Chapter 17 #2
Lightheaded from a sudden burst of adrenaline, Ethan’s eyes darted around the lounge. Blake could dance, but he’d never mentioned singing. This was a challenging song for a deep male voice. The gesture was sweet and romantic, but…
Blake began to sing, instantly dispelling all of Ethan’s fears. His voice was as smooth and rich as warm caramel sliding over ice cream.
This wasn’t just-for-fun karaoke. A lark between friends. This was a personal, soul-stirring interpretation of a well-known and beloved song, injected with so much emotion that it brought tears to Ethan’s eyes.
The club faded away into the background, as if every light dimmed until all that remained was Blake, singing in an amber-tinted spotlight.
He was a natural performer, completely at ease in front of an audience.
Moving in time with the melody, he subtly shifted his weight and swayed his shoulders.
Throughout the entire performance, his gaze never wavered.
His eyes stayed locked with Ethan’s, as though he was the only other person in the lounge.
For the final chorus, Tony switched to a pared-back melody that allowed Blake’s voice to shine.
As he lingered on the last soulful phrase, “I really don’t know life at all,” tinging it with a world-weary longing, the audience erupted into applause.
Blake stepped back from the microphone and bowed his head, smiling at the audience and holding his open hand in the direction of the piano player. “Tony DeLuca, everyone. Remember to tip your piano player.”
Ethan wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He no longer cared that Blake’s plan for The Firehouse seemed like a long shot.
He didn’t care how much work it would take to translate his vision into spreadsheets, tables, and financial projections.
At this point, it was more than just a business plan – it was the first step in making his boyfriend’s dream come true.
Blake had the talent to make a go of this, and he deserved a chance.
After giving Tony another hug, Blake walked back to their table, stopping to chat with his friends along the way and thanking them for their compliments. By the time he sat down, he was beaming.
“This is a classy place,” Ethan said. “You’re popular here.”
“I stop by a couple times a month. Most of the regulars have been coming here for years. I don’t get to sing at The Firehouse, so when I want to sing for an audience, I come here.”
“You have a beautiful voice.” Ethan swirled his drink. “I didn’t know you knew that song.”
“I learned it after our date.”
The corners of Ethan’s mouth trembled. “You memorized the lyrics for me?”
“Yeah?”
Ethan threw his arms around Blake and squeezed him, fresh tears wetting his cheeks. “Okay,” he mumbled against Blake’s neck.
“Okay?”
Ethan pulled back and gazed deeply into Blake’s eyes. “I’m going to help you with your business plan.”
Blake’s breath hitched, and a fragile smile touched his lips. He leaned in and pressed his forehead to Ethan’s.
“But tonight,” Ethan whispered, his hand dropping to Blake’s thigh, “We’re going to finish our cocktails, then I want you to take me back to my place and fuck me.”
Blake emptied his glass and set it on the table with a thunk. “Ready when you are.”
They burst into Ethan’s apartment, locked in a passionate kiss, their tongues tangling together. Fumbling in the dark, Ethan kicked the door closed and toed off his sneakers. He broke their kiss only long enough for them to pull their Henleys over their heads, then claimed Blake’s mouth again.
He guided Blake to his bed, walking backwards and relying on muscle memory to navigate the dark room. When his calves bumped up against his mattress, he gently bit Blake’s lower lip and dragged his teeth along the soft skin.
“I’m all yours tonight,” he said, slipping his hand into Blake’s jeans and fondling his erect cock. “I want you to fuck me.”
Blake moaned, his head dropping back.
Ethan perched on the edge of the mattress and ran his hands over the defined ridges of Blake’s abs. Ambient light filtered through his half-open blinds, painting his boyfriend’s exquisite physique with stripes of light and shadow.
He felt like he was in a dream, as if he’d conjured up the perfect man from his most treasured fantasies.
After unzipping Blake’s fly, he lowered his jeans past his thighs and let them fall to the floor. Blake was wearing sexy black briefs, made from a fine, see-through mesh that clung to the contours of his body like a second skin.
Ethan groaned, running his nose along the length of Blake’s cock and inhaling its musky scent. That thick, rock-hard penis was going to be filling him soon.
He slid the front pouch of the briefs to the side and kissed Blake where he smelled like a man, in the sweaty crease between his balls and his thigh. The humid warmth of Blake’s groin sent blood rushing to Ethan’s cock, causing it to throb and ache with desire.
Ethan had been good, taking things slow, waiting a respectable amount of time and not giving himself away too easily. But he couldn’t wait any longer – he needed to taste his man.
He gripped the waistband of Blake’s briefs and tugged them down until his cock sprang free, a drop of pre-cum leaking from the slit. Ethan ran his tongue over every inch of Blake’s shaft, relishing the mild, salty flavor of his skin.
Blake inched his hips forward, until his dick slid along Ethan’s cheek. Taking the hint, Ethan wrapped his lips around the pink head of Blake’s cock and took him into his mouth.
It was heavenly – the taste, the smell, the sensation of hard cock sliding over his tongue. Ethan moved slowly, drawing back and flicking his tongue along the entire length, then advancing, taking him deeper each time.
Blake rocked his hips, his lusty moans spurring Ethan to bob his head faster, to suck harder. When the head of Blake’s cock slipped into his throat, Ethan hummed. The vibrations drew a sharp gasp from Blake.
“I need a break,” Blake said, frantically tapping on Ethan’s shoulder. “If you keep doing that, I’ll come too soon.”
Smiling with satisfaction and pride in his cocksucking ability, Ethan pulled away from Blake’s dick and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Blake nodded toward the bed. “Lie down.”
Ethan scooted up the mattress and lay back, supporting himself on his elbows.
Emerald fire burned in Blake’s eyes as his gaze raked over the contours of Ethan’s body, pausing at the outline of his jean-encased cock. He stepped out of his pants and kicked them away with a sexy growl. Lifting each foot in turn, he pulled off his sporty high-top sneakers.
Through the stripes of light cast across his man’s body, Ethan registered the brief flash of a bare foot before each shoe dropped to the ground. To his surprise, the fact that Blake wasn’t wearing socks ramped up his excitement, causing his cock to twitch.
Completely naked, Blake crawled up the bed until he was straddling Ethan’s legs. Tooth by tooth, he unzipped his fly, his knuckles trailing along Ethan’s sensitive shaft.
Hungry for touch, Ethan wriggled his hips, trying to squirm out of his pants.
“Impatient,” Blake said with a sly smile.
“That’s easy for you to say.” Ethan’s voice trembled with a combination of arousal and anticipation. “You’ve already had your blow job.”
Chuckling, Blake pulled down his pants and underwear in a single fluid motion, and Ethan sighed at the breath of cool air on his overheated cock.
Cradling Ethan’s heel, Blake lifted his foot to chest-level. After caressing his sole, he peeled off Ethan’s sock and pressed a soft kiss to his toes before lowering his foot to the mattress.
Blake gave his other foot the same sensual treatment, and Ethan was once again surprised how the attention to his feet made his cock throb.
Blake settled on top of him, pressing their chests together. The heft and heat of Blake’s body surrounded him like a weighted blanket.
Ethan ran his hands up Blake’s thickly-muscled back. “I’ve been wanting this for a long time.”
“Me too,” Blake said, kissing the tip of his nose.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Blake swept the cherry-red hair off Ethan’s forehead with a light brush of his fingertips. “You’re so beautiful. I would’ve waited forever.”
He pressed a kiss to Ethan’s lips, one that started soft and tentative, but quickly deepened, becoming hungry as their tongues rubbed together. Their hard cocks came together too, shaft sliding along shaft as Blake swiveled his hips.
With a groan of lust, Blake trailed wet, open-mouth kisses along Ethan’s jaw and down his neck. Moving lower, he sucked one of Ethan’s nipples into his mouth while he massaged his pecs.
“Fuck,” Ethan whispered, his eyes fluttering closed from the intense pleasure.
After sucking both nipples and flicking his tongue over their stiff points, Blake kissed his way down Ethan’s stomach, following the dark line of his treasure trail.
When Blake swallowed the entire length of his cock, Ethan arched his back and let out a high-pitched moan. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this hard and ready.
He lost himself in sensation, playing with his nipples and thrusting into the warm, wet heat of Blake’s mouth. Too soon, Blake slid off his cock and kissed lower, licking his balls.
Ethan grimaced, suddenly nervous. Blake’s tongue on his balls felt amazing, but he’d been working all day, and the diner could get warm in the summer. “Um, sorry, it was a long day.”
Blake looked up, making eye contact while he lapped at Ethan’s nuts. “You can just relax now, and not think about it.”
“I mean, uh… am I too sweaty down there?”
Blake sucked one of his balls into his mouth and then let it slide out between his lips. “No complaints here.”
He gently gripped Ethan’s thighs and pushed them toward his chest, lifting his ass off the bed. Blake’s warm breath ghosted over his exposed hole. “Can I kiss you here?”
The desire to feel Blake’s tongue on his most intimate skin overrode any lingering concerns about his freshness. “Please.”