Someone to Kiss Read online

  Carter moved lower, dropping kisses all the way down Dane’s chest until he got to the waistband of Dane’s jeans. He released Dane’s belt, unfastened the snap, and unzipped his fly. Carter slid down even farther then, got to his feet, gripped the ends of Dane’s jeans, and yanked them down and off. Dane’s socks came off next, and when he looked up, Carter had climbed onto the bed again and was standing over him, looking down with the sexiest damn smile Dane had ever seen.

  After releasing his own belt and pulling it through the loops of his jeans, Carter flung it through the air. It landed on the floor across the room. He opened his jeans slowly and wiggled them down his legs until they were at his ankles, where he used one foot to hold the bottom of the pant leg in place as he yanked his foot free and then did the same with other, eventually kicking the jeans to the side.

  One second Carter was standing over Dane undressing, and the next he was stretched out on top of him, their lips again pressed tightly together. Dane was amazed at how fluid Carter was for a man of his size and build.

  Carter moved his hips in a slow grinding motion, pressing his erection against Dane’s and creating a continual friction that was driving Dane mad. God! He feels so good.

  Dane realized it had been way too long since he’d connected with someone on this level, and the realization acted on him like the effects of a top-shelf whiskey.

  As their lips and tongues dueled, Carter’s kiss seemed full of possibilities, but Dane decided not to overthink any of this. Lie back and enjoy the ride. If more is meant to be, it will unfold as time goes by.

  Carter ended the kiss, looked into Dane’s eyes, and smiled. After one more quick peck on the lips, he kissed his way down Dane’s chest until he reached the erection tenting Dane’s underwear. Carter toyed with Dane’s cotton briefs, pulling them up with his teeth and then releasing them, which sent them snapping back into place. He was teasing Dane on purpose, and it was driving him wild. When Carter bit him lightly through his underwear and his warm breath surrounded Dane’s length, Dane gasped and moved his hand to the back of Carter’s head and applied a tiny bit of pressure to let Carter know he was enjoying what Carter was doing.

  In another quick but graceful move, Carter slid Dane’s briefs down over his knees and feet and dropped them to the floor before Dane even realized what he was doing. When Carter’s lips surrounded him with wet heat, Dane fisted the sheets and arched his back. Carter moved up and down slowly, and it only took Dane a second to realize Carter knew exactly what he was doing.

  Moans of pleasure escaped Dane’s lips without his conscious intent, and that seemed to drive Carter to greater exertions. He moved lower and stroked Dane’s length with his hand as he took Dane’s balls into his mouth. Carter slipped his tongue down lower still and licked and tantalized the tender, sensitive skin between Dane’s balls and his opening. Dane was now trembling from the sensations and doing his best to not to push up into Carter’s hand.

  Dane was getting close. It had been a long time since he’d been intimate with anyone, and at this rate, much to his dismay, he wasn’t going to last very long. He needed to turn the tables and get Carter under him before he blew his load. In a quick move, one he hoped Carter would appreciate, Dane pushed up with his hands, sprung to his knees and pulled Carter up to him.

  Carter looked shocked, and then he smiled. “Nice move.”

  “You’ve got a few nice moves of your own,” Dane replied.

  “You like?” Carter asked.

  “Oh yeah! I like. Now sit back. It’s my turn.”

  Dane shoved Carter to his back and pulled his underwear off in one continuous move. Dane was a little above average in the size department, but Carter was a bit bigger still. They shared about the same girth, though.

  “Nice package,” Dane teased before he took Carter into his mouth, slid all the way down, and buried his nose in Carter’s pubes.

  “Likewise,” Carter responded, drawing out the word.

  Dane stuck his finger in his mouth next to Carter’s length, moistened it, and dropped it lower to rub and tease the same delicate patch of skin Carter had focused on. Carter gyrated under him, head thrown back and eyes closed, and it thrilled Dane to bring him pleasure. Dane was in heaven already, but he wanted more from Carter. He released him, rose to his knees, and fumbled on the bedside table, eventually coming back with a condom and bottle of lube.

  Carter followed Dane’s movements as he tore the foil pack with his teeth and tossed the wrapper to the floor. His eyes all but popped out of his head when Dane rolled the condom onto Carter’s length instead of his own. Dane flipped open the top of the lube bottle, prepared himself, and then straddled Carter. Carter’s eyes had gone from bright blue to a deeper, almost indigo, color and shone with undeniable lust.

  When Dane straddled Carter and impaled himself, slowly but deliberately, he felt the familiar pinch and burn that accompanied this move, but he knew from experience the pain would eventually turn to immense pleasure. Carter hissed and rested his hands on Dane’s thighs. They never broke eye contact.

  As Dane slid down Carter’s length until he was fully seated, they continued to gaze into Carter’s eyes. Dane rose up and slid down again, Carter’s nails digging into his thighs, and the sting only heightened the sensation.

  “Now ride me, cowboy,” Carter said in the most seductive voice Dane had ever heard.

  Dane began to move up and down at a slow and steady pace, allowing his body adequate time to adjust to the intrusion. He seated himself again and started rolling his hips forward and back. Dane tensed, and goose bumps covered his skin when Carter brushed against his prostate. Carter must have sensed the twinge because he squeezed some lube into his hand, gripped Dane’s length, and began stroking in time with Dane’s rhythm.

  Without breaking their union, Carter leaned up, lifted Dane with him, and got to his knees, finally shoving Dane onto his back. He gripped Dane’s ankles and pulled his legs apart, stretching them upward at the same time. Carter began to move, filling Dane with long, slow, deep motions. Dane shuddered each time Carter pushed in and withdrew, brushing against that spot that drove Dane crazy with desire. Dane helped guide Carter in and out with one hand and gripped himself with the other. He stroked continuously until he almost brought himself to orgasm but stopped just in time to allow the sensation to pass before beginning to stroke himself again.

  This went on until a now-trembling Carter picked up his pace and then convulsed, as the first fruit of his orgasm coursed through him. Dane picked up his own pace, and within seconds he too convulsed with impending release. The first shot of Dane’s orgasm landed on his chest and the second and third streaked his abdomen. Carter’s control was remarkable, and he held steady with long, albeit quicker, strokes. The two men plowed and stroked in unison until they both slowed to a stop and Carter collapsed on top of Dane. Dane wrapped his arms around Carter’s back and winced when Carter slipped from him. They stayed in that position for a few minutes, both men quivering from the effects of their simultaneous release.

  Dane was the first to speak. “That was incredible.” He turned Carter’s face to his. “You are incredible.”

  “We are incredible,” Carter said. “Together.”

  Epilogue

  “WOW! YOU look great,” Carter said when Dane stepped out of the bathroom.

  Dane smile warmly. “Thank you, Doctor Baldridge. And just so you’ll know, flattery will get you everywhere.”

  “Will it get me more information about where we’re going tonight?”

  “Everything but that,” Dane said holding up a finger.

  Carter smirked. “Fine. But you can’t blame me for trying.”

  Dane took Carter into his arms and kissed him deeply. “You’re right. I can’t,” he said when the kiss ended. “Now hurry up and I’ll see you downstairs.”

  Carter stepped back and stared at Dane inquisitively. “We’ve been apart for a while, but I know you, Dane McCormick. You have something up you
r sleeve. I don’t know what yet, but you can bet I’m gonna get to the bottom of it.”

  Carter shuffled off toward the bathroom, and as he passed, Dane smacked him on the ass. “Now you hush. And please hurry. I’ll see you downstairs.”

  “I’ll take my good ole time if I want to,” Carter said as he closed the bathroom door.

  “You better hurry, you little shit!” Dane yelled.

  DANE WENT downstairs, wandered into the living room, and took a seat on the couch. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the little white velvet ring box, and nervously ran his finger over the etched infinity symbol. I sure hope the timing is right.

  They’d been back in Greenville for just under a week, and since Bill had bought and sold Dane’s condo, Dane technically had no place to live. As long as Dane was near Carter, he would have been happy in a hotel until he found another place, but Carter had insisted Dane move into his house until they could decide together what their next step was going to be.

  Looking around the room, Dane felt a shiver run down his spine as he remembered that awful night when he’d had to break the news to Carter about his relocation. The image of Carter’s forlorn expression made his gut ache. But by the luck of the gods, he had Carter back again, and he wasn’t going to lose him this time. Dane opened the little box and stared down at the two sparkling rings. If all went as planned, he’d never have to worry about losing Carter again.

  When Dane heard footsteps on the stairs, he quietly closed the box and shoved it back into his pocket. Carter rounded the doorway and their eyes met. He stared at Dane curiously. “I’m gonna figure this out, ya know.”

  Dane jumped to his feet, crossed the room, once again took Carter into his arms, and gently kissed his neck. “I’m sure you will,” he whispered. “But right now I’m having a lot of fun watching you try. Now we have to go, or you’re gonna ruin everything.”

  “Ruin what?” Carter huffed.

  “You’ll see.”

  DANE TURNED onto Main Street and took the first parking spot he found. “Stay put,” he said to Carter as he got out of the car. He walked around and opened Carter’s door, smiled, and bowed at the waist.

  Carter raised an eyebrow, eventually grinned, and shook his head as he got out of the car. Dane took Carter by the hand and led him down Main Street toward their final destination.

  It was a clear, crisp night, and the lights from the recent holiday season were still hanging on the lampposts and in the trees, twinkling with promise as they swayed in the night breeze. When Dane stopped in front of River Place, Carter perked up, smiled, and squeezed Dane’s hand.

  “Are we going to the Lazy Goat?”

  Dane nodded.

  Carter’s grin faded a little. “I haven’t been here since our first date. I just couldn’t do it.”

  Dane looked around cautiously and quickly stole a kiss on the cheek. “We’re here now. Together.”

  Carter’s serious expression turned into an all-out smile, and his eyes lit up and sparkled like the lights on Main Street.

  “Come on,” Dane said. “I’m starved.”

  CARTER FOLLOWED Dane into the restaurant, which was as busy as he’d ever seen it. In fact, glancing around, he didn’t see a table available for the two of them. After Dane exchanged a couple of words with the maître d’, they were led through the restaurant to what used to be the patio door. But where the patio door used to be was a heavy wall of curtains.

  When the maître d’ pulled the curtain back and opened the door, Carter brought his hand to his mouth in disbelief. Butterflies danced around in his stomach, and his heart was instantly full. He was overcome with a sense of joy he’d never before experienced. And such adoration for Dane McCormick he could hardly stand it.

  The scene was a magical one, framed by the Reedy River silently flowing in the background. A waiter dressed in black tie stood behind one candlelit table in the middle of the normally very crowded patio. Two heaters were positioned like sentinels, and next to the table was a champagne bucket with the gold foil tip of a bottle peeking over the top.

  Dane nodded his approval, and the maître d’ quickly disappeared.

  Carter was stunned and literally had no words. Dane took him by the hand and led him to the table as the waiter held out Carter’s chair and then Dane’s.

  When he could finally put a few words together, Carter spoke. “I don’t know what to say.”

  Dane tilted his head a little and smiled at him. “You don’t have to say anything. Yet. For now, simply enjoy the moment.”

  Carter reached over, took Dane’s hand, and squeezed, and then promptly jumped when the champagne cork popped. He watched the waiter fill two flutes and then also disappear as the maître d’ had done earlier.

  Suddenly Carter heard the faint sound of piano music floating on the air. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw the source. At the amphitheater directly across the river, a single spotlight shone on a shimmering black grand piano positioned in the middle of the stage. The piano player stood, looked over at them, bowed, and took his seat again.

  This time Carter did gasp. Loudly and in a not-very-manly way, he thought, when he heard what the gentleman was playing.

  Dane stood and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

  Carter got to his feet and accepted Dane’s hand. “Make You Feel My Love” drifted softly across the river to their private oasis. The same song they’d both loved so and had heard in this very restaurant on their first date.

  Carter was barely holding it together. No one had ever done anything like this for him. And to think he’d almost given this man up over a little geography.

  When Dane took Carter into his arms, Carter breathed for what felt like the first time since they’d arrived. There was no other way to explain it. He was home when he was in Dane’s arms.

  In unison, they swayed to the music. Carter buried his face in Dane’s neck, and he inhaled Dane’s unique scent, mixed with a touch of cologne. The combination was intoxicating. The entire evening was intoxicating. No moment in Carter’s life had ever been this perfect. So perfect he didn’t want the song or the moment to ever end.

  When the song finally came to an end and silence once again filled the patio, Carter wanted to plead with the piano player to play it again, but before he could, Dane stepped back, dropped to one knee and looked up at him.

  Carter froze. Subconsciously he knew what was about to happen, but his mind and body were having a hard time catching up. When they finally did, everything started to move in slow motion. Except for Carter’s heart. It raced at breakneck speed, and then his knees followed suit, and for a moment, he thought his legs might just give out.

  Dane dug into his pocket and pulled out a white velvet box, opened it, and held its contents up to Carter. The two most beautiful rings Carter had ever seen were shining back at him.

  “Carter Baldridge?” Dane whispered. “I love you more than words or actions can express, and I never again want to live with the fear of losing you. Will you please marry me and allow me to spend the rest of my life loving you?”

  “Yes!” Carter blurted out without a second thought. “Dane, I love you so much.”

  Carter pulled Dane to his feet and their lips met in a heated kiss. When the kiss finally ended, Dane removed one of the rings and held it up to Carter. “Remember. You said yes to forever. And to make sure you never back out, I had them engraved.”

  Taking the ring from Dane, Carter looked inside and saw their names and two entwined hearts. “They’re beautiful, Dane.”

  Carter handed the ring back to Dane and held out his hand.

  Dane slipped the ring onto Carter’s finger and kissed him again.

  Carter took the other ring out of the box and slid it onto Dane’s finger. “I love you, Dane McCormick. Forever.”

  More from Scotty Cade

  Leeland Jeffers is a contented single man with a thriving career in Atlanta. He’s had a few unsuccessful relationships
over the years, but no one has even come close to his first love, Harrison Rhinehart. They met in college when a mutual friend, Suzie Garrison, introduced Harry into their close-knit group. When the supposedly “straight” Harry made a move on Lee, the two men entered into a tumultuous secret love affair. In their senior year, the relationship finally ended when Harry informed Lee he was marrying Suzie.

  Since graduation, the college friends have drifted apart. However, an unexpected invitation to a destination wedding seems set to reunite them all. Lee’s speculation on whether Harry and Suzie will make an appearance threatens to derail his attendance. But Lee decides the hell with it and makes plans to go, Harry Rhinehart or no Harry Rhinehart.

  Angus Conrad (Gus) McRae is a privileged Charlestonian following family tradition and attending the Citadel, harboring big dreams of a military career. With the infamous Hell Week behind him, he quickly realizes being a Knob (a freshman cadet) is just as tough—especially for a man like Gus who must keep his sexuality a secret. Then a sudden dorm reassignment lands him with a roommate in the form of one of the football team’s top players—working-class jock Stewart Adam (Sam) Morley—and life gets increasingly complicated.

  Gus can’t imagine a man like Sam as gay, yet there’s something between them—exchanged glances, the occasional innuendo. Sexual tensions rise, leaving them more than friends but less than lovers. Gus and Sam know there’s too much to lose and they must keep their attraction hidden. If they fail, they risk destroying their hopes and dreams for a prosperous future in a military world that’s not yet ready to accommodate masculine gay men.

  Father Cullen Kiley, a gay Episcopal priest on hiatus from the church, decides to take his boat, T-Time, from Provincetown, Massachusetts, to Southport, North Carolina, a place that holds an abundance of bittersweet memories for him. While on a run his first day in Southport, Cullen comes upon a man sitting on a park bench staring out over the Cape Fear River with his Bible in hand. The man’s body language reeks of defeat and desperation, and unable to ignore his compassion for his fellow man, Cullen stops to offer a helping hand.