Making a Splash Read online

  GOD, HE was tired.

  Two weeks he’d been working with Vince, working at the job, and then last week work had put them all on twenty hours a week of mandatory overtime.

  Austin drove to the pool straight from work, knowing he’d be early, but figuring he could curl up in the bed of the truck under the sun for an hour or so. Well, at least the current schedule meant no errant hard-ons. Shit, he didn’t think he could get it up if he stripped Vince down and slathered him with oil.

  Austin parked and stumbled around to grab the sleeping bag and spread it out. Fifty-five minutes. Cool.

  A warm, solid hand on his shoulder shook him insistently awake sometime later. “Austin? You okay? Austin?”

  “Huh? Oh, yeah. Vince. Hey. Napping real quick. Just got off work. Morning.”

  “I couldn’t wake you for a minute there. I was worried you’d passed out or something. I suppose the sleeping bag should have given it away.”

  “Yeah.” He sat up and stretched before he fell back to sleep. “Needed an hour.”

  Vince grunted, nodded. “You’ve been looking pretty bushed lately. You getting enough sleep?” Vince dug in his pocket, pulled out a power bar, and handed it over.

  “No, but whatcha gonna do?” He got off at nine, started diving at ten, got home around four and went to work at nine again. There wasn’t time for more.

  “Have the Power Bar, see if you like it, if it gives you that energy boost you need.” Vince looked like he was fighting a grin. “And I have an idea or two to help with the sleep issue.”

  “’Kay.” He wandered toward the pool, stumbling a little. “And I bet uppers aren’t allowed.”

  “No, I was thinking more along the lines of you quitting the night job.”

  “I’m not working that much overtime yet. Should be able to get a big-assed paycheck, though. That’ll be cool….”

  “It would be nice to be able to quit, wouldn’t it? Just focus on the diving and get enough sleep that you aren’t taking cat naps in the street?” Vince nodded at the power bar in his hand. “Would you eat the damned thing and tell me if you like it or not?”

  “Oh. Okay. Sorry.” He unwrapped the bar and smelled it. Mmm. Chocolate. He took a bite, pondering, smiling as it didn’t suck, and then inhaled the whole thing.

  Vince snickered. “Now, can you hold the wrapper up and say ‘Power to Go—I don’t dive without it’?”

  “Huh?”

  “The guys who make the bar want to sponsor you. They’ll want pictures of you holding the bar for billboards and stuff. I wanted to make sure you didn’t hate it before you signed.”

  “Yeah? For real? I don’t hate it.” In fact, it didn’t suck at all.

  “Yeah, for real.” Vince looked pleased as punch. “Now, it isn’t enough for you to quit—but it’s enough to pay for the use of the facility here for the rest of the year, your swimming gear, and to get us to a meet or two. Plus all the bars you can eat. And Avian Water wants to see you.

  “I called in a few favors and got your tape in to someone. They flipped and called right away to make an appointment for us. Only drawback is it’s tomorrow at one in Austin. You can sleep while I drive. And these guys will pay serious money, maybe even enough for you to quit and us to make that move to Austin.”

  “For real? Okay. I get off at nine tomorrow.” Enough to quit? Already? No fucking way.

  “Cool. They’re going to want to see you, see if they like you. If you’ve got the kind of look they want to be associated with. And they’ll likely give you a lump sum with an option to sponsor you properly after your first few meets and you’ve proven you can come through.”

  Vince led him into the pool area, then put the small cooler down next to the stands. “Wear something nice, but not a suit—they aren’t looking for a businessman. No smoking. No cussing. Be a charming Southern young man, and they’ll eat you up.”

  Like he owned a suit. “I’ll make sure to bring a can to spit in.” He wasn’t stupid.

  Vince rolled his eyes. “Sorry. I’m just excited. You’ll be fine. Be yourself.” He patted Austin on the back.

  “Yeah. I’ll iron a shirt.” He sighed softly as he slipped out of his jeans. He’d thrown his trunks on at work so he’d be ready. Okay. Ready. Up the ladder. Man, those ladders were tall.

  Vince touched him again, hand sliding over his skin. “You sure you’re okay, Austin?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, sleepy.” Needed to take his shot too. Later. He smiled, leaned toward the touch. “Those twenty hours extra a week are a boogerbear.”

  Vince’s hand was warm as Vince stroked his skin in slow, soothing circles. “You’ve been working hard as hell the last couple of weeks. Maybe you need a day off. We could go get that waxing done.”

  Oh, good Lord and butter. “That’ll hurt, and I’m not letting some stranger see my privates.” Besides, he’d look like a little boy all naked.

  “They’ve got home kits. You want me to do it?” Vince asked, voice casual.

  He shook his head, belly tight. “I’ll look stupid, like a kid.”

  “Is that what’s bothering you about this? Being smooth all over?” Vince gave him a wink. “Feels amazing, Austin. And not a single bit childlike, believe me.”

  His cheeks were blazing and, if he wasn’t careful, his cock would start peeking. “Does it really matter? Really?”

  “Yeah, actually, it does. Everything counts in diving, and you don’t want to lose because the next guy was that much better because of the lack of wind resistance due to waxing.” Vince looked him in the eye. “It’s not done to be some sort of torture or hazing thing. This is a part of this sport, Austin. Like wearing Speedos and making a clean entry.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not letting some stranger see me naked.”

  “I’ve offered to do it myself, Austin. And once I’ve done your arms and legs and chest, you probably would have the gist of it and could do your groin yourself.” Vince’s voice had gone all husky, deep.

  Well, at least it would hurt and he wouldn’t stay hard. “It sounds horrible. Have you done it before?”

  “I have.” Vince shrugged. “I was curious. It hurt like hell to do it, but once it was done? It was surprisingly good.”

  He sighed. “And I don’t really have a choice, huh? I can’t, like, just be better?”

  “Nope. No choice on this one. And no choice on the Speedos.” Vince slid his hand along Austin’s arm. “Trust me, it’s not the end of the world, okay?”

  “Yeah. It feels….” Kinky. Weird. Creepy. Wiggy.

  “You don’t know how it feels yet, kid.” Vince gave him a wink and slapped him on the ass. “Go on if you’re going to dive. And if you’re not, we’ll get out of here and buy us a wax kit or two.”

  “I’ll do a couple of dives. Then we’ll talk about it.” He started climbing, dragging his ass up the ladder. Vince grunted, and he could feel the man’s eyes on him, watching him closely.

  God, he was tired. He got up there, already breathing hard. He set up to do a two and a half, but his body wouldn’t do it, spinning once before he hit the water.

  Vince was right there to help him out of the water, looking concerned. “Austin? You better tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Tired. I’m tired and probably need my shot.”

  Vince hauled him out and put an arm around his waist, then walked him over to the benches and made him sit. “You need to take better care of yourself, Austin. You feel like you can’t do the dive, you tell me; you don’t try it anyway. Where’s your kit?”

  “In the truck, I think.”

  “Can you make it there, or you want to rest here while I get it?” Vince’s eyes were warm, concerned, his hand heavy on Austin’s shoulder.

  “I’m okay. Just tired.”

  “Yeah, well, you need to take a break now and then, Austin. You’ve been working like a dog here and at night.” Vince stood and encouraged him up. “Come on. We’ll get your shot and go to the drugstore and then home.
You can sleep while I drive, and I’ll get you back to your truck before work.”

  He nodded, leaning more than he ought, letting Vince support him.

  Vince slid his arm back around his waist, leaving all their stuff behind. “I’ll come back for it after I get you settled.”

  “I’m okay. Just pooped.” He kept walking, though, didn’t he? Vince grunted tightened his arm a little around Austin.

  They stopped at his truck long enough for him to grab his stuff, and Vince got him up into the passenger seat of Vince’s ride. “I’ll watch you do the shot and then buckle you in, and you can snooze while I grab our gear.” Vince was hovering… taking care of him.

  “I’m okay.” He tested his blood, wincing as the number was way up there. God, he needed to get that under control.

  “Not good, huh?” Vince rubbed his arm. “Come on. Shot. I want to know you got it because I suspect you’ll be out like a light by the time I come back.”

  He drew up a syringe, then put it into his thigh. “I’m sorry.”

  “No apologies, Austin. Take care of yourself—you don’t need to prove anything to me by pushing yourself into the hospital.” Vince squeezed his arm, then reached over him and grabbed a blanket from under the seat. “Here. Stay warm. I won’t be long.”

  “Mm-hmm.” He hummed and cuddled right in, asleep before Vince even shut the truck door.

  Chapter Five

  VINCE MANAGED to collect all their stuff, stop at the drugstore for a couple waxing kits, pick up several breakfast tacos and some hash browns from the drive-through, and make it home all without Austin even stirring. He shook his head. The kid was pushing himself too hard, trying to do everything. He’d be happy when they had sponsorships in place and the kid could give up the job. Diving at this level was job enough.

  He looked over at Austin, smiling as he had a moment to observe without being observed back. He was coming to terms with his attraction to Austin. It was there, and it wasn’t going away. About once a day he talked himself out of making a move, and he jacked off every morning before getting out of bed so he wouldn’t be standing at attention the minute he saw the kid.

  The blond hair was getting long, hanging over Austin’s forehead, and a bony, bare shoulder was begging for a touch. He shook his head at himself and leaned over, shaking the covered shoulder. “Come on, Sleeping Beauty, we’re at my place.”

  Those pretty eyes opened, staring at him. “Yeah? ’Kay. Hey.”

  He smiled. “Hey. I’ve got breakfast.” He grabbed it and the bag with the waxing kits. “Oh, your clothes are here too. You can change inside.”

  “’Kay.” Oh, Christ. Talk about cute. Austin followed him like he held a leash. Man, he’d love to tousle that hair and kiss those lips. He’d bet they were soft and pliant when Austin first woke. Clearing his throat, he let them in and tossed the waxing kits on the couch, put the food on the coffee table, and handed the bag with Austin’s clothes over to him.

  He ignored his hard-on. He was getting good at that.

  Austin pushed his trunks off, then turned and tugged on his jeans. Oh. Pretty ass. And Vince watched it unabashedly until it disappeared. Before Austin turned back, Vince was working on getting out their food, all casual. “I’ll bet you’re hungry.”

  Austin stretched, settled down on the sofa. “A little, yeah.”

  When the kid saw what was on the coffee table, he got a smile. “Breakfast tacos. You remembered.”

  He nodded. “Yeah. I did.” He remembered pretty much everything Austin had told him. Part of it was the job; part of it was that was who he was—a caretaker at heart. “Oh, and there’s iced tea in the fridge.”

  “Thanks. You want a glass too?”

  “Sure.” It was probably a bit early to start on the beer.

  Austin wandered off, and Vince heard the ice clink, the glasses. The whistling. It felt good having another person in the house. Having Austin in the house, and he was looking forward to it being a full-time thing, attraction be damned.

  He worked on his hash browns, licking the salt and grease from his fingers.

  “They good?” Austin put two glasses of tea down, then settled beside him.

  “Yeah, they are. You want some?” He broke off half of one and held it out to Austin.

  Austin nodded, leaned down, and took a bite, lips brushing his fingers. Vince bit his lip to keep from groaning, and swallowed hard. Austin’s lips were soft and warm, and Vince’s hand twitched, fingers wanting nothing more than to trace them.

  “It’s good.” Austin sat back, grabbed a taco, and started eating, humming over the flavors.

  “Yeah.” He watched Austin eat, appreciating the enjoyment on the kid’s face. Lord, he’d love to see pleasure on that face, watch how it changed with orgasm. He forgot about his own food, caught in watching Austin devour his.

  Austin looked up, eyes meeting his straight-on. “You full already?”

  “For food, yeah.” Talk about being caught. He couldn’t have looked away if he’d tried. He didn’t try.

  “I’m too tired to pretend I don’t want you. You’re gonna have to forgive me.”

  “I’m pretty tired of pretending I don’t want you myself.” He took a breath, found himself swaying closer. “This is probably a bad idea,” he said softly, glance shifting between Austin’s lips and those eyes.

  “Yeah. Shitty. C’mere. Kiss me.” Demanding little shit.

  It made him smile, and he was still smiling as their lips pressed together. Oh, fuck. He was in deep shit. He could feel the contact down to his toes. Austin hummed and scooted closer, melting against him.

  He slid his hands down Austin’s bare back, one coming to stop on that pretty jeans-covered ass, the other continuing to stroke along Austin’s spine. He licked at Austin’s lips, wanting in, wanting a proper taste. Spicy. Sharp. Male. Austin tasted good, mouth hot as those lips opened for him. Austin wrapped one of his hands around the back of Vince’s head, holding him, stroking lazy circles in his hair.

  Sexy and hot, soft and hard in all the right places. Vince groaned as he slid his tongue through Austin’s mouth. He stroked Austin’s tongue with his own, fingers playing along Austin’s spine. The man might be a virgin, but he knew how to kiss, knew how to feel it and want it and show appreciation.

  Vince let his eyes close and felt it right back, tangling his tongue with Austin’s now, his breath stolen. He tugged Austin closer, feeling that lean length pressed against him.

  Austin shifted, moving to straddle his thighs, fingers framing his face. “Oh. Hey.”

  “Hey.” He grabbed Austin’s ass with both hands and tugged him in so their pricks rolled together, the two layers of jeans maddening, delicious.

  “Oh. Oh, fuck.” Those eyes went wide, Austin moving faster, pushing against him.

  “Yeah, fuck.” He nodded and worked a hand between them, twisting open the button on Austin’s jeans. “Gets better.”

  “Promise?” Long and hard, Austin was hung.

  “Hell, yes. I promise.” He got Austin’s zipper undone and groaned happily as that heat pushed out into his hand. “Lots better.”

  “Oh. Oh, fuck. Vince.” Austin’s head fell back, throat working, hips jerking and driving that prick into Vince’s palm.

  “Sh. Sh. Hold on a sec. Let me….” He fumbled open his own jeans and brought their pricks together, wrapped one of his hands around them, and started working them together. “There. See?”

  His only answer was a deep groan and the flush working its way up Austin’s flat belly. He leaned forward and grabbed one of Austin’s nipples between his lips, sucking and tugging on it, letting his tongue flick across the tip as his hand kept moving.

  Austin went still, eyes watching him, lips parted. “Oh. Oh sweet fuck. I’m—I’m gonna. I can’t.”

  “That’s the point, baby. Give it to me.”

  He licked his way up, mouth closing over the artery where Austin’s pulse beat like a wild thing. Austin shot hard, hot, s
praying over his hand, his cock, the smell rich and strong and sexy as fuck. Vince moaned, still working them, looking to keep Austin hard—the joys of youth.

  Austin’s fingers were shaking when they joined his, cool and careful as they started moving. He nodded and tried to say something encouraging, but all that came out was another low moan. He took another swipe at Austin’s neck and slid his tongue down to tease at Austin’s left nipple.

  “Mmmhmm. So hot.” Austin squeezed him, worked them both together.

  “So fucking good.” A shudder went through him, and he moved to the other nipple, licking and sucking.

  “Uh-huh. Good. You feel good. Thick. Hot.”

  He nodded. “Yes. Yes.” He slid his hand away, letting Austin take control of their pricks, while he pushed his hands into the back of Austin’s jeans, grabbing a double handful of that sweet ass.

  “Mmm.” Austin rubbed harder, fingers driving him mad.

  “Your fingers feel good, baby. You got more, you know. On that other hand.” He nuzzled at Austin’s lips, nipping at them with his own.

  “Picky, picky.” God, Austin’s eyes were so green, fascinating this close.

  He shook his head. “No. Greedy.” He licked at Austin’s lips, squeezed the firm globes in his hands. “Hungry.”

  Austin cupped his cheek, thumb rubbing his chin. “For more than food, huh?”

  He turned his face, kissing Austin’s palm. “Food’s got nothing to do with it, baby. Nothing at all.”

  Austin leaned forward, nuzzling Vince’s throat, his ear, the hint of stubble rasping at his skin. Groaning, Vince licked at Austin’s palm, tasting the salt and chlorine there. He was panting, hips moving, feeling so fucking good—starting to fly a little. Austin’s teeth grazed his earlobe, then those lips surrounded it, tugging a little. His cock throbbed, his breath catching, fingers digging into Austin’s ass.

  “Good,” he grunted, hips pushing harder, pushing faster, sliding his prick through Austin’s hand, against the amazing heat of Austin’s prick.

  “Yeah. Yeah, Vince. Like that.”

  “Soon, Austin.”

  He found Austin’s lips again, opening Austin’s mouth and tangling their tongues together. Austin nodded, tongue pushing against his, thumb working the tip of his cock. Shit, the kid was as much a natural at this as at the diving. Vince drove his hips up, jerking as he shot, pleasure going through him like a wave.