Before You

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO


Roth put his foot on Nathan, gave a hard shove and rolled him beyond striking distance. “If you two stubborn assholes insist on fighting, take it the fuck outside.” Both men quickly got to their feet and strode toward the sliders. He added, “Not out there. The only clear spot’s the front lawn. Might as well show your asses in front of the whole neighborhood. We’re already the resident freak show.”

They about-faced and crossed to the front door. Nathan reached over to flip on the outside light as he passed through the portal. Roth walked into the kitchen, took the vodka from the freezer, poured himself half a highball glass.

Almost beside himself, Joseph tugged at Roth’s ponytail. “You can’t let them hurt each other.”

“If two grown men decide to pound each other, there’s little anyone can do.” He swallowed the frigid liquor in three pulls, put the bottle back into the freezer. “Shall we go watch this ego circus?”

They hadn’t wasted time. Already trading shots, they circled, blocked and punched. Both clearly made the most of their respective training and experience. Adam actually had the advantage in reach with his long limbs. He’d already landed several money shots. Nathan had a cut over his right eye that leaked a respectable trickle of blood. He had to deal with it, unable to wipe away the flow without compromising either an attack or defense hand.

Joseph gave a little sound of shock. “You’re bleeding!”

Nathan’s focus didn’t waver. “Yeah, and it’s this moody bastard’s turn.” He snapped a surprisingly swift strike that connected with Adam’s face.

For so beautiful a man, his lover had a hell of a chin. He absorbed the punishing blow and returned with a second solid blow to the already tenderized right side of Nathan’s face. Joseph gasped. “Stop it! Both of you!”

Nathan exploded, taking Adam to the ground. However, Adam’s flexibility saved him. He rolled his legs over his head and reversed their positions, even managing to get the much larger man in a choke hold.

“I’m sorry, Nathan,” Adam gritted out, clearly taxed by controlling his powerful opponent.

Nathan grunted, “You say that a fuck ton.”

“I’m sorry for that, too.” Adam released him, surged to his feet to spread his arms wide. “Take your shot. Whatever makes us good.”

Nathan righted himself with admirable speed. Swiping at the blood running freely now, he rumbled, “Tell me you’ll square away your shit. You don’t scare my boy with your reckless, self-indulgent, grade school drama again, and you respect the man who loves you.”

Adam shook his head. “I’ve got wires crossed. Can’t promise.”

Closing the distance, he launched and landed a vicious left to Adam’s belly. It partially lifted his feet from the ground, then dropped him like a stone.

Roth helped him up. Glancing at Nathan, he said, “If he’s bleeding internally, I’ll have your ass out on this lawn. Believe me, I won’t spare you.”

Nathan nodded. “Loud and clear, doc.”


In their bedroom, Roth undressed Adam and put him in the shower. Ousting a bar of antibacterial soap from the medicine cabinet, he joined his lover. Forming bruises created showy evidence of violence. Nathan had well accounted for himself.

“Was it worth it, baby?”

Adam leaned forward and spit blood. It swirled in the water, circling the drain. “I’m so fucked, Roth.” Straightening, he fixed Roth with those violet eyes. “You’re too good a man. Hell, Nathan and Joseph are too good of men to hang their asses out for me.”

“Joseph loves me.” He soaped a wash cloth, placed the new bar upon the caddy. “That makes Nathan do anything he can to keep me happy, and his lover by default.”

“I have this switch in me that flips.”

Washing his man, Roth agreed, “I know.”

“Yet, you tolerate it.”

Lathering his fiancé, he answered, “Yes. But, if you don’t start to get better, you have to promise me you’ll talk to someone qualified to help.”

“I owe you more than I can ever repay, and I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Roth dropped the washcloth and caught Adam’s jaw in his hands. Gazing into his man’s eyes, he spoke. “You owe nothing. Your love’s everything.”

“Have me.” The softness and desire in his voice gave evidence to his words. “It’s not the desperation talking. I don’t need sex. I need you.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Adam caressed his jaw. “Treat me like glass if it’ll reassure you. Nathan pulled most of his punches. We both did, really.”

Roth finished bathing and toweling them both. He indulged himself with Adam’s body, lingering over swells of muscle, kissing the bruises and willing them to heal quickly. Taking his lover by the hand, he led him in to stand beside the bed. “Sure?”

Adam smiled a little, glancing down at his own jerking erection. “I seem indecisive?” He slid his arms around Roth’s waist and pulled him close. “You feel so good against me.”

Roth kissed him carefully, cautious of the hits his partner had sustained. He could taste a little blood. Although he hated the fact his lover had suffered, his toughness definitely turned on Roth. Having a lover a physical equal offered a certain perv. He savored the sensation of increasing arousal.

He took his time seeking out all Adam’s erogenous zones, nipping his ankles and the backs of his knees, licking an enjoyable path up his spine and nibbling his neck. Drawing back, he murmured, “Get up on your knees.”

Adam, having lain stretched out, obeyed. Roth got out the lubrication and antibacterial hand wipes. He slicked his fingers and gently courted his partner’s body.

“Sweetheart,” Adam groaned, “you make me feel so good.”

“I’ll make it better for you with my cock.” Roth liberally lubed the head of his dick, cleaned his hands, and gripped the base of his erection to press Adam’s lovely pink asshole. He eased in, groaning as Adam cried out and begged for filling. “You grip me like a fist.”

“Promise me you’ll do this to me forever,” Adam entreated.

He held his partner’s wide shoulders as he pressed his front to Adam’s back. “Anytime, any way you want it, baby.” Roth shifted his hips until Adam shuddered and cried out.

“Just like that, sweetheart. Give it to me just like that.”

Roth tasted blood in his own mouth as he bit his lip to hold back his climax. He held painfully back, longing to spill as he slowly thrust. “Like this, baby?”

“Fuck, yes!” Adam cried out, cursed and shivered. “Like that, Roth. Please.”

On fire, Roth groaned, “You’re body’s heaven.” He reached around to grip Adam’s cock.

They both growled.

Adam humped into his grip, moving his slim hips forward into Roth’s grasp, then back to drive Roth’s erection deeper into his body.

They climaxed together and Roth sagged his weight onto his man.