Tim felt himself blush. He ought to be past the point of embarrassment by now because he’d come out a long time ago, but DeVore’s blunt question seemed to carry unspoken connotations and implications that had his cock twitching under the sheet and tingles racing along his nerves.

“Yes, I’m gay. I’ve known it since before I had the surgery at sixteen and I came out to family and friends as soon as I was back on my feet. No one had a huge fit, although my folks were not pleased. I’ve tried to keep a low profile to be sure it doesn’t cause them any problems. In some circles, Texas is still pretty conservative.”

While they’d talked, DeVore had edged closer. Now he sat near enough that he only had to stretch his arms to reach Tim, touch him, then grasp both arms after he took the near-empty mug from fingers gone almost nerveless and set it aside.

“Come here.”

Tim could no more resist that gravel-voiced command than he could have flown to the moon in his current state of undress. He shoved down the sheet and spread, heedless of showing the scar in the center of his chest that he made a habit of keeping covered. It wasn’t pretty, but DeVore didn’t bat an eye as his gaze slid right past it to all that lay below.

Tim twisted to get on his knees. His cock thrust out of a mat of dark curls, proud and already erect. That part he had no urge to hide. Off balance, he leaned too far forward.

With studied calm, DeVore caught Tim and eased him back onto his heels. The older man’s smile mixed wolfish eagerness, appreciation and a bit of triumph. “I believe I’m overdressed,” he said. “Give me a sec and I’ll fix that.”

He stood, tossing his shirt aside before he unbuttoned his 501 Levi’s and let them fall. He didn’t have anything on underneath the denim.

Tim could not quite control his gasp. Well-endowed didn’t begin to do the other man justice. I’d be proud to put a picture of that on my wall. Worth a wet dream any night. Holy Toledo.

Then DeVore’s arms closed around him, hauling him forward until their bodies were flush, almost welding together. After that, there was no time or room to think at all, only sensations.

* * * *

DeVore looked Tim over briefly before he mentally shut his eyes and let emotion and lust take over. Without really seeing, he could almost imagine it was Steven, come back to life. Steven, as eager and aroused as DeVore was himself. It wasn’t, of course, but the fantasy felt fantastic.

There were so many differences and yet…Was he just allowing some kind of delusion or wishful thinking to take over? He’d been so sure no one would ever take Steven’s place and fill the horrible gaping hole that still sat in the middle of his life. Of course, this young man could not do it, but in this moment maybe he needed Mr. Right Now a lot more than the long-gone Mr. Right.

He wrapped both arms around Tim and crushed him close. The younger man’s hair felt silk-soft against his throat, then under his questing lips. He released one arm just enough to tunnel his fingers into that hair at the back of Tim’s head to tip it back until his lips found the other man’s, met, melded and fused in a consuming kiss.