My Brother's Keeper (2 page)

He turned the picture face down on the drafting table. “Goodnight to you too.”

Ellis found Jon in the backyard at the picnic bench. He had a coffee cup in his hands and a second one sat at the empty space beside him. His gaze was distant. There was no moon and the sky was void of clouds. The lack of light left a carpet of stars across the darkness. Ellis couldn’t remember ever seeing such a beautiful night sky.

“Jon?” Ellis put a hand on Jon’s shoulder.

He looked up. “Hey. I made you some coffee.”

Ellis sat beside him. “What were you thinking about?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing.”

“You didn’t hear me say your name. You had to be thinking about something important.”

“Just going over some things in my head.”

“Are you having second thoughts about moving in with me?”

“What? Oh, no. Not that.”

“You sure?” It would break Ellis’s heart, but he would understand. Now Jon had nowhere to escape to if he got tired of Rudy. Or tired of him.

“Yeah. I’m sure.” There was just enough light coming out of the kitchen window to let Ellis see him smile.

Jon put a hand on Ellis’s cheek. “Have I told you I love you today?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m telling you again.”

Ellis leaned forward and kissed him. Just a soft touch of lips and a dip of his tongue. “Tell me what you were thinking about.”

The smile on Jon’s face wilted. He stared at his coffee cup. “Bad memories.”

“About what happened at the rendering plant?” Jon didn’t answer. “It wasn’t your fault.”

He huffed. “Everyone tells me that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“Sometimes I wonder.” He tipped his coffee cup up but it was empty.

“Do you want me to get you some more?”

“Nah. I drink too much and I’ll be up all night.”

Ellis leaned against him. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Jon laughed, really laughed. It sounded wonderful. Ellis took Jon’s hand and stood. He encouraged Jon to join him.

“Where are we going?”

Ellis grinned. “Nowhere.” He turned Jon around. “Sit.” He started to sit on the bench. “No, the table.”

“What are you up to?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.”

Jon did as instructed. He rested his feet on the bench.

“Is your knee okay?”

“It all depends on what you’re about to do.”

It was Ellis’s turn to laugh. He kneeled on the bench, ran his hands up the inside of Jon’s thighs, and under the edge of his shorts. There was nothing but skin all the way to the top of Jon’s leg. “You aren’t wearing any boxers.”

“I’m not wearing any kind of underwear.”

“I can tell.”

Jon hissed out a breath when Ellis brushed his fingertips against Jon’s cock. It thickened, becoming a hard line against the fabric. Ellis went after the waist of Jon’s shorts. He pulled the knot loose and undid the strings.

Ellis pulled down the front until the edge was under his balls, pushing everything up and out. Ellis caught the tip of Jon’s cock in his mouth. The soft heated flesh slid to the back of Ellis’s throat. He took Jon as deep as he could. Still nowhere near all the way, but deeper than he’d been able to the first few times he did this.

Jon slid his fingers into Ellis’s hair and he made small circles all the way down to Ellis’s neck then back again.

He swirled his tongue around the glans. Back at the end, Ellis pressed his tongue against Jon’s slit.

“Ah, fuck.” Jon’s hips jerked. “You’re getting too good at this.”

Ellis released Jon’s cock and set to work on his balls, sucking on one and then the other. The thick scent of male musk, rich and smooth, flavored every inhale.

He returned his attentions to Jon’s cock, tracing the length with his tongue to the tip. Ellis sucked on the thick head, stroking him with one hand, while gently squeezed his nuts with the other.

Jon’s fingers tightened in Ellis’s hair. He sucked hard and bobbed his head, but not in sync with his hand. Ellis tightened his grip and sped up his stokes.

Muscles jumped in Jon’s legs, vibrating the bench and table. He made small grunting sounds and soft whimpers. Jon’s hand became heavy on the back of Ellis’s head.

“Ah, God. Don’t stop. Please, baby, don’t stop.”

Ellis had no intention to.

Jon’s cock seemed to thicken in Ellis’s mouth. He went down as deep as he could and Jon barked out a cry. His cock pulsed and a rush of bitter salty heat coated Ellis’s tongue. The amount caught him off guard and it ran in rivulets down his chin and Jon’s cock.

Ellis looked up. Jon’s gaze burned a hole right though his thoughts and filled him with heat. Jon took Ellis by the back of his head and smashed their mouths together. Ellis swept his tongue across Jon’s, feeding him a taste of himself.

He growled and the sound rippled down Ellis’s body, making his cock jump.

Jon’s shorts were still around his hips when he slid off the table and turned Ellis around. “Hands on the table.” Jon swept his touch beneath the waist of Ellis’s pajamas and squeezed Ellis’s ass before tugging the pajamas down around his hips, leaving him exposed.

Ellis looked over his shoulder. Jon had his first two fingers in his mouth. When he pulled them out he said, “Face forward.” Jon gripped Ellis’s cock, and slid his thumb over the head.

Cool and wet rubbed over Ellis’s opening. He rocked back, wanting more.

“A little bit eager tonight.”

“Can’t help it.” He was always ready for Jon. He continued to tease the tight ring of muscle. “Please, Jon.”

“Please what?”

“I want to feel you.”

Jon growled and pressed his body against Ellis’s back. The pressure against his opening increased until Jon had a finger inside of him. Jon rested his chin on Ellis’s shoulder and thrust his finger, going deep then backing out to the very tip.

Ellis arched against him. “More.”

Jon added a second. A mild burn turned into an aching pleasure. Jon crooked his fingers, brushing Ellis’s prostate.

He cried out.

Jon stroked Ellis while sliding his fingers in and out of his hole. He tried to rock his hips in order to increase the speed, but Jon held him in place.

Seconds led to minutes, and then eternity. Sweat dripped off of Ellis’s nose, making small, dark circles on the picnic table. The humid air became too thick to breathe. He panted against the heat clinging to his skin and swelling in his core.

Every movement Jon made dragged a plea from Ellis’s lips. His arms trembled and his heart thundered in his ears. The world around him condensed down to the place Jon penetrated him and the man’s grip on his cock.

Close to Ellis’s ear Jon whispered. “You ready to come for me?”

“Yes. Oh God, yes. Please, Jon…” A sob followed the tears running down Ellis’s cheeks.

Jon sped up his strokes. At the same time, he thrust deep with his fingers, rubbing against Ellis’s prostate. The friction, the pressure was all Ellis needed. An electric rush seared down Ellis’s spine. His vision darkened and a ragged, animalistic noise ripped from his throat.

Ellis collapsed but Jon kept him in place with an arm around his ribs. He kissed Ellis on the back of his neck.

“You are so gorgeous when you come.”

Ellis’s laugh dissolved into a pleading cry when Jon pumped his fingers a couple of times.

“You don’t believe me?” Jon rested his chin on Ellis’s shoulder.

“It’s not that I don’t want to.” Gorgeous was a word reserved for men with defined muscles, abs, and a perfect face. Men like Jon.

“What’s stopping you?” He curled his fingers.

“Jon…”

“I’m waiting.”

“I can’t…no more…” Jon pulled back and Ellis could breathe again. “I guess I just have a hard time seeing myself that way.”

“Well, you are. And I am the luckiest man in the world to have you.” With the house behind Jon the shadows were too heavy for Ellis to see his eyes but the tone of his voice promised truth.

“Okay,” Ellis said. “I believe you.”

Jon chuckled. “The first or second part?”

“The first.”

“Just the first?”

“Yeah, because—”

Again Jon pushed his fingers deep.

The fullness rekindled the cold static dancing over Ellis’s skin. “Oh God.”

“Hmmm?”

“Jon…please…”

“Better answer the question or I might do this all night.”

Ellis groaned. It would be bliss but it would probably kill him.

“Maybe you want that?” Jon nipped Ellis’s earlobe. “Is it? Do you want me to fuck you all night?”

Any answer but yes would be a lie. Ellis turned his head enough to brush his lips across Jon’s jaw. He took the invitation and seized Ellis’s mouth. Jon plunged his tongue with the same kind of aggression that he finger fucked Ellis with.

When they broke apart Ellis said, “You.” A rush of euphoria shot up his spine. Jon curled his fingers and it happened again.

“What about me?” Jon growled.

“You can’t be the luckiest man in the world.”

“I can’t, huh?” He moved closer and the hard line of his cock pressed against Ellis’s thigh.

Ellis arched his back, wanting more, craving to be taken. He wanted the burn of that thick length of flesh penetrating him and the ache of being filled until it was difficult to breathe.

“Answer me Ellis. Tell me why I can’t be, and I’ll give you what you want.”

It didn’t surprise Ellis that Jon knew exactly what he desired. “You can’t be the luckiest, because I am.”

The stool under Jon’s feet trembled with the echo of exhaustion radiating from his body. He pressed his face against the back of Danny’s knees and tightened his hold around his brother’s shins.

Just a little longer and someone would find them. Dirt clung to the inside of Jon’s nose, adding to the sour flavor coating every inhale and making his throat itch. The hay barn was always dusty and it stank from where it backed up to the pig pen. Every so often the hogs would give an angry squeal and rub their bodies against the wall.

Jon caught a drop of sweat on his tongue. His throat burned when he swallowed.

“Momma…Pops…” The plea for help came out on a broken whisper. He lost his voice hours ago, but he held on to the slim hope it would come back. He ignored the aftertaste of pennies, and tried again. Still nothing. No sound. No one.

Just a little longer. He only had to hang on a little longer. The muscles in Jon’s back screamed, and his shoulder joints scraped. He shifted his weight, hoping to ease the cramp in his thighs.

The heat inside the barn sucked the moisture from his skin. Everything swam back and forth under the haze of dirt, and streaks of light rippling across the open space.

Just a little longer.

Jon adjusted his grip, pushing upwards by bowing back. A sharp pull drew a line from his neck down his spine. His right calf turned into a knot. He put his weight down on that leg, forcing his toes to bend back. It eased and then the left one cramped.

“Please, Danny. Please, wake up. I can’t hold you. I can’t hold you anymore.”

“Let go.”

“If I do you’ll choke.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“No. No, you won’t. I let go and the Grim Reaper will get you. Just like on the TV. I’m hanging on, Danny. I promise, I’m hanging on.”

“You’re a good brother, Jonny. A real good brother. But you gotta let go. You gotta let me go.”

Tears cut through the grime on Jon’s face. “No. I won’t. I won’t and you can’t make me.”

“Please, Jonny boy. It’s supposed to be like this. It has to be like this.”

“Why?”

“Those are the rules.”

“Whose rules?” Cause Jon would get Pop’s shotgun and shoot a load of rock salt into their ass, just like the man did when the neighbor’s dogs chased the cows.

“I can’t explain that right now. But one day you’ll understand. I promise.”

A deep rumble vibrated the air and the barn door split. A dark figure filled the gap.

The Grim Reaper had arrived.

“Jon?”

“You can’t have him. I’m hanging on. I’m not letting go. So you can’t have him.” Jon hoisted Danny higher. The cramp returned to his leg and he sobbed.

“Jon…what the…Gwen? Gwen, call the police. Don’t ask questions, just go. No, don’t. You don’t wanna see.”

The darkness descended and Jon tried to scream. “Get away. Get away from my brother. I’m hanging on. I’m hanging on.” It reached for him and he snapped his teeth, but it pulled back before he could latch on.

“Jon, let go.”

“No.”

“Jon, let go right now. Let go or I’ll take the belt to your ass.”

“No. I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid of you.” Jon dug his fingers into Danny’s jeans. “I’m hanging on.”

The Grim Reaper grabbed hold of his arm. “Let go.”

Jon shook his head.

“Let go, Jon.”

He buried his face against Danny’s legs. Sweet earthy rot filled his lungs.

“I called the police, Leroy, now what’s this…”

The sound of his mother screaming made Jon look up.

“Oh God! Oh God, no.”

“Get out of here, Gwen.”

“No, oh God, Danny. No, Danny…”

“Woman, I said get out of here, now.” That voice. That tone. It trickled through the haze in Jon’s mind.

Warm hands cupped Jon’s face. He knew the woman staring at him. He had to. “Oh baby, let go.”

“I can’t, Momma. Gotta hold him up.”

Her lips twisted and tears poured down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry. I got em’. I got em’ and I’m not letting go.”

“Get up, and get out.” His father’s face surfaced through the shadows. “Gwen.”

“I can’t leave him.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Please, Leroy. Please just let me…”

“This ain’t no place for a woman. Now go back to the house.”

“Don’t worry, Momma. I got em’. I got em’ and I won’t let go.” Whether it was the Grim Reaper or his father Jon was never gonna let Danny go.

A spray of bullets chewed up the ground by Jon’s feet. Instead of dirt, bits of concrete pelted his boots. Jon exchanged words with Alex like he always did. Now he and detective Cruise could make a break for the door.

Jon took a breath and shot out from behind his cover. From his periphery he caught the flash of both men running.