Hurricane

by BA Tortuga

  Finally Galen answered and things got loud as hell, and Shane just headed down to the bait shop to potter.

  He’d been down there about an hour, working over some inventory boxes, when he heard someone clear his throat. “Shane?”

  Oh man. Wade. “Hey, man. How’s it hanging?”

  The man looked like hammered shit, dark circles under the big blue eyes, tan a little faded.

  “I’ve been sick, honey. I’m better.”

  “Oh shit. That sucks. Come on, have a seat.” He cleaned off a chair, helped Wade over. “You want a Coke?”

  “No. No, honey. Shane. That ain’t what I want.”

  “Well, what? I’ll fix you up.”

  Wade shifted on the little chair, pulling off his gimme cap to tug at those pale curls. “I been thinking, Shane.”

  “Yeah?” He grabbed a chair, sat. Shit, he hated to see the man look so tore up. He did.

  “Uh-huh. I mean, it’s gonna sound crazy, I guess.” He got a ghost of a grin, Wade’s cheekbones looking sharper, the hollows beneath deeper.

  “Well, tell me, then. You know I ain’t scared of crazy.” He chuckled, reached out and patted Wade’s knee. “Shit, buddy, you and me have had a couple adventures, haven’t we?”

  “We have.” Grabbing his hand, Wade held on tight, fingers gripping his. “You could…. It’s not too late, Shane. I got the boat tricked out for a long tour; you quit your job. Come with me.”

  “What? Oh, oh, honey. I thought. I thought you knew that….” No. No, this wouldn’t work. Not at all. Much as him and Galen felt broke sometimes, Galen was his one true thing. “You’re good to me, Wade, you are, but….”

  “But what?” Leaning in, Wade stared right into his eyes. “He doesn’t love you like I do, Shane. How could he, and be gone so long?”

  No. No, Galen loved him like no one ever would. God knew, he’d tried to love Wade, he had, a little, but his heart just couldn’t. It wasn’t his anymore. “This ain’t about Galen, Wade. This is about me. I love him, and I’m gonna stay ’til he don’t want me anymore, and it’ll be worth it for me, yeah?”

  “How? I mean, I just don’t see how.” Wade’s face twisted all up, those eyes going cloudy. “You told me yourself you were worried he’d never come home.”

  Yeah, but Wade hadn’t seen Galen when Shane had showed up during the storm, hadn’t seen how Galen held him at night like he was the most precious fucking thing in the world.

  “I did. I do, but…. Shit, Wade. I can’t explain it. He’s it for me. He’s home.” Galen was…. Galen. Nothing else had held his attention in his whole life.

  “Shane, honey?” Oh. Len. Thank God. “Hey, I finally got that asshole off the phone.” Galen popped his head in the shop, staring from him to Wade. “Well, hey, Wade.”

  “Hey, Galen. I just came to tell Shane goodbye. I’m heading out for a while. Take the boat through her paces.”

  Oh. Oh damn it. Shane felt like the world’s biggest asshole, hurting a decent guy. He felt like a bigger prick for knowing he’d do it again, if he had to.

  Len nodded, coming to put an arm around him. “Well, you be careful, huh? But that sounds like you’ll have fun.”

  Wade gave Shane another long, slow look. “You’re sure, huh? About what we talked about?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I’m real sure. Come see us when you get back in port, huh? We’ll have supper. Len makes a good steak.”

  God, he needed a shot.

  A double.

  “Shane does a great margarita too.” There wasn’t a bit of nasty in Len’s voice. Shit, if anything there was sympathy, which was weird. Len usually growled.

  “Yeah. Yeah, see y’all.” Wade stood, squeezed his hand once real quick, and then just walked off without looking back.

  Goddamn it.

  “You… you get shit dealt with with Frank?”

  “Hell, no. He’s gonna keep trying to hound me. I called my lawyer. We’re not answering the phone.” Turning, Galen grabbed him and squeezed, hugging him hard. “You all right?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I will be. I could sure use a drink, though.” He leaned in. “I don’t think he’s gonna come back, Galen.”

  “I’m sorry because he’s your friend, darlin’. But I’m glad you chose me.” Tilting his chin up, Galen took a kiss that surprised him, pushing him, taking it deep.

  Wade just slipped away, along with all the other shit, leaving him just as clear as glass and solid as stone.

  Like he could’ve chosen anything else.

  They broke for breath, Galen staring down at him. “Come back to the house with me, Shane.”

  He nodded, reaching up to cup Galen’s cheek, touch a little. They went arm in arm, Galen bumping hips with him, hand moving on his arm. Hot. It was muggy, almost steamy, but Galen was the hottest part.

  “Mmm.” Those fingers on him just did it for him, bone-deep.

  The kitchen was starting to look bright and light again, all the boards gone, and Galen shut the door behind them, pushing him up against the counter to kiss him. The counter bit into his ass a little, Galen’s heat solid against his front. He opened his mouth to say something, but that just got him another kiss and another. God. Galen was gonna eat him up. The kisses bruised his lips, made him short of breath. And that counter might just dent his spine. Damn. Damn, he wrapped his arms around Galen’s neck, head just swimming.

  One hand cupped his butt, sliding between him and the hard edge of tile, lifting him right up. So damned strong, his Len.

  “Galen.” He got his legs around Galen’s hips, meeting those eyes as he did. Jesus, that look damn near burned him.

  “Mine. You got that, darlin’? Mine.” Galen sucked up a mark on his neck, right where the one Len had put there was fading away. Made his whole body feel like a live wire.

  “I know. I want to be yours.” Maybe he needed it. Either way, it was what he was.

  “Oh God.” That grin was razor-sharp but fucking happy, Galen’s dark eyes just sparkling. “Need you.”

  He nodded, one hand tracing that mouth. “So take me. I’m right here.”

  “Yeah.” Someone liked that idea. Hoisting him up, Galen sat him on the counter and started working on his clothes.

  “You’re hungry.” He lifted his arms, old T-shirt going flying, and he reached for Galen’s wifebeater.

  “I am.” Shrugging out of the tank, Galen worked their buttons and zippers, pulling and pushing and growling when things went too slow.

  Shane chuckled, trying to help, fingers stinging when Galen swatted them away to tear his fly open. That big hand closed around him, pulled at his cock a couple of times. Just to get him revved up. His ass left the counter, whole body jumping, the air electric as shit, like the storms were gonna come back.

  “That’s it, darlin’. Look at you. So fucking amazing.” That thumb rubbed right under the head, Galen’s blunt nail scraping the tiniest bit.

  “Oh. Oh, there. There, Len.” His eyes went wide as his thighs went taut.

  “Yeah? Like that?” All the way up and down, Galen touched him just the way he needed, sliding along his length. His belly quivered, his toes curling.

  “Uh. Uh-huh.” Jesus. Jesus, that felt. Galen was gonna kill him.

  Reaching up, Galen put two fingers against his lips. “Get me all wet, darlin’. Need to be in you soon.”

  “Uh-huh….” He moaned and took those fingers in. Oh. Oh, Galen tasted… so good.

  “Fuckin’ hot, darlin’.” Galen kept up a string of sweet words, telling him how pretty he was, how good he felt. Yeah. More.

  Hot as a box of firecrackers in a barbecue, Shane pushed closer, one leg propped on an open cabinet door so he could spread wide. Galen pulled those fingers free and slid them down to press between his legs. The stretch had him moaning, had him trying to open up even more.

  “Galen.” He slid off the counter a little, pushing himself down onto that touch.

  “Sweet Jesus. Shane.” In and out, Galen moved, stretchi
ng him, wetting him. Galen was flushed, panting, growling for him.

  He wanted to say a lot of shit—yeah and love and want and yours—but he was awful busy, so Shane just moved faster, muscles starting to warm up. He didn’t think Len was ever gonna get to the main event, but finally he got more than Galen’s fingers, that fat cock pushing at him. Len dragged him down, pulling at him until he sorta fell right there, right where Len could be inside him.

  “Yes….” His head fell back, arms braced on the counter so he could help move himself on that heavy prick.

  “Uhn.” Grunting, Galen moved back and forth, pushing up at the same time. Fucking A. He was just gonna explode.

  “Jesus. Jesus, Len. I….” His cock was slapping between them, hard as Chinese algebra.

  “Touch yourself, darlin’. I got you. I won’t let you fall.” No. No, Len wouldn’t let him fall.

  He nodded, finding his balance, one hand wrapping around his prick. Oh. Oh hell yes.

  “That’s it. Oh fuck.” Moving faster, Galen hoisted him up a little, arching his back, putting just enough distance between their chests that Len could see what he was doing.

  Shane showed off a little, working his cock hard, almost too hard, the ache giving him just what he needed. Len’s eyes were just glued to the center of his body, almost black with need. That big cock pushed at him, opened him wide, and damn. Every muscle in Len’s body strained, giving him a show of his own.

  “Yours. Yours, love.” He jerked hard, ball sac aching as he shot, spunk splashing on his belly.

  Nodding, growling, Galen went crazy for him, hips pumping hard. He felt it deep inside when Len shot for him, filling him right up. His. Galen was his too.

  Hell, yes. His muscles were trembling, tired and shaking.

  Leaning for a minute, Len rested against him, holding him against the counter. Then big muscles shifted and Galen heaved, lifting him up. “Bedroom?”

  “Uh-huh. So fucking strong.” It still stunned him, after all this time.

  Kissing him hard, Galen turned and headed for their room, managing not to trip over the dogs. They landed on the bed, both of them panting and laughing.

  “Hey. Hey, Len.” He wrapped tight around, taking one quick kiss after another.

  “Mmm-hmm. Hey, darlin’.” Those eyes stared right into his, serious, sure. “Thank you.”

  “What for?” He just stared back, heated through.

  “For staying with me. For telling Wade no. I didn’t hear much, but I heard that. I love you, darlin’. So much.”

  “I know.” Shane nodded, sure he’d done the right thing, staying where his home was. “I couldn’t go with him, no matter what. I need you.”

  “You got me, Shane. You’ll see. I’m home for good.” That was it. That was what he needed. Just Galen and home and some time to make it right.

  “Good.” He guessed a better man would hurt more about Wade, but he wasn’t all that. He just loved.

  That was all.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  THE BAIT shop finally smelled like fresh two-by-fours instead of mildew and dead lizards. Oh, it was far from done, but Galen thought they were making progress. It felt good, to be out there working with his hands, listening to Shane whistle and scrub the new glass cases they’d just gotten in.

  They had all the fans on, the place a little stuffy, but it worked. Hell, he got to see Shane’s thin T-shirt clinging to every cut of muscle, outlining those little nipple rings.

  “I think I need to get a tattoo to go with yours, darlin’,” Galen said when Shane finished the bottom shelf and straightened up.

  “Okay, Len. Nemo did mine. He’s real cool. Sorta biker-looking, but cool.”

  “Yeah? Did it hurt bad?” Not that he was afraid of pain; he just kinda wanted to know about Shane’s tat.

  “No. It itched more than anything. Like a sunburn.” Shane pulled up his shirt, showing him the ink again. “The weird part was someone shaving me there.”

  “Shaving….” Oh fuck. How long had it been since they’d done that together? Last time he’d seen it, Shane had been texting him pictures on his cell phone. His now defunct cell phone.

  “Mmm-hmm. There wasn’t much hair, not like if I’d got it down here.” That hand motioned to that sweet, taut lower belly.

  “Uh-huh.” Galen couldn’t help it. He stared. Hard. “That would be pretty, though.”

  The muscles rippled, just like he’d touched them. “What would?”

  “A tattoo. Right. There.” Drawn like Shane was a lodestone, Galen moved close, touched that sweet skin.

  “On you or me?”

  “You. Though I would get one too. Might be better to put it on my back, though. Where I’m less hairy.” Grinning, he stroked up and down, watching Shane’s muscles twitch.

  “Yeah. You’d look funny, piebald.” Uh-huh. Shane was all into him being fuzzy. His Shane, though, he could strip that fine body down to bare skin.

  “We’ll have to think on it.” Flattening his hand on Shane’s belly, Galen thought more on taking the man up to the house and having at him in the bathtub. He could feel each muscle, rippling, shifting, could smell the way Shane’s cock was lifting.

  “You’re getting a little fuzzy, darlin’.” Tugging at the tiny hairs, Galen grinned. “We could go have a bath.”

  “Mmm. We could. We’ve worked it hard.” Look at those cheeks go pink. Hell, yes.

  “We have.” The floors were squeaky clean, new laminate hardwood put in the day before. The cases were in place, the new cash register ready to go. Time for a break.

  “Come on, Shane,” Galen said, holding out a hand.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake. You’re telling me that you left everything behind for this piece-of-shit place? Jesus, Galen. Are you stupid?”

  He recognized the voice about five seconds before Shane did, Shane’s pretty eyes going furious, just like that. Galen turned, his voice calm and even when he spoke. “You’re not welcome here, Frank. Take it up with my lawyer.”

  “Fuck you. I came to find out what was wrong with you.” Smarmy little blocky fuckhead.

  “There’s nothing fucking wrong with him.” Shane grabbed a two-by-four, hefted it. “Not a thing.”

  Staring at Shane, Galen tried to come up with something to say, but he was flabbergasted. He’d seen Shane defend the bar, but damn.

  “Look here, you little shit—”

  “No. No, I don’t fucking think so.” Shane stepped forward, wood slapping on one palm. “You ain’t coming to our place and speaking to Galen like that, you hear me?”

  Frank sputtered, and Galen wanted to laugh, but that would just make things worse. He put a hand on Shane’s arm, just to let the man know he was still there, and looked Frank right in the eye. “We’re not in business anymore. Not after what you tried to do. Now get your ass out of here.”

  “You’re giving up all we’ve done for a cheap piece of ass?”

  Shane’s arm tensed, a low warning noise sounding. “I ain’t cheap, and you’re a fucking liar, man. Len can do better.”

  Galen’s own muscles went tight and hard, and he growled, hands clenching. “He’s not a piece of anything. He’s it, Frank. He’s my other half. I know that now. Now get.”

  Frank opened his mouth, and that piece of wood swung out, smashing into the side of the shop. “That’s your warning.”

  Goddamn. Look at that.

  Frank gave him a look that burned with rage, but the man turned tail, cussing all the way. When he was out of range, he shouted, “You haven’t heard the last of it, Frost. I told you he was an indulgence you couldn’t afford!”

  Shane stepped forward, glaring. “Don’t make me fucking hunt your ass, you lying sack of shit!”

  “You keep him away from me!” Frank hotfooted it to his car and tore out, spitting mud from under his tires.

  Galen watched, grinning a little at the way Shane was still vibrating.

  Shane watched Frank leave, then carefully put the two-by
-four back in place. “You still want that shower?”

  “I do. In fact, I think I need it more now than ever.” Frank made him feel grungy.

  “’Kay, Len.” Shane headed toward the house, all het up.

  It was fucking hot.

  Following that swinging ass, Galen stuck his hands in his pockets, a little shell-shocked. Shane had scared off Frank. Shane had fucking threatened to beat the bastard. Shane, who had always yelled at him for fighting and starting shit in the bar and all. That finally got his ass in gear, and Galen put on a burst of speed, catching up with Shane outside the bathroom. He grabbed one shoulder and swung Shane around, hugging that lean body close.

  Shane looked up at him, eyes still flashing. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Damn. Look at that man. Galen was so hard he could pound nails. “You’re something else, darlin’.”

  “I ain’t letting anyone come here and threaten us.”

  “No. No, you’re not.” Jesus, that was weirdly hot. “Mine.”

  He bent and took a kiss, letting Shane know how much he appreciated it. Shane’s body slapped against his, Shane meeting him halfway, the return kiss melting him, bone-deep. Wrapping his arms around Shane’s body, Galen let the kiss go on and on, his whole body on fire with it.

  Shane’s fingers were in his hair, holding him close, keeping their mouths together. They rocked a little, both of them unwilling to give up control of the kiss, passing it back and forth. He tasted Shane deep, tongue pushing in and out in a slow, heavy rhythm. Shit, he was caught in it, caught in Shane and the kisses.

  Staggering, they made it to the bathroom without losing contact, hands and mouths moving, searching. Galen gave up all thought, letting it take him where it would.

  Shane’s hands were fucking everywhere, teasing him and touching him, both of them starting to strip down like they hadn’t touched in days.

  So sweet. His hands shook as he touched Shane’s shoulders, his chest, fingers sliding down unerringly to pull at Shane’s nipple rings. God, he loved the way that made Shane shiver. Those little nipples went rock-hard, Shane groaning and nipping his bottom lip hard. Growling, he bit right back, pushing Shane harder and faster. His thumb rubbed one tiny ring back and forth, feeling Shane’s groan more than hearing it.