Arresting Love Read online

  “I suppose you’re one of those macho gritty dudes that like your coffee black, huh?”

  “I won’t deny being a macho gritty dude, mostly because I’m not sure what that means, but no I like it with cream and sugar.”

  Taylor pursed his lips. “You’re sort of an enigma.”

  “How so?”

  “Well, to be honest, when I first saw you while I was helping Archie move in I figured out some first impressions.” Taylor filled Mike’s coffeemaker with a filter, grounds and water, then flipped the on switch.

  “Do I want to know?” Mike asked.

  “I sort of decided you were a Neanderthal.” Taylor smiled, which Mike guessed was supposed to be some sort of apology. It was lame as far as apologies went.

  “Thanks.”

  Taylor waved his hand as though dismissing any hurt feelings on Mike’s part. “You’re big and beefy and kind of gruff and you do have a snake tattoo. And you were sort of leering.”

  “Neanderthals leer, do they?”

  “I imagine so. And then the way you were always coming on to Archie—”

  Mike scowled. “I was not always coming on to Archie. I asked him out a couple of times and he shot me down. I’m not a stalker.”

  The smile was back as was the dismissive hand wave. “I know that. Anyway, I’ve since come to realize that my first impression of you was entirely wrong.”

  “I’m not, in fact, a Neanderthal?”

  “No, you are not. You’re smart and funny and pretty cool. You are still big and beefy and kind of gruff though.” Taylor’s gaze raked over Mike hungrily.

  Well, hell. That perked up Mike’s cock even more. And damn if he didn’t want to go into that kitchen and fuck Taylor against the kitchen counter that minute. But he was also fucking hungry and his stomach growled loudly at that moment.

  “Let me get to that lunch,” Taylor said. His cheeks were red and he turned away quickly.

  Mike watched as Taylor busied himself putting away the groceries he’d purchased. When he finished with that, he prepared Mike’s coffee and carried it out to him.

  “You know, you don’t have to make anything fancy. I’m fine with a sandwich or something.”

  “Well,” Taylor said, pursing his lips. “It would be quicker. But if I do, next time you’ll get to find out all about my culinary skills.”

  Mike smiled. “I look forward to learning about every skill you have.”

  The blush was back but also a definite spark of interest in Taylor’s green eyes. “Mike, are you coming on to me?”

  Why lie about it? He was and he did want Taylor.

  “Yes, Taylor, I believe I am.”

  “I thought you were hungry.”

  Mike snagged one of the belt loops of Taylor’s jeans with his index finger and pulled him closer. He stood only inches from Mike’s chair and there was no mistaking the growing bulge in Taylor’s jeans. “Oh, I’m hungry all right.”

  Taylor laughed and rolled his eyes again. “I meant for food.”

  “Yeah.” He nodded. “I am.”

  “Besides—”

  “Oh, no. Not besides. That’s a terrible word.”

  “It is?” Taylor asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.

  “Definitely. It’s always followed by something you don’t want to hear. Besides you’re too ugly. Besides I think we should remain friends.” Mike mock shuddered. “Terrible word.”

  “Oh. Well.” Taylor shifted a little. “Besides do we really want to do that? I thought we were supposed to be like roommates? Platonic or something.”

  “See. Bad word. But did it say that in the lease you signed?” Mike asked.

  Taylor frowned. “I didn’t sign a lease.”

  “Then we didn’t agree to any such roommate agreement.”

  “Wasn’t it implied?”

  “Not by me.”

  Taylor narrowed his gaze. “But you know Jack didn’t sleep with Janet or Chrissy.”

  Mike huffed out a breath. “That’s television. Who goes by that? We’re adults. We get to decide for ourselves and for me, I’d really like to have sex with you.”

  Taylor shook his head. “You are certainly direct.”

  “Come on, Taylor. You knew I wanted you when you agreed to move in here. I’ve never tried to hide my attraction from you. And, in spite of all the Neanderthal talk—hell, maybe because of— you want to have sex with me too.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. But at the moment, I am making you a sandwich.” Taylor reached down and removed Mike’s finger from his belt loop. “Whether or not you get in my pants remains to be seen.”

  Chapter Three

  Taylor made Mike a turkey sandwich—made with real sliced turkey breast not lunch meat—and a fruit salad of melons, pineapple, and berries. He brought it out to the living room where Mike sat staring at him.

  If Taylor had to describe the stare he would say it was smoldering. And he didn’t mind that one bit. Sure he’d given a half-hearted lame argument about platonic roommates, but that wasn’t what he really wanted. Mike was sexy as hell and Taylor was really starting to like him. But maybe he should get some advice first. Screwing one’s roommate might have consequences. Like was it casual? A relationship? What? And then if it was a relationship or the start of one then there were other things that would need to be addressed.

  “Why are you frowning?” Mike asked as he raised the sandwich to his mouth.

  “Hmm? Oh. Um. Just thinking I should make a phone call.”

  “A phone call? To who?”

  “Archie. I need to ask him something.” Taylor nodded to himself. “Be right back.”

  He headed down the hallway and into his room. After closing the door, he fished his cellphone out of his back pocket and touched Archie’s name in his contacts.

  He waited through several rings wondering who he’d call instead if Archie didn’t answer.

  “Tay?”

  “Oh, thank God. Whew.”

  “What’s wrong?” Archie asked sharply.

  “Nothing, really. I just…I need some advice.” Taylor sat on his bed. “I think, well, I’m pretty sure Mike and I are going to have sex.”

  “What?”

  “Today actually. I think.” He exhaled. “We both want it. Is that all right?”

  “You’re asking my permission to fuck the Neanderthal?” Archie sounded amused.

  “You’re so crass,” Taylor said. “No, not permission. I’m just, you know, we’re roommates. Are we supposed to do that?”

  “I don’t know about supposed to, but if you want to, why not? Do you want to? I mean you said so, but really? With him?”

  “Yes, with him. He’s cute.”

  “Maybe. But a little rough around the edges for my tastes.”

  “You already have Fireman Sean anyway.”

  “Yes I do.” Archie sighed, sounding all dreamy.

  “Could we focus on my problem?”

  “Oh. Yeah. Is it really a problem? He wants you, you want him. Two consenting adults.”

  “Well, what if, you know, it’s just a one night stand or we have some huge fight. I’d have to find some place new to live.”

  “Yeah, that’s what would happen. Is it worth the risk?”

  Taylor imagined himself naked and bent over with Mike ramming into him. His cock sprung to renewed life and his butt muscles clenched. He cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah.”

  “Okay then.” Archie paused. “Have you told him?”

  Taylor briefly closed his eyes. “That I have bipolar? No. But I guess if something comes of this I’ll have to.”

  “Yeah. Do you really think Mike would want a relationship?’

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m not telling him until we get to the point.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you. You have an illness.”

  “Yeah. Just like my mom.” Taylor’s chest ached just thinking about her and he picked up a stuffed dolphin and hugged it.

  “But unlike he
rs yours is controlled by medicine and therapy.”

  “I know. But people freak out when they hear stuff like that. I don’t want him freaking out when we’re only having sex.”

  “That makes sense. So what are you doing talking to me? Go get the Neanderthal.”

  Taylor smiled. “I will. Thanks, Arch.”

  ****

  But when Taylor went back out to the living room, Mike was no longer there. He tried to push aside the disappointment he felt. Maybe it was for the best after all. Mike had decided for both of them by making himself scarce.

  Trying not to let it get to him, Taylor picked up the paper plate that Mike had, of course, left in the living room. He tried to remind himself of that saying about not missing something you never had, but he couldn’t quite remember it, so he dismissed it as complete nonsense.

  Oh, yeah, I can.

  He bent down to pick up the discarded napkin that had fallen off the plate and to the floor. When he straightened, an arm came around his waist and he was pulled against hard muscle.

  Taylor gasped.

  “You done with your phone call?” Mike’s deep voice whispered directly into his ear sending a shiver of almost unbearable awareness through him.

  “Mike.”

  A low chuckle. “Who else?” Lips swept over his ear and down the side of his neck. Taylor angled his neck to give the man better access. “Do I get into your pants?”

  He almost screamed yes but decided that was far too uncivilized not to mention way too eager. Taylor swallowed and sagged back against him, letting the strong muscular arms hold him closer. “I think I could be persuaded.”

  “Persuaded, huh?”

  A nip to his throat, and he moaned.

  Mike’s hot breath skated across Taylor’s over sensitized skin. “It seems to me it might not take much to persuade you.”

  One of Mike’s hands slid down, inching past Taylor’s stomach. He held his breath just as Mike’s hand closed around the growing bulge in his jeans.

  “You want me to fuck you on the couch, on the floor, or on the kitchen table?” Mike asked, squeezing Taylor’s crotch. “Maybe all three.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “Mm. Let’s start with the couch.”

  Taylor felt himself being drawn to the big plush burgundy couch by two powerful, muscular arms. He wasn’t drugged, but he was so turned on he could hardly think, was barely aware of his surroundings. He was sort of shoved onto the couch on his back and then Mike was on him, kissing him everywhere with a ferociousness that both excited him and frightened him. Like he was the prey and Mike the mighty hunter.

  Mike’s muscular body was hot and heavy on him, crushing him into the couch, but Taylor did not protest. He freed a leg and hooked it around Mike, seeking to rub his trapped erection against the stronger man. Needing relief, but denied it as Mike shifted, Taylor decided, deliberately.

  “Not yet,” Mike whispered against his jaw. “I want this to last a little longer than a simple rub off on each other.”

  “Simple?” Taylor shook his head. “Nothing about this—about you—seems simple.”

  Mike grinned. “I like the sound of that. You really know how to get under my skin.”

  And then he was swept away by Mike’s lips on his again, tongue lashing, tasting, drawing whimpers out of him Taylor had not thought himself capable of. Mike’s rough hands shoved under his shirt, skating across bare, quivering fresh.

  “Please, I want.”

  “What? What do you want, Taylor?” Mike asked, once more his mouth next to Taylor’s ear.

  “Naked,” was all he could gasp out when Mike’s tongue curved around the shell of his ear.

  “Oh yeah. I want that too.” Mike rose off him just enough to yank his own shirt off, revealing his strong, muscular chest, tan and dusted with dark curly hair. He had another tattoo, this one of a small hawk just above the nipple on his left side. Taylor traced it with his fingertip, earning him a shuddering breath from Mike.

  Taylor slipped his fingers beneath the hem of his own shirt, pushing it up to just under his armpits. Mike stared at him with an intensity that left him breathless.

  “Such pale, perfect skin.” Mike’s fingers flexed over Taylor’s belly button. He leaned down to help Taylor remove his shirt and then it went flying across the living room.

  “We—we don’t have a condom and l-lube,” Taylor pointed out even as Mike’s hands went to the zipper of Taylor’s jeans.

  “Au contraire.” Mike grinned. He stuck a hand in the front pocket of his own jeans and pulled out a foil wrapper. He tilted his head to the side. “The lube is there on the coffee table next to us.”

  Taylor’s mouth formed an “o” as the zipper of his jeans slowly lowered. He let out a shuddery breath, so turned on he thought he might come apart. He was afraid his eyes might pop out when he watched Mike inching down his body.

  “You know,” Mike said, his breath fanning across Taylor’s quivering stomach, “I think you’re about the hottest guy I’ve ever been with.”

  Taylor’s breath hitched as Mike tugged at Taylor’s jeans, lowering them down his legs. “You say the sweetest things.”

  A hot mouth latched onto his cock, soaking his boxer briefs, and Taylor reared, bucking nearly all the way off the couch.

  Mike chuckled. “Someone’s hot and bothered.”

  “You think you might want to do something about that?” Taylor panted, squirmed, ached for more.

  “Maybe. Yeah.” Mike stood next to the couch and wrenched Taylor’s jeans from his body in the manner similar to…well a Neanderthal. Fuck him, but Taylor thought it was sexy as hell.

  He was about to offer to remove his own underwear when Mike pulled those off in rapid speed that left Taylor breathless. His lungs seized as he met Mike’s lust filled gaze, searing like a molten touch all over him.

  “Jesus, Taylor, you’re beautiful,” Mike whispered, sending a jolt of pure desire straight through Taylor’s cock. If he didn’t get to come soon he’d die.

  Taylor sunk his teeth into his bottom lip. “Now you. You can’t fuck me if you still have your damn pants on.”

  Mike’s mouth quirked into a teasing smile, but he complied and undid his own jeans and lowered them along with his briefs in one gesture, discarding them at the foot of the couch.

  And now Mike’s bare, toned, exquisite body was fully exposed to Taylor’s ravenous gaze. He raked that gaze from head to toe—well knee—pausing to specifically inspect the hard, thick cock jutting out between Mike’s legs. It was long and pointed slightly upward. There was a dab of pre-cum on the tip. Taylor felt like purring.

  Mike grabbed the lube and knelt over Taylor. “I know I don’t have the roomiest couch. We can move to the bedroom if you really want.”

  But Taylor could tell that wasn’t what Mike wanted. He liked the idea of fucking Taylor in the living room. He shook his head. “I can handle it if you can. What do you want me to do?”

  Mike’s smile was wicked. “Lift your legs high in the air so I can slick you up.”

  A shiver moved through him and Taylor hiked his legs up as high as he could, resting one with a bent knee on the top of the sofa. The sight of Mike knelt between his outstretched legs squirting out lube to prepare him was nearly too intimate. Taylor almost closed his eyes against watching as Mike pressed a finger inside him.

  He bit his lip to keep the keening cry inside, but he clutched the arm of the sofa as Mike sunk a second finger into him, loosening him.

  Mike sawed his fingers in and out of Taylor, going deep, pulling out, pushing in. It was torture, it was pleasure. It wasn’t enough and if Mike didn’t fuck him soon—really fuck him— Taylor would lose it.

  Maybe he already had.

  “Mike—”

  “Shut up. I’m gonna take my time.”

  “Bastard!”

  Taylor closed his eyes then, the lids feeling too heavy to stay open as lust slammed through him. He slid his hand down to his own cock, curvin
g his fingers over the tip. He couldn’t hold back the needy groan pouring from his lips. “Please.”

  Opening his eyes again, he could see by the mischievous glint in Mike’s gaze that he wanted to tease Taylor further, but with a cocky grin, he withdrew his fingers and reached for the foil wrapper. He tore it open with aching slowness, no doubt to tease Taylor more. If Taylor had something to throw at Mike’s head, he would have.

  Finally Mike had his cock sheathed and he had positioned himself between Taylor’s legs. Taylor held his breath, now watching intently, as Mike pressed inside him, slowly pushing past the tight ring of muscle. Taylor shifted underneath him, angling himself so that Mike’s cock would spear him deeper.

  “God, yes,” he said, exhaling. His grip tightened on his dick, sliding his fingers over his shaft. Mike pushed in further into he was fully embedded in Taylor.

  “Holy shit, you’re tight.” Beads of sweat appeared on Mike’s forehead and Taylor couldn’t help feeling a little thrilled he was making the man sweat.

  “Yeah, well,” Taylor said, gasping. “You want to maybe move a bit? Like now.”

  Mike nodded, seemingly at a loss for words. He pulled out of Taylor almost all the way before slipping back in with a moan. His thrusts were deep and powerful, filling Taylor with an almost unbearable intimacy.

  He wrapped his legs around Mike’s waist, urging him to go deeper still, melding their bodies together as close as they could go. All the while he pumped his own dick with almost frantic tugs.

  It was too much to take because the first tingles of his impending orgasm tightened his balls and sent shockwaves to the base of his spine. He rode out the sensation, bucking up against Mike’s thrusts, as cum splattered over his fingers and all over his abdomen.

  Mike was yelling and pumping into him, his body going rigid as he shot into the condom. And then he collapsed on Taylor like a ton of bricks. Seriously. He was Neanderthal heavy.

  “Oomph.”

  Mike mumbled something unintelligible.

  Taylor sighed. Or he tried to. He wasn’t getting much air. “Seriously. Get. Off. Me.”

  Mike grunted and then struggled to sit up. “You aren’t much for the afterglow, are you?”

  He felt himself blush. “Well, I—you were heavy.”