Nothing but Smoke (Fire and Rain) Read Online Free PDF Page A

So different from the rough way he worked Michael’s cock. Against Michael’s mouth, Nicky said, “It’s okay.”
    Michael could have cried, that was how hard the orgasm hit. The spasms wrenched from deep in his guts, places he hadn’t reached for a long time, and he curled into Nicky’s arms. He had Nicky by the shoulders, his face in Nicky’s neck. Michael wished he could let go.
    “You okay?” Nicky said.
    “Oh, um, yeah.” Michael rubbed his nose on the back of his forearm. God, he had to get it together. “Dry weather is hell on my allergies.”
    He pulled a packet of tissues out of his pocket and handed a couple to Nicky. Since he couldn’t meet Nicky’s eyes, Michael kept his attention on what he was doing as he tucked himself into his pants.
    “Yeah. Me too.” Nicky checked Michael’s expression. “Uh, thanks. That was good.”
    “Yeah.” What was Michael supposed to say to a guy who’d just rocked his world but he couldn’t imagine seeing again? “You too.” He darted a glance between the trees to the reservoir. “You want to head out?”
    “Yeah.” Nicky walked ahead, over the spongy ground and back to the concrete of the pavement. Another couple guys were fifty yards past and heading into the woods.
    Michael felt empty, like a giant hole of need had opened up and he had nothing to fill it. Damn Nicky for stirring up those thoughts about Mark. In the woods, it was like Michael knew Nicky, but in the bright halogens of the reservoir, Michael saw their hook-up for what it was—nothing important.
    They got to the parking lot and passed Michael’s car, and Michael figured it would be the end of their interaction. He wished that didn’t make him sad. “This is me.” He gave the Mustang a halfhearted wave.
    “Ooh, nice.” Nicky’s eyes lit up. “I haven’t seen one of these in years.” He ran a reverent hand over the rust-streaked hood. “It’s a classic. Is the color custom? I’ve never seen one in purple.”
    The rush of warmth spread through Michael’s chest that someone had finally— finally —recognized the value of the machine he’d worked to keep running for five years. “I think it was custom. At least, that’s what the guy who gave it to me said.”
    “I know a guy who restores classic cars like this. He goes to my gym.” Nicky kept his attention on the car, but the pinch of his lips said he was casting a line and hoping Michael took a bite. “You wanna trade phone numbers? I could, uh, get his info for you.”
    “Huh.” Michael never would have guessed Nicky would try and maintain contact, and that’s what Nicky was doing. After all, a Google search would give Michael the names of dozens of mechanics. “You serious?”
    “Yeah. Why not?” The tension of Nicky’s shoulders said that his certainty was tenuous.
    “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I wouldn’t have thought you were out .” Michael scanned over Nicky’s clothes, from his worn sneakers past his brightly colored workout pants, and to his T-shirt with the cut-off sleeves. Nicky’s leather jacket lay across his motorcycle seat.
    Michael didn’t pay much attention to fashion, preferring to shop for brands that were sweatshop-free and made of renewable materials, but Nicky looked like he’d just walked off a Bowflex ad.
    “No. I’m not.” Nicky’s voice lowered an octave. “But we could meet up again…” He darted his gaze to Michael’s crotch, and his eyes went dark and hopeful.
    The hole in Michael’s chest stretched wide enough to crack the pavement and suck him into the earth. “I don’t date guys who can’t be open in public.”
    “Well, uh…okay.” Nicky frowned at the sidewalk.
    “Yeah. Sorry.” Michael had no idea why guilt was plucking at his insides. Damn Nicky and those wide eyes of his. They were big and brown—round, with thick, almost swollen bottom lids—and totally out of place on a guy so ripped. Despite his better judgment and everything Michael knew was