He stopped fiddling with his hair and stared at his reflection. Actually, they’d only slept together the one time. They’d fucked, sure, but they’d only fallen asleep together once. And Dom hadn’t been there to wake up next to Owen. He’d slipped away early in the morning like some kind of random hook up. But nothing felt random with Owen. It was all starting to feel like they had been fated or pre-destined to meet in that damn health hazard of an elevator. And now, thanks to Henry, Dom knew about Owen’s family and what must be a strong drive to prove himself not only to his father but to his siblings.

  His phone dinged from the other room and he hurried out to check the message, all the while telling himself he wasn’t hurrying. He was just moving quickly, like he always did.

  That’d be great. Fifteen minutes?

  Fifteen minutes sounded like fifteen years. Dom wanted, needed, to see Owen right that fucking minute. But he could wait fifteen minutes. And he wouldn’t lurk outside his hotel room door and wait for him, either. That would be way too stalker-like. No, he’d take the stairs down to the lobby and get a cup of coffee and find them a table.

  See you down there, he replied, rushing back into the bathroom to check his hair just one more time.

  Dom nearly choked on his coffee when Owen entered the breakfast buffet area. He wiped his mouth and sat back, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes.

  “Good morning,” Owen said in a bright and cheerful tone as he pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. “Did you sleep well?”

  “What are you wearing?” Dom said.

  “Hmm?” Owen looked down at the Mets jersey, then reached up to adjust the so-familiar royal blue Mets hat. “Just some lightweight summer clothing. Why? Does it annoy and distract you?”

  Dom leaned in over the table and lowered his voice. “Later, after I’ve won today’s competition, I’m going to have you wear that jersey as I fuck your ass hard and deep, and I’m going to pull out and shoot my load all over it.”

  Owen’s pupils expanded as he stared back, and Dom saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallowed hard. After a moment to collect himself, Owen leaned in close and dropped his voice to a whisper. “That’s interesting. I was thinking when I won, I would wear this jersey and hat so you could look at it between your upraised legs as I fucked your ass hard and deep.”

  “Dude…” Dom said on a slow exhalation.

  “Shall we get some breakfast?” Owen winked and got up to approach the buffet.

  “Yeah, Mets rule!” said a man across the room.

  “Yeah they do!” Owen responded.

  “Going to be a very long day,” Dom muttered to himself, then pushed back from the table and followed Owen to the buffet.

  They teased each other in line about the amount of carbs and grease in the selections they were making, then returned to their table. After a few bites, Dom grinned at Owen. “How do your ass cheeks feel today? That chair got enough padding for you?”

  A blush colored Owen’s pale cheeks above his beard, and he looked up at Dom through his lashes. “Barely. You really went to town on my ass last night.”

  Dom felt a bit nervous. “Was it too much?”

  “No, I really liked it.” Owen smiled. “I did ice my butt back in my room while I watched TV, though.”

  “Oh, sorry.” Dom made a face.

  “It’s okay. It was hot as fuck.”

  Dom nodded. “It really was.” He looked around and lowered his voice. “I’ve always liked doing that, but I’ve never found anyone else who liked it as much.”

  “Me, too.” Owen met his gaze for a moment, then looked down at his food. “Must be the rivalry coming out between us.”

  “Right. That must be it,” Dom said, but he wondered if perhaps it wasn’t something much deeper. There wasn’t time to consider that, not at that moment, so he went back to his food.

  When they’d finished eating, they dropped off their trays, and Owen headed for the main doors.

  “You’re really going to wear that jersey down to the park?” Dom asked.

  Owen turned and smiled as he spread his arms out. “I told you, I’m going to be wearing this all day, and most of the night. Get used to it.”

  “I hope you know a good dry cleaner,” Dom said in a low, deep voice. “Because I’m going to make a mess all over it.”

  “Bring it on, baby.”

  “Oh, consider it brought.”

  They laughed as they stepped outside into the sunshine, both groaning at the humidity, and then set off for the park.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mayor Debra Hollingsworth waved her hand toward the next event she wanted them to compete in, and Owen shot Dom a smug grin. It was an obstacle course made up of traffic cones for them to slalom around, tires for high-stepping, a balance beam, and a swinging rope hanging over a plastic wading pool filled with water.

  Oh yeah, Owen had a very good feeling about this one.

  “An obstacle course?” Dom grumbled. “We join the Army without realizing it?”

  “Think you can handle it?” Owen said. “You could always forfeit.”

  Dom glared. “Not a chance. I played high school football. I can handle myself.”

  A flash fantasy played in Owen’s mind of Dom stripping out of a dirty football uniform, hair sweat-tangled and corkscrewed from his helmet, jock strap straining to contain him, and a broad smile on his handsome face because he’d scored the winning touchdown.

  “Football, huh? What position?”

  “Running back.”

  “Huh,” Owen said.

  “What?”

  Owen shrugged. “I would have expected quarterback.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”

  “It’s fine. It was high school.”

  “And how long ago was that?” Owen asked with a grin.

  Before Dom could reply, Debra approached them with a big smile. “You boys ready to run? Fastest time wins.”

  “Oh, we don’t get to all run at once and fight over the rope swing?” Owen said.

  Debra laughed. “While that would be fun to watch, we’re not quite that mean.” She turned to Jess who had come up beside her. “Make a note to look into that for next year.”

  “Got it.” Jess flipped some pages on her clipboard, jotted a note, then looked them both over. “Good to see you’re both wearing shoes and not sandals or flip-flops.”

  Owen glanced down at Dom’s cross trainers, missing the sight of his beautiful feet. And what the hell did that say about his fetishes when he obsessed about Dom’s feet and liked to be spanked hard by the man as he fucked him? Best to stop that train of thought in its tracks.

  “We can have you two run first if you want, since your main competition is each other,” Jess said. “Or you can run mixed in with the group and see if you manage to win the overall prize, which is a gift card to the A Cut Above steakhouse.”

  “They did have good food,” Owen said.

  “And the bartender gave us some heavy pours,” Dom added.

  “Steve is a bartender godsend to this town,” Debra said, and she and Jess shared a laugh.

  “How about we take some time to stretch and limber up and run mixed in with the rest of the group,” Owen suggested.

  “Sounds good to me,” Dom said.

  “You got it. I’ll add you both about halfway down my list. Just hang out in this general area and listen for me to call your names.”

  Jess and Debra walked away, talking about other events planned for the day. Owen caught Dom staring.

  “What’s with the stare?”

  “Thinking about last night,” Dom said. “And what I can change up for tonight when I win this thing.”

  “You sound pretty confident.”

  “Gotta be confident about things, right?”

  “Uh huh. Sure.” Owen moved half a step closer and lowered his voice. “Do you like to be on the receiving end of spanking?”

  Dom’s lips parted, and he ran a hand over his beard, keeping his eyes on Owen the whole time. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to explore.”

  Owen moved in a little bit closer. “You’d better have some ice ready later, because I’m going to spank your ass hard as I fuck the cum out of you. All while wearing this jersey.”

  “Dude,” Dom said on an exhale. “I just want to say fuck it to this competition and go back to the hotel right now.”

  “The inn.”

  Dom scowled. “Whatever. That’s not the point.”

  “You’re right. The point is we made an agreement with the mayor to go through these activities, so we do have to fulfill that obligation.”

  “Yeah, yeah…”

  “And, besides, the anticipation is the best part.” Owen smiled and ran a hand over the Mets embroidered across the front of his jersey. “How about we go get an elephant ear or a corn dog or something to amp us up for our runs?”

  “As long as you stop trying to call my attention to your damn jersey,” Dom said in a gruff voice.

  Owen adjusted his Mets hat as he frowned in mock confusion. “Hmm? What? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

  “Come on, smart ass.” Dom took a step toward the food trucks, but then turned back and said in a low voice, “Or should I say sore ass?”

  The deep timber of Dom’s voice seemed to reach down and stroke Owen’s still-tingling ass cheeks then extend between his legs to cup his balls. He tried to respond, but the words got stuck in his throat.

  The same way Dom’s dick had been the night before.

  Dammit, he needed to keep his mind focused on the events of today and not what had happened between them the night before.

  “Come on, let’s go,” Dom said, grinning with obvious satisfaction at the reaction he’d received. “I think we both need at least a cold drink.”

  They walked in comfortable silence for a bit, then Owen asked, “Hey, how’d your conversation with your daughter go last night?”

  “It went well, thanks for asking. She’d had an argument with a couple of her friends, and her mom had gotten on her about household chores and homework assignments the minute she got home from school.”

  “Ugh, sounds like a tough day.”

  Dom nodded. “Yeah, but we talked, and she seems to be feeling better this morning. She sent me a thank you GIF, so I guess I made a difference.”

  “Good to hear you pronounce it ‘jiff’ as the guy who created it intended.”

  “I like to stay current.”

  “Your daughter corrected you about it, didn’t she?”

  “About fifteen times before it stuck.”

  They laughed together, and Owen enjoyed the moment. It felt good to simply be with someone, to laugh at themselves and each other and not have it be an insult.

  Once they reached the food trucks, both decided to avoid any foods since they’d had a big breakfast and would soon be running the obstacle course. But they did get flavored iced teas, peppermint for Owen and raspberry for Dom, and found a shady spot to sit down. Owen fanned his jersey away from his torso a few times as he blew out a breath.

  “Mets jersey not made of the most breathable material?” Dom said.

  “You’d think they’d be cooler. I mean, the players stand out in the sun for hours.”

  “You’d think.” Dom took a sip of his tea. “So, I know you’re the youngest of four, but tell me more about your family.”

  Owen shrugged. “Not much to tell, really. My mom left when I was pretty young, and Dad was busy building his company.”

  “How’d he get into fireworks?”

  “When he was young, he worked for the city where he grew up, and every summer he’d get assigned to help out the guys who shot off the fireworks for the town’s Fourth of July celebration. He learned a lot from them, so when he’d finished college with a business degree, he started up his own company.”

  “Damn,” Dom said, his voice low and impressed. “Built it up from nothing?”

  “Yep. And worked sunrise to sunset every day of the week. Mom stayed home with us kids, but she eventually got tired of acting like a single parent. I guess we burned her out more than we’d expected, because she took off one day and didn’t come home. Filed for divorce from out of state, and from what I’ve heard over the years, told my dad to keep his money. I was twelve when she left.”

  “I’m sorry. That must have been tough.”

  Owen nodded as he stared at the ground. “It was. My older brothers were busy dating and finishing up college, and my sister wasn’t really into being a surrogate mom, so I had to take care of myself from that point on.” He drank some tea, the cold and minty bite of the peppermint flavor soothing his throat. “Anyway, enough about me. How about you?”

  “Nothing much to report. My parents are still married. Dad’s a financial planner trying to figure out the best time to retire, and my mom is an elementary school teacher. They live out in Arizona these days.”

  “Ugh, hot as fuck out there,” Owen muttered, relieved when Dom laughed.

  “You are not kidding about that. I’ve visited a few times, but definitely have to plan my visits for the winter months. They love it, though. They live in a condo community and drive around in a golf cart.” He grinned and shook his head. “Living the life.”

  “Are you close with them?”

  Dom looked at him and lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “I used to think so, but these days I’m not so sure. It’s funny the things you end up keeping from your family as you get older, isn’t it?”

  “So, they don’t know you’re bi or pan?”

  Dom blew out a breath and looked at the plastic cup he held in both hands. “No, they don’t know that. And neither do my sisters. All they all know is I’m twice divorced and not ready to date again.”

  “That true?” Owen asked, hoping he didn’t sound as nervous as he felt.

  Dom gave him a long, steady look. “What do you think?”

  “Answering a question with a question is a cop out.”

  “Is it?”

  Owen shook his head. “Fine. Be that way.”

  “Hey, don’t get mad now.” Dom sat back and looked at the food trucks lined up across from them. “Truth is, I’m not sure how I feel about anything. I’ve got three kids I’m paying two ex-wives child support for, so I’m definitely not high on the ‘what a catch’ list.”

  “Maybe not to the more shallow people, but some others may think you’re a hot and tasty treat.”

  Dom chuckled. “A hot and tasty treat, huh? I like that. Unfortunately, a treat isn’t really intended to be enjoyed for a long time, is it? It’s a temporary indulgence.”

  Before Owen could respond, the parks and recreation employee they’d met the day before, Kendra, approached them.

  “Hi guys, you ready to run the obstacle course?”

  “Absolutely, Kendra.” Dom slurped up the last of his tea, got to his feet to toss the cup into a trash barrel, and looked at Owen. “You ready to put up or shut up, Gillespie?”

  Owen smiled and got to his feet, standing almost nose to nose with Dom. “Bring it on, Mitchell.” He stuck his straw in the corner of his mouth and finished up his own tea as he stared Dom down.

  “Damn, you guys are bringing all the wrestling vibes right now. I can’t wait to see you both run that course.”

  Kendra turned to lead the way back to the obstacle course, and Dom and Owen fell into step behind her, walking side by side.

  “Just for the record,” Dom whispered. “I would love to see you in a wrestling tunic.”

  “Do not try to distract me with thoughts of us oiled up and wrestling,” Owen whispered back.

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Whoever gets pinned first gets fucked first,” Owen said under his breath.

  “I hate you.”

  “You want me so bad it hurts.”

  “Which is why I’m hating you right now,” Dom said.

  When they reached the obstacle course, a boy of about thirteen had just started his run. Owen did some stretches, ignoring the amused looks people were giving him. When he finished his stretches, Owen saw Dom stretching as well, and let his gaze linger on his strong legs and firm, rounded ass a moment. Damn, he could not wait to get back to the inn and get naked with Dom.

  Well, naked except for his Mets jersey.

  “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Debra said as she approached. “Which of you is going first?”

  Dom straightened up and gestured to Owen. “I will defer to Mr. Gillespie’s choice.”

  Debra smiled and turned to Owen. “Did you have a preference?”

  “I’ll go first,” Owen said.

  “Then let’s get this course run,” Debra said, waving for Owen to follow her.

  Owen won the obstacle course by almost a full minute. He waited by the finish line, trying not to look too smug about it as Dom crossed and bent at the waist, hands on his knees, panting from exertion.

  “You okay there, Yankster?”

  Dom shot him a dirty look. “I’m fine, Metsie. Just catching my breath.”

  “Your shoes got a little wet on your swing across the wading pool.”

  “Yeah, I can feel that,” Dom said. “Thanks, though, for the observation.”

  Debra was all smiles as she approached. “Well, that was an exciting competition, I must say.”

  Dom straightened up and, with a grin, said, “As this week goes on, you’re reminding me more and more of Tina Turner’s character in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.”

  Debra threw back her head and laughed. “If only I looked that good in a chain mail dress.” She laughed again. “As things stand right now, Owen is ahead two wins to one.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Dom muttered, but shot a grin in Owen’s direction. “We still have tomorrow.”

  “True, you could tie things up,” Debra said. “Then I guess it would come down to a sudden death competition.”

  Owen laughed. “You are really into this, aren’t you?”

 

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