Swap Meet (14 page)

table, he made a move to return to some hidden part of the house but Chris stopped

him. He clasped Max’s hand and tugged him down on the couch next to him. Max

hesitated, darting a nervous glance at their guests, but didn’t fight the silent invite.

Their gazes met briefly. Chris smiled encouragingly. Love burned bright and hot in

Max’s eyes. An electric zing zipped through Chris’ fingers and up his arm, arcing

straight to his heart. In that instant, nothing else mattered. He had Max and that was

enough.

Chris turned daring eyes to his fellow firefighters. In some of their gazes, he saw

shock and confusion. In others, Chris saw acceptance and understanding. He’d finally

done it. Here, in front of God and everyone, he’d publicly claimed the man who safely

guarded his heart.

“So, Max,” Jack ended the lull in the conversation, “I hear you have a pretty nice

yacht. You ever go deep-sea fishing?”

Amusement glinting in his eyes, Max leaned back against the couch. “Is that a

gentle nudge to have my yacht sailed here so you can enjoy some fishing in the Gulf?”

“Well, hell, if you’re offering…”

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Laughter filled the room, dissipating the cloud of discomfort. Jack and Max drove

the conversation from that point forward. Chris carefully watched the faces of the men

and women in his living room. He could see a few of them were grossly uncomfortable

with his newly admitted sexual orientation. Whether or not they would come around,

he couldn’t say.

If they didn’t like it, that was just tough. Chris was done living his life in the

shadows. Max had coaxed him into the light and he intended to stay there.

When the house finally emptied that evening, Chris relaxed completely. Max doted

on him, bringing him dinner and his medications, and Chris humored the nursemaid

behavior. Later they moved into his bedroom to watch the nightly news. Chris reclined

against the headboard while Max stood nearby and sorted through a basket of clean

clothes. A stain on one of Max’s white undershirts caught his eye.

“What is that?” Chris gestured to the stain. “Looks like blood.”

Max shook his head. “Ink.”

“Ink?”

Max dropped the boxers he was folding. He faced Chris, grasped the bottom of his

gray polo shirt and drew it up and over his head. The shirt fell from his hand onto the

floor. Chris’ gaze immediately jumped to the fresh tattoo covering Max’s chest. The

vivid hues were stunning against his tanned skin. The firefighter imagery emblazoned

over his lover’s heart knocked the air from Chris’ lungs. His own heart stammered at

the sight of his name in the flames.

Overwhelmed by emotion, Chris swallowed and reached out his hand. “May I?”

Max clasped his wrist and brought his fingers close. When Chris ran his fingertips

lightly over the healing tattoo, Max shuddered. He pulled away quickly. “Did I hurt

you?”

“No.” Max carried Chris’ hand to his lips and placed feathery kisses on every

finger. “Do you like it?”

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“I love it. I can’t believe you did that for me.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner.”

Chris grinned playfully. “I suppose I’ll have to get one for you. Maybe a big pile of

money right here.” He tapped his chest. “Or the stock market index? What do you

think?”

“Let’s table that one for the moment.”

Chris chuckled and then yawned loudly as exhaustion and the loopy effects of his

medications kicked in fully.

Max touched his face. “Tired?”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Max kissed him tenderly. He cleared away the laundry and then

arranged the pillows according to Chris’ instructions before helping him move into a

more comfortable position “You need your rest.”

“Not too much.” Chris shifted against the pillows. “I’m going to have to see about

going back on light duty soon.”

“No.” Max was firm as he switched off the bedside lamp.

Chris turned toward him. “Max, I have bills to pay. I can’t sit around—”

Max silenced him with a kiss. “I’ll take care of it.” Chris started to argue but Max

kissed him again, this time sensually and slow. “I’ll take care of
you
.”

There was nothing to do but nod and snuggle closer. Chris wished he could place

his ear against Max’s chest and let his heartbeat put him to sleep but his collarbone

brace wouldn’t allow it. For now, Max’s arm draped across his belly would have to do.

“If you start paying my mortgage, you really are going to be my sugar daddy.”

Max’s laughter echoed in the darkness. “Go to sleep.”

Chris found his hand and interlaced their fingers. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

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* * * * *

They settled into an easy routine over the next few weeks. Max found an

unexpected enjoyment in the simple acts of domesticity. Doing laundry, washing

dishes, cooking and running errands together allowed him to experience a new side of

life. Their evenings were quiet and spent largely at home. They entertained a few of

Chris’ coworkers once or twice. Max sensed things were easing between Chris and his

fellow firefighters. That was encouraging.

Accompanying Chris to his first few physical therapy appointments tried Max’s

patience. Against his therapist’s instructions, Chris pushed himself far too fast and far

too soon. Max made the mistake of siding with Chris’ therapist on the issue and earned

the silent treatment for an entire afternoon and evening. To Chris’ utter consternation,

Max paid him little attention, allowing him to pout alone in the living room. He would

never admit it to anyone but he found quite a bit of satisfaction out of denying Chris the

argument he so desperately seemed to want.

“I’m sorry,” Chris said later that night as Max brushed his teeth. He stood in the

doorway in just his light cotton pajama bottoms. His bronzed chest had lost some of its

definition over the last few weeks but not much. Max still sported a hard-on at the

tiniest glimpse of Chris’ hot body.

“It’s all right.” Max rinsed his mouth and dropped his toothbrush into its slot next

to Chris’. “I know you’re under a lot of stress right now. I can see how the slow

progress aggravates you.”

“I’m just so tired of being stuck here.” Chris quickly caught his gaffe and touched

Max’s bare arm. “I’m not tired of being with
you
. I’m just going stir crazy. I need to be

out there, doing something. Anything.”

“I understand,” Max assured him. “I just don’t want you going back to work too

soon. You’ll just injure yourself even worse.”

“I know.” Chris looked sullen. “Mom and Mac think I should give up firefighting

and go back to school for something else.”

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Max had known this conversation was coming. He’d overheard Chris and

McKenzie arguing over the phone a few days earlier.

“What do you think?” Chris’ face betrayed his apprehension.

Max bent down to pick up the damp towel Chris had left on the floor after his

shower. “I think you should do what makes you happy.”

“Sorry.” Chris took the towel from his hand and tossed it in the hamper. He gave

Max a skeptical look. “So you don’t care if I go back to firefighting?”

Max caught his eye and held it. He sensed Chris wanted the truth—whatever it

was. “Of course I care. I’m terrified you’ll be hurt again.”

“So you want me to quit.”

Max shook his head at Chris’ defeated tone. “No and yes. A part of me wants to

insist that you stop fighting fires and find a safer occupation but I can’t do that. I
won’t

do that. I won’t put you in that position.”

Chris visibly relaxed. “Why not?”

Max stepped forward and clasped the back of Chris’ neck. He pulled him closer.

“Because I love you and I know how fulfilling you find your work. I won’t take that

away from you.” He nuzzled their noses together. “I’ll learn to live with the

uncertainty.”

“Like the other spouses,” Chris said and nibbled on Max’s lower lip.

Max stilled at the mention of spouses. He swept Chris’ face with a searching gaze.

“You want to marry me?”

“Of course I do. I love you.”

“Is this a proposal?” Max asked tentatively.

“This isn’t how I’d planned to ask but…yes.” Chris licked his lips and swallowed

nervously. “Marry me?”

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A frisson of excitement rippled up his spine. Chris was offering him everything he

wanted—a husband, a home, a family. Overcome with joy, Max seized Chris by the

waist. “Yes.”

Chris broke into a broad grin. He smashed their mouths together in a hungry kiss,

his tongue stabbing between Max’s lips. “God, I love you.”

Max was too overwhelmed to reply. He showed Chris exactly how he felt through

the ravenous mating of their mouths. Clutching at Chris, Max backed him up against

the wall. He nipped along the curve of Chris’ throat and licked the hollow at the base.

His lips moved lower as he dropped to his knees. He traced Chris’ navel while he

tugged down the waistband of his pajama bottoms.

Chris’ thick, hard cock sprang free. Max’s mouth watered in anticipation of tasting

him. They’d only recently been able to make love freely again. Even though Chris was

cleared for most physical activity, Max was still nervous he’d hurt himself. He tried to

keep Chris from using his arms or shoulders too much.

Saliva pooling on his tongue, Max sucked the head of Chris’ penis between his lips.

His tongue flicked the slit and then slid just below the crown. Chris’ fingers ran through

Max’s hair. “Suck me hard, Max. Yeah. Like that. Deeper.”

Max loved it when Chris gave him instructions in the heat of the moment. The

rough sound of Chris’ voice when he was hot and bothered made Max’s cock throb. His

stomach rolled with need. He couldn’t wait to be pinned beneath Chris.

Humming loudly, Max deep throated Chris until the head of his cock bumped the

back of his throat. Chris’ fingers tightened in his hair, the pull stinging and adding the

delicious dimension of pain to the moment. Max lightly scraped his teeth along Chris’

rigid length in playful retaliation.

Chris shivered and pulled out of Max’s mouth completely before grasping his arms

and hauling him off the floor. Max’s stomach coiled with concern. “You’re going to hurt

yourself.”

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“You let me worry about that, baby.” He cupped Max’s cheeks and kissed him.

Their bodies pressed together, naked skin against hot skin. He bit down gently on

Max’s plump lower lip. “I’m going to fuck you now.”

The intensity of Chris’ statement made Max tremble. “Hard?”

Chris nodded. “Take off your clothes and get on the bed. Show me your ass.”

Max accepted his instructions without question and walked into the bedroom,

shedding his clothing as he did. He crawled onto the bed and presented his ass toward

the bathroom door where Chris now stood. Even though Max couldn’t see Chris’ face,

he could feel the heady gaze directed at him. He shook with anticipation, wondering

just how Chris intended to take him.

“I want to see everything.” Chris was behind him now, just inches away and so

close to touching him. He dropped a condom and lube onto the bed.

Max placed his chin on the bed and reached back, grabbing his ass cheeks and

spreading wide. A palm caressed his lower back. A finger swiped lower, trailing over

the pucker and then lower to his taut sac. Max’s toes curled. He cried out when Chris’

wet tongue languidly licked a line from the crown of his cock to his anus. “Chris!”

“Max.” Amusement colored his voice. He laved Max’s testicles, sucking each ball

into his mouth and working it with his tongue. Max shuddered as Chris stroked his

cock too. The combination was almost too much to endure. He rocked on his knees and

pushed back against Chris’ face.

When his lover’s tongue prodded his ass, Max lost his mind. There was nothing like

the feeling of Chris’ tongue circling the sensitive rosebud before slipping inside. Max let

his hands drop to the bedcovers. He gripped them tightly as Chris tongue-fucked him

into a shrieking state.

“Take me,” Max begged. “Fuck me!”

Chris rose and flipped Max onto his back with one swift jerk. Max stared up at his

Adonis, his lustful gaze moving over Chris’ cut body. His eyes lingered on that fat cock

being covered with a condom and slathered with lubricant. Max’s asshole ached with

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longing. He wanted Chris to shove his dick deep inside and screw him to within an inch

of his life. He wanted to feel the slight burn of roughness tonight. Tomorrow he wanted

to feel the twinge of a night well spent.

Max slid his hands around Chris’ waist as his lover moved over him. Their cocks

bumped together as Chris bent low and captured Max’s mouth. When he broke the kiss,

Chris stared into Max’s eyes. “You know how much I love you.”

It wasn’t a question. Max nodded. “I do.”

“You know I’d give it up for you if you asked.”

“Yes.” Max rose up and claimed Chris’ lips. “That’s good enough for me.”