Real Good Man

by Elise Whyles

  “So we are.” Sean stiffened. “And you still have five minutes. That’s it, no more.”

  “Come on in.” Luke kicked open the truck door. “I’d rather not do this in the driveway.”

  Sean snorted, the sound humorless and pained, but he exited the truck and followed Luke up to the front door. Luke opened the door and stepped across the threshold, the cool interior of the house welcomed as he turned to let Sean walk past him.

  “Have a seat.” He waved a hand at the leather sofa sitting in his living room.

  “I’m not going to be here long enough to get comfortable.” Sean turned, his arms crossed, his face an expressionless mask. “Your time started.”

  Raking a hand through his hair, Luke shook his head. Leaning against the back of a chair, he studied Sean. He looked only better than death warmed over, and he’d obviously lost weight as there was a gauntness to his face. The purple and saffron bruises marred most of his face. He wondered where they’d come from; Sean wasn't the physical kind to get into a barroom brawl. “Look, I acted like a complete jackass, and I owe you an apology.”

  “And you think that’s going to make it all better? You kicked me out of your life without a thought, without even letting me explain.” Sean glared. “And you think saying you’re sorry is going to…”

  “No.” Luke lunged forward, grabbing Sean’s arms. “No, that isn’t what I think at all. I fucked up, okay. Instead of thinking about it, I had a knee-jerk reaction to something you hadn’t done and struck out at you before I could get hurt. I thought you wanted out.”

  “Oh, and you couldn’t just ask me? Why storm out after throwing a bunch of bullshit at me?” Sean’s voice cracked. “If you’d asked, we could have talked it out, could have dealt with the situation. Instead, you got hurt, and rather than let me be there for you, you threw me aside. It had nothing to do with me wanting out. Anyone with half a brain would have seen through that the minute they opened their eyes after two weeks in ICU. Instead, you decided you didn’t want me. You chose to throw us away rather than…”

  “I didn’t want…”

  “Me. I get it. So what now, you want me to do what? Forgive you? Fine. Done.” Sean stepped away from him. “Now you can move on with your life and stop worrying about the poor farm boy who doesn’t know what he wants.”

  “I want you, period.” Luke swallowed hard against the rising panic at the lack of emotion in Sean’s voice. Was it too late? Had he let the best thing that had ever happened to him slip through his fingers? No, he wouldn’t, couldn’t, accept it. “I don’t care if you don’t want to come out, or you don’t want me to meet your friends, I’d rather have you than…”

  “Until the next time I do something you think goes against your devil-may-care attitude,” Sean interrupted. “I’m not like you, Luke, I want forever, I want to know the man I love isn’t going to toss me aside because it’s easier to do that than it is to work at a relationship.”

  “No.” Luke shook his head quickly. “Please, Sean. I know you think I’m a useless shit, but let me prove I’m worth a second chance.”

  Sean shook his head, his green eyes filled with uncertainty. “Why should I? I can’t do this again, Luke. I can’t be with you and then have you…”

  “I won’t,” Luke promised, hope blossoming. “I love you, no matter what, I know that. Just like I know you love me.” He squeezed Sean’s hands gently, tugging him closer, the need to feel him, to know he wasn’t going anywhere.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have given me the chance to apologize.” Luke traced his hands up Sean’s arms to cup his face. “I know my actions hurt you; hell, I’ve spent the last couple of months between wanting to kick myself in the ass and wanting the chance to beg for forgiveness. It’s all I can do not to drop to my knees right now. I’d do it in a heartbeat if I thought it would help any.”

  “I already told you…”

  “Forgiveness isn’t all I want, babe. I want your heart. I want to have more than what we’d had at the house.”

  “It may not work,” Sean whispered. “My dad’s not going to forgive and forget. I’m not hiding being gay anymore, and there are those back home who are going…”

  “Well, let them talk. Does their opinion matter?”

  Sean ducked his head. “It’s not the talk that worries me. Dad’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep the image he has built in place. Physical violence isn’t beyond him. He’s the biggest reason I didn’t want to go out that night. If he found out…”

  “What?” Luke caught the fear in Sean’s gaze as well as the determination. His thumb traced over the discoloration along his jaw, his touch gentle. Maybe, just maybe, it was time for both of them to reveal their secrets, their fears. “What were you scared of? He’s going to come after us? Sean, babe, even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. He’s irrelevant to me. I can’t say it any clearer—I want you, and nothing else matters to me.”

  “He had threatened me while I was at work, and Mom said he said he’d do whatever it would take. Dad would kill both of us if he thought it would go in his favor. Beth told me she’d heard him mention doing whatever it took. I thought if he’d known, he’d hurt you. When the fires started happening I was sure they were his handiwork,” Sean whispered. “I grew up with the abuse, it was logical for me to assume he’d follow through on those threats.”

  “I thought they were related to Tony’s threats. Rick said it was random, a poacher who got pissed we were interfering with his hunting.” Luke frowned for a second before his features smoothed out. “Even if it was your dad, I’m just glad to know you weren’t hurt. Please, I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. Can you give me another chance? Please? I want to put that behind us and move forward.” If he sounded like he was begging, Luke forced himself to ignore the flare of his pride. He couldn’t let Sean walk away, he couldn’t live without him.

  Sean bit his lip as he looked around the room, a pensive look on his face. Luke waited with bated breath, his heart in his throat. “On one condition.”

  “Name it.” Luke rushed out.

  “If you shut me out again, we’re done. I won’t forgive or forget, I won’t give you another chance.”

  “I’m never going to shut you out again.” Luke pulled Sean into his arms, the heat and strength of his body soaking through the chill in Luke’s blood as he clung to his lover. “Not ever again.” Like a mantra, he kept repeating the words over and over again. He wasn’t going to be stupid and hurt Sean again, no matter what.

  When Sean wrapped his arms around him, Luke breathed a sigh of relief and clung tighter. The only one who mattered was in his arms and he wasn’t going to give him up again.

  Chapter 24

  After pressing a quick kiss to Sean’s lips, Luke pulled back. His hair disheveled, a shadow of stubborn on his face, and bloodshot eyes … but Sean had never looked sexier than he did standing in the morning light surrounded by Luke’s furniture. Desire slammed like a fist into his gut, but he forced it back. He wasn’t going to give him a reason to run. Determined to make it right, he stepped back. “You look like you could use a shower. I’ll make us something to eat.”

  Sean tilted his head to one side, a thought-filled look on his face. “I could use a shower. Uh, I don’t have a change of clothes.”

  “Second door on your left, fresh towels are above the toilet. There’s a toothbrush in the drawer as well as a comb and razor, if you’d like. I can wash those ones for you.”

  Sean narrowed his eyes at him, and Luke forced a smile at the doubt and flare of anger in the green eyes staring at him. “Wishful thinking, on my part. I wanted to have something here for you if you took me back.”

  “Did you buy more condoms?”

  Luke swallowed as Sean headed for the bathroom, his mouth watering at the thought of having Sean in his bed again. “Yeah, but you don’t…”

  Sean glanced over his shoulder. “I’m going to go ha
ve a shower. Nothing with green in it, I can’t eat green in the morning.”

  Hiding his smile, Luke watched him disappear. Luck was on his side, now he just had to prove to Sean he was a changed man. No more blowing up. The true depth of his luck seeped through the giddiness racing through him. The future stretched out before them, gaping like a huge cavern. If he slipped, he could lose it all, but the risks were far less than the rewards.

  “Nothing green.” He rubbed his hands together, careful not to jar his arm more than he already had. “I can agree with that. You’ll see, baby, I’m going to prove how much I care … even if it means laying a smack down on that old man of yours.”

  He strode into the kitchen and pulled open the fridge door. Staring inside, he reached for the carton of eggs and set them on the counter. Luke rolled his eyes at the soft beep of his phone before grabbing for it. “Hello, this is Luke…”

  “Bro, I’ve been calling you at this number for years, I think I know who you are.” Jack’s concerned voice filtered through the speaker. “Just called to see what was up. You took off pretty early this morning, everything okay?”

  “Getting there.” Luke glanced down the hall, the faint sound of the shower reaching him. Closing his eyes, he could picture Sean’s body beneath the spray. The water sluicing over toned muscles that bunched and flexed with each movement. His legs braced, cock hanging between his legs. A dark path of hair down his chest to swirl around the shaft, to embrace his balls.

  “Luke!” Jack’s sharp tone pulled him from his train of thoughts. Biting back a moan, he tightened his grip on the phone.

  “Jack.”

  “You need to let it go. Need to let him go.” Sorrow threaded Jack’s voice. “You dumped him, you let your pride do the talking, and it cost you.”

  “Jack, please, I don’t want to go over this now. I have things to do this morning and…”

  “Gillian and I are worried, Luke, this isn’t like you. You’re a devil-may-care kinda guy, and he was an office romance.” The sound of papers being rustled drifted over the phone, and Luke rolled his eyes. “Look, Gilli and I will be by later.”

  “Jack, there really isn’t…” Luke heaved a sigh at the dial tone and hung up. Turning, he trudged to the bathroom door and knocked. “Sean?”

  “Yeah?” Sean’s voice drifted through the wood and sound of water running.

  “We’ve got company coming. Not sure what time they’re going to be here, but Jack and Gillian are stopping by.”

  “Do you want me to head out?” The door opened and Sean stood there, white briefs hugging his hips, a towel hanging from one hand.

  “No!” Luke shook his head quickly. “I just wanted to let you know before I start breakfast.” Stepping closer, he cupped Sean’s jaw. “I don’t ever want you to go.”

  Sean nodded, a grin lifting his lips. “Oh, I’m sure I can be convinced to stick around.”

  Luke chuckled. It wasn’t so easy, it couldn’t be. There was still a lot of ground to cover before Sean forgave him, but he was willing to do whatever it took. Leaning in, he stole a quick kiss from Sean before hurrying toward the kitchen.

  After turning on the radio above the sink, he turned on the tap to fill the coffee maker. With coffee on, Luke focused on the eggs sweating on his counter. His lip curled with disgust at the idea of food, his body hungry for something else entirely. He knew what he wanted for breakfast and it sure the hell wasn’t scrambled eggs and toast. Still, they needed to take it slow, to rebuild what he’d… Luke shook his head. No, the time for guilt and blame gaming was done. Sean had given him another chance, and he wasn’t going to fuck it up.

  He cocked his head; the sound of the shower had stirred memories. Hot water beating down on them, the feel of Sean’s skin beneath his palms, the tightness of his ass. The guttural sounds he made with each slap of their hips.

  “Jesus.” Luke adjusted himself and banged his head against the cupboard door. Sean didn’t need to come out to his hard-on. He wanted him, period. The sex was just the cherry on top.

  “Never realized before how lonely a shower can be.” Sean’s hand snuck around his waist, tightening as he pulled him back against him. He nibbled on Luke’s neck, sending waves of pleasure coursing through his body. Moaning softly, Luke rolled his hips, gasping at the hard, hot length pressing against the crease of his ass.

  “Never knew how fun they could be before you.” Luke leaned back into Sean’s embrace, eyes closed. His heart raced in his chest as he swayed with the motion of Sean’s body. Turning, his eyes drifted open to meet the dark green of Sean’s gaze. “You look better. Not so hung-over. Would you like some coffee? I think it has finished…”

  Sean pressed a finger to his lips. “What’s wrong?”

  “Wrong? Nothing.” Luke swallowed, his gaze sliding down Sean’s body. Tanned flesh glistened with water droplets, and his bared chest rose and fell. Tight white briefs did little to cover the hard length of his cock as he stood before Luke. Licking his lips, Luke stared at the head peeking from the waist of Sean’s underwear. He could almost taste him, feel that hard, hot shaft on his tongue, and he wanted it. Without thinking, he reached for him, wincing in pain when he jarred his arm.

  “Nothing like a little pain to kill the mood.” Luke grinned ruefully, wrapping his fingers around his arm as he backed away from Sean. He glanced away at the pain in Sean’s eyes, the barb of guilt sharp, though why Sean would feel guilty he didn’t know.

  “Yeah, we don’t need you hurting yourself even more.” Sean traced a gentle hand down Luke’s arm, plucking at the bandages with a faint frown on his face. “How bad was it?”

  “Shattered the bone in two places. They put three pins in there, and with time, care, and some therapy I should have most of the use of it back.”

  “And work?”

  Luke huffed a breath. This was something he didn’t want to consider. If they didn’t give him the green light to return to work, could he handle looking for a new job? He didn’t like to think of not being able to be outside. “Won’t know for a few weeks.”

  Sean nodded, his palm cupping Luke’s jaw. “It’ll work out.”

  “I wish I had your optimism. It isn’t just the broken bones, the burns didn’t help any.”

  Moving forward, Sean pulled Luke into a hug. His embrace was warm, comforting, as his lips pressed against his throat. “You’re strong, you’ll make it.”

  Luke shuddered at the sensations of Sean’s beard on his skin, the heat from his breath, the moist touch of his lips. All shot straight to his groin. No matter how battered he was, his body couldn’t help but respond to Sean’s touch. Heat flowed through his blood, heating his groin. He bit back a moan at the pressure on his hard length.

  “Hmm, you look a bit uncomfortable,” Sean teased, gently sinking to his knees before Luke. Sean looked up through his dark lashes, and Luke gasped at the heat in his gaze as his fingers eased the buckle loose from his jeans and tossed it aside. His breath caught with the slow, agonizing peel of the zipper as Sean pulled his length free.

  Groaning with a mixture of relief and need, Luke settled a hand on Sean’s head, his fingers combing through his hair. Tipping his head back, Luke wallowed in the waves of pleasure crashing into him with the heat of Sean’s mouth around his cock. Ragged, uneven pants escaped him as his lover pumped his cock, his fist tightening slightly before he let go, his lips sliding down the length. Skilled fingers cupped his sac, toying, teasing his balls. They scraped over his perineum, teasing the crease of his ass in time with the bobbing of his head.

  “Oh God, yes,” Luke forced out past dry lips. “Don’t stop. Oh yeah, harder. Take me deeper.” He panted, his hips moving of their own accord. Sean moaned, and the vibration raced through Luke’s cock. His balls tightened, pulling up. Luke tensed, his body shaking uncontrollably with the force of his orgasm. White lights danced behind his eyelids, a scream trapped in his throat as he clung to Sean.

  He struggled to open his eyes to look down
into the dark depths of his lover’s eyes. Forcing a smile to his lips, he blinked. “God, Sean, what happened to going slow?”

  “Who said anything about slow?” Sean winked as he straightened. Luke gasped, his gaze falling to the tented underwear clinging to Sean’s hips.

  “Oh man, that looks so good.” Luke slid his hand down Sean’s chest to grasp his dick. “I want it…”

  “Can’t have you hurting yourself.” Sean nibbled at his bottom lip. “Come.” Interlocking his fingers with Luke’s, he tugged and pulled as he backed out of the kitchen.

  Smirking, Luke shook his head. His bedroom had never looked so good. A rough chuckle escaped when Sean guided him back to the bed, pushing him down until the cotton sheets were pressed against his back. Watching Sean peel his underwear off, Luke felt a renewed interest in his body with every muscle tensing, the need so pleasantly sated returning.

  Long, thick, Sean’s cockhead glistened with precum as he crawled onto the bed. Holding his gaze steady, Luke tugged the dresser drawer open. With fingers that shook, he pulled out a condom and lube, dropping both next to his bare hip.

  “I need you.” A thin note of hesitation in his voice struck a chord in Luke as Sean caressed his hip, his gaze steady.

  “No more than I need you,” he replied and reached for Sean. “Come to me. I want to feel you everywhere, want to give you what you gave me.”

  The flash of white teeth in a tanned face sent Luke’s heart skittering dangerously as he lay back. Gentle fingers stroked along the curve of his hip, teasing, caressing, each swipe of calloused fingertips stoking the fire raging within.

  His back bowed as he arched off the bed; he swam in a sea of colors, of heat, racing hearts, sweaty flesh, ragged breathing. Every sense focused on the man hovering above. The glide of skin on skin. The pulse of his cock. Moaning softly, he listened to the sound of a babble, of a high-pitched pleading. He moaned at the sight of the lube and condom wrapper.