Of Love (3 page)

Oh damn. That felt good. He let himself lean back, just a touch. Solid, warm—Kent felt amazing to him. He took a bit of the vegetables and sauce on a spoon and held it up to Kent over his shoulder.

“How’s it tasting?” Dex asked.

“Mmm. Needs a hint of salt.”

Trusting Kent to know his own taste, Dex put a couple pinches more salt in. Then he tasted it himself, nodding. “You were right, because that’s perfect.”

“Yay. Where are the plates? I’ll grab them.”

“Cupboard next to the fridge.” He pointed with his ladle.

“You got it.” Kent bounced wherever he walked. It was not only adorable, but it made that gorgeous little ass move in the most enticing way.

“Are you always so happy?” Dex had to ask.

“Yeah. Yeah, for the most part. I can get in a black mood, but it doesn’t last long, you know? I’m pretty stable.”

“That’s awesome.” For so many people stable meant kind of average, not happy like Kent was. “Healthy.”

“Lucky. I’m a hugely lucky person, and I know it.”

“I like your attitude, Kent.” The man was a ray of sunshine, honestly.

The pasta was ready, and Dex drained it and put it in the pan with the vegetables and sauce. He added some parm and some fresh basil, and that was that. “Voila, we’re ready. We can eat at the bar here or in the living room.”

“The bar is fine. I don’t stand on ceremony.”

“Cool. We can retire to the living room with our dessert after.”

“Perfect.” They settled with their pasta, both of them eating happily.

“So how’s the hula-hooping going?” Dex asked.

“Good. Good, I’ve been practicing.”

“Fantastic. I haven’t.” He grinned. “Maybe I need another lesson.” The last one had been fun and full of potential for naughtiness that they hadn’t indulged in.

“Oh, I have mine in the car!”

Why was he not surprised? “Then you can take another shot at teaching me after supper.” Dex liked getting some form of exercise in after eating.

“Man, I hope my core is up to it.”

Dex didn’t think that was going to be a problem. “I was thinking a hands-on demonstration—as in your hands on me, guiding me through the moves.”

“Oh?” He loved how Kent’s eyes lit up. “I could get behind that.”

“That’s what I was hoping.” His cock took a little interest in the conversation, just enough to feel good.

“So, are you a dancer?” Kent asked.

“Me? As in waltz and salsa and shit?” He shook his head. “I can shake my butt well enough.”

“I mean more like making love on a dance floor to music. Wiggling madly.”

“Oh, I can wiggle. Madly or not.” He was all smiles, Kent simply making him happy.

“Me too. I love dancing. I mean, I don’t know if I’d say I was good at it, but I sure have fun.”

“We’ll have to go dancing for our next date, then. Well, if you know of a good place for it,” Dex added.

“I totally do. There’s this amazing dance club over on the west side. It’s not a bar, just dancing. I sometimes go on Thursday nights.”

“That sounds great.” A whole week. He hoped they could have another date in between this one and the next.

Kent slurped up a noodle. “You got plans for the weekend?”

Dex was fascinated by what Kent was doing to his food. “I was hoping to be busy with this guy I met who makes me want to be a noodle.”

Kent’s cheeks went pink. “Yeah? You…. Do you like camping?”

“I do actually. Especially if there’s a lake. There’s nothing quite like skinny dipping under the moonlight.”

“We could go. I have a meeting tomorrow at ten, but then I’m free until Monday….”

“I would love to go. I know a place only a couple hours out of town.” He wasn’t sure what equipment he had, but it sounded like Kent had some too, and they could go in together and buy what they were still missing between them.

“Yeah? I have a tent, a stove.”

“I’ve got camp chairs, a groundsheet, and sleeping bag.”

“Cool. Can you arrange the site? We can grab groceries together.” Kent grinned at him, bright eyes dancing. “It’s amazing what you can learn from a guy while shopping.”

“I can arrange the site—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. And now I’m going to feel self-conscious during the shopping.”

Kent hooted like a giant bird. “Nonsense. We’ll have a ball. I haven’t been camping since last year.”

“I don’t think I’ve been in closer to three.” Dex was getting excited now. “We’ll go shopping tomorrow before heading out?”

“Yeah. Yeah, that works for me. Tell me that you like to have s’mores.”

“It’s not camping if there’s no s’mores.” And he bet that went double for candy-loving Kent.

“Oh yay! I totally agree.” Kent bounced in his chair, the act so young that it was easy to imagine him as a little boy getting a treat.

Dex had been waffling about whether or not he should make a dessert for this evening, and he was really glad now that he had.

“I haven’t had someone who wanted to go in a while. My sister used to go with me all the time, but she’s got four-year-old twins now.”

“I bet you’re the fun uncle.”

“You know it.” Kent winked. “I babysit a lot.”

Better Kent than him. Dex laughed, though, like he knew Kent was expecting him to. Four-year-old twins did not sound like a barrel of laughs. In fact, it sounded like hell on earth.

He took Kent’s plate, put it on top of his own, and put them both in the dishwasher along with their utensils. “Dessert now or later?”

“Oh, later. I’m good.”

“Cool. We should move to somewhere more comfortable, then.” He wanted to sit close for a bit before they got to the hula-hooping.

“Works for me.” Kent brought their drinks, and they headed into the living room to the dark leather sofa.

It was comfy, and they sat close enough that the cushions sort of pushed them together.

“So, tell me everything about you.” Kent’s lips were so close.

“I’m a fitness nut. Running, swimming, biking….”

“Uh-huh. You like to use your body.”

“I do. I like being fit, I like feeling good. I like movies or reading in the evenings. I was a brat as a child, but I think the rough edges have been mostly smoothed off.” Dex laughed at himself. “Okay, probably not that much of a brat, I tried not to make my mom crazy. It wasn’t like we got to spend a lot of time together, so I behaved when we did.”

“My mom says I never grew up. I’m much maligned.” Kent pouted dramatically.

“I’d say you grew up just enough.” Dex liked Kent’s playful side, his joyful outlook on life.

“Oh, I was joking. I mean, Mom is too. We’re close.”

“Yeah? That’s cool. And you said you had a sister? Is that your only sibling?”

Dex was an only child. He wasn’t sure there ever had been a man in his mom’s life aside from his own deadbeat dad.

“Yep. She’s a giant goofball. I adore her.”

“Sort of like you, then?” He couldn’t help but tease.

“Yes, except she’s in medicine, not software. She’s a pediatrician.”

“And she had time to have kids too? I’m impressed.” He had the impression kids swallowed up all of your time.

“Yeah. Yeah, she did. Do you like kids?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t honestly had a lot to do with them.”

“No? I love them. I think I said that I babysit a lot.”

Yeah, yeah, Kent had.

“It’s gotta be different when you’re related to them.” Dex figured it had to be, or people wouldn’t keep having them.

“I guess? I have a goddaughter, Emma; she’s like my own.”

Man, Kent had a busy life, a full life.

“When do you get time to work?” Dex’s training took up a lot of his time; thankfully his apps had to do with said training.

“I have lots of time, and I don’t spend seven hours a day working out.”

Oh, zing!

Dex couldn’t deny it. “Guilty as charged.”

Kent cackled, that big bird sound ringing out, and Dex kissed him, hard. He loved the way Kent’s laughter filled his mouth. It was like sharing that happiness in the best way, and the kisses felt like bubbles, like cotton candy, like all of the sweet things.

He could learn to need this, very easily.

Dex stroked Kent’s cheek, fingers rubbing against the barely there stubble.

“Need to shave, huh?” Kent said.

“I like it. It makes me think things.” Like feeling that stubble against more sensitive parts.

Kent chuckled softly, nuzzling again. “I bet I know what you’re thinking….”

He refused to blush. Refused to. “You do, do you?”

“Mm-hmm. I bet it’s naughty.”

“You haven’t known me long enough to read my mind.” But wasn’t that a cute thought?

“No? I’m insightful. Everyone says so.”

“Yeah? So what was I thinking?” Because he wanted to hear the words from Kent’s mouth. That would be hot as hell.

Kent grinned. “You were thinking how hot it would be to feel that stubble on your inner thighs, on your sac.” He paused. “On your shaft.”

Dex groaned as his cock went fully hard. “Damn, you’re good.”

“Insightful.” Kent rubbed their cheeks together again.

“Sexy,” he countered, breathing Kent in.

“Happy.” His ear was nibbled.

“Yeah, you are. I like that about you.” That and the way Kent was making him wriggle in delight.

Kent licked and lapped around his ear, teasing him, giving him tiny bites. A shiver moved through Dex, and he turned his head slightly so he could return the favor.

“Oh.” Kent’s single sound was hungry. Wanton.

Groaning, Dex licked again, tasting Kent’s skin. Meanwhile, Kent found the hot spot under his ear, licking it and blowing a stream of air across it.

That had him shivering again, groaning. “Fuck!”

“Oh, that’s good. Right there.” Kent licked again, tracing a lazy circle over his skin.

“Uh-huh. Found me out.” Dex’s eyes dropped closed.

Kent’s hands trailed over his arms, his belly, but really it was that hot tongue that he focused on. Kent knew how to work a sweet spot when he found it, and Dex moaned for him, body thrumming. Then Kent started tracing around the outside of his nipple in time with the movements of his tongue.

“Damn, Kent. Making me so hard.”

“Good.” Kent scraped his teeth across Dex’s skin, careful not to mark.

“You want… you want to move this to the bedroom?” Dex asked.

“Are you comfortable with that?”

“I am. I’ve been forcing myself to take things slowly, but… it’s not what I want.” Dex wanted a whole lot more, and he didn’t really want to wait a whole long time. Besides, they were going camping together, right? Sharing a tent? No way was he going to be able to keep his hands to himself in those close quarters.

“No?” Kent grinned at him. “I’d love to spend some time doing the horizontal mambo.”

“Horizontal mambo… I like that.” Dex stood and held out his hand. “Let’s dance.”

“Yes.” Kent reached for him, moving right into the curve of his body.

Dex moved gently, swaying in place with Kent. God, this man was sexy. Dex couldn’t remember anyone ever drawing his attention more.

Kent rocked against him, body moving sure and steady. Dex didn’t think they were going to make it to the bedroom. And frankly, he didn’t care.

“You make me ache, man. Gonna leave a spot on my jeans,” murmured Kent.

“Ditto.” Grinning, Dex brought their mouths together, kissed Kent, and rubbed some more.

Kent’s hand was flat against his back, and he could feel every single finger, hot against him.

He tried to keep them moving toward the bedroom, he really did. But damn, he kept getting distracted over and over again. Finally, he pushed Kent up against the wall, rubbing more eagerly as their kiss deepened. Kent made him dizzy, made him want to touch and taste and forget the world existed outside of this place right here where the two of them touched.

Grabbing hold of Kent’s cheeks, Dex tilted the man’s head, moaning into their kisses. Kent responded by tugging his T-shirt from his waistband. He nodded, eager for the feeling of Kent’s fingers on his skin.

“I’ve got you.” Kent’s fingers trailed around his belly.

“You sure do.” He pushed into Kent’s touch.

Kent pulled his shirt up and off, then gave him another fierce kiss. Dex returned the favor, tugging Kent’s shirt up until they had to break apart again to pull his shirt over his head. He took a long moment to draw in a couple of breaths and really look at Kent, at the slender body, the gentle six-pack. Damn. And also yum.

Kent pinked. “You’re stunning. That’s whoa intimidating.”

“I work out for a living, remember? Besides, you’re not so bad yourself. Not bad at all.” He reached for Kent’s belly, tracing his abs.

Kent moaned and leaned into his fingers, begging for attention. Dropping to his knees and ignoring the needy ache in his balls, he started tracing Kent’s abs with his tongue.

“Oh God.” Kent touched his hair, fingers almost pulling, almost tugging.

He fucked Kent’s navel with his tongue, groaning as Kent’s fingers pulled harder at him.

“Want to taste you.” Dex was down here after all.

Kent made this amazing noise—part cry, part moan, part encouragement.

Dex took his time opening Kent’s pants. He’d like to have said it was to tease Kent, but really, his fingers were trembling more than a little, his excitement high.

“You’re so fine, so delicious.” Kent stroked his temples, almost petting him.

He placed a thank-you kiss on Kent’s skin, just above the tiny curls that he’d revealed when he opened the man’s jeans. Breathing in deeply, he pulled out Kent’s cock. It was hot and hard in his hand, and the scent of good, clean male filled his senses. Kent was heavy, thick, and cut. The head was flared, a single drop of clear fluid waiting for him to taste. He flicked at it with his tongue, groaning as the flavor filled his mouth. This was what Kent tasted like. He could get used to it. No, he could get used to wanting it.

Kent shivered for him, thighs spreading for balance.

“You taste good,” he told Kent, running his nose down one side of Kent’s cock, then up the other. Moaning, he added, “Smell so good too.”

Kent stared down like he was the most erotic man Kent had ever seen.

Smiling up at Kent, he licked at the tip of the man’s cock again. Then he turned his full attention to the fat prick, letting the head spread his lips open. Heat. Salt. Kent. Tiny motions spread his lips, but Kent was being careful, gentle with him. He pulled more of Kent in, increasing his suction to show his new lover that he wasn’t fragile, that he was on his knees because he loved sucking cock and wanted to make Kent feel good.