by Sue Brown
“I’m your big man, your big man who’s gonna fill you up,” Cris cooed.
Luis went crimson as Dan laughed at Cris’s impression.
Gideon came over and sat on one of the barstools near Dan. “I thought I told you guys to work, not discuss your sex lives.”
“Believe me, darling, I haven’t even started yet.” Dan batted his eyelashes at Gideon, and Cris groaned.
“If you’re going to do that, I’m going to work with Luis. I’ll just take his phone away from him.”
From his end of the bar, Luis raised an eyebrow. “Try it and die.”
“You’re all fired,” Gideon declared cheerfully.
Cris gasped and clutched his chest. “Not twice in one week.”
“It’s getting to be a habit,” Gideon said.
Dan coughed in the back of his throat. “Whose bar is it?”
“Your bar, darlin’.”
“Uh… guys?” Mikey waved a glass. “Can I get a top up before you throw us out?”
“Sure, what do you want?” Dan asked.
Cris felt awkward about moving away, but he didn’t look at Mikey. He did notice Mr. Fifteen staring over at them, and he nodded at him to let him know everything was fine. Of course he did the two-step with Bennett as they both pretended not to look at each other.
There was a rush to the bar when Dan announced last call. Cris was busy serving drinks and didn’t have time to focus on Bennett. Then he bussed the tables and stacked the glasses on the bar, and he laughed and joked with the guys as he took their empty glasses and ignored their grumbles as they whined about the bar closing early. To some of them, the idea of being trapped inside the bar was a good thing. Cris had a feeling Cowboys and Angels meant a lot more to some of the customers than a place to get a drink.
Once Dan called time, and Gideon pointedly opened the door, they shrugged on coats and hats and scarves and shivered as they went out into the snowy world. Cris spent time stacking the dishwasher with the glasses. When he came back into the main area, the only person left was Bennett, who stood awkwardly by the bar.
Cris went straight up to him. “Why are you still here?”
Bennett pushed his hands into his pockets. “I couldn’t go home after what I said. Are you okay? You seemed annoyed.”
“I was more annoyed at the peanut gallery. I’m tired now. It’s been a long day. Can we just go home?” Bennett’s eyes opened wide, and Cris realized what he’d said. “I mean, I need to finish up here and go home.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Bennett said.
Cris realized he wasn’t going to get away easily so he handed the tray to Bennett, and they went around the bar and collected the last of the glasses. Bennett helped him wash up while the others cleaned the bar. There was little conversation between the two of them beyond “please” and “thank you,” but it didn’t feel uncomfortable.
After a short while, Gideon entered the kitchen. “It’s time you boys made a move. The snow’s getting worse. You’ll be stuck here if you don’t leave now. Luis’s already gone. Dan and I can finish up.”
Cris looked through the window to see that the intensity of the snow had increased. “Thanks. Much as I love you guys, I’d rather be stuck at home than here.”
“We feel just the same way,” Dan assured him as he came in with more glasses.
Cris threw him the cloth and flipped him off. Then he smiled tentatively at Bennett. “Time to go.”
“It’s gonna be a long walk home. I could go back to Mikey’s.” Bennett lived near his parents. It would take him at least a couple of hours if the trains stopped running.
“Come back to my place.”
The suggestion was impulsive. He was tired, but he could do with Bennett’s company. He wanted Bennett to shelter from the snowstorm with him.
Bennett looked at him uncertainly. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Nothing’s gonna be running in the morning. Come back to me, and we’ll wait it out.” Cris smiled and held out his hand. “I’ve got hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows.”
“Is that meant to be a bribe?” Bennett asked in a deadpan tone.
Cris waggled his eyebrows. “Yep. Will it work?”
“Have you got chocolate sprinkles?”
“Uh… no.”
Dan snorted. “Get out of here before my man throws you out.”
Gideon preened at being called Dan’s man. He was so predictable. Dan only had to look at Gideon for the big man to melt.
Cris rolled his eyes. “We’re going, we’re going. I’ll get my coat, and then we’re gone.”
The drop in temperature hit him as soon as they stepped out of Cowboys and Angels. Cris drew in a breath and wished he hadn’t as the cold seared down to his lungs.
Judging from the expression on Bennett’s face, he was in pain too. “What’s the chance of us getting an Uber?”
“The roads aren’t plowed. What do you think?”
“I was afraid you were gonna say that.”
“Come on. It won’t take more than an hour.”
Cris’s estimate might have been optimistic. They struggled through the heavy snowfall on the empty streets. Bennett grumbled for a while, but Cris grabbed his hand and told him to quit complaining.
Bennett looked at their joined gloved hands and then at Cris. “You’re a ‘glass half-full’ person, aren’t you?”
“I try to be. I want to see the best in life.”
“I’m not.”
Under the streetlamp Cris watched snowflakes catch in Bennett’s eyelashes and stubble. He tugged Bennett close to him. “You’ve spent so long taking care of Mikey and watching out for your parents, you’ve forgotten to take care of yourself.”
Snowflakes swirled around them, but they ignored the weather. Bennett’s whole attention was focused on Cris. “Since I met you I realize you take care of me.”
Cris cupped Bennett’s cheek, Bennett leaned into the touch, but Cris was sure Bennett didn’t realize it. “I like taking care of you.” It was true, but it was more than that. Cris had spent his life taking care of people, but it was different with Bennett. He wanted to hold him close and take Bennett away from what made him so unhappy. It was the first time he’d felt so protective about anyone.
“I like it,” Bennett admitted.
“Let me take care of you, Bennett.”
“Take me home?”
Cris frowned, not sure what Bennett wanted. “You want to go to your home?”
Bennett shivered, and his teeth chattered. “I want to go to your home. I’m freezing.”
“Let’s go. I can warm you.” Cris let his gaze heat up.
“I get the feeling you’re not talking about hot chocolate and sprinkles,” Bennett said unsteadily.
“I can think of other ways of warming you,” Cris agreed.
Chapter 15
IT TOOK another twenty minutes, but finally they were home. Cris slammed the front door, mentally apologized to his neighbors, and told Bennett to shed his coat, hat, and gloves. Bennett raised an eyebrow, but when Cris just stared at him, he unbuttoned his coat, and Cris cheered inwardly and did the same. The second they were stripped of outerwear, Cris backed Bennett against the wall and pinned him only with his gaze. He cupped Bennett’s jaw, and Bennett swallowed hard.
“I’ve been very patient,” Cris purred.
“You have?” Bennett sounded doubtful.
“I have.”
Bennett rolled his eyes but rested his hands on Cris’s hips. “You’d better get on with it then.”
Cris leaned in and scraped his stubble against Bennett’s. They both shivered, and when he did it again, the sensation traveled to Cris’s cock. He placed his mouth against Bennett’s ear. “I’m all about touch.”
Bennett shivered again. “Show me.”
“You’re wearing too many clothes.” Cris took a half step back and slid his fingers under Bennett’s sweater. He stroked the undershirt over his flat abdomen, and even
through the fabric, Bennett’s muscles rippled. “I want to see you.”
Bennett raised his arms, and Cris pulled it over Bennett’s head. The gray undershirt swiftly followed, exposing a broad chest liberally covered with dark fur. Cris combed his fingers through the hair and rubbed the pads of his thumbs over the dark nipples.
Bennett gasped and placed his palms against the wall. “Am I the only one getting naked?”
“You’ve seen me naked already,” Cris pointed out. “I want to see all of you now.” He brushed the back of his hand against the bulge in Bennett’s pants, and Bennett shuddered. Cris smiled, slipped his fingers inside the waistband, and watched the muscles ripple again. Then he knelt at Bennett’s feet to unlace his boots.
Bennett ran a hand through Cris’s hair. “I like seeing you at my feet.”
Cris grinned up at him. “I like the view too.” He pulled Bennett’s boots off and tugged down his pants and briefs. Oh yeah, he loved the sight of Bennett’s half-hard dick against his strong, lightly furred thighs. Bennett’s face was flushed, his eyes half-lidded as he looked down. Cris discarded the clothes and then cupped Bennett’s ass so he could nuzzle into the curls framing his cock.
“You’re a tease,” Bennett hissed.
“You’ve just worked that out?” Cris licked his shaft from base to tip and swirled his tongue around the slit, loving the salty, bitter taste.
Bennett gave a strangled groan and tugged painfully at Cris’s hair. “More.”
Cris obliged and spent more time around the head. Each lick drew a fresh moan, so he sucked lightly on the head, and cupped the soft sac as he licked and nibbled down the shaft.
“It’s going to be all over if we carry on like this,” Bennett murmured.
“You come when you’re ready, baby.” Cris was prepared to wait for his release. He was only focused on Bennett and Bennett’s pleasure.
“You’re amazing, Lionman.”
“Cris,” he corrected. “I’m Lionman on stage.”
“Cris,” Bennett agreed on a slow breath. “Sorry. Suck me.”
“Put your hands against the wall.”
Cris waited until Bennett obeyed. Then he wrapped his hand around the shaft and relished the heavy weight against his palm. He rolled his balls in the other hand, and then he sucked in the head. Bennett groaned, but his hands stayed against the wall. Cris had a gag reflex and could only take in so much, but he used his hands as well as his tongue to drive Bennett mad. He sucked until Bennett cried out and bent over him as salty bursts pulsed down Cris’s throat. They stayed in that position until Bennett softened in his mouth. Then Bennett joined Cris on the floor as though his legs could no longer hold him up.
“Okay?” Cris asked, as he stroked Bennett’s jaw.
Bennett gave a short laugh and hauled Cris in for an openmouthed kiss, his hand around the nape of Cris’s neck and their tongues dueling together. Then Bennett rested his head on Cris’s shoulder and pressed soft kisses into Cris’s neck. They stayed there for a long time, neither of them anxious to move until Bennett sighed and raised his head. He looked the most relaxed Cris had ever seen. The more Cris loved on him, the more his pinched look eased. Cris intended to erase that look forever. “Damn.”
Cris grinned at his lack of words. “Damn good?”
“Hell yes.” Bennett brushed his lips over Cris’s. “But what about you?”
“I thought we could go to bed.” Cris had plans for Bennett, but they involved a soft mattress rather than a hard floor, so Cris stood and pulled Bennett to his feet.
Bennett groaned and rolled his shoulders. “I’m too old for wall sex.”
“You weren’t complaining a few minutes ago,” Cris pointed out. He didn’t care what Bennett was doing if he could watch Bennett’s muscles rippling. He was a walking work of art. Maybe he should be doing a nude study of Bennett. His lips twitched. Bennett’s head would explode if he suggested that.
“A few minutes ago, your mouth was wrapped around my dick. I couldn’t speak, let alone complain.”
“I’ll have to remember that. Blowjobs melt your brain. As for being old”—Cris dug his fingers in Bennett’s ribs, smirking as he yelped—“you’re not that much older than me, dipshit.”
“Nice,” Bennett grumbled, pushed away Cris’s fingers, and rubbed the sore spot. “Insults and assaults.”
Cris stopped his complaints with a kiss and a roll of his hips against Bennett’s. “Shut up and come to bed.”
He grabbed Bennett’s hand and tugged him to his bedroom. It was a mess, and at some point, he’d really have to change his sheets, but he pushed Bennett onto the bed, kicked off his shoes, and climbed on top of him. Bennett made him toppy and dominant in a way he hadn’t been with other guys. He wanted to make Bennett forget his own name. From the way Bennett lay back on the pillows and waited for Cris to decide what to do, he had no objection.
Cris looked at Bennett’s full and plump mouth. “I want to kiss you.”
“Are you gonna get naked?”
“Soon. I want to kiss you first.”
Bennett wrapped his arms around Cris’s neck. “Then do it.”
Cris bent forward, stretched out over Bennett’s naked body, and brushed a light kiss over his lips.
“Tease,” Bennett muttered.
“You think I’m teasing you? What about this?”
Cris deepened the kiss, and Bennett’s mouth opened under his. He slid his tongue into Bennett’s mouth and lazily they dueled, tongue around tongue. Cris kept kissing Bennett until Bennett thrust up against him, his hardening shaft trapped between them.
Cris sat back up on Bennett’s thighs, swept his hands down Bennett’s torso, and lightly pinched his nipples as his own dick jumped at Bennett’s hiss.
“Get naked,” Bennett ordered.
Cris pulled off his long-sleeve T-shirt, and Bennett’s eyes darkened at the sight of his chest. When Cris scrambled off to get rid of his jeans and briefs, his dick slapped against his belly and left a sticky precome trail.
Bennett held out his hand. “Need you now.”
Cris was back on the bed in seconds, stretched out over Bennett, skin against skin, hard cock touching hard cock, sweat and soft hair tickling Cris’s body. He cradled Bennett’s face with his hands. “You feel so good.”
Bennett pressed a kiss into Cris’s hand. “You’ll feel even better inside me.”
“I’m gonna have to teach you patience.” Cris kissed Bennett, rolled off him, and leaned over to pull a condom and lube out of the drawer of the nightstand.
Bennett pulled his legs up to his chest, exposing his dark pink hole. Cris took in a deep breath because it would be damned embarrassing if he came before he’d had a chance to sample his lover. He bent and licked a stripe from Bennett’s balls to his hole. Then he squeezed lube onto his fingers. He didn’t know how long it had been since Bennett had taken a cock, but there was no rush at all. Cris circled the muscle with the lube and waited until Bennett pushed against his fingers. Then he pressed one fingertip in.
“More,” Bennett moaned.
He pressed in up to the knuckle, and Bennett’s tight channel closed around him. Cris took his time and made sure Bennett could accept one finger before he went for a second.
Bennett grabbed his wrist. “I’m not a damned virgin. Fuck me!”
Cris figured the man knew his own body. He ripped open the condom packet and smoothed the rubber down his shaft. Then he leaned over Bennett and closed his eyes as he pressed into his tight hot glove. He waited until the tight look on Bennett’s face eased, took a deep breath, and started to thrust. Bennett rested his legs over Cris’s shoulders and let Cris do the work. When Cris wrapped his hand around Bennett’s leaking shaft, Bennett’s eyes fluttered shut and he moaned, and Cris couldn’t take his gaze away from him. He pulled Bennett closer to him, and the change in position made Bennett gasp.
Sweat beading across his brow, Bennett opened his eyes and stared at Cris. “Fuck me harder.”
Cris took his time, sped up his gentle thrusts, and changed his rhythm until Bennett was lost in his pleasure and begging Cris for more. Cris gritted his teeth and hung on to his control for as long as he could, but watching Bennett, being sheathed by his channel, was more than he could take. Sweat trickled down his spine as he gasped out, “Gonna come.”
Bennett nodded and tensed his jaw as Cris jacked his cock. He grunted, thrust up through the tight channel of Cris’s fingers, and spurted over them. Cris wiped his hand on the sheet, concentrated on thrusting harder until his balls tightened, and yelled out his pleasure as he came. Then he collapsed over Bennett’s body, a breathless, sweaty mess.
It took a moment to unravel their limbs. Cris disposed of the condom in the trash can, and then he and Bennett folded into each other’s arms and entwined their legs. Bennett made sleepy, contented noises against Cris’s neck, and Cris smiled—his man was a snuggler. He shouldn’t have been surprised.
When Bennett’s breathing softened, Cris thought he was asleep, until he said, “I should go home.”
Cris made a disapproving noise in the back of his throat and held Bennett closer. “It’s snowing. They shut down the subway. You stay here where it’s nice and warm.”
“You don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind at all.” Cris rolled so Bennett was effectively pinned to the bed. “Go to sleep, baby.”
“Not your baby,” Bennett muttered, but it didn’t sound heated.
Cris was too tired to argue. He pushed a curl of Bennett’s hair away from his eyes, and Bennett grumbled, but he was asleep between one breath and the next and making little snorting sounds. Cris took longer because he needed time to unwind, but eventually he fell into a dreamless sleep in Bennett’s arms.
CRIS WOKE in the night to use the bathroom. By the time he returned, Bennett had rolled into the middle of the bed and spread out.
“Bed hogger,” Cris whispered in Bennett’s ear as he nudged him over.
Bennett mumbled something and rolled over, giving Cris fractionally more space.
Cris blinked. “Did you say you like kissing lions?” When he got no answer, he shook his head and settled down behind Bennett, who flinched and tried to pull away.
