Confessions (15 page)

listen to your prayers.”

The man smiled through his pain. “I didn’t always do

right by Margaret, but she was wil ing to give me a second

chance. I’m just hoping God wil do the same.”

Priest stood and took the man’s frail hand in his. “I

wish you al the luck in the world. I’d like to think we al

deserve second chances in life.”

* * * *

enough to be moved to a private room. They had tried to

put him in a semi-private, but Priest had stepped in and

made arrangements to pay the hospital the difference. Not

only would Luke be more comfortable in a room by himself,

but Priest had yet to get the chance to talk to him about

what had happened.

“Do you need anything?” Priest asked.

Luke nodded. “I need you to promise me you’re not

here because of what Jeffries did.”

Priest shoved the big recliner next to Luke’s bed and

sat down. “I promise. I told you I’d be back as soon as I

figured out a few things.”

“And did you?”

“Wel , I haven’t caught up with Jeffries yet, but I wil .”

“That’s not what I was asking, and you know it.”

Priest put the guardrail down before resting his head

on Luke’s pil ow. He brushed Luke’s cheek with his lips

before moving to whisper in his ear, “I love you.” It was the

first time he’d truly known what those words meant.

Luke stared at him for several moments, prompting

Priest to continue. “Let me introduce myself. I’m James

Evans.”

A broad smile appeared on Luke’s face. “It’s nice to

final y meet you, James.”

* * * *

grumbled, pul ing into Luke’s driveway.

“It’s for your own safety. I’ve told you that like a mil ion

times.” Luke started to open the door, but Priest reached

across the car and held it shut.

“I’l get it,” he growled the words.

Luke rol ed his eyes. It had been two weeks since his

release from the hospital and Priest hadn’t let him lift a

finger for himself. “I’m perfectly capable of opening a door.”

“I know, but I’m trying…”

“You’re trying too hard,” Luke countered. “I don’t need

a caregiver. I need a partner.” Worse than Priest treating

him like an invalid, the man wouldn’t even sleep with him. It

was as if Priest thought Luke was suddenly made of glass

or something.

Priest fisted his hands. “I don’t know how to do this,”

he said with such self-hatred that it broke Luke’s heart.

“Stop it.” Luke reached over and ran his hand over

Priest’s bald head. The action drew his attention to the

healing wounds on his arm and hand. He moved his hand

down to rub Priest’s earlobe between his thumb and

forefinger. “You just need to ease up a bit. The most

important thing to me is that you’re here.”

Priest reached for Luke’s hand and threaded his

fingers through Luke’s. Turning Luke’s hand over, Priest

began to kiss the scars that bisected the colourful tattoos.

“Let’s go inside. I think I have some making up to do.”

“Can I open my own door?” Luke asked.

“Hel , I’l even let you open mine if it’s important to

you.”

* * * *

bed. According to the clock, it was only four. “Priest?” He

threw back the covers and got out of bed.

Shuffling into the living room, Luke stopped at the

tableau in front of him. With the Christmas tree ablaze with

twinkling lights, Priest sat naked amongst the presents.

“Trying to sneak a peek?” Luke asked.

Priest glanced up and shook his head. “I’ve never

seen so many gifts in my life. I guess it’s hard to believe I’m

real y here.”

Luke walked across the cold hardwood floor and sat

himself in Priest’s lap. He rested his head on Priest’s chest

and looked up at the tree. “I’ve celebrated my fair share of

Christmases, but I’ve never felt like I’d already received the

best present anyone could give me.” He tipped his head

back and stared up at Priest. “I’ve always known I was

meant to have more than I was given, but I never thought I’d

see the day when I felt I deserved it.”

Priest grinned. “So you’ve final y figured out you

deserve to be happy?”

Luke smiled back. “Yeah. And you’re responsible for

that.” Luke moved to straddle Priest’s lap. “So be honest,

were you real y sitting in here by yourself being al

philosophical, or were you trying to figure out what that

present is over there?”

Priest laughed, the deep rumbling sound vibrated

Luke’s chest. “I am kinda curious.”

Holding on to the back of Priest’s neck, Luke leant

over and grabbed the smal package. “Here, open it.”

“You sure?”

“Yep. Maybe if you open it, I can get you back to bed.”

Although the gift wasn’t as useful as the power tools

wrapped and awaiting Priest’s precious hands, it was a gift

that he knew would mean something to the man he loved.

Priest tore off the red bow and stuck it to the top of

Luke’s head before ripping at the gold paper. The box was

simple, as was the present inside. Priest’s eyes lit up as he

lifted the ornament. The crystal house had the corny phrase

‘Home is Where the Heart is’ etched into it with their names

and the date.

“It’s our first Christmas together. I thought we

deserved something special to mark the occasion,” Luke

explained.

Priest reached over and hung the ornament on the

tree. He fiddled with it for several moments until the lights

hit it just right, making it truly sparkle. “It’s beautiful, but I’m

surprised it says Priest and not James.”

“Yeah, wel , I’ve realised something. James was the

name given to you by some social worker. Priest is the

name you chose yourself, and that’s good enough for me.”

Priest wrapped his arms around Luke. “I love you

more than you’l ever know.”

“Then take me to bed.” Luke wrapped his legs around

Priest’s waist.

“Gladly.” Priest stood with Luke stil in his arms and

carried him back to the bedroom.

As they crawled into bed, Luke could stil smel their

earlier lovemaking. After their discussion in the car a few

days earlier, Priest had been an insatiable lover, not that

Luke minded.

In a surprise move, Priest handed the bottle of lube to

Luke. “I think it should be a day of firsts, don’t you?”

Luke’s eyes rounded. “You sure?” As far as Luke

knew, Priest had never bottomed. To say Luke was

nervous at the prospect of fucking Priest’s virgin ass was

an understatement.

“Like I said, it’s a day of firsts.” Priest moved to the

centre of the bed, settling in to Luke’s usual spot.

As Luke slicked his fingers, Priest kept himself busy

by tracing the tattoos on Luke’s chest. “You know some of

these don’t seem to fit you anymore.”

“I know.” Luke rimmed Priest’s puckered hole for

several moments, al owing time for the muscles to relax.

“But they’re a good reminder of where I’ve been, and where

I never hope to go again.”

Always impatient, Priest reached down and guided

the tip of Luke’s finger to his hole. “Don’t baby me.”

“Yes, sir,” Luke said with a grin. He eased the tip of

his middle finger into Priest’s hole, watching closely for any

sign of pain. Although Luke’s first time had been many

years ago, he stil remembered how afraid he was. As he

began moving his finger in and out of Priest’s hole, he

leaned in for a kiss. “Merry Christmas.”

“Mmmm, yes, I think it’s going to be.” Priest wiggled

his hips. “Add another one.”

“Greedy,” Luke teased, but did as instructed.

He’d barely begun to stretch Priest with two fingers

when Priest pul ed Luke on top of him. “Enough. I need you

inside me.”

“But you’re not ready,” Luke protested, scissoring his

fingers.

“The hel I’m not. If you don’t hurry up I’m gonna shoot

my load before you even get in there.”

Laughing, Luke removed his fingers and coated his

cock with lube. “You’re such a romantic.”

He insinuated himself between Priest’s spread thighs

and quickly became imprisoned by two powerful legs

wrapping around him. It was hot to see Priest in this new

position. Luke doubted he’d get the opportunity on a

regular basis, but it was nice to know he was being given

something no one else had ever received.

Luke fitted the head of his cock at Priest’s hole and

slowly began to push inside. “Tel me to stop if you need a

minute to adjust,” he cautioned.

“That’s usual y my line.” Priest reached down and

grabbed the cheeks of Luke’s ass. In one quick forward

motion, Luke’s cock slid in to the root. “Ahh, fuck!” Priest

yel ed.

“Too much?” Luke asked. For such a big man,

Priest’s hole was definitely smal and tight. He could feel

the grip of Priest’s inner wal s trying to milk his cock.

“Not at al . It’s more than I ever dreamed it would be.”

Luke pul ed out until just the tip was left inside, before

surging forward again. Priest began to grunt each time

Luke thrust in deep. The feeling was too much and not

enough at the same time. He felt overwhelmed by the

pleasure Priest’s cries of approval provided. Luke’s ego

took over. Soon he was fucking Priest’s ass like he’d done

it a thousand times, when in fact, it was only his fourth or

fifth time being in the driver’s seat.

He reached behind him and tried to loosen the grip

Priest’s thighs had on him. “Give me more room.”

Priest unhooked his legs and drew them up towards

his chest with an arm under each knee. “Do it. Oh, fuck

yeah,” Priest babbled as Luke continued to plough in and

out of him.

The first strand of Priest’s cum seemed to erupt

without warning. It splashed onto Priest’s dark skin in an

erotic display.

“Pretty,” Luke panted. He leant down and swiped at

the seed with his tongue. Priest’s unique flavour exploded

on Luke’s tongue, pushing him towards the edge. “I’m not

going to last,” he warned.

Priest didn’t answer, stil caught up in his own climax.

Luke knew it was safe to let go, so he buried himself as

deep as he could go and al owed the pleasure to wash over

him. He had no idea how many times his body jerked as it

emptied every ounce of his cum inside Priest.

Luke col apsed on Priest’s chest as he fought for a

breath he feared would never come again. Priest used his

strong hands to knead Luke’s back, massaging the tight

muscles as he continued to fight for air.

“Best Christmas ever,” Priest panted.

With Priest in DC, taking care of handing over his

personal files, Luke took the time to stop by and see his

secret friend. “Deacon?” he cal ed, entering the store.

“Be out in a minute,” Deacon McConnel answered

from his workshop in the back.

Luke took the time to look around at Deacon’s latest

creations. He’d already talked to Priest about having a bed

made for the new house they were planning to have built as

soon as the ground thawed enough to pour the foundation.

Deacon entered the showroom with a smile. “Look

what the cat dragged in.”

“Good to see you, too.” Luke shook Deacon’s hand. “I

would’ve come by earlier, but you’re the one who insists I

can’t tel Priest about you.”

“In time.” Deacon led Luke to two wil ow chairs made

by his own hands.

“How much time? He’s like a dog with a bone. He

can’t stand the thought of me knowing something he

doesn’t.” In truth, Luke kind of enjoyed tormenting Priest.

“He should be done with his initial training in about

two weeks, probably sooner. Unlike most of the handlers,

Priest is already accustomed to the procedures we fol ow.”

Two weeks. What was he supposed to do without

Priest for that long? “I’m glad I’ve got work to keep me

busy.”

“So that’s going okay, no more meltdowns on the

job?” Deacon asked.

“Everything’s great. I haven’t had a single nightmare in

nearly a month. Although the guys at the station stil aren’t

sure what to think of Priest, they know he’s responsible for

my turnaround. Aaron, one of the EMTs I work with, even

asked if Priest had a brother.”

Deacon nodded his head in understanding. “I take it