The Right Words (24 page)

I stared after him as he hooked the ball with his left foot and easily controlled it down the length of the field. He hesitated for a brief second before plowing the ball at an impossible angle toward the high right-hand corner of the net. He threw his hands in the air and yelled in triumph. My face hurt, I was smiling so hard. His joy was contagious.

Tonio yelled something across the field at him in Spanish, and they both laughed.

A high-pitched whistle announced a new arrival. This must be Alex, I mused. I turned to get my first look at Michael’s best friend and former lover as he waved a greeting and ran onto the field to join Michael. Holy shit. He was gorgeous. He was slightly shorter than Michael with a thicker build. His dark brown hair was longish and tousled like he couldn’t be bothered worrying about such things. But it was his friendly smile that set him apart. It was wide and infectious. Without having spoken a word to him, my impression was that Alex was a happy and very likeable man.

I watched Alex stretch for a moment as Michael practiced a drill nearby. Side by side, the two men together were a feast for the eyes. Tall, dark, delicious, and obviously athletic. They looked to be engaged in conversation when Alex suddenly sprang to his feet and surprised Michael by kicking the ball away from him. He ran far enough away to laughingly taunt him before Michael retaliated. Michael dove after Alex, roughly shoving him aside in a quest to regain control of the ball. Once he comfortably had possession, Michael ran like the wind toward the goal and with no hesitation fired the ball into the net.

I noticed one thing immediately. Michael was fast. Really fast.

I’d never paid attention to sports of any sort. I was simply uninterested. I appreciated the skill involved, but I had none myself. I wasn’t a team player. I’d never aspired to be as quick or agile as other boys growing up. I tried desperately to stay under the radar. I had always kept an eye on guys like Michael, but mostly in an effort to stay away from them. I didn’t belong. Michael and Alex belonged. They were old friends who shared a common interest in a sport and they spoke a language I didn’t understand. I felt like the outsider I was. The designer who unwittingly found himself in “an arrangement” with his client, rather like the one Michael had with his masseuse before he left the country. Perhaps I was a placeholder until Jovan returned. I didn’t like the direction my thoughts were heading, so I turned my attention back to the men on the field.

Michael cheered and shouted something in Spanish to Alex that had Tonio laughing like a loon a few yards away from me. Tonio probably had moved to get a better view of the action on the field, and as a result he was closer than I realized. He yelled out to the men and chuckled merrily to himself before turning to give me a funny grin as though he was surprised to find me standing nearby.

“He is lightning! Fastest man I know.” Tonio’s grin was broad and perfectly sincere. Though it wasn’t meant for me, he was willing to share his joy at having found Michael to seemingly be in top form.

I returned the smile wanly and focused on Michael. He looked so happy. So carefree. So different from the cranky man I met when I first showed up on his doorstep a few months before when his injury was fresh and still a hurdle for him to get over. I didn’t know if he was completely healed, but he was certainly on the mend. He looked indescribably majestic as his confidence in his athletic prowess resurfaced. He was where he belonged. I gulped and was trying to refocus when I heard Tonio speak.

“He may be right after all. He may be ready to play next season.” Tonio rubbed his pudgy hands together gleefully and glanced at me sideways. “Miguel is a natural. They don’t come around often. A thing of beauty. Poor Alex. He’s good, but he was never like Miguel. Miguel was always better than Alejandro. He’s my son. I love him, but I’m being honest when I say Miguel outshines him on a
fútbol
field. This is why he still plays.”

I studied the older man thoughtfully. He stood staring out at the action on the field with his hands clasped behind his back and a pleased, almost smug expression on his face. Alex was his son? I wanted to question how the short, fat, balding man beside me could father the gorgeous specimen of male hotness on the field, but I was more curious about the last thing he’d said.

“Will he still play?”

“I hope so. He’s recovering nicely, so it seems. And I can tell his heart is in the game. Heart is everything. You don’t have heart for what you do, what is the point? I think he still has it all.” This time Tonio’s smile was blinding. He looked like a proud parent or maybe just an overexcited manager.

I watched the physical combat between Michael and Alex and mulled over Tonio’s words. Even I could tell he was a natural. I turned to share my highly uneducated deduction with Tonio, but he spoke first in a low tone full of warning, making sure his point was clearly made.

“Don’t try to stop him. He can control his urges. He must. Do not stand in his way.”

I was too surprised to comment immediately. My mouth went dry, and heat flooded my cheeks. By the time I found my voice, Tonio had walked away. My heart pounded like a drum, and I felt a little sick. I was pissed at being put in my place, but more than that, I was angry at the injustice of his cautionary words. I would never do anything to jeopardize Michael’s career. Ever. I was not Jamie, and I hated that the fat toad decided to lump me with Michael’s troublesome ex. I bit my lip and shoved my hands deeper in my pockets, shivering as the heat left my face and the sudden chill in the air swept through my body.

They played on for another twenty minutes or so while I observed from the sideline. When they were finished, they walked off the field together and came directly toward me. Michael’s grin was brilliant, and I knew without question it was for me alone, as though he wanted me to share his happiness. It was a gift I simply couldn’t refuse. I returned his smile and basked in the warmth of his gaze until someone coughed behind me. It was Alex.

Unlike his father, I liked Alex at first sight. He had a friendly, open demeanor, twinkling green eyes, and a killer smile. I had a feeling I was the topic of a previous conversation when he greeted me like an old friend. He seemed to catch himself before hugging me and instead shook my hand profusely until Michael shoved him aside.

“Say hello, don’t maul him, asshole,” he taunted.

“I was being polite,” Alex insisted, still grinning at me.

Michael rolled his eyes. “He’s harmless,
cariño
. Alex is like a demented puppy. Food, sleep, and a run in the park is all this guy needs to be happy.”

Alex laughed good-naturedly. “There might be another thing or two to add to the list, but yeah, that’s the right idea. It’s nice to meet you, Luke. Believe it or not, I’ve heard a lot about you.” He winked playfully before adding, “Mostly good.”

“Um, thanks.” I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I stuffed my hands in my pockets and waited to see what came next.

“You look good out there, Miguel.
Muy bien
. I’ll get something set up in January with Hugo. Next year looks promising, eh?” Tonio rubbed his hands together again. He cast a benevolent smile on the two men before ambling toward Alex’s car.

Michael and Alex shared a look, but nothing more was said about soccer or Michael’s future playing.

“A
RE
THEY
coming back to the house?” I asked as I buckled my seat belt.

“No. Tonio wanted to check my progress. A short and sweet visit.” Michael checked his rearview mirror before pulling into traffic.

“You didn’t tell me Alex was Tonio’s son.”

The corners of Michael’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “Crazy, huh? Obviously he gets his looks from his mother.”

“Yeah, she must be pretty ’cause… wow. He’s hot.”

Michael shot me an annoyed look that made me giggle. “Should I be jealous?”

“Of course not.”

“You don’t sound convincing, Lukey. I think I’m going to need a little reassurance.”

“Oh? What’d you have in mind?” My voice sounded huskier than I intended, but there was no point in pretending I wasn’t turned-on. There was something about seeing him in action, strong, healthy, and powerful, that was an aphrodisiac all its own. Times like today served as a reminder my duration here was short and I’d better make the most of it.

The car ride back to his place was quietly charged with sexual tension. We entwined our fingers between the armrests in an effort to have some bit of contact. I needed to touch him, feel his warmth and solidness in some small measure until I could have everything. We silently made our way up the stairs to the studio hand in hand, carefully avoiding any workers busy at the main house. I felt Michael’s hands on my ass as I climbed the stairs ahead of him and heard his low chuckle when I fumbled to get the key in the lock.

The moment the door swung open, I launched myself at him, hooking my arms around his neck and tangling my legs with his in an all-out effort to be as physically close to him as possible. To hell with playing it cool. To hell with the past and uncertain futures. I wanted what I had right this minute. I wanted to climb this guy like a tree, and I was done waiting.

Michael laughed at my antics but sobered quickly when he felt the evidence of my stiff prick through the layers of clothing separating us. He nuzzled my nose playfully as he reached around to cup my ass and grind our pelvises together hard. My gasp of pleasure was silenced as Michael lowered his lips over mine in a possessive, demanding kiss. His tongue probed and plundered my mouth in a hungry show of dominance while his hands moved. Up my back, down my spine, and over my ass. He repeated the motion with a firmer hold and slipped his fingers inside my workout pants in a stealthy maneuver. I smiled and pulled back slightly to look at my lover.

“Bed?”

“No. I want you now. Here.” Michael lifted the hem of my T-shirt and yanked it over my head before I could protest.

When I stepped forward, he held his hand out and shook his head. “I just wanna look at you.” He licked his lips as his lusty gaze scoured my body. “You are so fucking beautiful. Your skin, your hair, your eyes.” His right hand tentatively reached out, taking my left nipple between his thumb and forefinger, rolling and teasing the sensitive flesh.

“Michael, please… let’s—”

“Shh. No,
cariño
. I want to bend you over that sofa and….” He swallowed the unnecessary words as he grabbed me around the waist and molded our bodies together. His hands dipped inside the elastic of my pants again, firmly holding each ass cheek and pulling them apart. I gasped at the blatant show of force and the fierce eroticism. He was obviously on edge and more than a little aroused.

Michael bent down, nuzzling his face in my hair and licking a path from my jaw down the column of my throat. He nipped and bit at my collarbone and shoulder while I clutched at his waist, hoping for more friction below. He pushed me back slightly with a light chuckle and held me at bay.

“Please.”

“Okay. Take off my shirt.”

My heartbeat sped up a notch as I reached out to obey. I couldn’t help wanting to take a moment to enjoy the scenery as I perused his godlike, defined torso. His gorgeous olive-toned skin and sculpted musculature were a thing of beauty. I traced his pecs and ran my hands reverently over his abs before giving in to temptation, leaning in to suck his tit hungrily. Michael’s breath hitched, but he didn’t push me away. Instead he ran his fingers through my hair lovingly until he’d had enough. Then he yanked my head back, staring deeply into my eyes before he literally swept me off my feet, pivoting in a graceful move and set me on the back edge of the love seat. I squinted at him in surprise. My dick was pulsating I was so turned-on, and I’d felt his hard-on pressed against my side. What were we waiting for?

Michael stood between my open thighs and wrapped his arms around my waist. His large, warm hands splayed across my back while he showered my bare chest with gentle bites and soothing kisses. When he pulled at the fabric of my pants, I lifted my hips cooperatively, allowing him room to slip the garment over my ass. I was still wearing my sneakers and we both chuckled when he was forced to stop the action to remove my shoes and free my legs. As Michael turned back to face me, his eyes went straight to my rigid dick. I took advantage of his lusty distraction and wrapped my legs around his ass, pulling him against me as close as possible. I was bare-ass naked on the narrow perch at the back of the love seat with my cock leaking precum, yet somehow, I wasn’t bothered by the less-than-comfortable location. Michael’s expression was pure carnal passion. It was exhilarating to be the object of his desire. A crazy, heady feeling that invited a wanton, reckless me to let all inhibitions go and savor the moment.

I reached between us to grab my dick, stroking myself a couple of times with a firm grip before rubbing my thumb over my slit, coating it liberally with precum and bringing my thumb to my lover’s lips, inviting him to taste me. Michael’s eyes glazed in a libidinous haze before he pounced. His tongue devoured my thumb in one fell swoop at the same time his right hand gripped my throbbing cock. I whimpered with need as he reached behind me and ran sure fingers along my crack with his left hand while he jacked me slowly with the other hand. His lips found mine again. And his kiss quickly became demanding. The onslaught of sensation was overwhelming. I lifted my head for a breath of air, only to have him lick a sultry path down my neck.

“Fuck, Michael!”

“Is that what you want, honey? Or do you want me to fuck you?” His voice had taken on a sexy, raspy quality.

I pulled my head back to meet his eyes.

“Yes. Fuck me.”

Michael nodded once and backed up a step, leaving me sitting with my hard dick pointing north. I felt vulnerable and exposed in one way, but strangely empowered in another. I loved seeing Michael flustered as he fumbled to remove his workout leggings. He had to work hard to get the fabric over his thick cock.