Chapter 16

Note to self, not everything is as bad as it first seems.

Alex stood close, anger and fear mixing together. Had someone done this because he was dating Ryan? He hoped not. Worry for the clinic hit and he almost wanted to go drive past and find out if something happened there.

"Look at this mess." Ryan shook his head as his lips turned down.

Alex glanced into the store, seeing that some stuff had been stolen. Maybe this wasn't about them dating. "I'm so sorry. This looks awful."

Ryan sucked in a deep breath and then squared his shoulders. "At least it's not raining. I need to get some plywood put up."

His phone buzzed and he checked his messages, praying it wasn't someone telling him his clinic had been vandalized. The note from Indigo was reassuring. Nothing was amiss at the clinic.

"Everything okay?" Ryan asked.

Alex nodded. "It was Indigo saying she heard about this mess and was sorry. She also said she checked on the clinic and it was okay."

"That's good. Makes me think this wasn't about hate, instead it was about something else."

The sheriff, Clay West, came over shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Harrington. It looks like it was a robbery, but they must have gotten spooked and run off."

"Yeah. I don't know how much they took. I guess I'd better get photos to document."

Clay nodded. "I'll make sure you get the report so you can file it with your insurance."

"Thank you."

"Oh, and I called some guys from the fire department. They're stopping by in a few to help you with the plywood."

"Thanks. You didn't have to."

Alex was amazed at how fast this city came together to help each other. The place he used to live, there was no way anyone would have helped in a situation like this. Of course, his ex would have been angry if anyone had paid this much attention to him. He liked that other people cared about Ryan.

After Clay finished documenting everything, the cleanup started. Alex had on gloves and bent to gather the larger pieces of glass as the firemen arrived. The seemingly impossible task of getting everything squared away was taken care of in what seemed like minutes.

The guys from the fire station all seemed to know Ryan. They offered support and spoke about how this was such a horrible act of violence. They seemed to feel dismayed at the crime, wondering aloud if stores would need to install metal gates around the front of the buildings to keep people from breaking in.

They were done cleaning inside and out about thirty minutes after the guys showed up to help. After saying their goodbyes, the firemen and the police all drove away, leaving him and Ryan standing outside the store.

"What do you want to do?" Alex asked.

Ryan turned to him, sadness filling his face. "Honestly, I want to take you back to my place and hold you all night. Not sex. I just want to be with you."

Heat flashed through Alex. "I'd like that."

Ryan took his hand and led him over to the truck. The engine roared to life, and Ryan popped the vehicle into gear. Maybe sleeping in the same bed with Ryan was asking for trouble, but he could hold back.

The engine's hum turned silent as Ryan parked in front of his small house. The moon above illuminated their path as they exited the vehicle. Ryan stopped midway up the walk and looked up. Alex took Ryan's hand as he tilted his head back and stared up at the swath of stars dotting the sky like diamonds poured on black velvet.

"It's beautiful."

Ryan nodded beside him. "Yeah. I know the city is coming this way and soon enough there will be houses and streetlights, and cars driving past, but I have enough land it won't be too bad."

"So the area behind the house you're building, the hill, and all of that space, can they build on that?"

Ryan chuckled. "You noticed how steep it is. No, they can't build because the runoff of the hill goes directly into the flow for drinking water, and the grade is too steep. Since that area won't be getting city sewage services and they'll have to do underground septic system, it will always be empty of homes."

"Oh wow. That's really great for you."

"Yeah, it's why I bought this property. I mean, it could change, but to run sewage pipes to that bit of land would be very difficult." Ryan turned to face Alex. His palm landed on Alex's chest as he stepped closer.

Desire pumped through Alex. If he knew Ryan better, he would tug up Ryan's shirt and then learn his body. But they weren't that close yet.

"I'm feeling things." Ryan's voice was thick and raspy.

Alex swallowed over the lump in his throat. Being with Ryan had him half hard, but being out here alone with the man was making it impossible to keep his cock from turning to wood.

"What are you feeling?" Alex asked, his voice so husky Ryan had to notice.

Ryan placed his other hand on Alex's waist, which sent a shiver through him. There was no way he could keep his dick under control with Ryan touching him like this.

"I feel like I need to touch you," Ryan whispered.

"I like touching."

Ryan licked his lips. "I want to touch you with my lips."

Alex couldn't stop the wide smile that broke out. "I like the idea of you touching me with your lips."

"I feel like us being naked would be good."

"How about we both shower? Then we can slip into your bed and see what happens."

Ryan sucked in a quick breath. "I'm not ready?—"

"Penetration isn't necessary."

"What?" Confusion shown in Ryan's eyes.

Alex cupped Ryan's face and leaned his forehead against Ryan's. "This isn't sex for procreation. I know plenty of gay guys who don't do penetrative sex. They don't like the idea of anal or the feel of it. There are so many things we can do together that isn't anal sex."

"Oh, I never thought of that."

"Let's shower, and I can show you how much fun we can have together."

Ryan put his hand on Alex's chest, stopping him. "I'm not just feeling physical things. I'm feeling emotions that aren't simple. It's complex and deep."

Alex smiled and leaned in, brushing a sweet kiss over Ryan's cheek. "I'm feeling that, too. Would it be too fast to say I'm falling for you?"

Ryan shook his head. "No, not too fast, because I'm falling for you, too."

Alex kissed Ryan, his tongue swiping deep, their bodies pressed together as they clung to each other. After a long moment, the kiss ended and Ryan fumbled with his keys, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he worked the door open. "I can't believe I'm this excited about sex. I don't know that I'll last long."

Alex followed Ryan in and resisted the urge to push him up against the wall. "We'll go as long as we can."

Ryan chuckled. "As long as we can."

"Honestly, if I see a guy come, I'm right there."

"Jesus, just thinking of you coming is making me harder."

"Let's get into the shower."

They hurried inside and stripped off their clothes as they went, laughing as they got naked. Ryan's hands grasped and roved over Alex's body, trailing down his spine and over his butt cheeks. When Alex turned and his cock brushed up against Ryan's, he thought the man was going to lose it.

Ryan closed his eyes and stepped back. "Fuck, I'm going to come."

"Let's get in the shower and wash."

"If you touch me, I'm going to blow."

"We can jerk off in the shower, then go lie down. If we sleep, we sleep, but later, we can do more."

"Fuck, sex with you is so easy."

"It may be easy, but I promise it will be good."

Alex liked Ryan as a person. That more than Ryan's good body attracted him, but Ryan's trim waist and broad shoulders added to the allure. He wanted to get on his knees and worship his cock, but he knew that would make Ryan come fast, and he wanted to stretch this out as long as possible.