Stripped Bare (38 page)

“I’m sorry,” he gasped when he could speak. “Talking with my dad made me crazy.” He frowned and leaned back, looking at Matthew’s flushed face. “What did I say that was strange?”

Matthew’s eyes darkened. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll talk about it later. I don’t want you getting upset—”

“Matty, I’m not an invalid, for fuck’s sake. Just tell me what I said. I don’t remember.”

Matthew hesitated. “You said you thought Roy Parsons killed my father.”

At the reminder, Shane shivered, hearing once again the gloating words of the man who had almost beaten him to death. “Yes, I remember. Just before I passed out earlier, I remembered something Roy said to me.” He gripped Matthew’s shoulder. “He told me he went to see your father the day he died to give him a piece of his mind about what he was about to do to Walter.” Shane swallowed. The next words would not be easy for Matthew to hear. “He said he watched your father die, that your dad had a heart attack right in front of him.”

Matthew went still. His hands stopped their stroking of Shane’s body and they fell to the couch beside his legs. When he spoke he sounded confused.

“I don’t understand. Roy went to see my dad? Why, to convince him not to out Walter? I can see him doing something like that, but surely he would have tried to help him?”

“This is a man who nearly beat me to death, Matty. I doubt very much he would have been particularly disposed toward helping a man who was about to cause trouble for his boss. We all know how Roy feels about Walter. He worships the bastard.” Shane looked at his boyfriend in sympathy. Matthew’s eyes were tight with pain.

“You think Roy stood by and watched my father have a heart attack and die?”

“I think it’s a distinct possibility.”

Matthew gazed at Shane in horror. “How the hell can I find out what happened? Whether that’s true?”

Shane sighed. He moved off Matthew and sat beside him. The lovemaking mood had definitely gone—for now.

“You could ask him, I suppose. Or ask Walter. Perhaps he knew about it. Shit, maybe he was the one who sent Roy around to ‘talk’ to your dad in the first place.” He looked at Matthew quizzically. “Did your dad have a history of heart trouble?”

Matthew nodded. “He had a heart condition, bought on by rheumatic fever when he was a kid. He suffered with it all his life. It was why when he died so suddenly, no one was really surprised. The doctors said it was just his time.” He passed a hand over his eyes. “I need to go and see Roy. I need to ask him what he knows about this.”

Shane nodded. “We can call the police tomorrow, tell them about it.” He laughed sharply. “It’ll just be another thing to add to his rap sheet along with the attempted murder charge. But if you go and see Roy, I want to be there with you. I don’t want you be on your own with him.”

“Shay, the man almost killed you. Are you sure you want to see him again?” Matthew reached up and cupped Shane’s face in his hands. Shane nodded although he felt ill with fear at actually seeing the man who had tried to kill him.

“We see him together. Maybe it’s what I need, too. But I’m not having him tell you a possible story about how he might have contributed to your father’s death without me being there to hold your hand.” His voice was fierce, protective. Matthew smiled and reached over to draw him into his arms.

“Okay, pit bull. We do it together, if we can get in to see him. I’ll call someone in the morning and see if I can set it up.” He smiled and Shane’s heart lifted at the relief in his eyes at not having to do it alone.

“Matty? We still have one thing to talk about. About the hacking thing, the things I saw of you.”

He saw the look of dread on Matthew’s face as he closed his eyes. It had been the elephant in the room for too long and now it needed to leave. He knew Matthew had a deep sense of self-loathing at what Shane had seen. Matthew’s voice trembled when he spoke.

“Shay, I know it was disgusting and something I wish you’d never seen. It eats away at me inside that you know that about me—”

His words were cut off as Shane leaned forward and pressed his mouth against his boyfriend’s, trying to send every bit of love and understanding he had in that kiss.

“We’ve been through too much in our short time together to judge each other,” Shane whispered against Matthew’s warm mouth. “I don’t see that man here in front of me. I see my man, the one who let his guard down and let me in. The one who stood up for his friend and lost his job to do what was right. The one who brought me back from a bad place and then took care of me. I don’t give a damn what you did all those years ago. I just know I love you and nothing you do will ever change that. I don’t feel any disgust. I’m just so proud you made it and found me.” He wrapped his arms around his lover and hugged him tightly. “Let it go. We can’t move forward if you don’t. And that would kill me.”

His mouth found Matthew’s again and Matthew kissed him back fiercely, his need evident in the way his lips ground against Shane’s mouth, his body hard and demanding. Finally he released him and laid his forehead against Shane’s, his voice quiet.

“I adore you, you know that. I’ll do anything for you. If that’s what you want, I’ll try.” Shane became very aware of his boyfriend’s body pressed tightly against his and he grinned.

“And now we have that out of the way, I think you deserve a reward for looking after me when I hit the floor again.”

He motioned to Matthew to lift his arms then pulled the man’s tee shirt over his head and threw it behind the couch. He tugged his boyfriend’s sweatpants off his hips, Matthew lifting his backside to help. Shane reached up and drew off his tracksuit top, watching Matthew’s eyes devour the sight of his naked torso. He chuckled.

“I love the way you look at me,” he whispered huskily. “Even looking like this, I can still make you hard.” He slipped his pants down his legs. He crawled back onto Matthew’s lap, his backside already pushing artfully against the front of Matthew’s groin. He wriggled himself on top, heard his boyfriend’s gasp, and felt him surge. He smiled in satisfaction as Matthew spoke in a strangled voice.

“Shay, you always look as hot as hell.”

“Hmm. My hair’s still growing back, I look like a bloody elf, I’m still a little bruised and you think I’m sexy?” Shane nibbled Matthew’s bottom lip, then moved to his ear.

“You are beautiful, baby. Inside and out.”

“Talking of inside and out…where were we?” he murmured softly as he bit at Matthew’s neck, sucking the skin. “I seem to recall a certain someone feeling very needy—ah, there he is.” His hands slid down, grasping his lover’s warm and very rampant erection, wrapping his hands around it and squeezing. Matthew’s breath ghosted against his neck, raising goose bumps on his skin.

Shane reached for the lube which had been hidden down the side of the couch after their last session. He rubbed some in his hands, and rubbed it slowly along Matthew’s shaft, over his balls, reaching in and lathering it onto him. His lover’s body tensed, his back straining against the back of the couch at the sensation. Shane’s mouth found Matthew’s and as his tongue slid into his boyfriend’s mouth, he sank down onto Matthew, taking him inside delicious inch by inch. He simply wanted to feel his man inside him, no preamble needed. He’d just take it slowly. Matthew’s hands reached out desperately to stroke him as Shane settled on top of him

“God, Shay. That feels good.” Matthew’s agonised and whispered moans incited Shane to sink deeper, taking Matthew in then out, driving his body deeper and deeper onto Matthew. His lover pushed upward with each stroke, his breath deep, his eyes wild as Shane moved atop him. The feeling of Matthew inside, all silk and heat, hearing his man’s moans of pleasure as Shane made love to him, made Shane feel complete. Matthew’s hand stroked Shane, fingers tightening and pressing against his sensitive flesh as Shane felt his lover pulse and throb inside him, inside that sensitive channel that gave such pleasure and made his groin burn with feeling. He drove himself deeper down onto the other man, and Matthew groaned loudly.

“You know how to work me, don’t you, you brat…”

His voice trailed off as he heaved a deep breath and arched his back against the couch back as a hot jet stream of his semen shot into Shane, the smell of sex permeating the room. Matthew’s shout of pleasure echoed in the room even as Shane muffled it with his mouth. He wasn’t far himself, his own hardness swelling in Matthew’s strong and experienced grip, as he tensed his body, pressing himself against Matthew’s belly with a groan. His wet heat left his body and jetted across Matthew’s naked stomach and chest. They both collapsed, satiated, Shane once again sandwiched against Matthew’s sticky, wet chest. After a few seconds of getting their breath back to normal, Shane pulled away, hearing Matthew’s murmur of protest at him leaving. He looked into his boyfriend’s eyes, holding his gaze and then slowly, deliberately, Shane moved down Matthew’s body, licking at the semen on his chest, performing the act that Matty normally did for him. It was the first time he’d done this, and he had to say, it felt good. Matthew’s pupils dilated as Shane licked him clean and Shane could swear Matty was already getting hard again. He could feel it.

“Jesus Christ, Shay…” His lover’s whisper was awestruck, disbelieving. He watched as Shane made his way down his chest, across the muscles of his stomach and down toward his groin. Shane’s tongue slowly, lovingly licked the fluid off his lover and occasionally bit lightly, causing Matthew to strain and swear loudly at each nip. Finally he was done and he crawled back up to take Matthew’s lips in a tender kiss. His boyfriend wrapped warm arms around him, responding with a passion and a need that make Shane breathless. Finally they were spent, and Shane pulled his bruised lips away to smile into his lover’s eyes.

“I take it you liked that, then?”

Matthew’s voice was choked when he replied. “No one’s done that for me since—” Shane knew it had been Sam that had taught this act of love and that had probably been the last time this had happened to him.

“I’m glad I could oblige. I rather liked it. We
will
be doing that again.” He grinned as Matthew swallowed. “Now, I am getting bloody frostbite in my nether regions sitting here, so I suggest a hot shower, maybe a blow job or two if we can manage it after this session, then bed.”

Matthew needed no urging as Shane slid off him and made his way to the bathroom. He heard Matthew chuckle behind him as he followed.

“You’re insatiable,” were the words he heard as he started the wet room shower, and stepped inside. Matthew stood framed against the bathroom doorway, his smile infectious. “But I do like it.” He stepped inside, under the cascading water and raised wet hands to cup Shane’s face. “I love you, Shay. You’re mine and I’m yours. That’s never going to change, you know that, don’t you? No matter how many arguments we might have, seeing as we are who we are.”

Shane lost his breath as he gazed into the grey eyes of his soul mate.

“I feel the same, Matty,” he whispered as he leaned in to kiss the other man. “Always.”

Redemption and Release

The next morning after a fairly hectic bout of lovemaking, Shane lay nestled against Matthew, his blond hair spread out over Matthew’s stomach. Matthew stroked it gently as he wondered how to word the request he had. He was uncomfortably certain that his lover was going to make a meal of it.

“Shay? Are you asleep?”

Shane shifted slightly under the duvet and nodded. “Uh- huh. Trying anyway.” The movement of his lips against Matthew’s stomach tickled. Shane reached out a lazy hand and drew it slowly down Matthew’s hip. “Why do you ask anyway now that you’ve woken me up?”

“I was thinking.” There was a deep chuckle against Matthew’s still warm and sweating skin.

“Always a bad sign, Matty. Do I have to screw you again to stop you pondering whatever it is you’re pondering?”

Matthew laughed. “I’ll never refuse an offer like that one—hell, hang on, for God’s sake!” Shane’s hand had wandered down to his groin and grasped him in warm fingers. Matthew choked back a breath at the feel of them wrapped around his already-rising cock. “I didn’t mean right now, you horny sod. I need to ask you something.”

“So ask.” Shane’s hands stayed where they were, flicking the tip of him. Matthew shuddered in pleasure. “Shay, please. I’m trying to be serious.”

His boyfriend gave a deep sigh and sat up. His hands moved off Matthew’s groin, leaving him feeling a little bereft. The bedcovers fell to Shane’s waist as he regarded Matthew with a frown. Matthew could see the love bites he’d made from their earlier session, marking Shane’s honey-coloured skin like dark blemishes on a peach. He felt a sense of satisfaction at seeing his lover marked in such a way. Shane raised an eyebrow.

“So? I’m awake and you’ve told me off for playing with you. Spill it.”

“I need your help in getting payback on Walter.” Matthew said the words quickly and watched his lover’s face. He wasn’t disappointed. Shane’s eyes gleamed with a sudden predatory light.

“You want to get that twat back for his part in all this crap?” He sat back against the headboard, a small smile growing on his face. “And how do you think we should do that, Matthew? How can I help you?”

“You know bloody well what I’m going to ask you to do,” Matthew growled as Shane’s smile grew wider. “So stop looking so damned smug.”

Shane raised his palms outwards with a shrug, a look of obvious enjoyment at Matthew’s discomfort on his face. “Matty, babe, I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’d better spell it out for me.” His boyfriend’s satisfied grin made Matthew’s toes curl. He scowled as he huffed.

“You know I didn’t have anything to do with Walter’s bank accounts or his finances other than the one in the Cayman Islands—the one that you stole money out of,” he said bitingly, watching Shane’s grin grow even bigger.

God, the man was insufferable. He was
really
enjoying this.

“It’s actually the only legitimate offshore bank account Walter had, which is why I knew about it. But the man has a raft of lawyers and brokers sticking his money all over the place. Who knows how dodgy it all is? This is Walter after all.”