A Bit of You (9 page)

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A BIT OF YOU

Bailey Bradford

52

Liam couldn’t hold back his exultant shout as his cock bottomed out and his balls lightly slapped against Billy’s ass. Billy writhed and panted, little whines and whimpers filling the air. Liam wasn’t sure they were all Billy’s noises, either, because he was pretty sure he was doing some ecstatic moaning or something like it himself.

Liam undulated his hips, wanting to burrow to the very core of his lover, then he began a slow withdrawal, backing out until his cock just kissed Billy’s pucker before sinking in fully again. It was exquisite, and pleasure roared and rang in his ears, mingling with Billy’s sweet sounds and his own harsh grunts.

He tightened his hold on Billy’s hips and began to thrust harder, faster, reading the need matching his in Billy’s body. Billy began chanting, “Yes, oh god yes, yes, yes, just like that, yes” although it quickly tapered off into unintelligible words as Liam dropped down, catching himself on his palms as he slammed into Billy’s sweet ass.

He’d wanted to do this slow, easy, but his body and Billy’s were demanding more. Billy was nearly clawing at him, gasping and sobbing, shoving his hips up, grinding his hole against the base of Liam’s cock with each deep penetration. Their need was stroking one another’s, building it up, driving them both to reach for more. Liam’s climax was boiling up, his balls tight and hard, pulled snug, but he wouldn’t come before Billy.

Desperate to bring his lover off, Liam reached for Billy’s cock. It only took a couple of tugs, then Billy screamed, his eyes rolling back and his mouth dropping open as he came, small little bursts of spunk hitting his belly. Liam gritted his teeth hard enough he was surprised they didn’t all shatter as Billy’s ass squeezed and rippled around his cock. It took everything in him not to jackhammer his way to orgasm, but Liam didn’t want this to be about him, his climax, his anything. He’d come, but he didn’t want Billy to feel like an anonymous vessel here at the end.

Liam released Billy’s cock and dropped to his elbows, keeping his hips motionless as his lips sought Billy’s. The soft warm puff of Billy’s breath made Liam shudder, his dick twitching in the tight confines of Billy’s ass. He shoved down his own need and tenderly kissed Billy, taking his time, ensuring Billy was fully with him again before slowly pumping his hips, dragging his cock out in small increments before returning once again to the warm silky sheath of Billy’s body.

Billy clutched at Liam’s head and kissed him. Liam’s body quit fighting him and, instead of continuing to demand a hard, rough ride, the exquisite pleasure of slowly making www.total-e-bound.com

A BIT OF YOU

Bailey Bradford

53

love to this man began to sink into his very marrow. Liam’s throat felt tight, his chest tighter, as he continued to kiss Billy while tenderly making love to him the way he’d meant to all along.

The intensity of the experience grew, multiplying exponentially with each sweet drive of his hips. Liam knew he was shaking, his need clawing at him, but nothing mattered except the way Billy was mewling, coming apart for him emotionally, clinging to him as if Liam alone could and would keep Billy safe.

And he would, Liam vowed as his orgasm slammed into him, catching him completely unawares. He’d wanted to hold off, for this beautiful experience to never end, but it couldn’t continue—he couldn’t continue, not with this man beneath him, looking at him like he was everything good in the world. Liam’s breath hitched, stopping as he was turned inside out as he came.

He felt scraped raw, exposed, vulnerable and completely perfect about it as he lowered himself back down for a kiss. Now he only had to convince Billy that this should be more than a one-time thing, and get past his own fears as well, and maybe they could have something together very few people were lucky enough to have.

Liam’s heart beat with fear and anticipation. Was he ready for something serious? Was Billy? He was really young, but Liam didn’t think being young necessarily meant he wasn’t ready. It was more a question having to do with his past, Liam suspected, than his age.

And Liam had to be sure himself, because he didn’t want to be another person who hurt Billy. But before he could do more than carefully withdraw and toss the condom in the trash, his cell phone rang.

Liam’s stomach dropped and rolled as he looked at Billy. He’d planned on cuddling and reassuring the younger man, but the ring tone blaring was his boss’s, and Liam had the feeling the rug was fixing to be yanked out from under his and Billy’s feet.

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A BIT OF YOU

Bailey Bradford

54

The euphoric feeling leaked out of Billy like air from a punctured balloon as Liam’s cock slipped out and, with a mumbled apology, Liam got up. Billy tuned out the conversation between Liam and whoever he was on the phone with. It was obvious Liam’s call was private, probably work-related. Liam kept glancing at him over one hunched shoulder andLiam’s deep voice had dropped to an ever lower rumble. Billy’s normally unwavering curiosity was nowhere to be found. He felt turned inside out, numb and tingling at the same time, confused and scared, although he wasn’t sure why.

Then Liam slapped the cell down on the nightstand, his broad shoulders drooping even more, and the fear niggling at Billy coalesced into a frigid ball in his belly.
He’s leaving. After
the way he just made love to me, Liam’s leaving.

Logically, he’d known Liam would have to go. He an FBI agent on a case; of course his stay here was temporary. But Billy had hoped for a little more time, and after the way Liam had touched him, treated him as if he was worth something, all the logic in the world couldn’t stop the wave of pain that seared through him. His mind kicked into worst case scenario mode—Liam would never come back, he’d forget about Billy as soon as he left—and the absolute worst, what had happened between them a few minutes ago was nothing to Liam. For all Billy knew, Liam took such care with every man he had sex with. Probably he preferred sex slow and sweet, and Billy had just made too much of it since he’d never experienced anything like it.

All of these things flitted through Billy’s head in a matter of seconds, only to be scattered and forgotten when Liam turned around and looked at him. There in those gem-flecked hazel eyes was the desolation Billy felt, the answering fear and doubts. Maybe Liam was as unsure of Billy’s feelings as he was of Liam’s. It would have been amusing, the two of them each thinking the other didn’t want more when they both so obviously did, if it still didn’t hurt so bad.

Billy’s lips curved in a tentative smile; on the off-chance he was wrong, he didn’t want to be grinning like an idiot. Liam’s expression shifted, lighting, the concern slowly being replaced by something that looked to Billy very much like hope. He figured he must be www.total-e-bound.com

A BIT OF YOU

Bailey Bradford

55

mirroring Liam’s emotions, because hope bloomed in him, melting the ball of ice in his belly and warming him from the inside out.

Liam swallowed once, his lips moving as if practicing the words he wanted to speak, then they poured out as easily as butter melting on a hot skillet. “I’ll come back, as soon as I can, or…or you could come with me—”

As much as it pained him to do it, Billy shook his head. He kept his gaze locked with Liam’s, flinching when he saw the dejection the refusal had caused the other man. Billy sat up and crawled over to Liam, pushing away his own fear of rejection as he draped himself over Liam’s furry chest. Billy sank one hand into the thick mat of hair, loving the crisp texture of it. He watched his fingers curl into the mass before tipping his head up and looking at Liam.

Liam’s arms came around him slowly, as if Liam didn’t want to hold him but couldn’t resist. Or maybe, Billy thought, he was just afraid of being hurt. Billy drew in a deep breath, inhaling the sweat and musk scent of Liam, shivering as the aroma seemed to fuse to his bones and become a part of him. Liam’s hold on him tightened as Liam grasped his ass and shoulder, pressing Billy tight.

“I can’t just leave,” Billy tried to explain, even as he attempted to figure out why he couldn’t throw his belongings in a bag and run off with Liam. But it felt wrong, even though his body really liked the idea. He couldn’t help but think he needed to tread carefully, for both of their sakes. Then again, maybe he was just a coward, but regardless, he couldn’t change his answer. “I have a job here, and Xavier deserves better than for me to just run off.”

Both were truths, but Billy didn’t particularly like his job. As for Xav, Billy did owe him.

Sure Xav had seemed okay with Billy and Liam doing…this, but Billy couldn’t just up and abandon Xav. Then Xav would have no one, and with what was going on with Randy… No, Billy couldn’t. He was also aware of other, not so noble reasons he had for refusing to leave, but those didn’t need to be examined right now.

Liam tipped his head and brushed his lips over Billy’s. “Maybe it’s best, for now, anyway. I don’t think I’ll be staying in Dallas for long. There’s been some developments in a case I’m working on—” Liam shook his head, his lips going tight.

Billy knew better than to prod, but he couldn’t help but ask, “Is it something bad?”

Little lines had formed around Liam’s mouth and on his brow, and Billy didn’t think they were all just over his refusal to accompany Liam.

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A BIT OF YOU

Bailey Bradford

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Those same lines deepened as Liam’s expression became shuttered. “I really can’t talk about it, but this development isn’t quite what I was hoping for with the case I’m on.”

Billy reached up and gently traced one of the lines bracketing Liam’s mouth then he strained up and placed his lips on Liam’s. Liam lifted him, bearing Billy’s weight and holding him upright, his knees off the bed as he parted his lips for Liam’s tongue.

He’d thought Liam had kissed him with tenderness and affection before, but this was something more intense, as if Liam’s emotions were leeching into Billy, winding around his heart and encapsulating it in a gentle promise. He didn’t know how or why this one man got to him so, but he did, and Billy would wait for him, wait for himself to work past his fucked-up past.

Leaving Billy in Xavier’s care was one of the hardest things Liam had ever done, but he knew Xavier would take care of Billy—just as he’d done for years, apparently. As much as he’d wanted to take Billy with him, it was for the best he hadn’t. They both needed to think about this, and make sure of what they wanted, because Liam knew if he had Billy again he’d never let the sexy little blond go.

Whether Billy was ready for such a deep kind of commitment or not, Liam didn’t know for certain, but he doubted it. Besides, Billy was already committed to another man, even if it was in a completely nonsexual way. It irked Liam, and it was stupid, he knew it was, but he wanted Billy to need
him
, not Xavier.

And how the fuck can he need me, depend on me when I get sent all over the goddamned world at
a minute’s notice? How can he depend on me, count on me, trust me to be there for him? He can’t.

Liam had never been one for needy lovers, but there was something special about Billy.

He knew Billy wouldn’t ever act needy, wouldn’t cling and beg if Liam had to leave, but inside… Liam knew Billy needed a lot of things—a dependable man who’d be patient and loving, who’d take the time to show Billy how deserving he was of being loved, someone who would move heaven and hell to make Billy happy.

He needed someone devoted to him, who always put him first, and right now, even though it made Liam’s entire torso ache, he just couldn’t be the kind of man he wanted to be.

His job wouldn’t allow it. He’d never before cared enough about a lover to consider giving www.total-e-bound.com

A BIT OF YOU

Bailey Bradford

57

up his career, but Liam was going to have to use this time apart to really think about what he wanted, in his personal life and career-wise.

The ringing of his cell startled him out of his thoughts, and Liam was answering his boss’s call before the second ring finished. Shearing, his boss, didn’t even wait for him to speak.

“Stone, forget Dallas. There’s a flight waiting for you straight to Junction, Montana.”

Liam frowned as he tried and failed to pull up a mental map of the state. “Junction?

Where’s—”

“Don’t worry about where,” Shearing snapped, “Just make the damned flight! By the time you get here, we’ll have Stratton.”

“Alive?” Liam asked, his heart thumping. The sensation disturbed him. He wasn’t usually this involved emotionally in a case.

“I don’t know,” Shearing muttered. “Maybe our informant is full of shit, maybe Stratton isn’t even there. If he is, though, and the informant is telling the truth, Stratton could well be dead unless someone set him up with a source for hydration.”

Liam snorted despite his concern. His boss never could state things simply, it seemed.

“Who’s the informant?”

“His name’s not important right now, just hurry up and get on the plane.” A dial tone buzzed in Liam’s ear.

“Yes sir,” Liam mumbled, trying not to think about having to tell James Stratton’s friends and family he was dead. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to such a horrible conclusion.

Liam didn’t want to see their hope shattered and replaced by grief.

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A BIT OF YOU

Bailey Bradford

58

Billy could usually psych himself up for work. Granted, getting treated like a piece of meat wasn’t his favourite thing, and
usually
he ended up hooking up with someone for a few minutes, but the idea of doing something so scuzzy now made him feel queasy. He couldn’t imagine another man’s hands on him, another cock filling his mouth or hands. Liam was imprinted on him, the memory of their lovemaking covering him like a cloak, and it gave him the strength to refuse the crude offers rolling off men’s lips.