The Winter Quarters

by Anna Veriani

  “Don’t expect to adjust to your jet lag tonight,” Hiro warned. “We have hours and hours that I intend to take advantage of.” He kissed Kai’s hair. “I don’t have a ring for you yet, so I need some other way to make sure you know you’re mine.”

  Kai shivered. Hiro loved how easy it was to work him up with possessive talk like that, how Hiro’s most primal thoughts were exactly what Kai wanted to hear.

  “Christmas present,” Kai murmured.

  “Hm?”

  “Tonight will be like the world’s best Christmas present.” He eyed Hiro, looking suddenly filthy. It was time to get out of the bath.

  “Merry Christmas, Kai,” Hiro whispered, standing up and letting the water cascade down his chest and thighs in rivulets. “Let’s go get you good and unraveled.”

  HIRO carried Kai bridal-style back to the bedroom, and Kai didn’t mind in the least that Hiro picked him up with all the effort it took to carry a small sack of rice. Kai’s borrowed yukata was too loose at the shoulders, its sleeves falling past his hands. Once they were securely in their room—Kai was already thinking of it as their room—Hiro set him down and slipped the yukata off him easily. Then came Hiro’s, falling with a rustle to his feet. In mere seconds they were both nude.

  Hiro cupped Kai’s cheek, kissing him softly, chastely. It was easy to fall back onto the futon, like settling into a bed of roses.

  “You’re so beautiful,” Hiro murmured. He straddled Kai, and for minutes they just kissed, tongues entangling almost lazily, Kai’s legs wrapped around Hiro, the soles of his feet brushing Hiro’s thighs like he needed to keep him there.

  “Can I turn you around?” Hiro asked, and Kai complied. They rearranged pillows, Kai setting one under his ass. He knew exactly what he wanted Hiro to do—rim, rim, rim—but more than that, he wanted to see what Hiro wanted, to be taken apart according to Hiro’s designs.

  He was glad he hadn’t voiced his impatient demand once Hiro massaged his shoulders. Kai melted, still so loose after the bath, as Hiro pressed the heels of his hands into his back. Kisses were scattered between the touches, and Kai snuggled down into Hiro’s blankets, basking in relaxation.

  Hiro kneaded Kai’s tight muscles. After minutes Kai shifted, uncomfortably hard, and Hiro worked his way down to Kai’s ass.

  “Let me worship you,” he breathed. “Can I?”

  “Please,” Kai said. “I can’t tell you how badly I want you to taste me—rim me. God, please.”

  “More than just my tongue,” Hiro said. “I want—can I—”

  He placed his hand flat against Kai’s ass and waited.

  “Yes.” He offered himself without exception.

  Kai jolted at the touch. Hiro was playing roughly with his cheeks. The sensation spread to his hole, awakening his nerve endings, and when he arched into it, Hiro read him perfectly and spanked him.

  “Okay?” Hiro breathed. He sounded dirty, wrecked with hunger.

  “Again.”

  Hiro slapped his ass, just hard enough for it to sting pleasantly. He teased and tickled and rubbed, exploring everything. When he finally licked wet, generous stripes between Kai’s cheeks, moans quivered from Kai’s lips.

  “God, fuck, Hiro….” Reduced to a stream of praise and begging as Hiro tasted him. “Hiro, I need more. Please, please, please.”

  Hiro spanked him again and spread the cold lube onto Kai’s skin. The pad of his finger circled Kai’s hole and tapped as though seeking permission to enter. That small movement drove Kai insane.

  “Sensitive, needy little pucker,” Hiro murmured, and then he entered Kai.

  Kai gasped, pushing himself to his elbows. He spread his legs as far as he could, feet arching, like every part of his body wanted to be open for Hiro. Hiro finger-fucked him expertly, and Kai’s prediction was right: he was so relaxed after the bath and massage that it felt effortless to let Hiro inside him. His whole body sang with the sheer goodness of it; he wanted Hiro to come inside and live in him.

  HIRO could have anything he wanted, and it was driving him crazy. His cock was so hard it was throbbing, and he thrust his fingers as deep inside Kai as he could get, making Kai gasp, yelp, and tremble with pleasure. He was so reactive. One moment he was grinding upward to meet Hiro, wiggling his plump ass deliciously and inviting Hiro’s fingers in deeper. The next moment he dissolved, digging his face into the blankets, biting down onto a pillow as he sobbed.

  Hiro licked the sweat streaming down Kai’s side and pulled out his fingers.

  “Don’t you dare.” Kai gasped as Hiro left him, and his hole stayed nice and open, like it was beckoning him back in.

  “What’s this?” Hiro asked, rolling Kai onto his back. He peppered Kai’s cheeks and neck with kisses. “You don’t want my cock? It’s so nice and hard for you.”

  “Oh, God….” Kai was a mess of lust. “I do, Hiro. Please. I—I—”

  He pushed himself up as though suddenly inspired. Eyes locked on Hiro’s, he reached for Hiro’s cock.

  Hiro understood. He held Kai up, the pillows keeping Kai’s ass at an accessible angle, and pulled Kai’s hand to his cock. Kai wrapped his fingers around his shaft, making him hiss, and then guided him to his hole.

  Yes. Yes. He watched Kai’s mouth fall open in wordless pleasure as Hiro entered him inch by inch.

  It was so tight. Kai’s body squeezed and pulled on him. Kai fell back into the pillows as Hiro rooted himself deep, deep inside.

  “Kai,” he gushed, laid completely bare. “This is so good. So much better than anything else could ever be.”

  Kai looked too lost for words. He only reached out, taking Hiro’s hand.

  “I feel so full,” Kai whispered. “It’s perfect, perfect, per—fuck. God, faster, Hiro.”

  Hiro thrust into him, and Kai sobbed out an almost inaudible plea, the words running together: Please-more, please-more, please-more.

  “I want to—worship your cock,” Kai cried. “Perfect—Hiro.”

  Kai clung to him, scrambling for purchase on his shoulders, then yanking at his hair until finally Hiro collected Kai’s wrists and pressed them into the bed.

  “I’ll take care of you, baby,” he promised, but Kai seemed too gone to hear him.

  Fire roiled through Hiro, even as he tried hard to bear witness to Kai. He was getting lost in Kai getting lost; their bodies fit together in a way that was better than perfect. He groaned and pulled out, flipping Kai over and arranging him easily so that he could pound him even harder.

  “Oh—fuck, Hiro!” he gasped. “Please, please don’t stop.”

  And then he was coming, faster than Hiro. Hiro pressed tight against him as Kai writhed and dissolved into inarticulate, desperate pleas. He reached around and grabbed Kai’s cock just as the first hot ropes of come jetted from his tip.

  He didn’t pull out until he felt his own muscles tighten, gearing up for orgasm. His cock pulsed in protest, but Hiro ignored it.

  Kai lay there panting and boneless as Hiro kissed the sweat droplets from his chest.

  “God, baby,” Hiro praised. “You are the most beautiful living creature right now.”

  Kai’s response was surprisingly coherent.

  “I have never been fucked that hard in my life,” he said earnestly. “Never, ever….” He moaned almost like he was being fucked again, and Hiro nearly burst with pride, imagining Kai imagining Hiro’s cock still inside him.

  “Felt good?” Hiro asked, kissing and nuzzling him.

  Kai sighed contentedly. His hand wandered loosely down Hiro’s chest, like he wanted to hug Hiro but didn’t quite have the energy. His knuckles brushed Hiro’s erection.

  “You’re still hard,” he whispered.

  “Mm-hm.” Hiro kissed him again. “It’s Christmas morning, baby. I told you: These are your presents. We’re going to fuck as many times as we can until sunrise. I’ve wanted this for too many years to do it just once in one night.”

  HOURS later, the sun a thin red thread over Mount Hak
u, they both collapsed onto the bed, panting. They lay, legs tangled, too exhausted to arrange themselves artfully. Kai’s ass ached wonderfully, and his body was begging him for sleep.

  “Did you get what you wanted?” Hiro asked.

  Images were summoned in Kai’s mind’s eye like presents wrapped around a Christmas tree. A whole bounty of gifts: he was in Japan, in snowy countryside, away from cameras; white-glass icicles hung from the ridge of Hiro’s roof outside the glass doors; the waking songbirds presented their music; he felt anchored in purpose, as future Waka-Okami, with a whole charity to give to New York. He was rooted, boneless, calm, like his body had never known the meaning of anxiety. But most of all: Hiro, Hiro, Hiro. He had Hiro.

  “Yeah.” He pressed sleepy kisses against Hiro’s chest. Eyes closed, they reached out and found each other, Hiro’s engagement ring warm against Kai’s skin. “I got everything I wanted.”

  DID KAI-CHAN TIE THE KNOT?

  Reports emerged last week that a wedding took place at a small shrine in Kaga, Ishikawa—and Kai Ledging was in attendance. Although Kai-chan’s fans were barred by security from entering, several uploaded pictures of Kai and his noncelebrity beau online. Neither of them were dressed like grooms. Two elderly ladies, unable to be identified, were wearing uchikake kimono, looking like beautiful old brides. Was it a publicity stunt? Some fans are hoping Kai-chan is filming a movie, but no film crew was reported on the scene. If the movie rumor is true, however, Kai-chan has some serious acting chops: it’s hard to imagine the joy on his face being faked. Click below for the slideshow of candid Kai pics.

  KIMI TAKAHASHI’S ONE-WOMAN SHOW REAPING RECORD RATINGS

  We’re only two episodes into the newest season of Kimi and Kai, but everything is different—including its title! Kai-chan’s fashionista mama is now the star of Kimi, and she’s already launched a new clothes line, left a sad Spaniard man in the dust, and kissed a billionaire silver fox atop the Eiffel Tower.

  Will Kai come back? We’re not sure, but we know one thing: James Duffy won’t be on Kimi ever again. For anyone who’s been living under a rock this past year, James was arrested and charged after trying to hunt down a lion in Kenya last summer. James’s ongoing legal battle isn’t being filmed.

  “I think it’s best for my client to take a step out of the spotlight,” James’s lawyer said last summer. “He’d like to express his sincere remorse for his actions.”

  Even though Kai and James broke up months before the incident, it’s not hard to guess why Kai didn’t think he was a keeper! Luckily, Kimi Takahashi is keeping us plenty entertained without the boys.

  NEW YORK’S HOMELESS POPULATION IS FALLING—AND THE MAYOR IS CREDITING KAI ASADA’S “HOME AT LAST”

  Last night Kai Asada made a rare appearance in New York to promote his charity Home at Last. Just a year after its founding, Home at Last is now established as a widely respected nonprofit, praised by activists and policy experts for using groundbreaking strategies to fight homelessness. Mr. Asada will be spending the week meeting with New York’s less fortunate to hear their ideas on how to help the city.

  “My purpose is to serve,” Mr. Asada told a crowd of donors, after being honored by the mayor. “Rich or poor, everyone has the right to a secure home, privacy, and peace. Despite our recent successes, a lack of affordable housing has brought this city’s homeless population to a record high. We won’t stop fighting until everyone has a safe place to sleep at night.”

  HONEYMOON, FINALLY

  Kai Ledging’s had a hectic year. Or should we say Asada Kai?! According to public record, Kai filed for a marriage license last summer. His wedding was infamously kept under wraps, so no one knows when he tied the knot for sure, but it seems he didn’t get his honeymoon right away. Who can blame him? He took over an entire traditional inn with his husband, all while throwing himself into his Home at Last nonprofit.

  It seems winter finally brought him his much-deserved vacation: Mr. and Mr. Asada were spotted in a luxurious hotel in Hokkaido, cuddling in front of a crackling fire. A year after quitting his own TV show, Asada Kai has remained tight-lipped and private with the press. It’s clear to see, though, that the world’s beloved Kai-chan finally got his happy ending.

  ANNA VERIANI was born with a deep love of queer lit and 99¢ New York pizza slices. After graduating from NYU with a degree in East Asian Studies, she set sail for Ishikawa, Japan. Now she spends her days writing by the river and dreaming of opening an expat pizzeria.

  Website: www.annaveriani.com

  Twitter: @annaveriani

  Or you can sign up to hear about Anna’s new releases here: eepurl.com/gnHGGn.

  Coming in November 2019

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  Published by

  DREAMSPINNER PRESS

  5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA

  www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The Winter Quarters

  © 2019 Anna Veriani

  Cover Art

  © 2019 Alexandria Corza

  http://www.seeingstatic.com/

  Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

  All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyri
ght law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.

  Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64108-227-3

  Digital ISBN: 978-1-64405-693-6

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2019942764

  Digital published October 2019

  v. 1.0

  Printed in the United States of America