A Chance at Love

by Silvia Violet

  Darren frowned. “You’re not making it sound better. I don’t want to freeze my balls off.”

  “My mouth will keep you warm.”

  “Chance!”

  “We’re supposed to forget the real world, right? That means forgetting its rules too.”

  Darren made a sharp turn into the In-N-Out parking lot. He’d yet to regret going along with any of Chance’s insanity. He might as well give this a try.

  “Do you realize that before I met you, I’d never fucked anyone where we might get caught?”

  “Not even as a teenager?”

  “As a teenager I was busy trying my damnedest not to be gay.” Darren pulled into the line for the drive-through.

  Chance glanced around the car and frowned. “You’re not one of those people who don’t like anyone to eat in their car, are you?”

  “I am, but apparently I’m going to abandon all my standards tonight.”

  Chance grinned. “Oooh, I get to corrupt you into parking-lot sex and crumbs all over your seats.”

  “It’s your lucky day.” Darren looked at Chance. He wanted to pull him in for a kiss right there in the drive-through line, but that urge, at least, he was able to resist. There was now only one car in front of them.

  “Let me guess. You take your fries Animal Style.”

  “Obviously,” Chance said.

  “Do you want anything else?”

  “A Dr Pepper.”

  Darren frowned. “Are you sure you need caffeine?”

  Chance ran his fingers along Darren’s arm. “You don’t want me running out of energy, do you?”

  “What have I gotten myself into?”

  Chance just smirked at him in response.

  Darren pulled forward, and a tinny voice came out of the speaker. “May I take your order?”

  “I’d like two orders of fries Animal Style, a Dr Pepper, and an iced tea.”

  “Will that be all?”

  “Yes.”

  She gave the total, and Darren pulled forward.

  When they got to the window, Chance tried to pay, but Darren pushed his money away.

  “I’m not with you because you can pay for everything,” Chance protested.

  “Believe me, I know that. It’s one of the most attractive things about this arrangement.” He realized immediately how that could sound. “I don’t mean that I don’t like you for you or… Fuck. The best thing about this is you’re…” He waved his hand around, desperate to come up with a proper word to describe Chance.

  “Je ne sais quoi?”

  Darren laughed. “Let’s go with that. Chance, I seriously can’t get enough of you. I’ve thought about you constantly since last weekend.”

  “Good.” Chance looked very pleased with himself.

  “It’s a bit of an issue when I’m trying to get work done.”

  “I can’t say I’m sorry, because I have the same problem.”

  “You do?” Darren hated how needy he sounded.

  “I couldn’t do a damn thing today, knowing I would see you.”

  “I cancelled a meeting myself. I couldn’t wait any longer to see you.”

  Chance’s smile made that confession very much worth it.

  Chance put the straws in their drinks and arranged Darren’s fries on the console where he could easily reach them as Darren brought up the observatory on his GPS app and headed out of the parking lot.

  “So what should we do after you let me be impulsive?”

  “After I let you be insane.”

  Chance waved off his comment. “Whatever.”

  “What exactly should one do after getting blown under the stars?”

  “Take your man home and ride his ass until he can’t breathe?”

  Darren thought he might choke for a second. After a fit of coughing, he said, “You’ve got to stop doing that while I’m driving. And eating.”

  “Well, you asked; but probably we should have dinner before you take me home.”

  Dinner was a reasonably safe topic. “What’s your favorite kind of food?”

  “I don’t really have a favorite. I love trying new things. My roommate, Joon, is Korean, and he’s been cooking a lot for me. I thought I could take things super spicy, but he’s nearly killed me a few times.”

  Darren could just imagine Chance’s reaction to insanely hot food. “Maybe I should have asked what you don’t like?”

  “Mangos. I’ve tried, but I just can’t stand them.”

  “I think I can manage to find an excellent place to eat with absolutely no need to consume mangoes.”

  “Then why don’t you pick such a place and surprise me. It’s only fair since you’re indulging my whim.”

  They were silent for a few moments, and Darren enjoyed the scenery as they moved out of the city and farther into the hills. It was that time of evening when it got darker every minute, and he loved watching the shadows gather in the scrub on the hillsides.

  “What is your favorite type of food?” Chance asked after they’d both finished their fries.

  Darren thought for a few seconds. “Thai, I think. No, Italian. No. I guess I don’t have one either.”

  “Anything you hate?”

  “There are things I don’t like, but nothing I absolutely won’t eat, and I’ll try anything.”

  “That is very good to hear.”

  Darren glanced over at him. “Are you still talking about food?”

  “No.”

  Darren chuckled. “Of course you’re not.”

  “I love making you laugh.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah. I get the feeling you don’t do it enough.”

  Darren thought about that. He certainly didn’t laugh nearly as much when he wasn’t with Chance. He couldn’t decide if that was wonderful or frightening, because every time Chance amused him, Darren longed for him to do it again.

  Chance turned the XM radio on. Darren had it on the talk station he usually listened to on the way to work, but Chance flipped it to Willie’s Roadhouse, and a song about a lonely man crying in his truck flooded the car.

  Darren winced. “Really? This is what you’re going to make me listen to?”

  “I grew up on a ranch in Texas. What did you expect me to listen to? Opera?”

  “Honestly?” Darren asked.

  “Well, yeah.”

  “I expected you to listen to a crazy eclectic mix that no one would be able to figure out but that fits you perfectly.”

  “That’s actually completely accurate. Sometime I’ll have to share my I Just Want Cookie Dough Ice Cream and Nothing Else Will Do playlist.”

  Darren spit his recent sip of tea on the steering wheel. “Shit.”

  Chance handed him a napkin from the bag. “Sorry.”

  “No you’re not.”

  “Okay, not really. And you’re right. I can find something I like in most any kind of music, but country is comforting. It feels like home, like being a kid getting my first horse, or teaching my littlest sister how to ride her pony, or being trusted to feed the horses on my own.”

  He reached to change the station, and Darren grabbed his hand and pulled it away from the controls. “It won’t hurt me to try something new.”

  He glanced over quickly, and Chance’s soft smile made his chest ache. He could fall for this man, and that would be so wrong and yet so right.

  “You know I almost booked a flight home for the following day.”

  The non sequitur startled Darren at first. Then he realized Chance was referring to the flight where they met.

  “My oldest sister wanted me to stay because she was going ice-skating and she wanted me to go with her, but I decided I really needed to get back and get some work done before class started back.”

  “I’m really glad you didn’t.”

  “Me too.”

  “How many sisters do you have?”

  “Four.”

  “Wow.” Darren couldn’t imagine that many siblings. His brother had been o
ne too many.

  “All younger than me, and they’re loud, bossy, and pains in the ass that I love so much.”

  Chance’s impassioned words went right to Darren’s heart. He was so lucky to be here with this man. “Ice-skating?”

  Chance laughed. “Yeah. Houston has skating rinks. We have to do something to pretend we have an actual winter.”

  “Did you go skating at the Del before you left town?”

  “No. Where’s that?”

  “It’s a historic hotel on Coronado. They set up a skating rink outside for the holidays, so you can skate under the palm trees. They’ve been doing it for over a hundred years.”

  “Wow, I’m sorry I missed that.”

  “The skating season is over, but I should take you for a tour of the hotel sometime.” Darren wanted to say he’d take Chance skating next winter, but it seemed ridiculous to imagine them lasting that long.

  “I’d love that.”

  Darren told him a bit more about the history of the hotel, and once they got close to the observatory, Chance directed him to the parking area. Their timing was perfect. It was almost full dark by the time they arrived, and no one else was around. In fact, it was eerily quiet once Darren cut the engine. He didn’t move when Chance opened his door to step out.

  “Come on.”

  Darren glanced around warily. Dark, deserted parking lots in the middle of nowhere hadn’t previously been on his list of fears, but he decided he needed to add them. “Are you sure there aren’t any snakes or…other animals out here?”

  “Quit worrying, City Boy. We’re perfectly safe.”

  Darren still wasn’t convinced.

  “Use your phone’s flashlight to check the ground by your door. Then look up at the sky and give your eyes time to adjust.”

  If Chance could get out of the car, then Darren could too. He was being ridiculous. Once he made sure no snakes were about to strike at him, he stood up and walked to the front of the car. Chance wrapped his arms around Darren, and they both looked up and took in the beauty of the night.

  “Amazing, isn’t it?” Chance asked, keeping his voice low.

  “Yes.” Darren felt the cool stillness of the night wrapped around them like a spell.

  Chance drew his hand down Darren’s chest, then squeezed his cock. “Are you ready?”

  “You really are serious.”

  “About sucking you off out here? Hell yes.”

  Darren studied Chance. He wanted this and yet… “I’m not sure this—”

  “It’s the best idea I’ve ever had.”

  “Have you done this before? Out here, I mean.” As soon as he asked, Darren decided if Chance had, he didn’t want to know.

  “I’ve only ever been out here with friends, ones who aren’t that kind of friend.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay you accept that this is new for me too, or okay you’re up for whatever I say?”

  “All of the above.”

  Chance leaned against the hood and pressed down.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Making sure this thing will support you?”

  Darren huffed. “It’s solid German construction. Of course it will.”

  “Then get your ass onto that solid construction. I want you all laid out for my pleasure.”

  Darren glanced around; there was still no sign of anyone or any cars. He could see the blinking lights of a plane flying low, getting ready to land at the San Diego airport. There were also a few lights farther up the hill, which he assumed belonged to the observatory.

  All right. They were really doing this. He shivered as he leaned back against the car.

  “Lay all the way back,” Chance encouraged him.

  “It’s still unsettling to be somewhere this dark and quiet and—”

  “Relax.” He pushed at Darren’s chest, and Darren lowered himself to his elbows.

  “All the way. I want you to watch the sky.”

  “What if I want to watch you?”

  “You’ve had your turn for that. And you can watch me next time.”

  “Next time?” Darren wasn’t sure why he was desperate for reassurance that there would be more.

  “Yeah, I thought you wanted—”

  “I do. I want a next time and a time after that and—”

  “Me too, but this is…if not a one-time thing, then certainly rare, so lay back, watch the beauty of the night sky, and let me pleasure you.”

  A gorgeous man wanted to give him a blowjob while he looked at stars he never had the opportunity to see. Why was he arguing? Darren lowered himself down and bent his knees so he could rest his feet on the bumper. He started to slide, but Chance gripped his thighs and held him in place.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”

  Darren knew he would. Somehow this crazy man he’d called a kid at first was completely capable of taking care of him or supporting him or being what he needed.

  “Relax,” Chance said again. “You’re so fucking tense.”

  “Suck my cock, and I won’t be.”

  “Ooh, some sass. I like that.”

  Darren was going to respond, but Chance’s hand dropped between Darren’s legs. He brushed his fingers over Darren’s cock, which was half hard already.

  “Mmm. This is exactly what I wanted for dinner.”

  “Channnnnce.”

  He laughed, the sound brighter than any of the stars twinkling above them. Then he unzipped Darren’s pants, pulled his cock through the slit in his boxers, and stroked it slowly. Darren groaned.

  “Feel good?”

  “You know it does.”

  Chance pushed Darren’s thighs farther apart and leaned down. Darren expected him to tease, to lick and fondle for a bit before the main event, but he swallowed Darren almost to the root. Darren thrust up, unable to help himself.

  Chance gagged a bit and pulled off.

  “I’m sorry.” Darren reached for him, but Chance shook his head.

  “I liked it. I want you out of control, totally ruled by sensation.”

  “God, Chance, I—”

  Chance took him down again, all the way, burying his face in Darren’s bush.

  “Holy fuck, that’s good!”

  Chance slid back slowly, sucking hard, using his tongue and the barest scrape of teeth.

  Darren wanted to reach for him and force him back down. He wanted to hold Chance by the hair and thrust up into him over and over until he came down Chance’s throat. But the hood of the car was slick, and if he didn’t keep his hands pressed into the metal at his sides, he was going to slide off.

  “More,” he begged.

  Chance gave him more. He leaned farther over and pushed Darren along the hood until he could wrap his hands around Darren’s thighs and pull him toward Chance’s mouth. “I’ve got you. Go ahead and touch me. I know you want to.”

  “Chance, I—”

  “It’s okay, Dare. I like rough, and I love feeling your hands in my hair.”

  “God, you make me fucking crazy.” Darren could barely get the words out.

  “Show me.”

  Darren gripped Chance’s head and fucked his mouth. Chance held Darren’s legs, keeping him from slipping. Darren couldn’t thrust very much from that position, so he didn’t have to worry about hurting Chance by going too far. It was fucking perfect, like everything else with this amazing man.

  “I’m close, Chance, I…” Darren thrust once more and let go.

  His whole body shook as he spurted into Chance’s mouth. He tried to focus on the sky, but there were too many stars exploding inside his head. Finally, when he’d wrung himself dry, he collapsed back against the car and gazed up. The sky seemed to glow as if absorbing all their sexual energy. Wow, he must’ve come really hard to be thinking cheesy shit like that.

  “That was…incredible.”

  Chance didn’t say anything. Darren opened his eyes and saw Chance leaning on his elbows, head bent. “Are you okay? I didn’t
meant to—”

  “No. It was perfect. I’m fine, but these jeans are going to be damn uncomfortable on the ride back.”

  Darren pushed up onto his elbows. “Let me take care of that.”

  Chance laughed and shook his head. “It’s already taken care of, but now I’m all sticky.”

  “You came?”

  Chance nodded.

  “But you were holding my legs and—”

  “I humped the car.”

  “And that was enough?”

  “I don’t think you understand how much I love having your cock in my mouth.”

  Darren lowered himself back down as the world spun again.

  “Are you okay?” Chance asked.

  “I will be. I just… I never met anyone like you.”

  “Me either.” Chance grinned. “You.”

  He wanted to run away with Chance and hide out for at least a few weeks while they pretended the world didn’t exist. If only…

  CHAPTER TEN

  Darren waited in the car while Chance ran up to his apartment to change pants. Chance crossed his fingers that Joon wouldn’t be there, but of course he was sitting on the couch, playing a video game, when Chance eased the door open.

  “I thought you were with Darren.”

  “I am. I just ran up to change.”

  “Change?”

  “Yeah, I got something on my pants.”

  “I don’t see any— Oh shit, Richie Rich made you come in your pants.” Why hadn’t he thought to squirt one of the ketchup packets or something on his leg?

  “No. I just—”

  “Damn, is he out there?” Joon hopped up and headed for the window.

  “Don’t.”

  Of course Joon didn’t listen. He opened the blinds, not even trying to be discreet. He whistled. “Nice car.”

  Thank God Joon didn’t know what they’d done on it, or he’d start begging for a three-way. “It is, but I’ve got to hurry.”

  He changed into some very tight crimson jeans he could never have gotten away with at the equine center, messed around with his hair for a second, and then rushed back out.

  Joon was still at the window.

  “Are you spying on him?”

  “Hell yes.”

  “See anything interesting?”

  “No, he’s just sitting there on his phone.”