Stripped Bare (17 page)

“Now it’s your turn,” Matthew growled when released Shane’s mouth, which felt bruised and tender from the ferocity of his lover’s kiss.

Matthew stood up, dropping his chinos and silk boxers to the floor. Shane’s eyes roved greedily over the erection that jutted out and he needed no further instructions. He pulled Matthew down onto the couch, onto his back. He knelt in between Matthew’s legs, watching his face as he kissed his stomach, his pelvis, nipped at his hips and buried his face in Matthew’s groin. He nuzzled at the wiry curls there, feeling them brush his cheeks.

He heard Matthew’s heated and impatient, “Christ, Shane, get a move on. Did you forget the whole ‘your mouth, my cock’ thing?”

“Patience, Matty,” Shane chuckled as he licked the tip that promised him so much pleasure. “You can be so bloody bossy. I’ll get there, I promise.”

And get there they did. By the time Shane had finished with Matthew, the man was a mewling mess on the couch, his body trembling, his skin hot and sweaty and the taste of come in Shane’s mouth like fine wine. He collapsed against Matthew, both of them still with their shirts on, naked below the waist, sprawled together in an entanglement of limbs as Shane brushed wet, sweaty hair from Matthew’s eyes.

“I take it we’re not fighting anymore?” he teased as his fingers trailed across his partner’s hard stomach. Matthew shifted to look at him, his eyes darkened, his mouth swollen.

“I never wanted to fight with you, Shay. I had time to think. Maybe I overreacted somewhat. I know what you do is important and you’d never hurt anyone.” His hand reached out and traced the contours of Shane’s lips, his touch soft and warm.

If Shane had been a cat he would have purred. “But you can be bloody scary, the things you can do. I guess I never know where they’d stop.”

Shane shifted against Matthew’s warm body, his arm draping over his chest as he kissed his lover’s nipples. “I know my boundaries. Matty. Most of the time anyway.” His chuckle against Matthew’s skin caused the other man to break into goose bumps. “I can promise you I’ll never do anything to knowingly hurt you or anyone else. That’s the only promise I can make. You need to take me as I am, the same as I have to with you. My sexy control freak.”

Matthew’s hand stroked Shane’s hair. “I missed you so much these last couple of days. I promise you, I’m trying to let you in. I’ve let you see more of me than anyone ever has since Sam died. Can you live with that?”

Shane nodded drowsily. “Uh huh. As long as it means I get to be here with you, like this, I suppose I can put up with the fact your house is off bounds and I’m in a relationship with a man who has to have his towels lined up just so.”

Matthew laughed at that. “You noticed that, huh?”

Shane nodded. “You change stuff in my flat, Matty. I now find my tins all facing outward, the toothpaste cap is always screwed on and there are endless neat, squared-off piles of papers everywhere. Yes, Matty, these are things one tends to notice.”

“Did you notice anything else?” Matthew whispered lazily as his hands caressed Shane’s backside and he slowly ran his fingers in between Shane’s taut arse cheeks. Shane sucked in a breath at that languid touch.

“You’re a horny bastard.” Shane’s voice held the trace of a laugh. Matthew chuckled against Shane’s ear.

“You got that right. I think it’s time for the bed. I seem to recall I made you a promise to fuck you right through it and I think that time has arrived.”

Shane could only nod as Matthew heaved himself off the couch, grabbed Shane’s hand and led him toward the bedroom. Shane just knew he was in for a rough time.

German sex talk and old friends

Shane opened one eye and smiled at the sight of his boyfriend’s face only inches from his own. Matthew slept on his side, his lashes long and curling against his toned skin, his mouth slightly open. He was snoring. Shane kissed his own fingers and then reached out and gently touched them to his lover’s lips.

The man looked adorable when he slept, but then, the way Shane was so smitten, he would look adorable doing anything. He’d never felt such a connection so soon to a man before. It had only been eight weeks together and already he felt like he’d known him forever.

The last few weeks of getting to know Matthew had been some of the best he’d ever had. His last boyfriend, Cole, whom he’d been with a year before they parted company eighteen months ago, had been someone he’d thought would last. Then Shane had found out his boyfriend had been bonking some young cute thing over at Essence, and he’d totally lost it. Committed relationships were meant to be monogamous in Shane’s opinion, if they were ever to have any chance of working. He didn’t subscribe to playing the field when you had someone you really cared for. It was why he’d agreed to Matthew’s conditions so easily. Shane started escorting after he’d kicked Cole out. He’d started it as a dare, found he enjoyed the variety. He grinned as he watched Matthew sleeping. Thank God he had or else he’d have never met the man he was falling hard for.

He would have to fight damn hard for Matthew. The man’s shell was a tough one to crack. The only thing that rankled with him, other than the bloody wedding ring still being on Matthew’s finger, was the fact he still hadn’t been invited to Matthew’s house. He knew he’d agreed to let Matty have space, but this was starting to piss him off. Shane may well have to push the issue soon. He knew that this relationship, if one could call it that, was very weighted in Matthew’s favour. The man was an emotional wreck, not wanting to feel anything in case he got hurt again. But Shane had a plan to change that, gradually. He could be patient. Within reason.

Matthew wrinkled his nose, opened his eyes and blinked blearily. “I thought I felt someone watching me,” he said huskily and then yawned. “Are you stalking me even when I sleep?”

Shane leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Not stalking. Admiring.”

Matthew chuckled and rolled onto his back, his eyes dark and warm as he looked at his boyfriend. Shane was please that they’d finally officially graduated to the title. He felt like he’d been to University and come away with an honorary degree.

“And just how long exactly have you been admiring me?”

Shane’s mouth found Matthew’s as his tongue trailed a soft lick across the other man’s lower lip. “Long enough to know I really want to get up close and personal with the item in question.”

He reached down under the covers, finding his lover’s morning woody, softly stroking it.

Matthew shivered and he closed his eyes. Shane smiled. Some mornings this was all it took. The two of them, warm and sleepy, skin against skin, mouth against mouth and a mutual need that was slow and tender. A dance of bodies and sweat, of heat and rushing tides of feelings that ebbed and flowed like washes of gentle waves on the shoreline. Both men were adept at it, at slow, languorous movements and touches that drove the other crazy and over the edge.

This morning was no different. Soon the two men were gasping, fingers clutching, mouths seeking and hearts beating together in a rhythm that was like a well-played symphony, notes of pure emotion combined with the clashing cymbals of mutual pleasure.

Shane laid back, his skin slick with sweat. Matthew uncoupled himself from the other man’s body and lay back on the pillows, his breath ragged, his face flushed with exertion. “Hell, Shay, I love morning sex with you,” he panted, as he tried to get his breathing back to normal. “I get woken up, I get violated, I come like a steam train and then we shower and the whole thing starts all over all again. What is this magic you do so well, Templar?”

Shane laughed. “No magic, Langer. Just a really good motivation. You have no bloody idea how sexy you are. My pure, beautiful sexy Matthew. You make it too easy.”

Matthew reached up and caressed Shane’s jaw line. “I knew the first time I saw you I wanted your body. I think we owe David a magnum of champers for bringing us together.”

Matthew’s face shadowed and he sat up, pushing the pillows against the wall and leaning back. “Talking of David, I need to give him a call today. The last time we spoke, a couple of weeks ago, he sounded really down. He was going away on some business trip for a week. I need to talk to him again, see everything is okay.” He scowled. “That prick of a father of his is really driving him hard. And that twat brother of his, Lewis, is really making life difficult for him too.”

Shane chuckled. “Have you heard yourself lately? You swear like a trooper. I am a bad influence on you, aren’t I?”

Matthew reached over and stroked his fingers down Shane’s collarbone, causing the other man to shiver. “In every way possible,” he drawled. He reached across a lazy hand to the bedside table to check the time on his mobile. He jumped as if an electric prod had been shoved up his backside.

“Christ, Shane, it’s bloody late. I’m due at work in an hour. What the hell am I thinking?”

He leapt out of bed, giving Shane a very good view of his tight backside and the slight bruise marks on his rear where Shane had dug his fingers tightly. Shane felt a sense of satisfaction at marking his man. Matthew scurried through to the bathroom and the younger man heard the shower start.

Shane grinned and slid out of bed, making his way to the bathroom. Matthew was already late, so another little diversion would hardly be a problem. He scowled when he found the bathroom door locked. He heard Matthew’s satisfied chuckle at hearing the door handle turn.

“Shay, I knew I couldn’t trust you to keep your hands off me. Temptation, baby. I wasn’t putting it in your way. You’ll just have to make do with what you had earlier.”

Shane frowned sulkily and moved away, getting back into bed. “Fine. Be like that. I might have to withhold my wares next time you feel like them.”

He heard the other man’s snort of laughter. “That’ll be the day. I just have to bat my eyelashes and you’re mine. You can’t hold out against my considerable charms.”

Shane scowled, knowing Matthew was right. “Stop being so bloody full of yourself,” he muttered at the bathroom door. But he smiled. The sudden familiar Black Keys melody blared across the room and Shane picked up Matthew’s mobile. His eyebrows lifted when he saw who it was. He got out of bed, padded naked across the room and knocked on the bathroom door.

“Matty? Your mobile’s ringing. It says ‘Mutter’ on the caller ID. I remember enough school German to know it must be your mother. Do you want to take this?”

The bathroom door flew open and Matthew came out, nude, wet and still with soap in his hair, as he reached for the phone. He looked worried.

“I only spoke to her last week. I hope nothing’s wrong with her or my sister. “ His face was worried as he answered the phone. Shane took the opportunity to ogle him as he stood there.

“
Mutter? Ich bin’s Matthias. Ist alles in Ordnung?
”

The soft, Germanic tones sent a thrill to Shane’s groin and gave him an instant boner. He knew Matthew was fluent in his home language but he’d never heard him speak it before. It was a complete turn-on, including hearing him call himself ‘Matthias,’ which he imagined was the German version of Matthew.

His lover’s eyes flicked down to Shane’s groin and he choked back a laugh as he turned and continued his conversation.

Shane watched Matthew’s taut backside, gleaming with water and slightly red from the heat of the shower, and contemplated pounding the other man’s arse when the conversation was over. But Matthew obviously realized Shane’s intentions as he gave his lover a sly smile and continued his conversation, going back into the bathroom and locking the door behind him.

Shane scowled as he heard the muted sounds of the conversation from outside, the German Matthew was speaking still causing his groin to heat and his dick to turn to cement.

“You think you’re so bloody clever, don’t you.” Shane muttered as he got back into bed and covered himself with the duvet. If Matty wasn’t going to take advantage of the erection he currently sprouted, he’d have to sort it out himself later.

Twenty minutes later he was on his own, the day his to command. Matthew had point blank refused any more morning sexual activity, as he was already late for work. He’d told Shane everything was fine at home, his mother just needed to let him know his uncle Berndt would be in the UK soon. His mother was sending her son a present via him. As he kissed him goodbye, ducking and diving from Shane’s grasping hands, Matthew had wickedly whispered something in German in his ear, causing Shane to squirm in sheer pleasure at what he assumed was his lover’s deliberately whispered sex assault.

“Das must Du leider ohne mich tun.”
Shane had a good memory, and as soon as Matthew had left he’d turned to Babylon for translation. He’d scowled when he thought he’d found out it what it meant.

“You’ll have to take care of it by yourself.”

He was busy on Bushwhacker when his mobile rang later that day. His face brightened when he heard who it was.

“Timmy, you dog! It’s been months since you called. Where the hell have you been?”

His friend’s deep, baritone voice echoed down the phone. “Shanester, I have been in South Africa visiting the family. I got back a few days ago. I thought we should catch up.” The melodic African tone of Timmy’s voice had always sent shivers down Shane’s spine. He thought idly that he seemed to have a sexual attraction to men speaking in other languages or accents. Timothy Zwane was a well-built, six-foot-four Zulu man from South Africa. They’d met at a national hacking conference just after Shane had left Cole. The pitch-black, handsome, regal Zulu with the wide smile and great shoulders had immediately attracted Shane’s interest. Timmy had felt much the same about the brash blond with an attitude.

They’d had a brief, passionate affair which had ceased when Timmy had gone back to his home country for a family funeral. Their affair had been mostly around sex and not been anything serious. Both of them had moved on but remained firm friends.

Shane grinned. “I’d love to catch up. But won’t that boyfriend of yours get a little jealous? He’s never really taken to me.”

Timmy chuckled. “Sifiso was just wary of you, Shane. You know he is a very traditional man and the fact I was boning a white man never sat well with him, even though you and I were over before I met him.” He laughed. “And what he doesn’t know will not hurt him anyway. He is still in South Africa with his family. He will only be back in a week’s time.” Timmy’s voice was hopeful. “I am in London for a while. I thought perhaps we could get together tonight if you’re not busy?” He chuckled. “Just for a chat and a drink.”