Here For You, page 16
His day had started with a session with Dr. Hibbertson, and Hunter had to admit things were going well. She’d broached the idea of going back to work part-time, maybe in a few weeks, and he hadn’t balked at the prospect. That has to be an improvement, right? Then he’d spent a couple of hours working up a sweat. He was more than ready for lunch. He even had an idea about what he wanted for dessert too.
Hunter smiled to himself. His birthday plans were suddenly looking better by the second.
As he was changing into his sweats, his phone rang.
“Happy birthday, big brother!” Cally sang out. “Are you having a fantastic day? Lots of presents, cake, candles?”
He snorted. “How old am I, six? I’m having an adult birthday. You know, therapy, gym, laundry...”
“Ew. I like my version better. So what are you doing with the rest of your day?”
“On my way home. Chris should be back for lunch soon.”
“Oh, good.”
He stilled. “Good?”
“I mean, good that you’re having lunch with Chris. It’ll be a break from all that laundry, right? Okay, I gotta go. Enjoy what’s left of your special day.” And she was gone before he could say goodbye.
Hunter shook his head. I swear she’s getting weirder as she gets older.
By the time he pulled onto the driveway, Chris’s car was already there. Hunter got out of the car and strolled up to the front door. He had to laugh when a golden furry head appeared in the window. “Yes, Lucy, your other daddy is home.” Lucy disappeared from view, and Hunter knew she’d be waiting by the front door when he opened it.
He was barely inside when Lucy pushed her head into his hand, and he scritched behind her ears. “Where’s Daddy, girl?”
“Daddy is in the kitchen, deciding on what to make the birthday boy for his lunch,” Chris called out. “Has it been a good day so far?”
Hunter went through into the kitchen and walked up behind Chris, who was peering into the refrigerator. “As birthdays go, it’s been a nonevent.”
Chris turned his head to stare at him. “Hey, you said you didn’t want to celebrate it, remember?”
“Well, that depends on your definition of a celebration.” Hunter slipped his hands around Chris’s waist and kissed his neck, loving the shiver that resulted.
Chris closed the fridge and turned to kiss Hunter on the lips. They parted, and Chris wrinkled his nose. “Were the showers not working?”
Hunter rolled his eyes. “Seeing as I caught you sniffing a personal item of clothing of mine only two days ago, you can cut that out, because I’m not buying it. And I wanted to shower here. That way I get to spend more time at home with you.”
Chris’s face glowed. “Aw. That’s sweet.” Their lips met again, only this time, Chris’s hands were on his back, Chris’s body molded against his. Hunter reached around him to cup Chris’s ass, squeezing gently, and Chris let out a soft moan. “How can I... make your day... more special?”
“I like the sound of that. And I know just how you can achieve it.” Hunter stroked a single finger down the back seam of Chris’s jeans, exerting a little pressure.
He’d waited long enough.
Chris’s breathing hitched. “Oh. Oh wow. You sure?”
Hunter didn’t respond, choosing instead to pull Chris even more firmly against him. Chris’s eyes widened. “Oh fuck. You’re like a rock.”
And getting more rock-like by the second.
Hunter nodded. “And now I’m going upstairs to grab that shower. When I get out—”
“I’ll be waiting.” Chris pointed toward the stairs. “Shower. Now.”
Hunter chuckled as he released Chris and headed for the staircase. Lucy trotted over to him, and he stroked along her back. “You stay down here, okay, girl?” Something caught his eye, and he stared at it. “Er, Chris? Why is there a bottle of lube on the coffee table?”
Chris appeared in the archway, wearing a sheepish expression. “I had my own plans for your birthday.” He grinned. “I like your idea more. A bed beats the couch any day. Especially for our first time.”
Hunter was of the same opinion. “Maybe you should bring it upstairs with you,” he suggested. Warmth flooded through him at Chris’s words. Our first time.
He couldn’t think of a better way to spend his birthday.
Chris chuckled. “This isn’t the bottle from the nightstand. This is now the downstairs supply. Because I guarantee there will come a night when we’re in too much of a hurry to go upstairs. So leave it there.” He narrowed his gaze. “Don’t you have a shower to take?”
Hunter gave him a mock glare. “Are you gonna be this bossy in bed too?”
“I guess that’s going to depend on who’s in the driver’s seat.” Chris’s eyes gleamed. “I’m assuming that’s you today. It is your birthday, after all.”
Yeah, Hunter’s birthday was looking pretty damn perfect.
“Hunter... please...” The words came out as a croak.
Chris couldn’t take much more. His body ached, his need white-hot. With just fingers, lips, and tongue, Hunter had brought him to the point where only one thing mattered—feeling Hunter inside him. Lord knew, Chris was ready. He’d been ready the moment he’d pushed slick fingers into himself while Hunter had been showering.
Hunter rocked between Chris’s thighs, sliding that hard heat over his pucker again and again, until Chris wanted scream at him to ‘Just do it, for God’s sake.’ How many years had he dreamed of this moment? How many nights had he jerked off, imagining how it would feel to be stretched, filled....?
“Ready?” Christ, Hunter’s voice was as raw as his own.
Chris looked up into his eyes, and the words tumbled from his lips. “Love you.”
Hunter groaned. “God knows how much I love you too. Now please, tell me you’re ready?”
Chris nodded. “Now... please...” Then all words fled as Hunter lifted Chris’s legs onto his shoulders. He slid his way inside Chris slowly and carefully, stealing his breath with every inch, until Hunter’s lips met his, and Hunter was all the way in. Chris didn’t care that he was almost bent in half: all that mattered was the feel of Hunter’s shaft stretching him so wide, Hunter’s mouth on his.
Hunter stilled inside him. “Fuck, so tight.”
Chris gasped. “Fuck, so big.” Then they laughed, and Chris felt it all the way through him. “Okay, that’s a new sensation.”
Hunter kissed his neck before brushing his lips against Chris’s ear. “Gotta move, babe.”
Chris nodded eagerly, then gasped at the sensation as Hunter slid in and out of him, a mixture of heat and discomfort, but even that melted away after a while. By the time he was loving every stroke inside him, he was breathless and way too close to the edge. His climax still took him by surprise, and he shuddered, desperate to hold onto the pleasure that surged through him.
When he felt the throb of Hunter’s shaft within him, he knew it was all over.
For now.
Hunter eased out of him, and Chris lowered his legs. Once Hunter had disposed of the condom, he was back in Chris’s arms.
“We need to work on our technique.” Chris held onto Hunter, both of them slick with sweat. “Because I’m damn sure we can go for longer than this.”
Hunter chuckled against his neck, and the vibrations tickled. “I second that. Maybe what we need is daily practice.” He pushed up onto his arms and looked Chris in the eye. “But for a first try?”
Chris grinned. “I give us eight out of ten for technical merit.”
Hunter snorted. “Hey, we got all the bits in the right place. It just didn’t last long enough.”
“Let’s be honest, you couldn’t go wrong with your equipment.” Chris loved the flush across Hunter’s chest and neck.
“And what about style, presentation...?”
Chris locked his arms around Hunter’s neck, drawing him down into a tender kiss. “No complaints from me,” he whispered.
“Just so we’re clear?” Hunter slid a hand between them, moving it lower to cup Chris’s spent dick. “I want to know how it feels too.”
Chris’s smile was so wide, it made his cheeks ache. “Like I’m gonna argue. In fact, gimme an hour and you can find out.” His stomach growled, and he sighed. “Okay. Maybe lunch first.”
Hunter’s phone vibrated on the nightstand, and Chris laughed. “Someone has lousy timing.”
“Depends how you look at it.” Hunter grinned. “Ten minutes earlier would have been a whole lot worse.”
He had a point.
Chris had never felt more alive, like every cell in his body was singing Hallelujah.
Some things really are worth waiting for.
“Hey, Cally. Two calls in less than two hours. Really making me feel special.” Hunter rolled his eyes, and Chris tried not to laugh. “Yes, I’m home right now... wait, what?.... No... you can’t.... I mean, yes, it’s lovely that you’ve baked me a cake, but... do you have to bring it round here right this second?.... Can’t this wait?” He tossed the phone onto the bed and gaped at Chris, his eyes wide. “She hung up.”
“She’s not really coming here now, is she?” Chris took one look at Hunter’s stricken expression, and his heart sank. “Dear Lord, she is. Call her back. Stop her!”
Hunter stabbed at the screen with urgent fingers, and Chris listened as his call went unanswered. He stared at Chris. “She’s probably on her way now. She could be here in less than five minutes.”
That was all it took to have them launch themselves off the bed, squirm into their clothes, and race out of the bedroom.
“I’m gonna kill her!” Hunter yelled as he dive-bombed down the stairs.
“Not if I kill her first,” Chris shouted. He reeked of sex. “God, I need a shower.”
“And I need another one. Let’s just hope she’s not that observant,” Hunter called out as he ran into the kitchen.
Chris darted into the living room, glancing around to make sure everywhere was presentable. Thank God they both liked neatness. Lucy watched him from her bed, and he gave her a quick pat. “It’s okay, Luce. Just your daddies preparing to be invaded.” As the sound of a car grew louder, he caught sight of the bottle of lube he’d left on the coffee table. “Christ!” He grabbed it and shoved it down the side of the seat cushion, just as there came a knock on the door.
Hunter strode past him. “She’s not staying,” he muttered. He flung open the door, and Chris caught his smothered gasp. “Hey, sis. And Mom and Dad. What a surprise. Oh wow. Chris, your parents are here too.”
It was official. When this nightmare was over, Chris was going to fucking murder Cally.
“Surprise!” Cally sang as she came into the living room, carrying Judy in a sling across her front. “Well, we couldn’t let Hunter’s birthday go by without doing something, right?” After her came Hunter’s mom, carrying a large white box. His dad was next, carrying a couple of brightly wrapped packages. Finally, Mom and Dad came into the room, smiling. In their hands were two covered dishes, and judging by the delicious aroma that wafted through the air, Mom had brought her homemade mac and cheese. Lucy’s nose twitched.
“Wow.” Chris tried to look impressed. “Whose idea was this?” Like he didn’t know.
“Mine,” Cally announced gleefully. “I decided this morning to bake a cake, and then I thought, why not get everyone in on the act? Luckily, they were all for it.”
“Where can I put this cake?” Mrs. Drake asked.
“Take it through into the kitchen. You too, Mom and Dad. I guess this means we’re having guests for lunch.” He snuck a glance at Hunter to check he hadn’t exploded yet.
Hunter was clearly doing his best to present a calm front. “Let me sort out beverages for everyone.” He followed their parents into the kitchen.
Cally placed Judy on the couch, surrounded by a little fort of cushions. Her daughter was fast asleep, wearing an adorable one-piece adorned with little bunnies.
Chris took advantage of the situation to grab Cally by the elbow and tug her gently toward the foot of the stairs. “A word,” he murmured.
She frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Chris took a deep breath. “Next time you decide to do something like this, a little more warning would be good. Like, more than five minutes.”
“I called to check you were home, didn’t I?” Cally wrinkled her nose. “Ugh. What have you been doing?”
Before she could make any further comments, Chris walked away, not trusting himself to keep silent. In the dining room, his parents were setting out plates and silverware, and the cake had been placed in the center of the table, complete with candles.
Despite his mood, Chris had to smile. “Chocolate. At least you know your brother well enough to choose the right flavor.”
Cally snorted. “Duh.”
One by one, everyone took their places at the table. Hunter’s gaze flickered to the empty chair next to his, and Chris took the hint. When they were all seated, Cally raised her glass. “Happy birthday, Hunter!”
Her words echoed around the room as everyone repeated them. Hunter thanked them, and then they helped themselves to mac and cheese, and freshly made bread rolls with herb butter. Lucy walked over to investigate, but there was no way she was getting any. Now and again Cally glanced toward the couch, but Judy was still sleeping soundly. Chris recalled how Cally could sleep through a thunderstorm when she was little. Like mother, like daughter, apparently.
“No Steve?” he inquired.
Cally shrugged. “He’s at work. I’ll save him a slice of cake.”
“This is delicious, Mrs. Lomax,” Hunter said with a genuine smile.
Mom flushed. “You always did love my mac and cheese. It’s good to see some things don’t change.”
“You’re looking well,” Dad added. “Any idea when you’ll be back to work?”
Cally and Mr. and Mrs. Drake exchanged swift glances, but Hunter cleared his throat. “Actually, I was talking about this very subject with my therapist only this morning. We both feel it’ll only be a few weeks before I’m back to work part-time.”
Mrs. Drake beamed. “That’s wonderful. Maybe things are finally getting back to normal.” She glanced at Chris with a smile. “You living here seems to have worked wonders.”
“I’ll second that,” Hunter said quietly. Chris gave him a grateful look. Then Hunter drew in a deep breath, and Chris stilled. “I’m glad you all came here today, because... I have some news to share with you.”
“You just did,” Cally quipped, her eyes twinkling.
Hunter gave her a hard stare. “Okay then—I have more news.” His gaze met Chris’s briefly, and the look in Hunter’s eyes was enough to set his heart racing.
Oh my God. He’s not going to...
Hunter took another breath. “The thing is... I’ve met someone, and it’s serious.”
Two thoughts flashed through Chris’s mind. The first was one of pride in Hunter for taking that first step.
The second was that he had never loved Hunter quite as much as he did in that moment.
There were gasps around the table. Mrs. Drake’s mouth fell open, and she brought her hand to her chest. “Oh. That’s wonderful. Do we know her?”
“Yeah, you do,” Hunter acknowledged, his lips twitching.
“Well? Who is she? What’s her name?” his mom demanded.
“Chris.”
Cally gave Hunter an incredulous stare before turning her attention on Chris, giving him an inquiring glance. He gave the tiniest nod, and Cally just... melted, her eyes so full of love it made Chris’s heart ache to see it.
His parents jerked their heads in his direction, and Chris smiled. Tears trickled down his mom’s cheeks, and his dad stared at him in obvious astonishment.
“Oh. Like in Christine?” Mrs. Drake asked brightly.
Cally face-palmed, and Chris tried not to chuckle.
“No, Mom. More like... Christopher.” Hunter covered Chris’s hand with his, and the simple but intimate gesture sent Chris’s heart soaring.
Mrs. Drake lowered her gaze to their joined hands. “Oh.” Then she widened her eyes. “Oh!” Her smile lit up her face.
Mr. Drake coughed. “Well... I won’t say this isn’t a... surprise...”
“I think you mean shock, Dad,” Cally interjected, still smiling.
“I’m a little confused,” he continued, addressing Chris. “I mean, you were going to marry Cally, and now you’re with Hunter...”
Hunter burst out laughing, and the sound lightened Chris’s spirits. “Dad, you’re amazing. You don’t bat an eyelid about the fact that I’m gay, but you can’t get your head around Chris being bi?”
“Bi?” Mr. Drake frowned, and then his forehead smoothed out. “Oh—bi. I understand.” He chuckled. “You young people.”
Chris smirked. “I think that’s all the reaction you’re gonna get.” Hunter shook his head, still clearly astonished.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Mom said, her tone earnest. “I mean, our two families were once going to be connected by marriage, after all. It’s good there’s still a connection, even if the wedding never came off. Don’t you think?” She looked around the table, obviously seeking agreement.
“Well,” Hunter began, “we’ll have to see what we can do about that. Now let’s finish this wonderful meal so I get to eat some of Cally’s awesome cake.” He gave Cally a grateful smile. “This was a great idea, sis. But next time? Give us a little more warning, please?”
Cally rolled her eyes. “Save it. Chris already gave me the same talk. I mean, it isn’t as if we interrupted you doing—” She stared at him, wide-eyed, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh my God. Oh my God. TMI, guys!”
Chris thrust the basket of bread rolls at her. “Here. Less talking, more eating. Much safer that way.” He made a mental note to remove the lube bottle from the couch before anyone came across it. He shuddered to think of trying to explain that to Hunter’s mom.
Then Hunter’s casually uttered words finally registered, and Chris jerked his head to stare at him. Did he just say what I think he said? Hunter gazed back at him with a calm expression, and Chris was no clearer.
