He could be focused. Balta knew that was one of his strengths as a rider, but one of his weaknesses as a man. He put one hand on Joa’s leg while he made the reservation. They could grab their bags from the extended stay place and go have luxury room service.
A lengthy soak and a long night’s sleep with all the phones turned off and put away—it would be magical. “Maybe we should watch one of those pay movies.”
Joa loved to rent silly movies at hotels. Some new release.
“You are in a mood to spoil me.” Joa pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. “Do you want to stay here in the warm? I can pack and take care of things at the office.”
“Are you sure?” He wouldn’t argue, but he could handle the bill if he needed to. Though Joa had a card on his Amex account. “Use my card.”
“Sim. Stay, Balta. My demon.” Joa winked and hopped out, heading into the all-too-familiar room.
Of course he was in the mood to spoil Joa. Joa had been taking care of everything for weeks. Now he deserved to be the focus of Balta’s attention. He smiled, thinking of the wonders he could treat Joa to before they left tomorrow. Maybe nothing too physical, but he could make things good.
Better than that, he would make sure his Joa knew that Balta paid attention, loved him. Sometimes Balta wasn’t so good at showing it, but he did adore his lover and wanted to keep him.
When Joa hopped back in the truck after loading their bags, he put the new address in the GPS. Then Balta leaned over to peck Joa’s mouth with his. “Thank you.”
“Balta?” Joa gasped, fingers on his lips. Had his Joa forgotten that they were lovers so soon?
“Hmm?” He gave Joa a heated look from under his lashes. “I want to kiss you much more. I know how you are in public, though.”
“You…I would like to kiss you much more, too. I want…I want many things, Balta. Wicked things.”
“Oh, I love wicked,doce. You know that. Maybe I should have you touch yourself for me. Show me what you want.”
“Be nice, demon.” He got a smile, though, so he knew Joa was pleased.
“I am being nice.” Physically Balta had no idea how nice he could be today, so laying the groundwork for a Joa DIY was probably best.
It was hell getting old. It was even worse when old was thirty-five. His back and hips felt like concrete after days of sitting in bad hospital chairs.
Joa pulled out and headed down the road, whistling happily, the sound welcome as sunshine on the beach. Oh, the beach. They could go to Rio sometime soon, and he would make Joawear a tiny pair of swim briefs. People would stare and Balta would know that was his.
Waxed and tight and tanned and his.
Balta smiled and leaned back, grateful that Joa had taken him along to buy the new truck, let him say which seats were best on his back. Lumbar support made an amazing difference. He rocked his head back and forth, listening to his neck crack.Deus, he always got maudlin during a break. He was used to being busy.
“We’ll be there soon, Balta.”
“I know. I’m restless. I’m sorry.” He felt as if he needed to apologize a lot. Joa deserved someone whole, someone who did not fall asleep on him during reruns of Law and Order.
“For what? I know you hurt.”
“Just that I am old and boring, huh?” His ears heated, for he hated to admit weakness. After what he’d seen with Sam, though, Balta was determined to talk about things more while he could.
“Bullshit on that.” The curse was fast and well-meant. “You are tired and sad because of Bell. Don’t be ridiculous.”
He blinked, then laughed, the sound easing something in his chest as he released it. “Sim. I am. I want cheesecake.”
“Oh, yes. And something without plastic silverware,sim?”
Delighted, Balta rubbed at Joa’s thigh. “Yes! Real plates. French fries with those little bottles of ketchup and mustard. Nothing out of a machine.”
Joa’s muscles rippled for him, and his lover chuckled. “We will be naughty, eh, Balta? Eat the bad things.”
Like that mattered to Joa. All those crunches, all those miles Joa ran and swam. They burned off every bit of flab cheesecake tried to add. Balta, he could work out for ten hours and still have love handles.
Deus, he was downright depressing. Time to toss those thoughts out the window.
