Page 21 of Bears of Firefly Valley: The Reasons Collection (Bears of Firefly Valley Boxed Sets #1)

“Can’t kiss and tell. I respect that.” He gave me a wink. I don’t think I’d ever be able to play poker with him in the park again. I’d be just shy of giggling as they probed for information.

I dropped a ten on the counter. “What’s the cause this month?”

“Uniforms for the band kids.” I had never been a band geek, but I respected them. They were in every event on the green. If we had a parade, those band kids were front and center. For that cause, I dropped another ten on the table.

“He doesn’t know what he’s in store for,” Walter said as he pointed to Simon. “If he survives this, I say he’s a keeper.”

He doled out a stack of Bingo cards. I didn’t argue when he slipped me a few extras. Everybody knew with enough sweet talking, Walter would let you play for free. The first time is free, he’d say as if he were a geriatric peddling drugs.

As I returned to my chair, Simon spun about, taking in the scene. Every character in Firefly came out tonight. If he could endure a night of Bingo shenanigans, he’d survive the small-town life.

When I plopped down, splitting the cards between us, he leaned in. “Does that woman have an urn?”

I didn’t need to turn. “Patricia swears her dog bends the laws of space and time to give her an edge. At least it’s not the urn with her husband.”

“I would say you’re joking?—”

“And you’d be wrong,” I said. “You’ll get used to the weird. Eventually, nothing surprises you.”

“And I thought cities had a monopoly on weird shit.”

“They don’t even—” When I turned, I spotted the open button on his shirt.

Had I missed it before? Or had he unhooked another while I grabbed the cards?

The split between the fabric allowed a glimpse of the white patch on his chest. I was saying something, but I’d be damned if I could remember what.

Right now, I wanted to feel that soft tuft of hair against my cheek.

“If you keep staring, I’ll button up to the collar.”

I nodded. “You might have to.”

The lights flashed twice as the announcer called for people to take their seats. Chairs scraped against the floor as they sat down and started their good luck rituals. I reached into my pocket and pulled out two Bingo stamps.

“We can’t have you using a pen like a virgin.” I held up the blue and purple blotters. “Choose your color, good sir.”

He grabbed the purple from my hand. “And I think we’ve established there’s nothing virgin about me,” he whispered. We had, but I think it was time to check again… for accuracy.

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. I was about to say the evening was on me when he pulled out a pressed four-leaf clover and set it on the table.

“Daddy is in it to win.”

If I thought back to that moment in the comic store, I hadn’t expected anything more than an adventurous romp. Simon might be talking about Bingo, but right now, I felt like the winner.

“B 17.”

Simon pressed the blotter on his paper. “Come on, Lady Luck.”

“In your face, Simon.”

Patricia pointed at Simon as if she were challenging him to a wrestling match. If I had to bet, she’d come out the victor. After winning three games in a row, she needed to remind Simon his beginner’s luck had run out. She held up her Bingo card as it confirmed her victory.

“She has Bingo,” Frank announced.

The crowd groaned. Patricia acted as if she spiked a football and followed up with a little dance. She might have won, but at the expense of her humility. People crumpled up their cards, already preparing for the next round. Thankfully, Frank called for intermission.

“It gets heated,” I said. “This way, everybody can go out, have a cigarette and cool off. The second half of the evening is when the gloves come off.”

Simon’s eyes went wide. “This was the warmup? I don’t think I’m ready for the main event.”

We had played for the last hour and a half, and for a while, I thought he might have become Millie’s new arch-nemesis. Thankfully, Patricia would have to face her wrath for the rest of the evening.

We had reached the end of our cards, and unless he wanted to see the dark underbelly of Firefly, it’d be the perfect spot to call it a night and duck out. “I think it’s time we call it a night.”

Simon slid the four-leaf clover into his wallet as he stood up. Sliding it into his back pocket, I couldn’t help but stare at the backside of the bear. I had never considered myself a top, but if he wanted to satisfy a curiosity, I’d gladly step up to the plate.

As we ducked out, I caught Walter’s eye. He winked and made a kissy face. I’m sure I’d be hearing about our premature departure tomorrow. The rumors would range from a standoff between Simon and Patricia to me salivating over him while Frank called the numbers. The second wasn’t far from the truth.

When we got outside, it was the usual suspects.

If this were the city, it’d be the type of gathering you’d expect outside a bar or club.

In good ol’ Firefly, our late-night entertainment always took place at the American Legion.

More amusing was how the attitude changed the moment we exited the building.

“You’re the new guy, right?” Patricia asked.

Simon would hold that title until a new new guy arrived. I couldn’t help but be impressed with how quickly he rolled with it.

“I am indeed. You must be the beauty I hear all the gossip about.”

Patricia’s jaw dropped. It was probably the first time in years somebody called her beautiful and meant it. She stuttered, whatever sharp word lodged in her throat.

“Smooth talker,” Millie said. “Patty, he’s the guy who reopened Sunshine.”

“Come on by, and I’ll make sure you have a meal you’ll never forget.” Simon had charm. Bucket loads. When we left, they’d squawk about him for the rest of the night. “I’ll make the Sheepherder’s breakfast with extra love.”

Before either could reply, the lights flashed.

Whatever compassion they had mustered vanished as their game faces returned.

Millie went for the door, but Patricia beat her to it.

If they escaped the night without bite marks, I’d be shocked.

When everybody had gone inside, I wrapped an arm around Simon’s waist, bumping my hip against his.

“What did you think?”

“I think I am starting to understand this small-town thing. The brochure forgot some of the subtle nuances.”

“You’re winning them over.” By them, I meant me. Simon had won me over. I didn’t want to come off, as Amanda put it, a thirsty ho. “Sorry, you didn’t have more luck tonight.”

Simon looked over his shoulder, inspecting up and down the street. Had he heard something? He glanced at the door where Frank had already started calling numbers for the next game. I was about to ask what had him on high alert when he turned back to me.

“Could still get lucky tonight.”

Oh.

Simon reached up and popped the next button on his flannel. With a shake of the shoulders, it opened enough to see the top of the lightning bolt. He didn’t have to say anything. My imagination had already taken over.

I took him by the hand and dragged him behind me. We passed the dance studio and turned into a gap between the buildings. My childhood had been spent playing hide and seek on these streets. I had discovered every nook and cranny to slip away from prying eyes.

I pulled Simon into a vestibule at the back of the dance studio. Sheltered from prying eyes, I pinned him against the door. My hand ran up the softness of his flannel and when it reached the part in the fabric, I gave him a quick flash of teeth. “Been thinking about this all night.”

“Seems my lucky charm worked.” Lucky for him, or for me?

I kissed his chest before he used a single finger to lift my chin. He kissed my forehead, the tip of my nose, and then my lips. It could be described as chaste, but the slowness and the tender care made it anything but.

“Damn,” I whispered.

“I think you have a phobia about beds.” Funny. Not the first time I had heard that comment.

“Couldn’t get away with this in the city, could you?”

His hand ran down the front of my jeans. There was no way he missed the stiffness of my cock. I sighed as he cupped it, giving it a slight pat. “You mean this?”

I opted for nodding instead of speaking.

We were like teenagers as we groped, eager to touch each other anywhere possible. He put a hand on my chest, turning us about before he pinned me to the door. His other hand undid the button on my jeans before sliding his hand inside.

I couldn’t decide which was hotter, the bear pawing my cock or that a Bingo-goer could walk by at any moment.

The former. Definitely the former. When his fingers wrapped around my shaft, my knees buckled, and I thought I’d slide down the door.

Throwing my arms around his neck, I kept myself upright.

“Somebody’s excited,” he whispered.

He kissed my neck until he reached the soft spot behind my ear. I gasped. His hand didn’t have much room to move. Had I known I’d receive a handjob, I’d have opted for roomier gray sweatpants. They were short motions, barely a flick of the wrist as he jerked me.

“Don’t stop,” I muttered.

He bit my earlobe, holding it between his teeth while he breathed in and out.

It sounded like the roar of an ocean wave as the heat of his breath cascaded across my cheek.

Simon defied any measure of sexy. If I ranked every man I had seen naked, there wouldn’t be any competition.

Simon could get me stiff with a sideways glance.

His lips moved down my jaw until we kissed. I wanted… needed him to know how amazing he was. The thoughts translated in my head, reaching my lips as I kissed with fervor. I moaned while his tongue danced with mine.

“Come for me.” It wasn’t a request.

I nodded, resting my forehead against his. Even with the dim light, I marveled at the intensity in his eyes. Simon was a man on a mission, and who was I to object? He supported my weight as I held on for dear life. My hips thrust into his hand.

We continued like this for another minute, our gaze never breaking.

I bit my lip as the tingling started in my toes.

My body stiffened, and the orgasm pulled my balls tight.

I moaned when he swept in, locking lips to muffle my cries.

He wrapped an arm around my waist, holding me in place as I shivered.

Simon continued milking my cock as I shot.

With the amount of cum unloading in my briefs, I’d be surprised if it didn’t leave a wet spot on my jeans.

The tremors continued as my cock turned sensitive.

It was almost too much, but I wouldn’t tell him to let go.

If he gave me a few minutes, I’d let him go a second round.

“That was hot,” he whispered.

I yelped when he gave my cock a squeeze.

I sucked in my gut as he pulled his hand free.

He locked eyes as he licked his hand. Oh, my.

As he sucked his finger clean, I wanted another round.

Right now. Without haste. Spin me around and rail me.

He could have made any demand, and I’d have nodded in agreement.

“Uh-huh.” It was the best I could manage.

He let me go before reaching down and fastening the button. I was going to ask if it was his turn. By his expression, he had gotten what he wanted. I jumped as he gave my package a light pat. I’d go home tonight and jerk off again, thinking about his face as he manhandled my cock.

“Should we call it a night?” I asked. I feared the answer.

He kissed my forehead. “I’d prefer we didn’t.” Damn. Simon knew exactly how to send the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy. “But one of us has to be up at sunrise to bake the bread.”

I didn’t like it, and apparently, my face didn’t hide my lack of enthusiasm.

“But I’d like to do this again.”

“There are plenty of doorways we have yet?—”

“I was thinking dinner.”

“I don’t know. Looks like somebody got their dessert.”

The smirk. He could try to be innocent, but so far, our get-togethers had mostly ended in fireworks. I wasn’t complaining. As long as I got to see that handsome face, it’d be a perfect evening.

“Yes. I’d love another date, even if our clothes stay on.”

“Whoa. I didn’t say that.” He gave my package another pat. “I’m finding it hard to keep my hands to myself.”

“I’m finding it hard. Period.” I couldn’t help but snort. “Okay, that sounded cheesy, even to me.”

When he wrapped his arms around my torso, squeezing me in a bear hug, I melted. The sex was great and the kissing top-notch. Sometimes, a man needs to be held. Simon’s superpower must be reading my body language. His embrace was exactly what I craved.

A few minutes later, we left the alley holding hands. We had yet to part ways, and already I imagined our next encounter.