Pieces Read online

  Josh did not smile. “I’m serious.”

  “Fine,” Ken said, making a tsking noise. He tossed his driver’s license at Josh who caught it.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  “What?”

  But Josh moved away with the beer and license. He reached for his cell phone set back behind the bar.

  “What are you doing?” his brother asked.

  “Calling my friend at the police station. This guy might have some outstanding warrants.”

  Eddie chuckled. “Give me that. You can’t do that.”

  Josh frowned. “Why the hell not? That guy is a loser. He’s not good enough for Patrick.”

  “Probably not, but I don’t hear wedding bells yet. Just chill.” Eddie pulled the cell phone out of his hand. “Give the guy his beer…and his license.”

  He grimaced but walked back to the table. He put the license down and then as he went to put the drink down, he let it slip from his fingers into Ken’s lap.

  “Son of a bitch,” Ken yelled and stood. “You asshole.”

  “Sorry. Slipped.”

  Patrick covered his mouth with his hand. “Calm down, Ken. It was an accident.”

  Ken glared at Patrick. “I’ll be back.” He stormed off toward the bathrooms.

  “Was that necessary?” Patrick asked.

  “I told you, it slipped. Who is that clown?”

  Patrick shrugged. “I just met him tonight. I’m doing an online dating service.”

  “What? A good-looking successful lawyer like you has to go that route?”

  “What can I say? It’s worth a shot.”

  Josh shook his head, disgusted. “Not if that’s the sort you have to meet.”

  “He’s all right.”

  “He smells.”

  “He does not and—” Patrick stopped and stood up enough to see the door. “Shit. He just left.”

  Josh burst out laughing. “Good riddance.”

  “Easy for you to say,” Patrick grumbled. “He was my ride home.”

  “You wouldn’t have wanted that asshole to take you home. He would have been an octopus all over you. I’ll drive you home.”

  “Who says I want to stay until closing?” His friend scowled.

  “I’ll talk to Eddie. Marty’s here so we have help. Let me know when you’re ready.”

  Chapter 4

  As Josh pulled in front of Patrick’s condo, Patrick reached for the truck handle. “Okay, thanks for the ride.”

  “Um.”

  Patrick arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t want to come in, did you?”

  Josh shrugged. “Well, if you insist. There’s a parking space.” He pulled his truck in and turned it off. They both got out and approached Patrick’s door.

  He admitted, to himself anyway, he was more than a little surprised Josh wanted to come inside. Patrick had been sure Josh would barely stop the truck to let him out.

  Patrick flipped on a light just inside the door that flooded his living room with recessed lighting. He winced. Feeling his cheeks heat, he said, “I’ve been meaning to clean it.”

  He went around the room scooping up papers and clothes he’d left strewn about and kicked his athletic shoes under the coffee table.

  “It’s okay,” Josh said. “I’m not much of a housekeeper myself.”

  “Do you want some coffee or tea?’

  “Yeah, sure.”

  Patrick smiled and switched on the kitchen lights. “Which?”

  “Tea.”

  He filled the electric kettle and turned it on. “All right, I have regular, orange spice, chocolate macadamia coconut, and chamomile. Oh, and mint and berry fusion.”

  Josh laughed. “Um, just regular, thanks. No sugar.”

  Once Patrick fixed their tea, he handed a mug to Josh and walked over to his computer, which he’d left on earlier. He sat at the desk and signed into his email.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Seeing if they found more guys for me to try.”

  “Guys for you to try?”

  “Yeah, from the dating service.”

  Josh snorted and went over to the dining room and grabbed a chair. He set it next to Patrick. “This I gotta see.”

  Patrick merely smiled and brought up the site. He entered his ID and password. About ten pictures popped up.

  “How much is this costing you anyway?” Josh asked.

  “Well, right now I’m on a two-week free trial. After that it’s like forty for three months.”

  “Three months? You’re going to do this for three months?”

  He patted Josh’s leg. “Not if I can find Mr. Right in the trial period.”

  “I don’t believe this,” Josh muttered. He stabbed a finger at the first guy. “Let’s see who this loser is.”

  “Who says he’s a loser?” Patrick clicked on the picture and the profile came up. The guy wasn’t too bad looking. Probably was a good fifteen years older than Patrick though. He had a goatee and a high shiny forehead.

  “He could be your grandpa.”

  He chuckled. “A bit of an exaggeration.”

  Josh scooted closer and peered at the screen. “A hot dog salesman? Are you kidding me?”

  “Hot dog salesmen need love too.”

  “You’re an attorney. This guy is not in your league. Please. Next.”

  Patrick went to click on the picture of the second guy.

  “Oh, no. That guy’s an axe murderer if ever I saw one.”

  Patrick blinked and focused on the guy’s picture. He looked like an average guy who could be a next door neighbor. “You can’t tell that by looking at him.”

  Josh sighed, leaning close enough for Patrick to smell his fresh clean scent, and reached for the mouse, yanking it out of Patrick’s hand. He skipped several pictures and landed on about the sixth one before double clicking.

  “What was wrong with three, four, and five? Were they axe murderers, too?” His lips twitched.

  “They weren’t the right caliber.” Josh read the details of six, the hand not holding the mouse resting on Patrick’s thigh. Patrick tried to ignore the jolt it sent straight to his cock. “Stock broker? He could be another crook bilking people out of their life savings. Nope.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you aren’t going to approve of any of these guys?”

  Josh actually clicked out of the dating site. “Because I think the whole idea is idiotic. You don’t need some cheesy dating site.”

  Patrick rose and went back into the kitchen with his now empty mug. “And where do you think I’m going to meet a nice guy then?”

  “I don’t know. A bar? Like mine?” Josh tipped his mug to his lips and took the final sip before setting it beside Patrick’s. “Work? Church?”

  “Church? Um, no.” Patrick sighed. “Well, thanks again for the ride. I guess you probably should be going back to the bar.”

  He swept past Josh, brushing his hip against Josh’s as he passed, and headed for the front door. The truth was, sitting that close to Josh had turned him on. His cock was half hard and once Josh was gone he intended to take a long hot shower with some personal attention to his cock.

  Patrick held the door open for Josh.

  Josh narrowed his eyes. “It’s not going to be that easy.”

  With the palm of his hand, Josh shut the door. He backed Patrick against the wall in the hallway and slammed his hand next to Patrick’s head.

  “You think I should leave, do you?” Josh whispered, his lips a fraction of an inch from Patrick’s.

  His heart hammering, Patrick stammered, “Well, I—”

  Josh slammed his other hand against the wall, trapping Patrick between his muscular arms. He titled his head and leaned closer.

  Patrick swallowed, mesmerized by the look of lust in Josh’s brown eyes. Almost without thinking, he slid his fingers under Josh’s shirt, smoothing his fingertips across the hot bare skin.

  Josh’s lips trailed from Patrick’s ear across his jaw. His breath shal
low, Patrick moaned, his hands skittering up Josh’s abs to his chest even as Josh pressed his body into Patrick’s, grinding his erection against his leg.

  “Ah, fuck.” Patrick gasped.

  “Definitely fuck. Bedroom.”

  He hesitated just a second and Josh ground against him again.

  “Patrick.”

  Patrick ducked and slipped under Josh’s outstretched arms and headed up the stairs, knowing Josh would be right on his heels. He suspected having sex with Josh would lead to nothing but heartbreak since Josh would push him away in the morning. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. He sort of suspected he wouldn’t be able to refuse Josh ever, but Patrick hoped he never had to test that theory.

  As he stepped through the doorway of his bedroom, Patrick stripped off his shirt and threw it in the general direction of the hamper. Kicking off his shoes, he noted the lube and condoms he’d fetched the other night were still on the table next to his bed.

  Josh walked to the bed and yanked the quilt and blankets off, revealing freshly changed navy sheets. He toed off his shoes and turned toward Patrick. His long fingers slid into the waistband of Patrick’s jeans.

  Patrick took a step back, trying to clear his head, but Josh tugged him back. Josh’s big hands undid the button and zipper of his jeans. He palmed Patrick’s hard cock through his briefs, tearing a groan from his throat.

  It shouldn’t feel this good. But it did, and Patrick wanted this, heartbreak or not. He shoved his jeans down his legs and stepped out of them. “What about you?”

  Josh nodded and pulled off his shirt. He made short work of the khaki slacks he wore and left them in a wrinkled heap at his feet.

  Patrick’s gaze froze at the sight of Josh’s hard cock pointing toward him. The man had gone commando. Swallowing, he whispered, “Kiss me.”

  Josh’s lips curved in a sensual smile as he pulled Patrick close, his hands curving over Patrick’s ass. His lips barely grazed Patrick’s, teasing them, making him desperate for more. “Take these off,” Josh said, his mouth moving against Patrick’s.

  Before he could move, Josh had already pushed the briefs down to his knees and closed his callused hand over Patrick’s shaft.

  “Geez.” He gasped, jolts of lust firing up his skin.

  “You aren’t fast enough.” Josh laughed. He pushed Patrick on the bed and yanked the briefs off the rest of the way.

  He’d hardly caught his breath when Josh turned him on to his back and covered his body with his, molding their mouths together in a hard, nearly bruising kiss. He opened his mouth to breathe and Josh’s tongue slipped in. He shook as Josh’s hands slid up his abdomen to capture his hands above his head.

  The kiss was forceful, possessive, and totally thrilling. Patrick rose underneath him, pushing his cock against Josh. He ached, felt nearly feverish with desire.

  He released Patrick’s arms, kneading both hands all over his skin. Josh’s hand closed around Patrick’s hard cock. The rigid length jumped in his grasp.

  And then Josh did something he hadn’t done on that long ago night together. He scooted down until his mouth was lined up with Patrick’s erection. He darted his tongue out, scooping up the drop of pre-cum. He wrapped his lips around the tip.

  “Yes.” Patrick gasped, pushing himself up into Josh’s mouth.

  Josh sucked the shaft all the way in. He hollowed out his cheeks, sucking hard.

  “God!” Patrick tensed, his fingers digging into Josh’s shoulders. He was so close to coming.

  The other man released his cock, winked and reached for the lube.

  “You’re killing me,” Patrick complained.

  Josh laughed. “Not just yet.”

  Lube sloshed out and Patrick braced himself for the invasion of Josh’s slicked fingers. He hooked his hands under his legs and spread them wide. His eyes closed at the first push of Josh’s index finger inside. The lube was a little cold, but he welcomed the feel of Josh preparing him as a second finger joined the first.

  He hadn’t had sex since Andrew’s death. It had never been a mere common thing for Patrick like it was for Josh. He tensed a little.

  “Shh, it’s all right. Relax,” Josh said. “Damn, you’re tight.”

  Patrick nodded and turned his head into the pillow, biting his lip. His heart pounding hard and fast, he slipped his hand down to jerk his cock, stroking along the length.

  “Wait for me,” Josh whispered, withdrawing his fingers. “Just a little longer.”

  Patrick opened his eyes just in time to watch Josh tear the foil packet and roll the condom over his long, thick erection.

  Josh poised the head of his cock at Patrick’s entrance and, with brown eyes meeting blue-green eyes, pushed in. He exhaled as Josh slid past the tight ring of muscle, wincing at the burn of the intrusion.

  “All right, Patrick?”

  He wiggled until Josh was in deeper, pressing his prostate. Patrick moaned. “Yes, perfect.”

  Josh loomed above him, a sexy grin on his face. “I second that perfect.” He stayed for a few heartbeats even while Patrick’s hand worked his own hard length, his fingers dipping down to squeeze his balls.

  Patrick lifted up from the mattress, urging Josh to move. Josh’s eyes drifted half-closed and he started thrusting, pushing in deeper with each slow pump of Patrick’s ass.

  Time froze for just a moment in Patrick’s mind and he imagined that first time with Josh. It had been his first time, period. He’d never let on to Josh he’d never had sex before, just had faked his way through it. After all, he knew how it worked. That first penetration had been painful, but they were both high, and if Josh noticed it had been unusually painful for Patrick he didn’t let on. By the time they finished though, Patrick thought it amazing.

  The next morning when Josh turned away it had left his heart in pieces.

  Now, here he was playing the same game.

  Fisting the sheets, Patrick closed his eyes and pushed the painful memories away and let himself enjoy the feel of Josh fucking him. His orgasm was close, on the brink, tightening his balls. He stroked his cock harder, faster.

  Above him, Josh grabbed his legs and opened him wider, ramming his ass, the slap of his sac and their harsh pants loud in the otherwise quiet room.

  “Josh, oh God.” Patrick gasped, as his release slammed through him, gobs of white cum splattering his stomach.

  “Yes.” Josh tensed, then pumped three quick times, roaring his own release.

  While Josh withdrew and got up to discard the condom, Patrick rolled to his side and moved the sheets to slide under them. A moment later Josh joined him in the bed and placed an arm loosely about Patrick’s waist.

  After a several minutes of silence, Patrick finally couldn’t stand it. “What was that?”

  “It was sex.”

  Patrick closed his eyes, trying not to let the simple but true words hurt. Had he actually expected anything else to come out of Josh’s mouth? What else would he say? Making love? Or something like, I couldn’t keep from touching you one more minute? Not in a million years.

  It didn’t take long for the sound of heavy breathing and soft snores to drift to him. Part of him wanted to wake Josh and tell him to leave. He didn’t and wouldn’t. But he lay awake long after wondering how many pieces of his heart he could lose and still survive?

  * * * *

  Patrick opened his eyes to see it was already after eight Saturday morning. He swung his legs out of bed and blinked a couple times to get his bearings. Josh still lay next to him sleeping away. He was surprised, really. He had expected Josh to sneak away in the dead of night to avoid the inevitable it’s not you, it’s me conversation.

  He picked up his discarded clothes from the night before and tossed them in the hamper this time. Then he bent down and picked up Josh’s and left them lying on the bed. Trying to be quiet, he pulled out sweatpants and a T-shirt and dressed.

  As long as he was going to have a guest this morning, Patrick decided he might as
well make breakfast.

  By the time Josh appeared in the kitchen doorway, Patrick had already made coffee, bacon, biscuits, and fried potatoes. He had just taken out the carton of eggs.

  “Oh, my God, that smells fantastic,” Josh said, smiling. He wore plaid flannel pajama bottoms and nothing else.

  “Good morning. Help yourself to some coffee. How do you want your eggs?”

  “Over easy.” Josh grabbed the mug Patrick handed him and went to the coffeepot.

  “Wait.” Patrick eyed him. “Aren’t those my pajama bottoms?”

  Josh laughed, his cheeks turning an appealing pink. “Uh, yeah.”

  He snorted. “Go sit down and I’ll bring you breakfast.”

  Josh just grinned and took his coffee to the table. “This is cool. I didn’t know you knew how to cook.”

  “Well, I learned from my mother. With her having all boys she insisted we know how to cook.” Patrick shrugged. He plated Josh’s potatoes and bacon, adding a biscuit. He cracked two eggs over the pan.

  “And now I get to reap the rewards.”

  “You might want to withhold judgment on that until after you taste it.” He fixed his own plate and then traded his eggs for Josh’s in the pan and brought Josh his plate.

  Josh didn’t wait. He stabbed his fork into the potatoes and took a large bite. “Yum.”

  Patrick chuckled and brought his own plate to the table and sat down. “You snore.”

  The other man nodded. “Yep, I know. Wow, you didn’t whack a can over the counter for these biscuits.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Hardly. They are homemade.”

  “Mmm.”

  They ate silently for a while and Patrick wondered if Josh would broach the whole one-night stand thing or if he should or if he should just ignore it. He shrugged.

  “So, what are you up to today?” he asked, his voice a master of casualness.

  “I have some errands to do before I get to the bar. Tonight’s Eddie’s anniversary so I told him he could leave early and go out with his wife. It’ll be a busy night, but Marty will be there.”

  Patrick nodded. “I’m sure you two can handle it.” He finished his coffee and stood. He figured after he did up the dishes and got rid of Josh, he’d go back online and see if any of the guys the dating service sent were worth asking out.