Recipe For Love Page 3

  Jack grabbed his wallet. "How much do I owe you?"

  "A lift back to the bakery and the pleasure of your company for a little longer."

  "The pleasure? Right." Jack snorted, but grinned. "Come on, man. I'm happy to give you a ride."

  "Cool. Thanks." It would do for a start. Once they were there, Dan was sure he could convince Jack to join him for a nightcap or something. And then... Well, they'd see if fate could give Jack the break he so clearly needed.

  Chapter 2

  Jack headed for the bakery to drop Dan off. Jesus, the man was something else. A real Pollyanna. A hot, stacked Pollyanna.

  Fuck.

  Dan pointed to the right when it came time to turn off. "There's a little alleyway there where you can park your car off the street. See?"

  "Yeah. Yeah, I got you." He slipped the car into the alleyway, put her in neutral.

  "Come on in. There's cake. And cookies. And while I've got a little TV, there really isn't all that much to do in there. Take pity on me, okay?"

  "I... Sure. Sure, my other option is unpacking." He winked to take the edge off the words. He wasn't sure he'd even bother doing that for a few weeks, see if Rache needed him to get a bigger place first.

  "Come on, then." Dan climbed out, giving him a nice view of the man's ass.

  He threw her in park, killed the ignition, locked up, and headed out, following.

  It was warm in the bakery and smelled good. "I've got a back room."

  "I'd hope so. Sleeping in the ovens would be awkward."

  Dan laughed, the sound deep, good. He him to a little room tucked in a corner.

  Jack checked his phone again to make sure Rache didn't need him.

  "Hey, man. Relax, okay?" Dan took the phone from his hand.

  "I'm trying. I just worry about her."

  "She's safe at my place with her fiancé. She's going to be just fine 'til tomorrow."

  He nodded, but his heart wasn't in it. He'd just given his daughter permission to sleep with a boy.

  "Come on. Cake and bourbon." The glasses came out, along with a bottle and Dan went into the kitchen. "What's your favorite?"

  "Favorite what?"

  "Cake, cookie, or pie."

  "Uh. I like crunchy stuff, I guess. Pecan pie."

  "Then you're in luck, because I make the best pecan pie in town." Dan came back in carrying a pie, as well as a plate of other goodies. "Assorted brittles. I make them all here."

  "You're a busy guy." He stole a bite of pecan brittle, moaning over the sweet. He noticed Dan was staring at him as he finished the brittle, the sugar melting away in his mouth. "It's good."

  "There's a reason they're lined up the block at seven A.M."

  "I bet you keep weird hours, huh?"

  "Shit yeah. Depending on the day I'm in here anywhere from three to five A.M. I close the shop at four on weekdays, though, and three on the weekends. I'm usually pretty much sold out by then."

  Dan cut him a generous piece of pie and passed it over on a fancy little china plate. "We use these for tastings on wedding cakes. Which would be a special order, and why I'm sometimes in here at all hours doing extra baking."

  Jack wasn't sure which smelled better--Dan or his pie. "Keeps you in business, I guess. Thanks."

  "It does." Dan cut himself a piece and sat next to Jack. "Go on and eat it--it's almost as good as a blowjob."

  One of his eyebrows arched so high his cheek ached. "Now, that would have to be a miraculous piece of pie." Because even a bad blowjob was better than pie.

  "I tell you what. We'll compare. Eat the pie and then I'll give you a blowjob." Dan's color was high, but his gaze didn't waver.

  Jack's fork clattered onto the table. Wait? What?

  Dan licked his lips. "Marco told me Chris wasn't a girl, so I know you swing both ways." The longer he didn't say anything, the less sure Dan looked, though.

  "No. No, not anymore. Now I only swing one way." He couldn't stop looking at those lips.

  "I've only ever swung one way. So, eat my pie and fuck my lips and tell me that Dan doesn't have the best pie and blowjobs you've ever had."

  "Am I awake?" Jack took a bite of pie.

  Dan blinked at him. "I offer you two feel-good things and you need me to pinch you to make sure you're awake? You need some happy in your life, man."

  "No shit on that." God, that was good pie--crunchy and rich and sweet.

  Dan gave him a knowing smile. "You like my pie."

  "It's not bad." He took another bite. "It's no blowjob, but it's not bad."

  "Patience, man. I need to wet my whistle before I make you pop yours."

  One of Jack's eyebrows went up. "If you need to get drunk to go down on me, dude, don't stress it. I'm not into pity fucks, no matter what Marco thinks." He was hard up, but not that hard up.

  "What? I'm not drunk, man, or getting that way. You're a sexy fucker and I've been wanting a piece of you since before I knew you were available."

  "I meant..." He blushed, sighed. "Christ. Maybe this is a stupid idea."

  Dan laughed. "Relax, man. We've got all night, huh? We can find a game on the idiot box and see what comes up."

  He stared at Dan, then cracked up. Damn, that was clever.

  The man grinned at him. "See? We're already more in the mood."

  Jack relaxed. "So, I assume you're out of the closet?" God knew he was. With a vengeance.

  "Shit yes. I'm not fond of the dark."

  "Me either." He offered Dan another smile. "If this creepy fucker named Chris Popper comes on to you, run."

  Dan snorted. "Yeah, I hear he has a gun and steals all your shit."

  "Yeah. He's a cop." He sighed. "It burns a little, man. I swear."

  "Can't you bring him up on charges or something? Sue him for your stuff? I don't know, something?"

  "Right. Hey, judge. My fuck buddy--my queer fudgepacking cop fuck buddy--has my stuff. Help me?" He'd end up clientless and in fucking jail.

  "So let's go get your shit."

  He blinked over. "What?"

  "If he just took it, we'll just take it back. It's yours, right?"

  "Fuck, yeah." He looked at Dan, impressed. It wasn't every day you met a guy who offered to blow you, give your daughter a place to sleep, and steal your shit back from your ex. Your penal-type ex.

  "We'll need something bigger than that sweet little Mustang of yours."

  "I can't help you there." The crazy fucker was serious.

  "I've got a van I use for deliveries. You tell me when and where and I'll meet you there."

  "You're serious?" He reached out before he thought about it, almost touched Dan's hand.

  "You want your stuff, right? Of course I'm serious."

  "He's on duty tonight. How's now work for you?"

  Dan blinked and then nodded. He stood. "The van's in the lot up the road. I only need it for big weddings and shit."

  "Let's go. Hell, we pull this off, I owe you the blowjob."

  "You're on." Dan laughed and led him back out, locking the door behind them before walking toward the other end of the alley to where they'd come in.

  They were going to do this.

  Really.

  Jesus.

  He hadn't had this much fun in decades.

  * * * *

  Dan pumped his fists in the air in triumph as they stopped at a red light and laughed. "We did it!"

  God, the adrenaline was just pumping through him, the near miss at being caught having spiked it hard just as they finished up. He turned to Jack and grinned, then stepped on the gas and peeled through the intersection as the light changed.

  Jack looked at him, eyes alight, face animated. "Jesus. We did it. We got my stuff back."

  "We sure did." Dan grinned. Fuck, but the man was something when he smiled like that. Dan had lusted after him earlier, now he wanted him, big time.

  "You're fucking amazing."

  "I'm glad you think so." Because the minute he had Jack alone and not in a car, he w
anted to fuck the man against the closest wall. "So where are we going?"

  "My apartment, I guess. I'm still in boxes."

  He grinned. "I figured your apartment. I need to know where that is."

  "Oh. Duh." Jack smiled over at him, the expression fucking hot.

  He pointed to one of those anonymous apartment complexes where no one knew anyone.

  They pulled the van up to the door and started unloading. Dan laughed. "I'm glad we got your stuff back from the asshole ex, man."

  "God, me too." Jack grinned at him, bumped his shoulder.

  "I'll bet. You can thank me properly once we've got your stuff unloaded."

  The apartment was tiny, with boxes stacked everywhere. Christ. The house Jack'd been in before had been good-sized, borderline McMansion.

  "Man, this must be a hard adjustment."

  "It's just the only thing I could find on short notice. I'm looking for a house."

  Dan nodded. He had a hunch that what the kids decided they were going to do would make a difference. He had enough room for them to stay with him, but so did Annie. His place was a bit bigger, but she was Billy's mom. Of course she might decide she wanted to play grandma from a little more afar than that. And Rachel could decide she wanted to live with her daddy. Or the kids could decide to go it on their own.

  God, how fucking complicated.

  He shook his head. Tonight wasn't complicated, though. Tonight they'd gotten Jack's shit back and now they were going to celebrate that fact.

  They got the last load up, then Jack locked the door behind them.

  "Ta-da! I gotta say, Jack, you sure do know how to get a man's adrenaline pumping."

  "I have to ask you, man, what's your position on kissing?"

  "I have to have a position? I can't just lay one on you?" He didn't want to talk about it--he wanted to do it.

  "That's position enough." Jack stepped forward and brought their lips together. Oh, fuck. He hadn't realized it, but he'd been waiting for this kiss since he'd first met Jack.

  The man's lips were warm, soft, and when he opened his own mouth, Jack's tongue slipped in. The kiss was deep, slow, not pushy, but intense. He just kept opening up, letting Jack in as deep as he wanted. He tasted of brandy and beer and pecans.

  Jack stepped closer, brought their bodies together. Dan groaned, looping his arms around Jack's neck. Oh. Oh, wow.

  One hand cupped the back of his head and Jack's tongue fucked his lips, sweet and hot, all at once. His cock started aching, wanting to push into those lips. He threaded the fingers of one hand through Jack's hair and sucked on his tongue. Fuck, he'd never gotten so hot so fast for a man.

  He pushed himself against Jack, just barely restraining himself from humping the man's thigh.

  "Yeah..." Jack's forehead rested against his. "Damn."

  "What's your position on getting horizontal?"

  "I have the bed set up. It's not made."

  "We would just rip the covers off it if it was made, right?"

  "Fuck yes." God, that grin went straight to his balls.

  "Show me the way." Though he imagined, given how small the place was, he'd be able to find it on his own.

  Jack took his hand and led him through the maze of boxes. The long fingers squeezed his, felt good, right, and then they were there, in Jack's bedroom. With the bed, and it looked good. Jack kicked off his shoes, then reached out and pulled Dan close.

  Dan went, hands sliding around to grab Jack's head and tilt it so their kisses could go deeper. A low moan escaped him as Jack's tongue pushed into his mouth. Their tongues slipped and slid, Jack exploring him, then giving him a chance to play.

  He licked his way into Jack's mouth in return, tasting that lovely blend of flavors there, searching through them to find the taste of Jack himself. They sat, him straddling Jack's thighs as the kiss went on and on.

  The man was a great kisser. It made him want to keep doing it. It made him want to do other stuff, too, so he grabbed Jack's shirt and tugged it up so he could have skin.

  Jack was lean and pale, his little nipples a light brown. Dan reached for them. He got a soft chuckle for that, Jack working his belt buckle open in response. He slid his thumbs over the little nubs, even as he sucked in, giving Jack room to work on his jeans.

  Jack fumbled some--which made him happy, to be honest. He didn't want to just be another fuck. At least he didn't think he did. He ran his hands over Jack's chest, loving the silky skin, the faint blond hairs tickling his palms. His zipper opened, those fingers measuring the length of his cock through his briefs, and he groaned and pushed forward with his hips, encouraging a stronger touch.

  Jack nodded, fingers sliding again, dragging along the outline of his cock.

  "Fuck. Yes." He bucked. Man it had been too long since he'd been touched.

  "Feel that. So fucking hard for me."

  "I am. Sexy motherfucker."

  Jack chuckled. "That's me. I want to see."

  "Yeah? You gonna make it worth my while to get naked?" Like he had any doubt of that. He slid off Jack's legs and stood, taking off his shirt and jeans.

  Jack did the same, stripping down and exposing a body that was every bit as good as he'd hoped it would be. Giving a happy little moan, Dan stepped forward, reaching to touch.

  Of course, he stumbled over his pants, went crashing down, and slammed into Jack. Both of them grunted at the impact before cracking up.

  When he finally stopped laughing, he was lying on top of Jack on the mattress, the man's eyes right there.

  "Hey." Jack rubbed their noses together.

  "Hey." He rubbed the rest of them together, groaning as their pricks slid along each other.

  Fuck, Jack was like a furnace under him and the heat made him slide again. Moaning, he took Jack's mouth, took a kiss that set him on fire. One of Jack's hands landed on his ass, started moving him steadily, rocking them together. Oh yeah, that felt good, like something he could come on.

  He liked how Jack kept up the eye contact, kept proving that the man knew who he was with.

  Jack's tongue pushed into his mouth again, and he grabbed hold, sucked hard on it. He liked that grunt, that sigh, that moan.

  Letting go, he pushed his tongue into Jack's mouth, tongue-fucking it, holding Jack's gaze. He could see how much Jack needed, see the way his pupils dilated, so he rocked harder, pressing his hips down against Jack, wanting to make the man shoot almost as badly as he wanted to get off himself.

  "Hot son of a bitch." Jack groaned the words. He was glad Jack thought so, because the feeling was mutual. "Blowjob. Promised you one."

  "Later? This is good now." Dan wanted Jack to come, too. He wanted to watch the man's face as his climax hit.

  "Deal. It's a deal."

  "Oh, good." Dan leaned down to take Jack's mouth again, diving right in.

  Jack got them moving again, rocking nice and hard.

  "Oh, fuck yes." He moaned, pushing Jack into the mattress. Jack spread, and that tiny little motion made their cocks press harder, slide better. "Oh, yeah. Yeah."

  Jack gasped, nodded, mouth moving like he was trying to talk.

  "Just fucking come. Nothing else matters." Right now all that counted was how fast they could make each other come.

  He felt the heat spread over his belly, Jack jerking underneath him. Dan watched the man's face as Jack exploded, pleasure making his eyes darken.

  "You. You next. Fuck, that was good."

  "Uh-huh. Yeah." He nodded and moved, sliding a few times along Jack's body before coming.

  Jack kept touching him through the aftershocks, through the whole thing. He let his forehead rest against Jack's shoulder, trying to catch his breath, shivering with sweet aftershocks.

  "Damn." Jack chuckled. "That wasn't half bad."

  "It was a lot better than half bad!" He bit at Jack's collarbone.

  Jack laughed again, body shaking under his. "Ticklish!"

  Laughing himself, he dug his fingers into Jack's sides. br />
  "Bastard!" They rolled together, both pushing and tickling and laughing.

  They wound up near the top end of Jack's bed, legs all twisted together, the laughter slowly fading. Dan leaned in and pressed their mouths together, their lips sliding.

  "Are you real, man?" Jack's gaze was warm.

  He pinched Jack's skin near his elbow. "Real enough for you?"

  Jack snorted, nodded. "Real enough. You want a beer?"

  "Yeah, a beer sounds good. Watching your ass get up to get it sounds even better." Now that he knew he could look openly, he was doing it a lot.

  "Flattery will get you blown."

  "Then let me flatter you some more."

  Jack snorted and rolled up, letting Dab look at the fine ass as it went into the little kitchen. Jesus, this place was teeny. He'd always considered his house small, but compared to this place it was a palace.

  He leaned up on one elbow. "I should have brought some cookies or something with us."

  "I've got some chips. They go with beer."

  "Sounds good. As long as you don't mind crumbs in bed." Of course he'd offer to lick any off Jack if needed.

  "We'll brush them off."

  "Sure." Jack looked just as good coming back as he had going.

  A cold brew was slid up his arm. "One for you."

  He jerked a bit and laughed, taking the beer. "Thanks, man."

  Jack nodded, popped the top on his own. "What a weird twenty-four, man."

  "Yeah, I'll bet. Hell, it sounds like it's been quite the week or two for you." He took a mouthful of his own beer and then waggled his eyebrows. "It's looking up now, right?"

  He got a surprised look. "Yeah. Yeah, it really is."

  "There you go." He had some more beer and shifted to sit closer to Jack, enjoying the warmth of the man's body. Not to mention the view. Jack looked good naked, easy in his skin, which Dan liked.

  Jack rolled his shoulders, shook his head. "A month ago, my whole life was different. I'm damn glad, though, that all this happened after I moved out."

  "So as bad as it was, it worked out in the end, eh?" Dan liked to think things usually did. Even the bad stuff cleared a path for something new.