Embracing the Unexpected (9 page)

Jace pulled Parker up into a standing position, adjusted his
boxers, and led him to the bedroom. They stopped at the foot of the bed and
gently kissed one another for a few minutes. Parker stepped out of his shoes as
Jace undid Parker’s pants and slipped them over his hips.

Parker was a ball of nervous energy. He knew what they were
about to do and he really wanted this with Jace, but he didn’t know what he was
doing or what was even expected of him. This was so different than being with a
woman.

Jace kissed along his jaw and down his neck, reaching inside
Parker’s boxers. Parker jumped and then looked down, feeling embarrassed. Jace
kissed his way back up his neck and to his lips.

“I don’t expect anything tonight,” Jace said. “We can just
do what we’ve always done.” He continued to pump Parker in his hand.

“I want this,” Parker said. “I want you.”

“You have me. You don’t have to prove anything.”

“Make love to me, Jace,” Parker moaned against his lips.
“Please.” Parker could hear the desperation in his own voice, but he wanted
Jace more now than ever.

Jace reached up and pushed the hair from Parker’s eyes. “I
want nothing more than to make love to you.”

Parker nodded, stepping back a few inches and pulling off
his boxers. He felt awkward because he didn’t know if he should be on the bed,
or on his knees. Should he be on his back or stomach? He had no idea how two
men had sex. Well, he knew the general idea, just not the logistics.

As Parker dropped onto the bed, Jace walked over to the
nightstand and grabbed the condom and the bottle of lube he’d placed there when
they checked in. “I wanted to be prepared.”

Parker swallowed hard as he watched Jace prepare for their
encounter. Jace slowly took of his boxers and then ripped open the foil packet,
putting the condom in place, but he never took his eyes away from Parker’s. He
was propped up on his elbows, his chest rising and falling at a rapid pace over
the anticipation of what was to come.

Before crawling into the huge bed, Jace poured some of the
liquid onto his fingers, coating the condom with a generous amount, and then
once he was settled, kneeling in between Parker’s legs, he slid his fingers to
his entrance. He lowered his body down and kissed Parker’s lips hard and
greedily.

Parker closed his eyes and tried to relax as Jace pressed
his finger against his entrance. He gently slipped one inside his opening and
slowly worked him. At first, Parker was really tense, but once Jace whispered
soothingly into his ear, he let his body take over.

“I’ll try to be gentle with you,” Jace said. “It’ll be
uncomfortable in the beginning. If, at any time, you change your mind or need
me to stop, just tell me.”

“I won’t want to stop.” Parker moaned from the sensation
Jace’s finger was creating. “Now, please.” Parker wanted to get through the
awkward part and get to the good stuff.

Jace sat up on his heels and loosely wrapped Parker’s legs
around his waist as he pressed the tip of his cock at his opening. Parker
closed his eyes and braced himself for what was coming next. Now he knew how
all those virgins felt.

“I trust you,” Parker said.

Jace gradually pushed inside him, allowing Parker to get
used to the intrusion. Parker grasped the comforter beneath him and lifted his
hips off the bed. Jace continued his slow assault, gently pulling in and out,
working Parker’s body into a sweaty frenzy. Once Parker got used to the
intrusion, he allowed his body to relax.

“More, Jace, more,” Parker cried out.

Jace grabbed Parker’s cock in his hand and moved at the same
pace his own cock was sliding in and out of Parker’s ass. Parker opened his
eyes and looked up at Jace. He was magnificent as he lost himself in the
sensation they were both creating. Parker never could’ve imagined sex could
feel this good. It had never been like this before.

“Parker, I can’t… Oh…fuck.” Jace released hard and violently
into the condom as he continued to whack Parker off with his hand. A few
seconds later, Parker called out Jace’s name as his warm cum landed in spurts
on his stomach and chest.

Jace gently pulled out of him, leaned down, and placed a
soft kiss on his lips before pulling off the condom and retrieving a damp
washcloth from the bathroom. He cleaned Parker up, and then pulled the covers
back, motioning for Parker to get under.

Jace climbed in and pulled him onto his chest, wrapping his
arms around him. “Are you okay?”

“Perfect.” Parker sighed as he nestled his head against
Jace’s shoulder.

“What we just did…” Jace ran his fingers up and down the
length of Parker’s muscular arm. “It meant a lot to me that you were willing to
share that with me. I know how unsure you’ve been.”

“I know this is the way it should be now,” Parker admitted.
“I’ve been living a lie, but I’m glad it was you who made me realize it.”

“Me too.” Jace pulled him closer and kissed the top of his
head. “Are you hungry? We could go to dinner or order room service. Whatever
you want.”

“I think I’d like to stay in.” Parker yawned. “But don’t get
up yet.”

“I won’t,” Jace said. “This is the only place I want to be.”

Parker closed his eyes and relaxed against Jace’s strong,
warm body. He’d never been into after-sex cuddling, but he’d never felt this content
after sex before. Jace had changed so many things for him, and he had a feeling
this wonderful man, who was holding him so lovingly, was going to show him so
much more.

* * * *

The next morning, Parker opened his eyes and smiled when he
remembered he’d spent the entire night with Jace. Although they had a full
night in bed, they hardly slept. They held one another, talked a good amount,
and snuggled, but since they were naked and had problems keeping their hands to
themselves, the cuddling led to other things. Parker liked the other things.

He slipped out of Jace’s hold and quietly stretched, but
just as he was about to get up, Jace grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I thought maybe I’d go get us some coffee and pastries.” He
turned and smiled at him. “I’m starving.”

“We could just order room service,” Jace suggested. “Then we
could head back home.”

“Sounds perfect.” Parker leaned down and kissed him, and
then tried to stretch again, but this time he winced.

“What is it?” Jace asked a bit alarmed.

“Nothing.” Parker laughed. “Let’s just say I’m pleasantly
sore everywhere.”

“Oh, sorry,” Jace said. “How about a hot bath with the jets?
There’s a pretty big tub in there.” He pointed to the bathroom. “I could join
you.”

“We may not make check-out. We’re easily distracted.”

“I’d pay for another night to take a bath with you.” Jace
got up, making sure to turn and stand with his back to Parker for a few
seconds. Parker took in the full view of his delicious ass as he strode to the
bathroom.

“Show off,” Parker yelled after him. “You fill the tub while
I call Ava.”

“Don’t take too long, and tell her I said hello.”

“I’m sure she’ll want all the sordid details.” Parker
laughed as he dialed the phone.

“Wonderful!”

Parker heard him turn on the faucet. He could almost see
Jace rolling his eyes over Ava’s curiosity. It always amused him.

“Hey, sweet girl,” Parker said when Ava answered.

“Parker.” She sounded happy to hear his voice. “Are you
having a good time? How was the show? Where did you eat dinner? How was Jace’s
speech?”

“Do you really want me to answer all of that?”

“Not really. You know what I want to know.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Parker smiled when
he thought about the things he and Jace did last night. “I was just calling to
see how your night went.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t as exciting as yours. I slept alone.”

“The whole night?”

“Didn’t wake up until the sun did.” She laughed. “Thank Jace
for me.”

“I’m glad.” Parker was thrilled over the progress she’d
made. “We’ll be home later today.”

“Did you have sex or not?”

“Have I ever mentioned how inappropriate you are?”

“Don’t avoid the question, Counselor.”

“You know what,” he said, “why don’t you and your shrink
discuss it on Monday?”

“Don’t you worry, I intend to ask Jace all about your
weekend.”

“I’m sure you will. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an
incredibly sexy doctor waiting in the bathtub for me.”

“You slut!” Ava giggled. “Have fun. I miss you.”

“Miss you too,” he said. “See you soon.”

When Parker entered the bathroom a few minutes later, Jace
was already immersed in the hot, bubbly water.

“It feels great,” Jace said. “How’s Ava?”

“Fine.” Parker stepped into the tub and positioned himself
between Jace’s legs with his back pressing against his chest. “She slept the
whole night at home alone. You’ve made incredible progress with her in such a
short time.”

“She just needed a safe place to talk.” Jace rubbed Parker’s
shoulders.

“I wish I could’ve been that place for her.” Parker sighed.
“But after the way I acted that night Mike beat her up, I guess I can see why
she can’t tell me everything.”

“Sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger or a
professional. People don’t like to burden their loved ones, you know. She’s
going to be fine, and I think she may even open up to you too.”

“I hope so. I hate thinking about what she went through.”
Parker leaned his head back and sunk deeper into Jace’s touch. “That feels
good.”

Jace kissed the back of Parker’s neck as he continued to
massage him.

“Jace, about yesterday, before your speech...” Parker had
been feeling guilty about that ever since it happened, and even more so now
that they’d shared such an intimate night together.

“Parker, it’s forgotten.”

“I just want you to know I’m trying. This is all so new to
me, and the time we shared last night and even now, well, it’s helping me to
understand who I am. Who I want to be.”

“Last night means more than introducing you as my partner
could ever mean. As long as I know you want us, I don’t care how long we have
to keep it a secret.” Jace ran his hands down Parker’s chest and settled them
on either of his inner thighs, just inches from his growing cock. “I was
anxious about my speech, and I didn’t mean what I said.”

“I do want us,” Parker said as he leaned his head back,
searching out Jace’s lips. “More than I ever thought I could.”

Jace leaned down and kissed him. “That’s what matters to
me.” He moved his hand up and gently caressed Parker’s balls, eliciting soft
moans from him. “Being inside you last night was the most amazing experience
I’ve ever had. I felt so close to you, so connected.” He rubbed his other hand
against Parker’s cock.

“I felt totally consumed by you,” Parker said. “It was so
fulfilling having you take me like that.” He quickly turned and straddled Jace,
pushing the water over the edge with his abrupt movements. “Oops.” He laughed
as he looked over the tub.

“You’re adorable, you know that?” Jace pulled him to his lips
and kissed him as their lower bodies brushed against one another’s.

“I told you we wouldn’t make check-out.” Parker took Jace’s
cock in his hand and stroked him as his tongue found the inside of Jace’s hot
mouth.

“And I told you it’d be worth it.” Jace slowly ran his thumb
over Parker’s tip.

Parker smiled against Jace’s lips. “I’ll stay here all day
with you.”

After last night, Parker knew he’d spend the rest of his
life with Jace. He no longer had any doubts about who he was or who he was
supposed to be with.

A few weeks after their New York trip, things had been
getting pretty serious. Parker was spending a few nights during the week at
Jace’s house, and Jace usually spent the weekend at Parker’s place. They had a
hard time sleeping in separate beds since their trip.

On Monday nights, Parker would have dinner at Jace’s
parents’ house. Jace’s mother, Ellen, adored Parker. But really, what mother
wouldn’t be excited her son was dating an attorney? Jace had yet to meet any of
Parker’s family or friends with the exception of Ava, but he did agree to have
dinner with a few of Jace’s closer colleagues and he didn’t ask Jace to hide
their relationship status. Jace figured baby steps were the best way to go with
Parker. Eventually he’d come around and hopefully out of the proverbial closet.
Jace would just have to wait him out. They had come so far in such a short
period of time.

Just as Jace was about to call it quits for the afternoon,
he heard a soft knock on his office door.

“Jace,” Ava said as she came through the door. “Hey.”

She looked tired and disheveled. They didn’t have a
scheduled appointment, but he told her anytime she needed to talk she could
come to him. He was glad she felt comfortable enough to show up unannounced.

Jace stood up and walked toward her. “Hey, is everything
okay?”

“Am I interrupting you?”

“No, I don’t have any patients this afternoon. I was working
on an article I’m writing for a journal.” He motioned for her to sit down.
“What’s up?”

“I’ve been doing some thinking,” she said. “I know we’ve
discussed a lot of my relationship with Mike, but there’s something I haven’t
told you and I think I’d like to.”

“You can tell me anything and I’ll help you work through
it.”

“You know my new editor? I told you about him.”

“Jack, right?” Parker had mentioned him a few times and was
worried because Ava was spending more time with him. Jace told him to mind his
own business. It was good for Ava to become social again.

“Yes, well, I’ve been getting to know him and I think I like
him.”

“That’s a good thing,” Jace said. “It’s been almost a year
since you left Mike.”