Rialto Read online

  “I don’t want you worrying about drug rumors. The fact that your restaurant only lost one night to the raid before opening up again will squelch any of those. Rialto will be fine. And this isn’t going to hurt our chances at being foster parents. We’ve already gone through the background checks and everything else. It’s all good.”

  Ian had worried incessantly about the background inspection, but his past with Jagger had never been public knowledge. It also didn’t hurt that Ian had Rowe’s tech specialist, Gidget, run a check, making sure that there was nothing from Ian’s past that might throw up red flags. Gidget had confirmed that other than Jagger’s attack on Ian at Union Terminal three years ago, there was nothing linking Ian to Jagger.

  “I just want it so much,” Ian mumbled against his chest as he leaned close again.

  “I know, baby. I do, too.”

  Ian lifted his head. “Yeah?”

  “You know I do,” Hollis said as he bent down to kiss Ian. Ian’s arms slid up around his neck and he stood on his toes to press harder into Hollis’s mouth. That warm body felt too good against Hollis. He pulled away from Ian and stared at him, taking in the already blown pupils with a smile. “Enough of this worrying. I have a better idea. Stay right here.”

  He walked to the front door to set the security alarm, then flipped off the lights. The automatic night-light on the stairs came on, but he knew where Ian was. He walked to his husband and lifted him. Ian’s legs automatically wrapped around his waist as Ian chuckled. Hollis knew he was laughing at being carried, but Hollis fucking loved carting Ian around.

  “I bet I know what your idea is,” Ian murmured, kissing Hollis’s jaw.

  “If it’s stripping you naked and having my way with you, you get a cookie.” He carried him up the stairs and into their bedroom, not setting him down until they were beside their bed.

  Streetlights illuminated the room through the parted curtains. Ever since Hollis had found Dwight Gratton watching Ian through his window, he’d been unable to leave those curtains open. Ian didn’t worry that it would happen again and kept opening them, but Hollis couldn’t help it. He walked over to close them, hearing Ian’s soft chuckle in the darkness.

  Wanting to see his husband, he flipped on the low lamp next to the bed and walked to Ian, his hands going to the buttons on Ian’s shirt.

  Ian watched him as he unbuttoned and spread open the shirt, his brown eyes already glittering with desire. Hollis bent and kissed his collarbone, then his neck, opening his lips over Ian’s pulse to feel it against his tongue. The scent of spices wafted up to his nose from Ian’s afternoon in the Rialto kitchen as well as a little of his personal cologne. Ian always conjured up feelings of home and warmth whenever Hollis touched him.

  Tilting his head, Ian gave a little purr as Hollis ran his lips over Ian’s Adam’s apple, up to an ear. Hollis nipped the fleshy lobe before moving to Ian’s mouth. He could never get enough of Ian’s mouth. Ian’s nimble tongue came out to meet his, making Hollis moan in the back of his throat.

  There was a taste of coffee from the cup Ian had enjoyed at the meeting, and Hollis chased the flavor down until he got only Ian. That was the best flavor of all. The kiss deepened, his hands moving restlessly over Ian’s bare chest. He still felt like he’d won a prize, getting to put this man under his hands. He could never touch him enough. Kiss him enough. His love for Ian swelled in his chest as he pushed the shirt off Ian’s shoulders and stroked his hands down the warm, silky skin of his back.

  “Want the rest of our clothes off,” Ian whispered against his lips.

  Hollis pulled away and tugged his Henley over his head, then moved to the buttons of his jeans. His actions were hampered as Ian’s hands came out to stroke his chest and stomach. “You aren’t taking off your pants.”

  “Your body distracted me,” Ian replied, kissing all over Hollis’s chest. He licked a nipple, latched on to it, and sucked. “Such a gorgeous body.”

  Hollis’s pants and boxers were still around his ankles, but he turned Ian and pushed him down onto the bed. He made quick work of ridding Ian of his jeans and underwear, then kicked off his own. Stretching out on the bed next to his husband, Hollis pulled Ian against him. All that warm skin made him close his eyes briefly before he opened them, not wanting to miss Ian’s expressions as they made love. Everything he felt was stamped onto his face, and it made sex so much fun.

  Ian watched him as he ran his hand down Hollis’s side, then brought that hand across to wrap it around Hollis’s cock. He stroked as he returned for more kisses and Hollis thrust his tongue into Ian’s mouth. He cupped the side of Ian’s neck, his thumb rubbing over his jaw. Ian had showered and shaved right before the meeting, so it was nice and smooth. His hand was hot on his dick and it felt so good, Hollis rocked into it.

  “God, I can never get enough of you,” Ian whispered. “Think it will always be like this?”

  “Yeah, I do.” He rolled Ian onto his back and came over him, nudging his thighs apart with his knee. He lay between Ian’s slim legs and ground his dick against him. Ian’s arms and legs wrapped around him, holding on tight before he let go and ducked his head to suck on Hollis’s neck. Heavy emotion filled Hollis. He loved having Ian’s mouth on him, loved the way he gave himself over to Hollis. Loved the pleasure Ian took in his body. Sex with Ian was always a revelation, a glorious buffet of feelings and sensations. He felt drunk on the man.

  Hollis moved down, nipping and licking, relishing the tight muscles and soft skin. He sucked Ian’s nipples, then the lines of his abdomen and the sexy hip muscles he couldn’t get enough of. His husband was so damn sexy, his lithe form writhing in sensual pleasure as Hollis worshiped him with lips and tongue.

  Ian’s cock jerked against his chin and Hollis turned to run his nose along it, taking in the heady scent of Ian, the wonderful musk. He traced one of the veins with his tongue before going lower to lave Ian’s lightly furred balls. He buried his nose in his pubic hair and took a long, deep breath before taking one of his balls into his mouth.

  Ian cried out and spread his legs wider. “Come up here.”

  Hollis kissed the tip of his cock. He ran his tongue around the soft head, the sharp flavor of pre-cum making him suck Ian in deeper. When Ian tugged on him, he pulled off and smiled against his belly, then inched his way up Ian’s chest, detouring to both nipples before he reached Ian’s mouth. Hollis pressed him into the bed.

  “Want you to fuck me.” Ian nipped his bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth. “Wanna feel you inside me.”

  Hollis rolled them to their sides and kept going to get the lube on the side table. He stretched out on his back. “Sit astride me,” he said as he coated his fingers in lube. Anticipation made his hand shake, and he spilled a lot of it on them.

  Ian rose over him, staying up on his knees, and Hollis reached between his legs to rub his slick fingers around Ian’s hole. He pushed lube into him with one finger, then two. He slowly slid those fingers in and out of Ian’s body, watching his face as lust slackened Ian’s mouth and caused his eyes to go half-lidded.

  “So fucking sexy,” he breathed as he breached his husband with his fingers. “So hot inside. Can’t wait to get my dick in there.”

  Ian grabbed the lube and slathered it over Hollis’s length slowly, stroking his hand up and down, squeezing it just right. The slickness felt so good, Hollis’s mouth fell open and he gasped air into his lungs. He could come just like this, with Ian’s hands on him and his fingers inside the man’s ass. When Ian did that rolling hip move, Hollis changed his mind. He wanted in his husband more than he wanted his next breath.

  He pulled his fingers out and grasped Ian’s hips to position him over his cock. Ian guided him inside, slowly, slowly lowering himself onto Hollis. Tight, slick heat surrounded him, and he went still as heady pleasure swamped him. “Fuck, so tight.”

  Ian rose, using the strong muscles of his thighs, then lowered himself again, this time faster. He lifted and fell a few more tim
es before Hollis was seated all the way inside him. He grasped Ian’s hips and that was when he really did the hip rolling, driving Hollis out of his ever-loving mind. It rocked him deep inside his husband. Ian clenched his muscles tight, gripping Hollis in a velvety hot vise at the same time.

  “Fuck!” He threw his head back and gritted his teeth, pleasure making his vision go gray. He wanted to stay buried inside Ian forever.

  “Yeah,” Ian breathed. “So good.”

  Hollis brought his head down so he could watch Ian, watch the desire wash over his beautiful features. Ian rode him slowly, his hand on his own cock as he gasped and writhed on Hollis.

  He could only stare up at the man, could only feel how hot and tight he was, see how gorgeous he was like this. It was Hollis’s favorite position because he didn’t miss anything. He liked all the ways he took Ian. From behind, bent over everything from the bed to the couch to the kitchen counter. He liked Ian on his back with his legs in the air.

  But this would always be his favorite because he could watch his man take his pleasure. Could feel the ripple of his muscles as he worked himself on Hollis. Could watch the undulations of his graceful body. It was like watching Ian revel in his sexual glory and being, like he was claiming Hollis, and Hollis so wanted to be claimed by this man.

  Ian sped up, his mouth open as he panted. His eyes shut and his head tilted back, his hand rubbing fast on his dick. Hollis felt scorched, inside and out. He dug his fingers into Ian’s hips, watching him stroke himself, and felt the telltale tightening of his muscles as he grew closer and closer to the edge.

  “That’s it, baby. Come all over me.”

  Ian’s brown eyes opened, his gaze locking with Hollis’s. He raised up and down, the friction hot on Hollis’s cock. The whole time he stared at Hollis, his breaths coming in short pants that increased as his movements did. When he suddenly went taut, Hollis felt that swell of lust and love he always experienced with Ian. Sex with other people had never been like it was with Ian, and he knew it was because of their deep connection. The love they had for each other.

  A sharp cry of pleasure ripped from Ian’s lips as he came all over Hollis’s stomach and chest. Some of it hit his chin, and he let go of Ian’s hip to swipe it up with a finger he sucked into his mouth.

  Muscles clamped onto Hollis’s dick as Ian rocked on him, and his hands slid to Ian’s ass, his fingers roaming down to feel where they were joined. He felt himself thrusting inside Ian and groaned. He plunged up into the man over and over, felt his orgasm tightening his own body. When it crashed over him, he came hard inside his husband, pleasure curling his toes into the comforter underneath him.

  Slumping over him, Ian slid in the mess he’d left on Hollis right before he kissed him. Hollis knew he tasted like Ian’s cum and it was so erotic, he thrust his hips one more time. But he’d grown sensitive, so he slowly pulled out of Ian. He held on to the man, breathing hard and reveling in the bliss of a good orgasm.

  “You fucked all the worry out of me,” Ian murmured into his mouth. He pulled back and grinned at him. “Was that the plan all along?”

  “I always plan to fuck you. Worry or not. I can’t imagine a time when I won’t be thinking about the next time I get to do this. It’s always so damn good.”

  “It is, isn’t it? Never felt anything like this with anyone else.”

  “That’s why you married me.” Hollis winked and raised up to kiss Ian again. His own lips were sensitive from all the kissing, but he didn’t care.

  “I married you for so many reasons, but yeah, that’s definitely one of them.” He buried his face in Hollis’s neck. “Love you,” he whispered.

  “Love you too.” Hollis wrapped his arms tight around Ian, relieved to feel his husband’s pliant, relaxed body, knowing he’d let go of some of the stress.

  Nuzzling Ian’s soft hair, he breathed in his familiar scent, so damn thankful to have this life with him. He’d never expected to have anything like this and every single day, gratitude expanded in his chest. He didn’t know what he’d ever done to deserve someone like Ian, but he wouldn’t change a thing that had brought him to this place. He was a lucky, lucky man.

  Chapter Three

  “I think you should go with easy to clean over expensive—at least until Daci is older,” Ian said as he pushed the stroller between the different furniture settings in the store, hyperaware that a salesperson followed them at all times. It was as if he’d latched on the minute they’d walked through the front door and deemed himself their annoying shadow. Ian knew the poor guy worked on commission, so he definitely understood his drive to be attentive. It was just that he lurked too close, and Ian and Andrei could barely talk about a piece before he was jumping in.

  The store was surprisingly busy on this beautiful, sunny Saturday morning and with so many people milling about the furniture, Ian guessed the salesman might be following Andrei out of recognition. He’d become something of a local celebrity, being married to Lucas Vallois. Or he could be trailing him out of appreciation for the gorgeous Romanian man.

  Andrei, dressed in casual, loose jeans and a red button-down, reached to feel the arm on a copper-colored sofa. He had his wavy black hair pulled back in a short tail at the nape of his neck, and he looked well-rested and happy. Daci was apparently sleeping through the night now. “If Lucas were here, he’d go with expensive and just plan to replace anything ruined.”

  “We’re more practical than Lucas.” Ian smiled down at the baby as she cooed and rattled a toy in her stroller. She was nine months old and got prettier every day with her black curls and dark, dark eyes. A little replica of Andrei and it was no wonder Lucas was completely smitten with her. “You’re so precious,” he told her softly.

  He didn’t get to see her as much as he’d like with his hectic schedule, so he’d taken today off to spend it with her and her daddy while he shopped for new furniture for the house Andrei had built with Lucas. They were slated to move in soon, and while Ian’s heart felt wrecked over them leaving the penthouse where they had so many memories, he knew it was time for his friends to get the bigger home. Especially since they planned to expand their family more.

  Ian wanted that, wanted children. For good someday, but right then, he wanted to be a home for children who needed new families, at least temporarily. That was why he was going through all the steps to become a foster parent. He could offer so much love to them. Give back when he’d been so incredibly lucky to have found his own family.

  But sometimes when he looked at little Daciana, he couldn’t help but think of a tiny Hollis, and his heart swelled with want. She’d have wavy blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. Maybe someday.

  It had been wild watching Lucas and Andrei change so much as fathers. They doted on this little girl, and the change in Lucas especially had been something to see. He was no longer as hard-edged, was quicker to smile. The man had melded completely to married life and fatherhood and had never been happier.

  And now, he was basically starting over in a whole new place. When he’d first told Ian they were selling the penthouse, Ian’s reaction had been complete dismay. So many years he’d spent coming and going there. He’d lived there. That place still carried the remnants of home for Ian. But it was time…and he was happy to be searching for new furniture for the house with Andrei.

  “I like these over here,” Andrei said as he strolled to a brown set in the corner. Well, brown was too plain a word for the color that held a faint hint of red. It wasn’t exactly maroon or burgundy, but it was close.

  It reminded Ian of fall leaves. “This would go great in the new place, and I think Lucas would like it. It’s certainly a lot warmer than the furniture in the penthouse.”

  “I like that furniture. I have great memories on that furniture.” Andrei’s smile was faintly wicked, and Ian could only grin back.

  Yeah, he’d walked in on them a time or two with that furniture before he’d realized using his penthouse key without at least knocki
ng first was a bad idea now. He still had it though, and more than likely he’d have a key to their new place. Lucas liked knowing his family had access to him whenever he was needed or wanted.

  Andrei sat on the couch and spread out his arms. “It’s comfy, too.” He bounced a little, his grin turning into something infinitely private, and Ian had no doubts where his mind had gone.

  Ian pushed the stroller between the sofa and coffee table and sat next to Andrei. The salesman took a few steps closer. “You’re right. This set is nice. And it looks fancy enough for Lucas’s tastes. Are you going to get it or bring him here for his opinion?”

  “I may just get it. We’re so close to the move-in date, and I don’t think he really cares how I decorate the new house. It’ll take me a while, big as that place is. And he’s been extra busy lately.”

  “New business he’s starting?”

  Andrei gave him a look as if to say, “When isn’t Lucas starting a new business?” and Ian could only chuckle. “When he is home, he just wants to spend time with us. No other worries,” Andrei continued.

  “The house is big because it’s Lucas we’re talking about here. Plus, he wants more children,” Ian pointed out as he reached into the stroller to pick up little Daci. She gurgled and smiled at him as he sat her on his lap. Chubby little legs kicked out. She’d recently developed a belly laugh that had all his friends making fools of themselves to get her to crack up. “She’s such a sweetheart.”

  Andrei looked at his daughter, and love shone from his eyes. “She is. And yes, Lucas wants more. At least one. He’s even agreed to father our next child, though I had to talk him into it after seeing Daci.”

  “You do make pretty babies, Andrei.”

  Andrei reached for his daughter and she held her arms out. Ian shifted her onto Andrei’s lap.

  “What do you think, Daci? Like this furniture?” He kissed her cheek.