Chapter 5

Rio

 

Every eye near them in the bar turned to gawk when Rake yelled his name.

One of which… “Chaze.” A very drunk Chaze.

“Rio.” He wore a too-big ten-gallon hat, stolen from—Rio looked over—Jack Slade, of all people.

Great. Just what I need.

Rake came to a stop beside him with an amused smile. “You okay, there?” he asked Chaze, who narrowed his eyes and gave him a once-over.

Chaze scoffed. “Seriously? It hasn’t even been a day.”

Rio aimed a direct stare over at Jack, who glowered. “Really? You want to do this now?” Rio asked.

Chaze waved behind him, dismissing Slade’s presence. “Oh, please. I’m not hightailing it out of here with a stranger.”

A soft laugh came from Rake, and Rio glanced over at his huge smile.

Rake winked.

God, he’s hot.

Ripped arms and leg muscles that stretched his jeans, a solid core, and strong, even facial features under a dirty-blond fade haircut. His eyes…now those were pretty. They reminded Rio of angry clouds with a hint of sunshine peeking through.

“Not even a day, Duran Duran?” Rake placed a hand over his heart. “I’m flattered.”

The nickname made Rio pause, but he shook it off and said to Chaze, “I’m not doing this now. You’re drunk.”

Slade wandered over, the stamp of his father’s sneer on his face. “Yeah, run away, Danvers. It’s what you people are good at.”

Rio ignored him, but the barb struck its intended target. Chaze shook his head and dislodged his hat, which Rake caught with a quick move and handed it to the smaller man. He took a single step toward Slade, no longer smiling. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Rio stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Forget it. Have fun with that, Chaze.” Rio gave a pointed nod at Slade, took Rake’s hand, and pulled him away. He’d been heading to the bathroom, which was a stupid thing to do in his best friend’s bar, so he changed direction. He was a little grateful for Chaze’s cockblock, because the blood returned to his brain. That was, until Rake slid his fingers into Rio’s back pocket and squeezed his ass.

Staggering heat pumped through his cock, and he almost stumbled. Rake’s smile sealed the deal for Rio: sweet, dirty and fun. How did he manage all three at once?

Rake cleared his throat and asked again, “So, not even a day?”

“We weren’t really together. More like friends with benefits.”

“Then why’s he upset?”

Rio squirmed. “He started to feel more. I didn’t.”

Rake let go of his ass. “I’ll follow you.” He dug keys out of his jacket pocket and strode toward a sedan.

“Follow close. It’s up the mountain.”

Rake saluted him, and Rio jumped into the 1967 Chevy pickup truck his grandad gave him. Fox had driven it sparingly because he preferred to walk when he could, so it was in pristine condition: powder blue with a white top.

Faded yellow headlights stayed in his rearview mirror as he drove up the winding road toward home. He pulled into his large circular gravel drive, and Rake parked behind him. The house blended into the scenery, echoing the colors of the landscape. Burnt sienna was prevalent, but also reds, greens, blues, and yellows. The stone had been cut locally, and part of the house was dug into the mountain. The dark flagstone of the front porch stretched from the driveway and continued into the great room. The large front door, one of many Rio had carved from a fallen redwood tree, featured a wolf among trees.

“Come on in.” Rio left the door open, amused by Rake’s captivation.

“This place is…wow.”

Rake came to a stop as he looked around inside. The great room flowed into the patio and the yard beyond it. An opening to the kitchen was separated only by large, wooden support beams and featured the same flagstones on the floor. The walls were painted cream, one accented in dark blue with a large stone fireplace. Above it hung an oil painting of a Navajo man.

“Want a drink?”

Rake shook his head. “Who’s that?” he asked as he headed straight for it.

Rio smiled. Everyone went for the painting first. “My grandfather. My grandmother painted it.”

“It’s beautiful.”

He studied the painting, then Rio. “So, you’re part Native American?”

“Navajo.” Rio braced for…he didn’t know what. Suspicion? Affront? Some people, like the Slade family, only had it in for one race or culture. Rake was an unknown, so he had no idea how he’d react, but he’d seemed fine with the painting.

“Cool.” Rake walked over, lifted a finger, ran it across Rio’s cheek, and continued to his neck.

Rio grabbed his hand and pulled him closer, relieved by Rake’s cavalier attitude. He needed to get the Slade family out of his mind. “I believe you said something about sucking my cock.”

Rake grinned. “I believe you’re right.” He looked down. “Though I don’t think my knees will like this floor.”

Rio spun on his heel and pulled Rake behind him, who followed with a low chuckle. The bedroom had little in the way of decoration. White walls, sturdy furniture he made himself, and a Navajo rug over the hardwood floor.

Rake tugged his belt loop, and he stopped.

“Here’s good.” He popped open Rio’s jeans and slid the zipper down. “First, though…”

Rake leaned forward, and Rio leaned back.

“No, not right now.”

Rake blinked. “Ah. No kissing strangers?”

“Not unless you want to start dating.” Rio shrugged. “It’s a rule of mine.”

“Well, I can’t say I’m not disappointed, because your lips are gorgeous. But I understand.”

He kneeled as Rio took himself out of his boxer briefs.

“Here’s something else gorgeous. Is any part of you not perfect?”

Rio snorted. “I’m not perfect.”

“Well, you’re pretty damn close.”

Rake took Rio’s hard cock in his fist and pumped several times.

Rio’s head fell forward, and he let out a deep breath. He and Chaze had fooled around that morning, but Chaze had uttered the three little words that brought everything to a screeching halt, so he hadn’t come. And it had been a while before that.

Rake’s warm, wet tongue dipped into his slit. “Mmm. Salty.”

“You don’t have to swallow. I’m clean, though.”

Rake winked up at Rio. “Me too.”

He buried his nose in Rio’s groin, licked a stripe from his balls to the tip, and sucked him into his mouth.

“Fuck!”

Rake tightened his fist and jacked. He sucked on the head, went as far down as he could, his mouth hot and wet.

Rio cupped the side of Rake’s face as his head bobbed and his lips tightened with suction. The stubble there tickled his palm.

“So good,” Rio groaned.

Rake alternated licking, sucking, and jacking him until Rio’s knees began to wobble. Rake’s other hand moved around his hip to grab Rio’s ass. He squeezed and ran his cool fingers under the cotton of his shorts, digging into the flesh. His cheeks parted and one fingertip pressed on his hole.

Rio moaned and thrust forward. He wanted to fuck Rafe’s mouth, but that hand around his cock held him prisoner. He growled in frustration, and Rake laughed. He brought his hand out and sucked on his middle finger while he continued to suck on Rio’s cock. His finger zeroed in on Rio’s hole once again and went in a few inches, but he may as well have thrust his cock in deep. It felt that good.

Rio clenched and thrust with a shout as he came down Rake’s throat. “Oh, damn.” He ran a hand over his damp face and staggered a few steps to sit on the bed, while Rake rose and wiped his chin.

“You’re welcome.” Rake smirked and sat beside him. He lay back with his hands under his head.

Rio sat up and leaned over. His eyes landed on Rio’s lips and stayed there; his pupils were blown wide, cheeks flushed with desire.

“What do you want?” Rio asked.

He bit his lip. “Can I fuck you? Or do you want to give me a blowjob?”

The urge to kiss Rake grew until he found himself inches away. His tongue came out to lick his dry lips, and Rake opened his mouth, ready to receive him.

Rio froze and swallowed. He had a good reason for not kissing strangers, but Rake called to him on a visceral level. He stared at Rake’s full bottom lip and thin upper lip. He’d seen prettier, but the crooked tilt of his smile, the flash of his white teeth and pink tongue, made them a sensual tease.

He pulled away, and disappointment flared in Rake’s eyes.