“No. Neither of us are. You’re grown-up.”

  “So are you, babe. Sculptor’s muscles.” Ryan ran his hands up Bleu’s arms.

  Bleu measured his waist, then trailed up his six-pack.

  He laughed. “I know, right? I need more body fat.”

  Bleu leaned down and licked his belly, the action shocking the hell out of him. He drew in a breath, his skin rising up with goose bumps.

  “I remember this. I remember how you taste.”

  “Do you? God, that feels good, Bleu.”

  “I do. You’re the best whiskey on earth.” Bleu drew circles around his hips with callused thumbs.

  “Am I?” Ryan chuckled. They were like whiskey, rough and pure fire.

  “God yes.” Bleu found his nipple, biting the tip, teasing him.

  He arched his back, pressing into that heated touch. Bleu’s mouth made him a little crazy. And Bleu’s hands? Christ. Nothing compared to the way they molded him. They were magic.

  The rounded slopes of Bleu’s ass were perfect and firm, so he squeezed them. Bleu rippled, a low cry filling the air.

  “You’re needing,” Ryan muttered.

  “You have no idea.”

  “What do you want most, babe?” He would give this man anything.

  “I want to fly with you. You always made me ache.”

  “I hear that.” He rubbed the small of Bleu’s back.

  Bleu cupped his balls, rolling them slowly, easily, giving him just enough pressure. His toes curled, and Ryan grunted, drawing his belly in.

  “Mmm.” Bleu’s grin was pure-D wicked.

  “Uh-huh. You’re something else, babe.”

  “I want you to fuck me. Hard.”

  “Oh hell yes.” He hoped Bleu had condoms. Lube. The important things.

  One way or the other, they would get the deed done.

  He slid a finger along Bleu’s crease. “Do you have the stuff?”

  “Stuff? You mean lube and protection? I have lube in my bag and a rubber in my wallet like a good man.”

  “Oh ho! Smart.” He kissed Bleu hard, letting himself drive in like he needed to.

  Bleu moaned for him, bracing on his chest and kissing him right back. He had dreams like this. They ended badly. This was going to go well.

  This was going to end with his cock buried to the root in Bleu, and both of them shooting hard.

  “Where’s your wallet, babe?”

  “On the dresser by my phone.”

  Ryan lifted Bleu away from him so he could rise. “Don’t run off.”

  “Where would I go? I want to be here.”

  The simple words made his heart swell bigger than the Grinch’s at the end of the story.

  Bleu leaned back against the headboard, hand sliding on his cock.

  “Now don’t get too far ahead,” Ryan teased. It took forever to find a condom and the little tear-open pack of lube.

  “I promise. I’m just waiting patiently.”

  “Or not so patiently.” Ryan moved back to the bed, sitting beside Bleu’s hip.

  “This is patient!” God, he loved Bleu’s laughter.

  “I guess it is. You could have been whacking off like crazy.”

  “I could have. This is way more fun.”

  “Is it?” He opened the lube, getting his fingers wet, saving a little back for the deed itself.

  “Mm-hmm. Way.” Bleu was listening to him, head cocked.

  “I like that.” He stroked Bleu’s cock, his hand closing over Bleu’s. He used his other hand to press against that sweet hole.

  Bleu’s expression went slack, his lover moaning low.

  “Uh-huh. Sweet.” He slid a lubed finger inside.

  God, Bleu was as tight as a virgin, body squeezing him like a vise. He shivered at how amazing that felt, licking his lips.

  “I want more, Ry. Give me another.”

  “I got you, babe.” He slipped another finger in, then added a tiny bit more lube. That was good stuff. Bleu let his head fall back, and Ryan watched him swallow convulsively. Bleu’s chest rose and fell fast, a light flush working across his skin. “You make my mouth dry.”

  Bleu grinned, pushing back on Ryan’s touch, riding him fearlessly. That tight, tiny hole closed around his fingers, the muscles working. God, he wanted in, but he wanted to make sure Bleu was good and ready for him.

  “You’re so slow.” Bleu wiggled.

  “You’re impatient.” He added a third finger and took a kiss in the same motion.

  “Mmm.” Bleu ran both hands down his back, tracing each bump of his spine. He pressed closer, almost like he was trying to join them on the cellular level.

  Ryan pushed in and pulled out for as long as he could bear. Then he covered his cock with the condom so he could slick himself up.

  Bleu reached out, fingers brushing the tip of Ryan’s cock, nudging it firmly.

  “I’m coming, babe. I swear.” He muscled up between those spread legs.

  “I’ve waited a long time, and I didn’t even know it.”

  “I know. I know exactly how you feel.” Ryan hummed, pushing into Bleu a scant inch.

  Bleu’s face went lax, a deep inhalation filling his lungs.

  “That’s it, babe. Breathe with me.”

  “You’re… damn. Damn, you’re real.”

  As real as they fucking came. He was going to make sure Bleu felt him, make sure every sense was filled to the brim. “I’m real, and I’m right here, Bleu.”

  “I want to see you.” Bleu reached up, and Ryan bent into the touches. “Oh yes.”

  Bleu’s smile was like the sun cresting the mountain after a perfect snow.

  He rocked his hips down, letting Bleu feel him as he sank in, burying himself in that amazing heat. His eyes threatened to close, but he refused to let them. He wanted to see every second.

  That face was unguarded, each expression right there for Ryan to see. Sweet and wanton, totally focused on what they were creating together—Christ, he burned to be half the man Bleu’s face said he was.

  He wanted to be now, more than he ever had.

  They moved together, Ryan pressing deep, seating himself the whole way.

  Bleu grabbed his ass and held on tight, keeping him deep and letting him feel the sweet muscles rippling.

  His breath left him, his chest heaving. God, every squeeze and clench made his balls ache. Ryan gritted his teeth, holding on as hard as he could.

  “Move. Move for me, please.”

  “Anything.” Ryan moved, heavy thrusts that shook the bed. Bleu took him—every fucking inch, open and eager and begging for it. They were cooking with oil, sweat running on their skin. Bleu held nothing back, crying out with each thrust.

  His asscheeks clenched, his belly pulling in. Nothing had ever been as good as Bleu. No one.

  “Jesus….” Bleu started jacking himself, pulling hard and fast.

  “Stay with me, babe. I want us to go together.”

  “Fuck yes. I want this to last and last.”

  Ryan nodded, straining hard, all his muscles engaged and working. “Great damn workout.”

  “Better than a gym, huh?”

  “God yes. Better than anything.”

  Bleu cried out for him, and then he grabbed his knees and tugged, spreading himself until Ryan thought he might squeak.

  Ryan gave him what he needed, slamming into Bleu hard. He watched every second, his cock spreading that tiny hole wide. They couldn’t last much longer, so he kissed Bleu hard, wanting more contact.

  Bleu’s sigh was pure bliss, and he felt Bleu clench around him.

  “Hot. Tight. Oh, babe.” He was so close. So close.

  “Soon. Please, Ry. Please.”

  “I’m right there. I just—”

  Bleu squeezed him again, fierce enough he shouted, and that was the end of it. Ryan shot so hard his teeth rattled, and his Bleu followed right behind, sobbing with his need, seed spraying.

  They collapsed together, panting, both as sweaty as if they’d been skiing for hours.

  “Damn.” Bleu kissed his temple. “That was… damn.”

  “And then some, babe. Thank you.”

  Bleu laughed softly, body squeezing him. “Can we do it again?”

  “Yes. Just give me a moment to catch my breath and get another condom.”

  “Fair enough.” That laugh filled the air, low and husky and well-fucked.

  “Mmm. Good thing we have cinnamon rolls.”

  “Mm-hmm. I’ll call for pizza and Cokes later. Much later.”

  “Flatbreads. Geoff promised.”

  “Oh, you do love me.”

  The words dropped between them, and Bleu turned bright red.

  He just kissed that sweet mouth, not ready to make a mess of things just yet. “I got your back, babe.”

  “Thank you.” Bleu closed his eyes, resting back against the pillows.

  “Mmm.” No, no hiding. He kissed Bleu’s forehead, then his cheeks. Bleu lifted his chin, letting him explore.

  He licked at a bead of sweat. “Say you’ll spend the day with me, babe? One step at a time.”

  “I’d love to. I have a big bathtub. It’s not a hot tub, but we can both fit.”

  “That sounds perfect.” A lazy day spent in bed and bath, ordering room service? Oh, yeah.

  “Doesn’t it? You. Me. Touching. Water. Food.”

  “It does.” Ryan pulled free so he could get rid of the condom, but he didn’t move far. He knew Bleu needed touch right now, connection.

  He hoped Bleu needed him.

  That was the only way this was going to end like he wanted it to. With them together.

  Chapter Eleven

  “GOD, you were right.” Ryan sounded like sex made flesh.

  Bleu licked his fingers clean. “About what?” He loved being right.

  “This flatbread. It’s better than sex.”

  Bleu reached over, pinched one of Ryan’s nipples unerringly. “Better than?”

  They’d had a glorious day thus far—napping and bathing, listening to Sherlock for a few episodes before ordering food. This was like heaven with sex.

  “Well, as good as, with the right person.” Ryan laughed for him but didn’t pull away from the touch.

  “Fair enough. I love the onions best. They’re almost like candy.”

  “They are!” Ryan sounded so surprised. And pleased.

  “What all do you have to do this week? More teaching?”

  “Not a lot. I have a snowboard exhibition Saturday, but then I’ll be back for the party.”

  God, he would like to experience that—to be able to watch. He couldn’t, and wishing for it didn’t do a damn bit of good. “That’s cool. I’m going to go out snowmobiling, I think.”

  “Oh, babe, that sounds too cool.” Ryan stroked his cheek.

  “I like to try new things. Stoney says it’s so fun to go fast.”

  “It is. Is he driving?” Ryan didn’t sound worried, more curious.

  “I assume so. I don’t know that he’d let me do it….”

  Ryan laughed softly. “I just meant no one else was taking you out. Stoney is taken, so I trust him.”

  “Stoney is the most married, and I’m really good at knowing who I’m sleeping with.” He poked Ryan’s ribs. “I wouldn’t have flirted with you if I was still with Dan.”

  “I know. I was just….” Ryan paused. “I was jealous.”

  “We haven’t been lovers for a long time. I’m not sure we ever were, not really.”

  “No? I think that about Phil too. Is that bad?”

  He had to think about that a second, but not long. “I think it’s better. I was going to marry Dan.”

  “Was it just comfortable?”

  “Yeah. I-I like him, he likes me, and we had a nice time. He’s everything you could ask for—kind, sweet, well-off. I like his house, everything, but….” But there wasn’t any passion. He went to bed every night with his best friend, but that was all. Add to that Dan’s constant worry, and finally he couldn’t do it anymore.

  “Phil was all business.” Ryan snorted a little. “I thought it was something real, but I think he just wanted to be able to watch what I ate.”

  “Why?” He didn’t understand. “You’re beautiful, not to mention that you’re not competing anymore.”

  “His company managed me. Still does, when it comes to event appearances. The design stuff I handle myself.”

  “Will you show me one day? The designs?” He couldn’t pretend not to get it. He counted on the sales from Dan’s studio, or he had back at the beginning.

  “I will. I want to show you everything.”

  “Okay. I want to know.” He craved input, especially from anyone daring to be his lover.

  “Good.” Ryan slid his chair around the table a little, then fed him another bite of flatbread. It was spicy and just right, making his eyes cross. “God, I love to watch you eat.”

  He remembered that too, from back in the day.

  “It’s not gross?” He worried that he had stuff in his teeth.

  “Not even a little,” Ryan murmured. “Sexy. I don’t understand how anyone wouldn’t say so.”

  Bleu’s cheeks began to heat, and he grinned, ducked his head.

  “No hiding, babe. Not even for good things.”

  “I don’t!”

  “You try, but there’s no need.” Ryan tucked Bleu’s hair back behind his ear. “I like all your expressions.”

  “Everyone says I have no poker face.”

  “It’s true. I can read it all.”

  That could be dangerous. Bleu decided he liked that idea. A little danger. Especially when Ryan was the one he was courting it with.

  “Like here.” Ryan traced his forehead. “You have lines here showing you’re thinking.”

  “Yeah? Can you tell what?” Bleu frowned mightily.

  Ryan chuckled softly. “That you’re trying hard not to let me know what you’re thinking.”

  “Butthead.”

  “It’s true.” Ryan petted his cheeks. “You don’t have to run from me.”

  God, that made tingles slide up and down his spine, made his breath catch in his chest. Ryan was just—well, all grown-up Ryan was something else entirely from college Ryan.

  “I want to relearn everything about you. I want to be able to….” Ryan chuckled softly. “I want a lot.”

  “I have a lot to give.” That he knew. He had a career, he had a life, and he was damn good in bed, right?

  Maybe it was silly to be talking long-term, but hope was a good thing.

  “You do. I can’t believe how much you’ve changed and how much you’ve stayed the same, all at once.”

  “I feel that way too. You’re Ryan but—more?” He leaned, and Ryan was right there to hold him. He knew Ryan had a whole life in Boulder, that the party would come and go and they’d be separated again, but right now it didn’t matter.

  Right now Bleu was going to bask in the glow of this little fantasy.

  He needed it. Just for a second.

  “Stop stressing. Please. I’m right here.”

  “I know. I just keep thinking how bad I am at this.”

  “At what?” Ryan took his hand.

  “Needing. I don’t want you to think I’m needy.”

  “I don’t.” Ryan laughed. “Well, I hope you’re needy in some ways, though.”

  “That’s wanton, I think. Maybe hungry.”

  “Definitely. You said we got to spend the whole day….”

  “I have no plans today.” None but exploring Ryan’s body.

  “Well, see there? We’re gonna have a ball.”

  “A ball?” He let himself sound as lecherous as a villain tying a lady to a train track.

  “Mmm. Or three or four.”

  “Yeah.” He nodded, smiled, and then stretched all along Ry, rubbing.

  “I say we move back to the bed….” Ryan rose, dragging him up.

  “I do like how you think.”

  “Me too.” Ryan kissed him lightly. “More privacy.”

  “Yes.” He and Dan might be broken up, but that would still be weird as all get-out. No matter how good Dan’s Aspen booty call, he didn’t deserve to walk in on what they had planned.

  Because they had a lot planned.

  Chapter Twelve

  RYAN was lying in the bed, watching Bleu sleep after their postsupper orgasm. This was the best day ever. Seriously.

  He was loose and relaxed and happy as a clam.

  Which was, naturally, when his phone rang.

  He grabbed it, scowling when he saw Phil’s name. “What?”

  “Wow, nice greeting. Where are you? You’re supposed to be at the Tarlington Snow Inc. meet and greet here at the barn.”

  “Shit. Seriously? I thought that was tomorrow morning.”

  “No, that’s the neoprene guys.”

  “Fuck. I’ll be there in… fifteen?”

  “Are you tomcatting around?” Phil was never going to let him live this down.

  “No. I’m with Bleu. I honestly thought I was clear until tomorrow.” He had to go bathe real quick, and dress.

  “I’ll make excuses. Hurry.”

  “Thanks, man.” He hung up, then bent to kiss Bleu. “Hey, babe, I suck. I have an event here at the barn. You’re welcome to come, but I need to go get dressed.”

  “Go. Go, I need to spend some time with Floyd. I’ve neglected him.”

  “I’ll holler when it’s done.” Even if Bleu was done for the night, he wanted to just let Bleu know he wanted to call, just to touch base.

  “Cool. I might order some late night goodies to share, a pot of coffee….”

  “I would love that. It won’t be more than an hour or two.” The Tarlington guys were all business, even at parties.

  “Good deal.” Bleu lifted his face for a quick kiss. “Enjoy yourself.”

  He kissed that mouth nice and hard, leaving it a little swollen and bruised. “Have fun with Floyd.” Then he had to run for it, tugging on his clothes before heading out through the sitting area. “Oh, hey, Dan.”

  One eyebrow winged up. “Hello, Ryan. What a… pleasant surprise.”

  “Yeah. Sorry, I gotta run. Spaced an event.” Truthfully, he thought Phil had just made a spot for him in this one today. He’d triple-checked his schedule.

  “Oh… all right. I’ll see if Bleu needs anything.”