Wood: A True Lover's Story

“Don’t tease,” Wood warned.

“Who said I’m teasing?” Trent cocked his head to the side, biting his thick bottom lip that looked as if it’d taste like a strawberry.

Trent better be glad he already had an ache in his back because otherwise he’d put one there. Instead of being selfish, Wood kept the flirting to a minimum and concentrated on helping to keep Trent comfortable. He made sure he ate so he could take his prescriptions, and when he was able to calm himself, he rubbed Trent’s lower hip and thigh when the pains shot down his leg.

Around eleven o’clock it was time for bed. They said their whispered good-nights, and Wood could barely get across the hall fast enough before he closed his door and grabbed himself roughly. The whole domestic imagery was flashing behind his closed lids as he pulled on his pleasure. The way he’d cared for Trent the last couple of days and the way he soaked up every ounce of Wood’s attention made him feel needed again. Trent had wanted Wood’s hands all over him, and he hadn’t been shy about asking for it. Trent didn’t make him feel like the kind of man that hurt people. He made him feel like the warm-hearted person he’d once thought himself to be. Wood emptied into his fist with a muffled groan, his hot seed spewing over his red knuckles and down his thighs.

Hell. Wood dropped his head in exhaustion. Trent was killing him, and he didn’t know how much more he’d be able to take. Or how much longer he could wait. If the weekend hadn’t gotten so messed up, facing what was coming tomorrow wouldn’t’ve been half as bad as he expected. Wood cleaned up and went to bed.

Tomorrow was his redemption day.

Chapter Nineteen

Wood

Wood struggled most of the night, not dozing off until after 2:00 a.m. He still woke exceptionally early wanting to catch Trent before he left for work. Wood was pacing outside the bathroom door when Trent stepped out of the steaming room in nothing but a thin towel and a tired smile.

“Morning.”

“Hey. How’s your back?”

“Better. Still a little tight, but I’ll take some Motrin on the way in,” Trent answered. He stood there looking at Wood as if he was acting strange, which he knew he was. He stalled saying what he needed to as he fidgeted with the chain on his hip. “Are you gonna let me past so I can get dressed?”

“I will, but before I do…” Wood thought about if he wanted to be more forthcoming right now or wait until this evening. “I um… today is a unique day… or um… different than—”

“Let me guess. It’s your birthday and it would mean so much to you if you could get some tonight.” Trent laughed, but Wood didn’t.

He was too terrified to find amusement in anything. Wood sighed. “Never mind.” He went to walk by, but Trent gripped his shoulder.

Trent’s smile was quickly replaced with a frown of concern. “Wait… sorry. What is it?”

“You up for going to the oceanfront to shoot some pool, or grab some dinner tonight? I have a feeling it’s going to be a bad day for me. So, I just wanna have some plans for later.”

“I’m usually pretty beat after work, but yeah, we can do something,” Trent agreed.

Wood stepped aside and allowed Trent to walk by, feeling a bit like a fool. Even if he did earn Trent’s respect, then his trust, it didn’t mean he’d ever get past what he had to confess to him. Trent may just be coming into his desire for men rather late, but he still had plenty of time to figure it all out. Besides, it’d be idiotic for a strong, good-looking man like that to waste his horniest years on him. Trent may not be what was considered drop-dead gorgeous, but that wasn’t a requirement for him. It was that fierce attitude and wicked tongue that gave him thrills clear down to his balls. It was the challenge and fight in Trent that turned Wood on. And he was deluding himself into thinking he’d earned such a man. Maybe after today… he’d feel worthy.

Wood was sitting at the dining table while Trent was in his room finishing getting ready. He dialed his sponsor and prayed he didn’t get his voicemail. He really needed to speak with someone who agreed with what he was about to do today. After the fourth ring, a man with a voice like sunshine picked up. “Good morning, Wood. I was hoping I’d hear from you today.”

“Morning,” Wood said, keeping his voice low.

“How you feeling?” his AA sponsor, Brody, asked after a beat of silence. “I didn’t see you at any meetings the last couple weeks.”

“I moved, remember? I been trying to get settled.”