The water shut off and the swish of the shower curtain rings sliding over the bar brought a smile to Theo’s face. He gave Harbor another minute before he invaded and stopped short at the sight when he did. Harbor was facing the vanity, blond hair slicked back, and a thin towel wrapped low on his hips. Bright blue eyes met Theo’s in the mirror as Harbor’s lips pulled up in a smirk.
“Something catch your eye, Theodore?”
Theo groaned and pressed himself all along Harbor’s back, letting his morning erection settle in the cradle of Harbor’s ass. Thrusting lazily, Theo let his chin rest on Harbor’s shoulder and brought his hands around to play at the edge of the towel right where it was tucked over his happy trail. “Good morning.”
Harbor chuckled. “Someone certainly thinks it’s a good morning.”
Theo lifted an eyebrow. “And someone else doesn’t?” He skated one of his hands down to slide over Harbor’s towel covered erection.
Harbor pressed against his hand for a moment before grabbing Theo’s wrist. “As much as I would love to follow this to its conclusion, I’m afraid we can’t.”
“Can’t? You don’t think we can knock out a quickie before we have to leave?”
With a grin, Harbor turned around in Theo’s arms, only to pause like he had so many times in the last week when his eyes landed on Theo’s still healing wounds. Bringing his hands up, he gently cradled Theo’s face and pressed the lightest kiss against the bruise. “You’re cute when you pout.”
“I’m cute all the time,” Theo said, hands coming up to grip Harbor’s wrists. “I’d be cuter if you’d stop handling me like glass, though.”
Harbor had the decency to look guilty as he dropped his hands. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Theo decided they needed to hash this out and asserted himself firmly between Harbor’s legs, pressing him back against the edge of the sink. “I know this,” he pointed at his face, “has you in knots, but baby you have got to let it go. I’m a big, strong, grown ass man who willingly gets hit in the face on a very regular basis. And now that I’m saying this, I realize maybe my defense could use some work, but Harbor—”
Harbor kissed him. Full on the mouth. The pressure stung and pulled his lip, and he fucking loved it. Pressing forward, he thrust his tongue between Harbor’s lips, delving deep and relishing in the taste and feel of Harbor kissing him back without restraint.
Panting, Harbor pulled back, gripping the sides of Theo’s face. “My head knows that, okay?” Harbor lowered his eyes. “But knowing and accepting are two different things, and the rest of me hasn’t figured out how to stomach that it was me that hurt you.”
“But you’re working on it?”
Harbor let out a breath. “I am.”
“You know if we win these next fights…” Theo let his voice trail off. When the fight card was announced last week, he hadn’t missed the relief that had flashed across Harbor’s face when he saw that they were each slated to fight someone else. But this was the semi-final, and winning this time meant making it to the final fight. He wanted to crack a joke about him punching Harbor in the face so they’d be even and could move on, but the look on Harbor’s face stopped that thought. “What happens when it’s down to me and you?”
Harbor let his hands skim down Theo’s shoulders to slip under his arms and settle around his waist. “Then we’ll fight.”
“And you’re going to be able to do that?” Theo tried to pull back, but Harbor latched on to his hips. “I won’t settle for anything less than one hundred percent from you, Harbor. Don’t you fucking dare think of shaming me by holding back.”
“Theo—”
“No. You promise me right now. Whatever this guilt is or whatever has you trippin’…you need to stuff it down. We are the same, you and me. We both know the score.”
Harbor squared his shoulders. The bright blue of his eyes hardened as he spoke. “You’re right. I know you are. I didn’t know it was going to be like this. I’ve never stood in the cage with someone I felt like this about. Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this period, but I promise…if it’s down to you and me, you’re going to get it all. I won’t hesitate as long as you promise the same.”
“I promise,” Theo whispered, heart too full for words, as he leaned in to capture Harbor’s lips again. “Now, can I have my quickie? Or do we need to come to Jesus about anything else?”
Harbor chuckled against him and his cheeks went pink above the line of his beard. “I, uh, actually have a surprise for you.”
“Does it require clothes?”
“Yes. Well, pants at least”
“Fine, but after, your ass is mine.”
Harbor did laugh then, full and throaty. “Only if you take me down, remember? Or did that shot to head give you amnesia?”
“Oh, now he makes jokes!” Theo smiled, and Harbor captured his face in his hands again, pressing kisses over every inch of skin the bruise covered, ending with healing cut on his lip.
“I didn’t mean to make you feel like less, Theo.”
“I know,” Theo agreed, a small smile on his face. “Now where’s this surprise?”
Nerves gripped Harbor’s stomach when he took Theo’s hand after they’d both pulled on a pair of jeans and led him through the kitchen and to the door of the back porch.
“You are evil, making me walk past the coffee pot without so much as a—” Theo’s words dropped off when Harbor pushed the door open and the yard came into view. It had taken him all morning, and a very stealthy delivery courtesy of Dagen and Ollie, but every flower bed that had been sitting empty was now full of plants in bloom. His mom had suggested a list full of fall flowers—Dahlia, Orange Gerbera, Chrysanthemum, flowering kale, marigolds—and he wasn’t sure what Theo would like so he had Dagen buy some of each.
“What?” Theo swallowed, hand slack in Harbor’s and staring straight ahead. “You did this?”
Harbor shuffled a little, shit, had he completely over stepped? Those were Helen’s flower beds. What if Theo thought it was a violation? He hadn’t even looked at it that way and was two seconds from apologizing when Theo turned dark, suspiciously bright eyes his way. “I had a little help. Dagen and Ollie picked up the flowers for me and dropped them off about six this morning.”
“Harbor, I don’t even know what to say.” Theo’s voice was quiet, colored in notes of awe and sadness as he turned his face back to look at the different flower beds. “It’s amazing. She would have loved it. I love it.”
Air whooshed out of his lungs, and he pulled Theo to the door. “Come on, I want to show you the different ones.”
They made a lap around the yard taking in each variety of flower. Harbor was ridiculously pleased with the smile on Theo’s face. As they came back inside, he pulled two mugs down from the cabinet and poured them both a cup of coffee from the pot he’d made before his shower.
Theo chuckled from behind him, standing at the sink and looking out into the yard. “So, is this like your interpretation of buying me flowers after you fuck up?”
Harbor spun around, a full defense ready on his tongue before he saw the teasing grin on Theo’s face and decided to play along. “I was already planning this before I knocked you out, thank you very much. I can be sweet.”
Theo laughed. “If you can’t even say the word without grimacing...” He walked across the kitchen and backed Harbor up against the counter, much like he’d done in the bathroom. “You are pretty sweet, though.” He pressed a kiss to Harbor’s neck. “How can I show my appreciation?”
Harbor’s breath stuttered. “I could think of a couple ways.” Theo pinched his nipple and he yelped. “Or you know, whatever seems fair to you.”
Pressing his smile against Harbor’s pulse, Theo shook his head, then shifted his hips forward, rubbing their lengths together through layers of denim and making them both suck in a breath. “Do you trust me?” Theo asked against his skin, kissing and nibbling his way down Harbor’s chest and abs until he was on
his knees in front of him.
Gripping the counter to stay upright, Harbor licked his lips and nodded his head. Theo’s answering smile was blinding as he undid the button on Harbor’s jeans and lowered them down his legs to pull them off his feet and push them aside.
“Spread your legs a little more for me, baby,” Theo said, rubbing his cheek over Harbor’s cock and pressing his nose to the base among the nest of trimmed blond hairs, inhaling and sending tingles shooting through Harbor’s whole body. Theo slid his hands down to Harbor’s ankles, guiding them outward to where he wanted them before letting his hands slide up the back of Harbor’s calves, teasing the backs of his knees, and gliding back up to pull Harbor’s ass away from the counter so he was squatted a little and it was pressed across the middle of his back.
Harbor watched entranced as Theo mouthed along the length of him, but instead of taking him inside, kept going down to lick and suck at Harbor’s balls. Then he spun around and pressed his back to the cabinets, wide shoulders holding Harbor’s legs apart, and before he could make a noise of surprise or even protest, Theo pressed his tongue flat to the skin behind Harbor’s balls and licked a stripe all the way back over his hole.
“Fuck,” Harbor choked out, knees trembling and fingers clutching the edge of the counter as he basically sat on Theo’s face. “Theo.”
Theo hummed and did it again. It was bizarre to look down and see Theo’s legs splayed out on the floor and know that he had his face buried between Harbor’s legs, in my freaking ass. The sensation was indescribable, he never knew his ass was so sensitive or that it would be so pleasurable to let someone rim him. A moment later the pressure changed, the flat of Theo’s tongue gone, and he felt himself being probed with just the tip.
Theo reached one hand up to grip his aching cock and started to stroke him in long even passes, and Harbor gave up trying to watch and let his head fall back, giving over to the sensations pulsing through him. The wet warmth of Theo’s tongue disappeared for a moment as Theo moved around, then another pressure was there, something a bit more solid.
The tip of Theo’s finger breached him at the same time the hot heaven of Theo’s mouth closed around his dick. Harbor sucked in a breath, fighting the orgasm already building, only to lose a moment later when Theo pressed his finger further inside and like a homing missile, nailed his prostate. Harbor’s eyes popped open as he came with a shout, pouring down Theo’s throat and letting his weakened knees buckle, sliding down the cabinets and landing bare-assed on the floor in front of a smiling Theo. He had one hand around his cock, stroking furiously, and he planted the other on Harbor’s thigh. Reaching out, Harbor pinched the dark buds of Theo’s nipples until he gasped and came all over his hand and the small stretch of floor between his knees.
“Holy fuck,” Theo panted, sweat beading on his forehead and huge smile on his face. “God that was hot.”
Harbor agreed. He’d never seen anything more beautiful.
Chapter Twenty
It was like culture shock of the good variety being back in the bosom of the Rourke family and in such tight quarters. The cabin they rented sat on a small privately-owned lake in the middle of a large property. Harbor had explained that years ago, Stella had fixed a young woman’s wedding dress after it had been damaged the night before the wedding.
“Mom was up all night sewing the damn thing, and the girl’s dad was so grateful that he keeps this cabin open for us every year and still brings mom anything he needs altered,” Harbor had said the day before, one hand on the wheel and the other holding Theo’s as they’d made their way out into the boonies to meet up with the rest of Harbor’s family.
The cabin proved to be a combination of rustic and modern. It was spacious with several bedrooms, a large open living area and kitchen, and a game room with a giant flat screen TV and foosball table. Dagen and Ollie were in the room beside his and Harbor’s on the second level. Niko was sharing a room containing three sets of bunk beds with Kayla and Magnus, and Stella had the downstairs master suite all to herself.
It was their second night there, and everyone was gathered out behind the cabin around a built-in fire pit. There was a cool breeze whispering through the trees surrounding them, and the lake beyond reflected the last rays of the sun’s light. He leaned into the warmth of Harbor’s side and relished in the feeling of contentment that washed through him as the fire crackled and spit in front of them, perfuming the air with wood smoke and bathing them all in warm, flickering light.
“Theo,” Stella said, rising to her feet across the fire. “Would you help me bring out the stuff for smores?”
“Of course.” Theo rose to join her and felt Harbor start to stand, as well, until his mother tsked at him.
“I said, Theo. Not Theo and Harbor,” she said, winking at her son and taking Theo’s arm when he offered it as they made their way across the short distance to the cabin. He could feel Harbor’s eyes on his back the whole way.
Once they were in the kitchen, Stella pulled a basket out of the pantry and started loading things they’d need into it. “I didn’t mean to single you out, Theo, but I wanted to talk to you alone, and my son seems to be under the impression he’s not allowed to leave your side.”
Theo chuckled. They had been pretty attached at the hip since they arrived yesterday. “In his defense, I’ve been pretty reluctant for distance myself.” And he wasn’t exactly sure why. He felt closer to Harbor than ever before, but at the same time, they hadn’t spoken about any plans going forward.
Obviously, they were together and would stay that way, but would Harbor go home to his apartment and back to training at Rourke after this weekend? Would he expect Theo to stay in Indy and train at Slater’s? Theo had put booking anymore training seminars on hold until after the fights were done, so he didn’t have to travel anywhere, but they hadn’t discussed what their relationship looked like going forward and maybe they needed to.
Stella hummed. “It’s nice to see you two so close. He’s never really been one to open himself up like he has with you.” There was warmth in her voice, but also the edge of a warning. Theo met her eyes, and she gave an apologetic little shrug. “It’s in a mother’s nature to worry.”
Theo nodded his head. “He said you helped him decide on the flowers he planted at my house.”
She smiled. “I did. He was so earnest about getting it right.” Stella settled on one of the island barstools and prompted Theo to do the same, then she covered one of his hands with hers and gave it a small squeeze. Her skin was so soft and warm, soothing. “Do you like them?”
It was his turn to smile. “They’re perfect.” His eyes were drawn past her shoulder to the fire circle beyond. He could see Harbor glancing in their direction, and then his eyes caught on someone else, a huddled form he’d been worried about since he and Harbor arrived. “Is Niko okay?”
Stella’s smile fell, and her eyes took on a worried shine. “I hope he will be.”
“Whenever Vidar and Rory get done doing whatever it is they’re doing, you mean?”
One side of her mouth crooked up. “Yes, or at least that will be a good start.”
“Good. It’s good he has people looking after him.”
Her eyes went soft. “You know, if you ever need someone to talk to that isn’t my son, my door is always open.”
He nodded and squeezed her hand. “I appreciate it.”
“Now, let’s get this out to the fire. I’m ready to burn a marshmallow.”
Harbor’s leg was jiggling. He could see his mom and Theo clearly enough through the glass sliding doors on the back of the cabin, sitting at the bar and chatting. He narrowed his eyes, wondering if his mom was giving Theo some kind of warning speech like Angie had done with him. Or worse, what if Theo was telling his mom about some of his relationship blunders? He’d never hear the end of it.
“You know, if mom was ever going to try and sweep in and steal someone’s man, that one would definitely be him,” Magnus said, teasing
and bumping his shoulder against Harbor’s.
He huffed and pulled his eyes away from the cabin to glare at his brother. “That’s gross.”
“Ommmm,” Dagen piped up. “I’m telling mom you called her gross.”
Harbor sighed. Heaven help him. This was his life, sitting around a camp fire while his mom stole his boyfriend's attention and his brothers busted his balls about it. They all laughed at him, even Niko had a chuckle, and Harbor was sure he hadn’t heard the kid say two words since they’d been there. He turned his head back to the house, and just as Theo and his mom stepped out the back door, headlight beams shone around the corner of the cabin from the driveway out front.
Harbor’s eyes went to Dagen to see that his brother had seen them, too, and they both stood. Ollie, Magnus, and Kayla climbed to their feet, as well. Harbor shot a quick glance at his mom, it was getting too late in the evening for visitors but wanted to ask anyway before he went and scared the devil out of some of her friends. “You expecting someone?”
“No,” his mom said, coming to stand by the other three while Theo strode over to join him and Dagen.
Together they walked around the side of the cabin. As they did, the motion sensor flood light at the front corner of the cabin flared to life and Rory called, “It’s just us.”
A rush of relief went through Harbor so fast that he felt faint. He didn’t know he’d been so worried, having pushed it to the back of his mind these last couple weeks. Now, that he could see Rory and Vidar walking towards them, a huge smile split his face. He heard everyone else coming around the corner of the house behind him once they realized who the new arrivals were.
Open Wounds: The Boxed Set Page 23
