The Final Line (44 page)

Corey was confused at first. The desperate, needy look on Sean’s face brought clarity. “Yeah. Yeah. I’m clean.”

“So, if I get checked, we can get rid of the rubbers, right?”

Corey nodded sharply. “Yeah, we can. If you want to.”

“Do you want to?” Sean’s jaw clenched but Corey didn’t miss it.

“Yeah, I do,” Corey said without hesitation. “When we know we’re both clean, we’ll ditch the condoms.”

Sean changed the angle of his thrusts and the head of his cock brushed more firmly against Corey’s gland. He squeezed his eyes shut as a light show exploded behind his lids. He swore mindlessly as his orgasm built inside of him, his balls tightening.

Sean slowed his thrusts. Corey eased back against the sofa, relaxing and enjoying the slide of Sean’s cock in and out of him.

“Christ, I’m so fucking close,” Sean panted. “I wanna make you come first, though.”

Corey wrapped a hand around his own erection and stroked. “Fuck me. Just keep fucking me. Let me feel you.”

Sean sped up his hips and adjusted his angle once last time. He nailed that spot deep inside of Corey, over and over again. Corey jacked himself quickly, already close to coming. Sean was relentless, just like Corey had asked him to be.

“Like that?” Sean asked, watching Corey intently. “Is that good?”

“Yeah, that’s good,” replied Corey. “Just like that. Don’t stop.”

Corey’s climax slammed into him violently. His back bowed and his ass clenched tight around Sean’s cock. He shouted obscenities and praise. He might have begged Sean not to stop fucking him.

“That’s it baby, come for me.” Sean’s loving words of encouragement only just registered with Corey. “Want you to feel good. Yeah, like that. Just like that. Come for me, baby.”

“Fuck!” Corey shouted as his orgasm finally released him. He reached up and dragged Sean down on top of him. He kissed him hard, saying all the things he didn’t have the words for. Corey dug his fingers into Sean’s ass and encouraged him to move. He moaned into Sean’s mouth with each rough thrust.

Sean tore his mouth away with a shout. He slid his hands beneath Corey’s back and gripped his shoulders. His breath was hot against Corey’s neck as he buried his face there and panted heavily. His body slammed into Corey’s.

“Your turn, baby,” Corey whispered against Sean’s ear. “Your turn to feel good and come inside me.”

“Oh my God,” Sean sobbed brokenly as his body shuddered violently against Corey.

Corey could feel Sean’s cock pulse inside his ass. He felt every tremor roll through Sean’s body, felt his chest heaving against his own. He held Sean tightly against him, holding him steady through his orgasm.

When Sean finally pulled out and stumbled away to dispose of the condom, Corey actually nodded off. He startled awake at the feel of Sean wiping his chest and belly clean. Tossing the towel to the floor, Sean settled himself between Corey’s legs again, resting his chin on Corey’s chest. They were silent for several long minutes. Corey twisted strands of Sean’s hair around his fingers. Sean toyed with Corey’s dog tags.

“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot again,” Sean finally murmured. “I need to stop asking for emotional commitments just before you’re ready to come.”

Corey didn’t even wonder what Sean was talking about. “I want to get tested. I want to stop using condoms. We’ll do it this week.”

Sean snorted. “Okay. Good.” There was another long pause. “You know that means monogamy, right?”

“I thought we covered that already,” Corey said. “I’m not fucking around. I don’t fuck around.”

“I just want to be clear about it all,” Sean said around yawn. “And only if you want to. We don’t have to—”

“Shut up, Sean,” Corey said quietly. “I’m the one who’s supposed to over think everything. Not you.”

Sean chuckled, the sound vibrating through Corey. “Is there any reason you need to live on base?”

The question sounded casual but Corey knew it was anything but. It never ceased to amaze him that Sean seemed able to read his mind. “No, not anymore. In fact, I’ve been thinking lately that it’s time to move into a real home.”

“You can just move in here, you know,” Sean said, looking everywhere but at Corey’s face. “You’re here so much of the time, anyway.”

“That’s one option,” replied Corey.

“You have another?” Now Sean looked him in the eye.

“This is a nice place, it really is,” said Corey. “But it’s
your
place. I have a pretty good amount of money saved up and I thought maybe you could sell it, and we could buy a house together. Someplace that would be
ours
.”

Sean’s silence sickened Corey. He’d obviously miscalculated.

“It was just an idea,” he said hastily. “I’ll probably just find a little place to rent.”

“No,” Sean blurted. “No, I want to find some place together. I do.”

“I don’t want you to feel pressured,” said Corey. “It was just one idea.”

“You’re not listening again.” Sean sounded exasperated. “You surprised me is all. I didn’t think you were ready, or even wanted to buy a place together.”

Corey met Sean’s eyes steadily. “When we met, I felt like I was dug in to a final protective line and was just waiting for hostiles to overrun my position. I don’t feel that way anymore. Instead, reinforcement forces arrived.”

Sean smiled. “Am I the reinforcements in this analogy?”

Corey chuckled. “Yes. I was your rescue mission.”

They lay silently for long enough that Corey dozed. He awoke to the sound of his name softly spoken.

“Corey?” Sean whispered again.

“Mm hmm.” He cracked one heavy eyelid to find Sean watching him closely.

“I just need to say it. Just this one time.” Sean swallowed hard. “I love you.”

Corey opened both eyes. He cupped Sean’s cheek with one hand. “I hope it’s not just this one time, because I love you, too.”

He barely felt the touch of Sean’s lips to his own as Corey slid into sleep, knowing there was no chance of a nightmare tonight.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kendall McKenna’s first work of fiction was written at the worldly age of nine, and was a transformative work that expanded on the story told in a popular song of the time.

She tried her hand at vampire and cowboy fiction, winning high school poetry and short story contests along the way. It wasn’t until she discovered the world of m/m erotic fiction and found her stride with cops, Marines and muscle cars, that she felt inspired to share her stories with readers who enjoy the same things.

Putting herself through college by working in a newly-created HIV testing clinic in her local Department of Health, introduced Kendall to the gay and lesbian community. Understanding and empathy has made her a lifetime advocate of GLBT issues.

A brief bout of unemployment gave Kendall the time and focus she needed to finally produce a novel worth submitting for publication. Her first novel, Brothers In Arms, introduced the world to her authentic military stories and characters.

Kendall was born and raised in Southern California, where she still lives and works. A non-conventional relationship has kept her happy for the last decade. Her four dogs enjoy it when she writes, as she sits still long enough for them to curl up around her.

You can find Kendall on the internet at:

Website/Blog: www.kendallmckenna.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kendallmckenna

Twitter: @kendallmckenna

Email: [email protected]

TRADEMARKS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Benadryl: McNEIL-PPC, Inc.

Bluetooth: Bluetooth Sig Inc.

BluRay: Sony

Captain Morgan’s: Diageo North America, Inc.

Coke: The Coca-Cola Company

Facebook: Facebook, Inc.

HBO: Home Box Office, Inc.

Humvee: AM General

Jack: Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc.

Jeep: Chrysler Group LLC

Ka-Bar: KA-BAR Knives, Inc.

Kevlar: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

Nyquil: The Procter & Gamble Company

Oakleys: Oakley, Inc.

Viagra: Pfizer Inc.

Xanax: The Upjohn Company

Zodiac: Zodiac Recreational of North America, LLC

MLR PRESS AUTHORS

Featuring a roll call of some of the best writers of gay erotica and mysteries today!

Derek Adams

Z. Allora

Maura Anderson

Simone Anderson

Victor J. Banis

Laura Baumbach

Helen Beattie

Ally Blue

J.P. Bowie

Barry Brennessel

Nowell Briscoe

Jade Buchanan

James Buchanan

TA Chase

Charlie Cochrane

Karenna Colcroft

Michael G. Cornelius

Jamie Craig

Ethan Day

Diana DeRicci

Vivien Dean

Taylor V. Donovan

S.J. Frost

Kimberly Gardner

Kaje Harper

Alex Ironrod

Jambrea Jo Jones

DC Juris

AC Katt

Thomas Kearnes

Sasha Keegan

Kiernan Kelly

K-lee Klein

Geoffrey Knight

Christopher Koehler

Matthew Lang

J.L. Langley

Vincent Lardo

Cameron Lawton

Anna Lee

Elizabeth Lister

Clare London

William Maltese

Z.A. Maxfield

Timothy McGivney

Tere Michaels

AKM Miles

Robert Moore

Reiko Morgan

Jet Mykles

William Neale

N.J. Nielsen

Cherie Noel

Gregory L. Norris

Willa Okati

Erica Pike

Neil S. Plakcy

Rick R. Reed

A.M. Riley

AJ Rose

Rob Rosen

George Seaton

Riley Shane

Jardonn Smith

DH Starr

Richard Stevenson

Christopher Stone

Liz Strange

Marshall Thornton

Lex Valentine

Haley Walsh

Mia Watts

Lynley Wayne

Missy Welsh

Ryal Woods

Stevie Woods

Lance Zarimba

Mark Zubro

Check out titles, both available and forthcoming, at

www.mlrpress.com

GLBT RESOURCES

RAINBOW ROMANCE WRITERS

Raising the Bar for LGBT Romance

RRW offers support and advocacy to career-focused authors, expanding the horizons of romance. Changing minds, one heart at a time. www.rainbowromancewriters.com

THE TREVOR PROJECT

The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves lives though its free and confidential helpline, its website and its educational services. If you or a friend are feeling lost, alone, confused or in crisis, please call The Trevor Helpline. You’ll be able to speak confidentially with a trained counselor 24/7.

The Trevor Helpline: 866-488-7386

On the Web: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

THE GAY MEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT

Founded in 1994, The Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project is a grassroots, non-profit organization founded by a gay male survivor of domestic violence and developed through the strength, contributions and participation of the community. The Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project supports victims and survivors through education, advocacy and direct services. Understanding that the serious public health issue of domestic violence is not gender specific, we serve men in relationships with men, regardless of how they identify, and stand ready to assist them in navigating through abusive relationships.

GMDVP Helpline: 800.832.1901

On the Web: http://gmdvp.org/

THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION/GLAAD EN ESPAÑOL

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

On the Web: http://www.glaad.org/

GLAAD en español: http://www.glaad.org/espanol/bienvenido.php

SERVICEMEMBERS LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).The SLDN provides free, confidential legal services to all those impacted by DADT and related discrimination. Since 1993, its inhouse legal team has responded to more than 9,000 requests for assistance. In Congress, it leads the fight to repeal DADT and replace it with a law that ensures equal treatment for every servicemember, regardless of sexual orientation. In the courts, it works to challenge the constitutionality of DADT.

SLDN Call: 800-538-7418

PO Box 65301 or (202) 328-FAIR

Washington DC 20035-5301 e-mail: [email protected]

On the Web: http://sldn.org/

THE GLBT NATIONAL HELP CENTER

The GLBT National Help Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that is dedicated to meeting the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and those questioning their sexual orientation and gender identity. It is an outgrowth of the Gay & Lesbian National Hotline, which began in 1996 and now is a primary program of The GLBT National Help Center. It offers several different programs including two national hotlines that help members of the GLBT community talk about the important issues that they are facing in their lives. It helps end the isolation that many people feel, by providing a safe environment on the phone or via the internet to discuss issues that people can’t talk about anywhere else. The GLBT National Help Center also helps other organizations build the infrastructure they need to provide strong support to our community at the local level.

National Hotline: 1-888-THE-GLNH (1-888-843-4564)