Finding Absolution (9 page)

Van stuck out his tongue and Jon placed the candy in the centre of it. Van grinned as the sugar dissolved. He moved down on the mattress until he was lying with his head on a pillow. “What else do you do in the winter?”

“Nothing really. Other than making sure we have plenty of firewood on hand and clearing the driveway, there isn’t much to do outside. So, Grandpa and I catch up on movies and play a lot of cards.” Jon sat up and turned around to face Van’s cock. He dug into the bag again and came out with a good handful of candy.

“What’re you doing?” Van asked, pleased with his view of Jon’s ass.

“Playing,” Jon answered, wrapping floss around Van’s dick.

“Then scoot back some more so I can play, too.” Van followed Jon’s lead and pulled off a hunk of the candy. He plugged Jon’s hole with a small wad of spun sugar. Before leaning in to eat the treat, he reached for his phone on the bedside table.

Jon stopped licking the candy from Van’s cock. “What’re you up to now?”

“Jerk-off material,” Van said, snapping several pictures.

“No fair. I don’t have one of those.”

Van handed the phone to Jon. “Take what you want, and I’ll email them to you.”

As Van’s cock starred in Jon’s X-rated photo shoot, Van began to nibble the candy stuck between the cheeks of Jon’s ass. “This tastes so much better than eating it off a cardboard cone,” he declared.

“Mmm-hmm,” Jon agreed, sucking the cotton candy off Van’s hardening cock.

Never in his life had Van pictured himself eating cotton candy out of someone’s ass, but then Jon made him want to do all kinds of things he’d never thought of before. Although he’d wanted a commitment from Blain, he’d never really pictured the two of them settling down together like an old married couple, but that was exactly what he wanted with Jon.

So why the fuck am I leaving?
It wasn’t like he had to work, and he’d known before leaving home that Kai didn’t really need him anymore. Van licked Jon’s hole clean before slapping him playfully on the ass. “Turn around.”

“Huh?” Jon released Van’s cock and glanced over his shoulder. “You don’t like it?”

Van’s cock had become hard as steel, so the question was rather redundant. “I want inside you,” he explained.

Jon climbed off and reached for a condom. “You’re still pretty sticky, so I’m not sure how well this is going to roll on.”

“Then leave it off if you want,” Van replied. “I’ve never fucked without one, and I get tested regularly.”

Jon stared down at the opened condom in his hands. “Same here. I always told myself that I’d save that for
the one
.” He looked up at Van. “Are you the one?”

Although Van had yet to declare his love, he knew in his heart that Jon was definitely the one he’d always hoped to find. “I’d like to be.”

Jon tossed the condom aside and dripped lube directly onto Van’s cock. “I’d like that, too. I think it’ll be easier for me when we’re apart if I know I’m not going to lose you to someone else.”

“You don’t ever have to worry about me finding someone else.” Van pulled Jon into a kiss. He went through the remaining season’s schedule and what he’d need to take care of at home in order to relocate to Wyoming in the near future. Breaking the kiss, he repositioned Jon. When his cock slid easily inside, he groaned at the added sensation of skin to skin. He was grateful he hadn’t known the difference before now. “I have to finish the season with Kai, but when I come back in December, I’d like to stay. I can rent a place nearby if you think that would be best, but I know I won’t want to leave you again.”

Jon braced his hands on the mattress above Van’s shoulders, giving Van room to fuck in and out of his ass. “I love you, and I want you with me, but I see the look on your face when you talk about home. I can’t ask you to give that up to move to Wyoming.”

“You didn’t ask.” Van squeezed Jon’s ass as he continued to fuck. “And I’ve come to the realisation that home won’t be home anymore if you’re not there.” Van gathered Jon against his chest and rolled them until he was on top.

Jon hooked his legs together at the ankles and moved them higher around Van’s back. “I want you to stay with me at the farm, but I’ll have to discuss it with Grandpa first. He seems awfully taken with you, but I’m not sure how far that extends.”

Van began to fuck Jon harder and faster, dislodging Jon’s legs. He paused for only a moment to sit up. He braced Jon’s feet against his shoulders before resuming his earlier pace. “I’ll get a room for a while when I come back. Better to see how things go with Bill rather than risk him running me off with a shotgun.” He looked to where they were joined together and sighed. “My cock looks good in your ass.”

Jon reached for his dick and cried out as he erupted in heavy ropes of cum. “Damn, you say the sexiest things,” he panted as he rode out his climax.

“Feed it to me,” Van instructed. He was close to losing it, but he wanted the taste of Jon on his tongue when he did.

Jon covered his fingers in cum before lifting them to Van’s mouth. Slowly and methodically, Van licked Jon’s fingers clean as he shot his seed inside Jon for the first time. The feel of his cock sliding back and forth through the slippery cum that filled Jon’s ass was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. He only hoped to enjoy the feeling many more times over the next forty or fifty years.

* * * *

“Where’s Jon?” Kai asked when Van joined him and Quade for breakfast.

“He decided to run home and check on his grandpa before the parade.” Although it was the truth, it was only one of the reasons Jon had left Van alone to face Kai and Quade. Van turned his coffee cup over when the server came by to take his order. “I’ll just have the buffet,” he told her.

“Help yourself,” she replied after pouring coffee into Van’s cup.

“Be right back.” Van took his time at the buffet in an attempt to put off the needed conversation as long as possible. He was, without a doubt, making the right decision, but he also knew the transition wouldn’t be without bumps.

Returning to the table, Van passed Quade. “Seconds?” Van questioned.

“More bacon,” Quade declared. “Kai only lets me eat it when we’re on vacation.”

Van set his plate on the table. “Do you want anything while I’m up?”

“No, thanks.” Kai wiped his mouth on his napkin. “So you cut out of the dance pretty early last night. Did something happen?”

“Not really. We saw Guy, but he was occupied with a set of twins. We just decided to enjoy our first full night together back here.”

Kai pushed his empty plate away and rested his forearms on the table. “Please tell me you’re still planning to come to the picnic today? Quade’ll be heartbroken if you don’t. You should’ve heard him talking about you to his friends all week. They all want to meet you, and Trick told me to tell you that he’s bringing a special cooker so he can prepare that mess of corn you brought him yesterday.”

“We’ll be there.” At least Van hoped they would. It would depend on how Kai took the news that Van was about to spill. “I don’t think I have to tell you how much Jon’s grown to mean to me,” he began.

“No, it’s obvious to anyone around the two of you,” Kai replied.

“Well, I think I’m going to retire from the coaching world after this season, and move here to help Jon on the farm.” Van held his breath, waiting for Kai’s response.

Kai didn’t say anything until Quade came back to the table. The moment Quade sat down, Kai held out his hand. “You owe me a hundred bucks.”

Quade’s gaze snapped to Van. “You’re staying?”

Van couldn’t believe the two of them had bet on whether or not he’d fall in love and decide to give up his life in Oahu. “You assholes.”

Kai grinned. “Don’t be mad at me. Quade’s the one who said you’d go back to Oahu.”

“Liar,” Quade accused. “I said he’d go back to Oahu and think about it for a while before realising he’d made a huge mistake by leaving.”

Van held out his hand. “Well, you’re both wrong, so how ’bout you both pay up. I know exactly what I want and that’s to stay, but first I’m going to finish the season and get things squared away at home. I told Jon I’d be back here to stay in December.”

Kai sighed and leant back in his chair. He gathered his hair into a ponytail at the nape of his neck before crossing his arms. “As much as I still need you, I’m happy for you.”

“You don’t need me,” Van clarified. “You haven’t for a long time, but I needed you too much to tell you that.”

Kai’s eyes filled with concern. “Are you having financial problems? You should’ve told me.”

Van shook his head. “I still have every dime you’ve paid me in a savings account. I didn’t start working with you for the money. I did it because being around you reminded me of why I fell in love with surfing in the first place. After Blain died, I didn’t go near the ocean for years, but that all changed the day I saw you ride in your first competition.” Although Kai wasn’t quite young enough to be Van’s son, Van thought of him with all the pride and affection a father would have.

Van stood and leaned over the table far enough to give Kai a kiss on the forehead. “I’ve taught you everything I know, and you’ve taken those lessons and perfected them like only you could do.”

“Are you selling your house?” Quade asked.

Van narrowed his eyes. Quade had wanted Van’s piece of property since he’d first seen it. “No. Dad made me promise before he died that I’d sell a kidney before I sold that house.” He scratched his jaw. “I’d never bring this up in front of Jon, but after his grandpa passes away, I’m hoping he’ll sell the farm and move with me back to Oahu.”

“What if he refuses?” Kai asked.

“Then we’ll have to work something out, because, either way, I want to be with him.” Van shovelled several bites of scrambled eggs into his mouth while he could. To say that he was scared at the upcoming changes in his life would be a grave understatement. While he enjoyed helping Jon on the farm, he had no idea how he’d feel once it became his full-time occupation.

“Are you riding down to the parade with us?” Quade asked.

“Not sure. What time are you leaving?”

Quade looked at his watch. “Twenty minutes. You have to get there early if you want a good spot.”

“Jon’ll be at least another forty-five minutes or so. You’d better go without us. Jon and I will take our chances with a spot once we get there. What area will you be in? We’ll look for you.”

Quade looked at Van like he was crazy. “We’ll be under one of the big shade trees in front of City Hall.”

“Okay.” Van hadn’t realised there was some kind of unspoken rule that an ex-mayor was supposed to watch a parade from City Hall.

Kai stood. “You ready? I’d like to run back upstairs before we leave.”

Quade gestured to the three pieces of bacon still on his plate.

“Leave them,” Kai instructed.

“Like hell.” Quade picked up the bacon and popped one full piece into his mouth as he stood. “See you later,” he mumbled as he walked off.

Van had just gone back to his breakfast when Quade returned. “Don’t even look at my bacon,” Van warned.

“Guy’s here. He’s at the front desk yelling at Chad. Thought you should know.” Before leaving, Quade reached down and stole a piece of Van’s bacon.

After hearing Guy’s name, Van didn’t give a shit about the bacon. He wiped his mouth and finished his coffee before going in search of Guy. “Can you bill my breakfast to my room, number four eighteen.” He handed a passing server a five-dollar bill. “Tip,” he clarified.

Quade had been right. Guy was in the hotel manager’s face. Chad, for his part, didn’t seem fazed by their size difference or by the booming voice directed his way.

“Excuse me,” Van said, cutting Guy off.

Guy stared blankly at Van. It was obvious the athlete didn’t recognise him. Not one to slink away from an awkward situation, Van held out his hand. “I’m Van Duggins, the man who kept you from raping Jon Porter a few nights ago.”

Chad gasped and moved to put the front counter between them.

“Excuse me?” Guy sounded affronted at the accusation.

Van glanced at Chad before taking a step closer to Guy. “If you don’t remember what you did and what you almost did, you need some serious help.”

Guy stared at Van. “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.” He glanced at his hand before holding it up. “Does it have something to do with this?”

Van looked at the yellow, bruised knuckles of Guy’s right hand. “A friend of mine has similar bruises on his jaw, and I gotta be honest, I tried to get him to file charges. Fortunately for you, he didn’t want to do anything to harm your reputation.”

Guy shoved his hands in his pockets. “Tell your friend I’m sorry. I’ve been drinking a little too much lately, and sometimes it gets away from me.”

Van shook his head. Guy’s eyes were bloodshot, indicating yet another hangover. Fury ripped through him. “I don’t think you’re sorry at all.” He stabbed his finger towards the front door. “Let’s take this outside unless you want everyone in this lobby to know exactly how big a piece of shit you really are.”

Van left the hotel without looking back. He didn’t care that Guy owned the lodge or that he had gold medals hanging in a trophy case somewhere. The fact that Guy couldn’t remember almost raping someone was inexcusable.

“Look, it sounds like I crossed the line, and I’ve apologised for that, but I don’t even know you,” Guy argued, following behind Van.

Van waited until they were alone before turning to face Guy. “You’re right, you don’t know me, but pay attention to what I’m about to say.”

“Fuck you.” Guy turned back towards the lodge.

Van moved to block Guy’s path. “You spent years training. You gave up parties with your friends, dances and probably graduation in order to excel in a sport that you were damned gifted at, and somewhere along the line, you lost a sense of the human being you once were. You became the superstar that fans and journalists made you out to be, but the problem with that is there’s always someone younger biting at your heels. I don’t know the circumstances surrounding your retirement, but I know in your heart that when you gave up skiing, you gave up who you thought you were. Now you’re floundering, trying to figure out your place in life. Unfortunately, you’ve replaced the discipline you used to live by with alcohol and sex.”