Thyme (Naughty or Nice) (6 page)

“Why yes, Verne, I seem to recall a promise involving your hand and my cock.” He nipped Verne’s earlobe. “Any chance I can upgrade that promise?”

Verne moaned, then chortled. “Pushy bastard. What do you want to upgrade it to?”

“Your cock in my virgin ass.” He’d topped before, but he’d never trusted anyone with his ass. Even at twenty-two, stupid as could be, he was subconsciously saving that for Verne.

A lusty groan passed Verne’s lips. “Let me say goodnight to everyone. I’ll meet you upstairs in a minute,” Verne said huskily. He fondled Julien’s ass possessively before letting go, obvious reluctance in every line of his body.

Julien watched him leave and then hurried down the hallway to the coat rack. His fingers shook desperately as he reached into the front pocket. Metal clinked together, bloodstained dog tags—proof of a future that no longer existed. He wouldn’t let it. He fisted them tightly, the edges pinching his skin, before releasing them back into the pocket.

He didn’t need to hold them in his hand to remember. What might have been—what had been—was unforgettable.

Grinning, Julien turned and rushed up the stairs, hoping he had enough time to tie some mistletoe to his headboard. After all, he had a debt to collect. He managed to tie one sprig of mistletoe to the bed before Verne walked into his room and locked the door.

“Jules, are you sure you—?”

Julien pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor, then unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them and his boxers clean off. He wrapped his right hand around his erect cock. “This enough reassurance, or do I need to hold your hand?”

Verne’s blue eyes flared so bright they looked electric. He licked his lips. “Your hand isn’t what I want to hold right now.”

“Good.” Julien smirked and stroked himself again, delighted to see Verne’s eyes narrow at the gesture. He always had been a possessive bastard. He walked over to the bed and crawled onto it, pausing only to stretch his back like a cat and showcase his ass, which was very fine, thank you very much.

Cursing, a rough palm slid down his ass and palmed his left cheek. “Mine,” Verne growled. Julien wouldn’t have disagreed for anything. Teeth sank lightly into his butt cheek, and he chuckled. Should’ve known Verne would mark his territory.

“Animal,” he accused.

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything.”

Twenty minutes later, on the brink for the third time without completion—Verne really was a bastard—Julien had to agree. The heat of Verne’s mouth on his cock was almost as brilliant as the three fingers buried in his ass. Bite marks, hickeys, and barely there scratches littered his skin.

It had never been like this with anyone else, and he was glad. Apparently, being dominated just flat out did it for him, because he was harder than he’d ever been in his entire life. But then, he knew it had little to do with domination and everything to do with the fact that he actually loved his partner.

Verne wasn’t, and never could be, a casual fuck.

The wet heat surrounding his erection vanished, and Julien glared. He’d waited so long for this… but Verne didn’t know that, and Julien could never tell him. How do you tell the person you love that you destroyed them? Speaking the truth would only shatter him again, and Julien would never allow that.

He’d devote the rest of his life to Verne to make up for past wrongs and stupidity.

“You with me, Jules?” His eyes shot open to see Verne’s concerned gaze. “Do you want me to—?”

Julien’s hands fisted in Verne’s hair. “If you even suggest stopping, I’ll see to it that you suffer from the worst case of blue balls ever recorded,” he hissed.

Verne smirked. “Blue’s your favorite color. It might get me more action.” Before Julien could offer a retort, Verne grasped his legs and moved them around his waist. “Tell me if I hurt you, Jules.”

“You won’t hurt me.”

“I love you, damn it! You have to tell me if I hurt you. Promise me!”

Swallowing harshly, Julien felt the words sear through him like wildfire. Two of three special phrases at once, both directed at him. As if he could really deny Verne anything. He cursed his stinging eyes and whispered, “I love you, too, bastard. I promise.”

“Good.” Verne’s forehead leaned down to rest against Julien’s, and then he pushed inside. It was slow, gentle, and stung like a hive of bees. It wasn’t the most comfortable feeling, but it felt intrinsically right, and that was all Julien needed to know.

He hooked his legs together behind Verne’s back, pecked him on the lips, and breathed, “Move.” Verne had made a good Marine for many reasons, one being he followed orders to the letter; this was the first time Julien had experienced the wonders of that character trait.

This felt different, all of it, and not only because he was the one being fucked right now. He winced at the crude thought, because it was so wrong. Fucking was for one night stands and closets on campus. This, as sappy as it sounded, was lovemaking.

That was the last coherent thought he had before pleasure ripped through him and he came all over their chests and stomachs. Heat flooded his ass and it was better than he’d ever imagined it could be between them. The emptiness Verne left behind when he withdrew was unusual, but the mattress shifting as he left the bed was terrifying.

What had he done wrong? Why was Verne leaving? He hadn’t said anything bad, had he? Wait. He hadn’t said anything other than Verne’s name. Shit. Was this that post-coital regret, freak-out thing he’d heard someone mention years ago? Did Verne regret—?

“Stop thinking so much, Jules,” Verne mumbled against his neck as he rejoined him on the bed and began mopping up their mess with a damp washcloth.

Oh. Clean up. Right.

He blushed and turned his head to the side, ashamed of himself. Over-thinking had cost him Verne the first time around. If he didn’t break the habit, who knew where it would lead this time? He didn’t think Nana would help him if he fucked it all up again. Not even she had that much patience.

“Stay with me,” he whispered, allowing all possible meanings to spill from his lips and echo through the room.

“Of course I will.” The washcloth fell to the floor. “Budge over, Jules.”

Julien complied and sighed in relief when Verne pulled him back against his chest and encircled him in muscular arms. He yawned and snuggled closer, unafraid of Morpheus now. He knew when he woke up in the morning—or later tonight, as the case may be, they were in their early twenties—that this would be real.

They were still Jules and Verne.

Have you been Naughty or Nice?

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About the Author

K.R. F
OSTER
has wanted to be a published author since the age of twelve. That goal was brought into focus when she became the features editor of her school paper and graduated at the top of her class. K.R. enjoys every part of the writing process and edits stories for other writers frequently. She lives in the Northwestern United States with her sister, staying indoors so much that her room’s often referred to as a “cave.” K.R. is very open-minded and engages in debate and deep conversation whenever possible.

You can contact her at [email protected].

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Copyright

Thyme ©Copyright K.R. Foster, 2010

Published by

Dreamspinner Press

4760 Preston Road

Suite 244-149

Frisco, TX 75034

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Art by Paul Richmond   http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com

Cover Design by Mara McKennen

This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the Publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

Released in the United States of America

December 2010

eBook Edition

eBook ISBN: 978-1-61581-772-6