Snowbound

by Scarlet Blackwell

  Hayden's hand made short work of Dylan's uniform pants, pulling them open, freeing Dylan's cock. Dylan wouldn't have thought the guy would be so bold. He'd thought Hayden's homosexual experimentation last night was all about the wine. Maybe he was wrong. He groaned as Hayden slid his aching shaft through his palm, jerking him firmly, his fingers tight.

  Dylan pushed into Hayden's hand, seeking his mouth again, devouring it, caressing Hayden's tongue with his. His fingers sought Hayden's hair. He played with the dark auburn strands, relished in the silky touch. He nuzzled Hayden's neck again, pants for breath escaping him as he got close.

  Hayden's pace increased. One hand slid down Dylan's open trousers, into his boxers, gripping one buttock greedily. Dylan bucked forward. He stared into the pale blue-green eyes of his lover a moment before his face fell against Hayden's throat and he kissed adoringly as he came.

  Hayden held him close a moment. His lips feathered gently over Dylan's eyebrow. The tenderness between them both at that moment was something exquisite. Was this really the man he had only met last night? Dylan drew his hand down Hayden's back. He caught his cheek with one hand and kissed him, slowly, deeply.

  Hayden responded. They stood entwined for long moments before, finally, Hayden drew back, slid from the table to go to the sink and wash his hands. Dylan watched him covertly. Hayden turned to him and smiled hesitantly and in that moment, Dylan wished fervently that the road home would remain forever blocked with snow.

  ****

  They sat eating, the bottle of wine open and poured. Dylan was a good cook and he only made nutritious vegetarian food. Tonight it was a vegetable gratin with warm crusty bread. Dylan broke the silence.

  "How long have you been married?"

  "Five years."

  Dylan lifted an eyebrow. "How old are you?"

  "Twenty-five."

  "You got married young."

  "Yes."

  "Any children?"

  "No."

  "In the cards?"

  Hayden shrugged. He took a drink of wine. He still felt drowsy, even more so now. The pain nudged at his leg, gave him a malicious stab to remind him it was still there. He hoped to anaesthetise it with wine but all that had done last night was land him on his back, under his host.

  He held Dylan's golden gaze. Would it be so bad to do it a second time? He was ashamed of himself. Had he no self-control at all?

  "You don't like me talking about your wife."

  "No."

  Dylan topped his wine up.

  "Are you trying to get me drunk?"

  "Do I need to?"

  Hayden regarded him for the longest moment with heat swarming through every cell in his body before he gave a small shake of his head. There. He might as well have given Dylan carte blanche.

  Dylan reached across the table. He stroked Hayden's fingers with that gentle touch he always employed.

  ****

  "How's your leg?" Dylan asked as Hayden helped him stack dishes in the dishwasher.

  "So-so."

  "Do you need another massage?"

  "I know what your massages lead to."

  "Are you complaining?" Dylan grinned.

  Hayden felt himself blush. "No."

  "Good."

  "Can I take a bath?"

  "Sure you can, you don't need to ask. Go on, I'll finish up here."

  "Thanks."

  ****

  Hayden ran the water hot. He slid into scented bubbles and drifted away. When he got out, he was going to go to bed with Dylan, he knew that. He only wished he could stop himself.

  A tap came at the door. "Are you okay in there?"

  Hayden jerked awake. The cooling water told him how long he'd been in. "Yeah."

  "Can I come in?"

  Hayden hesitated. "Sure."

  Dylan entered. He came over to the bath, smiling at Hayden. "You sure like your baths."

  "I'm sorry."

  "I'm kidding." Dylan bent and put his hand in the water. "Going cold, though." He turned on the hot tap.

  Hayden lay uncomfortably, bubbles still just about covering his groin.

  "Want to do another first with a man?" Dylan asked. "Want to take a bath with me?"

  Hayden stared a moment. But what did it matter? He had been naked before with Dylan and he would be naked again. They had hardly finished whatever was going on between them yet. He sat up and slid wordlessly forward, watching out of the corner of his eye while Dylan stripped.

  He saw long, strong legs before Dylan climbed in behind him, opening his legs around him. Hayden sank back against his chest; Dylan's arms wrapped loosely around his torso.

  "Mmm." Dylan swirled around the new water with one foot. "That's nice."

  Hayden closed his eyes as the water steadily heated and lulled him away again. Dylan's embrace felt so good, so soothing, so… safe.

  Lips touched his neck. Hayden shivered. He put a hand up to touch the black dragon on Dylan's bicep, tracing tail, claws, scales, and the muscle beneath the ink. His hand settled on Dylan's. The deputy held it, entwining their fingers. He planted light kisses on Hayden's jaw, sucking gently at his earlobe.

  "You're beautiful." It was a whisper.

  Hayden had always done all right with women until his accident. Then he had locked himself away until Julianna had come calling and he had been lucky enough that she saw past the scar. He didn't consider himself beautiful in any way.

  "No."

  "Yes. Inside and out."

  "You don't know me."

  "I know enough." Dylan's arms tightened. "I consider myself lucky you broke down in my town."

  "Don't. I'm a liar and a cheat and what we're doing is wrong. Don't say that like you think your soulmate just walked in the door." It was too much. Emotion overwhelmed Hayden. He squeezed his eyes shut, turned his face as far into Dylan's shoulder as he could.

  A wet hand stroked his hair. Dylan didn't say anything.

  ****

  They got out of the bath, drying themselves. Hayden brushed his teeth. He went into the bedroom and located the T-shirt and pyjama pants he had worn last night. He put them on and slid between the cool covers of Dylan's bed. He lay there waiting, with sleep coming quickly.

  Dylan moved around in the bathroom. He went downstairs for a few minutes. Hayden heard the click of the front door locking, the safety chain rattling into place.

  He was almost asleep when Dylan climbed in beside him. Hayden turned away, onto his side. Dylan waited a moment and then he curled up behind him, one arm over Hayden. Hayden felt for his fingers in the dark. They didn't speak.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Hayden woke to a grey dawn, heat and hardness pressed behind him. As he stirred, so did the hand on his abdomen. Dylan's fingers slid up under his T-shirt, stroking his belly in slow circles. A mouth pressed behind his ear.

  "Morning."

  "Morning." Hayden usually woke up hard and today was no exception. But the kiss and the touch sent instant flames of arousal darting in all different directions over his needy body, to centre between his legs. He shifted, aching.

  Dylan's hand moved upward. His index finger rubbed at one nipple. Hayden caught his breath. He put his head back so Dylan could mouth his neck and then he reached behind him to grip a muscular thigh.

  Dylan let out a low growl. He pressed closer, his cock grinding against Hayden's backside through the thin material which clothed them both. "I want you." It was a breathy whisper in his ear, lifting goosebumps the length of Hayden's body.

  Hayden pulled his pyjama pants down. He guided Dylan's hand shamelessly into his groin. Dylan murmured his approval against Hayden's ear. His palm slid down Hayden's shaft, stroking, his thumb tracing around the head. Hayden groaned. He turned his head and Dylan leaned over him, capturing his mouth, his other hand tangling in Hayden's hair.

  They kissed deeply, swapping tongues and breath while Dylan milked Hayden's cock slowly, firmly.

  Then Dylan slid away. Hayden glanced back to see him ro
oting in the bedside drawer. He remained on his side, waiting, anticipation thrumming through his blood.

  A hand stroked his buttocks and Hayden shivered. Dylan pushed one knee up. Wet fingers slid down his cleft, stroking. Hayden shivered and jumped. His entrance located, Dylan rubbed cold wetness slowly over and around it, while his lips found the back of Hayden's neck.

  Hayden trembled with need. Dylan discarded his own pyjama bottoms. He yanked off Hayden's T-shirt and then he tore open a condom, rolling it on quickly. He smoothed a hand over Hayden's hip, kissed him at the nape of his neck and then slowly pushed into him.

  Hayden breathed hard, willing himself to relax, to take all of Dylan. He gasped, impaled, twisting his upper body around to hook an arm around Dylan's neck. They could kiss perfectly like this as Dylan moved into him, a hand still on Hayden's cock, Dylan's body curled tightly against his.

  Their skin stuck together; their mouths melded as one. Hayden thought this must be as close as he would ever come to another person, Dylan almost becoming part of him, so closely were they fused.

  The hot mouth swallowed his cries. Dylan didn't break his easy, rocking rhythm, didn't once falter in those strokes to Hayden's straining cock. Oh God, he needed this, he needed it like the air in his lungs.

  Dylan's left hand cradled his head as they kissed, caressing it. His right hand let go of Hayden's cock to run the length of his torso, exploring with feather-light fingertips, making Hayden arch in pleasure.

  He nuzzled Hayden's throat, pressing deeper, harder, as Hayden drew closer to his peak and became noisier.

  He clutched at his own cock, almost at the edge. Dylan pushed his hand away. He jerked Hayden off expertly, another four or five strokes and then Hayden stiffened, bucked, his toes curling, shuddering hard all over, as he spurted.

  Dylan hissed against his ear, writhing in the grip of his own climax before he slowed, moving languorously as each of them rode out their orgasm.

  Hayden lay there in the afterglow with Dylan's mouth against his neck and his hand still around him. He didn't want to ever go home.

  ****

  Finally, Dylan moved first. He slid away and left for the bathroom. Hayden leaned over, grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table and wiped himself off. The clock said eight; he guessed Dylan would soon be leaving for work.

  Footsteps sounded. "Want some breakfast?"

  Hayden turned onto his back to see Dylan pulling on a robe. "Sure."

  Dylan nodded and left the room. Hayden dragged himself out of bed. His leg pained him when he stood up. He pulled on his robe and went to the bathroom to wash.

  Dylan had toast and eggs ready on the table, coffee and orange juice. Hayden sat down, gulping a couple of his painkillers with juice. He buttered some toast, waiting politely until Dylan sat down before he started eating.

  "Fingers crossed for the road being open today, huh?" Dylan said.

  Hayden nodded. Rather than look at Dylan, he watched Boots eating his own breakfast.

  "You never say much after we…"

  Hayden's gaze moved to his. "What do you want me to say?"

  "I don't know."

  "Marks out of ten, that kind of thing?"

  Dylan frowned at his flippancy. He got up from the table.

  Hayden caught his wrist, staying him, looking up into his eyes. "Eleven," he said.

  A small smile twitched Dylan's mouth. He threaded his fingers through Hayden's hair. Hayden put an arm around his waist, pulling his lover closer so he could rest his face against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

  ****

  Dylan was ready for work, parka zipped up, checking that his gloves were in his pockets. Hayden sat on the couch, his right leg outstretched. Dylan leaned down and ran his palm lightly over the scar. "Wish I could stay here and give you a massage."

  "It's okay. I'll get Boots to do it."

  Dylan smiled. "I'll call you about the road."

  Hayden nodded. "Have a nice day."

  Dylan cupped his head, bent, kissed him. "Take it easy."

  "You can count on that."

  He watched Dylan pull his boots on at the door, pull his hat over his ears, and then he was gone with a farewell raise of his hand.

  Hayden made no move to get dressed or get his things together. It wasn't a case that he believed the road would still be closed, but more that he simply didn't want to go anywhere.

  Boots jumped onto the couch, purring, cuddling up to him, and Hayden lay down, stroking Dylan's cat and hating himself more with every passing minute.

  ****

  His cell shrilled him out of sleep. Boots stirred, stretched, blinked at him with large green eyes as Hayden reached down and plucked the phone from the carpet.

  "Hey."

  "Hi, Hayden. You're in luck."

  "What?"

  "The road. It's been cleared. Traffic's good on the highway. No more snow forecast for today."

  Silence hung on the line between them.

  "Are you there?"

  "Yeah. Thanks."

  "Okay, so if you get ready I'll come for you, drop you off at the garage. It'll be about an hour. Got to make a call."

  "All right. See you in a bit."

  "Yeah." Dylan hung up.

  Hayden lay back still holding his phone. No, a voice told him inside. No. He jumped when the phone went off again. Julianna calling.

  "Hi," he answered. "I was just going to call you."

  "You were?"

  "Yes, good news. I'll be on the road in about an hour."

  Julianna squealed. "Oh, thank God."

  "So I'll see you soon. Got to get ready."

  "Okay, baby. Love you."

  Hayden hung up. He looked blankly at Boots with pain drumming up and down his leg, rising throughout his body to centre in the left side of his chest. It blossomed with surprising speed, turning into flames, consuming him whole.

  ****

  He was sitting, waiting, when Dylan came for him. He shrugged on his parka as the cop came through the door, kicking off his boots.

  "You ready?"

  "Yeah."

  Dylan reached for his bag.

  "Got to warn you, the damage is steep at the garage. It's going to hurt your credit card."

  Hayden shrugged.

  "And they put you a spare in the trunk. So you don't end up having to stay at any more cops' houses."

  "That's a shame," Hayden replied. "Was going to see if I could sleep my way around the state."

  Dylan grabbed him in a playful headlock, rubbing his knuckles on Hayden's hair. "Okay smartass, let's go. I've got your bag."

  Hayden petted Boots, who remained reclined on the couch. "Bye, Boots. See you around."

  He put his hat on, then went to the doormat to pull his boots on. Dylan went out to his car with Hayden's bag. The engine was still running, exhaust fumes clouding the cold, still air behind the vehicle.

  Hayden climbed in beside Dylan. For a moment the deputy turned his head, those golden eyes fixing on his. The look that passed between them would stay in Hayden's mind for a long time to come.

  Dylan set off. They drove in silence down the road. The day was bright and crisp. The road was ploughed. Snow ten feet high lay neatly packed along its edges. It was a couple of miles until civilisation appeared, rows of stores on both sides, the police station looming large over them all.

  Dylan pulled over to the side of the road before they reached any of the buildings, clicking open his seatbelt. "Garage is just up on the left," he said.

  Silence fell. It was kind of obvious why Dylan had pulled over. Hayden released his seat belt. Then he leaned over and held the deputy sheriff hard.

  Dylan pulled him close, a hand working its way beneath Hayden's layers to smooth down his naked back, his other hand holding his head. He nosed Hayden's hair. "I won't forget you."

  Hayden tightened his arms. His eyes and throat burned with the need to let out his distress. He held back the emotion with every ounce
of his strength. Not here. Not in front of him.

  There were things he wanted to say to Dylan, words that wanted to spill but he kept them furiously prisoner behind his teeth and tongue. Nothing he could say now could do either of them any good. This… affair, if that's what it was, was all done. They were going back to their lives, a life for Hayden that included the wife he had cynically deceived and that somehow, he had to look in the eye when he got back home. A life without Dylan, this interlude in his once-peaceful existence. But Dylan had blown him wide open. Hayden knew his life was changed for good and he knew he would never, ever forget this man.

  He clasped Dylan's face and kissed him. Dylan's fingers played over the nape of his neck. He matched Hayden's passion kiss for kiss.

  They broke contact after long minutes, leaving both of them breathless. Dylan's lips brushed Hayden's temple, his jaw, his ear. His hand was gentle on Hayden's head, touching him with such tenderness.

  He sighed, releasing Hayden. "Come on. Let's go."

  Hayden sat back. He stared blindly out of the window as Dylan set off again, pulling up in front of a garage. He killed the engine, then got out and took Hayden's bag from the trunk.

  Hayden's right leg buckled as he stepped out of the car. He grabbed the roof, steadying himself, breathing through the pain.

  "Are you okay?" Dylan asked in concern behind him.

  "Yeah."

  "Are you sure you're going to be okay to drive? Maybe I should drive you home."

  Hayden turned to look at him. My lover driving me back to my wife? I don't think so. Worst idea in the history of bad ideas.

  Dylan gave him a rueful smile, clearly reading his thoughts. He set off toward the garage and Hayden followed him. Dylan greeted the short, plump guy in overalls at the door. They shook hands and Dylan introduced Hayden.

  "Got it back here for you, sir. Dave'll take it out front if you want to come with me and settle up."

  Hayden followed him into a cold, drafty office, waiting while the guy prepared his bill. It was steep, as Dylan had suggested, but Hayden didn't much care. He handed over his credit card and while he waited for the machine to connect, he looked out through the window at Dylan.