CARDENO C.
To Eric and TJ, with love and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
I.
“WHERE ARE we going?” Esav Walters asked as he folded his six-foot-seven-inch frame into the passenger seat of his friend’s BMW. His knees were almost hitting his chin. “And why do you insist on spending tons of money for a car with bad gas mileage and no leg room?”
“It’s a BMW,” Brendan Jones replied as he backed out of Esav’s driveway.
“That’s nonresponsive,” Paul Richter said from the backseat.
“We’re not in court. I don’t have to respond to Esav’s stupid questions.”
Shaking his head, Esav said, “My questions are never stupid, and you’ve never appeared in my courtroom.”
“And whose fault is that, Judge Walters?” Brendan asked sarcastically.
“The state bar ethics committee, the ethics rules governing federal judges, and common sense,” Esav responded.
“I think he skipped ethics class in law school,” Paul said from the backseat.
“Bite me,” Brendan replied as he veered into traffic.
“I think that’s what he was doing during that class,” Paul volleyed back.
“Hey, are you sure you want to go out tonight?” Esav said. “Because you can turn around and drop me back at my place and then go home and get it over with.”
“Get what over with?” Brendan asked.
“He’s saying we want to screw each other silly, but we haven’t, so we’re bickering instead,” Paul said.
“Oh. Never mind about the courtroom thing. I hate appearing before clueless judges. Seriously, Esav, who’d you blow to get on the federal bench?”
“What Brendan is nicely trying to say is that this isn’t sexual tension,” Paul explained. “We genuinely enjoy acting like bitchy assholes to each other.”
“The sex is okay too, though,” Brendan said distractedly. “Hey, where is this place again?”
“It’s on Washington and First Avenue in the old county courthouse.”
“Why are we going to court on a Friday night?” Esav asked.
“The old courthouse,” Brendan said. “After they built that new glass-and-marble waste of taxpayer resources, the county sold the building, and somebody turned it into a wine bar slash coffee shop slash art gallery slash bookstore.”
“That’s a lot of slashes,” Esav said.
“Well, it’s supposed to be really cool, and I’m driving, so that’s where we’re going.”
“Next time you guys ask me to go out with you, please remind me to say no.”
Before long, they were pulling up next to a white brick building with huge metal letters spelling Holding Court attached to the front. A wood-and-brick half wall had been added to an area on the left side of the building, creating an enclosed patio space. Strings of bulb lights swooped down over the space, giving it a warm glow. New trees and flowers were planted in front, showcased by bright landscape lights. A crowd gathered outside the tall wooden doors, and the sound of laughter and music spilled out.
Esav had driven by the place countless times over the years, but he hadn’t ever paid it much attention. Now it was impossible to miss.
“See, what’d I tell you?” Brendan said as he pulled into the parking lot. “This is the place to be.”
“It looks great,” Paul said.
Esav grunted.
Brendan hopped out of the car and joined Paul, who had managed to get out even quicker. Esav cursed under his breath as he hunched his broad shoulders so he could slide out of the car without getting a bruise.
“I hate your car.”
“Yeah, well, too bad. The car’s hot, and it’s not my fault your mommy gave you growth hormones instead of vitamins as a kid.” Before Esav could come up with a response that would be appropriate for a public setting, Brendan said, “Let’s go,” grabbed Paul’s hand, and dashed toward the doors.
Esav straightened his blue button-down shirt, combed his fingers through his black hair, and followed them at a leisurely pace. The bar wasn’t going anywhere.
Brendan and Paul were waiting for him when he stepped into the grand space. The rich wood-beamed ceilings soared thirty feet above them. Colorful stained-glass images of Lady Justice lined the very top of the walls, and beneath them, the cream plaster held dozens of paintings and photographs.
“Wow,” Esav said as he looked around. “This is really amazing.”
“See?” Brendan practically bounced. “We should check out the coffee shop and bookstore, but first—”
Paul put his arm around Brendan’s shoulder, and in unison they pointed to a space over Esav’s shoulder and shouted, “Bar!”
Esav chuckled at his friends’ exuberance, turned around, and started weaving a path through the crowd. With his size, it wasn’t a problem, because people tended to move out of the way for fear of being run over.
He headed toward what used to be the judge’s bench but had been turned into a long bar. Above it hovered old ceiling fans that had been converted into chandeliers. Behind it, two giant lawyer’s bookcases held glassware and liquor bottles. And between those bookcases hung a painting that stopped Esav in his tracks.
“Ow!” Brendan shouted as he ran into Esav’s back.
“A little warning before coming to a sudden stop, big guy,” Paul said.
Mesmerized by the artwork, Esav ignored them both.
“Oh, this way!” Brendan said, apparently having found an opening in the crowd.
“Come on, Esav,” Paul added.
Esav couldn’t speak, let alone walk. All his senses were occupied by the image before him.
A man lay in a four-poster bed. His arms were wrapped around someone who was perched on top of him, but only hints of that person’s skin showed because the image was made in that person’s perspective. The main subject of the painting, on the other hand, was very exposed: olive skin, furry chest, thick arms, a square jaw, black hair, green eyes, and an easy smile. Esav recognized that bed. He recognized that man. After all, he saw him in the mirror every day. But he hadn’t smiled like that in years. Not since the night of his graduation party. Not since the night he’d held Court Swanson in his arms.
II.
“HI, ESAV. How, uh, how are you?”
Turning away from his old high school buddies, Esav moved his attention to the lanky guy standing next to him. The tall, lanky guy. The tall, adorable, lanky guy. His younger brother’s friend sure had grown up nicely. If twenty could be considered grown up.
“Courtland Swanson.” Esav transferred his beer from his right hand to his left one and clapped Court’s shoulder. “How’ve you been?”
“Good,” Court squeaked, cleared his throat, and then, in a deeper voice, said, “Good. I’m good. Uh, congratulations on becoming a lawyer. That’s really great.”
Esav’s parents had insisted on throwing him a party to celebrate finishing school and starting his first job at a big law firm. So he’d driven from his new apartment in Denver to spend the weekend at his childhood home in Colorado Springs.
“Thanks,” Esav said, feeling his mouth stretch into a smile. Court was cute when he was nervous. And if memory served, he was nervous a lot.
“I heard from Dylan that you got a really good job, but he didn’t remember what kind of lawyer you were going to be, so I, uh, thought I’d come ask you.” Court gulped. “Because you’re here anyway, and I’m here, and, uh, so, yeah.” He glanced down and scuffed the toe of his shoe back and forth on the pine floors. “Ehm. Yeah.”
It was good to see that Court was just as sweet as an adult as he’d been growing up. A lot of the kids Esav’s brother Dylan brought around had annoyed the hell out of Esav, but never Court. He was always smiling and blushing and staring at Esav while pretending he wasn’t. Although the attention had been flattering, the five-year age difference between them had prevented Esav from thinking of Court as anything other than a cute kid. But he sure didn’t look like a kid anymore.
At six feet seven inches, Esav was used to being the tallest guy in the room, but he was pleased to note that he didn’t have to look down too far to meet Court’s brown-eyed gaze. He figured the blond to be at least six two. And though his build was much leaner than Esav’s, his muscles had filled out nicely.
His attention captured, Esav stepped closer to Court. “So, tell me what you’re up to these days.” He pushed the hair that covered Court’s eyes to the side, smiling when he heard a small gasp. “Are you in college?”
“Art school.” Court glanced up, meeting his gaze. “Um, Esav?”
“Uh-huh?”
“You’re petting me.”
Esav realized he was still stroking Court’s hair. After pausing for a second, he tilted the side of his lips up, said, “Uh-huh,” and continued.
Court’s eyes widened in surprise, and his breath came out quicker. He licked his lips and then bit the lower one, looking so nervous Esav was sure he’d pull away. But then he squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and said, “My parents are out of town.”
Though he wasn’t the type to sleep around, at twenty-five, Esav wasn’t a stranger to hookups. So it didn’t take him long to follow Court’s meaning, even if he was surprised the shy guy had worked up the nerve to proposition him.
“Is that an offer, Court?” he rasped.
“I, uh, yeah. Yes.” Court nodded. “It’s an offer.”
After taking a moment to flick his gaze around the room, Esav cupped the side of Court’s neck and leaned close enough to whisper in his ear. “I’m the guest of honor here, so I can’t leave until everyone’s cleared out, but if you stick around, I’ll drive you home. How’s that sound?”
Court’s face paled, his cheeks reddened, and his eyes widened. He was breathing so quickly, Esav worried he’d hyperventilate.
“Hey.” He held on to both of Court’s shoulders and bent his knees until his face was low enough for them to be eye to eye. “Slow breaths. Don’t freak out, okay?”
“Okay,” Court said, not seeming to calm down in the least. “But did you agree to come home with me as in ‘come home with me,’ or did you just mean you’re going to drive me home, or—”
“How about we start with me driving you home?” Esav tried to keep his voice soothing. It was barely eight, so they had at least another couple of hours at his parents’ house, and he didn’t want Court to be wound up tight as a bowstring the entire time. “If you want to invite me in, you can. After that, well….” Esav smiled. “I think you’re really cute.” He dragged his gaze from Court’s face to his feet and back up again. “Really cute.”
Court whimpered. Honest-to-goodness whimpered.
“I need to go pretend I’m interested in talking to these people my parents invited.” Esav cupped Court’s nape and squeezed it. “So you have to stop making those noises, or they’ll think I’m a pervert.”
“Huh?” Court said as he blinked up at him. He really did have great eyes, warm and soft.
“Those soft little noises.” Esav reached for Court’s hand. “They sound like something you’d do in bed.” He brought Court’s hand between their bodies and then rested it on his pants, right on top of his hard dick.
At that point, Court seemed to stop breathing entirely. He stared at Esav, his expression filled with hope and want, and a bit of anxiety.
Lowering his gaze, Esav had no trouble seeing the evidence of Court’s arousal bulging on the left side of his jeans. “Later,” he said as he released Court’s hand and intentionally brushed his own palm against Court’s jean-covered erection.
Court gasped, moaned, and whimpered all at the same time.
With a chuckle, Esav winked. “Really, really cute.”
“I CAN’T believe you’re here,” Court mumbled as he turned on the light in his parents’ living room.
“You invited me in.” Esav placed his hand on Court’s lower back, keeping the touch gentle.
“Did I say that out loud?” Court twisted his head around and looked at Esav. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did,” Esav answered with a chuckle, realizing he had lost track of how many times Court had made him laugh or smile that night.
The guy was adorable, sweet, and fun. Unfortunately, he was in school in New York, and Esav lived in Denver. Esav told himself it was for the best. His life would belong to the law firm for the next few years, and Court was too young to want a relationship.
“So, uh, do you want a drink or, uh—”
Not one to beat around the bush, Esav circled his arms around Court’s waist, pulled Court’s back against his chest, melding their bodies together, and whispered “I want you” into his ear before kissing his way down Court’s neck. “That’s why you invited me here, right?”
“Yeah.”
Esav moved his hand over Court’s belly, down his hip, and across to his groin.
“Oh God,” he gasped, dropping his head against Esav’s shoulder. “Oh God.”
“Want to show me your bedroom?”
“Yeah.” He gulped and bobbed his head. “This is totally crazy.”
“Why is it crazy?” Esav flicked his tongue over Court’s earlobe and squeezed his dick through his pants.
“Because you’re here, and you’re touching me, and I’ve had a crush on you since forever.” Court turned his head to look back at Esav. “Did you know that?”
“I suspected.” Esav dragged the heel of his hand over Court’s dick and balls.
“You never seemed interested.”
Esav smiled. “You were a kid, Court. A cute kid, but still a kid.”
“And now?”
“Now you’re all grown up, sexy as hell, but still too chatty.”
It was Court’s turn to laugh. “Nice.” He snorted and shook his head.
“Where’s your bedroom?”
After putting his hand on Esav’s hip, keeping them connected, Court started walking toward the hallway. “It’s a guest room now. My parents converted it before I unpacked my first suitcase in the dorm freshman year.”
“At this point, the only thing I care about is that it has a bed or a couch or a beanbag. You keep rubbing your ass against my cock, and it’s making me crazy.”
“I am?” Court looked back at him over his shoulder, his expression all wide-eyed innocence. The accompanying thrust back and grind belied his sincerity.
“Keep that up, and I’ll blow before I get inside you,” Esav warned, amusement lacing his words. He was having fun with Court.
They reached the bedroom, and Esav flicked on the lights.
Court slipped out of his arms and turned around. This time when he looked up at Esav from underneath his lashes, he seemed genuinely nervous. “You want to, uh….” He bit his bottom lip. “You want to do that with me?”
That had been Esav’s assumption when Court invited him over. He had gotten a few condoms and a bottle of lube out of his suitcase and stuffed them into his jacket pocket before leaving his parents’ house. But if Court wanted to keep it more casual, that was fine too.
“We don’t have to,” he said. “Tell me what you’re up for. I’m easy.” When Court arched his eyebrows and smirked, Esav pinched his hip and said, “Don’t be a little shit. You know what I mean.” He shrugged. “I’m flexible. I can top, bottom; we can suck each other off. What do you want?”
Court’s cheeks were bright red. “Wow. You’re really, uh, open.”
“I’m not one to play games,” Esav confirmed. “If I want something, I say it. Same if I don’t want something.” He paused. “Like right now, I want you naked in that big bed.” He darted his gaze to the ornate wood bed that took up almost the entire room. Tall, thick pillars made up each side, and crisp white bedding covered it. “That’s some bed.”
“What?” Court looked at the bed. “Oh. Yeah. My mom got it at an import store. Supposedly it was handmade in Italy.”
“Uh-huh. I don’t care,” Esav said. He nudged Court into the room. “You. Naked. Now.”
“Okay, okay.” Court kicked off his shoes, grabbed the back of his shirt, and pulled it off over his head. “But you might want to turn off the lights so you’re not disappointed.”
“Hey.” Esav grasped Court’s shoulder and looked into his eyes. “Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Don’t run yourself down.” He looked at Court’s bare chest appreciatively. “You’re gorgeous.”
“I’m scrawny.” Court reached out and touched Esav’s bicep. “You’re something else.”
“I’m me and you’re you.” Esav found himself feeling oddly protective of Court, considering they were hooking up for one night, not engaging in a relationship. Then again, he’d known the guy since he was a preteen, and he liked him, genuinely liked him. “I don’t want you to devalue yourself,” he said.
“Huh?”
“Devalue.” Esav drew in a deep breath. “I took a class in college about the media’s role in women’s self-esteem, and they talked about young girls growing up to devalue themselves.”
“The media’s role in….” Court knit his eyebrows together in confusion. “Huh?”
“That was the class, but the same thing applies to guys, and it shows up in lots of ways. You’re a great-looking guy, Court. You’re also lots of other things.”
“Why do I feel like I’m in the middle of a motivational speech?” Court said.
“All right. You asked for it.” Esav narrowed his eyes and pounced, taking Court down on the bed. “I’ll show you motivational.” He tucked his thumbs into Court’s waistband and pulled his jeans and briefs down, leaving Court’s body completely exposed. He was right about the guy being gorgeous. “Mmm,” Esav moaned. “Look at you.” Before Court could respond, he wedged himself between Court’s thighs and lowered his mouth over Court’s dick.
“Oh!” Court gasped. He gripped Esav’s hair, then let go and flailed his hands around.
After another couple of bobs up and down the hot, hard shaft, Esav raised his head. “It’s okay.” He lapped at Court’s crown. “You can grab me, pull my hair, push me down.” He suckled on the tip of Court’s cock. “Let go, Court. I can take whatever you dish out.” He ghosted hot air over Court’s sensitive skin. “Just let go.”
When he went down on the normally quiet man the next time, Court took him up on his offer. Throwing all his shyness and hesitancy out the window, Court went wild. He bucked his hips, pushing his erection completely into Esav’s mouth. He tangled his fingers in Esav’s hair, tugging the thick strands while at the same time using them as a handle to hold Esav in place or shove him down. And all the while he moaned and cried out Esav’s name.
It was the single hottest reaction Esav had ever seen to anything in bed, and it ramped him up to the point where he was humping the mattress and chasing his own orgasm. When Court arched his back completely off the bed and screamed, Esav shoved his hand into his own pants, grabbed his dick, and pulled, knowing the end was near. Hot seed pulsed into his waiting mouth, coating his tongue with the evidence and taste of Court’s pleasure and causing him to shoot, filling his hand with thick ejaculate.
“Holy fuck,” he rumbled, trying to make his lungs and head work again.
“Oh my God,” Court said breathlessly. “That was…. Oh my God.”
“Uh-huh.” Esav sat up, pulled his hand out of his pants, and licked up the seed that hadn’t been absorbed by his underwear.
“Are you…?” Court asked, his gaze locked on Esav’s mouth. “Oh God, you are.” He whimpered. “That is so hot.”
“What’s hot is you going for it.” Esav pulled his polo shirt off and tossed it onto the floor. “Tell me you’re up for another round.” He kicked off his shoes and then made quick work of his pants, underwear, and socks. “Because I really want to hear you scream my name again.”
“I did that, didn’t I?” A red heat crawled up Court’s neck.
“Yes, you did, and it was seriously hot.”
“It was?” he asked shyly.
“Uh-huh.” Esav lay down on top of Court, hissing in pleasure when their bare skin touched. He spread his legs so his knees took some of his weight but made sure their groins were connected. “You’re crazy good in bed. I wish we didn’t live in different states.”
“Me too,” Court whispered.
Esav traced Court’s lips with his thumb and realized they hadn’t kissed. Well, he could fix that problem right away. He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to Court’s. Moaning at the intimacy, he tilted his head to the side and ran his tongue along the seam of Court’s lips, seeking entry. Court opened right away, feeding him more of his soft noises and sucking on his tongue.
Between the feel of Court’s body writhing beneath him, the taste of Court in his mouth, and the sounds Court made, Esav was ready to go for round two and felt confident he had at least another round in him that night.
“I know it’s crazy, but I want you again,” he said against Court’s neck as he licked and nibbled. He thrust his hips forward, pressing his renewed erection against Court’s hip.
“Ungh,” Court moaned and clutched Esav’s ass, digging his fingertips into the firm muscles. “Me too.”
Shoving his hand between their bodies, Esav gripped their dicks and stroked. “Tell me what you want.” He licked Court’s chin, his neck, his ear. “You want to top me?” He released their dicks and moved his fingers over Court’s balls and into his channel, grazing his puckered skin. “You want to bottom?” He circled the opening and applied a hint of pressure. “Tell me what you want.” He longed for more than one night with Court, but if one night was all they had, he’d make sure to make it one the sweet, passionate man would remember.
“Can I have both?” Court asked quietly. He wrapped his legs around Esav’s hips and his arms around Esav’s neck. “I want both.”
Esav’s groin tightened with need. “Anything you want,” he said, before taking another kiss.
III.
A FULL decade had passed since that night he spent tangled with Court Swanson, and Esav remembered every kiss, every touch, every moan like it was yesterday. For a few years, his brother had shared updates on Court—he’d sold a painting to a Park Avenue socialite and started getting a following; he’d considered dropping out of college and pursing his art full-time, but his mother begged him to get his degree; he’d finished school and decided to stay in New York; he had a show at a tiny gallery in New York and then a show at a bigger gallery in New York, and then shows in Europe—but eventually Dylan got married, got busy with his job and his kids, and fell out of touch with his old friend. After that, Esav stopped hearing about Court’s life. But that didn’t mean he ever forgot the sweet boy who had grown into an enticing man.
“Excuse me,” he said to a waiter who was hurrying by.
“Yes? What can I get for you, sir?”
“The paintings, they’re for sale, right?”
“Yes, sir.” The waiter nodded. “The owner wanted to create a space where young new artists can share their work. You’ll notice postcards next to each painting with the price and the artist’s name.”
At thirty years old, Court Swanson was young, but he wasn’t a new artist. Esav knew for a fact that the man’s early success had blossomed, and his paintings currently hung in prestigious museums around the globe. That probably explained why his was the largest painting there and why it held a place of honor.
He marched to the bar, his gaze fixed on the well-lit image of the younger version of himself. He looked happy in that painting; he had been happy that night. Even if his traditional life would never match up with Court’s artistic, vagabond lifestyle, he could own a piece of the night they had shared.
“Excuse me,” Esav yelled to the bartender, hoping he could be heard over the loud music. “Excuse me.”
“What can I get you?” she asked as she walked over.
“That painting.” He pointed without looking at his past memorialized in oil. “I’d like to buy it.”
Looking back over her shoulder, the bartender said, “Oh, that one isn’t for sale. It belongs to the owner. It’s from his private collection.”
After being appointed to the judicial bench a year earlier, Esav no longer made as much money as he had when he had been in private practice, but those years had been good to him, and he hoped he had enough in savings to purchase a piece of his past. “Is there a way I can reach him?” he asked. “A phone number or an e-mail address?”
The bartender shook her head. “No, I can’t give those out. But you might be able to find him in his office. He works strange hours.”
“His office?”
“Yup.” She pointed to the side and behind her. “Follow that hallway past the double doors, past the bathroom, and past the private party space. You’ll see it on the left.”
“The left?”
She nodded. “It says office on the door. You won’t miss it.”
“Thanks.” Esav stepped away from the bar, wove his way through the crowd, and followed the bartender’s directions. He found the office door and knocked.
“Come in.”
Even though the office was removed from the people in the rest of the building, the hallway was loud. There was a door separating him from the voice on the other side. And the person speaking had only said two words.
None of that mattered, because as soon as he heard that voice, Esav knew who he’d find on the other side of the door. He turned the handle, stepped inside, and let the door click shut behind him.
The blond head was bent over a slew of paperwork that littered the desk, and Esav’s hand itched to brush his fingers through those strands and expose the chocolate eyes he had dreamed about more times than he could remember.
“Why’d an internationally famous artist open a bar in Denver, Colorado?” he asked.
Court jerked his head up, jumped to his feet, and stared at Esav. His jaw dropped, he blinked rapidly, and a red haze traveled up his neck and landed on his cheeks. With all the places Court had been and all the people he had met, Esav would have expected him to have lost his youthful innocence, but he hadn’t.
“Esav,” Court said.
“Courtland Swanson.” Esav slowly moved his gaze over the lanky body he remembered stripped of clothing and glistening with sweat. “You look good.”
“So do you.”
The compliment spoken in Court’s husky voice, combined with the heat in his eyes, distracted Esav from everything except the need to touch and taste and feel the person he had fantasized about for a decade. “Come home with me,” he rasped, skipping the usual introductory formalities. He never had been one for pomp and circumstance.
After a brief pause, Court said, “I live closer.” He stepped around the desk and reached for Esav’s hand.
Esav met him halfway, braiding his fingers with Court’s. Tension melted from his shoulders in reaction to the contact. “I missed you,” Esav admitted.
Court ducked his head and blushed. “I missed you too.” He led Court out of his office and down the hall to a stairwell. “I have a little studio upstairs for now. I’m here all the time, and I didn’t know where I’d end up wanting to live, so, uh, yeah. A studio.”
Smiling at the familiar ramble, Esav followed Court up the stairs, staring at his ass the whole way. Court punched his code into the keypad, and Esav took the opportunity to text his friends, letting them know he’d get home on his own. Then he turned off his phone, knowing they were sure to call or text back with failed attempts to be funny about their stodgy friend hooking up.
“So, uh, do you want something to drink?” Court asked once they walked into his studio.
“I think we had this same conversation ten years ago.” Esav closed the door and then pressed his chest to Court’s back and circled his arms around Court’s waist, holding him tight. “Damn,” he sighed. “You feel just as good now as you did back then.” He buried his face in Court’s neck and took in a deep breath. “Smell just as good too.”
“I want you just as much now as I did then.” Court pushed his ass against Esav’s erection and rolled his hips.
With a growl, Esav nipped Court’s ear. “I need to get you naked.” He mouthed Court’s neck, licking and nibbling, as he unbuckled his belt and then shoved his pants down.
“I’m supposed to take my shoes off first, I think.” Court held on to Esav’s head and arched his neck, giving Esav more room to work. “Otherwise I can’t walk.”
“You don’t need to walk.” Esav scooped Court into his arms and walked over to the bed in the corner of the room.
“That is so hot.”
“What?”
“You,” Court said. “You’re huge and strong and”—he licked his lips—“hot.”
“Glad you think so.” Esav grinned and set Court on the bed. “Lose the shoes while I take care of your shirt.”
Within moments, Court was lying on the bed naked, propped up on his forearms, watching Esav undress. He flicked his gaze from Esav’s chest to his face to his dick, like he couldn’t decide what to focus on. “Hurry,” he said hoarsely.
Esav peeled off his last sock and tossed it aside. “Ready.” He climbed onto the bed and slid up Court’s body, enjoying the glide of their skin against each other.
Reflexively, Court parted his knees and spread his legs, making room for Esav.
After settling on Court’s warm body, Esav cupped the sides of his face, brushed his thumbs back and forth over Court’s cheeks, and then leaned down for a kiss. Sliding his lips over Court’s heated Esav’s belly and hardened his cock. He licked his way into Court’s mouth and held his face still as he alternately nibbled on his lips and thrust his tongue in and out.
“Love kissing you,” he whispered. “And touching you.” He grazed his teeth over Court’s jaw and down his neck and then sucked on his skin.
“Are you giving me a hickey?”
“Uh-huh.” Esav sucked harder, feeling his balls draw up at the idea of Court walking around with his mark on his neck. “You taste good.”
When Court’s moans were coming out in a steady stream, Esav moved his mouth back to Court’s and kissed him again. “Should I ask what you want, or are you going to give me the same answer as last time?”
“Same answer,” Court said. “But this time you top first.” He grasped Esav’s dick and stroked it. “I want to feel you inside again.”
“I want that too.”
After kissing Court yet again, Esav moved down his body, pinching his nipples, kissing his belly, and licking his balls. Then he stuffed a pillow under Court’s ass, spread and raised his thighs, and buried his face between Court’s firm globes.
“Ungh! Esav!” Court yelled when Esav flicked his tongue back and forth over his pucker. “Yes. So good.”
Esav agreed. He licked the hot skin and then pointed his tongue and pressed it through the tight ring of muscles, fucking Court with his tongue.
The words Court babbled became indecipherable. He held on to Esav’s hair, keeping him in place, and bucked against him, trying to get more sensation inside his hole.
When Esav couldn’t hold back any longer, he kissed Court’s opening, lightly bit his thigh, and said, “Tell me you have condoms here.”
“Yeah. Nightstand.” Court pointed a shaky hand.
Esav threw himself across the bed, opened the nightstand drawer, and found a sealed bottle of lube and a new box of condoms. He got the packaging open quickly, rolled the rubber over his swollen shaft, and then drizzled lube into Court’s channel before coating his cock with it. When they were both ready, he lay down on his side behind Court, lined his dick up with Court’s hole, and slowly pressed his way inside.
“Oh God, yes,” Court moaned. “Love that. So good. Don’t stop.”
Clenching his jaw to keep from spilling right then, Esav kept sliding until he was all the way in. “You’re so damn tight,” he grunted.
“Maybe you’re just really big,” Court said.
As turned on as he was, Esav still chuckled. Only Court could make him hot to the point of explosion while at the same time making him laugh. He nuzzled Court’s neck, grasped his dick, and then started pumping in and out of his body while he stroked him off.
“Yesss.” Court slammed back, fucking himself on Esav’s cock. “Right there. Harder. Don’t stop. Harder.”
After a few more thrusts, Esav pulled out, flipped Court onto his back, and then plunged back inside again. He grabbed Court’s ankles, held them up and out, exposing Court’s opening completely, and slammed his cock in and out at a furious pace.
Court threw his hands over his head, bracing himself against the wall as he tried to meet every thrust. “Close,” he yelled. “So close.” The tendons in his neck tightened, his eyes widened, and then he arched his back and yelled Esav’s name as he pulsed shot after shot of seed over his belly and chest.
Esav’s orgasm hit before Court’s was done. He released Court’s legs, held his dick deep inside, and pressed his lips against Court’s, moaning into his mouth as he came deep within his body.
Neither man talked for a couple of minutes, both of them gasping for air and waiting for their hearts to slow. Eventually, Esav pulled out, got rid of the condom, and then wrapped his arms around Court and held him tightly.
“You didn’t answer my question earlier,” he said.
Court met his gaze. “What question?”
“What brings you back to Colorado?”
Biting his lower lip, Court looked away. “Do you still have that bluntness policy?” he asked quietly.
“I think of it as speaking my mind, but yes.”
“You,” Court said.
“Me?”
“I missed you.” Court looked into Esav’s eyes. “ I know you might think it was just one night back then, but for me there were a lot of years leading up to it and even more years thinking about it after. I can paint anywhere, but you’re here, so, uh.” He gulped. “You’re what brought me back.”
God, Court was cute. Esav kissed his forehead. “Were you planning on letting me know?”
Furrowing his brow, Court said, “Huh?”
“A phone call? A text? An e-mail?” Esav grinned. “One of those planes that flies by and writes messages in smoke? Were you going to use some form of communication to tell me you were here and wanted to see me?”
“Yeah. Well, not the smoke one, but the others, yeah. Eventually. When I got my nerve up.”
“Seems I took care of that part for you,” Esav pointed out.
“Seems that way.” The look in Court’s eyes held a world of longing, and Esav desperately wanted to fulfill it.
“What’s the next part of your plan?” he asked.
After biting his lip again, Court looked up at him from underneath his lashes and said, “What are my options?”
Esav cupped Court’s cheeks, tilted his head back so their gazes met, and kissed him tenderly. “You can have whatever you want.”
“What if I want you and not just for one night?” Court asked hoarsely. “What if I want you for all the time?”
Esav’s heart swelled. “Anything you want,” he said before taking another kiss.