Gridiron Gods 1
Waterboy Shy loner Danny Jones lives in a world of kinky sexual fantasies. In his dreams, the football players he caters to as the waterboy indulge their lusts upon him in every conceivable way. Reality is that no one sees him at all. Slump-shouldered and drowning in oversize clothing, Danny has made himself practically invisible. As the new guy on campus, Matthew Edwards is worried about fitting in at Twin Pines College. Matthew hates change, but the lure of a full-ride scholarship, and the chance to put a struggling football team on the map, are all the inducements he needs to switch schools. When Matthew meets the timid Danny, he sees right through his camouflage. All Danny needs is a little encouragement to come out of his shell. With Matthew’s help, Danny transforms, but there are those who want to prevent the two from joining together. They will have to fight to be together. Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal Length: 27,540 words
WATERBOY Gridiron Gods 1
Anitra Lynn McLeod
EROTIC ROMANCE MANLOVE
Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com
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[email protected] A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove
WATERBOY Copyright © 2011 by Anitra Lynn McLeod E-book ISBN: 1-61034-980-6 First E-book Publication: November 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Waterboy by Anitra Lynn McLeod from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.
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DEDICATION This one is for everyone who has ever watched football just to enjoy the tight pants.
WATERBOY Gridiron Gods 1 ANITRA LYNN MCLEOD Copyright © 2011
Chapter 1 Danny Jones was surrounded by football players. Sweaty and randy and insatiable. Walls of muscular flesh encased him, and big, strong hands bent his body this way and that, using him in whichever way they saw fit. As soon as he satisfied one guy, another took his place. It. Was. Heaven. No matter how diligently he worked, Danny couldn’t keep up with their lustful demands. Cock after cock filled his hands, his mouth, and the tight channel between his cheeks. A chorus of dirty talk echoed in the locker room as the entire team used him to ease their relentless sexual needs. They called him the waterboy, but he was really the team fuck toy, and he was loving every second of— “Hey, watch where you’re going.” The snarled demand wrenched Danny right out of his most frequent and favorite fantasy. He didn’t respond. No point, really, given that the guy he’d bumped into was long gone down the hall. He slumped his shoulders a little bit more and lowered his head to hide his eyes behind long strands of brown hair. Daydreaming while walking to the gymnasium wasn’t the brightest idea, especially not when doing so made him so hard he had to lower his duffle to hide his
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erection. The school mascot, a blond-brown grizzly bear, face caught in a perpetual roar, emblazoned the side of his black and green duffle. The bear’s open mouth was right against his boner. Just like in real life, the only thing that even came close to his dick was make-believe. Still, he wouldn’t want a real bear near his privates, so the cartoon emblem was fine with him. What he’d really like to find was one guy who wouldn’t mind trading a blow job for a blow job. Hell, at this point, being twenty-one and still a virgin, he’d settle for mutual hand jobs. “You’re late.” Coach Miller tossed him a stack of Day-Glo orange floor markers, which he caught only because he dropped his duffle. “Set these up for drills.” “Sure, Coach.” Luckily for him, the coach didn’t notice his hardon since he didn’t even look at him. Rather than being insulted, Danny was relieved. His main goal in the new school, Twin Pines College, was to stay the hell off everyone’s radar. To go unnoticed meant the likelihood of getting the shit beat of him for being different would be pretty much nil, which was exactly what he wanted. “And don’t forget to set out the towels and water.” Danny nodded, but the coach didn’t see that either. The lord on high had issued his orders, and therefore, they would be obeyed. Or else. Since his scholarship was in part tied to his work as equipment manager, which Mr. Miller oversaw, staying in his good graces was not only smart, but surprisingly easy. Much like everyone else, the coach didn’t pay too much attention to him as long as Danny got things done. Once Coach Miller exited the gymnasium with his all-important clipboard tucked into his sweaty armpit, Danny rolled his eyes. He knew exactly what he had to do to prep the area for team training. It was the same thing every time, and yet the coach was always reminding him. “For crying out loud, I am the waterboy after all. If I forget the
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water, that would be a primary failure of my most basic function.” Danny stopped talking to himself when two team members came in the gym. Well, more like flew in. Their sneakers squeaked on the pristine clean floor, and they were already in mid-conversation. They talked so fast he sometimes compared them to squawking magpies. Tyler Morgan and Kevin Henderson. Both of them were hotter than hell, and they knew it. The two men had a lot in common. They were both first-string defensive guards, both blond with blue eyes, and both of them were outgoing. Frankly, the two of them were so cheerful and upbeat they were almost annoying. Almost. If not for the fact they were genuinely nice to him, he might have despised them. But it was hard to hate two guys who made Danny feel like a real member of the team. They’d even stood up for him when Dylan Peterson freaked out on him. Christ, all Danny had done was accidentally bump into the guy while he was getting dressed. Using the lines painted on the hardwood floor as a guide, Danny placed the Day-Glo stickers in a staggered V pattern. When he was done, it looked like a drunken ladder. Rubber backings gripped up on the thick layer of varnish, holding them in place. When the men of the Grizzlies got here, they would have to double-time it through the maze of stickers, darting and weaving their way almost like skiers doing moguls. He loved watching them move, especially through this obstacle course, since even the baggiest shorts bunched up around their junk and displayed their tight buns. Danny finished setting up the other items for indoor training while covertly watching Tyler and Kevin interact. To him, it seemed they had what he most wanted—an easygoing grace and ability to relate without the crush of self-consciousness. Danny would give just about anything to spend one hour in their shoes. How would it be to live a life where he wasn’t afraid all the time? “You’re just jealous because you just can’t get a date, loser.” Tyler yanked his body-hugging T-shirt over his head, twisting his sun-bleached hair into a sexy-messy tangle.
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“You got a date?” Kevin plastered his hands to his face in mock surprise. “How much are you paying her?” “Fuck you!” Tyler tossed his shirt at Kevin, who ducked. “No, sorry, your mom has me booked.” Kevin managed to get his T-shirt about halfway up his bronzed chest before Tyler tackled him. Lucky for them both, the mats were already out, so when the two men crashed to the floor, they weren’t hurt. Hurtling more insults, they rolled around with the playfulness of puppies. Very hot and sexy man puppies. Envious at the easy way they wrestled with one another, Danny wished that he could join in. He could just picture telling Kevin something clever and cutting, maybe a snipe about his sister, and then Kevin would tackle him. Not to be outdone, Tyler would say something worse about the sister, and then the three of them would end up grappling on the mat, tugging on each other’s clothes until they were naked, breathless, and hard. Once they were in a state of high lust, it would be Danny’s job to release their tensions. And he would do so with gusto. While he took Tyler into his greedy mouth, Kevin would be licking and fingering his ass. Once he was good and ready, Kevin would slide balls-deep into his backside while Tyler did the same to his face. Blissfully filled, Danny would make sure they climaxed with screaming pleasure— “Hey, I’m talking to you!” Coach Miller whapped Danny on the arm with his clipboard. “Sorry.” Danny resisted the urge to wipe his hand against the injury. He knew if he did, his hand would smell like Coach’s pit. At least this way the funk would stay on his arm. Grunting, Coach Miller handed him a ring of keys. “I’ve got that meet and greet over at Terrace Hall with the dean. You’re going to lock up.” One thing about Coach was he didn’t ask so much as he declared. For all he knew, Danny had to get home for the fall break. Or maybe he had a date. Damn rude of Coach to not even ask. Sadly, none of
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those things were true, so Danny did what he always did. He nodded and took the keys without a word. While going down the list of all the things Danny had to do when locking up the gymnasium, Coach ticked off each item on one of his stubby fingers. It was a long list that Danny knew by heart since he’d locked up about twenty times before. While he listened and nodded, he wondered how stubbed-fingered Mr. Miller had ever been able to hang onto a football. His hands looked more like catcher’s mitts, but there was a different coach for the baseball team. “And make sure he gets a locker.” Danny nodded, but his mind fumbled. He? He who? Shit. Once again, he probably should have been paying attention. His damn daydreaming was getting him into more and more trouble. Come to think of it, he couldn’t remember any good his flights of fantasy had gotten him into. Well, except for when he was alone under his covers. “Here’s the combination to his locker.” The coach handed him a paper and a padlock that Danny dutifully tucked into the pocket of his baggy jeans. “I want him as far from Dylan as I can get him.” Under his breath, Coach mumbled, “Fucking Dylan and his space issues.” Danny didn’t need elaboration on that comment. Anyone who met Dylan Peterson once knew to stay away from him. Dylan was the biggest, baddest, and most homophobic motherfucker on the team. Hell, probably on the planet. Danny drifted off into fantasies around everyone but Dylan Peterson. One slip up and the guy wanted to pound his face into hamburger. What made matters worse was that Danny hadn’t even been daydreaming when he’d bumped into Dylan. He’d been blinded by a huge stack of towels. Worse, it was Dylan who caused the collision. Dylan stepped out into the big hall between the rows of lockers. Still, when Danny ran into Dylan, the towels went flying and so had Danny. Naked and dripping, Dylan had loomed over him, ready to introduce his fist to Danny’s face. To this day, Danny thanked whatever gods there were that Tyler and Kevin had intervened.
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“You got that?” Danny had no idea what Coach just said, but he gave a clear, “I’ve got it.” “And for the love of all that’s holy, boy, don’t let anyone in for any reason. I don’t care if their hair is on fire and you’ve got the last bottle of water on Earth.” After making a note on his stack of pitscented papers, Coach mumbled, “Last thing I need is another fucking party in here.” Danny hadn’t been responsible for that fiasco, but the coach always mentioned it, as if Danny had been the one to let those idiots in. But that had happened two years before Danny had even transferred to Twin Pines. It was the coach’s prior lackey who had stupidly let someone in, which was bad enough, but then he trusted the interloper to lock up. Moron. The guy had in turn let in over one hundred people, who had partied in the gym over the long Labor Day weekend. By the time Coach showed up on Tuesday morning, the floor had to be refinished because of a multitude of beer, urine, and vomit spills. Rather than point this out to him, Danny just nodded. He’d found it was easier to just let Coach say whatever and bob his head rather than bother to correct him. On the rare occasions where Danny did point out his errors, the Coach would bellow, “I know that!” and then repeat what he’d said yet again. Things just moved faster if Danny agreed with everything and kept his mouth shut. During his long list of instructions, the rest of the team came in, or at least those who hadn’t found a way to beg off early for the short fall break. From Danny’s quick count, he determined about thirty guys had shown up. They were mostly second and third string players who were staying around for lack of anything better to do, but some had families who lived close enough so they could drive after the last training session the coach insisted on. The Twin Pine Grizzlies were a new team, formed to draw more students to the all-male college, but they had lost their first two games. Coach Miller said they sucked and
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the only way to fix that was with more practice. “Only babies have to run home to mamma,” Coach snarled when the first brave soul had asked to be excused early. Danny had no intention of ever going home. His parents didn’t want to see him, and he didn’t want to see them, either. Mutual loathing. His mother had insisted he was confused, but his father had called Danny a worthless fag. Rather than argue, Danny had left early for college. That was three years ago. He’d left that college at the end of last year and come here to Twin Pines. As far as Danny was concerned, he wasn’t confused, and he sure as shit wasn’t worthless. He was, however, a fag, although he preferred the term gay. The irony with that adjective was that gay implied happy when he was anything but. Danny had no moral issue with his orientation because he’d always felt this way from the moment he realized he had desires, but he was sick and tired of encountering violent prejudice toward his preferred sexual partner. And irony on top of irony was the fact that he was belittled for something he hadn’t even done yet. Danny knew he liked guys. He just hadn’t had an opportunity to be with one. And the way things were going, it might be a long wait. Dylan Peterson, the king of the homophobes, wasn’t the first such jerk Danny had encountered and certainly wouldn’t be the last. Danny just thought if he could get through college and get his degree in computer science, he could get a great job and then try to find others like himself. Or at least one guy. But trying to hook up while in school was a mistake he wasn’t going to make twice. Watching the guys go through the various training drills he set up always put Danny in a great mood. His position on the team gave him the right to keep a good eye on everyone in the gym. If one of the men was in need, Danny was there. Need a towel to wipe that sweat? Danny had it ready. Water to quench that thirst? He’d toss them a bottle as soon as they looked his direction. Some guys snickered at him for being a senior and still having gone no higher than the waterboy, but Danny didn’t aspire to more.
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He liked being around football players, always had. Something about the gear, the attitude, the oozing testosterone. He knew at an early age he was too skinny and uncoordinated to actually play, but he could still be a part of the team by clinging to the fringes. All through high school and now all through college he’d been the waterboy. He was comfortable and happy with his role. And all through those years he’d had progressively kinkier fantasies about the guys he cared for. Lately he’d been into giving them service, like water, a towel, or a blow job. Always, his thoughts turned down that road. At night, in his narrow dorm bed, he would slip his hand below the covers and tease himself until he couldn’t hold back. His delayed climaxes were epic. And silent. He didn’t want to wake his dorm mate, Jacob. But Jacob was gone for fall break. Hallelujah! It would be nice to whack off without clenching his lips so tight his teeth hurt. Danny hadn’t ever told a soul about his daydreams. He was even less inclined to tell anyone about the dreams that invaded his sleep of late. If the waking visions didn’t freak people out, his nighttime mindmovies certainly would. The dreams always started out normal enough. Well, normal for Danny. It was him and two or three guys from the team, and then suddenly, the ground shook, and a tremendous roar filled his ears and caused the men around him to evaporate. Alone and shaking, he would look up to find himself face-to-face with a blond-brown bear that looked an awful lot like the team mascot. What made the dream beyond creepy was that once the bear had chased the other men away, it inevitably dropped to all four paws and then sniffed eagerly at Danny’s crotch. Even when Danny put the old Freudian spin on interpreting the dream, he was left feeling dreadfully uncomfortable. The best he could figure was that the constant use of his duffle, the one with the bear emblazoned on the both sides, to cover up his boner was percolating into his dreams. He figured he was so desperate he was
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dreaming of humping a bear’s face. Pathetic. But it made sense in a way. The only thing was that the dream literally shook him. Trembling and heart racing, Danny always took a long time to get back to sleep. It was bad enough to be a fag, but a fag with some twisted bestiality streak? Yikes. Still, the odds of him hooking up with anyone, even a bear, were pretty slim to none. By four this afternoon, the campus was going to be a ghost town.
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Chapter 2 If there was anything Matthew Edwards despised, change would top the list. He wanted to stay down in the valley and finish his schooling, but he’d gotten a scholarship offer that his empty wallet wouldn’t let him say no to. As an added bonus, all of his credits transferred and they had a football team that desperately needed him. He was able to go from second-string to first. The only way the deal could be any sweeter was if they offered up a sexy boyfriend like a cherry on top. That hadn’t happened, but from what he’d seen of the guys around the sparsely populated campus, there were plenty of hot guys who didn’t glower at his speculating glance. The only problem was acclimating. Getting used to a new place, even one as small as Twin Pines, put him on edge. Moreover, Matthew couldn’t help but wonder if his orientation had something to do with the offer. Funny how within two weeks of his teammates finding out he was gay, he was offered a full-ride scholarship to a school conveniently tucked far away in the mountains. He told himself he was being paranoid, but it was oddly timed since he was two months into his other classes. Still, he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He needed to finish school. Once he had his degree in accounting, he could basically write his ticket to Anywhere, USA. Matthew’s goal was to find a city big enough and hip enough that most people wouldn’t give a shit who he wanted to put his dick in. For the life of him, Matthew couldn’t figure out why anyone cared who he wanted to fuck. Even if he wanted to be gangbanged on a nightly basis by four guys in hockey masks who covered him in
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barbeque sauce, who the hell cared? If everyone involved was a consenting adult, it shouldn’t matter to anyone but him and the four guys. And possibly the cleaning lady, what with all that barbeque sauce getting flung around. Not that Matthew was into that particular scene, but he’d used the example in several rants and it always made his point while making people laugh. Well, it made normal people laugh. The queer bashers never laughed. Matthew had discovered that most homophobes always thought every gay guy wanted them. Fat fucking chance. Matthew thought they secretly wished that was the case. He figured they had fantasies of being tied up and forced to endure gay sex. They’d be screaming no and stop if only their mouths weren’t gagged. But all the while, they’d be secretly loving every second. By being compelled to accept, they could claim they weren’t gay. This would in no way affect their copious climaxes. Frankly, Matthew thought most homophobes were ugly. Although, to be fair, it might be more his perception of their personality than strictly based on looks. But Matthew had never been able to separate the two. He liked guys who liked guys. Period. Seducing a straight guy wasn’t his dream score in the least, but he knew other gay guys who held that up as some kind of Holy Grail. To each his own was Matthew’s motto. When Matthew hooked up, it was always mutually beneficial. Every guy he’d ever dated was still a friend. They usually broke up because someone moved, rather than some big drama. He’d never really had a problem finding partners or dealing with guys who took issue with his choices. Guys might call him a host of denigrating names, but they did so far enough behind his back that he didn’t hear them. Smart move. One big bonus to being a massive linebacker was that Matthew was big enough to kick the shit out of anyone who screwed with him. But now, in a new place with new faces, new everything, he had to start all over. He sighed.
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“Buck up, buddy,” Matthew encouraged himself. “It’s not like you moved to Mars.” Map in hand, Matthew stopped in the middle of the quad. Typical to his gender, he refused to ask for directions. He didn’t know why that was, but it was, so he rolled with it. Orienting himself to north, he figured the building in front of him must be dorms, so the building to the west had to be the gymnasium. When he saw two guys in sweats burst through the double doors talking a mile a minute, he mentally patted himself on the back. “Elementary, dear Watson.” He also couldn’t help but let his gaze wander over the two guys. Damn. Two blonds who looked enough alike to be sort of like twins. Matthew had never done twins, but it was a hot fantasy he indulged in. When the two guys slowed their rapid-fire talking to give him a good once-over, he grinned. They grinned back. Oh yeah, fitting in at Twin Pines was going to be easy-peasy. After taking the time to watch the almost-twins saunter over to the parking lot and give them a little chin tuck that he hoped said see you real soon while thinking while we’re all naked, Matthew made his way over to the double doors they’d come out of. Cloudy, gray skies and his own beefy self reflected from the glass panels, preventing him from seeing inside until he’d stepped in and his eyes adjusted. After a short hall, he found himself in the main part of the gymnasium. Black and green banners and grizzly bear emblems were everywhere. He was stunned for a moment then recalled those were the team colors. The grizzly bear was the team mascot. Feeling somewhat like a traitor, he hiked his red and white backpack up a notch over his right shoulder. He’d trade it in for an appropriately colored one as soon as he could. Matthew was nothing if not an enthusiastic team player. A few guys hung near the door at the far end of the enormous room, their voices nothing more than mumbles from this distance.
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From experience with other layouts, he figured the showers were probably beyond those double doors. When he noticed another set of doors on either side of the gym, he figured at the all-male school, the upper classmen’s lockers and showers were to the right and the lower classmen’s were to the left. Matthew was about to head toward the right, thinking that if he was likely to find the coach’s assistant anywhere, it would be over there, when his attention was riveted to a very nice ass clad in faded denim. Bent over at the waist, the owner of the sweet cheeks was prying Day-Glo orange stickers off the floor. He didn’t straighten all the way up in between grabbing the disks, but walked bent over, stacking them in his hand as he went. Oh the things I could do to that fanny, especially in that position. Once the guy stood up, Matthew was a little disappointed. His posture was horrible. His shoulders slumped, and he kept his head down, almost as if he expected someone to walk up and wale the tar out of him for no reason. Dark brown hair the exact color of espresso straggled over his neck and covered up his ears. There was something almost...dangerous about him. The very idea had Matthew shaking his head and lowering his eyebrows. Must be the altitude getting to him, because there wasn’t anything remotely hazardous about a guy who chose to clothe himself in an outfit so baggy he looked like he was swimming in fabric. Probably the most terrifying thing the guy ever held in his hand was a video game gun controller. And he probably overreacted and dropped it half the time anyway. But no matter how hard Matthew stared at the back of the guy, he couldn’t shake a deep-seated feeling that there was something deadly about him. Something waiting to be tapped, or unleashed, or...something. Damn. How in the world could a guy who looked totally vulnerable give him the shivers? Come on, turn around. Let me see your face. As if he’d heard Matthew’s inner call, the guy turned around and
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their gazes locked. Time slowed, and his vision narrowed until all he saw was the guy’s face. Matthew’s heart pumped one beat in super slow motion, but that one pump slammed fifty gallons of blood through the network of his veins. The strength of that one swell of blood literally pushed him forward half a step. When the guy’s eyes widened, Matthew’s heart sped up to normal then kept on going into frightened rabbit territory. Holy shit! Never in his life had he felt such a visceral reaction to another man. And there was no question he was looking at a man. He wasn’t a kid, or a boy, or a guy. He was one hundred percent all-American male. Which begged the question, what the hell was that gorgeous hunk doing in those horrible clothes and slumping his shoulders until he’d dropped about a foot off his height? Looking at him made Matthew think of Clark Kent and how anyone with half a brain and functioning eyeballs would know in a second that Clark Kent was Superman. Matthew didn’t care what disguise this guy was wearing, he was some kind of model or undercover crusader, or something. No matter how hard he tried, Matthew couldn’t hang a description on him. Whoever he was, he was the ugly duckling, Clark Kent, and a Chippendale’s dancer all rolled up into one. Brown eyes as sweet and tempting as brownies peered through the strands of espresso-brown hair that tangled over his forehead. A strong, aquiline nose balanced out a sharply angled face, but what held Matthew riveted were his perfectly shaped lips. As clear as if he were actually witnessing the event, Matthew saw those perfect lips press against his. Contact would shower sparks over his body. But his vision continued as those perfect lips worked their way down his chest, past his belly button, and right down to the tip of his cock. When those lips opened to pull his penis within that hot hollow, those eyes would look up at him, all sweet and sexy and
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hoping to see his pleasure. All the blood in Matthew’s body rushed to his groin. He was so instantly aroused, he couldn’t help but adjust himself. The brown-eyed god tracked the movement of his hand and licked his lips. For the first time in ages, Matthew felt nervous and unsure of himself. Usually when he wanted a guy and was certain the attraction was mutual, he just walked right up and started talking. He wanted to walk right up to this deceptively handsome stranger, drop to his knees, and swear his allegiance. Why he had this bizarre compulsion, he had no idea. Everything that had happened to him since he’d heard of Twin Pines had been nothing short of strange. What stopped him dead in his tracks was something he’d noticed but failed to really see, and that was the man’s eyes had widened when he’d taken a half step toward him. His eyes had widened in fear. There was no mistaking that particular expression. When Matthew looked, and really saw his beautiful eyes, they were so filled with terror, Matthew’s heart squeezed tight. Who the fuck had dared to hurt this man so badly that he carried the pain around in his very gaze? Wanting to find the bully and tear the man’s balls off and then feed them to him, Matthew resisted the urge to stomp over and demand answers. Doing so would only scare him more. Instead, he took a deep breath, and with a deceptively casual air, strode over to the man with the stack of Day-Glo orange disks. To his dismay, the look of terror in his eyes increased. And then, something like a miracle occurred. His eyelids settled low over his eyes, and a dreamy, unfocused heat stripped away the terror. To Matthew, it looked like his undercover hunk just went from going-towet-his-pants fear to ready-to-throw-down lust. Matthew had no idea what he was going to say until he was a foot from him. He opened his mouth and said, “I think you’re the guy I’ve been looking for.”
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Chapter 3 Danny stood, mouth open, brain frozen solid, looking at one of the biggest and sexiest guys he’d ever seen anywhere. He had to be a football player with that body. Probably a linebacker, and probably a good one. He had a voice that was liquid sex and a bulge that Danny would be staring at right now if the guy hadn’t moved closer. “You’re the coach’s assistant, right?” “Yeah.” Technically, he was the equipment manager, but he preferred the term waterboy. Still, he wasn’t about to correct him. “Then you’re the guy I’ve been looking for.” Disappointed, because Danny had thought he’d sensed a reciprocated interest, he did his best not to frown. Just once, he thought he’d found someone, but he was wrong, again. Unable to look him in the eye, Danny dropped his gaze to the floor, taking a quick gander at his bulge again. Filing that image away for later when he performed his one-handed exercise, Danny remembered the fragment of what the coach had said. This must be the guy Danny was supposed to set up with a locker, the one he was supposed to keep as far away from Dylan Peterson as he could. Lifting his head, Danny peered at him, wondering why he had to keep the two guys apart. No way would Dylan mess with this guy. Hitting him would be like punching a boulder. Dylan was big, but this guy was bigger. And way better looking. Military-short brown hair that was tipped blond was smoothed over the top of his skull. His cheeks and chin were dusted with afterfive shadows that enhanced the square shape of his head. Pine-green eyes that gave his handsome face a hint of dominance sucked Danny’s
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attention right in every time he looked at them, so he avoided direct eye contact. Still, he’d connected long enough to notice just a barest bit of wicked control lurking in the depth of his gaze. Danny immediately fell into a fantasy where he was ordered to his knees and compelled to take this man’s cock into his mouth and— “Are you okay?” Concern wiped away that hint of mastery, giving his face a cast of kindness that couldn’t be faked. Could he be so lucky that this man was big, handsome, and—dare he think it—nice? “Yeah, sorry. You’re new here?” Danny wanted to slap himself upside the head. Of course he was new here. But rather than point out his obvious moronity, the new guy grinned. “Yeah. I’m the new guy. Aren’t I sparkling?” “What?” “You know, sparkling, like, because I’m new?” Danny wanted to laugh, but nothing emerged because he was too afraid of doing the wrong thing. For once in his life, he wanted to make the best impression that he could. He thought if he did, there was hope for a relationship. But he had to tread lightly. Before he could decide what to say, the hunk frowned. “Okay, lame joke. I’m Matthew Edwards.” He thrust out a hand that was as big as a Christmas ham. Tentatively, Danny placed his hand in Matthew’s, thinking he’d probably pull back a bloody stump. Instead, Matthew clasped his hand, gave him a firm shake, and then let go. After a long moment of marveling at the way his flesh tingled from the contact, Danny mumbled, “I’m Danny Jones.” “Good to meet you, Danny.” Matthew held his glance just a bit too long before breaking the intense contact by looking at the gym. “Good to meet you, Matthew.” Maybe he could get by just repeating everything Matthew said. Hell, it was better than saying nothing and looking like a dweeb. “So, is the coach around?” Great. He’d just barely met the guy, and he’d already blown it.
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“He’s at a meet and greet.” Danny didn’t tell him where because he didn’t want Matthew to leave. “I’ve got your locker assignment.” “Great.” And nothing else came out. Damn. Why couldn’t he just talk like everyone else did? All day, everyone around him chatted like it wasn’t any big deal, but Danny could barely string together two coherent sentences. “So...about that locker?” Danny nodded. When he turned on his heel, Matthew followed. On the way to the back of the building, where the coach’s office, the showers, and the locker rooms were, Danny grabbed the unused towels and tried to grab the cooler of bottled waters. “Hey, I got it.” Matthew picked up the cooler like it weighed about ten pounds. To get the thing set up, Danny had to make three separate trips—one for the cooler, one for the water, and one for the ice. Danny couldn’t help but notice that when Matthew picked up the cooler, his flannel shirt stretched tight over his shoulders, displaying layers of thick muscles. Danny had a sudden vision of Matthew picking him up and slamming him down onto his cock. With those massive arms, Matthew would be able to pump Danny up and down on his dick for hours without breaking a sweat. Focus or you’re gonna do something stupid! Danny moved in front of Matthew to lead him to the lockers but also to keep his mind off his body. Usually it was visual input that sparked his daydreams. If he could keep his gaze off Matthew’s body, he might be able to keep his attention on getting to know him. “Why aren’t you on the team?” Danny laughed until he realized Matthew wasn’t laughing with him. He slowed up until they walked down the hall side by side. “Seriously?” “Yeah, seriously. Did you ever try out?” “Not really.”
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“Why the hell not?” Danny almost asked why he sounded so pissed off about something that had nothing to do with him, but he stifled the urge. When he realized Matthew was waiting for an answer, he shrugged. “I’ve always been happy being the waterboy.” “Waterboy?” Matthew’s gaze raked over Danny as if he’d like nothing better than to grab him, flip him over his knee, and paddle his butt. Despite his best efforts, Danny blushed. “You can put the cooler over there.” He pointed to the spot inside the coach’s office where the consumable gear was stored. Along with Mr. Miller’s random stuff was a metal bookcase that held sports drinks and bottled water. “Shouldn’t we take the waters out and dump the ice?” “Yeah, but you don’t have to do that.” Before he was even halfway finished speaking, Matthew had the bottles out and placed with the others on the shelf. “I don’t mind helping you out.” Matthew grinned up at him. Danny’s knees threatened to melt right out of his legs. He clung to the open doorway so he didn’t slump to the floor. Matthew’s smile was so perfect he wished he had a camera to capture that expression. What made his grin so compelling was that the smile didn’t just lift the edges of his lips, but went right up and crinkled the skin at the corners of his eyes. Matthew, for whatever reason, honestly enjoyed helping him out. “Thanks,” Danny managed. “I’ll take the cooler and dump—” “I’ve got it.” Again, Matthew lifted the ice and water-filled cooler like it weighed nothing. Danny hustled to lead him back to where the showers were. There was a huge drain in the center of the green-tiled room. Matthew tipped the cooler over, dumping the water and ice right above the drain. There was a faint hint of steam and spicy soap in the air since a few guys had showered before taking off. It took all of Danny’s
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willpower to move back toward the office and not indulge in a fantasy of Matthew showering. He was on the verge of congratulating himself when Matthew bypassed him, set the cooler down with the lid tilted, then turned to face him. Danny saw him in the same position, but naked and glistening as he showered. Water slick with soap bubbles tumbling down his muscular body, Matthew would offer the soap out to Danny so he could wash his back. Of course, Danny wouldn’t stop there. Sudsy fingers would stroke over his cock and balls then he’d wrap his fist around— “Which locker is mine?” “Oh, right.” Danny withdrew the padlock and strip of paper from his pocket. Since Coach wanted him away from Dylan, Danny put Matthew on the last row. It wasn’t his fault that it was the same row where Danny’s locker was. Each set of lockers had a bench running in between, and there were six such sets in the room. Danny pointed to the locker right above his. “This one is free.” Matthew opened it up, peered inside, then closed it, slapping his padlock on. He tried the combo to make sure it worked. “Which one is yours?” Reluctantly, Danny pointed to the one right below Matthew’s. “Good. I’d like to be close to a buddy.” Buddy? Danny had never been anyone’s buddy. “You look surprised.” Matthew tucked the combination into his backpack. “I, um, yeah.” “Aren’t you friends with your teammates?” “Sure.” “You know, you really should try out for something on the team besides waterboy. To me, you look like a quarterback.” Danny was so shocked he felt both his brows rising up. “Only if you drink a fifth of brandy do I look anything like Brandon Sanders.” When Danny realized Matthew would have no idea who that was, he
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explained that Brandon Sanders was the quarterback for the team. “I didn’t mean—” Matthew shook his head. “When was the last time you really looked at yourself? Seriously, dude, I’ve noticed since we’ve been in here you haven’t once so much as glanced at any of the mirrors.” There was a huge mirror at the end of each block of lockers. Like usual, Danny had his back to it. He never looked into a mirror unless he had to. Even then, he got it over with as fast as he could. Rather than answer, Danny shrugged, but before he finished the motion, Matthew cupped his shoulders and gently but firmly turned him toward the mirror. Danny looked into the reflective surface but not at himself. He kept his attention on Matthew. Sliding his hands down, Matthew made Danny straighten up. “Look.” Against his better judgment, he did. Danny blinked rapidly when he realized how tall he was. Matthew pulled his shoulders back, and he was stunned to realize he was wide, too. Not as tall or as wide as Matthew, but much broader and fuller than how he’d always pictured himself. “Stop hiding, Danny.” Their eyes met in the mirror and held. “You’re hot.” “No, I’m—” “Don’t argue with me.” Matthew glowered playfully. “Okay.” But there was a long way to go between realizing he wasn’t as scrawny as he used to be, and believing he was anywhere near the definition of hot. Before he knew what was happening, Matthew pulled his green Grizzlies sweatshirt up and off. Danny curled right back down and put his gaze on the floor. “Look.” Danny resisted, briefly, but Matthew’s verbal and physical encouragement got him to finally stand back up and actually look at himself. To his shock, he discovered he didn’t look anything like he
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used to. Muscles rippled across his arms, abs, and shoulders. When Matthew finger-combed his hair back off his face, he realized he no longer had acne, but clear skin. He wasn’t a skinny little boy anymore, but a man. “Do you see what I see?” Matthew spoke in a singsong, then lowered his lips to Danny’s ear. Holding his gaze in the mirror, he whispered, “I see a guy who has no idea how gorgeous he is.” Danny opened his mouth to disagree, but Matthew cut him off. “And I swear, if you argue with me, I will toss you down on this bench and show you exactly how irresistible I think you are.”
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Chapter 4 Matthew was silently begging for Danny to argue with him. If he so much as made a peep of protest, Matthew was going to do exactly what he swore to do. Frankly, he was looking forward to tossing Danny down on that bench and showing him, in no uncertain terms, how incredibly appealing he was. Very softly, almost breathlessly, Danny said, “Okay.” Uttering a disappointed sigh, Matthew said, “Finally, we have agreement.” “I’m not agreeing with you.” Up went Matthew’s right eyebrow. “I want you to throw me down on the bench and teach me a lesson.” A smile stole over Matthew’s face. “A lesson?” Now that dreamy look Danny flashed earlier made some sense. Danny was apparently into kinky daydreams. “Or whatever it was you said.” Danny ducked his head. Gripping his chin, refusing to let him slide back down into that caved-in posture, Matthew tilted his face up. God help him but Danny had the face of one of those arrogant cologne models, all angular and haughty and superior. The fact that the man himself was none of those things was a contrast that intrigued Matthew more than he thought possible. “I said I would show you how sexy you are.” Matthew gently turned Danny’s head until their faces were only a breath apart. “Okay, that.” A desperate kind of hope filled Danny’s eyes. Matthew realized, quite suddenly, that no one had ever bothered
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to really look at Danny. Perhaps his camouflage had worked far too well, and not only stopped everyone from checking him out, but prevented people from even bothering to get to know him. When Matthew refused to let go of the hold he had on his chin, Danny gulped, and his eyes widened. “I’m not going to hurt you,” Matthew said. Hell no. He wanted to do a lot of things to Danny, but hurting him wasn’t one of them. “What are you going to do?” Knowing that actions always spoke louder than words, Matthew lowered his head the fraction it took to press his lips against Danny’s. Automatically his eyes closed, but behind his lids, he swore he saw stars. He had no doubt that this was Danny’s first kiss and the beginning of an endless parade of kisses for the two of them. Below his lips, Danny gasped, opening his mouth. Matthew didn’t hesitate. He slipped his tongue inside Danny’s mouth. Tentatively, Danny kissed him back, which somehow made the kiss a million times sweeter. What turned Matthew on was Danny’s obvious inexperience. There was something to be said for guys who knew all the moves, but Matthew would take enthusiasm over finesse any day. Danny was just so raw and eager, his zeal practically put Matthew into orbit. Turning into his embrace, Danny wrapped his arms around Matthew’s shoulders, deepening the kiss. Untamed hunger caused them to press their bodies together as tightly as their lips. When Matthew felt Danny’s cock rubbing against his, an electrical surge galvanized him, contracting every muscle in his body. Lust and longing consumed Matthew’s focus. He knew he wouldn’t be able to rest until he claimed Danny as his own. Desperate to feel him, flesh-to-flesh, Matthew broke the kiss. A look of panic twisted Danny’s features. “Don’t worry. It’s only for a second.” Matthew pulled away only long enough to wrench his own shirt off. When it was gone, he was back, lips locked to Danny’s.
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Chest-to-chest, they pressed together, and when Danny squirmed, rubbing his hard nipples across Matthew’s, he growled. Danny pulled back, peering up at him. “Sorry. You just feel so damn good.” Danny grinned. “You sounded like...a bear.” “When I join a team, I go all in.” Matthew growled again, a rush of pleasure washing over him when Danny shivered. Without waiting for an invitation, Matthew flicked his fingers over the button of Danny’s jeans. When it popped apart, he grasped the tab and slid the zipper down, exposing his white cotton-covered cock. “Oh, fuck. Tighty-whities.” Hardly any guy he knew wore them, which was what made them so damn sexy. Maybe it was because they were white, which always made him think—“Are you a virgin?” Clearly alarmed by the question, Danny pushed Matthew’s hands away from his pants and hastily zipped up. “Whoa, wait.” Capturing his hands in his, Matthew held him still without hurting him. “Let go!” Twisting and turning, Danny struggled to break free. “What the hell?” The more he tried to stop Danny from bolting, the more panicked he became. “I’m not going to let anyone make fun of me!” “I’m not making fun of you.” Desperate to ease Danny’s fear, Matthew lowered his voice. “I swear, I wasn’t joking. I think tight, white underwear is sexy as hell.” Danny stopped struggling, but kept his head down. “Really?” “Really.” “Then why’d you ask if I was...” “Because the white made me think virgin.” “Shit.” “What?” “I thought maybe my kissing was so pathetic you knew I was a virgin.”
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“Are you kidding me?” When Danny looked up, Matthew moved closer. “You kiss like I’m the hottest guy on the planet. I’ve never felt sexier than I do right now.” “Yeah?” “Yeah.” Matthew looked around at where they stood. He’d always liked locker rooms. That mix of sweat, chlorinated water, and manly scented bath products turned him right the hell on, but this wasn’t the place for Danny’s first time. If nothing else, Matthew thought he should use his experience to give Danny the best first time he could. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” “Did I fuck this up?” “What? No, I just—do you want your first time in here?” Danny looked around. “Look, if we’re going to be together, you’ve got to be honest with me.” “Be together?” “It’s also going to take forever to arrive at a consensus if you’re going to repeat everything I say.” Danny chuckled. “I can’t tell you how many fantasies I’ve had that take place in here.” “With you doing all the work?” “How’d you guess?” “It was that ‘teach you a lesson’ comment from earlier.” Matthew looked down at their still-stiff cocks. “I guess we could do a little something in here, to take the edge off. We don’t have to go all the way to get some relief.” When Danny tried to go down to his knees, Matthew pulled him right back up. “Did you ever have a fantasy where you weren’t being used to provide pleasure to someone else?” He knew he hit the nail on the head when Danny gave him a baffled look. “Did it ever cross your mind to have something hot, wicked, and mutual?” Danny’s expression of confusion told him obviously not.
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Matthew had hooked up quickly before, but never quite like this. He felt something for Danny. It was fast, and it might all be in his head, but he wanted to explore the connection that drew him to Danny. Easing Danny’s zipper back down, Matthew rubbed his thumb over the tip of his cock through the fabric and against the little patch of moisture there. Danny’s entire body jerked, and he uttered a moan that made Matthew’s cock quiver in response. Wordlessly, he took Danny’s hand and placed it against the waistband of his jeans. Fumbling at the topmost rivet button, Danny tried to get Matthew’s pants down, but they were tight, and he clearly didn’t want to hurt him by being rough. But that’s exactly what he needed. “Here.” Matthew stepped back just enough so Danny could watch what he did. Grasping the fabric on the other side of the top button, Matthew twisted and yanked, popping all the buttons apart. Since he didn’t wear boxers or briefs, his cock popped right out. Danny licked his lips. “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.” Matthew winked. “Or down your pants.” “That, too.” Matthew grasped Danny’s hand and wrapped the cool, soft, and surprisingly strong grip around his shaft. Once Danny took hold, Matthew shoved Danny’s briefs out of the way then slipped his hand to Danny’s now straining prick. He was surprisingly large and very hard. Every move Matthew made against Danny, Danny in turn performed on him. Rubbing his thumb across the crown slicked the pre-cum over the head. Working that slickness down allowed him to start with short, tight strokes. Danny pressed close, his breathing uneven. Warm, moist puffs hit Matthew’s chest. Unable to stay still, Danny rocked his hips, humping against Matthew’s palm. The closer he got to climax, the more his breathing hitched. When he tilted his head up, their gazes locked. “Does that feel good?” Matthew asked. All the signs were there, but he wanted to make sure. A drive to completely please Danny
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made him hunger for confirmation. “I—I—” Sensing he was unable to speak, Matthew lowered his lips and kissed him. Without words, Danny showed him how good Matthew’s hand felt. Sliding his tongue against Danny’s, swirling it in time to the way he teased the pad of his thumb over the tip of Danny’s prick, Matthew had them both panting and crushing their bodies together. “Close, so close,” Danny murmured between kisses. “Do what I do.” Increasing the pace of his strokes caused Danny to tuck his head against Matthew’s shoulder and work his fist faster. Together, they hit a rhythm between their hands and hips. When Danny came, his cock spurting against Matthew’s palm, Matthew growled and erupted against Danny. Lost in their mutual climax, they pressed together, kissing and panting until the ravages of the powerful orgasms ended. Breathless, they clung together. For a taste of what they could be together, it was sublime, and Matthew knew without a doubt, Danny was someone special. He just hoped he could be the same for Danny.
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Chapter 5 Involuntary quakes kept shaking Danny long after his climax ended. This was different from what he’d felt by himself. Alone in his bed, he’d teased himself until he was almost mad with lust, and when he finally came, he saw stars. But this time, with Matthew, he swore he saw entire galaxies. Never in all his wildest daydreams had he ever thought he’d actually find the man he’d been looking for. And now, those nighttime dreams of the bear who caused all the other men to evaporate made perfect sense. Strong, sexy, and sweet, Matthew was his bear. He even had blond-brown hair like the creature from his dream. “You okay?” “Better than.” Danny kissed Matthew’s neck then worked his way up to his cheek then across to his lips. After kissing him thoroughly, Danny asked, “You?” “I have never, ever, come so hard.” Matthew uttered a chuckle that caused another series of quakes to shiver down Danny’s spine. Without Matthew’s prompting, he stood a little straighter. Knowing he’d pleased Matthew gave him a feeling of pride. Thinking back over his life, Danny couldn’t remember anything, not even his perfect grades, giving him such a deep sense of satisfaction. After more kissing, stroking, and general enjoying of the afterglow, Matthew stiffened. “What?” Danny asked, terrified that Matthew had suddenly awoken and realized he could do a hell of a lot better than Danny. “Are we locked in here?” “No, I’ve got the keys.” Danny chuckled, his instant fear that he
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wasn’t good enough disappearing. “That’s what caused my pants to fall off about halfway thorough that.” Matthew glanced into the mirror and then whistled low and long. “Damn, but you’ve got a great ass.” By turning his head a bit, Danny could see his backside in the mirror. As he had earlier with Matthew’s help, he saw himself in a whole new light. White briefs were pulled down just enough to show the crack in his ass and both rounded cheek tops. In his fantasies, he always focused on the other guys and never really saw himself except as a means to give them pleasure. Now, though, he realized he was just as sexy as any guy he’d been dreaming about. “You have the most perfect ass.” Matthew pushed his underwear down until both buns were displayed. He cupped Danny’s buttocks and growled. Grasping his in return, Danny said, “Yours are so strong you can probably crack walnuts between them.” “It’s that Buns of Steel workout.” Laughing, Matthew flexed his buns together and then flexed each cheek alternately, making them bounce in Danny’s hands. Danny joined him in laughing and then sighed. For the first time in probably forever, he was content. But time moved on. Eventually they cleaned up, dressed, and locked up the gymnasium. “Hungry?” Matthew hiked his backpack up on his shoulder. Danny nodded. He was ravenous, as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. Unable to recall the last time he’d felt this way, he dismissed the idea altogether. Who cared? He was hungry, he was with a screaming hottie, and he knew exactly where he wanted to go. “There is the best burger place up a bit on Main.” Danny pointed in the general direction of the mom-and-pop place that he only went to at odd hours. He didn’t want the other students to see him eating in there alone. There wasn’t likely to be anyone around to see him with Matthew, but that was okay, too. Danny wanted to keep him all to himself for a while.
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They walked in silence, which unfortunately gave Danny time to think. Twisting everything around in his head, he started to doubt not only himself, but this very tentative relationship with Matthew. What if, as soon as he met all the other guys on the team, Matthew realized he could do a lot better, and dumped Danny? “Okay, what’s going on in that head of yours?” Danny peered through the strands of his hair. “I can tell you’re upset because you’re slumping again. And you’re hiding behind your hair.” Without a care for who might be watching, Matthew stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk and finger-combed Danny’s hair back. “Better.” He kissed Danny’s forehead. “Now, tell me. What’s going on in there?” Darting his gaze around, Danny realized they were pretty much alone on the street, but he still felt exposed. “You’re totally out?” Matthew’s brows lowered, and his lips quirked sideways. He didn’t look mad so much as he looked baffled. “Yeah, I’m totally gay. I thought the hand job in the locker room would have made that real clear.” “No, not—what I mean is you’re open about it.” “I don’t hide it. I don’t wear a shirt that says ‘ask me about my gayness’ but yeah, I don’t hide it either.” Danny couldn’t help it. He laughed, and Matthew joined him. “Ah, there we go,” Matthew said. “What?” “You’re about a million times sexier when you smile.” Matthew paused. “Hey, so, are you still in the closet?” “I’m...well, honestly, no one has ever asked. If they would have, I would have said I was gay, but no one ever bothered.” He shrugged. “Before you, I was pretty much asexual.” “Not anymore.” “No, not anymore.” They continued to the burger joint, which was pretty much as empty as the streets. Most of the students were gone, and the local
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residents were bunking down for the heavy storm predicted to roll in that night. He and Matthew talked majors until their meals came. Burgers, fries, and chocolate milkshakes effectively ended any conversation, but Matthew played footsie with him under the table. By the time they left, after arguing over the bill, which they ended up splitting, they were both hard again. “Guess I should really check in with the resident assistant and get my room assignment.” Danny’s heart skipped a beat. “He’s gone.” “What?” “He was one of the first people to go early, and by now, all the supporting staff are gone, too.” Danny didn’t have to look at a watch to know it was after seven since the sun was long gone behind the mountains. Pine scent filled the rapidly cooling night air, and he was thankful for his thick sweatshirt. “So I don’t have a room?” “Not until he gets back next week.” “You’re gonna make me ask, aren’t you?” Danny flashed him big, blinky eyes of innocence. “You have a room, and your roommate’s probably gone, but I’ve got to ask for your help.” “Ask? Oh no, I don’t want you to ask.” “It’s like that, is it?” Matthew sighed and shook his head. “Yep.” Matthew glanced up and down the street. “What are you—” Matthew grabbed Danny and pulled him into a darkened area of bushes, then pressed him against a tree. In an instant, Matthew was all over him. Kissing him, palming his buttocks, and rocking their hips against one another. Matthew rubbed their cocks together so briskly they almost caught fire. When his backpack got in his way, he snarled and tossed it to the layer of pine needles. Danny was so turned on by Matthew’s aggression, he almost came right then and there.
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“Is this what you want?” Matthew growled the question into Danny’s ear then rubbed his harsh whiskers against his neck. A rush of adrenaline rendered Danny unable to speak. All he could do was grasp Matthew’s shoulders and hang on. Pressing him harder into the tree, Matthew picked Danny up. “Wrap your legs around me.” Using the tree for balance, Danny did as ordered. Now his cock rode against Matthew’s belly. His abs were as tight and firm as a drum skin, and his rolls of muscles worked up and down Danny’s shaft like hard, thick fingers. Groaning in hungry bliss, Matthew thrust his hips with a flicking, stabbing motion that made Danny picture their bodies like this without clothes. Bare, Matthew would be drilling his prick into Danny’s ass, fucking him hard and fast. Moaning, Danny knew he would have climaxed if not for all his long solo sessions. Instead, Danny squirmed, trying to get his hips lifted so that Matthew’s rocking shaft would rub across his hole. “Ah, fuck.” Matthew suddenly stopped moving. Danny clung to him. “What’s wrong?” He peered through the thick net of mostly bare tree branches but he didn’t see any movement. There were no lights on in the nearest houses. It was as if they were alone in the woods when they were really in the heart of the small town. “I can’t do this.” Matthew relaxed his hold, allowing Danny to stand. “What? Why?” Danny refused to whine or beg but he couldn’t help but think he’d done something wrong. “I’ll stop squirming. I was just trying—” Matthew cut him off with a kiss. “You squirm all you want, whenever you want. That’s not the problem.” He sighed. “I’m not going to bang you against a tree in the middle of town.” Pressing his forehead to Danny’s, Matthew peered right into his eyes. “I want your first time to be special.” Touched, Danny cupped Matthew’s face and gave him a gentle,
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passionate kiss. “It’s also not going to happen tonight.” Disappointed, Danny blurted, “Why not?” “Because we just met and this is all happening a little fast.” Matthew picked his backpack up and slipped his right arm through the strap, hefting it onto his shoulder. “I don’t want to rush you.” “You’re not.” Danny wished he could back things up. If he could, he’d return to when they first entered the darkened area under the tree. Given a second chance, he wouldn’t move or speak or do anything but let Matthew do whatever he wanted. “Now who’s the one who’s thinking too much?” “Wow. You know, when you get pissed, your eyes turn kinda smoky. Makes you look dangerously sexy.” Danny frowned. “Look, it’s just, I want to slow down. This isn’t a race. And we just met.” Then why did Danny think that if he didn’t snag Matthew now, he never would? Still, if he made a big deal out of this, he certainly was going to lose him. No man wanted to hook up with a drama queen, no matter how epic the sex might be. “Danny, I can see your mind turning this around until you think something’s wrong with you.” Matthew cupped his chin and lifted his head. “This is part of it.” Danny stood straighter and brushed his hair back. “That’s a good start, but I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage of you.” “You’re not. Fuck, Matthew, I’m not some kid. I’m twenty-one.” “I didn’t say—look. I figure there’s a reason why you walk around with your head down and hide behind your hair. I got a feeling that story isn’t a pretty one.” “No, it’s not.” Danny didn’t want to tell him, but he knew they wouldn’t move forward until he did. “Tell me as we head to the dorms.”
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Side by side, they walked along the concrete path, their shoulders occasionally bumping together. It took Danny a block to get his thoughts in order, but Matthew waited without prompting him to hurry. “It was the summer before high school when I realized I wasn’t like the other guys my age. All they talked about was girls, when all I could think about was guys.” Matthew nodded. “There was a particular guy that I liked, and he seemed to like me. We were kids, really. Pretty clueless, or so I thought, but he turned out to be a manipulative jerk. He only wanted to be my friend when no one else was around. And worse, he never once—” Danny stopped talking because he couldn’t say the truth out loud. Just thinking of his first relationship made him feel foolish all over again. “You gave, he got, and it never ran the other direction.” “How did you know?” “You aren’t the first guy that’s happened to. Sadly, you won’t be the last, either.” Danny nodded miserably. “I was so blinded by him, so anxious to please him, that I didn’t really notice he never did anything for me. When we got caught...” Danny trailed off when the memory brought tears to his eyes. The shame, the humiliation, the beating—all of it flashed through his mind in an instant. Matthew wrapped his arm around his shoulders. “It’s okay. I’m here, and no one is going to hurt you again.” Quietly, absorbing protective strength from Matthew, Danny continued, “That fucking asshole called me a fag, and said he was only letting me suck his dick to see if I would.” The terror of that moment, of being pulled out of the privacy of the slide tower and then surrounded by a pack of snarling teenage boys who jeered at him and snipped at him with hateful words that were a prelude to blows, caused Danny to curl closer to Matthew. “The only thing that saved me from getting beaten to death was a group of curious senior
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classmen who saw the scuffle on the playground. They were working out in the park, running drills, and they saw the commotion.” “Football players?” “Yeah.” He didn’t say it, but it was obvious why Danny had such a fascination for football players. They saved him, and he viewed them as heroes. “I joined the team as soon as school started. There were some guys who gave me shit, but there were others who were fiercely protective of me. I felt safe with them, but I still had to put up with crap from other kids when the football players weren’t around.” Matthew hugged him hard. “So you tried to be invisible.” “At first it didn’t work, but eventually, everyone forgot the story, and I just blended into the background.” “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I swear, I don’t understand people.” “They were kids, and—” “Don’t excuse them.” “I’m not, but I’ve let go of the anger toward them. But there’s more.” Matthew’s arm tightened a notch. “I was at another college before Twin Pines. There was this guy who seemed interested. He was always smiling at me. I was so cautious that I didn’t respond until the end of the year. When he got me alone, he came onto me like gangbusters, but as soon as he had my pants down, he started punching me.” “What the fuck!” “That was my reaction. Dazed, I tried to get dressed, but he just kept hitting me and screaming about how I was a dirty cocksucker. I honestly don’t know how I got away from him, but I did, and locked myself in one of the spare equipment rooms.” Danny took a deep breath. The shock and panic of that situation pricked across his nerves. “I came here thinking that no one would know me, and I could just finish up my last year in peace.” “And still go on thinking that you’re worthless.”
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The words hurt, but what Matthew said was true. Danny told himself he wasn’t worthless, yet acted like he was. Seeing himself through Matthew’s eyes truly opened his eyes. His daydreams were about pleasing others and not himself. He still had an inner picture of himself as that acne-riddled teen who had the snot kicked out of him, despite the fact that seven years had passed. “I’m not saying that to be a dick. Do you see now why I don’t want to rush you into anything?” As much as he wanted to be angry at having his lust thwarted, Danny understood Matthew’s reasons for slowing things down. He was exactly what Danny had speculated earlier—Matthew Edwards was big, handsome, and nice. It was impossible to be pissed off at a guy who only had the best of intentions toward him. And it was impossible to stop the first faint threads of love from growing.
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Chapter 6 Determined to rebuild the confidence that others had beaten out of Danny, Matthew took things as slowly as he could. Keeping his lustful hands off his sexy body for the week they shared his dorm room was damn near impossible, and he gave in a few times, but Matthew refused to go any further than mutual hand jobs. They really didn’t need any more than that, what with Danny’s amazingly dirty and creative mind. While they were rubbing up on each other, Danny would tell Matthew all of his kinky daydreams. After seven years of hanging around football players and secretly lusting after them, Danny had hundreds of wickedly raunchy tales, and he was damn talented at telling them. As far as Matthew was concerned, he would give Danny all the time in the world, even if Danny insisted he didn’t want or need that time. Resolute, Matthew held to his word even though longings made him crazy. What drove him totally insane was that whimpering moan Danny made when he reached the crest. That sound pushed Matthew into a frenzy. When he heard it, his balls tightened, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t stop his orgasm. Dreaming of that sound woke him and caused such a craving to claim Danny, that he had to sneak off to the bathroom to take the edge off with his own hand. While slipping his cock into his fist, he pictured his prick sliding between Danny’s perfect cheeks. Tight, hot, and wonderfully untouched, Danny’s virgin passage would slowly encase his cock. When Danny was ready, Matthew would ride him faster and faster until they both lost control. It would be perfect.
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And he was willing to wait for the right time. For the first time, that moment mattered a great deal to Matthew. Unable to go out the first few days due to the three feet of snow the storm had dumped on campus, they raided Danny’s mini fridge, the vending machines in the rec room, and then his roommate’s secret stash. Vowing to replace the items, they outfitted themselves and made their intrepid way to the local grocery store. Between the two of them, they gathered a serious amount of supplies, including a package of condoms. Danny kept eyeing them in the cart, but he didn’t say anything, and Matthew didn’t either. The chatty clerk noticed them and gave both of them sultry looks, but true to form, Danny didn’t notice. Matthew smiled and flirted politely, but it was abundantly clear to her he wasn’t interested. When they got back to the room, Matthew tucked the condoms away into his backpack without Danny seeing him, but he knew something was up when he didn’t find them in any of the bags. After darting him another sideways glance, Danny said, “I swore we bought a box of condoms.” The only answer Matthew would give was a shrug. Eventually, after many such rebuffs, Danny dropped the matter. Each day, Danny emerged a little more from his shell. He stood straighter and stopped hiding behind his hair. With the longish strands flipped back, the hanks of espresso brown framed his handsome face, and enhanced his seductive eyes. Each time Matthew welcomed his advances, he lost another bit of the terror that lurked in his gaze. If Matthew could have any wish granted, it would be that such pain would never cross Danny again. They spent one of their last days alone playing with the game console in the rec room. It was pretty crappy and crashed a lot, but they didn’t care. Ripping away at imaginary foes gave them a respite from raging hormones. When the second storm hit out of nowhere, they thought they
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were prepared, and they were, to a certain extent. They had laid in enough food for an army. What they didn’t get ready for was a power outage. They were halfway through an epic battle with interstellar aliens when the television fizzled. Darkness descended. Candles were not allowed in the dorm, so Matthew used the glow from his cell phone to guide them down to the attendant’s office. “Where’s your cell?” “No one to call.” On the tip of Matthew’s tongue rested, What about your family? But he caught himself just in time. While curled up against his chest, Danny had told him what happened when his parents found out about his orientation. Instead, Matthew asked, “Why are we going to the attendant’s office?” “He’s supposed to have emergency lamps.” “And you have a key?” “Not exactly,” Danny hedged. “Explain.” “I, uh...I know how to pick a lock.” Matthew’s eyebrows climbed high. “Do tell.” Even in the dark, he saw a blush of embarrassment wash over Danny’s cheeks. “I developed a computer program to run odds on how difficult any particular lock would be to pick, based on the key pins. There’s a whole science to the thing. Well, anyway, I had to do research, and the internet being what it is...” His voice trailed off, and he shrugged. “You are a man of many talents.” In short order, they had Danny’s room glowing with an electric lantern. The light was so white it was almost blue. By covering the lamp with a tie-dyed bandana, they were able to turn his room into a psychedelic light show. “Trippy.” Matthew tossed himself onto Danny’s bunk. “Totally, dude.” “So, tell me, Danny, what else did you learn on the internet?” Matthew waggled his eyebrows.
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“I’d rather show you than tell you.” Flipping his hair back, Danny seductively unbuttoned his shirt. Danny was the first guy Matthew had ever seen who could make brown and green flannel look sexy. “Take it all off!” Matthew whipped his wallet out and started throwing money his direction. Dropping his gaze a little, like he wasn’t quite sure of himself, Danny slipped off his shoes, his socks, then shimmied down his jeans. Tight, white underwear clung to his hips and displayed an enticing bulge. Hesitating, Danny bit his bottom lip. Matthew waited, hoping that Danny trusted him. After taking a deep breath, Danny finally looked up. Crooking his finger, Matthew called him over to the bed. When he got close, Matthew pulled Danny down on top of him, kissing him while grabbing his ass. Firm buns filled his hands, giving him all the leverage he needed to rock Danny’s body atop his. Just as it had every time, their kissing went wild. Tongues clashing, they were breathing hard in a matter of moments from the effort of holding back. Danny tore at Matthew’s shirt, popping off a button for every one he got unfastened. Matthew didn’t care. It was sexier than hell to have Danny clawing his way into his clothing. When he struggled with his button-fly jeans, as he had every time, Matthew took pity on him. “There’s a trick to it. Now watch.” Danny rolled to the side then swung his legs off the mattress. He rose to his feet. Attention riveted, he stood beside the bed. It suddenly dawned on Matthew that Danny knew perfectly well how to get his fly down. He just enjoyed watching Matthew do it. Secretly pleased, he let Danny anticipate just a little by fumbling with the topmost button. With a good, hard pull, Matthew popped every button with one yank. His cock popped out like a wicked jack-in-thebox. Visibly, Danny shivered. “Do you have any idea how fucking hot that is?”
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Darting his gaze down to the ever-enlarging wet spot on the front of Danny’s briefs, Matthew said, “Yeah, I’ve got some idea.” Together, they removed the rest of his clothes. When Danny licked his lips, Matthew knew exactly what he wanted to do, but he sat up. “Nope, not now.” “You can’t seriously think I need more—oh.” Sitting on the edge of the bed with Danny standing put his mouth at the same level as Danny’s cock. Matthew got him to quit talking by leaning forward and kissing the tip of his prick through the white cotton. Danny’s breath caught, and then he exhaled slowly as Matthew nibbled around the crown and breathed out in moist, hot bursts. Murmuring incoherently, Danny clung to his shoulders. Matthew didn’t ask, but he was pretty sure no one had ever gone down on Danny. He was honored to be the first, and he wanted to make sure he gave him the best damn blow job he’d ever get. Working him through the fabric was a tease that had Danny uttering sounds of blissful surrender. When Matthew growled and tugged the briefs down with his teeth, Danny dug his fingertips into Matthew’s shoulder. Rather than hurt, the pain only egged Matthew on. He wanted Danny wild with need by the time he actually put lips to flesh. Danny tried to pull his underwear down the rest of the way, but Matthew grasped his wrists and pulled his arms behind his back. This caused a new and much more plaintive whimper that tightened Matthew’s balls a notch. Damn. He wasn’t going to last. Teasing his free hand over the exposed skin of Danny’s buttocks encouraged him to tilt his hips forward, which lifted his tight little ass. “Hold very still, Danny.” Darting a quick glance up, Matthew discovered Danny was
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watching him, his eyes enormous. He had pressed his lips together so tightly they had almost disappeared. “Make noise, Danny. I want to hear you.” “Aw, fuck.” Danny uttered a slew of dirty words between breathless pants. Each time he swore, Matthew growled softly and slipped his finger a bit further along the cleft of his bottom. Just as Danny started to arch his back, Matthew continued to tug his underwear down in the front with his teeth, all this while holding his hands behind his back. Unsure which way to move, Danny did exactly as Matthew wanted. He held very still, giving complete control over to Matthew. He wasn’t trying to dominate him so much as he was determined to make Danny accept pleasure. His only relationship had been a onesided farce. All Danny’s fantasies, which he had whispered into Matthew’s ear in the dark, involved Danny giving pleasure without a thought to himself. Not once was Danny the recipient of gratification. Matthew would give him that first. And then, when he was certain that Danny was well and truly cognizant of the fact he deserved satisfaction just as much as anyone else, only then would Matthew claim him. Fidgeting ever so slightly, as if he battled with himself to hold still, Danny’s whimpering cries grew in volume until he was almost sobbing in erotic frustration. Just when Danny was surely convinced actual contact would never occur, Matthew yanked his briefs down with his teeth, and then breathed out against the tip of his exposed cock. Looking up, right into Danny’s eyes, Matthew kept his mouth right above the now overly sensitive skin of Danny’s virginal prick. “Never, in all my life, have I ever hungered for a cock the way I hunger for yours.” Danny opened his mouth as if to speak. Before he could, Matthew drew Danny’s cock into his more-thanwilling mouth.
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Chapter 7 Everything stopped when Matthew’s mouth descended on his prick. Danny couldn’t gasp. He couldn’t blink. All he could do was stand perfectly still and watch as his entire length disappeared between Matthew’s lips. What stunned him utterly was that while Matthew took him within, he kept his eyes open, looking right up into Danny’s eyes. The connection was overwhelming and so intimate, his eyes watered slightly. No one had ever given to him. No one had ever cared about him. No one had ever troubled themselves about his needs. Matthew did all of that. Wordlessly, Matthew showed Danny that he was worthy of love. Staggered by the realization, Danny thought that all he’d suffered was worth this moment. Having his hands held behind his back helped him focus on his own pleasure and not get lost in thinking of what he wanted to do to Matthew in return, which was clearly Matthew’s intent. Tenderly, Matthew worked his mouth over Danny’s shaft. Mesmerized by the nuance of textures—from the rough of his tongue, to the soft of his lips, to the hard scrape of his teeth—Danny realized he was holding his breath. Carefully, determined not to move, he reminded himself to simply breathe. As Matthew’s finger continued to explore his cleft, Danny knew that tonight, they would go all the way, but for now, he refused to think on that future event. By holding his gaze and holding his arms, Matthew kept Danny riveted. Ever so slowly, Matthew pulled back until only the very tip of Danny’s cock was held between his lips. “Matthew, I—”
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Flicking his tongue over the slit cut off whatever Danny was going to say. Just when Danny grew used to the sensation, Matthew increased the pace of his licking. When he became accustomed to that, Matthew brushed his tongue under the most sensitive area where the head and shaft met. Danny literally felt his balls tighten up. Matthew must have felt them too, as they pressed against his chin. Clearly, Matthew realized Danny was close, because he swirled his tongue around the crown, then partway down the shaft. When that failed to ease his need to climax, Matthew released Danny’s bound hands, and wrapped his forefinger and thumb around the base of Danny’s prick. A gentle squeeze held him still and lessened his urge to climax. With his hands free, Danny was able to slide his fingers through Matthew’s short, cropped hair. The spiky strands were amazingly soft, almost tickling his palms. Twice more, Matthew brought him to the edge of release, then pulled him back at the last moment. As he eased Danny toward the precipice again, he slid his finger deep into the cleft of his bottom and pressed against his puckered flesh. His long-denied orgasm erupted, and he cried out, stunned by the powerful gush of pleasure. Matthew sucked lightly, drawing his lips down to the base as he drank every drop of Danny’s climax. Not for a moment did Matthew look away. Once he’d drained him dry, he eased his finger from between his cheeks and slowly released Danny’s cock. After placing a tender kiss to the softening tip, Matthew stood, and planted his lips against Danny’s. Wild with need, Danny kissed him, marveling at the taste of his passion on Matthew’s lips. Pulling back, Danny cupped his chin and whispered, “You were worth waiting for.” “Yeah?” Matthew grinned, grasping Danny’s butt and pulling him against him. Matthew’s still-hard and throbbing cock pressed right against Danny’s softening prick. “I’m not done with you yet.”
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Shivering with anticipation, Danny lowered his hands to Matthew’s hips. “I get to actually participate in this, right?” “Maybe,” Matthew teased. “Although, I could tie you up. Make you take more pleasure until I drive you completely out of your mind.” “I’m already there.” “I could spirit you away, keep you bound and all to myself.” Matthew waggled his brows. “And you expect me to, what, struggle? Attempt to run away?” Danny grinned up at him. “Here, let me bind my hands for you.” Grasping his wrists with one massive hand, Matthew held Danny close. “As wickedly tempting as that sounds, I think we’d forget to do the basic things. Like eat, sleep, study.” He lowered his lips, kissing him with brief smooches. “How about we just agree that you belong to me?” In a way, Danny recognized Matthew was kidding, but there was a serious edge to his voice that compelled Danny to whisper, “I belong to you.” A solemn expression crossed Matthew’s face, but not one of trepidation, more one of...pride. “Say it again.” “I belong to you.” Guiding him to the bunk and onto his back, Matthew settled him so that he was laying sideways across the short width of the bed, with his feet flat on the floor. Perplexed by his position, Danny lifted his head, only to have Matthew slip a pillow under his bottom. Matthew’s positioning of him clarified when he took the other pillow and placed it on the floor. “For my knees,” Matthew explained. “I’d love to be up in that bed with you, but it’s hardly big enough for you, let alone the two of us.” “Maybe we could live off campus.” Danny wanted to slap himself upside the head. They hadn’t even had sex and here he was rushing Matthew to move in with him.
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“I think that might be for the best.” Matthew flashed a smile that was pure sex. “Somewhere with soundproof walls, maybe.” Stunned by his easy acceptance, Danny simply nodded. “You’ve got the most incredible ass.” Matthew settled his knees on the floor pillow then rubbed his face along the inside of Danny’s thighs. Kissing and biting, Matthew worked his way inexorably up, pushing his legs farther apart as he did so. Danny felt a little ashamed that he wasn’t hard, almost like he was disappointing Matthew. “You can be aroused and not hard, Danny.” Danny peered down at Matthew. “How did you know what I was thinking? It’s like you can read my mind.” “Maybe.” Matthew held his gaze as he lifted Danny’s legs up and pressed on the backs of his thighs. “Or maybe you give everything away with your expressive eyes.” While he watched, Matthew lowered his face and deliberately licked deep into Danny’s crevice. The sensation of his hot, wet tongue sent Danny back into orbit. Danny broke eye contact this time, as his eyes rolled back from raw pleasure. Imagining this sensation was not the same as experiencing it. Not even close. Matthew eased his legs back, spreading his cheeks until his puckered flesh was exposed to his lustful ministrations. Licking and teasing his fingers around the rosette eased the tightness, yet Danny still struggled to lift his head. “Relax, Danny. I want you ready for me.” Just the thought of taking Matthew’s large and luscious cock into his bottom caused Danny to tense. What relaxed him was the way Matthew refused to rush. Slowly, he tongued and fingered him until Danny was practically panting with need. “I want you wet.” Licking and slipping his fingers within his tight channel was quickly soaking him. “I want you wild with need.” Danny reached up and gripped the wall, clinging to it to stop the sensation that he was spinning. Each pass of Matthew’s tongue and
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fingers pushed him higher and twirled him faster. Before he knew it, Matthew had three fingers buried in his ass, and his cock was hard as a rock. “Now, please now.” Sensing movement, Danny opened his eyes to find Matthew had risen up on his knees. His condom-clad cock was slick and pointing right at Danny. Gaze darting from Danny’s face to where they would soon join, Matthew pressed against him but held steady. Danny quivered, breathlessly awaiting penetration. “Tell me.” “I belong to you.” For a timeless moment, Matthew held his gaze. His massive hands cupped Danny’s hips, holding him steady, making him ready for what would come. “Mine.” With that, Matthew pressed harder against him. Danny held his breath, anticipating pain, but all he felt was fullness. Insistent pressure tightened him against the invasion, and then he exhaled, welcoming Matthew within. Matthew’s gaze moved over Danny’s face, looking for pain or regret, but all he could possibly see was pleasure and contentedness. “Hold very still, Danny.” Without any movement at all, Danny’s body pulled Matthew’s cock in deep. He wished he could see Matthew’s prick sliding between his cheeks, but he couldn’t from this angle. But watching the expression on Matthew’s face as he watched was possibly hotter. Matthew’s lids lowered, giving his expression a sinister appearance. His nostrils flared, and his lips peeled back, exposing his teeth. Snarling with the effort it took to keep still, Matthew became the bear from Danny’s dream. Fingertips digging into the meat of his hips, Matthew was slowly and inevitably losing control. “Do you know how difficult it is for me not to start fucking you like a wild man?” Involuntarily, Matthew’s hips flicked, drilling his prick in a little deeper.
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Simultaneously, they moaned. “I’m ready, Matthew.” Danny felt as if he’d been waiting his entire life for this moment. “No, not yet. I want this to last.” Gritting his teeth, his entire body one long line of determination, Matthew waited until Danny had completely pulled his cock in. Balls-deep, he drew his attention to Danny’s face, and then began to rock his hips. Sublime torture, Danny thought, to feel Matthew slipping in and out so slowly. Danny wanted to wrap his legs around him and urge him, with his heels dug into his buttocks, but as soon as he tightened his legs to lift them, Matthew shook his head side to side. “Bad boy. I know what you’re trying to do.” Matthew flicked his chin toward Danny’s hands. “Put them behind your knees and hold yourself open for me.” Cupping his hands behind his knees forced his legs back and also spread them wide. Somehow, the position made him feel a hundred times more vulnerable, but the way Matthew licked his lips made him realize it was an incredible turn-on for him. And despite the exposure of his position, he felt safe. Danny trusted Matthew implicitly. Matthew wanted him still, so he would learn how to receive, but there was something exciting about giving Matthew power over him. Moreover, Matthew was getting off on being in charge. “You want total control over me.” Matthew’s pine-green eyes went wide, and guilt twisted his features. Terrified that he would stop, Danny blurted, “I like it.” Hesitating, Matthew considered how their two bodies were situated. “I’ve never felt like this before. Possessive and controlling. It’s as if I’m compelled to make you accept what I have to give. Compelled to show you that you must allow pleasure without giving anything in return.” Stunned, Danny blinked up at him. “I want to please you, too.” “I know, and I want that, but this compulsion is so strong.”
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Matthew leaned over him, pressing Danny down into the bed. Lowering his voice to a whisper, Matthew held Danny’s gaze. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I want to master you. Not in all things, just here and now. Does that make sense?” An illicit thrill tightened Danny’s body, including clutching his passage around Matthew’s cock. Matthew’s eyes closed, his head went back, and he released a sigh that mingled ecstasy and agony. “Aw, fuck, Danny. Do that again.” Deliberately, Danny tightened his cheeks, which clenched him firmly around Matthew. By concentrating, he was able to crush and release in a flickering rhythm. When Matthew timed his strokes to occur between the grasping of his inner muscles, both of them moaned. “Oh. My. God.” Matthew kissed the breath out of Danny. “You feel so good. So sweet and tight and oh, God, Danny, I can’t hold back.” Building the pace, Matthew lifted his hands from Danny’s hips and placed them below his shoulders so that Matthew could get closer but hold his weight up. “Let go of your legs and wrap yourself around me.” Ever obedient, Danny embraced Matthew, pulling him close. “Ah, yeah, I can feel your cock against my stomach.” “I think I can feel yours at the back of my throat.” Matthew burst out laughing. “Damn, Danny, don’t make me laugh! Not now of all times.” “You were the one who said sex was supposed to be fun.” “Hell yeah.” Matthew’s smile faded away as he held Danny’s gaze. “But this is feeling a lot more intense than simple sex.” Danny nodded. This was far more than what he’d ever expected for himself. Matthew’s care for him was evident in everything he did. “I don’t understand what’s happening, but I don’t think that matters so much.” Matthew brushed a kiss across Danny’s lips. “I think”—he shook his head as if fighting to speak—“don’t freak out, Danny, but I think I love you.”
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Electricity sparked from nerve to nerve, galvanizing his body, tightening him around Matthew. Danny clung to him as he slowed his pace and now rocked into Danny’s body with the undulating grace of love and not a frantic need to climax. “Danny?” Realizing that he’d closed his eyes, Danny lifted his lids and peered up at Matthew. His face was guarded, almost as if he expected Danny to laugh or make fun of him. Nothing could be further from his mind. “I think I love you, too.” Rather than stark-raving terror at admitting to such a deep feeling, Danny was stunned when peace stole over him, relaxing him under Matthew’s massive body. Relief eased a smile over Matthew’s features. “Hold tight, Danny. Look right at me.” Wrapping his arms and legs around him, Danny kept his eyes open and focused on Matthew’s. They kept their languid pace, matching their rhythm, synchronizing their breathing. When Danny couldn’t hold back, he whimpered and released in a great gush between their bellies. His climax clenched him around Matthew as tight as a fist, preventing him from thrusting. Growling like the bear from his dreams, Matthew rammed his hips forward hard and held, his cock twitching deep in Danny’s body as he came. After he caught his breath, Matthew pressed his weight against Danny, squeezing him hard. “One more time. Tell me one more time.” “I’ll say it as much as you need to hear it.” Danny cupped Matthew’s beautiful face. “I belong to you.”
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Chapter 8 Eventually, with the help of an army of snow plows, Twin Pines emerged from the grip of two major snowstorms. Classes were pushed back four days, but that was four days that Danny and Matthew got to spend in blissful solitude. “As soon as the streets are clear, we’re going apartment hunting.” Matthew was sitting cross-legged on Danny’s bed, with Danny wrapped around his hips. The power had come back on, but they were using the lamp with the tie-dyed handkerchief for atmosphere. “There are some nice places over on Evergreen.” Danny wiggled his bottom, settling himself more firmly on Matthew’s cock. “The apartments are within walking distance of the campus.” It was an important point since neither of them had wheels. “They’ll rent to college guys?” “With a big enough deposit.” Matthew frowned. He didn’t have much in the way of cash. After flipping his money at Danny for the strip show, he’d carefully gathered up bills, tucking them back into his wallet. When he’d realized there was a fiver missing, he searched until he found it under Danny’s tossed-off jeans. Unlike some kids, Matthew didn’t have parents who were footing his bill. His folks would if they could, but they didn’t have that kind of scratch. In addition to his scholarship, he received a small stipend for living expenses. It wasn’t much, so Matthew literally counted every penny. “I have money.” Danny rolled his hips, which swizzled Matthew’s dick inside him. “Damn. You know I can’t think when you do that.” Matthew
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grasped his hips and forced him to hold still. “Maybe I should tie you up.” He glanced around, looking for something to bind his hands with. “And where’d you get money?” After what Danny said about his folks, he knew it wasn’t from them. He had a scholarship, but if all they had were stipends, they were going to have to get jobs to afford their own place. If that was the case, Matthew would. He wanted to be with Danny in a big-ass bed where he could love him good and proper. “I tutor students in math.” “Ah. Brains and beauty. I think I’ll have to tie you up not only for sex, but to keep you out of the clutches of the other guys.” “They can look, but they can’t touch.” Danny leaned forward, kissing him soundly. “I am a one-man kind of guy.” “Me, too.” Matthew’s strong possessive streak while they were alone was curious to him, since he’d never been this way before, but Danny didn’t seem to mind. Danny was just as possessive. His worry was more understandable, given his history, but Matthew couldn’t understand why he kept thinking Danny would leave him unless he swore allegiance. It was such an odd compulsion and impossible to shake. But he didn’t tell Danny. Danny came to life under Matthew’s care, his confidence rising each time they made love. At first, Matthew had felt funny using that terminology, but it was the only phrase that fit how he felt when he was with Danny. It wasn’t sex, or getting off, or anything so fleeting. What they had was love. Crazy, wild, utterly intense, and wonderful love. Much like the snowstorms, their mutual love hit hard and fast and left a lasting impression. Danny was Matthew’s first love. He’d lusted after guys, and he’d had physically intense relationships, but this was unique. Danny brought him to life. If he helped Danny to come into his own, Danny turned right around and did the same for him. Matthew had always had a healthy dose of self-
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confidence, but Danny gave him something more, a strength of purpose he’d never felt so in tune with. He felt that together, they would go places, do things, and they would be wildly happy. But. No matter how hard he tried to stop his brain from slipping that word in, it did anyway. Matthew felt there was a nebulous issue just beyond his awareness. That curious feeling he’d had while looking at the back of Danny’s head in the gymnasium, just before he’d met him, that feeling of danger, returned. Shaking off the absurd notion grew ever more difficult, but no matter how hard he looked, Matthew could not find one thing about Danny that was dangerous. Kind, considerate, and amazingly open, considering his history, Danny was the quintessential loner, but he wasn’t a killer. Despite having suffered at the hands of bullies, Danny had no burning desire for revenge. Long ago, he’d made peace with the persecutors from his youth. He wasn’t a closet gun nut, nor was he suicidal, as so many abused gay men were. Still, the feeling of danger lingered. Once the student body returned, he and Danny had to get creative with their hookups. Since Danny was so trusted by the staff of the college, he had access to a lot of spare rooms. What stunned Matthew was how Danny had no issue with leading him into a darkened room, locking the door, and then pouncing on him. Fast and furious, they’d get each other off with hands and mouths, then return to the hallways as if nothing happened. As predicted, Matthew’s feelings of possession increased, especially when the other students got to see Danny, the real Danny, for the first time. With his hair brushed back and his shoulders straight, he drew attention. Several guys thought he was a new student. Blushing, Danny took the praise without getting a big head. Still, Matthew couldn’t help but lay his claim. Wrapping his arm around his shoulders, Matthew made a point of walking Danny from class to class.
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“Well, if I wasn’t out before, I certainly am now.” “I’m sorry.” Matthew released him. “I didn’t even think about what you wanted.” “I want your arm around me.” Danny grinned. “You are still going to help me load up the last of the equipment, right?” “At your service.” They made their way across the snow-riddled campus to the equipment area where the school buses and the equipment truck were kept. It was Danny’s job to ensure that each member of the team had everything they would need for the away game. He also had backup equipment and items to repair anything that broke. If anything, Danny believed in being over-prepared. After almost eight years managing equipment for football teams, he anticipated even the most obscure of needs. Tools, extra gear, spare parts, even superglue and duct tape were tucked among the many rolling boxes that were loaded into the semitruck. “Do they really call you the waterboy?” “Some do, and I like it, but technically I’m the senior equipment manager.” After methodically checking items off his list, Danny closed and locked the equipment truck, then went the extra mile by putting drinks, snacks, and other items in the team bus. “Aren’t the guys supposed to do this?” “I don’t mind.” “You like pampering us.” “Football players saved my life.” “You’re sweet.” Blushing, Danny ducked his head. “You ready for this game?” Danny tossed Matthew a stack of green blankets with the team mascot emblazoned on them. Matthew tucked into the bus. “I’m nervous as hell.” Normally, Matthew would have kept that to himself, but he knew the truth was safe with Danny. “Why? I’ve seen you hustle in the gym.” Danny eyed him
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critically. “You’re awfully fast for a big guy.” “Only on the field, hot stuff.” Matthew winked. “I think because I’m the new kid and it’s my first time playing with the Grizzlies— that’s why I’m all twitterpated. I just want to do right by the team, I guess.” After ensuring they were alone, Danny kissed him quickly then stepped back. “You’ll do fine.” “You’re coming, right?” “Hell yeah. Can’t have a full contingent of guys without the trusty waterboy.” “You still have fantasies about being the team fuck toy?” “Nope.” “Seriously?” “I’ve found I don’t need the fantasies, now that I have the reality of you.” Danny dropped his gaze to the bulge in Matthew’s pants. “You’re so much better than anything I ever dreamed.” “Once we get this beast loaded, I’m going to show you just how mutual that sentiment is.” “Promises, promises.” Danny tossed him a sack full of various kinds of chips. Once they had the gear stowed, they headed back to their dorm rooms to gather their personal gear. Afterward, Danny made a detour into one of the off-season sports equipment rooms. “You realize that once we’re on the road, we won’t be able to do anything?” Danny asked. “We can sneak away.” Danny shook his head. “It’s an honor code violation.” He lifted his right hand. “As a representative of Twin Pines College, I promise to uphold the sprit of the school and blah, blah, blah. No alcohol, drugs, or sex.” “Really?” “Really. I could lose my scholarship, and so could you.” Danny flicked off the light. “So, this is going to have to tide us over for three
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whole days.” In the dark, it was difficult to see what Danny was doing, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what he was up to, not when he grasped the top tab of Matthew’s jeans and yanked hard, popping apart the buttons, right down to the base of his cock. “I knew you knew how to do that.” Danny chuckled. “I like watching you wrench your pants open. It’s so fucking hot.” Velvet blackness encased him as he felt Danny ease down the length of his body. He knew he was on his knees because he felt his hot, moist breath against his cock. Matthew shivered. Danny didn’t suck his cock. No. Danny worshiped his cock. Teeth, tongue, lips, even the sharp spikes of his after-five shadows were used to heighten Matthew’s arousal. What made the event even hotter was that Matthew knew his was the first cock Danny had sucked. Apparently, he’d perfected his technique via his kinky daydreams. “Was this ever in one of your fantasies?” Matthew threaded his fingers through the length of Danny’s hair without disturbing his wanton work. In between openmouthed kisses that lead Danny from base to tip, he said, “Not quite like this.” “Tell me.” As he teased his prick, Danny told him one of his wicked imaginings. “He was big, like you, and his body was drenched in sweat from playing one of the most physically demanding games ever.” Easing his jeans down until Danny could cup his balls, Matthew pressed against the wall for support. He loved his dirty talk, especially when it echoed his movements. “Furious at having lost, but realizing his body couldn’t stand any more physical punishment, he saw me gathering up discarded laundry in the locker room.” Danny left off his tale while he bobbed his head over Matthew’s
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cock. Just when he was getting to the point of climax, Danny stopped. “He ripped my pants off and pinned me down on the bench beside his locker.” Visualizing what Danny described added to the increased tension. A blow job and a lusty story were a heady combination. Danny was a master of both. “Prying my buttocks apart, he spit between my cheeks, then slid his enormous prick along the cleft of my ass.” “Aw, fuck.” Matthew saw himself doing that do Danny. “As he leans over me, I realize how big he is, but I’m not afraid. He’s angry, but not at me. I’m the only one who can soothe him.” “Soothe the savage breast.” Cupping his balls, licking them hungrily, Danny whispered, “Beauty and brains.” “You’re surprised I know that quote?” “That you know the correct quote, yeah. Everyone always says it wrong.” Danny was silent again while he bobbed his head. “The others, do they watch?” Matthew was right in that imaginary locker room. “They help him spit on his prick, slicking it up so he can fuck me.” Matthew could picture a dozen hot guys spitting to ease the passage of one big cock into Danny’s perfect ass. He had no idea why it turned him on, but it did, and Danny knew it. While Matthew pictured the scene, Danny pulled back and spit lightly against the head of Matthew’s prick. Gritting his teeth to stifle a growl, Matthew clutched the wall behind him, digging his fingertips into unforgiving drywall to try to keep his hands off Danny. If he touched him now, he feared what he would do. Pushed beyond arousal, beyond rationality, Matthew wanted to do to him exactly what he was describing in his story. Matthew wanted to bend him over and slide his prick between Danny’s perfect cheeks.
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Sensing his dire need, Danny left off his tale and concentrated on sucking Matthew’s cock in and out of his mouth. Using his hands, one against his balls, the other wrapped firmly around Matthew’s shaft, he mimicked a deep throat that he couldn’t possibly pull off. But this, what Danny did, was better. Slicking his fist by opening his fingers and spitting gave sound to the image in Matthew’s head. “I’m picturing you bent over that bench, with me spitting on my prick.” Danny swirled his tongue around the crown of his cock. “Ah, yeah, and I’m watching my prick ease into that tight and perfect ass of yours.” Danny clenched his fist, lowering it slowly down, as if Matthew were sliding into him. “Fuck, yeah, and you do that thing where you tighten and release your ass.” Danny mimicked the motion by flexing his fist. “I’m going to come, Danny. I can’t hold on.” Matthew came in a gushing torrent. Danny didn’t miss a drop. Hauling him up, Matthew pressed him into the wall, kissing him wildly as he yanked at his jeans. “I want these off, and then I want your sweet cock in my mouth.”
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Chapter 9 Together, Danny and Matthew got Danny’s jeans down, but Matthew wasn’t satisfied. “I want them off. I want to tongue fuck that beautiful ass of yours.” Danny practically came on the spot. Never in his life had he imagined having a boyfriend so talented at dirty talk. He also got out of his clothes in record time. Bare and quivering with excitement, Danny about jumped out of his skin when the doorknob rattled. Clutching him to his chest, Matthew pressed Danny against the wall protectively, his body blocking him from view as he yanked his pants back on. If someone came in, they’d see Matthew’s broad back rather than Danny’s skinny ass. “Did you lock it?” Matthew asked. “I think I did,” Danny whispered back. For the life of him he couldn’t remember. Breathlessly, they waited. After what seemed forever, Matthew went to the door, listened, and then came back to where Danny waited in the dark. “Whoever it was is gone.” “We should go.” “I am not going until I’ve gotten you off.” “It’s okay, really.” Danny tried to brush past Matthew, but Matthew wasn’t going to be put off. “I’m not hard anymore.” “As if that’s a problem.” Before he knew it, Matthew had Danny’s jeans back off. Effortlessly, he picked him up and placed him facedown on a padded
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bench tucked behind the rows of equipment. Into his massive hands he took Danny’s cheeks, pried them apart, and then buried his face between. True to his word, he proceeded to tongue fuck him. “Sweetest, tightest ass.” Pressing insistently against his puckered flesh, Matthew punctuated his dirty talk with stabbing flicks of his tongue. Danny was rock hard again in under sixty seconds. Taking Danny’s cock in hand, Matthew proceeded to tongue him and stroke him in a simultaneous rhythm that had Danny panting and moaning. “You’re so damn hot you’ve got me hard again.” Danny lifted his ass a bit higher. “Fill me, Matthew, just like in the story.” “I want to, but I don’t have any condoms.” There was a long moment of silence. “I’ve never been with anyone without one. I swear it.” “I trust you.” And he did, implicitly. Matthew would never do anything to hurt him. “I want to feel you inside me.” “Are you sure? Oh, God, Danny, I wanted to wait until we could do this right. Like in a bed with the whole seduction thing. But right now I want to breed you so badly, I’m shaking.” In all his fantasies, Danny had never dreamed of a man wanting to breed him. Just the thought of having Matthew bareback, filling his willing channel with his seed, made Danny shiver with longing. Against his thighs, Matthew trembled, and Danny realized Matthew’s need was as profound as his own. “Now, please, I feel crazy for you.” Danny had no idea what possessed him, but he needed to feel Matthew inside him without any barriers. To have Matthew breed him would be the most intimate of acts they had done thus far. It showed a level of trust and love that nothing else could. “I won’t last.” Matthew’s hard cock rested against Danny’s bottom. “Neither will I.” “We should do this when we have more time.”
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“I can’t wait, Matthew.” Danny didn’t know what was pushing him, but he felt this had to happen now, before they left for the game. His sense of urgency was overwhelming. “Please.” Spitting and rubbing his cock along the crevice between Danny’s cheeks, Matthew prepared him thoroughly, then eased the head of his marvelous prick inside. “Hold still. Hold still.” For good measure, Matthew gripped Danny’s hips, preventing him from moving at all. “The feel of you, Danny, so hot and tight. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.” Danny felt each subtle texture of Matthew’s invading cock. The ridge of his head, the throbbing vein that ran down the side, the way his shaft flared at the base. When he was balls-deep, Matthew held steady for almost a full minute, his prick quivering within, before he began to rock his hips. Oh so slow and sweet, Matthew slid his saliva-slick cock in and out of Danny’s ass, making him wild with pleasure. Each pass of his prick rubbed against Danny’s prostate, ramping up his pleasure. A peaceful calm accompanied the rising urge to climax, dispelling the pressing sense of urgency. This was what he’d hungered for all his life, it seemed. Reaching around, Matthew wrapped his fist around Danny’s cock. Each time he pumped his hips forward, he pulled his hand down, forcing Danny to fuck his fist. Faster and faster they went, as their moans grew deeper and more guttural. “Ah, God. Someone’s going to hear us.” “I don’t care.” Danny lifted his ass higher. “I’m going to lose it.” Matthew leaned forward, draping his body over Danny’s back. “Tell me what I need to hear.” “I belong to you.” Danny turned his head, kissing Matthew over his shoulder. After a lingering kiss, Matthew pulled back. “And I belong to you.” Grabbing the padded edges, Danny clung to the bench, trying to
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keep his ass angled high for Matthew’s ever-increasing thrusts. “Hard and fast and deep and oh, fuck.” Matthew blew his load deep into Danny’s ass. In turn, Danny came, jetting against Matthew’s hand and the floor. Panting, breathless, Matthew wrapped his arms around Danny and gently lifted him from the bench, pulling him back onto his body. Cradling him, keeping his cock buried inside, he knelt on the floor, hugging Danny from behind. With his mouth pressed against Danny’s ear, Matthew whispered, “Tell me you’re okay.” “Better than.” Turning his head, Danny kissed him over his shoulder. “I felt everything.” “Me, too.” There was a long moment of silence. “Danny, I feel...different.” Danny did, too. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what had happened, but something more profound than simple sex had transpired between them. Matthew’s ringtone ripped into the velvet black. He groaned. Fumbling his cell from his pushed-down trousers, he growled, “Yeah?” The light of the phone illuminated Matthew’s face. Annoyed, he listened to the person on the other end. From the low, gruff sounds, Danny knew it was the coach. They were late and going to be later if they didn’t get moving. Danny tried to rise, but Matthew held him close. “I’ll be right there.” Matthew slipped the phone back into his pocket. “Unfortunately, we have to go, but I wish we could stay here and talk. There’s a lot I want to tell you.” “Tell me about what?” Fear slipped into his feelings of blissful calm. “All these thoughts in my head.” Matthew kissed his neck, squeezing him hard. “All good.” Parting reluctantly, they washed up in the bathroom down the hall,
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then ran for the bus. Danny used to ride with the equipment truck driver, but Dylan Peterson pressured the coach to let him ride shotgun in Danny’s place. Dylan said he couldn’t handle all the noise of the team bus, but everyone knew it was his damn space issues. Danny couldn’t have been happier. He loved being surrounded by his teammates. Their exuberant hubbub always made him feel alive, even if he didn’t participate. This ride was different, probably because Danny was different. As per the rules, there was no drinking, drugs, or sex, but that didn’t stop the guys from talking about all three. To keep his head in the game, Coach Miller sat at the front of the bus, his attention focused on his clipboard. To further distance himself, he slipped earbuds into his hair-tufted ears. Quietly, the guys on the team had speculated about what kind of music he liked, but Danny knew he listened to environmental sounds. He didn’t tell the other guys. He only knew because one of his jobs was to make sure Coach’s player was fully charged before each trip. In his duffle, the one that never left his side, Danny had chargers for various electronic devices including MP3 players, handheld gaming systems, and electric shavers. All the guys had to focus on was winning. Since they would play tomorrow morning, all the guys were dressed in jeans and team polo shirts that were hunter green with a small team emblem on the upper right. As soon as they got on the bus, heavy coats were tossed toward the front as the guys gravitated toward the middle and back. First-string players congregated in the center. What few secondand third-string players came filled out around the edges. Most of those guys slapped on headphones and lost themselves in music, games, or studies. They traveled with the team, but they weren’t as much a part of the team as the core group. Most of them would never see field time.
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Things were chaotic as everyone settled in, picking their seat partner and getting drinks and snacks as they cleared the campus. But once they hit the main highway and picked up speed, anticipation for the coming showdown filled the first-string guys with testosterone. “We are gonna kick ass. I can feel it.” Tyler Morgan bobbed his beautiful blond head. Kevin Henderson backed up his assessment with a high five. Normally, Danny would be halfway into a fantasy where the two gorgeous men were using him to satisfy their lusts, but not tonight. With the feel of Matthew’s lovemaking still tingling across his nerves, Danny kept his attention on what his teammates were saying. Well, that, and Matthew. They had elected to sit a distance away from one another, hoping to prevent their urges from getting out of control, but all they’d done was give themselves the distance with which to gaze at each other. Eventually the other guys noticed, and like most guys, they couldn’t help but rip on them good-naturedly. “Finally, Danny comes out of his shell, and the new guy steals him away.” Brandon Sanders, team quarterback and leader of the offensive team, sighed dramatically. Jet-black hair in mass of soft curls tumbled around his face when he shook his head. Blushing, Danny darted a quick glace to Coach, but he was lost in the sounds of the rain forest. “Like you ever hit on me.” Had totally perfect Brandon Sanders, who Danny thought looked like Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait, ever riveted his ice-blue eyes on him, Danny would have probably died from shock. “You’re not hitting on him now, are you?” Matthew puffed up his chest and gave Brandon the evil eye. Palms up and out, Brandon shook his head. “I’m not a poacher.” He smiled, showing off perfect teeth. “I’m just saying that you’re a lucky guy.” Matthew grinned at him, then turned his wicked pine-green eyes on Danny. “That I am.”
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Danny sat a little straighter, pleased that Matthew made no bones about claiming him. It was a good thing they weren’t sitting together, because now that it was totally dark outside, Danny would be willing to take the risk to fool around with Matthew. No matter how many times they hooked up, Danny was never satisfied. Like an addictive substance, he craved Matthew constantly. “Dude, I thought you were straight.” Derek Simmons, who was sitting next to Brandon, scooted away playfully. “Liar. You’re just cheesed he didn’t hit on you.” Kevin shoved Derek’s shoulder, pushing him into Brandon, who wrapped his arms around Derek and tried to kiss him. Rather than duck away, Derek planted one on Brandon. Danny’s jaw dropped open when Brandon not only kissed Derek back, but cupped his strong, capable hand to Derek’s bulge. Brandon fondled Derek’s growing erection with the same finesse he used on the field. There was a reason Brandon was called the man with the golden hands. Not to be outdone, Derek eased Brandon’s zipper down, exposing a thick prick nestled in black hair. Derek wrapped his fist around Brandon’s shaft and started to pump. “Holy shit!” Danny had no idea who said it, but he agreed with the sentiment. Not once in all his fantasies had he dreamed anything like this. Beautiful, black-haired Brandon paired up with platinum-blond Derek Simmons. Visually, they made a stunning pair. Danny also thought they were well matched in temperament. What made this all the hotter was that it was real. Danny pinched himself. Yep, this was real. Dragging his gaze away from the entwined football players, Danny looked at Matthew, who met his gaze. Heat flared between them, but Danny knew if they touched one another now, they wouldn’t be able to hold back. In unspoken agreement, they turned their attention to the pair of groaning men. Brandon and Derek were all over each other and showed no
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indication of stopping. Protectively, the other guys encircled them, blocking them from the view of the coach and the other players. Danny shook his head, stunned by what he was seeing. He’d never fantasized about Brandon and Derek pairing off, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all in his mind. As he watched the two men utterly lost in pleasuring each other, he realized that the other men were just as fascinated. Tight jeans grew tighter as the teammates watched. When the bus hit a dip in the road, it bounced the two men apart. Brandon and Derek separated, but it was clear they didn’t want to. They were both breathing hard and probably a little shocked by what had just happened. “Later,” Brandon promised, tucking his hard dick back in his jeans. “Bring it,” Derek offered, adjusting the prominent bulge in his pants. Dirty comments started flying so fast Danny couldn’t keep up. After a purge of energy, all the guys calmed down and crowded in close. Ryan Stone was the one who quietly asked, “How many of us are gay?” There had long been a rumor that all-male Twin Pines was a school for homosexuals, but Danny dismissed the accusation as trash talk. He figured the school had no more gay guys than did the general population. After a long note of silence, several heads popped up to check on coach before settling back down. Ever so slowly, guys started raising their hands. Not high, but to their chests. High enough that everyone in the circle could see, but the other men on the bus couldn’t. Danny almost fell out of his seat when all of the twentysomething guys in the core group lifted their hands. “Well, this explains why Dylan is freaked out.” Kevin Henderson cast his attention toward the back of the bus.
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Danny followed his gaze. Through the window, he saw the equipment truck trailing them. Dylan and the driver were clearly visible in the dashboard glow. Even though the rig had plenty of room, and there was a console unit between the two front seats, Dylan was sitting mashed up against the door, as if he couldn’t get far enough away from the driver. “Sheesh,” Brandon said. “If he could, he’d probably ride in back with the equipment.” “Even from this distance Dylan looks pissed off, like he knows what we’re talking about.” Kevin adjusted his bulge with an aggressive hip thrust. Everyone turned to look at Dylan, who flashed them all the finger, then turned his head to the side, as if he were looking out the side window. A round of snickers erupted. “Homophobe.” No, he’s the nexus. Danny had no idea where the thought had come from. How could Dylan Peterson, the only one determined to keep himself on the edge of the team, be the center of the team, the very thing that held them together? Danny had always pictured himself in the center of the team, but he realized he wasn’t the nexus. He was... The Omega. Danny shook his head in disagreement. He knew Omega was the last letter in the Greek alphabet, but he couldn’t remember what it meant. Moreover, nexus was Latin and Omega was Greek. Maybe it was the idea behind the words and not the origin of the words that mattered. From the depth of his duffle, Danny withdrew a spare cell phone that was new enough to connect to the internet. A quick search told him all he needed to know about Omega. In addition to being the last letter of the Greek alphabet, Omega also meant heir, conclusion, and end. Pondering the significance of what he’d learned, he shut off the
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phone and returned the inert device to his duffle. You are the Omega and Matthew is the Alpha. Danny heard the voice so clearly it was as if someone spoke directly into his mind. Wildly, he looked around, but no one was really looking at him, except Matthew. “Danny? You okay?” Concerned, Matthew rose as if to comfort him, but Danny waved him off. “I’m fine, just worried I might have forgotten something.” “The master of the list forgetting something? I doubt it,” Ryan Stone said. “You keep us so well taken care of, we feel like gods.” They are gods. Gridiron gods. And soon they’ll come into their own with the help of you and Matthew. Chalking up the intrusive voice to exhaustion, what with keeping on top of his studies, loading the team’s gear, and sneaking trysts with Matthew, Danny took a deep breath and tried to relax. Frankly, with everything going on, it would be more surprising if he didn’t have a mini mental breakdown. “Wait, what are the odds?” Ryan piped up. “Statistically, this is nothing short of amazing. In the general population, only ten percent, at best, are gay, so to have our team comprised of more than half homosexuals is nothing short of amazing.” There was a long silence. “Brainiac.” Anthony Reed rolled his eyes, but it was clear he was giving Ryan crap and checking him out at the same time. “But what about all the comments about hooking up with the girls from the colleges we’ve had games at?” “Fronting.” Brandon shrugged. “I do it all the time. I don’t mean to, it’s just a holdover from high school. Being out in that environment wasn’t an option. Hell, my own dad practically disowned me when he just thought I was gay.” “Me, too,” Derek agreed. “It’s easier to fit in if I keep everything on the down low.” “Damn! Just think of all the fun we could have been having.”
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Tyler Morgan shook his head, eyeing Kevin speculatively. “Nothing stopping us now.” Kevin and Anthony switched seats so that Kevin could sit by Tyler and Anthony could sit by Ryan. Before things got completely out of control, Danny warned, “Nothing but the coach and the second- and third-string guys who aren’t gay.” Dozens of eyes turned toward the front of the bus. The driver didn’t give a shit and never took his eyes off the road. Not once had he ever looked into the big mirror over his head to see into the back. But the coach occasionally looked back. Thing was, they could never tell when that would happen. “He looks when we’re too loud and when we’re too quiet,” Danny pointed out. “So, the trick is that most of us have to be behaving normally while a few of us are getting off.” Surfer boy Derek Simmons looked ready to start up where he’d left off with Brandon. “Sounds dangerous.” Danny didn’t want anyone to get kicked off the team. “Not to mention the danger of what would happen if Dylan Peterson got a gander at what was going on in here.” All those eyes now swung toward the back of the bus. Dylan was looking out the side window, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t turn his head and maybe catch sight of something. “Fuck Dylan.” Kevin flashed Dylan the finger even though he wasn’t looking. “You first,” Tyler snarked. Everyone laughed. “You know the rules about away games.” When everyone glared at him, Danny put his hands up in a classic defensive posture. “Hey, I don’t make the rules, and I’m not saying I agree with them, or that I even like them, but if we want to stay together, we need to deal with temptation.”
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Chapter 10 Matthew was ready to back Danny up because he thought the guys would revolt, but they didn’t. They actually listened to Danny’s words of wisdom. The fact that they did was nothing short of amazing. Most guys intent on hooking up and getting off couldn’t be deterred. And certainly not by a waterboy. But he isn’t really the waterboy, now, is he? Reeling from the impact of the voice in his head, Matthew cast Danny a curious look. Danny smiled and shrugged. Confused, Matthew realized Danny was baffled by the team following his suggestion, not reacting to the voice Matthew had heard. If he had, in fact, heard something. Matthew waited, convinced the voice would speak up to prove him wrong, but nothing happened. In short order, the guys settled into their seats, talking quietly or playing with various electronic games while the other guys slept. When they reached the motel, Coach split them up into groups of four per room. Matthew found himself sharing with Tyler, Brandon, and Dylan. As Danny walked off to room with the coach, the bus driver, and the equipment truck driver, Matthew flashed him a grimace. It would have been a night of excruciating temptation if he’d been paired with Danny, but getting stuck with Dylan pretty much put the damper on him having any fun at all. Not that he was anticipating partying all night, but he thought they might have talked about events on the bus. That wasn’t going to happen with Dylan around. Within thirty minutes of hitting the room, everyone was bunked down. As the two biggest guys, Matthew and
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Dylan got their own twin beds, while Brandon and Tyler shared the enormous king bed. Convinced he’d never get to sleep, Matthew was out in a matter of minutes. Per Tyler’s prediction, they did indeed kick ass at the game. Matthew had never worked with a more integrated team. It was almost as if they were interconnected. When one guy needed coverage, another guy was there. When one guy passed, another was there to catch. It was incredible. They didn’t just beat the other team, they soundly trounced them. Basking in the glow of conquest, Matthew and the other guys were so busy high fiving and hugging each other, they were utterly oblivious to the glares and grimaces from the opposing team. “Wining isn’t everything,” Coach said. “It’s the only thing!” they hollered back in unison. Dumping their gear, they showered in the guest locker room, then descended en masse on the closest restaurant. By the time they were finished, they’d eighty-sixed about half the items on the menu. Matthew was hoping to sit by Danny, but Danny was busy reloading the equipment. From his window seat, Matthew had watched him rolling the bins filled with all their gear up the ramp and into the depth of the semitruck. When he’d offered to stay and help, Danny waved him off. “This is my job.” “But you need to eat.” “I already did. Remember? I was up long before you and the other guys.” So Matthew had gone with the rest of the team, but now he had a funny feeling in his gut, and it wasn’t the two plates of pancakes, half a dozen fried eggs, or the three pounds of bacon. Unsure what compelled him to look around for Dylan, Matthew did, and felt a chill when he wasn’t with them in the restaurant. Dylan wasn’t much of a team player, but there was no way he would turn down free eats. A sense of foreboding shot Matthew to his feet. Terror sent him
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running toward the equipment truck. Danny’s comment, that for a linebacker he had amazing hustle, ran through his mind as he practically flew across the street. No matter how he told himself he was being a drama queen and completely overreacting, Matthew couldn’t stop the crushing foreboding. Danny needed him. Intuition drove him to push himself to run faster than he ever had in his life. He didn’t know how he knew Danny was hurt, but he knew. The closer he came to the truck, the worse he felt. The late fall afternoon was far too quiet. This close, Matthew should have heard the sounds of the heavy equipment bins rolling along the ramp and the truck bed. Matthew heard nothing but his own heart pounding in his ears. Grasping the edge of the truck, he bypassed the ramp and literally flung himself into the back. What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks. Dylan Peterson had the limp body of Danny in his massive arms. Blood covered Danny’s face and smeared all over Dylan. So much blood had transferred from Danny to Dylan that his white shirt was almost maroon. All around them, the bins were pushed around and tipped over, as if there had been a tremendous struggle in the confined area. “What the fuck did you do?” Matthew wanted to wrench Danny out of his arms, but he didn’t dare. He was terrified he’d hurt Danny more than he already was. “I tried to save him.” Dylan shook his head. “Save him?” To his utter shock, he realized Dylan was crying. Dylan wasn’t holding Danny so much as he was cuddling him. Big, bad, homophobic loner Dylan Peterson was cradling Danny and crying like a brokenhearted child. Dropping to his knees, Matthew reached out but he knew before he touched him that Danny was dead.
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Chapter 11 Since Danny had organized and moved the team’s equipment multiple times, he had it down to a science. In short order, he had over half the truck loaded. Whistling while he worked, he was looking forward to the ride back with the team. He doubted things would get as wild as they had on the way down, but maybe that curious voice he’d heard would come back and explain a little more. All through the night, he’d laid on his back, listening to Coach and the driver snore while he pondered the meaning of Alpha and Omega. Calling Matthew Alpha was more than apt, but Danny could not fathom how together they were the Alpha and Omega. The best he could determine was that Matthew was the beginning and Danny was the end. But of what? When the alarm sounded, Danny was up and ready long before the other guys. While the team slept on, Danny and the driver went early to unload the team’s gear so when they showed up for the game, everything was ready to go. Again, it was something he’d done so often, he could lay out equipment in his sleep. Watching the game filled him with pride. These were his guys. Everything they wore or used, he’d touched. Watching them work together in perfect harmony caused a surge of satisfaction Danny had never felt before. Seven years with various teams and he’d never experienced this exact set of feelings. Maybe the difference was that his boyfriend was on the team. Who would have ever believed that shy, nerdy Danny Jones would not only have a boyfriend, but one who loved him openly, and one who was one of the strongest guys on the team? Usually he watched everyone equally, but today he found
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his gaze drawn back to Matthew again and again. When they won, Danny was in the thick of the high fives and hugs and was even hefted up onto several shoulders. For a brief moment, his gaze locked with Matthew’s, and the urge to kiss him was so strong he actually leaned forward, but he stopped himself at the last moment. “Not here, not now, but soon.” Matthew had flashed him a smile that promised hours of wicked pleasure. As soon as they got back to campus, Danny was going to find an empty room, and they were going to spend at least three hours making love. And then they were going to find an apartment with a big bed so they could spend lazy Sunday mornings loving and laughing. Shooing his teammates away so he could pack up wasn’t that difficult. They were exuberant from winning, but they were ravenously hungry. Many of the players offered to help him load up, including Matthew, but Danny wanted them to enjoy their victory lunch. Besides, as much as their hearts were in the right place, they’d be more hindrance than help. Danny knew exactly how and where the bins fit together. After rolling in the container that had spare parts for helmets, he locked it down, and then turned to wheel in the next. A row of five guys stood along the back end of the truck. They were so big, they blocked a good portion of the weak fall sunlight. When his eyes adjusted, Danny realized they were wearing plain black shirts and faded jeans. He sighed. This wasn’t the first time a beaten team had decided to bust up gear as a pathetic form of revenge. It didn’t matter to him that they weren’t wearing the beaten team’s colors. There was no reason for anyone other than the opposing team to show up here, and by their size and stance, they were clearly football players. “Guys, look, you can’t get into any of the cabinets without a key, and I don’t have one.” Wisely, Danny locked down all the bins, then hid the keys in the cab of the truck for just such an event. Prepared for
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anything the team needed, Danny was also ready for even the most unlikely of situations. Petty revenge was rare at this level of play, but it wasn’t unheard of. “You’ll also suffer a world of hurt for trashing an opposing team’s gear while on your turf. Is blowing off a little frustration worth a fine and possible suspension?” Danny didn’t start to worry until the guys didn’t say anything. The last pissed off team had trash talked him while they’d kicked the hell out of the bins. They had ended up doing more damage to their own feet than the containers, but they’d gotten their anger out. That these guys were silent sent a chill down his spine. Fight or flight pumped adrenaline into his body, heightening all his senses. He opened his mouth to scream for Matthew, but all that emerged was a high, thin wail of anguish. I’m going to die, and Matthew is going to be brokenhearted. Somehow, that he’d finally found a man to love, that he’d gained the respect of his teammates, that he’d come into his own, and that all of it would be taken away before he could truly enjoy it didn’t surprise Danny. Maybe the voice he’d heard had been his own intuition, telling him the end was coming. Matthew was Alpha in that he was the start of something new and wonderful, but Danny was the Omega, and that was the end. For some reason unknown to him, he wasn’t going to be allowed to experience the full of his bliss. Danny knew if he didn’t escape, he would die. Oddly, the realization brought a certain level of peace. He couldn’t run, he couldn’t fight, but he could die knowing that for a brief, shining moment, he’d had it all. Beautiful, blissful, and tragically brief. Still, he wouldn’t change a thing. Matthew was worth it. Before he knew what was happening, Danny found himself surrounded. Unlike his dreams of being encased in a wall of football player flesh, this was not erotic at all. He was so scared he could hardly breathe. They said not a word as they shoved him around their circle of massive bodies. Panicking, Danny flung up his arms to protect his face, and that
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was when they started punching him. The first blow knocked him stupid, sending him spinning across the circle. A second punch broke something in his face, cut the inside of his cheek, and sent him to the floor. One big hand to the back of his jacket yanked him up and shook him like a rag doll. Danny screamed, but all that emerged was a glut of bright-red blood. The third punch broke his nose and blinded him. Unable to count the punches after that, Danny fell into darkness. His last thought was of Matthew, and all the things they would never get to do together.
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Chapter 12 Matthew’s initial instinct, to blame Dylan for what had happened to Danny, faded when he looked at his hands. Whoever beat Danny would have marks on his knuckles. Dylan’s hands were covered in Danny’s blood, but his fists were undamaged. “Hurry. If we move fast, we can save him.” Even with Danny in his arms, Dylan was able to stand with surprising agility and grace. For a big man, he moved with the fluidity of a dancer. Just who was Dylan Peterson and what had brought him here? Matthew was halfway through the motion of whipping out his cell to call for help when Dylan did the last thing Matthew would ever expect. He kissed him. Dylan stepped forward, pinned Danny’s body between them and then kissed Matthew full on the mouth. Stunned, Matthew dropped his phone, and stood there stupidly while Dylan moved his lips against his. For a homophobe, he kissed amazingly well. Matthew lifted his hands to push him away, but found them cupped to his shoulders. When he opened his mouth to protest, Dylan breathed in. A most curious feeling of being emptied pulled Matthew closer to Dylan. Tearing his mouth away, Dylan leaned over, planted his mouth on Danny, and breathed into him. “You sick fuck! What the hell—” Dylan slapped his mouth over Matthew’s again and pulled the air right out of Matthew’s lungs. Just as before, he pushed that air into Danny. To Matthew’s ever-loving shock, Danny coughed. A bright burst of blood splattered up, but he was breathing.
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“Here, let me.” Matthew would give him mouth-to-mouth directly, but Dylan wouldn’t let go. “It has to be me. I’m the nexus.” “I don’t know what the fuck that is, but you better give him to me, or I’ll beat you to death.” Clutching Danny tight, Dylan backed away. And growled. Rather than ponder this curious development, Matthew advanced. And growled louder. When Dylan snarled, Matthew snarled louder. With a flying lunge, he pounced at Dylan. Something came over him in midair. He felt his body grow bigger, longer. Hair covered his features. His snout lengthened, and the smells in the enclosed truck hit him in assaulting waves. He landed with a thud. Centered between his massive paws was Dylan. His perfectly bald head gleamed in the pale light. Dylan was talking, but Matthew couldn’t concentrate, due to the sensory overload. His sense of smell was so strong he could tell exactly what Dylan had eaten last—a bag of chips, a soda, and huge meatball sandwich. But overriding everything was the smell of his mate’s fear and blood. Danny’s terror saturated the air and filled Matthew’s lungs. The scent sickened him. And that’s when Matthew noticed Danny was gone. He swung his massive head side to side, but his vision was completely different than it had been a moment ago. His vantage point was lower and his eyes were wider apart, which altered how he processed what he saw. But one thing was clear and that was Danny had disappeared. “He’s in you.” Turning his head back toward Dylan, Matthew lifted his paw and that’s when he heard the faintest cry. It was Danny, he was alive, and he was also with Matthew inside a bear. No, he was the bear. He and Danny had become the bear. Matthew thought that if ever there was a situation for a rousing cry of what the fuck, this was it.
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“I can explain.” Even trapped under the body and between the paws of a massive bear, Dylan was calm and unconcerned. Probably because he knew Matthew wouldn’t hurt him. Matthew could smell Danny on Dylan, but he also smelled that Dylan had nothing to do with Danny’s beating. Just as he’d said, he’d tried to help. Whatever he’d done with the air-sucking and breathing kisses had revived Danny. Moreover, his growling had somehow pushed them to shift. “If you get off me, I can tell you all you need to know.” Lumbering backward, Matthew cleared Dylan’s body, then stumbled into an ungainly plop. When his weight hit the floor, the entire truck shook. “You’re the Alpha and Danny is the Omega, the beginning and the end.” Faint, but still detectible, Danny’s voice, which seemed to float in the back of Matthew’s mind, agreed with what Dylan had said. “Only together can you shift. Can you feel Danny in there with you?” Matthew nodded his giant, shaggy head. “If you can stay in that form a bit longer, I think he’ll be healed enough to live.” As Dylan spoke, Matthew felt the urge to shift back into human. He fought it. Giving Danny more time in this form gave him some of Matthew’s strength. If not for Dylan growling and grasping Danny, they probably never would have shifted. The only downside to all of this was that Matthew couldn’t ask any questions. All that emerged from his long nose was snuffling growls. “What the hell got you in an all fire...” Ryan’s voice trailed off. When Matthew turned his bear head, he saw half the team filling the ramp at the back of the truck. When they saw him, eyes rounded, and guys stepped back. “Holy shit!” Tyler Morgan said, but very softly as he continued to move away. “A bear is eating Dylan!” “He’s not eating me.” Dylan stood. “And stop moving away, he
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won’t hurt you.” Since no one trusted Dylan, they continued to move back. Matthew turned to reassure them, but doing so only frightened them more. A pulling sensation within his body caused him to stand and roar in pain. Without knowing how he knew, Matthew realized that Danny was trying to shift back to human in an effort to reassure his teammates. Determined to hold them together until Danny had taken more of his strength, Matthew fought to keep their form, but Danny forced the change. Blinking, bewildered, and utterly bare, Matthew found himself on the floor of the truck with an equally naked Danny in his arms. “Holy sh—” Tyler didn’t finish the thought because his mouth, like the other guys’ on the team, was hanging open. Not much wonder, given the fact they’d watched a grizzly bear turn into two humans. Danny was alive and breathing shallowly. Cupping his face, turning him this way and that, Matthew realized the damage was healed. His own body felt like a well-used punching bag, but he was happy to take the pain from Danny. Unable to contain his joy, he kissed Danny again and again until Danny opened his eyes. As warm and welcoming as fresh brownies, Danny’s eyes fluttered, and he peered up. “Matthew?” “You’re okay. I’m here.” “Were we a bear?” “Yeah.” Matthew laughed. “And now we’re naked.” Matthew looked around. “Where the hell are our clothes?” “You lost them in the shift.” Dylan brushed little bits of lint off himself. “Your clothing basically exploded when you changed. But don’t worry, I’ll get you something.” Danny pointed to one of the bins. “Extra shirts and sweatpants in there. Keys are in the cab.” “Sheesh,” Dylan teased. “You really are super organized.”
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“Oh, shit, the coach!” Guys poured into the truck, surrounding Matthew and Danny so they could gain their feet and try to hide behind one of the bins. Ryan ripped off his sweatshirt and tossed it to Danny. “Here, at least this will cover you up a bit.” Anthony gave his to Matthew, but he couldn’t get it on in time. Still, Matthew used the shirt to cover up his junk. After a bit of a scuffle, the coach penetrated the circle of guys. He gave Danny and Matthew one quick look, shook his head, and stomped his way down the ramp. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize they were in deep shit.
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Chapter 13 “He can’t kick you off the team!” Matthew paced the small space in their living room, his bare feet silent across the chocolate-brown shag carpeting that was straight out of the seventies. “He can, and he did.” Danny was on the couch that was from the same era, still recovering from the beating he’d suffered. If not for Dylan merging his soul with Matthew’s, and then forcing them to shift, Danny would be dead. And Matthew would be a basket case. Not that he wasn’t almost one now, but at least he wasn’t brokenhearted. Basically, Matthew was one big, pissed off dude. Danny would never tell him, but when Matthew got angry, he was stunning. As he paced in the nude, all his muscles bulged, and his skin glowed with pumping blood. His cock, large even when flaccid, grew with each step. Drops of water from their recent shower fell from his hair and decorated his shoulders like gems. “Why didn’t he kick me off, huh? If you violated the honor code, then so did I. It’s not like you were naked in the truck with me but having sex by yourself.” “Now there’s an image.” Danny pictured a naked Matthew watching him masturbate. Despite his still-sore body, his dick rose to attention, showing clearly through his tighty-whities. Matthew noticed and grinned. “Don’t distract me.” “Right.” Danny plopped one of the avocado-green throw pillows on his lap. “Out of sight, out of mind.” Dropping to his knees, Matthew pulled Danny’s hands into his. “Why aren’t you more pissed off about this?” “Because there isn’t anything I can do to change Coach Miller’s
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mind. He has the right to kick anyone off the team for a violation, and you know it.” Danny was hurt by the coach’s actions, and he would miss taking care of his guys, but he also knew the rules. “I’m just damned lucky I didn’t get kicked out of school altogether.” “You’ll lose your scholarship.” “I know.” Danny grimaced. “I’ll figure something out. It’s not like I’m destitute. I can take out loans, and I have the money from tutoring.” “Coach didn’t even ask what was going on. It’s almost like he was looking for a reason to toss you off the team.” “Ah, yes, it’s all a vast conspiracy.” Danny twirled an imaginary mustache. “Don’t make fun of me. And why aren’t you more upset about this?” With a shrug and a sigh, Danny said, “How would me getting angry help?” “I don’t know. But the coach should have asked.” “For fun, let’s say he had asked. How do you think that would have gone? I mean, picture his face as we explain that a group of five guys beat the life out of me, Dylan merged our souls through some kissing thing, you and I shifted into a bear, which blew our clothes to shreds, and—” “Enough!” Matthew lifted his hands in surrender. “He’d not only kick us all off the team, he probably would have driven us to the nearest loony bin.” “Yep.” “You know, it’s your calm, cool, and collected reasoning that makes you so damn cute.” Matthew tossed the pillow aside, revealing Danny’s still-hard dick. “What ever will you do with me?” “I’ll think of something.” Matthew eased Danny’s briefs down and off. “You’re the math whiz. Tell me what my mouth, plus your bare body, times total privacy equals.”
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Danny crossed his fingers. “I’m hoping for a blow job, but I could be wrong.” Grinning, Matthew lowered his head. “I think you’re right.” As he drew Danny’s cock into his mouth, Matthew eased his hands under his ass, cupping his buttocks. After uncrossing his fingers, Danny teased his hands through Matthew’s spiky hair. “Ah, yeah,” Danny moaned. “Now that’s putting your mouth to good use.” Matthew growled low in the back of his throat as he looked up into Danny’s eyes. Danny growled back. Popping his mouth off his prick, Matthew yanked Danny’s ass down to the edge of the couch. “I’ll show you a good use for my mouth.” He lifted and parted Danny’s legs, angling him back so his ass was exposed. Spitting against his puckered flesh, Matthew proceeded to tongue fuck him into oblivion. Once he had him good and ready, he rose up and slid his cock balls-deep. Simultaneously, they moaned. “Every time. Each and every time I fill you, it feels as good as it did the first time.” Matthew pressed Danny down into the couch, kissing him soundly. “I think the soul-binding thing has something to do with that.” Matthew nodded as he built his rhythm. Danny wrapped his arms around him, hugging him fiercely, but a sudden thought made him chuckle. “What?” “We finally have our own place, with a bed, and we still screw everywhere but there.” “I’m not going to stop to take you in there.” “I don’t want you to.” Matthew held Danny pressed down into the couch and rode him good and hard. As soon as Matthew lost control, Danny did, too. For a long time after, they didn’t move. They just stayed nestled together
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on the couch. They might have stayed there all day but for a knock on the door. “Who the fuck?” Matthew snarled. “You and your potty mouth.” “Yeah, well, you and your potty mind.” Reluctantly, Matthew got up, grabbed his robe off the back of the bathroom door, and tossed the other one to Danny. Once they were suitably covered, Matthew opened the door. “Dylan. What’s up?” “Can I come in?” Low and respectful, Dylan’s voice was surprisingly melodic. “Yeah.” Matthew stood back and let Dylan enter. Danny snagged his briefs with his foot and tucked them under the couch. Wrapped up in a thick jacket, Dylan nodded to Danny as he stepped inside. “There are some things that you’d probably like to know.” “Well, yeah, but we’re really not dressed.” Matthew tightened the tie of his robe. Dylan’s cloudy-gray eyes darted between Matthew and Danny. “Did I interrupt?” “Not at all. Here, let me get your coat.” Danny wanted him to feel welcome. “After what you did, you can come over any time you want.” “Thanks. I won’t take a lot of your time.” His jaw dropped as he examined their apartment. “Wow. Seventies flashback.” “We like it.” Matthew had scoured the two secondhand shops in town for things that fit while Danny recovered. They had a lava lamp, black light, and a pretty good collection of psychedelic posters. It was kitschy and fun. Danny offered Dylan the lone recliner, covered in rust-colored faux leather, while he and Matthew settled on the orange couch. “How are you feeling, Danny?”
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“Better. And thank you. I don’t think we properly thanked you for what you did.” “It’s part of my job.” “Yeah, about that.” Matthew toyed with their pet rock on the coffee table. “I wanted to give you some time to recover before I told you what I know.” Dylan looked down at the floor and made a face. Danny wasn’t sure if it was the god-awful chocolate carpet or what he was going to say that prompted the grimace. “As the nexus, it’s my job to twin souls.” “That’s the kissing thing you did?” Dylan nodded. “I know the team thinks I’m homophobic, but I’m not. It’s difficult for me to be around you guys when you haven’t twinned yet. I can feel your souls tugging at each other like this inescapable undertow.” “More than just Matthew and I?” “There are multiple pairs within the team.” Dylan lifted a hand to preempt the next question. “I can’t tell you the other pairs. I feel them tugging, but I’m not certain who belongs with who. I won’t know until they find each other.” “Like Matthew and I have.” Danny flashed a proud and very satisfied smile at Matthew. “Wait. So we bond, and then we twin? What bonded us?” Matthew left off the pet rock for the mood ring, which didn’t fit him, but he’d bought it anyway. Dylan blushed so hard his entire face, even his bald head, turned red. Danny suddenly realized that what everyone perceived as homophobia was almost crushing shyness on Dylan’s part. To hide his embarrassment, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. “I think I know.” Danny leaned near to Matthew and whispered, “When you bred me. Remember how we felt different afterward?” “That’s right.” Dylan nodded, keeping his gaze on the floor. “Why didn’t that twin our souls then?” Matthew asked.
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“That’s my function as the nexus.” Dylan finally lifted his gaze to them. “You’re the Alpha”—he pointed to Matthew—“and you’re the Omega”—he pointed to Danny—“the beginning and the end of our sloth.” “Our what?” “A group of bears is called a sloth.” Dylan shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, call it what you want—our clan, our group, our collective—but now that our leader is bonded and twinned, the rest of the pairs, or twins, will start to form.” “Twins?” A very dirty grin crossed Matthew’s features. When Danny lifted one brow in question, he laughed. “When I saw Kevin and Tyler, I thought they looked enough like twins that it would be kinky to throw down with them.” He squeezed Danny’s knee reassuringly. “That was before I met you.” “I really can’t be upset, when those two were the stars of my fantasies for months.” Danny had even told Matthew one of the tales, but he’d left out the names. “Anyway,” Dylan said, “as each couple forms, they will eventually bond, and then I will twin their souls so they can shift.” “Into bears.” Dylan nodded. “Why?” Danny and Matthew overlapped as they both asked the question at the same time. “I don’t know.” Dylan shrugged. “I don’t know why bears, why it takes two, or what purpose our sloth will serve.” Danny thought Dylan looked utterly tormented, and it broke his heart. “How did you find out that you’re the nexus?” “A voice told me.” “I heard it, too. I mean, in my own head. It told me what I was, what you two were. I thought I was just stressed out.” “Now that the most critical couple has joined, the others will follow. It’s my job to twin them, and your job to lead them.” “Me?” Danny almost fell off the couch. “No, no, you must mean
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Matthew.” He pointed as if that would shift responsibility. “No, it’s you.” Matthew nodded excitedly. “When I first saw you, I sensed danger, and I thought I must be crazy because you’re possibly the least dangerous person in the school, but it was the danger that surrounds you, not the danger of you.” Dylan nodded. “The guys who attacked you went after you because they sensed you were the Omega. If they can destroy either the Alpha or Omega before twinning, you can’t form the sloth.” “And they went after the easier target.” Between him and Matthew, Danny was a hell of a lot easier to pick off. “Will they try again?” Matthew gripped Danny’s knee tightly. “I don’t know. But you’re stronger together than apart. If they come again, you’ll smell them. As the leader, you can direct the others to fight them.” Danny remembered their smell from when he was in bear form. He was pretty sure Matthew remembered as well. Were they a rival group? Shifter hunters? So many questions, but Danny sensed that Dylan could only provide tantalizing clues but not full answers. As the leader, that would be part of Danny’s job. “That’s also why I had this urge to kneel before you and swear my allegiance.” Matthew was positively beaming. “I thought I was going crazy, but it all makes sense now. You’re the leader, Danny.” “But I’m no leader.” The thought of being in charge of anyone other than himself was stone-cold terrifying. “Up until a few weeks ago, I was a stoop-shouldered loner with a kinky daydream obsession.” “And now you’re the leader of a group of shape-shifting, footballplaying grizzlies.” Matthew grinned. “And think for a moment, Danny. You’re the perfect guy to lead.” “How the hell do you figure that?” As much as he appreciated Matthew’s support, the idea he was supporting was something Danny didn’t want. “You know what it’s like to be picked on, to be at the mercy of
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someone bigger and stronger. You would never hurt someone for kicks.” Matthew cupped his hand. “You would never use your power for evil.” “You’re horribly biased, Matthew.” “No, he’s right.” Dylan met and held Danny’s gaze. “I think it was Plato who said ‘those who seek power are not worthy of that power.’” At their startled expressions, Dylan wryly commented, “I do have a 3.6 GPA.” “I’m sorry that I treated you badly,” Danny said. “Don’t worry about it. I couldn’t tell you. And even if I could, you wouldn’t have believed me.” “That day, in the locker room, you weren’t leaning over to hit me, but to help me up,” Danny said. “What I perceived as anger was you trying to keep your cool around me.” With a relieved sigh, Dylan nodded. “I felt you as soon as you hit campus. It drove me crazy, and at first I thought—” He cut himself off abruptly. “You thought Danny was for you.” Matthew bristled, and Danny frowned at him. Matthew relented when he heard what Dylan had to say next. “I did. But then I was told I was the nexus. That I will never have a companion.” There was a long stretch of silence. “If I’m the leader, then I can say that you will have someone. I swear you will.” Danny would make it happen no matter what he had to do. “Well, I guess after that I can’t say no to being the leader, right?” “You can say no, but it won’t do you any good.” Dylan looked at him with so much hope swimming in his gaze, Danny felt his eyes water. Wordlessly, Dylan thanked him for trying to find him a companion. “And you love taking care of us,” Matthew pointed out. “You always have.”
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Responsibility settled heavily on Danny’s shoulders, but with Matthew at his side, he new he would persevere. What the voice had told him about the Gridiron Gods came back to him. Was that what they were? In his heart, Danny thought they were. Dylan stood. “And now I think you should get dressed.” “What? Why?” Matthew demanded. “Stop grousing. You just want to see how many pieces of furniture we can fornicate on today.” Danny rose. “Where do we need to go, and why?” “There’s a meeting with the coach in twenty minutes. Both of you need to be there.” **** Danny Jones was surrounded by football players. Big and angry and intractable. Walls of muscular flesh encased him in a protective circle. “You always look after us, and now it’s our privilege to look after you.” Brandon Sanders clapped his hand to Danny’s back with surprising gentleness. Coach stood glaring at the group of them, his features a mix of exasperation and incredulity. “I’ve made my decision. He’s off the team.” Coach Miller met their obstinance with his own immovable stance. Danny felt trapped between a rock and a hard place. Speaking for the group, Brandon stepped forward. “If he goes, we all go.” Confusion wrinkled up the coach’s face. “You’ll walk over him?” He pointed one of his meaty fingers at Danny. “He’s a member of this team.” Brandon crossed his arms and every guy around him did the same. “He’s the goddamn waterboy!” “He’s our friend and our teammate.”
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“I’ll replace all of you.” “Every guy on the team? Midseason? Good luck with that.” “You’ll lose your scholarship,” Coach threatened Matthew. “No, I won’t, and neither will anyone else,” Matthew said. “We’re here on academic scholarships, not athletic ones. You can kick us off the team, but you can’t kick us out of school.” For all the times Danny had felt alone and exposed, he now felt an integral part of the group. Brandon wasn’t just talking out his ass. The entire team, including the second- and third-string guys, were willing to walk if Danny wasn’t reinstated. And Dylan made certain Danny knew this had nothing to do with his leadership of the sloth. This was because the guys honestly appreciated everything Danny did for them. Overwhelmed by their support, Danny pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t lost in a fantasy. Behind him, conveying strength with his presence, Matthew moved closer and whispered, “This is real. We’re all behind you, Danny.” Eventually, realizing he wouldn’t have a job if he didn’t have a team, Coach reluctantly reinstated Danny. Clearly unhappy about the situation, he crammed his clipboard into his sweaty pit and stomped out of the gymnasium. There were still unanswered questions about his and Matthew’s roles, but Danny let that go for now. It was hard to think of anything negative when he was swept up into big, strong hugs that told him in no uncertain terms that he was beloved by his teammates. It. Was. Heaven.
THE END WWW.ANITRAMCLEOD.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anitra Lynn McLeod has been writing since she was twelve. Creating unique worlds is her forte, combining unlikely genres such as historical, fantasy, futuristic and erotic into a steampunky—and steamy—brew. Reading, writing, and white-water rafting are the three things she enjoys the most. You can visit her at www.AnitraMcLeod.com, write to her at
[email protected], or fan her at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anitra-LynnMcLeod/323123001356 You can also follow her on twitter @AnitraMcLeod Or if all else fails, you can also snail mail her: Anitra Lynn McLeod PO Box 16631 SLC, UT 84116-0631 Send a SASE for a free bookmark.
Also by Anitra Lynn McLeod Siren Classic: Devil’s Due Siren Classic: Dirty Cowboy
Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM
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