The First Three Rules (13 page)

“I left the glass in the sink.”

“Good.”

“You promise they won’t take me away?”

“I promise.”

Rudy sat on the floor in front of the TV.

Jon found himself staring at the top of the stairs. Was Ellis still asleep? If he was, it didn’t mean Jon couldn’t keep an eye on him.

Get your shit together, Foster. Quit thinking with your dick.

“Jon?”

“Yeah.”

Rudy patted the place on the floor beside him. “Will you watch cartoons with me? Ellis watches them with me so I don’t get lonely.”

Hell, why not? Maybe it would keep his ass out of trouble, because that’s exactly where he was headed. Jon’s knees popped as he sat down next to Rudy. “You sure you want to sit on the floor?”

Rudy nodded. “I like to sit close to the TV.”

“Somehow, I figured you would say that.”

Ellis winced against the glare of light assaulting him from overhead.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to break a toe,” Jon said.

The overhead light clicked off and the bedside lamp came on.

“Please just let me sleep.”

“I can’t do that and you know it.” He sat on the bed. “How are you feeling? Any dizziness or blurry vision?”

“No. I feel pretty good considering how I must look.”

“You’re fine.”

“No one gets the crap beat out of them and looks fine.”

Jon chuckled. “I promise.”

Ellis still didn’t believe him. Black eye, split lip, bruised from head to toe. He didn’t have plans to get close to a mirror for the next two weeks.

“Sit up for a minute and take these.” Jon put an arm around Ellis and propped him against his side. He was so warm and he smelled wonderful, like fresh soap and male musk. Jon put two pills in the palm of Ellis’s hand.

“Has it been an hour already?”

“Hour and a half actually. I ran a little late. Had to convince Rudy that I wouldn’t eat the brownies while he wasn’t looking. Made me cross my heart three times and promise on scout’s honor.” He handed Ellis a glass of water.

He took the pill and drank the water. It washed away the grit and burn in his throat. “You made brownies?” Ellis put the empty glass on the table.

“I did.”

“I haven’t bought any brownie mix in months.”

“Didn’t need any. You had all the ingredients in your cabinet.”

Ellis cracked an eye at Jon. “You made brownies from scratch.”

“What? You doubt my culinary skills?”

“And I had all the ingredients?”

Jon grinned. “Well, you were short a couple of things.”

“Like what?”

“Chocolate.”

“What did you use?”

“The jar of Nutella. You want one? They turned out pretty good.”

“Not right now, but thanks.”

“What about some more pizza?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Then at least drink some more water.” Jon picked up Ellis’s glass and carried it into the bathroom.

The green pajama bottoms Jon wore rode up over his ankles. He hadn’t buttoned the top all the way up and it still strained across his shoulders.

“Are those Rudy’s PJs?”

Jon came back. “Yeah. I needed to wash my clothes so I borrowed some of his since they were a little bigger.” The V left by the unused buttons revealed dark hairs on a well muscled chest. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. My head doesn’t hurt and neither do my ribs. If anything, I’m just tired of being tired.”

Jon picked up Ellis’s hand and put it around the glass. “Here.” Jon’s caramel skin was brown next to his.

Jon let him go.

“I…uh…thanks. For the water.”

“No problem.”

Even the seams running down the legs of the pajamas strained against Jon’s thighs.

“You don’t mind, do you?”

“What?”

“Me borrowing the pajamas.”

“No, of course, not. Why would you think I’d mind?”

“You keep staring at me.”

Ellis tried to hide his embarrassment by taking a sip of water.

“It’s okay.”

He put the glass on the bedside table. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“I don’t consider it rude.”

“I should probably go take a shower. I’m sure I smell like a horse.”

“Antiseptic. Not horse.”

Ellis struggled to escape the curve of Jon’s side. “I should wash anyhow.” Jon helped him to his feet.

“It could wait till morning,” Jon said.

“No, I’d rather do it now, while I feel like it.”

“Do you need any help?”

Ellis laughed. “Something tells me being naked around you could prove to be dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Jon smirked. “For who? You or me?”

Me
.

“Ellis?”

“I’ll be back in a few minutes. Will you keep an eye on Rudy?” He had no idea why he asked, Jon had watched him all day.

“He’s asleep.”

“Already?” A sheet of darkness hung beyond the windows. “What time is it?”

“About ten o’clock.”

Almost an entire day, gone. Just like that. “You must be exhausted.”

Jon shrugged. “I’m used to running on very little sleep.”

“A part of your job?”

A veil slid across Jon’s expression. The smile was no longer real and the light in his eyes dulled. When he spoke his voice was almost cold. “You can say that.”

“I shouldn’t pry. It’s a bad habit I picked up from Rudy.” He tried to laugh it off, but the tension didn’t leave his body until a real smile returned to Jon’s face.

“No worries.” In spite of the shadows in Jon’s eyes, Ellis believed him.

Ellis took a wobbly step and Jon moved closer, like he was readying himself to help if needed. Only, the way Ellis needed Jon had nothing to do with being assisted across the room.

Ellis thought of Jon’s soft lips, his gentle hands, and how his touch dancing across his skin made him shiver.

He gripped the doorjamb hard enough to make his fingers ache. What else could Jon do to him? What other memories could he burn into Ellis’s mind to leave him hurting when he left? The list would be endless.

Since he was already going to suffer, why stop at a kiss? “Jon?” His voice trembled.

“Yeah?”

“I think I might like your help, after all.” He hobbled in the direction of the bathroom. Jon would either follow or he wouldn’t.

Ellis stood in the middle of the bathroom with his back to the door. The hinges creaked and a cool draft rolled over his bare feet. The light came on. Ellis squinted but the excruciating pain he expected didn’t happen. Jon shut the door, and a long line of warmth pressed against Ellis’s body.

A caress brushed the back of Ellis’s neck. Jon slipped his fingers under the hem of Ellis’s shirt, feathering a touch across his stomach. The contact all but blistered. Close to Ellis’s ear, Jon said, “Bath or shower?”

With Jon so close, his hands on Ellis’s flesh, he didn’t know.

Jon grazed the shell of Ellis’s ear with his teeth. The sharpness traveled down his body, striking him in his groin.

Jon eased Ellis’s shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor.

“You still haven’t answered me.” Jon licked a hot wet line across Ellis’s shoulder. There no longer seemed to be enough air in the room. “Do you want me to choose for you?”

Ellis nodded and Jon turned on the spigot, filling the room with the sound of rushing water. He pulled the valve. The pipes rattled until silenced by the hush of spraying water.

Clouds of steam turned the air white. Jon made no attempt to conceal his erection, straining the front of his pants. Ellis stared, not knowing what else to do.

Jon unbuttoned the pajama top he wore and slipped it off.

Should Ellis touch Jon, not touch him? And where? How? Jon pulled Ellis’s chin up and pressed their lips together. Ellis didn’t hesitate to welcome Jon’s tongue. He put an arm around Ellis’s back and pulled him closer. The long hard length of Jon’s cock rode against Ellis’s hip. Jon rocked forward, creating delicious friction where his thigh pressed between Ellis’s legs. He wanted somewhere to put his hands and settled on Jon’s upper arms. His hold tightened and he probed Ellis’s mouth deeper with his tongue.

Ellis needed to breathe and at the same time he didn’t care if he never did again.

Jon stepped back and the hunger in his gaze gripped Ellis’s insides.

“Are you sure you’re okay for this?” Jon said.

“Yeah.”

“We can wait.”

“I’m okay. I am. Just don’t stop.”

“I’m going to take your pants off now.”

Pants. Ellis used to know what those were, but he couldn’t think. All he could do was feel, and every nerve in his body came alive with fire.

Jon knelt in front of Ellis and placed a kiss on one side of his navel then licked a line to his hip. When he stopped, Jon looked at Ellis like he was waiting for something.

Since touching Jon seemed to please him before, Ellis ran his fingers over the stubble on Jon’s jaw. Ellis shouldn’t have been able to hear the rasping sound over the roar of water. Maybe he didn’t. Maybe he’d imagined it. Maybe he was imagining all of this.

If he was he hoped he never woke up.

Jon loosened the ties on Ellis’s pajama bottoms, tugged, and they fell away, forming puddles of fabric around his ankles. A wet spot had already formed on the front of Ellis’s underwear.

Jon took more time pulling those down. Ellis closed his eyes unable to stand the sight of his cock, hard, leaking, and so close to Jon’s mouth.

His touch slid up Ellis’s thighs to the juncture of his hips. Jon wrapped his fingers around the base. The pressure made Ellis whimper.

“Look at me, Ellis.”

Ellis shook his head.

“Open your eyes and look at me.” The strength in Jon’s words gave Ellis the courage. Jon smiled and flicked his tongue across the head of Ellis’s cock.

He threw his head back. The ache in his balls condensed. “Oh, God.” Jon closed his mouth over the head. The heat, the wet, the suction. Ellis couldn’t hold back. He barked out a cry and came. The surge of pleasure echoed through his entire body, washing away the pain left in his head and the ache in his side.

His entire life.

Embarrassment replaced the euphoria. Ellis’s face burned and he fought to hold back the tears stinging his eyes. He was far more successful at that than controlling his body’s need to come. He bit his lip, making the cut hurt.

“Ellis.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Ellis. I told you to look at me.” Jon’s hands tightened on Ellis’s hips. He couldn’t. He would never be able to look at Jon again.

The warmth of Jon’s body traveled upward and he cupped Ellis’s face. His wet lips pressed against Ellis’s. This time, when Jon invaded Ellis’s mouth there was a bitter salty flavor. Ellis opened his eyes and Jon broke the kiss. Cum coated his chin and part of his cheek. A perfectly round dot stuck to his eyebrow.

He dragged his finger through the smear close to his mouth and sucked his finger clean. A breath shuddered out of Ellis and he trembled.

“Let’s get in the shower before the hot water runs out.”

Ellis climbed in, facing the wall while Jon undressed and joined him.

I have to do this. I can do this. I’m not going to give up this chance.

Ellis picked up the soap and the washcloth, but they’d become alien objects that he had no idea how to use.

Jon took them. With his arms around Ellis, Jon worked a lather in his hands.

Soap bubbled between Jon’s thick fingers and ran in clumps down his wrists. Slick like that, how would they feel running down Ellis’s body? What else could Jon do with them and would he?

Jon put the soap back on the tray and swiped the cloth up Ellis’s arms, to his chest, down to his cock. On the way back up, he stopped at one of Ellis’s nipples. Jon made small circles over the bud with his thumb.

Jon kissed the back of Ellis’s neck.

“Do you want me to fuck you now?”

Sex. Ellis tried to wrap his mind around the thought. He knew what it entailed, but, at the same time, it seemed impossible.

“Or maybe you want more of my mouth?” Jon grazed Ellis’s shoulder with his teeth. The sharpness made Ellis push back against Jon. His grip tightened and he growled. The sound echoed though Ellis’s chest.

Jon rolled his hips and his thick cock slid along Ellis’s crack. How could something that big even fit? It would hurt. It could only hurt.

“Talk to me.”

Ellis wanted Jon. He wanted the man close, wanted his touch, but now, the reality of what Jon expected strangled Ellis’s courage. He shouldn’t have done this because he had no idea how to do what Jon desired.

He made some room between them then pushed his fingers between Ellis’s ass cheeks. He clenched his butt muscles and Jon hissed close to his ear. “I think you want me to fuck you.” The man tilted Ellis’s back. It unbalanced him, stripping away any leverage to retreat. Jon pushed harder and his fingertips brushed Ellis’s opening.

“Is lotion the only lubricant you have?” His cockhead replaced his fingers and rubbed against Ellis’s hole.

Lubricant? Lotion?

Jon’s words wouldn’t process.

He slid lower against Ellis’s back and thrust again, pushing his cock all the way between Ellis’s legs to bump the soft spot behind his balls. Then Jon was gone and the shower door squeaked, letting in a puff of cool air. The lotion would be right there on the counter next to the towels. Jon wouldn’t even have to reach for it.

“Hard? Slow? Both?” Jon’s words were warm against Ellis’s cheek.

If he asked him, would Jon stop? Or was it too late? Had he given permission and now, whatever Jon wanted from his body was his to take?

The lotion bottle burped and a cold glob slid into the cleft of Ellis’s ass. Jon put the bottle next to the soap. He traced the path of dripping lotion with his fingers. “What do you like most?” He rubbed Ellis’s opening.

This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? He’d asked for it. Only he hadn’t thought about what it really meant.

What was it he always said to Rudy? Look before you leap? Ellis tried to laugh but it came out more like a sob.

“I’m still waiting for an answer.”

“I don’t know.” Fear shoved the words out of Ellis’s throat.

“Yes, you do. Now tell me. Every detail.”

“I don’t know.” Ellis shook his head. “I don’t know.” He said it until the words ran together, becoming a sound rather than a sentence. The more he said it the harder he shook.