Coming Home- Rock Bay 1 (17 page)

before. Sure, dust off the ol’ ass-kissing skills and get Lex’s permit signed. He only wished it was that simple. MacAuliffe had liked him, and he had been friends with his son, Drew. Drew MacAuliffe, actually, was probably the only kid in his high school group that Tally had genuinely wanted to be friends with. He’d thought at the time that he might see a bit of what he was going through in Drew’s face, nowhere near sure enough that he ever actually said anything, but still….

He reached up and tugged on the big brass handle of the building that held all the government offices, the police station, the court, the jail, and, well, basically everything else. Rock Bay had never been big enough to have separate buildings for the different offices. Once the heavy glass-paned door had swung shut behind him he looked at the building directory, only to find that Gerald MacAuliffe’s office was in the exact same place it had been in when Tally was in high school, testament that nothing in Rock Bay ever changed. Except maybe him.

MacAuliffe was on the phone when Tally paused at the open door of his office. The man was everything he remembered: gruff voice, stomach hanging over the belt of his ill-fitting, permanent press pants, cowboy hat shoved firmly on his balding head. He’d come from somewhere else—Montana, Tally thought, but he’d been in the area at least thirty years that Tally knew of. He wasn’t a rancher anymore, that is, if he’d ever been one in the first place. It was time for a new look. Tally waited for MacAuliffe to hang up his phone before tapping on his open door.

The old man swung his chair around and peered at Tally calculatingly. Then his face broke into a big grin. “Well if it isn’t young Tallis Carrington. I’d heard you were back in town, boy. You’re looking more and more like your father. Too skinny, though. We need to put some meat on you.”

Truth was, he’d gained a few pounds since he’d been back living with his grandma. And he knew he looked like his father. Mostly tried not to think about it. He gave Gerald his biggest smile.

“Yeah, I’m here for a while. Got a job in town, helping my grandma out.”
The man’s face went a bit sour at the mention of Tally’s grandmother. She’d never been a huge fan of his father or any of his father’s friends. Said they were mostly full of bullshit and thought they were masters of the world. Tally had to agree.
“Well, what can I do ya for?”
Here we go….

Tally cleared his throat. “The job I got, sir, is working down at the Rock Bay Coffee and Sandwich Company. For Lex Barry.”
“Oh, Jesus.” MacAuliffe didn’t try to hide his disgust. “Watch that you don’t get sprinkled with too much fairy dust at that place. It
reeks
of estrogen.”
Actually, Tally thought the decor, both in the shop and in Lex’s apartment, was warm and masculine and inviting. From what he remembered of the MacAuliffe house, it was covered in lace doilies and floral upholstery.
Look who’s talking.
“It’s a good job, sir. Pays well. Try to ignore the rest of it.” He hated spitting out that last part, but he thought it might help.
“Enough with the ‘sir’. You’re old enough to call me Gerald.”
“Well, um, Gerald, thing is, the job would be better for me if Le—um Barry, made more money, so….” He held up the application. “This drive-through window is benefiting more than just him. I know you were friends with my father. He wouldn’t want me working at a place that wasn’t going anywhere.”
“You can come work for me, if that’s what’s concerning you.”
Tally tried not to gag. He couldn’t think of much that would be worse. “Or you could sign the application and Lex Barry would be out of your hair. Plus he wouldn’t have to take his complaint to the city council.” Okay, so Tally pulled that one right out of the crack of his ass. He hoped Lex didn’t get pissed.
“I just don’t want that damn
faggot
to get his way. This town is no place for the likes of him. If I approve this application he’ll never leave.”
Tally gritted his teeth. “He’ll never leave anyway, sir—I mean Gerald. His family is here. Rock Bay is his home.”
“And you?”
“I’d like to stay, but I need to make sure my job is steady, you know? Somewhere with a future.”
“You know my boy Drew’s still in town, right? I’d like him to get away from that Brock character. Trouble since you boys were kids. Maybe you can give him a call.”
Your son’s in his thirties, asshole. He’s a big boy
. Tally forced a genuine looking smile.
“I can do that. If I’m going to be sticking around, that is.” MacAuliffe sighed. “Give me the damn paper.”
Tally slid the application across MacAuliffe’s desk, trying not to look triumphant.
Wait until his signature is on the page before you celebrate.
It was hard not to snatch it from those beefy, wrinkled hands.
After heart-bending forever, the paper was in his own hands, and he was smiling and casually waving good-bye to MacAuliffe, when all he wanted to do was run, shouting “I got it!” down the hall.

L
EX
was startled when Tally’s hand slapped down onto the counter of the shop. He was shocked when he saw that instead of yet another rejected application, there was a building permit, shiny and new and signed by none other than Gerald MacAuliffe.

“You got it?” Lex wanted to jump up and down.
“Yep.” Tally’s grin was pleased.
“Thank you, thank you! I’d have never gotten this without you.” Lex jumped up and gave Tally a big hug, right there in the front

room of the shop. They’d never been big on showing how they felt in public. He supposed that all the rules were different after the last few days. Didn’t much care about the rules, anyway. Not when he had his arms full of squirmy, happy Tally. Lex loved the look on his face— pride that he could do something for Lex, relief, happiness, and a bit of something more, something unnamed and tender.

“I thought I was never going to get out of that place alive. He grilled me hard about working for you. It was pretty weird. It’s usually everyone grilling
you
for hiring me.”

“A homophobic prick who thinks I’m the same as I was back in high school. I hated playing the role, but it got us what we want, right?”
He said “us.”
Lex couldn’t help smiling even harder. Maybe his daydream from the day before wasn’t such a dream after all. “Yes, it did. Plus, you’re not doing anything wrong if they make you lie, right?”
Tally shrugged, casual and heartbreakingly sexy. “True.”
Lex’s grin was pushing at the corners of his face. Tally finally chuckled, his arms still slung loosely around Lex’s hips.
“What?”
Lex couldn’t help doing a little happy dance. “I’m getting my drive-through! I’m getting my drive-through!”
“You’re adorable.”
“I’m
excited
. I’ve been trying to get this damn permit for ten months.”
“We should celebrate.” Tally gave him a sly smile. “Close down early, lock the doors. You’ve got a few cans of whipped cream that I could put to good use. Mmmm, and the cinnamon. Much more delicious on Lex than on a chocolate muffin.”
Lex laughed to cover the insane bolt of lust that flew through him at Tally’s words. He jumped up and wrapped his legs around Tally’s waist and kissed him, grinning and wishing they were naked. He was halfway listening for the door to open, but Monday afternoons were typically quiet. Oh, who the hell was he kidding? He was so wrapped up in Tally’s kiss, in the strong hands holding him up by the ass, and the warmth of the body against him, that an atomic bomb could’ve gone off and he probably wouldn’t have noticed… for a while, at least. Turned out an atomic bomb did kind of go off right about then.
“James Alexis Barry, what the hell is going on?”
It was his mother.
Holy oh my God, how could I have not heard the bell? You were too busy swallowing Tally’s tongue to pay attention, that’s how.
“Uh, hi, Ma.”
Lex slid down Tally and landed on his feet. He swayed for a second before Tally reached out to right him.
Oh God, face the music, face the music.
Lex was hard as a rock, lips kiss-swollen, hair mussed. He wanted to groan out loud but instead he turned. His mother looked at him with those eyes that had always been able to make him feel guilty as hell.
“Uh, Ma, this is Tally. He… works for me.”
“I’ll say he was working something, for sure.”
Lex’s mouth dropped open. His mother had never said anything like that in his presence before. She managed to make it sound incredibly insulting. Tally stuck out his hand. Lex had to give him credit. He didn’t even cringe.
“Hi, Mrs. Barry. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I know who you are, Tallis Carrington. What the hell are you doing to my boy? Don’t you think you did enough damage in high school?”
“Mother! I’ve told you he’s not the same person he used to be.”
“So now he’s the kind of person who accosts his employer in the workplace?”
Lex almost had to chuckle at that. “Actually, I was the one who started it, and it’s not what you think.” Lex tossed a shy smile at Tally. “Tally and I are together, Ma. We have been for a while.”
His mother’s jaw dropped. “Is this true?”
Lex didn’t know who she was directing the question at, but he figured he’d better be the one who answered.
“Yeah. Of course it’s true.”
“When were you planning to tell your family about this?”
“I’m pretty sure Em knows… and, well, now you do, so that only leaves dad.” Lex reached out for Tally’s hand and threaded their fingers together. Tally’s warm squeeze calmed him.
“Well, I need to think about this. I expect you over for dinner tonight. Both of you. We need to have a family discussion.”
“There’s nothing for us to discuss. Jesus, I’m not in high school anymore, Mom. What the hell? I can sleep with whoever I want.” Lex saw his mother’s eyes widen at that last remark. He realized he may have gone a bit too far.
“As long as I’m around I’m still your mother. Dinner. Tonight.”
“What time would you like us there?” Tally spoke up. Lex was about to protest when Tally squeezed his hand. Tight.
“Seven, please.”
There was his mother’s typical politeness. She must have been a bit mollified by how different Tally was from the bully she remembered. Lex decided to follow suit.
“We’ll be there, Mom. Do you want some coffee while you’re here?”
“I’d love some, actually.”
“You should try the special drink that Tally concocted. It’s really good.” Why not lay it on thick? He needed his mother to see Tally for what he was, not what he used to be.
His mother raised her eyebrows. She wasn’t stupid, and she knew her son well. “I suppose I’ll give it a try.”
It was the best Lex could ask for.

Lex grinned breathlessly and curled his fingers inside of Tally to brush up against his prostate.
“Like this?” Tally’s groan was the only answer he got. He bent over and licked at Tally’s neck, bit his nipples. He loved making Tally squirm. “I don’t want to deal with it either, but she’s going to like you as soon as she gets to know you. How could she not?”
“Because…. Oh, I don’t know. Fuck, baby. I can’t even
think
when you do that.”
Lex smiled at the “baby,” or maybe how warm and tight Tally was around his fingers, or the way Tally was looking at him, forehead puckered in pleasure, lips moist and parted. Tally was fucking beautiful, and Lex wanted to be inside already, just them, nothing in between.
Why do I keep thinking that?
It hadn’t ever been something that Lex wanted before. Not really. He all of a sudden wanted to feel everything he could feel.
You know the reason.
He did. But it was better not to dwell on it. Feelings like that could only end with him hurt. He wasn’t quite ready to jump off the high dive with his eyes squeezed shut quite yet. They’d just decided to be a real couple. Lex wasn’t going to let himself get deluded into thinking it was forever. If nothing else, neither one of them was ready for love.
Shit.
It didn’t matter. Even if he tried not to think it, the feelings were real. They’d been growing the entire time.
Lex distracted himself by leaning over to suck on the head of Tally’s cock. Tally’s breath caught in his throat, and he made this sexy as hell low moaning noise.
Love you
.
Lex swallowed him to the root, and Tally nearly screamed.
Wanna be in you always.

He rubbed firmly with his fingers and used his tongue to tease the nerves all around Tally’s sensitive head.
Please love me back. I don’t think I could take it if I lost you….
“Lex, please. Come love me.”
I already do.
Lex crawled up Tally’s body, pausing to kiss all his favorite parts: the tender skin at the top of his thigh, the hollow of his hip, both nipples, his soft lips. Tally moaned and lifted his thighs to hug Lex’s hips. Lex wanted to say it, just let the words spill out.
I love you. Stay with me forever.
He bit his lip to keep from doing, or saying, anything stupid and irreversible. Instead he sat up and reached for the condom he didn’t want and ripped it open, keeping his eyes on Tally. Tally let his knees drop open, and he arched his back, dragging the heel of his hand down his torso until his long-fingered fist was wrapped around his cock. Lex’s breath caught in his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut. It was too much, too fucking hot. He wasn’t going to last.
“Lex,
look
at me.” Lex opened his eyes and stared down at Tally, watching him touch himself. Lust and warmth and maybe something infinitely more fragile and tender was shining in his eyes. “I need you.”
Lex nodded, and with hands that were suddenly trembling, he slicked himself up and scooted until he was at Tally’s entrance. Then he pushed, slowly but purposefully, until he was buried all the way in Tally’s tight heat.
“God.
Yes
.” Tally’s voice was hoarse and incredibly turned on.
Lex bit his lip. He babbled when he was near the edge. Never could be sure of what would come out of his mouth. There was so much he wanted to say. So much he knew he should keep to himself. Instead, he dug deeper into Tally’s body with his hips and leaned forward to suck on Tally’s neck.
“You feel so good.” He couldn’t help it. Damn. “I love being like this with you, being here with you. Want it all the time.”
Tally made a deep whining sound in his throat and dug his heels into the bed, arching to get more pressure. “Want it all the time too… only with you.”
“Just us,” Lex breathed, licking at Tally’s ear. “Nothing in between.”
Aw, shit, I said it
. He was beyond caring. He linked his left elbow under Tally’s knee so he could get deeper. It was never deep enough.
Tally trembled hard. “Oh,
fuck
, that would be so….” He gripped Lex’s ass and pulled, his hands saying
harder
,
faster
,
more
. “I’ve never… but yeah. With you.”
“
Shit
.” Lex clenched his teeth to keep from coming. Just the idea nearly sent him flying over the edge. He squeezed his eyes closed again, tried to get some control. If he looked at Tally, he’d be lost.
“Come for me, babe. I wanna watch it.” Tally cupped his hands around Lex’s neck. “Look at me.”
Lex was lost. Tally’s gorgeous melty brown eyes were glued to his face, and he was shivering out of control, breaking into a thousand little pieces, and Jesus, shit, he couldn’t keep it in….
“
Fuck!
” He felt like every part of him was flying out of his body, and all he wanted to do was grab Tally and hold on for dear life. Tally was shaking too, and coming, warm and wet, all over them.
“Tally I….” He bit his lip just in time and covered it with a low groan. He dropped onto Tally’s chest, panting and clutching at the sheets.
“I know, babe. I know.”
Lex didn’t want to move, didn’t want to do anything other than stay wrapped up in his warm man, but he reluctantly detangled himself to go to the bathroom and clean up. He brought a warm cloth back for Tally when he was done and wiped him off before crawling back in bed and drawing the comforter over them.
“How long till we have to leave?” Tally’s voice rumbled under his ear.
Lex peered at his clock.
Damn
. “Twenty minutes. I don’t want to get up.”
“Me neither. Better to get this over with, though. It’s not going away until we do.”
Tally went to sit up, but Lex held him down. “Let’s just stay here a few minutes, then we’ll get up.” He waited until he felt Tally’s muscles relax, then he kissed his chest and relaxed himself.
Just a few minutes….