by Darien Cox
“I know.” Elliot swatted his eyes, streaking dark paint from the mask across his cheek, then determination returned to his expression. “But do you still want to make love to me?”
“God yes.”
Elliot smiled, and went back to lining Nolan’s cock up to his ass, lifting his hips.
“Condom?”
“No,” Elliot huffed. “I use them with everyone else and I know you do to. But this is us. Just us.”
“Least let me get some lube. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Elliot stroked Nolan’s face, his neck, his chest, then he chuckled. “Okay.”
Nolan grinned as he climbed off Elliot and reached for his bedside table. “What’s so funny now?”
“Just not used to someone worried about my tender bits. I feel like a virgin again.”
Nolan squirted some lube on his palm and coated himself as he watched Elliot stretch his arms back over his head, sighing. “I don’t like the idea of anyone being careless with your needs,” Nolan said, gazing down at the naked man on his bed. It’s Elliot. Naked. Waiting for me. Asking me to fuck him.
Elliot’s body was smooth and tight, beautiful cock standing at attention, and Nolan didn’t hesitate for one more second, he was beyond questioning whether this was the right thing. He got back on the bed and eased slowly down on top of Elliot, who spread his thighs and wrapped his legs around Nolan. “I wouldn’t say people have been careless with me. Just selfish. Like ‘Elliot, perform.’ Everyone always wants me to perform.”
“You’re in my hands now.” Nolan kissed him, then kissed him again as he settled between his thighs. “You don’t have to perform. Don’t have to do anything but let me please you.” He propped on an elbow and lined the head of his cock up against Elliot’s entrance, sliding it between his cheeks, and worried he’d come before he could get it in just from the sensation.
Elliot’s body jerked when Nolan slid into him. Nolan paused, searching his eyes. Letting out a hard breath, Elliot grabbed Nolan’s ass with both hands and pulled him in deeper. “Love being in your hands. At your mercy.”
“Oh my God.” Nolan’s eyes closed. The squeeze of Elliot’s flesh sheathing his cock was so raw and real he needed a moment to acclimate to the pleasure, and after those words, he knew if he looked down at his face he’d blow this too soon.
“Hey.” Elliot’s fingers brushed Nolan’s cheeks as his hips lifted, taking more of him in.
Nolan groaned as his cock plunged into gripping heat, but didn’t dare open his eyes.
“Look at me,” Elliot whispered. “We okay?”
Nolan opened his eyes to see Elliot smiling. Nolan smiled back as he drew out slowly, then back in with a groan. “We’re still us,” he whispered.
“Are we?” Elliot gripped Nolan’s shoulders, opening to him, rising to the slow, tentative movements as they found a languid rhythm. “I think we’re something brand new now.”
Nolan shook his head and smiled as he made love to Elliot, his entire body trembling as he fought to keep control and ride the intense pleasure happening down below. “We’re not new. We’re old.”
Elliot laughed and closed his eyes, then inhaled sharply as Nolan’s cock hit him just right. “We have to be something new. What happens to the past ten years?” he whispered, then opened his eyes. “Does it just go away?”
“Elliot.” Nolan pressed his forehead against Elliot’s and lunged into him, using his legs to spread his thighs wider.
“Oh Christ,” Elliot cried out. He laughed and held the sides of Nolan’s head. “Do that again, fuck!”
Nolan released a bit of his control and did what Elliot asked, pulling back then slapping hard against him, slowly retreating, then again, and again until Elliot began making breathy, high-pitched sounds. “Past ten years is still there,” he said between hard pants. “I don’t love you despite our history. I love you because of it.”
Elliot’s legs tightened round him and he slid his hands up Nolan’s back, then squeezed him closer to his body. “I love you too. Kiss me and fuck me you sexy prick.”
Nolan attacked Elliot’s mouth, sliding an arm under his back. His other hand grabbed his ass and tugged him up so he could go in deep, eating every moan from Elliot’s mouth, sweating and trembling and letting his primal brain take over.
Elliot’s groans of pleasure and frantic tongue-probing kisses pushed Nolan over and he knew the wave was about to become be a tsunami. Desperate to bring Elliot with him, he let go of his ass and grabbed his cock, using the slickness he found there to glide and squeeze and fist him just right. “Come with me, Elliot,” he croaked as a bolt of ecstasy tightened his ass and gushed out his dick.
Then he was lost, shooting his load into Elliot’s tight ass, currents of bliss jerking his back, struggling to keep his fist firmly around Elliot’s cock as the wave rocked him. He heard Elliot’s gasps of pleasure somewhere over his own and experienced a moment of such intense emotional bliss he could barely breathe. The nirvana ebbed and with a final blast of satisfaction as he felt Elliot’s hot fluid coating his hand between them.
Then Nolan fell back to earth, the scent of sex and Elliot’s sweet skin, the sounds of labored breath slowing. Their bodies simultaneously relaxed, glued together in sweat and cum and probably glitter gel. “Y’okay?” Nolan mumbled.
Elliot hugged Nolan’s back. “Perfect.”
Not wanting to let him go, Nolan remained there for several minutes, his body covering Elliot’s, fingers stroking his hair. When he finally eased off of him, Elliot’s eyes were closed, mouth slack, breathing slow and steady. “El?”
Elliot’s eyebrows pinched, then relaxed as he let out a soft snore.
Nolan smirked. Great. I put him to sleep. Nolan wanted to believe it was the power of the orgasm that knocked him out and not just the tequila, but it was likely a combination. With that thought, a tingle of doubt returned, but he couldn’t possibly make himself regret this.
He got out of bed and went to the bathroom. He was startled when he saw himself in the mirror, dark hair wild on his head, face glittery with black paint streaks across his forehead and one cheek. Deciding his face would be more of a cleanup than he had energy for right now, he tended to his other needs, then carried a warm, wet towel back into the bedroom.
Elliot was still stretched out naked on the bed, eyes closed, breathing slow and even. Nolan gently cleaned him up with the towel, then tossed it in the laundry basket. He leaned over and slid his arms under Elliot. Elliot breathed a soft groan as Nolan shifted him so he was the right way, head on the pillow. He covered him with a blanket, then shut off the light.
Rounding the bed, he climbed in beside Elliot. On his side in the dark, he stroked a knuckle down Elliot’s arm, staring at his sleeping profile. It was done. They’d crossed that final line.
Please, Elliot, he thought. Don’t wake up tomorrow and tell me the best night of my life was a mistake.
Chapter Thirteen
Elliot was aware of several things at once when his eyes opened to morning sunlight and the sound of a squirrel chattering somewhere outside. He was thirsty—he was naked—his ass hurt—and the pillow his head rested on smelled like Nolan.
Lying on his side, his eyes widened when they fell on the dark wood dresser against the wall. Nolan’s dresser. The hazy dam in his mind broke and memories came flooding back. Holy. Shit.
He twisted and looked to his right. Nolan was asleep beside him, dark hair hanging over one eye, a palm pressed against his forehead like he was holding his brain in. Elliot’s lips curved into a slow smile when he saw the glitter and streaks of black paint on Nolan’s face. Nolan’s bare, muscular arm hugged the blanket to his chest, gorgeous lips slightly parted, breathing slow and deep.
Elliot shifted quietly out of bed, tiptoeing to Nolan’s dresser. He slowly pulled a drawer open, glancing over his shoulder. Nolan didn’t stir. Searching through Nolan’s clothes, he found a pair of running pants and a tee shirt, then padded naked down the
hallway to the bathroom.
Under the hot stream of Nolan’s shower, he scrubbed his face and body with a wash cloth, watching glittery water pool down the drain at his feet. Washed his hair, then stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel from a closet in the corner.
He chuckled as he examined the shelves in the closet, all Nolan’s toiletries lined up with precision, not a thing out of place. There was a stack of spare toothbrushes, so Elliot grabbed one. He dried off, brushed his teeth, then dressed quickly. Nolan’s running pants were a bit large but he was able to tug the drawstring tight around his waist. He slipped the tee shirt on then made his way to the kitchen.
Trying to be quiet, he searched Nolan’s cabinets and commenced making a pot of coffee. The window over the sink showed a view of the lake, hazy sunlight glittering on the surface. Across the basin he saw morning joggers and dog walkers, the peak of JT’s pub, and at the far end of the curve, the boats of Christian’s marina. Mist rose off the green mountains that edged the lake beyond the village. My God. I barged in on Nolan last night and made him fuck my brains out.
Elliot was a bit anxious about how Nolan would react to him when he woke up. Despite having a righteous buzz when he showed up at the house, Elliot’s memory was fully intact, and he recalled Nolan’s protests before he’d given into his passion. Elliot grinned as he got cream out of the fridge, unable to deny the tiny thrill that ran through him knowing Nolan hadn’t been able to resist him despite his better judgement.
Okay, so it wasn’t the smoothest or most dignified of seductions. It was raw, messy, and definitely not Elliot’s finest moment. But feeling Nolan lose control while he was buried deep inside him, seeing the awe and arousal in his brown eyes…there was no way Elliot could bring himself to regret a single moment of it. He felt high, his heart lighter. The sunshine coming through the window warm and brilliant. Even the view of the village seemed somehow different. Better.
He was getting mugs out of the cabinet when Nolan’s distinct footsteps came down the hallway. He heard Nolan step into the kitchen then stop. Elliot opened a drawer to search for a spoon, his back still to Nolan, who was silent, hesitating just inside the kitchen doorway.
Elliot sighed. “My God. I can actually hear you worrying. Stop.” He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at Nolan.
Nolan’s cautious expression turned to a grin, his sleepy eyes crinkling at the corners as he approached. In a tee shirt and soft blue lounge pants, he hopped up on the counter next to Elliot, dangling his legs as he watched him. “What time is it?”
“Early.” Elliot glanced his way as he poured the coffee. “That’s some fabulous camouflage you’re wearing.”
Nolan chuckled and rubbed his face. “Yeah. Need a shower badly. Just wanted to see what you were doing.”
“I made coffee but forgot you’re trying to be anti-sugar. Didn’t remember until I’d rummaged through all your cabinets and didn’t find any.”
Nolan hopped off the counter and headed to the other side of the kitchen. “You’re in luck. Still keep some for emergencies.” He dug through a drawer then returned to Elliot, placing a half-bag of sugar down beside the coffee pot.
“Oh great, thanks.” Elliot added some sugar to his own mug then glanced at Nolan, brows raised.
Nolan shrugged. “What the hell. Give me one spoonful.”
“Living dangerously,” Elliot said as he added sugar to Nolan’s coffee. He topped both cups off with cream, stirred, then handed one to Nolan.
“Thanks.” Nolan took a sip then laughed. “Remember when Ogden first started coming to the village and he’d rent that lake house?”
Elliot smiled and leaned against the counter with his mug. “Yeah. Got the bright idea to have us over for a breakfast meeting then Christian dropped a full bag of sugar on the kitchen floor.”
Nolan’s shoulders shook as he laughed. “The fucking thing just exploded. Sugar went everywhere, covering the entire floor, and Ogden just stood there with this look on his face.”
“Then I tried to clean it up,” Elliot said. “Broke the vacuum, and when I tried to fix it more sugar came pouring out onto the floor.”
“That’s right.” Nolan chuckled. “Sugar with all this gross dirt mixed in. I thought Ogden was gonna pop a blood vessel. He was just staring at us like…these are the people I’m trusting with global security secrets?”
“Yeah. That was the last time he ever stayed in the village, been using the hotel back in the main town ever since.”
Nolan sighed and scratched his head, brushing his messy hair out of his face. “Be nice if the fucker decided to check in some time soon.”
“Agreed. We usually feel blessed when we don’t hear from him. But an update would be nice, particularly since he sent us a babysitter.”
“Yeah, Brett’s a weird fucker. Damn, he sure can drink though.”
Elliot groaned into his mug. “Tell me about it.”
Nolan smiled. “How are you feeling?”
“Not too bad actually. Pounded some water when I got up.”
Nolan nodded and hung his head.
“Can we hang out today?”
Looking quickly up, Nolan’s sleepy eyes widened. “Yeah. I mean, if you don’t have anything else going on.”
Elliot shrugged. “Phone’s been quiet. Got the station covered. Gonna have to check online stuff but so far so good.” He drained his coffee then turned and put the mug in the sink.
Nolan’s warm body moved in behind Elliot, arms slipping around his waist. Elliot sighed and leaned back into him, amazed at how natural it felt, how fucking good. Nolan’s nose nuzzled behind Elliot’s ear.
“Do you have work to do today?” Elliot asked softly.
“Nah. Been working on a project but it can wait. It requires serious brainwork and I don’t have much of a brain today.”
Elliot turned in Nolan’s arms and faced him. He held onto Nolan’s hips. “What’s the project?”
“Been thinking about how the Whites’ tech screws with all of ours. Wondering if it’s some shield or signal they use. And wondering if submerging a type of sensor in the lake would get different results. Like maybe if it’s under water their blocking mechanisms will have less effect.”
“Ogden got you on this?”
“Yeah. He’s got boner for the idea of being able to intercept communications from the base to their ships.”
“It’s not like he’d understand anything he’d hear.”
Nolan suddenly pulled Elliot in and hugged him. Elliot melted into him, slipping his arms around his back. Nolan hugged him tighter. “Elliot,” he said, his voice choked with emotion.
Elliot let out a breath and squeezed Nolan hard. “I know.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Go shower. I’ll still be here.”
“Okay.”
Nolan released him with a smile, then ambled out of the kitchen. Elliot watched him disappear down the hallway. His stomach fluttered with happiness. They already knew how to be friends. They knew how to be colleagues. And after last night, they’d sure as hell figured out how to be lovers—though Elliot was hoping for a second chance to do it right.
Now they had to learn how to be all of those things at the same time. And Elliot was damn well going to do his best to make sure it worked, because he wanted it. He’d known the moment he’d seen Nolan at the bar last night. And when he’d pushed aside his doubts and made the drunken decision to run over and confess his feelings, Nolan had been raw and open and vulnerable.
“…I’ve loved you for a thousand years, Elliot.”
But Elliot had been the pursuer this time. He was the one who’d ignited the flame. He started it. Even told Nolan he loved him, which he’d never done in his life, even on a friendship level. But of course he’d always loved Nolan, just like he loved all his friends. This was why he’d known, even at that first tingle of physical attraction, that if they ever crossed that boundary it wouldn’t be casual—would go straight to serious business. H
ow could it not? How could you be just friends with benefits with someone you’d been so connected with for so long?
He’d feared this, the intensity of getting intimately involved with his best friend. Yet somehow, he didn’t regret a thing, not even telling Nolan he loved him in the throes of passion. The challenge now would be putting his money where his mouth was, and not slipping back into cynical old habits.
Elliot would have to work to push aside his anxiety and inherent caution about letting someone in, letting go of his defensive instincts. They’d always protected him, his snide humor acting as a shield when he was growing up. Bullies tried to target him because he was different, because he was gay, because he was smarter than everyone else and that made him a threat. Because they thought he was weird and couldn’t figure him out. His humor and ‘I don’t give a fuck what you think’ attitude worked in his favor, transforming him from the ‘weird kid’ to the funny kid who made people laugh even when he said mean things right to their faces.
The behavior had become part of his personality, coded into his being. It had continued to work in his favor when he became a litigator and skillfully outwitting people was part of the job. But now he needed to allow his flippancy and exterior shields to slip away when he was with Nolan. He could not hurt this man. He wouldn’t. Nolan had tried to ease back and stop pushing after their argument outside the pub two days ago, likely because he thought that’s what Elliot wanted. Shit, Elliot thought that’s what he wanted. But he’d been so wrong.
Either way, Nolan had tried to close himself off. But Elliot was the one who’d gone in with a machete last night and ripped Nolan wide open again. So however tough Nolan was, and despite the casual comfort of their morning banter, Elliot knew he held Nolan’s heart in his hands. He’d been the one to charge in and take it, so he’d better make damn sure he wouldn’t be the one to break it.
