Before You
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
57
Views:
20,046
Reviews:
556
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
57
Views:
20,046
Reviews:
556
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter Twenty-one
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Joseph’s reaction to Nathan surprised Roth. The younger man’s eyes widened, his mouth fell open a little and an expression of stark greed flashed over his features. He caught himself and appeared to recall his reservations. Roth put him to work in the kitchen while he poured drinks. He’d forgotten that the big man had a scar on his eye as well, though he’d retained his sight. Oddly enough, they mirrored each other, with the mark marring Joseph’s left and Nathan’s right.
Roth watched with great interest as Nathan’s attention turned to the younger, much smaller man. His expression remained neutral and his light gray eyes barely revealed a flicker. Roth almost laughed. He hadn’t expected this.
Setting the drinks on the bar, Roth carried Joseph’s to him and joined in the effort. Already used to working together, they moved well around each other without needing much communication. That left them free to talk while their hands remained busy. It didn’t take long for Adam to come sniffing the food. He made a charming thief, so Roth let him make off with a few prizes. They got a meat plate arranged and out, a cold, savory cheese tart, slightly warmed brie and bread. Not forgetting his new role as doting lover, Adam fed Roth so he could continue to work.
The amount they made, including hot hors d\'eorves like satays and corn cakes with crab, looked like it would feed a small army. However, with three big men eating and drinking, the plates started looking bare within an hour. Roth noticed how Joseph found ways to come close to their guest. He refilled his Scotch and plate, leaning inside the perimeters of personal bubble, and making Nathan’s gaze track him like a wolf’s.
Adam caught Roth’s eye in shared humor. “Nathan, where can I settle your gear?”
Joseph volunteered. “I’ll take the pullout and he can have my bed.”
At the words ‘my bed’ Roth thought the big guy actually blushed a little under his swarthy complexion.
They had put on coverage of Times Square, though for the most part talked rather than watched.
Joseph added, “That way you two can have your privacy.” He made quick work of following through by gathering bags and hurrying out through the sliders. Roth almost felt sorry for their guest.
Giving the guy time to clear earshot, Nathan asked, “Is he always so determined?”
“No,” Adam answered. “All respect, if you have an objection, better speak up quick or find yourself in a tricky spot.”
Roth kept an eye on Joseph’s blatant campaign. By degrees, Nathan appeared to let the idea settle on him. When it came time for the ball to drop, and the countdown began, at five Joseph seated himself in the man’s lap and pressed his lips against Nathan’s. The on-screen crowd cheered and Adam drew Roth to him for a long kiss.
Joseph must have decided not to press his luck and attempted to get to his feet. Through his own sensual haze, Roth heard Nathan’s deep, almost gravelly voice, “You’re fine where you are.”
Roth went into the kitchen to begin putting the last of the food away. Adam joined to lend a hand. They finished quickly. Most of the food had vanished and Adam had steadily worked at cleanup as the night had aged. When Roth realized Joseph had fallen asleep in their guest’s lap, he went to remove the slumbering guy.
Nathan stood, lifting him with impressive ease. “I’ll take him.”
Reminded of a wolf again by the man, he studied him, thinking it might not prove wise to attempt relieving him of his chosen burden. “He’s very fragile, Nathan.”
“Coulda fooled me,” he replied. “I’ll keep that in mind when he’s rested and back after me.” Something in his voice and the way he cradled Joseph’s body set Roth completely at ease. Nathan paused, gazing down at the man he held. “What happened to him?”
“I think just about everything.”
Roth had his lover in the middle of a cooking lesson when the other two men joined them. Joseph couldn’t keep his hands off Nathan. The big guy handled it with a gruff cousin to grace. Yet, didn’t seem to really mind.
Adam’s first attempt at a frittata almost met with disaster. However, Roth saved it and served. Laden with leftover meats and cheeses it made hearty enough fare for a group of hungry males. Afterward, Nathan insisted on clearing, and he had plenty of help. It made for oddly tender comedy. Joseph so eager for approval and affection, while the intimidating-looking, burly man floundered awkwardly in his inability to deny giving it. Adam reached over and gave Roth’s thigh a squeeze, mouthing silently, “He’s sunk.”
Adam loaned Nathan his car and Joseph rode along as native guide. Before his interview the following morning, Nathan wanted to make sure he could find his way easily.
After they had gone, Roth grabbed some clothes and headed to the shower. Adam joined him within minutes. Stepping in, he smiled. “What the hell was that? Guess that poor bastard has any idea what hit him?”
Roth laughed. “I don’t know. Keith’ll accuse me of injecting his old pal with queer.”
“Come here, you.” He caught Roth by the wrist and tugged him close. “We have the place to ourselves for a while.”
Joseph shanghaied Nathan directly after dinner. Adam had slipped out earlier making a delivery to the guest house. Ridge had sent Roth a box of the individual packets of lube he’d discovered. So, they made sure plenty of those and condoms made it within reach of the bed, couch and bathroom.
“You’ve turned me into a romantic,” Adam confessed as they turned down the bed and climbed in hours later.
“How so?”
“I took some candles and a lighter out, too.”
“Jesus, imagine that big man in a tub surrounded by candles with Joseph playing harem boy.”
“Kinda what I had in mind. We’ll see if he can hold his head up and look us in the eye without shame come morning.”
Roth rolled on top of him, leaning down to kiss his chest and nibble his neck. “His knees would be almost under his chin.”
“Fair’s fair,” Adam murmured, hands settling in Roth’s hair. “Soon enough Joseph’s will be.”
~ Toying with the idea of doing a little three or four chappy bit separately for Joseph and Nathan. The first kiss, sex, that kind of thing. Any interest? It would just be for fun, not publication.
Joseph’s reaction to Nathan surprised Roth. The younger man’s eyes widened, his mouth fell open a little and an expression of stark greed flashed over his features. He caught himself and appeared to recall his reservations. Roth put him to work in the kitchen while he poured drinks. He’d forgotten that the big man had a scar on his eye as well, though he’d retained his sight. Oddly enough, they mirrored each other, with the mark marring Joseph’s left and Nathan’s right.
Roth watched with great interest as Nathan’s attention turned to the younger, much smaller man. His expression remained neutral and his light gray eyes barely revealed a flicker. Roth almost laughed. He hadn’t expected this.
Setting the drinks on the bar, Roth carried Joseph’s to him and joined in the effort. Already used to working together, they moved well around each other without needing much communication. That left them free to talk while their hands remained busy. It didn’t take long for Adam to come sniffing the food. He made a charming thief, so Roth let him make off with a few prizes. They got a meat plate arranged and out, a cold, savory cheese tart, slightly warmed brie and bread. Not forgetting his new role as doting lover, Adam fed Roth so he could continue to work.
The amount they made, including hot hors d\'eorves like satays and corn cakes with crab, looked like it would feed a small army. However, with three big men eating and drinking, the plates started looking bare within an hour. Roth noticed how Joseph found ways to come close to their guest. He refilled his Scotch and plate, leaning inside the perimeters of personal bubble, and making Nathan’s gaze track him like a wolf’s.
Adam caught Roth’s eye in shared humor. “Nathan, where can I settle your gear?”
Joseph volunteered. “I’ll take the pullout and he can have my bed.”
At the words ‘my bed’ Roth thought the big guy actually blushed a little under his swarthy complexion.
They had put on coverage of Times Square, though for the most part talked rather than watched.
Joseph added, “That way you two can have your privacy.” He made quick work of following through by gathering bags and hurrying out through the sliders. Roth almost felt sorry for their guest.
Giving the guy time to clear earshot, Nathan asked, “Is he always so determined?”
“No,” Adam answered. “All respect, if you have an objection, better speak up quick or find yourself in a tricky spot.”
Roth kept an eye on Joseph’s blatant campaign. By degrees, Nathan appeared to let the idea settle on him. When it came time for the ball to drop, and the countdown began, at five Joseph seated himself in the man’s lap and pressed his lips against Nathan’s. The on-screen crowd cheered and Adam drew Roth to him for a long kiss.
Joseph must have decided not to press his luck and attempted to get to his feet. Through his own sensual haze, Roth heard Nathan’s deep, almost gravelly voice, “You’re fine where you are.”
Roth went into the kitchen to begin putting the last of the food away. Adam joined to lend a hand. They finished quickly. Most of the food had vanished and Adam had steadily worked at cleanup as the night had aged. When Roth realized Joseph had fallen asleep in their guest’s lap, he went to remove the slumbering guy.
Nathan stood, lifting him with impressive ease. “I’ll take him.”
Reminded of a wolf again by the man, he studied him, thinking it might not prove wise to attempt relieving him of his chosen burden. “He’s very fragile, Nathan.”
“Coulda fooled me,” he replied. “I’ll keep that in mind when he’s rested and back after me.” Something in his voice and the way he cradled Joseph’s body set Roth completely at ease. Nathan paused, gazing down at the man he held. “What happened to him?”
“I think just about everything.”
Roth had his lover in the middle of a cooking lesson when the other two men joined them. Joseph couldn’t keep his hands off Nathan. The big guy handled it with a gruff cousin to grace. Yet, didn’t seem to really mind.
Adam’s first attempt at a frittata almost met with disaster. However, Roth saved it and served. Laden with leftover meats and cheeses it made hearty enough fare for a group of hungry males. Afterward, Nathan insisted on clearing, and he had plenty of help. It made for oddly tender comedy. Joseph so eager for approval and affection, while the intimidating-looking, burly man floundered awkwardly in his inability to deny giving it. Adam reached over and gave Roth’s thigh a squeeze, mouthing silently, “He’s sunk.”
Adam loaned Nathan his car and Joseph rode along as native guide. Before his interview the following morning, Nathan wanted to make sure he could find his way easily.
After they had gone, Roth grabbed some clothes and headed to the shower. Adam joined him within minutes. Stepping in, he smiled. “What the hell was that? Guess that poor bastard has any idea what hit him?”
Roth laughed. “I don’t know. Keith’ll accuse me of injecting his old pal with queer.”
“Come here, you.” He caught Roth by the wrist and tugged him close. “We have the place to ourselves for a while.”
Joseph shanghaied Nathan directly after dinner. Adam had slipped out earlier making a delivery to the guest house. Ridge had sent Roth a box of the individual packets of lube he’d discovered. So, they made sure plenty of those and condoms made it within reach of the bed, couch and bathroom.
“You’ve turned me into a romantic,” Adam confessed as they turned down the bed and climbed in hours later.
“How so?”
“I took some candles and a lighter out, too.”
“Jesus, imagine that big man in a tub surrounded by candles with Joseph playing harem boy.”
“Kinda what I had in mind. We’ll see if he can hold his head up and look us in the eye without shame come morning.”
Roth rolled on top of him, leaning down to kiss his chest and nibble his neck. “His knees would be almost under his chin.”
“Fair’s fair,” Adam murmured, hands settling in Roth’s hair. “Soon enough Joseph’s will be.”
~ Toying with the idea of doing a little three or four chappy bit separately for Joseph and Nathan. The first kiss, sex, that kind of thing. Any interest? It would just be for fun, not publication.