New Tricks Read online

  “Thomas,” Brandon said quietly. “I can see the confusion in your eyes. You don’t need to worry so much.” He moved even closer, and Thomas tugged at the collar of his shirt as the temperature in the room jumped. “Everything is going to be great.” Brandon kissed him gently, and Thomas dropped his hands to his sides, not daring to touch Brandon. Instead, he let him take the lead, and what a lead Brandon took.

  He wrapped his arms around Thomas’s neck, drawing them together. Thomas raised his arms slowly and wrapped them around Brandon’s waist. Brandon kissed him harder, ramping up the intensity, tugging on Thomas’s lips until the threads broke and he crushed Brandon to him, feasting on his lips as he slowly moved them through the house.

  Suddenly it was a tempest, the two of them vying for control, feet fumbling as they made their way toward the stairs. Waves of desire and winds of passion blew them from wall to wall and step to step. They nearly tumbled to the floor on multiple occasions, but neither of them seemed to care and only held on tighter, until they made it to Thomas’s bedroom door, banging it on the stops in a bid to get inside.

  Thomas’s shirt parted, and he let go of Brandon to yank it off, then tugged Brandon’s polo up and off as well. They fluttered to the floor somewhere as Thomas closed the distance between them once again, bare chest to bare chest. Thomas rubbed against Brandon like a cat, needing to feel his skin against his. Shoes twirled through the air as they kicked them off, and Thomas propelled them the last few feet to the bed. It groaned under their combined weight falling on it, and then there was only the two of them.

  Brandon paused, pulling away slightly, his eyes meeting Thomas’s. Thomas held still, not wanting to move for fear this would pop like a soap bubble. “God, you take my breath away.” Brandon blinked, then tilted his head forward to run his tongue over Thomas’s nipple. He quivered and shook as Brandon sucked and worked the bud until Thomas could barely see straight. “I see someone is sensitive.”

  “Uh-huh….” Thomas gasped as Brandon slowly worked his fingers over his belly and down to his belt. Instead of going where Thomas expected, they veered off to the sides, grazing over his abs, then traveling upward. Damn, that was…. Thomas quivered again, closing his eyes to take in the ripples of unexpected desire. “Don’t stop.” He was like a desert getting the first gentle rain in months, soaking in each drop as it fell. Too much and it would run off, but Brandon knew just what to give. Thomas soaked it in, Brandon refilling what had been cruelly taken away all those years ago. Thomas hadn’t realized how parched his soul was until Brandon slowly began refilling it.

  Thomas closed his arms around Brandon once more, their lips coming together as Thomas slid his hands down Brandon’s rippling back and over his hips and sides until he reached his belt. He opened it between them, fumbling to loosen the catch. Then he parted the fabric and slid his hands under the material and over Brandon’s smooth butt, cupping his cheeks as he pressed him closer.

  Brandon’s hips undulated, and Thomas pressed upward, his cock throbbing in its confinement. Their kissing grew sloppy and rushed. Brandon pulled away, arching his back as Thomas massaged his butt. God, this was heady—raw and uncontrollable. Not that Thomas wanted to try to contain what was happening between them. Each second added a new sensation that grew on top of the last.

  He groaned as Brandon ground against him, hips rolling. Thomas did his best to get some more of Brandon’s clothes off, but he wasn’t having much luck. Brandon sighed and rolled away, shucking his pants in a flurry of kicking legs and feet. Thomas didn’t move as fast, and once Brandon was naked, he slipped Thomas’s pants off before bounding onto him, the mattress bouncing.

  “You have so much energy.”

  “I hope so.” Brandon grinned and kissed Thomas deeply, pressing him into the mattress as a rush of desire raced through Thomas. Holding Brandon was like grabbing a live wire. He was so filled with energy, Thomas wasn’t sure he could compete with it. Not that he needed to, considering Brandon seemed to have enough for the both of them. So Thomas held him tightly, returning his energetic kisses, and got lost in the passion that Brandon exuded in every direction.

  “Damn,” Thomas moaned as Brandon slid down him, lips and hands making trails across his skin, leaving behind a line of fading heat that had Thomas shaking with barely controlled desire. Thomas gripped the bedding, then gave up and let himself ride the waves of passion.

  “What do you like, Thomas?” Brandon wound his fingers around his cock, gripping him tightly, stroking slowly.

  “Brandon,” he whimpered, and instantly wondered where that sound had come from.

  “Thomas.” Brandon leaned closer, their gazes locking. “What makes your head spin and your heart race in your ears?”

  Thomas swallowed hard, unable to breathe. “I want you,” he managed to eke out as his throat dried.

  Brandon leaned over until his lips were right next to Thomas’s. “You want to bury this thick cock inside me? Is that what you want?” he whispered, and Thomas groaned deep in his throat. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

  “Yeah.” Thomas hugged Brandon tight and rolled them on the bed. He loved the way Brandon felt under him, shaking as Thomas let his hands wander over Brandon’s acres of smooth, gorgeous skin covering long, lean muscle. “Sweetheart, you’re stunning beyond belief.” He could barely believe Brandon was here with him, looking at him like he hung the moon. Being the center of Brandon’s attention was mind-blowing. Thomas groaned when Brandon gasped, his pert nipple sliding between Thomas’s fingers. Oh yes, he was worth waiting for. Thomas shifted down to kiss Brandon, smoothing his hands along his sides and hips to cup his ass in his hands.

  “Fuck, Thomas, I want….”

  “Oh yeah.” Thomas slowly rocked back and forth. Brandon wrapped his long legs around Thomas’s waist, and they moved as one. He wondered if he was ever going to get enough of Brandon, then realized he wanted all of him, all at the same time. Thomas couldn’t get enough of him. Every taste made him want more. Every touch, and all he wanted was another. “Me too.” He didn’t want to let go of Brandon, even long enough to get the supplies so he could sink into this hot, gorgeous man with sunshine in his eyes.

  Thomas tried to remember if he had supplies. It wasn’t like he’d expected this, though he probably should have. He stopped, looking toward the bedside table.

  Brandon rolled his eyes and reached to pull the drawer open. “Your assistant was efficient and took care of things for just such an occasion.”

  “Oh, he did, huh?” Thomas reached inside and found the things he needed. “I think I’ll have to remember to thank him. Maybe I can send a thank-you card. I wonder if Hallmark makes ‘thank you for buying condoms’ cards?”

  Brandon smacked his shoulder. “Ass.” He laughed, and Thomas went right along with him. It was amazing to kid and joke while making love. That—and so much more—had been missing from his life.

  “Smarty-pants….” Thomas had to come up with something.

  “More like ‘smarty-no-pants’ at the moment.” Brandon tugged him down into a kiss, and whatever else he was thinking flew from Thomas’s mind. He dropped the lube and condom on the mattress, feasting on Brandon’s sweetness.

  “I think I like Mr. Smarty-No-Pants,” he said, then kissed Brandon once again.

  “Thomas,” Brandon breathed after a few minutes. “I want you. Grab that condom and fuck me. I know you’re being gentle and caring, but I want you, and I want you to roll on that latex and fuck me into next week.”

  Thomas fumbled on the bedding for the condom, found the damned square packet, ripped it open, and rolled it on himself with shaking hands. Once he was sheathed, he found the lube and made sure they were both ready before getting into position, his gaze locked on Brandon, and sliding forward.

  Brandon was gorgeous and the heat surrounding Thomas was incredible, but that was nothing compared to the intense passion burning in Brandon’s eyes. He never looked away, watching Thomas as he sank deeper into hi
m. Brandon wound his arms around Thomas’s neck, holding him close as their bodies connected in the most primal, soul-touching experience of Thomas’s life. His heart warmed, and he realized something so basic and eye-opening after forty years: a connection and emotions mattered. He’d heard that all his life, but he realized he’d never experienced it. He thought he had before, but that was nothing like this. Sex had never been like this before. Thomas listened to Brandon’s breath, his own synchronizing with it just as his body took its cues from him. For a fleeting few seconds, he wondered what he was going to do without this. Thomas pushed that away as the intensity grew between them. Each touch and movement sent him higher and pushed at the last of his control. He wanted this to go on as long as possible, but Brandon was too hot, and the way his skin glistened in the soft light, combined with his intensely sexy scent, pushed Thomas closer to release by the second.

  Thomas waited, watching Brandon’s eyes until they shone and his breath hitched. Brandon stilled and tightened around him, his release wracking him, propelling Thomas over the edge. He held still, not wanting to move, wishing everything could stay as blissful and perfect as this one single moment.

  Chapter 8

  BRANDON FLOATED on cloud nine the next week. Thomas worked but kept what he did to normal hours, and Brandon oversaw the people who came in to clean and took care of whatever Thomas needed during work hours. During the day, they worked professionally, keeping Thomas on schedule and making sure he was ready for his conference calls and other meetings. In the evenings, they went out sometimes or just stayed in and had some quiet time for the two of them. Brandon almost always went home to check on his grandmother rather than staying the night. He didn’t want her to think she’d been abandoned.

  He found one of the neighbor kids to mow the lawn. Harv reminded Brandon of himself at that age, and it turned out he did really good work. The front lawn got mowed when it needed it, and the beds near the house were weeded and looked fresh. There was no grass in the back, just desert landscaping and plenty of outdoor living space, which Harv had weeded and freshened up.

  An entire week without drama….

  “Morning, Marjorie,” Brandon said happily on Monday morning as he got ready to head out to do Thomas’s shopping. “Thomas is in a meeting right now.” He was about to pull the door closed, but paused.

  “I figured as much. He isn’t answering his calls, and I need to speak with him.” Her voice shook, which told Brandon this call was anything but normal. “Blaze has been trying to get in touch with him too, but his phone goes right to voicemail.”

  “He’s on one of the calls on his calendar.”

  “Look, please pop your head in and get his attention. He’ll understand that it’s something important and wrap up the call to find out what you need. If you have to, use my name. He’ll understand.” She really seemed to be at the end of her rope.

  Brandon went back inside. “Hold on.” He set his phone on the table outside the room and poked his head in the office.

  Thomas had his phone on speaker, listening intently. When he looked up, Brandon caught his gaze, and he muted the call. “Yes?” He didn’t sound too happy.

  “Marjorie said to interrupt. Call her, and she said Blaze has been trying to call you too. It sounds really important.” Brandon closed the door and picked up his phone. “I got his attention. What else do you need me to do?”

  She sighed heavily, which was also unlike her. “Be prepared for yelling.” She ended the call, and Brandon set his phone aside, putting off his shopping trip to be close by in case Thomas needed him. Instead, he sat at the kitchen counter, making a list of what he wanted to get done.

  A growl broke the silence, and Brandon jumped. He’d thought Marjorie had been kidding about the yelling, but apparently not. He slid off the stool, heading to the office.

  “You have got to be kidding me! We have all the details documented and ironed out. That little bastard is trying this crap now? I’ll wring his slimy little neck.”

  Brandon had thought to see if he could help, but he returned to the kitchen to stay out of the line of fire. He thought his family was bad…. The anger that rolled out of that office and through the rest of the house was as black as storm clouds.

  “I have the letters of intent right here, and if he thinks he’s going to back out, I’ll sue him for everything he has and drag his name through more mud than a Louisiana flash flood!”

  Quiet followed and hung in the air for a few minutes. Brandon kept expecting another outburst, but the house stayed silent, which rattled his nerves a little.

  “Blaze, you need to play hardball with this guy. I’ll give the lawyers a call, and have Harry and Dean in there. When you have this meeting, I want them flanking you.” Thomas strode into the kitchen and yanked open the refrigerator door so hard, the jars rattled and threatened to fall out. “Where’s the water!” he barked.

  Brandon weaved around him, pushed aside the orange juice, and handed a bottle to Thomas, who stalked back toward his door.

  “If you really think you need me, then I’ll be there. I want this meeting set up for no later than Wednesday morning, but have Marjorie do it and tell her that we’re already preparing a bill for all expenses and delay costs per the letter of intent. Make sure they know that the bill is starting at about twenty thousand and going up by that amount each day. She’ll know how to throw that in to make them panic. Then she can tell them that we can meet on Wednesday morning.” Thomas closed his office door, and Brandon sure as hell didn’t want to be on the receiving end of whatever Thomas had in mind. It sounded pretty ugly.

  Brandon had things he needed to get done for Thomas, and hanging around here wasn’t going to get them accomplished. Thomas seemed ensconced in his office, so he left a note on the counter and hurried outside. He headed right to the grocery store and got a cart. He’d reached the produce section to check out the strawberries that Thomas loved when his phone rang.

  “Hey, Thomas. I’m at the store.”

  “I need you back at the house right away. So drop what you’re doing and come right back,” Thomas said, then hung up.

  Brandon hurried back to the car. He’d taken a chance that he’d be able to get something done, and it looked like all his plans had been thrown up in the air.

  “Brandon.” Thomas met him at the door with the phone still in his hand. “I need you to call Marjorie and have her get us to New York. She’ll know how to make the arrangements. Then go on up and pack me a bag with my best power suits, and get bags packed for yourself. We’ll need to leave as soon as possible, so hurry.”

  “Do you want hotel rooms?”

  “Tell Marjorie that we’ll stay in one of our apartments that’s vacant. The best available.” Thomas walked into his office, and Brandon called Marjorie as he headed for Thomas’s bedroom.

  “Is he coming?” Marjorie asked as soon as she answered the phone.

  “Yes. We need a flight, and he said to get us into one of the vacant apartments. The best one available. He didn’t want to stay in a hotel.”

  “I’ll check and see what there is. The plane is in Denver already, so I just need to make a call. Get him packed, and I’ll get right back to you.” Then she was gone.

  Brandon went to Thomas’s closet and laid out the suits he thought Thomas would look the most intimidating in, along with the rest of the clothes he’d need. He wanted Thomas to review them before he did the actual packing. By the time he was done, Marjorie called back.

  “The plane is set and will be ready in three hours. I don’t have any apartments at the moment, other than some smaller ones that aren’t going to do. I have a suite booked at the Plaza for the two of you.”

  Brandon made notes as Marjorie sent him texts. “I don’t understand why he wants me with him when he’ll have you.” Not that he was complaining.

  “At times like this, it’s complete chaos. I’ll be running everything here. Your job is to make sure everything runs as smoothly with h
im as possible. Just get him ready, put it on the company card, and get him here.”

  “Yes, boss.” He smiled and hung up, hurrying back to the kitchen as Thomas emerged from his office. “I have your clothes on your bed. Please make sure it’s what you want, and I’ll pack it.” He went into Thomas’s office, found his chargers, and plugged everything in so they would be ready.

  “The clothes look great. I added a few things.”

  “Then I’ll pack them, and then I need to run and pack myself. Marjorie said the plane will leave in three hours. So we need to be ready in an hour.” He grabbed his phone and left, calling his grandma, telling her what was happening. She met him at the door and helped him pack.

  “How long will you be gone?” his grandma asked, handing him a couple of brand-new shirts in the packages. “I got these for your birthday next month, but they might be good for you.” She placed them on the bed, and Brandon went through his suits. He had a few, but nothing like the immaculately tailored ones Thomas had. “I like this one.”

  Brandon agreed and packed the dove gray, as well as the deep blue and charcoal ones. He laid out ties and the other clothes he thought he’d need, including casual things in case he ended up running errands for Thomas. Then he packed a garment bag and suitcase and brought them to the living room. “I’ll call you as soon as I get there, and if you need anything, call me or Thomas’s parents. They’ll know where we are and will be able to provide any help you need.”

  She waved away the notion. “I’ll be fine. I spent enough time alone to be able to handle things for a few days.” She hugged him. “Be safe and do a good job.”