Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Dan couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Because this was one dream he did not want to wake up from. Gary hadn’t moved either, his gaze locked on Dan’s face.
One of them had to break first.
“What are you saying?” Dan’s voice was rough to his own ears.
Gary raised his chin higher. “I’m saying… you walked into my life and turned it upside down, inside out, back to front….”
“But… you’re not gay.”
Gary maintained eye contact. “No, I’m not. So imagine how it feels—for the second time in my life—to find myself attracted to another man.”
Dan closed his eyes, overwhelmed for a second or two by the memory of strong emotion. “Cory.” When he opened them, Gary’s eyes were huge.
“How did you—what did you feel when I gave you Cory’s ring? Was it more than you said at the time?”
“I’ve been waiting for that question. What surprises me is that you didn’t ask it at the time. I did wonder why. And to answer your question, no, I didn’t feel anything other than the strong connection the two of you shared.” He stilled. “You loved him.”
Gary’s mouth opened and closed, but no words fell from his lips. He got up from the couch and walked over to the window, pressed his palm to the glass. “He was my first crush. Except… I think I always knew it was more than that. He didn’t feel the same way about me.”
Dan rose and went to him. He stood behind Gary, aching to touch him, hold him. “He loved you, though. Like a brother.” Christ, the smell of him….
Gary didn’t turn his head, but nodded. “I know. And that’s how I came to feel about him. I told myself it was only a phase. I dated girls. I was perfectly happy dating girls. I never looked at a guy the way I looked at him. Until you.”
They were close enough that Dan felt heat radiating from Gary’s body. His heart thumped, his pulse raced, his breathing was shallow. “Look, you don’t have to say these things. Just because I had a vision doesn’t mean we have to—”
“Oh for God’s sake.” Gary spun around, grabbed Dan by the shoulders, and flipped them, shoving him against the cool glass. “Stop talking and kiss me.”
Then his lips met Dan’s in a searing kiss that exploded Dan’s senses. His hands were on Gary’s neck, then his broad shoulders, stroking, caressing, exploring. Gary moaned into the kiss, and the sound reverberated through Dan, beating a path to his dick.
Christ, is this real?
Dan gasped, pushing him away. “Wait—”
Gary halted, shaking. “Do you really want me to stop?”
“I want you to slow down.” Dan cupped his cheek. “Breathe, sweetheart.” A tumult of emotions was at war within him. “I want you too, but you have to be sure about this.”
“So sure you wouldn’t believe.” Gary swallowed.
“You have no idea what I’ve gone through this past week.
Every time we were together, I couldn’t think straight.
All I wanted to do was hold you. Be close to you.
Touch you.” Another swallow. “I tried to ignore my feelings, but the more I did, the worse it got, until I thought I was about to explode.”
“Then you’re not saying all this because of my vision?”
Gary smiled, and the light in his eyes sent Dan’s heart soaring. “Touch me again.” When Dan frowned, he gently brought Dan’s hands to his face. “Touch me. Connect with me, if you can. I want you to tell me what you feel.”
Dan breathed deeply, Gary’s face warm against his palms, his beard soft, and opened himself up.
“Oh my God.” Warmth surrounded him. He trembled as wave after wave of emotion surged over him until he was swimming in an ocean of desire, arousal, need—all focused on him.
And through it all, he was aware of Gary, the light in him, the gentleness.
“Am I speaking the truth?” Gary demanded.
“Yes,” Dan whispered.
“Do you want this as much as I do?”
“God yes.” The words were almost a sob. Then soft lips met his, Gary’s beard grazed his skin, and they were in each other’s arms.
Where they belonged.
He couldn’t stop touching Gary. He wanted to learn every line of him, from the curve of his pecs to the curve of his ass.
Gary seemed intent on a similar mission, and when his fingers strayed to Dan’s crotch, Dan didn’t hesitate.
He covered Gary’s hand with his own, molding it around his erection, loving the groan that fell from Gary’s lips.
“Can I?”
Dan swallowed. “You don’t have to ask.” Then his breath caught as Gary unfastened his pants, lowered the zipper, and stroked Dan’s length through the soft cotton layer of his briefs. “As long as I can do the same.”
Gary froze for a second; then they fumbled with buttons and zippers until clothing was discarded and they stood facing each other, both of them trembling.
Dan stroked Gary’s firm chest, trailing his fingers lower until at last he curled them around Gary’s thickening flesh, the skin warm and smooth beneath his fingertips.
He glanced down at it and licked his lips.
“Oh sweet Jesus,” Gary groaned.
That was all the invitation Dan needed. He sank to his knees and took Gary into his mouth.
Gary’s soft cry sent the blood rushing south, and he began to worship with lips and tongue, one hand holding Gary steady, the other stroking Gary’s warm, furry body.
Gary laid his hands on Dan’s head, cradling it as he rocked his hips, a gentle motion at first that gathered speed until he pulled free.
“I don’t think my legs will hold me up a second longer.”
Dan got to his feet, took him by the hand, and led him to the bed. He gave a gentle push, and Gary fell backward onto it, his erection rising into the air. Dan climbed onto the bed, straddled Gary’s head, and twisted to gaze at him over his shoulder.
“You know what comes next, right?” Without waiting for a response, he leaned forward, his face inches from Gary’s crotch, and went back to the task of blowing Gary’s mind. He shuddered at the feel of Gary’s tentative tongue. “Oh, yeah, don’t stop.”
It was apparently all the encouragement Gary needed.
The air filled with a soundtrack that heightened his arousal, and Dan gave himself up to his senses.
The heady musk emanating from Gary was as erotic as the vibrations caused by his moans, and he knew it couldn’t last long.
Everything was conspiring to send him hurtling toward his climax: Gary’s mouth on him, his hands stroking Dan’s ass, hips, thighs… .
With a cry he came, shuddering with each jolt of pleasure that coursed through him. Seconds later Gary’s groans mingled with his, and Dan’s lips, cheeks, and chin were coated with warmth. When the tremors ceased, Dan shifted position to lie beside him.
Gary rolled him onto his back, his welcome weight pinning Dan to the bed.
He stretched out his hand toward the nightstand, pulled a Kleenex from the box there, and proceeded to remove all traces of his load from Dan’s face.
Once he’d discarded the crumpled tissue, he focused his attention on Dan.
Gary’s lips brushed against his neck, and Dan shivered, craving more of Gary’s touch, more of his kisses.
I could never have enough of him.
Gary propped himself up on his elbows and gazed into Dan’s eyes. “Wow.”
“Good wow?”
He chuckled. “You have to ask? That was amazing.”
“You were pretty awesome too. For a first timer.” He bit his lip. “Is it something you’d like to do again?”
Gary grinned. “I repeat… you have to ask?” His gaze grew serious as he stroked Dan’s cheek. “Is it always like this? So intense? So overwhelming?”
He took a deep breath. “No. This was a first for me too.”
And I think that was because it was you. The emotions he’d felt when they’d touched earlier only amplified their connection.
“You feel good under me,” Gary murmured. He rolled his hips, and Dan knew there was more to come.
He looped his arms around Gary’s neck. “You feel good on top of me.” He spread his legs, drawing them up to wrap them around Gary’s waist. Desire trickled through him, and he whispered, “You’ll feel good inside me too.”
Gary’s eyes widened. “Now?”
He chuckled. “Not right this minute.” He kissed Gary on the lips. “What do you think of that idea?” Not that he’d force the issue if Gary wasn’t keen. Dan had been with enough guys to know not everyone was into anal.
It didn’t stop him hoping, however.
“Well, actually, I—” Whatever Gary had been about to say was lost in the growl that erupted from his stomach.
Dan blinked, and a moment later, the bed shook with their laughter. He kissed the tip of Gary’s nose. “Message received. I’ll order food.” When Gary didn’t move, Dan cleared his throat. “Er…. To do that, I need to get out of bed.”
“Mm-hmm.” Still no movement.
He chuckled. “Gary….” When Gary rolled off him with a sigh, Dan leaned over and kissed him again, this time a lingering meeting of lips. “I promise, once we’ve dealt with your demanding stomach, we’ll pick up where we left off.”
Gary’s breathing quickened. “About your… suggestion….”
His hesitation was adorable.
Dan sat up. “There’s no rush, okay? You choose the pace. You’re in charge.”
Gary shifted onto his side. “I was going to ask… would it be okay if I stayed here tonight? And I’d be happy if all I did was hold you all night long.”
A layer of peace settled on him. “That sounds perfect.” He reached for Gary’s hand. “I know I said I couldn’t leave yet because I had to help you find Cory’s killer. That was the truth. But there was also this.” He laced their fingers. “I can’t walk away because of this… connection.”
Gary shuddered. “Thank God for that.” He stared at their joined hands. “And about me choosing the pace. Are you okay with the slow lane? Because I’ve never moved this fast in my life, and I want to reduce speed and enjoy the journey.”
Warmth spread through Dan until he felt it in his fingers and toes. “The slow lane works for me. Especially as I didn’t exactly come prepared for such a… trip.”
Gary’s brow furrowed and then cleared, a flush rising up from his chest, reaching his cheeks. “Oh. Yes.”
“Do I need to be prepared?”
Gary’s grin was all the answer he required.