ATF Universe
Chapter 19
"Vin, please." he begged mindlessly, his breath coming in quick tortured gasps. Chris's body stiffened with eagerness while his arms shook from the effort of holding onto the headboard. His heart was pounding so heavily in his chest that he almost didn't hear Vin's low husky drawl."Please what, Cowboy?" as Vin traced the round puckered opening between Chris's buttocks before inserting a single liniment-covered digit. He heard a low growl issue from between his lover's clenched teeth and felt the body beneath him surge backwards in an attempt to impale itself on his finger. Forcing himself to remain still, Vin waited until he felt the ring of muscle relax slightly. He didn't know why but Vin suddenly needed to hear the words of desire from his lover. "What'd ya want, Chris? Tell me!"
"You." slipped out as a long ragged groan of need. Chris's voice was thick with arousal as his body trembled in anticipation of the younger man's possession.
Using his index finger, Vin began to gently stretch the tissue of Chris's rectum, carefully preparing his lover's body to receive the hot hard length of his own. With his free hand, he held the narrow hips steady while pushing and swirling deep inside the greedy opening. He could feel the blood pumping fiercely through Chris's body as he slipped a second finger inside, stretching the tight muscle and surrounding his fingers with an incredible heat. In a hoarse whisper, he again demanded, "Tell me what ya need, Chris!"
"Oh, God! You, Vin.Please!" Chris's passionate cries were escalating, becoming increasingly frantic as Vin tormented him, his body shaking almost uncontrollably with the force of his need. The blond head thrashed from side to side, biting viciously at the bedsheets, as the younger man manipulated his fingers inside him, the lean body thrusting backwards.arms shoving against the headboard.in an attempt to take Vin's hand deeper.
His lover's frenzied pleas and the feel of the receptive body beneath his touch were almost more than Vin could stand. His own swollen shaft was so distended and eager that it was painful, but the younger man had to be absolutely sure Chris's body was ready for him. A third finger joined the other two, stretching and pulling, opening up that last bit of tissue and making room for himself inside his lover's body. Urging Chris up onto his knees with one hand, Vin withdrew his fingers and reached for more of the lotion that Buck had given him. Fumbling a bit with the cap, he was in the process of pouring more into his palm when Chris's voice interrupted him.
"Vin?" he rasped on a strangled groan. "Vin, it's burning." When there was no immediate response from the young man behind him, Chris tried again. "Dammit, Vin! It's burning. Do something."
Oh God! What was Chris talking about? What did he mean? What was burning? Had he accidentally done something to hurt Chris? Panic welled up inside of Vin at the thought that he may have injured his lover, perhaps torn something inside him. Vin didn't know what to say, his voice strangled and weak as he tried to stammer out an apology. "Chris, I."
"Goddammit, Tanner! Hurry up, for chrissakes! My ass feels like it's on fire!" Chris knew he was practically yelling at Vin but he couldn't seem to help it. His body was so highly aroused at that point that he felt almost insane. Instinctively, he knew he'd been right about that liniment that Buck had given to Vin. It was one of those "special" lotions he'd heard him bragging about one day. It was meant to arouse, inflame, stimulate the senses.and the only aches and pains it soothed were those of a sexual nature. It was working! And if Vin didn't give his tortured body some relief soon, then Chris swore that he was going to shoot Buck Wilmington.that is, if he managed to live that long.
"Do ya need me to call Nathan?" Vin questioned hesitantly, passion still coloring his features but his blue eyes were filled with distress as he eased away from Chris and over towards the phone. He wasn't entirely sure he could face the former medic and explain what had happened to the other man without giving away the nature of their relationship. But then after this morning, Vin wasn't entirely sure that Nathan didn't already know.or at least had a good guess.
"Shit!" Chris growled roughly and dropped his head down into his hands. If he wasn't hurting so damned bad, this might even be funny, but as it was.Vin really didn't know what was in the bottle. And normally Chris would have found that innocence quite touching but right now he was in too much pain to appreciate the humor behind the situation.
"No, don't need Nathan," he managed to grind out from between clenched teeth. "Need you! Now, Vin! Dammit, now!" Chris lifted his head and turned his dark glittering eyes toward the younger man, letting the force of his gaze convey the depth of hunger and desire raging through him. A look of confusion crossed his lover's face before Chris took a deep steadying breath and attempted to explain. "The liniment, Vin.you ain't done nothing wrong.one of Buck's special lotions."
Even that short explanation was too long as far as Chris was concerned. His entire body throbbed unmercifully and he desperately wanted Vin deep inside him. Needing to move, needing to rub against something, Chris twisted helplessly upon the sheets. "Oh God, Vin! Please.need you so bad."
Relief flooded through Vin as the meaning of Chris's words dawned on him. He hadn't done anything wrong and Chris wasn't injured. It was the lotion, the special liniment that Buck had given to him. It made your skin feel as if it were on fire.and it was driving Chris into a frenzy of passion. A slow grin of combined amusement and understanding lit his face as Vin scooted back over to where Chris waited for him on elbows and knees. Positioning himself behind his lover again, he chuckled softly and placed a kiss on the curve of Chris's right hip. "Remind me ta thank Buck come morning," Vin drawled softly.
Chris gave a brief snort of humorless laughter in response. "Remind me to shoot the bastard!"
The laugh quickly turned into a low moan of need as Vin took hold of Chris's buttocks, filling his hands with the taut flesh, massaging and then spreading them apart to allow himself entrance. His admiring gaze watched as the powerful muscles tensed and flexed along the length of Chris's back and shoulders, the usual quiet intensity of the man beneath him giving way to the fierce desire burning inside. Positioning himself at the entrance to Chris's body, Vin was determined to go slow, savor every moment and enjoy each shudder.each gasp.each cry of passion.
Spreading a liberal coating of Buck's special liniment on his own hardened cock, Vin probed gently at first, one hand holding Chris's hip while he used the other to guide his movements. He eased inside of Chris's tight body, slowly at first.sliding the tip of his shaft just past the ring of muscle at the entrance. But then control was taken from him as he was surrounded by an intense burning heat that had him thrusting, hard and deep, into the receptive body beneath him.
Both men groaned loudly with pleasure at the fierce joining of their bodies, Vin bending low over the arched back and pressing his face in between Chris's shoulder blades. His hands took a tight hold around his lover's waist and hips, pulling him backwards even as Chris pushed against the headboard trying to get more of Vin inside of him. Using the strength of his thigh muscles, Vin pressed forward.wanting it deeper, harder.and feeling himself get sucked in further by the internal muscles that held his cock a willing prisoner. His arms circled around Chris's narrow waist, his chest pressed against the sweaty back, the side of his face lying next to the smooth warm skin.drinking in the taste, scent and feel that was Chris.
They stayed that way for several minutes, neither willing to move just yet.neither willing to risk losing the potent feeling of being one with the other.their hearts pounding in a dual rhythm while their ragged breathing became a matching cadence. It was Chris who broke first.
"Vin," he managed to get out in a low moan. "Move.need more.please!" He wriggled underneath the press of Vin's body covering him, lifted himself further up on his knees, entreating his lover to fill him, take him.hard, fast and deep.now.
Lifting himself off of Chris, Vin gasped briefly at the loss of contact, his hands restlessly sliding up and down the sides of the other man's torso before settling over the prominence of his narrow hips. Moving gently, he slowly eased his throbbing shaft from the heat of Chris's body, pulling back until just the tip remained inside the tight opening. He felt Chris shudder hard beneath him. Holding himself there, a wicked grin crossed Vin's face as he breathed, "Ya ready, Cowboy?" At a wordless nod from Chris, he continued, "Better hold on tight cuz I gotta feelin' this'uns gonna get wild."
Before Chris could even react to the quiet warning, Vin was thrusting roughly inside him, ramming his stiffened cock deep into the willing body beneath him, taking and plundering the receptive orifice with his entire length. All Chris could get out was a grunt of surprise at the younger man's forceful possession. Bracing himself against the headboard, Chris shoved backwards, his internal muscles tightening around Vin's invasion and working the length of solid flesh filling his body.
In response, Vin bit down on his lower lip and snaked a hand around to the front of Chris's groin. His fingers sought and found the aching swollen member begging for release, warm fluid weeping freely from the tip in a liquid plea of passion. Wrapping his hand around Chris's large shaft, Vin began to stroke firmly, his movements a sharp counterpoint to the forceful slow thrusting of his hips. Moving easily at first, they established a mutual rhythm of advance and retreat.give and take.rocking back and forth as one and sharing the depths of heightened passion coursing through their veins.
But it wasn't enough. Vin wanted more. Chris needed more. The thrusting became more powerful, desperate.faster.moving together in a frenzied dance of mutual heat and lust, driving their bodies higher and harder.wanting more.wanting deeper. Vin shifted his stance, changing his angle of entry into Chris's body, stroking deep.probing for that special place inside his lover that would send him flying over the edge.
Chris's body jerked and stiffened the first time Vin found what he was searching for, the violent movement slamming the headboard against the wall with a distinct bang. Breathing hard, his body covered in a fine layer of sweat, Vin gave a small grunt of effort as he thrust forward again, searching and seeking, his hand continuing to stroke and tighten around Chris's cock. He knew he'd touched it once again when Chris's neck arched downward, lifting his ass further into the air as he buried his face in a pillow. A muffled curse burst from his lover's lips.
"Shit!" Vin would've laughed at the desperation in the man's voice if he'd had the breath to spare. But his own body was spiraling tighter and higher with the fierce need burning its way along the length of his cock. Every movement, every touch, every caress from the searing heat of Chris's body seemed somehow magnified. Their lovemaking was more intense.greedier and hungrier than it ever had been before. Vin knew he couldn't last much longer. What the hell was in that damned liniment?
"Chris." he groaned raggedly, the raw passion and need torn from Vin's throat as he felt his lover's body start to quiver and contract around him.
"More!" Chris gasped, his terse demand ringing in Vin's ears.commanding him. encouraging him. And Vin obeyed, thrusting harder.further.deeper.faster.ramming himself so far inside his love that he couldn't tell where he ended and Chris began.
Chris shoved forcefully against the bed, his arm and back muscles tense and straining, as he drove his body backwards, impaling himself on the length of Vin's hardened shaft. The handsome lines of his face were contorted in a grimace of extreme pleasure as he rocked back and forth between the feel of Vin's hands around him and the blazing steel shaft stabbing sharply into him. He could feel his release start to consume his body, his movements becoming faster and more frantic, a frenzied need clawing deep within his gut and threatening to rip him apart if he couldn't somehow take Vin and hold him captive inside his body.
Feeling his own impending climax, Vin rolled his hips savagely, stroking even further inside of Chris. Searching once more for that magical place that would release them both from the agony of shared hunger and passion before catapulting them into a frenzied death spiral where the outside world ceased to exist.
"CHRIS!" Shouting in triumph, Vin knew he had found it when Chris's body convulsed violently beneath him, his lover screaming with passion into the muffled depths of a pillow as his hands threatened to rip the wooden headboard apart with the force of his release. His own climax quickly followed, the feel of Chris's muscular channel squeezing and contracting tightly around him while heated liquid poured over his hands was more than he could take. Vin thrust rapidly, once.twice.three times more, his back and neck arching with a final powerful lunge before he collapsed.sated and exhausted.along the length of his lover's sweat-covered body, bearing them both back down onto the bed.
The two men lay gasping for breath, hearts pounding fiercely together in synchronized rhythm for several long moments, each too content.too weak.too satisfied to want to move. Vin finally lifted his head from Chris's shoulder, the tendrils of his hair damp with their combined sweat and placed gentle loving kisses over the slick skin beneath his mouth. Opening his eyes, he glanced at Chris who lay with his face turned sideways against the white pillowcase. His lover's eyes remained closed, his mouth open as his breath rasped in and out, high color staining the stark lines of his cheekbones and contrasting sharply with the deep shadows of exhaustion etching across his features.
"You okay, Cowboy?" Vin asked quietly, his voice tinged with concern.and a wealth of much warmer emotions.
A slight nod brought a small sigh of relief as Vin moved sideways, removing his weight from Chris's back before crawling up towards the head of the bed. Stretching out lengthwise, he pulled Chris's unresisting form into his arms, cuddling the older man against him and placing the blond head in the curve of his shoulder. Vin took another deep breath and sighed contentedly as his arms curled around his love and they lay quietly, chest to chest.skin against skin.as the first vestiges of sleep began to overtake them. His fingers gently trailing through the short silken strands at Chris's temple, Vin smiled sleepily at the perfect ending to what had started as a miserably rotten day.
But like a persistent itch, questions still remained and Vin's thoughts were not yet ready to grant him rest. "Chris?" he called softly. "Chris, you awake?"
A soft rumbling against his chest was the only reply. Vin smiled as his fingers threaded into Chris's hair, one hand curling around the crown of his lover's head and holding him close while the other soothingly stroked the length of his back.
"Chris, I think.I think Nathan knows," he breathed gently.cautiously.
A long silence followed before Chris sighed and managed to mumble drowsily "Bout what?"
"Us." Vin waited expectantly for the other man's response. When none was forthcoming, he prompted, "I think Nathan knows `bout you `n me.at least, he seemed to this morning."
"Mmm-hmmm.." Chris murmured sleepily before rubbing his face against Vin's shoulder and settling in as exhaustion dragged him down into the silent arms of peaceful slumber. One arm crept up to circle Vin's waist as Chris snuggled even closer.
Vin was confused by Chris's response.or more precisely by Chris's lack of response to what should have been disturbing news. They had been very circumspect about their relationship, keeping it well hidden from the rest of the team, fearful of how it might affect the closeness and camaraderie that they all shared. Now, Chris was acting as if it didn't matter.
"Chris, do ya think.any of the other fellas know?" He found that he was just a bit afraid of what Chris's answer might be but Vin had already made up his mind quite some time ago that he wasn't going to give Chris up.not now and not ever.not for anyone or anything and that included even for the good of Team 7. He loved Chris.heart, body and soul. "Chris?"
His heart was in his mouth as Vin waited for Chris's answer. He was a bit startled when he felt the low rumble of laughter vibrating through the body he held close within his arms.
"Vin, who gave you the liniment?"
Chapter 20
Chris Larabee didn't bounce down the steps of the Bureau's administration building but there was a certain spring noticeable in his step. There was a lightness about him that had been sorely missing for the last couple of days. His movements had been stiff, his usual grace and agility absent. But anyone watching him now would never have guessed at the deep bruises that riddled a good portion of his body, the discoloration effectively concealed beneath the white polo shirt, tan pants and light jacket he wore.Pulling his sunglasses from his coat pocket, he slipped them on as he glanced skyward into the bright spring morning. Sunlight gleamed off the golden strands of his blond hair and a ghost of a smile played about the line of his lips. All things considered, he actually felt quite good and was eager for a few hours of downtime before the scheduled evening conference. Not that he really wanted to attend the conference but Chris had to admit there was something about getting the best of your adversary that just seemed to make the day brighter no matter what other kinds of bullshit you had to put up with. He gave a soft chuckle, the smile on his face widening just a bit with satisfaction.
Reaching the sidewalk, he turned to his right and headed over to where he had parked the shiny red convertible Vin had insisted that they lease at the airport's rental car agency. The younger man had muttered something about fulfilling a childhood dream and looked at him beseechingly with those big expressive blue eyes. Chris had instantly caved in and agreed, although now he had to admit to a certain amount of skepticism about whether or not the car was actually a childhood fantasy of Vin's, seeing as how the grown-up version of Vin Tanner was having such a damned fine time driving it!
And it was the grown-up version of Vin Tanner who was leaning casually against the side of the car, one leg crossed negligently over the other at the ankle. His posture was relaxed, his head bowed as he apparently examined something in his hands. Dressed in a pair of snug-fitting faded denims and an oversized red wool sweater, curling long brown hair framing the sides of his handsome face, Vin looked more like a model on the cover of GQ magazine than a highly trained ATF agent.
Chris found his gaze irresistibly drawn to the length of Vin's legs beneath the old pair of jeans he wore, his minds eye conjuring up images of those same legs wrapped around his waist earlier that morning. Vin had woken him up early, obviously in a playful mood and things had taken their usual course from there. Chris figured that the hotel's housekeeping staff was probably more than just a bit mystified as to how the bedside lamp got busted. And just the sight of the younger man's legs and the memory of their playful romp that morning was enough to make Chris feel like his pants were suddenly about two sizes too small.
Vin looked up as he approached and Chris could see that he had that damned pocketknife out again. He was picking at his fingernails with it. It was an irritating habit that Chris had finally given up bugging him about, trying instead to make his point by being a bit more obvious and buying Vin a fancy manicure kit. He shook his head ruefully and sighed as he realized that there were just some things that you couldn't change. Vin had never even opened the set. It was still sitting on the counter in his kitchen where Vin had tossed it.just before giving Chris a whole new appreciation for the things you could do with pancake syrup. He grinned at the memory and was thankful once again that he somehow hadn't burned his butt on the hot stove.
"How'd it go?" Vin snapped the pocketknife closed and shoved it into the front pocket of his jeans. He knew Chris hated it when he used his knife like that and he really did appreciate the kit the older man had bought for him. Vin would have been happy to use it too.if he didn't enjoy bugging Chris so much. He loved the little grimace of irritation that would cross the man's face every time he caught Vin with his knife out. It was fun to watch the muscle twitch in Chris's lower jaw and see how long his lover could go before he just had to say something about his "unsanitary" habit. Besides, if he had used the kit, then Vin reckoned he never would have found out just how much Chris loved pancake syrup!
"Not too bad." Chris answered Vin's question with a noncommittal shrug of his shoulders. A couple of the higher ups had come to the gun range that morning and "respectfully requested" Chris's attendance at a meeting in the directors office. Vin had insisted on coming along for moral support. In truth, he'd been worried about the possible repercussions from the fight between Chris and Rick Darden two mornings ago and hadn't wanted to let the older man face the consequences alone. Whatever happened to Chris affected him as well and he was determined to be there for him no matter what.
Chris didn't seem inclined to elaborate any further than that. He just continued walking around to the driver's side of the car and opened the convertible's door. Lowering his tall frame, he eased himself down into the seat, a small grimace of discomfort crossing his features as he slid across the smooth leather. Vin had gotten a little carried away that morning and Chris had the sore ass to prove it!
Taking his cue from the senior agent, Vin straightened away from the car and went around to the passenger side door. Opening it, he was in the process of getting in when he noticed the slight frown that appeared on Chris's face. Instantly realizing the cause for it, Vin blushed with embarrassment and quickly sank down into the seat as he muttered a soft apology. "Sorry `bout that, Chris."
The apology would have worked too.if both men hadn't started laughing softly, loving blue eyes meeting amused green ones across the span of the car seat. "Just wait, pard," Chris growled threateningly. "Your turn's coming!"
If anything, the flush of red color highlighting Vin's face deepened as he shot back, "Countin' on it, Cowboy. Countin' on it!"
They fell silent as Chris started the car and easily maneuvered it out into the flow of traffic. It was a beautiful spring day, the temperatures slightly on the cool side and the sun shining down from a cloudless blue sky. Vin had put the convertible's top down earlier and they drove along the freeway at a moderate pace, content to relax in each other's company and soak up a few bright rays. The wind whipped the long golden brown strands of hair in a flurry about Vin's face but he didn't really seem to mind. He was riding in a fancy car on a gorgeous spring day, the sun falling warmly on his face and the man he loved more than life itself sitting across from him. Life was good. Life was perfect. He was content.
But there was still that little itch that needed to be satisfied.
"So what'd they say in there?" Vin had to raise his voice a bit to be heard over the noise of the commuter traffic and the wind rushing past his face.
Chris allowed himself a small private smile at the obvious evidence of Vin's insatiable curiosity before he answered. "Not a whole lot. Mostly just policy `n code of conduct review."
"You get suspended `r fined `r something?" He'd been particularly worried about this possibility, knowing how volatile Chris's temper could be and suspecting that if the older man didn't keep a lid on it, then they were both going to be out looking for jobs.
"Nope."
Aw hell! Vin nearly groaned out loud. Chris was gonna make him drag it out of him, piece by piece. This was worse than a trip to the dentist. "How come?"
"Darden took full responsibility for everything." Chris tried his best not to look smug when he uttered that sentence but at the moment, it was just a bit difficult not to gloat.
Vin was stunned. Of all the possible outcomes that he had played over and over again in his mind, Rick Darden backing down and admitting his guilt was definitely not one of them. Especially not considering what he knew about the man from his past dealings with him. Something just didn't sound right here. Vin looked suspiciously over at Chris, the long elegant fingers steady on the steering wheel while his intelligent green eyes hid behind a pair of dark shades. That inscrutable mask was in place once again and Vin's keen senses told him that there was more to the story than Chris was letting on.
"So what'd ya do to `im?" He knew he'd been right when Chris's mouth opened and he saw the ready denial forming on the other man's lips. "Save it, Larabee!" Vin warned in a near growl. "I know ya better than that so don't even bother tryin' ta deny it."
Chris allowed a wide grin to cover his face before he let loose with an amused chuckle. "Didn't do nothing to him, Vin.honest!" He risked a quick glance over at the younger man and could tell from the tight line about his mouth that Vin wasn't buying it. "All we did was sit there and talk. We had everything all worked out before the meeting even started. It was very.pleasant!" Chris could feel his nose twitching as he tried hard not to laugh.
Vin bit down on his lower lip to keep from groaning with frustration. But his voice was calm and level as he asked, "And jes what'd ya talk about whilst you was sittin' there waiting?"
Larabee shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "Oh, this `n that. Not anything of much importance. Asked him how the wife and kids were.how they liked their new house.whether or not he'd seen Terry Farrell lately.just stuff like that."
It didn't sound like a conversation of earth-shattering importance.so why was there something nagging at the back of Vin's brain? Why was there this little voice telling him that he was missing an important clue somewhere? Dammit, Tanner! Think! And then suddenly he had it. "Who's Terry Farrell?"
"Just a former classmate of ours.Rick `n Terry used to be close," Chris responded off-handedly as he turned his head and signaled for a lane change, astutely avoiding his lover's irritated gaze.
Vin suddenly felt like banging his head back against the seat rest. If Chris was trying to drive him crazy, then the older man was succeeding beyond his wildest dreams. It was a bit like trying to watch a tennis match and nobody would tell him what the damned rules were! Stick with the facts, Tanner! Go with what ya already know! It was sound advice and had worked for him many times before. Sighing with frustration, he decided to give it his best shot.
"So lemme get this straight," Vin began, pleased that his voice sounded at least halfway normal. "You `n Rick talked `bout nothin' really important. Ya asked after his wife `n kids `n some classmate ya both used ta know `n because of all that, he went in `n took the fall?"
"Something like that." Chris gave another casual shrug of his shoulders as he nodded his head.
Now Vin felt like banging Chris's head back against the seat rest. Anything to knock something loose in that thick skull of Larabee's so that he'd finally start making sense! That really must have been one helluva talk he'd had with Darden if Chris could somehow bully the man by asking after his wife, his kids and another woman.Aw hell!
Vin turned his head to stare at Chris in disbelief. "Are you tryin' ta tell me that Darden backed off jes because his wife don't know `bout that Farrell woman?"
"Who said Terry Farrell was a woman?"
Stunned silence followed Chris's question as he handled the car smoothly down the exit ramp leading to their hotel. He risked a glance over at Vin, his amused gaze taking in the silent opening and closing of the sharpshooter's mouth before astonished blue eyes looked over to meet his shaded green ones. A wide grin split the lower portion of Chris's face, laughter rumbling up from deep inside his chest as understanding dawned in the younger man's eyes. Vin suddenly began to laugh as well. The two agents were still laughing when Chris pulled the convertible into the hotel parking lot.
Turning off the engine after he parked the car, Chris decided to let Vin off the hook and tell him about the rest of the meeting. "Yeah, Darden went in `n took full responsibility for everything. I couldn't hardly get a word in edgewise. Murphy suspended him without pay for six months."
"What about you, Chris?" Vin asked softly, a small frown of worry wrinkling his brow. "Didn't they say nothin' `bout that broken nose ya gave him?"
"Other than the fact that he deserved it?" Both men chuckled softly before Chris continued, "Well, let's just say that as penance, I get to teach the course next year."
Vin couldn't quite contain his laughter at the grimace of disgust on Chris Larabee's face. Because making the Team 7 leader teach the hand-to-hand combat course the following year was certainly a fitting punishment, but the question was.punishment for whom? Easing out of the car, both agents turned to walk to the front door of the hotel leading into the lobby. Vin, however, still had one final question that he wanted answered.
"So is that why Darden don't like ya? Cuz ya know `bout him `n this Farrell fella?"
Pausing with one hand on the lobby door, Chris turned and grinned at the younger man. "Nope, he's just pissed cuz I turned him down." When Vin just stood there staring at him with a dumbfounded expression on his face, Chris finally took pity on his lover. "Aw hell, Vin! Darden's been trying to get in my pants for years."
Opening the door, he used a firm hand on Vin's arm to usher him inside. "I told him I was saving myself for Mr. Right!"
Epilogue
Chris Larabee's naked body lay sprawled diagonally across the bed in his hotel suite, a white sheet thrown casually across his hips and buttocks. He lay face down, unmoving save for his deep slow breathing, an arm and shoulder hanging off of one side while his feet dangled off the other. He was exhausted, locked deep in the arms of peaceful slumber.completely dead to the world around him.He never heard the soft opening and closing of a door or the rustle of a plastic bag. He didn't hear soft padded footsteps making their way across plush carpet and into the bedroom.or nimble fingers quickly removing a cotton T-shirt before letting it fall carelessly to the floor. He never heard the soft husky voice calling out his name. "Chris?.Chris, you awake?"
Vin Tanner stood gazing down at the handsome man lying crosswise on the sheets, admiring once again the long smooth line of flesh, bone and sculpted muscle. Chris's head was turned slightly towards him, his face pressed deep against the mattress, mouth open a bit as his lips moved ever so slightly with the flow of his breath. Strands of short blond hair stood up in spikes scattered all over the top of his head, an artful disarray that only added to his rugged appeal.
It was obvious that Chris lay bare beneath the sheets and that was just fine with the younger ATF agent since that was precisely how he had left his lover just a few short minutes before. Vin had gone to run an errand.just a quick one.with the generous help of some well-meaning friends. He had hoped that Chris would continue to sleep while he was gone and he wasn't at all disappointed to find the other man exactly as he had left him.
Vin knew that Chris was exhausted but he had a surprise for him.a surprise that he desperately wanted and needed to share. Leaning down next to his lover's ear, he whispered, "Chris?.Chris?"
There was not even a flicker of response from the blond headed man stretched enticingly across the mattress. Deciding to try a different tactic, Vin walked around to where Chris's feet lay hanging off the side of the bed. Reaching out with a finger, he trailed it down the length of one hair-roughened calf before circling his hand around a slender ankle. Getting down on his knees, Vin leaned over and covered the arch of Chris's foot with his open mouth, biting and suckling the tender flesh before licking it roughly with his tongue.
That got a response!
Forcefully jerking his foot away, Chris gave a loud groan and promptly rolled over onto his back, one arm swinging up to cover his face while he tangled himself even further in the sheets. Vin took advantage of the opportunity to crawl on top of Chris and straddle him before easing down and sitting gently on Chris's exposed abdomen. But Chris's eyes were still firmly closed, refusing to acknowledge the world outside his haven of rest, in spite of the weight that settled over him. And Vin wanted him to wake up.
Putting one hand on Chris's chest, Vin shook him lightly. "Chris, you awake yet?"
"No," came the softly grumbled reply.
A brief smile of amusement flashed across Vin's features as he continued to pester Chris. "Brought ya something, Cowboy! Better open them eyes o' yers if'n ya wanna see yer present."
Ever so slowly, one bleary green eye opened and peered at the younger man from underneath the arm covering Chris's face. One glance told his exhausted brain that Vin was sitting on top of him wearing only a pair of low-slung denims that left absolutely nothing to the imagination and exposed a good deal of dark curling hair trailing down from his navel that disappeared beneath the waistband of his pants. In his hand, Vin held another plastic bottle of "liniment." Aw hell!
Vin's blue eyes sparkled wickedly at him as he said, "Buck tole me where ta get it so I went `n got us some more while you was sleeping. Same stuff with the fancy French name `n everything!"
Chris choked back a groan of dismay. He really hated to spoil Vin's "surprise" party but right now he was just too damned exhausted to play with that stuff anymore. He was on the verge of telling him so when something his young lover said caught his attention.
"Didja know that Ezra speaks French?" Vin was already eagerly opening the new bottle. "I got ta wonderin' what the reg'lar name fer this stuff was `n so I went `n asked him. You ain't gonna believe what he tole me!"
Hell, Chris couldn't even believe that Vin had asked him. "Said it's pernounced Mortelle Arme. ain't that purty sounding?" The younger man was already rubbing more of the lotion between his palms. ".an' in English, Ez said that means Lethal Weapon."
Chris did groan loudly then and reached out with one hand to snag a pillow from the headboard. Dragging it over his face, he pulled it tight against him and made a mental note to shoot not only Buck Wilmington but Ezra Standish as well. Hell, Chris mused as he gave a brief snort of humorless laughter, at this rate it was gonna be a race to see what he ran out of first.agents, bullets or endurance.
Vin Tanner was left staring down at the pillow covering his lover's face with a very confused expression on his features.
"Chris?"
THE END
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