“I don’t want to assume but…” Dean slipped his hand underneath the waistband of his shorts, “when cocks are at attention, I think that’s a good sign.”

  “Wha–” Luka squinted at him, his attention very much on what Dean was doing with his own cock. Wrapping his fingers around himself, Dean pumped as he watched Luka’s dark eyes grow darker and his cock twitched, sending a spark of heat directly to Dean’s balls.

  “Get back here… please.”

  Luka hesitated but Dean recognized the want in his eyes. He knew it was reflected in his own. Luka chewed on his lip for another moment before seeming to come to some kind of decision, what kind Dean would find out later. Right now he needed to make Luka forget what an asshole he’d been.

  Dude, that was going to take years.

  “I’m gonna kiss you,” Dean whispered as Luka climbed back into bed. “And other stuff. If that’s okay.”

  “Other stuff?” Luka snickered. “Do you have a list?”

  “Maybe, I do.”

  “This isn’t me not mad at you,” Luka said. “This is me still pissed off, but also horny.”

  Rolling back to face him, Dean stared at Luka again for a quick second. He wanted to do this right. Shit. He was going to psych himself out. Kissing Luka for the first time was a lot like the first time he’d performed in public, when he’d fumbled the first song, scared as fuck. Then he’d spotted Luka in the audience, a big fat grin spread across his face, and Dean had been able to breathe again. He’d set his fingers on the frets and the rest was history.

  “Take two,” Dean whispered as he lowered his lips to meet Luka’s. One of them groaned, he wasn’t sure who. Luka wrapped an arm around Dean’s neck, pulling him in closer. It wasn’t like kissing a woman because it was kissing Luka and there was no comparison. Dean lost himself, their tongues tangling together, the sounds coming from Luka’s decadent mouth making his cock painfully hard.

  Prying himself away, Dean ran his lips across Luka’s cheek and down the side of his neck. Luka groaned and arched his back.

  That was good, right? If this was Luka pissed off, what would it be like when he was happy? The thought made Dean groan as his cock hardened further.

  He was desperate to learn all the secrets to Luka’s body. What else made him arch his back? What made him scream from pleasure? Dean’s cock throbbed with his heartbeat as he tried to map it all.

  His hand inched its way onto Luka’s belly, brushing against the top of his very erect cock. He pushed Luka’s pajamas down his legs, and Luka hissed, his hips thrusting upward, his cock poking into the air. So needy.

  He tried to twist around but Dean held him in place. He just wanted to pleasure Luka this first time. Dean fisted Luka’s erection with intent, pumping it the same way he liked doing to his own. It was handy having the same equipment.

  “Oh god, Dean,” Luka panted.

  Dean quickly dragged his t-shirt over his head and kicked his sleep pants off, shoving the covers out of his way. Not only did he want to make Luka come, he wanted to see it too.

  Luka’s cock was silky velvet underneath his fingers, the veins prominent, the tip wet with precome. Surprising himself, Dean leaned down to drag his tongue across the sensitive skin. Luka shouted and Dean’s cock pulsed. With no finesse at all, he parted his lips and sucked Luka’s cock inside his mouth. He wasn’t ready to deep throat him but, fuck, the feel of him inside Dean’s mouth, against his lips, the tangy hint of come—it made Dean’s head spin, in a good way.

  “Dean.” Luka’s hand landed on his head, tugging at his hair. “I’m gonna, I can’t…”

  Dean stopped for a moment, letting Luka’s cock slip form his lips. “Go on, do it. I want to taste you.”

  Before Luka could reply, Dean sucked his cock down again, farther this time, as far as he could without gagging. Luka shouted and Dean’s mouth flooded with come—which was totally different than he’d expected. He kept sucking, lapping, wanting every drop, until Luka squirmed and tapped the top of his head.

  “Let me, please.”

  Lifting up onto his elbow, Luka pushed Dean onto his back. For a second, he was nervous, but this was Luka. He lay back, not knowing what to do with his hands. He settled on tucking one underneath his head and letting the other lay by his side.

  Luka didn’t hesitate. Flipping over, he took Dean’s cock into his mouth and began to fucking worship it. Dean wanted to watch, but his eyes kept closing. Luka’s tongue traced the head of Dean’s cock, underneath and along the sensitive tip, before pulling off and licking down to his balls.

  He was close already. After making Luka come, his body was on sensory overload—he was one big red warning light.

  “I’m gonna come,” he warned.

  Luka responded by lifting his body so he straddled Dean’s hips, facing him. He was semi–erect again, his cock listing suggestively in Dean’s direction.

  “I need you to fuck me,” Luka said quickly, his eyes glazed and pupils blown. “I’ve fantasized about you coming in my ass for years.”

  This wild Luka was not one he recognized, but Dean would do anything he wanted.

  “I’m on PreP,” Luka added.

  Dean nodded, at least he knew what that was. And fuck if he was getting up to find a condom. “I had myself tested recently,” he managed. “All clear. Hurry, show me what you want.”

  Luka positioned his ass over Dean’s cock. “There’s no lube so we’re gonna use your juice and go slow.” Then he began to lower himself onto Dean. Immediately, Dean spurted. Fuck, if he wasn’t careful he was going to come.

  “Yeah, baby, just like that. Gimme some more.”

  Luka held Dean’s joystick in one hand and was rubbing his ass over him. It felt so fucking good, Dean was seeing stars. Every time his dick brushed against Luka’s hole, more precome leaked out of him, and his balls were so tight Dean was afraid he’d come before he got inside Luka.

  “I’m gonna bear down. You just hold your position, pilot.”

  Dean had to hold his breath as Luka began to take Dean inside his body. Luka was so tight that Dean was afraid of hurting him. Luka groaned and arched his back as Dean’s cock slid past that first ring of muscle. Glory fucking hallelujah. Luka was a fucking inferno inside and there was no way Dean was lasting more than sixty seconds.

  “Fuck me,” Luka demanded.

  Dean thrust into the heat of Luka’s body, into Luka’s tight ass as he clenched around him. The spark in his balls that he’d been fending off whomped into flame. Almost desperately, Dean pumped his hips while Luka braced himself on his torso. Dean was so close, the warm come around his cock making Luka slippery, and Dean’s cock throbbed. His body was on fire with need.

  “Don’t stop,” Dean demanded, arching his back, thrusting his hips upward.

  Leaning forward, Luka latched onto one of Dean’s nipples and sucked it into his mouth. He bit down just hard enough for Dean to register a pinch of pain. With a roar, Dean came. Luka frantically pumped himself until he was coming a second time, his ass a vice around Dean’s cock.

  “Holy fuck,” Dean whispered, his breathing ragged.

  Luka carefully disengaged and fell onto his back beside him.

  “Pretty much.”

  The room was quiet except for the sound of Frank snuffling outside the bedroom door.

  “I’ll grab a washcloth,” Dean said, easing himself off the bed.

  Dean knew he should be freaking out. He’d just had sex with his very-much-a-guy best friend. Turning on the faucet, he waited for the water to warm up before sticking the washcloth underneath it. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror over the sink and turned his face slightly from side to side. He didn’t look any different. If anything, he looked happier. Satisfied, maybe resolved. Because Luka was it for him. It wasn’t the incredible sex—10 out of 10, would do again—it was who Luka was and how they fit together like two little puzzle pieces.

  Why had it taken him so long to understand Luka was The One?

  Milo and Sky had been right, all he’d needed to do was claim Luka and everything else would start to fall into place. A laugh bubbled up from deep in his chest as he pushed the bedroom door open. Luka lay still, one arm thrown over his face.

  “What’s funny?” Luka asked.

  Dean suspected if he used those words, The One, Luka might punch him.

  “Me, mostly,” Dean replied honestly. Sticking to honesty, just like Sky had told him to. With great care, he cleaned up the mess they’d made, gently wiping the cloth across Luka’s soft cock. Luka’s eyes were still mostly covered, but Dean knew he was watching him. “You are incredibly sexy.”

  Luka snorted and rolled away from Dean, wrapping himself in the covers. “If you like skinny and hairy.”

  “I like you just the way you are,” Dean said truthfully and began to hum Billy Joel as Luka made a gagging sound. In the hallway, Frank started to howl.

  “Stop that, you’re upsetting Frank. He hates that song.”

  “I’m gonna make us some coffee. Hurry up and get out of bed so we can take Frank for a walk.”

  Luka

  All the first day after they did The Deed, Luka waited for Dean to start freaking out about having had sex with him. He didn’t. They’d showered—not together—and Dean had ended up taking Frank down to the beach for a walk while Luka answered a few emails and stared out the window, wondering what the hell was going on.

  Dog and man returned an hour later wet, sandy, and stinking like seaweed. Luka had demanded they both hose off before coming inside and that Dean take a second shower. The rest of the day had been spent like they used to. Arguing about music, playing guitar, and watching bad TV before going to bed. Together. In Luka’s bedroom.

  The next day, Neb stopped by. His dad probably had forced himself to stay away for as long as he could. All three of them went for a long walk on the beach, enjoying the last of the pleasant autumn sunshine while Frank acted like the doofus he was.

  “I don’t think he’s purebred Husky,” Luka commented as he watched Frank bite at clam shells and toss them up into the air.

  “He’s just misunderstood,” explained Dean, wrestling a whip of kelp from between Frank’s jaws. “A dog before his time.”

  “So this is performance art?” Luka said skeptically while Frank jumped for the seaweed rope.

  “It’s something,” agreed Neb.

  Dean went on to ask Neb about the store and his plans for the future, which led to a long discussion about the future of independent businesses, music education, and whether or not Dean could learn to play the hurdy-gurdy. The jury was still out on that last one. When Neb invited them for dinner later in the week, Luka had stuttered, not sure of the answer, but Dean had jumped into the silence and said yes.

  “It’ll be like old times, when I was up for the summer,” he’d said, bumping Luka’s shoulder.

  Dean had been on Piedras over a week and was showing no signs of itchy feet. No regrets. But Luka was wary. This was merely some kind of weird interlude, he convinced himself. Soon enough, Dean would need to leave Piedras, and Luka. Luka was just Dean’s bisexual experiment.

  Dean hadn’t left the island, not even for groceries at the Safeway on the mainland, or even hinted about leaving anytime soon. He also didn’t leave Luka’s bed. Every night since Dean had arrived on the island, they’d slept together. And had sex. The most satisfying sex Luka had had in his lifetime.

  Sometimes they had sex before falling asleep. Sometimes Dean would wake Luka up in the middle of the night by stroking and then sucking his cock. Other times it happened in the morning.

  Surely Dean was just getting his fill of Luka before reverting to his usual, er, fare.

  Unfortunately, like the first time and every time after that morning, it was the best sex Luka had ever had. In his life.

  He was aware he should force the issue and ask what the fuck was going on, but Luka really didn’t want to hear Dean’s answer.

  So he didn’t.

  That morning when Frank pawed at the bedroom door, Dean pulled a pillow over his face and showed no signs of life except for the rise and fall of his chest. Rolling his eyes, Luka slipped out from under the covers, leaving Dean tucked in bed, and snuck down to the beach with a happy Frank.

  “Frank, what am I going to do?”

  Frank glanced up at him without answering.

  “Right. Dog. Fine, I’m calling my Friend Lifeline.”

  Ben was the voice of reason. Surely he’d tell Luka he was right to be careful, to keep guarding his heart.

  “It’s me, Luka,” he said when Ben answered his call.

  “And here I thought it was Jack Reacher calling. Alan Ritchson, not the other guy.”

  “You know, I’m not a violent guy. I would make a terrible Reacher. Does Reacher even have a cell phone?”

  He and Dean had binged the whole season when it first came out. They’d forced Ben to watch it at the same time so they could discuss it, like a book club or something. A weekend well spent. Frank tugged impatiently at his leash, but Luka held tight as they strolled along the tide line.

  “So, not Reacher then. Why are you calling at seven in the morning, Luka?”

  Shit. Luka hadn’t realized how early it was, he’d just pressed Call.

  “Dean’s still here, I’m having the best sex of my life, and I don’t know what to do!” Luka whisper-yelled.

  “Why are you whisper-shouting? Is he there? Have you guys talked?”

  Instinctively, Luka glanced up toward the house. No sign of Dean. Thank fuck.

  “No, he’s not right here. That’s why I’m calling you! He’s still in bed. Talking’s not the problem, talking is one thing we do well.”

  “I mean,” Ben said, a tinge of exasperation to his voice, “have you laid your cards out on the table? Told him how you feel?”

  No. Not since the less-than-stellar moment when he’d smashed Dean’s phone.

  “Mmm. Besides, you suggested letting him stew. Talking about things isn’t that,” Luka responded, feeling pretty pleased with himself out-reasoning Ben for once.

  “Henry informed me I was possibly being a little hard-hearted toward Dean. According to him, it’s totally obvious how Dean feels about you and I’m supposed to let you two figure it out on your own.”

  “Ben!” Luka huffed. “Tell Henry I don’t like him anymore!”

  He heard a shout and spun around, finally looking back up to the house. Dean was leaning on the deck railing, watching him, with a big smile plastered on his face. He waved one hand and raised a coffee mug with the other, a silent question. Luka nodded and Dean disappeared back inside.

  “He’s confusing me, Ben. He’s not freaking out, he hasn’t told me when he’s leaving. He’s just the same Dean he ever was.”

  “Luka.”

  “What? And hurry up because I think he’s bringing me a cup of coffee.”

  “When has Dean ever talked about anything? Has he ever been that person?”

  Luka thought for a second. “No, not really, I guess. He tells me stuff, but he doesn’t talk about stuff.”

  “Then you can’t magically expect him to change overnight. He’s not going to just randomly start sharing his deepest fears or expectations. This is Dean we’re talking about. He grew up in a toxic family soup where no one was encouraged to talk about their feelings, or anything really. Marigold has a theory about that whole side of the family being spiritually constipated, but I don’t know if I’d go that far. Henry agrees with her though.”

  “But…”

  The tide was starting to come in, and a wavelet broke on the shore and rolled up to buss the edge of Luka’s boots.

  “I’d say, if Dean hasn’t freaked out yet, he’s not going to. But you’re the one who needs to talk about what you want, so you’re going to have to pull up your big boy pants and bring it up.”

  “I don’t like you anymore either,” Luka complained, kicking at the sand and rocks.

  “Liar. I just don’t get why humans make it so hard on themselves. I swear, ninety-nine percent of the world’s problems would be solved if people would not only talk but listen.”

  “Fuck.”

  “It’s hard, I get it.”

  Ben had no idea how hard talking was, not with Marigold as his mom. Neb was a great dad, he and Luka were very close, but their common language was music—chords, frets, notes. Not always words.

  “I don’t think you do, but fine. I’ll talk to him.”

  “Come over for dinner this weekend, it’ll be like the old days. We’ll invite Neb and Marigold and Sage.”

  “The old days… when we ate all the food in sight and pretended to be brothers?”

  “Just like that,” Ben agreed. “Our family’s just bigger now. And Henry’s a great cook.”

  Luka accepted the invitation. “But only because neither Dean nor I are great cooks. And I can only eat sandwiches for dinner so many days in a row.”

  Ben laughed and clicked off. Luka stuffed his phone into his coat pocket and turned to stare back up the stairs. What the actual fuck was going on? There, apparently, was only one way to find out.

  Dean was nowhere in sight when Luka and Frank made it back inside. There was, however, a hot cup of coffee waiting for him on the counter.

  “You’re earlier than I expected… no, of course not, just a sec.”

  Luka followed the sound of Dean’s voice coming from the front—or back, depending on who you talked to—of the house. The front door was partially open and he was using his body to block it, making sure a curious Husky didn’t escape.

  “Let me do something about the dog, then we can get started.” Dean turned and spotted Luka standing behind him. “You’re back! Do you mind locking Frank in one of the bedrooms so these guys can start unloading?”

  Automatically, Luka grabbed Frank’s collar and tugged him away from the door. When they reached the spare room, Frank graced him with his best just-you-wait glare.

 

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