Rum & Ginger (25 page)

“It really does,” Chance agreed. “And I think I can really understand your bar idea now. If there’s ever anything I can do to help out, you’ll have to let me know.”

“Thanks, Chancey.” Ben reached across the roof of the car and took Chance’s hand.

“No problem. See you,” Chance said with a smile.

“Drive safe,” Ben released Chance’s hand. Then he touched the glass by Lena’s face and she put her palm against his. Chance pulled out of the driveway and beeped. When the car reached the end of the street, Ben felt a pair of arms snake around his torso and pull him close.

“Are things okay?” Brodie asked next to Ben’s ear.

“Yeah. Or at least, they’re on their way to being okay,” Ben answered. Then he shifted in Brodie’s embrace and kissed him. “Do you think you might want to sleep over tonight?”

“Just sleep?” Brodie asked.

“No.” Ben grabbed Brodie’s hand and led him inside. “Not just sleep.”

B
EN
BARELY
managed to slide the glass door open before he and Brodie stumbled through, already kissing and groping one another. Ben could only think about Brodie’s lean, firm muscles and his densely tattooed skin. He opened his mouth wide, accepting Ben’s probing tongue. Their hands grabbed hungrily, their mouths connecting vigorously. Ben guided Brodie toward the bedroom. Before they reached the door, Brodie had worked Ben’s polo off and tossed it, then clawed at Ben’s bare chest, his fingers tweaking Ben’s nipples. Ben bit Brodie’s bottom lip in response with a growl.

Ben snaked his hands beneath Brodie’s T-shirt and peeled the garment from his torso. After he had the shirt over Brodie’s head, Ben dipped in to kiss Brodie’s face, his lips, his eyelids. “I want to savor every inch of you,” Ben admitted.

Brodie wrapped his arms around him. “I want that too.” Ben pressed Brodie back and kissed down his neck, over his collarbone and dipped his tongue into the little hollow of skin where his collarbones met. Brodie rubbed Ben’s neck as he lavished attention on Brodie’s chest and nipples. “God, Ben. You’re driving me crazy.”

“Good,” Ben said with a smile and a glance at Brodie’s face. He intentionally progressed as slowly as possible, drawing out Brodie’s anticipation. He felt Brodie circling his hips beneath him and Brodie’s erection pressing into him, straining against Brodie’s pants.

Ben kissed each of Brodie’s prominent ribs as Brodie arched his back. Ben grazed Brodie’s stomach with his fingers, then skimmed over Brodie’s cock through his pants. Brodie inhaled sharply and thrust his pelvis, wordlessly asking for more contact. Ben eventually found Brodie’s perfect V with his mouth and kissed it. Brodie jerked and giggled. “Ticklish tonight?” Ben asked with a mischievous smile.

“No,” Brodie denied. Ben ran his tongue over the same spot to test Brodie’s fib. It dragged a laugh from his throat, and he pushed at Ben’s shoulder. “Knock it off,” Brodie groaned.

“But it’s so cute.” Ben tickled him again. Brodie curled up reflexively, kneeing Ben in the chin. Ben’s teeth clacked together loudly.

“Oh damn, Ben. I’m sorry. I—” Brodie sputtered.

But Ben just pushed him back. “Relax. No harm done.” Brodie tried to sit back up, but Ben forced him to relax. He slid off the bed and started to slowly remove Brodie’s shoes and socks. He massaged the pads of Brodie’s feet and lifted each to place a kiss on the bones of his ankles. Ben grasped Brodie’s calf muscles before he reached up and unbuttoned Brodie’s pants and pulled them down, freeing Brodie’s throbbing erection. Ben exhaled a breath across Brodie’s shaft, careful not to touch it as it jumped with every pulse of his heart. He stripped off Brodie’s tight black jeans and discarded them.

Brodie now lay completely naked on Ben’s bed, and Ben sat back on his heels, appreciating his new lover’s highly decorated skin. Ben could see every one of Brodie’s tattoos, unhindered by clothing. He wanted to kiss each one and find out the story behind them. He crawled up and kissed a nautical star on Brodie’s shoulder. “What’s this one mean?” Ben whispered.

“Wha?” Brodie responded.

“Why did you decide to get this nautical star tattoo?” Ben grazed the ink with his teeth.

“My buddy, Scott,” Brodie answered. “He needed some practice.”

Ben chuckled. “So no deeper meaning? Just practice?”

“Mm-hm.” Brodie nodded.

Ben kissed Brodie’s left pectoral. “Is this Sam and Dean’s tattoo?” Ben traced the lines of the pentagram with his tongue.

“Of course,” Brodie answered. “My dad has it too. We got them together.”

Ben wasn’t sure he needed the whole back story, but he thought it was cute. “What about this?” Ben touched a small tattoo of a ladybug just inside Brodie’s bicep. It obviously didn’t go with the rest of his sleeve.

“That’s my mom’s and my ‘BFF’ tat.”

“This talk of your parents should totally be turning me off, but I think it’s adorable,” Ben admitted.

“Do you have any tattoos, Ben-Ben?”

“Not yet.”

“Think you might get one?”

“Maybe.” Ben had thought about it a few times but could never decide on something. “Is this a My Little Pony tattoo?” Ben asked, pressing his finger to it.

“Yeah.” Brodie nodded. “I had a cousin who died very young. She loved My Little Pony.”

Ben instantly felt like a dick. “Jesus, Brodie. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.” He climbed up so he could look Brodie in the eye.

“No. It’s okay. She was the first person I told I was gay. We were best friends.”

“Shit. Did I totally kill the mood? I’m an ass.”

“No. Ben.” Brodie cradled Ben’s face in his hand. “I want to share these things with you. I want you to be able to ask me anything, to tell me anything.”

“I want that too.” Ben dipped forward and kissed Brodie, slowly, passionately.

“We should get a tattoo together,” Brodie suggested.

“Mm. What would it be?” Ben asked.

“I don’t know.” Brodie considered it. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out. Would you be willing to break your tattoo cherry with me?” Brodie’s mischievous smile made Ben’s pulse jump.

“I’d be honored.” Ben’s fingers traced a line of stars on Brodie’s pelvis. “This is intimate.”

“I dated a tattoo guy for a while.” Brodie laid his hand over Ben’s. “That one was his idea.”

Ben suddenly wanted to change the subject. “You’re beautiful,” he said.

“You’re the one that is,” Brodie answered.

Ben kissed Brodie on the chin and slid down until his jaw met Brodie’s erection. He cupped Brodie’s balls and rubbed his cheeks on the satiny skin of Brodie’s penis. Ben growled hungrily. Brodie moaned. Ben ran his hand up from Brodie’s scrotum to grip his rigid shaft and squeeze, enamored with his excitement.

Ben put his lips on the base of Brodie’s erection. “Do you want this?” he asked.

“More than anything,” Brodie panted.

Ben wrapped his mouth around Brodie’s tip before he traced the length of it. He turned his head, stroking Brodie’s cock with his mouth, then rose up on his elbows so he could view Brodie in all his naked glory. Ben paused for a moment before he opened his mouth and took the tip in, embracing it gently, slowly. He wanted to enjoy the taste, the feel. He loved the dichotomy of the soft, silky skin contrasting the interior stiffness, like marble draped in satin.

Brodie was squirming beneath Ben at every touch. It was obvious that he was nearing the extent of his tolerance. He wouldn’t be able to endure Ben’s teasing attention much longer. Ben loved the fact he was driving Brodie crazy with anticipation and decided to alleviate his frustration, accepting Brodie’s entire shaft into his mouth. He felt Brodie’s impressive erection nudging the back of his throat and relaxed his muscles, accepting the ample shaft. Brodie groaned his satisfaction; his ability to accurately articulate his enjoyment obviously eluded him. Ben almost removed his mouth, giving special attention to the divot below the head of Brodie’s penis.

The string of constant mumbling from Brodie was a good sign that Ben’s techniques worked. Ben took all of Brodie once more, his nose grazing the sparse hair near the root of Brodie’s shaft, and cradled his balls, rolling them gently. He massaged Brodie’s erection with his tongue and Brodie’s hips angled upward, offering Ben access to Brodie’s backside.

Ben removed his mouth with a moist slurp, but he continued to stroke Brodie with his hand. He moistened his left index finger, then returned his mouth to its original task while he pressed his finger against Brodie’s tight ring. He rubbed it gently, transferring some of his saliva, and Brodie began to chant “yes.” Ben pressed more forcefully with his finger, breaching Brodie’s entrance. The satiny interior was delightful to Ben’s touch, and Brodie’s hips moved more urgently. Brodie’s reaction made Ben extremely happy. He increased his efforts with his mouth, and his finger found just the right spot within Brodie to drive him mad with pleasure. They found a perfect rhythm and too few moments later, Ben accepted Brodie’s spilled seed and lapped every last drop, though by the end, he couldn’t believe it was still coming. He pushed one final time on Brodie’s gland before releasing him and sliding his finger slowly out.

Brodie was still panting as Ben cuddled up beside him. “I take it that was acceptable?” Ben asked, kissing the corner of Brodie’s mouth.

“Shit, Ben, yes. God yes,” Brodie panted. He reached down and found Ben’s hand, lacing their fingers together. “That was amazing. You’re amazing.”

Ben sighed contentedly. “I feel like my life is finally on track. Now if I can just find a place for my bar.”

“You’ll find it. I’m sure,” Brodie responded. “I’ve got a few friends who are in the business keeping their ears open.”

“Thank you, Brodie.”

“Ben,” Brodie whispered.

“Hm?”

“I said I wanted to be able to ask you anything. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” Ben answered.

“I know it’s not our third date yet, but I want you. Bad.”

“That’s not a question,” Ben said with a chuckle.

“No, I guess it isn’t.” Brodie blushed, and it melted Ben’s heart a little more.

“You’re so damn cute. How could I say no to you?”

“Do you have a condom?” Brodie asked, stroking Ben’s cheek.

“I—” Ben wanted to say yes.
Shit
, he thought. “I don’t. I haven’t for a long time. Chance and I stopped using them a long time ago.”

“Oh.” Brodie frowned.

“You don’t have one?” Ben asked. Brodie was single. Didn’t single guys always carry around condoms? Just in case?

Brodie shook his head. “Second date, remember? Plus our families were here. I wasn’t sure if we’d get any time alone.”

“Damn.” Ben lay back, defeated. “I’ll run out to the store.” He rose from the bed and an idea occurred to him. “Maybe not. Wait here.” Ben dashed upstairs. When he opened the door to the main house, he was relieved to see the light from the television in the living room. He walked in, trying to seem nonchalant.

Derek turned at the sound of Ben’s footsteps. “Hey, dude. What’s goin’ on?”

“Hey, Derek. Not much.” Ben leaned in the doorway, realizing suddenly that he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Shit
. “Hey, um, Derek.”

“Yeah?” Derek had turned his attention back to the TV.

“You, um,” Ben wasn’t sure how to ask. “I was just wondering if you, um—” This was turning painful.

“You gettin’ some action?” Derek asked with a drunken smirk.

“Um. Yeah, kind of.” Ben shuffled his feet.

“There’s a box of condoms in my right side nightstand drawer,” Derek said, waving Ben off.

“Thanks,” Ben said, dashing down the hallway.

“Don’t use them all.” Derek’s voiced drifted after him. Ben found the stand and pulled out the little cardboard box. He peeled one packet off the strip and replaced it before dashing back out of the room.

“Thanks again, Derek,” Ben said as he passed the living room. He was down the stairs with the door closed before Derek had a chance to answer. What he saw when he reentered his bedroom stopped him dead in his tracks.

Brodie lay on Ben’s bed with his legs spread wide and two fingers in himself. He held up the lube Ben kept in his nightstand. “I found this and thought I’d get myself ready.” Brodie inched his fingers in and out while he smiled lustily at Ben. Ben’s cock stiffened instantly, and he wanted nothing more than to take Brodie. He took a deep breath instead to steady himself.

Ben noticed Brodie’s own erection was growing despite Ben’s recent attentions, and Ben marveled at his young lover’s resilience. “My God, you’re beautiful,” he said.

“You like to look at me?” Brodie asked. Ben nodded. “I like to look at you too. Why don’t you take those pants off?”

Ben didn’t take his eyes off Brodie. He dropped the condom on the dresser and started to unbutton his pants. “Slow,” Brodie said. Ben smiled and nodded. He popped the buttons slower until he could slide his hands in the waistband. He pushed the fabric down his legs as slowly as possible, his hands tracing over the muscles in his legs as they bunched and flexed. “You are so fucking hot,” Brodie said, his voice husky with lust. “Turn around.” Ben obliged as he toed off his shoes, then stepped out of his pants. When his ass was in full view of Brodie, Ben bent at the waist and peeled off his socks.