The First Step, page 15
“When you spend that much time with someone, I can imagine you might miss it.” Just like I’m going to miss walking on the beach with you.
“Yep.”
“So you went with him.”
Justin nodded. “It was blowing around thirty knots. Ten-foot seas. Raining, but the visibility was okay or we’d have called it off. I still don’t know how it happened, but the next thing I knew he was in the water and I was scared to death we’d lose him.” Justin looked up at the sky as if trying to find the answers to some yet unspoken question.
Reed touched Justin’s forearm.
“Scott fell between the boats. Ben, the pilot boat operator, tried to move off, but it all happened so fast. His shirt must’ve caught on the props—the propeller—and he nearly drowned. I managed to fish him out, but he was already pretty badly hurt.”
“Sounds truly frightening.”
“It’s the job.” Justin shrugged, but Reed wasn’t convinced.
“What happened to Scott?” Reed asked.
“He was in the hospital for over a month, then rehab. Got most of the movement back in his arm, but they’re still not sure he’ll walk again.” Justin spoke the words matter-of-factly. “He and his wife moved away to be closer to family. Last I heard, he was in rehab.”
“That must have been really hard for you.”
“He was the one who got hurt.” Justin’s tone brooked no dispute, and Reed offered none.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“That’s the entire story. Fit to print,” Justin added with an awkward chuckle.
“I appreciate your telling me about it.” Someday Reed hoped Justin would tell him the rest of the story—about how that accident had affected him and how he’d managed to get the strength to work again. For now, though, it was a start.
Chapter Twenty-Six
JUSTIN AND Reed watched North by Northwest on Netflix and ate dinner in the living room. “My mom loved Cary Grant,” Reed said while the credits rolled. “I watched an old black-and-white with her—I think it was Arsenic and Old Lace. He was my first crush ever. I was ten.” He’d already known he wasn’t like the other kids. They’d discovered he didn’t go to church years before, but the realization that there was this other thing that set him apart. He hadn’t been ready for that. He’d learned to fight that year. Anger was easier than the hurt.
“I didn’t know who he was until I found one of his movies in the library aboard the container ship I worked on.” Justin chuckled. “Marty and I traded off. We’d watch one of his oldies and he’d watch one of mine.”
“Yours?”
“Action flicks, mostly.”
“Like?” Reed pressed.
“Blackhawk Down, The Hunt for Red October, Saving Private Ryan….” Justin laughed. “Not too much of a surprise, huh?”
“Good movies.” All of which sounded like something Justin would watch.
“So other than movies with Cary Grant—” Justin settled back onto Reed’s lap. “—what do you like to watch?”
Crap. This was way too embarrassing. “I… uh….”
“Oh, this is good. The man of many words is speechless.”
“Are you going to laugh?” Reed asked.
“Me, laugh? Nah.”
Reed wasn’t as convinced, but he wasn’t going to lie. “Promise?”
“Promise.” Justin snuggled closer.
“I… ah….”
“Oh come on, Reed. Spill.”
Reed sighed. “I like romance.” He said the last word as quickly as he could and hoped they could just move on.
“You? Mr. Kick-Ass Reporter? Romance?”
“Yeah.” He’d always liked stories about love. The ones with the happy endings especially, but even the bittersweet ones. On the rare occasions he wasn’t working, those movies had helped him forget he was alone.
“Which ones?” Justin asked.
“Moonstruck, Juno, Pretty Woman, Love Actually, Groundhog Day.” Shit. Why hadn’t he stopped after the first two? Talking to Justin was too easy. And way better than watching a movie.
“Good movies.” Justin winked as he repeated Reed’s assessment of the action flicks.
“You’re laughing.”
“I’m not—”
“Face it,” Reed said, “you’re laughing inside.”
“There’s nothing wrong with romantic comedy.” Justin’s expression was a study in self-control.
Reed frowned and Justin reached up and kissed him, then pulled him on top of him. Nice dodge. Reed sighed and leaned down to deepen the kiss. He loved how Justin’s kisses made him feel like he was the only person in the universe—a warm and fuzzy feeling. Like watching a romantic movie. Yeah, he was a romantic at heart. And he didn’t mind if Justin knew it.
“I liked Juno.” Justin grinned up at him.
“Thanks.”
“Nothing wrong with a little romance,” Justin said. “I wish I was better at it.”
“You do just fine. Better than.” Reed’s chest hurt as he spoke these words. It wouldn’t be long before he’d be on a plane headed home and—
Justin kissed him again, then slid off the couch and took Reed’s hand. “Come upstairs?”
“What about the dishes?” Reed gestured to the coffee table, covered with what was left of their dinner.
Justin shrugged. “It’ll wait.”
“What about Leila?”
“Yeah. Not that it’d hurt her to eat the leftovers, but people food sometimes makes her a little fragrant.”
Reed laughed. “Maybe we should be talking horror movies?” He stacked the plates while Justin snagged the glasses and silverware.
Reed placed the dishes in the sink and turned around to find Justin blocking his way. “This was really nice.” For just a moment he wondered what it might be like to spend every night having dinner with Justin.
“It was.” Reed slipped his arms around Justin’s waist. The only light in the kitchen was from the moon outside.
Justin didn’t say anything about Reed leaving, but Reed was sure Justin was thinking about it too.
“Bed?” Justin traced a sensual finger over Reed’s lips.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Justin took Reed’s hand and led him to his bedroom. He’d seen it before when he’d first come to Justin’s house, but now the little details came to life. Over the dresser was a black-and-white photograph of a small fishing boat floating on a layer of fog over the water. The bookshelf near the window with its perfectly situated reading chair had a mixture of technical books about boating and boat repair, a few sci-fi titles from Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, and John Brunner, and a few more surprising choices by Hermann Hesse and Kurt Vonnegut. On the table by the reading chair was a woven basket filled with shells Reed guessed Justin had collected himself. Each of these things he’d seen briefly before, but without the understanding of the man himself, they’d made no impression on him. Now they were like tiny openings into Justin—pinpricks of light illuminating the still unknown soul beneath.
“Hey.” Justin seemed suddenly uncomfortable as he shifted from one foot to the other and didn’t meet Reed’s eyes.
“Hey.” Reed put his hands to Justin’s face and kissed him tenderly, wanting to reassure Justin. When the kiss broke, he gently ran his lips over Justin’s.
“Nice.”
“Mmm.” Reed feathered his fingers through Justin’s hair, then kissed him again. The alcohol had worn off, but the warm buzz of attraction felt even better. He wanted to explore all of Justin’s body, and he wanted to take his time doing it.
“You look like you’ve got something in mind,” Justin said.
“Could be.” He started at Justin’s neck and unfastened the button near his Adam’s apple, then laved the spot. “I promise you’ll like it.”
“So far so good.” Justin closed his eyes as Reed worked his way slowly down the shirt, exposing Justin’s skin and tasting it until he reached Justin’s waist and pulled the rest of the fabric free of Justin’s jeans. Once he’d succeeded in completely opening the shirt, he pushed it off Justin’s arms, making sure to make contact with Justin’s skin. Justin shivered in response, but he didn’t make a move to reciprocate, instead allowing Reed to take charge.
Reed leaned down and sucked on a dusky pink nipple, all the while inhaling Justin’s masculine scent. Justin didn’t shave the hair on his chest, and Reed was just fine with that. He liked the way it tickled his lips and nose, and he liked the way it darkened as it disappeared below Justin’s waistband.
His own cock strained against his pants, but he ignored it. For now he wanted to focus everything he had on Justin’s pleasure. Later, he knew Justin would reciprocate, which made everything that much hotter.
He got to his knees and unbuckled Justin’s belt, then unbuttoned the fly of his jeans and mouthed Justin’s cock over his briefs.
“Fuck.”
Reed grinned. Justin never said all that much, but he expressed himself just fine. He pushed the jeans down and waited until Justin stepped free of them, then cupped Justin’s muscular ass. He worked his lips downward, pushing Justin’s legs apart to mouth his balls.
“Tease.”
“Yep.”
Justin’s laughter was a rumble Reed felt when his lips once again found their mark. Laughter became moans as Reed dug his fingers into Justin’s asscheeks and pulled down the top of Justin’s underwear with his teeth. He looked up briefly to appreciate the blissful expression on Justin’s face before he pulled the fabric down to free Justin’s proud cock.
“Still with me?” Reed asked.
“You have to ask?”
Reed pulled back the foreskin of Justin’s cock and licked his way around the tip before swallowing it down. The salty tang of precome made Reed want more. He kneaded Justin’s ass as he moved back and forth over Justin’s cock.
“Getting me close,” Justin warned.
Reed grinned up at him, but he didn’t stop. He wanted Justin to spill into his mouth. He loved the way he tasted and he wanted all of it.
“Oh fuck. Feels amazing.”
Come on Justin. Come for me. Reed gripped Justin’s glutes and marveled at how hard the muscle there was. He’d never seen Justin work out, but you didn’t get an ass like that jumping from one boat to another.
He increased the pressure and felt the shudder run through Justin’s body. “Oh… yeah… that’s it… just like—” Justin shot into Reed’s mouth, hot and thick. Reed held on, sucking it all down, reveling in the way Justin hissed and groaned as he came.
“So good. So good.” Justin grabbed Reed’s shoulders to steady himself, then offered Reed a hand up.
“Thanks.” Reed stood. He’d expected they’d take a break, but Justin wasn’t having any of it. Instead, he unbuttoned Reed’s shirt, then worked Reed’s jeans open.
“Turnabout’s fair play.” Justin looked like a magician just before the big reveal at the end of a trick, with his sly grin.
“Not going to hear me complain.” Reed wouldn’t be able to last long, as hard as he was and as much as he’d anticipated what it might be like to have Justin suck on him.
Justin didn’t take Reed’s jeans off, he just worked Reed’s cock out of them. If he thought it couldn’t get any hotter, he was wrong. Standing there, nearly fully clothed while a completely naked Justin began to lick his smooth tip, had Reed leaning back against the wall to support himself. His body felt like Jell-O. All but his leaking cock, of course, but Justin took care of that as he mouthed the glans and pressed his tongue into the slit.
“Oh yeah.” Reed panted and forced himself to relax. “Oh… yeah.”
Justin slipped a hand on Reed’s back, at his waist, his fingers dipping tantalizingly close to Reed’s ass but never quite making it there.
“Tease.” Reed barely managed to get the word out before Justin’s rumbled laugh made his body buzz with heat. “If you keep this up….”
Justin sucked up and down one more time, then released Reed’s cock. “Turn around,” Justin commanded.
Reed did as he was told.
“I’ve been wanting to do this.” Justin kissed the back of Reed’s neck.
“This?”
“Fuck you with all your clothes on.”
“Oh.” That made Reed want to be fucked even more. “I like that idea.”
“Good.” Justin slipped a hand around Reed’s chest and twisted one nipple.
Reed gasped as the pain and pleasure from that touch shot directly to his cock.
“Good?” Justin nibbled on Reed’s ear, again just hard enough that it stung but felt really good.
“Y-yes.” Reed closed his eyes as Justin grabbed his cock with one hand and continued to work his nipple with the other.
Justin slid his hand up and down Reed’s cock, gently at first, then harder to the point that Reed had to focus to keep from coming. “So close. I’m so—”
Justin released the pressure just in time. “Stay there.”
“You got it.”
Justin ran a hand over Reed’s jeans-covered ass and worked his way to the side of the bed. “Stay there,” Justin repeated.
Reed shivered and stole a glance at Justin’s muscular ass. His flagging erection reasserted itself. He wanted this so fucking badly!
“You’re being very patient.” Justin kissed Reed, then whispered, “Put your hands on the edge of the bed.”
Reed braced himself on the bed, giving Justin the opportunity to pull his jeans down just enough to reveal his bare ass.
“That’s much better.” Justin squeezed Reed’s cheeks and parted them. Justin wet Reed’s opening with a slippery finger. “Perfect.”
“Ah….”
“Like that?” Justin whispered against Reed’s neck.
“I… ah… oh fuck….”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He breached Reed’s ass with his fingertip and reached around to take Reed’s cock in his fist. “Definitely a yes.”
Reed pushed back against Justin’s finger, seating it deep within. Justin kissed and licked Reed’s neck as he twisted his finger and found Reed’s gland. Reed gasped and bucked as Justin continued to work the spot. Reed’s legs wobbled, and his spots filled his vision.
“Feels… way… too… good.”
“Good.” Justin worked another finger, then a third into Reed’s hole, opening the muscles as he continued to squeeze Reed’s cock. “Think you’re ready for me?”
“I… was… ready… an… ah, shit… hour… fuck… ago.”
“I love it when you use your words.”
The sound of Justin opening a condom preceded Justin’s cock stretching the muscles of Reed’s ass. He had to hand it to Justin—he was plenty hard again. The burn faded to a happy thrum as Justin began to move. Reed matched Justin’s rhythm. He couldn’t last much longer, and his legs were now jelly. He needed to come, and he needed to come soon or he’d lose his mind.
“So tight.” Justin pumped Reed’s cock in time with his thrusts. “You close?”
Reed nodded.
“I want you to come with me.”
Oh, he liked that idea. All Justin had to do was say the word, and he’d come. “Tell me when,” Reed said, at the edge of his self-control.
“Close.” Justin thrust harder, faster, until Reed had to grit his teeth to stop himself.
“Can’t… wait… much… more.” Please, Justin. Come on. Come for me!
“That’s it.” Justin groaned. “Now!”
Reed shot into Justin’s hot hand as Justin said, “Fuck, Reed, it’s so good. So fucking good.” Justin shuddered against him, his heavy breaths against Reed’s nape making Reed shiver again.
A few more seconds passed, and they both collapsed onto the bed in a tangled heap. Reed could barely move his legs, since the waist of his jeans was now around his thighs. Justin laughed and managed to pull one of Reed’s legs free, then gathered Reed into his arms and held him against his chest.
Reed couldn’t remember the last time sex had been so fun and that he’d felt so good afterward. He loved the way he felt small against Justin’s large body and how gentle Justin was after the sex was over. The contrast was perfect, like the yin yang of salt and caramel.
Reed’s stomach rumbled. Oh hell.
“Stay there,” Justin said. “I’ll be back.”
Justin was back a few minutes later with two bowls of ice cream. He handed one to Reed and said, “Nothing better after sex.”
“Sounds like you’ve had some experience with that combination.” Reed didn’t like idea that this might not be Justin’s first time bringing someone dessert after sex.
“Actually, no.” Justin smirked. “But it really is perfect, isn’t it?”
“Perfect.” The entire evening had been. He’d probably feel guilty the next morning about how little work he’d gotten done on the article, but for now, he didn’t give a fuck.
Justin stuck his finger in the ice cream and rubbed it over Reed’s lips. Reed licked his lips clean. Justin smiled.
“What? Do I look like an idiot?” Reed asked.
“You look adorable.”
“Oh.” He’d never thought of himself that way, but it felt really good to hear Justin say that.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
JUSTIN SIPPED his coffee the next morning as Reed spoke on the phone to his editor.
“I know, Cal. I’ve seen the tracking.” Reed rolled his eyes and mouthed, “He’s a mother hen.”
Reed paused, then said, “I’m meeting with first responders this afternoon. Don’t worry, I’ll get another update filed. After that I’m headed over to city hall for a briefing.”
Another pause, then, “You really are worried about me, aren’t you?” Reed raised his eyebrows and nodded.
Justin repressed a chuckle and reached across the table to stroke Reed’s free hand with his fingers. Reed giggled.
“No, I’m not laughing at you.” Reed nibbled his lower lip. “Right. Listen, Cal, I’m in the middle of something right now. I’ll catch you later, okay?” A moment later he tapped the screen and set his phone down. “Sometimes he really is more like a mother than an editor.”
