STORY EXCERPT

They decided after the class ended that seafood was on order for the evening. Relaxing into the cushioned booth seat, Damian let his gaze linger on the exotic, mesmerizing man across from him. He vowed to see that gorgeous hair loose and flowing across his pillow one day. A flirtatious waiter interrupted his thoughts, getting his attention by placing a hand on his shoulder. After handing them menus and describing the specials of the day, he asked if they wanted any cocktails before the meal. Both men ordered a beer and the waiter sashayed away with a twitch of his hips.

Damian was surprised to see anger burning in Treb’s eyes. “What’s the matter?” He knew if he didn’t calm him down now things could go south real quick. Treb wasn’t noted for his patience or slow reactions.

“You’re here with me,” Treb answered.

“Yes, I’m with you.” Damian was confused.

“That dweeb shouldn’t be touching you when you’re with me,” Treb said, his tone as hard as steel.

“Some waiters flirt to get extra tips, Treb. When I’m seeing someone, I don’t stray. Don’t worry, I have been and always will be a one person man.”

Damian didn’t know which part of his statement changed the anger to a look of deep contemplation on Treb’s face. He sat back and waited to see which way the wind blew. It didn’t take long.

“I never worry. If that waiter wants to keep his fingers intact, he’ll keep them to himself.”

Damian didn’t miss the fact that Treb hadn’t addressed the seeing each other part of his statement. But he was saved from having to comment when the waiter came back with their drink order. It seemed he was smart enough to read the sparks shooting out of Treb’s dark eyes, because there were no more extra overtures as he took their order and left.

“How did you get the name Treble?” Damian asked as he relaxed again, enjoying the view and the beer.

Treb was looking a lot calmer as he, too, leaned back against the cushions. “My mom passionately loved two things in life, music and my dad. When I was born, my first name came from the music symbol and my second name after my dad. It could have been worse. She could have liked flowers or something.”

“No, I couldn’t see you as a Rosy or Bluebell.” Damian chuckled.

“Shit, my kill count would be more than double what it is now.”

“Where did the interest in weapons and martial arts come in?” Damian needed to know what made Treb tick. That was the key to keeping him.

“I grew up in Denver. After the one and only time I got beat up for being ethnic and smaller than everyone, I signed up for every class a local martial arts school offered. The teacher was this old guy that was as hard as nails.” Treb took a long swallow of his beer. “His teachings saved my life many times over. We became close and he showed me how to observe everything around you at a glance. We lost touch after my dad died and I went a little wild.”

Damian could just imagine how wild Treb had become. He could see Treb was starting to close down so he had just one more question and then that was enough digging for one night.

“Is your mom still living in Denver?”

“No, she died a couple of years ago from cancer,” Treb answered, his voice emotionless.

The food came and they both started eating, the quiet overtaking the table.

Treb’s mind was racing. He was a loner. He was a simple man. He watched and observed. He did not go on dates. He did not invite people to watch him teach. He did not spill his guts! He was never afraid.

Standing up he quietly said, “Bathroom.”

In the bathroom, Treb did the only thing he could think of.

“Hello.”

“Bret. Shit, you gotta help me,” Treb spoke into the phone. He was so not panicking. Really he wasn’t.

“Treb, is that you?”

“Yeah, I’m at a restaurant with Damian. This afternoon we went up in his ultralight. Then I asked him if he wanted to come along with me to my self-defense class. Now I just spilled my guts all over the table and it’s your fault.” Treb was in a rant now. “You’re the one that said to try talking more. You’re the one that said it’s okay to talk to people. You told me they aren’t all stupid pricks. Do you realize I am calling you while hiding out in the bathroom?”

“Take a deep breath, Treb,” Bret said soothingly. “Did Damian seem to like going to the class?”

“Yeah, except maybe when I used him to show everyone pressure points and laid him out on the mat a couple of times.”

“Did he have a problem with you spilling your guts?” Bret continued calmly.

“No. But I didn’t stick around too long. I called you,” Treb answered.

“I think it’s okay, Treb. I think you’re just not used to talking so much. It’ll get easier. Now hang up and go back out there. Damian is a good guy,” Bret instructed.

“Okay. Thanks.” Treb hung up the phone, took one last deep breath, and left the bathroom.

Back at Cade and Bret’s house, Bret was rolling around on the sofa laughing hysterically. Cade scooped the pup into his arms and sat down holding him close.

“What’s so funny, baby?”

“Cade, you are never going to believe it.” Bret chuckled. “Treb is in love!”

ADULT EXCERPT

A miserable Treb made for a miserable, scary hospital room to be in. The doctors and nurses point-blank refused to enter the room without Damian present. Lucky for them, he only left Treb’s side to use the bathroom or stretch when Treb was sleeping.

As when Bret had been in the hospital, the team rallied around and brought food and changes of clothes for Damian. Things were a little tense when Treb didn’t recognize anyone’s face for the first twelve hours. He became agitated until Damian took his hand and continued to whisper words in his ear. As long as Damian was there, Treb remained calm.

On day three, Cade came in and handed Damian a duffle bag. “Go shower. Bret is bringing food in a few minutes.”

Damian looked at Treb, worried things would go south real fast. But Treb and Cade’s eyes were locked in silent communication and Damian watch as an understanding passed between them. Damian headed out of the room, knowing Treb was in good hands with the boss.

Finally, on day five Treb found himself at home on the couch. Home being Damian’s house, except now it wasn’t. He had been informed that this was their home together now. While Treb had been at the hospital the team had gone over to his apartment and packed everything up. There hadn’t really been much for them to move as Treb had never bothered owning a bunch of things. He would admit it was good to have the picture of his Mom and Dad on the shelf by the fireplace, though.

Damian was in the kitchen making grilled cheese sandwiches and warming tomato soup for a light lunch. He was glad the bad taste in Treb’s mouth had gone away. Treb’s head injury had been a bitch and he hoped the worst was over. Thank goodness the knife had missed all of Treb’s major organs and so far it had been healing pretty well.

Taking Treb’s food into the living room, he set the tray on his lap. Fred, who had been curled up between Treb’s ankles, jumped onto the floor and stalked away. Returning to the kitchen, he added two glasses of water and the bottle of pain pills onto his own tray. Finally sitting on his big recliner that was at a right angle to the couch, he was ready to let himself relax.

“This sandwich is pretty good,” Treb stated, trying to sound appreciative.

“Thank you.” Damian wondered where this was going.

“I’m not much into tomato soup, though.” Treb thought that didn’t sound too much like a whine.

“Eat it anyway.”

“What do I get if I eat it?” Treb decided if he had to eat the stuff, he should get something out of it.

“You get to feel better faster and a pain pill.”

The pain pill sounded pretty good but Treb was after a bigger prize. “How about a pain pill and a blow job?”

Damian chuckled. “You think you’re up for a blow job, Treble?”

“A man is always up for a blow job,” Treb stated indisputably.

“All right, you eat all of the soup and take your pill with the entire glass of water and I’ll give you a blow job.”

Treb finished the last bite of the sandwich. Then he lifted the bowl of soup and drank it down, not stopping until it was gone. Taking the glass of water, he held out his hand, palm up for the pill. The pill and the water were gone in seconds. When he had finished the water, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve like the ten year old he sometimes still acted like. Setting the glass on the tray, he handed the whole thing back to Damian. Now he was ready for the real prize.

Damian took both trays back to the kitchen and returned to find Treb with his jeans open and his long slim prick out, stroking it top to bottom. Damian could see it wasn’t as hard as it usually was but with all of the trauma Treb’s body had endured the last week or so and all the drugs in his system, he wasn’t surprised.

Kneeling down by the side of the sofa, his hand joined Treb’s in stroking the silky prick, firming it up even more. Grabbing Treb’s hand, he leaned over and took the head into his mouth and started sucking on the end. Treb’s head fell back against the pillow as he let out a small whimper.

Damian let the cock slip out of his mouth. “Treble, if you move or tense up any part of your body, I will stop.”

“Okay,” Treb panted. No matter what, he was going to follow Damian’s orders.

Taking the head of Treb’s cock back into his mouth, he started sucking while his tongue pressed into the tiny hole at the end. More whimpers came when Damian changed the angle just a bit and took the whole cock into his mouth, down to the curly dark hair at the base.