Sparks

by Talia Carmichael

  “Want you. Come here.” Tomas’s voice was raspy.

  Tomas pulled him up onto his knees. He pulled down Bernie’s sweats and underwear. Bernie leaned on him, raising his hips as he pushed them off. Kicking them off, he rubbed against Tomas’s clothed body. Tomas tugged him closer.

  “In my mouth,” Tomas demanded.

  He gripped Bernie’s ass. Bernie rose up, putting one leg on the floor. He unbuttoned his shirt as he gripped his cock and bumped it against Tomas’s lips. Tomas opened them, making an “O.” Reaching the last button, Bernie braced a hand on the top of the couch, shivering. Tomas sucked just the spongy head of his cock. Bernie hissed. Tomas opened wider, suckling. Bernie thrust. Tomas moaned, taking him deeper into the wet cavern of his mouth. Groaning, Bernie clenched his ass, pushing into Tomas’s mouth.

  Tomas swirled his tongue on Bernie’s rod. His hands cupped Bernie’s ass, pulling him against his face. Bernie stumbled, catching himself with his other hand. Tomas whimpered and sucked him hard, his fingers clenching, digging into Bernie’s ass. Tomas pulled Bernie forward, going back and forth on him. Bernie stared at his hollowed cheeks and at his face, etched with desire. Tomas raised his gaze. The heat in his eyes made Bernie’s breath catch. Tomas kept his eyes locked with Bernie’s as he sucked him. The sight of those lips on his cock, and the feel of the wetness of Tomas’s mouth, made the base of Bernie’s spine tingle. His balls drew up. Tomas made a noise in his throat, making his shaft vibrate. Bernie arched and grunted as his dick pulsed, releasing cum into Tomas’s hot mouth. Tomas worked his mouth, sucking it all down. Gasping, Bernie gripped the couch.

  Tomas’s insistent hands pulled Bernie down against him. He kissed Bernie. Bernie swiped his tongue inside Tomas’s mouth, tasting himself. Tomas moved him off him, then stood. He unbuckled his pants and pushed them off. He kicked them off and stripped off his T-shirt. Tomas maneuvered Bernie against the arm of the chair. Bernie braced his hands on the armrest. A blunt head pushed at his hole. Widening his stance, Bernie hissed at the feel of Tomas filling him. Tomas thrust fast and urgently. Bernie held onto the couch, pushing back against him.

  TOMAS watched the flex of Bernie’s back as he pushed onto his cock. Gripping his hips, Tomas jerked him back and forth. Thrusting faster and faster, Tomas pushed his leg under Bernie’s braced on the floor, widening him.

  “You like fucking me like this… harder, baby.” Bernie moaned wildly.

  Tomas curled his body over Bernie’s back, bracing his hands over Bernie’s. Lacing their fingers together, he pistoned into him. Bernie’s breath hitched and his body shuddered. His ass clamped down onto Tomas’s erection. Tomas groaned and came. Shuddering, he worked his hips as his cum jetted from him into Bernie. Breathing hard, he withdrew and collapsed back on the couch. He tugged Bernie into his arms. Bernie’s back quivered as he leaned against Tomas’s chest. Bernie shifted, straddling his lap. Bernie sighed, resting against him. Tomas closed his eyes, listening to Bernie’s breathing.

  “Tomas, you can’t go to sleep. We have to leave for the poker game in an hour,” Bernie whispered.

  “I’m not sleeping yet, kid. We can miss it and go to bed,” Tomas replied sleepily.

  Bernie poked him in the chest. “Not a kid.”

  “Habit, honey.” He grabbed his finger and kissed it, then flattened Bernie’s hand on his chest.

  “We can’t miss it. I want to make sure Bur is okay after our session,” Bernie said.

  Tomas opened his eyes. Bernie was worrying his lip with his teeth. He ran his hand over Bernie’s naked back. The brothers had started therapy a few weeks ago. Whenever they had a session, Tomas could tell how it went by one or two things. After a good session, Bur came by for a few hours and hung out. After bad or emotional ones, Bur spent the night. They had a room set up for Bur. On those nights, Bur and Bernie slept together. This past Wednesday’s session had seemed to be a bad one. Bur stayed for two days. He and Bernie had been sullen and withdrawn.

  “How are you doing?” Tomas asked.

  Bernie put his hand on Tomas’s chest, resting his chin on it. His nose wrinkled, and he bit his lip. There was a look of concentration on his face.

  “Talking about it is helping. The therapist’s suggestion that we have joint and individual sessions is a good idea. Bur… has a few things he needs to work out himself. And so do I. It’d be easier. It’s just… not being able to find Dillard that’s making us antsy. Bur is frustrated about his investigators not turning up anything. What if he’s dead? If they did something to him? It’d be my fault.” Aggravation colored his voice.

  “No, it wouldn’t. It’d be theirs,” Tomas said firmly.

  “I know… that’s what the therapist said. I have to acknowledge that nothing that happened is my fault. I’m trying to see that… but… sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had just said something.” Bernie’s shoulders slumped.

  Tomas rubbed his back. Tension slowly eased out of Bernie’s body.

  “Sorry for dumping this on you.”

  “Stop that. This is why I’m here. We’re a couple. So if you need to talk, cry, or scream, I’m here,” Tomas said.

  “I know. And I’m here if you need someone to hold your hand when you go to the doctor for your yearly physical. And you are going. No more canceling.” Bernie narrowed his eyes.

  “Alejandro is a blabbermouth. And I do plan on going. Eventually.” Tomas grinned sheepishly.

  “I made an appointment for Monday.”

  Tomas opened his mouth.

  “And I had Sheldon shuffle your schedule, so the excuse that you’re working won’t work,” Bernie warned.

  Tomas closed his mouth and pursed his lips. He tried to come up with an excuse. Finally, he sighed.

  “There is no escape from the appointment. I’m taking you.” Bernie smirked, then patted his cheek.

  “That’s not necessary. I know you’re busy working with Bur to get things organized for the center. I’ll go by myself,” Tomas protested.

  “I’ve already talked with Bur. He’ll take the meeting while I take you to the doctor, which I’m glad for. We’ve been bogged down in all the red tape and crap to get up and running. Hopefully, we can break ground for the center soon.” Bernie frowned.

  Bernie and Bur had been working hard to get everything together to get the center started. Bernie had been juggling that with taking special exams to get his master’s degree and PhD in science. When they had tested him, what Bernie believed had been proven true. His IQ was genius level, and he could read any size book in mere minutes and remember each word. When he had talked with the dean of students at Mapson University, they had agreed to give him an accelerated degree if he could complete all the course work and dissertation. Unbeknownst to any of them, Bernie had already done his thesis and was ahead in his master’s courses for his degree program. For some time, Bernie had been working on the other courses he hadn’t taken yet for his master’s. He’d provided his dissertation and worked hard with the committee through the process of getting it ready for submission. It had taken many late nights and hard work, but in a few weeks, Bernie had finished the rest of the course work and was just waiting for the actual finals as well as waiting to hear back on the submission of his thesis. There was no doubt in Tomas’s mind he would pass, and thus get his degrees in August.

  “You will, honey.”

  “And we will be taking you to the doctor for your physical on Monday,” Bernie stated.

  “Okay, kid.” Tomas pouted.

  “Not a kid. Come on. We need to get ready for the game.” Bernie got off his lap and stood.

  He held out his hand for Tomas. Tomas took it, standing. They went up the stairs to their bedroom. As he dressed, Tomas chuckled at Bernie, who stumbled getting into his pants. Bernie grabbed a baggy shirt from their closet and shrugged into it. He pulled out another and came over to Tomas. Bernie held open the shirt. Tomas turned and Bernie helped him into it. Bernie smoothed it over his shoulders, th
en turned Tomas to face him. He buttoned it. Bernie ran his finger down the center of Tomas’s throat. Tomas held his finger.

  “Stop it, or we won’t make it to poker,” Tomas warned.

  “Stop what?” Bernie gave him an innocent look.

  “Trouble.” Tomas nipped his finger, then released it.

  Bernie laughed. They finished dressing and left. Tomas escorted Bernie with his palm against the small of his back through the door of Miguel and Robert’s house. They had barely cleared the doorway before they were accosted.

  “Did you read the latest J. D. Robb?” Malik demanded.

  “Yep. Took me ten minutes to read it. Tomas kept distracting me.” Bernie smirked.

  “Ten minutes. You know I hate you for being able to read that fast. But I’ll like you again if you tell Harper he’s wrong. We need your memory for details. I don’t trust Bur not to side with Harper. You remember that scene….” Malik’s voice faded as he pulled Bernie with him.

  “Hello to you too, Malik!” Tomas called.

  Malik flapped his hand as he continued to pull Bernie over to the group that included Harper, Robert, Simon, Alex, and Bur. They joined the circle of men and started talking heatedly. Tomas rolled his eyes and went over to get a beer. Grabbing one, he leaned against the wall by Alejandro, Miguel, and Hector. He drank some of his beer.

  “Look at the little fucker, acting like he owns Harper,” Ramirez growled as he came and stood beside him.

  “I don’t want to hear it,” Tomas retorted.

  “Just because he’s some supposed star”—Ramirez sneered—“doesn’t mean he can act like he’s Mr. Know-It-All.”

  “Yeah. That’s your job,” Tomas said dryly.

  “I don’t know why you’ve all just seemed to accept him. Just because he’s Bernie’s brother doesn’t mean shit. He isn’t much of anything since he retired. Who the hell retires at twenty-four?” Ramirez hissed.

  “I’m tired of hearing you whine about Bur. He’s staying with Harper. If you have an issue, take it up with Harper or Bur,” Tomas said impatiently.

  “I can’t talk to either one of them. Harper is unreasonable when I say anything. And Bur gets that little arrogant smirk that makes me want to punch him,” Ramirez snarled.

  “Did I hear my name? Hey, Gerald.” Bur’s cool British accent sounded cheerful.

  Ramirez glared, then stomped away. Bur snickered. Tomas raised his bottle and drank some more.

  “Can I talk to you?” Bur asked.

  Something in his tone made Tomas uneasy. “Sure.”

  Tomas led the way as they went through the kitchen and onto the back patio. He leaned against the rail. Bur stood with his booted feet braced apart.

  “I’ve found Dillard. Well, more like he’s found me. Some woman called and said he wanted to see me and Bernie,” Bur said.

  “When Miguel was told to back off, he got a call from a woman too. When and where does he want to meet you?” Tomas frowned.

  “Tomorrow morning at ten. Don’t know the address yet. She said she’d be back in touch with the address. Can you take us?” Bur asked.

  “Like there was any doubt of that. I’m not letting you or Bernie go without me. Harper can come if you want,” Tomas said.

  “Nah, that’s okay.” Bur shook his head, hunching.

  “Doesn’t he know?” Tomas frowned.

  “He knows I found Dillard. But… not about the other stuff. That I’m in therapy. There’s no reason for him to know.” Bur shrugged.

  “Harper’s a good listener.”

  “He doesn’t need my shit.” Bur lowered his gaze.

  In his doing that, Tomas saw Bernie. His heart softened. Bur reminded him of himself—arrogant and opinionated. In the last few weeks, Tomas had seen that Bur genuinely cared about Harper, and they had developed a close friendship. Bur was the one who convinced Harper to come to the poker games and hang out with the guys again. He’d fixed the rift between Malik and Harper by getting Harper to stop pushing Malik away and finally talk with him. He’d even put up with Ramirez being an ass. Well… he’d taunted Ramirez, but when Harper was ready to cut Ramirez out of his life, Bur had convinced him not to. Tomas knew this because he’d seen Bur do it. It had shocked the hell out of him. But Bernie had explained that Bur wanted what made Harper happy.

  “Maybe someday you’ll think differently. I’m a good listener too.” He put his hand on Bur’s shoulder and squeezed.

  Bur glanced at him, shocked. “Why would you want to listen to me?”

  “You’re Bernie’s brother. And although you’re sort of a jerk, I like that. Don’t let that go to your head. I still want to kick your ass half the time,” Tomas grumbled.

  “I feel the same way too. Yet the fantasies of my kicking your ass fill my dreams. I get all giddy with it.” Bur laughed.

  “We’ll have to compare them sometime.” Tomas chuckled.

  Bur sobered and then said, “Do you think Dillard hates me? Us?”

  “Even if he does, you and Bernie have each other. And my family is there for you both. The men inside the house are your friends. They’ll be there for you all too.” Tomas gripped his shoulder.

  “Even Ramirez?” Bur smiled, a devilish curl of his lips.

  “Even him. Although he might act like a bear about Harper, he’s someone who will help you if you need it.”

  “Hmmm… that’s good to know.” Bur looked contemplative.

  The sound of footsteps made Tomas look up.

  “What’s going on?” Bernie looked suspicious.

  Bur glanced at Tomas with apprehension.

  “Come here, honey,” Tomas said, opening his arms.

  “Oh boy. This must not be good,” Bernie said, coming over to him.

  Bur stood behind Bernie, and Tomas saw the unease in Bernie’s gaze.

  “We’ve found Dillard,” Tomas said gently.

  Bernie stiffened. “Is he dead?”

  Tomas studied the lines of strain on Bernie’s features. When he had told Bernie and Bur about the woman and the message from Dillard, Bernie had seemed to accept it. Bur, on the other hand, had hired investigators to find Dillard. With each report of no leads, Bur had become more determined to find something, but Bernie had started to lose hope of finding Dillard. Even though Tomas had told him often that it would be fine, Bernie had convinced himself the worst had happened.

  “No. He wants to see us tomorrow,” Bur said softly.

  “Do you think he hates us?” Bernie turned to Bur.

  Bur hugged him tightly and said, “As a certain smart-ass pointed out, even if he does, we have family.”

  “Tomas is smart, and an ass.” Bernie chuckled.

  “Hey. I resemble that remark,” Tomas quipped.

  “At least you admit it,” Bernie said.

  “No matter what happens tomorrow, you have me. You both do.” Tomas hugged Bernie, pulling Bur in with him.

  They snuggled into his side.

  THE next day, Tomas glanced at Bernie sitting in the passenger side of the vehicle. Bernie was sitting quietly, staring at the passing scenery. He had been very withdrawn since they had told him about Dillard wanting to see them. A hand appeared beside his shoulder. Without looking at Bur sitting in the backseat, Tomas took the paper with the address from him. He read the address.

  Frowning, Tomas said, “I know that address.”

  Bernie looked at him sharply. “You do?”

  “Yeah.” Tomas gritted his teeth.

  “How?” Bur demanded from the back seat.

  “We did their landscaping a few months ago.” He drove to the address.

  Tomas got out of the car and joined Bernie and Bur, facing the house. The landscaping job he had done on the challenging house looked good. It had turned out even better than the plans he had come up with. They walked up the driveway, then up the slight incline to the steps to the door. As they reached it, it opened.

  “Nice to see you again, Tomas. And you must be Bernie and Wilbur.
Come in,” Megan said, gesturing.

  “What the hell is going on?” Tomas glared at her.

  Megan was unfazed. “If you’ll come this way, it will be explained.”

  Megan stepped back into the house and walked away. They followed her. Tomas clenched and unclenched his fist. Bernie put his hand over it, and Tomas laced his fingers with Bernie’s. Megan stopped in a doorway. Entering, they didn’t see anyone. A sound made them glance to the left. A glass door slid open, and a figure stepped in from outside. The lanky man strolled toward them in a relaxed gait. He was in jeans and a T-shirt, yet a feeling of power was in his carriage. When he was close, the man pushed back the shades holding back his shaggy brown hair. The features were identical to Bernie’s, but those pale green eyes were shrewd, not missing anything.

  “Tomas, it’s good to see you again,” Dillard said.

  “We’ve never met, Dillard. Or is it Del?” Tomas glanced at Megan.

  “He prefers Del.” She smiled a small grin.

  “We’ve met a few times,” Del replied.

  Tomas studied the man. “I don’t remember meeting you.”

  Bernie’s hand was tight on his. Tomas squeezed his hand gently. Del looked down at their clasped hands, then back at his face.

  “Think of a gangly kid asking lots of questions about seven years ago.” Del’s smile was smug.

  Tomas studied him, eyes narrowed. A tickling of a memory came to him.

  “The sponge,” Tomas said.

  “Yep. I learned a lot that summer.” Del laughed.

  Tomas explained to Bernie and Bur. “It was when we did Jerrod’s property about seven years ago. He was always going away on business. One time, he came back with this really skinny beanpole. Shy thing, until Jerrod got him working with us. Then he wouldn’t shut up asking questions. He remembered everything we said. Hell, even came back some days after doing research on the Internet. Kept us on our toes with what he knew.” Tomas looked back at Del. “How’d you know about Bernie? You used Jerrod to have us take the job. What? Were you trying to get close to Bernie?”