Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 147789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Kreed watched him for several long seconds. Everything went quiet between them. The radio played in the background and the sound of the waves hitting the shoreline just a few feet away harmonized with the occasional crackling of the fire, making that moment feel surreal. Aaron wouldn’t give, and Kreed finally spoke, a grin growing with each word. “I know you’re not. You’re anything but. Stop getting all defensive.” Kreed opened the top on another beer and handed it to him.
Aaron could only stare at him as he accepted the bottle, because Kreed was right. He had gotten defensive, but that had happened way before Kreed had called him a kid.
“You’re jealous,” Kreed announced matter-of-factly.
“I’m not.” Aaron denied the clear truth and downed the beer. Of course, he was jealous. That wasn’t rocket science. But he didn’t have a right to be, and that was what made him even crazier.
“You are too. That’s sweet,” Kreed started. The smile was there, but Aaron could tell he was thinking as he spoke. “All right, let’s see. That was a long time ago. I wasn’t trying to be vague. I just honestly don’t remember a lot about it all. I wasn’t much more than twenty years old, and it was more than just a fuck for me, but at that point, I hadn’t been with a lot of guys. When he never came back for me, it fucked me up a little. No calls, no letters, not even a fuck you. He was older. My head got a little crazy, so I looked him up—to make sure he hadn’t gotten hurt, even though back then all the teams were close, so I would have heard if he went down. Then I found out he had a wife and a bunch of little kids. He was just using me.”
“Have you ever spoken to him since? Do you know where he is now?” Aaron immediately asked.
“No. I’ve never looked for him again. I don’t actually really care anymore.”
“And there’s no current significant other in your life?” Aaron pelted him with questions.
“We’ve talked about that already. Finish that shot and the beer and have a couple more. You’ve got some catching up to do. I like my guys youngish, cute, and drunk,” Kreed said, taking his hand again. Aaron sat there silently contemplating what he’d heard, and after a second, he took the shot and swallowed down the beer. Kreed watched him, a knowing little grin in place, the firelight dancing in his dark eyes. He supposed there was some unspoken meaning in that look. Kreed broke eye contact and reached inside the cooler for another beer and twisted off the cap.
“Man, I like being with you. Makes me feel good. Here.” Kreed handed Aaron the beer. “Scoot closer. You’re all right. You know that, Stuart?”
“Huh.” Aaron eyed Kreed curiously as the guy pushed the heavy cooler from in between their chairs then gripped the side of his chair and started to pull him closer. Kreed’s strength was pretty amazing. Aaron actually moved a little before he finally got up and helped Kreed scoot the chair in the sand. After he picked up another log from the stack and threw it on the fire, Kreed reached for him again and hung on to his hand a little tighter this time, not letting him go.
Instead of sitting back in his chair, Aaron moved to Kreed, straddling his lap. The unexpected move caused the deputy marshal to release his hand and immediately grip Aaron’s hips. Aaron tested the sturdiness of the chaise, surprised and thankful the chair held their combined weight.
“Okay, I’m amending my statement. I like my guy’s youngish, cute, drunk, jealous, and in my lap when I spend time with them.” Kreed waggled his brows as he spoke.
Lifting a hand, Aaron threaded his fingers through Kreed’s hair, before tipping up his bottle and taking a long drink. He wouldn’t let himself get too drunk—that could be dangerous—but he did have some drinking to do. Swallowing the mouthful, he leaned forward, dipped his head then pressed his lips against Kreed’s. Kreed opened for him, their tongues meeting and tangling. He could taste the mix of alcohol on Kreed’s tongue, so fucking good. Kreed’s hands left his hips and toyed with the hem of his shirt before dragging it over his head.
Surreal was the only way he could describe the moment. Aaron was feeling good and relaxed, truly wanted. He was pretty sure he was in over his head with Kreed. If things were different, he could see himself building a life with this man.
No sense in denying it, he was skating on thin ice where his feelings for the deputy were concerned, but there was something so special about being in paradise and sharing this moment with Kreed that he let himself dream. The tropical breeze blowing against his skin, the feel of cool wet sand under his toes, and Kreed Sinacola between his thighs, that hard erection rubbing against his own… Yeah, he could get used to this, if only. Stop dwelling on it and enjoy the time you do have.
He recognized “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails the moment the first bass beat played on the radio. The thumping, seductive tones drove him to push himself off Kreed and stand in front of the sexy deputy marshal. The way Kreed sat in his chair, legs spread, arms resting across his stomach watching him with hooded eyes, sent a jolt of electricity through his balls.
“I love this song. Makes me want to dance.” He hadn’t felt this tipsy, this free, in such a long time. He swayed his hips back and forth to the rhythm of the song and leveled his eyes on Kreed. “Ever had a lap dance, Deputy?” Aaron ran his hand down the front of his shorts and squeezed his cock through the material. Biting his bottom lip, he slowly undid the buttons, giving Kreed a wink as he slid the zipper down.
“Probably nothing like the one I’m hoping to get.” Kreed grinned up at him, the firelight giving his eyes a wicked glow.