Something Like Rain (Something Like... Book 8) (47 page)

Steve stepped into his personal space. “Have you ever tried?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know?”

“Because instead of licking boots, I’d rather be licking other things.”

Steve laughed. “I’m with you there. My rules are simple. I’ll follow them too. Number one—” He took hold of William’s hands. “—these are for touching me, not yourself.”

“Okay.” That was easy enough to agree to.

“Rule number two, you don’t come until I say you do.”

“What if it just happens?”

“Leave that to me. Rule number three is my favorite. Keeping the first two rules in mind, do whatever you want.”

William acted on that one immediately. He kissed Steve again, helped him out of his jacket, and started unbuttoning his shirt. Once he got it open, he kissed Steve’s neck, his chest, his stomach… Then he was on his knees and working the belt loose.

“You’re hungry,” Steve commented.

“Yeah,” William said, rubbing a hand over the dark gray fabric of the pants to feel the hard mound beneath. “Starving.”

He got the pants unzipped, pulling them and the underwear down at the same time. The cock that sprang free was—not Jason’s. That was his first thought, but hormones helped banish it. He focused on bronze skin just as dark as the rest of Steve’s body, which implied he sunbathed in the nude. He took the cock into his mouth, the scent slightly different than what he was used to, as was the taste and everything else. That was the point.

“Take it all,” Steve was saying, a hand on the back of William’s head as he slowly slid his dick deeper inside. It reached the back of his throat and didn’t withdraw. William had mastered his gag reflex, but deep throating? The head of Steve’s cock pressed against his tonsils, cutting off his air supply and making his eyes water. Uncomfortable, but also hot as hell. If he ever had to choke to death, this would be the way to do it! Steve pulled back, sliding all the way out before his dick pressed against William’s lips to open them again. He went deep, then pulled out, slow and deliberate as the cycle repeated over and over.

“Rule number two,” Steve said. “I won’t come until you say I can, but right now I want to blow a load straight down your throat.”

Already? William found himself nodding, his nose buried in pubic hair when the cock in his mouth throbbed and let loose warm liquid. He couldn’t swallow—couldn’t take in air—until Steve finally pulled out. William scrabbled at his jeans, craving relief.

“Nope!” Steve reached down to grab his wrists. “I’ll take care of everything. Stand up.”

William did so, urge replacing thought. He wanted everything. All of it. Steve was undressing him, William interrupting the process to kiss him, to grope the semi-flaccid erection, to touch the taut muscles of the bare torso in front of him.

“There’s rock hard…” Steve said, squeezing William’s dick. “And then there’s steel! I’m guessing it’s been a while?”

He nodded, pressing down on those broad shoulders and wanting the favor to be returned. He felt frustrated when he met resistance.

“Get on the bed,” Steve instructed, guiding him toward it. “Just relax. I may have rushed, but I won’t let you.”

William lay on his back, but he didn’t relax. He tensed and writhed as fingertips moved softly across his skin, tracing the lines of his muscles, brushing against his lips, grazing his balls. He was on the verge of insanity when Steve scooted down, using his tongue to tease him instead, tip meeting tip. William might be forbidden to touch himself, but that didn’t mean he was without options. He grabbed Steve’s head with one hand, his neck with the other, and thrust his hips forward. The shaft of his cock moved along that warm wet tongue until it reached its goal and plunged inside. Sweet relief! He started pumping, not intending to let rule number two stop him, but Steve was a good judge. As soon as William got close, Steve twisted free of his grip with surprising finesse.

William groaned, his dick throbbing once, but not enough to come.

“Easy,” Steve whispered. “We’re not finished yet. Either of us.”

He looked down to see that Steve was hard again. No wonder he hadn’t worried about coming so soon! He intended to do so more than once. William pleaded for the same right, but Steve shook his head and started caressing him. He used his hand to bring William close again, then backed off. Next he did the same with his mouth. William tried to hide any sign that he was on the verge, but failed. Steve backed off at the last second, squeezing William’s cock with an upward thrust before he let go.

“That’s what I’m looking for!”

William raised his head. A clear strand of liquid stretched from the head of his cock to his stomach. Precome. That didn’t happen very often. Steve treated it like a treasure, not breaking the strand. He stroked William more carefully, bringing him to the edge once more. Then a break, more translucent liquid pouring out, Steve never disturbing the growing puddle. He kept his hand pumping, scooting down to lick William’s balls, or moving upward to tease his nipples. During some of the forced breaks they would kiss, or he would make William suck his dick. This stretched on for what felt like hours. William basked in the pleasure at times and at others was tempted to shove Steve away so he could finish on his own.

“Please,” William whimpered at one point.

“Still hungry?” Steve said. He held himself above William, running the head of his cock through the pool of precome and coating it. Then he moved upwards, bringing this close to William’s mouth. Fucking hormones! They made everything sound like a good idea. William opened wide, sucking it clean and savoring the sweet flavor. This was repeated a second time, Steve not moving away as his hips pumped faster. “Rule number two?” he hissed.

William nodded, taking his second load of the evening.

“Got room for a third?” Steve asked when he pulled out.

William balked. “How many times in a row can you come?”

“I wasn’t referring to myself.” Steve smiled wickedly, then got out of bed. He stood and tugged on Williams legs. “Put them over your head.”

“I’m not a gymnast!”

“You can manage this. Trust me. I’ve done it tons of times. Scoot down a little first.”

William did as he was told. With a little help he swung his legs over his head and came face to face with himself. Steve didn’t waste any time. He started pumping William’s cock, and when he said to open wide, William was so desperate for release that he complied. The first splash hit his cheek before Steve adjusted the angle. The second, third, and fourth shots…. William lost count as his lips and tongue were coated.

“Damn!” Steve exclaimed. “Where’s a video camera when you need one?”

William couldn’t respond. He let his lower body flop back down, swallowed, and tried to catch his breath. He had never done anything like that on his own or fantasized about the possibility. He felt his cheeks burn, but it was a little late to be bashful. He looked over at Steve, who was grinning from ear to ear.

William wiped his mouth against the back of his hand. “I think I’m going to need that drink now.”

Chapter Twenty

William woke in the morning feeling like a dried-out husk. Steve was next to him, as were a number of empty bottles from the minibar. They had done a couple of shots, hopped into the shower together, and then gotten dressed and hit the hotel bar. They had even started doing it again once they had gotten back, but exhaustion had won out and they fell asleep before anything serious happened.

He rose as quietly as possible, crept to the restroom, and drank from the sink. Then he used the toilet, sitting to make less noise because he was pretty sure he wanted to leave before Steve woke up. He liked the guy, but he wasn’t... William frowned, unwilling to even think the name. Not yet. The last thing he wanted was to get emotionally vulnerable in front of a stranger.

He didn’t flush, deciding stealth was more important. He was back in the bedroom and pulling on his jeans when Steve rolled over and smiled. “Good morning, sailor!”

“I’m not a sailor,” William murmured.

“Sorry, movie star or whatever. Let me guess. You’re sneaking out so you can surprise me with donuts.”

William’s only response was a guilty expression.

“I get it,” Steve said, stretching and sitting upright “There’s somewhere you need to be.”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. I had fun last night. I hope you did too.”

“Definitely,” he said. He still hadn’t considered the emotional implications, but he couldn’t deny that he had enjoyed himself.

“Good. I wouldn’t mind doing it again sometime. I’m in Boston once a month.”

“I’m not.”

“Where are you stationed? I travel a lot for business.”

William shook his head. “I’m not looking for a relationship.”

Steve didn’t seem offended. “It doesn’t have to be. No strings attached.”

William grabbed his shirt and put it on. “People don’t choose when they get attached.”

“You’re that irresistible?” Steve asked, expression amused. “You’re convinced I’ll fall in love with you so easily?”

“It’s guaranteed,” William said, sitting to put on his socks and shoes. “I’m doing this for your own good.”

“Thanks for looking out for me. For the record, I’m okay with your decision. I won’t try to change your mind. That means you can stick around for breakfast if you want.”

“I really have to get going.”

“How about a quickie?”

“Seriously.” William stood and patted his pockets to make sure he had everything. “I have a flight to catch.”

“At least tell me your name.”

“Adam.”

“Your real name!”

William paused by the door. “See what I mean? You’re infatuated.”

Steve laughed, threw a pillow in his direction, and flopped back down into bed. “Thank you for a ridiculously hot night.”

“My pleasure,” William said, opening the door. “I definitely won’t forget you.”

They stared at each other. Then William stepped into the hallway, closed the door behind him, and breathed out. Jason. The name came unbidden. As he left the hotel and walked down the street, he realized that he hadn’t found a cure. He still loved Jason and wanted him. All that had changed was that William had now gone too far for them to be together again. He couldn’t imagine returning to Austin and letting them fall into their old habits without telling Jason where he had been. They might not be committed—they had clarified over and over that they both had the right to wander—but he could still picture Jason’s hurt expression when he learned what William had done. Rather than have that discussion, William would finally do what he had been promising himself. He would move on, whether he truly wanted to or not.

* * * * *

“Hey, look who’s back from his mystery trip.”

William entered the mess hall, surprised to find much of his unit there. Francis, Christie, and a handful of the other pilots and mechanics who he regularly went on missions with. They all seemed amused, and he automatically matched their smiles, but this didn’t last.

“I wonder where he went?” Francis said, rubbing his chin theatrically. “San Francisco?”

“New York,” said another of the pilots, “to see Broadway. You know how his kind love musicals.”

“I think he was at one of those Turkish bathhouses,” a mechanic chimed in. “The kind where men give each other massages.
Naked
massages.”

William looked to Christie for support, feeling hurt when he saw her eyes shining with amusement. “I guess the secret is out,” he said to her. “Is that what this is about?”

She opened her mouth to explain, but Francis cut her off. “We all pitched in and got you a present.” He grabbed a small package off the table and handed it to William. The wrapping paper was pink and patterned with white kittens. “Go on, open it.”

William kept his head down as he did so, torn between embarrassment and anger. Inside was a transparent bag full of gummy bears. No, that wasn’t quite right. He looked closer. Gummy penises. Really? This is how they were going to treat him? He had served alongside these people, performed his duty to the best of his abilities and suffered through the same trials to achieve his position. And now they were going to turn their backs just because of his sexuality? He looked up with a scowl. Then he stared. Everyone around him had hastily put rainbow bandanas on their heads. And they were saluting him.

Francis spoke, voice loud and clear like a drill sergeant. “We, the proud members of the First District, would like to formally express our support for our fellow Guardsmen, AST William Townson. We are pleased that you now have the freedom to be who you truly are. We’ve got your back. Just stay away from our back doors. Hoo-rah!”

“Hoo-rah!” his unit shouted in unison.

William grinned. Then he started laughing. “Thanks, but from what I’ve seen in the showers, none of you guys are packing anything impressive enough to interest me.”

This started a chorus of boos and hisses from all but Christie, who stepped forward to hug him. “Sorry. It slipped out in conversation. I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine,” William said, squeezing her back. Then he addressed the room. “Family shouldn’t keep secrets from each other. The only reason I did is out of dedication to my duty. I hope you understand that.”

“Nobody wants to hear about your doodie,” Francis said, pushing his way in for a hug, albeit the manly kind followed by slaps on the back. “Between you and me, I’m glad. A lot of hearts were broken when the news leaked. Now I’ll be there to comfort all those beautiful women.”

“Assuming any of them will have you,” William said, looking around at a room full of supportive faces. “Thanks for being so cool, everyone. From now on, whenever a CO tells me to eat a bag of dicks—” He tore open the gummies and popped one in his mouth. “—I’ll think of you guys.”

* * * * *

William had never been lucky in love. Lately he was starting to wonder if he was cursed. His relationship with Kelly had been a disaster, and Jason was a perfect example of the wrong place and time. Since them, he hadn’t done much better. He wasn’t the only member of the Coast Guard to come out. Hurricane Irene kept him too busy to think about relationships, but in the lull afterwards, he was approached by a handsome boatswain and asked out. They dated for a few weeks, and while the other guy tried his best to win him over, William felt as though he was going through the motions and called it off. The same happened later in the fall when Christie introduced him to her cousin. William treaded more carefully, since he didn’t want to strain his relationship with her. Luckily her cousin was only visiting from out of town, and when he left, William didn’t feel any pangs of sorrow or an urge to stay in touch.

His heart wasn’t cold though. His insides still glowed whenever he thought of Jason, but he was determined to do the right thing. As the holidays approached, he realized his convictions would be tested during his usual trip to Austin. Instead of flying there, he decided to invite his mother to New England to show her the world he now inhabited. She was thrilled, and while her visit felt nothing like a traditional Christmas, they both enjoyed themselves immensely.

He couldn’t avoid his home state forever. His mother’s birthday was in mid-February, which meant he would be in Austin during the most dreaded holiday of all. This didn’t go unnoticed.

Do I get to see you tomorrow?
Jason texted.
It’s been forever.

William checked his phone to be sure that tomorrow was the fourteenth. Valentine’s Day.
Not the best time for me,
he texted back.
Day after?

I have work. You’re really busy the whole day? Doing what?

Nothing. His brothers had plans with their girlfriends, his mother was going on a date, and William was left without an excuse.
Okay.

Is that a yes?

Yes.
William chewed his lip.
I don’t have a lot of time though. Sorry.

Cool! Do you want to come over?

God that would be amazing! He could see Ben and Tim again, lounge around their awesome house while talking to everyone, and then go up to Jason’s bedroom for privacy. But those days belonged to the past.
Let’s grab lunch somewhere.

Okay. Might be hard without reservations.

Because happy couples would be cramming their faces full, grinning at each other over their plates while celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Let’s meet at Whataburger.

Fast food?

William thought quickly.
Yeah. They don’t have those up north. I miss them.

Okay.

They finalized plans. William was certain he could hear the despondence in Jason’s voice, even though he was reading emotionless text. He dreaded the next day, which was crazy, because seeing Jason was usually the highlight of each trip. He didn’t allow himself to be picked up, or offer Jason a ride. They met at the Whataburger like two strangers from Craigslist who had a transaction to complete. “Here are the antique bookends I advertised. Twenty bucks, please.”

He at least waited to order. William was standing inside, staring at the menu above the counter, when a wonderfully familiar voice said his name. Jason was dressed nicely—a freshly ironed shirt, jeans too pristine to be anything but new, and a whiff of designer cologne. Even his messy hair had been freshly cut. When Jason came near for a hug, William thrust out a hand instead. Jason stared at it like he wasn’t familiar with the custom. Then his face fell and he accepted his consolation prize. They shook hands, their arms limp, their grip lacking commitment.

“You look good,” Jason said, expression still pained.

William was wearing a crappy T-shirt that even he didn’t like. No haircut, no cologne. Just some stuff he’d found in his old closet. Jason was stunning, and not just by comparison. Surely an army of guys were competing for his attention, only to be turned away. Maybe this miserable day would change that. “Hungry?” he asked, forcing himself to look at the menu again.

“I guess,” Jason said, sounding confused. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything but the green chili burger,” William jested. “Tastes fine, but trust me, you’ll regret it the next day.”

Jason didn’t respond. William felt his gaze but couldn’t bring himself to meet it. When he stepped up to the counter to order, he did so solo, feeling like an asshole. He could at least buy Jason a meal, but he was determined that the message be perfectly clear this time. Actions. Not words. When they carried their trays to a sloppily wiped table and sat, William noticed that Jason had opted for nothing but french fries and a vanilla shake. That brought back memories. Jason liked to combine the two, using the shake like a condiment for his fries. Watching him dip the first one in made his throat tight.

“I was thinking of you the other day,” Jason said. “We all watched
The Guardian
.”

William snorted.

“What?”

“Sorry. That movie is kind of a joke among coasties.”

“I liked it.” Now Jason seemed hurt. “I was trying to understand your life better.”

“It’s a good movie,” William hurriedly amended. “I saw it in the theater. Twice. I think it just makes us self-conscious. There aren’t many movies about the Coast Guard. Hardly any, so of course when Hollywood finally makes one, we scrutinize it to death.”

Jason resumed dipping his fries. “Is it inaccurate?”

“Not terribly. They made some mistakes with uniforms, and the part with the bar fight is stupid. Unless you’re being extremely obnoxious, someone in the Navy is more likely to buy you a beer than attack you. The same when they visit our haunts. We’re all in the same boat, more or less. No pun intended. It’s a good movie. Really. And hey, who does Ashton Kutcher remind you of?”

Jason shook his head. “Demi Moore?”

William laughed. “Tim! You don’t think they look alike? They could be brothers!”

Jason made a face. “Cousins, maybe. Second cousins.”

“I can’t believe you don’t see it,” William said. “How are they doing?”

“Good. They ask about you all the time.”