A Change of Pace (10 page)

“Hey, Mr. Jones.” Ridge’s voice was easy as he leaned a hand on the desk.

Seacrest Jones strolled into the office, stopping along the way to run gleaming eyes over each of them. Drew noted that the cocky bastard made sure to let the icy-gray gaze linger on his crotch, which, okay, he’d certainly had happen before. But when Jones’ stare seemed to get stuck on Ridge’s package, Drew could feel a growl start rumbling in his chest.

“Where do you want this, Jones?” He glared at Seacrest.

“Whoa, there, big fella. Easy now.” Smirking, Jones resumed his pace toward the side window, spinning on one heel to face them. “Call me Sea.”

“I’ll call you A or B if you tell me where you want this damned thing.” Drew was definitely out of patience with the swaggering runt.

“Drew.” Ridge hissed at him.

“What?” Drew turned to glare at his lover.

“What?” Ridge snarled back at him. “He’s my client!”

Drew was aware that Jones was amused by their byplay. “I don’t give a rat’s ass. I saw the way he was looking at you.”

“Huh?”

Jones interrupted. “He means, Ridge, that I was staring at you a little too long, apparently.”

“Damned right you were.” Drew eyed the guy with definite disfavor. “Midget.”

Chapter 10

Don’t go away mad. Just go away.

Drew Cunningham

“Drew!” Aghast, Ridge scowled.

Jones snorted as he unbuttoned his jacket. He leaned against the deep windowsill. “Relax, Tarzan. I’m not hitting on your guy.” Leaning both hands on the sill, he looked at both of them. “And it’s Sea. Mr. Jones is my old man.”

Drew set his hands under the edge of the desktop, and nodded at Ridge. “Slide that dolly out, will you?” He lifted his end.

Moving quickly, Ridge toed the dolly away from the desk. “Is right here okay, or would you like the desk somewhere else?”

“No, that’s fine. I want to be able to look out this window,” Sea jerked his head over his shoulder, “and see the fine, fine young thing that works across the street.”

They both looked behind Sea. Drew was mystified. Ridge looked closer, going around the desk to peek over Sea’s shoulder. “You mean, over there at the Mysterious Brew?”

“Hmm, yes. I’ve been watching over the last month that I’ve been here. Big boy -- kind of like you.” He tilted his chin at Drew. “Blond brush cut. Ripped.”

Drew watched as Ridge eyed Sea closely. His lover’s body language was beginning to telegraph something. What it was, though, Drew had no clue.

Sea was still talking. “The guy comes and goes with no apparent schedule. I’m having a hard time nailing it down.”

“You usually have trouble nailing it?” Drew couldn’t resist.

Ridge started coughing, and quickly turned away, excusing himself. Drew raised his brows, staring at Sea proddingly.

Surprisingly tolerant, Sea just smiled. “Not usually, Slim.” Confidence oozed from the guy.

Sighing, Drew jerked a shrug of resignation. “Okay. Whatever.” He waved at the blond still hiding over in the corner. “Let’s go, Cowboy.” He grabbed the dolly from Ridge as he urged him toward the door.

“Ridge, don’t you want your check?” Sea reached into an inside pocket and pulled out his checkbook.

“God.” Ridge, looking embarrassed, pulled away from Drew. Turning around, he walked back to the window. “I’m sorry. I don’t know where my brain is. You need to look over the desk and make sure everything is the way you wanted it.”

Drew waited impatiently, but quietly, as the two men conferred over the desk for several minutes. He busied himself checking his email on his iPhone. After finding nothing but a quick hi-how-are-you from his dad, he moved to the weather app, scrolling through to see Chicago’s forecast. He scowled at the sunny and seventy-five forecast. July in Chicago shouldn’t be that cool.

“I have to say, this is quite a piece. You do incredible work, Ridge.” Sea’s voice seemed honestly impressed.

Drew looked at him, just to make sure. The man was running one hand along the glossy finish of the curved end of the desk. He did appear to be earnest.

Huh.
What do you know?
Maybe the guy wasn’t just an arrogant schmuck.

“I wonder if the stud from across the street will like it, too.” Sea eyed them both with a smirk, then waved a hand at the large space of the desktop.

Uh, no. He is a prick.

Seeing the glare Ridge aimed his way, Drew manfully refrained from commenting. “Let’s go,” was all he said. He gathered up the blankets and Ridge collected the packing tape debris.

“Nice seeing you, gentlemen.” Sea’s voice followed them out of the office.

Shuttling Ridge out to the truck, Drew tried to wrestle the keys from his blond lover. “Let me drive.” He was halfway surprised when Ridge didn’t argue, just opened one hand and let go of the key ring.

“Jesus, what an arrogant prick. That guy’s got to have compensation issues. I bet he drives a Lamborghini.” Curling his lip at the thought, Drew shoved the key in the ignition and flicked it forward. “Guys like him, always looking to tap the next ass they see.” Jerking the gearshift down, Drew took a quick look over his shoulder then pulled away from the curb.

“You’re awfully self-righteous.”

Frowning, Drew threw a look at Ridge as they drove along Montford Avenue, past the beautiful city park, heading toward the UNCA campus. “What?”

Ridge laid one arm on the open window of the passenger door, and leaned his head back against the headrest as he stared through the windshield. “I said -- you’re awfully self-righteous.” The southern drawl was a little heavy.

“I heard you.” Drew took another look at Ridge as he steered the Ford around a corner. It was a busy Sunday downtown, and the streets and sidewalks were crowded with people. “I just don’t know why you said it.” Drew slowed, coming to a stop at a traffic light, giving him the opportunity to look closely at Ridge.

“You ought to look in the mirror, that’s all.” With a big sigh, Ridge slid down in his seat, crossing one foot over his knee. “I think he’s got his eye on Shelby.”

“What are you talking about?” Taken aback by the accusation, Drew turned toward Ridge, one elbow going up on the back of his seat.

“Shelby goes to the Brew all the time. What if he’s the guy Sea is talking about?”

“Why are you yapping on about that? Who cares about your irritating friend? I want to know why you’re calling me self-righteous.” Snarling when the driver behind them laid on the horn, Drew faced forward again and stepped on the gas.

“I care, you imbecile. And I don’t yap. Although I might just crack you one if you don’t knock it off.”

“Look. Your buddy is a big boy. Really big.” The guy was six three for sure, and had to outweigh Drew by at least twenty-five pounds, all of it muscle. “He can take care of himself.” Drew steered the Ford up a tree-lined road, accelerating as they left the downtown traffic behind.

“Golly gee, you sound just like Seacrest Jones. Huh. An arrogant prick, I think you called him?”

He could see Ridge staring at him out of the corner of his eye. Grimacing, he acknowledged the accuracy of the hit. “Hey. Okay. Um.” Giving Ridge a quick glance, he focused on the road ahead once more. “Why’d you say that about me?”

With a sly smile, Ridge rolled his head toward Drew. “He acts like you did when you first got here.” One hand lifted, gesturing, then Ridge dropped it back to his thigh.

“Huh. You think so, do you?” Drew considered that. Hmm. Okay. He just maybe was going to have to revise his opinion. Perhaps Jones wasn’t so bad after all.

A thought occurred to him.

“You know what I just realized?” Drew threw another sideways look at Ridge. “Jones thinks he’s going to initiate that desk by fucking your friend on it.” Snickering, he reached out, rubbing caressing fingers along Ridge’s whiskered cheek. “I think I just might turn this truck around and let him know we already took care of that.”

***

Snorting with reluctant amusement, despite the irritation this snarly Yankee could often make him feel, Ridge relaxed further, turning a bit in his seat so he could look at the gorgeous guy. “You think so, huh? How about we just head back and maybe get some lunch?”

Ridge stared thoughtfully as Drew shrugged with a grin and turned back to the road. He’d never met anyone quite like Drew Cunningham. He couldn’t pigeonhole the guy, or more importantly, the ways Drew made him feel. When they’d first met, he’d been intimidated by the northerner. Then, they’d hooked up and it was hot. Hot, hot, hot. But the emotional yo-yo he’d been on lately had to stop. What the hell was wrong with him?

Now, though, right now? He knew this: the arrogant fool needed the tables turned. Drew needed to give over control and learn what it was like to have someone else running the show.

Ridge watched the passing scenery and plotted. Minutes passed. He waited until they’d exited I-26 onto Elk Mountain Road and were once again approaching Riverside Drive.

As Drew turned the truck down the quiet country road that led toward the Grove, humming a mindless tune, Ridge made a move. Watching him check his driver’s side mirror, Ridge reached over and tugged on the Yankee’s zipper. Jerked out of his preoccupation, Drew clamped both hands on the wheel and stared at Ridge. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“You can’t tell me you’ve never done it in a car. Truck. Whatever.” Smirking, Ridge slid down and arranged himself over the console, raising the armrests as he did so.

“You can’t -- it’s still -- we’re on the road, for God’s sake!” Drew’s voice went up an octave as Ridge pushed open his fly, sliding fingers inside the cotton-knit boxers to pull out his rock-hard cock.

Who’s your daddy now?

“Shit!” Drew’s outburst followed as Ridge took a tight grip and began jacking Drew’s cock, rubbing his palm across the head on every upswing.

Looking up briefly, Ridge spotted Drew closing his eyes in response to one particularly tight squeeze. “Keep your eyes on the road.” This was fun.

“I... your hands are rough! You--” Swallowing with difficulty, Drew couldn’t seem to complete a sentence. He lifted his hips up into Ridge’s grip, groaning a little.

“Uh-huh.” Ridge smiled quickly. He felt power coursing through his body at Drew’s obvious and rapid response. Leaning a bit lower, he blew a hot breath on the silky skin displayed in front of him. A shudder ran through the big man, and those thigh muscles tightened to iron-like stiffness. Emboldened, running his tongue around the base, Ridge continued, tracing the heavy vein underneath. He rubbed his tongue along the underside of the crest, where he knew it had to be very sensitive, delighting in the moans he pulled from Drew.

The truck swerved before Drew got it under control again, cursing severely all the while.

Ridge grinned to himself again.
Oh, yeah
. He just hoped that Drew didn’t run them into a tree, since he was the one not wearing a seatbelt. His own cock was hard, but he concentrated on getting Drew to lose control. He was on a mission. His ego depended upon it. He wanted Drew to recognize that there were two adults in this game -- not master and apprentice.

“I’m going to enjoy this.” He whispered the words as he lowered his head. He made love to Drew’s cock, worshipping its size and stiffness. Liking the man-smell he found, he pushed his nose into those heavy balls, running his tongue over them. When he finally sucked Drew’s cock into his mouth, struggling in his awkward position, Drew shouted out loud.

Ridge relaxed his throat, determined to deep-throat his annoying lover. It felt strange at first, as he tried to force Drew’s cock deeper. That simply made him gag. Backing off, he breathed heavily through his nose. He’d never been any good at taking it deep.

Trying again, he moaned at the feeling of fullness inside his mouth.

Drew shuddered at the vibration.

The truck came to a sudden, sliding halt, but Ridge refused to stop what he was doing. Drew threw the gearshift into park, huffing and puffing. Twisting his head the little he could, given his mouth was full, Ridge looked up from under his brows and exulted at the sight of Drew with head thrown back. The long throat muscles were convulsing, and the stubborn Yankee’s teeth were clenched around gravelly moans. Drew’s hips were rising, trying to fuck Ridge’s mouth.

Ridge worked to get into the rhythm, stuttering around Drew’s hardness. He might not have given too many blowjobs, but right now, he felt like he could climb this mountain -- no problem.

Easing back down on the silky, hard shaft, he breathed deeply through his nose to relax. Taking his time, he was able to accept a bit more into his mouth. He felt one of Drew’s hands come down on his head, and he paused, but Drew was not pushing, not controlling, just caressing. He relaxed even further, more cock pushing down his throat. Determinedly, he swallowed, causing Drew to shout again. He gagged immediately as his lover’s hips jerked upward. Pulling back, he felt resistance as Drew grabbed hold of his hair.

He stopped, jerking his head to break free. At Drew’s uncomprehending stare, he shrugged, bringing up a hand to wipe his lips.

“You don’t get to fuck my mouth or hang on while I’m doing this.” He ignored the loud whine that statement generated. He stared up at Drew, waiting.

“Okay!” Drew put one hand on the door and one on the seatback, his hips squirming and his cock waving in front of Ridge’s face. “Suck me again, baby -- please! Please!”

Okay,
that
was begging. Ridge smiled to himself, gratified. Rae should see him now, riding herd on their cranky guest.

Eww. Wait. Maybe not so much.

He moved back over the leaking cock. Slowly working the head down in his throat, Ridge swallowed. God, the feeling was amazing, especially when it generated low moans and grunts.

It was almost like when Drew had his ass. He was so full of the big man, he felt like he was being taken instead of the other way around. He sucked harder at the head as he pulled back, then eased down again to the base. He repeated this while Drew moaned and groaned, and he could sense the difficulty Drew had in keeping still.

“Please!” Drew’s groans grew suddenly louder. Then he grunted several times as he shot his semen into Ridge’s throat.

Ridge gagged at the amount, unprepared. He pulled back and swallowed desperately, but most of Drew’s come leaked out of the corners of his mouth.

Drew gave a huge sigh, relaxing into the seat back, eyes flickering open as Ridge used his hand to wipe off the excess.

Watching him, Ridge licked the come off his fingers, purring slightly in enjoyment.

Drew’s voice was guttural, edgy. “You are so hot when you do that.” He reached out and ran his hand through Ridge’s tumbled hair, pulling at the waves as he did so. “You made me crazy, you know that?” It wasn’t really a question. “I almost ran us into the Goddamned boulders back there.”

Wiping his fingers on his jeans, Ridge noted with amusement that Drew didn’t exactly sound thrilled with that. Grimacing slightly at the tight position he’d worked himself into, he pushed away and slid around to the passenger side. Climbing back into his seat, he looked around and saw that Drew had stopped on the shoulder of the river road, in plain view of passing traffic. Good thing it was hard to see inside the taller rig.

He relaxed, slouching down, and opened the fly of his jeans. He flicked the buttons deliberately as Drew watched him.