“This sucks,” he told the dog. “If I hadn’t messed up my ankle I could have asked for his number, maybe hooked up with him. I don’t get as much as I used to since you came along. Actually, I don’t get any.”
Whirlwind ignored him, nose to the ground as he padded along, waving his tail from side to side happily.
Levi still had a long way to go when he heard the slap, slap, slap of feet approaching from behind. He hobbled over to the side of the path.
The runner was Shea. He slowed to a walk and watched Levi with concern. “You’re limping.”
Levi stopped and suppressed a grimace. “It’s not too bad.”
“Do you want some help?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Okay.”
Shea didn’t move and after a moment Levi realized he was waiting for him. He limped along as Shea walked beside him.
Shea seemed content to let Levi make his own way. He didn’t offer his help again or say anything to make Levi feel more embarrassed than he already was. Levi realized he was glad to have the other man’s company, which was kind of surprising considering the circumstances.
A minute or two later a butterfly rose up out of the grass beside the path and Whirlwind lunged at it. Levi wasn’t expecting the sudden movement. Whirlwind pulled him off balance forcing Levi to take all of his weight on his sore ankle. “Ow, fuck.”
Shea grabbed him by the upper arm to steady him.
Levi’s skin was hypersensitive to Shea’s touch. He could feel each individual finger against his skin. “Thanks. Sorry,” he said.
Shea was still holding his arm. He let go almost reluctantly. “It’s worse than you said. At least let me take Whirlwind.”
“Okay.” He handed over the leash.
They made their way slowly towards the parking lot. Levi was aware of Shea watching him from the corner of his eye. Probably waiting to see if he was going to make it without asking for help. He grit his teeth and kept going.
Levi pointed. “My car’s just over there.”
Shea gave him an exasperated look. “Can you drive?”
Levi shrugged. He didn’t have much choice. “Sure.”
“Look. I live just across the street. Why don’t you come with me and we can ice your ankle?”
Levi tilted his head, considering. He was attracted to the other man though he wasn’t the type Levi usually went for. Shea was good-looking in a healthy, eats-his-vegetables kind of way, but he was so far out of Levi’s league it was laughable.
He opened his mouth to refuse politely and surprised himself by accepting the offer.
From the expression on Shea’s face he’d surprised him too.
CHAPTER THREE
After a brief discussion they decided to drive over to Shea’s house. Shea drove out of the parking lot and across the street to a small, freshly painted house with a tidy front yard.
“Wait here a second.” Shea unlocked the front door then came back for Whirlwind as Levi carefully got out of the car.
Shea helped Levi hobble down a short hall and into the living room. “I’ll get Whirlwind some water. He can stay in here, but he’d probably be happier in the backyard.”
Levi hesitated. What if Whirlwind dug up some flowers or escaped?
Shea interpreted his expression correctly. “Don’t worry, it’s dog friendly and fenced. He can’t do any damage or get out of the yard. There’s plenty of shade too.”
“Alright. Thanks.” He sank down gratefully onto a dark brown leather couch. The inside of the house was cool after being outside in the heat of the sun.
“Hey, Whirlwind. You want some water? Come on.” Shea made that clucking sound that all dogs respond to and Whirlwind followed him out of the room, his nails clicking on the hardwood as he padded down the hall.
Shea came back with a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a kitchen towel. “Here. I’m going to have a quick shower. I’ll be right back.”
Levi nodded and slipped off his shoe and sock. He rested his foot on an oversized ottoman and looked around.
Shea was a minimalist. His living room was painted a soft white, with polished hardwood floors. There was a bookcase full of paperbacks against one wall, but too far away for Levi to read the books’ titles. A flat screen TV was mounted on the wall across from the couch, with a complicated-looking stereo in a cabinet beneath the TV. The room looked clean and uncluttered. He couldn’t tell for sure, but there were no obvious signs that more than one person lived here.
Levi inspected his ankle. There wasn’t a lot of swelling but the back of his leg, just above his heel, felt hot and tender to his touch.
“How’s the foot?” Shea’s hair was still damp and looked like he’d just finger combed it. He was barefoot and wearing shorts and a cotton t-shirt. Levi had thought he’d looked good sweaty, but fresh from the shower Shea looked great.
“It’s sore, but I didn’t do much damage.”
Shea sat on the edge of the ottoman. He bent over Levi’s leg and inspected it.
“Mind if I take a look?”
Levi shook his head, temporarily tongue-tied. Shea was so close the fabric of his shorts brushed the hair on Levi’s leg. The sensation was surprisingly erotic.
Shea moved as if to touch Levi’s leg. “Can I?”
Levi unstuck his tongue from the roof of his mouth. “Yeah.”
Shea picked up Levi’s leg and rested it on his thigh. Levi felt heat blossom in his belly and his dick started to pay attention.
Shea’s hands felt cool as he ran them over his ankle. Levi swallowed. It had been a long time since anyone had touched him so carefully.
“I think maybe I pulled my Achilles tendon,” he offered.
“I think you’re right.”
Shea was giving him that look again. Did he even know he was doing it? Levi wasn’t sure, but his dick liked the possibility.
“You should ice it for a while then I could wrap it for you. It would be more comfortable, at least for the drive home.”
“Thanks, that’d be great.” Reluctantly he removed his leg from Shea’s warm, firm thigh and rested it on the bag of frozen peas.
“You want something to drink? I have milk or juice.” Shea looked apologetic. “I’d offer you a beer, but you probably shouldn’t have any alcohol if you’re planning on taking any anti-inflammatories or pain killers.”
“Juice is fine. Thanks.”
“Okay.” Shea stood. “One orange juice with a side of sports wrap coming right up.” He left the room and Levi leaned against the back of the couch and closed his eyes. His ankle wasn’t the only thing that was starting to swell.
****
Shea dug through his first aid kit. He knew he’d met Levi before. He remembered those eyes and that smile, though he hadn’t remembered they’d met at the animal hospital. He couldn’t really be blamed for that. The day he’d lost Lacey had probably been the worst day of his life. He couldn’t even remember the drive home.
At the park when he’d stopped patting Whirlwind and looked up, Shea had been attracted immediately. Levi was slender and tall, around Shea’s height, with soft-looking, brown hair that curled attractively around his ears and the collar of his t-shirt. His eyes were a dark blue, almost indigo.
Shea had wanted to ask for his name and phone number, but he wasn’t sure how to go about it without sounding like he was cruising. Then Levi had introduced himself and Shea had half of the problem solved.
He’d thought Levi had been interested too, but he wasn’t sure. When Levi had pretty much told him to leave, Shea had taken the hint and gone on his way. Halfway down the next hill he’d decided to turn around and try again.
Shea found the sports wrap and grabbed a bottle of Advil. Thanks to Whirlwind’s dog tag he had Levi’s phone number. He wasn’t normally this aggressive, but he really didn’t want Levi to get away.
When he came back to the living room Levi sat up. He’d obviously been lying back. The ankle was probably hurting more than he sh
owed. Especially after walking on it all the way back to the parking lot.
Shea offered the glass of orange juice, getting a cheap thrill as he deliberately brushed Levi’s fingers when he handed it over.
Levi’s dark-blue eyes flicked up to his face and though it took effort, Shea met and held his gaze.
“Thanks,” Levi said.
“Can you take ibuprofen?”
“Yeah.”
“Great.” Shea handed him the bottle. He watched as Levi shook two pills out and swallowed them with the orange juice. His own juice sat forgotten on the end table.
The movement of the other man’s throat as he drank was sensual. Shea wanted to kiss and lick all the way up that column of tanned flesh to taste Levi’s mouth.
“Did you bring the sports wrap?”
Shea started guiltily. He flushed and Levi’s lips twitched.
“Yeah. I can tape your ankle now, if you want.”
“Sure.”
Levi was looking at him with amusement, but there was hunger too.
Shea took a quick drink of his juice to cover his embarrassment. He put the glass down and tugged the sports tape from the pocket of his shorts.
He knelt beside Levi’s leg and used the kitchen towel to dry off his foot. Shea had played a lot of sports in high school: tennis, basketball, soccer, even hockey. He had plenty of practice taping up sports injuries.
He smoothed the end of the tape in place and sat back to check his work. He’d done a pretty competent job.
Levi had large feet, brown with tan lines from sandals, though he’d been wearing socks and runners today. They were nice looking feet, at least this one was. Shea thought it was safe to assume the other foot would look pretty similar.
“Shea?” Levi’s voice was soft.
“Hmm?” He realized he’d been stroking the instep of Levi’s foot. He pulled his hand away hastily. “Sorry.”
Levi put his foot on the floor. He put some weight on it, testing. “Feels good. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Shea was still kneeling in front of the couch. He shifted to get to his feet, but Levi put a hand on his shoulder. Shea looked up questioningly and Levi leaned forward and kissed him.
****
Levi covered Shea’s mouth with his own. Shea made a surprised sound but he didn’t pull away. Levi went on kissing Shea, enjoying the feel of warm, soft lips. He hadn’t been sure this was the right move, but Shea put a hand on Levi’s thigh and kissed him back, small open-mouthed kisses on his upper lip, the corner of his mouth. Levi put his hands under Shea’s arms and hauled him up onto the couch.
“Oh.” Shea blinked at him, his eyes wide and dark, the pupils dilated. Levi could feel Shea’s heartbeat under his hand, thumping away against his ribs. Shea licked his lips, a quick unconscious action.
“This okay?” Levi asked.
Shea’s gazed dropped to Levi’s mouth and he flushed. “Yeah.”
Levi leaned in. Shea tilted his chin and closed his eyes, his eyelashes dark crescents against his cheeks. Somehow it seemed such a trusting gesture. It reminded Levi that he wasn’t in some dark, smoky club making out with a nameless stranger. Even as he touched his tongue to the seam of Shea’s lips he wondered if he was going too fast for the other man, but Shea opened to him immediately.
Levi kissed him gently. Shea tasted of oranges; tart and sweet and a very nice change from booze and cigarettes. In the air-conditioned room his skin felt warm through the thin cotton of his shirt and he smelled clean, like soap or shampoo.
Levi slid his hands down to Shea’s hips. He pulled him closer then eased him down and back. Shea went with the movement, his hands stroking Levi’s biceps. He pushed up Shea’s shirt and rubbed the pads of his thumbs over Shea’s nipples. Shea moaned into Levi’s mouth and his nipples contracted to hard points under Levi’s teasing touch.
“Feels good, hmm?” Levi trailed his mouth down Shea’s chest, the body under his hands and lips smooth and firm.
He nipped at Shea’s flesh and scraped his teeth over those small, sensitive nubs. Levi worked the fly of Shea’s shorts and gently bit down on one diamond-hard nipple.
Shea gasped and arched under him. Levi used Shea’s movement to tug his shorts and briefs down. He looked down at Shea’s erection: beautiful.
Levi lowered his head and swallowed him to the base of his cock as Shea made a dazed, helpless sound. He grabbed for Levi, gripping his shoulders.
At one time Levi had been pretty good at this. He sucked and tongued as he bobbed his head. He took his time, drawing the pleasure of the act out for both of them. Shea gripped his shoulders hard enough to hurt and underneath Levi his body was trembling. Levi palmed then squeezed his balls gently and Shea bucked and cried out as he spilled warm, salty-sweet fluid into Levi’s mouth. He smiled around that pulsing cock. It was nice to know he still had it.
Levi licked Shea clean then sat up, watching as Shea’s breathing slowed and his chest stopped heaving.
Shea opened his eyes.
“Oh my God. Thank you. That was the most…I’ve never...” He flushed.
Levi grinned. “My pleasure.”
Shea looked at Levi from under his lashes. “I can do that for you, if you like.”
Levi’s grin widened. “I like.”
Shea fastened his shorts as Levi lay back, resting at an angle against the back of the couch. He held the other man’s eyes as he unzipped and opened his own shorts, pulling his t-shirt up out of the way.
Shea’s eyes dropped to his crotch. He crawled between Levi’s legs and knelt. His hands touched Levi’s stomach lightly and he looked up. “Is your ankle okay like this?”
“What ankle?”
Shea laughed and bent his head. He kissed Levi’s stomach; feathery light kisses as he worked his way down. He mouthed Levi’s dick, sucking the head through the damp cotton of his underwear. Levi’s hips twitched and he gripped the edge of the couch. “That feels good.”
Shea pulled his underwear down and grasped his dick near the base. Levi thought maybe he wasn’t sure what to do next. He was about to tell Shea not to worry, to use his hand if he wasn’t comfortable with using his mouth, when Shea wrapped his lips around the head and sucked hard.
Levi groaned from deep in his chest as Shea slid his mouth up and down Levi’s cock, using his lips, his tongue, even his teeth.
Levi fought off his orgasm as Shea swallowed around him, his throat massaging Levi’s dick. Why the hell had he thought Shea might not know what he was doing? The man put Levi’s own pretty impressive skills to shame.
The hot slide of Shea’s lips and tongue, the rasp of stubble against the sensitive skin of his groin. It felt so good. Shea was so sexy, so hot. Levi’s thighs and belly tensed.
“Shea…” He reached out to stroke the dark, damp hair and Shea lifted his head and held his gaze as he flicked his tongue over and around the head of Levi’s cock.
Somewhere in the room a phone started ringing. Levi cursed, but Shea ignored the phone, taking him in deeper. The sight of his dick sliding in and out of that sweet, skilled mouth was almost enough to push him over the edge, but it was Shea’s eyes watching him as he sucked and licked that did.
Levi lay on the couch panting and shuddering as Shea licked at him like a cat lapping at cream. The phone had stopped ringing and the answering machine kicked in. Levi barely heard Shea’s recorded message. He was still recovering from one of the most intense orgasms he’d ever had.
“…so leave me a message and I’ll get back to you.”
The machine beeped.
“Shea, it’s William.” Shea tensed and sat up. “I know you’ve been busy, but I have tickets to the theatre next Friday and I’m hoping you’re free.” The voice went on, its tone persuasive. “We could have dinner first. Maybe that little Italian place we went to on our first date. Call me. Or I’ll call you at work.”
The machine clicked off. Shea got up and walked over to the answering machine. The l
ine of his back and shoulders radiated tension. He pushed a button and the machine announced it had deleted all messages.
Levi stood up and straightened his clothes. He wasn’t surprised Shea was involved with someone. Guys like Shea didn’t do random hook-ups with strangers. They were in long-term relationships with other men just like them. Guys with good jobs and disposable income.
Except Shea was having sex with him while his boyfriend was leaving a message. Levi couldn’t figure out why that hurt.
Shea gave him a pleading look. “Levi, it’s not what you think. William and I—”
“I get it. It’s cool.” He picked up his discarded sock and stuffed it into his pocket then bent to put on his shoe, wincing as he accidentally jolted his ankle. “Lot’s of couples have open relationships. It’s no big deal.”
“I’m not in an open relationship.”
Levi frowned. “Well, then I guess this can be our dirty little secret.”
“I’m not seeing William.”
Levi laughed. Even to his own ears his laugh sounded forced. “That’s not what it sounded like.”
He was being a dick but he couldn’t help it. For a few minutes he’d actually considered asking for Shea’s phone number, maybe seeing him again, but the call had reminded him of their differences.
Shea had financial stability. One look around and it was obvious he had a good job—probably a career. He liked to exercise. Hell, he probably ate right and got eight hours of sleep every night. They had nothing in common. Well maybe one thing. They both gave great head.
Shea scowled and grabbed his arm. “You’re not listening. We broke up months ago.”
Levi shook him off. “Trouble in paradise? Someone couldn’t keep it in his pants?”
Shea blanched.
Levi’s gut twisted with guilt, but he ignored it. “Lucky for you it sounds like he wants you back.”
The hurt in Shea’s eyes made him feel like an asshole.
Shea spoke. “I didn’t cheat on him and I’m not interested in getting back with him. I was hoping maybe you and I could…start something.”
Levi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them he had himself under control. He made it as clear as he could without being rude. “I don’t think so. I’m tired and my ankle is sore. I’d like to go home now so if you could get Whirlwind I’d appreciate it.”
Don't Read in the Closet volume one Page 37
