Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

Brooks

"Oh, no." Skylar exhaled softly.

"What's wrong?" I scanned the pub for his ex. There was no sign of Blaize.

Heath Mullins sat in front of me, moping once again over Tammy, while the Weekend Hookers took up the next few seats, loudly arguing over the best fishing spots. A few locals were scattered among the tables, including my friends. Fisher had made it out of his house, if not his funk, and was trying to put a happy face on.

Skylar tapped the top flier on a stack that Fisher had dropped off a few days ago.

"This resort plan that Fisher is working on…"

His tone set off alarm bells. "What about it?"

"He's working with the Wexlers ." At my blank look, he lowered his voice and leaned in. "The guy who told Blaize where I was? That was Scott. He works with his uncle, Leon, and my dad hates him. They're shady in their business dealings."

"Oh, shit." I cast a glance at my cousin who was grinning at his friends, looking more lively than he had in days. "You're sure?"

"I wish I wasn't."

I groaned. "Well, fuck."

"Maybe Fisher knows their full plans and I'm worried over nothing."

"Maybe." I lifted my hand to catch Fisher's attention. "We better give him a heads-up either way."

Skylar nodded. "I'm going to check a few details on my phone just to verify so I can give Fisher the facts." His nose wrinkled. "I'm not at all objective about those guys."

"Why would you be? They're creeps who hang around with Blaize."

Skylar's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile. "I used to hang around with him, too."

"Yeah, but you're not like them."

I knew that without question. Skylar might come from a wealthy family, but there was nothing spoiled about him. He was genuine and caring. And while his father was an investor too, I'd heard of no problems with his interests in Swallow Cove.

Maybe because the Addisons were more connected to the area. Skylar's grandfather had grown up in the Ozarks, and his dad had spent all his boyhood summers here. Despite what I said when I first met Skylar, I knew they saw Swallow Cove as more than a cash cow.

Skylar pulled his phone from his pocket and went into the stockroom. Fisher took a few minutes to extricate himself from the table, but he eventually made his way over to the bar.

"What's up, man? And please don't ask about Hudson."

"Wasn't going to," I said.

I started to fill him in on the situation, but cut myself short when Skylar returned, a grim expression on his face. Apparently, his fact-check had confirmed the Wexlers were indeed shitheads.

"I'll just let Skylar explain," I said, excusing myself to serve an impatient Heath.

"This is your last refill," I told him. "You can't solve your problems by drinking yourself to death."

"Thought you were s'posed to want me to buy beer," he grumbled.

I set his fresh beer in front of him and patted his shoulder. "Tammy will forgive you. She always does."

He picked up the pint glass and offered me a sarcastic salute. I turned my attention back to Skylar and Fisher, drifting closer as they spoke.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news," Skylar was saying, "but I know Scott and Leon Wexler a little. They move in the same circles as my father."

"Okay…" Fisher said. "So, what's the bad news?"

Skylar grimaced. "Well, the thing is, they're not the most honest guys. They go into communities, tell them what they want to hear, then develop mega entertainment sites."

"Mega entertainment sites? But why would they do that here? We're just a tiny blip on the Ozarks map."

"That's why," Skylar said with a shrug. "Lots of opportunity for growth. Plus, less competition for them to get a foothold."

"But that's…" Fisher shook his head. "I looked them up, and I didn't see any sign of anything like that. I didn't just take them at their word. I'm not an idiot."

"They probably used a shell company," Skylar said. "Guys like this, they tend to have a lot of different business names they can operate under. It helps them fly under the radar."

" Fuck, seriously? I've been helping these guys get the whole town on board."

"I'm sorry, Fisher."

"Why did you wait until now to tell me?" Fisher demanded. "The community meeting is next week!"

Skylar shrank back at his pissed tone, and I clamped my hand on Fisher's shoulder, squeezing in warning.

"I know you're not about to shoot the messenger. Skylar doesn't owe you anything. If anything, I think you owe him a thank-you for the heads-up."

"I'm sorry," Fisher said, sheepish at being called out. "I wasn't mad at you. I really do appreciate you telling me. I just wish…"

"It's okay," Skylar said. "You're upset. I would be too. "

Fisher's shoulders sank. "Yeah."

"For what it's worth, I didn't know the details about this resort thing until I saw the flier for the community meeting and saw Leon's name listed. He and my dad are longtime rivals."

Fisher nodded, and Skylar gave him the rundown of other company names he knew the Wexlers did business under.

"Thanks. Guess I better go see what I can do about this train wreck," Fisher said, a flash of determination returning to his gaze.

Not that I was surprised. My cousin was a fighter. He'd find a way to bounce back from this.

After he was gone, though, Skylar seemed to lose his spark.

I placed my hand on his back, greedy for contact. "What's wrong, sweetpea?"

He blinked. "Sweetpea? I thought I was Alpha."

My lips twitched. "My apologies, sir."

He laughed, but it ended on a sigh. "I just feel shitty. If I'd been paying more attention, I could have warned Fisher off them. I wish I'd been wrong."

I rubbed his back. "Not your fault. The Wexlers are the bad guys here."

He frowned. "Still. Fisher seems so sweet, and I hate disappointing people."

I could see that. It was probably his downfall with a manipulative asshole like Blaize.

"How about we cut out? I think Felix can cover the last couple of hours."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." I murmured into his ear. "I need to kiss you."

Color rose in his cheeks, a delicate pink that warmed my chest. I loved that he still blushed for me after everything we'd done together. Hand jobs, blow jobs, frotting.

I hadn't taken the big D. Not yet. But I was ready and willing, just waiting for Skylar to give me a sign he wanted it too. He led this show. He always had, and he probably always would.

"Felix!" I called toward my assistant working the other end of the bar. "Can you hold down the fort?"

"You got it, boss."

I tried not to think about how short my paycheck would be on the next payday. Skylar wouldn't always be here, so I had to take the time while I could. Once he left town, I could work all the hours in the world.

I wasted no time getting out the door, brushing off the attempts Ansel made to talk to me as we passed by. Skylar shot me a smile as we stepped out into the muggy air.

"You were kind of rude to him."

I scoffed. "He gets enough of my time when I'm working behind the bar. I'm not giving him my Skylar time, too."

Skylar's eyebrows went up. "This is Skylar time, huh?"

"I hope so." I nodded toward the car. "But preferably, I can spend it somewhere other than the sidewalk."

Skylar took the hint and headed toward his car, pulling out his key fob to unlock the doors, even though it was unlikely anyone in Swallow Cove would steal a car. The neighbors were so nosy you'd be busted in a heartbeat.

I opened the passenger door and slid into the white leather seat. The top was down, meaning there was no privacy, but I reached for him, anyway.

Then stopped myself midway through the action. "Can I—?"

Skylar answered with his lips against mine. His mouth was so familiar to me, almost like an extension of mine after so many kisses, but it still sent a zing of electricity through me when I tugged his full bottom lip between my teeth.

Skylar groaned softly, fingers sinking into my hair.

Someone might see us, but I really didn't care. Not when Skylar had looked so disheartened to give Fisher the bad news. When he only wanted to help, only had the best intentions.

"You could never disappoint me," I said. "I hope you know that."

His lips parted, the color in his cheeks intensifying. "You don't mean that."

"I do. Because I know you, Sky. You've got a big heart. You didn't really disappoint Fisher, either. He just needs time to process. He's mad at the Wexlers, and probably himself, but not you."

He exhaled. "I know. Logically, I know."

I nodded. "You're a people pleaser."

He winced. "I'm working on it."

I laughed. "Well, don't work too hard. I was kind of hoping you'd please me when we get home."

His eyes flared. "What if I want you to please me?"

"Oh, I'll gladly do anything you ask. As always."

Skylar pushed the start button with a faintly trembling finger, but we were long past the nervous stage and fully into sizzling anticipation.

I pulled on my seatbelt and jiggled my leg, fighting to keep my hands to myself. I lost the battle and grasped his thigh, circling my thumb on his inseam.

Skylar cast me a sidelong glance. "Just don't make me wreck the car on the way home."

I smirked. "I'll be a good boy."

I behaved, mostly, on the drive out of town and into the hills where the luxury homes and mansions perched like exotic birds, all in different architectural styles and colors, all looking as if they belonged anywhere but rural Missouri.

We got out of the car and started toward the door, but I reached for Skylar's hand and tugged him past the front porch to the side gate leading to the back patio and a pear-shaped swimming pool.

"It was so damn hot today. How about a midnight swim?"

Skylar's eyebrows shot up. "You don't have a suit, do you?"

I smirked. "Nope."

Skylar swept his gaze over me. "I guess it is a private pool."

"I should enjoy all the perks of a luxury stay at Casa de Skylar, right?" I teased.

"I suppose so." His lips quirked. "I've heard that skinny dipping is a lake town tradition."

I kicked off my shoes. "Usually we do that in the lake while drunk and stupid, but I think this will be more enjoyable."

I lowered my hands to the button on my jeans, and Skylar murmured, "Much more enjoyable."

I stripped down quickly, then watched as Skylar removed his clothes, item by item. No lingerie tonight, but the moonlight skimming over his bare skin was just as captivating. A latticework of light and shadow slid over his back as he bent to step out of his underwear then twirled across as his chest when he straightened.

"You're staring," he said softly.

"Can't help myself," I admitted. "You're so damn gorgeous."

He crossed to me, his gaze roaming my chest and thighs and everything in between. "Says the man who looks as if he's carved by Michaelangelo."

"Wow, your compliments are so highbrow."

"Shut up," he said with a laugh.

He stepped forward and swatted my chest. I caught his hand and held it against my heart. Our eyes met, and time seemed to stop, hanging there indefinitely, waiting for us to acknowledge the truth that remained unsaid.

This was so much more than a hookup.

But it's still temporary. He'll leave one day, and I have to be okay with that.

Skylar had too many demands placed on him by other men. I refused to be one of them.

So I tugged his hand up around my neck and said, "Hold your breath."

His eyes widened. "You wouldn't!"

"I would." I grinned. "But you can tell me to stop. You can always tell me—"

Skylar gave me a shove, and we both fell into the pool with a splash. I came up spluttering. He'd caught me by surprise.

Skylar's laugh pealed across the space between us, and he raised his hands to slick back his hair, turned darker by the moisture.

Water trailed across his face, over his shoulders, and down his chest.

Fuck, he was breathtaking.

"You said I could do anything I wanted with you," he teased.

"And I meant it."

His eyes gleamed. "Then get over here and kiss me, and make it hot."

"The pressure's on now," I joked, pushing away from the wall to move closer.

I planted my feet on the pool's floor in front of him, the water reaching chest-level, and dipped my head to capture his lips. He grasped my neck, tugging me harder against him, surging into the kiss with me.

With the buoyancy of the water, we collided, then bounced apart. I laughed and reeled him back into my arms.

This time he gripped my chin, and I wouldn't have thought a hard grip on my face was ever a turn-on, but there was something so commanding about Skylar taking control of his pleasure that I instantly got hard.

After a day of triple-digit heat, the water was barely cool. Certainly not enough to dampen my…enthusiasm.

Skylar tugged my jaw down, forcing my mouth open for his tongue, and I groaned at how fucking sexy that was. His tongue slid against mine, making my pulse spike.

Beneath the water, our legs brushed. Skylar's cock jabbed my thigh, only amplifying my arousal. I bucked my hips, rubbing against his stomach.

I panted, my breath loud in the quiet night, when he broke the kiss.

"Not much swimming going on here," he observed.

"Guess not. But we got wet?"

"That totally counts." He nodded. "Get out of the pool. I want to look at you all wet and hard for me."

I bit down on another groan as Skylar punctuated his statement with a tight stroke of my cock beneath the water.

When he released me, I moved toward the edge and hauled myself out of the pool. Skylar followed more gracefully.

"The lounge," he urged.

I headed over, water droplets coursing over sensitized skin, making me hyperaware of every inch of my body in a way I usually wasn't. I cast a glance over my shoulder, smiling at the way Skylar's gaze latched on to my ass.

I turned, sprawling back on the lounge. I expected Skylar to climb onto my lap, but he stepped up close and grabbed my jaw once more.

"You know what to do," he said.

My mouth dropped open as if it was pre-programmed to comply. His velvety cockhead, tasting of chlorine, slipped over my tongue.

I sucked him greedily, eyes slipping closed. I had come to love this so much it was a little incredible I'd never done it before I met Skylar.

His cock was delicious, the perfect weight on my tongue, the perfect shape to fill my mouth. Maybe to fill my ass one day soon. I clenched, a strange craving that I barely knew how to recognize coming over me.

I wanted him inside me. Soon.

Skylar pulled back before I was anywhere near satisfied. "Recline the chair. I want to taste you, too."

I fumbled for the handle and released the back of the lounger until I was more horizontal. Skylar did climb aboard my lap, but backwards, with his cock over my head and his mouth sinking down over my shaft.

I spread my thighs more, wanton in my desire, pushing up into Skylar's heavenly mouth.

He didn't waste any time teasing. He sucked me deep, working my shaft with his tongue, sucking and bobbing. Pleasure swept through me, and I nearly forgot there was a delicious cock awaiting my attention.

I tugged his hips down and relaxed my jaw, letting his cock slide between my lips.

He was light enough I could hold his hips, lifting him, tugging him down, effectively fucking my mouth with his cock. Skylar made delicious whimpering sounds that burned through me like wildfire.

He slipped a wet fingertip between my cheeks and teased at my hole. I moaned encouragement around his cock, wanting him to push my limits.

Skylar continued to tease me with light touches until I was mad with the desire for more. I sucked him harder, conveying my frustration the only way I could. He took my cock deep into his throat and pressed his fingertip inside me.

It wasn't the first time I'd had a finger inside, but it was the first time I'd really craved it. He pushed deeper, slowly, until he pressed right up against my prostate.

I bucked, my shout muffled by my mouthful of cock, as I erupted suddenly. Skylar swallowed around my pulsing cock, drawing out the pleasure, and I just about lost track of where I was, drowning as I was in pleasure.

Then a salty flood hit the back of my tongue, making me choke back to awareness. Skylar's breath hitched, his hips jerking with the spurts of his cum in my mouth.

He pulled out. "Shoot. Didn't mean to do that to you."

I gave a hoarse chuckle. "Why not? I just came in your mouth."

"Yeah, but I'm used to it."

The words hung oddly between us, and Skylar gave me an embarrassed look and clambered from my lap. "Oh my god, forget I said that."

I grabbed his wrist before he could run off. "What did you mean by that?"

"Forget it."

"No, I'm just wondering, Sky. Do you have doubts because you're the first guy I've been with? Or is it because…"

He bit his lip. "Well, you are new to it, but I know you like being with me. That's not it."

I raised my eyebrows, waiting.

He sighed and sank onto the edge of the lounger by my hip. "I just meant I'm used to, uh, swallowing. Without much warning." His face reddened. "Because of, you know, past…experiences."

I tensed. There had been things he'd said when we first kissed that had concerned me. Now, I had to know.

"Skylar, we're not talking about general experience with sex, are we? We're talking…partners who didn't ask if you wanted that?"

He shrugged one shoulder. "Blaize liked to finish that way. Lots of guys like that better. I mostly don't mind, but…"

I winced. "I'm so sorry I didn't give you some warning. I was caught by surprise, but that's no excuse."

"No, no," he said, eyes widening. "I was expecting it, Brooks. Not because… I mean, I'm the one who pressed against your prostate. I kind of know what I'm doing."

"You definitely do," I said with a grin. "But still. I don't ever want you to think you need to do something you don't like just because I like it. I will happily come anywhere you tell me to, in your mouth or on the fucking ground while kneeling at your feet."

His breath caught. "I believe that."

"Did Blaize…or anyone else, um…"

"What?"

"Did he ever force you?"

Skylar drew back, face going tight.

"I shouldn't have asked," I said quickly, feeling like an ass for spoiling our moonlight evening. This was not how tonight was supposed to end. "Don't tell me unless you want to."

"No, he didn't force me," he said softly. "Not exactly. Maybe…I guess it was reluctant consent, sometimes?"

I frowned. "I don't think that's actually consent."

He sighed. "No, I guess not. I don't want to think about it. Especially not now, like this." He waved between our naked bodies. "I save that ugly stuff for therapy, which is hard enough."

"Of course." I held out my arms. "Give me a cuddle?"

He looked surprised, but sank willingly into my arms. Our skin was damp and tacky, making it a challenge to get situated. But it made us laugh, lightening the moment.

"I've never cuddled while nude and damp," Skylar murmured against my chest.

"Well, that's because you won't come to bed with me after showering."

Did I sound sulky? I sounded sulky.

Skylar pressed a kiss to my Adam's apple. "It's a big step for me to do this at all."

My arms reflexively tightened around him. "I know. I don't mean to sound greedy."

He tilted his head back, gazing at me. "You're not, Brooks. You're the most generous man I've ever met. I'm sorry I can't give this to you. I just…I need—"

"You don't have to justify yourself. I don't want you there unless you truly want to be there."

"It's not that I don't want to be there."

"I understand."

Skylar needed to trust himself before he could fully trust me. And given that he trusted his cat's judgment over his own, I'd say he wasn't quite there. Besides, it was probably better I didn't get used to him in my bed. Not when he wouldn't be staying there past summer.

"This is more than enough," I added. "It's more than I ever expected."

He relaxed back into my arms with a contented sound. "Same here. Who would have thought the hunky straight bartender with a scowl would want to cuddle on a pool lounger?"

I laughed and pinched him, making him squirm, and soon we were kissing again.

Maybe the night wouldn't end in my bed, but it wasn't over yet.