Chapter Sixteen

They made their way from the hall arm in arm, slipping away unseen from the dancing. As the door closed, Paloma gave a happy sigh and said, “You were the most handsome man in Windsor tonight, Osito. In the world!”

Joe chuckled, shaking his head. He was at risk of turning rather pink. “That room was full of hunky men in uniform. Handsome silver foxes with medals, too. But I appreciate the compliment.”

“But the hunkiest was in a tux.” She lifted his hand and kissed it. “Was I all right, Joe? Did they like it?”

“You were amazing! They loved it!” Joe replied. “Everyone in that room was having a great time. You slayed, darling.”

She laughed, clearly delighted with his approval. Then she asked, “Did you get a dance?”

“Apart from drinking on the job, dancing is forbidden too,” Joe told her with a wink. “You were never off that dance floor! How many men do I need to fight for you hand?”

“There’s nobody here now,” she purred. “And I can still hear the music.”

The trumpets could indeed still be heard, the trombones and the throbbing bass. And there was no one about where they were standing. No one to see.

Joe bowed. “May I have this dance, madam?”

“Officer, it’d be an honour.” She kissed his cheek, her lips lingering. “Thank you for your service, Sergeant.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Joe settled his hand on Paloma’s waist, and rested his other on her shoulder. He began to step side to side in time to the distant music. “There… Am I getting this right?”

“You’ve done this before, I can tell!”

“Not very often!” Joe tried not to overthink his dancing, and let the music guide him. He drew nearer to Paloma, until their bodies were just touching. “Would you like me to share your bed again tonight?” he whispered, his lips brushing Alejandro’s ear.

“More than anything,” she murmured, sinking against him in their dance.

Joe didn’t know how long they danced there in their own little world, surrounded by the grandeur of the elaborately decorated corridor. They couldn’t kiss in case they were spotted and could only dance, but Joe held Paloma ever more tightly, his dancing slowing until he only swayed.

“I’ve never been this happy,” Paloma whispered, clinging to him. “Thank you, darling.”

“Nor have I.” Joe smiled against Paloma’s cheek. “I’d very much like to kiss you. Would you like me to? But not here. We can’t do that here.”

“Take me upstairs?”

“Nothing would please me more.”

Joe whirled Paloma in a circle, then took her arm and led her up the stairs. The self-same stairs that royal mistresses had once trod, where a duchess’ son was now escorted by the man hired to protect him.

“How are those delicious feet doing, Paloma, dear?”

“They’re ready for a rest,” she admitted. “I didn’t get a chance to break in the shoes pre-show.”

“In that case…” Joe glanced around. They seemed to be alone, but even if someone appeared at that moment, he’d claim it was legitimate CPO business to spare his principal their sore feet. So he lifted Paloma into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to their apartment. She looped her arm around his neck and gazed up at him, like a bride crossing the threshold.

Snuggled against Joe’s chest, she murmured, “Did you leave your armour behind tonight? I can feel your heart beating.”

“I should’ve worn it, but I didn’t. We’re pretty safe here, and I wanted to feel as if I wasn’t your CPO tonight. Just your date.” And thank God nothing happened.

“Perfect,” Paloma told him. Only as they reached the door did she chance a stolen kiss to Joe’s cheek, and he knew there’d be a sparkly lip print there.

Just like Halloween.

Joe carried Paloma through to Alejandro’s bedroom and laid her down on the bed. He stood there, transfixed, his breathing uneven. “You’re so beautiful. You’re perfect.”

“Not me,” she said. “I’m made of glitter and good corsetry.”

“And your feet are sore.” Joe climbed onto the end of the bed and lifted one of Paloma’s feet into his lap. “Goodbye, shoes?”

“Bye, bye, mermaids!” Paloma agreed.

Joe slipped them off and dropped them over the side of the bed. Then, Paloma’s feet still clad in their nylons, he stroked them. “Is that nice?”

She replied with a soft murmur, reaching up to unpin her cap and put it on the pillow beside her. She curled her toes and straightened them, watching Joe through her lashes.

Joe went on stroking, enjoying the silkiness of the nylons under his touch. Then he held Paloma’s heels in his hand and bent to kiss her toes. Just a peck, and he chuckled. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist, but they are lovely.”

He placed Paloma’s feet gently onto the bed, then lay beside her, propped up on his elbow. “Can I have a kiss from the star of the show?”

“I’d love that,” she whispered, bringing her hand up to stroke his hair. “Kiss me, Sergeant Wenlock.”

Joe half-closed his eyes as he brought his lips to Paloma’s, sighing into their kiss as it deepened. He ran his hand from Paloma’s cheek, down the side of her body to rest on her—

“Oh.” Suddenly awkward, Joe broke from the kiss. “Should we— You’re wearing your padding and all that jazz. Do you need to take it off first?”

“I can leave it all on if you’d rather kiss the señorita.” She smiled. “What would you like?”

Joe stroked the pad of his thumb across Paloma’s sparkly lip. “Alejandro,” he whispered. “Is that bad of me?”

“If you were wearing duct tape where I am, you’d know the answer to that.” She kissed his thumb. “You’re lovely.”

Joe winced. “I’d forgotten that you have to— Yeah, maybe the drag needs to come off!”

“Promise me you won’t take that bow tie off until I get back?”

“This?” Joe laughed. “Well, if you say so.”

“Find us a drink, darling, and I’ll be back before you know it!” Paloma kissed his nose and sat up “Barefoot, this time!”

“Will do. It’s been a pleasure, Admiral Picante.” Joe gave his best naval salute, his palm facing away from Paloma. She blew him another kiss then, pausing only to grab the red silk robe on the way, hurried into the hallway towards the bathroom. Joe was left alone with the admiral’s cap and a moment later, the sound of Alejandro’s soft singing.

He headed into the dark, silent dining room and found a bottle of wine in the cabinet. He returned to the bedroom, bringing the wine and two glasses. As he stood by the bed pouring their drinks, he remembered there was something that he hadn’t done.

That bloody video.

But he pushed the thought away again. He didn’t want to spoil Alejandro’s evening.

Joe kicked off his shoes and socks and got back onto the bed, propped up against the pillows as he sipped his wine in the most opulent bed he’d ever sat on in his life. It wasn’t long at all before Alejandro’s singing disappeared into the hiss of a running shower then Joe heard the bathroom door open. He listened to Alejandro going back and forth into the sitting room, no doubt with wigs and corsetry and heaven knew what else. Drag, it seemed, was an exacting art form.

“And I’m Alejo again!” Alejandro announced as he pirouetted into the bedroom, clad in his silky robe. His wet hair stood out at angles and he smoothed it down with his hand and posed against the doorframe, every inch the casual young rake. “Why, Mr Bond, whatever did you do with the admiral?”

A very corny line popped into Joe’s head. He’d always wanted to do this. Raise his eyebrow and say a terrible Bond-like double entendre. So he did. “Something important came up.”

“My God, you’re adorable!” Alejandro took something resembling a running jump onto the bed, landing safely beside Joe. He scooped up his discarded hat and put it atop his wet hair at a rakish angle. “Are you keeping the British end up?”

“Yes. There’s a slight stiffness coming on. In my trousers.” Joe frowned. “That didn’t really work as a double entendre, did it? More a single entendre. Oh well.” He wrapped the end of the sash on Alejandro’s gown around his finger. “So, the duct tape has gone?”

“Everything’s gone. Under here is only Alejo, as God made him.” As he was speaking, Alejandro plucked at Joe’s bow tie with his fingers, loosening the knot until it was untied. Then he plucked at the first three buttons of Joe’s shirt and gave a nod, as though to signify a job well done. “Just as you are now, you’re my perfect fantasy, but you’re real. I dreamed about you and your tweed after our first kiss.”

Joe cupped Alejandro’s face. “And what did you dream? That we kissed each other again?”

“In a bed like this,” he whispered. “And you were very gentle.”

A pang of longing captured Joe at those words. “I kept thinking of Paloma. I kept wondering who the man was under the makeup and the costume. I didn’t want to go off into the night. I wished it could be different, and I thought you were lost to me.” Joe shook his head. “But you weren’t. You weren’t. You know we shouldn’t be doing this, kissing, undressing each other, but I can’t help myself. I want you so much, Alejo. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone. And knowing that you want me, too. I don’t give a damn about protocol. I’ve nearly given my life for this job, and what do I have to show for it? A medal given to me in secret, and a life lived in the shadows. I want you, Alejo, so much that I can’t stand the thought of losing you again. You dear, darling man.”

“If you want me, I’m yours,” Alejandro whispered, stroking Joe’s face with his soft hand. “I know we shouldn’t but…I’ve never done what I should, and life’s going pretty well so far.”

“You mean…” Joe swallowed and gazed into the seemingly endless sparkling depths of Alejandro’s eyes, “make love to you?”

He nodded, then said, “I’d love you to.”

Joe blinked, entirely unsure what to do next. So he kissed Alejandro. Kissed him with all the passion that he’d kept bottled up and battened down inside him. It was clumsy and energetic and magnificent. Joe pulled away.

“Then let’s.” He took one end of the sash again. “It’ll sound like another double entendre, but do I just tug?”

“As hard as you like, Osito!” He ran one fingertip down the tantalising glimpse of Joe’s torso that the buttons had revealed. “I’m going to take my time.”

“I’ll wait, then.” Joe could see a patch of Alejandro’s smooth chest through the vee of his gown. He’d already seen it, of course, but that border of silk made it voluptuous and seductive. “How do you want me?”

“I want you…” There was a pause as Alejandro considered his answer. “Happy, eventually naked, and by the time we fall asleep, utterly, decadently, satisfied. How’s that?”

Joe puffed out his cheeks. “Now there’s a plan for a fun evening! Eventually naked, you tease!”

“I’m in bed with my dream man and he’s wearing a tux. I’m not rushing that!”

Beaming, Joe replied, “I don’t think I’ve ever been anyone’s dream man before, so by all means take your time.”

“I’ve got one teeny little question.” Alejandro pouted, fluttering his eyelashes. “Will you tense those gorgeous muscles if I ask you to? Just out of artistic interest, nothing more.”

“Absolutely! Just let me know when you want me to. I’m happy to oblige. Whenever you like.”

With a beaming smile, Alejandro caught the lapels of Joe’s tuxedo in his hands and settled back against the pillows, bringing Joe with him. There was nothing platonic about this kiss, filled as it was with a hunger that left them both almost breathless. Joe caressed Alejandro through his robe, his shoulders, his back—that beautiful, lithe body, so warm to his touch. Alejandro’s erection pressed against him, and Joe moaned to feel it there. He’d wanted this for so long, for another man to desire him, and he went on kissing Alejandro, unable to hold back anymore.

He felt Alejandro’s hands release his lapels then they slid round, exploring his back. Alejandro’s palms roamed over him until one moved lower, resting on his bottom just as it had last night.

Joe moaned again, pushing his hips back against Alejandro’s hands. How the hell was he going to cope with those hands on him when he was naked? Because even now it was heavenly.

“Anything you want, I’ll do it,” Alejandro whispered against his lips as he returned his fingers of Joe’s shirt again, “I want you to have the best night of your life.”

“Take off the robe,” Joe purred. Only now that he had Alejandro’s permission would he make any demands on him at all. “I want you naked.”

With another kiss, Alejandro gave the robe’s bow a sharp tug. Then, every bit as much the coquette as when he was in Paloma’s corsetry, he slowly slid first one silky sleeve then the other down to his elbows. He fixed Joe with his gaze and let it fall away onto the bed. A flick of his wrist sent the cap frisbeeing onto a chair, leaving him naked at last.

Joe gasped. He’d never seen a sight so lovely. Alejandro’s bare chest with his golden olive skin and dark pink nipples, and… Joe’s glance fell to his erection, so firm and…keen. He wants me. He actually wants me.

And hairless. It took Joe by surprise for all of a few seconds. Of course Alejandro was hairless. How could he perform his particular school of drag otherwise? Joe realised he’d look rather untidy in comparison, but perhaps Alejandro liked it? He’d certainly liked his chest hair.

Joe caressed Alejandro’s chest, then his stomach. “You’re so soft. Your skin is like silk.”

“That’ll be my moisturiser,” Alejandro told him, as though confiding a great secret. “I told you my boobs were fake, didn’t I? The rest of me’s definitely real though.”

“I’m glad they’re fake. I’m glad this beautiful man is underneath that costume.” Joe danced his fingertips along Alejandro’s erection. “May I?”

“You may.” Alejandro unfastened the last button on Joe’s shirt and parted the fabric. “I swear you’re even more gorgeous than you were last night, Osito. Look at that body!”

Had he really become more gorgeous in a mere twenty-four hours? Joe gave him an embarrassed wink, then closed his hand around Alejandro’s erection. “This feels good. Oh, good lord, it feels good.”

“It feels pretty fantastic from where I am too,” Alejandro teased. He put the palm of his hand on Joe’s chest, over his heart and commanded, “Tense it, Sergeant. I think you’re about to get your ten.”

Joe tensed, just the way he did at the gym sometimes when he was alone and wanted to check his pecs in the mirror. So he tensed, peacocking for his Alejo. And at the same time, Joe tensed his hand, so that he was now firmly gripping Alejandro’s erection.

“You’re very definitely a ten.” He put his mouth to Joe’s for another deep kiss and, as he did, gave Joe’s nipple a casual tweak. That was somewhere Wendy never ventured, not in all the years they’d been together.

Electricity seemed to flow through Joe at that, straight from his nipple down to his loins. He might’ve touched his own in the shower, but never, God, no, no one else had ever done that. Years ago, a brush through his T-shirt a couple of times, but never like this. Joe paid Alejandro back in kind, taking his pebbled nipple and gently pinching. He heard Alejandro moan into their kiss and the buck in his hips told Joe that his own reaction had mirrored Joe’s.

As his fingers continued to tease Joe’s nipple, Alejandro’s free hand slid inside his shirt, round over his back. Mirth mingled with desire when he whispered, “Tense, you gorgeous thing.”

“You’re trouble you are, Mr Fuente. Although all this tensing…you’re giving me quite the workout!” An image shot into Joe’s mind of entwined naked bodies, sheened with sweat, and he tensed his back as his hips thrust forward against Alejandro. Of their own will, it seemed. “Sorry about that. I keep poking you!”

“It’s like waiting to unwrap the best Christmas present ever.” Alejandro grinned, easing Joe’s tux and shirt down as one until they fell onto the bed. “And we’re going to have the most fun workout ever, believe me.”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Joe said. “I’m so glad we didn’t wait. If someone finds out and I’m sacked, then I don’t care. This is the best way to get sacked. Go out on a high, with a beautiful man’s cock in my hand.”

“It’s the best way to do most things,” Alejandro agreed gravely. Then he dipped his head to kiss Joe’s biceps, drawing the tip of his tongue sinuously over the warm skin.

Joe did his best to stroke Alejandro, but that tongue, that tongue. Joe had never known anything so intimate before. He’d never felt so wanted, he’d never been with someone so affectionate.

“I think you should get out of those trousers,” Alejandro decided. “And that’s a royal command.”

“Is it now?” Joe pushed himself up so that he was kneeling over Alejandro, and unfastened the top button of his trousers. He looked thoroughly indecent even with his trousers on. “Just got to be careful with the zip.”

“What’re you keeping in there?” Alejandro teased. He reached out his hand and stroked his fingertips over Joe’s clothed erection. “Oh, you don’t need to tense that up, that’s for sure!”

Joe’s hips jolted forward again. He closed his hand over Alejandro’s. “Help me unfasten them?” He drew their joined hands to his zip and started to tug it down. As Alejandro allowed Joe to guide his hand, he let his mouth roam over Joe’s shoulder and down his chest. His lips came to rest where his fingers had caressed, his tongue circling Joe’s nipple.

A succession of soft moans fell from Joe’s lips, his hips tensing forwards in short thrusts. How was he going to give Alejandro an evening to remember if he was already on the brink? But the zip was down and Joe nudged down his boxers as he tried to wriggle out of his trousers.

Blasted things.

From being sophisticated slacks, they had become labyrinthine, twisted things, and Joe laughed. “Got a pair of scissors?”

Alejandro laughed too. He lifted his head and commanded, “Lie down, Osito. If there’s one thing I can do, it’s get a hunky guy out of his trousers!”

“Right!” Joe rolled off Alejandro and onto his back. “Erections and trousers don’t work, do they?”

“But trousers and enthusiastic drag queens?” Alejandro took hold of Joe’s trousers and boxers. With a flourish, he pulled both down and off, throwing them aside. “That’s a match made in heaven!”

Alejandro rocked back on his knees, the heat from his gaze leaving a trail over Joe’s naked body. Finally, he declared, “That is the sort of gorgeous, massive cock a boy like me dreams about!”

Joe had never felt such a pitch of arousal before. Nor of such intimacy. He smiled up at Alejandro as he twined their fingers together.

“I’ve never been naked with a man before, like this. God, it’s exciting.”

“I’m going to be too busy kissing you all over to remind you to tense those amazing muscles!” Alejandro’s grin sparkled as much as Paloma’s kisses. “So I’m relying on you to remember!”

Joe basked in Alejandro’s gaze. He tensed his arms first, crossed above his head, followed by his pecs. Then, with a lascivious wink, Joe tensed his stomach and his erection twitched. He felt like a saucy model from one of those thinly veiled gay bodybuilding magazines from the 1950s. “Which set of muscles do you like most?”

“I’ll tell you when I’ve kissed them. At the moment it’s between those arms and that chest!” Alejandro lifted Joe’s foot and kissed it, taking his time to kiss each toe. Then his lips moved up to Joe’s ankle and as the minutes passed, he kept his promise, trailing sensuous kisses over his calf and knee then up to his thigh, stopping tantalisingly close to Joe’s erection. Eventually Alejandro lifted his gaze to meet Joe’s and shifted his attentions to his other leg, repeating the gently erotic pattern again.

Joe murmured with pleasure at every kiss, tensing each muscle as Alejandro’s mouth swept over it. He’d never been as aware of his body as he was at that moment. He’d never realised, until Alejandro kissed it, that there was a spot on his knee, just there, that was so sensitive it made him giggle at Alejandro’s kiss.

“This is a special place, I think,” Alejandro whispered. He concentrated his efforts there, kissing and caressing, making his CPO giggle like a lovestruck teenager.

With a trembling hand, Joe reached forwards to stroke Alejandro’s hair as he kissed his knee. “Why have I got a sensitive bit there? Why my knee?”

“Because you’re Joe,” was Alejandro’s considered response. His kisses moved higher, deftly skirting Joe’s erection and moving over his hip to his stomach. Here Alejandro devoted some more time, tracing the contours of his abdomen with his tongue, dipping it teasingly into Joe’s navel.

“Oh, bloody hell!” Joe’s stomach tensed then, though not intentionally. “That feels wonderful, Alejo. Sorry, I suppose you didn’t mind it tensing then?”

“I’ll never, ever, ever mind!” Alejandro’s kisses grew more leisurely, and as they did, he drew his fingertips down Joe’s erection, stroking gently.

“That feels… That feels very, very nice.” Joe sighed. “No, actually, nice isn’t a good enough word. It’s…amazing, Alejo.”

He felt another smile against his skin and Alejandro’s fingers encircled Joe’s erection, caressing him. His kisses found Joe’s nipples again, sending more of those delicious shivers of pleasure through him.

Joe arched up towards Alejandro’s mouth. He had never felt such pleasure, drawn out and lingering, intensifying as at every moment another kiss fell against his skin. How could he have ever imagined that a kiss on his body could feel so sensual?

“Tell me what you’ve always wanted,” Alejandro whispered. His lips fluttered over Joe’s biceps. “What’s my Osito’s fantasy?”

Now Joe was deliberately flexing his biceps, enlarging and firming his arms. “My fantasy? You’ll laugh and say I’m really cheesy if I tell you.”

“Tell me,” he murmured. “While I get on with getting to know my man’s muscles.”

“I want to go to a desert island…” Joe sighed as more kisses fell. “And make love to a beautiful man in the shade of the palm trees.” He chuckled softly. “Should I have said something about gymnastic positions and orgies?”

“We can make that fantasy come true,” Alejandro promised. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than head into the sun with you. Somewhere that’s too hot for shirts?”

“Definitely. When I next get leave, we’re hopping off in a plane.” Joe ruffled Alejandro’s hair. “And what’s your fantasy? Dare I guess that it involves a hunky chap?”

“I’m living it.” Alejandro snuggled onto the pillow beside him. “It’s a handsome, well-dressed British hunk who’s strong and tender and— Don’t laugh, but who’s kind as well as gorgeous.”

“I won’t laugh.” Joe turned to face Alejandro and drew him into his arms. “I loved all that kissing. What would you like from your well-dressed British hunk? Who’s rather undressed at the moment.”

“First, I need to tell you that you’re an eleven.” He beamed. “And you have the most magnificent cock, just in case nobody ever told you that.”

“An eleven?” Joe raised an eyebrow. “And no, no one’s ever told me that the old fellow’s magnificent. I’m glad you like it. I wondered what you’d think of it.”

Alejandro stroked his fingers down Joe’s face again, his other hand still caressing his erection. “We can do whatever you want, darling, at your pace.”

Joe glanced down at Alejandro’s body. That erection of his was too tempting. “Can I…can I give you a BJ? I mean, that sounds crude, doesn’t it, but…” Joe met Alejandro’s gaze.

“That’s not crude, it’s perfect!” He kissed Joe’s shoulder. “And the answer is yes!”

A dart of excitement shot through Joe. He kissed Alejandro on the mouth, then told him, “Lie back, darling. I think we’ll both enjoy this.”

With a saucy wink, Alejandro settled into the pillows, one slender arm tucked beneath his head. He gave a sigh of delight and watched Joe, his gaze filled with dreamy happiness. Joe kissed his mouth again, then wandered his lips down Alejandro’s body. He took each of Alejandro’s pebbled nipples into his mouth in turn, stroking Alejandro’s erection all the while. Alejandro’s skin tasted wonderful, and he moved down his chest, down to his stomach. Joe was so lucky to have the affection and trust of such a beautiful man. Then he dipped his head and touched his lips to the very tip of Alejandro’s erection.

He heard Alejandro coo his name into a moan of pleasure, his hips lifting to meet the touch. His hand reached out, soft as silk as it stroked over Joe’s hair. Then he whispered, “My Osito…”

His teddy bear.

Joe’s heart beat all the faster as he kissed Alejandro’s length from tip to base and back again, then poked out his tongue to lick. What an honour it was to pleasure Alejandro. And what a pleasure too, for Joe to feel the tightening of his lover’s elegant fingers in his hair and the heat of his body beneath his mouth.

Then Joe returned to the tip again and slowly took Alejandro entirely into his mouth. He’d dreamed of the moment he could do this for a man, but the reality was more intimate, more affectionate, than he had expected. He raised and lowered his head, stroking his tongue against Alejandro as he moved. The sounds of delight slipping from Alejandro’s lips were somewhere between Alejo and Paloma, but Joe knew there was no deliberate affect to them. There was a wonderful appreciation in the way Alejandro’s hand rested on his shoulder, gripping one of the muscles that had so entranced him

Joe lifted his head. He stroked Alejandro’s erection now. “Darling, would you like me to keep going until you—?”

“That depends,” Alejandro told him dreamily. “Whatever my beautiful man wants tonight, he gets.”

Joe caught Alejandro’s hand in his. “And I want you to have a bloody good time!”

He sank back down, kissing Alejandro’s erection again, more confident now as he rose and fell on him. He’d never taken his time to bring a man to orgasm before, he’d only known fumblings in the dark with strangers that were over too soon. The change in Alejandro’s breathing and the more insistent thrust of his hips suggested that he wasn’t going to last much longer. His sighs had turned into moans, the hand on Joe’s shoulder half-holding, half-massaging as he approached the edge.

Joe had been gripping Alejandro’s hips steady, but as he realised he was reaching his climax, Joe slid his hands around Alejandro and grasped his buttocks. That seemed to be all it took to push his lover over the edge and, in a breathless flurry of sighs and encouragement, Alejandro’s hips rose up off the bed as his orgasm swept through him. Joe clung onto him, and finally rested his head on Alejandro’s thigh. He gazed at him, his beautiful lover, who lay like a classical nude across the huge bed.

“Thank you, Alejo,” he whispered, then he came back up the bed to give Alejandro a kiss. Alejandro caught his fingers in Joe’s hair again, returning the kiss with a heat and hunger that Joe had never felt from anybody. He pressed their bodies together, his free hand sliding round to grip Joe’s bottom. Without breaking their kiss, Joe rolled them over so that he lay above Alejandro and held him tight. He tensed his buttocks under Alejandro’s hands.

“You’re perfect,” Alejandro whispered in between kisses. He lifted his legs and wrapped them lithely around Joe’s waist. “My perfect Osito.”

Joe moaned with pleasure as he felt Alejandro encircle him. “I want you, Alejo, so much.” He kissed him then whispered, an awkward laugh in his voice, “I don’t suppose you happen to have been more prepared than me?”

“I’m an optimistic sort of gal,” Alejandro told him sweetly. “My emergency makeup bag’s in the bedside drawer. It’s got concealer, moisturiser, everything a queen needs so her CPO thinks she’s effortlessly gorgeous.” Then he winked and added, “And everything we need for tonight!”

“Thank God one of us was thinking ahead!” Joe kissed the tip of Alejandro’s perfect nose, then reached across to the bedside drawer. He brought the silky, bright blue makeup bag out and laid it on the mattress then delved inside. “That’s a large box!” Joe laughed. “You’re very optimistic!”

“I didn’t know when we were going to move on from platonic,” Alejandro told him innocently. “And I thought, Joe’s a copper, he’d want me to be prepared!”

“You’d make a good copper. You’re resourceful, good at disguise, can jump out of a window…” Joe took a tube from the make-up bag as well, and readied himself. “As we were?”

“Agent Picante, Private Eye!” Alejandro winked. “As we were, Sergeant!”

Joe held Alejandro tightly, kissing him, then paused to look into his eyes before kissing him again. He took his time, caressing the gel between and inside Alejandro’s buttocks, circling his fingertip, then whispered, “Ready, Agent Picante?”

“Always, Sergeant.”

Joe pressed his lips to Alejandro’s, and with a thrust he brought their bodies together. He paused long enough to gaze at Alejandro in wonder, then he began to move. The act that he had longed to experience was now his to enjoy, and his body was flushed with an intense happiness that he’d never known before. He had Alejandro in his arms, and Alejandro was all around him, so warm, so alive.

“Oh!” Alejandro gasped, the exclamation rich with delight. “You’re very big, Osito!”

Joe paused, kissing his neck. “Not too big?” he whispered. “Tell me if it’s too much.”

“It’s really not too much,” he replied. “It’s just… God, it feels amazing!”

Alejandro’s enthusiasm spurred Joe on. He didn’t hold back, and used all the strength in his body to make love to Alejandro, wishing him to be as happy as Alejandro had made him. Alejandro’s legs tightened around him, his hands against Joe’s back. He pushed his hips to meet Joe’s thrusts, gasping into their kisses.

Joe couldn’t hold back much longer. He murmured Alejandro’s name, his thrusts deepening. “Darling Alejo, you beautiful man.”

“Your man,” he sighed. “Your Alejo.”

“My beautiful Alejo,” Joe whispered. But he couldn’t say another word because at that moment, with one last thrust, Joe was swept up in his climax, his body thrumming with joy and his lover’s name on his lips. Alejandro gathered him into his arms, holding him as he rode out the waves of pleasure. Joe’s vision of two naked figures, glistening and entwined, had come true. He dropped lazy kisses across Alejandro’s face and neck and shoulders, tasting the salt on his skin. “You’re the single most perfect man I’ve ever met,” he murmured. “You make me feel alive.”

“You should always feel that way.” Alejandro smiled. “My man.”

“I hope I will,” Joe said. “That was incredible, by the way. You’re incredible.”

“Was I really your first?” He kissed Joe’s nose. “You’ve got a natural talent!”

“But I have an excellent teacher!” Joe laughed. He battled a yawn then, trying to hide it behind his hand. “We certainly had a good workout. Here’s to many more.”

Alejandro unwrapped his legs, setting his dainty feet down on the mattress as he said, “Lots more. In beds like this and on tropical islands too!”

“My leave can’t come soon enough!” Joe tickled Alejandro as he rolled onto his side. This might change everything, he knew, but maybe a change was overdue. He’d spent too long living his life for others.