Wood (A True Lover's Story #2) - A.E. Via Page 0,83

forty degrees out here.”

“I’ll keep you warm.” He kissed Trent on his temple and hugged him close, trying to block him from most of the frigid wind. “Don’t you wanna listen to the ocean for a little while?”

Trent angled his face so that his lips were barely grazing Wood’s lower jaw. “Yeah, all right. Maybe for a little while.”

“Just one block, I promise,” Wood whispered. “It’s amazing the small things you miss when it’s gone. Like the sounds of the waves crashing onto the shore when I walk. Holding hands with someone special under the moonlight.”

It was quiet, peaceful as they walked together. Farther down, maybe ten blocks, he saw another couple, but by no means were many residents out enjoying the winter air.

“Let’s sit right here for a minute.” Wood stopped their stroll and took Trent to one of the many benches lining the boardwalk. He sat down first, then pulled Trent onto his lap, settling him snugly on top of his thighs.

“What are you doing?” Trent asked, glancing around but making zero effort to get up or slide over to the rest of the bench.

“Just thought you’d enjoy sitting right here.” Wood wrapped one arm around Trent’s back while cupping the side of his neck with the other hand. He was already inching down a piece of the smooth, black material concealing Trent’s warm throat when he asked, “You want me to let you up?”

“No,” Trent replied quickly.

“Mmmm,” Wood hummed. He ran his thumb along Trent’s thudding pulse. The possessive red mark he’d left earlier was visible even in the darkness. Without a second thought, Wood latched on to the same place and gently tugged at the sweet skin.

Trent’s moan was long and deep, and the way he ground his ass down on Wood’s groin made him suck a bit harder. He controlled himself, not wanting to be indecent and not wanting to make his date feel cheap. But the man writhing on him and gripping the back of his head was testing his decency to the limit.

“How long you gonna play hard to get tonight?” Trent asked.

“I didn’t realize I was.” Wood rubbed Trent’s back before clutching his shoulder and easing him away so he could see him. “I’m not trying to rush you.”

“We’ve been dancing around each other for weeks. Aren’t you done waiting?” Trent said almost shyly. “I am.”

“Have you had anything inside you before?” Wood asked boldly, reaching under Trent’s leather coat and palming his ass.

“Not like a person, no,” Trent murmured.

“But… toys?”

Trent rolled his eyes. “No. I used my fingers.”

“Why?” Wood asked, still caressing as he inquired. This was information he needed to know. Call him old-school, but in his day, it was all about the bottom. They held the control in the bedroom, and the lovemaking was centered around their comfort. He still believed that.

“I haven’t told anyone this before. Not even Bishop. Probably because every gay man that I know who’s done time has always been offended when asked if they had a lover or… an experience while they were inside.” Trent cut his eyes to him quickly, then looked toward the water.

““Even in a place like prison, it’s not impossible to meet someone special. Did you meet someone while you were doing time?” Wood asked, praying the answer was no. God, please be no. No one deserved his Trent. While incarcerated Wood couldn’t stand the way the men looked, how they smelled, the persistent deceit in their eyes… it repulsed him. Never once did he think about love when he was confined within concrete and chaos. Maybe because it never presented itself.

“No, I wasn’t with anyone at all,” Trent whispered, looking up at the cloudy sky as if remembering. “I saw something, something that was eye-opening… and yeah… I guess, special.”

“What?”

“I saw two men making love for the first time.” Trent shook his head. “I know. It’s the last place I would’ve expected to see it, but when I did, there was no mistaking what it was. I knew both of the guys, and all that time I thought they were just really good friends. Jacks was being transferred the next morning, and they were saying goodbye to each other.”

“You watched them?” Wood asked.

“Yes,” Trent said softly. “I tried not to. I tried not to get so…”

“Turned on.”

Trent nodded, and Wood encouraged him to keep going. “I was. He had his fingers inside Jacks for so long, and he just kept begging for it deeper. Then tears would fall down