Desperate for Love Page 17

  “I’m not finished with you yet.”

  Nerves ran through his body as he drew in a sharp breath. He bit his lip to keep from saying anything. He could do this.

  “You okay?” Travis asked.

  He opened one eye. Travis stood over him, his dick hard and growing harder as he pulled and tugged. His own dick began to stir. He nodded. Travis slicked up his fingers and rimmed his hole, stretching and slipping his fingers in and out.

  “I’m ready,” he growled. Travis lined up his cock with his hole and slid in inch by inch. The burn was followed by a stretch and his face tensed for a moment, causing Travis to stop. He’d seen his dick or at least a glimpse of it, and he wasn’t wide but he was long. When he thought Travis bottomed out, there was still more to take.

  “Holy shit, you are huge,” he whispered.

  “Think you can take it all?” Travis growled, wrapped his fingers around Alec’s dick, and jerked it hard. “Tell me you want it.”

  That’s fucking hot.

  He wouldn’t have pegged Travis for dirty talk, but damn, it was sexy.

  “Fuck yeah. Give it to me.”

  In one swift move, Travis thrust in, rocked his hips and pulled out before slamming back in. Their mouths met as he leaned in, and the onslaught of tongues increased his need to move. He planted his feet on the bed and pushed his hips toward Travis.

  He groaned as Travis pegged his spot with each pass, his dick hard and needy again. His hands gripped Travis’s waist as he reared his head back. He wanted more. Their bodies, slick with sweat, slapped together with each thrust.

  “Holy shit, Alec. It feels so good…I’m gonna come.”

  Travis’s whole body spasmed, long and loud. He watched as Travis gripped his dick and pulled, pushing his own cock deeper into Alec’s ass. Alec’s release splattered between them and with a shout Travis emptied himself into his body.

  Travis leaned in and kissed him for a little while before he walked to the bathroom.

  “Fuck,” he whispered.

  “Ha, we just did that.” Travis came back with a washcloth and cleaned him up. “I’m going to shower and then go to bed.”

  He probably just had the best sex of his life and he hadn’t moved—or done a damn thing. Guilt replaced the high of a double orgasm, but he managed to hide it until Travis left the room.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Alec

  “You need to relax,” Travis said as they walked up the pathway to his parents’ house. Two weeks had passed since Tyler’s first attack and he was home, responding well to physical therapy. They hadn’t caught the asshole who shot him but Kane assured both of them he was investigating every angle. Everything was fine but something still bothered him.

  “Alec, what’s with you today?”

  The words barely registered. Last time he was here was over the holidays. He came as a friend like he did for so many years before then. No big deal. Today was different. Today he was Travis’s husband. It put a different spin on things.

  Would they look at him differently? At the wedding, they were all smiles, but what if that was all for show? They’d been married a whole nine days, and he was second-guessing everything.

  He stopped on the path. Travis paused as he climbed the steps.

  “What now?” Travis asked.

  “This is the first time I’m coming over as your husband,” he said as he shifted the bag of goodies on his shoulder. Travis walked over and took the bag from him. He opened it and peeked inside. The pies Travis baked earlier were still in one piece despite all the shuffling he had done.

  Shaking his head at him, Travis smiled. “You got all the way here before it occurred to you, huh?”

  He looked at the grass and kicked a stone. It sounded stupid to say it out loud. Travis probably thought he was losing his mind.

  “Let’s go.” He sighed.

  Travis stepped in front of him. “I know. It’s hard to pretend. It’s a big change for me too.”

  Pretend. Yeah, that’s what they were doing. Maybe he shouldn’t take this as seriously as he first thought. Hell, if Travis was pretending, he could too.

  “Are you two going to stay out here all day? It’s cold!” Sarah yelled from the porch.

  “Coming!” Travis said.

  Alec hugged his mother-in-law and waited while she fussed over him.

  “You need to eat more, Alec. I’ll send some food home with you.”

  Travis huffed. “What about me?”

  Sarah poked him in the belly. “Nope. My baby could afford to lose some pounds.”

  He laughed and Travis punched him in the arm. “Oww!”

  Sarah laughed and ushered them into the living room. To his surprise, Kane sat next to Tyler as the game blared on the television. Tyler, home for a week, could now stay awake for longer periods of time since he didn’t need so much pain medicine. Regardless of all the drama Tyler caused, Alec still had a soft spot for him. There was something brewing between him and Kane; he hoped the difference in occupations didn’t kill it before it started. It was nice to see Kane smile.

  “Hey guys,” Tyler said.

  “Hey Ty!” he yelled. “Can someone please lower the television?”

  Kane laughed, grabbed the remote, and turned the TV to a lower volume.

  “Whose idea was that?” Travis asked.

  “Pop wanted to hear it from the other room.” Tyler rolled his eyes.

  They all laughed. Henry insisted on sitting in his favorite recliner, but Sarah banished it to the small room behind the stairs. There wasn’t a TV in there.

  Maybe Travis could get Henry a new recliner. He’d ask him later.

  “Hey Mom!” he called as he entered the kitchen. She turned and smiled at him. “Do you need any help with anything?” Now that they were married, he could get away with calling her Mom. She was more of a mother to him than his actual mother. In fact, both of Travis’s parents over the years had given him more advice and affection than all of his family combined. He lucked out in that department, fake marriage and all.

  “I suppose things are good,” she said.

  “What?”

  “You’re smiling at the platter.”

  “Yeah, I guess they are.”

  Things were good, weren’t they? He honestly wasn’t sure. Sex with Travis had been amazing but there hadn’t been a repeat performance since. Maybe it wasn’t good for Travis? He’d analyzed that night to death, trying to figure out if he missed a sign somewhere.

  It hadn’t helped that the last three nights Travis had slept in his own bed, saying that he needed sleep because he was working at Raven. Or that he didn’t want to wake Alec when he came in late.

  He wasn’t sure how to navigate this new place the both of them had found themselves in now.

  “But something is still bothering you?” Mom put her spoon near the stove and came over to stand by him.

  He hesitated, wishing he could unload all of it on her just so she could tell him it would be okay.

  “I guess. It’s just that sometimes I wonder if I’m doing the right thing.”

  “In your marriage?”

  He nodded, and she smiled reassuringly at him, held up her hand, and walked to the living room. “Dinner will be in less than thirty minutes.” He watched as she got two mugs from the cupboard and made them both a cup of coffee.

  “Here. Sit for a minute.” She handed him the cup of coffee and grabbed the creamer from the fridge before she joined him at the table.

  “Travis said things were going well when he stopped by this week. Is there a specific example or is this just a feeling?”

  And that was what was bothering him. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out what the real issue was. Travis worked three nights in a row and was tired. He was making something out of nothing.

  “A feeling, I guess. Travis doesn’t talk about how he feels. He’s been dealing with so much, with Tyler and at work.”

  “Ah, and you do?”

 
Ha, she had him there.

  “As long as I’ve known you, Alec, you’ve sat back and absorbed everything. Since you boys were in college, it was like you’d assess the situation before you participated. Marriage takes work, participation. It doesn’t run on autopilot. Unless, of course, you did something?” Sarah teased, and he laughed.

  “No, not really, unless you count that I ruined his books.”

  Travis’s mother huffed. “Travis and his books. I’ve been on the receiving end of his anger a time or two when I used to dust the shelves and I’d put them back out of order. He has a book doctor. He’ll take them there to be fixed. Don’t worry.”

  Book doctors. He didn’t know such a thing existed. Shouldn’t he foot the bill?

  The timer beeped on the oven and she slid out of the chair. “They’ll be as good as new.”

  He got up and grabbed the oven mitts from her. “Let me.” He gingerly placed the pot roast on the stove, mouth watering at the amazing aroma. She unwrapped the foil, and they both peered inside. More amazing smells filled the air.

  “One more thing, don’t let him bulldoze you. He does so much for others and doesn’t make time for himself. Make him open up to you. My son doesn’t talk about how he feels about anything. He’s not one to show his emotions and holds a lot in. I know you do too, but I think you want to let it out. You just never had an opportunity.”

  “Well, I…”

  “Alec,” she interrupted as she laid a hand on his arm. “Do you love my son?”

  Did he? Yeah, he did as a friend for sure. As anything else? Not sure.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “That’s all you focus on. Don’t let anything cloud your judgment. You have a husband and his family who all love you.”

  He leaned in to hug this amazing woman. He was the luckiest bastard in the world and didn’t want to disappoint her. A fleeting thought came through. When they split up, would he get to see her again?

  It was almost as if two sides of his brain were at war with each other. As soon as that thought ended, another one crept in.

  Suppose it doesn’t have to end.

  “Let’s eat, everyone!” she called as she walked away and jolted him out of his musings.

  Travis

  His mother whispered something into Alec’s ear. Since earlier this week, something had been bothering Alec. He couldn’t put a finger on what it was but would bet money it had to do with them sleeping together.

  But that sex had been amazing. He wouldn’t mind a repeat soon but not if it would cause more problems between the two of them. He needed to keep his heart out of their deal. The more time they spent together, the harder it got.

  “So what do you think, Travis?” Kane asked.

  “Sorry, I must’ve zoned out for a minute.” He looked up to find all eyes on him. Damn. “What was the question?”

  Everyone laughed.

  “You missed the whole thing, ugh.” Tyler shook his head. “Never mind.”

  “Is this about the leg surgery? That’s scheduled in two weeks, right?” Tyler’s arm and abdomen were on their way to healing but the break in his leg caused additional problems.

  “Yes, it’s scheduled.” Tyler frowned. “The doctor says I might need another one a couple weeks after, but that’s not what I was talking about.”

  He frowned as Kane shot him a nasty look. What the hell was that about? Somehow in the middle of his thoughts he finished his dinner and his plate was now empty. His mother stood and gathered up the dishes as he thought about going for a second helping. Maybe he’d get lucky with leftovers.

  “Tyler was thinking about applying to schools, to see if he could get in for the spring semester,” Kane said as he nodded toward Tyler. He could take a hint.

  Alec grabbed a couple dishes and headed toward the kitchen. Alec laughed, followed by his mother’s laugh. His mom was exactly what Alec needed.

  “Earth to Travis! What is up with you guys tonight?” Tyler asked. “Is Alec okay? Did something happen?” Worry etched on his face as he turned his wheelchair toward him. The additional physical therapy Alec paid for was working. Only a week out of the hospital and he maneuvered that thing like a pro.

  “No, Alec’s dealing with some work stuff, that’s all.” He pulled out a chair by Tyler and sat. “Sorry. So you want to go back to college, huh? Did you even pass the classes you took at Brooklyn College? Not too sure about this.” His father snorted and Tyler scowled as he continued. “But if this is something you want to do, you have my support. How can I help?”

  Tyler smiled and then frowned. “The application is a little confusing…”

  “No problem. I’ll take a look.”

  Kane smiled and turned to speak to his dad. Tyler rolled his wheelchair into the living room, and pointed to the coffee table, and said, “My laptop is on the table.”

  Travis grabbed the computer and settled on the couch. At least he could solve one problem this evening.

  Alec

  The commute from Brooklyn back to Manhattan was a nightmare with train delays and overcrowded subways. They were both tired and cranky, so when Travis sat on the couch with a beer in each hand and turned on the basketball game, Alec didn’t object.

  He knew three days in a row at Raven drained Travis, coupled with his shitty day job, his exhaustion had to be unreal. Job hunting in Manhattan sucked, but he hoped that Travis would make time to find something that made him happier.

  Sarah had been spot-on when she said that marriage was work. Who would have thought? Not him. He figured it would have been easier marrying his best friend. But he didn’t take into account that they’d be living together, sharing space and their personal things, and be expected to act like a married couple everywhere they went. And then there were his crazy feelings.

  Travis warned him that sex changed things. Here it was, nearly a week later, and he couldn’t get that night out of his head. Was it good for Travis? It was as if he’d taken a time machine back to high school when he lost his virginity with Carl Duggan behind the bleachers in the gym. Awkward. He should blame Kane for this. It had been his idea.

  He leaned into the couch and put his feet up on the ottoman. Travis sat close to him but not so they were touching. Alec wished they were closer; he’d love to feel Travis’ body pressed up against his. The couch cocooned him and, warm and cozy, he closed his eyes for a moment.

  “Hey, you’ll be pissed if you fall asleep on here again.” Travis tapped him on the shoulder. “Remember how jacked up your neck was the other morning?”

  “Ugh. Yeah, you’re right.”

  Travis laughed and stood. “You know how I love to hear those words.”

  He glanced at the TV one more time before he turned it off.

  “You have a television in your room. Put it on in there,” Travis suggested as he shut off the lights. He checked on Chauncey, curled up in a ball fast asleep. They paused in the hallway between their bedrooms, unsure of what to do or say next. But they wouldn’t do anything together if they were in separate rooms.

  “Come watch it with me?” he asked.

  Travis stared past him, looking at his bed. “I need to change.”

  “Yeah, sure, do whatever.” He smiled and Travis blinked.

  He resisted the urge to fist pump until he closed the door of his bathroom behind him. Travis in his bed! He bolted to the bathroom sink, yanked his toothbrush out of the holder, and squirted toothpaste on it. Manscaping? Did he have time?

  Teeth brushed, he grabbed a washcloth. A little clean-up couldn’t hurt. He put on fresh boxers and pajama bottoms and exited the bathroom. Travis, lying propped up on the pillows with the remote in his hand, hadn’t noticed him in the doorway.

  This was like his birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. What to do now? Should he walk over and climb into bed, like it was no big deal? What if he leaned against the doorway all sexy-like and waited for him to notice? This was taking way too long to figure out and he could be lying next to the man
already.

  He bolted across the room and bounced on the bed.

  “Jeez, Alec!” Travis laughed. “You scared the crap out of me!”

  He laughed.

  “Don’t even bother saying you’re sorry either because I know you’re not.”

  “Hmm, Sorry?”

  Travis shook his head, and the game drew their attention as someone scored a home run.

  The game was headed into extra innings and they both fought to stay awake until the end. His left arm tingled, and he opened his eyes slowly. They must have fallen asleep. The game was long over and nightly news played on the TV. He tilted his head to stretch out his neck and noticed Travis’s head nestled on his shoulder. His whole body had slumped over and rested against Alec. He would have stayed like that for the rest of the night, holding Travis but his arm was numb and his bladder needed to be emptied.

  He gently pulled away from Travis and placed a pillow under his head. Travis snored in response, his body signaling how tired he was tonight.

  When he returned from the bathroom, Travis was rubbing his eyes. Damn, he hoped to resume his spot as Travis’s pillow and spoon into him. His eyes roamed over his body as Travis stretched and each of his lean muscles bunched and pulled.

  “See something you like?” Travis’s voice, gravelly and low, sent shivers through him.

  “Um, yeah.” He was at war with himself. He knew Travis was exhausted, so he’d have to let Travis decide what they did. But, man did he want to do something as his eyes locked on Travis’s hard cock outlined by his snug pajama pants.

  Without realizing it, he licked his lips, and Travis groaned in response. He walked up to Travis, placed his hands on his hips and slowly ground his pelvis against his. Travis threw his head back, an open invitation for him to nibble on his neck. He kissed his way over his Adam’s apple and up his chin, and just as he went for his lips, Travis let out a huge yawn.

  “I’m sorry,” Travis said.

  “No worries. Here, lie down.”