Stronger In Your Hands Read online

  "Chill out." Lisa stopped laughing. "The reason I didn't ask was I knew it'd freak you out, but seriously a little sex for fun never hurt anyone. Personally, I think the idea is hot as hell."

  Staring at her in disbelief, Alex felt for an unsettling moment as if he didn't know her at all. He struggled to find something to say as he ran his hand through his curls, his face aflame. Finally, he gave up and turned back to his tux. Sex for fun, a threesome, Alex's brain stalled on the idea. Maybe Jared and all his morals had warped him more than he realized, considering how the idea shocked him. Busy trying to filter out the images conjured up by Lisa's invitation, Alex remained oblivious to the room behind him, thankful she'd quit talking.

  "Holy crap." Lisa fumbled at his sleeve, but still annoyed with her crass invitation, Alex ignored her. "Alex, would you turn the fuck around?"

  Brushing off her hand, Alex turned. "Lisa, would you quit…" His voice failed as he stared at the apparition leaning on the jamb of the open door. He shook his head and blinked, trying to clear his head. He refused to believe he missed Jared enough to start seeing things, seeing him. Then the apparition laughed and Alex flung himself across the bed and into its arms.

  "Jared," he breathed as Jared's mouth captured his. The fingers of one hand tangled in Alex's curls and the other settled at the small of his back, pulling him close. Alex melted into the embrace, his disbelief suspended at the solid feel of Jared's body against his.

  Jared growled, widened his stance and pulled him closer. Mewling into their kiss, Alex clutched Jared's T-shirt. When they finally came up for air, Jared nuzzled Alex's neck, breathing him.

  "Missed you." Jared buried his face in his hair. "Missed you so much."

  Alex murmured agreement, nosed Jared's cheek searching for another kiss. He moaned approval when Jared complied, pressing their mouths together, licking and nibbling Alex's lips. Desperation gave way to tenderness, and at last Alex stepped back, breathing hard. But he didn't let go.

  "I can't believe you're here."

  Before Jared could answer, the sound of Lisa clearing her throat captured their attention. Alex flushed. He turned to face her, tucking himself under Jared's arm. "I'm sorry, we just…" He shrugged.

  Jared pressed a kiss to the top of his head. "Better introduce us before I manage to scare her away completely."

  He wrapped his arm around Jared's waist. "Lisa, this is Jared." He pressed his face against Jared's shoulder, breathed his scent in an effort to convince himself he wasn't dreaming.

  Lisa burst out laughing. "No, really?" Alex made a face at the sound of her false astonishment.

  "It's nice to meet you, Lisa." Jared smiled. "I've heard quite a lot about you."

  "Same here, although I'm in shock. Odds are ten to one he made you up." Alex wanted to smack her and she giggled. "Not telling which side I bet on, so don't even ask. Are you here for prom?"

  Alex looked up at Jared. "Why are you here?" Knowing Jared, Alex's brain refused to entertain the idea he'd come for a glorified high school dance, but the idea of missing prom to hang with Jared didn't bother him in the least. He couldn't seem to think about anything except the fact he'd turned eighteen months before, finally legal even by Jared standards.

  Jared reached in his back pocket and pulled out a rather rumpled square envelope. "I guess that depends on if this invitation is still good."

  Alex stared at the cream-colored paper. "I never thought you'd come."

  "I wasn't sure either for a while, and yet here I am. Good thing?" Jared's blue eyes danced with his teasing.

  "The best thing ever." Alex beamed at him.

  "So room for me in the limo, or whatever?"

  "Of course!" Lisa chirped, jumping to her feet and recapturing their attention. "Now if you get out of my way, I'll leave you guys alone."

  Alex realized she would have already slipped out but they blocked the door completely. "Uh, sorry." He started to edge out of the way but Jared stopped him.

  "Since you have room for me, I have to pick up my tux."

  "You can't leave, you just got here." Alex frowned.

  Lisa tugged Alex's shirt. "He's coming back. Let him go get ready," she urged. Jared flashed her a look of thanks.

  "I haven't registered at the hotel yet."

  "Hotel?" Alex's breath caught as he met Jared's gaze.

  Jared's eyes were hot, and he ran his thumb along Alex's jaw. "Yes. What time should I be back?"

  Alex swallowed, staring distractedly into Jared's eyes. A hotel. His palms began to sweat. "Five, the limo is picking us up to go to dinner. Um, I can't stay off campus without parental permission."

  Jared kissed Alex, hard. "Then it's a good thing I have a note from your dad, don't you think? See you at five." Laughing, Jared left Alex sputtering.

  Staring at the open doorway in disbelief, Alex sank onto the edge of his bed. "Did that just happen?"

  Lisa giggled. "Oh, yeah."

  Alex took a deep breath in an effort to steady himself, but before he could breathe out Jared popped his head back in the door.

  "What color is your cummerbund?"

  Alex stared at him blankly.

  "The same color as your eyes." Lisa grinned. "Why?" But she was talking to the air. Jared already gone.

  "Corsage." The word drifted back to them from somewhere down the hall.

  "He's going to totally embarrass me." Alex tried to sound worried, but he looked forward to Jared's brand of spoiling him more than he wanted to admit.

  "So that's Jared." Lisa dropped down onto the bed beside him.

  "Yeah. Oh, yeah." Seeing Jared had soothed a perpetual ache in his heart, but Alex had the struggle with his dick to occupy him instead.

  "I get it now." Lisa shook her head. "I didn't before, not really."

  Alex shrugged. "Jared's kind of impossible to explain. Just wait."

  "Hot too." Lisa hugged Alex's arm. "He growled at you."

  Chuckling, Alex grinned. "He does that all the time. I think it means he's happy to see me."

  Lisa snorted. "If by that you mean all of him is happy to see you, then yeah, I'd say you're right."

  Alex flopped back on the bed in a daze and stared at the ceiling. "I can't believe he's here."

  "I can't believe you're finally gonna have sex!" Lisa squealed, and Alex blushed.

  "I wouldn't take bets on that if I was you."

  "What are you talking about? It's a sure thing. It's prom, you're legal, and there's a hotel room."

  Alex sighed. "Yeah, but you left something out. He's still Jared."

  Inevitable

  "Okay, you knew this day would get here, so calm down," Jared muttered under his breath while he watched the bellhop unload his luggage out of the truck and onto a luggage cart. Letting the bellhop take charge of the heavy bags seemed ridiculous given he looked about half Jared's size, but when Jared offered to help he got a narrow-eyed glare in return. Jared raised his hands in surrender and followed his luggage inside, ticking off his mental checklist. A hotel a little better than he could really afford, tux, corsages (over charged, despite his charm, for being last minute), Alex surprised in his dorm. Thinking about Alex immediately distracted Jared with memories of holding him again after so long. It'd taken every ounce of will power he possessed to leave Alex behind, even for a few hours.

  Jared closed the door on the skinny bellhop and leaned his forehead against it. "I cannot believe I'm doing prom. I didn't do my prom. And now I'm talking to myself, just great." He shook his head and turned to inspect the room. It looked worth every penny he'd paid for it. The huge king-sized bed dominated the space. An entertainment center on the wall of the sitting area held a flat screen TV as well as a hook up for an mp3 player. The furniture looked comfortable and the wooden tables and dressers gleamed with polish. Jared tossed his bags onto the bed and unpacked. After stowing his clothes for the next day, as well as a few things for Alex, in the drawers, he then shoved the bags onto a shelf in the closet. Everything had to be p
erfect. There'd be no tripping over suitcases.

  "Unpack, shower, dress." Another list. Jared added a last minute item as he undressed. He decided he better do something to take the edge off or his carefully laid plans for Alex's seduction later that night were going to fall apart. His hands trembled as he thought about Alex. Three years waiting for him to grow up were behind them, and being together as a couple made avoiding first time sex impossible. Jared wished they could skip to morning with the first time safely behind them. He met his eyes in the mirror, pupils dilated to the point that little remained of his irises other than a dark blue ring. "Liar," he whispered to his reflection. "You are such a liar. You just make sure you get it right. It's about him, don't forget that for a second."

  Later, showered, shaved, and dressed to the nines, Jared felt better, giving him hope he could make it through the social part of the evening. While he rarely worried about his self-control, thinking about the approaching night made him sweat, and he braced himself for the hours spent with Alex in public before they could be alone. Difficult didn't begin to express what lay ahead, but Jared had planned everything out step by step, focused on making Alex's prom night memorable for him and their first time together as perfect as possible.

  Staring into the mirror, Jared carefully tied his bowtie the way Frank Ross had showed him. He sighed and wondered if he'd ever live down the embarrassment of approaching the man for permission to keep Alex off campus for the night.

  Jared had dropped by Frank's office, which in retrospect might not have been the best place, but the idea of trying to talk to him at home had made Jared's blood run cold. Once the door had closed and Jared was settled in a chair in front of a large wooden desk it hadn't been so bad.

  "Liar," he muttered at himself again.

  "You're going to take Alex to the prom?" Frank had sounded pleased but Jared's gaze had stayed fixed on a place on the carpet between his work-worn boots.

  "Yes, sir. He sent me an invitation. I wasn't going to but if I don't, he'll go alone." Or not go at all, which is what Jared had done. A decision that made no difference to his life, but sometimes he'd wished he'd had more courage.

  "I think it's a good idea. Since he went to Europe over Christmas again I'm sure you boys have a lot to catch up on."

  Jared didn't think he'd ever blushed hotter than he did then. He'd rubbed sweaty hands on his thighs and shifted his feet. "Yeah, well the thing is I'm flying there and staying the night. I…" He'd lifted his gaze, met Frank's puzzled stare, and given up. He couldn't do it. Asking for Frank to give Alex permission to stay off campus had felt like asking for permission to sex Alex up. "I just wanted to let you know I'd be there, in case you want to send something to him." Jared had risen to his feet. "I'll just go."

  "Jared." Frank's voice had stopped him just as he got a hand on the doorknob. Shoulders slumped, rubbing the back of his neck, Jared had turned to face Alex's father.

  "Do you want permission for Alex to stay off campus?" Frank had seemed to be struggling with a twitch determined to curl his lips into a smile. Jared had blushed impossibly hotter. Clenching his jaw, he'd met Frank's eyes.

  "Yes, sir."

  "I'll take care of it."

  Jared breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

  "I'm a little surprised though. Prom, huh?" Frank had grinned from ear to ear.

  "You're not as surprised as I am." Jared had groaned and fled.

  Before he'd gone to the dorm earlier, Jared had checked in with the school office and he'd found Frank true to his word. With the arrangements in place for Alex to spend the weekend, Jared's final list was a short one, dinner, dancing, and a return to the hotel. Jared wondered if he'd survive.

  The Theme Is Life

  Jared's arrival to share the limo with them nearly turned into an event. The girls outside waiting for their dates began whispering and pointing. When Alex turned to see what had worked them up, he saw Jared walking toward him. A ripple of pride ran through Alex on the realization his man had caused such a reaction, and then Lisa's finger under his chin gently closed his mouth.

  "Holy crap," he whispered to her, watching Jared walk toward them. His broad shoulders perfectly suited for the tux coat that hugged them, the dark blue cummerbund hugged his trim waist and the narrow satin stripe down the outside of the pants made his legs seem to go on forever.

  "I second that completely," she whispered back, and then Jared stood in front of him and the rest of the world faded into background noise. Jared leaned forward to steal a kiss, his hair brushed Alex's face, enveloping him in Jared's familiar scent. Alex's breath caught and he thought his knees might give out. It didn't seem fair for Jared to smell as good as he looked.

  "I got you something." Alex watched dazed as Jared's dexterous fingers pinned the simple boutonniere to his lapel. The single blue flower matched the one lying against the fine black material of Jared's jacket. Alex fingered the feathery petals.

  "What is it?" he asked.

  "A blue flower boutonniere." Jared laughed.

  Alex grinned at the flippant answer, and then lifting empty hands, he frowned. "I didn't get you anything."

  Jared leaned close. "Oh, but you did. Just take a look at yourself in the next mirror." The heat in his voice tied Alex's stomach in a knot. He bit his lip, struggling for something to say. He finally opted to keep quiet for fear anything he said would come out in a squeak. Jared's hand came to rest on his hip, tugging him forward just enough their bodies touched without crushing their clothes, and he kissed him again. Alex stared wide-eyed and breathless when Jared moved away. Public displays of affection by Jared? His Jared?

  "Are you a body snatcher?" Alex demanded, eyes narrowed.

  Jared's gaze heated, pupils dilating. "With any luck I will be." His whispered growl left Alex speechless. Chuckling, Jared winked at him and climbed into the limo.

  Lisa giggled, shoving Alex's shoulder from behind. When Alex just stood there, she pushed him again. "Get in."

  "That's not Jared," he muttered. Lisa leaned against Alex's back to whisper in his ear.

  "Oh, I think it is. I think your Jared knows you grew up. Can you handle it?" Alex shot a look over his shoulder that sent Lisa into peals of laughter. Alex chose to ignore her, climbing into the extravagant vehicle to sit next to Jared.

  At dinner, Alex showed off some of his newly acquired international flair by ordering the escargot appetizer. The waiter set the platter in the center of the table with a flourish. Making a face, Lisa poked a shell with her snail fork as if she expected it to roll over and crawl away. Jared sat well back in his chair watching from a safe distance.

  "They smell great," Seth announced and grabbed a couple. "Hot too." He hissed and dropped them onto his plate.

  "The tongs." Alex showed them how to use the tongs the waiter provided to hold the shells and use the forks to pull the snail out of the shell. Seth ate his share while Lisa continued to poke at hers. Seth leaned over, with an arm around the back of her chair and offered to help. Alex grinned, thinking Seth seemed more interested in stealing them than helping her eat them. Jared had yet to weigh in.

  "They're good." Alex tried to tempt him with the buttery snail on the end of a fork. Jared cocked an eyebrow at Alex. Choking back a laugh, Alex ate it himself. He'd been leery the first time, but the butter garlic sauce had seduced him thoroughly. "Try one."

  Jared's slow smile sent heat curling the length of Alex's spine. "I'll try one if you feed it to me." Grinning, Alex deftly pulled another snail out of the shell with his fork, holding it out for Jared to make good on his promise.

  "Not like that. With your fingers."

  Alex's eyes locked with Jared's, in silence he pulled the snail off the fork and lifted it to Jared's mouth. When he parted his lips, Alex slipped the snail inside, and before he could pull away, Jared's tongue wrapped around his finger, licking the butter and garlic from his skin. Alex leaned back in his chair breathing hard, his eyes fixed on Jared's mouth as he chewed, wat
ching the movement of the muscles in his jaw and throat.

  "Not bad," Jared announced with a wicked glance at Alex before helping himself to another. They were using dinner rolls to finish off the sauce pooled in the platter when the waiter arrived with their meal. To Alex's relief, dinner focused more on eating and less on foreplay, but with Jared in such a foreign mood, he wondered if he'd make it through the night alive. He wished he'd skipped the cummerbund and went with a dinner jacket he could fasten to hide the evidence of Jared's effect on him.

  Alex snuggled into the soft leather seat of the limo next to Jared on their way to the prom after dinner. Jared squeezed his hand and smiled at him, making his heart pound. After enduring so much teasing about being celibate, Jared showing up for prom felt like a dream come true.

  They arrived at the country club in high spirits. Teenagers milled around the outside of the building, hanging out before heading in for the dance. When the limo pulled up Seth and Lisa climbed out, but Alex hung back. Many of his other friends surrounded them. Alex didn't think of himself as popular, but Jared's appearance that afternoon at the dorm had opened the floodgates of gossip.

  Jared urged him to get out, but Alex grabbed his hand, eyes fixed on the laughing, curious crowd. Lisa looked beautiful in her ice blue strapless gown, hardly like her more down-to-earth every day self. Seth sported his tux with flair, leaving his geeky identity far behind. Magic filled the air, and in keeping with the fairy tale atmosphere, everyone looked like someone else, but Alex felt pretty sure they were all going to act the same as usual.

  "Alex?"

  He gave a half shrug in response to Jared's unasked question. "I'm glad you're here, Jared." He grimaced, that had to be the understatement of the year. "But you know, this is high school. It's fun and stuff, but kinda stupid too."

  Pressing a kiss to Alex's cheek, Jared chuckled. "I remember high school, I'm not that old." Alex relaxed a little, leaning forward to breathe a kiss into the hair over Jared's ear.