RR-CDA (17 page)

Something about Cole was different from the last time Owen had seen him. First off, he was smiling. Always a good sign. Owen looked over his shoulder to where Jane, Moe, and several other staff weren’t bothering to hide the fact they were watching him. Jane even shot him a wink, which was all the encouragement he needed to slide into the booth opposite Cole.

Not entirely sure where this conversation was going, he grabbed Cole’s beer and took a swig. “You look good.”

“You’re exhausted. It was crazy in here tonight.”

This was it, his chance to set things right. Since Cole had walked away, Owen had regretted not sharing his problems with him. There weren’t any excuses now.

“I am tired. It’s not just the bar though.” The dam burst and all the words he’d been holding back spilled forth. “My dad’s sick. Not just from the stroke. His behavior has become erratic over the past six months or so. My mom didn’t tell me until last week because she was scared that I’d taken on too much with the bar. But he’d shown up here angry and confused, so she couldn’t hide it any longer. I haven’t known you long, not really. And the last thing I wanted to do was dump my problems on you when you were still working everything out with your ex. I should have been up-front about all this when you asked and for that I’m sorry. I’m still not great about asking for help.”

When he looked up from the spot on the table that he’d been staring at, he was surprised to see Cole frowning. Shit, maybe he’d made a mistake after all.

Cole reached out and took his hand. “I’m sorry you’re going through that. I understand why you wouldn’t want to share everything. I was so wrapped up in myself that I’m ashamed I didn’t see your reactions for what they really were. It also confirms what I already suspected about you.”

Owen’s heart pounded a bit faster. “What’s that?”

“That you’re a good man with good intentions. You’re the type of person who helps strangers, will take the shirt off his back for a friend, and lay his life on the line for his family. I’m honored to be your friend.”

Friend. It felt as though what they shared was so much more than friendship. “I know it’s only been two weeks. I know there are things I still want to know about you, your family. I’m sure there’s lots you want to know about me.”

Cole smiled, and Owen’s heart did a somersault. “Yeah, there’s lots of stuff for us to share, but I think I already know the important part.”

“What’s that?”

Cole laced their fingers together. Instead of answering his question, Cole threw him for a loop. “I ran into Steven today.”

“What?” He somehow held himself still. “I thought he was away?”

“They came back early. He was Christmas shopping.”

“What happened?”

“We talked. He’s not sure he did the right thing. He wanted me to tell him he did. Or to take him back.”

He hadn’t considered that Cole might want to go back to Steven. Not after everything he’d been through to this point. “Did you?”

“Of course not. How could I when I’m in love with you?”

Joy exploded inside him. He had to swallow twice to get his voice to work. “What?”

“I think, quite possibly, that I might be a teeny bit in love with you.” Cole leaned down and kissed the back of his hand. “I know it’s way too soon. I know there are lots of logical reasons for me to hesitate about jumping into something so quickly. I know all of these things with my head. My heart is telling me something different.”

Owen caught sight of his employees trying to sneak away from the bar without interrupting. He leaned out of the booth and grinned at them. “Merry Christmas, guys. I’ll see you on the twenty-seventh.”

“Night, boss.” Jane ushered the rest of the team to the door before flipping the Closed sign around and locking the door behind her.

“That’s subtle.” Cole chuckled. “I take it they assume I’m not leaving tonight.”

“You’ve just declared your undying love for me and kissed the back of my hand.” Owen stood and pulled Cole to his feet. “You don’t understand what you’ve unleashed.”

“Hey now, I don’t think I said ‘undying love.’”

“No, no, you totally did.” Owen didn’t stop moving, and Cole stumbled behind him, laughing. “And now I’m taking you to my place for sex. Lots of sex.”

Somehow they made it up to his apartment without either of them tripping. It would have been an easier journey if he’d been willing to let go of Cole’s hand, but he wasn’t. He wasn’t taking the chance that Cole would try to get away.

Cole loved him.

And Owen knew deep down in his heart that he loved Cole.

He practically kicked his door open and pulled Cole inside. He didn’t know who moved first, but they were kissing within seconds. His body ached from days of hard work and stress, but with Cole’s hands on him, it all dissipated.

“You taste like beer,” Cole muttered between kisses. “So good.”

“You too.” He cupped Cole’s face with both hands and deepened the kiss. His world spun and narrowed until he was aware of nothing but the man in his arms. Warmth and strength pressed against him, holding him, loving him.

Cole walked him backward until the backs of his legs bumped into the couch. No, he didn’t want this time to be here, frantic. He wanted Cole stretched out in his bed, where his scent would linger long after he’d gone.

“Come with me.” He grabbed Cole by the front of the shirt and dragged him to bed.

“This is very caveman of you.”

“Get used to it.”

Clothing was removed between kisses, as he needed to feel Cole’s naked skin on his, but was unwilling to relinquish his prize for long. They stumbled and laughed as they stripped each other until they were finally naked.

Perfect.

He couldn’t stop touching Cole. He’d thought he’d lost this opportunity, to be with him again. He’d regretted not paying enough attention to this soft spot on Cole’s side—he kissed it—or to the back of Cole’s knee—he licked it—when they’d been together before. He didn’t know what the future held for them exactly, but he wouldn’t make assumptions and he wouldn’t take Cole for granted again.

He ran his hands up Cole’s legs, loving how the muscles twitched beneath his touch. “You’re so fucking hot. I never want to let you out of my bed.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Cole bucked his hips, making his erect cock sway. “Though I might if you keep teasing me like this.”

Owen grinned, his gaze locked on Cole’s as he climbed up and finally took Cole’s cock into his mouth. The skin was hot and held the bitter flavor of pre-cum. Owen groaned and lapped it up, making sure to tease the crown with his tongue. He knew he’d hit the right spot when Cole bucked his hips and pushed his fingers into Owen’s hair.

“God, your mouth.” Cole arched off the bed. “So good.”

He loved this. Loved the intimacy of a blowjob. Tasting and feeling every twitch of Cole and knowing that he was the one who’d driven him to the edge. Not wanting Cole to come yet, Owen shifted down and began licking long, slow swipes up and down the length of his shaft. When he reached Cole’s balls, he teased the puckered skin. It was tempting to lick his ass, bite the insides of his thighs. Tempting, but that wasn’t what Owen wanted. No, more than anything he wanted to feel Cole’s cock buried deep inside him.

Right now. That’s what he wanted.

Cole whimpered when he pulled away. “Where you going?”

“Condom. Lube.”

Cole purred and spread his legs wider. “Excellent idea.”

When Owen came back from liberating a condom from his bathroom drawer, he tore the packet open and immediately rolled it down Cole’s cock as he threw the bottle of lube beside him. He had to laugh at the confusion on Cole’s face when Owen climbed over him and turned onto his back. “How do you want me?”

Cole propped himself up on his elbow. “What? I thought . . .”

“I know I haven’t given you much indication that I would want to bottom, but I do. I want you”—he reached out and squeezed Cole’s cock—“to take this and fuck me. Hard.”

Cole closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath. When Cole opened them again, Owen shuddered at the intensity of his stare. “Get on your hands and knees.”

There was no doubting the control in Cole’s voice. Owen complied, making sure to spread his legs wide enough to offer support for whatever Cole wanted to do with him. He wasn’t surprised at the snap of the lube bottle being opened, nor the cold press of Cole’s finger into his ass. What he wasn’t expecting was Cole biting down on his ass cheek, or the scrape of Cole’s nails into the front of his thigh.

“I can’t get enough of you.” Cole licked the spot he’d just assaulted. “I get this crazy feeling of wanting to suck and bite and squeeze your skin. I want to press down on you at the same time I ease my way into you. You’re making me crazy and obsessive and wild. I’m none of those things.”

Owen groaned and let his head fall forward. No one had ever said anything like that to him. Never had he felt that primal connection to another person, man or woman. It was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Cole was there for him, wanted to reciprocate the care Owen had given him. It was more than sex or friendship. He knew deep down he loved Cole. And Cole loved him the same way.

Thoughts of love and relationships flew from his mind when Cole pushed a second, then third finger into him. Cole stretched him, fucked him with his fingers until he was going insane from want. Words refused to form in his mouth, so instead he began to thrust back against Cole, hoping he’d understand his silent plea.

Cole bit down one final time. “Get on your back. I want to see your face.”

He flopped over, a barely controlled fall, and rolled into position. His body shook and a light sheen of sweat now covered his skin. It wasn’t going to take long to push him over the edge. From the way Cole’s hands shook as he guided his cock between the curves of Owen’s ass, he wouldn’t be far behind him.

The press of Cole’s cock dragged a groan from Owen. It had been so long since he’d done this, been on the receiving end of another man. The intrusion was strange and familiar at once. He had to mentally remind himself to relax, that Cole wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, that his body would adjust and the pleasure would come. His cock softened slightly once Cole slid all the way in. Cole wrapped his hand around Owen’s cock and gently began to stroke as he peppered him with little thrusts.

It worked. The combination of the two had him hard again within a few minutes. The tension in his body eased as his pleasure grew. Everything dropped away and all he could focus on was Cole: his body, the strength of his thrusts, the gentleness of his caress. When he leaned in and kissed Owen, Owen knew this was everything he could ever want.

Cole broke the kiss, but didn’t pull back. “Can you come like this?”

“Yeah. Fuck yeah.”

Cole groaned. “Good. I’m going to try and wait for you. I want to feel you squeeze around my cock. I want to feel your cum between us. Like you’ve done for me.”

With each word, Cole thrust harder into him, pushing him closer to the edge. The staccato hits against his prostate took him higher, until he reached the precipice. He opened his eyes and looked up at Cole. He was so close it nearly hurt to see him, so close there was nothing else in his world. So close that he knew he never wanted another person to take Cole’s place.

“I love you,” Owen whispered a moment before his orgasm slammed into him. He couldn’t keep his eyes open then. Waves of pleasure washed through him, tearing him apart from deep inside.

Cole didn’t slow down, didn’t give him any respite. He thrust harder and faster until Owen couldn’t stop from letting out a roar. Another burst of cum spurted between them, coating their bodies. The pleasure threatened to grow painful, but it eventually subsided.

Owen struggled to open his eyes. He saw Cole’s face contorted in his own mix of pleasure and pain. His thrusts were erratic and shallow, a move Owen knew all too well. Cole was holding back, trying to draw things out until his orgasm wouldn’t be denied.
Poor Cole.
Owen braced his feet against the mattress and squeezed his ass on each thrust. Cole gasped and growled, and his eyes squeezed shut harder.

“Come for me.” Owen’s voice emerged as barely a whisper. “Come on me.”

Gasping, Cole began to pound into him. His prostate was oversensitized now, but Owen refused to move, to do anything that would ruin the moment for Cole. Thankfully, he didn’t have to worry long. Within moments, Cole pulled out and ripped the condom off. With a few frantic strokes he threw his head back and cried out. Hot cum landed on Owen’s chest and stomach, Cole’s cum mixing with his.

Cole sucked in a breath and fell forward onto his hands. With his face hovering inches from Owen’s it was easy to see his satisfaction and joy. Owen reached up and cupped his cheek. “I love you.”

Cole opened his eyes slowly, blinking several times.

Owen ignored the silence. “There are so many reasons why I shouldn’t have said that to you. It’s too soon, you’re still dealing with Steven, the holidays. But I need you to know. I love you. I want to be a part of your life. This isn’t a rebound. This is something more.”

Cole leaned down and kissed him softly. “I love you too. I think I have since the first time I walked into the bar and saw you standing there smiling at me.”

Owen pulled Cole down and wrapped him in his arms. “Good. Then we’re going to take things as they come. I’ll listen to you about Steven and work and whatever else you want to talk about.”

“And I’m here for you. Not just to talk about what’s going on with your dad, but to help you when you need me.”

Owen ran his hands through Cole’s hair. “Thank you.”

After a few moments, he thought Cole had drifted off to sleep. Maybe they both had, because a chill passed through him. Not wanting to move Cole, he grabbed the edge of the blanked and flipped it across them.

“Owen?”

“Didn’t mean to wake you. Was getting cold. You good?”

“Couldn’t be better. Hey?”

“Hmm?”

“There is something you can do for me.”

“What’s that?”

“Promise me that if you ever take me bowling, you’ll wear your tight pants.”