Fire Inside Me

by J. Hali Steele

  Nasty, mean thoughts regarding Sage’s acquaintance had to stop.

  Why’d Emory care? Aside from looks setting his loins on fire, he surmised Sage was not his kind of man. Attitude, killer instinct, everything about him spelled alpha. In capital letters. That wouldn’t suit Emory at all. The aggressor in sex, no way was he tangling with a man who craved anything else. Been there, done that.

  Emory didn’t take—he gave.

  For a small man, he was well endowed and loved plunging his thick dick deep in the tight ass of a big, muscular man. The sight of broad hips taking his cock satisfied the beast in him. Made sure every man he accompanied was aware of his penchant but there were those who endeavored changing his mind. They wore scratches from fingernails raking skin from their face and body after trying to force themselves on him. Because he was slight, each believed Em an easy mark once they had him confined in a room or a bed. A hellcat, he’d been known to scale a back or two in his fight to escape.

  None ever won that battle but one monster came too close.

  Motherfucker threw him onto the mattress, raised his legs and nudged his dick at Emory’s asshole. He grabbed the lamp and smashed it against his head sending the villain to the floor. Screaming, Em hurled furniture breaking a mirror and he took out the motel’s front window while yelling rape. It brought visitors and the manager running. Big bastard, blood streaming down his face, walked to his car cursing Emory. Still remembered how bystanders stared and whispered. No one called 911 for assistance nor did they offer covering or a ride to safety. He’d walked barefoot over glass to repossess his clothes while the manager asked about reimbursement. Room wasn’t in his name. Tears scalded his eyes as he headed back to the club on bleeding feet. By the time he reached his car, he’d made a decision.

  Don’t trust any of them.

  How many times had he been told he was desirable and pretty? Shit, the mirror provided that information every damn day. There was a time in his youth he’d have said he was sweet and nice and agreeable. Not anymore. That boy died. He’d been smothered by men who thought to make him something he wasn’t.

  That night left more than a terrible scar on one foot.

  Still, they couldn’t take his desire and will to remain sexy and beautiful.

  No one would ever steal that from Emory.

  “What the hell is that smell? In God’s name, you let a cat shit on my bed?”

  Reliving scary, sordid sexual escapades, Emory hadn’t heard Sage arrive. “It’s not your bed and I’ll fix it.” In a protective move, he pulled the cup-sized kitten onto his lap. “Monk’s fault the little guy or girl, I’m not sure which yet, became imprisoned inside his compound. Its mom likely couldn’t find a hole small enough to crawl through and save her baby who was starving out there until I fed him, or her, some of my sandwich.” He stood and backed toward a corner hating the feeling of being trapped. “You left someone watching me?” He jumped on the bed which would enable him to dart in either direction to pass the big bastard.

  “Necessary precaution.” He moved closer.

  “Don’t you touch either of us, Sage.”

  Hummingbird. That’s what he reminded Sage of. Quick. Darting all over the place. He’d said more than any time they had spoken which was what? Three? Four times? Sage didn’t dare laugh. Emory looked serious and, fuck’s sake, he held an adorable kitten locked to his chest. “Who is Monk?”

  “Your friend. Would you prefer Mr. Perfect? The car, this place. It’s beautiful without a speck of dirt or a single thing out of place. Hell, I’d happily live in his sparkling garage.”

  “Ahh, Detective Monk.”

  “I’d use a name if I had one.”

  Lies, well, he hadn’t actually told any though PI didn’t fully fit. Evading truth was going to come back and bite him in the ass. “He’d like Mr. Perfect.” Sage did like it. Being orderly, keeping things in his sphere clean and organized made up for what was lacking.

  “Bet he would. If I could see in the closet, suits probably hang in harmonized colors, ties to match strapped over each hanger.”

  Fuck’s sake, he was close. Ties were color coordinated in a drawer. “Uh, I see you found a box. I’ll cut a few holes so you can close flaps and put it inside.”

  “And then what? I’m keeping him. Or her.”

  “Then I suggest you come down from there and get your ass in gear.”

  “Bastard!” Shock widened beautiful eyes. “You’re not going to throw it away, Sage. Taking him to the pound, they’ll kill it if no one adopts him. Or her.”

  Jesus, this man only had to look at Sage to melt his heart. “Give it to me.”

  “Why?!”

  Took one step forward and fear filled Emory’s eyes. Revealed exactly what he thought of Sage. Then Rusty’s words flooded his mind. Hurt. Something happened. “Emory, I won’t hurt you and you witnessed firsthand what I’ll do if anyone else tries.”

  “What are you going to do to it?”

  “Discover if your kitten is male or female so you can stop saying it.”

  “Mine?”

  “Yes. Now climb down.”

  He stepped to the floor and handed the critter over. “When I leave?”

  Tell him he’s not going anywhere. “Most likely female given coloring.” Sage checked between hind legs. “We’ll buy her a ticket to ride.”

  “Yes! How clever.”

  Emory’s laughter filled the small room jarring Sage at how it lifted his heart. “That was funny why?”

  “She’s got a ticket to ride, la, la, la. You know.”

  “God.” Took a second to realize the song reference. “I’m not that old.”

  “I didn’t mean you were old. I like their music.”

  “Hmm, I thought you preferred blaring club tracks.” Goddamn it!

  “How’d you come to that conclusion?”

  “Your outfits, the way you move, fuck, Emory, I don’t know.”

  “I see. Hey, I’m not a party kid.”

  Better end this. “Let me shower and change. Fifteen minutes.”

  “Give me thirty.”

  Dressed and ready, Sage cut quarter size circles on each side of the carton and placed the kitten inside with an old towel in one corner. Entered the kitchen to throw together a quick sandwich. Favorite rolls were nowhere to be seen. Sage buttered a piece of baguette and bit into it before returning everything to its rightful place. Satisfying but he’d looked forward to a ham and swiss sandwich slathered with mustard. “Damn it.” Was too set in ways.

  “What?”

  “Vick bought rolls but I don’t see sourdough.” He swiveled to look at Emory. “Jesus, you look beauti…you look great.”

  “Wow, most men I’m attractive to hate my fashion sense.” Grin split his face. “So, his name is Vick. Sorry about the rolls. They made excellent sandwiches.”

  “Which, I recall, kitty ate some of.”

  “Tell Vick to bring extra when he comes home.”

  “It’s no big deal.”

  “I carried a little money but, Sage…”

  “I got it, Emory.”

  “I’ll pay you back.”

  “Assured your family I’d take care of anything you need and I will.” Conversation was light and easy lulling Sage into a sense of comradery. Had Emory experienced the same? Did he trust him a tiny bit? Deep vee of an oversized shirt knotted on his hip revealed a hairless chest. Its blue color made eyes appear bluer. White leggings molded to a picture-perfect butt. He wore shiny silver sandals and, Christ almighty, his toes were fucking beautiful. Hell’s sake, following him around town was going to drive Sage to distraction.

  I should never meet whoever harmed you.

  Shit, he’s keeping a cat into my house!

  Chapter Five

  W

  omen stared jealously as their men cast second looks at Emory. Sage’s lips tilted into a smile and he was damn glad shades hid the gleam in his eyes.
Hair loose, every strand in place, make-up applied impeccably, the fucker was hot. Talk about perfection—Emory was flawless.

  Vet on duty had time to give kitty a quick check-up. “Don’t provide milk. It causes diarrhea.” Explained the ugly mess on the pillow. He said she was a fighter but didn’t give Emory false hope. Explained, due to current condition, Em should wait eight to ten weeks, if the cat made it through the next couple nights, before considering shots or spaying. Emory took his card in case of an emergency.

  Shopping for necessities, Sage felt his mouth stretch into a slash. Burly clerks continually leaned closer to explain items Emory studied with interest. It’s a goddamn pet store. Why did they all have to be big and handsome?

  Upon checking out, one clerk’s eyes roved and he paid rapt attention. Bags full, he offered to carry packages. “There’s nothing wrong with my arms.” Sage snatched them and managed to tuck the portable pen beneath his arm. “We’ve got everything.”

  In the car Emory glowered from beneath long lashes. “You didn’t have to be rude, Sage.”

  “Why do you flash that fucking sexy smile at everyone?”

  “I usually don’t but with you…”

  “What? It’s okay to turn half the male population on when you’re with me?”

  “No.” Mouth lost its sexy curve. “Half of the half that would want… I feel safe with you. You won’t let anyone hurt me.”

  Sage had opened that door but was he ready to walk through it? Emory was different, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Sage read men like a book but this one was an enigma. “I’m hungry.”

  “I pledge not to eat your rolls again if it’s going to turn you into a monster.”

  Monster. If Emory only knew.

  They’d barely settled at an outside table of a café Sage frequented when he immediately regretted his choice. He’d forgotten his intimate liaison with the approaching waiter.

  “Sage Crawford. I’ve missed you…stopping by.” His posturing drew Emory’s attention. “How are you?”

  “Good. I’ll have the usual. Emory?”

  “Burger cooked rare, fries and a strawberry milkshake.”

  “Sorry, machine is out of order.”

  Sage faced a table where two creamy concoctions had recently been delivered. “Check and make sure, please. Maybe they fixed it.”

  “Trust me…”

  “Liam, don’t be petty. Get him a goddamn shake.”

  “Fine, I’ll get your boyfriend a milkshake.”

  “What I’d prefer is you getting me and my boyfriend another waiter.”

  “Sage, I didn’t mean to be catty. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not.”

  He walked away and Emory quipped, “Boyfriend?”

  “It’ll keep him away.”

  They ate in silence until Emory said, “He was awfully cute. Is that your type?”

  “We all have one. I know yours.” Fuck’s sake this day was heading one of two ways. Good or bad. No gray area.

  “Enlighten me.”

  “Tall, full of muscle and tattooed.”

  “Because I couldn’t take my eyes off you the first night?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re damn good to look at but you are not my type.” Emory leaned forward. “Not unless you like having that big ass tapped.” Sat back in his seat. “Way I see it, Vick’s more my sort. I’d fuck him so goddamn good—he’d give me your keys to his castle.”

  “I’ll be a son of a bitch.” A sentence Emory uttered in his parent’s living room ricocheted through Sage’s mind. I like fucking men. Emory likes fucking men. Should be pissed about the Vick comment but he wasn’t. All Sage could imagine was Emory’s cock slipping in his ass. “We’re leaving.”

  “Sage, what are you doing?” Barely inside, he had dropped items along with his phone and pressed Emory against the wall. “Sage, wait, I don’t…” Make him understand.

  “I’m what you need.”

  “Trust me, you’re not.”

  His lips captured Emory’s shutting him up. Didn’t pry with his tongue. Emory opened like a morning flower reaching for sunlight. Tentative at first, tongues touched, tasted, explored. One of Sage’s hands smacked the wall beside his head, the other edged into his pants and started a slow crawl toward Emory’s crotch. Reaching his dick, Sage broke their kiss and reared back, “Fuck, no underwear and you’re big and hard for me.” He yanked leggings down. “I’ve waited to taste you.” Dropping to his knees, his tongue swiped Em’s dick, his mouth slowly enclosed the tip, took his whole shaft far into his throat.

  “Oh shit, you know how to suck cock.” Em’s head smacked the wall. “Yes.”

  Back and forth, lips covered and released; Sage sucked, his tongue licked and circled the cap. “Christ, I want more.”

  Standing, he began to jack Emory off. Up, down, it was damn sweet. His fist tightened, pulled, loosened to slide to the base. He cupped balls squeezing one, then the other. His hand slipped backward into the crease of Emory’s ass causing him to bump hips forward. Fingers slid along Emory’s crack, hand massaged his butt cheeks. Returning to his hole, one finger brushed slowly over the pucker. Em keened, “Ah-ah, damn, that feels good.” Sage never tried to enter him and he loved that. Again, he started to jerk Em off and wasn’t long before cream slipped from the slit, dribbled over his crown. The sound elicited by Sage’s pre-cum smeared hand stroking Emory’s hardness had him hungrier, hungry enough to scare him. Em pushed him away and stepped to the side. “I wasn’t kidding, Sage.”

  He recaptured Emory’s shaft. “Give me a little more. Wet my hand enough to rub all over my cock then I can… His phone hummed against the wood floor. “Fuck, fuck.”

  Emory glanced down. “Stop.”

  “No, please, no.”

  “It’s Vick.” Coming to his senses, Em realized he stood in another man’s house and had come damn close to fucking his boyfriend. “Sage, stop!”

  “Goddamn it, Emory, Vick isn’t who you think.”

  Phone chattered at his feet. “Oh God, do not say you’re close to calling it quits, things aren’t working out or he’s dying. Don’t you dare.”

  “That’s not what I mean.” Beep indicated call went to messaging. “Damn it.”

  “I’ve been accused of being a lot of things but, unlike you, I’ve never cheated.” Fixing pants, Emory picked up bags and hurried to his room. Slamming the door, he leaned against it. “Cheating piece of shit.” He heard the pen bump against the door. Flopping on the bed, he filled lungs with deep, calming breaths. “My fault. I should have stopped him.” As soon as they reached California, he vowed to look into transferring credits and to spend every day at school until this shit blew over. Bastard was so damn attractive he didn’t dare be alone with him.

  Lord, hoped he could forget this day. Yeah, what happens in Vegas…

  Meow. Meow. Shoot, opening the box Emory said, “Damn it, I don’t want to forget him. Hey little girl, I’m going to call you Vegas. You like that name?”

  Emory pulled the pen inside and busied himself setting up a corner for Vegas to call home. Done, he showered and crawled in bed. Sadness washed over him. Initially angry with Sage over the use him comment, he wanted him to be the one. The way he came to Em’s rescue beating that fucker to within an inch of his life. He made a big deal about it but, God, Sage could take care of him. He could smile at the world and no one would ever manhandle or hurt Emory again. “Shit.” Even if he did let Em have him, which wasn’t likely the way he went all he-man when they were against the wall. “Damn it to hell.”

  He belongs to someone else.

  A rough night had Sage up early. He swung by Craw to sign papers for a deal Vick brokered. It’s why she called yesterday. New casino required a restaurant build. He had information on a minor firm recently locating to the area and they looked to work with a smaller gambling venue. He’d researched them a couple weeks ago. They’d be a goo
d fit for HVAC work involved. Might acquire additional labor from the casino’s parent corporation if they performed well.

  Going back and forth, Sage decided to summon Vick. “I need help.” Steepled fingers under his chin. “I dislike asking but I’m at a lost how to handle a problem.”

  “Tell me, I’ll let you know If I can assist.”

  Explained a little about Emory. “He assumed it was a friend’s place. Detective Monk and your name got all mixed up in it when my sourdough rolls went missing.”

  “Someone stole the rolls I bought? I am not even going to ask about the Monk part.”

  “He didn’t steal them. He made a couple sandwiches and fed some to the cat.”

  “Good grief! When did you get a cat?”

  “Emory has a cat. Evidently it got stranded in my yard.” Laughter at how ridiculous it all sounded relaxed Sage. “He’s goddamn beautiful; his eyes, those narrow ass little hips…”

  “Sage, the cat.”

  “Right.” He began again laying it out. “That’s everything.” Sage added, “He needs new clothing. Well, maybe not because he always looks good though I’ve only seen him... Damn, I’d like him to go shopping. I want to buy him something nice.”

  “Okay then. Wow, he thinks I’m a guy that you’re entangled with?”

  “Yes. I tried to tell him but things got scrambled.”

  “Hear you’ve had that problem.”

  “Don’t listen to Wiley’s shit. Is he still in town?”

  Cheeks flushed. “We’re having dinner tonight.”

  “Good. Yesterday I saw how you looked at each other.” Giving it thought, might be a great way to coax Emory from his room without fear of time alone with Sage. This morning there was no response when Sage knocked. “Maybe we can join you?”