Shadows of Love Page 3

  “I thought that's what you said.”

  “I was shy about it, but I'm feeling confident now.”

  Roland tugged on Gabe this time, pulling Gabe closer to him than before. He could feel Roland's heart beating madly as his own pulse wavered between marathon runner and heart attack. One more move would send him right over the edge of the hill toward the bustling cars below. As a caution, he dug his boots deeper into the dirt beneath him, nervously grasping Roland's hands.

  “And now?” Roland whispered with a smirk. “Are you still feeling confident?”

  “I, uh...”

  “You're shaking a little bit. Are you cold?” Roland wrapped his arms around Gabe's waist, closing the gap between them. “Let me fix that.”

  Gabe's gaze fell to Roland's lips. He saw them approaching, their soft appearance causing him to part his own lips to prepare for impact. He felt the delightful warmth of Roland's breath on his cheek, grazing his skin briefly before greeting his mouth.

  The world around him froze. It was as if his ears were suddenly covered with muffs, blocking all sound. The abrupt silence encouraged him to step up on his toes just in time to collide with Roland, to feel Roland's sweet lips dancing with his. The lingering confidence subsided at once, leaving him feeling like he was hanging over the edge of the Hollywood sign with a string barely holding him up.

  He tipped forward, leaning into Roland. He wrapped his arms around Roland's shoulders and deepened their kiss as the silence exploded and noise flooded his senses. Everything came back to him—honking, whirling, whooshing, shouting.

  Shouting...we're too high up for that, aren't we?

  “Hey, what are you two doing up here?!”

  Gabe gasped as he stepped back, losing his footing on the trail. He rolled into the bushes and coughed hard as he hit the dirt. Roland sped into action, grabbing Gabe by the arm and yanking him down the dirt path away from the imposing ray of light that frantically searched for them.

  “You kids shouldn't be up here!”

  Gabe laughed as he stumbled down the path, hanging on to Roland. The guard exclaimed again behind them and he heard the sound of the guard's shoes smacking the ground. As Gabe came upon the bush indicating their arrival at the bottom of the hill, he snagged his helmet and shook it quickly, getting the twigs, dirt, and potential bugs out of it.

  He yanked it over his head. “I'll meet you at the Drive-In Diner!”

  “I'll do you one better—meet me at my apartment! I'll text you!”

  Gabe hopped on his bike, sifted his key from his pocket, and turned it in the ignition, bringing the bike to life with a loud roar. He kicked the resting pedal up and balanced on the bike before taking off, listening to the satisfying hum of the bike's engine as he sped toward the exit. He wondered if the guard was still behind them but didn't dare turn back, unwilling to take his eyes off the road.

  His adrenaline was through the roof. Every muscle in his body was warm with blood, his veins gushing with his life force as he sped out onto the highway and darted between cars. When he was sufficiently far enough away from the sign, he laughed jovially and pumped his fist in the air.

  “I got a kiss!”

  He swerved slightly and a car honked, causing him to grab the handles. While he traveled up the highway, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He took the next exit and pulled into a parking lot, letting the engine idle as he set one foot on the ground and withdrew his phone.

  The text was from Roland. It was his address. He keyed the address into his map app, glanced over them, and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

  Ten minutes, he thought. Not bad, but I want it to be sooner than that...

  Chapter Four

  Roland

  Roland felt much safer inside his apartment. Everything was in its place with neatly stacked books on the shelves, the furniture arranged symmetrically, and the fish tank lighting up part of the living room. The familiar bubbling that came from the tank greeted his ears and he sighed with relief.

  “That was a close one,” he remarked while inviting Gabe into his apartment. “I don't think my heart has ever raced that fast in my life.”

  “Mine has.”

  “Well, you're an adrenaline junkie. That doesn't count.”

  Gabe laughed. “Oh, come on! I'm way more than an adrenaline junkie.”

  “A handsome adrenaline junkie?”

  Gabe smirked shyly. “That works perfectly.”

  “Would you like a drink?”

  “I'd love one. Do you have whiskey?”

  Roland winked. “Of course.”

  He went to the cabinet and grabbed the bottle of whiskey he kept for special occasions along with two glasses. As he poured their drinks, he glanced at Gabe wandering into the living room. Gabe was occupied by the framed horror movie posters decorating the walls.

  “See anything you like?” Roland asked as he raised a glass toward Gabe. “You'll probably find your favorite up there.”

  “Yeah, I see it.” Gabe wandered to the counter and accepted the glass, swinging it back easily.

  He set it down for a refill.

  Roland arched his brows. “Need a little liquid courage?”

  “Adrenaline always makes me want a drink.”

  “I can only imagine after what we just experienced. I don't think I could do what you do.”

  “I feel the same about sewing people up.”

  Roland chuckled. “That's fair. It certainly isn't for everyone.”

  Gabe held up his refilled glass. “So, here's to us: two people who can do jobs that other people absolutely cannot do.”

  “Cheers to that.”

  Roland clinked his glass against Gabe's before shooting back his whiskey. He stepped out from behind the island counter and joined Gabe in the living room, motioning to the couch to sit. As Gabe relaxed into the cushions, Roland tentatively joined him.

  “I don't think I've had company for a long time,” he admitted.

  “I can't see why. You're really attractive.”

  He flashed a movie star grin. “Oh, there's no doubt about that.”

  “I like your confidence, too. It's really hot.”

  “I like that you speak your mind. I find that rather refreshing these days.”

  Gabe laughed. “Oh, don't let me speak too much. I have a habit of getting a little carried away.”

  “Is that what happened up at the sign?”

  “It might have. I mean, my lips were absolutely getting away from me.”

  “As were mine.” Roland bit his lower lip, dropping his gaze bashfully. “I wonder if I could make that happen again.”

  “It's worth a try.”

  Gabe scooted closer on the couch. He set his drink down on the coffee table and rested his hands on his knees. Roland took that as his cue to follow, setting his own glass down next to Gabe's. He rested one arm at his side as he leaned against his left hand, planting his elbow into the cushion of the couch.

  He grinned mischievously, eyes sparkling with desire as Gabe inched closer. He could feel the desire echoing in waves between them. The couch lurched beneath him as Gabe approached, the cushion dipping with his weight. He tentatively parted his lips. Beyond the surface of his skin was a bubble that felt like it was about to burst.

  He was brimming at the seams with heat and longing. His cheeks were flushed, and his hands were sweating in anticipation of Gabe meeting him again. As he leaned forward, he closed his eyes, searching for the halfway point with his lips.

  And then, he collided with Gabe.

  Gabe's eager lips prompted him to raise his arms to the back of Gabe's shoulders. He tugged Gabe close, humming with desire while listening to the ocean of sound surrounding him. There was the muffled hum of traffic, the soft gurgle of the fish tank, and the low whirl of electronic devices that filled the room.

  His bubble expanded, filling the apartment, enclosing him and Gabe in their own private ball of lust. When he parted his lips to accept Gabe's tongue, he
dipped his hand low on Gabe's waist, caressing the skin just beneath Gabe's shirt. He was too anxious to wait. He peeled each layer of clothing away slowly to expose Gabe entirely, breaking their kiss to sit back and admire the handiwork that was Gabe's form.

  Gabe had an impressively built body that glistened with leftover sweat from their adrenaline-fueled adventure—and likely fresh sweat from their new heated encounter. Roland traced each of Gabe's muscles down to the waistband of Gabe's boxers, gently snapping the waistband. Without a word, Gabe removed them, tossing them aside. He rested his head against the arm of the couch and invited Roland on top of him.

  While Roland tore away his clothes, he focused on Gabe's lips. There was nothing more inspiring than the softness of Gabe's mouth, the way his tongue rushed forward to greet Roland's tongue, and the sweet aftertaste of whiskey that sat there. Roland struck again, this time his kiss sending Gabe into a frenzied shiver that shifted quickly into squirming.

  Gabe wrapped his legs around Roland's waist. He whimpered as he hugged Roland close, closing every bit of space between them until there was nothing but skin-to-skin contact. He arched his back and groaned low and long, exposing his neck to Roland. He cupped the back of Roland's head as Roland dove into his neck for a kiss.

  Roland devoted a series of minutes to decorating Gabe's neck. He felt compelled to worship Gabe's skin, to mark every possible inch that he could reach. As his lips trailed down to Gabe's shoulder, he found it impossible to stop kissing. He sought to cover Gabe with affection as he let his hand dip down between them, searching blindly for Gabe's cock. He grinned when his hand collided with Gabe's shaft and he gripped it intentionally, immediately falling into a rhythmic stroke.

  He pumped long and slow, feeling Gabe twitch all over. He gasped for air as he rolled over the landscape of Gabe's form, dragging his lips eagerly over Gabe's chest. He painted Gabe's skin repeatedly with lips that were far too hungry to be sated by mere kissing.

  He needed much more than kissing.

  He surfaced and pressed his forehead to Gabe's. “Shall we get away together?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “What would you like?”

  Gabe smirked while biting his lower lip. His features lit up like the sky on the fourth of July as he barely opened his eyes. “Oh, everything...”

  Roland growled and nipped Gabe's lip. He traveled over Gabe's chin and went for Gabe's throat, gently scraping his teeth over Gabe's skin. He adored the rush of breath that escaped Gabe with every touch and every kiss. He couldn't get enough of the heat growing between them and he nearly burst into flames when Gabe gripped his cock.

  Gabe sat up, pushing Roland upright with his shoulder. While Gabe rose to meet Roland's lips, his hands worked steadily on Roland's cock. He shuddered as he kept his pace rhythmic and only withdrew from the kiss to spit into his hands. He lubricated Roland's shaft liberally and then went back to stroking, twisting his hands in opposite directions.

  A hot wind of yearning slammed into Roland's gut. He whimpered while squeezing his eyes shut, focusing on both his pleasure and Gabe's. “What...What is that?”

  “A trick.”

  “Oh, but can it be a treat? We're so close to Halloween.”

  Gabe chuckled breathlessly. “I can make it both.”

  That was all it took to prompt Roland to sink back into the cushions of the couch. He allowed Gabe to take the power, to take control. He watched with a hypnotized gaze as Gabe rose up and perched over him, positioning just above his cock. He felt Gabe's entrance greet the tip of his cock and he sighed with longing.

  He licked his lips. “Allow me.”

  He held Gabe's waist gently but firmly, sitting up slightly to get a better view. His excitement doubled as he slowly tugged Gabe down over his cock. His stomach flipped and his eyes widened, unable to absorb enough of the pleasurable sight unfolding before him. When Gabe had fully encompassed his cock, he guided Gabe back up only to bring Gabe back down.

  Within seconds, Gabe had established his pace. He took Roland's hands and held them, squeezing them with every rise and fall. Roland was the ocean and he was the ship riding over the waves. A moan echoed from his lips with every pump, sounding thirstier with each drop.

  Roland admired every curve of Gabe's body. His eyes wandered up to Gabe's shoulders, Gabe's neck, and to Gabe's lips that had initially captured him. When he met Gabe's cognac brown eyes, he found himself instantly swirling in a beautiful sea of honey. He didn't mind that he was losing himself—he wanted it to happen. He wanted to cling to Gabe's hands and watch Gabe ride, to watch Gabe unfold forever.

  But forever wouldn't be long. He could already feel the familiar tug in his gut that indicated his approaching eruption. The sensational warmth grew in his belly, widening the more Gabe rode him. He clamped down on the feeling in favor of watching Gabe's face twist with ecstasy, lips parting to release a long-awaited bay.

  He conjured every last bit of strength he had to control his burst. As he met Gabe's bottom with his hips, he yanked Gabe forward to collide with him once more. Another kiss would surely keep him under control.

  I hope this isn't a dream, he reflected as his eyelids fluttered. Let me not wake. Let me never be awake.

  Thunder roared beyond the windows of the living room, shaking the panes viciously. Roland laughed while moving to steal another kiss from Gabe. He felt Gabe shudder and doubled his thrusting, holding hard to Gabe's waist while pumping his hips.

  Gabe whimpered, “Please...stroke me.”

  Roland obediently grabbed hold of Gabe's cock, trying to match his thrusting rhythm. He pumped steadily and eagerly, prompting fluid to leak from the tip of Gabe's cock. As more liquid seeped between his fingers, he increased his pace, greeting every one of Gabe's moans with his surging cock.

  His skin prickled as his stomach flipped. He was gaining momentum past the point of control, diving into the world of pure reaction. While thrusting hard, he planted his face into Gabe's neck. He met each gasping breath with another and another until he was nothing but a collapsing balloon exhaling perpetually.

  Gabe clutched his shoulders. “I'm...so...close...”

  “Do it. Let me feel it.”

  Gabe convulsed. His cock twitched a few times in Roland's hand before finally shooting cum all over Roland's stomach. Relief washed over Roland as he felt Gabe's eruption. He took that as his cue to burst, to release every tensed muscle in his body.

  As he came, he sucked in air and held it. He grunted and gasped intermittently, only releasing air with each burst of his cock. When he had fully erupted, he collapsed into the cushions of the couch like a limp doll. Sweat trickled down his forehead and pooled just beneath his eyes. He idly wiped it away with the back of his hand.

  “What a treat,” he panted. “And all before Halloween.”

  “Lucky I didn't trick you.”

  Roland peeled one eye open. “And how would you have done that?”

  “I have my ways.”

  “Oh, so you're evil, eh?”

  Gabe chucked softly. He lowered his lips to Roland's and gently nudged them, still gasping from sex. “Only as evil as a clown who lures people into his morgue.”

  Roland hummed. He couldn't find the words as he pressed his lips to Gabe's. He couldn't find much of anything, not a logical thought or a clear visual of the living room. Everything had become Gabe and nothing but Gabe. As he steadily worked back into worshiping Gabe's body, he heard the sky explode above, releasing heavy rain against the roof of his apartment.

  Chapter Five

  Gabe

  The morning had come far too soon for Gabe. He hadn't spent the night with a man in ages and he felt much lighter when he left Roland's apartment, having gained a sense of confidence again. As he made his way inside the warehouse where the movie set was located, he grabbed two cups of coffee from the table near the door that held the usual snacks and drinks. He approached the scene that was being set up by the prop people.

  Two massiv
e walls sat in front of a green screen with cables running all over the ground. Three cameras were perched in various positions around the scene, one of them on a track that would follow the actor through the scene. He admired the realistic appearance of the buildings, noting that—with some work from the editing crew in post—they would look like they were high up in the air.

  A hand clapped on his back. He turned with practiced patience and greeted the director. “Hey, Mark.”

  “Is that for me?”

  “Of course—just how you like it.”

  Mark accepted the cup with a grin. “We've got you set up to do a few jumps today. We're going to rig you up on the wires.”

  “The wires?” Gabe frowned, recalling that Ben had been on a set of wires when he had fallen to his death. Gabe cleared his throat. “Who's rigging it?”

  “Jax—you know how he is about the wires. He always wants to do them, and he always does them right.”

  “He sure does do them every time, doesn't he?”

  But he wasn't there that day. Not when Ben fell. I shouldn't sound so damn suspicious, he warned himself.

  “You sound nervous.”

  Gabe chuckled. “Never. In all my years doing stunts, I've never been nervous.”

  “Well, maybe you should start.”

  Gabe squinted. Was that a threat?

  A bell rang somewhere in the distance and Mark flipped around to see where it was coming from.

  He growled and shouted, “Who the hell is sounding that alarm? Turn it off!”

  A group of people popped into action, all running in different directions. Gabe laughed while patting Mark's shoulder. “It's always a mess around here.”

  “Yeah, you should see how it goes when we actually have the talent on set. What a nightmare.”

  “Oh, I've met my double. He's something.”

  Mark rolled his eyes. “Devon Peters is one of the best talents we've had in a long time, but he's got an ego.”

  “Don't we all?”

  “I think you make a better Detective Mort Wilson than he does.”