by K. L. Hiers
“You did very well.” Cypress kissed his brow. “Still feeling good?”
“Good, tired. So tired.” Tom laughed. “God, but it’s so good. It’s always so damn good.”
“Didn’t go too far?”
“No. I liked… I liked it when you talked dirty to me and made me get on the floor. I guess I have some sorta little kink for being put down, and then you tell me how good I am. It’s a rush.”
“No voices?” Cypress asked casually.
“Earlier,” Tom admitted. “Before we started. I was thinking about Junior, and that made me think about Mr. Ross or Seymour or whatever his damn name is. And that’s when you know who decided to pop up.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just thought about how it didn’t matter,” Tom replied, enjoying how easy it was to smile talking about this now. “All the bad stuff seems so small when I stop and think about all the good things in my life right now.”
“Oh?” Cypress reached up to pet his hair. “Like what?”
“I’ve got you, a lovable man-eating dog, and maybe a bright future as an amateur florist.”
“Mmm, you do show some promise,” Cypress mused, “but you will only be allowed to make floral arrangements if my hand is on your dick.”
“Deal.”
Tom couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept so well. He woke up when Cypress’s alarm went off and rolled over to hug him, hoping to entice him into staying in bed longer. He received a sweet kiss for his efforts, but Cypress still got up.
He listened to Cypress bustle around the house, make coffee, and take Mister Doodles down for her walk. He was hoping to drift off again by the time Cypress returned, but now he was wide awake.
“Can’t sleep?” Cypress asked, surprised to walk back in and see him fighting with the covers.
“No.”
“Still coffee if you want some.”
“Meh.”
“Shower?”
Now there was a reason to get out of bed.
Tom kicked all the blankets out of his way, practically springing to his feet to join Cypress in the bathroom. Cypress kept the bathing quick and efficient, though there were many kisses and a few soapy gropes before they got out.
As they toweled off, Cypress reapplied a fresh coat of aloe vera to the welts still lingering on Tom’s thighs. Tom then watched Cypress bring out the coconut oil for himself. He caught Cypress’s eye and smiled, asking, “Yeah?”
“Go right ahead,” Cypress said, adjusting his towel around his hips and sliding the tub over within Tom’s reach.
Tom helped himself to a generous dollop and began to rub his hands all over Cypress’s chest and shoulders. He loved having free reign to touch him, working the oil in along his biceps and his thick forearms.
“Mmm, could get used to this,” Cypress teased.
“Yeah?” Tom grinned. “Wake up together and rub you down every morning?”
“Careful. You’ll spoil me.”
“Seems fair since you spoil me constantly.” Tom got more oil, dragging his hands down Cypress’s stomach and around to his back. He traced each muscle adoringly, and he couldn’t help but notice how Cypress’s towel was beginning to tent.
Cypress watched patiently and said nothing about his obvious erection. He only smiled, urging, “Go on. Don’t forget my legs.”
Tom got more coconut oil and kneeled, his hands sliding over Cypress’s calves and knees. He licked his lips as he moved up to his thighs. He dared to slip his fingers into Cypress’s groin, sliding around his balls and the base of his cock.
It would only take a little nudge and the towel would fall, putting Cypress’s dick right in Tom’s face. He looked up at Cypress imploringly, asking, “Like this?”
“Yes,” Cypress replied, sounding a bit out of breath. “Just like that.”
Tom boldly grabbed Cypress’s cock, his fingers still wet with coconut oil and sliding easily as he started to jerk him off. He could feel him swelling in his hand, and he mouthed along his rigid shaft through the towel.
Cypress petted Tom’s damp hair, murmuring, “Fuck, you drive me so fuckin’ crazy.”
Tom preened at the compliment, and he grinned as the towel finally dropped away. He loved how shiny Cypress’s cock was from all the oil, the wet head of his dick peeking out from his foreskin, begging to be sucked.
“Can I…?” Tom hoped Cypress would catch his drift again.
“No, come on,” Cypress scolded lightly. “Use your words. Tell me what you want.”
“Can I suck your cock?” Tom asked, hating how easily he blushed to say it out loud. “I want… I want you to do it like we did the first time.”
“Tom…”
“Please?” Tom kept stroking him, flicking out his tongue to tease around the head of his cock. “I have been so good.”
“Mmm, you have,” Cypress mused, “but it’s not your mouth I want.” He reached for Tom’s arm, helping him stand up and promptly bending him over the sink.
Tom found himself faced with his own reflection, and his skin was blotchy and red from the hot shower. His hair was a mess, definitely in need of a comb, and he tried to look away.
“Ah ah,” Cypress tutted as he pulled Tom’s towel away. He rubbed his hips, his fat cock nestled between Tom’s cheeks as he said, “Don’t do that. Keep your eyes on you. We’re going to work on your affirmations.”
“Right now?” Tom’s dick was hard, pressing into the edge of the bathroom counter and in urgent need of attention.
“Right now,” Cypress confirmed, his fingers wet with the coconut oil as he started to rub around Tom’s ass. “I think I’ve been too easy on you. We both know you haven’t been saying them.”
“No, no, I haven’t.” Tom closed his eyes briefly. “I haven’t said them all week.”
“Sounds like you need to be punished again, doesn’t it? Do you think you can handle that?”
“Yes,” Tom insisted. “I want you to spank me right now, please. I need you.”
“No. I’m going to open you up on my cock, nice and slow.” Cypress steadily pushed a finger inside of Tom. “I’m going to fuck you, and while I do, I want you to say your affirmations to yourself in the mirror.”
“What?” Tom groaned, gasping as Cypress’s finger twisted. “R-right now?”
“Repeat after me,” Cypress said firmly, withdrawing his finger and rubbing more oil over his cock before pushing the head up against Tom’s slick hole. “I am beautiful.”
Tom couldn’t stand to look at the mirror, turning away and breathing through the first taste of pressure as Cypress’s thick cock began to push in. “I am… beautiful.” He yelped when Cypress grabbed his hair and jerked his head up.
“Come on now,” Cypress taunted, arching his hips forward and letting his cock slowly slide deeper. “Look at yourself. Right now, right now as I’m opening you up. Look at yourself, Tom.”
Tom’s eyes fluttered open, and he found his reflection flushed and uncertain. Cypress’s cock was so goddamn thick, and the pressure of being forced open like this was making him ache. He was wet from the oil, but it wasn’t enough to relieve the intense stretch.
But fuck…
He liked it.
He could see Cypress in the mirror, too, and the lusty way he was staring at Tom—his eyes glassy and lips parted in a perfectly seductive pout—made him shiver. There, yes, in that perfect moment of Cypress looking at him like he’d hung all the stars in the sky as his cock pushed inside of him, he felt absolutely gorgeous.
“I am beautiful,” he said, taking a shaking breath as he stared at himself in the mirror. “I am so beautiful. Mmm, fuck—” Cypress shoved all the way in. “—I am so fucking beautiful.”
“Yes, you are,” Cypress praised, pulling out and taking his time as he slammed back in, clearly enjoying the resistance as Tom’s tight asshole struggled to accept him. “Now, come on, baby… I am worthy.”
“I am worthy,” Tom hissed, his lips dra
wn in a perfect circle as a deep moan erupted from low in his throat when Cypress started to fuck him.
“Yes,” Cypress hissed, the force of his thrusts slamming Tom into the sink. “So fuckin’ worthy. Go on, come on, you’re brave.”
“I’m brave,” Tom whimpered, bracing himself on the edge of the counter. He was so full, it was all happening so fast, and he started chanting nonsense, “I’m so brave, fuck, I’m so goddamn brave. Fuck, fuck, I can be so fuckin’ brave.”
Cypress growled, pounding into Tom and sure to come at any second by the way he was panting so erratically. He gave Tom’s hair another hard jerk, pulling him back against his body and thrusting up into him.
Tom screamed, swearing his toes had left the ground. Cypress’s arm whipping around his waist was the only thing supporting him, and he was totally helpless as he got brutally fucked.
“Go on,” Cypress hissed in his ear. “Come for me. Come on, baby. I want you to watch yourself come. You’re so fuckin’ pretty when you give it up for me…”
Whimpering, Tom braced himself against Cypress’s forearm and grabbed his dick, frantically jerking off. He couldn’t stop, his eyes locked with his own in the mirror. He couldn’t believe how red his cheeks were or the way his jaw hung open as he struggled to breathe.
There, right as he felt the thundering roar building up in his ears and behind his eyes before he came, his entire face melted into an expression of pure bliss. He looked like he was about to cry, moaning as his cock splashed over his pumping hand. Now he was tired, totally drained, but fuck if he didn’t look really happy.
With a snarl and a bite on Tom’s shoulder, Cypress finished in a series of ferocious slams. He gently let Tom fall against the counter, crowding against his back as he mumbled, “Mm. Not that I’m complaining because I’m very proud you finished your affirmations, but fuck, I am gonna be so late.”
Tom laughed out loud, groaning as Cypress pulled out and left him empty. He reached back to touch himself, unable to resist feeling around his hole. He had to slip a finger in and savor the dull ache, absolutely loving how wet and open he was. “Mm, well, maybe we’ll just need to get up earlier.”
“Yeah, I’ll remember you said that.” Cypress snagged a damp washcloth from the shower to get them cleaned up in a hurry. “I really do have to go.”
“It’s okay,” Tom said, kissing Cypress deeply. “Mm, go. I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll see you tonight,” Cypress promised. “House is yours, and there’s plenty of food and snacks in the kitchen.” He finished up in the bathroom and dashed into the bedroom to finish getting ready.
Tom brushed his teeth and put no other effort into making himself presentable. He wasn’t going anywhere today, after all. He put on a fresh pair of pajama pants, pockets turned out, and a t-shirt.
He found Cypress in the kitchen, shared a quick farewell kiss, and watched him leave. He made a cup of coffee, and he plopped down beside Mister Doodles on the couch and turned on the television.
It was way too damn early to be awake, Tom thought, noting that the sun hadn’t even come up yet.
He spent the rest of the morning watching the news, glued to the screen as reports of Junior’s arrest kept repeating, and he was hoping for some new information.
There wasn’t much.
Most of the time, Junior wasn’t even named. The news said a former employee of the funeral home had been arrested in connection with the burglaries. Former was a particularly interesting description, though Tom wouldn’t have been surprised if it was Gerald himself who had decided to let Junior, his own son, go like that.
Whatever was best for business, Tom thought bitterly to himself. He didn’t like how easy it was to feel sorry for Junior, but he couldn’t help it. At least in jail, maybe Junior could get clean and turn his life around once he got out.
If he got out.
Tom had no idea what kind of prison sentence Junior would be looking at for all those burglaries. Trying to look it up on his phone only gave him the most depressing results, most sentences running decades.
A few reports said the local authorities were looking for any additional information and posted a tip line for people to call in. Tom thought that was a bit strange considering Junior had already been arrested, but maybe he hadn’t been working alone. Junior had been working when many of the burglaries happened.
So, he couldn’t have done it by himself, which meant he had help.
Help meant another suspect.
Well, great, that was so reassuring.
Tom took a break from the news to walk Mister Doodles and went back upstairs to clean up a little. He really needed to get out of his pajamas. He tidied up the laundry, made the bed, and washed the dishes from last night and the coffee mugs from this morning.
Tom’s worries had eased by the time Cypress got home, and Cypress was very thankful for everything Tom had done around the house. Unfortunately, it reminded him they still had a big mess at Tom’s that needed to be handled sooner rather than later.
Begrudgingly, Tom agreed it was time to head back. He finally changed out of his pajamas into some jeans and got ready to go. With Mister Doodles in his lap, he rode with Cypress in his van back to his house.
The door was still busted, but Cypress had brought some tools along to make repairs. He’d also gotten some heavy-duty garbage bags and a few scented candles. He’d pretty much thought of everything, and Tom was so grateful.
Stressful as this was, he didn’t have to do it alone.
With Mister Doodles constantly underfoot, they started at the front door and moved into the kitchen and the living room. The bedroom was the last and the biggest mess. Junior, or whoever had done this, had torn all of it apart, and Tom wondered what it was they’d been looking for.
Piece by piece, it was all put back into place or thrown in the trash. It gave Tom a unique opportunity to do some off-season spring cleaning, and he found the whole process rather cathartic.
Cypress was there at his side the entire time, giving him comfort and warm affection, urging him to keep going. It took almost all evening, but short of a load of laundry that needed to be run, the house appeared right again.
Even so, Tom was uncomfortable. The house didn’t feel safe, and before he mustered the courage to ask, Cypress was already offering for him to stay the night at his place again.
Back to Cypress’s they went, dog and all, and Tom enjoyed the next few days in a state of complete bliss. He got to catch up on reading and some of his favorite television shows, and his evenings belonged to Cypress and him alone.
Spankings, crops, and cuffs—whatever Cypress wanted, Tom took readily. He fell asleep in his strong arms and woke up to his sweet kisses. As the precious days of his vacation waned, Tom knew it was going to be difficult to go back.
Beyond difficult, ha, it was going to be impossible. Just thinking about having to go back to work and return home made a ball of dread curl up in his stomach.
He was so happy here, and he didn’t want it to ever end.
It was the afternoon before Tom’s last vacation day, and he’d stayed firmly parked on the sofa. He had tonight and tomorrow night, and then that was it.
He’d have to go to work.
There was an eerie sense of finality he couldn’t shake. Though he and Cypress were going to keep seeing each other, it still felt like something bad was going to happen, and he couldn’t explain it.
Maybe because there was no sign of Junior’s accomplice…
When Tom heard the door downstairs opening to signal Cypress was home, he sat up a little straighter. Cypress had to work late today, and he was determined not to let his glum thoughts ruin what remained of their evening.
However, Cypress immediately zeroed in on Tom’s mood as soon as he stepped in the door.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“You’ve been home for less than two minutes, and you’re already asking me what’s wrong?” Tom teased, hoping Cypress would dr
op it.
“Yes.” Cypress crossed his arms. “What’s up?”
Tom sagged down into the sofa. “I don’t wanna go back to work. Hell, I don’t even wanna go home, to be honest.”
“As much as I’ve been enjoying your company, you do need to go back eventually.”
“I get it, wearing out my welcome and all that—”
“No, it’s not that.” Cypress sat beside him and reached for his hand. “You need time in your own space to reflect on everything that’s happened. Maybe help prepare yourself for what may happen next.”
“My house being broken into and Junior’s arrest isn’t enough?”
“We still don’t know who else might have been helping Junior,” Cypress pointed out. “Fox has been tight-lipped as hell, but I know you watch the news. There’s someone else out there.”
“All the more reason not to go home?” Tom suggested hopefully.
“Hiding here with me isn’t going to make your problems go away,” Cypress soothed.
“Ah, but it will hide me from potentially being murdered.”
Cypress chuckled. “Okay, fair point, but seriously. You’ve been avoiding everything all week, and when you go home, all those problems are gonna be there waiting for you.”
“I know.” Tom dropped his head.
“Which is why I want to come and stay with you for a few days.”
“Wait, what?”
“Once you start back work,” Cypress replied. “I’ll come stay with you for a little bit until you get back into the swing of things.”
“What about the flower shop?”
“My family is gonna step in to cover for me.”
Tom felt his cheeks heating up, stammering, “Did, did you tell them… I mean, what did you tell them?”
“That I needed a break,” Cypress said calmly. “I didn’t say it was to keep an eye on my criminal boyfriend who may or may not be involved in a gang…”
“I’m not involved in a gang.”
“Tangled up in a murder investigation?”
“That’s even worse.” Tom groaned.
“All they know is I wanted some time off, I swear.” Cypress laughed. “I haven’t told them about you. Not yet.”
