And you knew as sure as the fact that you’d never lose your heart, that when you became an adult, you’d never let anyone talk or think about you unless it was in admiration of your accomplishments. He wanted people to fear him when he walked by. To feel his power. He closed his eyes, and sleep finally overtook him.
Awakening from a dream where Reed had him naked and spread out on the bed, Carter heard knocking at the door, and his heart thumped strongly while adrenaline buzzed through his body. With his robe hanging partially open, he peeked through the peephole, and a grin tugged his lips upward at the sight of a very nervous-looking Reed bouncing on the balls of his feet as was his habit. He’d changed from earlier and now wore a dark-green sweatshirt under his leather jacket and his golden-brown hair curled damp over his brow, as if he too had taken a shower before he came.
Not wanting to waste another moment of their limited time together, Carter pulled open the door and gave his widest grin.
“Come on in, Reed. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Chapter Four
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The knowing smileon Carter’s face made him look like the big bad wolf, ready to gobble Reed up and eat him for dinner. No man had ever had this effect on him, not even Mason, whom he’d thought he was in love with. It was why he initially hesitated in accepting Carter’s invitation; but Carter refused to be ignored and Reed shivered, unfamiliar emotions rippling through him.
“Uh, yeah. Sure.” Reed gulped down a breath and walked past Carter, who smelled fresh and clean, like sage and lemon. Reed too, had taken a quick shower before packing up his schoolwork and some clothes. He’d almost reached the subway before he realized he’d forgotten his pills and had to run back home, cursing under his breath all the way. The last thing he needed was to not have his medication with him when he planned on spending a weekend with a man who kept him off balance even when he took it as prescribed.
The door closed behind him, and at the sound of Carter turning the lock, Reed’s heart stuttered again. This was most likely a mistake; he’d already proven he wasn’t the best judge of character. Maybe he misjudged Carter and put himself in a bad situation. Self-doubt whirled through his head, and Reed had half made up his mind to leave when Carter moved close and rested a hand on his back. Reed instinctively leaned into his firm touch and warmth, letting Carter’s arm naturally slide around his waist.
Warm breath tickled his ear as Carter spoke softly. “Why not put your bags down and take off your jacket? I can’t tell you how happy I am you came a little earlier than I expected.” With a bit of pressure, Carter turned him toward the sofa in the outer portion of the room.
It wasn’t the same standard room this time, Reed noticed. Carter had reserved a suite, and Reed hadn’t ever been in a hotel room quite as large or luxurious. The outer room boasted a dining table with four chairs, a credenza with a flat-screen television, a large, comfortable-looking sofa, and two club chairs. A low light glowed from an interior room, which Reed assumed to be the bedroom. His stomach clenched tightly in response.
“Uh, sure. I wasn’t working the bar, just doing some of the office work for Vernon, so he didn’t care if I left.” Still holding on to his waist, Carter walked him over to the sofa where Reed dropped his knapsack and duffel bag, then managed to break Carter’s hold on him so he could remove his jacket. On the pretense of looking around the room, Reed walked around a bit before halting by the wall of windows overlooking the congested streets of Times Square.
“It’s bizarre, you know?” He touched the cool pane of glass. “There’s so many separate worlds going on all over the city. We’re in this secluded bubble up here where we don’t even hear the sound of the traffic. Anything could happen, and no one would realize it; love, death, every day it all goes on around us and we remain oblivious.”
He sensed Carter behind him. “That’s very philosophical. Is that what you’re studying—philosophy?”
The disbelief in Carter’s voice caused Reed to smile, but he kept his gaze fixed on the glittering light show outside the window instead of turning around to meet Carter’s eyes. “No, I’m studying hospitality management. I’d like to eventually manage my own restaurant or a hotel.”
“Good. For a moment I thought you were wasting your tuition money on nonsense. You’ll never make any money studying that crap. It’s not like you can open up a philosophy store and spend your day spouting all that bullshit to people.”
Strangely enough, Carter’s obvious disdain quieted Reed’s nerves. “I don’t know; I could see myself sitting in a nice quiet space, talking to people about their lives, thinking deep thoughts.”
“Oh yeah?” Carter pressed him against the window, covering Reed with his body. He’d forgotten Carter had been naked when he entered, and Reed could feel the thrust of his cock against his ass. “Maybe you have something there ’cause I like it when you get deep.” Carter kissed behind his ear, sending shivers down Reed’s spine. “Deep inside me.”
A surge of lust stiffened his dick, and heat flooded through him. Carter’s tongue traced a slow deliberate pattern across his neck and Reed’s pulse raced. “I like that too,” he whispered, and Carter’s lips curved in a brief smile against his ear, his breath hot and humid.
All thoughts of school and studying fled when Carter reached around and popped the tab of his jeans, then pulled down the zipper. His erection pushed out, and the simple touch of Carter’s hand brushing against his boxers had him groaning out loud. There was something surreal about being so high in the sky yet half-undressed in front of a window. It was powerful and a huge turn-on, wondering if anyone else could see them. Not caring if they did.
Reed gasped as Carter began to touch him, lightly, teasingly, until he barely recognized the moaning, pleading sounds coming out of his mouth.
“Oh fuck, please.” His hips pushed outward, wanting Carter to grasp him hard instead of with those barely there, feather-light strokes of his fingertips that left his nerves on edge, his body screaming for release.
Carter yanked down his jeans and boxers, and Reed hurriedly toed off his sneakers, then stepped out of his clothes until he finally stood naked from the waist down. Carter began to jack him off in earnest now, his thumb swiping over the thick head of Reed’s cock, picking up fluid, while he sucked the tender skin of Reed’s neck. Carter’s other hand snaked down his belly to cup his balls, rolling them first, then gently squeezing them in the palm of his hand.
Waves of pleasure rolled through him as Carter continued to play havoc with his body. Trapped between Carter’s arms, exposed in front of the window, not knowing who might be watching them, Reed trembled violently, certain he was about to splinter apart. Carter continued his hand-play across the tip of his cock, teasing the sensitive head, applying pressure when he perceived Reed needed more. Never in his life had Reed been so turned on, and with a hoarse cry he came, spilling hot and hard into Carter’s hand, spraying onto the windowpane.
The powerful climax annihilated him, and Reed sagged against the window, uncaring of the mess he’d made. Behind him Carter fumbled, and Reed had barely caught his breath before Carter’s wet and sticky fingers slid into the crease of his ass.
“Oh, God, no. I can’t.”
But even as he said it, Reed spread his legs a bit wider, encouraging Carter and enabling his fingers to slide inside his passage. He knew Carter wanted to fuck him and, God knows, he wanted it as well. It had been so long Reed had almost given up, thinking he’d never again crave being touched, but now this stranger had given him back his lost desire, and he wanted more.
“Fuck me, Carter; do it.” Reed placed his hands on the glass, tilting his ass up, feeling like he was in one of those cheesy porno movies, but he didn’t give a shit. Carter’s fingers pushed in his ass, tormenting him with their wicked, unrelenting flutters. Then as suddenly as they had entered him, they withdrew, and he cried out in protest, wanting them back. In a daze, Reed heard the foil wrapper rip, and he tried not to tense as Carter pushed his slicked-up cock inside him. Slowly and with deliberation, Carter filled him; Reed had never been so stretched, so consumed. Carter didn’t only possess his ass—Reed’s whole body belonged to him.
It was too good, Reed thought hazily as his body began to respond and he met Carter’s thrusts, pushing back hard, clenching his inner muscles tight to keep Carter’s dick inside him. Too good and too long since his body felt this pulse of life within. Carter’s grip on his hips intensified as he drove himself into Reed’s body, and heedless of the fingers digging into his skin, Reed keened high and loud at the wondrous sensations buffeting his body as Carter hit his prostate over and over again.
“Ahh, Carter.” He guessed the exact moment before Carter orgasmed; his fingers tightened further on Reed’s hips while his cock stiffened. Carter continued to slam hard and fast into his body and Reed welcomed it, urging him on. A harsh cry rent the silence as Carter came, impaling himself deep inside Reed, his hot breath gusting past Reed’s shoulder as Reed shuddered and twitched.
