Last Chance (22 page)

Stu stepped out without saying a word, dried off, and wrapped the towel around his waist. Aric grabbed a towel from the rack and walked to the living area. The curtains were open, bathing the loft in sunlight. He kicked away his crumpled jeans piled on the floor. Feeling a hand clasp his shoulder, he turned around to see Stu's concerned face.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out.”

“Yeah, well, I'm not good at relinquishing control.”

Stu rubbed his chin. “Look, if you don't want to…”

“It's just…”

“Aric, I
am
falling for you. That makes all the difference.”

Aric sank onto the edge of the bed and gripped the covers. Every part of him tingled.

Love.

The word scared the hell out of him. But so much had happened in such a short time.

Stu took a few steps forward, closing in. “Cor's always complained about my impulsive nature, but—”

“I like you because of it.”

Stu's eyes took on a feline quality, his body poised to pounce, but then his lips quirked into his usual sunny smile. “Good. Like is a start.”

Aric stood and dropped his towel. He embraced Stu and rested his cheek on his chest. His scent surrounded him in its sultry fragrance. Aric moved his hands in a lazy rhythm up and down that hard chest. Their cocks meshed perfectly. He already knew his lover's taste, smell, touch.

With a husky voice, he spoke the truth. “I trust you with my life. Love me like you want.”

Stu scooped Aric into his arms and let out a gleeful laugh as he tossed him onto the bed. Before joining him, he rummaged through the dresser drawer and found what he needed. He unscrewed the cap from the lube and placed the tube on the bed; then he picked up the condom and handed it to Aric. “Put it on me.”

That sly grin stoked Aric's desire once again, and he grabbed the condom from Stu's hand. There was something extremely sexy about sliding a condom onto a lover's ready and willing dick.

Once in place, Aric sprawled on his back, knees bent, thighs spread apart. Confidence shone on Stu's face as he knelt between Aric's legs. Stu squeezed out the lube and moistened his fingers, all the while smiling that mischievous grin. As Aric watched those fingers being slowly, deliberately coated, his heart beat fast and furious in anticipation. Stu knew how to drive him crazy. He grabbed the headboard rails, never turning away from his lover's heated gaze.

“Fuck me.” His growl came out as more of a groan.

Stu tsk-tsked.
“So impatient.”

Aric's dick twitched at the feather touch of fingers running down its length. He shivered. This was going to be a slow, simmering fuck. Christ. He wanted more; he wanted that hot mouth closed around his shaft. Instead the strong hand began to rhythmically stroke his cock. Fingers cupped his balls, the touch almost sending him through the roof. God, he was losing it before Stu even got his dick up his ass.

Stu eased up and smiled. He kissed Aric's hairline, then moved down to his groin and back up to his belly button, where he licked the rim and teased his tongue inside.

Aric squirmed under Stu's mouth and hands. Strands of hair tickled his skin as fiery licks peppered his flesh wherever Stu's tongue roamed. Then that wily tongue moved downward and traced the slit of his cock, his mouth oh so close to taking it completely.

Aric caught a ragged breath that came out a long, impatient moan. “I want you inside me. No more of your fucking teasing.” Stretched out with his legs spread, his submissive posture begged for a cock up his ass. Stu's cock.

Stu pressed his body down on him, covering him in delicious warmth. He scarcely remembered to breathe.

Stu's mouth tickled his ear. “I'm a fast learner, and I paid attention. I'll make you feel good.” Then he unexpectedly slipped a moist finger into Aric's hole.

Aric's muscles tightened at first, but Stu had spoken the truth when he'd said he learned fast. The finger worked his ass with great care, proving he was an A student when it came to sex. Who would have thought this jock would take to fucking a guy as expertly as he caught a quarterback pass?

Stu's eyes shone a shock of blue so bright, it caught Aric's breath.

“You're unbelievably tight.” Stu smiled.

“You talk too much.” But secretly, Stu's sex talk drove up Aric's heat level.

Aric clenched in reaction to another finger being pushed inside his passage. Both fingers went deeper into his moist hole. The thickness was uncomfortable, and the remembrance of that awful night with Johan flickered across his mind. No, Stu wasn't Johan. Stu must have sensed his reluctance, because he paused, waiting.

“Keep going.”

A quick kiss to his earlobe and then a whisper brushed his ear. “Relax, babe. I have you; you're safe with me.”

Aric loosened his grip on the headboard enough for his body to relax as much as it could, considering he had two fingers up his ass. “Go on. I want you.” He lifted his head for a kiss.

Stu met him halfway, cupping his hand behind Aric's neck. The kiss was deep and passionate, and as Stu's fingers kept massaging his passage, the pain soon gave way to intense pleasure, causing staccato moans to ripple from deep in Aric's chest. Breaking the kiss, he stole a glance at the desire brightening Stu's eyes.

Stu balanced himself with one hand on the bed, near Aric's hip. His fingers curled inside Aric and hit his prostate. Aric bucked, and his mouth tensed in sweet pain. Fever swept through his body. One more of Stu's fingers eased its way up into his ass, fully possessing him. He no longer would walk his path alone.

Then Stu slowly removed his fingers and grabbed Aric's dick; he pumped it with hard, greedy strokes. Aric gripped the headboard rails tighter, his body jerking without grace or dignity. Stu lifted his ass slightly and positioned the tip of his cock at the well-massaged entrance. Without thinking, Aric thrust toward it. Christ, Stu was strong—on his knees, one hand lifting Aric's ass, the other hand stroking him as his own cock poised for entry.

Then he felt the thick length stretch his ass. His hips jutted forward and met it greedily, but Stu took his time. Aric didn't want it slow and easy. His blood pounded in his veins; his body was primed for complete submission.

Stu thrust deep and hard and was inside him—completely. His hand slipped from Aric's ass and onto the bed. Aric used his strength to meet the driving force, setting a rhythm between them. Exhilarated, he surrendered, both inside and out. He groaned freely, not caring if neighbors heard his pleasure. Powerful thrusts hit his prostate again and again. He took in Stu, his hair now damp with sweat, uncontrollable curls brushing his pale brows. Stu's bicep strained from his weight as he held himself up with only one hand. The other was busy pumping Aric's dick. His endurance kept up the forceful, rhythmic pounding into Aric's ass.

The sounds of their groans mingling together caused a thousand sensations to ride over Aric. Their scents merged as their bodies became slick with sweat and precum. Aric melted and reached for Stu's neck. He hung on tight, the feel of Stu's body on him—and in him—setting him free.

He rode Stu's cock with abandon. Stu shouted out his name over and over, and moisture warmed the latex, a liquid heat shooting through Aric's groin. He wasn't aware of his own shouts as his orgasm hit. A blissful oblivion. The world around him blanked out, until his eyes fluttered open and he found himself slumped in Stu's arms.

A kiss landed on top of his head, and he felt Stu's smile. He was pleased with himself, and Aric laughed. He should be. That was one hell of a ride.

Aric relished these moments of after-sex intimacy. He'd never had this before, and Stu spoiled him. That was okay by him. He enjoyed his lover's pampering but refused to admit it. At least for now.

Stu kissed him again, this time on the lips, and then flopped onto his back. He placed his arms behind his head, and a smile lit up his face. “I like being on top. You don't mind, do you?”

“Don't make it habit,” Aric said, a tease more than a threat. He did enjoy it, more than he'd thought he would.

He turned sideways and propped himself up on his elbow, resting his cheek in his hand. “This is how much I trust you.”

Stu's eyes widened. “You can't imagine how happy that makes me.”

Aric played with one of the erratic curls plastered against Stu's neck. He loved the way his lover's wispy hair became tight whorls after rigorous sex. He loved how he smelled of sex. He loved…

Stu met Aric's gaze. “Don't get all weirded out by what I'm about to say, but I love the idea that a part of me was inside you. Even if we did use a condom.”

Aric rolled his eyes. “You read too much poetry.”

Stu lazily traced a finger up and down Aric's arm. Aric briefly closed his eyes to the light touches. He couldn't stop his contented whimper. His ass ached pleasantly with the aftereffects of Stu's having been inside of him.

Stu chuckled and recited by memory,

“Feel we these things?—that moment have we slept

Into a sort of oneness, and our state

Is like a floating spirit's.”

Aric gave an exaggerated groan. “Don't expect me to name the poet.”

Stu gently tugged a strand of Aric's hair. “You're a philistine if you can't recognize Keats.”

Aric playfully swatted away his hand. “Don't get so full of yourself.” He rolled onto his back. “I did read some poetry in school.”

“Then prove it.”

Aric closed his eyes, and a grin spread across his face. “I got it.” He blinked and set his gaze on Stu. “Are you ready to be impressed?”

“Hit me with it.”

“The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea

In a beautiful pea green boat:

They took some honey,

and
plenty of money

Wrapped up in a five-pound note.”

Aric shrugged. “I thought the owl was appropriate, considering.”

Stu laughed and shook his head. “Very impressive, but can you name the poet?”

“Christ no.
Do I get a gold star anyway, professor?”

“Better than a star”—Stu kissed Aric's earlobe, his breath buzzing across his skin—“it's Edward”—he slid the tip of his tongue along Aric's neck. A slow, deep shiver rode Aric's spine—“Lear.” He finished, then went for Aric's mouth, giving him a searing kiss.

Aric drowned in their mingled breaths. When he came up for air, the sincerity reflected in Stu's sweet expression stalled his heart. Soon he'd be spouting his own poetry. Shaking his head, he kept his mouth shut.

Stu suddenly shot up. “Fuck, I forgot about Cor.” He turned toward the clock on the nightstand. “We were supposed to meet him at the mill thirty minutes ago.”