“I want your mouth on mine,” Z growled, a sexy, throaty rumble that had Ryan’s cock hardening even more than it already was.
Throwing Z’s words back at him, Ryan said, “What are you waiting for?”
“You,” Z said easily. “To kiss me.”
Z was undeniably good at this alpha, controlling thing.
Unable to resist the incredible lure of the man, perhaps because he’d done so for so long, Ryan leaned in and pressed his mouth to Z’s softly. Z kissed him back, their lips sliding together gently until Ryan slid his tongue over Z’s bottom lip, then captured it with his teeth.
Another growl, but Z still didn’t move. That encouraged Ryan to take what he wanted. With his hands on Z’s sides, his thumbs making circles over smooth, wet skin, Ryan gently bit Z’s lip, then slid his tongue into Z’s mouth.
Again, Z didn’t move, allowing Ryan to have complete control. In an effort to maintain that control, Ryan tilted his head, offering him a better angle as he explored Z’s mouth, his body catching fire when Z’s tongue moved against his own. The kiss was sensual, with an underlying intensity that neither of them released entirely.
It was like the first time Ryan had kissed a man when he was sixteen years old, finally understanding what he’d been holding back. An exploration. A defining moment in his life, proving to him that this was what he wanted.
When Z started to move, Ryan instantly grabbed his forearms, keeping him from reaching for him. “Stay there.” Moving closer, so that their torsos rubbed against one another, Ryan deepened the kiss, moaning his pleasure as he did.
Ryan’s palms glided down Z’s arms until their hands touched. Z linked their fingers, stealing Ryan’s control when he moved his arms, forcing Ryan’s behind his back, effectively holding him prisoner.
“Much better,” Z groaned against his mouth.
Without the use of his hands, Ryan had to get his fill using his mouth, which he did. The kiss shifted from an exploration to something much, much hotter, significantly more potent. A brutal, brilliant mating of tongues and lips and teeth. It stole Ryan’s breath. He was overcome by sensation. The warmth of Z’s lips, the smoothness of his chest, the ridge of his erection pressed between their bodies.
When Ryan tried to break his hands free, desperate to touch Z again, Z held firm, keeping him pinned in place.
“Let this be enough for now,” Z whispered, his lips grazing Ryan’s.
Ryan was confused. He wanted more, he wanted to feel the impressive length of Z’s cock against his palms, he wanted to taste Z’s skin against his tongue. He didn’t want limits.
“More,” Ryan returned gruffly. “Need more.”
“We’ve got plenty of time. But for now, this is enough.”
Ryan pulled back, peering into Z’s eyes, seeking answers as to why Z was insistent on halting this. Acting as though they were inexperienced teenagers.
Z evidently read his mind because his response answered Ryan’s questions.
“When the time’s right, I’ll be here,” Z said. “But not tonight. Not yet. I want you to myself when that time comes.”
Ryan’s head was spinning. He’d had plenty of lovers in his lifetime, but never—at least not since high school—had any of them been content with a heated make-out session that didn’t go further than first base. Hell, even when he’d been with Z the first time, they’d moved right into the intercourse stage, no hesitation.
But he had to admit, despite the fact that he wanted to feel Z’s hands on his entire body, this was erotic. Allowing Z to take control, that was a first for Ryan, something he’d never encountered before but something he’d dreamed about. He’d always preferred to top because it came natural. There’d been plenty of times he’d wondered what it would be like to be on the receiving end, but he’d never had the opportunity. Or maybe he had and he hadn’t taken it.
Not that he was now, but it just seemed…right. Like the pieces were falling into place naturally, without effort, without thought.
Another first for Ryan.
And that was the reason he decided to give in, to take the pleasure Z was willing to give without question. Tightening his fingers around Z’s, which were still holding Ryan’s hands firmly behind his back, he leaned in and kissed Z again.
Content for the first time in a hell of a long time.
TWENTY
Thursday
Z SHOULD’VE KNOWN THAT THE Sniper 1 team would make what should’ve been a casual get-together into one of the biggest parties of the year—at least from an internal perspective. They didn’t do anything half-assed.
Casper and Elizabeth Kogan had come down with their Escalade packed full of decorations. Casper’s son Trace and Trace’s wife, Marissa, had arrived with tables and chairs that they proceeded to set up along the beach down below. RT’s parents, Bryce and Emily, had had the good sense to bring food and drinks—an endless supply of wine, beer, and liquor to go with the hamburgers and hot dogs that Evan had agreed to cook. And yes, because Evan was a Trexler, they were all leery about the outcome and had no qualms about telling him so.
Hunter and Conner, along with Conner’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Shelby, came to set up the fire pit, while Clay and Colby merely stood around directing people who didn’t need directing. RT’s aunt and uncle, Stephanie and TJ, hired a DJ, as well as put together a rather impressive guest list. And a handful of others had come along to simply provide warm bodies for the party. In total, around forty-five people were in attendance with just a day and a half notice. Pretty impressive.
It didn’t look like a spur-of-the-moment shindig, that was for sure.
For the past hour, the guests had arrived, many of them employees of Sniper 1 Security, but there were quite a few VIPs who were close to Casper and Bryce as well. Seemed everyone appreciated a good party.
On top of that, Courtney came with her husband, Maximillian Adorite—a freaking gangster who had his hands in quite a few business ventures, most of them illegal, though he’d never been convicted of a single crime. Apparently they didn’t travel light, either, because along with Max and Courtney’s security team—an apparent necessity when you had the sort of enemies that the Adorites had—they also brought Max’s sister, Ashlynn, and her bodyguards. And from what he’d overheard, it wouldn’t be a party without the second-in-command of the Southern Boy Mafia, so that was why Max’s previous right-hand man and now underboss of the organization, Leyton Matheson, was also in attendance. Z wondered whether or not he was the only one who’d noticed the way Leyton eye fucked Ashlynn at every opportunity.
Not that it was any of his business.
From his perch on the veranda, Z was overseeing the final setup as well as the interactions of the people when RT approached, coming to stand beside him. RT leaned casually against the wall, a beer in his hand as he kept his eyes focused on the others, the same way Z was.
“Jericho and Amahn just arrived,” RT said unceremoniously, not looking directly at Z.