Chapter 9
“That was a good day, huh?” Heath reached over and turned the radio down a little. “I haven’t thrown snowballs in forever. I’m a terrible shot.” Parker had been quiet most of the way home, and he figured somebody had to break the ice here, they were almost back to his place.
“Thanks for the ride, man. I’m sorry about my truck. I think I just need a new battery.” Parker rolled his eyes and sighed. “Sky swears it’s just the sudden cold.”
“He’s probably right. I’ll give you a jump tomorrow, and we’ll get you fixed up. It’s not like we weren’t both going to the same place.” He pulled into his driveway and parked a little closer to the front door than usual. Parker had boots now, and a coat, but it was really cold out there.
“Yeah, and I probably had one beer more than snowy road driving would allow.”
“See? You have a designated driver and everything.” Heath pulled his collar up and found his house keys before getting out of the warm truck. “Jesus. It’s bitter tonight, huh?” He hurried to the house and wrestled a little with the frozen lock before the door opened.
Parker was right next to him, little body too close, too right for comfort.
Heath opened the door, then put an arm around Parker’s shoulders, ushering him into the house.
He hadn’t thought to leave any lights on and naturally the first thing his house guest did was trip over the boots in the mudroom.
“Whoa.” Heath took one long stride and caught Parker around the waist, setting him back on his feet with little effort.
“Wow. You’re light as a feather.” Solid, but light.
“Gotta be to ride like I do. Did. You know. I ride with balance.”
He stared at Parker, arm still around the guy’s waist, thinking that if he knew Parker just a little better, he could make a joke. A little innuendo. But he didn’t, and he shouldn’t, and why hadn’t he let go yet?
“I watched some video with Skyler while you were out shopping with Charlie. You looked amazing to me.”
“Yeah? Thank you.” Parker stared up into his eyes. Literally stared into him, and it made his mouth dry.
“You look pretty good right now too.” An icy breeze blew in the still-open door making him shiver. It was like a sign or something, telling him to cool down. “Oh. Damn.” He let Parker go and turned to close the door.
“That’s a bitter wind, isn’t it? What can I do to help with the fire?”
He thought they’d had a moment there, but Parker seemed less interested now.
He should have known better than to throw compliments around; he was just making a fool out of himself.
“You want to stir up the coals in the stove and see what’s still burning?
Then we can put some wood on it and stoke it up.
” The heat would go right up the stairwell and warm up the bedrooms.
He needed to turn some lights on too, so no one tripped again.
“Cool. I like snuggling, but it’s no fun with all these coats and such.”
He froze for a second and shot Parker a look, then chuckled softly and rubbed the back of his neck, a hundred percent sure he was blushing. “Yeah. Agreed. You want some wine? Or tea?”
“I… I’d like tea please. I don’t need to be no more tipsy.”
Tipsy Parker was adorable. “Tea it is. You good to get that fire going?” Might as well give the cowboy a chance to figure it out.
“No problem. I’ve made a thousand campfires.”
“Right. I’m sure you have. You like fires? I have a bonfire out back every summer for the office folks and their families. It’s a fun night.” He put the kettle on because it felt fancier than warming up water in the microwave.
“Oh, I love that. Seriously. I love to camp, to be outside with friends and a fire and a guitar.”
“Do you play?” He watched Parker stoke the coals up and add logs to the wood stove like an expert. The cowboy was pretty damn handy despite that heavy sense of uselessness Parker carried around with him. Sure, Parker was giving up bull riding. But he had so much more going for him.
“I do. I’m not fancy or nothing, but I can carry a tune in a bucket. I like making things—whether it’s boxes or music.”
“Where is your guitar?” He was interested now. “I want to hear you play.”
“Oh.” Parker shot him a bright, pleased grin. “It’s in my truck. Maybe we’ll have a Christmas carol sing-along.”
He decided on mint tea and poured two mugs after the kettle whistled. “Perfect. I sound like a moose in rut when I sing, but I’m not shy.” He laughed. He wasn’t quite that bad.
“Me either. I’m not a great singer, but I do like to do it.” Parker winked at him and came right up to him. “The tea smells good.”
He held a mug by the top, handle toward Parker.
“Right? I can sure boil water.” That warm, woody scent wasn’t the fire or the tea, it was cowboy.
This time, he held Parker’s gaze steadily.
“I’m having a little internal tug of war over whether you’re fair game or off-limits, and neither side has waved a white flag yet. ”
“I’m open, well over twenty-one, and queer as a three-dollar bill.” Parker stepped up into his space, offered him a smile. “And I’m interested. Does that help?”
Yeah, that helped, and the warmth he was feeling wasn’t the fire in the wood stove. “Mhm.” He leaned a little closer. “Just one little detail—Skyler isn’t going to kick my ass, is he?”
Parker set his tea aside. “Why would he? He’s way into Beckett.”
“Because you’re his bestie, and you have a lot going on emotionally, and it’s Christmas.” He set his mug down too, trying to stay in the moment this time. “And I’m kind of an idiot. A really good lawyer, and an idiot.”
“Hush. I want to kiss you. You gonna be cool with that?”
He wanted that kiss so hard he was tingling, and there was no way he was ruining this moment by opening his mouth. Instead, he nodded and bent his head down so Parker could reach him.
Parker reached up, hand sliding around the back of his neck as he brought their mouths together. There was no hesitation in the kiss, no worry.
Just pure, honest hunger.
Parker’s confidence was sexy as hell, and he could be honest too. He curled an arm around Parker’s shoulders and stepped closer, enough that he could feel the cowboy’s chest fill with each breath.
Parker hummed into him, eyes wide open, watching him every second.
He hadn’t completely forgotten how this worked after all, and the little hint of tea on Parker’s breath made him grin. He slid the tip of his tongue along Parker’s lower lip.
Parker purred softly, the sound absolutely luscious, and it didn’t surprise him at all when the cowboy opened up for him.
Heath took advantage and found Parker’s tongue, sliding them together with a deep-voiced moan. Parker wasn’t pushing or rushing, but he could tell there was something a little different about the cowboy. Parker tasted a little wild.
It felt like he was going to have to hold on tight, and when Parker muscled closer, it proved him right.
There was no daylight between them now, and he couldn’t get a breath without feeling Parker against him. “Who needs a fire with you around?”
“Mmhmm… I could climb you like a jungle gym. You’re so damn solid.”
He was that, and Parker was a wisp by comparison. He chuckled low. “Go for it.”
Parker’s hands landed on his shoulders, and he launched up into his arms, legs wrapped around his waist.
He caught the cowboy, one hand around his back and the other very happily under his ass. “I had a feeling you’d be a handful.” He looked up at Parker, who seemed to weigh almost nothing.
“Mmhmm. I’m little, but I can go for hours and hours.”
“It’s been a minute, but I’m pretty sure I’m good for a long night.” He turned and took a step and Parker’s back hit the refrigerator.
“I love how you think.” Parker grunted and those legs tightened, squeezing him.
“Not sure I’d call this thinking.” Not with the head on his shoulders anyway. Everything else seemed to be pretty with the program. He leaned up and kissed Parker again, sucking on that tea-tinged tongue.
Parker bucked against him, his entire body rocking and riding him, making his eyes cross. His jeans were too tight now, his belly hard as a board.
He spun them again, setting Parker’s butt on the kitchen counter so he could use his hands to tug and tear at the man’s jeans, wrestling them open. He slipped his hand in and rubbed Parker’s hot cock through his briefs.
“Oh, fuck yes. You too. We’ll get the edge off, make each other happy as all get out.” Parker yanked his shirt up and off.
“Yeah. ’K.” He nodded and lowered his fly, popped the button on his khakis, and let them slip low on his hips. His cock went from aching to rock hard as soon as it had enough room, making him moan.
“Mmm…” Parker grabbed their cocks together in his hand, pumping once.
He grunted with it and rocked up on his toes reflexively. “Damn.” He pulled Parker into another hungry kiss.
“Uh-huh.” Parker’s lips parted, tongue warring with his, driving him insane.
The kiss was wild and needy. It was loud too, filling the kitchen with their rough breaths and moans. He added his hand to the mix, curling his fingers around Parker’s.
Parker nodded and grunted, his grip squeezing, his lips parted on a deep cry.
He humped into their hands, craving friction, wanting more. “Fuck, so hot.”
“Uh-huh. Don’t fucking stop. Please.”
No stopping, he felt too damn good and it had been too damn long. Parker was his whole universe right now, and his hand around Parker’s was giving him everything. He gasped as his balls drew up suddenly. “Park—Parker. I’m—” He groaned, feeling the sound vibrating in his chest. So close.
Parker dragged his thumbnail through his slit, pushing just hard enough. “Come on, stud. Gimme.”
He hardly had a choice.
“Ah—fuck!” He braced his free hand on Parker’s shoulder and shot so hard it stole his breath. The room went dark for a second.
Parker whimpered softly, then more heat spread between them, like Heath’s orgasm had drawn Parker’s.
They went still together, just breathing. He loosened his grip and tangled their slick fingers together instead, which was way hotter than he thought it should be.
“Damn, stud. You blew my fucking mind.”
“You’re pretty damn inspiring.” He took a quick, light kiss, just for the connection.
“Thanks for…not freaking. I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
“I’ve been trying not to think about you since yesterday.” Heath had to smile. “I freaked out then; guess I got it out of my system.”
“Well… I’d like to get you in my…system.” Parker laughed, the sound merry and warm.
“We could move the snuggle to my place—room. To my room.” Even now Parker still had him a little tongue-tied.
“I’d love that.” Parker kissed him again, dragging this one out. “Very much.”
He left Parker sitting on the counter and washed his hands in the kitchen sink, then came back and lifted Parker off the counter and set him on his feet. “I’m a big guy. I have a big shower.”
“I’m a little guy. I will totally fit with you.”
“Much sexier than tea.” He tugged Parker’s jeans up a little.
“Mm…thank you. Let’s go be naked. I am so interested in exploring.” There wasn’t a bit shy about that man.
He put a hand on Parker’s ass and steered him toward the stairs. “Go on up. I’m right behind you, taking in the view.”