Duty and Devotion

by Tere Michaels

  “Which one?” Evan came in from the deck.

  “Well clearly not the one where everyone disappears. Where'd the kids go?”

  “Ellie and Walt picked them up for the weekend. They'll be back tomorrow night.” Evan was casual but deliberate in the kitchen, putting a pitcher of iced tea and two glasses on a tray.

  “When did these plans happen?” Matt smoothed his T-shirt nervously.

  “I called Ellie yesterday afternoon.”

  “Did I forget something we had to do?”

  Evan smiled and flushed, charming the absolutely shit out of Matt.

  “I thought we could take advantage of the empty house,” Evan murmured. “Spend the day in bed.”

  Matt leaned against the counter. “The whole day.”

  “Well we don't have to.” Evan matched Matt's posture. “But if you wanted to…”

  “Is this the return of horny beach house, Evan?” Matt drawled, hoping the answer was yes and hoping beyond all hope that the outcome would be very different.

  “Nah, it's an improved version.” Evan straightened up and came around the counter, his walk slow and languid. Matt swallowed a moan.

  Matt reached for him, but Evan kept just out of his grasp. “Come on. Upstairs. If we start downstairs we'll get distracted.”

  “I don't consider sucking your dick a distraction.”

  Now it was Evan's turn to smother a groan. “I do. I'd rather have your mouth somewhere else.”

  The words were sexy; the blush on his lover's face just made it that hotter. Matt took a step toward the stairs. “Hurry up before I can't walk.”

  He kept his hands to himself until they were in the bedroom.

  Evan was already undressing, his breathing shallow and eager. Matt thought he might be having the greatest sex dream of all time—but the chill of the air in the curtained room as he pulled off his shirt told him it was all very real.

  There were things on the nightstand, noticeable as Evan flicked on the lamp. He pulled down the cover, got an extra pillow—Matt blew out a breath as Evan crawled onto the bed.

  He gawked, and Evan smiled up at him.

  “You're being a little too calm about this,” Evan murmured. “I'm starting to get nervous. Excuse me—more nervous.”

  “I'm trying not to jump you,” Matt said, kneeling on the edge of the bed. “I don't want to mess this up.”

  “We do pretty well with everything else. It's just adding something, right?” Evan sprawled on the bed, opening his legs and spreading his arms in invitation.

  Matt's IQ dropped a hundred points. His mouth went dry as he trailed a hand up Evan's leg, tracing a loopy circle on his inner thigh.

  “Right. Just something extra.”

  Evan's legs opened wider.

  “What did you do?” he whispered, unable to take his eyes off this intimate posture.

  “Research.” A sheen of sweat popped across Evan's body.

  “Oh yeah? And what did you decide you wanted?” Matt crawled over Evan, pushing his legs wider with his knees.

  Evan reached up and traced Matt's mouth. Matt chased his fingers with sharp, needy teeth, but Evan didn't let him catch a taste until he was ready.

  “Go slow,” was all Evan said, so low and quiet that Matt saw the words more than heard them. He sucked two of Evan's fingers into his mouth, eyes closing as he simulated his best blowjob.

  Evan's body vibrated beneath him, inside him. He let the spit-slick fingers slide out of his mouth, feeling the trail of cool wetness as Evan traced a line down his chest, his hand curved around Matt's cock.

  “Just a little,” Matt exhaled, already rocking into Evan's hand. “I'm gonna need that.”

  Evan didn't disagree; he stroked, slow and steady, wet fingertips playing over the head. Matt murmured encouragement before he started to pull away—just enough to keep himself in check.

  “My turn.” Matt glanced at the night table to see the lubricant and condoms. He reached for the tube, apprehension flitting through his head until Evan moved restlessly under him.

  “Don't take forever,” he whispered, and Matt didn't waste any more time.

  His hands shook, with excitement and nerves. The sticky wet lubricant spilled out on his fingers.

  “Use a lot, and take your time and…” Evan's breath was shallow. He licked his lips.

  “Shah,” Matt said. He kissed the center of Evan's chest, mouthing a damp circle on his warm flesh as his hand slid under his ass. Evan froze, but Matt kept going, moving in tiny increments until he touched the vulnerable pucker of skin.

  Evan shivered. His hands went to Matt's shoulders, not pushing or fighting him off but holding on for dear life.

  Matt rubbed his fingers in easy circles and pushed the tiniest bit, the gentlest of pressure. He kissed down Evan's stomach, opening his mouth to take the head of his dick against his tongue. His fingers pressed deeper, and Matt swallowed convulsively to keep himself in check.

  He kept this up, the easy sucking, the pressure and circling of his fingers. He listened for hesitation or a stop from Evan, but there was nothing but encouraging moans and bitten-off curses.

  Matt lifted his head and shifted lower on the bed.

  Evan lifted his legs and opened himself to Matt intimately.

  It was a second too much, and Matt reached down to hold himself in check before this was over too soon.

  He said nothing as his mouth joined his fingers in their teasing preparation.

  He held his dick the entire time, as he tasted Evan's body and drew the pleasure out until they were both rocking the bed in anticipation.

  “Roll over,” Matt finally murmured, biting and kissing the inside of Evan's thigh.

  “Pillow,” Evan choked as he disentangled himself from Matt.

  “Under your hips,” Matt finished as he stroked Evan's back. It was slow, and Matt eyed the condom package with wariness; he was terrified the touch of the damp latex would send him shooting before he ever got inside Evan.

  “Yeah.” Evan shook as he lay down, moaning as his rock-hard dick touched the pillow.

  “Like this,” Matt whispered, opening Evan's legs again. The position was erotic, his lover absolutely beautiful sprawled out on their bed. “I'm going slow,” he said. He rubbed his hands over Evan's strongly muscled back. “Just tell me if you need to stop.”

  Evan nodded, his fingers curling onto the covers.

  Matt bit the inside of his cheek as he opened the condom's case and slicked it onto his dick, counting and breathing to get it down to the root without losing it.

  He kissed the small of Evan's back.

  He opened him and kissed the intimate hidden part of him.

  He pushed his tongue in and pressed in and found a rhythm that Evan responded to in a second.

  He pulled back when Evan cried out.

  He held his cock, breathed through the pounding excitement in every fiber of his being and pressed the head where his tongue and fingers had opened.

  “Breathe, relax,” Matt choked. The tightness drew him in even as he paused in worry. “Relax.”

  Evan shook beneath him. He gasped as if in pain, but he pushed back, and Matt instinctively pushed forward.

  They both paused.

  Matt pushed again.

  Evan moaned loudly, restless against Matt as he pulled closer to the bed, then back again. Matt let him move, let him have this second of control as he held himself still.

  Another inch. Another push. Matt's fingers were white against Evan's hips as he felt the internal pressure of his lover's body open to him.

  Another inch. Matt looked down to where their bodies were joined and rocked his hips in a frantic motion.

  Evan wailed.

  Matt stopped as much as he could even as he pushed in a little bit more, and like he'd zapped his boyfriend with electricity, Evan writhed around him and the stream of sound began.

  “OhGodohdon'tjust… Right there,” Evan begged, shaking and sweaty beneath him.
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  “Like that?” Matt's voice was hoarse.

  He rocked.

  Evan cried out, and one hand frantically slid beneath him.

  “Oh yeah, that's right. Touch yourself, baby,” Matt crooned as he rocked, not entirely inside but enough for both of them. The pressure of Evan's tight body clamped down on him, the erotic sight of them being joined, the frenzied motion of Evan's hand as he jerked himself off. Matt held on and rocked and shifted until the bed smacked against the wall and pictures rattled on the nightstand.

  “Uhhhh.” Evan's body seemed to erupt, and Matt rode the inner pull of his body through the orgasm, the scent filling the room. He managed a few more shallow thrusts before his balls drew up, and he pulsed into the condom, into Evan.

  He grabbed the headboard to keep from falling over, grabbing the base of the condom before pulling out. Evan moaned weakly, and Matt rested his forehead against his lover's shoulder as the condom came off into his hand.

  “Fuck are you okay? Oh my God.” Matt exhaled. He thought he might have broken something vital and important in his chest as he struggled to get enough oxygen into his lungs.

  Evan just moaned again.

  “Tell me you're okay, so I can fall over,” Matt whispered, and Evan nodded, turning his head slightly.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered, and Matt took that as an invitation to pitch onto his side.

  Evan eventually rolled over, his face flushed red and his mouth struggling to find a way to form words. He lay against Matt's shoulder, aftershocks lingering on his skin. Matt could feel them.

  He licked his lips, waited for a reaction.

  “Can I ask if it was good for you?” he croaked.

  Evan shook his head and laughed weakly. “I—I don't even know what to say. I couldn't stand up right now if I needed to.”

  “It was, uh—intense.” Matt licked his dry lips.

  “Felt…strange at first, and then”—Evan looked away—“then it felt so good I think I lost my mind.”

  Matt's chest puffed up.

  Evan elbowed him in the side.

  “Listen, I don't want to freak you out or anything, but I might want to do that like—all the fucking time.” Matt sighed. The room smelled like sex. He felt like a god.

  He got another elbow.

  They did leave the bedroom a few times. A shower, dinner downstairs. They walked around in their boxers, and Matt was worried he was going to have a permanent erection as Evan loaded the dishwasher in his underwear.

  “You're crazy,” Evan commented as he set the controls.

  “What?”

  “You're watching me like I'm doing something sexy. When what I'm actually doing is housework.”

  “I'm sorry I find you stupidly hot.” Matt rubbed his chin. “Do me a favor?”

  “What?”

  “Just stand there and show me your arm—so I can see your tat…”

  Evan rolled his eyes. “Like this?” He turned his arm so Matt could see the inside of it, traced the USMC lines with two fingers.

  Matt shifted in his shorts.

  “Can I ask you to do something else?”

  “I think I already told you bare-assed in the kitchen was not my thing,” Evan said. He shut off the light over the sink and walked past Matt to the staircase.

  “Can we do bare-assed in the bedroom again?”

  Evan paused. “You know, I—I enjoyed it, okay? But I'm a little sore.”

  Matt almost swooned. “You should have said something—I'll kiss it and make it feel better.”

  This time Evan was the one who had to shift in his shorts.

  * * *

  Sunday night came and found them sleeping on the couch—clothes on, for the first time since yesterday. Matt was tucked against the back of the couch, Evan lying next to him. It was warm and cozy, and thank God Matt couldn't get it up one more time—he was fucking exhausted.

  “Should we talk about anything before the kids come home?” Evan asked drowsily.

  “We need milk?”

  “Not what I meant.”

  “Fortunately for you I'm middle-aged and I can't get it up all the time, so you will have some breaks,”

  “Closer.” Evan opened his eyes, those baby blues that got Matt into so much trouble in the first place. “I needed this to happen on my terms.”

  “And it did—right?” Matt shifted slightly, his hand on Evan's chest.

  “Yeah, it did.” Evan smiled. “I was just explaining—I'm glad I didn't force the issue before.”

  Matt nodded. “It wasn't a deal breaker; it never was. This doesn't complete our relationship or elevate things. It's just fucking awesome.”

  Evan snorted. “God, you're a walking erection.”

  “For your ass's sake, be glad that isn't true. You'd have to quit work.”

  “Have I created a monster?”

  Matt mock growled.

  They heard the doors of a car open and shut outside, the noise of the kids coming up the walkway and to the front door.

  “Quiet naked time over.” Matt sighed as Evan disentangled and sat up.

  “Hiiiii, we're home,” Elizabeth slammed into the house and ran over to jump into Evan's lap. “We had a great time. Did you miss us?”

  “Were you gone?” Matt threw a throw pillow playfully at her head.

  Ellie and Walt brought in the rear as Katie and Danny were bickering over something; there were questions about food and did anyone want coffee. Evan stood up and went into the kitchen.

  Matt lay on the couch with a dopey smile on his face. He just couldn't help himself.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Bennet poured Matt a drink at the bar and handed him the heavy cut glass filled with amber liquid. It wasn't like Matt was expecting Bennet to crack open some brewskis, but still—he sniffed before he took a sip.

  “So I'm curious what you decided, Matt.” Bennet didn't waste time getting to the point. He sat in an elegant chair, legs crossed and black eyes narrowed in the other man's direction. “Will you take the job with me?”

  “This is going to sound crazy, because frankly you're offering me a shitload of money, but—I'm needed at home.” Matt sank into the creamy white cushions of the sofa. “The kids aren't ready to be alone, you know?”

  “No, actually I don't.” Bennet said with a laugh. “But one day I hope to. I suppose I can appreciate your devotion to family. If you won't do the everyday detail, I was wondering if I could impose on you some consulting work. We could work our meetings into a schedule that wouldn't conflict with your other obligations.”

  There was no irony or derision in the man's tone and that sealed the deal for Matt.

  “Consulting, I can do. I'm guessing you mean security and not…” Matt gestured at the opulent space Bennet referred to as his “office.”

  “Decorating.”

  “I don't know, I'm thinking of going suburban man cave next season,” Bennet said drily. “But yes, security consulting. I'm building a new place out on the island, and I'd like it to be as safe and secure as humanly possible.”

  “You don't mind me saying, I think you're going a tad overboard with the security thing. I know what happened to Daisy was scary, but…”

  “I know I seem overcautious, but Daisy means the world to me, and second only to that is my privacy. I've long since existed mostly under the radar, but now—well, now the spotlight seems to be shining in my direction.”

  “Good for your career.”

  “Bad for peace of mind.” Bennet sipped his drink. “Will you help me, Matt? I promise to make it worth your while.”

  “Done. And don't worry—we'll find someone to watch Daisy twenty-four seven if need be. She'll be fine.”

  They finished up a bit more business, and though Matt tried his best to demur, Bennet pushed a check into his hand for their “meeting.” Matt resisted the urge to choke when he saw the tightly scripted numbers written out on the pale blue paper.

  He dialed Evan's cell phone as he waite
d for the valet guy to bring his car around.

  “Hey, wanna have dinner tonight?” he asked before Evan could get out anything but a hello.

  “We have dinner every night,” Evan said, and Matt eye-rolled the wall of the garage.

  “I mean, you and me, out alone for dinner.”

  “The kids…”

  “Can order Chinese and watch television without our presence. Come on—it's Friday night. Date night.”

  “I…” Evan seemed to hesitate, then sighed. Matt held his breath just a little bit. He knew things weren't entirely settled, but they had to start somewhere. Dinner on a Friday night—sans children and with a big check—would be a good place to start.

  “Okay,” Evan said finally. “I should be home around seven.”

  “Perfect.”

  * * *

  Matt gave the kids fifty bucks and made them sign blood oaths to behave like little angels and not call unless someone was unconscious. Their eyes wide at the wad of tens, they all three nodded and swore.

  “I think I'm almost ready to buy a car,” Katie announced as she pocketed her share.

  “I still want a pony,” Elizabeth said.

  Danny mumbled something about his own place.

  He took a shower and changed into a respectable outfit, a date outfit frankly, dark jeans that fit well, and a long-sleeved button down with a leather jacket.

  He even used aftershave.

  Katie whistled when he came downstairs, and Matt tried not to blush.

  “Dad just pulled up,” Elizabeth announced from the deep recesses of the easy chair.

  Matt checked his reflection in the toaster.

  “Hey,” Evan called from the front door. He greeted the kids and fielded questions and comments before making it to the kitchen where Matt was waiting awkwardly.

  “Hey,” he repeated, blinking as he looked over Matt's outfit. “You got a date tonight or something?”

  The smile was small but there, and Matt returned it. “Yeah, he's kind of the jealous type too, so if you don't mind going upstairs before he arrives…”

  Evan had the good grace to blush.

  “Give me fifteen minutes and we'll be out the door.”

  “Deal.”

  Evan started to turn, but he crossed the kitchen to lay a kiss on Matt's mouth, lingering and promising at once.