Blue Motel Room

  After removing the dressing on his thigh, Ivan did.

  Ron’s broad shoulders tapered down his strong chest into a narrow V at his hips. His tight ass and leanly muscles legs were a perfect match for the thick cock and heavy sac between his thighs.

  A cock which definitely showed signs of life. Of interest.

  Ron pulled Ivan into his arms and held him under the spray. His next words melted Ivan.

  “Such a good boy for me.” Ron kept his left arm around Ivan. With his right, he reached between them and wrapped his hand around both their cocks and started slowly stroking.

  Staring up into Ron’s eyes, Ivan knew he’d just fallen in love with a man who now had the power to completely destroy him from the inside out.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Ron wanted to spend all night loving Ivan, but even this was pushing the envelope way too fucking far. He should have grabbed his own shit, headed to Meri’s bedroom, and not done…this.

  Any of this. Not tonight, without a lot of clear-headed talking and negotiating first.

  Then there was the protective Dom side who said fuck that, his boy needed him.

  He’d be kidding himself to deny he wasn’t already thinking of Ivan in terms of him being his.

  They were both consenting adults, there literally wasn’t a better person to understand the headspace they were in than each other, and dammit, the guy was a cutie. Besides, Ivan’s previous MO was to find and pick up people to spank him, and then he’d have sex with them in return. People he’d never see again.

  Why not him, and why not now?

  Ron slowly stroked their cocks, watching Ivan’s eyes as he did, not wanting to miss a second of the other man’s reaction. It was like his soul opened, raw and bare, as wispy and fragile as the steam now swirling around them in the shower.

  Watching Ivan helped Ron hold back his own release. Ivan’s cock was thinner and a little bit shorter than his own, but that meant he could fit them both in his fist and still hold on to his boy, too.

  There were a lot of things it seemed Ron was unable to do around Ivan.

  Like resist him.

  He slanted his lips over Ivan’s and kissed him, his cock throbbing as Ivan moaned in return and he reached up, one hand cupping the back of Ron’s neck, the other in Ron’s hair and holding him in place as they kissed.

  Perfection flashed through Ron’s mind, the two of them together, thinking about how Ivan would look riding his cock in a variety of ways, walking along the beach with him, cooking dinner together.

  Going through the birth of their children together.

  Ron sucked on Ivan’s tongue, nibbled and bit his lips, devoured him thoroughly as he stroked their cocks. Nothing about this situation was sane or normal or the slightest bit wise, but he was going for it.

  Because maybe he and Ivan wouldn’t make it for the long-run.

  They had to start somewhere, and why not tonight when they were already in the middle of the storm?

  At least they could try to weather it together.

  * * * *

  It took every ounce of will Ivan had to not immediately come. The feel of Ron’s warm, strong, slightly rough hand around his cock threatened to make him explode immediately.

  And he wanted this to last, for at least a little while.

  He didn’t know how long this situation would last overall, and he wanted at least one damn memory he could hold on to.

  One small moment of perfection.

  With their cocks pressed together like this, it added a layer of sweet, hot sensation to the mix. No one had ever jerked him off like this before, with their cocks pressed together, and it felt absolutely amazing. Pre-cum spilled from both their cocks and Ron used it, slicking it down their shafts as he stroked.

  Ron lifted his mouth from Ivan’s despite Ivan trying to maintain their kiss.

  “Show me what a good boy you are for me and come for me, baby.”

  Ivan couldn’t have resisted that if he’d wanted to. His balls drew up tight against his body as a sweet, piercing ache that blossomed into full pleasure shot through him. Ron’s hand grew even slicker around their cocks with Ivan’s cum lubing his grip. Ivan could barely keep his eyes open, watching Ron watch him, feeling for the first time like he was plugged into someone else’s soul.

  Or they were plugged into his.

  The sexiest smile to ever curve a set of lips filled Ron’s face. “Good boy.” He crushed Ivan’s mouth again. Then the arm around Ivan’s back tightened as Ron let out a low, sweet grunt of his own as he climaxed. His hand slowed, stopped, still holding both their cocks pressed together. His kiss grew tender, slow, satiated.

  But he didn’t let go.

  His eyes fell closed and he finally ended their kiss, their foreheads pressed together.

  Ivan didn’t want to release him, either.

  Ron finally spoke, his voice hoarse, soft. “Your choice. I can sleep in Meri’s bed, or—”

  “Please sleep with me, Sir.”

  Ron’s eyes opened and he studied Ivan’s gaze for a long moment before he nodded. “Okay, baby. I had every intention of taking this slow and not rushing this, I swear I did.”

  “I didn’t want it slow.”

  “We’ve got a lot of talking we need to do.”

  “I know, Sir.” Even calling him that felt…natural.

  For one damn time in his life, something felt easy and unforced and like it was supposed to be that way.

  Everything about Ron felt like that, so far.

  That fucking terrified him.

  * * * *

  Ron got the distinct impression Ivan wasn’t used to intimate contact. Not as in he didn’t want it, but as in the man felt starved for it. The way he clung to Ron, the way when Ron finally untangled himself from Ivan that Ivan still wanted to touch him.

  Grabbing a washcloth, Ron dumped body wash on it and made Ivan turn around so he could scrub the man’s back for him. He took his time, trying to examine every inch of the man’s flesh as he did, looking for more clues to his past and what he’d been through.

  When he turned Ivan around and stared deep into his green eyes, Ron knew he was already falling in love with this guy, no matter how risky that was at this stage.

  They didn’t even know each other. They might hate each other in a week.

  Ivan might get sick of having an electrician without a college degree running his life for him.

  Ron cupped Ivan’s cheek and leaned in for another kiss. “I guess I need to drop a bomb of my own out there.”

  “About what, Sir?”

  “Meri’s engaged to a great guy. A teacher at Sorrellson Academy. Wynn. And they have a BDSM dynamic.”

  “He’s a sub?”

  Ron burst out laughing. “Uh, no. Not even close. God, she’s a lucky woman, though. Guy’s the spitting image of The Rock.” He carefully watched Ivan’s face for any hint of…something bad. Ron loved Wynn, and if Ivan turned out to be some sort of a racist, this wouldn’t go any farther than right here.

  “Who?”

  “You know, The Rock. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson? Wrestler and actor?”

  Ivan looked adorably confused.

  “You don’t know who he is?”

  “No, Sir. Sorry.”

  “He’s black.”

  “So? Isn’t Kimbra?”

  D’oh. “Good point, boy.” He pulled him in for a hug. “Sorry. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t another shoe to drop.”

  “Not about that,” Ivan muttered.

  Ron stared into his eyes again. “Do you hurt kids?”

  “No, Sir!”

  “Animals?”

  “No!”

  “Okay, then. If you’re not a rapist, serial killer, or hate mead, think I can work with pretty much anything.”

  “What’s mead?”

  Ron arched an eyebrow at him. “Please tell me you’re fucking with me.” From the clueless look on Ivan’s face, he could tell he wasn’t. “It’s lit
erally nectar from the gods. Booze made from honey.”

  “Is that what you were drinking when you slept with Eve? Because we were drunk off our asses on rum and Cokes.”

  Double d’oh. “Okay, so that’s a baaaad example. Normally, I do not imbibe that much.”

  Finally, the hint of a smile on Ivan’s adorable and totally kissable lips. “I don’t drink during the week because of work. But maybe this Saturday you can let me try some?”

  “That’s a date. So what are your hobbies?”

  His smile faded. “I work. I go to the Toucan sometimes, when I need to. And I like anime.”

  “Where do you stand on Vikings?”

  “I don’t watch football.”

  “I—” Ron burst out laughing when he spotted another of those almost-smiles quirking Ivan’s lips. “You’re going to start coming to my Viking events with me.”

  “Will they be okay with me?”

  “Why wouldn’t they?”

  “That we’re gay?”

  “Honey, I’ve been out as gay since before I started going. I’m not the only one there. They’re chill.”

  “Okay.”

  Ron pulled Ivan’s arms around his waist and stared down at him. “Meri’s kind of self-conscious right now. She had a double mastectomy and, long story short, lost her insurance and blew through her savings and retirement for treatments and couldn’t afford a reconstruction. That’s why I moved her back to Florida from St. Louis. She had to sell her condo because she couldn’t find another job after she got laid off.”

  Ivan scowled. “Has she seen a doctor lately?”

  “No, she doesn’t have insurance yet. That’s another reason I’m good with her and Wynn getting together, because I know he’ll take care of her and he’s got good insurance.”

  “Well, how long has it been since her last follow-up?”

  “I don’t know, exactly. I—”

  “But she really should get in to see someone as soon as possible. She needs regular follow-ups to make sure it hasn’t come back, or spread, or—”

  Ron gently laid a finger on Ivan’s lips. “It’s okay, baby.”

  “I’ll ask around for recommendations for—”

  Ron leaned in and replaced his finger with his lips, since obviously that wasn’t shutting Ivan up.

  The lips did the trick. Finally, when Ron knew he had Ivan’s full attention again, he said, “Let’s ease her into learning that a) we’re an item, and b) we’re baby daddies before I turn you loose on her in doctor mode, okay?”

  “Can I say one more thing, Sir?”

  “Sure.”

  “If she talks to the doctor’s office, a lot of times if you’re paying cash they’ll do a deep discount on the fee. And I know Proctor-Collins has a sliding scale system for things like ultrasounds and other tests for people who have to self-pay with cash and are lower-income.”

  Adorable.

  Absolutely fucking adorable.

  “Let’s wait to drop all that on her until after the shock wears off about our other news. A day or two won’t hurt. Right?”

  Ivan finally nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

  But now…he could see why his boy was a doctor. He wanted to help people, and it dovetailed nicely with his deep submissive needs to serve.

  Add more than a pinch of masochism to an already tender and vulnerable soul, and it was a recipe for disaster if there wasn’t someone in his life he could count on to steady him.

  Ron would do whatever it took to make sure he was and remained that person in Ivan’s life.

  Once out of the shower, Ron took great pleasure drying Ivan off, making him stand there while Ron took care of him.

  “What about your thigh?” Ron asked.

  Ivan blushed. “I have what I need in my bag.”

  “Where in your bag?”

  “There’s a plastic tub.”

  “I’ll get it.” Ron didn’t bother to wait to see if Ivan agreed with him or not. His boy would have to get used to being the one taken care of if they were going to last long-term.

  He quickly found the box and brought it back to the bathroom, setting it on the counter and opening it. Ron’s stomach rolled a little as he realized this was a medical kit specifically for dealing with this. All the same size of non-stick dressing, packages of sterile gauze pads, alcohol, ointment and swabs.

  Surgical soap.

  “Tell me what to do.”

  Obviously unused to someone else being involved in this process, Ivan stumbled and stammered his way through it while Ron wouldn’t let him do anything except watch and talk. Once his wounds were cleaned and dressed, Ron stood and pulled him in for another kiss.

  “That’s the last one of these I see on your body, ever. That includes those bruises. That’s a hard limit and a direct order. You need pain? You come to me and we’ll work it out so I can give you what you need. I’m a sadist. I can do that. Understand?”

  Ivan studied him for a long moment and finally nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

  “I know it’s terrifying to trust me right now. Believe me, I’m equally terrified in how badly I want to live up to the level of trust you have in me.”

  Before they headed to bed, Ron dug out a spare key and set Ivan his own alarm code and made sure he knew how to arm and disarm it. Then they plugged their cell phones in and made sure their morning alarms were set.

  When they settled into bed together, Ron pulled Ivan into his arms, the little spoon, and nuzzled his face against the back of Ivan’s head. “Get some sleep, buddy. It’s been a long day.”

  But as Ivan fell asleep in his arms, Ron lay awake, trying to process that in the space of a few days he’d gone from being alone to looking like not only was he going to be a father, but he’d just found himself the guy he really hoped he’d be spending the rest of his life with.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ivan startled awake before his alarm the next morning to find Ron’s arm snugly draped around his waist.

  “Don’t even think about movin’ yet,” Ron mumbled against the back of Ivan’s head. His voice sounded thick and sexy and still half asleep. “You’re perfect right where you are.”

  Fuck!

  So…it had happened.

  It wasn’t merely a fantastic dream he’d have cruelly ripped away from him upon waking.

  Ron settled himself against Ivan’s back, from shoulders to ass to legs and feet. “Good morning, boy.” His warm breath brushed against the nape of Ivan’s neck and a ripple of the good kind of shivers rushed through his body.

  “Good morning, Sir.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” Ron pressed his lips to the nape of Ivan’s neck. “How’d you sleep?”

  Ivan was still trying to process this, all traces of sleep vanished from his system. Usually it took him the better part of an hour, a shower, and a cup of coffee to be awake enough to form coherent sentences, much less feel this awake.

  And that was usually because he startled awake several times a night, at the slightest noise, despite his white-noise app running on his phone to help mask the sounds.

  “Good, Sir.”

  Damn, he’d had the best night’s sleep in a while. Best night since—

  Kimbra.

  Usually at the Toucan he woke up several times throughout the night, but he hadn’t even awakened when she left the bed.

  Because I trusted her.

  Ivan rolled over to face Ron, stroking the other man’s face, trying to reassure himself this was real and not a dream. Ron’s morning stubble felt scratchy against his fingers, and in the dark room there was just enough light to see Ron’s eyes were open and staring at him. In this light they looked deep blue, midnight, sweet promises of pleasure and teasing goodness beckoning him.

  Don’t get your hopes up.

  “I’m not too Domly to admit I’m terrified of fucking this up between us,” Ron said. “I need communication from you.” He’d kept his arm around Ivan, but now his hand had settled on Ivan’s ass.

  And he
felt Ron’s cock pressing hard between them, his own hardening in response.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “You come straight here tonight after work,” Ron said. “I want a text from you as soon as you’re done at work and on your way, and another when you get here if I’m not home. Understand? The alarm sends me a text when it’s armed or disarmed, so I’ll know if you’ve arrived or not. Those texts best not be too long apart from each other in arriving, the one from it and the ones from you.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Like he could have said no, even if he wanted to. He fought the urge to grind his body against Ron’s.

  “After I get home from work we’ll eat, and I’ll drive you over to your place to grab a load of stuff. I’ll wait to get a shower until we’re done with that. I also want a text from you at lunch, with a picture of what you’re eating.”

  “Sir?”

  Ron kissed him, taking his breath away, making his cock throb even harder—painfully hard, aroused in a way he’d not only never felt before, but never dreamed possible.

  Not possible for him.

  “I want to know you’ve eaten something. No more fuckin’ cheap-ass pot pies, either. We need to be eating healthy and setting some good routines now. We’re going to be fathers. We need to be a good example for our kids.”

  Kids.

  Ron pressed his forehead to Ivan’s. “Sorry for last night.”

  “Sorry?”

  “I pushed you pretty hard. I should have had better self-control. We literally just met.”

  “No, don’t apologize. You were—” His breath hitched. “You were perfect.” He reached up to palm Ron’s cheek again, stroking. “I want this.”

  “I’m pretty territorial and protective. I can be a grouch if I’m exhausted. I tend to be an up-in-your-business kind of guy for my sister and my friends. That means I’m not just going to be up in your business, I will be dictating your business to you, so to speak. You think you can put up with that?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Work is work. Sometimes I take emergency calls and have to work at night or on the weekends, but that’s not very often. I understand your job is difficult and that has to come first. But when you’re not at work? I expect you to do what I say when it comes to life at home and us. If you can’t, then none of that passive-aggressive bullshit.