Best Laid Plans Page 34

  Although she wouldn’t touch the tip when precome oozed from the slit. He’d liked the feel of his own thumb rubbing the fluid onto the crown, but if his girlfriend hadn’t cared to do it, he wouldn’t pressure her.

  Josh picked up the lube, popped the top, and squirted some onto his palm, and Mopp watched, intrigued by his actions. He jumped when Josh’s big hand covered the condom with the slick stuff and gave his dick a squeeze. Mopp had been hard before, but now it felt like his dick was a steel bar.

  Josh patted his ass. “I need you to move.”

  “Am I too heavy?”

  “No.” Josh grinned at him and ran his palm up and down Mopp’s arm. “Not at all. It’ll be a little easier if your legs are between mine.”

  “Okay.” They were going to make love face to face! Mopp changed his position and then ducked his head and planted a kiss on Josh’s lips. “You just have to tell me what I should do.”

  “I think I’d rather show you.”

  “Show me?”

  Josh braced his feet on the mattress, let his thighs fall open, and reached down to spread his ass cheeks apart.

  Mopp had never seen anyone’s hole before, much less one belonging to such a beautiful man. It was pale beige and glistened with lubricant.

  “I prepped myself in the bathroom.”

  “Is that one of the flavored lubes?”

  “No.”

  “Oh.”

  “Are you disappointed?”

  “Yeah. Kind of.” He’d wondered what it would be like to lick that spot.

  Josh looked as if Mopp had given him the best gift. “We can try them out once we get home.”

  “We can?”

  “Sure. As long as you… uh… want to.”

  Mopp let out a soft whoop, leaned forward to kiss him, and then eased back. “Okay, now what do I do?”

  “You put your cock in my ass.”

  Mopp turned his head and gently bit Josh’s thigh.

  “Hey!”

  “That was tacky.”

  “But true.”

  “Shut up. You’re talking about the man I love.”

  Josh had opened his mouth to say something more, and Mopp was pleased to see his words did shut him up.

  He was more than pleased when Josh rocked back and opened himself to him. He couldn’t help staring at Josh’s hole. It was so small, and while Mopp’s dick wasn’t porn-star-huge, he still wondered how Josh could comfortably take him.

  He stuck a finger in his mouth, got it good and wet, and then used it to explore the pale beige pucker. It just took a bit of pressure before it accepted his finger up to his first knuckle.

  “Oh!” The interior wall was smooth and hot, and slick from the lube Josh had used. Mopp twisted his finger, and was rewarded with a rough groan when he found Josh’s prostate.

  “Y-you did that on purpose!”

  “I did.”

  “How did you know about that?”

  “I studied about it.”

  “When did you have the time? I mean, it’s only been a few days, and so much has happened.”

  “That doesn’t mean I wasn’t curious before Friday.” He hadn’t said anything at the time because so much had been going on. And frankly, his head had hurt too much.“Excuse me?”

  He met Josh’s puzzled gaze. “I’ve been living with a family of gay men for about ten months. They were always so hot for each other, and even if I wasn’t interested in them, doesn’t it make sense I’d want to know why?” And once he’d learned about the spot that made men so happy to be men, he’d gone looking for it himself. He’d never considered asking Jan to massage it, because for all her experience, there were still things she wouldn’t do.

  “Mopp, you’re killing me!”

  “Hmm? Oh, sorry.” He eased his finger out of the snug channel, then took the base of his dick in his hand and brought it to Josh’s hole. He rubbed it around the puckered opening.

  “Mopp.” Josh dragged his fingernails over Mopp’s flank.

  “Yes, sir.” He began a slow, steady push, and as with his finger, there was a little resistance before the ring of muscle yielded and let him in.

  And then… Oh God, then the heat nearly overcame him as Josh tightened his muscles around Mopp’s dick. Heat ran from his tailbone, up his spine, and threatened to explode out of the top of his head.

  So this was what it was like. No wonder Tad and Rush couldn’t keep their hands off each other. As for Mr. Jackson and JT, they were… they’d been more discreet, but Mopp could recall times when Mr. Jackson would announce abruptly that he needed to get back to the ranch because the printer was on the fritz. The men knew—and if they didn’t, they should—that Mr. Jackson had no clue how to even install an ink cartridge. But JT was at the ranch, and he never said no to Mr. Jackson.

  “Harder, Mopp. I’m not made of spun glass.” Josh wrapped his legs around Mopp’s waist and tugged him forward.

  Mopp braced his palms on Josh’s shoulders and stared into his blue eyes. “I want to make this last.”

  “I… I don’t think you can.” Josh’s internal muscles squeezed Mopp’s dick rhythmically. He wrapped his arms around Mopp and held him tight while he shot his climax all over his chest and Mopp’s abdomen. “Oh God, I’m so sorry.”

  “You came? I made you come without even touching you?” Mopp lost his head and began pounding into the man beneath him.

  It didn’t take long, just a handful of strokes, before Mopp exploded into the condom. He shivered and groaned and collapsed on to Josh.

  “I’m sorry. I really did want to make this last.”

  “We are a pair, aren’t we? I have more to apologize than you do. I’m twice your age and should have better control.”

  Mopp pinched his hip. “We’ll just have to practice. After all, we have all the time in the world.”

  Josh sighed. “We really don’t.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. Are you?”

  “Well…”

  “And don’t give me that bologna about you being older than me.”

  “All right. In that case, I’m not going anywhere either.”

  “Okay, there you have it. We’ll get back to Savannah, and as soon as I’m sure JT doesn’t need me at the ranch, I’ll pack up and move in with you.”

  Josh was quiet, and Mopp felt his stomach tie itself into knots again. Had he jumped the gun?

  “Josh? Look, if you’d rather not… We can see each other on the weekend or… or whenever it suits you. I’m sure it’ll be okay with JT if I stay on at the ranch.”

  “But it wouldn’t be okay with me.” Josh raised Mopp’s face and grinned up at him. “Once we’d caught our breath, I was going to suggest you consider moving in with me.” He ran his fingers through Mopp’s hair. “Billy Bob—”

  “You never call me that.”

  “I think when I’m about to make a declaration of love, I should be more formal than usual.”

  “Really? I mean… you’d said. And I love you too.” To Mopp’s delight, he felt his dick twitch with renewed interest.

  Josh yawned. “I’m sorry. This has been a long weekend.”

  “You can say that again. And you need some rest.” He could wait for another round of lovemaking.

  “Still don’t know why you’d want me.”

  Mopp eased out of him. “Stay put. I’ll be right back.” He went into the bathroom, disposed of the condom, then ran a washcloth under the warm water and wiped himself down. He rinsed the washcloth, wrung it out, and went back into the bedroom.

  Josh sprawled across the bed in all his naked glory. And he was sound asleep.

  Mopp gave a soft chuckle. “Oh, sweetheart.” He removed all trace of come from his lover’s dick and torso, then returned the washcloth to the bathroom, and slipped the stone heart ba
ck over his head. He made his way back to bed and gazed down at his lover.

  Why do I want you? Oh, Josh. What’s not to want, you beautiful man? The other night… Mopp had just looked at him and seen something he hadn’t expected to see. Not the kind, caring man who was Josh Cooper—who he’d always liked and admired—but the man who turned him on something fierce.

  He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the corner of Josh’s mouth, then climbed onto the bed, pulled up the comforter, and curled into the big body lying there.

  Chapter 32

  RUSH PAUSED AT the bedroom door and glanced back at his husband. His heart turned over at the sight of Tadder as he lay on their bed, taking up most of the space despite the fact it was a king-size bed. Tadder hadn’t been sleeping well—he’d had another restless night, even though Rush had done everything he could to give him some comfort. These past few days had been rough on him. He’d always been a daddy’s boy, and the loss of his father had hit him hard.

  For the first time in his life, Rush was grateful that his own family wasn’t close. He would have been sorry for the passing of his parents and his brothers, but frankly, he wouldn’t have grieved over it. And now, at least, he had people who cared about him: Tadder and Becca and JT, Mr. Jack—

  Rush felt the burn behind his eyes. He blinked furiously, then glanced at the clock on the nightstand.

  It was seven a.m. He’d better get breakfast started. The family needed to be at the funeral home before nine. They’d get to say one final good-bye, and then the casket would be closed, placed in the hearse, and taken to the Unitarian church Tadder and his sister had chosen.

  At least Mr. Jack’s brother would be there, even though his father, mother, and sister wouldn’t. And neither would Tadder’s mother, Mr. Jack’s first wife. Tadder had tried to introduce them once, not long after he’d asked Rush to marry him, but she got this pinched look to her mouth and turned away. Another reason for him to take good care of his husband.

  Although going by the turnout for the viewing, there should be quite a crowd for the service and the funeral. Mr. Jack would have gotten a real kick out of it.

  Rush let himself out of their bedroom. He paused as he pulled the door closed behind him and sniffed the air. Bacon?

  He hurried down the hallway that led to the kitchen at the far end of the house. The scent of frying bacon grew stronger the closer he got, along with the sound of music and a low-toned conversation.

  He pushed open the kitchen door to find JT sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in his hand and a plate of Eggo waffles before him. Mopp was taking a plate of bacon from the microwave, while Mr. Josh put more waffles into the toaster.

  “Good morning, everyone. When did you get back?”

  “Morning, Rush. Just before midnight,” Mopp said. “We stopped at Josh’s place so we could shower and change.”

  Rush looked them over. While Mr. Josh was dressed in a suit, Mopp wore baggy sweatpants and a shirt that hung almost past his knees. “I see.”

  Mopp blushed. “I’d better head for the bunkhouse and change into something suitable for… for later.”

  Hmm. Tadder had mentioned Mopp and Mr. Josh kissing before they left to bring Miz Babe and Denny home. He’d known Mr. Josh was pining for Mopp, but everyone had been certain Mopp was straight.

  “Mopp and Josh have a little something they plan to share with us,” JT said as he smeared his waffles with butter and then drowned them in maple syrup.

  “What’s that?” Tadder came into the kitchen and made a beeline for the bacon. He seemed in better spirits as he took a strip and folded it into his mouth. He smiled sheepishly at Rush. “I couldn’t sleep without you beside me. Besides, the smell of bacon taunted me.”

  Rush went to him and brushed a kiss over his lips. “How are you?”

  “Better, I think, but I feel like I should be falling apart.”

  JT pushed his chair back, rose, and joined them, hugging them both. “It won’t get better—you’ll always miss your daddy, but as time passes, it will get easier to bear.”

  “Can I get in on the hugs?” Becca had just come in, wearing a red satin robe.

  JT turned and extended his arm, and Becca hurried to join them.

  “You’ll stay with us, won’t you, JT?” Becca worried her lip.

  “I will. You’re the children of my heart, and I won’t be going anywhere.”

  “What are we going to do with the business?”

  “We’ll have to discuss it with Mr. Jack’s lawyer, but I can handle the bookkeeping end of it with JT’s help,” Rush said.

  “I’ll help as much as I can with the construction end,” Mopp volunteered. “Mr. Jackson had me working to become a foreman on a couple of the last jobs.”

  “I thought you were going to college.” JT frowned at him.

  “Yeah, but if the family needs help now…”

  Mopp was such a nice guy, willing to put his education on hold like that. And that reminded him. “What did you have to tell us, Mopp?” Rush asked.

  Mopp blushed and cleared his throat. “I’m moving in with Josh. I want to thank you for all your kindnesses and—”

  “Oh, no, you can’t say something like that and not explain!” Becca pointed out.

  “What’s to explain?”

  “You’re straight.”

  “Yes. And…?”

  “But you’re going to live with Mr. Josh?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you’re straight!” Tadder looked adorably confused, and all Rush wanted to do was take him back to bed and love him.

  “Apparently not where I’m concerned.” Mr. Josh was blushing too, but he looked happier than Rush could remember seeing him.

  “No.” Mopp went to him and leaned against him.

  “You two are so sweet, and I’m very happy for you both.” Becca kissed Mopp’s cheek and then Mr. Josh’s. “But I think you’d better get those Eggos out of the toaster before they burn.”

  Epilogue

  DEUCE TOOK OUT his cell phone and dialed Dr. Gautier. Finchley answered.

  “What is it?” he asked impatiently.

  “Tell Dr. G. the boy is in the wind.” No one Deuce had spoken to would even admit to seeing the boy and his mother, and short of torture, he didn’t see any way to get the information. The woman didn’t even own a cell phone, which would have enabled him to track her calls through cell phone towers up and down the east coast.

  And Kilroy, the deputy sheriff, was less than useless, which didn’t surprise Deuce, considering who’d hired him.

  “Dammit. Dr. Gautier isn’t going to be happy about this.”

  No shit. “What does she want me to do?”

  “Hold a second.”

  Deuce expected dead air, but instead, he overheard the muffled conversation between Finchley and the boss.

  “Pan, that wetback who works for you is on the phone.”

  “I don’t have illegal aliens on the payroll.”

  Finchley’s put-upon sigh was audible. “I’m talking about that Deuce character.”

  “Ah. You meant wet boy.”

  “He’s hardly a boy.”

  “That’s true, but he does do excellent wet work.”

  Deuce was glad to hear her approval. She wasn’t one to praise the men who worked for her, letting the amount she paid them do the talking for her instead.

  “What does he have for me?” she asked Finchley.

  Okay, this was where the shit hit the fan.

  “Nothing. The boy is gone. Although I have to wonder how a boy and a woman could be misplaced so thoroughly.”

  “Let me have the phone.” There was grumbling, and then, “Deuce? This is true?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry, Dr. Gautier.”

  “I want that boy.”

  “I’m awa
re of that.”

  “All right. We’ll need to regroup. The boy was born in New York City, so I want you to come here immediately and start the search. If you’re unsuccessful, you’ll expand to the west.”

  “Not north or south?” Heading south would have given him the opportunity to connect with Trip.

  “No. I’ll have others deal with that.”

  “Okay.” Those were the breaks, he guessed. “I’ll get started as soon as I get to New York.”

  “And when will that be?”

  He scrubbed his face. It was already late in the day. “I’ll catch a flight and arrive sometime tomorrow.”

  “Excellent. Now, was there anything else you feel I should know?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “All right, then. You’re to make sure you keep me in the loop.”

  “Will do, Dr. G.”

  She hung up, and he shut his phone, then ran his fingers through his hair.

  Yeah, head up to NY and start trying to find that needle in the haystack.

  That was the plan.

  Problem was, even the best laid plans had a tendency to go haywire.

  About the Author

  Tinnean has been writing since the 3rd grade, where she was inspired to try her hand at epic poetry. Fortunately, that epic poem didn’t survive the passage of time; however, her love of writing not only survived but thrived, and in high school she became a member of the magazine staff, where she contributed a number of stories.

  It was with the advent of the family’s second computer – the first intimidated everyone – that her writing took off, enhanced in part by fanfiction, but mostly by the wonder that is copy and paste.

  While involved in fandom, she was nominated for both Rerun and Light My Fire Awards. Now she concentrates on her original characters and has been published by Nazca Plains, Dreamspinner, JMS Books, and Wilde City, as well as being self-published. Recent novels have received honorable mention in the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Rainbow Awards.

  A New Yorker at heart, she resides in SW Florida with her husband and two computers.