Camden curled his hands into fists. “I never said you needed to become a social worker. I only meant you can get a real job.”

  Grayson’s shoulders stiffened, and he rushed into the greenhouse again without saying a word. Cam followed, taking in tray after tray with plants. Holy shit, did Grayson mean to find spots for them all in the garden? There were bigger pots with plants in them too. Tomatoes he recognized, but there were other plants he had no idea what they were. “Half the greenhouse is mine.”

  He didn’t know why he was being a dick, and when Grayson’s shoulders slumped, he wished he’d kept his mouth shut.

  “I’ll clear out half of it later today.” He pushed past Camden with another tray of plants in his hands.

  “You do that.” Cam had nothing to plant in the greenhouse, but he could find something to have there…maybe.

  He rushed after Grayson, having to jog to keep up with him. When Grayson stopped, he almost ran into him.

  “What are you doing, Cam?”

  “What do you mean?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  Grayson took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a few seconds before focusing on the plants again.

  “Don’t dismiss me!”

  Grayson swung around so fast Camden took a step back.

  “Stop provoking me.” He loomed over Camden, his eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together into a thin line.

  Cam straightened his back. “Don’t try to intimidate me!” He hopped up on the brick wall of the raised bed so he was taller than Grayson.

  “Watch it. Don’t step into the bed.”

  Cam looked behind him to see how close he was to the soil and swayed. A strong arm wrapped around his hip. “Easy.”

  Grayson pulled him off the wall and against his chest. “Put me the fuck down.”

  Grayson slowly allowed him to slide down his body until his feet touched the ground. He kept his arm around him, and Cam found himself flush against his body. Seconds went by as they stared into each other’s eyes.

  “What are you doing?” Camden hadn’t meant to whisper, but he was afraid Grayson would let go of him if he spoke too loudly.

  “Saving my plants.”

  “I wouldn’t have stepped on them.”

  Grayson’s gaze flew over his face. “You might not have meant to, but you were swaying and you were blustering, and sooner or later you would’ve taken a step on the wrong side of the brick wall.”

  Camden scowled.

  “Why do you want to fight, Cam?”

  “Because you’re angry with me.” And when someone was angry it was better to get it out than to go around and sulk.

  “I’m not.”

  Cam took a calming breath. He didn’t want to fight with Grayson. He liked standing there in the garden with Grayson’s arm around him—liked it more than he should. “You’re something.”

  Chapter 7

  Grayson looked into Camden’s eyes. Their height difference forced Cam to tilt his head to meet his gaze.

  “I’m not angry. I’m sick of you belittling me.”

  Camden’s mouth opened as if he was to say something, then he snapped it shut.

  “Being a painter is a real job, you know? I like what I do, and I’m good at it. I never want to go back to school. I don’t want a job sitting behind a desk. I don’t want to be responsible for other people’s lives. I don’t want to be in a position where I have to make a decision that will decide what their life will look like.” He didn’t want to remind Cam about the boy in the hospital, but Grayson never wanted to be in such a position.

  “A paint bucket doesn’t have feelings. If a client dislikes the color, we can always pick a new one. We make things look better, we brighten rooms, add color and life, and at the end of the day I get to come home to this.” He gestured around the garden. “And no one is affected by the decisions I make.”

  Camden frowned at him. “But don’t you want more out of life?”

  “More of what?” He slid his hand a little lower on Cam’s back, spanning his fingers so they rested right above the swell of his ass.

  Cam licked his lips. “More of a…challenge? Something that inspires you, makes you grow.”

  “This garden inspires me. It’s challenging me.”

  “But it’s not your job.”

  Grayson took a deep breath and shook his head. “Society would come to a standstill if everyone were to become social workers, you realize that, right? Not everyone is meant to be making a career, some of us just have jobs.”

  Cam grimaced. “But you could—”

  “Live however I want without being worth any less than you are. My opinions still matter, my feelings are as important as yours, and no high school diploma will ever change that.”

  “No, but it could give you opportunities.”

  “To do what?”

  Cam shifted his weight. “You could get a better-paid job, build more of a security.”

  “I don’t need more money. I’m making about the same as you do, and I don’t have any student loans. I own my home, I don’t have debt, I’m happy. Why can’t you leave it at that?”

  With a sigh, Camden looked out over the garden.

  “Now, why do you want to fight? You want to be distracted?”

  Camden glared at him. “I’m not the one fighting! You’re the one—” Grayson bent and cut him off with a kiss. Camden froze but put his hands on Grayson’s arms a second later. When Grayson teased the seam of his lips with his tongue, Cam opened for him and slid his hands up to his shoulders.

  A small moan escaped as Cam dug his fingers into Grayson’s muscles.

  Breaking the kiss, Cam glowered at him. “You’re so fucking annoying, Grayson.” He kissed him again, his fingers caressing his neck and teasing his hair.

  Grayson grunted in reply, slid his hand lower until he was cupping Camden’s ass, and pressed him closer.

  “Oh, God.” Cam’s motions turned more frantic. His fingers kneading, his hips grinding, and his tongue meeting Grayson’s more aggressively. Grayson’s dick hardened, and an ache built in his groin.

  Cam tore his mouth away again. “This is a stupid idea.”

  Grayson nodded but rocked against Cam, making him aware of how hard he was.

  Groaning, Cam looked at him. “This is stupid.”

  “I’m not disagreeing with you.” But it didn’t mean he wanted to stop. He bent and captured Cam’s mouth again. Pulling at his shirt, he found his way in under it and caressed the skin on Cam’s back. Slowly, he walked Cam backward, maneuvering him around the closest raised bed without breaking the kiss. Frustration built, and he grabbed hold of Cam’s shirt and pulled it off him. Pale skin stretched over surprisingly well-defined shoulders.

  Grayson bent to kiss the top of one of them, only to focus on Cam’s neck next. He ran his lips over the skin, gently biting which made Camden jump only to moan shortly after.

  “You’re overdressed.” He continued to walk Cam toward the garden shed.

  “For what?”

  Grayson squeezed his ass. “For what I have in mind.”

  Cam tipped his head to give Grayson better access to his neck, but Grayson kissed his mouth instead—the red, slightly swollen lips too much of a temptation. Urgency built. He ran a hand over Cam’s chest, rubbing his nipple which hardened under the onslaught.

  Panting, Cam pulled at his hair and broke the kiss again which made Grayson growl. He wanted to lay Cam on the ground and have his way with him, but he didn’t think it’d be appreciated. The throb between his legs increased, heat rushed through him, and he wanted. He didn’t much care what they did as long as they did something.

  “And what is it you have in mind exactly?”

  Grayson grinned at the hesitation he spotted in Cam’s eyes. “I’m perfecting my plan as we go.”

  Camden frowned.

  “It’ll be perfect.”

  Grayson chuckled at the skeptical look Cam gave him. “I doubt it.”

  “I’ll make you see stars on the sunny sky.”

  “By knocking me out? Is it why you’re walking me toward the garden shed, to get a tool and knock me over the head?”

  Grayson ground his hips against him. “Yes, that’s exactly what I have in mind.” He nipped at Cam’s ear. “Ryan suggested I’d bury you in the garden as fertilizer.”

  Cam pushed at him and narrowed his eyes. “Ryan said that?”

  Grayson shrugged and reached for Cam again, but Cam put a palm against his chest. “What else did he say?”

  “Nothing.” He tried to move him the last bit so he could lean against the shed, but Cam stood his ground.

  “He had to have said something.”

  Grayson sighed. “To not let you into my house because you’re a shoplifter.” He grabbed Cam’s wrist and removed his hand from his chest. “Now, can we get on with what we were doing?” He tugged to get Camden to move closer, but he resisted the pull.

  “Cam?”

  His face was a blank mask apart from his lips, they were pressed into a thin line. Gone was the warmth and the teasing light in his eyes.

  “Cam?” Grayson reached for him again, but Camden stepped away. Grayson sighed, then he pounced. He wrapped his arms around him before pushing him against the garden shed wall. “Stop it.”

  “Stop what?” His tone was cold, but Grayson refused to let him build up his walls again.

  “I don’t give a damn what Ryan says.” He nuzzled his neck despite Cam being stiff as a board. “I don’t care if you did it or not.”

  Camden remained silent.

  “Hey.” Grayson tickled his side.

  “Stop—”

  He cut him off with a kiss and while Cam fought to get his hand away from his side where Grayson had found the spot that made him squirm the most, he didn’t push him away. Grayson stopped his tickling attack and turned his touch into caresses instead. He slowed the kiss too, not because he wanted to slow anything down, but it felt right to do so.

  Cam melted in his arms, leaned against the wall more heavily, and his hands found their way back into Grayson’s hair.

  “Kick off your shoes.”

  Cam stared at him. “What?”

  “Kick off your shoes.”

  “Why?”

  Grayson grinned. “I want you naked, and the shoes are in my way.”

  Camden pursed his lips. “We’re in the garden in broad daylight.”

  “I know. Now, kick off the shoes.”

  When Cam didn’t move, Grayson sank to his knees. Wide eyes looked down at him, and Grayson grinned as he grabbed one of Cam’s ankles and raised the foot. The shoe came off easily and he removed the sock too before putting down the foot again.

  “You’re serious?” Cam flattened his hands against the wall.

  “Never been more serious in my life.” He grabbed his other shoe and repeated the action. Cam curled his toes in the spring grass as Grayson let go of him, and for some reason it made him chuckle.

  Sliding his hands up Camden’s legs, he met his gaze before reaching the button of his jeans.

  “Grayson.”

  Grayson stilled, watching Cam for several seconds.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  Grayson unbuttoned the jeans and pulled down both them and Cam’s underwear. “I thought we’d agreed on this being a terrible idea.” He leaned forward and slid the tip of his tongue up Camden’s hard cock.

  Cam groaned and bounced his head against the wall. Grayson chuckled, pulled the pants down, and tapped Cam’s foot to make him step out of them. Once both feet were free, Grayson tossed the clothes away.

  “Look at you.” He ran his hands up Cam’s legs, the hair sprinkled over his calves were almost as blond as those on his head. He continued his caress up his thighs. “You should be dressed like this all the time.”

  “I’m not dressed.”

  “Exactly. You’re so much more friendly this way. Downright charming, actually.”

  Cam snorted and Grayson winked at him. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on his right thigh, then on his left, gently sliding his lips upward.

  A shuddering breath left Camden, and Grayson took it as an invitation to continue his exploration. Trailing the thick vein up Cam’s dick until he reached the spongy head, Grayson then wet his lips. He teased the tip before lowering his mouth on the fat length.

  Camden moaned and Grayson responded in kind. The salty taste of precome spread over his taste buds, and the head hit the roof of his mouth and slid along it until it was at the back of his throat. Grayson shivered as the ridges of the vein glided over his tongue.

  “Oh, fuck.” Cam grabbed his hair and gave a careful thrust. His eyes bore into Grayson as he slowly rocked, filling Grayson’s mouth over and over. He loved the weight of Cam’s cock against his lip.

  Heat coursed through him and the aching throb in his balls had him digging his fingers into Cam’s thigh. He forced himself to relax his jaw and give over control to Cam.

  “Touch yourself.”

  His hoarse words set off a wildfire inside Grayson, and he scrambled to get his pants unbuttoned. His cock sprang free, and he groaned as he curled his fingers around it. Cam pushed in farther than he’d been before and Grayson’s head swam a little. He hollowed his cheeks and fisted his cock. The need to come burned and his balls tightened. Precome was steadily leaking onto his tongue, and Cam groaned again.

  The added sting of Cam tugging at his hair only increased the need. He moaned, sucked, and reached up to roll Cam’s balls in his hand. His other hand flew over his own cock, and he slid a finger behind Cam’s sack and pressed against the taint.

  Cam growled and slammed his cock into Grayson’s mouth. He wasn’t hurting him, and Grayson didn’t mind the rough treatment, but Cam’s control was slipping. Grayson moaned again. Fluids trickled down his length, and he was ready to explode any second.

  “Gonna come, Gray.” The tugging on his hair increased, and Grayson sucked hard.

  “Oh, fuck!” The first spurt hit the back of his throat, and he sucked Cam in deeper, swallowed, and swallowed again. A drizzle of come escaped the corner of his mouth, but he didn’t care.

  Cam shuddered and gentled his hold on Grayson’s hair. “Damn.”

  Grayson slid his tongue over the softening cock, and Cam pulled out of his mouth. After a second, he crouched. “Fuck, I haven’t come that hard in ages.” He glanced at Grayson’s throbbing cock. “You gonna do something about that?”

  Grayson wiped his mouth, shrugged, and fisted his length.

  “Yes.” Camden ran a hand over his chest. “So fucking hot, Grayson.” He pinched a nipple at the same time as he kissed him. A wave of prickling need washed over him, leaving him shivering on his knees on the grass. The spring wind caressed his skin where Cam didn’t touch him, and when Cam nipped at his lower lip, he tipped over the edge.

  He gave his dick a few more tugs and covered the tip with his free hand so he didn’t soil Cam as he came. Cam swallowed his moans and he sat back on his heels as the world spun around him. When Cam ran a hand through his hair, he leaned forward and rested his head on his shoulder.

  “Distracted you, didn’t I?”

  Cam huffed. “Yeah, but this was a bad idea.”

  Grayson peeked at him, not sure he agreed anymore. “Why?”

  Cam looked away. “What will we do now? I hate when things are awkward, and we still have to see each other.”

  “I was thinking a shower.”

  Cam’s gaze whipped to his. “What?”

  “You asked what we will do now. I figured we could take a shower. I’m sure I have something you can borrow if you don’t want to put on the same clothes again.”

  Blinking several times, Camden finally opened his mouth. “What?”

  “I’m sure you heard me.”

  “But you hate me.”

  “No. You think I’d blow you if I hated you? That’s fucked up, Cam.”

  Cam gaped. “But…You hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you. I hate when you act as if I’m stupid, but I find you kinda hot. When you’re not being condescending, that is. I don’t like condescending, so stop treating me as if I’m stupid, and I might blow you more often.”

  Cam stared then spluttered. Before he could say anything, Grayson kissed him. “Come on.” He got to his feet and tugged at Cam’s hand to get him to stand. “We’ll shower, then I’ll feed you.” He pulled him toward his house.

  “Grayson! I’m naked. I can’t walk through the garden naked.”

  Grayson raised his eyebrows at him. “Why not? There is no one here.”

  A blush spread on Camden’s cheeks, and Grayson chuckled as he pulled him into his arms. “I’ll shield you from all imaginary eyes.”

  He slid his hands over Cam’s ass and nuzzled his neck. He didn’t want to allow Camden to go back to his house. If he did, he feared they’d go back to how they’d been, and Grayson didn’t want that. He wanted to blow Cam by the garden shed, not argue about jobs or garden beds.

  “Come on.” He let go of Cam, hiked his pants up, and went to grab Cam’s shirt. “Put this on.” Then he picked up his jeans, underwear, and shoes. “Let’s go.”

  Cam followed him silently until they reached the steps to the stairs. “I don’t think you’re stupid.”

  “No? Is being a painter a real job?”

  He groaned. “Yes, it’s a real job.”

  “You don’t think I need to get a high school diploma?”

  Cam didn’t reply and Grayson turned to look at him. Throwing his hands in the air, Camden glared at him. “I believed you were unhappy. I picture what your job must be like, and I feel like getting a gun so I can blow my brains out. And it’s such a waste. You could be anything you want, and you paint walls.”

  Grayson pursed his lips and waited for him to continue.

  “How can you be happy painting walls? It’s doing the same thing over and over, and you’ve done it for more than twenty years. How is it possible to not hate it?”

  Grayson shrugged. He had periods when he didn’t love his job, mornings he didn’t want to get out of bed, but he didn’t think any other position would make him any happier. “I like painting stuff, and it’s not like I paint everything with the same color.” He gave him a cheeky grin. “All the things you say about my job, I think about yours. Sitting by a desk, meetings, phone calls, talking to people.” He shook his head. “I’d eat lead if I had to do it for twenty years, and yet I manage to not treat you as if you’re stupid for wanting to do it.”

 

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