by CJ Bishop
“Abel…”
The guy paused. “Yeah?”
You need to tell them. You need their help—now. Noah’s courage wavered. “Nothing,” he mumbled.
“You sure?” Abel looked at him expectantly.
“Yeah.” Noah shifted his eyes. “I guess I should shower,” he said quietly. Why didn’t you just tell him? he berated himself after Abel stepped out and closed the door. They’ll help. You know they will.
Maybe after breakfast…or after they came back from the hospital…he would tell them.
♦
Savannah had yet to emerge from her bedroom and Abel and Devlin had the kitchen to themselves for the moment. Devlin looked up from the electric griddle when Abel returned. “Did he say anything?”
“Not about the phone,” Abel said. “But when I opened the door, he was definitely looking for it. He has to know that one of us found it. He seemed anxious, as if I might start questioning him.”
Devlin flipped the pancakes. “I don’t think we should.” He looked at Abel. “Not yet, anyway. I think that whatever it’s about, he’ll tell us when he’s ready.”
Leaning on the counter next to Devlin, Abel said, “I think maybe he wanted to tell me. He started to say something, then backed off.” He shook his head, puzzled. “You found a legit, legal death certificate for his mom, though, right?”
Devlin nodded.
“What the hell is going on, then?” Abel wondered quietly. “Who would have his mom’s phone?”
“I don’t know. We’ll give him a little space, though.” Devlin transferred the pancakes to a plate. “He barely knows us yet. He may need some time before he fully trusts us. If he was sexually abused, then it stands to reason that he might have some deep rooted trust issues.”
“Yeah,” Abel murmured. “For sure.”
“What’re you talking about?”
Both Abel and Devlin turned suddenly. Savannah entered the kitchen slowly, her face tense.
“If who was sexually abused?” she asked anxiously, her voice low. Hurt filled her eyes. “Not…Noah?”
Devlin had learned months ago that there was a very mature young woman inside Savannah’s delicate frame. She was one of the emotionally strongest members of their family.
“We think so,” Devlin murmured, a sick knot in his gut. “He didn’t come right out and tell us, but all the signs were there. But you can’t say anything to anyone right now, okay, hun?”
Savannah nodded. “Okay.” A thin film of tears glazed her eyes. “I hope it isn’t true, though. He’s so sweet and gentle.” She looked at Abel, uncertainty in her damp eyes. “If he was…” her throat worked. “…who did it? Our…dad?”
Abel blinked and nodded. “Yeah.”
Her tender face crumpled a bit. “Why would he do that?” she trembled. “He didn’t with us.”
“I don’t know,” Abel whispered, tears forming. “Maybe if we hadn’t been taken away…” He didn’t want to finish that thought.
Savannah bit her lower lip, eyes filling up thicker. “I wish he wasn’t our real dad,” she said. “Especially if he did…that. I don’t want to share the same blood with him. I don’t want it in our veins.”
“Neither do I,” Abel agreed.
Devlin cleared his throat as he scooped bacon from the frying pan on the stove. “Well, we don’t know for certain just yet. If it’s true, then there will likely be evidence when he’s examined.” He tried to shift into ‘doctor’ mode when talking about it. It made him nauseous to imagine Noah suffering such abuse. He still had the occasional nightmare about what his brother had done to Abel, Brandon…and Devlin himself. And how many others? Devlin couldn’t think about that.
And He didn’t want Noah to enter those nightmares now.
Chapter 4
The throbbing in his head began in his dreams and followed him out into a conscious awake state. Nolan squeezed his eyes tight and pressed his palms to his forehead. A whimpered groan stuck in his throat. What the hell was he trying to do to himself? This was his second binger in the span of a few days.
He lay perfectly still, gripping his head, afraid to move for the explosion of pain that threatened to crack his skull. A different fear crept in as the question hit him—what the hell did you do last night? Nolan remembered going to the club, ordering shot after shot, waiting for…who?
You know damn well “who”.
Had he shown up? Nolan’s head pulsated when he tried to think. His thoughts were hazy and clogged. The memories were there, but at the moment hovering behind a filmy veil of pain. It had been a mistake going to the club at all. Why would he do that? Stress? The reality that he was about to give up his life? But why a gay strip club? Why seek out a man? He wasn’t-
Movement in the bed beside him froze his thoughts. The shift of a body. All at once, he felt the heat of his bedmate’s skin. They lay just inches apart. Another shift and a foot brushed Nolan’s ankle. A knee touched his outer thigh. Calf grazed calf and soft hairs prickled his leg.
Nolan swallowed and slowly lowered his hands. His chest heaved with quickened breath as the memories began to push through the barrier of throbbing pain; Grid had shown up. And Nolan had solicited sex from the man.
The best sex of your fucking life.
No. That wasn’t true. He turned his head very carefully on the pillow. Pain shot to the front, bursting across his forehead and into his eyes, causing a slight blur to his vision as his stare fell across the man sleeping beside him. The sheet wrapped his lower half, but he was clearly naked—as was Nolan.
How did he get rid of him? Nolan didn’t want a confrontation about last night. He didn’t want to talk about it at all. Grid had to leave.
A sleep-sigh escaped Grid and he rolled over against Nolan, pressing up close. His arm snaked across Nolan’s stomach and his leg slid over Nolan’s thigh. He shivered at the feel of Grid’s heavy member pushed against his hip…and his mouth at the back of his neck, warm breath puffing evenly into the tips of his hair.
Admit it—you wish you could wake up to this every morning.
Nolan denied it in his head even as his body betrayed him by warming to the comfort of Grid’s touch. His headache eased a fraction when all the blood in his brain began an exodus southward, stiffening his member. He closed his eyes and battled the heat in his loins, willing his dick to ignore the naked man cuddled up against him. His will was the one ignored, though, as Grid shifted again and his leg tucked deeper between Nolan’s thighs, nudging his junk. Nolan shivered and hardened a little more. When he tried to carefully untangle himself, Grid’s limbs tightened, holding him in place.
Nolan’s heart raced as Grid began to stir awake.
“Morning already?” Grid mumbled into his hair. “Damn.” He made no move to release Nolan from his snake-like embrace. Grid rubbed his hand down Nolan’s stomach, fingertips brushing lazily along his happy trail, drifting lower and pausing only when he touched the base of Nolan’s growing erection. “Mmm,” Grid moaned. “And I was afraid you wouldn’t be happy to see me this morning.”
Nolan trembled and his member stretched, beginning to tent the sheet. He swallowed thickly and tried to control his breathing, but his heart was spinning in his chest. His eyelids fluttered a bit then clamped tight as Grid curled his hand around Nolan’s cock and slowly stroked his shaft.
Labored breath shuddered up Nolan’s throat. He couldn’t conceal the effect Grid was having on him—it was evident in the man’s fist.
“Before I have to leave,” Grid whispered and kissed his shoulder. “I want to feel you inside me. I want you to be the first man to fuck me.”
Shivers rippled up and down Nolan’s body. I want to be the only man to fuck you. He was troubled by the vivid thought, and more so by the truth behind it. Nothing made sense to him right now. But it was hard to think straight with Grid’s fist sliding up and down his cock.
When Nolan failed to resist either Grid’s touch or his words, the young man kissed his nec
k then released his shaft and moved around, half covering Nolan with his body as he began pressing warm kisses to his throat.
Nolan didn’t know how to deal with Grid while sober. His only encounters with the young man had been while he was shitfaced. Liquor acted for him in those instances. And he’d blamed his actions on the excess of drink. What was his excuse now? And how did he handle Grid without the cover of inebriation?
♦
The morning was fast acquiring a dream-like quality when, rather than pull away and close him out, Nolan was systematically surrendering—if only in body at the moment. Grid felt him slipping on a deeper lever as well, though, as he tentatively ran his hands up Grid’s arms and buried his fingers in his hair, lifting Grid’s head. The kiss that Grid had feared he would never experience outside a drunken foray, claimed his mouth—strong and hungry.
Again exerting an unexpected strength, Nolan rolled them over and lay on top of Grid, hands still clutching his hair and lips locked, their tongues tangled. Passion surged through Grid, one hand gripping Nolan’s ass as the other fumbled for his wallet on the nightstand. He broke from the kiss just long enough to retrieve another condom and rip it open with his teeth. His fingers trembled as he pushed Nolan upright and sheathed the man’s rigid cock, coated him with spit, then pulled him back down on top of him.
Grid didn’t care that he hadn’t been properly “prepared” as Nolan had been last night. He didn’t care if there was pain. He just needed the man inside him.
When the tip of Nolan’s dick pushed inside Grid, a hard shiver raced through both men. Grid gasped thickly, his fingers sinking into Nolan’s taut back muscles. “Fuck…” his breath caught in his throat then suddenly surged erratically as Nolan slowly squeezed in deeper. “Uuhh…”
Nolan stared into his face, his brow knit tight, face tense and strained, eyes alive with so many emotions. Hot breath puffed unevenly off his lips, wafting Grid’s mouth. Staggered moans piled in Nolan’s throat with each push of his hips, sinking him further inside Grid’s ass.
“Fuck…” Grid choked on a whimper, his hips lifting, arching. “Yes…uuhhh…fuck…” His shaking hands slid lower and grasped Nolan’s flexed ass cheeks, clutching desperately. “Oh my God…” He swallowed hard, chest heaving, as the man took complete possession of him. And that’s how it felt; absolute, ultimate possession. The pain was there, but it didn’t matter. It seemed to fuse them, as if it were somehow necessary…important. Tears burned his eyes and his throat worked as Nolan’s face blurred above him. “Kiss me…Nolan…”
Their lips touched an instant later. The kiss was deep, yet without urgency or force. Sensual and soft, it consumed Grid with feelings and emotions he’d never experienced with anyone. Nolan curled his arms around Grid’s head, hugging him, strengthening their kiss.
I could love you. Just give me the chance. Grid feared the thought as it took him over. Once he walked out of Nolan’s apartment, there would be no coming back. Grid choked back the forming lump in his throat and wrapped his arms around Nolan’s damp, heated body, holding so tight to the man. His legs parted wider and curled around Nolan’s thighs.
With a soft rush of breath into Grid’s mouth, Nolan thrust his hips…pulled back…thrust again.
Grid clung to him harder, tears seeping from the corners of his eyes, his senses drowning in Nolan’s kiss. He met his thrusts, lifting and stroking, as they found their rhythm and fell in sync. The pain faded fast as sensual waves rocked and swayed Nolan’s body, hips rolling smoothly, his perfect cock gliding in and out, pushing Grid’s button over and over again.
“Uuhhmm…” Grid moaned through the kiss. He gouged Nolan’s hot flesh as the man’s muscles rippled and flexed and strained beneath Grid’s fingers, the motion of his body carrying Grid to new heights of passion. You love me so good. An ache spiraled into Grid’s heart and he felt a tiny crack fissure through it.
“Uuh!” Nolan gasped, suddenly breaking the kiss. He shoved his face into Grid’s neck, panting harder, hugging his head tighter as he fucked him with deeper urgency. “Oh fuck, baby…” he whimpered brokenly. “Fuck…you feel so good…”
Grid grabbed his shoulder with firm lips, then raked teeth over his sweaty skin. “Oh fuck-fuck-I’m gonna come…oh God…” His inner thighs clenched the man’s flanks and his arms squeezed. “Fuck me, Nolan…fuck me…I’m so close…” He didn’t need hands-on help. His explosive emotions ignited his body and Nolan’s calculated thrusts hit the spot every time. Grid choked on a cry and shoved up to the man desperately. “Oh God! Fuck me! Harder! Deeper-harder!”
Nolan grunted and drove in with forceful thrusts, pumping urgently without losing control.
“Oh God-yes-yes!” Grid shouted thickly, throat working as he clawed Nolan’s back, his ass, clutching and gripping. “Uuuhh! Fuck!” His eyes squeezed tight and jaw clenched as Nolan drove in oh so deep, held and ground his cock-head against Grid’s prostate. “Fuuck!” Grid arched fiercely, head digging down into the pillow. Nolan rocked his hips around and around, holding in balls deep. Grid went light in the head, his throat closing. “Uuhhh-huuuhh! Fuuuck—I’m coomming!”
Hot cum burst from his cock, immediately smeared into their slick fevered skin as Nolan began to thrust again, fucking him faster, harder, yet still maintaining a shred of control.
“Oh fuck…” Grid cried as his balls continued to empty. As soon as he caught his breath, he fell back into rhythm with Nolan, needing his lover’s release as much as his own. “Yes, baby,” he choked out and grabbed kisses from Nolan’s lips. “Fuck me…come, baby…I want you to come so hard…”
Nolan shoved his arms up under Grid’s shoulder blades, locking him in, and let go of his control. The bed trembled and shook. Nolan’s cries and pants and groans fused with Grid’s own shouts of ecstasy.
“Fuck!” Nolan gasped loudly, clinging to Grid in a death grip, hips pumping wildly. “Oh fuck-fuck-fuck! I’m gonna come—uuhhh! Shit!” He slammed in deep, his body contorting as a strangled wail wrenched out of him and he unloaded. “Fuuck—uuhh! God!” His back bowed as he shoved in a little deeper, forcing his pulsing cock further up inside Grid. “Oh my Gaawwd!”
The tension held for a long moment before Nolan suddenly relaxed and collapsed down against Grid, chest heaving, breath rushing in and out in hot plumes, scorching Grid’s neck.
“Oh my God…” Nolan trembled, voice shaking. “Fuck…”
Grid ran unsteady hands up the back of Nolan’s head, lifting his face and kissing him shakily. “This can’t be the end of it,” he whispered into Nolan’s mouth, his throat knotting up. “Please tell me there can be more.”
Nolan stared into his eyes, his gaze filled with surrender. His tense brow softened and his lips brushed Grid’s mouth in sweet compliance and…assurance? “Grid…” his name shuddered out on a soft moan. “I want-”
The front door opened and closed.
Nolan went rigid, his heart beating so hard Grid could feel it against his own chest.
“Nolan?” A woman’s voice echoed from the front of the apartment.
“Fuck.” Nolan hissed and leapt out of bed. “Get up!” He scrambled around in a panic, scooping up Grid’s clothes.
Grid crawled out of bed, uncertain just what he was supposed to do—until Nolan shoved his balled up clothes against his chest and pushed him backwards into the closet.
“Hide,” Nolan ordered. “Don’t make a sound.”
The closet door shut hard and Grid stumbled over a pair of shoes, his back hitting the wall as he clutched the wad of clothes in his arms. Shirts clanged on the hangers as he tried to right himself without dragging them all down and making a racket.
His heart pounded as he looked around the dark closet, no visibility but for the crack of light at the bottom of the door. He could hear Nolan rushing to get dressed and the distant voice of the woman, nearing the bedroom.
Grid sank against the wall and stood as still as possible, tensing up when he heard the bedroom door
open and the woman enter.
Chapter 5
“Go ahead and get dressed.” Devlin scribbled on the chart as Noah sat on the exam table in a hospital gown. Devlin looked up and smiled. “We’re through with this part of it. We’ll just need to get your leg x-rayed then we can go home.”
Noah nodded.
Stepping closer, Devlin squeezed his shoulder. “I know that some of this examination was probably very uncomfortable for you, but you understand that when a kid comes from an abusive situation, we have to perform specific types of exams.”
“I know,” Noah murmured.
“All right.” Devlin cupped his face and smiled. “I’ll step out while you get dressed, then get you up to x-ray.”
The boy nodded.
Exiting the exam room, Devlin walked over to the nurses’ station. “Noah Hollins needs to go to x-ray.” He unclipped a form and handed it to the nurse behind the counter. “Bring him back to exam room 2 when he’s done.”
Devlin waited a few minutes then walked back to the exam room door and knocked lightly. “Are you dressed?”
“Yeah,” Noah answered.
Devlin entered with the nurse behind him, pushing a wheelchair. “You get to be chauffeured,” Devlin winked.
The nurse, mid-twenties and pretty with shoulder-length blond hair, smiled at Noah. “Such a handsome passenger.”
Noah blushed a little as Devlin helped him off the table and into the chair.
“The strong silent type,” the nurse laughed lightly. “My favorite.”
Devlin chuckled. “Watch out for Sandy,” he teased. “Cuteness is her weakness.”
Noah smiled, his face warming a tad more.
“I may just keep you,” nurse Sandy confirmed and smiled mischievously at Devlin as she wheeled Noah out of the room.
Staring after them, Devlin laughed softly then left the room and walked outside through the nearest exit. He sat on the bench outside the waiting room entrance and took out his cell phone and made a call. Abel answered on the other end.
