the side of Trent’s bed-tousled hair, needing him to be honest with him, always. “It’s all right,” he said as he began a deep massage against Trent’s lower back.
Trent groaned loudly, and Wood carefully worked the tight muscles, hoping to relax his lover enough that he’d be more forthcoming. “That feels good.” Trent moaned, pushing harder against Wood’s chest.
“Just tell me what the deal is, Trent, because I’m too damn old to be in anybody’s closet. Not after how long I’ve waited to call someone mine again. I know this is not the most conventional relationship, and I’m not even sure what to call us, but you have to admit that we have something here. And you don’t want anyone important to you to know about it. Why?”
Trent shook his head. “It’s not for the reasons you think.”
“Then enlighten me,” Wood told him. “Why won’t you tell your best friend about us? Having him find out on a misunderstanding is not going to go over well. Trust me.”
Trent spun around, his sweet brown eyes shimmering like fresh-mined axinite as he leveled Wood with an anguished expression. “Because I don’t want him to take you away from me, that’s why.”
That was the last thing Wood was expecting Trent to say. Why the hell would he be afraid of that?
“Wood. Since we were kids in juvie together, Bishop has had a front-row seat to my destructive behavior.” Trent shrugged. “He might have called it impulsive. Who knows, same thing. People get attached to me, and I usually fuck up their lives in some way. And Bishop’s always been the one that has to clean up the mess.”
Wood frowned. “Is that what you think Bishop will do? Warn me about your wild streak or your reckless past.”
“Hell yeah he will. B idolizes you, Wood. You’re the brother he always wanted.” Trent balled his fists at his sides, his tight body starting to tremor the more he put himself down. “He’ll remind you that you’re on parole and you’re supposed to keep your nose clean. And that getting involved—with someone like me—might not be a good idea. I’m not exactly known for thinking before I act. It wasn’t that long ago that I got me and Bishop tossed into twenty-four-hour lockup because I don’t know when to just fucking stop.”
“Trent, don’t—”
“So that’s why I say I’m probably not someone he’ll advise you to get attached to if you’re trying to get your shit together. I guess I was trying to enjoy this as long as I could.” Trent gestured to the empty trailer. “Why do you think it was only me here when you came?”
Wood smoothed his hands across Trent’s shoulders, then down his corded forearms to his clenched hands, and carefully wove their fingers together. “Because your friend moved in with his partner. People do that when they’re in love. They wanna be closer, together all the time. No one left you, Trent.”
Wood bent his head for a chaste kiss that ended up stretching far longer than a couple of seconds. He broke apart from those soft lips feeling breathless and eager to show Trent how misplaced his fear was. “I have no intentions of leaving you no matter what anyone says.”
Trent’s relief was visible, and Wood could only hope that meant what he thought it did. That Trent didn’t want this to be temporary. Wood walked them backward until Trent’s ass collided with the counter. He gasped into Trent’s mouth when their erections nudged eagerly against each other. He let go of Trent’s hands and gripped both cheeks as he slanted his mouth over his and pushed his tongue inside. Mmmm. Trent tasted like the sugary cereal he’d just eaten, and Wood eased back and sucked the sweetness off the tip of his tongue, feeling his cock get impossibly hard.
“Fuck I want you again,” Trent hissed, punching his hips forward.
Wood bent and hooked Trent under his thighs and hefted him onto the counter with ease, smiling at his pinched expression. “What’s wrong? You don’t like me picking you up?” Wood asked against Trent’s bared throat. “You don’t want me spreading your legs open like this either?”
Trent’s eyes dropped to Wood’s chest as he slid him to the edge of the counter and palmed his round cheeks through his sweatpants. Trent grabbed a handful of Wood’s hair and pulled him to his mouth, his tender lips nipping hungrily at his tongue. Trent wrapped his other arm around his neck, denying Wood the ability