King Cobra (Hot Rods)

chapter Six


“Hey, that was the most interesting weeknight we’ve had in a few years.” Holden clapped a hand on Carver’s shoulder as the guys and Sally huddled around Eli. “We’re getting old. Rusty.”

Eli didn’t even bother to level one of his shut-the-hell-up glares in Holden’s direction. Suddenly, he felt weary. Unable to fight the tide that’d been dragging him out to sea.

“You gonna say something?” Kaige took up a spot near Bryce as they closed rank. “Eli, man, you all right?”

“I just want to make it clear that if any of you has an issue with what went down tonight, you bring it to me. Don’t you dare shit on Alanso because of this.” He bristled.

“I think the only guy here who’s got a problem with it is you.” Roman’s stern tone didn’t surprise anyone. As the oldest of their group, he had lived the hard life longer than most of them had, since Eli’s family had given them sanctuary one by one as they’d wandered into the youth shelter Eli’s mom had worked to build.

Roman had been a different matter. To this day, he worshipped Eli’s father—Tom—for not calling the cops on him when he’d caught the young man trying to hotwire his truck. Instead, he’d offered a loan he never expected to be repaid and a job pumping gas at the garage and service station so Roman wouldn’t have to stoop to petty theft ever again.

He’d busted his ass to fulfill his debt in record time, and he’d been there ever since.

The deep grooves around his mouth, his calculating eyes and the smell of hard liquor on his breath all combined to make him someone you didn’t want to mess with in a dark alley.

“What are you planning to do now?” Sally patted Eli’s chest, snapping his attention to the situation at hand. The fire in her eyes guaranteed he’d better answer this one right or risk her knee meeting his balls. She was quick and fierce. It’d hurt like hell.

“I—I have no idea.”

Stunned silence echoed around the cavernous room, designed to hold them all comfortably.

“You’ve always got the roadmap.” Carver’s jaw hung open wider at Eli’s indecision than it had at Alanso’s dramatic declaration.

“Not for this.” Eli scrubbed his knuckles over his eyes. “I don’t have a f*cking clue what to do. I know what I want, but I don’t know what’s right. Not for Al or for any of us. I realize this is all new to you guys, so I think you should take some time to really think about the implications.”

Most of the Hot Rods nodded. Sally shook her head. “All I want to know is—do you plan to keep things between the two of you or expand like the crew did?”

“I can’t say, Sally.” He shrugged. Partly it depended on what the rest of the gang thought. He owed them time to process what they’d just witnessed. The lack of direction made him feel like his internal compass had crapped out. He’d always known where he was headed and marched toward his goals without pause. Now…he spun in circles. Changing his mind every five seconds.

Go to Alanso. That voice screamed loudest, but he resisted.

Back off.

Test the waters with the Hot Rods.

Leave them alone.

Show them how much you love them.

Don’t f*ck up what you have.

Indecision was driving him insane. Oscillating between two polar opposites, he felt like a piston moving back and forth at an ungodly RPM. He hadn’t been this stuck since the time they’d attempted to drive one of their finds down the muddy, unpaved driveway leading from the estate sale they’d snagged the bargain at. It’d taken all of them pushing together to break free of that mire.

“Cobra, go talk to your dad,” Bryce suggested.

“About this?” He backed up a step, then another. “No way. What am I going to tell him? That I think I’m into guys now? That I’m having some early midlife crisis? Jesus.”

“You’ll know what to say when you get there.” Sally closed the gap between them and put her hand on his forearm. He studied her nails. She’d redone them again tonight. Now they were a hot pink color in two finishes—matte on the bed and glossy on the tip. Subtle yet not. Always interesting. Just like the paint jobs she designed and applied to the cars they restored. “He’ll help you think it through.”

Rather than argue those points, Eli picked something simpler. “It’s after midnight. He’s in bed by now, I’m sure.”

“Nah,” Kaige disagreed. “He stopped by for a few beers before. We told him something was up with you and Al. Actually, he kind of insisted that you come see him when you got home. Sorry, dude.”

Holden jabbed his fingers into the mini-blinds and separated two of the slats to peer into the night. “The porch light is on. He’s staying up for you. Better not keep him waiting any longer. Don’t waste the chance to lean on what you’ve got. None of the rest of us are that lucky unless we borrow your dad.”

“Crap!” For the first time since his curfew days, Eli suffered a moment of panic over walking through that door at this ungodly hour. “Fine. F*ck. I’m going. Who’s opening with me tomorrow? Shit…today. Kaige? Carver? Get your asses to bed. Nobody should be dragging when we’re working with the lifts and equipment. We’ll talk about this more this weekend.”

“Promise?” Sally looked up at him with wide eyes.

“Damn it, yes.” With that he spun on his heel and jogged down the stairs, across the lawn and onto the porch of his father’s home. He usually loved having the guy so close. But tonight, he wasn’t sure their proximity played to his advantage.

Was he ready to share everything? Even if he didn’t know what all that entailed yet?

He trusted his father above anyone else in the world. The death of Eli’s mom had brought them closer. Almost more like friends than father and son. They’d been there for each other, then for the Hot Rods they’d discovered and inherited in the years following.

“In here, Eli,” his dad called from the living room as if the flash of the TV, which probably aired some travel documentary, didn’t highlight the way.

“Hi.” Nothing else came to mind.

“So, you want to tell me what had you two kids peeling out of here like harebrains? Those damn engines are loud enough to have all our neighbors calling and complaining to me.” Tom London didn’t beat around the bush.

“Since when do you give a shit what Mrs. Shoff thinks of us anyway?”

“You’re right, I don’t give a damn.” Tom clicked off the TV and angled toward Eli. “But I’ve had enough of this sulking. I want to know what’s wrong.”

Eli sank into a comfortably worn recliner, rested his elbows on his knees and put his head in his hands. “It’s complicated, Dad.”

“I’m not stupid. I’ll follow.” Tom crossed his arms.

“Are you pissed?” He narrowed his eyes at the rare irritation his father seemed to be barely containing. This wasn’t good. Hell, was he screwing up with everyone he loved lately?

“Kind of. Disappointed, actually.”

Eli hadn’t heard that tone since a bunch of them had gotten busted racing for money on a dangerous road one night in his early twenties. He’d hoped never to earn that slimy feeling in his gut again. “Why?”

“I thought you trusted me.” The statement rang with accusation.

“I do.” Eli wasn’t lying. His dad had always been there for him. Maybe he’d been stupid not to come here sooner for this talk. “It’s just…my issue affects more than me. Not sure it’s right to drag everyone else’s skeletons out in the open.”

“Is one of the Hot Rods in trouble?” Tom leaned forward in his seat. “You’ve got to tell me if they are. I can help.”

“No. Nothing like that.” He hated the relief that washed over his dad’s face. His dad had really been worried. And without facts to go on, he’d probably assumed the worst. “It’s kind of, maybe, good news. Things are changing. There’s a relationship thing happening. But it could cause some issues in the gang. That’s what’s bothering me. I don’t want to alienate anybody. I can’t lose any of them over this.”

“Are you trying to say a couple of you are pairing off?” A smile tipped the edges of Tom’s mouth for an instant. Then his dad rubbed his temples as if he had a headache. “I’ve wondered for a while which of you was going to break up the band.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know, which guy was going to fall for Sally first.” He shrugged. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. She’s gorgeous, funny, tough, mysterious, a little sad. A potent combination. You kids screw around plenty, but not one of you has ever found something meaningful in a partner. Why do you think that is, son?”

“Very few people get as lucky as you and Mom.” The reminder of what they’d lost hurt them both. But it was the truth. The way his parents had looked at each other… Hell, his mom’s heart monitor had soared every time his dad had showed up to take a shift by her bed at the hospital.

“Maybe.” Even now Tom smiled when he thought of his wife. He still wore his wedding ring. Swore he’d go to his grave with the simple band hugging his finger. “Personally, I think you’ve been looking in all the wrong places. Or maybe refusing to admit what you already know. After all, Joe and the crew seem to have done pretty fine for themselves, haven’t they?”

“Yeah.” Eli cleared his throat. “About them…”

His dad didn’t come to his rescue. He waited the pause out.

“Shit. Dad, did you know they’re into group stuff?” He winced as he considered the reaction he’d get or what the guys might do when they realized he’d spilled the beans on their complex relationship.

“It wasn’t obvious?” Tom reclined in his chair, spreading his legs wider as he relaxed. “Hell, for a second there you had me worried. I thought you were going to tell me something awful.”

“Wait, how could you tell?” And doesn’t it freak you out? he wanted to add.

“It’s obvious from the complete comfort they’ve always had around each other. Plus the way their wives folded right into that bond. Even if that weren’t enough, it would have been impossible to ignore right about the time James and Neil blabbed everything to me. They were worried when all the other guys had found a woman that the crew wouldn’t get together anymore.” Tom waved a hand in the air. “Like the guys would be able to stay away after so many years together. I remember the days of being twisted up so tight you can’t think straight, but seeing it from the outside… Yeah, a whole lot of drama over nothing. When it’s right, it’s right, and that’s all that matters in the end.”

“Oh. Well, f*ck.” Eli started to laugh. “I guess this might be easier than I thought to tell you, then. Maybe.”

“Just spit it out already. Is it you or Alanso who’s fooling around with Sally and making his best buddy jealous as hell?” Tom didn’t usually gossip, but he scratched his head as he asked.

Eli closed his eyes, took a deep breath and borrowed a page out of Alanso’s book. He’d f*cking put it all right out there to the Hot Rods before. Eli admired him a little more after tonight. “Actually. It’s Alanso and me who’ve kind of tangled it up a bit. Not as much as he wants, though. Not yet.”

“Oh.” Tom paused for a second. He blinked. “I see. I guess I don’t quite understand why you boys are fighting then.”

“That’s all you’re going to say about it?”

“I don’t think I’m ready for details just yet.” Tom chuckled. “Gotta give a guy a minute to work things out first. I’m not surprised you two love each other. Just not sure I figured you’d jump straight to that without easing your way in first. For so long I’ve wondered about Sally, I guess I didn’t see it. Actually…something happened when you went out there to help the crew. After the accident. Didn’t it?”

Eli swallowed hard and nodded.

“This is starting to make sense.” Tom tapped his fingers on his knee slowly. “I’ve been trying to figure out what changed. I thought maybe seeing their close call reminded you of your mom. That maybe you’d realized you don’t get all the time in the world to waste, so you’d decided to make a move.”

“Actually, I think that’s kind of what happened to Alanso. Yes.” Eli sighed.

“But you’re being stubborn, aren’t you?” Tom grunted. “It’s all coming clear now. You dumbass. You pushed him away?”

“You want me to be gay?” Eli jumped to his feet, flinging his hands in the air. “Is everyone losing their f*cking minds around here?”

“I love you no matter who you decide to be with, Eli.” Tom also stood. He might have been an inch or two shorter than his son, but there was no mistaking his ranking in their family. “I don’t think things are as simple as terms make them out to be. You’ve got something with those kids. It’s been there since the beginning. Who am I to say what’s right or wrong? It is how it is.”

“But it’s never been like that before.” Eli paced the modest living room. “Why now?”

“Maybe you weren’t ready.” Tom caged in his son, dropping his hand on Eli’s shoulder. “You’ve done a hell of a lot of growing up over the past ten years. Built your business, your friendships. You played around enough to know what you like. And you’ve helped them all get to a somewhat normal place. That took a long time. A lot of healing had to be done. I think somewhere, deep down, you know the gang is ready to take this next step.”

“You get that I don’t just want Alanso, right?” Eli clenched the fireplace mantle so hard his knuckles turned white. “I have no idea what exactly this is going to look like when it’s all said and done, but I think it’s bigger than him and me. Yeah, you’re right. I have a major thing for Sally. I’m pretty damn sure Alanso does too.”

“Dream big, son.” Tom grinned. “But maybe you’d better start with Alanso if things between you are spiraling out of control. No more of this fighting. I hate to see that. It bothers all of you kids. Sets everyone on edge. They’ve had too much misery already in their lives to borrow more from you. Hell, you two are practically an old married couple anyway. Just without the sex. Might as well add the benefits.”

“And I think that’s where I draw the line when talking to my father.” Eli was attempting to be mature about this, but he hadn’t even slammed a shot or two before coming over here to dull the awkwardness. What had he been thinking?

“Yeah, me too.” Tom nodded. “But I did win that round of chicken.”

Eli laughed. He went with his gut and turned to hug his dad. “Thank you for understanding. I do know how lucky I am, by the way.”

“So do I.” Tom clutched him hard enough to crack a rib. After all he’d been through it would have been easy to turn sour, angry at the world. Yet he never had. He’d held tight to the good times he’d had and the legacy his wife had left. Because of him, the Hot Rods all had a home. “Now get the hell out of here so I can go to bed.”





Eli flung his arm away from where it’d been curled over his face. It was no use. He couldn’t sleep. Hadn’t managed to stop thinking about what he’d seen at Chestnut Grove for more than three milliseconds since he climbed into bed. Especially since he knew Alanso was right there on the other side of the wall that was bookended by the headboards of their beds.

Plus, by some miracle, not only his friends but also his father approved of the dangerous liaison he’d plotted and replotted during the endless hours of darkness. With the first rays of morning that beamed through his window, Eli saw clearly what he’d like to do.

Hell, it’d be impossible to miss the tent made by his sheets over his rock-solid erection.

He could slip through the adjoining bathroom he and Alanso shared, into the dusk-shrouded midst of the other guy’s lair. After pulling back the black silk sheets, he’d tuck himself in to steal some of his friend’s warmth.

Sleepy, Alanso wouldn’t stand a chance at resisting. He adored morning sex.

Of all the Hot Rods, he was one of the few likely to invite a woman to stay overnight. Probably because he liked opening his eyes and seeing his date hadn’t left.

Eli slapped the mattress a few times, gearing himself up to action. Just when he had committed and kicked off his blankets, the rush of water hitting the tile of their shower stopped him short.

What the hell? Alanso didn’t open today. Or ever, really. The rest of the guys knew he preferred a lazy start to the morning and left him to the late shift most times. Eli generally stayed the whole day, opening and closing, no matter how often they told him to get the f*ck out of his own business to enjoy some time off.

Truth was, when you loved what you did, and who you did it with, it hardly felt like a job at all. This—making things right with the guy who mattered most to him—was hard work. And he was prepared to do whatever it took to fix the damage he’d inflicted.

He staggered into the bathroom, surprised by how stiff he was. Christ, he’d had massive hangovers less painful. Had he lain there completely tense all night?

The running shower made wet noises as Alanso got clean. The splashes guaranteed Eli had to use the facilities before confronting his friend.

This was familiar ground. Ten years of sharing a bathroom meant someone often had to take care of business while the other was occupied in the shower. Usually it was the other way around. Eli preparing for the day while Alanso relieved himself of some of the beer they’d chugged the night before then stumbled back to bed for another nap.

“Hey.” Eli tried not to startle Alanso as he made his way to the toilet. He wondered if Al was imagining his hand holding his dick when he didn’t answer immediately.

“Look who it is… A*shole, party of one.”

Eli didn’t laugh along. The truth stung.

“Didn’t hear your alarm go off. Thought you were still sleeping,” Alanso finally responded. “Was it the shower that woke you? Sorry.”

“Nah.” Eli didn’t bother with pajamas so it wasn’t more than ten seconds before he tugged back the curtain and joined his partner in the shower, despite the sputters of outrage coming from the shorter man’s luscious mouth. “I haven’t really been to bed. Couldn’t manage to doze off with the memory of your mouth on that dude’s cock.”

“Disgusted you that much, huh?” Alanso glanced away or he might have spotted Eli’s hard-on. Even the chilly secondary splash from the shower spray didn’t wilt the damn thing.

“Hardly.” Eli had done so much harm. He knew one thing that would convince Alanso he was serious about changing the course he’d taken so far. “I think you should be on the lookout. My dad is likely to pay you a visit today.”

“Why?” Alanso’s breathing grew faster. He ignored the droplets forming on his mocha skin, streaming down his bald head, the powerful cords of his neck and onto his chest. The barbells in his pebbled nipples decorated his pecs, making Eli long to lean forward and lick them like Phil had done the day before.

They stared into each other’s eyes. “I told him about us.”

“You did what?” Alanso might have slipped and cracked his thick skull open if Eli hadn’t lunged for him when he jerked. He banded his arm around Alanso’s trim waist and tugged him close until they aligned, torso to torso. “Is he going to ask me to leave?”

“Jesus. Would you quit that? He’s not your mom. He won’t ever abandon you.” Eli grabbed Alanso’s chin with his free hand and angled the guy’s face toward his. “No one thinks less of you for being honest about what you want. I should have done the same. A long time ago. My dad had it right. There’s a reason I’ve never had a girlfriend. I couldn’t stand the idea of anyone replacing you in my life. You were right last night when you said I didn’t deserve you. But I’m asking you to give me a chance anyway.”

“Cobra?” Alanso blinked up at him, crystal drops decorating his long, dark lashes.

“Yeah.” He couldn’t help but grind his cock on Alanso’s hip. The guy was powerful. Stocky and tenacious. He reminded Eli of a pitbull. The possibility of that much strength focused on him…it had his engine revved in no time.

“As much as I’d kill for what you’re offering—”

“What? You’re still turning me down?” He drew away far enough to really scrutinize Alanso’s expression as best he could in the dim light of the shower area.

“Maybe. I need to ask you something first.” He plucked the shower gel from a rack in the corner of the enclosure and lathered up his palms. When he smeared bubbles all over his torso, Eli thought he might choke on his own tongue.

“Spit it out already.” Eli couldn’t wait much longer. Either to f*ck or to know the offer was really off the table for good.

“Not to sound greedy, but…”

“Oh. That.” Containing his grin would have been impossible. “Yeah, I plan to live it up, Alanso. I don’t know who might be in or how the logistics will work, but, yes, I want what the crew has and I’m willing to do what it takes to sell our Hot Rods on the arrangement.”

“Come mierda!” His head fell back, knocking into the tile hard enough to alarm Eli. “You’re not f*cking with me, are you? Please, don’t do that to me. Be sure. I can’t handle you changing your mind.”

“Can’t we take this one step at a time?” Eli shuffled closer, insinuating one of his thighs between Alanso’s legs. The other trapped him in place. “We don’t even know if I’m any good at this. What if you don’t like it?”

“Don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” Alanso slithered against him, spreading the soapy foam between their bodies. It felt so good. Hot, slick and soft on top of Alanso’s hardness. “But I’m willing to test that theory.”

“I hate fighting with you. No one’s yelled at me for eating at the drive-thru for the past three days or photobombed my portfolio shots of the last two finished projects or changed the letters on the daily special sign into dirty offers when I wasn’t looking. The last couple months have sucked.” Eli closed his eyes as he said what he’d been thinking for quite a while. “I’ve missed you.”

“Same goes. So let’s make up.” Alanso used some of his lady-killer Latin dance moves to undulate his abs and hips against Eli’s wet body. Seems they were just as effective on guys. He almost came right then, shooting all over Alanso’s thigh.

“Shouldn’t that be kiss and make up?” Eli leaned in and nipped Alanso’s lip before he could lose all semblance of control. But he couldn’t stop at just one nibble. He sealed their lips together and devoured the full mouth that seldom stayed this quiet or this serious in his company.

He reached out with one hand, grabbing the bottle of gel. He flipped open the cap and squished a dollop into his palms, then retreated from the temptation of Alanso’s kisses before he let the seduction steal all his rationality.

“Turn around.”

Alanso obeyed instantly, showing him the array of artwork gracing the bunched muscles of his back, ass, thighs and calves.

“Good idea. I think I’d prefer f*ck and make up.” Alanso braced his hands on the tiles and shoved his ass in Eli’s direction.

“Not so fast.” Eli smacked that bubble butt hard enough to leave a red imprint of his palm. The spank echoed through their bathroom, tempting him to do it again. And once more. Then he proceeded to massage the soap into Alanso’s blushing cheeks before cleaning the rest of his skin.

“Come on, Cobra.” He groaned. “I’m not a girl. I don’t need that bullshit. I just need you to f*ck me already.”

“You might not need frills. Maybe I do.” Eli squatted to clean Alanso’s legs. He rested his cheek in the hollow of Alanso’s lower back. He couldn’t believe he’d nearly screwed this up. He wouldn’t do it again. By the time they were through, Alanso would know he meant this to be about more than physical pleasure.

“Then why don’t you let me take care of you?” Alanso spun around, rinsing himself off in the process. He lifted the gel from Eli and slathered it on his hands. Before Eli could think of some reason to stop him—other than the fact that he didn’t intend for the other man to put himself in a one-down position—he’d begun to caress every part of Eli’s body.

And all King Cobra could do was concentrate on not crashing to the floor and breaking his neck. Hell no, he planned to stay alive and alert for the fun ahead.

Alanso knelt on the floor and worked his way up from Eli’s toes.

Eli held on to Alanso’s bald head to keep his balance as he lifted first one leg then the other when instructed. He rubbed Alanso’s scalp, enjoying the hell out of how smooth it was. How soft despite the hardness beneath.

“Shit, that feels good Cobra.” He leaned into the touch, still cleansing Eli’s ankles, then the rest of his legs. When his fist wrapped around Eli’s cock, soaping him from root to tip then back again, Eli shivered.

As the water washed away suds, he imagined it also took the guilt and ugliness that had plagued him lately along with it. Alanso did that for him. Made him feel okay with all the blessings he’d been given. Even in the face of his friends’ suffering and the total devastation they’d lived through. Sure, he’d lost his mom. But he’d always had his father. And the absolute conviction that his mother had loved him beyond belief.

He swore then and there he’d never let Alanso fear the people special to him could do any less. How could they not value this man? How could he doubt his own worth?

While he debated how to show Alanso what he meant, the man surprised him. The moist heat of his mouth sucking the tip of Eli’s dick seemed a million times hotter than the steam billowing around them.

A groan tore from Eli’s throat. His fingers curled in Alanso’s shoulders, pressing deep into the muscles there. “Wait. Al, wait.”

“I’m so f*cking tired of delaying.” He stopped only long enough to bitch before repeating the gesture, this time taking an extra inch or so of Eli’s shaft into his mouth.

If they didn’t stop this soon there wouldn’t be any going back.

“Just another minute.” Eli pressed on Alanso’s forehead, moaning when his dick left the paradise it’d only begun to explore. “I have a better idea.”

“Let me be the judge of that.” Alanso swiped the back of his hand over his lips, making Eli wonder just how much precome had leaked from his cock already. “I thought it was a hell of a plan.”

Eli slapped his hand over the shower handle, shutting off the water. He swiped his hands down his body, sluicing rain from his skin before stepping onto the mat and grabbing Alanso’s towel. “Here.”

He handed the well-used terrycloth to his friend before taking his own off the bar.

They raced to dry themselves.

Eli flipped the towel over his head to squeegee some of the excess wetness from the hair he kept short while Alanso buffed his baldness until it shined. Cobra couldn’t help himself. He snapped his towel at Alanso’s ass, laughing at his high-maintenance routines. “You know it always looks exactly the same, right?”

“Come mierda. So does yours. At least I’ve got some style.” He stood with his legs wide apart, his bulging arms crossed and his cock jutting straight out. “So what the f*ck was this great scheme of yours? So far I’m not seeing the perks.”

“Last night when I watched you sucking Links’ cock…” Eli headed for Alanso’s bedroom. He wanted the man to be comfortable.

“Were you even a little jealous?” Alanso hesitated at the threshold. For the first time, he seemed uncertain.

“Hell yes.” Eli whipped the plush comforter to the foot of the bed. “It took everything in me not to interrupt and insist you service me instead.”

Alanso actually looked relieved. “So let me.”

Eli held up his hand, palm out. “You didn’t let me finish. Yes, I wondered what it would be like to have you working me over. But I also was curious about what it felt like to you. How did he taste? Did it feel good to have him in your mouth? I always thought women just put up with BJs for the sake of our pleasure, but…it seemed like you were really enjoying yourself.”

“I told you. I sucked cock and I liked it. So what the f*ck is the hold up?” Alanso stalked closer, staring at Eli’s erection, which hung thick and ready against his thigh. “I want to try again. Just to be sure.”

“I want to check it out too.” Eli applauded himself silently when Alanso’s jaw dropped open. “Let’s sixty-nine. First guy to come lets the other guy f*ck him as a reward.”