leather-covered wall.
It settled the knot in Vance‟s belly to see more amusement than concern in Ben‟s eyes. But that amusement wasn‟t likely to last. Hoping to keep him placated, Vance gave Ben a lopsided grin. “You haven‟t seen me tease yet, Murphy.”
“Ah, how soon we forget.” Ben chuckled. “I was tending bar the night the pretty redheaded model negotiated a threesome with you and David Henderson.”
Memories of the hot, wet clasp of that particular female‟s pussy had Vance‟s grin widening. “I‟d forgotten about that.” But before he could begin to relax, the image of cobalt eyes flashed through his mind and the feel of another redheaded woman‟s tense frame pressed against his sent a shudder through his body. His smile slipped away, and the strength of his arousal waned.
The wary look that filled Ben‟s eyes had Vance swallowing heavily. He watched Ben‟s broad chest lift as he filled his lungs with a long, slow breath and then released it.
“You know”—Ben offered with a lopsided grin—“with as many times as we‟ve come close but never done anything, we could just skip this part and go straight to the fucking.”
Vance had always known how much he needed this man. “If I had known you wanted me as much as I‟ve wanted you, I would have hauled your sweet ass into bed twenty minutes after I found Tina screwing that drummer in the alley behind the bar Diablo Blanco Club: Under Control
23
downtown. Or the week you spent helping me arrange and get through my parents‟
funerals.”
“I could have used some hot sex to get me through Amanda and Gavin‟s funeral too.” Ben shook his head.
“Dad and Mom liked you.” Vance nodded.
Ben seemed to shake off the melancholy feelings as he grinned. “It was a hell of a shock to have your dad asking me if we were involved that first night you invited me to San Diablo on leave.”
“Ironic that they noticed it before we did.” Vance smiled and recalled. “Mom was always asking if you were still free when she‟d write me.”
Ben grimaced. “If your dad hadn‟t explained to me why you use punishment the way you do, I might have stopped after that first time.”
Vance shifted his feet, unsure how he felt about the disclosures his father may have made to the man he loved. “Why did you ask him and not me?”
Ben shrugged. “Because I wasn‟t sure if you were teasing me or if you really trusted me enough.”
“I wouldn‟t have had you help me every time I came back from a mission in one piece if I hadn‟t trusted you.”
“Instead, you‟ve had me beat your ass until you come.”
“Too bad we‟ve never done the fucking part.”
“Yeah.” Ben moved away from the wall and stepped close, using only his eyes to examine Vance‟s body. “I know. Damned shame, huh?”
Feeling the slide of Ben‟s gaze like a caress against his skin, Vance felt his cock twitch and harden again. Taking the one step that still separated their bodies, he thrust the fingers of his left hand through Ben‟s hair, tugged his head down, and whispered against his lips, “But we‟re gonna correct that tonight.”
24
Qwillia Rain
Vance pressed his mouth against Ben‟s, savoring the firm, soft flesh before pushing his tongue inside to stroke and tease. He couldn‟t hold back his smile when he tasted a hint of cherries. Ben‟s addiction to the jarred fruit was legendary in their old unit. But mixed with the heady flavor all his own, Vance was sure he could easily develop an addiction to Ben‟s kisses.
Even as his mouth fed on Ben‟s, Vance wondered how long Ben‟s need for him would last. The few men he‟d been attracted to in the past hadn‟t stuck around for long.
Not that he‟d expected them to. His career wasn‟t one to inspire intimacy, especially in a same-sex relationship. The “don‟t ask, don‟t tell” rule in the military in no way offered protection from harassment by homophobic soldiers. Hell, even some of the men in
Brenna Ehrlich, Andrea Bartz