gave you?” Stella asked, leaning forward to prop her arms on the table, voice full of motherly concern. Stella had been nothing but wonderful to him from the moment Harbor introduced them. It was obvious she loved her sons.

  “I have. Thank you.” He smiled at her, and she reached across Ollie and Dagen to squeeze his arm.

  “You just let me know when you need some more,” Stella said before rising. “I’m going to go grab dessert. Magnus, will you come give me a hand?”

  “Sure thing, Mom,” the other dark-haired Rourke brother answered as he pushed back from the table. Magnus’s welcome had been just as warm as everyone else’s, but Theo hadn’t gotten the chance to really speak to the bar owning brother of the family. Theo watched him excuse himself to follow Stella, only to catch Rory’s gaze as he darted his eyes to Magnus before dropping them like he’d looked at something he ought not to.

  Puzzled, Theo kept the observation to himself, letting the light conversation happening around the table wash over him as his gaze settled on the gardens occupying the back half of the lawn. The pang in his heart was instant, an image of the flower beds left unattended in his own lawn clouding his mind. Thinking of them as his own, and not Helen’s, wasn’t a leap he’d been able to make until he’d opened the certified letter he’d received upon returning from Vegas contesting Helen’s will. Namely, her decision to leave the house to him. He couldn’t even say that he was surprised. Getting the call that Helen had passed, and he was her beneficiary? That had been shocking. Finding out that her brother disagreed? Not at all.

  Harbor’s fingers grazed his arm and he smiled. Their gazes met and held, the last of the dying light leaving deep shadows in the concaves beneath Harbor’s cheek bones and under his eyes. It made him look severe, like a statue of some Viking god had been turned to flesh and bone, but there was warmth in the blue eyes holding Theo captive—stirring his blood and stopping his breath when Harbor leaned in.

  “Want to go smell the roses instead of just looking at them?” Harbor asked quietly, eyes dropping to Theo’s mouth.

  Theo nodded, and they rose from the table and walked back to disappear among the tall rows of rose bushes lining stone paths and creating a mini labyrinth for them to explore. Theo marveled that even this late in what had been a truly hot summer, the blooms were vivid and healthy, perfuming the air around them.

  “They’re beautiful,” he said, stopping to smell the flowers of a section filled with colors ranging from pink to lavender.

  Harbor hummed his agreement before sliding behind Theo, wrapping his arms around Theo’s waist, and settling his chin on his shoulder. “They are. Mom and Dagen really get into all the gardening stuff.” He chuckled. “I think they’ve got Ollie and Niko both on the bandwagon now, too.”

  “It’s nice,” Theo said, swallowing. There was a part of him that was screaming to confide in Harbor. To tell him about the meeting with his lawyer, about what his life had been like before he was an Instagram celebrity and MMA fighter. He’d never been good at this. Life had taught him to keep things close to his chest and the important things even closer.

  “You know,” Harbor said, voice low and beard grazing Theo’s ear and neck. “We could skip dessert and go back to my place. There’s a pint of ice cream in my freezer, and a bed that needs your naked body in it.”

  Theo couldn’t stop the shudder that rocked him. “You had me at ice cream.”

  Harbor pushed open the door to his second-floor apartment and flicked on the light. He was still smiling to himself at Theo’s incredulous expression whe
n he’d handed him his motorcycle helmet and told Theo to climb on. What had followed was the most pleasant ride he’d ever had on the fifteen-minute journey from his mom’s driveway to his own. Theo’s warm body had pressed solidly against his back with the V of his legs cradling Harbor’s hips. He was half-hard thinking about how he couldn’t wait to get back between them.

  Turning back to the door, he watched Theo walk in, dark eyes glancing over everything, and he felt a tendril of nerves. This was another first for him. Other than his family, he’d never brought anyone here and as such, had never had reason to consider what someone else might see when they looked around. The main living space had vaulted ceilings and was divided in half; living room with a sliding glass door for the balcony on one side and kitchen and dining area on the other. A hallway led back to one bedroom, one bath, and a couple large closets, one of which held his washer and dryer.

  The walls were the same white they’d been when he first rented the place. A dark, overstuffed leather couch and recliner were situated on plush gray carpet pointing toward the entertainment center in his living room. It was plain, he supposed, but it was home. He kicked off his shoes on the mat by the door, and Theo did the same.

  “You want the tour?” Harbor asked.

  Theo dropped his bag beside his shoes and slid his arms around Harbor’s neck. “Only if it starts and stops in your bed.” Theo’s lips brushed his as he spoke, and whatever nerves he’d been feeling vanished.

  Their mouths met in a clash of tongues and teeth, any thought of sweet and slow abandoning him now that he had Theo alone and clinging to him. He walked them backward before growling at their too slow pace and taking Theo’s hand to lead him into the bedroom. A queen-sized bed and a night stand were the only pieces of furniture in the room. Harbor dropped Theo’s hand long enough to pull the covers off the bed, letting them fall to the floor, and clicking the little lamp on the night stand on, filling the room with a soft glow. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Theo shedding his clothes and grinned, reaching to pull his own shirt off.

  “Do you have lube?” Theo asked, reaching to unbutton Harbor’s jeans. Theo’s bare cock brushed Harbor’s still clothed thigh and he groaned. There was something so sexy about Theo standing there bare while he was still mostly dressed.

  Theo chuckled. “Earth to Harbor? Lube? Condoms?”

  His eyes snapped up to Theo’s. He was struck with the feeling that he was somehow out of his depth. This wasn’t a hook-up, wasn’t a one-more-time, and it sounded like Theo was ready to go further than they’d gone before. This was his boyfriend. He was amazed how baffled it still left him that he was really in a relationship with this beautiful man.

  Reaching up, he gently cradled Theo’s face in his hands before brushing their lips together and dipping his tongue inside. The kiss was slow and searching, a halting moment of clarity before the fire they’d started to stoke grew out of control. They were here together and really doing this. Harbor needed to take a moment to let that cement in his mind.

  Theo’s hands gripped his waist, strong fingers digging into the muscles along his sides and as quickly as the urgency of before had abated it was back. Theo pushed Harbor’s jeans and underwear down before laying him back on the bed and covering Harbor’s body with his own.

  Kissing his way down Harbor’s neck and chest, Theo stopped to suck first one and then the other nipple into his mouth until they were hardened nubs and Harbor moaned. His dick was hard and leaking against his belly when Theo finally took mercy on him, sliding down and sucking him to the back of his throat in one fell swoop.

  All the air punched out of Harbor’s lungs, and his hips would have jumped off the bed if not for Theo’s strong hands holding his thighs. Theo gave him several more hard sucks, then pulled off and climbed back up to claim Harbor’s mouth.

  “Now, lube? Condoms?” Theo’s smirk was smug and completely justified.

  Harbor gave a breathless chuckle. “How can you expect me to think after that?”

  Theo’s response was to lower his hips and drag his own hard length against Harbor’s, causing a whole new round of moans.

  “Everything’s in the night stand, bottom drawer, but Theo...” Harbor didn’t know how to go about this next part. He didn’t want to deny Theo anything, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to bottom. He’d only done it the one time, years ago, and it had not ended well.

  Theo must have felt him tense because he stopped stretching, trying to reach the drawer without moving off Harbor, and looked down into his eyes. The question was there, but Theo didn’t say anything. There was no pressure in his gaze, only patience and a startling amount of affection.

  “I don’t know if…” He had to stop and swallow. “I’m not ready to bottom.”

  Theo’s smile was small as he settled easily back on top of Harbor and kissed him. “So, you won’t mind if I ride you then?”

  Harbor actually felt the air stutter in his lungs. “Fuck.”

  Theo’s answering smile was wicked, and he leaned over again, reaching for the bedside drawer. The movement put the broad expanse of his chest directly above Harbor’s face and he took full advantage, running the flat of his tongue over a dark nipple before latching on and sucking hard. Theo shuddered on top of him, and Harbor wrapped an arm around his waist to keep him where he was. He grazed the pebbled peak with his teeth and felt Theo’s dick jump between them. “How did I not know these are so sensitive?” he asked into the dip between Theo’s pecs before rubbing his bearded cheek over one nipple and then the other.

  “Fuck, Harbor...We’re not going to need a damn condom if you keep that up.”

  “We have time, you know,” Harbor said, still holding Theo captive and teasing his chest with his tongue.

  Theo stilled above him before scooting down enough that he could see Harbor’s face. “I know, but I’ve wanted,” he reached down and gripped Harbor’s leaking cock with a sure hand, “this in me from pretty much the first moment I saw you. Feel free to tease all you want, but can you fuck me while you do it?”

  Harbor’s laugh turned into a groan as Theo gave him a firm stroke, then released him to pull the drawer open and root around until he found his prize. He sat back up, straddling Harbor’s waist with his perfect ass pressing down on his dick, and suddenly, Harbor was sure he’d be the one to blow before he’d even had the chance to slip inside Theo’s beautiful body.

  Ripping the condom open with his teeth, Theo smirked down at him, like he knew exactly the effect he was having, and slid backward taking the pressure off Harbor’s cock only to grip it so he could roll the condom down over him. He moved back up over Harbor’s waist and popped the top on the lube while holding out his hand. “Give me your hand.”

  Harbor immediately complied, and Theo coated both their fingers in lube before reaching behind himself and slathering what was on his hand onto the condom. Rising up on his knees, he looked down at Harbor with an arched brow.

  Harbor sucked in a breath and slid his hand under Theo’s raised body, running one lubed finger over the soft skin behind Theo’s balls back to the puckered rim of his entrance. Theo shuddered above him. Harbor had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.

  “Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” he panted, letting that finger massage Theo’s hole until Theo started to move with it and the tip slipped in. Theo hummed his approval and Harbor let it slide in all the way, relishing in the silken heat of Theo’s inner walls. He stroked gently, in and out, searching until Theo panted at him to add another.

  As soon as Harbor did, Theo braced his hands on Harbor’s chest and started rocking his hips back and forth, riding Harbor’s fingers like they were a cock, and Harbor nearly lost himself all over again. Gently, he crooked the fingers Theo had taken control of and watched his lover falter in the rhythm he’d set.

  “Oh fuck,” Theo hissed and lifted up. “I’m ready. I need you now.” Even as he said it, he leaned down capturing Harbor’s lips, thrusting his tongue inside.
Harbor returned the kiss with fervor, pulling his hand from between them to skate both his palms down Theo’s back, gentling over the rough patches still left from the fight, to grip the firm ass he’d soon be buried inside.

  “I need you too,” Harbor breathed into his mouth, massaging the muscle in his hands and nipping at Theo’s full lips. Their eyes met and held for a moment and Theo smiled. It was soft, a slow lift at the corner of his mouth, but it swelled in Harbor’s chest, filling him to the brim with things he thought he’d never feel.

  Going back up to his knees, Theo reached behind himself, gripping Harbor and leading him to his entrance. Watching Theo impale himself, completely unselfconscious with his straining cock dripping pre-cum and eyes closed in bliss, was the most erotic experience of Harbor’s life. He fought to keep his eyes open, not wanting to miss a moment, even as his sensitive flesh was wrapped in the perfect tunnel of Theo’s body. When Theo’s ass rested flush on Harbor’s hips they both stilled, letting the sensation of being joined wash through them.

  Theo looked down at him, a fond smirk on his face. “You still with me?” His voice was breathy, and Harbor noticed his erection had softened a bit from penetration.

  “I’m with you,” he said, taking Theo in hand and stroking him from root to tip.

  Theo gasped and gripped Harbor’s hand to still him. “It’s not going to take much,” he said, raising up and lowering back down, making Harbor moan and Theo chuckle. “For either of us, I guess.”

  “Stop laughing at me,” Harbor panted, watching Theo move. “God damn, your ass is amazing.”

  Theo went from a chuckle to full on belly laugh and Harbor groaned.

  “Asshole.” Harbor attempted to growl, but it came out more like a whimper, and deciding he’d had enough of Theo’s teasing, he braced his feet on the bed and thrust up.

  “Oh fuck.” Theo tipped forward, catching himself on Harbor’s chest before rocking back. They fell into a rhythm, one thrusting up, the other sliding down–moving together like they’d done this a million times. Sweat dripped from Theo’s chin as he panted, and Harbor could feel Theo’s ass clenching around him. Gripping Theo’s cock, he stroked in time with his thrusts until Theo clamped down on him like a vise and painted Harbor’s chest with his cum. Harbor shot a moment later, milked by the spasms still rocking through Theo as he came down from his orgasm.