Chapter Two

Rand entered the townhouse, tossed his backpack onto the dining room table and headed for the bathroom. After the grueling exam he just aced, he needed a shower, a hot, steamy shower. With a sigh of relief his college days were behind him for now, he turned on the faucets and held his hand beneath the stream of water.

"Ah, perfect," he said moments later.

Stripping off his clothes and kicking them aside, he stepped into the enclosure and allowed the pulsating jets to ease the knots and tension from his body. How his life had changed since Frank pulled him off the street and allowed him to live at the townhouse. A few years ago, loser was stamped on his forehead while he hustled marijuana at a two-bit bar and parked his sneakers under a dingy cot in a one-room dump. He'd still be peddling dope if his dad's ex-partner, Frank McGuire, hadn't intervened and knocked some sense into his thick skull. Or maybe he'd be dead.

He shivered, despite the warm steam clouding the shower door. He'd seen a lot of death since entering Frank's life; it clung to the man like ticks on a dog. Maybe things would settle down now that Frank had reluctantly agreed to bring him into the fold of his P.I. business, had grudgingly accepted he wasn't going to pursue a medical career. Perhaps he could come into his own for the first time in his life; finally feel comfortable in his own skin.

Rand jumped out of his bones when the shower door opened. "Jesus, Frank, you scared me to death."

Frank shucked his clothes, his slow gaze traveling over him head to toe. "Move over, I've had a hell of a day."

"Actually, I'm done; why don't I just—"

Frank pulled him back against his chest. "Don't leave."

Wet skin to wet skin, an electrical current of instant desire surged through Rand. His body responded in the usual manner—a shudder, a hard cock—to Frank's fingertip running down the side of his neck.

The air hummed with a heady mixture of scents, soap, sweat, and moist steam. Against him, Frank seemed content to hold them directly under the showerhead and allow the water to stream down on them. In fact, the man appeared to be in full relaxation mode. Rand turned around in his arms and saw his eyes were closed, his powerful chest moving in and out with deep breaths, and his mouth open.

Those lips. How many times had he longed for Frank to kiss him? It wasn't Frank's way, but damn, he wanted to kiss the man, never wanted anything more in his life right now. Except Frank himself. A slight lift of his head, a tiny movement toward that full mouth and. . . .

He couldn't resist capturing Frank's lips or his own moan from the exquisite melding of their mouths. Like Frank, he closed his eyes and reveled in the taste and texture of the man. He'd wondered for a long time if the simple act would serve as an aphrodisiac; sweeten his obsession of never getting enough of Frank. He would wonder no more.

Emboldened that Frank hadn't recoiled or pushed him back, he continued his exploration by running his tongue over Frank's lower lip before plundering his mouth. Rand kissed him with an urgency borne of need, hunger and, truthfully, a smidgeon of triumph.

Before Frank came to his senses, he wanted to make every second count. Of its own will, his hand moved to the back of Frank's wet head and he drew him deeper into the kiss. Still the man didn't resist, but rather allowed him to continue the sensuous journey.

Like a thirst-starved creature of the forest, he set upon ruthlessly, mindless of anything but the man's mouth that had been denied to him until now. Aware of the hot water crashing down on them and of the intense sensation of his cock lengthening and expanding, he was too engrossed in the kiss to do anything about either.

Without breaking from the kiss, Frank said, "I can see you're really into this, but I've had enough of the water drilling into my skull."

Rand arched his neck back aware of the smirk stretching his lips. "You must have been into it too, Frank, or you would have stopped me."

"Just because I didn't stop you didn't mean I liked it."

"You liked it; you're just too macho to fess up." Rand picked up the loofa sponge, ran the soap across the surface several times and began to scrub Frank's hairy chest. "I've been waiting a long time for that kiss."

"Is that a fact? Well now that you've had your way with me, it's only fair I have my way with you."

Rand plopped the sponge into Frank's hand and spread his arms out at his sides. "Command me; I'm all yours after that unexpected kiss." He leaned forward and whispered, "I'm like putty in your hands, McGuire."

Rand's eyes wandered down to his cock, an impressive sight. The thick rim stood out from the shaft and bulging veins along the side pulsated with need. His throat went dry and he licked his wet lips.

Frank followed his gaze. "I changed my mind. I'm not quite ready to have my way with you yet."

His gaze still fixated on the Frank's cock, he said. "My offer still stands, command me."

"Suck it, all of it."

A rush of saliva filled his mouth, and an ache in his groin reminded him of the ecstasy awaiting him. Soon. . . soon Frank would take him, possessively and with any luck hard and deep.

Rand lowered himself to his knees on the hard marble tile but soon heard the thud of a soggy towel dropped to the floor. He slipped it beneath his knees and moved in on the enormous cock. He sucked the cap and was rewarded by Frank's guttural groan.

His lover's hands wound into his hair and pushed his head forward. "All of it; take it all in your mouth."

The wet, salty taste shot another unexpected jolt of lust through him. He swallowed the length, retreated, and launched into a deliberate tempo. Taking the wide, long dick into his mouth until it hit the back of his throat he pulled back and sucked on only the remaining head again.

"Ah, yes, Rand." Frank's voice echoed in the shower, low and hungry with need. "You know how to suck a man off until he's fucking crazy."

Rand toyed with his cock, running his tongue over the slit, back and forth.

Frank's grip on his head tightened, his voice impatient. "Take it all."

The hoarse hunger in his voice elicited a wild abandon in Rand. He sucked him harder, deeper, pushing his head forward until Frank's cock was buried deep. The man's width and length made his jaws ache. He panted through his nostrils and willed all muscles in his face to relax, aware of the intoxicating passion whipping through him.

Held firm by strong hands on his head, Rand moaned around the engorged member, and like always, reveled in the man's dominant nature. Frank rocked his hips forward, but held back on surrendering to thrusts. His hot cock pulsed and his moans filled the enclosure. Before Rand could form his next thought, Frank pulled him to his feet and shifted him around so his chest and face met the hard, marble tile. He kicked his feet out until his legs were spread wide. A shiver of anticipation pedaled through Rand. He never knew exactly what to expect from Frank, but it was always mind-blowing.

Without warning, Frank slid two fingers inside him with one hand and reached for his shaft with the other. "Ah, you're ready for me. Hard and ready."

A moist, breathless gasp tore from Rand's lungs and his heart rate quickened. He fought to remain standing against the bold intrusion, reeling from the methodical motion of Frank's skilled fingers. He felt his muscles spasm, gripping Frank's digits like a vise. If he didn't stop with the tortuous ecstasy, he'd soon be begging like a schoolboy for Frank to take him.

Enveloped in a cocoon of bliss, he felt the head of Frank's cock nudge his hole. In one powerful rush, Frank shoved past the ring of muscle and buried himself to the hilt.

Suspended between pain and pleasure, Rand cried out against the sudden invasion. Within seconds the pain receded and Frank moved in measured strokes, enveloping him in a haze of lust and passion. With his shoulders digging into the slippery tile, Rand panted and arched back into the fluid, thrusting motion.

Frank grabbed his hips with both hands and licked a trail along the prickled skin of his neck, pitching him into spirals of ecstasy. The more he gasped and moaned, the harder Frank drove into him.

At some time during their joining, Frank had turned the water off, but the residual steam added to the heat of their bodies rendering the small enclosure a virtual sauna.

Nearly weeping with the need of release, blood and hot liquid surged to the tip of Rand's cock. "I'm gonna come now; can't hold back."

Frank groaned and a shiver passed through him. "I'm right there with you, pretty boy."

Rand's orgasm exploded over him, the force so potent, he'd have collapsed on the floor if Frank wasn't holding him up. With a final thrust and on the heels of a pleasurable moan, Frank emptied his seed into his ass and fell to his knees, taking Rand's weight onto his thighs.

Frank's warm breath fanned his ear. "You just nixed my day from hell."

"Glad to be of assistance." Rand rose to his feet and slid the door open, acutely aware of a blast of cool air entering the shower. "I'll go rustle something up for dinner."

The water from the showerhead ran in a steady stream after Frank turned the knobs on again. He picked up the soap and the loofa and washed the areas of his body Rand missed before they were distracted. "No, let's go out tonight. How about Italian?"

"Are we celebrating?"

"Seeing New Orleans for the first time is always cause for celebration." Rand couldn't help the smile. "New Orleans? You'll tell me all about it at dinner, right?"

"Right after the wine and salad are served. How about Sabatino's."

Rand snapped his fingers. "Little Italy. I'm on it." He walked to the bathroom door, pivoted, and scooped his jeans and shirt from the floor. "After I get dressed."

"Good idea." Frank reached for a towel on the nearby rack and stepped from the shower. "Hey, how did the test go today?"

Rand yanked the jeans over his hips and pulled the t-shirt over his head. "I'll tell you all about it at dinner."

Before Frank had a chance to answer, he hustled from the bathroom and headed toward the phone in the kitchen.