Chapter Twenty-Eight
The front door slammed shut. “Brandon? Are you home?” Tash’s voice reached him in the kitchen as he closed the oven door with a flip of his foot.
“Mmm.” Tash gave the air an appreciative sniff from the entrance to the kitchen. “Roast chicken?” He walked in and gave Brandon a kiss hello. Tash tasted like coffee, and his skin brushed against Brandon’s, fresh and cool.
“Yep. I got Esther’s recipe. And my mom’s biscuits are still warm. Want one?” He took one from the basket he’d left on the warming plate on top of the stove, spread a little honey on it, and brought it to Tash for a taste. Tash’s eyes closed, a groan of happiness escaping his lips as he chewed and swallowed. If Brandon had anything to say about it, there’d be a lot more happy groans coming from the man tonight.
“Oh God, that was delicious.” He licked his lips, and Brandon’s cock stiffened. He remembered where those lips had been only last night and was already hard for a repeat performance.
“Glad you like it. She said they were always a big hit, and Esther loves them now.”
“They all seem to be settling in well together, don’t you think?”
In the month since Tina Munson had moved into Brandon’s former apartment in Esther’s house, she’d blossomed into a woman who, though cautious, had begun to see all that life had to offer. Being with someone as vibrant as Esther could do that to a person.
Tash had arranged for her to receive therapy from a female psychiatrist who specialized in treating victims of domestic abuse. In addition, she volunteered at the community center and had quickly become one of the children’s favorite storytellers.
“She’s so happy. She and Esther and Louisa trade recipes and go shopping. I think tomorrow the three of them are going into the city to go shopping and then later on to the hairdresser.”
“Look out, New York City,” said Tash, laughing as he took another biscuit. “How are you doing with all the changes?”
Brandon sat down and poured a glass of wine for each of them. Since he’d moved into the carriage house, this had become his favorite part of the day—Tash coming home and the two of them sharing their daily stories together. Finally, like a family.
“I’m great. Better than great.” He sipped his wine and watched Tash as he did the same. “I love living here, and I still have to pinch myself sometimes to believe it all worked out like it did.”
“Don’t pinch too hard. I wouldn’t want you to put a mark on that body of yours. It’s much too beautiful.” Tash finished off his glass.
Brandon drained his wineglass and stood. “I might have given myself a bruise.” He walked past Tash. “Maybe you should give me a physical, being a doctor and all.” Tash’s chair scraped against the tiled floor, and Brandon took off up the stairs, laughing as he heard Tash’s growl of frustration from behind as he pounded up the wooden steps. He entered their bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Everything was as he’d prepared it; the fire had been set earlier and flared behind the grate. He’d found a table at an antique store a week ago and wrestled it up the stairs, placing it in a perfect position before the fireplace. On it now rested a bottle of wine, some cheese, crackers, and chocolate-covered strawberries.
The door burst open, and Tash stalked in. Brandon forgot about the food, forgot everything at the desire flaming in Tash’s eyes.
“Come here.” Tash held out his hand, and Brandon went to him, mesmerized by Tash’s seductive voice and gleaming eyes. “Now take off your clothes.”
Impossibly hard from the mere touch of Tash’s hand, Brandon managed to find his voice. “Take them off for me.” He undid the top button of his shirt. “Here, I’ll even start it for you.”
Tash quirked his lips in a smile. “You want to tease me? I’ve been waiting all day to come home and start the weekend with you.” With sure, nimble fingers, Tash quickly divested Brandon of his shirt, his hands brushing the soft skin above the top of Brandon’s jeans, coming to rest on the waistband for a moment. His thumbs circled Brandon’s stomach, and Brandon almost came from that gentle touch alone. A quick pop of the button tab and Tash had the jeans tugged down to Brandon’s knees. “Now get these off, so I can give you a proper examination.”
Brandon wriggled out of the jeans and glanced down at his boxer briefs, where his cock already strained for release. “I have this swelling I don’t know what to do with, Doctor.” He stroked himself, cradling both his cock and balls in his hand. “Perhaps you need to take a closer look.” Brandon slipped off the underwear and lay on the bed. He continued to stroke his cock and roll his balls. Tash, never taking his eyes off Brandon, removed his clothes in seconds flat, leaving them in a heap on the floor. He crawled up onto the bed to sit between Brandon’s widespread legs.
“I think that’s an excellent idea.” Tash leaned down and kissed Brandon, who slipped his arm around Tash’s neck to hold him close. “First, though, I’m going to give you a different kind of oral exam.” He plunged his tongue into Brandon’s mouth, and Brandon moaned, grabbing on to Tash’s shoulders as he stroked Tash’s slick tongue with his own. True to his word, Tash nipped and licked his way down Brandon’s jaw to his ear.
Brandon cried out, arching off the bed, his cock jerking and swelling heavily between their bodies. Desperate for some friction, he writhed and humped against Tash, who released his lobe with a wet plop.
“Feel good, sweetheart?” He nuzzled Brandon’s neck, driving Brandon wild with desire.
“God, yes.” Brandon’s breath came in pants as he thrashed his head on the pillow. “Fuck, don’t stop.” He thrust his hips upward, anything to get some vital pressure on his aching cock.
Tash said nothing but continued his teasing licks and kisses down Brandon’s body, nibbling at his nipples and swirling around his belly button. Brandon almost screamed with relief as Tash grasped his cock. Tash kissed the head, and his tongue tickled the tiny slit, licking up all the liquid seeping out. “You like that, huh?”
Brandon could barely catch his breath to answer. “Yeah, please.”
“You want me to suck you, is that it?”
Oh fuck, the guy was going to kill him if Brandon didn’t kill Tash first for making him beg. “Yes, damn it.” Then all coherent thought left his mind as Tash’s mouth slid over Brandon’s cock, engulfing it in heat and wetness.
Tash took him all the way down his throat before drawing tight, then down again, his hands stroking in a steady up-and-down rhythm. One hand reached down and teased Brandon’s balls, then slipped farther back to tickle and circle his hole.
Brandon was close to bursting. His painfully hard cock ached, and the teasing pressure of Tash’s lips and tongue had him teetering on the edge. “Oh God, fuck me. Now.” He clutched at the sheets, knotting them in his hands as he thrust his hips up, ruthlessly shoving his cock down Tash’s throat. His orgasm barreled down on him, and he shattered into a million glittering pieces, his mind wiped clean of anything except the unadulterated pleasure pouring through him.
Tash never faltered and swallowed him to the last drop. Brandon shuddered and lay in a puddle of desire, watching as Tash crawled over to the night table for the condoms and lube, then stopped. With a questioning quirk of his brow, Tash faced him and smiled when Brandon shook his head. Tash left the condoms on the table, returning to kiss him, then pour some lube on his cock. Brandon was far too sated and wrung out from reaching a point of never-before-imagined ecstasy to do anything but hold on to Tash’s arms and fall into his kiss.
“We don’t need anything else between us, sweetheart. I’m so fucking hot for you; I know I won’t last.”
Brandon groaned at Tash’s words. Tash hadn’t entered him, yet Brandon craved to be stretched full and drilled deep.
He lifted his legs, spreading them. “Fuck me. Come on.” Tash’s slick cock penetrated him, and Brandon couldn’t wait. He tilted his hips and pushed up, impaling himself on the thickness, welcoming the sensation of being filled up by the man he loved more than anything.
Tash leaned over and slid his hand through Brandon’s hair, holding him down on the pillow while he took his mouth in a scorching kiss. “No one else. Only you and me.” He began the delicious pull and drag of his cock, in and out, and Brandon met each thrust with abandon, urging Tash on.
“Only you. Fuck me hard, harder. Yes. Come on. I love you.”
Tash plunged into his body, and skin to skin for the first time, Brandon knew they’d never been so connected, so in tune as their bodies moved in perfect synchronicity. With every slide and push, Tash left an indelible mark on Brandon, loving him, claiming him. Brandon welcomed him deep inside, deeper than he’d ever reached before. He tilted his hips so Tash could hit his sweet spot. Tash smoothly pegged it over and over again until Brandon’s groans of pleasure mixed with Tash’s, and they came together.
Tash collapsed on top of him, and Brandon held him tight, loving the heaviness of Tash’s body pinning him to the bed. He buried his face in Tash’s damp curls, inhaling his warm scent as he nuzzled into the comforting curve of his neck. The frenzied thump of their hearts settled down into a normal rhythm, yet Brandon was loath to let Tash go.
Tash pulled out of him slowly, then curled his body around Brandon, holding him close. “This was a nice way to start the weekend. I’m thinking, seeing the table by the fire, that this was all a setup?”
Brandon smiled against Tash’s chest. “Maybe. But I made the chicken knowing it would be good cold or hot. It’s sort of a celebration for us, don’t you think?”
Tash rubbed Brandon’s back. “In a way it is; you’re right. So I think we need a toast.”
They got out of bed and went to the bathroom to shower, then headed over to the warmth of the fire. Brandon uncorked the wine and poured a glass for Tash and one for himself. He stared into the fire for a moment before speaking.
“We’ve been living here together for one month, and every day it only gets better and better. Because of you, I have my brothers back and my mother here. You gave me back my life. If I’d never stopped running, I would have passed this all right by and missed you, and that would’ve been the biggest mistake I’d ever made.” Brandon kissed Tash, loving the sweet sweep of his tongue and the scratch of evening stubble rubbing against his face. The fact that he had this man every morning and night forever was a gift he planned to never take for granted.
Tash cupped Brandon’s jaw, holding his gaze. “I love you more today than the first time I knew it in my heart. Having you here with me, sharing our lives together and creating a home and family is something I’d never expected. I’m glad you stopped running.” When he reached out his hand, Brandon took it. “It made you easier to catch.”
They clinked their glasses and sipped the wine. Brandon savored the richness on his tongue and then took another sip and kissed Tash, sharing the wine from his mouth. Their kiss deepened, and Brandon knew his days of running were over. There was no place he’d rather be than right here in Tash’s arms.