Battle It Out Read online

  “Today he tells me he’s bi.” He curled his hands tightly around the hot mug. “Shit! I shouldn’t have shared that.”

  “What’s said here stays here,” Luke assured him.

  He’s bi and I’m sitting here without him. That was all he’d ever wanted, a shot with Zane.

  “So, Zane’s bi,” Dillon encouraged when the silence grew.

  “Yeah, but he’s not out. I think he’s struggling with it, and I’m not helping,” he whispered and closed his eyes. He shouldn’t have lost his temper.

  “What’s his story?”

  He popped open his eyes and gazed blankly at his brother. “I don’t know. Shit. I didn’t ask.”

  “Does he have feelings for you?”

  “I believe so.”

  “I know Zane, he’s had it in his head for so long that he was straight. This may be his first feelings for a man, and it sounds like he hasn’t fully accepted it.”

  “Maybe, and I didn’t help,” he repeated.

  “How so?”

  “I think I made things so much worse.” He explained about the locker room and how he’d lost his temper.

  “That’s nothing new,” his brother grinned.

  “Fuck you.” He gave a half laugh.

  “Give him some time.”

  “I don’t know if that will help.” He dropped his head to his hands.

  “Come on,” Dillon said and helped him out of his chair. “You’re staying the night. Good food and conversation.”

  Dillon winked at Luke, who smiled and ushered them out of the kitchen.

  His heart ached at the conflict between him and Zane, and he wanted nothing more than to make things right. Because while he was angry that he’d been shifted to Fury, he didn’t want to lose Zane.

  He needed to make it right between them, no matter what that looked like.

  Zane

  It took him twenty-four hours to get up the nerve to stop by Isaac’s place.

  He parked his jeep in the street outside of Isaac’s home and sat there staring at the closed front door.

  His phone rang, jerking his attention from the house.

  “Gannon,” he clipped out abruptly.

  “You still coming up this weekend?” Diesel asked. His brother had been the first person he’d called after the forced leave.

  “Yeah, I just need to make a quick stop and then I’ll be leaving in the morning.”

  “I can’t wait for you to meet them,” Diesel boasted like a proud papa.

  “I can’t either, bro.”

  The twins had arrived and Diesel and Triton were anxious to introduce their Uncle Zane.

  They talked for a few more minutes before Diesel ended the call.

  Zane wiped his palms on his jeans, slid out of the jeep, and approached the front door. He knocked and then angled his face up at the warm morning sun. He should have come yesterday, and not let this fester.

  “What are you doing here?” Isaac squinted at him when he opened the door.

  God, he couldn’t take his eyes from his face. Even though Isaac’s eyes appeared wary, hesitant, and filled with tiredness, they were still so damned beautiful.

  “Can we talk?”

  Isaac’s fingers turned white from where he squeezed the door.

  “Please.”

  Isaac stepped back from the door and swept his arm inside. He left him to close the door.

  When he stopped in the entryway, he found Isaac leaning against the wall a few feet away, arms folded against his muscled chest, eyes hooded.

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  “About yesterday,” he started doggedly and then stopped.

  “Which part?” Isaac’s face was wary, but Zane could swear there was a hopefulness in there somewhere.

  “The kiss in the locker room.” Zane cleared his throat and rubbed a hand at the back of his neck wondering how the hell he’d fucked this up so badly.

  “Ah yes, the kiss heard around the base. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry. Consider it no big deal,” Isaac said, the words rushed through.

  “I don’t think that’s an accurate description.” His heart pounded harder when Isaac’s eyes ran over him.

  “You don’t?” Isaac’s voice was a bare whisper when their eyes locked.

  “I don’t,” he said and stalked closer.

  He had no plans. He really didn’t have anything else in mind except to be closer to Isaac and maybe, just maybe this ache would go away. But he doubted it.

  He advanced and Isaac gave a quiet gasp, but didn’t back away.

  “Let’s try this again.” Crowding closer, he cupped Isaac’s cheeks and then lowered his head to kiss him.

  His gut exploded and he devoured Isaac’s mouth. Isaac arched into him, pressing his whole body close. Zane drew his hands down the sides of Isaac’s neck, across his shoulders, and over arms that were now wrapped around his neck.

  Lips pressed into his and the scratch of Isaac’s stubble against his own had him sucking in a deep breath.

  “I want you,” he groaned.

  “Slow down,” Isaac warned him and he backed off immediately.

  His wrist firmly caught, Isaac stalked into the den with him in tow and shoved him down to the brown linen sofa.

  “Sit.”

  He sat on the sturdy piece of furniture and stared up until Isaac dropped down facing him.

  “So, it wasn’t my imagination?”

  “What wasn’t?”

  “You watching me at the safe house like you wanted me.”

  He shook his head. “No. I’d been hiding my feelings for you for so long, but being in that safe house alone with you made me think of all the possibilities.”

  “And I ran, leaving you that shitty note.” Isaac’s mouth pulled down.

  “True, but I’m the one that’s been running all these years,” he admitted.

  “Not now though.”

  “No, not now.”

  “Because you’re bi?”

  “If I had to put a label on it, but I honestly think I’m more attracted to the person than I am with what’s in their pants.”

  “How do you know?”

  He shifted in his seat and rubbed his hands on his jeans. “What do you mean, how do I know?”

  “You haven’t seen what’s in my pants.”

  His eyes flew up and he found that teasing light that he adored and huffed out a laugh. He’d seen Isaac plenty of times in the locker room and the teaser knew it.

  “I want to examine it further.”

  “How bad?” Isaac’s tongue swept out along his bottom lip leaving behind a sheen.

  “Very badly.”

  Isaac stood in one smooth motion and caught his hand to pull him up. Zane forgot how to breathe for a moment as Isaac pulled him close and tipped his head back. All the blood in his body rushed south.

  “You sure about this?” There went that teasing tone again.

  “Fuck yeah, I am.” He wasted no more time and smoothed his palms down Isaac’s back to his waist and then lower, over his tightly muscled ass.

  Reaching between them, Isaac yanked at the button and then pulled the zipper down on Zane’s pants. Then he unzipped his own jeans.

  “Fuck,” he breathed at the first touch of a man’s hand snaking down inside his briefs and cupping his cock. He pulled back and gazed down, the man’s cock was long and thick and as hard as his own.

  Lips roamed his jaw and his head fell back beneath the onslaught. He was shoved against the wall. A harsh groan left his throat when Isaac reached between them and grasped their cocks together. The touch just about blew his fucking head off.

  His eyes snapped open and he gazed into Isaac’s sky-colored eyes. Hissing, he shoved into the fist gripping his cock. He wanted to touch, fuck how he wanted that, but wasn’t sure. Isaac, however, was relentless. Catching his mouth in a hot, fierce kiss, Isaac moaned and kissed him deeply while working them together.

  With their cocks lined up, I
saac eased back from the kiss. Using both hands, he jerked them off slowly. Zane’s head grew cloudy and the room faded.

  “That feels so good,” Isaac rasped against his jaw.

  “That’s a fucking understatement,” Zane groaned and placed his hands at Isaac’s bare waist, closed his eyes, and clenched his teeth to stave off coming.

  The firm, squeezing hand ran down and then up before fingers caressed the head of his cock and fingered the slit along his crown.

  He groaned and Isaac leaned in and kissed him. Zane lost his ability to breathe when the touch tormenting his dick squeezed him tighter.

  “Isaac!” He growled and plundered the man’s mouth, sucking on his tongue, grinding into the hand that gripped him so expertly.

  Isaac bit his lips and Zane gave a last shudder before he exploded. Harsh sounds erupted from his throat, but he couldn’t hold them back. Curling forward, he wrapped his arms around Isaac and hung on as shudder after shudder ripped through him. His eyes burned and stung and he clenched his teeth to keep tears at bay.

  “Yes!” Isaac agreed, the word guttural. Hot come poured between them, and their combined seed slicked the way for Isaac’s hands. Zane clung until every shaking convulsion was done.

  “Wow.” He blinked, trying to clear his vision, but the room wavered.

  “You haven’t seen wow yet.” Isaac pulled up his jeans and tugged him toward the hallway.

  They reached Isaac’s room before the guy paused and glanced at him.

  “Is this too soon?” White teeth cleaved into a plump bottom lip.

  “Fuck no,” he breathed, following Isaac into the room.

  Isaac yanked off his t-shirt and he drank in every inch of his skin. The rippling abs, smooth chest, and muscled shoulders. Although Isaac had what he liked to call a swimmer’s build, he wasn’t that slim. With the width of his shoulders and the bulk of his arms, Isaac wasn’t small by any means.

  “Like what you see?”

  He nodded and Isaac continued until he was naked.

  Heat burned hot in the pit of his stomach and he shoved off his jeans, kicking them and his briefs away before yanking off his shirt. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen guys naked in the showers before. But this was different. Way fucking different.

  He drew in a deep breath and even though his stomach was tied up in knots and he wanted so badly to grab Isaac close, he stayed still beneath Isaac’s devouring, heated gaze.

  His own cock stood proudly and he ran a hand down through the dark hair on his stomach watching as Isaac came closer.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said. Was that okay to say? Did guys say that kind of thing to each other or was that something you only said to a woman? His breath stuttered out when doubts crept in.

  “Thank you.” Isaac’s baby blues swept softly over him, and Zane suddenly felt ten fucking feet tall. It was almost too much and he closed his eyes.

  The touch of strong hands on his chest, shoulders and then cupping his neck, popped his eyes open. For a moment, Isaac’s gaze hung on his.

  “Too much too soon?”

  “No, I want this,” he croaked. “I swear. I just don’t know what to do.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll show you,” Isaac whispered and shoved him down onto the bed.

  His back bounced and he laughed, sprawling out.

  His laughter died when Isaac crawled up and settled over him.

  “Oh, sweet fucking hell,” he muttered, closing his hands on Isaac’s bare hips.

  “Sweet something,” Isaac agreed, lowering his head.

  Isaac

  Zane’s dark-eyed look tugged at his heart. Setting his lips over Zane’s, he lowered his hips and then chest down until he was sprawled out on Zane. He nipped at Zane’s mouth slowly, taking his time. When a rush of air left Zane’s lungs, Isaac tongued his way inside to kiss him deeply.

  Zane’s hands jerked at his hips and then shakily wandered over his ass and up his back.

  Isaac slowed down further and lifted his head from the kiss. His eyes traced a path over Zane.

  “You can tell me if I’m going too fast. Otherwise, I’m not going to ask.”

  “Don’t worry about me, I want you,” Zane assured him again and he had to take the man’s word for it.

  Because eventually, he’d reach a point where there was no going back.

  “I’ll bottom our first time.” He brushed another kiss to Zane’s mouth, watching as dark pupils expanded in his beautiful hazel-colored eyes. “You’ll be inside me.”

  Zane’s hands gripped his ass tighter.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll use protection.”

  “I’m not worried.” Zane’s voice had dropped several octaves, sending chills down his spine and a scorching heat over his whole body.

  He lifted using his arms and started grinding against the hard cock beneath him. Oh yeah, Zane wanted him badly.

  “I’ll take it really slow,” he panted as he held off his own orgasm.

  “Oh Isaac, baby, that’s not helping,” Zane groaned.

  He shoved back upright to straddle Zane and gazed down at him, hips grinding. With a husky laugh, he kissed Zane again and stopped grinding down on the man’s cock. Reaching for the night table, he snagged up the condom and lube. Beneath Zane’s watchful gaze, he tore open the packet with his teeth. He slowly rolled the rubber onto Zane’s thickness.

  “Fuck,” Zane hissed, arching his back.

  Squirting lube into his hand, he used it to slather up Zane’s big, beautiful cock from tip to base.

  “What about you?” Zane husked.

  “I’ll do it.” He reached around to lube up his entrance. He slipped one finger inside, wanting to be tight.

  Zane’s hands gripped his hips.

  “What?” He tipped his head curiously.

  “I’ve got it from here,” Zane rasped.

  Lust rolled through him when Zane lifted him upward. Isaac reached down between them and positioned the tip of Zane’s cock at his entrance.

  Zane’s big hands at his hips guided him down and he breathed out a deep breath as he was filled.

  “Christ,” he gasped, and Zane stopped abruptly. “Noooo, don’t stop.”

  Through clenched teeth, Zane let out a grunt of agreement and continued. He held Zane’s gaze while he sank down to the hilt.

  “Nhhh fuck,” Zane groaned, holding his gaze, fingers digging into his hips.

  Leaning forward, he kissed Zane’s lips. “Feels so good.”

  Zane’s jaw was clenched so tightly that Isaac feared he’d break his teeth and he cupped the side of Zane’s face to get his attention.

  Once he had Zane’s eyes back on him, he lifted up and then sank down. Zane’s pupils blew wide and then his eyes slammed shut. Isaac smiled and ground his ass back down. Each impalement was hard and hot, and pain gave way to pleasure the more he moved.

  “I can’t hold it,” Zane groaned suddenly and tossed his head back, veins bulging at his neck.

  He lifted up and then plunged down, fucking him repeatedly, and whispered, “Don’t hold it.”

  Zane howled and convulsed beneath him, muscles coiled and bunched, his big body giving up shudder after shudder. So enthralled with Zane, his own release caught him by surprise and he gasped, slamming down one final time and exploding. Curling forward, he groaned opened mouth on Zane’s chest.

  Strong arms curled around him, cinching him tightly as if the owner feared him leaving. He wasn’t going anywhere and tumbled down chest to chest, hips to hips, legs entwined.

  “What are you thinking?” Zane’s hands moved up and down his back in slow, lethargic strokes.

  “Nothing at the moment.” He smiled and lifted his chin to his arms and gazed into satisfied hazel green eyes. “What are you thinking?”

  “There’s more about the story.”

  “What story?”

  “Of when I found out I was bi.”

  “Tell me.”

  Zane rolled him off, but didn’t go far. Af
ter tossing the condom in the small trash near the bed, Zane pulled him close. They lay side by side on the bed facing each other.

  In halting words, Zane told him the story of Ryan. Isaac’s heart hurt for the young, teenaged Zane. God, he wished he could have been there to help take away some of the pain and confusion Zane must have gone through all the years since.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “I thought for sure you’d be mad at me when I finally told you.”

  “Mad?” He smoothed his fingers over Zane’s eyebrows, down his nose, and over his stubbled jaw. “Why would you think I’d be mad?”

  “Because of all the time we could have had.”

  “No. You weren’t there yet. When I first met you and the few years since, you weren’t ready.”

  “I’m sorry.” Zane’s voice cracked.

  “Don’t say that.” He squeezed Zane’s hand and linked their fingers. “We all have our own paths. No one person is the same as another. I’ve met men who’ve come out at age fifty and above.”

  “You have?”

  “Mmhmm, and that’s after they’ve married and had a family. What I’m trying to say is everyone has their own journey.”

  “Diesel told me pretty much the same thing,” Zane admitted, some of the worry leaving his face.

  “Your brother is a smart man.” He pushed Zane back on the bed and stretched over him.

  “Yes, yes he is,” Zane agreed, sliding his hands over his hips and grasping his ass.

  “But I don’t want to talk about him right now.” He leaned down and kissed Zane’s lips.

  “Neither do I,” Zane replied, panting.

  Zane

  Isaac’s blond head was nestled against his shoulder and he smoothed a hand over his hip beneath the blanket. They’d gone at it several times last night. He’d done things with Isaac that he’d only seen watching gay porn.

  “What are you thinking about?” Isaac murmured against his jaw.

  That question seemed to be their go to and he wondered if it was because everything felt so new.

  “Gay porn,” he said honestly, and then smiled when Isaac laughed loudly.

  “If I wasn’t so confident in my skills, I might be offended.”