by Tatum Throne
It was difficult to think straight with Shane standing there practically naked in front of him with that damn towel in the way. Water droplets raced over his skin. Dusk wanted to chase those drops with his tongue. “What are you doing living in my house?”
Shane ran a hand through his dark, wet hair. “I was going to tell you. Chief Rask asked me to take care of everything for you.”
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why not? I owe you.”
“You owe me nothing.”
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong.”
Dusk swallowed hard, very aware of the way his body was physically responding to this man. Heat flooded through his prick, making him go light headed. Shane reached out as he started to swoon forward. Dusk lifted his hands to Shane’s chest as he fell against it.
“Whoa. Sit down.”
To keep him from hitting the floor, Shane had to let go of the towel he was holding. He let it fall at their feet as he helped Dusk to the bed. As the room righted, Shane leaned down and picked up the towel, wrapping it around strong muscular thighs.
Unable to look away, Dusk caught sight of his semi hard cock and he moaned roughly, looking away. It’d been way too long since he had sex with anyone.
Chapter Two
Shane’s heart was sprinting as he stood in the middle of the room, dripping water all over the hardwood floor. He gripped the towel to his junk, trying to make sense of what was happening. “You didn’t call me.”
The man standing before him shrugged nonchalantly as though it didn’t matter.
“You should have called me. I would have picked you up from the hospital.”
“How long have you been living here?”
“Long enough. I was waiting for you to wake up. I didn’t want you to come home to an empty house.”
“Why do you care about me so much?” Dusk asked.
Shane didn’t have an answer for that right now. He felt guilty and responsible and suddenly aroused by the man standing in front of him. His heart and mind were spinning for all the wrong reasons.
Despite being in a coma for a really long time, Dusk looked stronger and ready. Hard determination was within his eyes. Even though he was weak from being out so long, he stood there probably waiting for him to make the next move. Stepping in close, Shane was ready to take back the control he was so desperately needed to feel.
“You’re going to do what I say and when I say it. I’m not going to let you get sick end up back in the hospital.”
“The doctors gave me every test possible. There’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m fine.”
“I don’t believe you. You look like you could fall over at any moment.”
It was true.
With the sexual tension lingering between them, Shane could see a glimmer of something bloom in his eyes. “I should probably sit down. I am really tired.”
Shane watched as he sat on the bed. “Did the doctors give you the okay to start working out again?”
Dusk nodded but he wouldn’t meet his gaze. Something was going on and Shane didn’t like it. He let the towel drop around his waist and wrapped it around, unknowingly giving Dusk, sitting on the edge of the bed, a glimpse of his junk.
Dusk’s eyes widened as his gaze moved over the towel but he quickly looked away before a scarlet blush crept up his neck. Shane came in close, getting down on his haunches so they were eye to eye.
“Let me take care of you.”
“I don’t need anyone to.”
“Let me make this right for you. Just until you’re strong enough and then I’ll leave. I’ll get out of your way.”
Dusk sighed. “Fuck.”
“I don’t like the idea of you in this big old house by yourself. Too many things could go wrong. We both know that.”
Temptation had Shane wanting to run one of his hands over Dusk’s clenched fists digging into the bed but he didn’t. Now was not the time. When he took on a submissive, he wanted them to be strong emotionally and physically when they submitted—not weak and unsteady.
Lust and longing whispered within Dusk’s eyes. Shane should not cross this boundary yet but he had to give Dusk a reason for pushing on. As Shane stood up, he leaned in close whispering his lips close to his ear. With his left hand, he smoothed his fingers into Dusk’s hair that was longer than it should have been.
“I know you want me. If you’re good, I’ll let you have me—eventually.”
A shiver raced down Shane’s spine as he stood up pulling himself away. “Besides, the chief said I could stay here as long as I want to. You’re not going to go against one of the chief’s orders, are you?”
“No. I’m not. Just stay out of my way and we won’t have a problem.”
As Dusk stood up, his legs buckled. Shane caught him in his arms before he could fall to the floor.
Shane didn’t want to think about possibility of Dusk being alone and having no one there for him. Things were going faster than he wanted, but he had no choice in the matter. He needed to be there for Dusk whether he liked it or not.
He could see that the glimpse of his cock caused another spark of interest to flare through Dusk’s eyes. Did he remember the conversation they had the night of his injury? There was a good chance he didn’t but playing a hunch Shane leaned in close.
“You remember what happened that night, don’t you?”
Dusk stared up at him.
“And I’m not talking about your injury. I’m talking about our conversation we had in the car before you got hurt.”
Shane saw Dusk swallow hard and look away. So, that was how he was going to play it, was he? “I’m not judging you. I just want to know where things stand.”
Finally, those big sorrowful brown eyes looked at him. “Yes, I was interested but it was clear that you were not.”
Shane pulled away from Dusk, running a hand over the back of his neck as he moved. He didn’t like the fact that they were having this conversation while he only had a towel wrapped around his waist.
Dusk was in no position to be taken advantage of now. And if something did happen, Shane was certain that it would be because he was vulnerable and needy in a way that had more to do with it his injury. Shane came back in close, kneeling down on his haunches. He felt the breeze of the towel spread as his knee touched the floor.
“Look, I’m going to make one thing very clear. Nothing is going to happen between us until I say it happens, do you understand?”
Dusk nodded his head as though he did but it was clear he wasn’t hearing him.
“I’m telling you like it is. If you want me, you have to work for it.”
“I get it.”
“We have to get you back to your life and until I think you’re strong enough, nothing will be happening between us.”
A flare of anger raced through Dusk’s eyes before he closed it off. It was clear this situation was not fun but Shane was only doing this to make sure he was okay. “You almost passed out on me. If we had sex, you wouldn’t be able to walk for a week and you know it.”
Dusk’s mouth dropped open. He finally understood what was going on between them. If they were going to make this happen then Dusk needed to recognize all the parameters. Was now a good time to tell Dusk he was a Dom? Shane wasn’t so sure but he needed the conversation to happen sooner rather than later. It just couldn’t happen tonight. He did not want to scare the man away—not before he had him tied to his bed, ready and wanting.
“You don’t need to stay here. I’m fine.”
“Chief Rask asked that I stick around for a little longer. Honestly, I would rather be here for you than anywhere else.”
“Fine. Just stay out of my way.”
As Shane stood up, Dusk started to move away. Shane reached out, stopping him with a hand on his arm. Their eyes locked. He was crossing a line but he needed to make a point. Shane backed Dusk up until he was standing against the wall.
Blocked in with no place to go, Sha
ne leaned down and kissed him hard, brushing and teasing his lips over Dusk’s. A sigh escaped his parted lips.
It wasn’t long before the kiss became a deep hunger he unleashed upon Shane. Forced to take control, Shane threaded his fingers into his hair, taking the kiss deeper so and setting the pace. Shane’s heart was thundering in his ears. His cock flexed out, flipping between the break in the towel to brush up against Dusk’s body.
Things were spinning out faster than he wanted it to happen. Reluctantly, Shane broke away. His lips were wet and humming with need and so was his cock. Shane slipped his hand down, brushing it up against Dusk’s dick.
“This can’t happen yet. I want you completely healthy and ready to be taken. And that’s not going to happen until you’re back on your feet.”
A moan of disappointment rushed through his parted lips. “Please.”
The simple word was nearly Shane’s undoing but he had to keep control. Dusk stroked his own cock several times, slipping his thumb over his tip, letting it ride and skim the head. Shane gripped his cock hard and leaned his lips down against his ear.
“Come for me. Come for me now.”
The simple words were enough to bring Dusk over the edge, shooting his spunk into Shane’s palm. Dusk was breathing hard—they both were. Slumped against his chest, weakened and shaken. Shane stepped back, picking Dusk up into his arms. He carried him to the master bedroom and laid him down on the bed. He kissed him softly.
“You need to get some rest. I don’t want to see you out of bed until you’re completely ready.”
“I need to get back to my life. I need my strength to return and the only way that’s going to happen is if you let me and help me do what I need to do.”
“Then don’t do it alone.”
Temptation had Shane wanting to slip down into bed with Dusk but he couldn’t. His cock was rock hard and ready behind the towel. Shane wanted to feel those soft lips caress his dick and suck it hard. That was not going to happen, not now.
“Where are you going?”
Tension vibrated through Shane’s broad shoulders as he moved back from the man he desperately wanted to make his submissive. “I need to leave.”
He needed to take care of things or Shane wouldn’t be able to sleep for the next five hours.
“We both know that’s not the right thing to happen tonight.”
A gasp of surprise whispered from Dusk’s parted lips. Shane could see he was still hungry and wanting for more. As Shane slipped out of the bedroom, he shut the door behind him, trying to will his legs to walk away.
As Shane strode back to the guest bedroom, he shut the door behind him, locking the door. He needed a few minutes alone and away from the man he so desperately needed. Shane headed for the shower, flipping it back on. He let the towel drop to the floor and looked down at his throbbing, disobedient cock.
Bastard wanted sex and it wanted it now. He got into the shower and gripped his cock painfully hard. He thrust hard into his palm, pushing his hips upward as he stroked his cock roughly. He braced his left hand against the tile as he stroked, imagining thumping his prick in and out of Dusk’s hungry mouth.
The thought of ramming his cock into Dusk’s ass broke him. Shane’s orgasm raced through his dick, sending his spunk flying against the tile. All he could think about was stroking his dick in and out of his submissive’s ass. He wanted to take Dusk on as his sub but it was going to be a long time before that could happen.
When Shane finished his shower, he dressed in loose-fitting pajama pants and a t-shirt. He went to check on Dusk, relieved to see he was sleeping peacefully. The man needed a good night’s rest, if he was going to get back to training tomorrow.
* * * *
The next morning, Dusk made sure he was up before Shane. He went down to the kitchen and took all the vitamins and supplements the doctors recommended he needed to get back into shape. He was still on a high protein shake to regain some of the muscle mass he lost.
Despite being dressed and ready for work, Dusk didn’t feel like he was mentally ready. His clothing was still a bit loose, having gone down several sizes. Regardless of all of that, he was going in to work—even if things were a little baggy. Even if that meant leaving for work before Shane got up, he was going to do that. He didn’t want to fight with him about why he should be resting instead of going to work.
Still, Dusk felt guilty about sneaking out of the house the way he was. He grabbed his car keys and went outside to his car. He was even going to drive himself to work. As he backed out of the driveway, he thought he saw the light upstairs in the guest bedroom click on. He wanted to get to the gym to work out—even if it was for five minutes before he started the day.
He had already sent an e-mail to Chief Rask to let him know he was coming in and ready to get back to his life. Everyone thought he was rushing it, but Dusk didn’t care. He needed this. He needed to forget about almost dying.
As he pulled up outside the Training Center, Dusk shut off his car and headed inside. He got a few side glances as he walked through the hallway but no one lingered long. It was fine with Dusk. Not many knew him before his injury, which was why he could go pretty much unnoticed as he went into the gym. He headed to the locker room and found an open locker and changed quickly.
Shane wouldn’t be happy when he found out he had left the house without talking to him this morning. Part of the problem was, Shane wanted to be his babysitter when all Dusk wanted was a lover. Dusk was a grown man who could take care of himself.
Determined to forget all about the kiss searing his mind and body, Dusk went to lift a few weights. He picked up a twenty-pound Dumbbell and immediately felt his muscles begin to scream. It was way too much. The physical therapist had warned him about not overdoing it. So Dusk immediately set it back down, trying to forget about the man he once was but was having hard time of it.
Instead, he chose to go to one of the recumbent bikes, taking it easy and slow. It wasn’t long before he had a good stride and he popped in his ear buds, listening to music to drown out the scream of his muscles. He knew he was pushing it but didn’t care. He had to get back. His work was his life and nothing else mattered.
As he scrolled through his playlist he caught sight of people coming and going out of the training center. No one gave him a second glance which was what Dusk so desperately needed. It wasn’t until someone came up behind him and popped out one of his earbuds that he looked up into the mirror across from him and saw Shane.
His accusatory eyes looked annoyed and frustrated. “I’m supposed to be helping you.”
“Yeah, well I’m supposed to be working out like the doctor said I should.”
“I don’t want you to do this on your own.”
“I didn’t want to wake you. And I don’t need a babysitter.”
Determined to act normal despite feeling shaken inside Dusk stop pedaling and stood up but his legs wobbled. Shane reached out and grabbed him as his legs went jelly.
“This is why you need somebody with you while you work out.”
“Fine. You’re here now, you can spot me.”
“I think you’ve done enough for the day.”
“I don’t need a fucking babysitter.”
“Yes, you do. And until Chief Rask tells me otherwise, I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”
They stood there staring at each other fuming. It was clear that Dusk’s body had reached its hard limit. “I’m going to change.”
As he started to move away, Dusk felt as though his legs were still wobbly despite moving his feet. Shane reached out, grasping his elbow as he moved. This move didn’t go unnoticed by several within the gym. This was exactly what he was trying to avoid here, but Shane was not willing to let him go.
When they were alone in the locker room, Dusk pulled away. Annoyance flew through his eyes as Dusk stabbed his gaze at Shane. Frustration moved through his body but before he could speak Shane stepped in close, blocking him in.
>
“I know this kills you. I understand you want to be back to normal but it’s going to take time.”
“I get it.”
“If you push it too hard and too fast, you’re going to overdo it and take a step back.”
“I’m aware.”
“Let me help you.”
Dusk ran a frustrated hand over his face. “I don’t like to feel so helpless.”
“No one does. I understand.”
Dusk looked at Shane, thinking how he needed to lean on this man for support. He just hated the fact that he had to do it so publicly. “I want to get back to work.”
“No, you’re not ready. And when you’re ready Colt will be ready to work with you again.”
His K9 partner. Dusk felt so foolish and confused. He couldn’t believe he left the house without his K9 partner. Not having Colt at his side burned more than he wanted to admit. “Who has Colt been riding with?”
“K9 officer Roland. He’s been taking good care of Colt in the line of duty. He misses you.”
“I know. I miss him, too.”
Despite only having a short workout, Dusk was dripping with sweat. Embarrassed, he wanted to change and shower. He hated the fact he needed to ask Shane for help. “I need to shower.”
“Yes, you do.”
Shane winked as he stepped back, allowing him to grab his shower kit from his locker. After he did, Shane followed him down to the shower stall and waited in the changing area between the hallway in the shower. Shane pulled the curtain shut, giving Dusk a sense of privacy.
It was hard to ignore Shane when he was so close to him and so ready and willing to be there for him if he fell down. With a shaky hand, Dusk turned on the water, stepping under the hot spray. He washed quickly, loving the feel of the warm water moving over his skin.
When Dusk shut off the water, he hesitated, looking at Shane through the curtain. His heart started to race.
“You okay?” Shane asked.
He swallowed hard as the memories from the night before raced through his mind. His cock started to fill with heat. He ran his hand over his dick, willing it to stay down. “Yeah.”
