Hide Out (10 page)

“Anyway…” Trevor stretched out the word with exaggerated patience. “I finally go in again early on a Sunday morning. The place is empty except for the barista and the asshole who tried to scald me to death the last time I was in. So he sees me and gets up.”

“He was just glaring at me like he wanted to rip my face off,” Pete added, getting into the spirit of things.

“I
did
want to rip your face off,” Trevor told him, “and then feed it to the sharks. That
hurt
.”

Okay, now he’s getting a little carried away.
Restraining an eye roll, Pete just put on his most sympathetic face. “Poor baby.”

“Exactly,” Trevor said, nodding. “So he walks over and says he feels so bad about what happened he’d like to buy me a coffee. I was still pissed but how could I turn down free coffee?” Tugging his hand free, he ran a finger down Pete’s face. “Especially after he smiled at me.”

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“Ahh,” Michelle sighed. She actually looked a little misty-eyed. “But how did you know when Joey would be coming in?”

“I went every day,” Pete improvised. “I sat there for hours, waiting for him. I’ve never drunk so much coffee. You should’ve heard how fast I was talking.” He looked at Trevor, who was watching him a little warily. “I knew I had to see him again though. Just one look and I knew…”

The wariness in Trevor’s eyes was shifting to heat. Pete stared at him, caught. He couldn’t help leaning in, moving closer, until—

“That is the sweetest story I’ve ever heard!” Michelle announced, breaking the spell. Pete started and then sat back, his heart beating as fast as if he really
had
drunk all that coffee from the made-up tale. He gave Michelle a tight smile, not daring to look at Trevor.

“Greg!” Michelle called across the yardful of neighbors to where her husband seemed deep in an intense discussion with Terrance. “Come over here! You need to hear this story.” Greg looked over as Terrance scowled at them and stormed off.

“Actually,” Pete said, pushing to his feet, “we should get going.” It probably wouldn’t be wise to have the closeted asshole who’d just hit on his pretend boyfriend come over to hear their fictional “how we met” tale.

“Really?” Trevor’s voice was full of hope as he surged to his feet. He nodded, hiding a smile. “Lots of work to do on the house tomorrow.”

“Oh that’s too bad,” Michelle said. “Well, it was nice meeting you both. Joey, don’t forget my sketches.”

“Of course not.” Trevor’s smile had a sickly edge to it. Pete cocked a curious eyebrow at him.

They found Marsha and thanked her before calling a general goodbye as they escaped into their own backyard. As the kitchen door swung shut behind them, the two men stared at each other.

“Holy fuck,” Trevor finally breathed. “What the hell was that…hell?”

“Seriously.” Turning toward the living room, Pete switched on one of the cheap floor lamps they’d picked up. He was immensely grateful they’d taken the time to install the window coverings earlier that afternoon. Now they could relax without worrying what pantomime their neighbors could see.

Dropping into one of the camp chairs, he tilted his head back and wished for a couch. “I’m going to be so grateful for the furniture once we get some,” he sighed.

“Definitely.” Trevor dropped down in the chair next to him. They sat in silence for several minutes.

“Nice story,” Pete said without opening his eyes, breaking the quiet peace of the room.

“Thanks,” Trevor grunted.

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Katie Allen

They didn’t speak for another few minutes. There was a rustle of nylon and Pete opened one eye. Trevor had shifted in his chair so he could look at him.

“I didn’t mean it,” Trevor said.

“Mean what?” he asked, although Pete had a pretty good idea what he was talking about.

Trevor scowled. “What I said earlier, about you touching me when I didn’t want you to. I just said that because I knew it would piss you off.”

It was Pete’s turn to frown. “Why’d you want to piss me off?”

“Dunno. Guess I was just…” He waved a dismissive hand.

“What?”

“It’s stupid.”

“I don’t care,” Pete told him. “Tell me anyway.”

Trevor sighed. “It’s your job to protect me. I
know
that. I guess I was hoping this was more than you just doing your duty. I don’t…” He trailed off, staring at the toe of his shoe.

Pete was silent, waiting.

“I’ve been in that spot before and I don’t want to be there with you.” Trevor slouched lower in his chair, repeating softly, “Not you.”

His eyebrows twisting together in confusion, Pete asked, “What spot?”

“Fuck,” Trevor muttered. “You just won’t let it go, will you?”

“No. What spot?”

His head whipped around and Trevor glared at him fiercely. “The one where I like you a whole lot more than you like me. The one where you have fun and then walk away, leaving me empty. That fucking spot, okay?” Ripping his gaze away, Trevor stared at the wall, his jaw set.

Pete pushed out of his chair, sinking onto his knees next to Trevor. Trevor wouldn’t look at him. “Hey,” Pete said. “I’d never leave you empty.”

“Don’t say that,” Trevor snapped. His fists were balled, his knuckles whitening.

“Why not?” Pete’s voice was gentle as his hands closed over those tense fists.

“Because,” his voice broke on the word and Trevor flushed, “you can’t just say shit like that.”

“But it’s t-true.”
Shit. Not again.
He took a breath. “You’re not just a job to me.”

Trevor’s eyes caught his for a second and then darted away. He didn’t say anything, as if he were waiting for something, for Pete to say something else or do something or… Pete’s mind went blank with panic.

“Oh hell,” he sighed. “I suck at this kind of thing.”

“What kind of thing?”

“Talking.” Pete grimaced. “You know, about emotions and shit.”

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Trevor laughed. “I’m not much good at it either.”

“How about,” Pete’s stomach was filled with dancing butterflies but he tried to ignore them and fake some confidence, “I show you instead?” When Trevor’s eyes, so blue and so hungry, connected with his, Pete’s skin went hot. As desperate as he was for Trevor, though, he still waited for an answer.

“Well?” Trevor growled. “What’s the problem?”

“Is this what you want?” Pete asked him.

“What do you think?” he grumbled, rolling his eyes.

“Then say it.” Pushing to his feet, Pete felt desire and confidence flooding back as Trevor stared up at him, cockiness stripped away and only raw, vulnerable need remaining. Pete stepped closer, pushing Trevor’s knees apart so he could stand between them and loom over the other man.

“Say what?” Although Trevor’s voice was raspy, a trace of resistance remained. Despite that, Pete could almost taste Trevor’s capitulation. Just one more nudge… He flipped open the button on his jeans and watched Trevor’s eyes flare with lust. Pete smiled.

“Five,” Pete said, “four…three…tw—”

“Yes!” Trevor burst out.

Widening his stance to push Trevor’s knees farther apart, Pete slowly lowered his zipper, easing it down over the bulge of his growing erection. “Yes, what?”

“Yes, I want this,” Trevor practically snarled, his gaze fixed on Pete’s crotch.

“You want what?” Pete purred, hooking his thumbs in his loosened waistline and easing his jeans over his hips. As he waited for Trevor’s answer, he rubbed the soft cotton of his boxer briefs over his swiftly hardening cock. When Trevor reached toward the fabric-guarded bulge in front of him, Pete grabbed his wrist and held him off.

“Bastard!” Trevor hissed, his eyes narrowing. “Quit teasing.”

“Say it,” Pete ordered, unmoved by the minor temper tantrum. He was loving this, the power and control over this strong, gorgeous man. They locked eyes in a battle of wills. Pete didn’t blink, keeping his face implacable and hiding his worry that Trevor wouldn’t say it, that he’d decide it wasn’t worth it and walk away.

“Fuck me,” Trevor finally ground out, dropping his gaze. “Please.”

The surge of desire hit Pete hard, so intensely and suddenly, his knees went soft and he had to brace his legs to stay upright. He yanked his boxer briefs down around his thighs, freeing his rigid erection. Trevor stared, his tongue peeking out to touch his bottom lip and leave it glistening.

Biting back a groan, Pete had to take several deep breaths before he could even speak. “Suck it,” he rasped, and Trevor was on his knees, knocking back the camp chair on his way.

There was no hesitation. Trevor swallowed Pete’s cock to the back of his throat as if he were starving for it. Unable to control himself, Pete groaned, overwhelmed by the 59

Katie Allen

heat and the wetness and the pulling suction. He slid his fingers over Trevor’s hair, tugging loose the ponytail holder at the base of his skull. The long blond strands fell free, slipping forward to brush against Pete’s skin with each raising and lowering of Trevor’s head on his cock.

Burrowing his fingers through those teasing strands, Pete cupped the other man’s skull with his hands. Trevor went still beneath him as if waiting for direction. That obedient pause sent blood thundering in his ears and his hips nudged forward, burying his cock deeper into Trevor’s throat. He took it eagerly, swallowing so his throat massaged the tip.

Pete gritted his teeth to hold back a whimper. He’d never felt anything so amazing. Tightening his fingers, he held Trevor’s head still as he retreated and advanced, his hips thrusting forward to bury his cock into the hot, welcoming mouth and pulling back so Trevor’s lips tightened around just the head as his tongue lapped at the slit.

“Enough!” Pete pulled free, wanting nothing more than to fuck Trevor’s mouth until he came, but knowing he wanted this to be more than a mostly dressed, twominute blowjob. He wanted to feel Trevor’s skin against his, to taste his cock and his balls and his ass, to experience the squeeze of Trevor’s body around his erection. He wanted
more
. That should have scared Pete, but he was too desperate and hungry and hard to feel anything but need.

Trevor had pulled back when ordered and, still kneeling, waited for Pete’s next command.

“Get up,” Pete barked, unable to do anything about the rough edge in his voice. He was just happy he was able to talk. When Trevor scrambled to his feet, Pete told him,

“Strip.”

“Yes sir,” Trevor snapped back with a smirk. He seemed to be finding his balance once again after losing it during the stare-down earlier. Flicking the buttons free one by one, Trevor paused to run his finger down the line where his chest met the edge of his opened shirt.

He’s definitely getting more comfortable,
Pete thought, his gaze following the path of Trevor’s finger as it tucked beneath the button on his jeans.
Maybe too comfortable.

“Stop,” Pete ordered, and Trevor went still, wariness sharpening his expression. Shoving his jeans and underwear down his legs, Pete hurried to undress, stripping with none of the teasing technique Trevor had shown. Despite that, Trevor watched with hungry eyes, still not moving except for the expansion of his chest as he sucked in air. When he was naked, Pete moved behind Trevor. He stood there for a moment, feeling the tension radiating off the man, loving the way it made his own excitement build. Lifting Trevor’s hair out of the way, Pete kissed the nape of his neck. A shudder ran through Trevor’s body and he tipped his head forward, silently asking for more. Pete was happy to oblige, kissing and nibbling his way down the back of Trevor’s neck until his shirt collar stopped his progress. Reaching around with both hands, Pete caught the open edges of Trevor’s shirt and slid it over his shoulders and down his 60

Hide Out

arms, trailing his knuckles against the skin he exposed. When the shirt fell free, Pete didn’t drop it but twisted the material until it turned into a thick rope. With his mouth close to Trevor’s ear, he growled, “Hands behind your back.”

Trevor caught his breath and let it out in a soft groan. His heart beating furiously, Pete waited to see if the other man was game. When Trevor’s hands slowly moved to the small of his back, Pete couldn’t restrain a triumphant grin. He wrapped the shirt around Trevor’s wrists and tied the ends in a bulky knot. Pete eyed his work critically. It wouldn’t have held a true prisoner but it worked just fine for his compliant captive.

Circling his arms around Trevor’s waist, Pete unbuttoned his jeans and then eased the zipper down. He worked the other man’s jeans and underwear over his hips and down his legs, crouching to free his feet from his shoes and socks. Trevor stepped free of the fabric crumpled around his ankles and stood naked and gorgeous, looking ten feet tall from Pete’s crouched position.

As he stood up, Pete trailed his hands up Trevor’s calves, behind his knees and along the backs of his thighs, feeling the solid columns of his legs beneath lightly furred skin. When he cupped the firm ass cheeks, Pete felt Trevor shudder under his touch. He squeezed his two handfuls of hard muscle, drawing a groan from Trevor. Reluctantly releasing Trevor’s tempting ass, Pete swept aside the silky fall of hair so he could lick the other man’s bent neck. He scraped his teeth over the muscle sloping down to Trevor’s shoulder, loving the size and the strength of him, especially as he stood bound in front of him. Pete could do whatever he wanted with this muscled, beautiful ideal of a man.

Wrapping his arms around Trevor’s chest, he played with his nipples. Trevor pushed his ass back, grinding against the stiff cock behind him. Pete stilled his hips with a gentle hand.

“Stay right here,” he ordered, unable to resist a final pinch of Trevor’s erect nipples. Trevor grunted, jerking under the sharp squeeze.

“Again,” Trevor demanded.

“Giving orders?” Pete asked silkily. “I should leave you here just like this all night for that.” He had no intention of carrying out his threat—it would punish him as much as Trevor.

“No sir,” Trevor backtracked. “Sorry. Please do that again, sir.”

“This?” The pinch was even harder this time but Trevor surged beneath the rough touch.