STORY EXCERPT

Marcus woke suddenly, blinking several times until he cleared the sleep out of his eyes. It took him a few seconds to recognize Nick’s living room and he realized that he must have fallen asleep while he’d been waiting for him to get out of the shower. Which, under the circumstances, was preferable to spending that time picturing him in the shower.

He stood up slowly, realizing that Nick must have covered him while he slept. He couldn’t resist the urge to bring the blanket up to his face, inhaling the subtle scent of the expensive cologne that Nick wore.

He smiled slightly, shaking out the blanket and folding it, before he set it back on the end of the sofa. Nick was nowhere in sight but he thought that he heard some sounds coming from the room that had been furnished as an office, so he headed off in that direction.

He found him in the office, packing some of those law books into a cardboard box. His reaction to seeing Nick dressed so casually caught him by surprise. He grew hard as his eyes ran over his muscular physique, clad in a pair of faded jeans and an old T-shirt. The man was devastatingly sexy in those expensive, tailored suits that he wore to work every day. Confident, self-assured, he exuded crisp professionalism at all times. But he seemed so much more approachable dressed like this, more comfortable.

He longed to be more comfortable with Nick, longed to run his hands over the soft, well-worn fabric before he explored the contours of the well-defined muscles that were hiding underneath those comfortable-looking clothes…

Snap out of it! Marcus fought for control over his own body and he achieved it soon enough. After all, he’d had a lot of practice learning to control the physical reactions that Nick aroused in him, and he was relieved to admit that he was getting pretty good at it. Well, when I’m awake at least, he reminded himself with a grin.

Realizing that Nick was unaware of his continued perusal, Marcus cleared his throat loudly. “I’m sorry, Nick. I guess that I was more tired than I thought,” he apologized.

Nick turned to face him, a small, sad smile curving his sensual lips. “It’s all right. You looked like you needed the rest. I really wasn’t in any hurry.”

Marcus forced himself not to stare at those lips. Not to think about what they’d felt like, what they’d tasted like…

Clearing his throat again, he asked hesitantly, “Those belong to Kyle?” He pointed at the books that Nick had just placed into the box.

His jaw clenched as he answered, “Yeah. I found a few of his files and letters too, but this seems to be the last of it.” And with that he closed the lid to the box and picked it up to carry it out of the room.

Marcus stepped back out of his way and followed him into the kitchen, where he set the box down on the table.

Nick cleared his throat. “I’ll have this delivered to his office on Monday.” He fell silent again and Marcus couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind right now. The reserved, always-in-control Nick was back, and he suspected that he would come to regret opening up to him as he had earlier, if he didn’t already.

Deciding not to comment on his statement, Marcus asked, “Are you ready to go get your car now?”

“Yes, of course. Just let me grab my coat.”

He put on his own coat and gloves while he waited for him and then they left the apartment together. Nick actually managed a genuine smile when he suggested that they take the stairs.

“The elevator here is just a little bit scary,” he agreed.

When they reached the lobby, Marcus held the front door open and Nick stepped outside, pausing to glance first up, and then down the street. “Which one is yours?” he asked, referring to several cars that were parked along the curb.

Marcus came to a stop beside him, anticipating a similar reaction to the one that Nick had had the night before, but couldn’t remember. “We got lucky last night and grabbed a spot right in front of the door.” He couldn’t contain his boyish grin as he took out his keys, disabled the alarm and unlocked the doors.

“No way!” Nick exclaimed when Marcus pulled the handle on the passenger-side door, waiting as it lifted vertically into the air.

Marcus chuckled when Nick whistled and headed cautiously toward the car.

“Go on, Nick. Get in. It’s cold out here.” He was still grinning as he stepped around to the driver’s side, checking for traffic before he opened his own door and climbed into the driver’s seat.

He put his seatbelt on, barely containing his laughter while he watched Nick cautiously climbing into the car, eyeing the vertical door as if he expected it to come slamming down on him any minute. Once Nick had taken his seat and fastened his seat belt, he reached up for the handle and closed the car door.

“You gave me a ride home in this and I don’t remember? Unbelievable!” He whispered wonderingly.

“Well, you were unconscious for most of the ride,” Marcus pointed out as he started the engine.

Nick sighed heavily before he muttered, “Oh. This is a Lamborghini Murcielago.” He shook his head in disbelief. “What year?”

“2006.” Marcus said, his smile slipping just a little.

“I don’t understand. How can you have this?” The words were out of Nick’s mouth before he could stop them. Way to go Nick! If that wasn’t the rudest thing that I could have said…

“I’m sorry,” he apologized immediately. “That came out wrong…”

“No need to apologize, it’s a fair question,” Marcus said quietly.

ADULT EXCERPT

Marcus thought that his heart actually stopped when he heard the faint knock on his bedroom door. From a dead stop, his heart started racing as he whispered hopefully, “Come in?”

Nick pushed the door open while Marcus pulled himself up until he was sitting, reaching over to turn on the bedside lamp. The soft glow illuminated Nick’s face and Marcus immediately recognized the hesitation in his eyes.

“I didn’t wake you, did I?” Nick asked quietly.

“No. I couldn’t sleep.”

“Me either.”

“Would you like to sit down?” Marcus asked with a slight smile as he scooted over to the other side of the bed, anticipation firing his blood.

Nick moved cautiously toward him. How in the hell do I say that I’ve changed my mind? The mattress dipped slightly under his weight as he sat on the edge of the bed. Swallowing hard, a light flush creeping up his neck, he said, “I was hoping that your offer still stands?”

“It does.” Marcus smiled gently.

That smile drew Nick in and he couldn’t seem to stop himself from leaning toward Marcus, intent on tasting that wonderful mouth again.

Marcus ran the tip of his tongue across his lips a split second before Nick’s mouth covered his. Reaching out, he threaded his fingers into the wavy hair at the nape of Nick’s neck and held his head in place while they kissed.

Nick’s hands settled on Marcus’s smooth pecs and he was thrilled to feel his heartbeat thundering away in his chest. His own heart was beating just as fast. God, this man excited him, made him want to lose himself in the passion that so easily flared up between them.

Marcus let go of Nick’s mouth, needing to draw a breath. He slid down in the bed, reaching for Nick, wanting to maneuver himself beneath him, but Nick stretched out beside him and turned over onto his back.

Reaching for Marcus, he whispered, “It’s your turn.”

Oh God! Marcus swore that he flushed from head to toe, excitement making every inch of his skin hot and tight. He grabbed one of those foil packets off of the bedside table and sheathed himself quickly, much to Nick’s amusement.

Desire was making him anxious too though, and Nick reached for the lube, squirting some into the palm of his hand before he reached for Marcus’s cock. Nick coated the entire length of him with the slippery liquid, his easy strokes drawing more than one moan from Marcus’s mouth.

“Ah…” Marcus sighed with pleasure when Nick handed him the lube. He took it with a trembling hand, squirting a huge dollop onto the tips of his fingers before he brought them down to tease the rim of Nick’s anus. He swirled his fingertips around and around, gently massaging the tight opening, grinning when Nick squirmed with frustration.

Wanting, needing that breach, Nick lifted his bottom off the bed and arched into Marcus’s hand.

Marcus eased a finger past the tight ring of muscle, groaning as the slight resistance gave way and Nick’s internal muscles clamped onto his finger and tried to draw it in deeper. So tight! He fingered him gently, easing in another finger. And one more. Nick was squirming beneath him, rocking against his hand. He couldn’t wait to feel those muscles clamping around his dick and he eased his fingers out slowly, replacing them with the tip of his cock.

They both groaned when the tip breached, and Marcus pushed forward slowly. Nick rested his calves against his shoulders and Marcus slid his hands underneath him and lifted him as he began to move.

“So good,” Nick breathed as he rose up to meet those long, deep strokes.

“For me too,” Marcus panted.

“Kiss me, Marcus?” Nick whispered.

He complied, leaning forward until he could slip his tongue inside Nick’s hungry mouth.

When they came up for air, Marcus trailed little kisses along Nick’s chin, smiling as the rough hairs of his five-o’clock shadow grazed his lips, making them tingle. Gradually slowing his strokes, he brought his lips to Nick’s ear and whispered, his voice husky, “Turn over for me.”

Nick complied instantly once Marcus withdrew. He hurriedly flipped over and Marcus grabbed his muscular thighs, helping to pull him to his hands and knees beneath him. He ran his hands soothingly along Nick’s back, applying some more lube to the head of his dick before he entered him again.