Category: Flash Fic Friday

**As promised, here’s the second episode in Garrett and Andrew’s continuing saga.  Let’s join them as they finish decorating the tree.  Oh and also?  NSFW!!**

“Tell me about this one.”

I chuckled but didn’t turn from where I was hanging an intricate glass snowflake on one of the upper branches. “Not every one has a story,” I said gently.  I loved that Andrew was asking.  He’d really done his best to get into the spirit of decorating the tree.  Mostly that entailed him unwrapping ornaments and handing them to me to hang on the tree.  And once I told him the stories surrounding the first couple of ornaments, he’d asked after each one.

“I bet this one does though,” he said, and I heard the amusement in his tone.  I turned to see which one he had, and a grin broke out on my face.

My name spelled out in polymer clay, each letter a different color of the rainbow.  The G was a little fatter than the rest of the letters, and the last T was a bit off kilter.  The ribbon hanging  between the two R’s was tattered but still strong, yellowed with age and no longer the pristine white it had once been.  I took it reverently from Andrew’s fingers and turned to place it gently on the tree, front and center, in it’s usual place of honor.

“My mom made me that one,” I said, tracing the letters with a finger.  “I was ten.  She was trying to let me know it was okay to tell them who I was.”

Andrew’s arms  slid around my waist, and he pressed a kiss on my temple even as he snugged me back against his chest.  “Do you get your love of Christmas from her?”

I blinked.  Not the question I’d been expecting.  But I knew Andrew was still working on being comfortable with a family that was so accepting.  It was a foreign concept, one he had no first hand knowledge of, and I had to be patient while he made peace with it.  I settled back against him and answered him.

“Actually, no.  Mom likes the holidays just fine.  But my utter love of all things Christmas came from my dad.”

Andrew let out a startled laugh, and I could tell what he was thinking even before he spoke.  “Stoic, grumpy Garrett Senior loves Christmas?”

I turned my head far enough so I could see his face, and then gave him a huge grin.  “Oh yeah.  Not that he says it out loud or anything.  But Dad’s the one that taught me decorating the tree so early, decorating everything that stands still actually.  Dad’s the one that will be playing Christmas music from now until Christmas Day.  And don’t even get me started on his movie collection.”

Andrew was completely nonplussed.  It was all over his face. I did my best to rein in my mirth.  I didn’t want him to think I was laughing at him.  Instead, I pulled out of his embrace, then took his hand and tugged him back a few steps so that we could see the entire tree.  I let out a deep, content sigh.  It was beautiful, and I loved the way it looked in the corner of our small but cozy living room.

“Looks pretty damn good,” Andrew murmured.  He slid his hand up over my shoulder and into my hair, and I all but melted.  It was gorgeous, and I was so happy.  But what made it so beautiful, what made this tree so special, was that we had done it together.

“You know,” I began, turning into him until I could straddle his thigh.  I bit my lip as I looked up at him through my lashes. “I’ve always had this fantasy.”

He sucked in a harsh breath through his nose, and I watched as his pupils dilated, the black swallowing up the brown.  He grabbed onto my waist and pulled me in closer.  “Is that so?” he asked, his voice dipping lower.  I fought a shiver.  “Why don’t you tell me about it?”

There were about a dozen things I could have said.  I could have made the words sweet and flowery.  Made it seem like it was a celebration or a necessity.  But I couldn’t think when he was looking at me like that, so I went with the bald truth.  “I’ve always wanted to get fucked on the floor, next to a lit up Christmas tree, by the man I love.”

Like magic, I was naked, and an equally naked Andrew was biting at my lips at the same time he was trying to guide me down to lay on the rug by the tree.  It was a more difficult task than he envisioned, I think, because I had to shoo him off to get lube in order to get the job done.  He ran, and when he returned, I was spread out and wanting, my knees drawn up and showing everything off.  Andrew’s moan was deep and heartfelt. He pounced, his kisses devouring and powerful, even as he pushed slick fingers into my body.  I wasn’t usually a passive lover, but all I could do was spread my knees wider and take it.  I loved it when he got growly and aggressive, but it was made even better by the sparkling multi-colored and white lights on the gorgeous tree.

But the tree couldn’t hold my interest for long.  Not with Andrew methodically fingering my hole, making me whimper and whine and damn near beg for it to be his cock instead.  Finally, he took pity on me, and moved between my legs, hooking one arm underneath my knee and positioning us just right.  I felt the head of his dick bump against my hole, then push ever so slightly without breaching me.  I whined in the back of my throat, and Andrew gripped my hair in his fist, then tugged and turned my head so I could see nothing but the tree.

With one long, forceful thrust, he slid into my body and I just howled.

Andrew’s rhythm was solid and quick right from the start.  Every time I tried to turn my head to look at him, he tightened his grip on my hair.  I scrambled for purchase, my fingers digging into his shoulders, arms, and hips.  Anything I could get a hold of.  Andrew knew how to play my body, and he knew all the best spots.  He could have me whining and begging for hours, drawing out our pleasure, until I nearly exploded with my release.  That didn’t seem to be his goal tonight.  Instead, he went right for the angle he knew would drive me wild, and that coupled with the hair pulling and the tree, I was ready to come embarrassingly fast.  I tried to hold it back, but Andrew grabbed onto my cock with a sure grip, rubbed his thumb on my frenulum at the same time he thrust in hard and growled at me.

I was a goner.

My entire body contracted as I came, shooting spurt after spurt of cum all over his hand and both our stomachs.  I was helpless as the orgasm racked my body, but as soon as I had my wits back, I squeezed my ass muscles at the same time I wiggled my hips.  Andrew had been close already, and that was enough to throw him over.  I held him as he shook and came, and then pulled him on top of me so he would stay in my ass when he was done.

I kissed his sweaty hair, his ear, his neck.  He nuzzled and kissed right back.  When he started to go soft, he reached down and touched my hole as he slid out so he could feel his cum on my skin.  It was something he’d done ever since the first time we’d gone bare; the night he’d moved in.  I spread my legs as far as they would go so he’d have plenty of time to play.

“I love you,” I murmured, then gasped as he slid his fingers into my tender ass.

“I know. I love you too.”  Suddenly he looked up, and a grin bloomed on his lips.  “Decorating the tree was the best idea we ever had.”

I could do nothing but laugh, and pull him close.

With heavy steps, I climbed the two flights of stairs that led to my apartment.  We’d been fighting before I left on Wednesday to drive the five hours back to my childhood home to spend the holiday with my family.  We’d barely talked since.  I’d wanted him to come with me, had reassured him up and down that my family would love to have him, but he refused to come.  His own family had turned their back on him the moment they found out he was gay.  And despite my family being supportive of me, of knowing who I was and loving me just as hard as always, he didn’t want any part of my family or the holiday.

I wouldn’t have gotten so upset if he’d been logical.  We’d only been together six months, and living together for barely six weeks.  I understood that even though he was committed to me, to making us work and thrive, that he was gun shy where family came in.  If he’d left it at that, I’d have been disappointed but understanding.  But my boy had a temper, and when I’d pushed too far in a last ditch effort to get him to come along, he’d snapped.  The comments about my family faking their acceptance were hurtful, but even then, I’d at least understood where he was coming from.  When he said he’d never spend a holiday with my family, and that he wouldn’t even be celebrating any holiday at all, I’d lost my own cool.  He knew how I felt about holidays, and how much I loved Thanksgiving and Christmas in particular.  I’d stormed out, leaving him steaming, and driven away.

I’d spent the last two days missing him like crazy.

We’d texted a little, talking about nonsense things,  but neither one of us had called.  Neither one of us apologized either.  I didn’t know what I was walking into.  But I knew I didn’t want to give him up.  We were amazing together, and an argument even as big as this one, didn’t diminish that.  He’d texted his love, and I’d returned the sentiment.  I had to have faith in what we were building, and that we’d work through this now that we’d both had time to calm down.  I’d left early this morning, earlier than I normally would have, just so I could get back to him and try.

I took a deep breath before I pushed the key into the lock, turning the deadbolt on the steel reinforced door, and pushing it open with my shoulder.

“Babe?” I called out, dropping my duffle in the entryway and toeing off my sneakers.  I kept hold of the bag with the leftovers.  My mother had thoughtfully packed them, and I knew he’d devour them once he saw what was inside.  “I have good food and kisses for you.”

I tried for playful even though he’d hadn’t responded.  I knew he was home.  His car was in the parking lot.  I’d looked. I shrugged out of my coat and hung it and my scarf in the tiny hall closet, then took another deep breath before I turned the corner into our apartment proper.

I stopped dead at the sight before me.  He was standing in the middle of the living room surrounded by the big plastic bins in which I carefully stored the Christmas decorations every year. He’d shoved the couch down the wall and set the tree up in the corner.  I had a fake one because I was allergic to the real thing, but it worked out well because I could have it up longer.  He even had the lights untangled and laying on the end of the couch, ready to wrap around the tree.  My breath caught as I took it all in, and I started to tear up as I found his gaze again.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted, blushing hard.  He blew out a breath, and I knew from his expression just how sincere he was.  “For what I said and for how I acted.  I was wrong and I’m sorry and I want to spend all the holidays with you and your family.”

I took three steps to the left so that I could set my bag on the counter that separated the living room from the kitchen.  And then I launched myself at him, hugging him tightly, breathing him in.  The last couple of days had sucked, and I really thought he’d been serious about not celebrating holidays.  But here he was, ready to decorate for Christmas with me, knowing it was my tradition to do it the day after Thanksgiving and really get into the spirit of the season.

I pulled back and grinned, then took his face in my hands and kissed him hard.  It turned out I had even more to be thankful of than I thought.

**Since I was at the vet with one of my furbabies last night (he’s going to be fine, as you can see) I was inspired for today’s flash fic.  Enjoy!**

Simon was a huddled, quivering mass of fur.  He kept his body hunched over and his ears were plastered back against his skull.  He let me pet him, but he didn’t purr or rub into my hands like he normally did.  He was shedding like it was his job, too.  But I knew that was stress.  And the disdainful look in his eye was probably not me anthropomorphizing his supposed emotions either.

In Simon’s estimation, I was a very bad daddy for bringing him to the vet in the first place.

My cat was the love of my life though, and when he suddenly starting peeing on the area rug in the front room instead of the litter box, I was instantly concerned.  I thought, at first, that he was marking his territory.  A stray cat had been coming up to the window and hissing at my boy, and though Simon was giving back as good as he was getting, there wasn’t much he could do through the window.  But with the stray having moved on and Simon still doing his business on the rug, I’d called the vet and made an appointment.

Our regular vet was cutting back his hours, so we would be seeing the new guy.  If he ever came into the room.  The vet tech had been a sweet and understanding woman, but she’d walked out to get the vet almost fifteen minutes ago and Simon and I were still waiting.  Irritation was really starting to get the better of me when finally, the door opened.

I nearly swallowed my tongue.

Dr. Chrisman was probably my age, with a shock of dark hair and warm brown eyes.  He gave me a huge grin, followed swiftly by a bashful head dip.  The white lab coat did nothing to hide his fit and toned physique, and I didn’t even try to stop my blatant staring.  His gaze swept me from head to toe, and then he turned his attention to my cat still huddled on the table.

“So, Mr. Simon, you’re not feeling too well huh?” Dr. Chrisman murmured, keeping his voice low and soothing.  He looked in Simon’s mouth and then his ears.  “Tell me what’s been going on?”

It took me a moment to realize the beautiful vet was talking to me and not the cat.  Quickly and quietly, I relayed the issue as I had with the vet tech before.  The whole time, Dr. Chrisman kept murmuring and examining my cat, until finally he lifted Simon’s tail.  A moment later, he let the cat go, and Simon slunk closer to the end of the table so he could be near me.

“The good news is,” Dr. Chrisman said, walking to the counter and starting to write in the chart.  “—is that it’s just impacted anal glands.  We can take care of that tonight, and then give him a shot of antibiotics and steroids, and he’ll be a much happier kitty.”

The relief poured through my veins.  I’d had myself worked up for days, waiting for the appointment, convinced it was diabetes or renal failure or a massive tumor. “That’s it?”

Dr. Chrisman smiled.  “That’s it.  We’ll take care of it in no time.  I’m a master at anal glands.”

I choked on air and started coughing.  The vet looked concerned, and then when he realized what he said, he turned a gorgeous shade of red.  He dropped his gaze to my cat, scratched Simon’s ears, and then mumbled, “That came out wrong.  But we’ll get your cat fixed up.”

It didn’t take long for the vet and the tech to take care of Simon.  When my boy struggled to get away from whatever they were doing, my heart went out to him but I didn’t interfere.  I was assured by the once again smiling doctor that the incredibly strong odor was a good thing, and when he was finished, he washed his hands and leaned against the counter.

“I want to see him back in four weeks, just to check.  I think he’s going to be fine, but we’ll take a quick peek.”  The doctor kept talking, telling me about things I should watch for as Simon got older. I nodded along, relieved my boy was going to be okay.  But my attention was more fixed on his luscious mouth.  And then, because I did not miss the way the doctor kept checking me out and his intent, interested gaze as he talked, I took a deep breath and put on my best smile.

“And are there any rules about going out to dinner with your patient’s owner?”

Dr. Chrisman’s pleased expression let me know I’d made the right move.  “No.  No rules.  It’s definitely okay for that to happen.”

I grinned back, pleased.  I took a step closer, absently rubbing Simon’s ears.  “Good.  I’d hate to have to wait an entire month before seeing you again.”

The huge grin he gave me made having a sick cat almost worth it.

**Happy Halloween!  Play safe and enjoy the hell out of it.  And in the meantime, enjoy this fic about former lovers meeting again in a haunted house.**

Every year it was the same thing; cheesy theatrics, unimaginative soundtrack, and lame monsters.  But I couldn’t resist the draw of the haunted house.  It had been a staple of my October since I was a small child, when those kind of things scared the fuck out of me.  I loved being scared, and despite the fact that this place no longer did it for me, it still popped up in the same place every October and I still went with the same giddy anticipation I once had.

This year I was by myself.  It was the first time I hadn’t had a parent, friend, or boyfriend with me. Last year it had been Liam, and it had been my favorite year ever.  We’d gone in squealing and screaming, pretending we were terrified just so we could hang onto each other.  The sex when we finally got back to his place had been off the charts hot. But then only a week later, there’d been the big fight over the accidental tattoo and we’d parted ways.

There was a part of me that still hurt over that.

But a year had gone by and I was determined to put it behind me.  I bought my ticket and stood in line behind a gaggle of teenage girls.  It only took a few minutes for the line to move forward and I was left just outside, listening to the screams, howls, and squeals.  I couldn’t help the smile.  Though Halloween technically wasn’t until the next day, this was what the holiday was all about.

At least for me.

The bored looking teenager managing the door finally motioned me in and I crept over the threshold.  A familiar sense of anticipation warred with just a tiny bit of fear in my gut.  Things were going to be jumping out at me and I knew I would startle.  I just hoped I didn’t laugh.  That had gotten me kicked out two years ago.  Or was it three?

I shook my head.  It didn’t matter. The fun of it was in the getting scared, and I slowly walked down the dimly lit hallway, the fake fog rolling at my feet as creaks, bangs, and howling wind played.  A wisp of cobweb stroke along my arm and made me shiver.  I couldn’t help jerking back from the sensation.  A nervous chuckle as the cobweb clung, and a cold draft skittered up my spine.  I took a deep breath, but I only made it three steps before a low, sinister sounding voice spoke near my ear.

“I knew you’d come.”

My scream was cut off by a hand clapping against my mouth as another grabbed my bicep and yanked. I hand no choice but to stumble sideways through a hidden door, my heart pounding so hard I was sure it would break free from my chest.  I fought off my captor, anger welling up, and whirled to face him.

He pushed back the hood on his grim reaper cloak the moment I turned. Liam.  Looking as edible as ever despite the white and black makeup on his face.  It might have hidden who he was, but I knew those features intimately, had mapped them with fingers, lips, and tongue.  I knew that proud stubborn chin, and that silky black hair that fell to his collar. For a moment, I was swept away in nostalgia, of remembering how it had been between us.

A teenage scream broke me out of my reverie and I scowled even as I leaned against the wall.

“You have an explanation for accosting me in the haunted house?” I asked.  I kept my voice low in deference to what was happening on the other side of the door, but with each passing second my anger grew.

Liam shrugged, and by the tilt of his head, I knew he was blushing even though I couldn’t see it through the makeup.  “You wouldn’t take my calls.  And then you changed your number.  I didn’t want to show up and be all creepy at your apartment. But we never ran into each other and so, when I saw they were hiring for the haunted house, I figured it was my last chance.”

“Because that’s not creepy at all.”  My voice was full of sarcasm.

Liam gave a chuckle, and his expression said I was right. He took a step closer anyway, but I was glad he thought better of reaching out to touch.

“Yeah, well.  I knew you’d eventually show up here.  I thought maybe we could at least talk.”

Despite the makeup, he was still my Liam.  And despite the setting, despite the bangs, clangs, howls, just looking at him, being in the same space as him, relaxed something in me.  The six months before the “incident” had been so good.  I knew then we’d both walked away too quickly.  But was ambushing me in a haunted house the way to start again?

“Cy?” Liam’s voice was tentative, questioning.  Suddenly he sounded young, like the night we’d first kissed, and I couldn’t help the grin.

“I’ll meet you on the other side,” I said softly, and a horrific scream cut the air.  I grinned uncontrollably. “I’ll wait for you to be done for the night.”

“Fuck the job,” he whispered fervently.  He leaned forward to kiss me, and only remembered at the last second that his face was covered in grease paint.  “I only took it so I’d have a chance of seeing you.  I don’t need it.”

He grabbed my hand and started tugging.  But he was going in the opposite direction, away from the haunted out and out through a side door.  I planted my feet.  Liam looked back at me with a question in those deep brown eyes.

I took a step back toward the screaming and howling, and Liam immediately understood what I wanted. He pulled the hood back up, once again obscuring his face, then took my hand and led me back into the hall.

I screamed.  I jumped.  I clung to Liam with my entire body, pressing closer every change I got, whenever something grabbed at me.  I’d been right.  This was what Halloween was all about.

He was big.  All broad shouldered and long legged and barrel chested.  He was built like a defensive lineman, and the way he powered toward me, his face dark with anger, should have scared me.  I should have screamed or turned and ran in the other direction, weaving through the bodies and counting on my much smaller size to help me get away.  He was murderously, thunderously, angry and I should have been terrified of what he would do to me once he got his hands on me.

I wasn’t.  There was never a time I was afraid of that man, and when he got close enough, I opened my arms to receive him.  Because I knew the truth behind his expression.  He was angry, yes, but not at me.  He was ready to kill the  guy who had hit me.  I was safe.  I was always safe in his arms.

His big hands swept the length of my body, checking for injuries that his gaze could not discern.  I’d have a bruise from the seat belt, as well as other aches and pains I was sure, and though the car was pretty well dented, the air bag hadn’t even deployed.  I was barely hurt.  It wasn’t even worth talking about.

“You’re okay?” he finally asked.

I nodded and snuggled in when he pulled me close, loving the way he immediately put his face down against my neck and inhaled.  Standing on the side of the road where the accident had occurred, I was relieved that he gotten there so quickly.  I’d just gotten the all clear from the EMTs when he showed up.

Suddenly he lifted his head and squinted past my head. “That him?” He motioned with his chin.

I craned my neck to see the police putting the cuffed man in the back of the squad car.  One of the officers had told me earlier that the other driver had been texting, and that alcohol appeared to be involved as well.   At the time, the words hadn’t met much.  I think I was still in shock.  But seeing the man getting arrested, that made things all the more real.  It could have been so much worse.  Fatally worse.

“Take me home,” I breathed, clutching at his shoulders.  I would have climbed him if I could have.  “Please, honey.  I need to be home.”

He nodded, and kissed my temple.  Then he left me shivering on the sidewalk while he went to go talk to the police officer.  I could tell by the way his eyes narrowed and how he pulled himself up to his full height that he didn’t like whatever the man had said, but eventually, he turned and walked back to me.  He wrapped his arms around me with a defiant tilt of his head.  I didn’t care if he was making a statement of some sort. He was warm and he kept me safe.  That was all that mattered.

Eventually, my car was towed and we got to go home.  He helped me shower, made sure I ate some soup, and then he tucked me into bed.  It only took him a few minutes to join me, and I was quick to push into his arm.

“Not ever going to lose you.”  His voice was gruff.  He said it like a vow.

I smiled.  “No,” I agreed.  I yawned.  “I love you.”

“Me too, baby,” he said, rolling to squash me under him because he knew that’s what I needed.  I fell asleep a few minutes later, safe, warm, and loved.

**A quick word from Aaron and Lucas…**

“There’s something going on with your friend.”

I looked up from my phone, where a game I’d never admit to liking had my complete attention, and into Aaron’s beautiful gray eyes.  I didn’t often admit it out loud, but I loved looking at him.  He was just gorgeous, and everything about him just worked for me.  He didn’t even have to try to capture my attention and hold it.

“Lucas,” he chastised, a scowl creasing his features. “Are you listening to me?”

“Of course I am.” I said, even though I hadn’t been.  I tossed the phone onto the end table and spread out.  I was trying for enticing, hoping he’d forgive me for my distraction while at the same time taking me up on the offer I was presenting.  When he just continued to stare, I sighed and settled back against the arm of the couch.  “Which friend?”

“Dan,” Aaron said like it was just so obvious.  He sat with a huff on the end of the couch farthest from me.  But when I dropped one leg over the edge, Aaron immediately crawled between my thighs and leaned against my chest.  I wrapped him up tightly and kissed his temple. He was agitated, and I didn’t know why.

“There’s nothing wrong with Dan,” I assured him soothingly.  “He’s exactly the same as he’s always been.”

Aaron did the slow pan to look at me like I was crazy.

I grunted.  “What?”

“Some best friend you are,” he muttered, the scowl once again marring his features.

“You’re my best friend.”

He rolled his eyes, but at least I finally got a grin out of him. “Don’t be cute. You know what I mean.  I’m worried about Dan.”

Truth was I had noticed that Dan was acting differently the past few months.  It wasn’t anything big, and nothing that the casual observer would notice.  But I knew he’d been putting in some heavy thinking, because he always had a little V between his brows when he wasn’t in front of the camera.  He’d been keeping to himself more than was customary.  He usually invited us over to his little house for dinner at least once a week.  I actually had to put some thought into remembering when the last time we’d gone had been.

But Dan hadn’t shared whatever he was going through.  And if he hadn’t talked to me about things, then I knew he wasn’t ready to talk to anyone.  He needed time to work things out in his own mind, to get it right in his head, before he had any sort of conversations or made any declarations.

Given the direction of some of his lingering stares, I thought I might know what was going on in his thick skull.  But I wasn’t going to be presumptuous enough to guess.

“He’ll talk to us when he’s ready,” I told Aaron, pulling the man in tighter.  My man had a huge heart, and he was sensitive to others when they were in need.  I knew he and Dan had a great rapport, even if they were still working on becoming close.  Dan welcomed him in a way that I never had.  It was why Dan got the first kiss instead of me, albeit in front of the camera.

Aaron released a sigh and settled down, relaxing against me.  He was always so warm, and I relished it.

“I know,” he said softly.  “I just worry.”

“There’s nothing we can do about it until he’s ready to talk,” I said practically.  “But in the meantime, you can totally suck my cock.”

Aaron burst out laughing at the non sequitur, just like I’d wanted.  I couldn’t help but grinning in response.  He was just so dang pretty, and I loved seeing him so happy. My breath caught when he wiggled out of my embrace and landed on his knees on the floor, his hands immediately going to the button and zipper on my jeans.

“I love you,” he murmured, reaching in to stroke me.

I held back the moan long enough to say, “Love you back,” and then I was spreading my legs so he had more room to work. All thoughts of Dan, and everything else, fled in favor of my boyfriend’s warm, wet mouth.

**Are you curious to find out what’s going on with Dan? You’re in luck!  Coming December 13^th from Amber Allure, Something Like Peace!**

**Having just finished writing a novella, and taking some time off, and with the Admiral occupied with things that are other at the moment, I was told to write something that interested me.  But I couldn’t think of anything, and so, was going to take this Friday off.  Figured it wouldn’t hurt, and we’d all survive one week without a flash fic.  But well…then this happened.  So, for your enjoyment, a short little scene.**

It was a dark and stormy night.

I didn’t much care for the dark to begin with, and I fucking hated storms.  So despite having seen my thirty-third birthday, I was huddled under the covers like a four-year-old girl.  Every flash of lightning that penetrated my blanket armor made me cringe, and the ensuing boom of thunder happening at practically the same time was enough to make me shudder.  The fear might be irrational, but it was real.

The worst of storm only lasted twenty-seven minutes (I’d been keeping track) and the flashes and horrible crashes started to taper off.  No longer a constant barrage, there were whole seconds between the lightning strike and the rumble of thunder.  The interval drew farther apart, and now there were stretches of thirty or sixty seconds where all I could hear was the pouring rain. I stayed where I was, unable to relax until the storm had well and truly moved on.

The sudden ringing of my phone scared me badly enough that I shrieked.  And then I scrambled out of the safety of my blankets to answer it.

“Hey,” he said as soon as I’d answered.  “You okay?”

I was going to say yes. I was going to lie and play it up like I was fine.  He didn’t need to know how badly I was affected.  I was going to do it, and then another loud crash echoed and I couldn’t suppress the tiny whimper in time. He heard it, like he always did, and I knew lying was futile.

“Nope,” I said, releasing a shaky breath.  “Nope, nope, nope.”

His chuckle was warm, and it did a fair bit to relax me enough though he was laughing at me.  I loved his laugh.  It was the first thing that drew me to him.

“Come let me in,” he said, his voice a deep rumble far better than any thunder.  I was up and moving almost before the words registered.  It took me seconds to run to the door.  I fumbled a little as I tried to get the deadbolt unlocked, and then managed to work it and pull the door open.

He was a bit bedraggled, but none too worse for the wear.  When he saw me, he smiled, his entire face lighting up.  I took an easy breath for the first time in more than an hour, and practically threw myself into his arms the moment he crossed the threshold.  I didn’t care that he was wet, only that his strength wrapped around me and shored me up.

“You shouldn’t have come out in this,” I murmured meaning it.  The thought of him driving in that storm made my stomach twist painfully.  “But I’m so glad you’re here.”

He leaned back, and then pushed my hair back from my face so he could cup my head and tilt it back so he could really look at me.

“You needed me.  Where else was I going to be?”

I sighed, grabbing onto his wrists and locking my gaze on his.  “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he said, and I heard how much he meant it. He bent and kissed me, and then tugged me toward the bedroom.  “I need to get out of these clothes.  And while I’m naked, perhaps we could do something about getting you relaxed and sleepy, and nothing thinking about the storm at all.”

I followed him quickly, helping to pull off his wet shirt.  I nearly swallowed my tongue as his defined chest emerged.  The sight of him never failed to get my motor running.  I swallowed hard.

“What storm?”

He just grinned and pulled me into the bedroom.

**One more fic in honor of Something Like Trust.  This time featuring a sick Jared with Brandon taking care of him.  Enjoy!**

There was something about a sick loved one that just clawed at my gut.  My only experience previously had been with my brother, and Brian was the kind of guy that wouldn’t sit down, sleep, and get well.  He’d constantly insist he wasn’t sick, and try to do everything he normally did.  He had to be constantly watched to make sure he got the necessary rest and that he took his medication.

So when Jared went from having the sniffles and a scratchy throat to sneezing, hacking, and wheezing in the matter of twenty-four hours, I was terrified my big bad Marine would make himself much worse before he got better.  I made arrangements with the producers, and since I had a light week anyway, I hopped in the car and made the three hour trek home.  I was on edge and practically frantic by the time I pulled in the driveway, and I left my bag in the car in favor of sprinting into the house.

Jared was shivering on the couch, his big body huddled to half its size and covered with both the comforter from our bed and the afghan from the back of the couch.  The coffee table was littered with used tissues, nearly empty glasses of juice and ginger ale, and a whole host of cold medicines.  He lifted his head when I walked in, and his face was pale, with high spots of color on his cheeks.

“What are you doing home?” he rasped, the growl dying in his throat to become a hacking cough.  I rushed forward, trying to support his body.  When the coughing eased, I handed him on of the glasses of liquid and he sipped down what was left in it.  I tried not to be dismayed by the sight before me, but he’d managed to make an awful lot of a mess in just one day.  The Jared I knew would never have allowed his kind of clutter to accumulate.

“I’m sick,” he said, utterly miserable.  He flopped back onto the couch and pulled the blankets up around his ears again.  I helped him, tucking it around his neck and smoothing a hand over his brow.  His skin was hot and dry and I didn’t like that. He needed a fever reducer and more hydration.

“I know, love.  That’s why I’m here.”  I leaned down to kiss his cheek, but avoided his lips when he turned his head.  He scowled, but I just smiled.  “When I get you all better, you can kiss me all you want.”

“I have the plague,” he said with a bit of a whine.  “I’m never getting better.”

I resisted letting the chuckle escape.  He was just being a big baby, but I knew it had to be brought on by just how awful he felt.  He was certainly sick, but it was no more than the flu.  As long as I kept him pumped full of liquids and Tylenol, he’d make a full recovery.  I rubbed against his shorn hair for a moment and then stood.

“How about I make you some chicken noddle soup and some tea?  That’ll help you feel better, right?”  I started collecting the glasses from the table, mentally making a note of coming back with a plastic bag and disinfecting wipes.  The coffee table was probably a cesspool of germs. I’d need to kill them all.

“Not hungry,” he mumbled from  his cocoon.

I shook my head and smiled fondly.  “Just try a little, okay?  I need you to stay strong.”  When I got a nod in response, I turned toward the kitchen, my arms full of dirty glasses.  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

I rinsed the glasses and put them in the dishwasher.  I hummed a little as I worked.  Honestly, as upsetting as it was to see my man laid low by some nasty germy bug, I was more than a bit pleased to be the one taking care of him for a change.  He took such good care of me, all the time, even when distance separated us, that to be able to return the favor felt wonderful.  I didn’t even care that he was a little bit whiny.

Two days later, I was ready to strangle him with my bare hands.

Whiny had morphed into petulant and demanding as he still felt like crap. He was getting better, that much was clear, but he wasn’t there yet and he was cranky and unreasonable because of it.  I wanted to take care of him, to keep him fed and hydrated and give him everything he needed.  And usually when he ordered me around, it made me feel safe and cared for.  But demands for a fluffed pillow, or another glass of juice, or a bowl of soup with crackers on the side without the courtesy of a please or thank you was wearing thin.  More than that, he was whiny.

I’d never seen this side of him.  It was disconcerting.  And irritating.  I was not equipped to handle him like this.  I didn’t know what to do.  I locked myself in the bathroom and dialed the phone, hoping for some advice.

“What’s up, Bran?” Zane asked with a yawn.  It was early, but I didn’t feel bad for waking him.

“I l-love your brother m-more than l-life itself,” I whispered fervently.  “But I’m g-gonna kill him.”

Zane’s laughter rang out, and I couldn’t keep my own smile off my face.  I adored Zane, and Audra too.  They were some of the best people on the planet, and I loved them like they were my own siblings.

“He’s a pain in the ass when he’s sick, huh?  Put an M16 in his hands, and he’s fine.  Infect him with germs, and it’s like he forgot he was a badass.”  Zane paused to chuckle.  “You need some back up?”

I sighed heavily. “I should be able to handle my sick lover,” I confided.

“But you don’t have to do it alone.  I can stand up to him for you.”

“Brandon!”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath at hearing Jared call my name.  At least this time it wasn’t followed with a round of hacking.

“He’s calling for me,” I said to said, standing up.

“We’ll be there in a few hours,” Zane responded, and I could hear the rustle of fabric as he moved.

“It’s okay Zane,” I said softly.  “I appreciate the offer but I can handle him.”

“You sure?”

“Yep.  Just needed to commiserate.  Hear a friendly voice.”

Zane made an affirmative noise, told me to call if I needed him, and hung up.

I took another deep breath, and then unlocked the door and stepped out of the bathroom.  Jared was sitting up in bed, looking better than he had, but still not entirely better.  He needed a shower, but he was too big for me to help him, and he wasn’t steady enough on his feet.  Maybe I could find a chair to set in the stall, and he could get clean that way.

“What do you need, love?” I asked, doing my best not to let the weariness in.

“To apologize,” he said softly.  I stopped short of the bed, the words a surprise.  I looked up at him, into his warm brown eyes that were clear of fever for the first time in three days.  He tried for a smile.  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.  I know I’ve been difficult and I haven’t been taking care of you very well.”

“Difficult?” I repeated, letting him know just how much of an understatement that was.  When his smile grew just a little, I knew I’d succeeded in amusing him. I walked closer and sat on the edge of the mattress.  Once I coaxed him into the shower, I was changing the bedsheets.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated, and I knew he meant it.

“I love you, Jared.  Completely.  You were sick, and now I know how you react when you aren’t well.  And I can deal with it.”

“I love you, too. And I’ll try to be better next time I get sick.”  His vow was solemn, and I knew he meant it.  Of course, I also knew that it wasn’t likely.  The next time some bug laid him out, he’d probably be exactly the same.  But if that was the worst of his faults, I’d just have to deal with it.  And get him in the habit of taking vitamin C to ward off any sickness.

“It’s a deal,” I said.  I leaned in and kissed his check, then stood up.  “Now get in the shower.  You stink.”

** The Admiral commanded a family dinner and a fight this week.  Brandon and Jared had a story to tell.  If you haven’t read it yet, buy links are in the books tab at the top.  I really do love these guys, and I hope you’re entertained as they continue their story.  Enjoy!**

The one and only time we’d all been together had been the weekend Jared and I admitted our feelings.  Because it was so new, everyone had been on their best behavior.  Brian had barely teased, Zane had cooked up a storm, and Audra had been the consummate hostess.  It had been pleasant if reserved and not exactly natural.

But apparently that had been a onetime deal.

Brian and Zane had been snarking at each other practically since the moment Brian and Cas got off the plane.  Zane had been the one to pick them up so that I didn’t have to go out.  Ever since the first episode of Robber Barons aired, the paparazzi spotted me whenever I was in public.  It was a wonder they didn’t invade the house, but so far they hadn’t found me.  Jared was really good at losing any tails we picked up.

But Zane had left me in charge of the bubbling lasagna while he ran out to get them, and Casper had informed me when they walked in the house that the two of them had been sniping at each other the whole time.  It didn’t stop when Jared made it home and greeted everyone. Even as Zane set the table and called us all in to eat, it continued.

I didn’t know what had gotten into my brother, but I didn’t like it.  I tried to catch his attention and beg him to stop with my eyes.  We’d always been close, and B could usually read me with just a glance.  But he was purposely ignoring me and avoiding my gaze.  I was going to have to talk to him about it if he didn’t get his act together.  A kernel of dread formed in the pit of my stomach at the thought.

“Lasagna is an interesting choice,” Brain said after we all sat at the table. His tone held an edge of derision.  “Given how hot the weather is, I would have thought you’d go for something lighter.”

Zane’s smile was all teeth.  “It’s one of Brandon’s favorite meals.  I make it whenever he needs a little comfort.  Which I know he could use right now.  Things have been stressful.”

“Isn’t that sweet?” Brian’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.  Hearing it made my stomach clench.  I set down my fork.  “It’s a crock of shit, but it’s really nice, just the same.”

“Brian,” Casper chastised, but the words were already out there.  I sent up a silent prayer that Zane would let it lie.

No such luck.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Enough, Zane,” Jared ordered.  But Zane was exactly like his brother, and there is no way he’d let that go.

“That Brandon would lie and tell you it’s his favorite, just to make you feel better,” Brian said, heedless of his husband’s chastisement or Jared’s  censure.

“N-n-not true,” I said quietly, hating the arguing and the attitude, but not able to let it lie there.  “I l-love l-lasagna.”

The entire room went silent at hearing me stutter and I felt the blush burning as it crept up my neck and inflamed my face.  I hated that I couldn’t control it.  That when I was nervous or uncomfortable, my words stumbled over themselves trying to get out of my mouth.  I hated even more that everyone knew what it meant.

“Now, look what you did,” Brian hissed venomously.

“Me?” Zane was incredulous, and his eyebrows lifted.  “It’s your fucking fault, baiting me and being rude.  Who in the hell do you think you are?”

“I’m his brother, you little shit. Which is more than you can say–”

“Enough.” Jared stood, his voice deep and commanding.  He didn’t yell.  He didn’t need to.  His bearing, his face, everything screamed that he was not to be argued with.  His word was law and everyone at the table needed to heed it.  Hearing it gave me comfort, and usually turned me on.  Any other time, and I would have been on my knees and sucking him off.

The thought was inappropriate for the situation, and that made me blush even harder.  When Jared’s hand came down on the back of my neck to lightly squeeze, I relaxed and let the tension go.  He had a way of calming me no one else did.  Not even Brian, who was only three hundred and sixty days older than I was, could manage what Jared could with a look and a touch.

Jared had control, and his brown gaze was assessing as he stared down first his own brother, and then mine.  Audra sat back, her face slowly relaxing now that Jared was taking care of things.  Casper was staring at Brian, disbelief all over his face.  I could practically tell what he was thinking, because I was wondering the same thing.  How could Brian act like this?  It was out of character for him.  Zane too, for that matter.

Jared sat, pulling my chair closer to his with a strong hand.  Then he dropped an arm across my shoulders.  I snuggled into his warmth, and barely restrained myself from turning my face into his neck and inhaling deeply.  I loved his smell, and it never failed to calm me.  But we were still at the dinner table so I didn’t.

“Would you care to explain yourselves?” Jared asked, but it was barely a question.  Both Zane and Brian looked up in disbelief.

“J-Jared, m-maybe we d-don’t–”

“No,” he interrupted gently, pulling me in tighter.  “They want to bicker like children, then they can be treated like children.”

Silence stretched on, neither Brian nor Zane saying a word.  Neither man looked anywhere but at their plates.  Audra started to fidget with a lock of her hair, and Cas sat back and crossed his big arms over his chest.  I grew more uncomfortable as the minutes ticked by.  How long was Jared going to let this go on?

Finally, I couldn’t take the tension anymore.  I turned into Jared’s body, tucking myself tightly up against his side and burying my face in his neck.  He would do what he wanted, what he felt was right, but I couldn’t handle it.  I took a deep breath, and started to get up, to flee the kitchen and the tension until it was resolved, but Jared knew I was ready to bolt. He wrapped his arms around me to comfort me.

“You are both grown ass men,” Jared began, his voice steady. “I know you both love Brandon.  But you don’t have to compete as to who takes better care of him.”

I startled.  Was that what they’d been doing?  Cas’s soft, warm chuckle and B’s indignant sputter confirmed Jared’s assessment.

“It’s a moot point anyway,” Jared said with a hint of finality.  “I take care of him.  The rest of you are on the periphery.”

There was another silent moment, and then Cas and Audra burst into laughter.  It broke the tension, and the mood in the room eased immediately.  I took a deep Jared-scented breath and let it out slowly, finally feeling like I could breathe.

Jared’s hand cupped the back of my head, and then slid around until he could take hold of my chin and lift my face to his.  His smile was bright, the kiss he gave me sweet but chaste, and when he pulled back I could see love and affection in his eyes.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too,” I answered immediately.

His gaze slid sideways, and I followed with my own, taking in the scene.  Brian and Zane were still a little grumpy, but it was easing with every second that passed, and regular dinner actions were taking place.  Audra was pouring dressing on her salad with one hand and passing the basket of garlic bread to Cas with the other.  Zane was serving perfect squares of lasagna.  And Brian was pouring the iced tea.  It was all so normal.  I almost couldn’t believe that just a few minutes ago, Brian and Zane had been at each other’s throats.  I looked back at Jared.  He was grinning.

“It’s family.  What are you going to do?”

My grin couldn’t be contained.  Family indeed.

**Brandon and Jared return again, this time trapped by snow in a mountain cabin.  Enjoy!**

I woke up sticky, sore, and smiling.  Last night had been so good, exactly what we needed and wanted.  I was sure Jared left bruises on my hips and hickeys on my throat.  We’d been apart for weeks, and he’d been particularly aggressive.  I was surprised he hadn’t attacked in the airport or the car, managed to keep it to just a passionate kiss or four, and was able to restrain himself until we got all the way to the mountain cabin I’d rented for us.  I’d finally finished filming Robber Barons and I was desperate to spend some quality time with Jared.  I needed it.

So I rented the seclude cabin on the mountain.  It wasn’t far from the resort but the eight rental cabins all afforded a great deal of privacy.  When I had perused the website, it hadn’t taken me long to make up my mind.  I had my finger hovering over the book button the entire time I talked to Jared.  I clicked it as soon as he’d given permission.  But last night had been worth it all, to have him own me so thoroughly and completely.

Tucked against his big body, I was overly warm, but I snuggled even closer.  It was the only place I truly wanted to be, and even though he was still sound asleep, I was more than happy to stay right there and enjoy the quiet.

Which, now that I thought about it, was a little too quiet.

Unease started curling in my gut.  I listened hard, trying to figure out what was wrong.  And then I realized it.  There was no hum of the heater, no faint electrical buzz from the clock on the bedside table.  In fact, it sounded like a blanket had been thrown over everything.  I sat up, pushing the quilts down, and was attacked by a frigid cold that had me shivering.  But I still got out of bed, despite turning into one big goosebump, and made my way to the window.  Last night, before we’d closed the curtain, we were able to see the glow from the resort down the road.  When I pulled the curtain aside, I saw nothing but white.

I made my way, quickly and quietly, out of the bedroom and into the front room.  The huge picture window along the front of the cabin confirmed my worst fears.  There was nothing but snow, feet of it, piled up in all directions.  And it was still coming down.  I swallowed hard, shivering in the freezing air, and willed myself not to panic.

“Brandon?” Jared’s voice sounded a bit muffled, like he was just emerging from our blanket cocoon.

“O-out h-h-here,” I stammered.

He was at my side in an instant, his dark brown eyes assessing.  He grabbed the afghan from the back of the couch and wrapped it around my shoulders before he hugged me tightly to him.

“We’re s-s-snowed in,” I said, hating that my words were fighting me.  It had been so long since I’d stuttered in front of Jared, and it was making me angry that the situation was getting to me.  I was with Jared.  There was nothing to worry about.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. You know I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” Jared said as if he’d read my thoughts.  He kissed my forehead, then my eyes and nose, before giving me a quick but passionate kiss. Then he led me toward the couch and urged me to sit.

He didn’t seem to be fazed by the cold, or at least, he wasn’t physically reacting to it.  And I couldn’t tear my eyes off his ass as he knelt in front of the fireplace, and set to work lightly the wood already inside.  It only took him a few minutes before he straightened and then pulled the screen in front of the flames.

“It’ll be warmed up in here in no time,” he said confidently.  Then he leaned over me to drop a kiss on my head.  “Stay here for a bit, all right?  I’m going to check things out.”

I nodded, even as I smiled.  “Yes, sir.”

His grin was gorgeous, and I was rewarded with another kiss, before he strode into the bedroom.  I noticed a book of amenities and services the resort offer, and picked it up.  A moment later he reappeared in sweatpants and a long sleeved shirt, and then he started poking around the cabin; first in the kitchen, then in the back storage closet.

“There’s a generator in the closet, and gasoline,” Jared said with a smile, as if that made everything better.  I had to grin in response, and I held up the binder I’d been leafing through while he searched.

“It r-runs the fridge and the hot w-water heater.”  I opened the book to the page and then handed it over.  “Emergency protocol.”

Jared was instantly absorbed, reading.  I slid across the cushions until I could snuggle up beside him.  The fire hadn’t made things warm enough yet, and Jared was always the best source of heat.  The man was like a furnace.  He didn’t say anything as he memorized the protocol.  My man was a Marine, and he’d make do, but he liked it better when he was prepared. When he was done, he snapped the book shut and laid it aside.

“We’re going to be fine,” he assured me.  I loved his confidence.  I always had.  It was one of the first things that drew me to him.  His confidence was because he was solid, and solid was what I needed desperately.  I nodded fast, and pushed in closer.

“There’s no reason to worry,” he said quietly, pulling me in tight.  “It said this happens from time to time, but they have procedures in place.  We’ll be fine for at least a week, but the resort staff will get to us before that time elapses, even if the snow doesn’t clear.”

I nodded again even as I crawled into his lap.  Jared didn’t hesitate to wrap me in his arms, and position us so I could push my face into his neck.  I inhaled deeply, taking in his earthy, musky scent and letting it calm me.  I loved the way he smelled, and it triggered me to feel safe.  Every dang time.  Also horny, because Jared was incredibly sexy, but that could wait.

“Brandon,” he said, his voice dropping to a lower register.  The things that voice did, the way it flipped my switch, was a marvel to me.  I took a deep breath and let it out, and with it the anxiety and tension left too.  He gave a hum approval, and his big hands cradled my head. “There you go.”

I gave him a small and shaky smile.  “Sorry, sir.  I’m sorry our vacation got ruined.”

Jared started, and then his eyebrows scrunched together like he was confused. “Ruined?”

I blinked.  “Because of the snowstorm?”

Jared’s expression cleared, and then his eyes filled with lust. In a lightning fast move, he had me pinned beneath him.  The growl he let out made me shiver and arch against his body.  “We’re stuck together, unable to leave, unable to see anyone else, with nothing to do but eat, fuck and talk.  And not necessarily in that order.  By what definition of the word is that ‘ruined’?”

Well, when he put it that way….

I spread my thighs so he could fit between them, pulling my knees up to bracket his hips.  “I love you, Jared.”

Jared was too busy sucking up another mark on my neck to answer, but I didn’t need the words.  I trusted him completely, and I knew how he felt.  I tilted my head back so he had better access to my neck, and didn’t even try to stop the whine that escaped.  His answer was a growl that vibrated my skin, but he didn’t seem in any hurry to move things along.  Jared was in the mood to take this slowly.  I clung to him, watching the snow fall, and grinding my hips against him.

How could I have ever thought our vacation was ruined?  It was perfect.