SITTING ON the patio, sheltered from the bright afternoon sun by a large blue-and-green market umbrella, Luke stared out toward the ocean while sipping his glass of ice water. He should be at work, in the gym, on the beach, something, anything other than sitting here brooding and willing the phone to ring.
At twenty-three he was far from old. However, seeing Nelson again transported him back to his childhood, begging the question of what he’d done that was so remarkable in the past ten years. Reuniting with his old friend reminded Luke of all the crazy plans and dreams he’d had. We had. They were going to join the rodeo, and just like Nelson, Luke had never even been on a horse. They were going to take on the world, and yet Luke had never even been out of the United States.
Luke wasn’t ungrateful. He knew he was blessed with a good life. He had a great job, a close relationship with his parents and little brother, wonderful friends, and a nice place to live. However, he was living his dad’s dream, not his own. That didn’t mean he was about to give it up and go join the rodeo circuit, although he was definitely going to take horseback riding lessons, and he was most certainly going to see Nelson again. Luke wasn’t sure how he was going to pull it off, but come hell or high water, they’d be together again soon. He wanted nothing more than to rebuild their relationship, but whether as best friends or more was yet to be determined. As long as they shared the same closeness they once had, he’d be happy.
The phone rang, sending a thrill racing through Luke. He picked it up before it rang a second time. “Hello?”
“Hey, Luke. It’s Nelson.”
“Hi! I was hoping you would call. Sorry I couldn’t talk yesterday. I had a stupid meeting I couldn’t get out of. And don’t think I didn’t beg Dad, but he can be a tough son of a bitch. Hey, I’ve been worried about you, you being afraid of flying and all. I hope it wasn’t too terrible. How was your flight? How are you?”
“Breathe, Luke, breathe,” Nelson chuckled.
Luke sat back, laughing at himself. “Sorry, I guess you can tell I’m a little excited. It’s still blowing my mind that we were in the same airport at the same time and heading to the same place, no less.”
“Yes, you may have mentioned that a time or three.” Luke didn’t even have to see Nelson to know he was rolling his eyes but was also laughing. He could hear it in his tone as he continued, “It really was our lucky day. We should have played the lottery.”
“Damn, I knew I was forgetting something. Oh, well. So how are you?”
“I’m good, and so was the flight. You’re right: I’m not a big fan of flying, but it went pretty smooth. I’d still much rather drive.”
“Well, you know I love to fly, so I guess I’ll have come to you.”
There was a brief pause. “You want to come visit?”
Luke furrowed his brows when he heard the uncertainty in Nelson’s voice. “Sure, why wouldn’t I?”
“I… I don’t know… um…. Never mind. I think it’s a great idea. I’d love to have you here. I haven’t been in this town long enough to meet many people, nor have I had a chance to really explore the city. We could do it together,” Nelson suggested.
“That sounds awesome. Hold on, let me check my schedule, and I’ll tell you when I could come.”
“Okay, sure.”
Luke set the phone down, then rushed into his condominium to grab his PDA. He thumbed through his calendar as he headed back outside. He flopped down on the lounger and picked up the phone. “I can be there next Friday.”
Silence.
“Nelson? Did you hear me?”
“Umm…yeah. That soon?”
“Sure, I have the weekend off. We’ll spend it doing some more catching up and exploring the city together. I’d hate for you to do it alone. You might get lost.”
“Hardy har har.”
“Luke, you home?” Colton called out.
Shit! “Hey, I have to go. My brother just walked in uninvited. I’ll call you tomorrow. What time is good for you?”
“I should be home by six my time. Talk to you then, and hey, tell Colton I said hi, will ya?”
“Sure. Talk to you tomorrow.” Luke hung up the phone and went to his feet. “Colton, you irritating little shit. What are you doing here?”
After a few moments, Colton’s white-blond head popped around the door. “You ready?”
Luke scowled. “What the hell for?”
“Oh damn! You forgot.” Colton stepped out onto the patio, slapped his leg, and hooted. “I can’t wait to tell Mom.”
“Dammit, what the fuck are you talking about?” Luke snapped.
“We have to pick Grandma and Grandpa up from the airport.” Colton cocked his head. “You seriously don’t remember?”
Luke glanced at his open calendar, and right there in black and white was the flight number and time. He’d been so distracted with thoughts of Nelson he’d pretty much ignored everything else. “No, I didn’t forget,” Luke lied. “What time is it?”
“It’s time to go, so get the lead out. I’d prefer not to give Grandpa anything else to bitch about.”
Luke snatched up his day planner and followed Colton into the condo. “Give him a break. He’s old and a bit senile.”
“Ha! The old coot has been cranky my whole life. There isn’t a damn thing wrong with him other than he likes to grumble and complain.”
Colton had a point, but Luke wasn’t about to argue. He was too busy taking deep breaths and trying to clear his mind. It was going to take all his focus to keep his patience with the cranky old bastard otherwise known as Grandpa.
THE PREVIOUS two days, Nelson had found himself much as he was now, sitting on the couch, staring at the phone, waiting for it to ring. It pleased him to no end how quickly he and Luke had fallen back into their easy ways of talking, and just like when they were kids, they were able to finish each other’s sentences. Yet unlike when they were kids, the sensual tone of Luke’s voice was unmistakable. Also the sexual innuendos Luke was constantly sending Nelson’s way were as far from childlike as it got. Who needed to win the lottery? Nelson had hit the fucking jackpot running into Luke again.
The phone rang, and the excitement cursing through Nelson ramped up to overdrive. His hand shook when he reached for the receiver. “Hello.”
“Hey, Nelson.” Luke’s voice came through the line in a low, sexy whisper. The sound shot straight Nelson’s groin.
“Hi, Luke, what’s up with the whispering?”
“You like it?”
“I’m having a hard time hearing you. Speak up?”
“You used to always insist I whisper when I was lying in my bed talking to you. Seeing as I’m back in my old room at my parents’ house, I thought you’d appreciate it.”
“What are you doing at your parents’? I thought you told me you lived close.”
“Yes, well. My grandpa and grandma are in town, and Mom thought it would be nice if we were all here. She used guilt as her tactic, using their age against me. ‘This could be their last visit. Your grandpa isn’t in good health.’” The suffering sigh was evident through the phone line.
“Your mom’s dad?” Nelson inquired.
“The one and only.”
“Oh, you poor thing, having to spend the weekend with Grandpa Joe.” Nelson snickered. They were scared shitless of him when they were little, the old man always yelling and waving his cane at them. As they got older, they learned he really was a harmless thing who hated change. Funny that, for a man who’d lived seventy years—wow, eighty years now—he would have seen plenty of it.
“Stop laughing, or I’ll bring him with me Friday.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“No, I wouldn’t. I want you all to myself.” Luke dropped his voice even lower, sexier when he added, “I’ve been thinking about you. I was supposed to be having a nice family visit, but I couldn’t get you out of my head. By the way, where are you right this minute?”
“I’m sitting on the couch, why?”
“Are you alone?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Just trying to get a mental picture of you, is all, since I can’t seem to get another one out of my head.”
“Is that so?”
“Mmmhmm.”
“And what exactly am I doing in this mental picture you have of me?” Nelson asked.
“The way you look down at me, your face all flushed when you’re straddling me.”
A tingle started at the base of Nelson’s spine. “That’s not conducive to spending the day with your family, Luke.” At least he hoped it wasn’t.
“I took the opportunity of Grandpa taking a nap to take one of my own. Good thing too because I don’t know if I could concentrate with how hard my cock is. It’s always hard for you. You drive me to the brink of insanity.” Luke’s voice went a notch deeper. “I wish you were here, sprawled out across my bed, legs spread wide, your pretty cock hard and curving up toward your belly.”
Nelson’s breath hitched.
“Are you hard, Nelson?”
How could he not be with the images Luke was painting in his head? The sound of Luke’s raspy whisper was like a touch to his heated flesh. “Yeah, thanks to you.”
“Good. Wrap your hand around your cock. I want you to imagine it’s my hand stroking that sweet prick.”
Nelson heard the distinct sound of a slick hand stroking flesh as he unfastened his pants. He pushed them down past his hips and began doing as Luke asked.
“Squeeze it tight.”
Nelson tightened his fingers further.
“God, I can’t wait to see you. Want to kiss, lick, and explore every inch of your body.”
Nelson’s breathing increased at the thought of Luke’s mouth on him, warm lips wrapped around his cock, hands stroking him as he lost himself in the ecstasy that was Luke. Nelson sped his hand up to a blur and his hips jerked.
“Want to take your cock deep into my mouth, swallow you down. Want to taste you as you come.” Luke’s voice was now barely a whisper, accentuated by constant moans. “Are you close? Are you imagining getting ready to fill my mouth with your hot seed?”
“Yes,” he got out between panting breaths.
“Goddamn it, Colton!” Luke screamed. “Don’t you know how to fucking knock?”
Nelson jerked the phone away from his ear to keep his eardrum from exploding at the roar coming through the line.
“Are you seriously having phone sex?” Nelson didn’t recognize the voice but assumed it was Colton who asked and was currently laughing boisterously. Colton was only nine when Nelson and his family left, his voice back then high pitched and squeaky. Then again, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out it was Luke’s little brother since Nelson could also hear Luke in the distance cursing Colton’s name and the distinctive sound of something crashing to the floor.
“Luke?”
“I’m telling Mom,” Colton hooted, followed by more banging and cursing.
Nelson released the hold on his dick as he continued to listen to the shenanigans going on at Luke’s. It really wasn’t conducive to orgasm. Plus it was pretty funny knowing Colton had just walked in on Luke with his dick in his hand. Nelson started to chuckle. Damn, for the first time, he was glad he never got his wish for a little brother.
He might not get to enjoy hearing Luke get off, but the fight going on was entertaining to listen to. Too bad he didn’t have a beer and some popcorn. It was a hell of a show.
“Nelson? You still there?” Luke asked breathlessly.
“Uh-huh.” He gritted out snorts of laughter.
“Are you seriously laughing at me right now?”
“Yes. I…I…. Oh my God. You got caught jerking off,” Nelson wheezed.
“Mmmhmm, yuck it up, Mister. I’ll make you pay for that when I see you Friday.”
“Oh, really?”
“You bet your sweet ass I will. Now tuck your dick back in your pants. If I have to have a case of blue balls all night, it’s only fair that you do too.”
“Why? I don’t have the threat of a little brother walking in. Thank God.”
“Because I will make it worth your while if you do.”
The line went dead.
Nelson shuddered. He looked down at his hard and ruddy cock. It would only take a couple of pulls and he’d be spared the same fate as Luke. He considered it for a moment, and then the image of Luke’s head buried in Nelson’s crotch flashed briefly. His hand didn’t seem like such a great substitute anymore without Luke’s sexy voice in his ear. This could prove to be the longest two days of his life.
Nelson tucked his dick back into his pants and winced. It most certainly would be a hell of a test of his restraint.