The Broken Road (3 page)

“Me too.” Ryen kissed him softly. “You, I mean. That ex of yours was an idiot to let you go when he still had you.”

“His loss.” Kason gazed at Ryen, thinking of what Lexie had said earlier. “I’m starting to realize I can do a hell of a lot better and deserve it too.”

“You do.” Ryen stood up. “Lemme get the gravy before it burns.”

“What are we having?”

“Chicken croquettes topped with gravy, mashed potatoes and parsnips with caramelized onion green beans.”

Kason whistled. “Damn, are you a chef?”

“I want to be.” Ryen went back over to the stove and turned the burner off.

“Cool.”

Falling silent, Kason moved back out of the way to watch Ryen effortlessly put their plates together. He followed him to the dining area and parked under the dark wood table. Ryen poured him a glass of red wine. They toasted to new beginnings, then Ryen waited expectantly as Kason took a bite of the croquette. It was delicious and practically melted in his mouth. If Ryen was trying to seduce him with the meal, it was going to be easy. He was a sucker for good food.

“I’ve never tasted anything this delicious.” Kason shoveled in another bite. “Wow.”

Ryen beamed as he picked up his fork. “And there’s dessert too.”

“Oh, my God, really?” Ryen was spoiling him and he loved it. “You know you’re going to get lucky tonight, right?”

“I was hoping I would.” Ryen winked at him. “Chocolate-dipped strawberries sound good?”

Covering a moan by drinking the wine, Kason nodded as he pictured licking the chocolate from Ryen’s fingers. “Really good.”

They started talking as they ate, sharing and getting to know each other. Ryen told him more about himself, Logan and his family.

“Logan always had my back,” Ryen said, voice strained. “When I told my parents I was gay, my dad nearly disowned me… Logan wouldn’t let him. Said if Dad did that he’d lose both his sons.”

“Wow, Logan was an awesome brother.” Kason reached over and squeezed Ryen’s hand. “My mom knew before I did that I was gay. Lexie swears she did too. They were both supportive. I can’t imagine what you went through with your dad.”

“It was rough, but I know he loves me even if he doesn’t understand.” Ryen cleared his throat. “What about your dad?”

“Split when I was a baby so I guess I’ll never know what he would think. Not that I would care anyway.” Kason decided a change in subject was needed. “Tell me more about joining the Marines.”

It turned out that Ryen was two years older than Kason. He recalled some of his better times in the Marines. “Afterward I became passionate about cooking. After losing Logan and being discharged, it gave me an outlet and was a big stress reliever.”

Kason could relate. “Writing has been my outlet since the accident. I used to work in a business firm’s IT department, but afterward I wanted to go after my dream and do something that made me happy, y’know?” His settlement from the injury had allowed him to quit and do that. He also built websites and did graphic design, which gave him a steady income.

“Yeah, I do.”

“You know what I really miss?”

“What’s that?”

“Playing baseball. I was a right fielder in an amateur league. That used to be my passion,” Kason admitted with a sigh.

“I’m sorry you can’t play anymore.” Ryen twined their fingers together and kissed Kason’s palm. “Will you tell me about what happened? Don’t leave anything out, I wanna know.”

It was tough to talk about, but he was ready to tell Ryen because it was the first time Kason felt like someone outside of his family actually wanted to understand rather than pity him or act like they cared when they didn’t.

“I’ll never forget that night,” Kason whispered. “It was like two a.m., and I got a call from my buddy, Milo. He had gotten into this huge fight with his boyfriend who had left him stranded outside a club. I was scared for him so I promised I’d come get him. Blake wouldn’t go with me. He stayed home and said it was Milo’s problem, not his.”

“Jerk.”

“I remember the car hitting me from the side and then it’s all fuzzy.” Kason took a sip of wine to calm his nerves. The panic of that moment resurfaced and it was only Ryen who kept him from getting lost in it. “When I woke up, I heard Blake and Lex fighting. She said he should have been with me and he said…he said that he was glad he wasn’t because then we’d both be screwed.”

“Kason…” Ryen reached for his hand then growled. “You gotta give me his address so I can go kick his ass.”

“It wouldn’t do any good.”

“No, but I’d feel better.”

While he wasn’t a man of violence, Kason liked that Ryen was protective of him, yet he didn’t want him thinking he was weak or couldn’t take care of himself. “I could’ve done that if I wanted to, y’know.”

“I know.”

“He wasn’t worth it, though, and I knew then we wouldn’t last,” Kason admitted for the first time out loud. “He didn’t love me. If he did he would’ve said he should’ve been in that car or…”

“Taken your place in a heartbeat,” Ryen finished for him and he nodded.

Kason’s breath caught when Ryen leaned over to kiss him, lips lingering for a long minute, leaving Kason breathless and his heart thudding.

“I would have,” Ryen added. “That’s what you do for someone you care about, right?”

Finding it hard to speak, Kason kissed him again. He had never really believed that love could happen easily, that he could see a person and simply know, but he had never felt like this before. Never shown up day after day to talk to a cute guy and hoped he would notice the spark between them. He wasn’t the type to talk about his feelings or be affectionate, not until now. Since meeting Ryen, he realized that he had been wrong about a lot of things, and everything he’d thought he knew about love was wrong. It was going to take time, but Kason knew this was the start of something good. His past, his accident, Blake, everything he had been through didn’t matter anymore because it had led him here.

“There’s a big difference between the two of you. I wouldn’t want you to go through this.”

Ryen held onto his hand as they finished their meal. Afterward, Ryen got the strawberries and they took turns feeding each other the dessert, licking and kissing away the chocolate before Ryen suggested they move to the couch.

“So, you wanna watch a movie?”

“Sure. Do you have Netflix or something?” Kason joked. A movie was the last thing on his mind. He wanted Ryen and more of his kisses.

“Yep.” Ryen stopped Kason as he wheeled into the living room. He cupped the back of Kason’s head with his hand as he leaned down for a passionate kiss.

After wrapping his arms around Ryen’s neck, Kason kissed him back. Surprised and turned on, he was suddenly picked up by his waist and held against Ryen’s firm chest. He moaned when Ryen grabbed the back of his thighs, bending his legs so they went around Ryen as he carried Kason to the couch. The sheer strength and ease of it had Kason melting into Ryen’s embrace.

Ryen set him down then straddled his hips. Reaching for the hem of Kason’s shirt, he broke the kiss long enough to lift it over his head and toss it aside. The cool air hit Kason and he shivered, pressing into Ryen as his soon-to-be lover kissed along his jaw to his ear, nipping the lobe.

“Forget the movie. I wanna suck you off, baby.”

“Fuck, yes.” Kason dropped his head back on the couch as Ryen continued on his path, kissing his neck. He nipped and sucked at his throat, leaving what was sure to be a hickey later. Ryen slid off his lap, dropping to his knees on the floor as he helped Kason spread his legs.

Splaying his hands on Kason’s hips, Ryen kissed his chest. He moved to the left, drawing a nipple into his mouth and tonguing it. Kason gasped and tangled his fingers in Ryen’s hair, pressing him closer to show he wanted more. He whimpered in disappointment when Ryen let go, only to cry out again when Ryen latched onto his other nipple, giving it the same treatment and making Kason’s whole body thrum with pleasure. He watched through hooded eyes as Ryen kissed down his stomach and pulled him toward the edge of the couch.

Ryen undid the button then lowered the zip of his jeans. Kason was already half-hard and he could feel the pre-cum staining his briefs as Ryen laved his cock through the thin cotton.

“Oh, God.”

It had been so long. So long since anyone had given him pleasure. For a moment that insecurity came back. The disappointment in Blake’s eyes as he’d had trouble getting aroused swam before him. The upset at not having full control of his legs, the inability to wrap them around his partner, or drop to his knees… Blake had hated that he wasn’t the same in bed as before. He had said so repeatedly. He loosened his grip on Ryen.

“What is it? Did I do something wrong?” Ryen rubbed his hip, his eyes full of concern.

“Sometimes I need a little extra simulation,” he whispered, trying to hide his embarrassment. “I’m sorry if I—”

“Hey, what are you apologizing to me for?” Ryen kissed his stomach. “Didn’t it feel good? I don’t mind taking my time with you, baby. We got all night to do whatever we want.”

“I can’t do some things,” he said in a rush, closing his eyes as he felt the hot sting of tears. “I don’t want you to be disappointed—”

“Stop.” Ryen surged up and cupped his face. “Open your eyes and look at me, please.”

Kason wasn’t sure he wanted to see the letdown in Ryen’s eyes, but he did as instructed, surprised to only see tenderness and a little confusion.

“You are gorgeous and it’s making me crazy, you all laid out here like a buffet for me, but if you need to stop, we can. I understand.”

“I don’t want to stop.” Kason bit his lip. “I just don’t know if I’m enough for you.”

“Why? Because we’re going to have to get a little innovative when we have sex?” Ryen rested his forehead against Kason’s.

He nodded but Ryen kissed him before he could speak. “I don’t care about that.” He lifted his shirt off and over his head. “I’m not perfect either.”

Ryen’s confidence vanished in that moment as he bared himself to Kason. “See?”

Dropping his gaze, Kason followed the path of his eyes with his hands. There was a smattering of dark chest hair that he couldn’t help but run his fingers through, causing Ryen’s mocha-brown nipples to harden under his touch. Caressing Ryen, he took in the scars crisscrossing the man’s stomach, faded white against his tan skin. They were obviously from the IED explosion Ryen had survived. The scars didn’t matter or detract from Ryen’s attractiveness. They were just a part of him that reminded Kason how easily life could change and that not a second should be wasted. He kissed the corner of Ryen’s mouth as Ryen shivered under his touch. Kason continued to run his hands all over Ryen, wanting to know every inch of him.

“Maybe not, but you’re pretty damn close, and gorgeous too.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” Ryen put his hands over Kason’s. “I don’t care if your legs don’t move like they should. We can work around that easily. The only thing that matters to me is making you feel good so we both have a good time here.” He brushed their lips together. “Let me erase these doubts, baby. I can show you that this is no problem.”

Kason could see that Ryen meant every word. He needed to stop worrying about the past and Blake. It would do no good and only ruin this. He didn’t want that, maybe it was too soon, but he was falling in love with Ryen, right now as he held onto him, and he didn’t want to lose this. He wanted the new beginning like he had thought of earlier. A chance to be happy again and not feel so undesirable. “Show me.” He tenderly kissed Ryen. “Please?”

“With pleasure,” Ryen said, dropping back down to his knees.

* * * *

They moved from the couch after giving each other blowjobs. Ryen carried him to bed, laid him down, and stripped them both of their clothes.

Propping himself up on his elbows, Kason watched Ryen dig out an unopened box of condoms and lube from the nightstand.

“So, baby, tell me what’s the best way to make you comfortable?” Ryen asked.

“I, uh, I don’t know,” Kason whispered, trying to not let insecurities surface again. “I haven’t had full on sex since I got hurt.” He wasn’t going to ruin the mood and think about why. Nope, this was his chance at a new start and he actually felt comfortable with Ryen doing this. He knew he was safe.

Ryen didn’t seem all that surprised by what he had admitted. “First time then, that’s sexy.”

He really didn’t know how Ryen managed it but that got him to smile. “You’re gonna have to do a lot of the work. I…”

“Hey.” Ryen cupped his chin. “You’re not work. Just talk to me, yeah? I’m thinking on your side with me behind your gorgeous ass. How’s that sound?”

“Good,” Kason breathed. He realized that way he could hopefully give pleasure to Ryen as well. “I, uh, I can feel some but you’ll have to be careful.”

“Yeah, I figured. That’s why I’m going to prep you nice and slow.” Ryen climbed onto the bed. “All I want is for you to tell me what feels good, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Kason agreed with a smile.

“We had fun a few minutes ago, right?”

Kason nodded—a hell of a lot of fun. “Yeah, I loved tasting you.”

“And you could tell I enjoyed it.” Ryen caressed his face. “Just like I’m going to enjoy this. You know how many times I’ve thought about it?”

“As many as I have?”

“Yep.” Slowly, Ryen began kissing Kason. He started with his forehead, than both of his eyelids, over his cheeks, the tip of his nose, and his jawline. He paused to kiss the spot behind and below each ear before ravaging his neck, leaving a trail of love bites above and below his collarbone.

Kason had no idea he was so sensitive there but he loved it. He moaned Ryen’s name and urged him further down by tugging on his hair. Ryen continued to taste every inch of Kason’s body. He licked along each collarbone then trailed kisses over Kason’s chest, stopping to lave a nipple and capture it with his teeth. Kason hissed as Ryen worked each nipple into a hardened peak.

“More, Ryen,” Kason pleaded. He was getting hard and could feel pleasure building up like he thought it never would again. “Please?”