“Any chance of you getting time off for good behavior?” Keith waggled his brows.
Did he dare risk a meeting? So far, they’d done nothing but talk, kissing occasionally when they found a quiet moment.
If he didn’t make more of an effort, would Keith get bored and go find someone else? Someone not so closely watched.
No. Mike needed to take a chance. For Keith. For himself.
“My last class tomorrow ends at five. What are you doing after that? I can always tell them I’m staying over at the library.” He’d never really lied to his parents. Hadn’t dared. Lightning might strike him dead for trying.
How pathetic to be eighteen and have to sneak out for a few moments of unchaperoned time.
“Your stepdad’s a real prick, isn’t he?”
Was he? “He’s not mean or anything, he just expects us to act better than everyone else ‘cause he’s the preacher.” Life was so much easier being a farmer’s son. Of course, if he and his brothers misbehaved and churchgoers found out, they might not want the Reverend Rose and his family preaching sermons and selling them CDs. He’d even held out hope they’d make the Dove awards this year.
For one of Mike’s songs.
Keith sent a scathing glare toward the preacher, too busy smiling and shaking hands to notice. “He uses the hell out of you, you know.”
Mike whipped his head right and left. “Shhh… If anyone heard you cuss in church.” He didn’t care much for Keith cussing in church either. Keith might look down on the religious as being superstitious, but Mike’s faith meant something to him, had gotten him through those dark days after his father’s death.
Knowing he’d never be alone brought him comfort.
“Tomorrow, then.” Keith ran a finger over Mike’s hand under the guise of checking out a CD case.
Mike barely hid a shiver.
Tomorrow couldn’t get here soon enough.
* * *
“Are you sure about this?” Mike hung back, tugging on Keith’s hand.
“Sure! My friends used to hang out here all the time during high school.” Keith’s smile made Mike want to believe. But, “during high school”? For all the freedom Mike had, he might as well be a high school freshman again.
Still, at Keith’s reassuring words, Mike relaxed some. “Okay.” Deeper they went into the shaded trees. This late in November, the weather wasn’t really cool in South Texas, but the sun would soon set. He’d have to be getting home.
Surely a little while longer wouldn’t hurt.
“Aren’t we far enough?” If Keith deserted Mike now, he’d never find his way out of the unfamiliar woods. Keith and his friends might’ve come here a lot, but Mike usually walked straight home after school—if his mother didn’t pick him up.
That practice hadn’t ended with his switch from high school to community college.
Sad when he had to lie to get ten minutes without someone keeping tabs on him.
“Now we are.” Keith grinned and backed Mike against a tree. “I thought I’d never get you alone.” He ran his hands under Mike’s T-shirt. Goosebumps formed wherever he touched.
Keith’s hands on his body. Had anything ever felt so good? Oh! Keith brushed his lips over Mike’s neck. He was so hard right now, if Keith didn’t stop, Mike might embarrass himself.
Keith took Mike’s mouth in a punishing battle, nothing like the sweet kiss Mike imagined, and pressed their bodies together. Hardness met hardness. So good. Too good. Mike couldn’t help bucking back against the guy he’d been dreaming about for two years, seeking friction, chasing the wonder of Keith. Why it took the guy two whole years to look Mike’s way was a mystery he didn’t want solved.
“I knew you were a wild one,” Keith whispered against Mike’s mouth. “You act all innocent, but I’ll bet you’re a hellcat in bed.” He shoved his hand into Mike’s jeans, palming his cock.
Oh… Oh! Mike closed his eyes. Too much. Too fast. He couldn’t. Keith squeezed and Mike lost the fight. “Ahhh…” he moaned, hips jerking while he came. “I…”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Mike froze. What the…
