After breakfast, Vaughan and Duke had stretched together; doing some of the basic physical therapy exercises they’d been taught. By the time they got to the ten-pound weights, Duke was already sweating. He quadrupled his effort on his one good hand, putting both weights in his palm and curling them. It looked like Vaughan wanted to object but he didn’t. They had instructions not to lift anything over fifteen pounds, so Duke only did one rep. He didn’t want Vaughan walking around on eggshells, like Duke would bite his head off at any moment.
As they strolled, Duke stopped and took Vaughan’s hand into his and kissed his palm. His man’s grin was sexy and assured. “Don’t think you can’t say what’s on your mind, okay. I know I bitched earlier, but I may have overreacted.”
Vaughan moved in closer, both of their sweaty chests molding to each other even through the thin tank tops they wore. “You didn’t overreact. I was being a mother hen. I want to be your man, not your handler.”
“You are my man,” Duke whispered, backing both of them up. “And for the record. I don’t mind being handled.”
Vaughan’s eyes sparkled with mischief. When Vaughan’s back hit the tall fence, Duke felt himself being pulled in tighter. Tilting his head automatically, Duke went in for another taste of his own. Vaughan was the same height and they fit so perfectly together, as if the fates had designed them for each other. It was crazy to think that way, but there had to be some divine intervention, because while Duke wasn’t chopped liver, men like Vaughan didn’t end up with men like him. One thing for sure was Duke didn’t question Vaughan’s loyalty or dedication to him, for obvious reasons.
Duke closed his eyes and let Vaughan’s strong hands roam his body. “You feel so damn good. Full of tight muscles,” Vaughan murmured in between sweet kisses. “I want all of you, Duke. The good, the wonderful, the bad, the ornery; everything that makes you, you. I want it.”
Duke held his head back, gazing up at the warm sun. The Atlanta heat had nothing on his man’s scorching tongue. Vaughan moaned low and deep in his throat while he sucked on Duke’s skin, running that sinful tongue along his Adam’s apple before dipping into the dimple just beneath it.
“Fuck. Feels good.” Duke’s cock was so hard and uncomfortable it bordered on painful. He was constantly getting erections, but no release. Although his abdominal pain had significantly reduced—unless he overdid it—he still wasn’t sure how an orgasm would feel. He was sure Vaughan would practically make his head pop off, especially since it’d been far too long since he’d had someone other than himself responsible for giving him pleasure.
“You taste so good, sweetheart,” Vaughan marveled in his smooth, velvety tone. “I don’t know how much longer I can resist you.”
Duke pulled on Vaughan’s hair, directing his mouth back over to his ear, back to that spot behind it that made him delirious with want. “Goddamn you,” Duke hissed when Vaughan assaulted that spot in the best way.
“I see you guys have worked everything out.”
Duke groaned at the deep voice carrying all the way from the other side of the backyard. Vaughan didn’t bother letting Duke go but he knew that Judge’s tall, brooding figure was watching them. Surprisingly, Duke didn’t care how long he’d been watching either. Good.
Vaughan licked Duke’s lip, sucking it in between his teeth, his hazel eyes locked on Duke. He wasn’t stopping anything Vaughan was willing to do to him, regardless of their audience.
“They at it again?”
Duke finally jumped apart at the sound of Quick’s voice. He could play exhibitionist with Judge but not with Quick, especially when it was his son that Duke was utterly enjoying. “Jesus.”
Vaughan laughed and lightly swatted Duke on his ass before grabbing his hand and walking them back across the yard. His man had so much confidence and swag that it couldn’t help but rub off on him. Duke was sure his neck was bright red; he just hoped he could blame it on the heat and exercise instead of Vaughan’s ministrations.
“What are you two doing here?” Duke asked for lack of anything better to say after getting caught trying to dry fuck against a fence in the middle of the day.
“I live here,” Quick retorted humorously, turning back into the house.
“Do I need a reason to come visit my best friend after he’s had life-saving surgery?” Judge added, walking right up to Duke and hugging him. Vaughan was forced to move back to allow for Judge’s huge frame. Duke hugged his friend back. Even though he’d come at the most inopportune time, Duke was still glad to see the big lug. He had on his dark jeans and a white t-shirt stretched so tight across his massive chest that it struggled not to tear apart. His beard had gotten longer, and Duke had a quick flash of memory of how much he used to love to pull on it when they fucked. Though they were back to being strictly platonic friends, Duke would never forget what he and Judge had shared for so long. But Vaughan was so much better for Duke than Judge had ever been. Vaughan was a lover, a partner, someone who craved love as much as Duke did. They were perfect together in many ways and he hoped he’d get a chance to show that to the young stud soon.