Love in the Clouds

by Sarah Hadley Brook

  Dustin followed him onto the dance floor just as the song switched to something with a great beat. He couldn’t place the song, but apparently Conner could, since he began singing along, his arms in the air as he twirled. Several guys were already scoping out Conner, but they frowned when he grabbed Dustin’s hips and pulled him close. “Show me what you got, Dustin.”

  Dustin laughed, put his arms around Conner’s shoulders, and started moving to the music. In no time, they found a rhythm and started grinding together. He had to admit, Conner looked sexy as fuck when he danced, and he knew they were drawing some looks. The man kind of melted into Dustin’s arms and threw back his head, letting the music take him away.

  After a few songs, sweat trickled down Dustin’s face, his shirt getting damp. He thought about taking a break, but Conner held tight. It looked like the guy had changed his mind about finding a man, which was fine with Dustin. He was enjoying himself. He liked dancing. And dancing with a hot guy? He loved that. Knowing nothing would happen between them helped Dustin really let go. No worries about sex. He’d wanted to get Raf off his mind and Conner would definitely help him with that.

  About twenty minutes later, and his white T-shirt practically clung to him, sweat dripping down his back, his breathing becoming ragged. Conner had been shooting looks over Dustin’s shoulder for a couple of minutes and Dustin wondered if he’d finally seen someone who piqued his interest. He raised an eyebrow.

  Conner stood on the balls of his feet. “There’s a seriously hot guy looking at us. Well, you, to be exact. He’s leaning against the mirror behind us and he’s been watching your ass for the entire last song. Shit, Dustin, he’s sexy. He’s not my type, but I’ll take him if you don’t want him.”

  Curious, Dustin glanced behind and his heart nearly burst out of his chest when he found Raf leaning against the wall, looking like sex on a stick, wearing a tight teal T-shirt, black skinny jeans, and slick black shoes. He stood with one knee bent, his foot pressed to the wall, and his arms crossed. But his eyes…even from nearly fifteen feet away, Dustin could practically feel Raf’s gaze rake over him. He felt like prey with Raf ready to devour him. His cock twitched and his heart raced as their eyes met again. Fuck. If Raf could have this effect on him from fifteen feet away, what the hell would happen if he put his hands on Dustin?

  Desire rolled through him and he kept his friend’s gaze, his body reacting like a goddamn teenager’s. When Raf started his way, Dustin swallowed hard, his heart beating like a conga drum. Though hot as hell in the club, Dustin still shivered. What the fuck was happening?

  Chapter 9

  Rafael

  After moping around all evening at home, vacillating between jealousy over Conner—which he knew was stupid—anger that he hadn’t been brave enough to lay out his heart to Dustin, and wanting to get laid, he’d decided the only thing to do was to hit the club and find someone to help him forget Dustin for the night. Someone who was just looking for a quick fuck.

  When he’d arrived at the club, he’d eyed a couple of guys who’d made it clear they were into whatever he wanted, but something had stopped him. He knew his heart just wasn’t up for the whole song-and-dance with a stranger, only to be alone again later. He gave one more sweep around the club, but nobody made his pulse quicken.

  Until Dustin had walked in with a man he’d assumed was Conner. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Dustin since. The fury he’d felt when they’d ground on each other was slowly replaced with hunger. He’d danced with Dustin before. They used to hit the clubs all the time in college. But it had been a long time. And watching him move like that drove him insane. He’d just about decided to cut in, finally make a move, whether smart or not, when Dustin turned and met his gaze.

  Rafael knew his feelings, his desire, were written all over his face and he waited, letting Dustin take it in.

  Holy hell. Vulnerability and need shone in Dustin’s eyes, and Rafael had to have him in his arms. He’d waited long enough. So he wove his way through the dancers while Dustin watched him.

  He stopped inches away from him, close enough for Dustin’s scent to fill his nostrils and shoot to his dick. He turned and held out his hand. “You must be Conner. I’m Rafael.”

  Conner shook his hand, then laughed. “Fuck. You’re Raf?”

  Rafael raised an eyebrow.

  “Dustin…mentioned you.”

  “Interesting,” he said, his gaze returning to Dustin.

  Dustin shrugged, seeming to finally pull himself together. He smiled, albeit somewhat shakily. “I mentioned the…plane.”

  “Yeah, right, it was the plane he kept talking about.” Conner slapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry. No filter. I mean, umm yeah, he told me about the plane.”

  Rafael grinned.

  “Do you want to get a drink?” Dustin asked, turning to head off the dance floor.

  Rafael wrapped his fingers around the man’s wrist. “No. I want to dance.”

  Dustin furrowed his brow. “With me?”

  Fuck, yes. But he only nodded, noting the way Dustin trembled under his stare.

  “Well, I want a beer. I’ll catch you guys in a little bit.” Conner turned to leave, lightly punching Dustin on the shoulder.

  Rafael faced Dustin, so close their legs brushed together. He slid his fingers along Dustin’s jawline, stroking the soft skin. Dustin’s eyes widened and he trembled again, while the want, the need, the raw desire, rolled off him in waves. Rafael pulled Dustin against his chest. Scents of musk and clean soap and a spice that was pure Dustin enveloped him and he nearly groaned out loud. He used his leg to nudge apart Dustin’s legs, pulling him even tighter. They moved, a little awkward at first due to Dustin’s stiffness, but he finally slipped his hands around Rafael’s shoulders, caressing. Touching. Teasing. His blue-green gaze stayed on Rafael’s chest, but he loosened up as the song continued, and by the time a new tune started, they ground against each other.

  Dustin finally looked up at him and licked his lips, staring into his eyes. “What are you doing here?”

  “Honestly?”

  Dustin nodded, moved with him as the music swelled, wiping at the sweat dripping from his hair.

  Rafael nuzzled Dustin’s ear with his nose. “I came here to get you out of my head. Clearly it didn’t work.” He breathed him in before straightening up, watching Dustin’s changing expressions as he took in what Rafael had just said.

  “Do you mean…? Are you saying…?”

  That I love you? Yes. Too much, too fast. Instead, he went with the simple truth. “I was jealous when you said you were going out with Conner. I know you guys are just friends, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I came here to stop thinking about you and some guy falling for each other. Some guy that wasn’t me, Dusty. I came here to try and forget about you. Just for one fucking night. To forget about how often I want to kiss you. To forget about how sexy you are. How you’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known. To forget about how I feel when I’m around you—and how I feel when I’m not.”

  As Rafael made his confession, Dustin’s jeweled eyes flashed. He wiped his forehead with his arm, then buried his hand in Rafael’s hair, stroking softly, a sexy grin on his face. “You want to kiss me?”

  Rafael cupped the back of Dustin’s head and crushed their lips together. And his whole world tilted. Dustin’s lips were both soft and strong. Pleasure warmed Rafael, buzzing his skin as he swept his tongue into Dustin’s mouth, the man’s moans vibrating through him.

  His cock throbbed in his jeans, and he cupped Dustin’s ass, pulling him as close as possible while dressed—a problem he planned to remedy soon.

  Dustin thrust against his leg until they practically fucked on the dance floor, while their kisses grew deeper. When Dustin’s fingers slipped under the hem of Rafael’s T-shirt and skimmed his belly, Rafael moaned.

  He pulled back and stared into Dustin’s eyes, then smiled, stroking his hair. “You’re so fucking gorgeous, Sunshine. I’ve wanted
to do this for so long.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Just then, Conner showed up, a huge smile on his face. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “Dusty’s coming home with me,” Rafael said.

  Dustin nodded agreement. “Conner, do you want to drive my Honda home? I could pick it up from Jack’s tomorrow?”

  Conner’s eyes sparkled. “Sure. I’ve got GPS. I’ll get back to Rain Valley with no problem. Plus, there’s a guy I have my eye on.” He thumbed toward the bar.

  “Be safe,” Dustin told him and handed over his keys.

  Rafael tugged him off the dance floor, then stopped at the bar and ordered a couple of waters.

  “I thought you wanted to leave?”

  “I do, but you’ve been dancing a lot longer than me and I know you’re hot.” He grinned as he handed him his glass, then drank his own. He had plans that included Dustin writhing under him, begging him for more, and he wanted to make sure the man was up for it. Never hurt to hydrate.

  After finishing their drinks, they exited the club, the cool night air hitting their heated skin. Rafael steered Dustin to the passenger side of his truck, but instead of opening the door, he moved in for another kiss, pressing the man’s back to the door. When Dustin ran his hands over Rafael’s back, moaning as he crushed their hips together, he pulled back and smiled.

  Moonlight filtered through breaks in the dark clouds and created a soft glow around the parking lot. Rafael cupped Dustin’s cheek and stilled his trembling. “Are you okay? Is this something you want? I need you to be sure.” Please be sure. Please.

  Dustin smiled. “I’m sure that if you keep looking at me like that, but don’t take me home and fuck me, I’m going to spontaneously combust. I’m sure that I want you deep inside me so badly, I ache for it. And I’m sure I want to kiss every fucking inch of you.”

  Desire shot through Rafael and his heart pounded in his ears. He kissed Dusty hard, then opened the door and waited for him to climb inside. He couldn’t believe his wish was coming true. Dustin was all he wanted, and now that the man had made it clear he wanted him, too, Rafael was equal parts excited and scared. This was the man for him and he didn’t want to scare him off or move too fast. Although, considering how long they’d known each other and had not had sex, nothing they did could be called “fast.”

  Once inside the truck, he kissed Dustin, trailing his fingers along his skin, just above the neckline, then dipping them under the fabric of his shirt. Dustin titled his head, closing his eyes and moaning.

  “God, that feels good. I can’t believe you’re touching me like this.”

  Rafael nuzzled his cheek. “Now that I’ve done it, I can’t seem to stop.”

  “I don’t want you to stop. But take me home, Raf. Take me to your bed.”

  Groaning, Rafael pulled back. “The things you say make me want to take you right here.” His hard dick pressed against his zipper as he started the truck and tried to concentrate on driving. He put on some music and they flew down the highway, his entire focus on getting Dustin into bed. He twined their fingers together and squeezed.

  The air felt charged with electricity, and his balls already ached. Dustin pulled away his hand, then rested it on Rafael’s thigh, rubbing circles and inching higher until his fingers brushed against Rafael’s erection.

  “Fuck, Dusty.”

  “You like that? You like my hand on your dick?”

  Shit. He would come in his pants if Dustin kept talking like that. “God, yes.”

  Nimble fingers popped his button and unzipped his fly, and Rafael breathed in sharply. Dustin’s hand slipped into his boxers, and Rafael helped him pull out his dick. When Dustin’s strong, warm fingers wrapped around the shaft, Rafael swore he saw stars in front of his eyes.

  “Oh, fuck, you feel so good in my hand, Raf. I want to taste you. To feel you slide through my lips and fill my mouth.”

  “Dusty,” Rafael whispered on an exhale.

  “Then I want you to take me, Raf. Slide in deep.” Dustin’s fingers toyed with the head of his cock.

  Rafael hissed. “Then you better pull away that hand or I’ll lose it right here.”

  “Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Dusty stroked once more, then removed his hand and chuckled.

  Rafael smiled. “You seem…happy about…what’s happening.”

  Dustin grinned. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’ve been trying to get your attention for weeks. For fuck’s sake, Raf, I’ve been sleeping in your arms and couldn’t keep my hands to myself. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been to not strip naked and climb into bed with you?”

  Rafael gave him a wicked grin. “You should have done that.”

  Moments later, Rafael pulled into his driveway. He turned off the truck and started to zip his fly, but Dustin stopped him.

  “I’ll just be unzipping that the second we’re inside.”

  Good point.

  Once inside, Rafael pushed him up against the door. Lips crashed together, tongues gliding, heat building. His skin prickled as heat uncoiled in his belly, pleasure skittering through him. He placed kisses across Dustin’s cheek, down his jawline, and nipped at his earlobe, savoring the salty taste of the skin. He licked a hot stripe under Dustin’s ear, encouraged by the man’s needy whimpers. He squeezed the bulge at Dustin’s fly.

  “Fuck, Raf. I need you.”

  That was all Rafael needed to hear. He practically dragged the man to his bed. Moonlight filtered in through the blinds, bathing the room in soft luminescence. He tugged off Dustin’s shirt, tossing it to the floor. He’d seen his friend’s chest before—many times over the years—but now, like this, his breathing ragged, his chest rising and falling, his skin flushed and sweaty, the sight overwhelmed him. “You’re so sexy.”

  Once Rafael removed his own shirt, he pulled Dustin into his arms, and kissing him. A wave of emotion flooded through him as Dustin stroked his back. This was really happening. He wasn’t dreaming. And if he was, he never wanted to wake up.

  He walked Dustin backward until they bumped into the bed. Heat flashed in Dustin’s eyes, his pupils blown so wide they nearly eclipsed the blue-green irises. Rafael trailed a finger down the man’s cheek, his neck, then his chest, rubbing his thumb over one nipple, then the other, both hard pebbles. Dustin’s head fell back and he moaned, letting Rafael know his trigger. Rafael did it again and again, then flicked the nipples with his tongue. Dustin’s hands found their way into Rafael’s hair, holding tightly.

  Dustin’s moans fueled the fire, and Rafael suckled one nipple while rolling the other between his fingers. Then Dustin kissed his chest and returned the favor, flicking Rafael’s nipples, heating his blood with every touch. Soon, Rafael pushed him onto the bed.

  Dustin smiled as he crawled backward, settling his head on a pillow. He kicked off his shoes, then gestured toward Rafael’s jeans. “Don’t you want to take those off?”

  “You think I should?” Rafael teased, but in reality, he needed to hear how much Dustin wanted this. He needed reassurance.

  “Hell, yes,” he exclaimed as he popped his own buttons, lifted his ass, and wiggled out of his jeans, leaving on his purple boxer briefs. He grinned as he palmed his hard dick through the fabric and spread his legs.

  Rafael nearly swallowed his tongue. He stripped off his clothes, then climbed onto the bed and crawled over Dustin, straddling his thighs.

  “Tell me what you like,” he whispered, then kissed along his jaw. Earlier, Dustin had said he wanted Rafael to take him, but that could mean different things to different people.

  Dustin stroked his chest, his belly, his waist. Their eyes met, and even in the semi-darkened room, Rafael saw the blush cover Dustin’s face and travel down his neck.

  “Do you not want to tell me? Don’t you know I’d do anything to make you feel good? Anything to make you happy?”

  Dustin sighed. “I know. It’s just…it’s you. And over the years, we’ve never really talked about our sex
lives with each other.”

  Okay. They needed to talk. He wouldn’t rush into something and mess things up. Rafael rolled onto his side and pulled Dustin into his arms. “That’s right. It is me,” he whispered, stroking Dustin’s face. “Nothing you tell me will change how I feel about you. And if you can’t tell? I’m pretty damn crazy about you. I have been for a long time.”

  God, he’d been so afraid to admit that, but now that he had, he felt free and light.

  Dustin trailed his fingers down Rafael’s chest, making him tremble. “I’ve been feeling the same for a while, too.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve been fantasizing about you.”

  Rafael grinned. “And what do we do in these fantasies?”

  Dustin rolled onto his back, trying to tug Rafael with him, the spark back in his eyes. Maybe he’d just needed assurances also.

  “I imagine you taking me, pushing me down on the bed, fucking me hard and fast. I like to be…well, I don’t mean dominated like with whips and chains, but I like it when a man takes charge.”

  That’s exactly what Rafael wanted to do—take charge. He kissed down Dustin’s neck, his chest, then used his teeth and hands to strip the man of his boxers.

  Dustin’s cock, thick and pulsing, with pearly liquid beading at the slit, hit his flat belly, smearing some of that liquid onto his skin.

  “Do I ever do this in your fantasy?” Rafael asked, pressing his nose to the base of Dustin’s cock and breathing deep. Shit, Dustin’s scent acted as an aphrodisiac. He licked the shaft from base to tip, then flicked the slit as Dustin moaned and grabbed Rafael’s head. “Put your hands out to the side, Dusty,” Rafael ordered, his voice husky.

  “Fuck, yes.” Dustin immediately gripped the blanket in both hands.

  God, the way Dustin obeyed flipped a trigger in Rafael. The man was giving him his complete trust, sharing something so deep, so precious, allowing himself to be stripped to his very core, and Rafael vowed to never take it for granted. The trust needed to be two-sided. And it was, because he also trusted Dustin completely.