Swap Meet (9 page)

wound me, Joachim. Discussing the possible pitfalls of the Asian markets is hardly

romantic.”

Laughter rounded the table. Chris relaxed a little. Unfortunately it was short-lived.

“Where did you meet Max?” Joachim sat forward in his chair. “I don’t mean to pry,

of course, but we don’t often see Texans within our circle.”

Chris fielded the intrusive question with a smile. “A mixer in Houston.”

“You work for a bank?” Joachim reached the likely conclusion. Max often attended

cocktail parties sponsored by various financial institutions.

“No. I’m actually a firefighter. My sister is the one in finance.”

“A firefighter?” Joachim’s eyebrows shot up.

“Yes.” Chris met the other man’s stare head-on and never wavered. “I never

wanted to be anything else. I went straight to community college after high school and

earned my paramedic’s license and then attended a fire academy.”

“Community college?” Joachim shook his head. “Wouldn’t know anything about

that. We,” he gestured around the table, “met at Cambridge.”

Max caught the slightest hint of derision in Joachim’s voice. He didn’t like that tone

one bit and sent Joachim a silencing glare. Margot deftly maneuvered the conversation

into less troublesome waters but the damage was done. He sensed an immediate shift in

Chris. The normally confident and outgoing man was suddenly subdued and quiet. He

participated in the conversation when directly addressed but otherwise kept mum.

Anger burned Max. For Joachim to behave so rudely was unacceptable. It was all

Max could do to keep his temper under control. Out of respect for Margot and Leon, he

wouldn’t make a scene tonight. The second the table was cleared, Max made their

excuses and hustled Chris from the villa. Leon and Margot made their apologies as they

walked them out and Chris was as sweet as ever, assuring them he’d taken no offense.

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But Max knew differently. It was written all over his face. Chris radiated

embarrassment and hurt. Max didn’t know how to make it better. His mind raced with

the search for the right words but everything he thought of sounded trite or even more

insulting. The last thing he wanted to do was compound the problem with a

misinterpreted statement.

When they were safely situated in their cabin for the night, Max finally spoke. “I’m

sorry about Joachim. He can be a bit puffed up at times. I’ll speak with him tomorrow.”

Chris cast aside his blazer and toed off his shoes. “Don’t bother.”

Max was taken aback by Chris’ dark tone. “It’s important to me that my friends

respect you.”

“It’s not as if I’m going to see any of them again.”

Max stilled. Tendrils of panic snaked through his belly. “What do you mean?”

“Tonight made it perfectly clear to me that this,” he motioned between them, “isn’t

going to work. We belong to two very different worlds.”

Max reached for him. “Chris.”

He pulled back and slashed a hand through the air. “Look, Max, I’m not suave or

sophisticated or well-educated. I’ve got an associate degree and maybe two thousand

dollars in the bank. I can’t be the sort of person you need.”

Max stepped forward and Chris took two steps back. “What are you talking

about?”

Chris looked at him as if he were stupid. “I don’t fit in, Max. I’m that square peg

that’s never going to fit.”

“Did you ever stop to think that maybe that’s why you’re so perfect for me?” Max

drew close to Chris, so close he could feel the other man’s breaths on his cheek. “I’ve

had a string of so-called perfect mates and none of them made me happy.”

“They were all women.”

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Max accepted this fact with a nod. “True but I’m fairly confident I could find

similarly qualified men if I wanted.” He touched Chris’ jaw. “But I don’t want anyone

else. I want you.”

Chris swallowed. “Me?”

“You.” He brushed his lips against Chris’ mouth. “Just as you are,” he added,

pressing their lips together.

Chris yielded completely and melted into Max’s embrace. Max shivered as Chris’

lips touched his ear. “Take me to bed.”

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Chris trembled as Max pushed him back onto the bed. They’d had sex dozens of

times but this time, this night, it felt different. Max had spoken with such honesty just

then. To know he was wanted in that way affected him deeply. This wasn’t about lust

or sexual gratification. It was something more real.

And it scared the hell out of him.
Am I ready for this?

Ready or not, Max was crawling over him. He straddled Chris’ hips, knees planted

on either of him. Max peeled off his jacket and tossed it aside. His delicate fingers

flicked through the buttons lining the front of Chris’ shirt, his lover shivering as Max

smoothed his cool palms along the heated skin of his chest, followed the lines of his

arms. Max wrapped his fingers around Chris’ wrists and then pinned them above his

head. He lowered his upper body until the crisp cotton of his shirt contacted Chris’

naked chest. Max nipped at his lower lip.

Chris was immobilized by Max’s dark gaze. He burned under its searing intensity.

His voice cracked as he spoke. “What?”

Max’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Chris couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe. His heart clamored against his chest. The

words were right there on the tip of his tongue but his brain put the kibosh on any

impulsive actions. If he said what he felt, if he committed himself now, there was no

turning back.

And he wasn’t ready for that. As much as it killed him to admit it, he couldn’t say

the words he knew Max desperately wanted to hear.

So he took the coward’s way out and claimed Max’s mouth. Tonight Chris could be

all those things Max needed. Until sunrise, he would give Max what he craved and

then…well…reality would take precedence.

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Chris darted his tongue between Max’s lips. He tasted champagne and caramel,

remnants of their rich dessert. Fingers sifting through Max’s short hair, Chris cupped

the back of his neck and kissed his man breathless. They warred for dominance atop the

mattress. Chris used his considerable strength to flip Max onto his back. Max played

dirty and used his tongue to tease a sensitive patch of skin just below Chris’ ear until he

yielded. They jerked and tugged at buttons and belts and zippers until they were skin

to skin.

Chris was on fire. A sense of urgency pervaded his movements. The idea that this

could be the last time influenced his every kiss and every touch. He savored the smell of

Max’s skin, the unique blend of sweat and cologne. He committed to memory every

languorous sigh and low moan as he nibbled and licked his way down Max’s body. On

the return trip to Max’s mouth, Chris lingered near his stiff cock, nuzzling his face

against it and grazing his teeth over the super-sensitive head. Max bucked and cried

out, whimpering softly as Chris abandoned his cock and continued north.

As Chris sucked on Max’s full lower lip, his lover pressed on his shoulders. Chris

rolled onto his back, carrying Max with him. In one swift motion, Max captured his

wrists in one hand and proceeded to tie them to the wooden slats of the headboard with

his discarded tie. Chris’ eyes widened at Max’s unexpected move. With a playful smirk,

Max used the sleeves of their button-down shirts to bind Chris’ ankles to the footboard.

Chris had to give Max points for creativity.

Being completely at his lover’s mercy was a new experience. A thrill of excitement

set him alight with desire. Max used his teeth and tongue to tease Chris to a fever pitch.

His tongue flicked at Chris’ nipples. His manicured nails gently scratched the ticklish

undersides of his arms. When he sucked Chris’ toes between his lips, Chris’ shoulders

shot off the bed. He tugged at his bonds but it was futile. He was Max’s prisoner.

Max took his time subjecting him to the most sensual of tortures. When Max’s hot,

wet mouth swallowed his cock, Chris saw stars. Max’s soft tongue glided along the

length of him. He hummed as the head of Chris’ penis nestled in the warm cavern of his

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throat. Chris pumped his hips as best he could, desperate for more contact with that

sweet tongue. His toes curled and calves tightened. Arousal coiled low in his belly as

Max bobbed on his cock and played with his balls.

Just as Chris climbed toward an orgasm, Max pulled away and halted all of that

delicious stimulation. A strangled groan escaped Chris’ throat. He flexed his ass cheeks

and pulled against the tie wrapped around his wrists. His cock jumped in protest but

Max wouldn’t be swayed.

He slid off the bed and retrieved the necessary supplies from a bedside drawer. He

knelt beside Chris’ hip on the bed and prepared himself for penetration. Watching Max

stroke his hard shaft and slide his slippery fingers into his own ass had Chris begging

for release from his bonds. He wanted to run his hands along Max’s lean belly and palm

his sac. Chris buzzed, his entire body electrified with lust as Max rode his own hand

and fisted the purpling head of his cock.

“Don’t come yet,” Chris pleaded, his voice husky with need. “Sit on my cock. Ride

me.”

Max wasted no time complying. He moved into position, the muscles of his strong

thighs supporting him as he squatted over Chris’ thick shaft and applied the condom.

He slathered lube along the rubber and then drew slow circles around his hole with the

blunt tip of Chris’ cock. The teasing was too much for Chris. He lifted his hips and

prodded Max’s ass.

With a decadent smile, Max lowered himself onto Chris’ fat rod. He took the plunge

slowly, allowing his body to acclimate to the girth and length inch by inch until he sat

fully sheathed on Chris’ lap. They groaned in unison. Chris bit his lower lip and rocked

his hips.

Palms flat on Chris’ chest, Max leaned forward and kissed him deeply. He swayed

erotically, his hot channel squeezing Chris’ shaft with every stroke. Bliss. Absolute bliss.

Arms pinned overhead, Chris watched Max take his pleasure. He alternated between

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riding fast and hard and slow and soft. Max swiveled his hips on the downstrokes. It

drove Chris wild.

“Let my hands free.” Chris struggled against the cloth bonds. “Let me touch you.”

His begging tone won over Max. He paused just long enough to jerk the tie loose

and then resumed his wanton ride.

“Like that, baby.” Chris reached for Max’s hard shaft. “Oh God, just like that.”

Max took directions well. He bounced roughly on Chris’ cock. The bed shook with

their feral mating. Chris stroked Max’s penis and thrust up to meet his every

downward move. He clasped the back of Max’s head with his free hand and dragged

his mouth down for a soul-stealing kiss. If this was it, Chris was determined to make it

memorable.

When they came, the fireworks were mind-blowing. Chris spilled his cum into the

condom, his cock buried balls deep in his man’s ass. Max’s hot cream splashed Chris’

hand and belly before he collapsed forward. Chris wrapped his arms around Max’s

back, clamping their slick bodies together. He breathed in the familiar scent of this man,

wondering if he would ever find a smell so enticing again.

* * * * *

As they cuddled together later, Max’s head against his chest, Chris warred with his

conscience. He couldn’t deny that his feelings for Max wavered on the edge of love. He

wasn’t the sappy sort by any stretch of the imagination but Chris found Max made him

feel whole. He could only assume Max felt the same way—and it killed him to think he

would have to shatter all that in the morning.

But there was no other way. Best to get it over with now, before too much damage

was done.

Convincing himself of that truth wasn’t easy. Chris tossed and turned all night.

When Max reached for him in the early morning hours, he went without hesitation.

They made love quietly, their shuddering breaths penetrating the silence of sunrise.

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Breakfast was a simple affair and then they were on their way back to Max’s townhouse

along Avenue Foch in Paris for Chris’ evening flight home.

“I’ve been thinking,” Max said as he poured a glass of wine. “I might try to

rearrange my schedule to allow for a visit to Houston in a few weeks. A month of

separation was too much for me.”

Chris’ gut clenched. He’d hoped to avoid a messy scene. The idea of making a clean

break once he was back in Houston was so much more palatable than this. Chris tried to

avoid confrontations at all costs. It wasn’t something he was particularly proud of

either.

“Chris?” Max eyed him over his wineglass. “What do you think?”

Chris shifted uneasily in his chair. “I think maybe we should slow things down a

bit.”

Max’s fingers visibly tightened around the glass. “I don’t understand.”

“I just—I’m not ready for this,” he admitted finally. “I can’t do this.”