Flowers for the Gardener

by Sharon Maria Bidwell

  “Yo-You said you wished I w-would…” Christ, when did he develop a stutter? The urge to swallow clogged his throat once more, so he fought past it and, as he did, he met Ethan’s watchful gaze.

  “I said I wished you would fuck me.”

  Cheeks ablaze, Rich nodded, jumping when Ethan threaded his fingers through strands of Rich’s hair. Cool fingertips stroked the left side of his jaw.

  “We can do that. We can do…anything. But first…”

  With a devilish regard, Ethan hooked hold of Rich’s waistband and crouched, taking down the swimwear. Rich’s erection bounced free, but Ethan ignored it. Never had Rich felt so humiliated stepping out of a garment. Ethan’s face so painfully close to his bobbing cock didn’t make it any easier. Neither did the warm air puffing against his thigh as Ethan exhaled. One turn of the man’s head and those lips would be on Rich’s dick. His whole body screamed for Ethan to move, and he did…but stopped. The bastard knew.

  Reluctant to see, still Rich’s eyes dragged down to meet the other’s stare, Ethan’s gaze dancing, laughing. The swine pursed his lips and blew. So gentle a caress shouldn’t be able to throw Rich’s head back, but it did, and left him swearing. A chuckle rang out, crowding the enclosed space.

  “Not going to blow you. Not now.”

  Disappointment rushed in, now swept back by surprise, and shock, hope, and anticipation, fed to his cock, which performed a jig of its own, reacting to the promise.

  “I so much as lick you, you’ll explode.”

  No doubt to prove his point, a fingertip touched the tip of Rich’s dick, and his whole body lurched. Wet and willing, at the mercy of Ethan’s teasing. How much more embarrassment and delay must he suffer through before Ethan had his wicked way?

  Didn’t happen. Ethan rose, one arm going around Rich’s waist, drawing the two of them close, naked, over-sensitised skin rubbing against the odd rough but soft texture of jeans below and warm torso up top.

  “Never got through kissing you.”

  The comment sent more shockwaves through Rich, in part because he struggled with the man’s sincerity. His mind flicked back to their tongue-wrestling of the morning—such a short while ago, but as good as a lifetime away—when Ethan dived for his mouth. The luscious sweep of his tongue washed away any complaints like fallen leaves.

  Chapter 6

  Nudity versus clothing lost meaning as they ground against one another, both states arousing. Richard might leak all over him, and leave wet trails on Ethan’s jeans, on his skin, if Richard took hold of him. Made his pulse quicken, his cock to throb with the beat. He took a grip on one arse cheek, firm and rigid, lifting Richard, fingers seeking the crease between while he devoured Richard at the mouth, and tugged on the man’s nipples with his free hand. The sweet haze of arousal threatened to engulf him, fed by small gasps, hisses, and whimpers erupting from his boss.

  Enough foreplay. Time to decide what he intended to do with this man. A man who might agree to anything while lust rode him.

  The idea of having Richard screw him burned bright, but he doubted Richard was dominant enough to provide the type of fuck he liked. Despite his teasing Richard with the whole Lord of the Manor routine, and the obvious differences in their upbringing, the boss didn’t command sufficiently to play the key role in any of Ethan’s fantasies. Not the sort where Ethan bent over, anyway. Didn’t mean the man couldn’t satisfy other daydreams.

  “I think we’ll switch things around,” Ethan mumbled against Richard’s skin before giving him another peck at the side of his mouth, allowing the man a chance to rise out of his daze, before backing away. Left hand closed into a fist as Ethan moved to the bench, fingers still warm from where he’d half-buried them in Richard’s perineum. He undid his belt and unzipped his fly before stepping on the bottom level of the sauna and turning. He sat on the second tier, braced his elbows, and opened his legs, one straight out, one bent at the knee. Stared at Richard.

  Took a moment, but the man moved, glancing up with uncertainty as he went to his knees on the lower shelf. No bidding needed. Hands went to Ethan’s hips, fingers hooking over the waistband of Ethan’s jeans and, when he looked up, Ethan obliged by lifting his body, making it easy to draw the trousers to his knees. Without hesitating, Ethan curled his legs back so Richard could remove the clothes. Naked, Ethan relaxed into the position, on display.

  Richard’s gaze travelled, fluttering over him. Alighting, to move on as though there were too many first-rate things to see. The open captivation stroked Ethan’s ego—he’d have needed to be a much better man for it not to—but he longed for more.

  “What would you like to do?” Anyone would think no one ever asked Richard such a question judging by the startled look in his eyes. Indecision warred with shock, gaze wide, lips parted, head jerking. A familiar mischievousness slid into Ethan’s belly. “You want to sit on it?” He gave his cock a not-too-gentle stroke. “Or to suck?” Well, Richard didn’t refuse, appeared to weigh the options.

  “We need…” Richard sounded young and inept, voice and body shaky. With how much experience was the rich boy blessed, despite his claims to have been with a man? Having a taste didn’t produce a connoisseur. Though the sentence trailed off, Ethan filled in the rest.

  “We need protection?” At Richard’s nod, Ethan added, “Pocket of my jeans.” Said much for their differences he came better prepared than Richard did, but the other man squandered no time or effort extracting the condoms and setting them aside. Lube, too.

  Bent knee swaying caused movement throughout his body as Ethan settled back. Even his cock jiggled, earning a covert glance from Richard. No way to resist. “Master’s choice.”

  He didn’t stipulate which of them took the role of the master here, expected retaliation for the remark, not instant compliance, but Richard at once spoke up. “I want to suck.”

  Surprising, but…nice, and no better end to the day than to watch Richard wrap his plump lips around an erection.

  At a nod, Richard took out a condom from the box. Before tearing it open, he licked his lips, bent his head, and ran his tongue along the thick vein to one side of Ethan’s dick. Fuck if it didn’t make Ethan tip his head back and to close his eyes, despite the magnificent sight denied to him.

  Eagerness bested Richard, too. After rolling the condom on Ethan, he followed with his mouth, gagged, and jerked back. Ethan’s erection slithered out, soft and silky with saliva.

  Fucking irresistible.

  He wouldn’t hate to see Richard retch again, but the man had other ideas, moving to Ethan’s testicles. Selfish rich boy, no doubt thinking of his over-stretched throat. Still, Ethan’s lips quirked up. Fine with him if Richard spent time tonguing his sac. Ethan lay back, closing his eyes, uncaring. Might as well enjoy the attention, to revel in it, relax. When Richard at last returned to Ethan’s cock, he took it easier, holding it at the base, shortening the length. The one thing better might be if Ethan buried his head in Richard’s lap. Give as good as he got so to speak, reciprocate, but Ethan hadn’t positioned them right. He longed to watch, but the pressure built and one glance might send him over the edge. In fact, if he didn’t order Richard to climb on soon—

  “You know, I think I want to fuck you, after all.”

  The sentence barely registered before Ethan found his legs hiked up, his body slipping. A knuckle rapped against the slats he grabbed for balance. Fingers penetrated, working in the lube provided by Ethan and meant for use on Richard, and the man’s cock butted up to his entrance. Somehow, while spinning Ethan’s world with a wicked tongue, Richard had put on a condom.

  Should he stop this? Did he want to? The sensations and abrupt change of circumstances gave him arrhythmia. Had been a while—Ethan’s life of late didn’t include much time for lovers—but…

  The tip of Richard’s cock pushed against him, widening Ethan’s eyes along with other parts of his anatomy. Grey-green eyes stared at him and shone as steel, unforgiving. Ethan shook off the discomf
ort, controlled his breathing, refused to let Richard see how much this rattled him.

  Fine. Richard wanted to play games, did he?

  “That the best you can do?”

  The provocation earned a push of Richard’s hips, made Ethan bite down on a groan. He kept his body from snapping and stifled a shout by clamping his jaws shut. No way to stop his gaze growing heavy and hooded, but he tried not to give more away as, after the first thrust, Richard faltered until he adopted a rhythm familiar to so many men. Still…he might be wrong, but Ethan swore he detected some detachment. Solitary, reclusive, withdrawn. What went on here?

  Richard’s taking charge was out of character despite Ethan’s accusations but difficult to think about the meaning as Richard moved, his grip tightening, compensating, holding Ethan in place. Damn if Little Lord Fauntleroy didn’t grab one of Ethan’s wrists and an ankle, dark gaze flicking to his face to jolt away as if ashamed to be caught looking. The glance spoilt Ethan’s pleasure and became an annoyance he was unprepared to tolerate.

  At the next plunge into him, Ethan squeezed…hard. That earned Richard’s attention, stare full of accusation. Ethan curled a hand around the back of Richard’s neck in an attempt to pull Richard head down to him. All he wanted was a kiss, but Richard resisted. Ethan tugged, but nope, Richard wasn’t having any of it.

  “So I’m good enough to fuck but not for seduction. And you call that a suck?”

  “I thought this was what you wanted?”

  When, if ever, had Richard sounded this bitter?

  “I may have said I wanted you to fuck me but I want to savour it. You don’t mind what I’m offering. Thought you’d like a chance to feel it, too.” On the word feel, Ethan squeezed again, though not so hard this time. “You don’t own a battering ram there, and we’re both more than our cocks.”

  The expressions passing through Richard’s face were difficult to name. Whatever his views, no way was Ethan about to let him become too absorbed in what troubled him. No way would he let Richard be diverted by inner demons or those lurking for real in his life.

  “You said we have time, so pull out.”

  Obvious puzzlement gave Richard a creased brow but, after a second, he did as asked.

  “Good. Now, first I’d like more lube. Work it in me, first one finger than two. You can build up to three, if you want, but this isn’t a case where less is more. Be inconsiderate with me and I’ll do the same when it’s your turn.”

  At the mention of Richard taking a turn, the other man blushed. How young Richard looked. Though hard to ignore the man’s obvious embarrassment, Ethan concentrated on shifting position, on placing a towel behind his head. He lifted his legs this time, exposing himself to Richard’s view and attention.

  The finger which pushed into him was smooth, silky with lube. Didn’t take long before Ethan was able to tell him, “I can take two.”

  Two was better. More pressure but pleasant, nothing to take him to the edge.

  “Deeper.” The instruction was more for the fun of ordering Richard around than because he needed it, but ohhhh, proved worthwhile as those digits brushed over his sweet spot. He must have made a sound because Richard twitched, and his wide-eyed gaze went to Ethan’s face. With half-closed eyes, Ethan gave him a lazy smile.

  “Feels good. Better. Fast can be enjoyable, but it can be wonderful to take things slow when there’s time. If you don’t know, you need to learn. Why aren’t you touching me, Rich?” He remembered at the last Richard said he preferred to shorten his name. “I’m where you wanted me, so take advantage.”

  The command made Richard twitch again, made Ethan bite back a moan. God, but topping from the bottom like this turned him on. Richard’s reactions…priceless. The way the man’s steely gaze fluttered over him, taking in everything. Chest rising, falling, fast. Too fast. Lips parted, brow creased. The picture of a man not so much enjoying himself but caught in the headlights. Delectable.

  “Go deep again. You know what I’m saying. Find the right sp—”

  He didn’t finish before Richard located the spot he was on about, making Ethan jolt. He opened his mouth to say do it again but Richard found the mark and appeared to know; he made every subsequent stroke touch right there. Hell, but this…Ethan’s throat clicked as he swallowed. The world became dark as he closed his eyes. He could grow used to this. Could…

  Ethan faded, coming around moments later, amazed. Easy to wallow in bliss with nerves, cock, and his whole body jumping in tune with the delicate flicks of Richard’s fingers. The man might not be so inexperienced after all because he sure knew what Ethan’s prostate appreciated.

  “You with me, Rich?” The words sighed out. No answer, but Richard’s gaze slid along Ethan’s body to his face. When he had Richard’s awareness, Ethan gestured to Richard’s dick with a slow, lazy thrust of his chin. “Put a new condom on.”

  The order earned a spreading flush, stomach, torso, face rosy, but Richard spoke not one word, only obeyed. As he undid the packet and rolled on the condom, he pressed his lips together, expression full of concentration. Did Richard always look so serious when having sex? Would Ethan get the chance to find out? Worth trying.

  “Think you can take me this way, or you want me on top?” Though disinclined to move, Ethan wanted to give Richard a choice.

  Richard’s colour deepened. “I’m fine like this.”

  “Me, too. So work it on in me.”

  Saying such things heightened Richard’s hue which fired Ethan’s blood. The seconds needed for Richard to adjust position played out, interminable. After the awkward pounding, another penetration shouldn’t be a problem.

  Shock overtook when Richard slowed the pace, inching in. Agonisingly so. Ethan choked at every centimetre. No stopping, either. Inexorable progress with no let up until Richard was all the way in. When had sex last felt like this?

  Finally, Richard rested, and praise the heavens because a withdrawal now would be brutal.

  Had to happen, devastating when it came, but not as Ethan imagined. Again, Richard took his time, sending shivery pleasure from the base of Ethan’s spine up through his chest and outwards.

  Short lived. The urge to thrust must have taken Richard over, his disorientation written across his face, gaze wild, bewildered. Neither of them were in control any longer; something primal attained authority. Ethan had no order to give which would be coherent. If not for the pain of the uncomfortable position—missionary of all things, and on a fucking sauna platform—he’d be mindless. Despite his spine protesting, he clamped his teeth shut as a more urgent demand controlled his body.

  No chance to move. With each thrust, Richard dropped lower, resting more weight on Ethan, gaze going distant, while Ethan’s hold on the wooden structure became a death grip. Pleasure and pain intermingled, closing Ethan’s eyes, peeling back his lips. Skin slapped. Sweat dripped. They slipped, pushed, pulled, grasping at each other and the level surface. Desperate not to lose their connection, Ethan bore Richard’s weight and urged him on and in, to faster, wilder propulsion.

  Madness. They would hurt for this, but no way to care. Need drove them on as one being, Richard’s neediness hammering into him. Agony-spiced sensation edging Ethan toward the precipice of release without mercy. Yet still neither man came.

  Fuck this. Another minute would kill him.

  As though Richard heard, a hand wrapped around Ethan’s dick. The pull, not pretty or precise, proved effectual. A different sensation flooded out from the base of Ethan’s backbone. Everything rushed up, drawing to one spot in his being, boiling over as he came, shouting, cries echoed by a grunt from Richard as the man twisted, bucked, hips snapping, nerves and muscles dictating, mindless of any damage caused by their blind need.

  * * * *

  Somewhere in the dim recesses of Rich’s mind, pain existed. Bruised knees. Aching back. Caught in the throes of climax he didn’t care. A vague wonderment flared. Would he ever stop coming?

  He did, but the aftersho
cks locked him in place as lava rushed through his limbs. Joints screamed, and extremities tingled. He must move. Movement was the only way to hold back the rising tide of misery, but he couldn’t so much as put down a hand or a knee.

  “Fuck…Rich.”

  Not an instruction or question. A plea. A hand pushed against one of Rich’s shoulders, Ethan unable to move either, the nudge useless.

  “T-Trying.” Rich shoved off with a foot on the lower tier, but slipped, and pitched over, grinding into Ethan. The resulting moan and the way Ethan shuddered was not from pleasure, nor entirely pain. Warm fluid acted as glue. Of course, Ethan had come, too. No reason for him not to, but Rich’s own climax had made him oblivious. Shame on him, having no consideration for the other man’s feelings, but it was difficult to keep in mind when he had Ethan’s semen all over him.

  This one fact set him laughing, caused him to shake, brought small aches and screaming joints alive. Against the wooden slats, Ethan must feel like dying. At last, Rich heaved his body to one side.

  The warm wood and softer towelling against his skin drew out a sigh. A bed would be better, but the warmth nuzzled him, and Rich rested for a time, eyes closed, thoughts spinning.

  If his mother returned early, or Rosie came in, the women would stumble across two naked men sprawled on charcoal grey towels dissolved of the will to budge by the force of orgasm. Not that Rosie would enter without knocking, or venture down to the gym at all, but the idea was almost entertaining. Minutes ticked by during which he wished he could ring for Rosie. A pitcher of something cold would do the trick. He swallowed, throat painful. Speaking remained beyond his power. As a vague afterthought, Rich pulled the condom from his penis.

  What had he done?

  Fool to believe taking Ethan at his word and screwing the other man would make Rich the one in control. Ludicrous concept. Ethan maintained the upper hand a good deal of the time. Suffered most for it. A smile stretched Rich’s face as a perverse pleasure took hold, but he soon wiped his expression clean. If Ethan saw him smiling, no way to judge how he would react.