The Other Side Page 8

  “Right, right,” Ray said. Then he glanced at the doorway and noticed Nick. His knuckles tightened on the phone. “Martin, I have to go. I’ll call you back.” He returned the phone to its cradle and stood. “Nick?”

  He smiled or at least he hoped it was a smile. He was so unsure of everything. “I-Ray,” he croaked out. Nick cleared his throat and decided to try again. “I’m sorry, Ray.”

  Ray stared at him, his expression unreadable. “About what?”

  Figures Ray wasn’t going to make this easy.

  “About everything,” Nick said softly. “I’m going crazy. These last two weeks have been terrible. I can’t sleep or eat. I’ve been practically living like a hermit. Devon came to see me. He said you’ve been miserable.”

  “I have been.” Ray took a step toward him. They stood only inches apart. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Nick.”

  “I can’t stop thinking about you, too.” Nick ran his hand through his hair. “I-I’ve been suspended from the force.”

  “Devon told me when he found out. I tried talking to Captain Kent, telling him you didn’t do anything wrong, but he said it was out of his hands.”

  “You talked to Captain Kent?”

  “Yeah,” Ray said, he reached out and caressed Nick’s arm. “I know how important it is to you. I want only the best for you, Nick. I care a lot about you.”

  A lump formed in Nick’s throat. “I want what’s best for you, too.”

  “Do you know what that is?” Ray took a final step toward Nick. Hardly any space separated them.

  Nick exhaled shakily. “I hope maybe it’s me.”

  Ray smiled broadly. “Good answer.” He pulled Nick into his arms and kissed him. Their tongues tangled, tasting each other, but it was a sweet kiss, filled with tenderness. After a while, Ray broke the kiss. “What about our differences? We still have so many.”

  “We do. I’m still not sure you would trust me if you weren’t sleeping with me.”

  Ray shook his head. “At first I didn’t trust you even though I did want you. But I got to know you. I know you’re honest, kind, good, and ethical. I didn’t learn that from having sex with you, Nick. I learned that from you.”

  Relief and hope filled him. Maybe he hadn’t screwed up everything after all. “Then, you’ll give me another chance?”

  Ray hugged him tight. “God, yes. I’m sorry, too, Nick. I’ll try to be more open-minded as far as the police are concerned. I’ll try.”

  “Thanks. Of course, I’m not even sure I’ll be on the force anymore,” Nick admitted, the prospect dimming his good mood just a bit.

  “You will. But if you aren’t, well, you’ll be okay. You can even move in with me.”

  “I’m not looking for a sugar daddy.”

  “Good, because I’m not offering one,” Ray said. “But I know if the force is stupid enough to fire you, you’ll land on your feet. You’ll find something else. I have no doubts about you. You’re very smart. You can do anything.”

  Nick kissed him, putting as much passion as he could convey in the kiss. He felt ridiculously happy at Ray’s confidence in him. He prayed it was not misplaced. “Even still, I think I’m all right for now. I’m not in danger of starving. They’re still paying me for now.”

  “I won’t push you. Take your time, Nick. You can decide when you want to move in.”

  Nick thought someday, probably soon, he would want to do just that. He’d never had a boyfriend before and he wanted to take it slow, but he liked that Ray wouldn’t push him. He was nearly overwhelmed with gratitude. And he felt something else. He could feel Ray’s erection pressing against him. His own cock filled and pushed against the restraints of his clothing. He bit his lip. “Ray?”

  “Hmm?” Ray nuzzled his neck.

  “Have you ever been fucked?” he blurted out.

  Ray stiffened, and then laughed. “Uh, yeah, though it’s been a while.” His dark eyes were filled with merriment. “Is that what you have in mind?”

  Nick grinned. “Well, yeah. We haven’t done that yet. But I don’t want to rush you.”

  By way of answer, Ray grabbed his hand and tugged him down the hall toward his bedroom. He closed the door and started unfastening his pants.

  They never spent a lot of time trying to undress each other. They’d gotten into the pattern of just getting to work on their own clothes. Nick laughed at Ray’s eagerness, but quickly shed his clothes, too. He felt better than he had in a long time. “The lube and condoms in the bathroom?”

  “Yes,” Ray said, shucking his underwear.

  Nick hurried into the master bathroom and scooped up the supplies. He tossed the lube on the bed and tore open the condom wrapper. Shit, he felt as excited as he had his first time. His hands shook as he rolled the latex over his hard cock. But, um, should he maybe do some foreplay or something? Hell, he was a guy and so was Ray. Did he really need to do a lot of that sort of stuff to make Ray happy?

  Ray lay down on the bed on his stomach, his tight ass on full display. He wiggled it. “Hurry, man, I can’t wait to feel you inside me.”

  “Shit,” Nick said, moaning, figuring he had his answer. He knelt on the bed and squirted lube onto his fingers. “Ready?”

  “Oh, yeah, do it, baby.”

  He shoved three slicked fingers into Ray’s hole, wanting to spread him quickly. He bit his lip then, realizing maybe he was going too fast. Ray said it had been a while and he was probably hurting him. He knew it burned a bit. “Sorry. Too much?” His cock ached to be thrusting inside already, but didn’t want to damage his lover.

  “Unh-unh.”

  He pushed in and felt for Ray’s prostate. Ray tensed and pushed up, taking Nick’s fingers in deeper.

  “God, Nick, want to feel your cock,” Ray breathed.

  Biting his lip, Nick withdrew his fingers and replaced them with the head of his dick. Closing his eyes he forced himself to go slow. He wanted to just thrust in all at once.

  “Ahh,” Ray gasped.

  He froze. “What’s wrong?”

  “It stings,” Ray said. “It’s been a while, like I said.” Ray lowered his head, breathing in. “Okay, it’s better.”

  Nick sighed in relief. He pushed in farther, past the tight ring of muscle and waited again. “Okay?”

  Ray nodded.

  He slid in all the way, gritting his teeth against the desire to pump fast and furiously into his lover. He was too eager. It had been a while since he’d topped. He grabbed a handful of sheets and willed himself to go slower.

  “God, move, Nick.” His ass rose, pushing back against Nick. “Make it hard and fast.”

  He needed no other urging. He pulled almost all the way out, and then pushed all the way in, pumping rapidly, his balls slapping against Ray’s ass. His orgasm was close, his spine tingling with it. Damn, Ray had a great tight ass.

  “Yes,” Ray groaned, and the smell of semen hit Nick’s nostrils.

  “Ray!” he shouted, ramming the other man, his release exploding from him. “Oh, my God!” He collapsed on his lover.

  They both panted heavily, gasping out breaths. Ray’s muscles flexed under him.

  “You know, for a little guy you’re pretty heavy,” Ray murmured.

  Nick got off him and lay next to him on the bed. “I am not a little guy.”

  Ray chuckled. “If you say so.”

  Nick smiled and yawned. “I think I could sleep for a week.”

  “You still think all we have is hot sex?”

  “Nah, I think we definitely have more. I admire you so much, Ray. You’re a passionate, amazing guy. I’m looking forward to knowing a lot more about you. For a long time.”

  Ray rose up on his arms and gazed down at Nick. “Me, too. We’ve both learned something, I think. Sometimes we need to see the other side of things.”

  “I can’t wait to see all your sides,” Nick said, raising his eyebrows and smacking Ray’s ass.

  “You can’t possibly be ready for more,” Ray p
rotested.

  “Want to bet?”

  THE END

  ABOUT SHAWN LANE

  Shawn Lane is a multi-published author of gay romances and believes love and passion know no boundaries. Happily Ever After is for everyone.

  She has been published by Loose Id, Ellora's Cave, Amber Quill Press, Dreamspinner Press, and Evernight Publishing.

  Shawn lives in California and holds down a boring day job in a legal department of a giant corporation dreaming of the nights and weekends when she can create new stories.

  For more information, visit smlgr8.blogspot.com.

  ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC

  JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!