Somebody to Die For

by Kris T. Bethke

  “I want you,” Avery said, raising himself up so he could look right into Jameson’s eyes. “I want to be in you.”

  “God. Yes, please.”

  The briefest hint of surprise flashed through Avery’s eyes, and then he swooped down and attacked Jameson’s mouth. It was hot and bruising, teeth clashing and biting, but Jameson returned the passion as best he could.

  Then Avery suddenly pulled away, rolled off Jameson, and sat up. Jameson grabbed for him, wanting him back, worried that Avery had changed his mind. But Avery chuckled and pushed his hands away.

  “Get naked. We need stuff. I need you.”

  And Jameson scrambled to comply.

  Chapter Sixteen

  JAMESON stripped fast, without bothering to put on a show, and tossed his clothes in the direction of his hamper. He didn’t check to see if they made it inside. Once he was naked except for his boxers, he bent to get into the bottom drawer of his desk, where he kept his supplies. Avery’s strained groan made Jameson straighten quickly, and he grinned when he saw Avery’s gaze fixed on his ass. And then he noticed Avery was still dressed. Even though the passion was clear on Avery’s face, there was something else there too.

  Jameson was suddenly glad he’d left his underwear on.

  Slowly he closed the distance between them. He tossed the condom and bottle of lube onto the bed and then walked right into Avery’s space. Avery dropped his gaze, but Jameson could tell he wasn’t checking him out.

  “Hey,” Jameson said softly. He took hold of Avery’s face, cradled his head, and then gently lifted it so he could look down into Avery’s eyes. They were closed, and Jameson waited patiently and stroked along his jaw until Avery took a slow breath and opened them.

  “Whatever you want. As much or as little as you want. Nothing more. Nothing less.” Jameson kept his voice soft. Reassuring Avery was easy, and Jameson meant every word.

  “I haven’t been with anyone since….”

  Jameson smiled. “You can say his name.”

  Avery gave him a look. “I would think that now….” Avery gestured a hand between them and blew out a breath. “I would think you wouldn’t want to hear it.”

  Jameson took a second to make sure his thoughts made sense before he voiced them.

  “Well, if we were in the middle of things and you suddenly called out his name, that would be different.” Jameson smiled to show he was at least partially teasing. “But I get it. You don’t have to be afraid to talk about him. Not with me.”

  Something in Avery relaxed, and then his eyes heated, and he stood and pressed his clothed body against Jameson’s mostly naked one.

  “You’re amazing,” Avery whispered. He touched Jameson’s chest and swept a hand down toward his stomach. “And look at you. Just beautiful.”

  Jameson preened, which made Avery laugh, and Jameson had to kiss him—hard and fast, putting all his feeling into it. As their tongues tangled, Jameson lifted a hand to start on the buttons of Avery’s shirt. He only had three undone before Avery pushed him away.

  “Get on the bed,” Avery commanded as he pulled his shirt over his head. He tossed it on the chair and started on his pants. Jameson licked his lips, unable to look away as Avery’s compact body was revealed. He was mouthwatering, and Jameson wanted to kiss him everywhere.

  Avery had his clothes off in record time, and then he hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his briefs. He gave Jameson a pointed, wicked smile, and then pushed them down. Jameson sucked in a breath. Standing in all his glory, Avery was absolutely perfect.

  “I said, get on the bed.” Avery’s voice was little more than a growl as he pushed Jameson back until he landed on the mattress. Jameson wiggled, pulled the lube from underneath his hip, and set it beside him.

  Avery’s eyes were hooded, and he put a knee on the mattress and leaned closer. Then he grabbed Jameson’s boxers and gently tugged them off. Jameson sucked in a breath when Avery purposefully fondled his dick and then let it go to slap against his stomach. Avery’s touch was even better than he imagined—and he’d imagined a lot.

  Avery didn’t waste time. He lay down on top of Jameson and planted his hands on either side of Jameson’s shoulders. Then he fit his knees between Jameson’s thighs and leaned down until their lips were barely an inch apart.

  “I want to touch you all over.”

  Jameson gasped, and strained upward so he could rub his dick against Avery. “God, please.”

  Avery’s chuckle sounded wicked. “I’m gonna have to take you on your back. You’re so tall.” He slid a hand down Jameson’s chest, straight to his groin. “Everything about you is long.”

  Jameson’s laugh cut off with a moan, and he pushed into Avery’s hand when he closed his fingers around Jameson’s dick. When Avery kept his grip loose, Jameson made a frustrated sound.

  “Avery.”

  Again that wicked chuckle. “We’ll get there.”

  Avery let go, but before Jameson could protest, Avery kissed him. It was easy to get lost in sensation—all that skin pressed against his, and the heat from Avery’s body was intense. Jameson wrapped his arms around him, held him tightly, and touched anything he could reach. They writhed together, and when Jameson had to breathe, Avery attacked his neck.

  “Gonna, oh, God. You’re gonna leave a mark,” Jameson panted.

  “Yeah.” Avery’s voice was low, and Jameson heard the self-satisfaction there.

  With a gasp and moan, Jameson lifted his legs and wrapped them around Avery’s waist, pulling him closer so they could have full-body contact. Avery’s mouth on his neck and shoulder made him shiver, and he rocked gently, seeking friction. When Avery planted his knees, Jameson had something more solid to rub against. His passion ratcheted up another notch, and he knew he could get off just like that.

  “Want you,” Jameson panted out and groaned loudly. “Could come right now.”

  Avery went still, and when he lifted his head, his eyes were serious. “Don’t you dare.”

  Jameson shook his head, and the action pushed the pillow aside. His head landed on the mattress, and he arched and stretched his entire body out. “Won’t. I won’t. Just…. Avery.”

  “I have you, sweetheart. I’m going to take care of you.”

  Sweetheart. Jameson almost swooned. That was so much better than Jamie.

  Avery moved, and Jameson tried to hold on to him, but he was too fast. When Jameson saw him pick up the lube, Jameson relaxed and let his knees fall open. The pop of the cap made him shiver, and he draped an arm over his eyes and tried to breathe.

  “You okay?”

  Jameson nodded. “I’m gonna come if I think too hard.”

  Avery’s chuckle made him shiver and so didn’t help. Jameson opened his mouth to tell him, but cold, slick fingers touched his entrance, and Jameson sat up halfway to watch and opened his eyes just in time to see Avery swallow his cock.

  Jameson almost screamed.

  The tight, wet heat engulfed him, and he whined as Avery probed at his hole. It was too much. Jameson wasn’t going to last. Avery knew what he was doing, and Jameson said his name over and over as he fought not to come under the dual onslaught.

  “Stop, stop,” Jameson panted as he groped a hand out and connected with Avery’s hair. He held on and tugged lightly. “You’re going to make me come, and I want you to fuck me.”

  Avery gave one last hard suck and slowly pulled off. Jameson shook when Avery kissed the head of his dick and pushed against his prostate with his finger. The base of Jameson’s spine tingled, his balls drew up, and then, just as suddenly, it stopped.

  Avery had a hand around the base of Jameson’s dick, squeezing tightly to stave off his orgasm. Jameson held on and fought his own release for a moment. Then he collapsed back onto the bed, panting hard, and willed his body to calm down. He wanted Avery in him.

  “That was close, huh?”

  Jameson laughed, but it sounded weak. “You don’t have to sound so smug about it.”

/>   “Oh, but I am.” Avery’s wicked grin made Jameson’s heart pound even harder. He watched in fascination as Avery pulled his finger from his hole, and then reached for the condom packet. He could not tear his eyes away as Avery rolled it down his length. He hadn’t gotten to taste. Next time, he definitely would.

  “You okay?” Avery asked with something serious in his eyes.

  “Yes. Please. Want you inside.”

  Avery nodded. He pushed Jameson’s knees up and out, opening him even more. Jameson tried to regulate his breathing. He needed to relax for this to work, so he let Avery position him however he wanted and sucked in a breath when he felt the blunt head of Avery’s cock at his hole.

  “Ready?”

  For weeks now. “Yes.”

  Avery slowly and steadily pushed in and didn’t stop until he was fully seated. It was a tight fit. Jameson hadn’t been on the receiving end in a long time, and Avery wasn’t exactly small. Jameson made himself breath and pulled his knees up even more, to make room.

  The feel of Avery’s balls against his ass made Jameson shiver, and when Avery lifted Jameson’s legs up onto his shoulders, he slid in a fraction of an inch more. Jameson wiggled and lifted, trying to get Avery to move, but a squeeze of Avery’s fingers against his thigh made him still.

  “I’m in control.”

  Jameson groaned and nodded. He made a conscious effort not to move. This was all about Avery, and Jameson wanted it to be everything Avery needed. He breathed and waited for Avery to move, but he didn’t demand it.

  Suddenly Avery shifted and leaned forward. The stretch on his hamstrings was intense, but then Avery thrust and Jameson whined. God, it felt so good. He lifted his hands to brace them on the wall as Avery picked up speed—pulling out slowly, steadily and thrusting back in hard. As he gained speed, Jameson took one hand off the wall to wrap it around his dick. He let Avery’s motion drive his cock through his fingers.

  Then Avery shifted just a little, and Jameson howled.

  Avery’s grin went wicked, and Jameson panted and tried not to be too loud. He was pretty sure everyone was gone, but he didn’t want to be overheard. And then he didn’t care, because Avery was pounding into him just right, and his entire body clenched down. He was seconds away from coming, if Avery would just hit his spot again.

  From one moment to the next, everything changed. Jameson cried out, his balls tightened, and he came all over his hand and stomach. Avery continued to pound, drawing out Jameson’s orgasm. Just as he was about to call for mercy because he was getting too sensitive, Avery arched and froze, and Jameson felt his cock pulse within his channel.

  They stayed like that for breathless seconds, and then Avery pushed Jameson’s thighs off his shoulders so he could collapse onto Jameson’s chest. Jameson’s come squished between them, but he didn’t care. Avery’s ear was right over Jameson’s heart, and they were sweaty, sticky, and sated.

  It was perfect. It took Jameson a second to realize Avery was speaking, his voice nothing more than a murmur.

  “What?” Jameson slurred.

  “Thank you.” Avery turned his head and kissed Jameson’s sternum. Then he wrapped his arms around Jameson, and Jameson did the same and held him close. He didn’t ever want to let go.

  Jameson contorted himself enough to kiss the top of Avery’s head, but he knew they needed to talk. It would probably be good for both of them, but right then, Jameson didn’t want to do anything to spoil the moment. Avery’s dick was still in his ass, and they were wrapped together, as close as two humans could possibly be.

  If it were up to him, it would go on forever. He just had to figure out how to make it last.

  Avery started to go soft, and he had to move so he wouldn’t lose the condom. Jameson watched him as he slowly got up and stumbled, but managed to pull the condom off and toss it in the garbage can. When Avery blinked and looked around, Jameson’s heart started to pound. Was he going to get dressed and leave? Panic swirled in his gut, and he tried to push himself up, tried to think of something to say to keep Avery there.

  But Avery just grabbed his towel off the hook on the back of the door and brought it to the bed. He made a cursory wipe to clean them both up and then reached under Jameson to grab the edge of the blanket. Jameson rolled so Avery could pull the blanket and sheet back. Then Avery got into bed with him, covered them both, and snuggled into his side.

  Jameson let out a relieved breath and pulled Avery in close. After a long moment, he cleared his throat. “You okay?”

  Avery nodded against his chest. “I don’t know.”

  Jameson was glad that Avery couldn’t see him frown. The answer was about what he expected but not what he hoped for.

  Avery stretched and placed a quick, sucking kiss on Jameson’s throat. “That was everything. Amazing. You were….” Avery blew out a breath and let out a satisfied sigh. “Perfect. You were perfect. But….”

  Jameson just squeezed him tightly. He heard the sincerity in Avery’s words, and he had an inkling about the rest, but he didn’t need to hear more.

  “Just stay here with me. We’ll work the rest out.”

  Avery kissed his chest. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

  And Jameson believed him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  EVEN though they spent the rest of the day together, Avery insisted on going home that night. He had a lecture to give the next morning, and he needed to get his head together. He and Jameson hadn’t talked much. They mostly lay in bed and held each other, with only occasional conversation. They napped at one point, and Jameson gave him a blow job good enough to make his knees wobble.

  Avery didn’t know what to say, but he still couldn’t get that sense of betrayal, however small, to completely leave his head. His head told him he wasn’t cheating on Luke, but there was that tiny kernel in his heart that said he was, and until he could get past that, he just didn’t know what to say.

  But the fact that he wanted to get past it made him feel as though he was making progress.

  He and Jameson exchanged numbers, and he didn’t ignore Jameson when he texted, but the conversation was short. He felt a warm flutter in his stomach when he saw Jameson’s first text—excitement—and he didn’t quite know what to do with it.

  He was running late the next morning and barely got to the office on time. Jameson was waiting for him by the door of the conference hall, and Avery gave his hand a squeeze as he breezed by, but as he gave his lecture on the merits of ghostwalker/anchor connections, his gaze kept straying to Jameson.

  Jameson sat in the front row and dutifully took notes while Avery talked, and Avery lost his thread when he found himself hoping Jameson had questions they’d have to discuss. He took a quick break and gulped some water. When he continued on, he made a point of not looking at Jameson at all. And when they got to the end, and Avery asked if there were questions, he purposefully did not call on Jameson when he raised his hand. He managed to avoid Jameson for the entire section, and when he dismissed them all for lunch, he studiously ignored Jameson’s attempt to catch his eye.

  What was he doing? He wasn’t some fickle teenager. He was a grown man who’d had an amazing experience with someone he cared about. He was being ridiculous, and he knew it, but he didn’t know how to stop.

  Avery took a deep breath, packed up his things, and headed out of the hall. Jameson wasn’t in the lobby, so Avery headed straight for the cafeteria. He was sure he’d catch Jameson there, and he swept the room when he stepped inside, but Jameson was nowhere to be seen. So he got his lunch and headed toward the corner, certain Jameson would join him.

  By the time lunch was over, Jameson had not appeared.

  Dammit. Avery knew it was all his fault, and he knew it was up to him to fix it. He didn’t want Jameson to think yesterday was a mistake. And he had to make sure Jameson knew that Avery didn’t think it was either. On a mission, Avery went to search him out. He would explain that he freaked for a minute and hope that Jame
son forgave his indiscretion.

  Michael waylaid him on the stairs.

  “What is up with you?”

  Avery blinked innocently at him. “What do you mean?”

  Michael narrowed his eyes, and Avery thought he might be reading him. While Michael never abused his powers, Avery was so used to it that Michael didn’t have any compunction about reading him whenever he felt like it. And Avery usually let him. It was easier, if nothing else.

  “Ah. So it’s like that, then?”

  Avery didn’t pretend not to know what Michael was talking about. “Yes.”

  Michael smiled—the real smile that not a lot of people got to see. “Good. I’m glad. I mean, that kid is kind of young, but if he does it for you, then good for you. And who am I to talk about age gaps?” He gripped Avery’s shoulder with an affectionate squeeze. “It’s good to see you happy again. Luke would have wanted that.”

  Avery nodded. Michael had been there since the beginning, and he’d known Luke almost as well as Avery did. It felt good to have Michael confirm it.

  “But right now, I have to find Jameson and fix things.”

  Michael nodded and let him go. “He’s a good man, Avery. He’ll listen.”

  “I hope so.”

  Without a backward glance, Avery headed down to the seventh floor. It turned out he didn’t have to search for Jameson. He stood head and shoulders in a small group that included Sam and Renata as well as Dom. Avery headed over but he tried to keep his distance so as not to interrupt. He’d catch Jameson as soon as they were done.

  “You’ve been making amazing progress, Jameson. I’d really like you to get some more practical experience, though,” he heard Renata say. “I know Tyler is available. I’d like to see if you can work with him again today.”

  Something white-hot burst in his chest. Avery had to clench his hands to keep them from shaking. Tyler? They were going to call Tyler up so Jameson could care for him?

  “Sure. That’d be good.”

  And Jameson was going to allow it?