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by Dawn Kimberly Johnson

  Eli rubbed himself urgently against Alec’s abdomen, unconsciously seeking the friction as Alec slid his middle finger past his own lips—an action that caught and held Eli’s attention. After licking, sucking, and coating his finger, he withdrew it, but Eli was quick to take it into his own mouth. Alec grinned as he watched his boyfriend suck on his digit. Suddenly Eli released Alec’s finger and leaned forward, offering himself, letting Alec know he was ready, and Alec responded, reaching behind Eli, spreading, and entering him with one slick finger.

  “Ahh,” Eli breathed into Alec’s ear, his hot breath making Alec shiver. Eli sat back, his eyes falling closed and his head tilting forward as another finger worked into him. Slowly finger-fucking him for a moment before adding a third, Alec’s cock twitched and jumped when Eli’s lips parted, his grip digging into Alec’s shoulders to steady himself.

  Alec savored his changing expressions. Watching Eli like this was a true treat, because so often they’d made love in darkened rooms or in shadow. He knew Eli didn’t like to be watched, but he couldn’t get enough of looking at him—not since the first day he’d seen him on the street in Soho. Now if only he could get Eli to open his eyes, if they could only look into each other as they moved together, it would be perfect.

  Alec removed his fingers, and Eli eagerly took hold of him, getting in position to lower himself gradually onto Alec. He could feel Eli’s inner muscles straining, resisting, then relaxing, taking all of him inside. The slippery, tight heat made Alec dizzy.

  “Look at me, Eli,” he whispered, trying to steady his breathing. He reached between them, taking Eli in hand and stroking him. Eli didn’t open his eyes, but he placed his hands on either side of the bathtub for purchase and began to ride Alec slowly, lifting himself up—almost to letting Alec slip free of him—then slowly sinking back down. Alec closed his eyes, the sensation overwhelming him.

  His surroundings faded, until the world existed only where they made contact: Alec pulsing within Eli and relishing the intense heat and tightness of him, their lips and tongues meeting and dancing, their hands gripping and caressing, each losing himself in the feel of the other.

  As their rhythm became faster, Eli tangled his fingers in Alec’s hair, raking the soap out of it. But Alec, frustrated by Eli’s refusal to look at him as they made love, drove upward into him suddenly, making Eli cry out in what looked to be more surprise than pain. His eyes went startle-wide as they bored into Alec’s for a moment, but then Eli buried his face against Alec’s neck, and soon after, they came—shouting out in unison. Afterward they clung to each other, now hotter than the rapidly cooling water surrounding them, and waited for their hearts to slow. Eli’s mouth found Alec’s, and their tongues played off each other at a more leisurely, sated pace.

  Eli lingered, sucking Alec’s bottom lip as they parted. “Let’s go to bed,” Eli said, smiling against Alec’s neck. “I could use a nap before the party.”

  They drained the tub, showered off, and tossed extra towels on the floor to soak up the flood they’d caused before walking back into the darkening bedroom. Alec toweled off quickly, vigorously drying his hair. Then, feeling eyes on him, he turned to catch Eli admiring his behind.

  “Hey, there now,” he warned, and Eli chuckled.

  “Sorry, just taking in the view.”

  Alec dropped onto the bed, and Eli came almost close enough to touch but stopped, looking around the room.

  “Are we just leaving our clothes everywhere, then?” he asked.

  Alec leaped forward and grabbed him, pulling him close and rubbing his face against Eli’s abdomen, the hair there tickling his face. He kissed the scars on his ribs, and Eli shivered.

  “Fine by me,” Alec said as he dropped back flat on the bed, pulling his lover down on top of him. “It’s not my room.”

  Eli’s cane clattered against the bed frame and hit the floor. “Hang on!” he shouted. Alec flipped them so Eli was pinned beneath him. “I thought we were taking a nap.”

  Thunder rumbled over the house, and the sky darkened even more as Alec’s hands moved over Eli’s tight, fit, smaller body, sliding up his thighs.

  “We will, but first you have something I want.”

  Eli grinned and scooted away from him, moving higher on the bed. “You’re an optimistic bloke, aren’t you?”

  Alec took hold of him before his head could reach the pillow and began stroking him back to life. “Oh, I’ll get you there. Don’t you worry.”

  They could barely see each other now, but Alec knew where everything was located and took just the head of Eli’s semi-hard cock in his mouth, swirling his tongue over it and smiling at the smoothness of it. He licked the slit, and Eli’s thighs quivered in response. He wished he could watch Eli’s face. He sucked him all the way in until the back of his throat was tapped, and when Alec pulled back, he drew the tip of his tongue firmly along the underside of Eli from base to tip.

  “Good Lord!” Eli clawed at the covers. He squirmed, moaned, and reached for Alec, tangling his hands in his hair. Alec toyed with his balls, alternately sucking one or the other into his mouth and feeling them tighten. Then he took the now fully hard length of Eli in his mouth again. His head bobbed up and down, sometimes rapidly, sometimes so slowly it seemed as though Eli’s cock went on forever. Eli made plenty of noise but no sense whatsoever. None, that is, until he began panting Alec’s name and whimpering.

  That’s when Alec knew Eli was close—when he began to whimper. Alec reached out and found Eli’s left hand as it searched for his, and they held onto each other as Eli came. His customary volume made Alec thankful the house was empty. He swallowed what little Eli had following their escapade in the tub and then rested his face against Eli’s hip. Alec grinned sleepily as Eli’s fingers relaxed in his hair, ending their sometimes painful tugging to play lazily in his damp curls. And though he was drifting off, he heard his boyfriend whisper, “I will gut Dray Jenkins if he comes near you again.”

  Chapter 4

  “ARE we taking one car?” Alec asked.

  “No idea,” Eli said as he straightened his tie in the mirror. His eyes—for the thousandth time—flicked to his unruly hair, and he sighed in dismay.

  Alec leaned out the bedroom door. “Ilsa?” Silence. “Ilsa!”

  Upstairs, her door opened. “What?”

  “Are we taking one car?”

  “Yep. Mine. Almost ready.”

  “Good to know.” Alec joined Eli at the mirror. He had showered in his own bathroom in the attic but joined Eli downstairs in his room to get dressed for the party. They did a lot of that—split their time between their rooms. Eli’s ground-floor room was too small for the two of them. Alec’s attic room was much bigger, but stairs were not Eli’s friends.

  “She always drives. She can’t drink.” Eli ran his fingers through his own hair in the hopes of taming it. “Almost time for another trim, I think.”

  “It grows so quickly.” Alec looked Eli over and tried to help beat his hair into submission.

  “The only way to control it is to keep it short.” He turned to look at Alec, enviously perusing the man’s beautiful head of hair. “Why is it your hair can be so long and luxurious,” he asked, turning back to the mirror, “but I have a fright wig growing out of my skull?”

  Alec laughed. “I think I have some Latin or American Indian ancestors, although Mom would never admit it.”

  “So you’re suggesting I have a clown or a Tasmanian Devil as an ancestor?” Eli asked, his reflection raising an eyebrow at Alec.

  “Well,” Alec said, embracing him from behind and staring at their reflection, “you are pretty vocal during sex.”

  “Hey!” Laughing, Eli smacked Alec’s hands away.

  “Ahh, you’re just a hairy, sexy beast. Accept it. Besides, I like tugging on your hair. Keep it longer. Just add some product.”

  Eli glared in the mirror. “It’s product-resistant.” They both laughed.

  “Why are you wearing a tie?” Al
ec asked.

  Eli sighed. “I don’t know.” He loosened the tie and removed it.

  “You look great. What’s with all the fussing?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, stop it. You’ll be the best-looking man there.” He kissed Eli’s neck.

  Eli laughed, extricated himself, and reached in the closet, removing a light-green shirt. “Tony’s invited a lot of his new gallery mates, and they can be a harsh crowd.” He held the shirt up just under his chin and examined his reflection.

  “I’ve never seen you afraid of anyone.” Alec took the shirt from him, put it back in the closet, and handed Eli his sport coat.

  “I’m not afraid. I just don’t know what we’ll talk about.” He turned to look at Alec. “You’re an author, a psychologist, you teach at the university. Me? I interpret for the deaf.” He crossed the room and grabbed his cane. It was Alec’s first gift to him, and it still held its luster, largely because Eli rarely used it. “Maybe I should take the other one,” he said, looking it over.

  “Why?” Alec glanced sideways at the ugly, worn, hospital-issue cane Eli had been using for nearly three years as it rested near the headboard.

  “It’s a lovely walking stick,” Eli said as he leaned on it, checking himself out in the mirror. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to it.” Alec stared at him, and Eli smiled. “I’m thinking I might have to beat Dray off of you.” He repeatedly slapped the head of the cane into his palm, gauging its heft. “He wants you bad.”

  Eli’s gaze caught Alec’s in the mirror, and Alec looked genuinely perplexed.

  “And?” Alec grabbed his jacket off the bed. “I don’t want him.” Eli didn’t say anything. “You know that, right?” Eli pulled on his own jacket as Alec went to him. He took hold of him and turned Eli to face him. “Tell me you know that.”

  He knew it, certainly he did, but Dray had a way of— “I know it,” Eli said, kissing him.

  “What I know,” Ilsa said, appearing at their door, “is that Casey will go ballistic if we’re not on time picking her up.”

  Eli joined her, extending his arm for her to take. “Let’s go, my dear.”

  They walked away, and after a few moments of thought, Alec grabbed their gift and followed.

  ILSA double-parked and hustled out of the car to collect Casey. Once alone, Alec turned to Eli in the back seat. “You weren’t serious about Dray back there, were you?”

  “Of course not.” Eli’s face was cast in shadow, so Alec couldn’t see his expression, but he could hear in his voice that he was lying.

  Alec sighed and glanced out his window. He watched Ilsa helping Casey descend the front steps of her apartment building, carrying a very large gift.

  “What’s the deal with those two now?” he asked.

  Eli looked at the approaching couple. “Casey’s in love, and Ilsa’s losing the fight not to be.” He grinned at Alec. “But I doubt it will last.”

  “Why?”

  “Look at how Casey’s walking in those heels.”

  Alec looked. “So?”

  “Does she walk like a woman who normally dresses like that?”

  Alec thought the young nurse looked spectacular in her tight red dress and black heels, if a bit unsteady, but that could be attributed to the unwieldy present and the old steps.

  “Uh… well….”

  “She’s playing a part,” Eli said. “She’s trying to be the woman she thinks Ilsa fancies instead of just being herself.”

  Alec could see that Ilsa’s face was glowing as she looked Casey up and down. “It seems to be working.” He got out of the car and took Casey’s gift so she could replace him in the passenger’s seat.

  “Thank you, Alec.” She reclaimed the gift and placed it on her lap. Alec got into the back seat next to Eli, and Ilsa slid back behind the wheel.

  “Casey, you look gorgeous,” Eli said.

  “Right back at you, babe.” She favored him with a dazzling smile and flushed cheeks.

  “I second that,” Ilsa said, leaning over and kissing Casey. “You look spectacular.”

  Casey smiled, placing a hand on Ilsa’s thigh and squeezing. “So do you, dear.”

  The only illumination in the car came from the dashboard and a streetlight, but Alec could swear there was eyelash fluttering going on in the front seat. He shared a glance with Eli, and they smiled.

  Chapter 5

  THE new flat looked spectacular considering Tony and Lyle had completed their move just six hours before. Tony was right. As an estate manager, Lyle was Mr. Organization. He’d planned out their gradual move over two weeks. First, he cleaned the flat from top to bottom, without Tony’s help. Then he painted. Tony picked out the paint but didn’t lift a brush.

  Per Tony’s tastes, most of their furnishings were new, sleek, and stylish, but Lyle had secured a few special items through his estate work—classic pieces that would never go out of style. He was on hand to direct the delivery crews while Tony stood by flirting and offering cool drinks to the sweaty, burly men. Lyle loaded up his car with small loads from Ilsa’s each day. Then he unpacked, unwrapped, and placed everything before crashing for the night and doing it all over the next day. Tony handled relocating all his canvases and art supplies from Ilsa’s basement to a studio he’d rented downtown.

  Upon entering the flat, the first impression was breathtaking. Alec stood transfixed for a moment as he and Eli followed Ilsa and Casey through the door. The welcoming main room—with its warm, golden-hued hardwood floors and coppery-brown walls—framed a stunning view of the London skyline through massive windows, which made up the far, back wall. Deep red drapes hung to the floor, complimenting the dark, chocolate brown, modern Italian furniture.

  For the most part, the room was populated by beautiful, talkative men—young and older. But sprinkled here and there among them were a few straight couples, lesbian couples, and a variety of singles. Surprised by how many people he didn’t recognize, Alec’s eyes darted over the guests’ faces. Living with Tony and Lyle, he thought he’d come to know most, if not all, of their friends. But apparently those friends had brought friends to the party.

  Gifts were snatched from the hands of those entering and passed over the heads of the partygoers to a far corner of the main room, for opening later. Waiters in white jackets moved effortlessly among the guests, bearing trays littered with tantalizing nibbles. Soft, unobtrusive music added a sexy vibe to the gathering, and everyone was smiling and talking and laughing. This party was clearly a success.

  Alec leaned close to Eli’s ear. “Remind me, exactly how much money is Tony making with his painting?”

  “A good amount, but he comes from money.” Eli turned and looked up at him. “He just rarely touches it.” He straightened Alec’s collar and smoothed his jacket as Alec smiled at his unconscious, affectionate actions. “He’s not very close to his parents and wants to make his own way with his talent.” Eli looked into his eyes and blushed when he caught Alec smiling knowingly at him.

  Alec’s eyes lingered on Eli’s features for a moment and then were drawn up and across the room to a frantically waving woman with a long, straight braid of black hair down her back. Lynette Maza was one of several deaf students Eli interpreted for, shadowing her around campus and to her classes.

  “I think someone is trying to get your attention,” Alec said softly.

  “You have it, love.”

  Alec kissed Eli’s forehead, took him by the shoulders, and turned him around to face in Lynette’s direction. His hands still on Eli’s shoulders, Alec felt the tension leave Eli’s body. Now he’d have someone to chat with and wouldn’t feel at such loose ends.

  “Back in a tick,” Eli said, and he was gone before Alec could ask him to tell Lynette hello for him. Ilsa and Casey wandered over to the bar for a drink, and Alec found himself alone—for about five seconds.

  “Alec,” Dray said, sidling up to him with a heart-stopping smile on his handsome face. About an inch or two t
aller than Alec, the man looked stunning in a perfectly tailored dark gray suit and no tie.

  “Uh, hello, Dray.”

  “Where’s Eli?”

  Alec pointed. “He’s over there with a friend of his.”

  Dray didn’t bother looking. “What do you think of this flat, eh?”

  “Haven’t seen too much of it yet. Just got here.”

  “You know,” Dray said, sipping his drink and gazing at him over the rim of the glass, “there’ll be a few more units ready for occupancy in a month or so. It’s a new building, and they’ll probably go quickly.”

  Alec laughed. “Are you getting a commission or something?”

  “Maybe.” Dray smiled coyly before looking Alec up and down. Alec felt his face grow warm and fought the urge to cover his crotch protectively.

  “Well, Eli and I aren’t look—”

  “Really? Remind me. Isn’t he on the ground floor, and you’re in the attic?”

  “Yes.”

  Dray allowed his gaze to drift around the room as he took another sip. Alec just stared at him, waiting for elaboration that never came. He decided to change the subject. “Thanks for your help today.”

  “Oh, you’re welcome. Glad to help.”

  “How did the unloading go? Any glitches?”

  “I don’t know. There was plenty of manpower here when we pulled up. No need for me to strain myself further.” Dray’s gaze locked on his, hazel eyes twinkling seductively. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked, stepping closer.

  Alec backed away. This man has no concept of personal space, and… and he smells very good. “No, thank you. I was just about to get drinks for us… uh, me and Eli. Have fun.” He walked away quickly, but he felt Dray’s eyes on him. Alec joined Casey and Ilsa at the bar, where Tony was busy being delightful and productive with the liquor.