Roommates

ROOMMATES

Helen Gabriel

® www.loose-id.com

Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id® e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Roommates Helen Gabriel This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Loose Id LLC 1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-2924 Carson City NV 89701-1215 www.loose-id.com

Copyright © April 2008 by Helen Gabriel All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 978-1-59632-677-4 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Lynne Anderson Cover Artist: April Martinez

www.loose-id.com

Chapter One

Morgan Bryant was tired as fuck as he let himself into his apartment that night. The case he was working on was wearing on his last nerve. They’d catch the perp and soon. It was just a feeling he had. A feeling he had learned to trust over the years. But in the meantime, he had to rest. His keys jingled as he reached over to toss them on the edge of the counter. He tugged money from his front left pocket and his wallet from his back right, dropping both beside his keys. He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on a hook by the door before he realized he wasn’t alone in the apartment. He was so tired -- exhausted, really -- that it took him much longer than it usually would have to register the sound of the dripping faucet in the guest bath. He hadn’t had time to give the super hell about not fixing it, so he’d avoided using it, which was simple enough to do seeing as how it was only him in the two-bedroom, two-bath efficiency. The sound of soft, even breathing came to his ears as he carefully scanned over what he could see of the apartment.

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There was a plastic grocery bag caught in the doors under the kitchen sink, and dishes were drying in the rack. The take-out boxes that normally decorated the couch and coffee table were gone. He sniffed -- whoever his uninvited guest was, he’d vacuumed. The smell of carpet powder lingered in the air, as did the scent of the dryer sheets he occasionally remembered to use when he got around to doing the laundry. Knowing his mom had a key to his apartment and a penchant for dropping in unexpectedly, he left his gun holstered and wandered down the hall to the guest room. The door was pushed to but not latched, allowing him to gently ease it open. The light over the stove was too far away to do him any real good, but he had excellent night vision. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the form on the bed before him, and he wondered if this was how the three bears had felt when they’d wandered home to find Goldilocks. His memory was even better than his night vision but, try as he might, he couldn’t place the man. The very big black man, every bit a match for himself. And at six-four, two hundred and fifty pounds, that was no small feat. The man’s bald head begged to be stroked; the dips and swells of his upper body were visible where they peeked out from under the sheet covering him, drawing Morgan’s gaze to where it draped his lower body. Looking around the room, his gaze caught on the edge of the suitcase visible through the open closet door as well as the two boxes stacked in the far corner. Whoever he was, he planned to stay. Maybe the guy was another hapless target of his mom’s do-gooder nature. Whoever he was, he’d leave fast enough once he realized Morgan was as different from his mom as could be.

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He carefully eased his gun out of his shoulder holster and went to settle into the big chair by the window at the head of the bed. Just in case trouble was following the guy, Morgan figured he’d best watch his back -- figuratively and literally. Muscles clenched in protest as he sank into the lush upholstery, but he resisted the call of his own bed for the moment. The mystery of the man in front of him called too loudly to ignore. Maybe this was the guy his mom had been trying to hook him up with, but he couldn’t wrap his mind around that one, so he let it go. His mom was pushing to see him settled, but even she wouldn’t go so far as to have a man just move in. So, what were his other options? His mom had sent a parolee she met his way once, thinking that if the guy lived under his roof, he’d get his head on right. Unfortunately, she’d muddled her explanation and the guy had thought Morgan needed help of the criminal sort. Too easy, that one. Besides, this man slept too deeply to have ever done time. No two ways about it -- it was the sleep of the innocent, he thought it was called. Slowly he let his mind relax, the cop side of him growing quiet for once. He rolled down, legs braced apart, until his head rested on the back of the chair, with his right hand on the gun against his thigh and his left resting against his belly. The man’s even breathing hypnotized him, breath gently huffing from his slightly parted lips. Those lips alone were a work of art, full and tempting, making him think things he shouldn’t. At least, things he shouldn’t without a proper introduction. Wondering if this was a creation of his overworked brain and undersexed body, Morgan felt his eyelids droop as his breath matched that of the stranger’s. He fought to stay awake, but his body took over and he slept.

*****

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When he awoke it was to the knowledge that someone was staring at him. It was something he hadn’t felt in a long time -- years, even -- so he played possum while he sorted things out in his mind. He remembered the case he was working on. Remembered, too, that it was coming to a head and the bad guy was about to get caught. He felt himself tense as he thought about coming home and what he’d found once he’d gotten there. Here. Wherever. The gun was warm in his hand from where he’d held it all night. And there was an awful crick in his neck from sleeping in a chair instead of in his soft bed. But he pushed his discomfort away and slowly opened his eyes. He sucked in his breath as his gaze locked with that of the man in the bed. He felt the man’s anger battering him across the few feet that separated them and was glad he was the one holding the gun. The man’s gaze dropped to the gun in his hand before once again clashing with his own. He scooted up in the chair, left hand braced on the chair arm for leverage. He froze as he saw the other man tense, hands clenched in the bedding. He watched as the man swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in that strong throat. He had to swallow as well when his mouth flooded with saliva, the desire to go over there and lick almost too strong to resist. Almost. Clearing his throat, he made himself focus on the here and now. “Who the fuck are you?”

Jasper Lawrence felt the tension leave his body at the sound of the gruff voice. Amazing, if you thought about it. Here he was, buck naked, with a gun-toting white man barking questions at him. Just his luck to pick a crazy roommate. Go him.

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Then again, maybe not so amazing after all. As a teacher, he’d dealt with every attitude there was and was no stranger to having a gun pulled on him. Shit. This was supposed to be his summer vacation. A chance to recharge his batteries and make some decisions about his life. Glancing at the man in front of him, his instincts kicked in and he let himself relax back into the pillows behind him, trying to appear as nonthreatening as possible. There was nothing he could do about the look in his eyes, though. Try as he might to bank his anger, he still felt it there if the other man cared to look. Seeing the muscle in the other man’s cheek start to tick, he guessed he’d looked. He let his gaze roam over the other man as he tried to gather his thoughts and decide what to say. Despite being sleep-rumpled, his visitor was damn cute, if off-putting. His thick blond hair stood up in places and his blue eyes were tired and bruised-looking. The man filled up the chair and a half, his solid thighs spread just enough to offer a teasing glimpse at his package. Jasper’s anger faded as he felt a smile tug his lips. The man had a gun on him and he still tried to sneak a peek. Rough start or not, this vacation was long overdue. Maybe he’d find himself some nice young thing to hang out with. Looking at his roommate, he thought he’d be happy enough with some mean old thing to stay in with. Go figure. His nana had always said he had a strange sense of humor. “I’m Jasper Lawrence. Your roommate for the summer,” he said, his gaze once again trailing over the form in front of him. “Or don’t you remember signing the paperwork a month ago…” he paused long enough to see knowledge dawn in the other man’s eyes before adding, “…Morgan.” The flicker of dismay in the other man’s gaze helped to lighten his mood even more.

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“Shit.” “That’s what I gathered from your warm welcome.” “You’re not the same man who brought me the papers.” “Nope. That would have been my real estate agent -- skinny little guy with glasses.” Jasper watched as Morgan closed his eyes, a dull flush rising on his cheeks. “Shit.” He laughed outright at that. “You’re repeating yourself.” He crossed his arms over his chest and wiggled a bit to get more comfortable, raising the knee closest to Morgan in an attempt to hide his morning wood that finally felt safe enough to make its presence known. His timing was as bad as his sense of humor. Man, talk about uncomfortable. He thought about reaching down and giving it a good thump, but then any chance of pretending it wasn’t there would be gone. So he dropped his chin to his chest and waited for Morgan to make his next move. It wasn’t long in coming. The red on his cheeks had faded until only a hint of pink remained and the look in his eyes was guarded as they once again locked gazes.

Morgan holstered his weapon and dropped his head to the back of the chair. It had always amazed him, the calm that filled his being after a major fuckup. That same calm settled over him now and gave him the words he needed to clean up this mess. But Jasper beat him to it. “So it’s not that you came home to a black man in your bed. It’s just that I wasn’t the black man you were expecting.”

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He raised his left hand to rub at the base of his neck where a killer headache was taking root. “Yeah, something like that.” “I signed the sublease --” “It doesn’t matter. If both parties want to break it, that’s that.” “You want me to go, Morgan?” “How’d you --” Seeing Jasper’s raised eyebrow, he stopped and started again. “Oh, the lease. Right.” “Exactly. Now answer my question.” Those black eyes looked at him so hard he was certain they could see all the dark secrets hiding in his soul. Huh. That was almost poetic. Maybe Jasper inspired more than lust in him. “No, I don’t want you to go, but I thought --” Words failed him as he realized he hadn’t scared the guy off. “So, you’ll stay?” “You planning on waking me up like this every morning?” Jasper asked, his tone teasing but his eyes flat. “No, God, no!” he said. He dropped his hands to the arms of the chair and began to rise, wanting nothing more than to crawl into his own bed and try to sleep the memory of this morning away. Morgan stood as Jasper shifted on the bed, the covers catching and revealing an erection that made him ache in a different place. His body leapt to attention, ready to forget about sleep if it could have a chance at Jasper’s fine body. At least, what he could see of it was fine, and he’d bet his next paycheck that the rest of it was a perfect match. He shut his eyes, blocking out the sight before him and fisting his hands at his sides in an attempt to make them behave. As much as he wanted to reach for the other man, he

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doubted his attentions would be welcomed. He fought the reaction of his body, but felt his cock begin to fill anyway. Time to go. Jasper’s voice stopped him as he turned toward the door. “Morgan?” He made his hand curl around the knob before he answered. “Yeah?” “You make one hell of a first impression.” The suppressed laughter in the other man’s voice made the heat rise on the back of his neck again, but he couldn’t blame the guy for wanting to get a little of his own back. He pulled the door shut behind him before pressing his forehead to the cool wood and whispering, “I do try.”

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Chapter Two

Morgan awoke for the second time that day with minutes to spare, prompting him to rush through a shower and a shave before pulling on another suit and running out of his room. He collided with Jasper in the hall, his momentum forcing the other man back a step as his arms swept around to catch Jasper’s head in one hand before it crashed into the wall, the other pulling his waist flush with his own. “Shit!” “You say that a lot around me. Should I take it personally?” Jasper asked, his hands resting lightly on Morgan’s waist. The feel of Jasper’s warm breath against his cheek made him wish for a lot of things, a charming personality among them. “Yes. No! I mean -- shit.” Jasper’s laughter huffed softly against his freshly bared skin. He felt his breath catch in the back of his throat as desire roared through him, catching him off guard.

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He’d wanted for so long that this feeling shouldn’t be such a surprise. But he’d hoped his cock had better sense than to lust after someone he didn’t have a snowball’s chance with. No such luck -- no such sense.

Jasper’s body tightened with awareness as he felt Morgan’s hands against his skin. After he’d gotten up that morning he’d gone out for breakfast and a look around the city before stopping at an office supply store and picking up a bookcase. When he’d gotten home Morgan had still had his door closed, so he’d gone for a run. Feeling Morgan’s rough hands against his sensitive scalp and sweat-moistened side sent every sense he possessed on high alert. As brave as he was, he wasn’t brave enough to push Morgan against the opposite wall and take the kiss his mouth was watering for. Besides, he firmly believed that timing was everything and could tell by Morgan’s quick exit from his room that he had somewhere he needed to be. “Lunch date?” Morgan’s hands flexed on him, the palm cradling his head sending shivers down his spine, his tone distracted and the look in his eyes wanting. “Huh?” Jasper would be a fool to start something with this man, but an even bigger fool to start something with an attached man. “You were in such a hurry I figured you must be meeting someone.” A flash of recognition followed by regret in those blue eyes and then, “Oh, yeah. Gotta run.” This man had welcomed him into his home with a gun. There’s no reason Jasper should be feeling such regret. Jasper let his hands drop to his sides, gently easing away from Morgan’s hands.

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“You’d better go, then.”

Morgan’s hands clung a bit before falling away. “What?” “Better not keep him waiting.” Morgan’s brow furrowed in confusion as Jasper’s words registered. “Him who?” “Your lunch date.” Morgan shook his head and raised his hands toward Jasper once again, but the other man sidestepped him and slipped into his bedroom, leaving Morgan alone in the hall. Right before he shut the door, Morgan stopped him, his hand pushing against the wood. Jasper met his eyes with a question in his own. “Appointment.” “What?” “It’s an appointment. Not a date.” There. Let him stew on that little tidbit, he thought, as he walked down the hall, stopping at the kitchen counter only long enough to fill his pockets and grab his jacket. Jasper’s voice stopped him as he turned toward the door. “Morgan?” Seemed they were making a habit of this. He made his hand curl around the knob before he answered. “Yeah?” “I’m glad.” He jerked his gaze to meet Jasper’s and what he saw there had him break out in a cold sweat. His hand clenched on the doorknob, his self-control demanding he see to his obligations while his body demanded he see to it. Self-control won. Barely.

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He nodded once before letting himself out, pulling the door shut behind him before pressing his hand to the cool wood and whispering, “Me too.”

***** Later, when Morgan had time to think back over his two encounters with Jasper, he understood why some people thought it was possible to die of embarrassment. Lack of sleep had robbed him of his good judgment, it seemed. That, and lack of any sex life to speak of. ’Cause you sure as shit wouldn’t know it based on his earlier performance, but he could be articulate when he chose. In a professional setting, at least. He’d never understood why all his manners and education failed him when it came to his personal life. Every time he found someone who intrigued him, whether it was his body or his mind, he lost all ability to communicate. Unless he was slapping cuffs on them and then, well, it’s not like that was any kind of positive start to a relationship, now was it? At least, not with the intent he usually put behind the action. And if he wasn’t? Then the fact that he couldn’t put two words together in a sentence pretty much torpedoed any chance he might have had. He’d been told he was just too damn intense for most people. He might not be dark and handsome, but he had the tall and quiet down pat. Most of the time that suited him just fine. He enjoyed his own company and had a low tolerance for bullshit. He was content with his life, which is more than he’d expected. Even as a child he’d known he was different. Quiet when others were loud, still when they were bouncing off the walls. He wasn’t psycho baby or anything, just -- different. As he’d gotten older, that feeling of being different was enhanced when he’d realized he was gay. He was lucky in that he’d never felt the need to hide who and what he was. But

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with his natural inclination to keep things to himself, it wasn’t something he’d announced to the world, either. So here he was. Running ragged, chasing down leads and closing in on the sicko terrorizing the city. With a new roommate who just happened to be everything he’d never let himself hope for. Prior to signing the summer sublease, he’d looked into the backgrounds of those who’d applied. It hadn’t been his intention to pick his next bed buddy so much as to weed out the ones he’d been least likely to get along with and go from there. He recalled that Jasper was a high school teacher back home in -- Chicago, was it? A real brainiac; he coached the academic team and the math nerds and still had time to see to his grandmother. He remembered, too, that Jasper usually spent his summers working with kids who needed a bit more attention. And he paid his bills on time, which was almost as important as being sane when it came to picking a roommate. When he’d met the real estate agent thinking he was Jasper, he’d thought they’d rub along well, but man, he’d had no idea just how well until he met the real deal. He still couldn’t get over how laid-back Jasper seemed. Hell, he didn’t know for sure how he’d feel if he awoke to a stranger with a gun. Freaked out at the very least, and definitely unforgiving. Oh, and funny -- the man definitely had a sense of humor. He’d have to remember to say something other than “shit” next time he was around the man. He laughed to himself and wondered if “fuck” counted.

Jasper made the most of Morgan’s absence, putting together his new bookcase and filling it with the items from his two boxes.

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He carried the boxes down to the recycling area tucked away near the front entrance and wandered around the apartment complex a bit, getting his bearings. It was weird, being on his own. For so long it had been just him and Nana but now that she’d passed, it was just him. It didn’t matter what time he got home; there was no one waiting on him to get her medicine. It didn’t matter how far from home he wandered; there would never again be anyone to rush back to. Before he could sink any further into his maudlin thoughts, a butterfly flitted across his path, making him smile. Nana had always said that God told the caterpillars when to make their cocoon, He told them when to emerge, He told them when to fly, and He told them when to die. As a little boy he hadn’t understood his parents’ deaths, but he’d understood that God was in control. Just because Nana had said He was. It had been rough, losing Nana, but he knew she had been ready to go for a long time. Once she’d passed he’d taken a long, hard look at his life and decided he wanted out of the rut he’d gotten in. So as much as he had enjoyed living in the Windy City, he was ready for a change. Big time. He still wanted to teach, but knew a change of scenery would do him good. With the small inheritance Nana had left him, he was able to take a year off from teaching and explore his options. That is, he could afford it if he got a roommate and a part-time job. Still, he’d have plenty of thinking time on his hands. Jasper had always wanted to visit California. If this summer went as planned, he’d finish moving here in the fall and start looking for a teaching job for the next year. And if the schools here were anything like back home, he knew they’d appreciate a substitute teacher with experience in the meantime. He decided to look on the bright side, as Nana had often encouraged him to do, and appreciate what he had right in front of him.

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Looking around, he headed for the clubhouse and was pleasantly surprised to find a real treat -- free weights and exercise machines all neatly arranged in the mirrored room with a little sauna and hot tub near the changing rooms. The pool across the way was clean and inviting, so he decided to take a dip. He went back to the apartment and changed into his swim trunks and sandals before grabbing a towel from his bathroom and heading back out. There were a couple of other people catching some rays, the sounds of a soft rock station soothing in the background. He dropped his towel, keys, and sunglasses onto one of the shaded tables, leaving his shoes tucked under a chair out of the way. As he dived into the deep end, the cool water surrounded him, muting the sounds of the radio. He pushed his body to make lap after lap until every thought, every worry, had left his mind and only peace remained. He then climbed out of the pool, wonderfully spent, and put his sunglasses on before dropping into one of the lounge chairs to rest.

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Chapter Three

The case broke that afternoon. The perp had gotten cocky, thinking he could get away with anything. He had seemed surprised that strangers had intervened, confronting him when he’d tried to take his next victim in broad daylight. It would have been anticlimactic if not for the terror he’d wrought prior to his arrest. But it was over now. Morgan had done what he had to and then been sent home to rest. He knew they’d call him in within the next day or two to help wrap things up, but for now he had firm plans to veg in his comfortably cool apartment and catch up on the soaps his mama had gotten him addicted to. Those plans changed lickety-split once he saw Jasper lounging by the pool. He parked in front of his -- their -- apartment and ran up to change. Much as he wanted to blame his actions on sleep deprivation, he couldn’t. Sure, he was tired, but he was always tired. So he ignored the little voice in the back of his head telling him that this was a bad idea. Making a move on anyone at this particular juncture was just asking for disaster. And making a move on his roommate? Masochistic at best.

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But those two little words -- “I’m glad” -- urged him on, urged him to see where this might lead. He slipped the tube of sunscreen into the back pocket of his swim trunks, grabbed a couple of beers and headed out to the pool, relieved to see Jasper still there. Jealousy came hot on the heels of his relief -- Jasper was talking to one of the hotshot party boys from 3C. Morgan gritted his teeth as 3C clapped Jasper on the shoulder and then squeezed, laughing at something Jasper said. He slowed his steps but continued to approach, willing Jasper to look at him. To his surprise, he did.

Jasper felt someone’s eyes on him and, despite Mr. Free Hands here and the offer he was telegraphing so loud and clear, he knew it was someone else staring at him. He grinned politely at the cute brunet, wishing he’d leave him the hell alone, but unwilling to say as much and offend his new neighbor. Curious, he let his gaze roam over the people he could see, searching for the source. When his gaze fell on Morgan, he smiled and raised one hand to push his sunglasses to the top of his head, taking the opportunity to lean forward and slip out of his neighbor’s grasp. His smile grew bigger when Morgan faltered to a halt, beers held loosely at his sides. Morgan in swim trunks was a sight to behold. Lightly tanned skin, a thick blond pelt in a V, a dusting of hair on his arms and on those long legs. Not to mention those muscles. Someone definitely took advantage of the amenities the little clubhouse offered. Yum. The muscles on his face froze as he felt hands land on his shoulders and start rubbing his back. “Morgan, you’re home early,” Jasper said, raising one hand toward him. “Is one of those for me?”

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Morgan glanced down at the beers in his hands and then looked back at him, taking in the brunet behind him. The hands on his back stilled as the guy said, “You’re with him?” Jasper tried to keep his eyes blank but figured he’d already given away how he felt when the look in Morgan’s changed from questioning to firm. But he was still surprised when Morgan spoke.

“Yeah, he is. Now scram,” Morgan said, handing one of the beers to Jasper. The look of disbelief on 3C’s face was priceless -- absolutely priceless. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. The young man threw his head back and laughed, his hands once again moving over Jasper’s back. Although he knew Jasper tried to act like it didn’t, he could tell that being touched bothered him. Not that his discomfort seemed to register with the kid. He had to wonder why Jasper didn’t make the guy stop -- he was certainly big enough to get his point across, if need be. Still -“Oh, good one.” The kid snorted and snickered, slowly sobering under Morgan’s glare. Not that he could blame the guy. If given a choice between himself and the brunet babe, he’d pick the brunet every time. The kid could be a charmer, that’s for sure. Something Morgan himself envied. But he had given Jasper a choice and Jasper had chosen him. The devil he knew and all that. “Hands off,” he said, putting as much menace into his voice as he could. It worked like a charm -- huh, so he did have some, who’d a thunk it? -- because the kid took his hands off Jasper and took a step back. The kid gave Jasper another once-over before he got an ugly look on his face and opened his mouth to say something. Morgan beat him to the punch.

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“See ya ’round, kid,” he said, watching the kid mosey around the pool and leave through the far entrance. He shook his head before pulling an empty chair toward him with his foot and plopping down beside Jasper, a little patio table conveniently trapped between them. He tried to ignore it, but Jasper was just looking at him, the expression on his face hard to read. “What?” he asked, fighting to keep the belligerence out of his voice. Wondering if he’d misunderstood what Jasper had wanted him to do, he craned his head to look over his shoulder and see if he could spot the kid. “Want me to call him back? Or I could get his number for you, if you want.” “No, no, that’s okay. I appreciate you getting rid of him for me,” Jasper said. He relaxed back in his chair, settling the cool beer on his stomach with one hand and using the other hand to twist the top off. “Not that I mind, but why didn’t you run him off yourself?” he asked, taking a long swig. Jasper dropped his gaze to the beer in his hand before copying Morgan’s movements and taking a drink himself. “I try to avoid violence myself -- a gun in the morning and a fistfight in the afternoon are a bit much for me.” There wasn’t any heat in the words, so Morgan didn’t take offense. He shrugged and took another drink. It didn’t have to get violent, but -- whatever. The kid was gone and he had Jasper to himself. At least for now. He balanced the drink on his belly, dragging his gaze over his new roommate. “So, what did you get up to today?”

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Jasper choked on his swallow of beer when he heard Morgan ask if he’d gotten it up today. He was grateful for his dark complexion that allowed him to hide his embarrassment when he realized otherwise, and for his sturdy build that allowed him to survive the way Morgan pounded him on the back. The beer made it down the right pipe and he held up a hand to urge Morgan back to his seat. “Fine. ’M fine. Really.” “Huh,” Morgan said, looking at him with a frown. “What did you think I said?” He went stone-faced, refusing to answer, but he could see Morgan mull his words over in his head and knew the exact moment when Morgan realized what he had thought he had said because he blushed. This man, a cop with years of experience -- just how many years, he couldn’t recall -could still blush. Incredible. Morgan brought his beer to his lips, his tongue darting out to touch the rim, before looking at it and quickly setting it on the table beside them. It had been so long that his laughter caught him by surprise. Once it burst forth, though, there was no stopping it. Soon enough, Morgan’s laughter joined his own. Morgan started to sink lower in the chair and jerked, sitting up abruptly. He reached back before tossing something on the table. “What’s that?” “Sunscreen.” Looking over, he saw that Morgan was already turning a light pink. Whether from embarrassment or from the short time he’d been in the sun he didn’t know, but it was obvious he’d need to make use of the lotion if he stayed out much longer.

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“Hey, if you need help applying it, I’m sure Mr. Free Hands would be glad to help,” he teased. Morgan looked startled for a minute, then -“Mr. Free Hands, huh? Not just no, but hell, no. Anyway, I brought it for you.” It was his turn to be surprised. “Me? I don’t --” “You most certainly do. I don’t recall all the whys and wherefores, but I’ll be sure to have Mama give you a call while you’re here and enlighten you.” He glanced once again at his dark skin and tried to bite back his snort, to no avail. “Enlighten me, huh? I don’t think it works that way.” Morgan grinned but kept silent, giving Jasper a chance to marvel uninterrupted. Now that he was no longer being accosted by his new neighbor, he wiggled a bit to get comfortable, taking a long drink from his beer and enjoying the sight of his new roommate. “So, how’d your lunch date go?” he asked, intrigued by the blush he could see making its way up Morgan’s chest. He quirked an eyebrow and waited him out. Morgan shifted and glared before finally answering him. “What was that? You’re mumbling,” Jasper said, settling in for a good round of verbal sparring. Considering Morgan’s tongue-tied state, it wasn’t quite fair. But, what the hell. Morgan glared a bit more, then, “Wasn’t a date.” “Oh. I misunderstood. It was a working lunch.” “Yeah. Exactly,” Morgan said, his relief apparent. “So how many were there?” Sensing a trap -- smart man that he was -- Morgan’s look of relief was replaced by one of wariness. “Two.” “You and two others. Cozy,” he said, hiding his grin by taking a drink of his beer.

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“No. Not two others. Two. Me and somebody else.” He let his brow furrow in confusion, playing the conversation for all he was worth. “Just you and one other person?” Morgan nodded but remained silent. “Sounds like a date to me.” “It was a woman.” He laughed out loud at that. “It’s sounding more and more like a date. Where did you eat? At a fast-food restaurant or a sit-down one?” Morgan was back to glaring at him -- ho boy! -- silently. “Hmm. I’ll take your silence to mean you didn’t eat at Mickey Dee’s. Let me get this straight” -- and wasn’t that hard to say? -- “you met a woman for lunch at a quiet sit-down restaurant, but it wasn’t a date? Somehow, I find that hard to believe.” Try as he might, he couldn’t keep his shit-eating grin off his face any longer. When Morgan didn’t add his smile to the mix, Jasper’s slipped. “This was all a game, wasn’t it?” Morgan asked, his voice devoid of any emotion. And seeing how they’d only met this morning, he didn’t know him well enough to interpret the look on his face. “I was just kidding around, Morg --” he began, only to stop when he realized Morgan’s back was unlikely to care what he had to say. He sat there for a moment, watching Morgan walk away before grabbing up the sunscreen, towel, beer, and keys and chasing after him.

Morgan felt ten times a fool as he stomped away from Jasper’s grinning form. He hated -- absolutely hated -- playing games. He took things too seriously, but dammit, that’s what made him who he was.

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His heart had leapt when Jasper had brought up his lunch date -- appointment, dammit! He’d been so sure the other man was genuinely interested and maybe even just a tad jealous. But no. He’d been yanking his chain and poking fun. Shit. He’d rather Jasper just poke him, but that obviously wasn’t going to happen. Not if the man saw him as one big joke. A humorless joke at that, the way he’d stomped off like a little kid with his feelings hurt. He was certain Jasper would leave now. He was no prize when it came to roommates -gun-loving, cuss-happy, always in a hurry. Shit. He wouldn’t room with himself if he didn’t have to. Oh well. Better go call his real estate agent and have him start looking for a new roommate for him. And this time he was going to stay out of the whole process. All he’d managed to do this time around was fuck things up. Or not. And wasn’t that just his problem?

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Chapter Four

Jasper thought about taking his time so Morgan would have a chance to cool down, but decided it would be best to clear things up before Morgan had enough and replaced him. Begin as you mean to go on and all that. So he hustled after Morgan, dropping towel and all on the coffee table before searching the other man out. “Morgan?” He heard Morgan’s rumbly voice coming from behind the closed bedroom door, tapping once before poking his head in. As if in a dream, Morgan’s words were slow to register. But when they did, he reacted in real time. “-- not going to work out, so if you’d run the ad again I’d appreciate it,” Morgan said, leaning one hip against his dresser, his back to Jasper and his chest reflected in the mirror. Jasper reached around Morgan and yanked his cell phone free, closing it with a snap before tossing it on the dresser.

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Morgan jerked around to face him, opening his mouth to no doubt ream him a new one, but he didn’t give him the opportunity. He grabbed Morgan by the shoulders and pulled him in tight, slamming his mouth against the other man’s and -- bam. Nothing. No words, only the sound of their combined breathing. At first Morgan stood stiffly in his arms, no doubt thinking this was another joke meant to wound. But, oh God, please.

Don’t let me be in this thing alone, he begged. Jasper ran his hands around Morgan’s back, gripping at the other man’s sweatdampened skin and then soothing it before gripping again. Finally, thank you, God, finally Morgan reacted, one hand going up to cradle his smooth head while the other dropped to grip his ass, firmly kneading the flesh he held. Hungry, he thought. Baby, you have no idea. The pull of their lips and teeth and tongues as they fought for control of the kiss was heart-stoppingly amazing. The taste of Morgan was a heady thing, salt and hops and uniquely his. His mouth watered for more so he put the extra slick to good use, sliding his mouth along Morgan’s jaw as they gasped for air before going back for another taste. Jasper moaned as Morgan started to run his hands over him, tracing the lines of muscle he found before retracing them with his mouth. His wet trunks clung to him, wrapping his dick in a wet kiss that made him moan. He pressed his hips tight to Morgan’s, seeking out the other man’s heat and finding it. Carefully he rubbed their chests together, their sweat-slicked skin gliding together smoothly as Morgan’s chest hair scratched across his nipples. Jasper arched his head back at the sensation, a rough groan leaving his mouth. The bump and glide of their hips increased, the pressure pleasantly unbearable. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer -- it had been too long and this felt too good -- but he wanted to be lying down when he came. “Wait,” he said, trying to push Morgan to the bed, but Morgan resisted, working his hands down Jasper’s body and into his trunks.

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“You want me to stop?” Morgan asked, his hands stilling on his ass. “No, but the bed --” he began, only to lose all ability to speak when Morgan began to run one finger around his hole. “Oh, God.” “No, just Morgan,” the other man said, slipping the tip of his finger inside Jasper’s heat. “Come for me. Let me feel you fuck my finger.” The hands gripped, the finger teased, Morgan spoke, and he came. “Morgan!” Jets of cum pulsed from him as he hung in Morgan’s arms. He moaned deeply when Morgan eased his finger out of him, then rested his forehead on Morgan’s shoulder.

Morgan couldn’t believe it. One minute he’d been talking about finding a new roommate and the next he’s about to come all over the one he already has. Huh. He didn’t sense any hurry to end things on Jasper’s part, so he settled his weight more comfortably against the other man, wondering how Jasper would react to a bit of snuggling. Glancing in the mirror hanging over the dresser, he was pleasantly startled by the contrast of his white hands against Jasper’s dark back. Resting his chin on Jasper’s shoulder, he watched with interest as his fingers flexed and relaxed. The feel of the other man’s soft skin under his hands was something he could get used to -- and quick. His mind told him to tread carefully while his heart told him not to fuck this up, which was ironic, really, because that’s exactly what he wanted to do. Fuck Jasper in the nicest possible way. “Oh, yeah,” he said, cautiously rubbing his still hard dick against Jasper.

Jasper finally gathered his wits enough to realize Morgan was still hard. He forced himself to relax one hand where it gripped Morgan’s shoulder so he could slide it down Morgan’s back and around his side before pushing into the elastic waistband of his trunks.

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All the while Morgan stood frozen in his arms, barely breathing, until he wrapped his hand around Morgan’s hard cock. Morgan’s grip on his ass tightened at the same time Morgan’s arms shook and his hips began thrusting into Jasper’s sure grip. The thin skin of Morgan’s dick felt stretched to the bursting point and drops of precum eased his way. Carefully he teased Morgan’s earlobe with his teeth before licking a path to the base of his neck where it joined his shoulder. Morgan’s movements grew frantic as Jasper slowly drew his lips back from his teeth. Jasper caressed him once, lightly scraping Morgan’s skin before licking it gently, and then bit down and began to suck. “Agh! Jasper!” Morgan’s thrusts continued to gain strength as cum shot from his body. Jasper started to lose his balance and he found himself pushed against the dresser, Morgan leaning heavily against him. Cum coated his hand and his crotch, and his wet shorts were starting to chafe. But none of it mattered. He’d just found heaven with the roommate from hell.

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Chapter Five

A couple of weeks later, they’d fallen into a pattern of sorts. Morgan went about his days making sure the net around the perp was secure, which involved tedious procedural stuff that escaped Jasper for the most part. And Jasper played house. At least that was how it was starting to feel. He’d taken over the cooking, laundry, dishes, trash, and notifying the super as needed. Say bye-bye to the leaky faucet. It wasn’t that he minded doing those things, exactly. They had to be done, and Morgan just didn’t have time for them right now. He came home exhausted with barely enough energy to snuggle with him on the couch and catch a movie -- or part of one, at any rate. Which explained why they still slept in separate beds -- Morgan needed his sleep. So Jasper kept the apartment squeaky clean, found time to rest and exercise as the mood struck him, and realized he was slowly going out of his mind. This time last year he’d been well into teaching a summer session for the kids at his school. Now, through his own actions, he had no school. Which explained why he was camped out on the couch with a copy of the classifieds and a marker in hand when Morgan came home.

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He hadn’t heard Morgan’s key in the lock, so intent was he on circling the ad that had caught his attention -- EXPERIENCED TUTORS WANTED -- but he definitely heard the door snick into place. The soft sound caused him to jump -- he hadn’t been expecting Morgan home for several more hours yet -- and he marked through half the column of ads next to the one he was interested in instead. “Shit!” he said, feeling his muscles relax as he recognized Morgan standing by the door. Morgan laughed, the sound soft and tired. No surprise there. “You’re starting to sound like me.” Jasper pretended to grump, earning a smile for his efforts. “Maybe I’ll have to rethink this” -- he gestured with his hand between the two of them -- “situation, then. Can’t have you being a bad influence on me. Have to do what’s best for the children, you know.” Morgan finished emptying his pockets and shrugged out of his blazer, tossing it over the arm of the couch. He turned, giving Jasper his full attention, a stern expression on his face. “A bad influence? Me?” he asked, slowly reaching down and taking the section of newspaper, carefully capping the marker, and tossing the lot onto the coffee table. He paused as though considering Jasper’s statement, and then shook his head and smiled again. “Nah…” Jasper rested his head against the back of the couch, more than willing to see where Morgan wanted to take their flirtation. He felt a silly grin tugging at his lips and allowed it to slip out, past the stage of worrying about what Morgan would think. Not that he didn’t want Morgan to think well of him so much as he knew Morgan

would always think well of him, even if confronted with evidence to the contrary. It was weird, almost, how well they knew each other. He’d never clicked with someone so well or so fast.

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Others might experience this and worry about it being real, so intense was this feeling between them, but he and Morgan just knew. They had something good and they were going to see where it went. His body knew where it wanted to go, at any rate. What with Morgan’s work keeping them apart while he and his department tied up their loose ends, it had kept things pretty tame between them. Neither of them was inclined to rush through their first time together. Well, their first time in a bed, to be more specific. Of course, they’d already had a first time in the bedroom doorway -- as a first, it still rocked on his Morgan’s Moves list. Then there was their first shower together -- the things that man could do with a little soap and water were amazing. And then there was their first necking session on the couch while some weird western comedy played in the background. To say they’d been more into each other than the movie was an understatement. Jasper’s train of thought abruptly derailed as Morgan propped his hands on the couch beside Jasper’s head and leaned down, staring intently at Jasper’s mouth. Instinct and the devil on his shoulder had him licking his lips and remembering how Morgan kissed. Like it wasn’t just a means to an end but an end in and of itself. The man could kiss for ages and never acted like it was a chore to be done before moving on to the next item on his list. Morgan stopped with his lips a breath away from Jasper’s own. Jasper knew if he licked his lips right then, he’d be licking Morgan’s too. He started to do just that, but Morgan pulled back just enough to stop him. The sound that escaped him was somewhere between a whimper and a groan.

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He raised his eyes to Morgan, knowing they would speak for him. Please and now and

why not? all there for Morgan to see. Seeing Morgan’s answer in his eyes, Jasper forced his hands to let go of the cushions and made his head rest against the back of the couch once again. He slowly trailed his hands up Morgan’s thighs, caressing the trembling muscles before gliding his hands along his hips and bringing them to rest on his waist. He gently squeezed with his fingers, wanting Morgan to feel his hold but not be hurt by it. They didn’t mind getting a little rough, but neither of them was into pain. A little bruising from a too tight grip and a few love bites were another thing, though, so Jasper didn’t hesitate to tighten his grip a bit more before jerking Morgan down to him and claiming the kiss his mouth was watering for. Morgan’s groan met his own as their mouths ground together, lips and teeth and tongues vying for dominance. Jasper spread his legs as much as he could, making room for Morgan to bring one knee to rest between them on the edge of the couch. Jasper missed a beat in the kiss, having to break away and steal a breath at the feel of Morgan’s strong leg rubbing against his cock through his shorts. But Morgan was merciless, resting his weight on one hand and using the other to wrench Jasper’s mouth back to his own. When he was satisfied that Jasper wouldn’t jerk away again, he began to rub his hand along Jasper’s bare scalp, giving an extra caress to the area just behind his ear and at the back of his neck and sending goose bumps down Jasper’s arms. Jasper climbed his hands up Morgan’s back, clutching his dress shirt before tugging it free from his slacks and slipping his hands under it. Morgan’s skin was soft, so soft, but his muscles were hard and fit, making it all Jasper could do to fight off his orgasm.

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He wanted to lie Morgan down and strip him bare before rubbing his naked body all over with his own. Just the thought of it sent tingles down his spine and caused a warmth to surge in his balls. “Not yet,” Morgan growled, dropping his free hand to grab Jasper’s dick in a firm grip, staving off his orgasm for him. He rested his forehead against Morgan’s, once again opening his eyes to stare at his lover. A weak grin tugged at his lips and air bellowed through his lungs. Those blue eyes stared into his own, seeing his thoughts and secrets and fears all at once. From what Morgan had told him, Jasper knew others had been put off by his quiet intensity; for Jasper, though, it was the biggest kind of turn-on. To have someone you were into be so obviously into you. It was a rush unlike anything he’d ever known. And he’d do anything to keep it. “Hey,” he finally got out, his dick still hard but the desire to come backed down a notch. Morgan’s eyes smiled, but the muscles in his face didn’t move. “Hey, yourself.” He continued to hold Jasper’s dick in his hand, his grip firm even though his arms trembled. “Better?” Jasper wondered if the love he felt for this man was evident in his own eyes but knew he wouldn’t hide it even if he could. “Yeah, much better now that you’re home.” The corner of Morgan’s mouth twitched at that and Jasper knew he was pleased that he thought of their apartment as home. “So is this a just a ‘glad to see you, gotta run’ kiss or a ‘I have a few hours, let’s fill them up’ kiss?” Jasper asked. The grin that stole over Morgan’s face made Jasper suck in his breath while his words gave them back in a rush. “I have a few hours. Wanna fuck?”

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At the word ‘hours’ Jasper was pushing Morgan back and standing up. By the word ‘fuck’ he’d already dragged Morgan halfway toward the bedrooms, Morgan’s low laugh teasing across the back of his neck. An uncharacteristic moment of indecision hit him in the hall. He froze, Morgan snaking his arms around his waist and pulling him back against his chest. “What’s the holdup, hmm?” he asked, nuzzling against Jasper’s neck. Jasper had to swallow a couple of times before he could get his tongue to work properly once again. “I’ve got stuff in my room, but your bed’s bigger,” he said, not ashamed to reveal that he’d prepared for just this eventuality. “That’s not all that’s bigger,” he said, then laughed as Jasper bristled at his words. “I meant, the bathroom off my room is bigger.” Jasper chuckled to himself as he pushed open the door to Morgan’s room. Somehow stepping over the threshold steadied his nerves and lent a solemnity to their actions. He reached for the button on his shorts but Morgan’s hands grabbed his own, stopping their motion. “Wait,” Morgan said. With one hand he turned Jasper to face him while the other pushed the door closed. He reached out and took Jasper’s hands in one of his own. Morgan’s throat worked as he looked intently into Jasper’s eyes, but no words came out. Morgan started to drop Jasper’s hands and turn away, but Jasper wouldn’t let him. Jasper tightened his grip on Morgan’s hands and stepped up against them, resting chestto-chest at the end of the bed. He looked into Morgan’s blue eyes and wished for a moment that he were an artist so that he might describe the beauty he saw there. A soft smile broke across his face, and he saw Morgan relax and nod slightly, acknowledging that no words were needed to recognize how special this thing was between them.

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The heat from earlier hadn’t gone away, only been banked for a time. Jasper released Morgan’s hands and wrapped his arms around his lover, sliding his hands up Morgan’s thick forearms and hard biceps and letting them rest cupped around his shoulders. He pulled Morgan harder into him, forcing even the air to give way to them. He tilted his head a bit, lining up their lips and settling in for a soft kiss. He unbanked the fire within and slowly let it build until they were once again biting at one another’s lips and chins, the scratch of their afternoon beards teasing and pleasing at the same time. He had to take a step back to fight Morgan’s buttons free of their holes, a simple task made difficult by Morgan’s refusal to let Jasper back up enough to create space to move. When Jasper had enough of the top buttons undone he started tugging the shirt and undershirt over Morgan’s head, finally forcing the other man to give way or become trapped in his own clothes. Not that Jasper would have minded having Morgan bound and at his loving mercy, but he was eager to be touched and caressed during their first time together. Eager to feel Morgan’s agile fingers, rough with calluses, grip his ass -- when had Morgan slipped his hands inside his shorts? Oh, God, he thought, dropping his head back on his neck to give Morgan better access to his throat and the join between his head and shoulder. The shirts slid silently through his fingers, coming to rest at their feet. Some small part of his brain was cognizant of the fact that his hands were once again free of any encumbrance, allowing him to raise his hands and slip his fingers through Morgan’s blond locks. He felt drugged, sluggish, unable to control his movements as he’d like, his only focus Morgan and what he was doing to him. He blinked slowly, his gaze roaming over the pocked ceiling, the slow-moving fan drawing his attention for a moment before his gaze dropped to rest on the bed.

Oh, yeah, bed.

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It took every bit of willpower he had to drag Morgan’s mouth off of him and to still his own slow-thrusting hips. Morgan was strong and determined -- it would take more than pulling his hair to redirect his efforts. “Morg, bed,” he finally managed to croak just as Morgan slipped the tip of one finger to play along the crease of his ass. “Oh, God.” He whimpered a bit, loving the feel of Morgan playing with his ass, thoughts of the king-size bed and what they could do on it drifting away. The floor wouldn’t be so bad, he tried to convince himself, carpet burns heal after a bit. Then -- thank God -- Morgan turned toward the bed, never letting up on his assault of Jasper’s neck and ass, a careful grinding of chest against chest, hips against hips, cocks rubbing through their clothes. Morgan eased back enough to free Jasper’s shorts and let them drop at their feet. He carefully guided Jasper onto the bed, standing for a second at the end of the bed and just staring at him.

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Chapter Six

Morgan never took his gaze off of Jasper’s prone form as he slowly pulled his belt free of his slacks before letting it slide to the floor. He didn’t have to look down to undo the pants and lower the zipper, pushing pants and undershorts to puddle on his shoes. Shit! He still had his shoes on. He huffed a chuckle as he carefully toed off one shoe and then the other before dispensing with his socks as well. Morgan looked at the man splayed on the bed in front of him, almost overcome by his feelings. Feelings! Him! He’d never thought he’d fall for someone as hard as he’d fallen for Jasper. Was still falling, in fact. The man amazed him. The nuances of his character fascinated him, made him want to learn more and then more still. He’d never tire of this man. Never. His past bed partners -- nameless fucks for the most part -- had twitched and squirmed under his silent perusal. Not Jasper. No, the man just ate it up. Jasper had one leg bent at the knee, doing amazing things to his cock as his leg muscles shifted and bunched, causing his cock to bob and weave a bit on his belly, leaving wet kisses

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behind. He had one arm propped behind his head, the other leisurely stroking his chest and belly. “Damn, you’re fine,” he said, surprising himself with the growly quality of his voice. Jasper just grinned. “Ditto.” Morgan started to feel like a kid at the dessert buffet -- not sure where to start but certain he’d like it all and have room for seconds and thirds besides. “Fuck.” He wasn’t even aware he’d spoken out loud until Jasper replied, “That’s what we’re doing.” Jasper indicated the space between them with his eyes, dragging them down his own form before slowly tracking his gaze up the length of Morgan’s body. “But I think you need to be a little closer.” “Yeah,” he said, propping one knee on the bed and bringing his weight to rest on his hands beside Jasper’s hips. He started to bring his other knee onto the bed before he froze and reversed back off the bed. Jasper’s grin faltered into a frown. “What?” Morgan just shook his head, complex words beyond him. “Stuff,” he growled, going to the bedside table and yanking open the drawer. He’d cracked the lube open and removed the cellophane from the box of condoms before placing them in the drawer so they were ready to go. And so was he. God, so was he. But he also knew Jasper got him so wound up he forgot himself, and he didn’t want to ever do anything to endanger this man. So, stuff first, fooling around second. Tests third. No, talking third, tests fourth. Aw, hell. Enough. Jasper first. That should cover it. He chuckled to himself at this own pun before tossing the stuff onto the bed beside Jasper and crawling onto the bed himself. He tucked the stuff under the pillow so it would be at hand but not in the way, and carefully placed one hand behind Jasper’s head, trapping Jasper’s own hand between

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Morgan’s palm and the back of Jasper’s head. Morgan placed his other hand gently against Jasper’s far side, running his thumb around the sensitive crease where leg meets hip. He settled one leg under him, resting his weight on it before ever so slowly bringing his other knee up between Jasper’s legs to gently nudge his balls. Morgan breathed deep, inhaling the wonderful scent of his lover -- sweat and musk and soap. He leaned down and ran his tongue along Jasper’s sternum, tasting salty man and that special something that was Jasper’s own. Jasper’s hand flexed where it was trapped beneath Morgan’s so Morgan gripped it harder, ensuring the other man couldn’t get free. He rose up to look Jasper in the eyes, a question on his tongue that remained unvoiced. “It’s all good,” Jasper said, relaxing once again into Morgan’s hold. He grinned a bit, easing the tension that had flared up at the base of Morgan’s skull. “What else you got, copper?” Morgan grinned back, flicking his gaze down Jasper’s body before letting it rest on his crotch. For the longest time -- an eternity for either man -- he just looked while his thumb continued to caress Jasper’s hip and his other hand continued to hold Jasper’s own prisoner. Morgan felt his eyelids grow heavy and his breathing deepen. Looking at Jasper’s cock made his mouth water and his own cock leak in sympathy. He felt the other man begin to tremble, desire drawing his muscles into a finely tuned tension. He waited until the tension almost -- almost -- snapped before releasing hip and hand, wrapping his arms around shoulders and hips and pressing them together from head to toe, taking Jasper’s mouth in a fierce kiss that would surely leave them sore the next day. His mouth was ravenous, lips tugging at lips, teeth grazing cheek and chin, tongue pulling at Jasper’s own, drawing it into his mouth where he sucked it and sucked it, wishing it were Jasper’s dick and knowing the other man knew his thoughts.

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With a heartfelt groan he eased his hold, not letting Jasper go but allowing him to breathe on his own once again.

Jasper couldn’t think, his mind overwhelmed with Morgan. Anyone who’d had this and let it go -- God, he wanted to find them and thank them, and at the same time never tell a soul so he could keep it all to himself. He’d never been so moved by a look before. Sure, he’d been turned on -- and occasionally turned off -- by a look, but never had he had to fight to keep from coming just because someone looked at him. But what a look. He’d felt his flesh quiver as though being caressed by a hand and not just by a gaze. His cock had throbbed, begging Morgan to touch it with more than just his eyes. Now that he had free use of his hands again, he buried one in the blond hair on Morgan’s head and the other in the darker blond hair at the base of Morgan’s cock. It was Morgan’s turn to freeze. Jasper took that for the positive sign that it was and continued combing his fingers through the strands, savoring the soft hair on Morgan’s head and the coarser hair that trailed from Morgan’s root to the edge of his thighs. Jasper finally wrapped his hand around Morgan’s cock, causing the other man to melt and drop his head to Jasper’s shoulder. “Please. God, Jasper,” he said, his words soft and moist against Jasper’s skin. “Anything, Morgan. What do you want?” Morgan stilled before slowly raising his head to look Jasper in the eyes. Jasper watched him swallow a couple of times, struggling to get his words out. “I want,” he began, only to pause and lick his lips. Jasper bumped his nose against Morgan’s, the rest of him -- chest, hips, hands, and legs in a holding pattern, waiting for a word from Morgan. “What do you want?”

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“God, I -- I want to fuck you,” he said, running his words together and almost sighing out the last two. Taking a page from Morgan’s book he replied, “Good.” Morgan stilled for a bit before smiling slightly and gently easing their sweaty skin apart. One hand snaked up and snagged the stuff tucked under the pillow while the other levered himself up and back from Jasper. He dexterously slipped the condom on, hissing between his teeth as the latex caressed his swollen flesh. Jasper held still while Morgan maneuvered himself between his legs. Jasper figured if Morgan wanted him to roll over, he’d say. Well, being Morgan, he’d probably just roll him over. Morgan caught the small smile that slipped across his lips and stilled, raising a brow in question. Jasper just shook his head. Morgan shrugged and went back to coating his fingers with lube. Jasper felt his flesh tighten in anticipation of those thick fingers breaching his opening and gasped as the first one teased his hole. Morgan raised his gaze from his fingers to Jasper’s eyes, seeming to capture and catalog each expression that crossed Jasper’s face. Jasper wondered at what he saw -- would he know his gasp meant yes, that his sigh meant more? Would he recognize the love in his eyes? Would he understand that his groan meant it’s been a while and not that he should stop? Morgan seemed to nod his head just the slightest bit before sinking his finger all the way in. Jasper’s ass clenched and flexed around the invading digit, fighting to pull him in deeper and fighting to push him out all at the same time. Finally his muscles quivered in surrender and relaxed. That must have been what Morgan was waiting for, because he took the opportunity to slip a second finger in alongside the first. Jasper’s heels pushed into the mattress as he fought to accept his lover into his body. He wanted this, God, he wanted this. But it had been so long. Years, even.

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He was afraid Morgan was going to pull out and say to hell with it, let’s get on with it. But he should have known better. Instead, Morgan moved his free hand from Jasper’s hip to rest on his belly, caressing the tense muscles into acquiescence. A sigh eased from between his parted lips at Morgan’s gentle touch. “Okay?” “Yeah,” he said, and started to leave it at that. But -- “Thanks.” Morgan’s eyes once again met his and the look in them said more than any words. “Anytime.” Morgan slowly fucked him with two fingers, preparing the way for something harder, thicker, and longer to take their place. It seemed like hours had passed since they’d begun this dance, the leading and following, twists and turns, give and take of lovemaking. It was exquisite. Because it was with Morgan. “I --” For a change, words deserted him and he just shook his head. Morgan looked at him again, that way that he had, and said, “I know, Jaz. Me, too.” Jasper nodded and released the breath he’d been holding as Morgan slipped free.

Morgan had never felt this connection with a lover before. Hell, he’d never even thought of the others as lovers, nor even considered a connection or lack of one. He coated his dick with the remaining lube on his fingers and centered himself at the entrance to Jasper’s body. His body clamored for him to sink balls deep and ride it out, but he couldn’t. Not until he was sure Jaz was ready. He looked from where their bodies touched, letting his gaze linger here and there, taking in Jasper’s ripped physique and ebony skin. Finally he looked his lover in the eye and saw the answer before he ever asked the question.

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Morgan lunged forward just as Jasper arched up, meeting in a fierce kiss just as their bodies began to join. He knew it had been a while for Jasper and forced himself to take his time, no matter how Jasper panted and moaned under him. Bracing his weight on one hand by Jasper’s head, he used the other to stroke every inch of skin within reach. Being a big man with long arms made that a lot of skin. He sank the first inch in, rubbing Jasper’s scalp and gliding over the spot behind his ear. Another inch in and he slowly drew his hand down Jasper’s neck, gently flexing against the tense muscles he found there. Another and he paused, digging his fingers into the tight muscles of Jasper’s shoulder and upper arm before continuing on and in. The needs of his body began to take over the demands of his mind. He surged in another inch, his free hand manacling itself around Jasper’s wrist and dragging it over his head where he slipped his fingers around Jasper’s own. He sank the rest of the way in just as they meshed palm-to-palm. A gasp escaped him at the incredible feeling of joining with this man. Once would never be enough. Hell, that wasn’t news to him. He’d known that before they’d even started. Morgan opened his eyes, unable to recall when he’d closed them, and found his face buried in Jasper’s neck, his tongue licking a lazy drop of moisture from Jasper’s skin. Taking a deep breath, Morgan eased his weight back enough for him to check Jasper’s expression.

Jasper flexed his fingers still caught in Morgan’s grip, needing to move but too well pinned by Morgan’s weight to do much more than that. Morgan’s scent surrounded him, his taste a temptation on his tongue. The feel of his ass beneath his free hand was amazing, the muscle quivering in anticipation. He knew what Morgan was searching for just as he knew when Morgan found it. He knew because that was when Morgan began to pull out.

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Another time he might be ashamed by the whimper that left his lips, but not now. No, now he was too intent on the drag of Morgan’s furred stomach across his pinned cock. And on the hard glide of Morgan’s dick in his ass. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve this, but was oh so glad he had. He lifted his legs to surround Morgan’s heavy form as best he could, using his hand on his ass to urge him on. A few strokes later, Morgan paused and seemed to gather himself. “Ready?” he asked, his voice more a low growl than an actual word. Jasper arched his neck and slightly adjusted his weight before nodding in answer. That was when Morgan began pounding him. Hard and heavy and deep, rasping along tissues inside and his dick outside. Jasper knew he’d never be the same. If he hadn’t known it the moment he’d laid eyes on the man, he would have realized it now. With Morgan’s weight and strength moving his own so effortlessly, the push and pull of two bodies struggled for that one blinding moment of ecstasy. He groaned as Morgan hit the hot spot inside him. “There!” And heard Morgan laugh once in reply. As he drew closer to the peak, he panicked. His mind wanted fulfillment, but his body fought to escape, sensing danger the rest of him denied. It seemed as though his lips moved of their own accord. “No, no, no,” over and over again. His free hand pushed at Morgan’s hips while his trapped hand struggled to be free. Morgan froze above him. “Oh, fuck, Jasper. What’s wrong?” His head shook from side to side. “I don’t know. Help me, Morg. Please.”

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Helen Gabriel

He could feel Morgan looking at him, but somehow he couldn’t manage to open his eyes in return. Suddenly his hand was free but his dick was surrounded. Morgan ground his mouth down on Jasper’s own at the same time Morgan began tugging at Jasper’s cock. Morgan’s last thrust had left him rubbing against that spot inside Jasper and continued to just rest there, teasing bumps and nudges brought about by the force of Morgan’s hand on Jasper’s rod. He came, feeling the edges of his consciousness dim as he peaked. “God, you’re beautiful,” Morgan said, his breath whispering against Jasper’s lips before once again claiming him in a soul-stealing kiss. Just as Jasper came down from his high, he felt Morgan begin thrusting again.

Part of Morgan recognized Jasper’s panic for what it was -- recognition that this was more than a simple, meaningless fuck. He’d thought about stopping -- no way did he ever want to do anything to hurt Jasper. But when Jasper had begged him for his help, he’d realized what was happening. An ingrained instinct to protect oneself from harm. Not that he’d been hurting Jasper; more like Jasper’s body and mind had realized he had the power to do that and more. Hell, he’d felt the same a time or two in the past couple of weeks. The need to nip things in the bud before they really got going. But he just couldn’t make himself do it. In a sense, it had begun the moment they’d set eyes on each other. Morgan felt Jasper’s body ripple its release around his dick. It took everything in him not to follow. But he wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot. So as Jaz came down, Morgan geared up. He slid his hand covered in cum down Jasper’s back until his fingers grazed where they joined.

Roommates

45

He kept his weight-bearing arm planted next to Jasper’s head and began thrusting again, pulling Jasper up to meet him each time he thrust down. Jasper slowly came back to life under him, dragging his tongue down Morgan’s throat and using his hands to grasp Morgan’s hips. Jasper was like a fucking drug -- it only took a little the first time to get that tingle in his balls going, but the next thrust had to be harder, deeper, faster to get the same result. It was like he’d stalled out, plateaued; even though his hips kept moving, it stayed just beyond his reach. Morgan shook the sweaty hair out of his eyes and threw his head back, concentrating on coming with all he had. He’d finally decided he’d die an old man, humping an equally old corpse before he’d ever be satisfied, when it happened. A little voice whispered in his ear, saying the three magical words he longed to hear. “I love you.” And bam! He came, just like that. His yell shook the room while his body shook with pleasure. He collapsed against Jasper, wondering if he’d heard right or if his mind had finally found the key to release him. Jasper’s dick was half-hard, trapped between their bellies again, while Morgan’s own wallowed in its release in the warm comfort of Jasper’s body. “Tell me again,” he demanded, almost embarrassed when his voice came out a hoarse croak. Jasper froze under him, his arms tensing and his hands pausing their soothing motion against Morgan’s back.

46

Helen Gabriel

Morgan figured Jasper would shrug it off, deny he’d said anything at all. He was just about to let it go, hoping and praying he’d hear it again later and a thousand times after that, when Jasper finally answered him, his arms wrapping around Morgan in a tight embrace. “I said, I love you.” Morgan grinned and hid his face in the join of Jasper’s shoulder, feeling the luckiest fool in the world at the moment. He let out a surprised squeak when Jasper wiggled his fingers against his vulnerable side before arching back, causing his dick to surge in its warm home. Morgan grabbed Jasper’s hands and drew them over his head, once again trapping them against the bed. He looked at Jasper, just looked at him for the longest time. Then he smiled. “I love you too, roomie.”

Helen Gabriel A romantic at heart, I enjoy happily-ever-after endings. I believe love can conquer all, and, luckily for me, so do the characters in my head clamoring for their stories to be written. Questions are second nature to me, which is good because this lets me learn new things to make my stories come alive. When I’m not plotting new stories or arguing with my characters I’m reading.