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by Dawn Kimberly Johnson

  “Eli, would you have dinner with me?” Alec asked.

  “Just did.” Without looking at Alec, he took a plate from him and quickly dried it, placing it on a stack of others to his right.

  Alec sighed and turned to look at him. “I know you’re worried about this move, but I’ve been working very hard to show you it’s not the end of us.” He stepped closer to Eli, invading his space. “Tell me what you’re afraid of, please.”

  Eli looked directly into his eyes. “I’m not afraid—”

  Alec closed his eyes and shook his head. “Don’t tell me you’re not. I can feel it pouring off you.” He suddenly grabbed Eli’s waist, pulling him closer. “I don’t know what else I can do to reassure you.” Eli didn’t pull away, but Alec could see the inner struggle on his face and wondered what had him so torn. “Talk to me, babe,” he whispered, but Eli only smiled weakly. Alec sighed. “Okay, come to my place for dinner, a romantic dinner—just the two of us.”

  Eli blinked at him, mulling the invitation over and then smiling. “Hmmm… I don’t know. Will you be cooking?”

  “Haven’t really worked all that out yet.” Alec leaned in and kissed Eli’s neck. “I just want to get you alone and at my mercy.”

  Eli chuckled and wrapped his arms around Alec, holding him tight against the length of his body.

  “So I’ll be able to make as much noise as I want?”

  “Oh yeah,” Alec said, nodding and smiling and gripping Eli’s bottom roughly.

  “Will you two get a room?” Ilsa asked as she and Casey entered from the deck.

  ELI watched Alec wave goodbye—or rather “see ya”—from the driver’s seat of the small moving van that contained his chest of drawers and work desk. His bed belonged to Ilsa and had only been lent to him while he lived there, so it remained behind.

  Eli waited until the van had disappeared around the corner and then walked back into the house to find Ilsa and perhaps another slice of pie with ice cream. He stopped short, surprised to see her sitting on the stairs watching him. “What?”

  “You’re going to follow him, aren’t you?” she asked softly.

  “Ilsa—”

  “No, it’s okay.” She stood up and came down the stairs to meet him. “You love him—don’t bother denying it. I know you do.” She reached out and straightened his collar. “Just like I know he loves you.” She brushed back an unruly lock of hair off his forehead. “I just wish you would say it to each other.”

  He grinned. “What makes you think we haven’t?”

  Ilsa smiled. “There’s too much fear swirling around each of you, sugar. Alec’s afraid you still love Bennett, maybe even thinking of him at the most inopportune moments—”

  “What?”

  “—and you’re afraid Alec will find someone better, someone whole and healthier, and cut you loose.” She winked. “That fear wouldn’t be there if you had said the L-word.”

  Eli rolled his eyes, suddenly stepped around her, and headed for the kitchen.

  “Trust me, Ilsa, ‘the L-word’ does not end the fear.” He paused before entering the kitchen and looked at her. “You, of all people, should know that.” Ilsa stopped in her tracks, her mouth open in silent retort, but he simply smiled at her teasingly before disappearing into the kitchen. After a couple of moments, he looked back into the hall at her standing there. “Join me in some pie?” he asked with a grin. Ilsa smiled back and quickly went after him.

  EXHAUSTED from moving and trying to get his apartment perfect—or, more accurately, irresistible to Eli—in time for their date next Friday, Alec didn’t see him Saturday, but he did give Eli a call.

  “What are you wearing?” Alec asked.

  He heard Eli chuckle softly. “Most people say hello first.”

  “Hello, Eli. What are you wearing?”

  “Just my sweatpants.” He could hear the grin on Eli’s lips as he spoke.

  “Which ones?”

  “The navy.”

  “I like those. They’re practically new, very soft, supple.”

  “Yeah. They feel good against my skin. And you?”

  “Just out of the shower. I’m lying on the bed, wearing a towel.”

  Eli didn’t have a comment about that, but Alec hoped he had painted a vivid enough picture for his boyfriend. He could hear Eli breathing, and then Eli said, “Why don’t you pull back that towel a bit and reach underneath?”

  “Okay. What am I looking for?”

  Eli laughed. “I think you’ll know it when you find it.”

  Staring at the ceiling of his new bedroom, Alec did as he was asked. He took himself in hand and began stroking slowly. “Oh, yes, now I remember.”

  “You git! It’s hardly been two days.”

  Alec just laughed. “Do something for me?”

  “Yes?”

  “Touch yourself through those sweats. Press your palm down on yourself.”

  “Done and d-done. And what is your hand doing, Alec?”

  “Uh… g-guess.”

  “I think you’re ahead of me.”

  “Slide your hand past the waist of those newish blue sweats for me,” Alec directed, closing his eyes, stroking himself a bit faster, and imagining his fingers caressing Eli’s treasure trail. He’d often thought it shaped like a diamond or sometimes a Christmas tree. He heard Eli’s breathing change and knew he was following his directions well. “That’s my hand on you. I’m right there, whispering in your ear and touching you.” Alec smiled, hearing Eli’s breathing catch again.

  “Fuck… I’ve got to get out of these,” Eli announced right before Alec heard a lot of frantic movement on the other end of the line, and then a sigh.

  “You settled again?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So am I right in assuming you’re nude?”

  “Utterly starkers.”

  “Lovely.”

  Eli’s laughter tickled Alec’s ear. “Where’s that towel?”

  “Wide open, babe.”

  “Bend those knees for me.”

  “Am I going to need lube?”

  “Of some kind, yes… and for both hands.”

  “Ooh.” Alec rummaged in his nightstand drawer without even looking and picked up his tube of lube. “Ready, but you have to match me,” he said.

  “Fair enough—wait, wait.”

  “What?”

  “Go to speaker.”

  “Good idea.” Alec pushed the button on his phone and then hung up the receiver.

  Next they both applied a tiny bit of lube to their cocks—not much was needed with the pre-come already weeping from them—and began stroking slowly. Their breathing became slightly harsher, then each man slicked up the fingers of his other hand and reached around to spread himself and brush a finger against his opening, toying with it, teasing it.

  “Yes,” Alec sighed. “Like that. Now p-pushing in.”

  “God, I wish you were here,” Eli sighed. “I suspect we’re much more graceful about this when we’re together.”

  Alec laughed, imagining the contorted position Eli was speaking from—much like his: knees drawn up, one hand on his cock and the other working at his ass. “I miss you too,” he whispered, but Eli didn’t say anything. “Eli?”

  “Deeper….”

  Alec’s cock twitched, and he pushed in deeper. They didn’t speak again, simply lay in the dark, working themselves into a froth, eyes closed, breathing erratic, and listening only to the soft moans, gasps, and whispered names coming from their speakers.

  DRIVING to Middlesex on Sunday to support Alec, the group had to endure Tony complaining about the early hour for the entire short trip.

  “Much too early to be playing football!” he spouted periodically.

  The match was to begin at noon, so he was soundly ignored. Eli sat forward on his seat, eager to see Alec, and Ilsa kept glancing over and smiling at him. Casey wasn’t able to attend because of work, but she sent her love and good wishes. Arriving a bit late, they were still able t
o find an excellent spot on the bleachers, because the match was a friendly competition and didn’t count in the rankings. Only the die-hard supporters were there.

  The match was exciting, hotly contested with a lot of steals and passing. But Alec didn’t come out until late. Announced as “our resident Yank and newest teammate, Alec Sumner,” there was a bit of booing, much to Eli’s fury. He actually looked around for the offenders. Alec had looked spectacular in his red shirt, white shorts, and black socks—noticeably cleaner than his teammates, a proper player—and Eli felt pride swell in his chest and the stirrings of arousal in his gut as he watched his boyfriend trot out onto the field.

  They watched and cheered as Alec and his teammates took the ball up the field, then they groaned collectively when the goal was denied. That scenario repeated itself three more times but, by some miracle, Alec’s team came away victorious by one goal. They were thrilled, as were their supporters. Their next stop was a local pub for celebratory drinks and good-natured arguments about the match.

  Ilsa begged off. “I want to be home when Casey gets off.”

  “Aren’t you always?” Tony asked wickedly, and she tried to swat him as the rest of them laughed.

  “I’ll see they all get home safely, Ilsa,” Lyle said. “Drink up, Alec.” He dangled Alec’s car keys in front of his face. “I’ve got you covered.”

  Shocked, Alec quickly checked his jacket pockets. “How did you get—?”

  “I gave them to him,” Eli said with a grin before signaling the bartender for two pints.

  “Coming, Tony?” Ilsa asked. “You’ve been whining all day. I figured you’d appreciate a ride home.” But Tony was staring around the pub at all the sweaty, fit men as they talked loudly, drank, laughed, hugged, and slapped each other on the back—and the bum.

  “Uh….”

  “Tony, are you coming?”

  “Quite nearly,” he mumbled, unable to tear his eyes away. Lyle pinched his ass, and Tony yelped, then turned a bright red. “Sorry,” he said as he moved to Lyle’s side with a guilty grin. “I’d better head home, yeah?”

  “Yeah. I’ll see you later,” Lyle said, looking into Tony’s eyes, gently cupping his face, stroking his eyebrow with his thumb, and kissing him goodbye. “Get some rest. You’re going to need it.” Tony was smiling from ear to ear as Ilsa pulled him out of the pub by the collar—but now it was Lyle he couldn’t take his eyes off of.

  “Who’s this, Yank?”

  “Oh, uh… this is my boyfriend, Eli… Eli Burke,” Alec said to the tall, brutishly handsome man who had sidled up to him. His head was covered in tight, blond curls. “Eli, this is Conley.”

  The man grabbed and shook Eli’s hand, in fact, his entire arm forcefully. “Just Conley?”

  “Just Conley, mate.” He hadn’t released Eli’s hand yet, and his green eyes sparkled as he grinned at him.

  “Conley, you can let his hand go, now,” Alec said.

  “Oh, sorry.” He laughed. “I wasn’t comin’ on to ya.”

  “Yes, you were,” Alec said.

  Conley smiled again. “Yeah, I was.” He laughed and winked at Eli. “But no worries, right? I’m here with my current.”

  Alec seemed surprised. “Is this the guy you told us about?”

  “Yep,” Conley said, looking around the room. “Although I don’t see him at the moment.” He turned back to them and shrugged. “So what do you do, Eli?”

  “I interpret for the deaf.”

  “Awesome!”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. I dated a deaf guy a couple of years back.” Conley’s eyes glazed over. “He was dreamy.”

  “Did you learn the language?” Alec asked.

  “I learned to fingerspell.”

  “I still can’t get it.”

  “You’re doing fine,” Eli said, rubbing Alec’s back gently.

  “Eli knows BSL and ASL,” Alec said proudly, and Eli grinned.

  “Ooh, a bloke with a big brain.”

  “Two blokes with big brains,” Dray said as he strolled up to them carrying two pints.

  “There you are, love,” Conley said. Kissing Dray, he grabbed one of the beers with one hand and Dray’s ass with the other.

  Eli and Alec were rendered momentarily speechless.

  “Two pints,” the bartender announced, setting the drinks on the bar in front of them. Dray and Conley watched them as Eli and Alec remained frozen in place.

  “Your drinks?” Conley asked, looking pointedly at the bar behind them.

  Alec snapped out of it first. “Oh, sorry,” he said, turning to the bartender. “How much?”

  “They’re paid for, mate,” he said, nodding toward Dray.

  Eli hadn’t taken his eyes off Dray. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he asked.

  “I’m thinking about joining their social club,” Dray said with an easy smile, punctuating it with a long, lingering kiss for Conley. “I should support my favorite Kestrel, yeah?” Dray asked, looking pointedly at Alec as he nibbled Conley’s ear.

  “Yeah,” Conley said breathlessly, turning to Alec and Eli. “He came to see my first match about a week ago and decided to… uh, lend a hand.”

  “A week ago?” Eli asked, turning to Alec.

  “I didn’t see him,” Alec said, lifting his hands in surrender.

  “Is there a problem?” Conley asked, looking into each of their faces. In Alec’s he saw confusion, in Dray’s: amusement, and in Eli’s: rage.

  Alec looked around the room for Lyle. “I think we’ll be heading out,” he said as he caught Lyle’s eye. He appeared to be discussing a recipe with one of the wives, but he acknowledged Alec.

  “Oh, no need to go,” Dray said amicably. “Conley and I will just go snog in the corner. How’s that?”

  Alec glanced at Eli, then back at Dray. “We’re heading out. Have a good night.”

  Dray smiled as he watched them leave.

  Eli was very quiet on the ride home. He was afraid to speak, of what he might say to Alec. He knew Dray being there wasn’t something Alec did.

  “Not in a talkative mood, I see,” Alec said from the back seat.

  “I’m not angry with you,” Eli said, turning around in his seat to look at him. “It was a great day, and I’m trying to focus on that, and not….” He turned away, looking out the window.

  “On how much you loathe Dray?” Eli smiled, but Alec couldn’t see it. “I wish you’d tell me the whole story,” Alec mumbled.

  Eli whirled on him. “What? You know the story!”

  “Uh, guys,” Lyle said, “I’d really rather not be in such close proximity to you during this discussion.”

  Alec shook his head and sighed. “I’m not stupid, Eli, and I know you pretty well, I think.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “Meaning I think your hatred of Dray is out of proportion to what he’s done.”

  “I could get out and walk?” Lyle offered.

  “He tried and failed with Bennett,” Alec continued. “He’s tried and failed with me. His continued attempts are more pathetic than anything else. Certainly not threatening.” Alec took a deep, thoughtful breath. “I’d actually be interested in learning what makes him tick.”

  Eli turned away from Alec and focused on the road ahead. “Great! That’s all we need: a case study of Dray Jenkins.” He didn’t say another word.

  Chapter 20

  ALEC welcomed the lusty hunger in Eli’s eyes as he advanced, gently pushing Alec backward until he dropped onto the bench. With no cane in the shower, he held Eli’s hand to steady him as he came closer. All the kissing, hot water, rubbing, soaping, and rinsing had them both achingly hard. Eli carefully straddled his lap on the deep bench, their cocks brushing against each other briefly as Eli positioned himself. This, more than relaxing during a steam, was more what Alec had in mind when he’d ordered the custom job.

  His tongue slid past Eli’s lips as his hands slid over Eli’s skin, reveling in the firm muscle beneath.
Eli was slight but much more powerful than he appeared, and Alec squeezed and massaged the lean muscle in Eli’s thighs and licked the center of his chest where the water had darkened the hair there, creating an apparent arrow pointing straight to Eli’s cock. Alec smiled as it bumped and brushed against his abdomen. Suddenly Eli’s fingers tangled painfully in his hair, jerking his head back so Eli could smile wickedly down at him—his blue eyes flashing—as Alec gripped Eli’s ass and guided him onto his cock.

  “Sir?”

  “Mr. Sumner?”

  “Huh?” Alec blinked several times at the students standing in his doorway watching him curiously. “Uh… yes, what can I do for you?” he asked.

  “We have a couple of questions about this paper you’ve assigned.”

  “Oh, yes, yes. Please come in.” Alec shook his head to clear it, remembered he had papers in his hands, if not what they were for, and donned his glasses as the three students filed in hurriedly. His reading glasses helped him better examine what the students were presenting, but more importantly, they allowed him to hide behind his professor face, a face he had not been wearing seconds earlier. He shuddered to think what expression he’d had as he imagined fucking Eli in his new shower.

  Their disagreement—yes, that’s what it was—on the way back from the match had cooled any hopes of intimacy for the evening, and Alec had simply returned to his place, alone and confused. He hadn’t seen Eli for days, and it was wearing on him. During the following week, their time on the phone before bed wasn’t nearly enough, and he was already tired of pretending. Alec wanted to feel Eli, smell him, hear him, taste him, fuck him, but more than anything, hold him. He felt a distance growing between them and didn’t know how to close it. I don’t regret moving out. I don’t. He laughed to himself. I’m afraid of the distance, but I’m afraid of needing him, of missing him so much. Mental note: seek therapy.

  He suspected this first week apart had been an anomaly. Surely it wouldn’t normally be this difficult to arrange some time together. With Eli’s sign language certification and Alec’s course work and perfectionist snit over the new apartment, they had not enjoyed each other’s company for nearly seven days. Nevertheless, he was pleased he had worked out his dinner plans, and the apartment would be ready in time for their date tomorrow.