Order (Tattoos and Ties 2)

“Keyes, stop. Don’t go. You’re just freaked out,” Alec said in his attorney-like listen-to-me voice.

The lawyer had gotten it completely wrong. Keyes wasn’t freaked out. He was absolutely aware of how badly he was losing his mind. He knew exactly what he was doing and that was getting the fuck out of Dodge. He had to get away from all the realizations threatening to suffocate him. The sooner he left, the faster he could try to move past this huge lapse in judgment. Fairytales were for children’s books, and he sure as hell didn’t live in a damn book. He ignored Alec’s pleas as he grabbed his helmet and shoved it on his head before jumping on the bike and pushing the key in the ignition.

“Your phone, Key,” Alec yelled.

He glared at Alec as he purposefully drowned him out by revving the engine. He kicked the bike into gear and whipped a circle around Alec who stood in the middle of his driveway. Alec could keep the damn phone. He didn’t need it.

What a fool. He’d been stupid enough to hope for something more, something that couldn’t be. Hope was nothing more than prolonged torture. The crushing pain that tried its best to paralyze him right this fucking minute was proof of that. Fuck it all. His heart shattered at his overwhelming loss.

Fuck hope. Fuck happiness.

All his life he’d kept his head down, his heart and feelings hidden.

Alec had opened him, changed him, made him want more.

Fuck his old man. Fuck being afraid.

Alec stared after Key as he tore down the long drive on his bike. He walked the length of the back portion of the driveway and stood there as understanding set in—his love had left him. Overwhelming pain followed. He had messed up, miscalculated, and let all his emotions get the best of him.

They couldn’t end this way. Alec pivoted on his heels, heading for the house. He needed to go after Key and apologize and assure Key everything was going to be all right. He’d take back the words. That made Alec stop at the threshold of his backdoor. He actually stumbled over his feet as his heart screamed not to ever take away the truth of those words. He loved Key. He loved him with every ounce of his being.

Yes, he got that times were difficult for the both of them.

No, he couldn’t see how their future might work out, but a solution surely had to present itself, and he would wait for however long it took. He loved Key. Simple as that.

Alec sighed. He saw no other choice but to go to the tire shop. He had to. He’d figure out what to say on the way, he just needed to see Key’s face, talk with him while reading his facial expressions. Alec started for his bedroom when he heard the distinctive rumble of Key’s motorcycle. He rushed to the kitchen window above the sink, keeping hold of his internal panic as he watched Key drive past. Alec sprinted toward the back door, throwing it open as his biker parked in the center of the driveway. Key left the engine running as he slung his leg over the bike and ripped off his helmet. He carelessly let it fall as he stalked forward. Alec stopped dead in his tracks as Key took long strides toward him with the most determined look covering that extraordinarily handsome face.

He couldn’t help the step backward as Key reached for him. In the three seconds it took for Key’s arm to lock around his waist and the other to lock around his neck, Alec was struck by the intensity Key commanded. He was a mighty force in the world, intimidating in both his size and strength, but that rush of sudden anxiety fled as the biker drew him against that hard body and drove his tongue deep inside Alec’s mouth. Nothing tasted as sweet as his biker’s kiss. Alec met the move with one of his own. He dropped the cell phone still clutched in his hand as he wrapped himself around Key, holding on with a strength that only desperation could create.

The passionate soul-searing kiss continued until Key jerked free, but Alec followed, tightening his hold as he reached for Key’s mouth. He never wanted this to end. Not ever. He’d found his perfect match on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere Texas. He was so ready for this. They would absolutely find a way to be together. The universe wouldn’t have put this man in Alec’s path and not let him have every part of him.

“Let go,” Key mumbled against his lips as strong fingers gripped Alec’s biceps. He locked his arms in place, ignoring Key’s request.

“No. I’ll never let you go.”

Key fought him while dropping to his knees. Alec tried to follow until insistent hands tugged at his shorts. Even then, Alec still couldn’t let Key go. He grabbed for Key’s head, gripping his long hair as Key curled a warm hand around his suddenly rigid length, taking him directly into his mouth. Alec’s eyes slid closed, certain he’d never felt anything quite so good in his life.