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Harry nodded. That was what he’d been afraid of. If Tristan was doubting himself, he would also doubt any relationship he started, and for Harry to get so close to what he wanted and have it fall apart would devastate him. “But I guess what you have to ask is: Do you want to try to have that with me?”

Tristan’s smile stretched to his ears. “Yeah,” he said. “So does that mean you’ll stop all this damsel-in-distress crap and just be yourself? I mean, I can feel the energy rolling off you.”

Harry widened his eyes in disbelief.

“And I felt what you really want,” Tristan continued. “That was fucking obvious.”

“I was being thoughtful and trying not to take advantage of you,” Harry protested.

“That attitude alone is enough to tell me that you won’t, so knock it off. I’m a young man, and I have
needs
….” The emphasis on the last word nearly cracked Harry up. He could give Tristan a dissertation on how bad his needs were as they related to Tristan, but they’d talked enough, and it was time for action, so he leaned forward and kissed Tristan with all the pent-up lust and passion that had built up over the past year. He feasted on Tristan’s mouth, pressing him back against the door, hoping like hell no one tried to get in because it wasn’t going to happen, at least for a while.

By the time he backed away, Harry was short of breath, and Tristan looked about ready to slide down the door in a heap. Harry steadied him until Tristan could stand and then tugged him close again, holding him, letting Tristan’s warmth seep through his clothes. “I think you should go back out with your friends, and I’d better go back to work.” Harry released Tristan and backed away, but not before inhaling his rich scent one last time. “We need to leave or….” Harry didn’t finish the sentence. He simply opened the door and motioned Tristan back out into the club. He didn’t dare describe what would happen— it would only act as additional temptation.

Harry followed Tristan out, made sure the door was closed and locked, and then took a deep breath, watching as Tristan joined the writhing crowd of dancers. Then, inhaling the prevailing scent of sweat, alcohol, and men that had seeped into the very walls, he began making his way through the club, adding his set of eyes to the others looking for trouble.

Thankfully, on the trouble front, the evening was surprisingly quiet: no dealers plying their wares, no one trying to steal from the register or run out on their tab. Harry did notice that Officer Douglas spent the entire evening sitting with Zach, Tristan, and company, which Harry was thankful for. If anything did happen, at least the guys would be safe. He had no idea why he’d been jumpy and expected trouble all evening, but he was thrilled when they locked up the club at the end of the night and all his anticipation had been for nothing.

“Why was Rodney watching you all night long?” Tristan asked after he’d handed him a cup of coffee.

Harry sighed. “He and I had a one-night stand a few weeks ago. It was okay, but he seems to think it was a life-changing experience and is interested in repeating it. I’m not,” Harry added for emphasis. “The thing is, he simply isn’t letting things go.” He truly was going to have to have a talk with him and set things straight.

“Okay,” Tristan muttered.

Harry followed Tristan’s gaze to the bar, where Rodney and Chuck were finishing up. Sure enough, Rodney was watching him; however, by the firm set of his jaw, it was clear that Rodney had gotten the message and was none too happy about it. Fuck. Well, he’d made his bed, and now he was going to have to clean up the proverbial come-stained sheets.

“I’m not interested in him,” Harry said as he turned away. “Rodney is a nice enough guy, but he doesn’t make my heart race or make me want to kick everyone out of this place so I can close up and get the hell out of here. He was company for an evening, not for a lifetime.” He hoped that got his point across.

“Let’s get out of here,” Bull bellowed through the room. Everyone worked faster, and Harry cleared the registers and took the cash into the office, where he locked it in the safe. He made sure all the paperwork was secure, then closed and locked the office door and worked his way back to the club. Just before leaving, he set the alarm in that portion of the building.

By the time he was done, Bull had let out most of the other employees. Bull and Zach joined him and Tristan, and they left the club. Bull set the alarm and locked up before stepping out into the night.

“Did Kevin go home with Jeremy and Spook?” Bull asked.

“Yes,” Zach answered. “But I think he’s getting tired of staying there and wants to go home. How long do you think they should stay away from the apartment?” Zach alternated looking at both of them. “It isn’t like Kevin can stay with them forever.”

Harry had no idea and hoped Bull could come up with some answer.

“Tell him through the weekend. If things stay quiet, then I think it should be safe.” Bull didn’t sound convincing, but Harry didn’t have a better answer. If they wanted his opinion, he thought Tristan was just fine as things were, and he could continue sleeping at his place, preferably in his bed, for as long as he damn well pleased. “We’ll see you tomorrow.” Bull put his arm around Zach’s shoulder, and they started down the sidewalk. Harry took Tristan’s hand and led him to where he’d parked the car.

He checked as they went, making sure no one was hanging around. It was their usual procedure, especially since it was nearly three in the morning. Harry unlocked the car and they got inside. He started the car, rolled down the windows to let in the fresh night air, and began the drive home with Tristan’s hand resting lightly on his thigh. He could not get home fast enough.

He drove over the Susquehanna, picking up speed, his heart pounding in his ears. He should be tired after a long day, but he was wide-awake and fully aware of the tiny drumming of Tristan’s fingers against his jeans. The roads were deserted, and his foot got heavier and heavier, the car speeding up. It seemed like forever before he pulled into his driveway. Harry pulled to a stop, turned off the engine, and released a deep breath. Then he turned to Tristan, his deep eyes shining back at him. Harry leaned closer and watched as Tristan did the same. Their lips met, tentatively at first.

The leather seat creaked slightly under him as Harry shifted his weight, sliding his fingers through Tristan’s soft hair, deepening the kiss. He had no intention of doing anything in the car, but he didn’t want to move either. The kiss was amazing—soft and firm, hot and sexy, deep and rich all at the same time. Harry pulled away, blinking a few times to refocus his vision. Tristan sighed softly, and his lips curled into a contented smile. He straightened up and opened his door, then got out of the car. He waited for Tristan to walk around, took his hand, and they walked together toward the house.

Harry unlocked the door, and they stepped inside. He felt Tristan tense beside him as Butterscotch raced up to them, scolding loudly. That sound meant only one thing: her food dish was empty. “It’s all right. She’s just hungry.”

“She sounds mad,” Tristan said, moving slightly behind Harry.

“She is, because I didn’t feed her enough this morning.” Harry released Tristan’s hand and walked toward the kitchen with Butterscotch scolding him the entire time. He fed her and made sure she had water and listened to her crunch her food as he joined Tristan in the living room. “Go on up to bed. I’ll lock up and make sure the house is secure. Then I’ll be right up.”

Tristan looked toward the kitchen as Butterscotch crunched away and then turned and climbed the stairs. Harry watched him go and then hurriedly checked all the doors to make sure the house was secure. He gave Butterscotch a few strokes as he passed through the kitchen and then went upstairs, stopping to set the alarm.

The light in the hall was off, and his bedroom was dark. He could hear Tristan moving slightly on the bed, but otherwise everything was quiet. He entered the bedroom and wondered if he should turn on the light. He wanted to see Tristan, so he left and hurried back downstairs. He found a candle in the living room, lit it, and slowly returned to the bedroom.

Harry’s breath caught when the first rays of candlelight touched Tristan’s naked skin. He was even more beautifully golden in this light. Harry nearly dropped the candle, he was so enthralled by Tristan lying naked in front of him. He set the candle on the dresser.

“Come here,” Tristan whispered. Harry moved closer without really thinking about it. He watched every move Tristan made and groaned when he reached for himself and slowly stroked his cock. Harry pulled off his shirt and stepped out of his shoes as he got closer to the bed. Tristan sat up and knelt on the mattress, scooting closer until his scent filled Harry’s nose. He began opening his pants, but Tristan pushed his hands away, leaning closer to kiss him while he worked open Harry’s pants and shoved them down his legs.

Tristan smiled and then leaned close. Harry shivered when Tristan kissed his belly just above the navel and then licked upward. “Damn,” Harry groaned softly. Tristan followed his tongue with his hands, wet heat followed by dry. He closed his eyes and let Tristan have his way. Dang, he loved the way Tristan touched him—firm yet gentle. A man’s touch revealed a great deal about how he liked to be touched, and Harry was more than in tune with that.

When Tristan reached a nipple, he licked and sucked, first one, then the other. Harry stroked through Tristan’s floppy hair, the soft strands flowing through his fingers.

Placing his hands on either side of Tristan’s head, he gently tilted it upward and captured his lips with his own. Tongues dueled until Tristan capitulated with a sigh and Harry took possession of his mouth. He tasted him, savoring his lips and tongue as he pressed Tristan back on the mattress.

“You’re wearing too much,” Tristan mumbled and then wrapped his arms around Harry, sliding his hands inside his briefs and over Harry’s ass. The cotton fabric didn’t stay in place for long, and soon they slid down Harry’s legs. He stepped out of them.

Harry pushed Tristan back onto the bed, stopping when Tristan snickered lightly. “What?”

“You’re still wearing your socks.” Tristan seemed to get a kick out of that. “Is that a thing for you?”

Harry growled, doing his best imitation of Bull. “No. Someone made me forget I had them on with his sexiness.” Harry somehow managed to get his socks off and crawled onto the bed, making sure Tristan’s head was on the pillow before pressing his weight onto him. Fuck, Tristan felt good against him. He was initially concerned that he was squishing Tristan, but he seemed more than happy as he wrapped his legs around Harry and thrust upward, making little mewling sounds of happiness. “There’s no hurry,” Harry whispered, stroking Tristan’s cheek. “We have all the time in the world.” He took Tristan’s hands in his, slowly lifting them over his head. He held them both in one hand, kissed Tristan hard, and then shifted back. Tristan’s entire body was now open to him, and he looked him over from head to toe, feasting with his eyes before opening his mouth and getting a long taste. He licked and sucked his way along Tristan’s jaw and then down his neck, sucking where it met his shoulder blade. Tristan whimpered softly, and a quiver went through him. Harry loved the little sounds Tristan made and set out to see how many he could pull from him.

Using what Tristan had done to him as a model, he sucked on his nipples, then licked small circles around the bud. When he sucked, Tristan moaned softly, but when he lightly scraped his teeth over the skin, Tristan thrust his chest forward, silently begging for more. So Harry gave it to him. He continued holding Tristan’s hands so he couldn’t use them and licked down his chest and belly, thrilling at the quiver of muscle under smooth skin. Harry swirled his tongue in Tristan’s navel, and he giggled slightly. Not necessarily the reaction he was going for, but his happiness was incredible to see and hear. It excited him to no end that he was the one making Tristan happy.

Harry followed the light treasure trail from Tristan’s navel down his belly to the head of his cock, then sucked it into his mouth.

“Jesus!” Tristan cried as Harry sucked him deeper and deeper.

Tristan’s flavor burst on his tongue. Harry loved sucking cock almost as much as he loved getting his cock sucked. There was just something about a thick, sweet cock sliding along his tongue. He sucked deeper, and Tristan shivered and slowly bucked his hips forward. Harry stilled him with his free hand, pressing him into the mattress. “Just relax. I want you to feel good.”

“Yeah, but….”

Harry stilled, watching Tristan’s glazed expression. “What?” He gasped as a possibility flashed into his mind. “Didn’t Eddie…?”

“Are you kidding?” Tristan said.

Harry hated the fact that they were talking about Eddie at a time like this, but what the hell. “What kind of selfish pigs were you dating?” Harry asked.

“He said it wasn’t his thing,” Tristan explained shyly.

“The man is an ass,” Harry growled, and then he leaned forward, sucking Tristan to the root, pulling a crying gasp from him. He sucked harder, bobbing his head to give Tristan the full-on effect. He wanted to show him what he’d been missing and how fucking great it could feel.

“I’m afraid to move,” Tristan said. “What if you stop?”

Harry paused and let Tristan slip from his lips. “I won’t stop until you tell me to.” He sucked him in once again and listened to his cries of passion. Harry swirled his tongue around the head, gripping the shaft with his tongue. He was determined to give Tristan a truly mind-blowing experience, and from the way Tristan rolled his head back and forth on the pillow, the gasps, moans, hitched breaths, and the way Tristan gripped the bedding once he released his hands, he was succeeding.

“Harry!” Tristan yelled when Harry took him to the root and held him there. He relaxed his throat and held still. “Good God.”

He would have chuckled, but instead he slowly lifted his head, sliding his lips slowly along Tristan’s cock, gripping it tightly to provide as much sensation as possible. He could tell Tristan wasn’t going to last much longer, so he backed away, wanting the excitement to last for as long as possible. Tristan huffed for breath as Harry let his cock slip from between his lips. He brought his mouth to Tristan’s and kissed him deeply.