14. Marko

Chapter 14

Marko

I ncredibly, after showering, we made it to my bed. Heath voiced he wanted more, but instead of indulging his desire right away, he wanted to…cuddle.

While he was definitely turned on, once we made it to the bedroom, he switched to clinging to me like I might disappear. There was no way I wanted to move him off me. This was nice, lying here holding him. I’ve missed having someone hold me just because they want to.

“I don’t know if I can stay until the morning. The idea of staying for breakfast is so tempting, but I work super early and I don’t want Jeff to be alone for so long.”

He shifts his head from my chest where he rests, tracing random tattoos on my body with his fingertips. Heath’s warm brown eyes carry an uncertainty he didn’t have before the clothes came off and I smooth the hair from his forehead.

“I understand. Work is important and I wouldn’t want you to neglect Jeff.”

His bright smile returns, and he leans up to kiss me. No hesitation. He just does it like it’s the most natural thing in the world and it catches me by surprise.

“What’s wrong? ”

His smile fades and I rush to reassure him.

“Nothing. It’s just…you seem so comfortable with me. I was expecting a freak out at some point. You’ve just discovered something pretty huge about yourself. We changed our dynamic, and I wasn’t sure how you’d be.”

Heath remains quiet, but I know he’s thinking. He always scrunches his eyebrows just a little when he’s thinking, and bites at his lower lip. Reaching up with my thumb, I tug the lip out of his teeth. Again, he smiles that damn sunshine my way and shifts to blanket his body over mine.

“I discovered something huge about you, too.” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I huff a small laugh.

“I’m serious Heath. I really like you and I want to know where your head is at here.” My hands smooth up his muscled back. Lord, I love a farm boy’s body.

“No, I’m not freaked out. Don’t forget I work with a group of gay or bi men. It’s not a new concept and…I’ve missed a lot of signs over the years. Like, an impossible amount of signs that I like men too. It’s hard to explain, but I’m not about to run screaming from your house because I touched your dick.” Again, he kisses me. First on the forehead with a tenderness that makes my heart soar, and then again on the lips that turns into something far more than just a simple kiss. “I want to do more than that, Marko. I like you. Very much.”

It’s like the weight of the world lifts from my body and I wrap a hand around his neck to pull him back down for a deep kiss. Heath answers and grinds his hard cock against mine with a groan. I haven’t been this easily turned on ever . Heath just has to breathe on me and my dick swells. I’m not that much older than him—I’m only thirty-five—but compared to his enthusiasm, I feel like a damn dinosaur. Only teenagers should think about sex more than once in two hours.

Flipping us over, Heath gasps as I grin down at him. A gorgeous strawberry flush spreads from his chest up his neck as he stares up at me.

“Jesus fuck, you’re hot when you do that. Hell, you’re hot just sitting here.”

Laughing, I slide down his body, trailing kisses along his skin and delighting in his squirms and moans.

Hovering over his hard cock, I wait until he opens his eyes to meet mine.

“I want to suck you off. You okay with that?”

“Am I okay with that?” His voice squeaks as he nods quickly. “I don’t think okay is an adequate word here.”

“No?” I chuckle and tease a line along his shaft with my tongue.

“Marko…damn. I might come in two seconds. Don’t judge me, please.” He fists his hands into the sheets and stares down his body at me between his legs. “You’re the fucking sexiest man I’ve ever met. Sinfully sexy and you’re about to put my dick in your mouth.”

Laughing, I drop my head as I kiss his hip. “That’s my plan. You good?”

“So fucking good. I might die because I can’t breathe, though.”

Heath spreads his legs further, eyes begging me to take him apart and if I still doubted his lack of freak out, I don’t anymore. I intended to take it slow and learn his likes and his hot spots and just revel in being with this man I’ve wanted for what feels like forever, but my cock aches fiercely and my patience is shot now that my face is buried in his groin.

After suckling at his balls for far less time than I should, I lick up his length and take him half into my mouth.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck…Marko!” Heath wants to lift off the bed but my hands pin his hips in place as I take him further down my throat. God, he’s perfect for me. Large enough to satisfy my craving, yet not enough to trigger my gag reflex. And, not surprising at all, he tastes sweet. Like he dipped his dick in honey just for me. Which is ridiculous. But then again…it is Heath. Nothing is off the table.

Lifting my gaze as I suck him down, my eyes lock on Heath’s molten expression long enough for a shudder to wrack my body and a moan to escape around my mouthful.

“I wanna come on your face,” he huffs, and I pop off as his hand flies in to stroke himself to finish. Holding my tongue out, I hover as he explodes. It’s on my tongue and I swallow it greedily, my tongue searching for more within reach. I’m pretty sure there’s cum in my hair, on my face and probably the sheets behind me. But I’m not complaining.

Heath’s chest heaves as he reaches out to wipe a blob from my cheek. He offers it to me on his fingers and I take it, only to have Heath surge forward and smash his lips to mine to chase after it. After some pushing, he’s manhandled me onto my back and staring at my hard-on like he’s starving.

“I wanna do that to you, too.”

“Only if you want to. Don’t feel you need to repay—” My eyes roll back as Heath decides today is the day he wants to test my self control and I turn the air blue with a string of Croatian curses. With zero warning, he grips my dick and wraps his lips around it like a goddamn pro and moans. The vibrations send me into orbit and I thread my fingers in his hair.

“Fuck…Heath…” He sucks, moaning again, and I clench my teeth together. His gaze meets mine while his lips are still around me and it’s a vision to store forever. “You look amazing with your lips around my cock. Shit, it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

That just makes him take me deeper and my eyes roll back again.

“Heath…”

I tug on his hair to warn him, but he stays until I’m shooting into his mouth. He pops off while I’m still coming, licking his lips and with cum on his chin, he’s a picture of smugness as he strokes me until I whine for him to stop.

“I’m sorry. It kind of happened too quick to warn you.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t be sorry. I almost did the same to you.” He runs a finger through my load and puts it to his lips. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Do you always taste like this, or is it different every time?”

“Uh, I’ve never…um, I don’t know?”

He nods. Eyebrows drawn like he just made a serious discovery.

“Cool. I’ll add it to the list of things to keep trying.”

I cough. “You have a list?”

Tapping his head, he grins. “It’s up here. Don’t worry, big guy. I think you’ll like everything on it.”

“Do I want to know what’s next?”

After surveying the mess on my abs and kissing a few tattoos, he grins. “I’ve never had anything in my ass before. I’ve heard it’s next level. ”

My breath puffs out, and my knees would buckle if I was standing. Dragging his head down, I smash my lips to his. As always, Heath is eager and returns the kiss with wild abandon. Hands everywhere and pressing so close to me, it’s like he wants to become one of my tattoos.

“You can’t just say shit like that,” I whisper when I finally release him to breathe. “You’re gonna kill me.”

“You keep saying that. I need you alive, Marko. No harm from me. I’m as gentle as a fly.”

Leading us into the shower for the second time, the smile on my face grows as I crowd him against the tile. We can’t stop kissing or touching.

Heath drew me to him for who he is inherently. The way he gives zero fucks about the way people look at him while he tucks a peacock into the back of his car. His genuine want for me to feel comfortable in this town and show me all the places he loves. How he learns about my home country just because he wants to.

His soul is beautiful.

With his long lashes wet under the spray of my shower and his sunshine smile as he slides a soapy hand down my chest, it hits me.

I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

It has nothing to do with the sex and everything to do with Heath.

** *

“You’ve been smiling constantly for a week now. Spill it.” Curtis plops into the chair in my station. “What happened with you and peacock boy?”

“Don’t call him that.” I scowl and Curtis holds up his hand.

“Sorry. But a guy needs to know. Are you and Heath a thing now or what?”

Curtis’s gaze is on me and a bead of sweat runs down my back before I steel myself to say the words out loud.

“We are officially dating.”

Curtis whoops and pops up to clap me on the back.

“I’m happy for you! I think it’s time you stop working and hiding and enjoy what love might bring you.”

“I didn’t say anything about love.”

“You don’t have to.” He snickers. “You, my friend, are an open book.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” I grumble.

Again, he laughs and shakes his head. “Got it. Boss man isn’t ready to talk about his feelings. But if you change your mind, I won’t give you a hard time.”

The front door chimes and I return to the sketch I’m working on for my client tomorrow. They asked for something rodeo and on short notice. It sounds like someone with a tight schedule, and I’m happy to oblige. Although I still don’t know much about rodeo and that reminds me of something Heath said. He said he’d take me to a rodeo and one was coming soon nearby .

Opening another browser on my phone, I search for rodeos in the area. If this is the same one, it’s in two weeks. I’ll have to ask him about it tonight when we ride.

The day slides away quickly as I do a series of consults and before I know it, my phone is chiming with Heath’s tune. Tarzan Boy by Baltimora because I make him want to beat his chest. His words, not mine, and I went along with it because, well, Heath.

My smile can’t be hidden as I read his text.

Tarzan: I’ll be there soon. Running behind. Jeff was moody.

Not Jane: I’ll start winding down now and meet you at the house.

He sends a selfie with Jeff, who appears unimpressed. But then again, do birds ever look happy? I really need to learn more about peacocks.

After finishing my task and checking in with Curtis, I’m on my bike and racing home. For years, I never wanted to share my life with anyone. No one romantically, at least. I still had my baka for family and a few distant cousins, but it was safer to just keep to myself. Taking my bike and feeling the wind race by was all the comfort I needed or wanted.

Reaching my driveway, I kill the engine and coast into the carport. Heath changed everything. As I place my helmet on the seat, a smile forms when I set eyes on the helmet Heath wears now. Black with a smiley-face sticker on the side that he insisted he wanted just in case someone thought he was intimidating on a bike .

The thought makes me snort out loud.

Tossing my wallet and phone on the kitchen island, I strip as I walk to the bathroom. I’m tempted to linger, so Heath catches me half-dressed, but I’m too excited for today’s ride. He wants us to visit an artisan market the next town over. Apparently, there’s a woman there who makes goat’s milk soap, and he needs to research for Dante. To assess the competition, he said, since Dante makes llama products. I love it when he gets fired up for his friends. His loyalty is one of his best qualities.

As the water washes over me, I reflect on how much my priorities have shifted since meeting Heath.

I’m happy and no longer living in the shadows. For once, I’m enjoying my success with the tattoo shop, and coming to a small town from the city has worked out well.

Although I do owe my baka a visit still. It seems like it’s been forever since I called her from the lookout in another spiral because I was afraid I’d be shoved out of yet another location. And I need to tell Heath about my family. The rest of it.

Until now, I’ve dodged it. He knows about my mom and baka , but I held back about my dad. We’re still new and fragile. I’m in so deep with him and already terrified of the thought of him walking away. Most people don’t want to be involved with someone tied to crime. It’s deceitful to keep it from him, but I’m just so damn scared to make my voice say the words.

A knock on the front door has me rush to finish dressing, but at the last minute I decide to leave my T-shirt off. Maybe I can still tempt Heath into bed and skip the ride.

But it’s not Heath at my door.

“You must be Marko. Goin’ somewhere?”

The man stands tall with his Stetson on his head, mirrored sunglasses and a charming smile. Glancing in the driveway, I notice the truck with a Broken Horn Ranch symbol on the side and my first thought is panic that something happened to Heath.

“Yes, I am. Is Heath okay?”

“Oh, he’s on cloud nine. Right as rain." The man smiles. "Can I come in?”

“Uh, sure.”

“Nice ink.” The man nods at my naked chest, and I pull on my shirt, still hanging from my hand.

“Thanks. Uh, what, ah…who are you?”

He looks around my place before he lifts his sunglasses and crosses his arms.

“I was supposed to meet you when Heath brought you by for your horseback ride but somethin’ came up and I didn’t make it. I’m Blaze.”

He holds out his hand, and I take it. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”

Blaze doesn’t let go of my hand immediately.

“We’ve already met, but I doubt you remember.” He drops my hand and I wrack my brain, wondering how I could have met a man like him and not remember.

He wags a finger at me. “I know what you’re thinkin’ and I look a little different, but let me jog your memory. It was a sunny day in July about fifteen years ago or so. Gosh, the time just kinda gets away from me. I had a meetin’ with your father…at your house.”

Black spots dance at the edge of my vision.

“You know my father?”

“Regrettably, I do. And because of my gut, I chose not to take him on as an investor in my company. Good thing too. ”

I look at Blaze with fresh eyes. In a suit and trimmed hair. Clean shaven. The yelling from my dad mostly, as Blaze and his assistant left. Dad was angry that day. It’s also the day he verbally admitted what he was doing and my entire world collapsed.

“Blaze Porter. You turned him down that day for no reason. He was pissed. I remember he said you’d never make it without his help.”

Blaze laughs with no humour.

“Yep. He was mighty high on himself and there was just somethin’ about him I didn’t trust. Has that ever happened to you, Marko? Have you ever just had a feelin’ about somethin’ or someone and you don’t understand, but you listen to it?”

“I have.”

Blaze’s gaze strips me raw. If he knew Dad, he likely followed the news and knows my involvement too. I already see Heath drifting away. Of all the people in the world, I had to find the one with close ties to someone who almost did business with my father.

He hums and pops a toothpick from a wrapper before placing it into his mouth.

“I know Heath would have come to me if you had already told him this. When do you plan to tell Heath who you are?”

“I’m not lying to him, if that’s your insinuation.”

“No, it’s not. I understand why you don’t shout about it from rooftops. Trust me, I get it. But Heath trusts people, Marko. He’s kind and good and all the things we hope for in life.”

My gaze finds his as I swallow.

“Ah, I see you already know that, son. I’m happy you appreciate that about him.” He flicks his toothpick around a few times as the cold dread settles over me. “I know you’re not askin’, but I’m givin’ you some advice. Heath will be fine if you tell him. He values honesty and he won’t judge you. If he doesn’t find out from you…he’s gonna be hurt, Marko. Then I don’t know how he’ll react.”

“I’m not like him.” I blurt because that’s what this always comes back to. I’m his son by blood only, not his carbon copy.

“I know you’re not. Heath will know that, too, because he’s just figured out he’s not quite straight. Which is a huge thing to trust someone with for the first time. You get what I’m sayin’ Marko?”

Sort of. It makes sense. Heath has already shared with me his history of breaking the law and what wasn’t a very nice home life. He won’t turn his nose up. I know that. But…

“Do you know everything about what happened, Blaze? Did you follow it closely? In the news, I mean?”

“Close enough. I’m not a billionaire because I ignored things. I paid attention, but what are you gettin’ at?”

He flips the toothpick in his mouth again, and the scent of spearmint hangs in the air.

“I was involved and made a deal with prosecutors. That day you were at the house, he confirmed what he was doing. I was hoping it wasn’t true, but I…I turned him in not long after that.”

Wow. That was hard to say out loud after all these years.

“Has he been in contact with you since he got out?”

Shaking my head, I bark a humourless laugh. “Not directly. But my last shop in Rosevale was vandalized. I don’t have any proof, but I know it was him. That’s why I came here. Fresh start and all that.”

Blaze's face softens, but there's no mistaking where his loyalty lies.

“Talk to him, Marko. Don’t start off somethin’ with a secret.”

Without another word, he leaves my house, closing the door behind him.