Shiver (Unbreakable Bonds 1)

“I’ll check the penthouse,” he announced, pulling his gun from his holster. Its familiar weight in his hand soothed him as he easily swept through the kitchen, living room, and first floor bathroom. He was aware of Lucas following him, but the other man said nothing. Andrei led the way up to the second floor, checking the guest room, the bathroom and then the office before finally venturing into the master bedroom.

Unlike the other rooms, Andrei didn’t bother to flick on the light. It was still dark, but the light from the wall of windows beat the thick shadows back enough that his eyes easily adjusted. He made a quick pass at the massive walk-in closet and the master bath before returning to find that Lucas had turned on one of the small bedside lamps.

The penthouse was empty except for them. Everything was still secure. They were safe.

Nerves flooded Andrei so that he stood, almost paralyzed, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows toward downtown Cincinnati. Roebling Bridge glowed, bathed in warm yellow lights along its pale blue suspension cables as they stretched across the Ohio River, leading the way into downtown. The skyscrapers were shining bright, white diamonds surrounded in a velvet blanket of night. The Queen City had never looked so serene and elegant.

“Stunning view,” he murmured, trying to tear his eyes away while at the same time decide how to move forward. Did he just shrug off what happened in the elevator and return to his room? It was after three in the morning. He was wired now, but if he remained still long enough, sleep would finally claim him.

Lucas stepped up behind Andrei and slid his sports coat off his shoulders and down his arms. He dropped the jacket to the floor with a heavy thud before he started on the shoulder holster that soon joined the jacket. Andrei tried to turn and face him, but Lucas stopped him.

“Don’t,” Lucas commanded, his voice nearly a growl.

“What?”

“Stay.”

Andrei froze, some of the same tension he’d felt in the elevator returning to his frame as he stood with his hands loose at his sides. Moving closer, Lucas slipped his hands around Andrei’s waist and up his chest, pulling him so that his back was molded to Lucas’s front. On a soft moan, Andrei dropped his head to rest on Lucas’s shoulder. Pressing slow open-mouthed kisses along his exposed neck, Lucas ran his hands up and down Andrei’s chest, exploring hard muscles.

This felt different from the frantic kiss in the elevator or even from the night before. The searing hunger was still there, but Lucas’s movements had become more controlled and measured. Every touch and lingering caress was designed to burn Andrei up. And even though Andrei could clearly see Lucas’s seductive plan, it didn’t stop it from working. His taller frame trembled with need. It was taking all of his control not to turn and pin Lucas to the nearest surface so they could both go up in flames.

Any remaining questions about whether he was gay and if this was wrong were drowned out. They had no place when Lucas touched him. Something that felt so perfect, so all consuming, could not be wrong.

Fingers danced down his chest, unbuttoning his shirt, shaking slightly in their haste to strip it from his body. “I need to touch you,” Lucas murmured against his neck. As he finally tugged the shirt free of Andrei’s pants, Lucas bit down hard on Andrei’s shoulder while his hands glided up the taut muscles of his stomach to his chest. Andrei hissed, reaching back to grasp Lucas’s hips to pull him flush against his ass.

As Lucas’s hands swept across his stomach, he moved one down over Andrei’s hardened cock. Andrei’s hands tightened on Lucas’s hips to the point of bruising.

“Fuck, Lucas,” he groaned.

Lucas drew his hand back to Andrei’s hip while the other snaked up across his chest, holding him captive. “Should I stop?”

“No,” he said, his voice full of gravel.

“What do you want me to do?”

Andrei paused, nerves starting to surface through the throbbing haze of pleasure and hunger. “I don’t know. Don’t care. More than the last time.”

A soft chuckle rumbled from Lucas and his hot breath brushed across Andrei’s ear. “Oh, I think we’re both way past a little kiss.”

“Fuck me?”

Andrei could feel every muscle in Lucas’s frame tense against his for a split second before the other man dragged in a long, deep breath and then released it. Pressing his face into Andrei’s neck, he kissed him slowly as his hands started moving over his body again.

“I’ve got another idea.”

“I hope it gets at least one of us off,” Andrei moaned.

Lucas laughed, a low, wicked sound as he lifted his head. “Let’s play a game.” He released Andrei and walked around in front of him. Andrei watched him warily. This was not what he’d expected. He’d anticipated finding himself face down in the mattress while Lucas fucked him into oblivion. A game actually sounded more uncomfortable.