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In Teddy’s Arms
ISBN #978-0-85715-840-6
©Copyright K.M. Mahoney
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright December 2011
Edited by S.F. Swift
Total-E-Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination
and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or
places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form,
whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of
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Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound
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proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs
and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator
of the artwork.
Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL,
United Kingdom.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This
story has a heat rating of Total-e-sizzling and a sexometer of 2.
This story contains 40 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book
containing 9 pages.
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Yuletide Yearnings
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K. M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
Everything Teddy has ever wanted is right in front of him, if only he can find the courage to reach out
and take it.
Teddy should really know better than to agree to one of Pierce’s ‘great ideas’, but he’s never
found it easy to say no to his best friend. Which is why he finds himself on the middle of a
snow-covered road, heading into the mountains to spend the Christmas holiday in a rental
cabin. And, like always, Pierce’s great plan backfires. The cabin is a dump, it’s freezing
outside—and then comes the snowstorm.
Pierce isn’t sure how he’s going to handle an entire weekend trapped with Teddy. Sure, the
guy is his best friend, but tell that to Pierce’s body. It’s getting harder and hard to keep his
hands to himself.
Teddy doesn’t think Pierce is interested in his nerdy best friend. Pierce doesn’t think he’s
good enough for Teddy. But the fire’s blazing, the wind is howling, and it’s time for some
changes.
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Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following
wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Freddy Krueger: Fourth New Line-Heron Venture
McDonald’s: McDonald’s Corporation
Popsicle: Unilever PLC/Unilever NV
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
6
Chapter One
“Are you sure about this?”
“Teddy, ask me that again, and I’m going to pull this car over and toss you into a snow
drift.”
Teddy sat back, crossed his arms over his chest, and huffed. “Sheesh, cranky much?”
Pierce rolled his eyes. For a second, he entertained the lovely image that the steering
wheel he was gripping so tightly was, in fact, Teddy’s neck. “The first three times you asked
that question, I answered. The next six times, I ignored you. You’ve now moved beyond that
and are into obnoxiously irritating. Stow it.”
Silence enveloped the interior of the car for several long moments. Then Teddy
mumbled, “Sorry.”
Pierce grinned. That was his Teddy. He never could stay at odds with anyone for very
long.
“Turn right in one-point-two miles,” the GPS system stated in a dull, broken monotone.
“Thank God.” Pierce nearly whooped. “I think we’re getting close.” He turned where
the small navigation map on his dashboard indicated. The bottom of their battered sedan
scraped ominously over the snow-covered gravel.
All right, so maybe Teddy had a point. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea Pierce had ever
had. But it was a little bit too late to back out now. No way in hell was Pierce driving back
down this mountain in the dark.
“I don’t see anything,” Teddy said, sounding doubtful. He chewed on his fingernail,
expression nervous, eyes fastened on the darkening woods surrounding the small road.
“It’s up here. Somewhere.” Damn. That hadn’t come out as reassuring as Pierce had
hoped.
The GPS remained unhelpfully silent as the car bumped its way along. Twilight was
quickly turning into night. The looming pines closing in on all sides didn’t help, deepening
the gloom. They were truly in the middle of nowhere, no streetlights, no sidewalks, the roads
rough. Hell, there wasn’t even a McDonald’s. Civilisation was most definitely far behind
them.
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
7
At the moment, Pierce would have gladly traded his stupid GPS system for just one
tacky strand of twinkling Christmas lights. Anything to suggest they weren’t lost in the
mountains. And why the hell was it so dark out here?
The cabin practically jumped out at them. Pierce rounded a curve and slammed on the
brakes. His heart thumped madly as he studied the battered porch steps, dangerously close
to his front bumper. Beside him, Teddy let out a belated squeak of alarm.
“Destination in five hundred feet,” the GPS chimed.
“Now it tells me.” Pierce scowled fiercely and stabbed the ‘off’ button on the obnoxious
little box. “Worthless piece of shit.”
Teddy had stopped staring at the scenery and was now eying the cabin with
trepidation. Pierce had to admit it didn’t look like much. The porch was a bit wonky, the
wood siding faded in spots, peeling in others. Dark and tiny, it bore a disturbing resemblance
to something from a horror film.
“Maybe the inside is nicer,” Pierce declared.
Amazing, how loudly Teddy could project his doubt without saying a word.
“It’s a true gift, that,” Pierce said.
“Say what? Never mind. I guess we better unload.” Teddy added a resigned sigh. “But
if it’s this bad on the inside, we’re finding a hotel tomorrow.”
Pierce almost asked how they would pay for it, then bit his tongue. Teddy would
probably decide to sleep in the car. Then he would freeze to death in the middle of the night
and Pierce would have to explain to Teddy’s parents how he let their son turn into a nice,
hard, ice-coated statue.
Pierce shook his head to dislodge his stupid ramblings and climbed out of the car. He
took a minute to stretch the kinks out of his back because, damn, that had been a long trip.
Using the remote to pop the trunk, Pierce hauled out his duffel bag and slung it over his
shoulder. He shivered in the cold and grabbed his coat from the back seat. He should
probably put it on, but he’d be inside in a minute.
He waded through the drifts piled against the porch. It took him a minute of fruitless
searching before he realised the first step was busted. He could move his foot around in the
six inch layer of snow and never find it because it simply wasn’t there.
“Watch the steps,” he called over his shoulder.
Teddy started muttering again. Pierce ignored what he knew were complaints and
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cautiously mounted the steps. He stuck the key the rental agent had given him into the lock.
The door swung on creaking hinges before he could turn the key.
“Okay, not exactly the best sign,” Pierce said to himself. He pushed the door the rest of
the way open, anyway. The room was dark and the musty smell made his nose tingle. The
cabin was also cold, nearly as bad as outside.
Pierce felt around the wall and found the switch. It clicked on and dim light flooded the
space. Relief swamped him. The glow from the single bulb didn’t quite chase all the shadows
away, but hey, they had electricity. At the moment, Pierce wasn’t going to take anything for
granted.
Then he surveyed the room and groaned. “Teddy’s gonna hate it.”
“Hate what?”
Pierce jumped and whirled around, facing his best friend with his biggest fake smile.
“Nothing, it’s great. Warm and cosy. All we need is that fake tree I packed and we’re good to
go.”
Teddy stared at him with solemn brown eyes. “You’re a horrible liar.”
“Not true, I’m a magnificent liar.” Just not to Teddy. That’s what happened when you
knew someone since kindergarten. Teddy knew all Pierce’s tricks.
Teddy just kept staring. “There are spiders, aren’t there?” he asked soberly.
“It’s too cold for spiders. Come on, let’s explore.”
Teddy entered the room gingerly, as if Freddy Krueger was going to come jumping
around the corner and start hacking away.
Pierce slung his duffel in the corner and planted his hands on his hips. “First thing, we
need to make a fire.”
“Do you even know how?”
“Sure,” Pierce said with false confidence. “The rental agent said we can find wood on
the back porch. I’ll get started.”
“If there’s no water, I’m going to smother you in your sleep,” Teddy said.
Pierce rolled his eyes and went in search of fuel. It was damned cold in here and his
fingers were starting to go numb. He shrugged on his coat, boots echoing on the wood plank
floor.
He found the wood as promised and started hauling.
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
9
Chapter Two
Teddy looked around and wondered how on earth Pierce had talked him into this. He
was cold and hungry and there was only one bed and…
“Stop it,” Teddy ordered himself. “This is getting you nowhere.”
When Pierce had suggested they rent a cabin in the mountains, ‘get away from it all’,
well, Teddy should have nipped the idea in the bud right then and there. But he had a
horrible time saying no to Pierce. Then Pierce was off and running and it was much too late
to halt his latest scheme.
Pierce had been Teddy’s best friend ever since he could remember, his neighbour since
second grade. When it came time for college, it just seemed natural for them to head off
together. They were roommates first and now, as juniors, shared an apartment.
It wasn’t just Teddy and Pierce, either. Their families were close to inseparable. In fact,
that was part of the problem. The Johnsons and the Madens had decided to spend the
holidays together. Unfortunately for Teddy, their parents had chosen to do it on a week-long
cruise that had left before winter break began.
“You can make do without us, can’t you?” Teddy’s mom had asked breezily. “We’ll be
back in plenty of time, nearly two whole weeks before you have to go back to school. We’ll
celebrate Christmas then.”
Teddy had agreed. At the time, it didn’t seem like a big deal. He and Pierce would just
hang around the apartment, share the holiday together.
And then Pierce had come up with his latest madcap scheme. Now Teddy was stuck in
the Rockies in an ancient cabin freezing his ass off.
Sometimes, he really hated his best friend.
Said best friend banged back inside, arms loaded down with wood, sporting a wide,
crazy grin.
“Found fuel,” he said cheerily.
Teddy watched the familiar lean form stagger across the small room. “Yes, but do you
know what to do with it?”
“Of course I do, silly.” The pile of wood landed on the floor with a humongous clatter.
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K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
10
Teddy winced.
“Why don’t you bring in the rest of the gear?” Pierce asked. “I’ve got extra blankets and
sleeping bags in the back seat.”
Pierce knelt in front of the massive fireplace. His coat rode up his back with the motion,
jeans pulling tight across his compact ass. Teddy stared at the show and tried not to drool.
Each time Pierce moved, fabric pulled taut, highlighting that fascinating body. Teddy wanted
to touch, so badly. Maybe if he just…
Teddy shook off his semi-trance and turned away with difficulty. He used to be able to
ignore Pierce’s lean, sculpted frame and the way he seemed to flaunt his every asset. Lately,
though, Teddy’s control was slipping. And that just wouldn’t do. Teddy didn’t know what
would happen if Pierce found out how much he wanted him.
Teddy stepped out onto the rickety front porch and took a deep breath. The cold seared
his lungs and made him cough, but he didn’t mind. The slap of the frigid wind against his
heated skin actually felt good. If he stood out here long enough, it would be more effective
than a cold shower.
Tugging at the bottom edge of his coat, he jumped off the porch, snow spurting up
around his boots. The snow drifts were piling higher and he had to take a circuitous route to
the car. He tried to open the passenger side back door, but couldn’t get it. He kept ramming
into a gigantic pile of snow, and there was a tree in the way, too. Pierce needed a few more
lessons on parking.
Teddy rounded the front of the car and yanked open the other door, half-crawling in
until he could tug on the large tote bags on the floor. He pulled and wiggled and was
actually sweating a bit before he gathered all the bags. How many blankets had Pierce
packed, anyway? Was he expecting company?
When Teddy found at least three sleeping bags, his heart sank. It wouldn’t be the first
time that Pierce had invited along others and not told Teddy. Where Teddy was quiet and
preferred the company of one or two good friends, Pierce was happiest surrounded by a
crowd. He was popular and outgoing and everybody loved him.
Teddy included.
He sighed, seeing his visions of a quiet weekend together slip away. Merry Christmas to
me. Well, knowing Pierce’s friends, at least there would be plenty of alcohol with which to
drown his sorrows. With a heavy heart, Teddy gathered their bedding, juggling bags and
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11
bundles until his arms were full and weighted down. He slipped and slid back to the cabin,
bumping open the door with his hip.
“Finally,” Pierce said. “I thought maybe you’d fallen into a snow pile.”
“Ha, ha. Come and get some of this, would you?”
Pierce grabbed some of the burden and Teddy sighed with relief. Amazing, how heavy
a bunch of blankets could be.
Pierce tossed the bags on the small double bed in one corner while Teddy let the rest of
the junk drop to the floor. While he’d been outside, Pierce had managed to get a small fire
going. The warmth emanating from the blaze was negligible, but the mere sight of the
crackling flames made Teddy feel warmer. He crossed the few steps to stand on the small
rug, hands outstretched, feeling the warmth sink into his chilled fingers.
“You look wet,” Pierce said in his ear.
Teddy jumped slightly, not having noticed that Pierce had come up behind. “Yeah,” he
replied. “The drifts are getting bigger. I think it’s snowing harder.”
“Sweet.”
“Sweet? What are you, nuts?”
“Nope, that would be you. I just always wanted to be snowed in somewhere. It sounds
cool.”
“Not cool.” Teddy scowled. “Cold. Very cold. And boring. And—”
“Come on, Teddy Bear, lighten up.” Pierce slung an arm around Teddy’s shoulders and
yanked him closer. “We’re having an adventure.”
Teddy drew back and ground his teeth, manfully resisting the urge to slug the grinning
idiot. “I hate adventures. And don’t call me Teddy Bear.”
“I know. That’s why they’re good for you.” Pierce ignored the ‘Teddy Bear’ complaint
as he always did.
The room had finally begun to warm, the chill leaving the air. At least the small cabin
heated quickly. Teddy felt like he could remove his coat without risking frostbite. He hung
the fluffy red and white jacket on a hook by the door before rushing back to the fire. A
draught leached through the front and he didn’t like it.
“So, Mr Adventurous,” Teddy said. “What are we going to do for food?”
“The oven works.” Pierce sounded proud. “I checked.”
“But did you bring anything to cook in the oven?”
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
12
Pierce’s expression fell.
“Oh, Good Lord, you didn’t, did you?”
“Hang on!” Pierce held one finger up and wagged it before whirling around. He dug
through his duffle bag, muttering to himself. When he turned and brandished a brightly
wrapped package, his expression was triumphant. “Here ya go. Merry Christmas.”
Teddy took the offering. Looked at the familiar red lid. Looked back at Pierce.
“A box of chocolates,” he stated flatly. “One box of chocolates. For the both of us. All
weekend.”
Pierce nodded with a smile.
“I really am going to kill you this time,” Teddy stated. “I’ll smother you in your sleep,
just see if I—”
Pierce doubled over, hysterical laughter ringing through the room. “Oh, God,” he
gasped. “You should see your face.”
Teddy wasn’t proud to admit that he’d lost control. He chucked the box of chocolates at
Pierce’s head. Pierce, blast him, ducked handily, still laughing.
“Calm down,” Pierce said when he could breathe again. “I’ve got groceries in the trunk.
I’m not a total idiot.”
“I hate you,” Teddy stated with a complete lack of emotion. Inside, though, his inner
imp started giggling. Only Pierce would even dream of teasing him like that. Which was
probably one of the many reasons why he loved the big dork.
“Flatterer.”
Teddy rolled his eyes. “You should probably retrieve anything you still want from the
car. If this snow keeps up, it will be buried in another hour or two. And then we really will
have to eat chocolates for the next two days.”
“I can think of worse things.”
Teddy could, too.
“Retrieval. Got it. You just stay nice and warm while I go freeze my toes off in the
snow.”
“This was your idea.”
“Yep. I’m brilliant, aren’t I?”
Teddy rolled his eyes again.
Pierce’s laughter seemed to brighten dark corners, a deep sound that Teddy never tired
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13
of.
“What would I do without you?” Pierce asked.
The question fell between them, the tone surprisingly serious. As was the look in
Pierce’s dark eyes. Teddy shook his head, not really sure what he was denying, while he
looked back at his friend. The atmosphere thickened, emotions suddenly darkening.
Pierce broke the weird vibe in the room with one of his patented goofy grins. “If I’m not
back in five minutes, bring a shovel,” he said, tugging his gloves on. He made his way
jauntily across the room, all smiles and light and… Pierce.
His path to the door wasn’t straight and brought him unnecessarily close to Teddy. So
close that Teddy could feel the heat, smell that unique mix of cologne and musk that made
up Pierce’s personal scent.
Their shoulders brushed and Pierce’s stride stuttered. Teddy turned his head.
Warm, soft lips landed on his cheek. It was a barely-there brush against his skin, hardly
even qualifying as a kiss, but it was more than enough to send Teddy’s world into a free-fall
over the edge of a cliff.
“Be right back,” Pierce said huskily.
Then he was gone, leaving Teddy to stare at the closed door in utter disbelief.
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
14
Chapter Three
Pierce’s lips were tingling, his body humming with arousal and excitement. “I can’t
believe I did that,” he muttered to himself. The dead silence of a winter storm swallowed the
words, leaving him alone in the darkness. “Stupid. So stupid.”
For three long years Pierce had kept his hormones firmly under control and his lust
buried out of sight. Now, with one impulsive gesture, he might have ruined everything.
Ruined the only relationship, aside from his family, that meant a damned thing.
Pierce slipped in the snow and almost landed on his arse when his pocket started
vibrating. He dug his phone out, yanking his glove off with his teeth so he could answer.
“Yo.”
“Hey, Pierce, man, what’s with this weather?”
“It’s December in the Rockies,” Pierce retorted. “What did you expect? Sunshine and
palm trees?”
“Whoa. Cranky much?”
“Sorry, Jimmy,” Pierce said around a sigh. “What’s up?”
“We’re, like, completely stuck, man.”
Pierce ground his teeth and wished, not for the first time, that the big football player
would stop talking like a surfer bum. It drove him insane. But Jimmy was, overall, a good
guy, so Pierce usually swallowed his irritation. Unfortunately for Jimmy, Pierce wasn’t
exactly brimming with patience at the moment.
“What do you mean, stuck?” he snapped.
“Stuck. As in, camped out in some crappy highway motel and can’t go anywhere. The
roads, man, ya know? All snow covered and shit.”
Pierce muttered a curse and kicked at a clump of the aforementioned white stuff, not as
thrilled about the winter storm as he had been earlier. “How far away are you?”
“Like, halfway, man. We got a late start cause Cassie had some dealie and—”
“I got it. Just stay warm and don’t risk your necks, okay? Teddy and I made it up here
fine, so we’ll just hunker down until this passes. Maybe it’ll clear up enough that you guys
can make it for a day or so.”
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15
“Yeah, not counting on that, but sure thing, man. You guys be safe, ‘kay?”
“Sure, we’re fine. Talk to you later.”
Pierce hung up to a cheerful round of “Merry Christmas” and dropped the phone back
in his pocket, hurrying to pull his glove back on. Just what he didn’t need. He’d been
counting on the other guys to serve as a buffer, as they usually did. What was he going to do,
alone with Teddy for the next couple of days?
Pierce had a sad lack of self-control and knew it. The plan had been for the group of
them to camp out at the small cabin. There was a resort about three miles down that road.
Skiing, snowboarding, the whole works. Pierce hadn’t told Teddy the plan, but he didn’t
really feel guilty about it. Teddy would have refused to come if he’d known their quiet
weekend was scheduled to turn into a giant party. Now, of course, that plan was blown to
bits, leaving Pierce exactly where he didn’t want to be—alone with Teddy.
Pierce had earned his fun-loving, playboy reputation the hard way, but there had
always been a deeper purpose to his actions. If he surrounded himself with people, then he
found it easier to distract himself from what he couldn’t have. Teddy.
Sure, Teddy was his best friend and always would be. When they’d hit their teens,
though, Pierce had started to see Teddy as more than just a friend. But he deserved better
than Pierce, a lot better. Teddy deserved someone smart and caring, someone who could look
out for him. Someone to snuggle and laugh with.
Teddy most definitely didn’t need a guy who’d slept his way through a good portion of
the college campus, men and women. A guy who drank too much and partied too hard.
Pierce would have loved to be what Teddy needed, but in the end, he didn’t trust himself. He
couldn’t risk hurting his Teddy Bear, so he put up barriers and partied even harder. Even
though they lived together, they didn’t actually spend that much time alone together. Pierce
usually had friends hanging out and Teddy was usually at the library studying.
Now? They had an entire weekend together. Alone.
God, Pierce just hoped he could hold it together until they left.
* * * *
Pierce rolled over and yanked the thick comforter over his head. It didn’t help. He
could still hear Teddy’s teeth chattering over the mournful howling of the wind. He shoved
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the cover aside and stared up at the ceiling. Odd-shaped shadows danced on the wooden
beams, the fire casting uneven light throughout the room.
Teddy had nearly had a panic attack earlier when Pierce had suggested sharing the bed.
Which would be why Pierce was comfortably ensconced in a nest of blankets in front of the
fireplace while Teddy froze his nuts off in the bed in the corner.
Pierce was nice and toasty. Teddy sounded like he was one step away from
hypothermia.
“Teddy?” Pierce called.
Silence was his only answer. Pierce rolled his eyes and muttered his annoyance in
inaudible phrases, then said, “I know you’re awake. Get over here, you idiot, before you
freeze to death.”
“‘M fine,” came the chattered reply.
“No, you’re not. Stop being so stubborn.”
Teddy didn’t answer. He didn’t make any attempt to move, either.
Pierce dug himself out of his pile of blankets with a few vicious curses. The cold air
smacked his exposed skin, biting and gnawing. He could practically feel his toes turning
blue. Good Lord, it was freezing. The fire kept trying to hold the frigid air at bay, and it
succeeded for the most part, at least in the immediate area around the crackling logs. But the
wind kept whipping around outside, finding chinks in the walls and leaking through the
window casings.
Pierce crossed the room with a few rapid strides, the wooden floor actually painful on
his bare feet. He found the bed in the dim light with the huddled figure of his best friend.
“Stubborn ass,” he ground out.
Teddy yelped loudly when Pierce picked him up, blankets and all.
“What are you doing?” Teddy demanded, limbs flailing. “Put me down!”
“Nope. You’re getting warm, even if I have to tie you up and wrap you in blankets like
a human burrito.”
“Pierce!”
Pierce ignored Teddy’s protesting shrieks, depositing the smaller figure onto the pile of
blankets on the floor with casual disregard for little things like bruises.
“Stay,” Pierce stated firmly.
Teddy scowled up at him and Pierce couldn’t stay annoyed. Teddy was just so damn
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adorable, with his big brown eyes and full lips, pushed out in the barest hint of a pout.
“Bully,” Teddy accused
Pierce rolled his eyes and dropped to the floor. He wrapped his arms around Teddy,
ignoring the flailing limbs trying to swipe his ears off, and tucked them both under a pile of
quilts, blankets, and sleeping bags.
“I can’t breathe.” Teddy’s voice came out muffled.
Pierce sighed. “So picky.” He tugged down one of the quilts until he could see the tip of
Teddy’s nose. The rest of his friend was completely obscured, save for a shock of fuzzy
golden brown hair poking out.
“Yeah, well, I kind of need air.”
“I suppose.”
Teddy’s slim body was stiff next to Pierce, tension running through the lean muscles.
Pierce handled it for about five minutes before he started to get irritated.
“Would you please relax?” he snapped.
“I can’t.”
“Sure you can. Take a deep breath and go to sleep.”
“I can’t get comfortable.”
“Would you rather be back in the corner turning into a Popsicle?”
“Maybe.”
“Oh, good Lord, Teddy.”
“Sorry.”
Pierce knew Teddy was chewing on his lips, could almost see the uncertainty in those
brown eyes. How many times over the years had he seen that exact expression on Teddy’s
face? Too many to count, that was for sure.
Teddy wiggled some more and Pierce’s amusement imploded. His body reacted
predictably to a squirming body against his.
He ground his teeth. “Hold still, would you?” he growled.
“Sorry,” Teddy said again. He didn’t sound sorry, though. In fact, if Pierce didn’t know
any better, he’d swear that Teddy was scooting closer.
Hang on. He did know better, and Teddy was scooting closer.
“What are you doing?” he asked hesitantly.
“Trying to get warm.”
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“Teddy—”
Teddy rolled over onto his side, pressing his pert butt firmly against the tops of Pierce’s
thighs.
“Teddy.” Pierce tried again, but didn’t get any further this time, either. Hell, he didn’t
even know what he wanted to say. All he knew was Teddy’s proximity was doing bad things
to his brain. Making him want things that a guy just shouldn’t want from his best friend.
“Shh,” Teddy said in a tone Pierce had never heard before. “Go to sleep.”
Teddy grabbed Pierce’s arms and pulled them around his waist, settling into a
spooning hug. It was an intimate position, a lover’s position.
Pierce could hardly breathe. His lungs kept seizing up. A war raged inside. Half of him
wanted to cuddle in closer to that heat, that unique aroma. The rest of him was screaming,
Run, you idiot! This is Teddy!
Pierce started to pull away, but Teddy tightened his hold on Pierce’s arms, a silent plea
to stay where he was. He could never easily ignore a request from his Teddy.
Pierce grunted and pressed his forehead into Teddy’s shoulder.
It was going to be a really long night.
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Chapter Four
Teddy woke with a smile on his face, warm and cosy and happy and…oh. Oh, damn.
He stiffened as memories flooded in and he realised the solid form tucked around him was
Pierce.
Teddy debated for a while, almost hearing the seconds tick by. Get up and risk
disturbing Pierce? Stay here, savour the embrace and risk pissing Pierce off? What to do,
what to do.
As Teddy lay there, it suddenly occurred to him that this whole situation was
ridiculous. He absently stroked the smooth skin of Pierce’s hand where it nestled on his hip
and sorted through options.
Fact Number One—Teddy loved Pierce and had for years.
Fact Number Two—Pierce cared about Teddy in return.
Whether Pierce’s feelings could be classified as love—or could grow to be love—Teddy
didn’t know. So what was keeping him from finding out? A fear of losing his best friend?
That was already happening. Each week that passed left Teddy feeling more and more like
Pierce was pulling away. He came back to the apartment for only brief pit stops between
classes and parties, and he often had one or more people trailing behind him when he did.
When was the last time that Teddy and Pierce had spent time together, just the two of them,
alone like this?
Teddy had to swallow a rise of sadness when he realised he couldn’t remember. It
might well have been last Christmas, when they drove down together to spend the holidays
with their families.
As much as Teddy hated to admit it, their friendship had hit some kind of a snag. But
darned if he knew what that snag was.
He had a choice. He could let their relationship continue as it was, through graduation,
into the eventual drifting apart. The occasional phone call, the random meeting at family
events. The awkward “Hey, how are you” at Christmases in the future. Or he could do
something completely out of character and take advantage of the current situation. Sure,
their friendship might blow up in his face if he made a move, but wasn’t a quick blow-up
better than a long, drawn out severing? And what if it didn’t blow up? What if…
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Teddy shook his head, thoughts firming into resolute determination. He felt unusually
bold and daring this wintry morning.
He was going to try. Not because he wanted their friendship to end, but because he
thought a chance with Pierce just might be worth it. They were stuck here for a few days. No
one could run, no one could hide, no one could disappear.
Teddy took a deep breath, prayed he wasn’t about to get slugged in the jaw, and rolled
over. Pierce grunted a wordless protest, still sound asleep.
With slow, cautious movements, Teddy slipped his hand further under the covers. Inch
by inch, he moved his fingers lower. Sometime during the night, Pierce’s long-sleeved shirt
had ridden up, leaving open access to smooth, heated skin. Teddy kept up his unimpeded
exploration until his fingers snagged in an elastic waistband.
Some part of Teddy was screaming a frantic protest. You don’t do things like this, you
idiot! Stop right now!
Teddy shoved his logical half back into a corner, mentally sticking his tongue out in
derision. Then he let his inner slut out to play.
All hesitation gone, Teddy slipped his fingers under thick flannel, nearly jumping in
surprise when he encountered more skin instead of underwear. Teddy wrapped his fist
around, waiting morning wood. He had to clench his teeth against the groan of pure pleasure
that wanted to escape at the feel of velvet and heat under his fingertips. A hint of moisture
coated the hard shaft and he practically salivated, wanting so badly to taste.
Pierce made a low humming noise, hips shifting under Teddy’s touch. “Mmm,” he
murmured sleepily, eyes still closed. “Teddy?”
“Shh,” Teddy whispered. “You’re dreaming.”
“Dreaming? ‘S a good dream.”
“The best.”
“Don’t stop.” Pierce raised one hand, ran it over Teddy’s arm briefly, before his arm fell
limply to his side again.
“I don’t intend to,” Teddy whispered.
Pierce rolled ever so slightly to one side and Teddy scooted closer, tugging lightly with
his hand and…oh. Oh, shit. He was stuck.
His hand was half under Pierce’s thigh, blankets trapping his arm, and Pierce’s pyjama
pants had wrapped around his fingers. Teddy wriggled and squirmed… Nope, well and
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truly stuck.
He let out a groan and dropped his forehead onto Pierce’s upper arm, cursing silently.
So much for Plan A. Teddy was hoping for a gradual seduction, arousing Pierce to a fever
pitch so that by the time he woke up completely, Pierce wouldn’t care who was doing the
touching as long as they didn’t stop. Win the man over with sex.
Yeah. Not happening now. Smooth, Teddy. Really smooth.
Okay. Okay, he could figure this out. He was smart. He was a damn physics major, for
crying out loud. Surely he could work out a way to disentangle himself. Preferably without
waking Pierce up, although at this point Teddy’d take what he could get.
He took a couple of deep breaths to calm his racing thoughts before raising his head.
Sunlight was peeking around the edges of the ragged curtains, lending its assistance to the
feeble light cast by the dying fire. He shifted his weight, half-rising onto his knees, so that he
could peer around Pierce’s body. Pierce lay mostly on his side, Teddy’s hand trapped almost
underneath his…thigh? Yeah, thigh. Better than a hip. Maybe.
Teddy’s fingers were starting to fall asleep, the lack of blood flow making the tips all
tingly. He wiggled them as much as he was able and something loosened. Oh. Oh, hallelujah.
A few more gentle tugs, some judicious waggling of fingers, and additional strategic
weight distribution to achieve just the right angle and Teddy was able to slip his hand free.
But with his hand came the fabric and then the unstable surface slipped—namely quilts on a
wooden floor—and boom, he pitched forward.
Teddy flung out a hand, and Pierce turned as Teddy went down. He caught his weight
on his outstretched palm, momentum stopping with a jarring jolt. He gulped and…
… And found himself staring right at Pierce’s cock.
Teddy licked his lips, casting a glance to make sure Pierce was still asleep. He was, and
this was simply too good an opportunity to pass up.
Moistening his lips one more time, Teddy focused his attention on the pretty treat
waiting for him. He flicked out his tongue, the flavours of sweet-salt moisture exploding on
his taste buds. Oh, that was marvellous. Completely, utterly marvellous.
Teddy simply had to take another taste. A second taste turned into a third, then a nice
long lick around the head.
The thought crossed his mind that it probably wasn’t right to take advantage of the
situation, but Teddy couldn’t help himself. He’d spent too long wondering what Pierce
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would taste like, what it would be like to touch him and please him. He couldn’t bring
himself to let this chance pass him by.
Pierce murmured something inaudible, the sound sending a streak of panic through
Teddy. But when he looked up, Pierce’s eyes were still shut, although he was sporting a wide
smile on his face.
Teddy grinned. Excellent. He was obviously doing something right.
With that happy thought, he pushed all doubts aside and went back to his exploration.
It wasn’t the most comfortable of positions. Pierce lay flat on his back, snoring lightly.
Teddy was sprawled on one side of Pierce, half-straddling one of his friend’s thighs. From
the knees down, Pierce’s body was still swathed in cloth—pyjamas, blankets, quilts. If Pierce
were awake, he’d be mortified. Even as enthralled with the man as he was, Teddy had to
admit Pierce looked rather amusing, shirt pushed up and pants pulled down, baring his
midsection and groin. His cock curved into the air, glistening with pre cum and saliva.
Overall, though, the sheer beauty of the bounty laid before Teddy more than eclipsed
any amusement. Pierce’s skin was darker than Teddy’s, a rich cedar to his pale pine. A thick
thatch of nearly black hair curled around his erection, a coarse contrast to the smooth skin
stretched taut on Pierce’s heavy shaft.
Teddy rested the bulk of his weight on one elbow and manoeuvred his hand into a
semi-stable position between Pierce’s legs. He wouldn’t be able to hold the position for
long—already his elbow was protesting—and he didn’t have a hand free to play with, but
Teddy wasn’t going to risk a better setup. He might wake Pierce and then Teddy wouldn’t
get to do…
This. Teddy took the head of Pierce’s cock into his mouth, sucking with forceful pulls.
Pierce groaned, the sound almost like Teddy’s name, hips bucking up into Teddy’s mouth.
The taste and the smell were perfect.
Teddy lost himself in the act. He’d always liked giving blow jobs. It made him feel
fantastic, driving someone mad with pleasure. He got off on the act, too. And with this being
Pierce? Teddy knew he was probably going to enjoy this just as much as Pierce. More,
maybe, because he was actually awake.
Teddy snuggled as close as he could to Pierce, never letting go of his cock. Teddy licked
and sucked, pulling back to swirl his tongue around, diving down and swallowing. Doing
everything he could to toss Pierce over the edge into bliss.
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Teddy relished each move, each taste, the world narrowing to the cock in his mouth, the
body pressed against his, Pierce’s warm, spicy scent, the hand tangling in Teddy’s hair. Each
throb of veins against his tongue drove his arousal higher. Every little, unconscious thrust
that buried Pierce deeper in his mouth seemed to have a direct connection to Teddy’s groin.
Everything tightened and throbbed. Teddy’s stomach. Pierce’s fingers gripping his hair. The
hot flesh in his mouth. Teddy’s aching balls.
The world swirled around him, his movements growing faster and faster, colours
bursting and flaring behind his eyelids, which refused against all orders to stay open. It
could have been minutes or hours, Teddy didn’t know and he certainly didn’t care.
Unfortunately, Teddy’s little piece of heaven couldn’t last forever. With a grunted
shout, Pierce bucked up almost violently. Teddy loosened his jaw as much as possible, taking
in all that he could, drawing back to make sure he caught the full taste of Pierce.
“Teddy!”
The shout rang through the room, unexpected and glorious. With the taste of cum in his
mouth, his name echoing in his ears, Teddy turned away and buried his face against Pierce’s
side. Teddy groaned, body going painfully taut, vision blurring into white as his release
rushed over him.
The pleasure dragged on, rising and ebbing in waves, each one gentling and slowing
until it finally ran dry. Teddy hissed out a long breath and his elbows gave out. He collapsed,
sprawling heavily on top of Pierce’s side. A sharp hipbone was poking into his stomach, but
Teddy simply couldn’t muster the energy to do anything about it.
Pierce opened his eyes.
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Chapter Five
Pierce blinked a few times, staring at the ceiling with his dark, dark eyes. “Mmm,” he
hummed softly, voice husky from sleep. “That was… What the hell?” His eyes suddenly
snapped open completely and he turned his head.
Teddy managed a sheepish grin. “Good morning?”
“This may be a stupid question, but why are you laying on top of me? And why am I
covered in spunk?”
“I was dreaming?”
Pierce snorted with disbelief.
Teddy didn’t blame him. It was a lame-ass excuse that even he didn’t buy. “You were
dreaming?”
That one didn’t fly, either.
“I was—”
Pierce didn’t let Teddy finish. Instead, he reached out with one finger and swiped it
along Teddy’s lips. Pierce’s eyes widened as he stared, disbelieving, at the moisture
transferred from Teddy’s mouth to his finger.
Teddy quickly swiped at his mouth with his sleeve, but the damage was already done.
“Hell, you didn’t…I was…that was real?”
“Um—”
“Teddy, what the hell? You gave me a blow job? Has the cold damaged your brain?”
“I’m thinking quite rationally, thank you very much,” Teddy replied primly.
“You gave me a blow job!”
“Yes. Yes, I did.” Teddy sat up. It was, sad to admit, one of the highlights of his life. He
wasn’t going to deny it.
Pierce pushed Teddy away, putting some distance between them, and shoved himself
up on one elbow. “Why?” The poor guy looked confused and lost and all kinds of wigged
out.
“I wanted to.”
“You wanted to? What kind of answer is that? We’ve known each other for decades and
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now you start this?” Pierce waved his hand between them. “And all you can say is you
wanted to?”
God, Teddy thought, how to answer.
No matter what way he looked at it, he was deeply screwed.
Pierce watched Teddy ruminate, turning words around and around in that overactive
brain of his, for a full two minutes. Then Pierce lost patience. “Why now, Teddy? What
changed?”
Teddy bit his lip. “I guess I…well, I’m going to lose you, anyway. I guess I figured I
should grab my chance while I still could, you know?”
“Lose me?” Pierce shot upright, glaring at Teddy, hurt and confusion blending
together. “What the hell do you mean, lose me? You’re my best friend, where the fuck do you
think I’m going?”
“I didn’t mean you were leaving, it’s just…we don’t talk anymore, we don’t spend time
together.”
“We live together!”
“Yeah, maybe, but when did we last hang out? Huh?” Teddy rose to his knees, nose
scrunched up, eyes stubborn and fierce. “Maybe you can remember, because I sure can’t.
You’ve been avoiding me, and don’t deny it!”
Pierce looked away, unable to hold that intense glare. Not with the guilt churning in his
gut. “You’re right. I have been avoiding you.”
“Why?”
Oh, man. Pierce would take guilt and stubbornness any day over the hurt he could now
see. He knew his smile was a bit sad, more melancholy than reassuring. “You really have no
idea how appealing you are, do you?”
“I don’t understand,” Teddy said, almost pleading. “Help me understand.”
Pierce watched his own hand inch across the space between them, wondering absently
why it was moving without any conscious direction. But, hell, they’d come this far. He might
as well finish. He placed his hand over Teddy’s, squeezing, then just holding.
“I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m sorry,” he said softly. “It was getting harder, you know?
Watching you, wanting you. Not being able to have you.”
Teddy shook his head in confusion. “I wouldn’t have said no. You could have ‘had’ me
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any time you wanted.”
“But I couldn’t. You’re…well, you’re special, Teddy. You deserve someone sweet and
devoted, someone who can take care of you and—”
“Bull…shit.”
Pierce stopped, blinking, mind going blank. And damn, but that was a ferocious look
being levelled at him.
“You’re really telling me that we’ve danced around this thing between us for years
because you didn’t think you were good enough for me? Oooh, I should…” Teddy was practically
bouncing in place, eyes flashing with bright, hot anger. “I should smack you. Idiot! Didn’t it
ever occur to you that I’m a big boy? And maybe I don’t want sweet and devoted. Maybe I
want you.”
“But you deserve—”
“Pierce Everett Johnson, don’t you dare tell me what I deserve.”
Oh, shit. All three names. Teddy was really, really pissed. He rarely lost his temper but
when he did, it was best to ride it out. Let him get all the anger out before trying to be
reasonable.
Of course that didn’t mean that Pierce couldn’t be angry right back. “Well, maybe
someone needs to, because you sure as hell can’t figure it out on your own. Just look at the
last guy you dated, what was his name, Frank?”
“Frank? What the heck does Frank have to do with anything? We’re talking about us
right now.”
“Frank is a perfect example of your lack of taste, and why you can’t be trusted to know
what sort of guy is right for you,” Pierce said.
“Meaning you?”
“Yes.”
“Frank was an idiot, but he wasn’t that bad,” Teddy said.
“He forgot your anniversary.”
“So did I.”
“He was always late for your dates.”
“Sometimes I wouldn’t show up at all,” Teddy countered.
“He called you ‘egghead’.”
“It was meant as a compliment.”
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“And he gave you socks for your birthday!” Pierce finished triumphantly.
“All right, I’ll give you that one.”
Pierce was warming up to his argument now, spitting out flaw after flaw, going back
several boyfriends ago. Half of what he said didn’t make a whole lot of sense, even to him,
but the strange sense of desperation clawing at him was saying, Push Teddy away now before
this gets fucked up beyond all repair.
Meanwhile, the look on Teddy’s face kept growing darker and darker, as though he
was rapidly running out of patience. When Pierce finally paused for a breath, Teddy jumped
right in.
“So is that why you ran them off?”
“Yes!” Pierce froze, groaning aloud as he realised what he had just admitted to.
“So you’re not good enough for me, but neither is anyone else? Is that it?”
“Something like that.” He muttered the words to the floor, feeling like a world-class
idiot and not quite sure how he’d got backed into this particular conversational corner.
Teddy stood, running jerky hands through his mop of golden brown hair, the ends
popping up and frizzing in the dry air. “You know what? I’m done. Just…make some food or
something. I’m going for a walk.”
“Teddy, there’s nearly two feet of—”
“I don’t care if we’re in the middle of a frickin’ blizzard. I just can’t do this right now.
When we’ve both calmed down, we can start to plan getting the hell off this damned
mountain.”
Teddy stomped to the door, stamping his feet into his boots and stuffing the bottom of
his sweatpants inside them. He yanked his coat on over the sweatshirt he’d slept in, every
line of his body screaming frustration and anger. When the door slammed behind him, Pierce
slumped.
Damn, but he’d never seen Teddy that angry. Never. Hell, the man had gone outside
dressed in last night’s clothes. Teddy. Mr Fastidious. The same Teddy who changed clothes
halfway through the day, who often insisted on taking two showers, sometimes three if he’d
been working in the bio lab. He claimed the formaldehyde made his hair smell funny. Which
it did, but that wasn’t really relevant at the moment.
Pierce shoved to his feet, thinking he might as well try to find something for breakfast.
A morning orgasm always made him hungry and he had some vague plan of placating
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Teddy. Otherwise the next couple of hours were going to be really awful.
Pierce stepped gingerly, trying not to get tangled up in the blankets. It was the work of
a few seconds to right his clothes, although readjusting his thoughts took longer. His state of
disarray only served to remind him of what had started the argument in the first place. The
reason for his bare skin. Heated kisses. Soft touches.
Teddy’s mouth.
“God, Pierce, don’t go there,” he told himself firmly, voice loud in the empty room.
He took a step and his foot hit something, sending plastic skittering across the floor. It
was Teddy’s cell phone. Pierce bent and picked it up.
He’d never snooped before, but now he turned on the screen.
A picture popped up of the two of them at last year’s Fourth of July picnic. Pierce had
never seen this particular photo, although that didn’t mean much. Between their respective
mothers, there were probably three million photos of them floating around.
This one, though. Something about this picture caught Pierce’s attention, held it. It
wasn’t the setting—that was standard enough, his parent’s backyard. It wasn’t the pose—
they sat side-by-side at a picnic table, heads close, Pierce’s arm slung over Teddy’s shoulders.
They were laughing, happy. But what mesmerised Pierce was the look in Teddy’s eyes and
stamped on his face.. And that look…
Love. Pierce could see it, radiating through the camera. Teddy loved him. And not just
the friend type of love, either. No, Teddy was in love with him.
Staring at that photo, trying to view it with impartial eyes, it struck Pierce that anyone
who didn’t know better would assume they were a couple. The way he was holding Teddy,
the way Teddy was smiling at him…
Teddy had never smiled at any of his boyfriends like that. Pierce wondered who exactly
was he trying to protect? Teddy or himself?
God, but he was a jerk. Pierce had heard it before, but he usually laughed the words off.
All this time, trying to be so damn noble, claiming to do what was best for Teddy Pierce had
neatly compartmentalised Teddy into a box labelled ‘friend’. As long as he didn’t open that
box, Pierce could go blithely through life pretending that nothing had changed. That they
weren’t growing up. That Teddy didn’t look at him with longing.
Pierce wasn’t noble at all. He was trying to protect his own heart and keep hold of his
best friend at the same time.
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The revelation made everything snap into place. The world suddenly made a hell of a
lot more sense.
Oh, he’d told Teddy the complete truth. Teddy did deserve better than him. But the
whole damn mess boiled down to one simple truth—he couldn’t lose Teddy. Pierce wouldn’t
know how to function without his best friend somewhere in the background, somewhere in
his life. So he’d pushed Teddy away, at the same time clinging too tightly to let Teddy go to
anyone else, and ignoring any and all signs that he wasn’t happy.
Well, that was all going to change. Right now.
It was Christmas Eve, after all. So Pierce was going to make the perfect breakfast, give
Teddy his gift, and pray that the rift between them could be fixed. Maybe more than fixed.
Maybe their relationship could become better than it had ever been.
Of course, first Pierce had to figure out how to use the ancient gas stove without setting
the place on fire.
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Chapter Six
The front door squealed open, the blast of frigid air sending shivers down Pierce’s spine
and making the flames in his newly-rebuilt fire waver and sputter. He dropped his spatula
with a clatter and darted to the other side of the room as fast as he could without slipping on
his ass on the hardwood.
“Damn, Teddy, where have you been? You look like the abominable snowman!”
It was snowing again – or maybe still -- because Teddy’s red coat was covered in a thin
layer of white. Snow cascaded off him as he shoved back his hood. His poor nose was
cherry-red, not a good look for him, although the colour did nicely match the shade of his
cheeks.
“S-s-s-orry… It’s cold out.”
“Yeah. I noticed.”
Pierce started working on zippers, earlier argument abandoned in favour of ensuring
Teddy didn’t lose any extremities to frostbite. Teddy tried to help with the fastening on his
coat. Pierce had to knock his hand away three times before Teddy got the message—gloved
hands were neither useful, nor speedy, not when wielded clumsily on teeny-tiny zippers.
Pierce shoved the coat off Teddy’s shoulders and knelt, prying boots off next. They
slipped off comparatively easily, thick clumps of snow falling to the floor. Pierce lifted
Teddy, who squeaked a protest, which Pierce ignored. He also ignored the water pooling
around the door as he carried Teddy back to their nest in front of the fireplace.
It wasn’t easy. Teddy wasn’t that much smaller than Pierce. Pierce, however, was in
full-on caretaker mode and could care less about little things like herniated discs and spinal
fractures.
Damn, he should never have let Teddy talk him into taking that physiology class.
“Strip.” Pierce set Teddy down. “I’ve got eggs on the stove and milk warmed up for hot
chocolate. Get out of those wet clothes and under the blankets.”
“Eggs?” Teddy asked. “Where the heck did you get eggs?”
“Strip!” Pierce barked in his best drill sergeant imitation.
Teddy had only got as far as removing his socks and his soaked sweatshirt by the time
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Pierce came back with a plate of food and a steaming mug of cocoa. He rolled his eyes and
shoved the mug into Teddy’s hands.
“Hold it, don’t drink. It’s too hot. Now sit.”
“You’re really enjoying giving me orders, aren’t you?”
“I would enjoy it more if you would obey,” Pierce retorted. That got him an impish
little smile. Pierce felt his shoulders drop, some of the worry slipping away. If Teddy could
give him a look like that, then the man must not be too close to death-by-freezing.
Pierce reached over and yanked Teddy’s pants down to his knees.
“Pierce!”
God, that was a cute squeak. Pierce just grinned in return and guided Teddy to sit on
the floor, stripping off the wet sweatpants and tossing them aside. Grabbing one of his own
spare pairs of flannel pants, he tossed them at Teddy.
“Get those on.”
For once, Teddy complied. Satisfied, Pierce cuddled in close and wrapped the blankets
around them, making sure Teddy was right in front of the fire.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yeah, much.”
They sat in silence for a minute while Teddy tentatively sipped his hot chocolate.
“I really am sorry,” Teddy said. “About earlier. About what I said. And about staying
out so long. I knew better, but my head wasn’t cooperating, you know?”
“Yeah, I know all about that,” Pierce replied. He slipped one arm around Teddy’s
shoulders, just like in the picture, rubbing absently. Teddy still wore his T-shirt, which was
mostly dry, but the exposed skin felt uncomfortably chilly to Pierce’s touch.
The silence crept back in, the two of them sitting together, Pierce occasionally stealing
food off Teddy’s plate. At one point, Teddy got up to dig more clothes out of his bag,
layering them atop his current ones, but he came right back. Pierce snatched the opportunity
to slide closer, until they were snuggled together. Teddy felt marvellous, skin finally
warming, glowing in the heat of the fire.
“I’m sorry, too,” Pierce said. “But you were wrong about one thing.”
“Oh? What was that?”
“You were never in danger of losing me.”
“Sure felt like it to me.”
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Pierce shook his head. “I need you, Teddy. You’re never getting rid of me.”
Okay, that sounded way more ominous out loud than it had in his head.
Teddy just laughed, though. Pierce had missed hearing that sound. He hadn’t realised
until now how infrequently he’d heard it lately. He leaned in a little closer—not that there
was much space between them at this point—and took the mug from Teddy’s hand.
“So, I hear that someone has been a very good boy this year,” Pierce murmured into
Teddy’s ear. “What do you want for Christmas?”
“I think you know,” Teddy replied, doing some leaning of his own.
He should stop. Pierce knew that. Teddy had nearly frozen his nuts off within the last
hour, and they still needed to talk. And none of the arguments had the slightest impact on
his body. He ached, wanting to touch and tease and then lose himself in Teddy’s body. Over
and over again.
Pierce nuzzled the side of Teddy’s neck, placing a trail of kisses down the smooth flesh
to his shoulder. Teddy hummed in agreement and then his slender, long-fingered hands
were on Pierce’s body again. The memory of waking up, engulfed in the hot silk of Teddy’s
mouth, was overwhelming. He moaned, the sound low and needy.
He wasn’t supposed to be doing this. But at that precise moment, he couldn’t remember
exactly why not. Not with Teddy’s touches. The caresses felt so good and Pierce was hard
and hurting and, well, the fact that he was with Teddy made everything bigger and better.
All the arguments Pierce had worked up over the years for why he shouldn’t start a sexual
relationship with his best friend flew outside and landed in a big snow pile. He didn’t have a
shovel handy and didn’t feel those reasons really needed digging up, anyway. It felt right,
having Teddy touching and—oh, God, licking…
“Mmm, you taste nice,” Teddy said, before his sweet little tongue went back to lapping
at Pierce’s belly button.
Pierce couldn’t manage to do more than gasp his friend’s name and slide his fingers in
the mop of light brown hair, tugging slightly.
“Something you want?” Teddy asked with a grin.
Pierce had never seen that particular expression before.
Teddy tugged the covers away, and a blast of cold air smacked Pierce’s skin, but he
didn’t have time to get too cold. Teddy’s hot body landed partly on top of Pierce, pinning his
legs. Teddy abandoned his work on Pierce’s shirt and switched his attention to Pierce’s
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pants. Teddy, however, was still fully clothed and that struck Pierce as being not quite right.
Pierce let go of Teddy’s hair to do some work of his own. He managed to find a bit of
skin around Teddy’s waist but…
“Good God,” he muttered. “How many blasted layers do you have on?”
Teddy shrugged, looking up at Pierce with heat in those bright eyes. “I was cold.”
“Are you cold now?”
“Not so much.”
“Then lose the layers.”
Pierce received another one of those wicked grins. He could quickly grow addicted to
those.
With a sinuous movement, Teddy rose to his knees, covers puddling around his legs.
He peeled off his shirt, revealing a pale chest to Pierce’s eager eyes. An almost invisible
scattering of pale hair called to him, surrounding the prettiest pair of dusky pink nipples.
Pierce wanted to trace the vague lines of muscle, explore, find every single section of silky
skin and patch of hair.
“You, too,” Teddy said. “I want to see.”
Pierce had no problem with that, none at all. He scrambled to undress, sending his
clothes sailing in all directions. The room didn’t feel chilly anymore. Not a bit. And if he had
goose bumps prickling along his arms, those were Teddy’s fault and had nothing to do with
the winter storm that once again encased their small hideaway.
Teddy made a small sound of approval. He braced delicate hands on Pierce’s chest and
moved in for a kiss.
God. It might have been just a kiss, but it was nearly enough to send Pierce flying all on
its own. Their tongues tangled, a bit clumsy but eager, the tastes of chocolate and mint
adding a pleasant zing.
“Need you,” Pierce murmured.
“You sure?” Teddy pulled away slightly, concern momentarily eclipsing desire.
“Because I can’t go through this morning again. If you’re going to change your mind—”
“I’m sure.” Pierce yanked on Teddy’s arm until he overbalanced, landing right in
Pierce’s embrace, and proved his certainty with another kiss. “This is how it’s supposed to
be, Teddy. I was just too much of an idiot to admit it.”
Pierce was too far gone for even half of what he was saying to make sense to him, but
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34
he must have got at least some of the words right. Teddy’s movements became more frantic,
his touch rougher, the sweetest little sounds pouring from his mouth. Soft whimpers, they
were incredibly hot.
Pierce rolled Teddy underneath him, one part of his mind busy taking in the sight of his
lover, flushed and happy. The other part of his mind had a hand down on Teddy’s belly and
creeping lower, going for—
“I want you in me,” Teddy blurted.
He froze, staring. “Really, baby?”
“Yes. In me. Now.”
“You aren’t ready.”
“I’ve been ready for years.”
“I don’t have stuff.”
Teddy arched his eyebrow at that one.
Pierce laughed. “You know me too well.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
Pierce hated to leave Teddy, even for a minute. But he consoled himself with what
waited when he came back. He found his wallet, which had condoms and a single-use packet
of lube shoved in one compartment. He had them both half open by the time he got back to
Teddy.
Panting, Pierce landed on his knees, and Teddy was waiting. Pierce nearly swallowed
his tongue. Flat on his back, Teddy had his legs bent and spread, eyes closed in bliss as he
worked his cock with one hand. Seeing Teddy jack off was the stuff of Pierce’s dreams. The
wet, sticky ones.
As much as he would have liked to sit back and watch, that would have to wait for
another time. He was on a mission. “Keep going, baby, ‘cause that is the hottest thing I’ve
ever seen.”
Teddy cracked open his eyes, smiling through hooded lashes. “Like to watch, do you?”
“Hell, yes.”
Teddy kept his strokes steady and even…mesmerising.
Pierce swallowed, trying to wet his suddenly dry mouth. “Damn, I think you’re going
to kill me.”
“Don’t die yet. We haven’t even gotten to the good stuff.”
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
35
Pierce laughed, settling himself between Teddy’s spread legs. He squirted the lube out
of the packet, stroking and feeling, until one finger probed Teddy’s hole. Pierce rubbed, up
and down, greasing the rim of Teddy’s opening, working almost entirely by feel. He just
couldn’t tear his eyes away from the show.
Teddy kept up a steady concert of moans, pleas, and encouragement as one finger
became two, then three. Teddy was tight, his ass gripping Pierce in a fierce hold, trying to
suck him in.
“Can’t wait any longer, baby.” Pierce’s heart was pounding, ears ringing, world
narrowed to touch and sensation. He worked the condom in place with a few efficient
movements.
“Want me to turn over?” Teddy asked. “It’s been a while.”
It would be easier for Teddy, but…
“No, I want to see you.”
Teddy’s smile told Pierce he’d made the right choice. He grinned back and draped
himself over Teddy’s body, pinning that busy hand between them and stilling its activity.
“I’ve waited forever for this,” Teddy whispered, free hand cupping Pierce’s cheek.
“Me, too.”
Pierce braced himself and then it was happening. Centimetre by excruciating
centimetre, he was sliding into Teddy’s hot depths. Inside. Oh, God, he was inside his Teddy
Bear.
Teddy stiffened underneath him, breathing choppy. Shit. Shit. Pierce hated that he was
causing even a second of discomfort for his lover. But then the tight lines on Teddy’s face
eased, that sweet mouth tipping up into a smile. Teddy grabbed the back of Pierce’s neck and
pulled his head down, grinning wildly.
“Move,” Teddy ordered.
Pierce moved. He couldn’t keep a steady rhythm to save his life and he knew he was
probably being too rough, but every bit of his brain had shorted out. He could only hang on
for the ride.
Teddy met him thrust for thrust, hips rising and bucking, moans filling the air. Pierce
wasn’t going to last long. A few more strokes and he shouted wordlessly, cock throbbing and
balls pulling up close as he emptied himself into the condom. The pleasure went on and on,
even more intense and world-shaking than it had been this morning.
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
36
He stiffened, the last pulse of cum spilling out. His shaky arms refused to hold him
anymore and he pulled out. Collapsing, he managed to turn at the last minute to land more
or less beside Teddy rather than on top. Best not to end the greatest sex of his life by
squashing his partner.
“Pierce!”
Teddy’s groan had him looking sideways, just in time to catch the end of the show.
Teddy gripped the head of his cock, writhing, and a stream of white shot out to coat his
stomach.
Pierce moaned, reaching over to stroke Teddy’s hip, absorbing how stunning Teddy
looked with his face twisted by ecstasy. He was probably a crappy lover, not finishing Teddy
off… Pierce decided he’d make it up later. Several times. With interest.
Teddy turned on one side, flopping his arm over Pierce’s waist, seemingly unconcerned
that they were both sticky and gooey. Pierce hummed and patted Teddy’s hand, not sure he
had the energy for more strenuous actions. He needed to get rid of the condom, get them
both cleaned up… It was too damned cold out to lay here naked for long.
That would all have to wait a bit though because he’d become a melted pile of former
Pierce and wasn’t going to be able to do more than pant for at least the next fifteen minutes.
That is, until Teddy muttered a quiet, “I love you,” into his shoulder.
Pierce lifted his head, eyes wide, hardly able to believe he’d heard right. “Say that
again?”
Teddy shook his head but repeated, louder this time, “I love you.”
“God, Teddy Bear, I love you, too.” Pierce was amazed by how easily the words
emerged, like they had just been waiting for him to wise up and say them.
“You do realise I’m keeping you now, right?” Teddy asked. “I mean, you said you
loved me, you can’t take that back.”
“And I don’t want to.”
“Good.”
“Mmm, you wore me out,” Pierce murmured. “Why don’t we take a little nap?”
“‘Kay. Then when we get up, we can exchange Christmas presents.”
“Christmas isn’t until tomorrow.”
“Close enough.”
Pierce chuckled. “All right. But I don’t think anything you wrapped up could top the
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
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37
gift you just gave me.”
He had almost drifted off to sleep when Teddy lightly smacked him in the side with
one balled-up fist. “And don’t call me Teddy Bear.”
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
38
Epilogue
Teddy turned off the engine and sat in the car for a minute, a soft smile tipping up the
corners of his mouth.
The cabin hadn’t changed much over the years. The siding was still weathered and
warped, the sharply sloping roof coated with brown piles of dead leaves and dry pine
needles. The yard in front of the porch was a mixture of dirt and yellowing grass. But here
and there were signs of improvement. The porch bore a fresh coat of stain on the wooden
floor and all three steps were intact.
The two front windows had also been recently washed and dim yellow light spilled
around the edges of the curtains. A thick rope of dark garland wound around the porch
railing, interspersed by brightly twinkling lights. The shiny new screen door opened
soundlessly as he watched. Teddy found himself almost missing the squealing protests of the
old door.
Teddy opened the car door, grinning wider at the waiting figure.
“I didn’t think you were going to be able to get here until tomorrow,” he called.
Pierce grinned back, smile wide and happy. He gave a goofy wave before jogging down
the steps. “I caught an earlier flight.”
Pierce wrapped his arms around Teddy, the feeling warm and familiar. Teddy
squeezed back, pulling Pierce’s head down for a kiss. It was “welcome back” and “I missed
you” and everything in between. Passion still lingered in the touch, even after damn near ten
years, but more than that, the kiss held comfort and security. Teddy let himself cuddle for a
second, just basking, ignoring the chill trying to seep through his fluffy winter coat.
“Missed you,” he finally whispered, laying a quick kiss on Pierce’s cheek.
“Me, too, baby.” Pierce gave him a final squeeze, then stepped back. Both of them kept
sneaking glances at each other, grinning like idiots, as they unloaded the few bags Teddy had
packed for their long weekend.
Teddy tramped up the steps, Pierce practically tripping over his heels. The man
sneaked a quick grope and Teddy growled.
“Stop that,” he said, hiding his amusement.
“I need, baby.”
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
39
“Well, at least wait until we get inside.”
“Such a prude. Who the hell is going to see us out here? I could fuck you on the porch
and the only audience we would attract would be squirrels.”
“You’re an idiot, you know that?” Teddy’s voice was mild, though, and laced heavily
with affection.
The outside of their small cabin might not have changed much, but the inside looked
like an entirely different place. They hadn’t bothered to build on—after all, this place was
theirs, just for the two of them—but Teddy had insisted on modernising and updating what
was there. A central heating system had been put in and the appliances replaced, the steel
bright and shiny. The floors and walls had been refinished and the one large room glowed
with a buttery warmth, the firelight turning the pale pine deep golden. Their king-sized bed
took up an entire wall, piled high with colourful quilts and fluffy pillows. Thick rugs
scattered along the floor from wall to wall kept the planks from freezing off toes when the
power went out, which happened more often than Teddy liked to think about. Pierce
complained sometimes, wondering why they’d bothered with central heating when they
hardly ever had the electricity to power it. At least the appliances ran mainly on gas, and the
backup generator kept the lights on—well, most of the time.
It was comfy and cosy, their little weekend getaway spot. With Pierce’s job as a
compliance inspector taking him all across the country, it was essential that they had a place
to go, leaving the world behind.
The first few years had been rough. Sometimes, it was still rough. When Pierce was on
the road three weeks out of the month and Teddy’s middle-school students were giving him
headaches, all he wanted was to see more of his lover than a face over a computer camera.
But then came times like these, when they both had a few days off and could come up to
their special place and wallow.
And Teddy intended to revel in the wallowing. Nearly a month and a half this time,
since he’d been able to hold his partner. Way too long.
Teddy dropped his bags and whirled around, Pierce barely had time to close the door
before Teddy started crawling up him, licking and sucking, hands already working busily.
“Clothes off,” he muttered against skin. “Now. Need you in me.”
“Oh, hell yes, babe. Been way too long.”
Clothes went flying in different directions, landing in corners and on top of furniture.
IN TEDDY’S ARMS
K.M. Mahoney
www.total-e-bound.com
40
Pierce held tight, hands fastened firmly to Teddy’s hips, as he guided them both around the
overstuffed leather couch, both still kissing and touching.
Teddy’s foot tangled in something and he nearly took them down, stumbling a few
steps and landing against Pierce.
“Whoa, careful,” Pierce murmured.
Teddy looked down and smiled. “Who says you aren’t romantic?”
Several blankets—and what looked suspiciously like Pierce’s old sleeping bag—were
piled on the floor, waiting for them. A fire crackled a cheerful welcome, flames leaping and
dancing. An unopened bottle of wine and an absolutely massive plate of cookies sat between
the nest of blankets and the fireplace. Several crumbs littered the floor around the plate.
Teddy laughed. “Got hungry, did you?”
Pierce shrugged, smile unrepentant. “You took forever to get here.”
“Well, since I didn’t expect you until tomorrow, I wasn’t exactly hurrying.”
Pierce chuckled and leaned his weight forward, resting their foreheads together.
“Couldn’t wait. It’s almost Christmas and I needed to be with my Teddy Bear.”
Teddy whacked him in the shoulder, but it was a half-hearted move, at best. Truth was,
he’d kind of grown to like that ridiculous nickname.
Or maybe it was just the way Pierce said it, warm and affectionate, love clear in every
syllable.
Pierce started to gently lower Teddy to the floor. Or at least, it started out gentle. Then
their balance went and they landed in a heap. Teddy’s breath left him with an audible “oof.”
“Sorry,” Pierce said. He was laughing while he spoke.
Teddy didn’t really take the apology seriously. “Dork,” he said, smiling.
“Mmm, but I’m your dork.”
“That you are. Mine and no one else’s.”
No matter what the next ten years brought, Teddy would be forever grateful for that
first fateful Christmas. It had put Pierce right where he belonged—in Teddy’s arms.
Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:
Odd Man In
K. M. Mahoney
Released 12
th
September 2011
Excerpt
Chapter One
It wasn’t the first time he’d been snagged. And it wouldn’t be the last time, either. Daior
Mathews had been told on many occasions he had a real problem with authority. He always
replied that it wasn’t a problem but a really intense distaste. Authority and organisations.
And politicians. And dentists. He wasn’t too fond of dentists. Hell, he didn’t like anybody,
really.
So when the guards opened the door and tossed him a companion, the kid flying
through the air like a freaking trapeze artist—with the greatest of ease and a really hard
landing—Dai should have minded his own business. Could have. Should have. The story of
his life.
But Daior just never learnt. When that kid hit the ground at his feet, looked up at him
with those pale blue eyes… Hell. Daior had a feeling his life had just become a great deal
more complicated.
He sighed, leaned over, grabbed the kid by the shoulder and hoisted him upright.
“Kid,” he said. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that you need wings to fly?”
The kid dusted himself off. “People keep saying that.”
“And you keep trying to prove them wrong?”
“Something like that.”
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Daior snorted. The kid had quite a mouth on him. Daior liked it.
The kid grinned at the sound. “I’m Terran,” he said. He tilted his head back, studying
the grey stone arching over their heads. “So, where are we, and how do we get out?”
“We’re in a private complex on an unnamed planet in the Delta Sector.”
In Daior’s opinion, ‘planet’ was being generous. The blasted rock was way too small to
manage enough gravity for a stationary orbit or a semi-comfortable living environment.
Heck, he’d seen asteroids larger. It must have one hell of a density to make up for it. Daior
had pretty much covered the whole thing during his last escape attempt. It had only taken
him about twelve hours, with the exception of the blasted mountain. No way was he
climbing a mountain. That part he’d left unexplored. Nature wasn’t really his thing.
Terran kicked at the wall, crossing his arms and scowling. He was probably attempting
to look ferocious, but his features were far too fine and, well, cute for that. “This wasn’t
exactly how I planned to spend my weekend.”
Daior watched bits of rock skitter across the rough floor and his mouth quirked. “Not
exactly my idea of a good time, either.”
“You never answered my other question,” Terran pointed out.
“What question was that?” Daior could feign ignorance with the best of them.
“How do we get out?”
“We don’t.”
Terran started chewing on his lip, foot jiggling nervously. “What do you mean, we
don’t?”
“This planet’s about as big around as a nutshell. No place to hide. And no available
ships to get us off, either. We’re effectively stuck.”
“Well, what do they want?”
“With me? Something they aren’t gonna get. You? Damned if I know.”
Terran wrapped long fingers around his slender hips and glared, his blue eyes like icy
fire. “What do you know?”
“That you’re damned cute when you’re mad.”
Terran’s mouth dropped open, and Daior half expected him to stomp his foot.
It was the truth, though. The light wasn’t very good—KoraGel lamps might be
convenient and cheap, but they were crappy for lighting anything larger than a one-person
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tent. The six bolted into the stone walls of their cave barely kept the dark at bay. Even so, he
could tell the kid was something else. Small and lithe but nicely muscled. Built for speed and
agility, not strength and persistence, like Dai was. Hair of some indeterminate shade—light
but not blond—stuck up in neat spikes. A pert nose, rounded cheeks with cute little
dimples—hell, everything about the man was little. Except for those eyes. They were big,
expressive and the prettiest shade of blue Daior had ever seen. Bright with life and
enthusiasm and glittering like the heart of a nebula.
Those eyes suddenly lost their sparkle. It hit his gut hard to see it go.
Terran sighed and plopped down on a large rock against the wall, resting his chin in his
hand. He didn’t say anything, just stared at the shadows lurking around his bare feet.
“Where are your shoes, kid?” Daior asked.
“They took them.”
“Why?” he asked with honest confusion, casting a look at his own boot-clad feet.
“I don’t know. I don’t know who they are or what they want with me or anything. I was
just out having a few drinks, wandering around Quentain, and suddenly I get kidnapped. I
guess I should just be glad they only took my shoes. That ugly guy wanted to take my
clothes, too.”
“They’re all ugly,” Daior replied absently. But… Well, damn. He probably wouldn’t
have minded a naked Terran all that much. Or at all. Wait…Quentain? If Daior’s calculations
were correct, they were currently on the fringes of colonised space. Quentain wasn’t even in
this galaxy, let alone the same solar system. They must have wanted Terran badly to drag
him that far. Either that, or they really, really didn’t want to be found. Maybe both.
Daior pushed aside the questions for the moment. At the same time, he tried to bury the
instant surge of lust that had his cock hardening in his battered cargo pants. Just because
he’d been stuck in here for far too long, and in deep space for months before that, didn’t
mean his control was completely shot. He could restrain himself from falling on the first cute
twink he came across.
Maybe. Probably. And hell, nothing even guaranteed the kid was gay, anyway. Although
his gut said yes. Loudly. And Daior’s gut was usually right.
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Daior slid down the wall until his bum hit the floor, and he stretched out his legs,
crossing his ankles and settling in. He didn’t bother trying to get comfortable. It would be a
wasted effort.
The silence started to lengthen between them, awkward and heavy. Daior cleared his
throat.
“Where are your folks, kid?”
“I’m not a kid,” came the mumbled reply.
“Sure. You’re what, all of sixteen?”
“I’m twenty-two,” Terran replied indignantly.
Oh, happy day.
“You never told me your name,” Terran pointed out.
“Daior Mathews,” he replied. He picked up a bit of rock, rolling it absently between his
fingers. “Dai or Mathews will do.”
“Nice to meet you,” Terran murmured automatically, as if it were ingrained in him to
be polite.
With Terran’s fine bone structure, it probably was. Terran had the appearance of upper
class about him. Daior knew that look. He’d been employed by more than a few of them in
his time. Not around here, though. This part of the universe was mostly mining and farming
communities, colonised settlements. Lots of trading ports, slums and the occasional pirate to
make things interesting. The powerful, so-called ‘civilised’ planets were farther out, a couple
of galaxies over and to the left, if Daior’s direction sense wasn’t completely screwed up.
“So, what?” Terran demanded. “They’re just going to keep us locked up here forever?”
“Nah. They want something.”
“What?”
That one made Daior pause. How much to tell the kid? For all he knew, Terran had
been dumped in to go digging for information. Didn’t explain the lack of shoes, but Daior
decided to play it safe and stick with the basics.
“I’m a Tek,” he replied. “Let’s just say they’ve taken a lot of X-rays and hooked me up
to a couple of mainframes.”
“A Tek?” Terran’s brow furrowed in confusion. “But—”
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Daior’s arched brow dared Terran to ask more questions. Terran was not, apparently,
an idiot. Those lush lips closed just as quickly as they had opened. Not that Daior didn’t
know what Terran had been going to ask, anyway. Why him? Teks were a dime a dozen.
Everybody and their pet had some form of technological enhancement these days, even if it
was just a basic intelligence augmentation. But further details fell under the ‘better safe than
sorry’ category.
“Soooooo.” Terran drew out the word until it had about ten syllables. “What do you do
for fun around here?”
“It’s dark, damp and I’ve been stuck by myself. What do you think?”
“I Spy?”
“Smart mouth.”
Terran snickered. “Yep, that’s me.”
Daior sighed and tilted his head back, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. “They have a
routine,” he said. “Never varies. Food twice a day. Facilities are in the back.” He jerked his
finger to a corner of the room. A small alcove contained a toilet and sink. Standard ship-
issue, basic and cheap.
Terran’s eyes narrowed speculatively at the equipment.
“No removable parts,” Daior told him.
“They’re just no fun at all, are they?”
“Not in the least.”
Terran sighed, a big puff of air that made muscles shift tantalisingly under his thin T-
shirt. “My brother will come,” he stated. “Eventually.”
“If he can find us,” Daior pointed out. “We’re pretty far off any main trades routes, and
there’s minimal technology, making us next to impossible to scan for.”
“Oh, he’ll find us,” Terran stated with complete confidence. “Richard has a lot of really
nifty, expensive toys. I’m just not sure I want to wait for however long it’s going to take.”
“We might have to.” Daior hated to burst Terran’s little optimistic bubble, but better he
knew the facts now. “I could probably get us out of the facility, but after that there’s nowhere
to hide. And there’s damn sure no way off the planet. No port, and the only interstellar ship
belongs to whatever group is currently offering us their oh-so-gracious hospitality. It never
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sticks around long, just to drop off supplies and the occasional person before taking off
again.”
“Can’t we just, I don’t know, hide out in the jungle or something until Richard shows
up?”
“This planet’s pretty wild.” Dai wasn’t big on camping. And damn if he wasn’t starting
to feel like the bad news messenger. Couldn’t Terran ask him a question he could answer
positively? “The town is tiny, the surrounding area mostly forested wilderness and that
blasted, impenetrable mountain range. Lots of big carnivorous creatures and not a lot of
food.”
“Sheesh,” Terran muttered. “And here I thought Richard was Mr Gloom and Doom.”
Daior shrugged. He didn’t go in for sugar-coating or soothing. He had given Terran the
truth. It wasn’t Daior’s fault the truth wasn’t exactly rosy.
Daior had made a pretty thorough study of the place on his first escape, about twenty-
four hours after they first scuttled his ship, stuck him with a tranquiliser and hauled him
here. Daior had evaded the guards for nearly twelve hours while he conducted his survey.
Then he’d let the bastards haul his arse back, figuring he might as well wait and plot in semi-
comfort. Or at least with a roof over his head and food for which he didn’t have to scrounge.
The compound itself was small and clearly privately funded. It sprawled along the base
of the mountain, buried in stone in several places. Protection, he figured. Their cell was part
of that, one of a small series of rooms off a back hallway that burrowed under the protruding
edge of the comparatively tiny mountain. The entire place was quiet, secluded. So far, Daior
had seen only a handful of staff, mainly medical personnel, and maybe a dozen guards, none
uniformed. Or at least, not wearing any government or Fed uniform. And it wasn’t like the
Federation really cared too much about one lone Tek. They had their hands full quelling
rebellions and averting world disasters.
If there was one trait Daior possessed in overabundance, it was curiosity. The last few
days, there’d been a feeling of anticipation in the air. The bastards were waiting for
something. Now that Terran was here, Daior suspected things would start happening. Their
captors had what they needed, although damned if Daior knew what they intended to do
with it.
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But looking over at that attractive face, those pretty eyes, Daior decided he certainly
intended to find out.
Terran studied his cellmate from under hooded lashes. He licked his lips and
swallowed a little purr of approval that tried to work its way free. That was one fine hunk of
man sitting in the shadows. Not huge or incredibly tall but nicely muscled. Dai’s shirt
stretched tightly enough to outline a nice set of pecs, arms bugling tantalisingly. An intricate
tattoo traced its way around his wrist and wrapped around his lower arm, the lines curving
in patterns that Terran badly wanted to trace with his fingers. Dai’s face wasn’t anything
spectacular, sharp features with dark, brooding eyes. Firm lips that, while entirely kissable,
could definitely stand to smile a bit more. Not that Terran could see them all that well, what
with the fuzzy growth of wild beard that covered the lower half of Dai’s face. But that
body… That, and the wild thatch of curly, dark hair that Terran just wanted to sink his
fingers into. The strands would twist so nicely around his grip.
A loud thud in the hallway made Terran jump, jolted unpleasantly back to reality. And
while reality did include the lovely eye-candy on the other side of their small cell, it also
contained…well, a cell.
Terran absently flexed his hands. His fingers itched and his body ached as he replayed
the previous day’s events in his mind. The big jerks coming out of the alley, the sting in his
neck as they’d tranqued him. He didn’t remember much of the transport from Quentain to
wherever the heck he was now. For all he knew, it had been a lot longer than a day. And
however long it had taken, it hadn’t been an easy trip, he knew that much. Terran ached
from head to toe and just knew there were some beautiful bruises under his clothes. He
aimed a string of malicious thoughts at the jerks who’d grabbed him.
Why him? For once, Terran had been minding his own business. He’d just finished up a
lovely night of debauchery and was heading back to his brother’s ship…
His brother. Oh, Richard was going to be royally pissed off. At Terran, of course,
because Richard seemed to believe every disaster, major or minor, could be blamed on
Terran.
Terran had been trapped aboard a deep-space Voyager with his brother for nearly five
years now. Five long, frustrating years, travelling from planet to planet while Richard
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did…whatever the heck it was he did. It usually involved long, boring diplomatic dinners
that Terran was far too often forced to attend. Parties were not, unfortunately, always fun.
Was it any wonder he kept sneaking off for some good times? Wasn’t as if he could get any
under his brother’s watchful eye.
Ever since Terran had hit puberty and some of his peculiarities had become evident,
he’d been living with his brother. Richard was nearly ten years older than Terran and took
the word ‘responsibility’ far too seriously. He seemed to feel it was his duty in life to curtail
Terran’s activities. Richard had an irritating aversion to anything Terran considered fun.
The fact that a lot of Terran’s fun activities ended up with him arse-deep in trouble was,
of course, beside the point. Not that Richard agreed, of course. He threatened on a nearly
daily basis to ship Terran back to Altaireon. And that just wouldn’t do. The only thing less
fun than diplomatic dinners was being stuck at home attending political functions and royal
balls. Besides, Terran’s mom would start trying to marry him off again. The very thought
made Terran shudder.
“You’re growling,” Terran’s big cellmate pointed out in even tones. He could have been
asking Terran to pass the salt.
“Sorry,” Terran said with a small shrug.
“What are you thinking about so hard over there?”
“Our situation.”
“Don’t,” Daior advised. “You’ll just give yourself a headache. Not much we can do
right now. Just sit tight and wait for an opportunity.”
“An opportunity? We might not have that much time. You said you’ve been here for a
week and you haven’t found one yet.” Terran tried to point out the fact without sounding too
accusing. No sense pissing off Daior if he could help it.
Daior shrugged, not seeming to take any offence. “Haven’t really been looking all that
hard.”
“Well, why ever not?”
“Everyone needs a hobby?”
The sentence came out as a question rather than a statement. Terran wrinkled his nose.
“That makes absolutely no sense at all.”
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One corner of Daior’s mouth tipped up, creating interesting brackets along the sides of
his firm lips. “Didn’t say it did.”
“You’re a strange, strange man.”
“So they say.”
Daior fell silent. He kept watching Terran, though, with an intense regard that sent a
small shudder rippling up Terran’s spine. Terran licked his lips, body reacting to the heat in
Daior’s eyes. Opportunity? To heck with that. Terran could think of much better things to do
with his time than sit around here. Of course, most of them involved a large bed and the man
sprawled with arrogant machismo across from him.
Terran didn’t have the patience to wait for their captors to slip up, give them an
opening to escape. Terran usually created his own opportunities, not wait for them to be
handed to him.
The logical part of his brain chose that moment to pipe up and remind Terran of what
generally occurred after he’d created his own opportunities. That same part of his brain said
maybe he should listen to the sexy man.
Of course, as soon as the thought occurred to him, Terran discarded it. He hadn’t
listened to anyone in years and wasn’t about to start now.
Still watching Daior from the corner of his eye, Terran began to plot. He did like to plot,
and at the moment, he had two goals to work towards—escaping their current predicament
and finding out just how Dai tasted.
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About the Author
Born and raised in the middle of the Midwest, I have always been a dreamer. More often
than not I could be found with my nose buried in a book (many of which I had to sneak past
my parents). It wasn't long before I started trying my hand at writing more of the stories I
loved. After years of penning tales that rarely left the hard drive of my computer, I
discovered M/M romance. As with all genres, it wasn't long before my own characters
started to take shape.
There is little I love more than wandering new places and, on occasion, entirely new worlds
with my characters. They can range from cowboys to Victorian noblemen, accountants to
shapeshifters, and everything in between. I write mainly M/M romance, usually with
paranormal or fantasy elements. I willingly follow my characters wherever they decide to go,
sometimes with unusual results. I have little control over their actions – any naughty
behaviour is all their doing!
K.M. loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author
biography at
Also by K.M. Mahoney
Odd Man In
Total-E-Bound Publishing
www.total-e-bound.com
Take a look at our exciting range of literagasmic™
erotic romance titles and discover pure quality
at Total-E-Bound.
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