by Andrew Grey
“Dante, I want—” Beau said, and Dante kissed him again, Beau returning it with everything he had. Nothing mattered as long as Beau was in his arms, and Dante didn’t even realize the limousine had stopped until Beau pulled away and his mind began working once again.
“I guess we’re here,” Beau whispered and opened the door. He climbed out, stumbling once and using the side of the limo to steady himself. Dante loved that he was able to affect Beau that way, and when he was out of the car, Dante wrapped an arm around Beau’s shoulder to guide him toward the front door, where Roberts waited silently. Dante didn’t pause as they passed, taking Beau to the living room.
Beau didn’t sit down, instead gently rocking from foot to foot. “What did you have planned?”
“I hadn’t given it much thought. I—” Dante didn’t get a chance to finish. In seconds he had his arms full of Beau. Then they were kissing, and Beau damn near tried to climb him. Dante held him tightly and did his best not to fall over and bring both of them to the floor.
Dante’s mind had pretty much shut down by the time he started moving them out of the room and toward the stairs. Beau stumbled on the first step, and Dante caught him, their gazes meeting, filled with heat. “Are you sure about this?” Dante asked.
“That’s my question.” Beau placed his hand on Dante’s chest, the warmth searing right through his shirt. “It’s going to hurt if….”
“I understand.” Dante guided Beau up the stairs, holding his hand. He was on fire and his hand shook with energy. He paused outside his bedroom door, letting Beau make the final decision about what he wanted. Dante wasn’t going to push him and had to know Beau was okay with what was going to happen. What surprised him was the way Beau opened the door, stepped into his bedroom, then tugged Dante inside and kicked the door closed.
Beau turned around, gazing so deeply into Dante’s eyes, he could almost swear that Beau could see to his soul and was able to read all his secrets. It chilled him, until Beau wrapped his arms around his neck. If Beau did know what he held in so tightly, what he was afraid to let out, it didn’t seem to bother him. Of course he didn’t know, but Beau gave him the impression that no matter what he kept hidden, it was okay for now. That was enough for Dante.
He closed the distance between them, and when their lips touched, Dante slid his hands up Beau’s side and under his shirt, feeling slightly bumpy but hot skin under his palms. Beau shivered. Dante slid his hands upward, bringing the shirt along. He pulled his lips away and tugged Beau’s shirt over his head, then dropped it to the floor.
Beau worked the buttons of Dante’s shirt and slid it off his shoulder. He stepped back and raked over him, licking his lips. “Jesus….”
“What?”
“The night I first met you, I tried to imagine what you looked like under that tuxedo, but my imagination was sorely lacking.” Beau closed the distance between them, pressing against Dante, probably in a bid to hide his own chest from view. Dante knew Beau was reticent about being seen and let him remain obscured, especially with the way he ran his hands over Dante’s shoulders and down his arms, then over his chest, sending heat searing through him and deep into his heart.
Dante quivered from the energy, kissing Beau again in order to give the building passion an outlet. He slowly guided Beau back toward the bed, lowered him, and followed him onto the thick duvet, working open his pants and sliding them down his quivering legs.
Beau stilled, and Dante knew what was behind it. “You need to let go and trust me,” Dante whispered. He’d already felt the scars, at least some of them. He knew they were there, and the roughness had tickled his fingers.
Beau inhaled sharply. “Do you know how hard it is to expose yourself to someone, let them see all of you, good or bad? It’s scary as hell, and once I do, you can’t unsee it, no matter how much I might want that.”
“It’s the same for everyone.”
Beau hesitated a second. “No, it isn’t.” He turned away, covering himself.
“All right.” Dante kicked off his shoes, then glanced over his shoulders. Beau sat hidden under the duvet, holding it up over himself. Dante stood and slipped off his pants and then his boxers, standing naked in front of Beau. “This is me.”
Beau’s eyes boggled and he gasped. “Wow.” The adoration was sexy as hell, and Dante groaned as his cock, already pointing toward the ceiling, throbbed as he moved closer to Beau.
“What do you want?” Dante asked quietly, breathily, as he climbed on the bed and crawled closer to Beau, who hadn’t moved a muscle except to pant slightly. “Go ahead and lie down.”
Once Beau lay back, Dante kissed him hard, taking possession of his mouth, showing him as best he could just how much he wanted him.
“Dante,” Beau groaned, and Dante took the opportunity to suck lightly at the base of his neck before slowly sliding his lips down Beau’s shoulder. All the while he kept Beau occupied, Dante tugged the duvet lower and lower, following it with his lips.
Beau gasped, and Dante sat back. Scars crisscrossed Beau’s chest and down his belly. They were white now from age, but still visible. Dante hadn’t honestly known how he’d feel once he saw them, but all that came to mind was the pain and agony that Beau must have endured.
“See… I told you they weren’t pretty.”
Dante lightly traced one of the most pronounced scars near the center of Beau’s chest down to just above his navel. “These are part of you. If you got these in battle, would they bother you as much? They’re war wounds, and it must have taken all the strength in the world to endure what you did.” He leaned forward to lightly kiss one of the scars.
Beau quivered under him, panting for breath, so Dante did it again, then gently licked the white line as Beau nearly went to pieces. “God, that’s…. Why are you doing that?”
“These are part of you,” Dante answered. He wasn’t going to let Beau think he was ugly. These scars were strength, courage, and a test of endurance. All of those qualities were unbelievably sexy on their own, but together, they were mind-blowing.
Dante shifted back, tugging the duvet off Beau completely. He saw the worry in Beau’s eyes, like a swirling mass of blackness, but he ignored it, hoping he could replace that with light. Instead, Dante shifted his gaze to Beau’s long legs and then up to his thighs and hips. He leaned closer once again to suck a mark at the dip just inside his pelvis.
“Dante,” Beau groaned with a combination of laughter and pleasure that sent a zing straight to Dante’s cock. He continued upward, ignoring Beau’s long, thick cock for the moment. He had more important organs to attend to, and the one that was important right now was the one beating inside Beau’s chest. The scars became more numerous, and he stroked along them, the roughness sliding under the pads of his fingers. Beau squirmed a little.
“Does this hurt?”
“It’s tickly, but not painful.” Beau shivered and closed his eyes.
“Don’t try to hide or escape, please.” Dante wanted all of Beau present in this moment. Once his deep blue eyes opened again, the worry he’d seen earlier had been replaced with what Dante could only describe as hope. He paused, seeing that gleaming at him, and closed his own eyes, wondering if he could dare let that hope inside him. He’d closed it off for so long—was it possible to allow it inside him once again? Dante darted forward, slamming their lips together, taking what he needed in that moment.
When he pulled back because he needed to breathe, Beau wrapped his arms over his chest protectively.
Dante shook his head, gently took hold of Beau’s wrists, and brought them over his head. “Hold them there.”
Beau quivered under him. “What are you doing?”
“Proving you’re wrong.” Dante kissed Beau once again, then trailed his tongue down his neck to the longest scar, licking a line down it to just above Beau’s belly button, the rich, manly taste of Beau building on his tongue. He swirled his tongue in the shallow divot, earning a gentle chuckle that shifted to
a groan as Dante slowly licked and sucked his way back up.
“Why are you doing this?” Beau breathed.
“Because you need to understand that the guy, whoever he was, was a damn fool.” Dante flicked his tongue around one of Beau’s nipples, and he whined softly, so Dante did it again, sucking the tiny bud to a peak and worrying it with his tongue. “They’re only scars.”
He closed his eyes once again and held his breath. “I told you…,” Beau began. “It’s too much.”
It took Dante a second to realize what Beau was talking about. “No. It’s not you. They’re not you.” Dante pushed the impending realization aside. He could deal with that later. Right now, it was all about Beau, and Dante sucked at his nipple once again while he traced the scar that ran just alongside it.
“How can you do that?” Beau groaned.
Dante lifted his gaze, meeting Beau’s. “Because these are part of you. These scars, these marks aren’t just yours any longer. They’re mine. I’m tracing them, putting my mark on top of them.”
“You’re what…? Claiming me somehow?”
“Yes!” Dante hissed. “I’m claiming you. I’m the Beast of St. Giles, and I’m claiming you and taking what I want. You’ve driven me to distraction for weeks, and I want you. All of you. Can you understand that?” He held still, waiting for Beau’s reaction. All he received was a nod, and then Beau swallowed. Dante had the answer he needed, and he kissed his way down the lightly furred trail beneath Beau’s belly button to the treasure he found there, then sucked Beau’s girth between his lips.
“Oh God!” Beau cried, and Dante took more of him, sliding his lips down the shaft as Beau’s heady richness burst across his tongue. It took control Dante hadn’t needed since he was a teenager for him not to come right at that moment.
He sucked Beau hard, letting his hands roam up and down Beau’s chest and belly, needing Beau to know Dante accepted him for who he was.
Beau flexed his hips, sliding his cock across Dante’s lips and tongue. It was glorious, and he closed his lips tighter, loving that Beau quivered under him. Beau carded his fingers through Dante’s hair, tugging on it lightly as Dante used his mouth to drive Beau nearly out of his mind. Dante felt Beau’s control beginning to slip, so he revved up his pace, bringing Beau just to the edge before backing off.
“Dante….” Beau moaned, his entire body going rigid as his cock throbbed and bounced against his belly. “You’re fucking mean.”
Dante yanked open the drawer of the bedside table, his own control perilously close to the edge. He nearly dropped the drawer to the floor before locating a silver packet and ripping it with his teeth. “No… not mean.” He leaned forward. “But unless you tell me to stop now, I intend to go ahead and fuck you. I need to feel you around me.” He could barely hold still long enough for Beau to whisper a yes into his ear. Every instinct he had urged him forward, his last shreds of control fraying by the second.
Somehow he had to not lose it now. Beau deserved care. Dante took deep breaths to calm the rages of passion while sliding his knees under Beau’s legs, lifting them upward. Fucking hell, Beau was limber, and Dante gasped as Beau tugged his knees to his chest, exposing his most private opening to Dante’s heated gaze. He leaned forward, tracing his finger along Beau’s crack, teasing the puckered skin of his opening before sucking his way down Beau’s inner thigh, bringing his lips closer and closer to Beau’s opening as he shook harder and harder in near-breathless anticipation.
“What are you doing to me?” Beau pleaded as Dante licked over Beau’s opening.
“Getting you ready,” Dante answered, then buried his face between Beau’s cheeks, supporting his hips with his hands until Beau quivered uncontrollably. There were few things in life—that Dante had seen, anyway—that compared to Beau in the throes of anticipatory joy. Dante pulled away, taking in the sight presented to him. Beau’s eyes were huge and his mouth hung open, chest heaving with each breath. He moved his lips but didn’t manage to say anything for a few seconds.
“I’m ready…,” Beau gasped and pressed his hips forward.
Dante swore this man would test the patience of a saint. His instincts told him to go for what he wanted, and he was seconds away from it, but he had to be safe for both of them. Dante searched the bedding and found the stupid packet among the folds of the blanket. He rolled the lubed condom down his length, then pressed into position, his gaze locking onto Beau’s. He pressed forward, slowly, Beau’s body opening to him.
“Is this too fast?” Dante asked, stopping as he breached Beau’s body.
“Hell no.” Beau reached for his leg to pull him closer, and Dante let go, sinking deeper into Beau’s searing heat.
Dante caught his breath, waiting for Beau’s body to accept him, then slowly began to move. He didn’t want to hurt Beau, and every move sent waves of heat and energy through him. He held himself back, remaining in control.
“What are you waiting for?” Beau demanded, pulling Dante down until their lips were just an inch apart. “I’m not going to break. So show me how you’re feeling right now.”
“I won’t hurt you.”
“I’m not made of glass. So fuck me like you mean it!” Beau crashed his lips to Dante’s, and his control slipped away.
Dante closed his eyes as his desire took over his entire being. Dante understood lust—he’d felt it many times over his life—but the glimmer of love and the deep connection he seemed to have with Beau was completely new and added to the experience. More than anything, he wanted Beau to be happy. He snapped his hips, the entire bed rocking slightly under his force.
“Yes!” Beau encouraged, and the last of Dante’s self-restraint shattered. He saw red for a second, then rocked back and forth, driving deep into Beau’s heat, withdrawing, and then shaking as Beau took him over and over again. Everything around him—hell, his entire world—narrowed to Beau and only Beau. The entire house could have fallen down around him and he wouldn’t have known it or cared. All he wanted was right here with him at that moment.
“Fuck me!” Beau cried, pulling Dante out of his head and back to Beau, who yanked him down into a kiss that sent a shudder running through him.
“Damn, you look….” Words failed him completely. Beau stretched out under him, long and lean, gasping softly as Dante slid deep, holding still. He had always heard that there was a difference between sex and making love, and he’d never understood that. But he did now.
When he was married, he’d loved Allison, but in a completely different way from how Beau seemed to touch his soul. He could barely think now, and let go of everything running through his head. Dante gathered Beau to him, holding him tightly as they rocked together until the last of Dante’s control snapped.
Beau came unglued around him, crying out softly, and Dante followed right behind him, emptying himself, his vision narrowing to the passion on Beau’s face.
Slowly Dante came back to himself, withdrew from Beau and took care of both of them before joining him on the bed once again. He pulled Beau to him, settling with his chest pressed to Beau’s back. “Are you all right? I can barely move.” He was sated, worn out, and as happy as he could remember being.
A knock sounded on the door, and Dante groaned, pulling up the covers to make sure Beau was hidden from anyone’s gaze. Then he got out of bed, slipped on a robe, and cracked the door open. “What is it, Roberts?” he asked though the small opening.
“I wasn’t sure if I should disturb you and Mr. Beau, but Mr. Yates is downstairs, pacing the hallway like a cat. We told him that you were occupied and had gone up to bed for the night, but he’s most insistent.”
Dante yawned and wanted to tell Simon to go and come back at a decent hour, but his lawyer wasn’t the type of person to panic or overreact, so he pulled the robe closed around himself. “Tell him I’ll be down in a few minutes.” He shut the door and turned back to the bed.
Beau sat on the edge and already had his pants in his hands. “I should
go and let you take care of whatever you need to.”
Dante strode over to sit next to him. “I don’t know what he wants, but I’ll take care of everything as quickly as I can and come back.” He leaned close. “I don’t want you to leave.” Hell, his possessiveness had kicked in, and if he could help it, he’d never let Beau out of his sight. But it was way too soon to say things like that and not sound demented.
“Are you sure?” Beau asked.
“Definitely,” Dante told him and pressed Beau back down onto the bed. “I’ll be looking forward to the best sight I’ve ever seen—you here in my bed.” He kissed Beau and then, reluctantly, got up and made sure the robe was secure before leaving the bedroom and descending the stairs.
“Simon, what couldn’t wait until morning?” He wasn’t happy being pulled away from Beau.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for hours. You probably need to check your cell phone and make sure it’s charged.” Yates opened his bag and pulled out some papers. “You’re being sued for wrongful termination by the union.”
“You interrupted me for that?” Dante snatched the papers. “This ass was stealing from us and we can prove it. There was no wrongful termination. I didn’t use that reason to spare his family, but if he can’t be man enough to tell them the truth, then I certainly will.” He paced the front hall, stomping hard enough on the floor to rattle the nearby table. “Some people have all the nerve in the world.”
“What do you want me to do?” Yates asked. “I knew you’d want to know as soon as possible.”
Dante cleared his head. This wasn’t Yates’s fault. He was just the messenger, and Dante did want to know as soon as possible. “Come on.” He padded to his office and opened the lower desk drawer on the left to pull out one of the files. “Here is the documentation you need. Contact them and present the facts to their attorney. If Greg wishes to pursue this, we’ll press charges, and Greg will go to jail. I’m not going to play around with this any longer. I’ve had picketers at my house, and all for someone who embezzled from us.”
