Hearts Under Fire (26 page)

“Ahhhh!” Daniel’s eyes opened, unfocused, as his ass clenched. Feeling the man behind him reassured Daniel, and his breathing shook with the slow currents of building pleasure. Clark’s fingers kept their maddeningly slow tempo, pressing deeper, spreading.

“Tell me what you want, Daniel,” Clark growled, before he occupied his mouth again with Daniel’s skin.

At first Daniel could only whimper as his body moved with Clark. He swallowed, feeling his pulse racing under his skin, and he managed a shaky laugh at how he was utterly and unabashedly taken. “You... you might not...” Daniel had to pause and breathe so he could speak after one particular jolt through his nipple. “Believe me... I want this... as long as... you do.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “Just take me when you want me, Clark.”

Clark kissed Daniel’s neck. “Take you when I want you, hm?” Clark murmured, teeth biting at Daniel’s skin, while Clark’s fingers picked up the pace.

“Yes,” Daniel whispered.

“I’ve wanted you for weeks,” Clark said, as he lifted his leg beneath Daniel’s so his fingers sank deeper to brush the prostate, and Daniel keened a cry. “Want you now.”

Daniel’s head fell forward, the words and deeper impalement making him buck back. Clark pressed his hand firmly against Daniel’s torso and ground his erection against Daniel. “And will take you... slowly,” Clark said tenderly. “Just to hear you moan for more.”

A noise came from Daniel of its own volition -- a guttural groan -- and he shook within Clark’s arms, knowing he was wanted and safe.

Rearranging his hold on Daniel, Clark kissed Daniel’s shoulder and upper arm, fingers slipping from Daniel’s entrance as his hips pulsed upward to line up the head of his cock. Daniel remembered how well Clark’s cock had filled his mouth and tried to arch his back a little further. Clark helped Daniel move, and grunted as he drove forward with his hips.

The sound that came from Daniel’s throat started as a note of frustration, of need and want, and then went high with shock when muscles gave. Clark gripped Daniel’s hip to steady them both, and Clark stretched Daniel to the splitting point. Sweat sprung up and trickled from his back, neck and chest, and Daniel shook as he tried to relax muscles over which he had no conscious control.

Clark remained still and rigid, and Daniel gave small cries with each breath. Finally, his body protested the invasion less harshly, and Daniel managed, “Slow... more... please.”

Comforting sounds poured from Clark amidst the panting, easing Daniel as he carefully pushed forward. Daniel cried out, but Clark sliding within was easier than the initial invasion. The deep friction, impaling him with slow intent, shoved everything else aside, and Daniel could feel nothing but Clark inside him, behind him.

“God, you feel incredible,” Clark praised, voice barely audible. “So, so, good Daniel...
ooooh...
”

“Clark...” Daniel whispered breathlessly.

Pausing again, Clark used his bottom leg for leverage and drew his upper body closer. Daniel cried out when the motion pulled him over Clark’s impalement. Daniel thought he’d come right then and there, and then his body unwound.

Clark breathed a long sigh colored by syllables of pleasure. He bent forward, licking the back of Daniel’s neck and rocking his hips, shallow and slow. Daniel burned, each fill making him gasp and tighten, each gentle release easing him. The rising heat melted any semblance of thought, memory, or fear, and there was only the two of them and what they made together.

A ragged moan met Daniel’s ears when Clark tilted his hips to slide deeper. Daniel groaned when Clark angled himself so he could flatten his body along the entirety of Daniel’s, completely trapping the professor’s arms while he rolled and pushed. “Oooh...” Daniel’s back arched so that he could meet Clark, head moving to expose more throat to the onslaught of Clark’s lips. “Oh, God, yes...”

“Daniel,” Clark whispered, voice sounding equal parts awed and strained as he kept the rhythm. His hand wrapped around the front of Daniel’s neck, and Daniel whimpered in anticipation. Clark’s thumb traced over Daniel’s jaw, and he bent to place hard, open-mouthed kisses over the throbbing pulse.

Daniel rocked back against Clark, crying out in need, “More? Please, Clark, harder?”

“Anything you want,” Clark whispered, as he leveraged a firmer thrust into Daniel, making Daniel jolt. “Anything you need.” Clark’s fingertips tightened by fractions of degrees over the far side of Daniel’s throat. Daniel swallowed, hands scrambling to find some purchase; something to hang onto, to grab.

But there was nothing Daniel could do. Clark had him. Clark was wrapped all around him, loving him, taking him in all the ways that made him so lost and so hard he ached. Daniel’s hands flexed against Clark’s chest. He wanted this to continue forever, even as his body screamed for release
now.

“Could do this all night,” Clark growled, as he sucked flesh between his teeth and worried it with his tongue. He responded to the way Daniel’s body tensed and moved, and backed off to vary his rhythm to be purposefully erratic: hard, harder, shallow; slow, slower, fast.

“Keep you here,” Clark said, voice muffled against Daniel’s skin, fingertips pressing into the column of Daniel’s neck. “With me. Like this.”

Daniel gasped, “Forever...”

Daniel’s blood lit in fever; he’d never tried this, never known he needed like this, but it was Clark who acted upon Daniel’s word. Daniel trusted, even as he felt lightheaded, body tightening about Clark as he craved more air, thirsted for more friction, and he writhed as he threw his control and pride on the bonfire they’d created between them.

“Nngh... please... please touch me,” Daniel whispered, feeling his breath rasp in his throat. “
Please
... help me come.”

Clark’s shiver rocked the entire bed. He shifted, and when the hand covering Daniel’s throat left, the other one took its place, tilting Daniel’s chin up and squeezing. “Yeah,” Clark breathed. “Touch you... stroke you... I’ll get you there...”

Clark brought a hand to his mouth and wet it before reaching down to smear pre-come and wrap a hot, slick palm around Daniel’s length. Clark stroked slowly, keeping time with his thrusting hips.

Too much, too good, too
everything,
and Daniel gasped, caught between two kinds of unrelenting bliss. He twisted and shook and felt his orgasm boiling against the old, cold rock barriers of his need for complete control.

Behind him, Clark’s breathing was all pants and muffled grunts, but the pace never wavered. Daniel’s control fell to slag as Clark drove him higher and higher. Then Daniel stopped breathing, his body hardened, and he hung on the horns of a tension so thick and hard that he wondered if he’d break on the other side.

Clark turned his head to whisper with tenderness and command, “It’s me, Daniel. Let go.”

And Daniel did.

The reminder that Clark was the one holding him -- fucking him, taking him, loving him -- pushed Daniel over so forcefully that he bit his lips open as his orgasm erupted from his body. It rammed Daniel’s breath from his lungs in a grunting, shocked cry of release. His come shot from him, and Daniel couldn’t stop the helpless note in each gasping breath as Clark rocked into his clenching body. Clark make a quiet sound that was a prelude to a high, sudden cry, as if Clark had held back every noise to focus on the final one. Clark clutched at Daniel as his body quaked, froze, rolled, and then finally let him up for air.

When Daniel began to shiver, Clark withdrew his leg from beneath Daniel’s. Clark remained wrapped around and inside, making soft sounds of comfort with each trembling breath. Consciousness faded, the world going gray and calm until Daniel came back to his body, to where he was and who held him.

“Clark,” Daniel whispered and sighed. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.” Clark kissed Daniel’s shoulder and neck, massaging down Daniel’s arm before lifting it and placing it along Daniel’s side. With a wince, Daniel flexed his hands and shifted to straighten his elbow. He sighed as the motion dislodged Clark, and his joints protested. Daniel turned around painfully to face Clark and burrowed in closer. He let his sore muscles tremble all they liked as he hugged Clark.

Clark rubbed Daniel’s shoulder and back. Daniel smiled against Clark’s skin, relaxing. He thought about just falling asleep, but knew neither of them would rest well in the long run. “Think maids would make it up while we shower?” Daniel asked sleepily.

“I think I could arrange for that to happen, yes,” Clark said. Pulling back, Clark looked at Daniel, eyes dancing with mirth and affection. He grinned. “One second.”

Rolling back, Clark groped for the antique phone on the nightstand and looked startled when the receiver came off the cradle into his hand. He was still blinking when a crisp, feminine voice spoke on the line, clearly audible at Daniel’s distance.

“Yes, sir? How may we assist?”

“We’re in need of fresh linens,” Clark said with laughter in his voice. Daniel nuzzled the pillow below his cheek, enjoying Clark’s amusement.

“Certainly, sir. We’ll send someone up right away.”

“I trust it’s fine that we’ll be occupied in the adjoining bathroom?”

There was only a tiny pause before the woman continued. “Of course, sir. I’ll explain the situation to our staff, and be assured they will not disturb you.”

“Excellent. Thank you so much.”

“You are more than welcome, sir. Glad you’re enjoying your stay, and do let us know how we may help.” Now she sounded entertained, and Clark laughed as he replaced the handset.

Grinning, Daniel looked up at Clark. “You are very good at that granting wishes thing, aren’t you?”

“Didn’t I tell you? My great-uncle’s a genie.” Clark kissed Daniel’s forehead. “He married the telepath who gave me all my bartending skills.”

Daniel laughed out loud. “I believe you.” Gingerly, he began to extract himself from Clark’s embrace, the promise of a hot shower making it easier. “Guess we shouldn’t scare the maids too much.”

“Probably not,” Clark somberly agreed. “We’ll want them to come back and pay us another visit. Or twenty. While we’re here.” Clark smiled impishly and helped Daniel off the bed.

“So: shower, fluids, and sleep for a month?” Clark asked, holding out his hands to Daniel, who got up and slipped gratefully into Clark’s arms.

“Yes, please. That sounds amazing.”

Clark hugged Daniel to him, and his long inhale shuddered as it filled his lungs. “As long as you’re happy.” Clark kissed Daniel, pulling back to stare into Daniel’s eyes. “You can have anything you want.” He frowned in mock-seriousness. “But we negotiate the further taking of major organs. You can keep the one you’ve already got, though.” Clark winked before he turned to support Daniel as they walked toward the bathroom.

Daniel laughed, leaning against Clark. “Well, I guess if I have your heart, the rest can wait.”

“One thing at a time,” Clark said. “One thing at a time.”

Shaking his head, Daniel walked with Clark into the bathroom, and they closed the door.

Chapter 14

“Now, I know you gentlemen are exhausted, but if you’ll humor me for a
little
longer, I’ve got one more to show you.”

In the backseat of the Towncar, Clark repressed a smile and squeezed Daniel’s hand. He didn’t need to look at his lover to confirm the drawn mouth or the eyes that flickered in annoyance.

“Thank you,” Daniel said politely. “But I believe we’ve tried enough for today.”

“You two have been such troopers!” said Robert Wolf from the front seat. Clark thought it was good of him to act like Daniel and Clark were the long-suffering members of this trio when he could tell that Robert was ready to kill both of them if they didn’t hurry up and find a house or condo that met their standards. They’d only been looking for two weeks, but that was a lifetime in the busy world of Mr. Wolf.

“This property isn’t even listed yet. And I think it will meet with your approval on nearly all your points.” Robert grinned at them in the rear view mirror.

Clark thought of Daniel’s List of Requirements, which covered everything from quality of tile to price range to location. In truth, Clark thought it was a defense mechanism that would somehow lead the obviously-errant Clark back to seeing that Daniel was right and it was too expensive to live downtown.

“Oh?” Daniel asked. “On what points will it fall short of expectation, do you suppose?”

“It’s an older property, but it’s been completely renovated. Top to bottom, everything’s brand new. It used to be owned by an architect and his lover, who was apparently quite the
artiste
.”

Clark winced at the pompous pronunciation and thought he could hear Daniel’s teeth grind as Robert began to rattle off all the upgrades. Shifting across the leather seat, Clark wrapped an arm around the professor’s shoulders. Daniel looked at Clark and sighed, his body softening into the embrace.

Clark kissed Daniel’s cheek. “Want me to tell him where he can put his art’s teats?”

Daniel snorted in surprise and laughed. Clark relaxed, the worry gnawing at his insides slacking. It had been almost two and a half months since the New Amsterdam University shooting, and almost none of the days since had been easy for Daniel.

The two men had stayed for a week at the Magnolia. They received word from Heather, Jeffrey and various members of Daniel’s police family about what was going on in the aftermath. Clark managed his bar and business from the room, and he managed Daniel’s work as well. When the professor wanted some of his work, Clark had Heather run it by the hotel. When Daniel said idly that he missed a certain pair of old pants or that it’d be easier to open a bottle of wine if he had his own opener, Clark found someone to get the items to them. He ordered in fresh calla lilies every single day and gently forced Daniel to relax and take it easy.

After a week, both men were stir-crazy but well rested, and Clark went with Daniel to face the circus at home, since Clark still refused to leave Daniel’s side. That attitude was enforced after Daniel broke down on his sidewalk when he saw students and parents holding aloft signs that both thanked him for his bravery and condemned him for not acting faster. Clark got Daniel inside the house and held him until he would listen to Clark explain that Daniel was not a god and what he’d done was nothing short of a true miracle.

After an hour, Clark’s heart nearly broke at the tough and hurting, “Okay,” that floated up to his ears from the man wrapped in his arms. Clark wanted to shoot things, but instead he drew Daniel a bath and fetched a stack of work for Daniel to do.

The anger and gratitude continued to war in response to Daniel’s actions, and the press was a relentless, hungry beast eager to rile the masses. Lucian called the press conference two days after Daniel went home. It was a short and sweet affair held on the lawn next to the Gray Building downtown. Mayor Hendrick Gray thanked Daniel on behalf of the city and asked him to tell of the other brave men and women who did their share during the tragedy. Clark stood nearby and watched as Daniel calmly walked through the events of that day and gave the names of people who had helped him do what he had to do. Jeffrey, Heather, and Ken were in the crowd; Clark saw Jeffrey start to weep and saw Heather hug him tightly.

Vigils were held, the news spread across the country at the speed of information, and Clark kept Daniel insulated from it as best he could. Invitations to talk shows did come in, filtered through Lucian’s press agent, but Daniel politely turned them all down. Frustrated, the press hibernated, but on the day of the hearing they completely circled the courthouse. It was chaos, but the judge ruled Daniel’s actions had been entirely in self-defense. Lucian, the mayor, the chief of police, and Clark looked on from the back of the courtroom.

A week later, Daniel returned to his office. Clark returned to the bar and clubs, but he took Daniel lunch every day. And he appeared on Daniel’s doorstep in the evenings with an easy smile and inquiry about dinner.

Hearing how the people involved in the shooting recovered helped Daniel once he was back at ground zero. The doctors took a vein from Bernard’s thigh to replace the one destroyed by the bullet, and by the time Daniel got back, Bernard was already at his station by the front door with a spectacular battle scar. Ashley was so traumatized by the shooting that she dropped out. Daniel grieved, but handing diplomas to Derek, Anne, and Paul helped Daniel find hope and continue to heal.

Clark listened to Daniel recount everyone’s stories, and Clark tried to keep his distance. But when Laurie needed a shoulder replacement and her family’s insurance couldn’t swing it, Daniel came to Clark. Seeing Daniel want to help so much that he was willing to bend his pride and ask for money nearly broke Clark’s heart. And Clark didn’t let Daniel much past the first sentence of his logical explanation before Clark signed the check. When Laurie promised to be back the next school year, Clark held Daniel while he cried at the good part.

Most nights were full of gentle loving and holding one another, and Clark discovered that happiness was like heartbreak, in that Clark often wondered if one could die from it. Just as Clark was there for Daniel with anything and everything Daniel needed -- and sometimes with things the professor didn’t even know he needed -- Daniel returned the sentiment tenfold.

When Daniel whispered, “I love you” above Clark’s mouth, Clark heard what Daniel didn’t have to say: that he kept his promises, and he would keep Clark safe, sound, and sure for so long as he drew air. Daniel’s words became Clark’s new religion. He couldn’t quite make it to church to thank some eternal being, but he could love the man whom the universe had saved not once but twice. Every sigh, every touch or moan or tender glance -- every time the professor said, “Please” at the end of a command -- Clark felt a piece of himself heal toward whole. With every piece, Clark made promises of his own to protect, comfort, and love. Being with Daniel was by far the easiest, scariest, and most satisfying thing Clark had ever done in his existence.

Then the fateful day came when Clark observed that Daniel had a houseful of belongings, a warehouse full of toys that were gathering dust, and his loft wouldn’t hold all of it.

“What are you suggesting?” Daniel had asked, looking up from his day planner.

“That we find a place for us,” Clark replied, sipping coffee across the table from Daniel. He looked up in time to catch the unmasked look of shock and joy that flickered over Daniel’s face before the analytical and cautious expression returned.

“I’m pretty tired of bed hopping, Professor. And I’d like to come home to you and vice versa.”

“How would we manage the finances?”

Clark shrugged. “Don’t worry about them.”

Daniel scowled, and Clark laughed. “Okay, Professor. We’ll work something out that’ll appease you.”

The scowl turned dangerous, and Clark grinned. “If that’s okay with you, Sir.”

Daniel’s lips twitched, and he reached to squeeze Clark’s hand before returning to his class preparation. Later, when the two men talked about what they wanted and where, it became clear that the major point of contention was price. Clark wanted to be close to work, and he’d mapped out the areas that would put both himself and Daniel near their respective places of business. Daniel said those were too costly. Clark argued that it didn’t hurt to look.

“Possibly something to rent, but not buy,” Daniel said, washing a pan from dinner.

“Why not buy?” Clark asked, handing Daniel a dirty wine glass.

“There’s no way we could possibly afford anything there.”

Clark then proceeded to tell Daniel exactly what Clark was worth, thanks to selling off his family’s estate so many years ago and going with Chance and Lucian’s suggestions of financial advisors, and Daniel had nearly dropped a plate. Clark repressed a laugh, and Daniel recovered to say in that firm, I’m-the-dominant-partner-here-damn-it-voice, “That’s well and good, Clark, but we’re getting something that makes sense for the both of us.”

At the memory of that tone, Clark kissed Daniel’s temple, and the professor rested against Clark in the backseat of the Towncar.

“So, it’s older but completely redone,” Daniel said quietly, more to himself and Clark than to the realtor.

“It’s a gem of a townhouse, guys,” Robert confirmed. His hearing got exponentially better when he thought the more difficult party in this set of clients was starting to relent. Clark thought of blood in the water calling to sharks.

“Where is it?” Clark asked.

“158 Lily Avenue,” Robert replied.

Daniel said nothing as he looked out the window, arms and legs crossing. Clark knew Daniel must be tired if he exhibited such readable body language. He hugged the professor tighter.

“But you love lilies,” Clark quipped.

“Not multi-million dollar ones,” Daniel groused.

“Let’s just take a look,” Clark murmured. “If nothing else, it’ll make him stop telling us about the hand-carved trim and golden toilet seats.”

That earned Clark a small smile and a sigh, and he turned his head to meet a knowing gaze in the rear view mirror. Clark winked at Robert as the Towncar turned onto Lily Avenue. Manicured trees and sidewalks lined both sides of the street, and cheerful townhouses marched like sentinels for two blocks. Clark’s heart did a little dip and twist when he felt Daniel draw in a sharp, silent breath as the vehicle stopped in front of number 158.

“As I said, it’s four stories,” Robert gushed. “Rooftop terrace with a complete Japanese paper glass wall for privacy, theater room in the basement next to a home gym -- all furnishings there included. Italian tile, antique French oak flooring, and four bedrooms.”

Robert continued to babble as he climbed out of the car and got the back door open for Daniel and Clark. Daniel’s eyes went wide, and Clark felt his insides melt with affection as he reached to take Daniel’s hand.

“Come on, Professor,” Clark said with a gentle tug. “Let’s go see the updated appliances and waterfall shower.”

Daniel kept staring while Robert fiddled with the lock on the front door, and took another step closer to Clark. “All right, one more. At least this one looks friendly.”

Clark laced their fingers together. “Very friendly,” Clark agreed, watching Daniel’s eyes flicker as though trying to see everything at once.

“Come right this way, gentlemen!” Robert called. He held the door, and Clark and Daniel stepped inside the foyer.

“If you wouldn’t mind, you can slip off your shoes and leave them next to the door,” Robert said. “The floor’s radiant heat limestone; toasty in the winter, cool in summer.” Clark followed after Daniel, watching his lover try to keep a mask of composure and noting every hint of a smile or quick intake of breath.

“I think what you’ll both really enjoy is this way,” Robert said, heading into the main part of the house. “Custom work.” Robert gestured at the industrial stairs. “Downstairs is the laundry, gym, bath, and home theatre. Be happy to show you all that in a moment, but if you’ll step this way, first.”

Beyond the stairs, the townhouse opened up into a great room with built-ins in dark oak along the right wall and a gorgeous skylight that shone down from above. Everything was perfection, and all Clark could think about was the crammed shelves at Daniel’s house that held everything from knick-knacks to reference manuals. Clark swallowed as his mind’s eye played a reel of Daniel carefully unpacking belongings into the room, and he snuck a glance at the professor walking into the kitchen.

Daniel touched granite countertops, carved cabinet doors, and star-shaped burners. When he looked at Clark, the hunger and longing were painful, and Clark felt the need to make Daniel happy burning him alive. Clark had to check himself so as not to make a noise or pull Daniel into his arms and say that the place -- and anything else Daniel might want, small islands or stars alike -- was Daniel’s.

Robert cleared his throat. “It’s been a long day, and I know you two enjoy looking and getting a feel for a property on your own time. So, if you’ll indulge me? I’ll set up shop here and gather up what we’ve seen to like and dislike today.”

Clark nodded without taking his eyes off Daniel. “Let’s go upstairs, Professor?”

“Yes, please,” Daniel said, his voice calm, but his hand shook as he took Clark’s.

Silently, Clark led them back down the hallway and up the stairs. He had to take a breath when they reached the second level and saw a paned-glass door that opened out onto a manicured garden. The terrace was the size of the great room below, and Clark moved to the left to go into yet another bedroom. Two more doors opened along the back, and Clark just shook his head.

“Damn,” Clark said, whistling.

“There’s just no way.” Daniel leaned his forehead against Clark’s shoulder. “I don’t think I can look anymore, Clark. This is just going to kill me. That terrace, and the sunshine, and I was prepared to give up my garden if we moved. This has to cost millions, Clark. We can’t... I can’t... I don’t think I can do this.”

Clark grasped Daniel’s chin and made their lips meet. One of Clark’s hands played up and down Daniel’s back, and he pulled back to look into big blue eyes. “You’re right, Daniel.
You
can’t do this, but
we
can.