Chance to Be King (10 page)

"We're going to have to move soon," Eric pointed out.

 

"Why? Got somewhere to be?" Thomas sounded fucked-out.

 

"No, but if we don't move we're gonna be stuck together."

Thomas chuckled lazily, his lips vibrating against Eric's sensitive skin and sending an interested signal to his cock. "Gotta problem with that?"

"No, but if I'm going to be stuck to you I'd rather you were in me at the time." Eric felt Thomas' whole body twitch under his.

"Do you, I mean, do you want…?"

Thomas seemed to have been rendered speechless and Eric tucked that piece of
information away for next time. There was most definitely going to be a next time. Unlike his last few instantly forgettable encounters he hadn't had nearly enough of Thomas yet. He stared down into Thomas' eyes, almost drowning in the deep seablue depths.

"I most definitely want," he assured him. Thomas licked his lips, then said hesitantly, "I want, too."

Growling a little, Eric mashed his lips against Thomas'. He wanted to absorb himself in this man until he knew every part of him. It was exciting and scary at the same time. It had been a long time since he had felt this way about someone.

Thomas growled back, and from the feel of him against his belly he most certainly had the same interest.

Eric sat up, ignoring the disappointed moan and feeling his skin tug as he unpeeled from Thomas. "Come on," he urged, tugging Thomas to his feet.

"Where are we going?"
"Your shower for round two."

Thomas' eyes darkened and he nodded. Despite the crusty mess on his belly, his hair sticking up every which way, and his sweats down around his thighs exposing his half-hard cock, he looked completely fuckable. Eric wasn't going a minute more without touching him.

Somehow they got up the stairs without tripping over themselves or their pants. Thomas yanked on Eric's hand to pull him into his bedroom and slammed the door shut. The next thing Eric felt was hot, moist suction around his half-hard cock as Thomas sank to his knees, taking him in his mouth.

"Fuck!" His head thunked back painfully against the doorframe and his cock went from vaguely interested to rocket-launcher in seconds as Thomas sucked him in. Eric's nails scrambled to find some sort of purchase against the wall as Thomas seemed intent on destroying any ability he had to stay upright by himself.

"Thomas, please," he whined as he felt Thomas' throat close around the head of his cock.

Thomas pulled off and stared up at him. Eric stared back, eyes fixated on Thomas' puffy lips. He was torn between just shoving his cock back between those swollen, red lips and actually getting as far as the shower.

"Fuck my mouth," Thomas rasped, his voice raw.

Tugging on his arm, Eric pulled Thomas up to rest flush against his body, trapping their cocks between them.

"Next time," he promised. "I…" Eric nibbled on Thomas' ear, "want you…" his mouth sought downwards, licking and tasting salt and sweat, "… to bend me over and fuck me so hard the neighbors can hear me." He tugged on Thomas' nipple for emphasis, feeling the older man's breath stutter as he processed what Eric had just said.

"I don't have any close neighbors," Thomas said, arching up into Eric's assault on his neck. "The nearest… ah fuck, do that again!" Eric had sunk his teeth into the sensitive skin just below Thomas' ear. "Neighbor… five miles… away."

"I know," agreed Eric. "You'd better fuck me really hard then if they're going to hear."

 

He felt Thomas swallow hard. "I can do that." "So hard I'm gonna be sitting on cushions for the next week?"

"So hard, boy, that you're gonna be feeling my dick inside you every time you move for the next month!" promised Thomas.

Eric felt his ass twitch in response to the lowpitched, husky voice. The chuckle against his ear left him in no doubt Thomas had felt his involuntary response.

He was dragged into Thomas' bathroom and pushed up against the tiled wall, the breath almost knocked out him. Damn, every time he got control Thomas snatched it back with a sneaky, underhand maneuver.

Thomas was kissing him so hard and doing things with his hands, soft things like stroking his side and scratching lightly across his skin. Eric couldn't catch up with whether he was being devoured or tenderly made love to.

He pulled back so that Thomas had to break the kiss. "Let's get in the shower," he urged
desperately.

Thomas seemed reluctant to release him, if only for a second, but he turned to get the water started. Soon the room was filling with clouds of steam. Eric jerked down his sweats, enjoying the flare in Thomas' eyes as he got naked. Thomas copied him and they got in the shower together, turning to be in each other's arms again.

They exchanged lazy kisses under the hot water, the urgency muted for a few minutes as they explored each other's mouths, their hands running slowly over each other's backs, bodies gently drawing closer.

Desire couldn't be damped down for long, though, and soon small sounds were escaping from both of them as their hips ground together. Thomas gave a low moan into Eric's mouth and stepped back, reaching for a small bottle next to the shampoo.

Eric raised an eyebrow. "Lube and condoms in here?"

 

"I was a boy scout." Thomas turned Eric to face the tiles. "I'm always prepared, 'Ric, always." "That's, uh… good to know. I'll remember… shit… that next… time we go camping."

Eric was finding it increasingly difficult to speak as Thomas trailed fingers down his back and into the crease of his ass.

Any thoughts of Thomas in Boy Scout uniform (hell, yes!) were put on hold as Thomas slid a finger into him. Eric laid his face against the tiles and grabbed onto what little control he had left as Thomas gently stretched him, making sure the tips of his fingers brushed over his prostate as often as possible.

"Bastard," he hissed as Thomas did it again. "Yup," Thomas agreed, and sucked a bite in the crook of Eric's neck for good measure.

Eric looked over his shoulder. The lust-filled expression in Thomas' eyes made him shiver but he couldn't resist taunting him. "You gonna fuck me or just play with me?"

Thomas gritted his teeth. "Hold on," he warned him, withdrawing his fingers and lining up his cock.

Swallowing hard, Eric widened his stance to make sure he was balanced and then Thomas was pushing in, one long thrust, and fucking Eric to within an inch of his life.

He may not have alerted the neighbors but Eric screamed as promised as Thomas teased and tormented his prostate. He was pounded so well he came harder than he'd ever done before, his cock completely untouched, resting his head against his arms as he felt Thomas throb in his ass.

Thomas collapsed —exhausted and panting— against Eric's back, neither of them having the energy to move as the hot water cooled against their heated skin.

Chapter 5

Eric had been at Silver Lake a week before he felt well enough to resume his early morning runs. His job required him to spend a lot of time running around half naked, so keeping fit and looking good was kind of a prerequisite of the job. One of things he enjoyed most of all was the early morning runs with his dogs, and ever since he'd arrived at the lake he'd been itching to go for a run around the perimeter.

Leaving Thomas in bed with a cup of coffee and a grunted "Thanks," he went down the stairs, calling to the dogs. Toby and Millie bounded up to him, wagging their tails furiously when they saw Eric pulling on his sneakers. They were more of a hindrance than a help as they stepped over him but finally he was ready, and after a few stretching exercises they all set off down the path to the lake, excited to be outside.

Early mornings were starting to cool down as fall approached and Eric's breath gusted out in a cloud as he set off around the lake. It was beautiful, and Eric took time to appreciate the mist rising off the lake and the varied calls of the birds breaking the silence.

He could understand why Thomas chose to remain here to write his books. It was so calm and peaceful. He snorted to himself as he realized he hadn't yet asked Thomas what type of books he actually wrote. For all he knew they could be bodice-rippers. He was looking forward to
that
conversation. It occurred to him how little he actually knew about Thomas. It hadn't progressed much beyond the mundanities of their day to day life.

Eric's feet pounded the well-worn paths. He could feel the slight strain in his muscles as the lack of training over the past week made its presence known. The dogs ranged on ahead, already familiar with these paths thanks to their walks with Thomas. He mused on how comfortably they had all settled into Thomas' home and life. The dogs loved the countryside, no doubt about it. They were always more relaxed at his parents' house than in LA, but here, it was like they were at home, and Eric felt the same way. He was anxious not to intrude on Thomas' work and time but in all honesty he felt no inclination to find somewhere else to stay for the remainder of his vacation, and Thomas didn't seem in any hurry to kick them to the curb.

He could see a path approaching that looked vaguely familiar but it wasn't the path back to the Big House. Eric realized with a shock that he was at the path to the cottage, and he almost tripped as his feet seemed to stop of their own volition. Thomas had made him promise not to visit the cottage after the fire and since then it hadn't really crossed his mind. But now he was here Eric needed to see the remains of the building, if only to remind himself how lucky he was to still be alive.

There was nothing left of the interior of the actual building; just the external shell remained, smoke-blackened and charred. A week after the fire and still the acrid smell reached the back of his throat as he stood and looked at the building. He couldn't believe he'd managed to get out of there alive and he thanked whatever God was up there, and any others listening, for his life and that of his dogs.

Eric shivered in the cool morning air, his tired muscles protesting slightly at the sudden stop after the run. Unprepared for a pair of warm arms to suddenly encircle his waist, he flinched slightly. He hadn't heard Thomas' approach.

"I thought I might find you here," Thomas' arms tightened around him.

"I'm all sweaty," Eric pointed out, although he made no effort to step out of the comforting warmth. Thomas was wearing a hoodie and the softness and warmth of him was just what he needed right now after the shock of seeing the cottage.

"And that's meant to make me run screaming? I'm a big man. I can deal with a few drops of sweat." He didn't let go of Eric, and with a sigh the younger man snuggled back against him, not yet ready to move away.

"I still have nightmares of that moment. Waking up and smelling the smoke, hearing the flames crackling." Eric admitted. He'd not told Thomas of his dreams, not wanting to bother him with just how many times he woke up in a cold sweat as the flames chased him. He felt a shudder and then a kiss was pressed into the nape of his neck.

"You should have told me." Thomas chided, and then held on a little tighter.

They said nothing more for a few minutes before Thomas squeezed him once more and let his arms drop.

"Come on, I have breakfast waiting."

Eric shivered again at the loss of warmth. Thomas slid an arm around his back and led him away, back down the path to the lake, calling for the dogs as he did so. Eric cast one look over his shoulder as he went but Thomas tugged at him.

"Don't look back, 'Ric. You're here now, with me. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you." His voice was low and soothing and, as Eric's hand slipped into Thomas', it gave him a feeling of warmth and security that lasted as far as Thomas' back door, where a visitor waited for them.

Mark, the young cop, was sitting on the back doorstep, waiting for their return. The two men walked towards him. Thomas probably wasn't even aware of it but his hand and arm tensed up when he saw the policeman. Eric squeezed his hand and waited to see if Thomas would pull away. He didn't and they remained as they were when they reached the door.

"Morning, Tom. Morning, Eric." Mark was smiling but his eyes were fixed on their joined hands.

"Mark," Thomas nodded and didn't let go of Eric's hand immediately. "What can we do for you?

Mark rose to his feet to allow Thomas to pass into the kitchen. "We've got a lead on a male staying at the motel in Brownsville. He matches your description and we're going over to interview him today."

Eric and the dogs waited for the policeman to go in before they followed. Thomas had already filled their bowls for breakfast and both dogs rushed eagerly over to their meal. Mark's next words were accompanied by the sounds of crunching and bowls scraping across the floor. Mark nodded at Thomas' offer of coffee.

"I just wanted to ask Eric if he'd ever heard the name, Simon Wayward?" He phrased it as a question as he turned to look at the actor.

Eric thought for a moment and then shook his head. "No, you could ask my agent though." "Already did. She wondered if it was an ex-lover or something."

"No. Definitely not." At Eric's vehemence, Mark raised an eyebrow. "I have to be discreet. My… er… lovers are few and far between and I know them all personally."

Mark nodded. "Well, it might be an alias. We'll check it out. Thomas, what's the matter?"

Eric turned to see the ashen face of his host; it was so pale his freckles stood out in sharp relief. "Tom, are you all right?" He stepped forward to hold him in case he fell but Thomas waved him off.

"I'm fine," he said. "'Ric, why don't you grab a shower before breakfast?" Thomas handed him a large mug of coffee.

Eric was taken aback, knowing he'd been dismissed but not sure of the reason. He decided not to push it in front of Mark but instead do as he was asked… for now.

He left the kitchen and kicked off his sneakers in the hall. As he went past the kitchen door he could hear Thomas saying, "It's them, it's the same name."

"Are you sure?" Mark asked, equally sotto voce. "It's hardly coincidence, right?"

Eric had paused, guiltily eavesdropping, but he heard footsteps so and carried on up the stairs, out of hearing range. Eric frowned. He wasn't sure what was going on here but it was rapidly becoming clear the cause of the fire had nothing to do with him. It was a relief, that his vacation hadn't been compromised by a stalker, on the other hand he wasn't convinced of the wisdom in getting involved. His agent would have his hide if he got involved in any trouble.