Page 36 of Sundowners
“You left? Your home—wait, where were you from?”
“Macon County, Georgia.” It wouldn’t hurt to tell the truth. Not anymore. I’d changed my name several times since leaving home. It would be difficult to find the origins of Creed Lowell before he received his driver’s license in Nebraska eight years ago. I’d been setting up a new identity every ten years since I fled Boulder Creek in 1973. Christopher Creed Lowry, however, died in a car accident shortly after leaving home in 1969. At least that’s what I’d eventually had my death certificate say. I knew I needed one after the cohort was destroyed. I couldn’t have the usurpers track me back home and attack my family trying to get to me. No, I made sure there was no link.
“Creed?”
“Hmm? Sorry,” I said when he chuckled.
“You drifted off for a moment. I said I knew it was the south. Every once in a while I hear your accent slip out. Mostly when you’re dealing with the folks at the home.”
I laughed. “There’s something about that good old Southern comfort that seems to soothe folks. Makes you seem like you’re not a threat, like you’re trustworthy.” I turned on the accent thick, laughing at the way it felt on my tongue.
Roman’s nostrils flared. “That’s…God, I never thought I’d find a Southern dude sexy.”
I barked out a laugh. “Well yeah, because you California boys think we Southern men are all slow and simple.”
“There’s nothing simple about you. But tell me, Creed, are you a threat? Or are you trustworthy?”
His lids were heavy and I realized that I’d gotten so relaxed talking to him that I hadn’t kept myself in check. I’d allowed my pheromones free rein and they’d hit him hard. I was about to suggest we get up and walk when he turned toward me, leaning in, licking his lips.
Yes. You want this.We both wanted this, and I wasn’t sure which one of us wanted it more. I sat up, bringing our chests into contact and I brushed my nose against his.
“I’m only a threat if you don’t want me to kiss you right now.”
He whimpered and reached for me, but his need hit me first. Oh, sweet Jesus, he needed this, andhisneed mademeneed.
Roman spent so much of his time trying to keep his anger in check that when he let go, gave in to his baser wants, heslayedme. It took very little effort for him to push me onto my back on the cool sand. He stretched out next to me and slid his knee in between mine as his tongue and lips did incredible things. The abrasiveness of the sand against the exposed flesh of my lower back was the reminder I needed not to let our exploration of each other go beyond the fiery kisses that threatened to melt all of my self-control. Like his name, he was a firework ready to ignite, ready to explode, and God, I wanted to be on the receiving end of that pent-up passion.
“I could suck on your lip for hours,” I finally said, needing to catch my breath. “The way it curves down in the front, that ridge, so delicious.You’redelicious, Roman.” And I wasn’t just talking about his lip, although I could pontificate about its pillowy softness, its greediness as he used it to seek entrance into my mouth. How when he was busy exploring the secrets of my mouth with his tongue, I was content to run my tongue over that curve.
When he pulled back, it was even puffier, swollen from my attentions.
“I could do this for hours,” I drawled, loving the way that little trick with my voice made his eyes cloudy with lust, heady with desire.
“Then let’s do it. Come home with me,” he said, pressing his thigh against my very,veryhard dick. “I’ll kiss you all night. I’ll kiss you wherever you want. I’m very good with this lip you seem to like so much.”
I brushed his hair back from his face and was so, so tempted. But sweet Roman had no idea what he was getting into, and I owed it to him to not suck him further into my world…
Creed, you’re fooling yourself. You’re already deep into this, and so is he.
I pressed our foreheads together and fought to catch my breath.
“Soon, Professor. I promise. For now, let’s get you home.” I couldn’t give in. I cared about him too much. I knew he didn’t fully trust me, and I knew heshouldn’ttrust me. I couldn’t do that to him.
He pulled back.
“You keep putting the brakes on and I’m going to think this is just a game to you.” He pushed himself up to his feet. “Thanks for the golf game.” He started to walk away and I scrambled to catch up with him.
“Roman, wait.”
He stopped but didn’t turn to face me.
“I’m not playing games here. I’m trying to do what’s right.”
He turned to face me and his anger hit me hard, nearly knocking the wind out of me.
“What’s right? Look, if you don’t want this to happen, just say it. If you’ve got some fucking secret, fine. But make up your fucking mind. I’ve got too much going on in my damn life to play games.”
“Roman, that was not my intention. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. It’s been a really long time since I’ve been close with anyone and there are things you don’t know—”
