by Jay Hogan
Josh grinned down at him. “Goddamn, what a glorious sight.”
Michael pulled back a little so Josh got a better view, and Josh locked on every movement, apparently entranced. Hell yeah. Michael was damn pleased with himself. He needed inside this man so badly….
Shit. He pulled off, leaving Josh’s cock bobbing. “Supplies,” he breathed, struggling to his feet.
Josh gently pushed him down. “Jeans, back pocket, hotshot.”
Michael’s scowl morphed to a grin. “You good little boy, you.”
Josh waggled his eyebrows. “There’s even lube.”
“Fucking brownie points on top,” Michael said, chuckling. Retrieving both items, he found himself pulled up into Josh’s arms for a further attack on his mouth. The man sure loved to kiss. Michael preferred to keep his fuck buddies at arm’s length, but he suspected any conversation with Josh to that end would have been a total waste of breath. Instead, he dropped his mouth to Josh’s shoulder and bit hard, knowing he’d leave a solid mark.
“Fucker,” Josh grumbled but made no attempt to pull away.
Michael kissed the spot. “Yeah, payback’s a bitch, right?” He wrestled the man around as best he could with his aching ribs and kicked Josh’s feet apart. “You need to shrink a couple inches,” he complained.
“How about you grow?” Josh pressed his ass into Michael’s groin.
“How about I give you something else to think about?” Michael pushed him over the table and pressed a hand to his back. “Don’t move,” he ordered, somewhat surprised when Josh actually complied. Wonders. He gloved and slicked up before dripping a little cool lube down Josh’s crack.
Josh hissed and clenched his buttocks. “Asshole.”
Michael chuckled. “Give the man a prize.” He ran his slick fingers over Josh’s hole, then around to wrap around his solid cock, applying a few rough strokes before returning to his primary focus. By his own admission, Josh hadn’t been fucked in a while, and Michael wanted him well prepped.
Josh’s hand slid down to grab his erection, but Michael batted it away. “Nuh-uh,” he warned. “That’s mine.”
“Well, get on with it, then. I’m good to go here.”
Michael grinned, still working him open. He was tight as fuck. “Who says it’s for you,” he argued. “I love being up your ass.” He pushed a little farther, curled his fingers and… there.
“Bastard.” Josh twisted his hips and impaled himself on Michael’s fingers.
Michael nearly came on the spot, the sensation and the visual was so freaking hot. Controlling Josh was like trying to herd those proverbial cats. He slapped his ass with his free hand and dropped to his knees, spreading Josh’s cheeks.
“Push back again,” he ordered, and when Josh obliged, Michael drove his tongue alongside his fingers.
“Jesus Christ. Fuck me already.”
Michael pulled back and bit Josh’s asscheek. “Ask nicely.”
Josh growled.
Michael bit again, then stood and stepped between Josh’s legs, one hand on his back, the other steadying his own dick at Josh’s entrance. He felt the man’s breath hitch and knew he had him. “Yeah, babe, that’s it.” Shit. He let the slip go. Whatever. Not like Josh would remember.
From the other side of the glass slider, Paris watched the proceedings with an uncertain look in his eye. Thank God for the closed door. Michael nudged his cock against Josh again. “Come on, wolf-man. I’ve got you. Whaddya gonna say?”
Josh’s shoulders relaxed, and the word came on a sigh, so quiet Michael almost missed it.
“Please?”
Thank Christ. “You got it.” He kissed Josh’s shoulder and pushed forward in one slow fluid motion. Holy ever-loving crap. He was tight and hot, relaxing and bearing down just right to take Michael up to the hilt on his first plunge. It was so smooth and snug it damn near pushed Michael over the edge. So much for Josh not having done it in a while.
Michael grabbed the base of his dick and breathed, counting marks on the table, trees in the lawn, any damn thing to stop himself being buried in embarrassment by blowing his load barely one second in. Come on, wolf-man. Josh clenched, then unclenched his hands as he adjusted to the fullness.
“You said it’s been a while?” Michael breathed against Josh’s back. “So either you’re gifted anatomically… or you’ve got some serious toy kinks we need to investigate further.”
Josh huffed, and Michael thought he made out the word “gifted.” You got that right. A reminder of yesterday, what it was like to bottom for Josh, sent a nervous shudder through Michael. He had some serious competition to live up to.
“Move already,” Josh ordered.
So much for submission. Michael thrust slow and steady at first, adjusting the angle until he was sure by Josh’s groans that he was hitting the right spot.
“Harder.” Josh threw an arm back to grab Michael’s thighs and pull him deeper.
Toppy bastard. Michael kicked things up and set about a punishing rhythm, deep and fast, hauling Josh up against his chest as best he could, one arm slung over Josh’s shoulder and one around his waist to keep him still. At the same time, he buried his teeth lightly in Josh’s neck to anchor his ride.
“Touch yourself. This isn’t gonna take long,” he warned him.
Josh moaned, grabbing his dick. “I’m with you,” he said on a breath. Then he pushed back hard, clenching his arse tight around Michael and sending him over, milking the orgasm out of him, forcing him to come first.
Michael unloaded into the condom, trembling as he rode the wave of pleasure, continuing to thrust until Josh began to tense in return. With that, he pulled out and spun Josh to face him, holding him lightly at his throat while he took over and jacked him hard.
“Wanna see you lose it, wolf-man.”
Josh groaned. His head fell back, and Michael watched, riveted as Josh came undone before him. A myriad of emotions crossed his face as the intense sensations pumped through him. He was so damn expressive. Ribbons of cum flew to coat both their stomachs as he shuddered and collapsed against Michael, twitching as the last of the orgasm left his body.
“Fucking awesome,” Michael mumbled against Josh’s neck.
They held each other up a few more seconds, then slid to the floor as one, slick with sweat and cum. Josh stretched out on the cool tiles, arms above his head, breathing heavily. “Fuck me,” he huffed.
Michael reached over and patted his chest. “Been there, done that. But, yeah, we really need to bag and tag that shit. We could make a fortune.”
When he got no response, Michael rolled to his side and stared at Josh, poking his forehead with his finger. “I can hear the cogs grinding from here. Spill.”
Josh snorted. “Say please? You really had to go there, huh?”
“Hey, I had to do something. You give new meaning to the term power bottom.”
Josh’s face flushed bright red. Damn. The guy was down and dirty and toppy as hell one minute, then cute as a button the next.
“So, yesterday.” Josh was hesitant, a loose, sexed-out grin on his face. “It was great, don’t get me wrong. But I kind of wondered if it was just me, you know, the fact that I was… well, not to put too fine a point on it… but I was kind of starved for it, I suppose. But today blew me away, all joking aside. Sex with you… it’s pretty… intense, yeah? Then again, I have less to compare it with than you, I imagine.”
Michael paused, wondering just how to respond. He knew what Josh meant, and yeah, he felt it too, but nothing felt remotely safe about owning that shit now. “Let’s just say we’re on a roll, wolf-man,” he said jokingly. “And I’ll try not to take offence at you calling me a slut.”
“Shit, I didn’t mean….”
Michael laughed. “It was a joke. Relax. Maybe it’s the arrogant asshole twin thing we’ve got going on. That’s some volatile shit right there.”
“Maybe.” Josh stared at the ceiling, his expression now more guarded.
Shit. Way to shut the conversation down, dickhead.
Josh sighed. “Or maybe the sexual chemistry is partly to do with the fact that we’re not going any further with each other, just enjoying the ride. No expectations.”
Michael tried to ignore the twinge of something like regret in his chest. “Yeah. Probably that.”
THE SWITCH in Michael’s mood was hard to miss, and it had Josh curious. He seemed almost… disappointed. But that couldn’t be right. This was casual fucking, nothing more. Michael had been adamant about that, even more so than Josh.
They were crazy good in the sack, no question. Tinder-to-fucking-flame good, but that didn’t change a damn thing about how opposite they sat on the stuff that was important to Josh like commitment, family, and oh yeah, monogamy. Josh had seen Michael in action. He’d be stupid to think Michael could want anything more serious. That would be a bad idea, a very bad idea.
They’d showered and were sharing a coffee at the table with Paris whining around their legs.
Josh snorted. “He can smell the sex.”
Michael’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s… kind of gross, to be honest. He was watching us through the door when I was fucking you. Creeped me out for a few seconds.”
“Just a few seconds, huh?”
“Well, I did have better things to focus on.” Michael’s sapphire eyes twinkled.
Josh groaned. Michael sat there in fresh jeans and a white button-down shirt, smelling of orange, spice, and coffee, and all Josh wanted to do was start at the top and lick his way down. He squirmed in his seat and adjusted himself.
Michael smirked.
Josh flipped him off. “Behave yourself.” Paris lifted his head. “Not you, fella. He gets pretty protective.”
“I noticed. I wouldn’t want any of my bits dangling if he decided I was being a bit too rough with you for his liking.”
Josh cracked up. “I’ll bear that in mind.” He glanced at the clock. Ten. “Thought you wanted to be at the hospital by ten thirty.”
“Give or take.” Michael sipped on his coffee, not seeming in any particular hurry, and they sat in comfortable silence for a bit.
It was almost too damn comfortable, that was the problem. Josh needed to draw this to a close. Instead he said, “You wanna come and watch my daughter play netball tomorrow?” What the hell?
Michael’s cup froze halfway to his lips, a flash of panic lighting up his eyes. “Ah….”
Shit. “Forget about it,” Josh sputtered. “Stupid idea. I shouldn’t have asked. Not really part of our… um… thing… is it?” He fidgeted as the other man stared down at his coffee. But when Michael finally lifted his gaze, it was to flash Josh a smile, and then it was Josh’s turn to panic.
“Yeah, why not?” he answered. “Though I don’t have a clue about the game, to be honest.”
He sounded wary, though, and Josh raised an eyebrow. “You sure? It’s just a bunch of kids. You don’t seem too certain.”
Michael took a sip of coffee and studied Josh with a bemused expression. “It’s just that you’ve never once mentioned having a daughter, that’s all.”
Because I never intended for you to meet her. Which only begged the obvious question, which Josh ignored. He took a gulp of his own coffee and steadied himself. “Oh, yeah, well—”
“A bit personal for fuck buddies, right?”
Heat bloomed in Josh’s cheeks; he could feel it. “Maybe.”
Michael gave a wide grin and held up his hands. “Hey, I get it. But then, why the invite now?”
Paris pushed his head into Josh’s lap, and he slipped his hand around the shepherd’s ears, grounding himself. “Just figured you had to be bored out of your mind holed up here,” he lied. “But you don’t have to….” He met the other man’s eyes.
“No, you’re right, I am. And I appreciate it.” Michael reached to scruff Paris’s ears himself. “So, how old is this daughter of yours, then?”
“Eleven. Sasha.”
Michael glanced up. “Pretty name.”
“Pretty girl, but definitely in the cranky preteen years. Not at all sure I’m equipped for what’s to come, if you catch my drift.”
Michael glanced into the yard, slowly spinning his empty coffee cup on the table. He spoke the next words softly. “That mean you were married? To a woman?”
Josh snorted. “Nah. Lived with one for a bit, though.”
Michael frowned. “So, bi or just a late bloomer?”
Josh walked their coffee cups to the sink, taking time to decide how much he wanted to say. “Definitely not bi,” he finally answered, taking his seat. “I knew I was gay from about fifteen. Went with a couple of girls, but then one time with a guy and it was a done deal. Awesome versus ho-hum.” He grinned. “Didn’t mean I was out, though. My parents are kind of a nightmare, and the police force was less gay friendly fifteen years back, ask Mark. He had it rough at the beginning. I’ll always admire him for having the courage to be out with all the shit he took. I wasn’t so brave.” He stole a glance at Michael who simply nodded.
“But you have a daughter?”
“Yes, I do. Proof that once is enough. A disaster all round, but I love Sasha to bits. I was still closeted, and her mother, Anna, had the attention span of a flea, lacking a single mothering gene in her entire DNA. She took off in the first year, leaving us both to get on with it.”
Michael’s eyes grew wide. “Wow. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I wouldn’t change having Sasha in my life for anything. Grew me up quick, though. Made me into the boring, judgemental, vanilla, arrogant delight you see before you. Regardless of that, Sasha is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Michael raised his brows but remained quiet. Some gay men simply never felt the pull of children. Others saw the whole family/marriage thing as part of some heteronormative lifestyle they refused to buy into. Josh wondered where Michael sat on that continuum, not that it mattered. He wasn’t sure he’d have gone the kid route himself if it hadn’t been thrust upon him.
“Yeah, I can see that,” Michael agreed in a quiet voice, though his tone sounded less convinced. “Did Anna keep in touch?”
Josh explained the recent contact and the mixed feelings he had about it.
“That has to be better for Sasha, though, right?” Michael commented.
“You’d think.”
He cocked an eyebrow at Josh.
“Of course it is,” Josh agreed. “I’m just still so fucking mad at her. I mean who fucking does that? Who just walks out on their kid and throws them away like yesterday’s trash?”
Tears pricked Josh’s eyes, and Michael’s hand immediately covered his. Shit. The last thing he needed was pity from Michael. He freed his hand and dropped it on his lap.
Michael frowned but made no comment. “Must have been tough,” he said.
Josh sighed. “Yeah. Sasha doesn’t talk much about it, but I always thought it was a blessing that she was only a baby when Anna took off. And I couldn’t have done it without Katie. A surrogate mom, I guess.”
There was a moment of silence, and then Michael cupped Josh’s jaw, forcing him to meet Michael’s eyes. “I meant you, actually. Tough on you. That was a pretty crap hand to be dealt. Still, I’d bet my life on you being a great dad.” He pressed his lips gently to Josh’s, then pulled back.
The kind words rattled Josh more than he was willing to admit. Christ. He’d thought he was so past this shit. He swallowed hard. “I’m not sure you know me well enough to be so sure, but thanks anyway.”
Michael batted his arm playfully. “I know more than enough, wolf-man. What I see is a passionate, hard-working, honest guy with a big heart, plenty of friends, a sister who loves him, and an excellent bullshit detector for on-the-make queers like yours truly. Even if said guy is slightly too quick to judge same.” Michael leaned in and brushed his lips across Josh’s in a soft feather touch. “I know enough.”
Well, fuck. Josh felt the flush grow on his cheeks. “Po
int taken, all of them… and thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Michael leaned back in his chair. “So, anyone since?”
“A few. One serious boyfriend. We lived together. Thought he was the one, until he wasn’t.” Josh wasn’t willing to go further.
Michael didn’t push. Instead he waggled his eyebrows wickedly. “Well, I for one can absolutely see the whole power bottom thing morphing into one kick-ass dad.”
Josh nearly choked on his coffee, having to lean over the table to stop the drips running down his shirt. “That sentence is never to cross your lips ever again,” he warned, dabbing at his trousers.
“Or what?” Michael pressed. “Promise me there’ll be consequences. Lots and lots of consequences.” The heat in the man’s gaze ramped up.
“You have no idea,” Josh answered, his cock replying with an interested twitch. “Be ready by nine thirty tomorrow. It’s outdoors, so bring a jacket.”
Michael’s mouth quirked up. “Will I see you again before then?”
Josh snorted. “Maybe. I’ll text.” Michael’s sexy grin sent a shiver through him. And when he leaned in and placed his lips alongside Josh’s ear, Josh wanted to climb him like a tree.
“I’ll be naked and waiting, then, just in case,” Michael whispered.
Ugh. Josh couldn’t stop the groan escaping his lips. “You do that,” he said. “But remember, it’s my turn.”
Michael ran his hands down to cup Josh’s balls and give them a gentle squeeze. “If you give me enough warning, I’ll even wear my plug. Be good and ready for you.” He sealed the deal with a searing kiss. “Now get out of here before I drag your naked ass into that bedroom and fuck you until you can’t walk, and Paris has to carry you through your shift.”
It was a thought that wildly pleased Josh, and one that would get him through Cory Bryant’s funeral that afternoon.
CHAPTER SEVEN
BEST INTENTIONS aside, a last-minute robbery of a convenience store in the city centre after the funeral saw Josh’s hopeful plans evaporate. He and Paris ended up tracking the idiot five kilometres through Symonds Street Cemetery and the Auckland Domain until one in the morning.
