Page 20 of Rhett (The Swift Brothers #3)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Rhett

W e don’t speak about anything else heavy as we finish getting the ziti ready to go into the oven.

Once it’s baking, Tripp and I sit at the table, each with a beer, and talk. I can’t remember a time I ever talked to anyone as much as I do Tripp. Probably because I never have.

I still can’t believe I shared all that. I feel like I’m a different person with him, like I don’t have all this weight on top of me, or at least, like the load is lighter. And honestly, it feels good to let someone in, to show someone pieces of myself I’ve been too afraid to let anyone else see, and so far, they haven’t chased Tripp away.

“I’m in deep,” he’d said, and while I find that hard to believe, I have to because it’s Tripp. He’s too damn good to lie about something like that.

A little while later, while I’m pulling the ziti out of the oven, he says, “It smells good.”

“I haven’t made it since my mom died. I hope it turned out right.”

“I’m sure it did.” He’s so sure about everything. Tripp walks through life with this confidence that everything will be okay. I’ve never been like that. I’ve always faked it. But when I’m with him, it’s easy to believe that everything will, in fact, be okay.

I scoop a helping onto each plate, then watch as Tripp digs his fork into the pasta—I’m not able to take a bite until he does. Tripp blows on it for a moment, then pushes his fork into his mouth. He gives a deep moan that somehow vibrates inside me, waking up more parts of me that have been asleep for years, maybe forever.

“Fuck, baby. This is good.”

Baby. This isn’t the first time he’s said that tonight. My pulse beats frantically. “You keep calling me that.”

“Does it bother you when I call you that?”

“No,” I admit. “I like it.”

“Good. I like it too. Now take a bite of your food because it’s fucking incredible.”

I have no choice but to smile in response. That’s what Tripp does to me. So I taste the ziti, and can’t help letting out a moan of my own. “Jesus, this is good.”

“Fuck yes, it is.” He takes another bite, and I do the same. It’s such a simple thing, but I feel almost giddy about it all…and wish Mom could be here to taste my ziti. I’m proud that for the first time in too long, I made it.

When we’re finished, Tripp takes the dishes to the sink and begins rinsing them. I have a feeling he’s a little laxer on that when I’m not around, but it means a lot that he tries for me.

I put the ziti away, and before I know it, he’s hooking his finger in my belt loop and tugging me toward him. “So…I’m working on a new storage unit for Meadow’s sewing supplies. Did you want to help me with that?”

I grin. “That’s maybe the best question you could have asked me.”

“Perfect fucking relationship. I have a man who wants to build things with me all night. Want to go out to a romantic dinner? Nope. We’d rather sit in my shop and talk dirty to each other while we…rub wood…?”

I can’t help laughing. “ Rub is definitely a better word than sand .” But then I’m stuck on another word. Relationship. Is that officially what we are? That’s what it feels like, but we talked about taking it slow. He’s got Meadow to worry about, and I’m a fucking mess.

But for tonight at least, or maybe longer, I just want to pretend.

We bundle up and head out to the shop. Tripp’s building her a large unit with drawers and cabinets, and we get busy right away.

Tripp and I work well together. We have from the start. I’ve learned a lot from him too. Everything I’ve done has been on my own, self-taught, but Tripp gives me pointers, helps me figure out better or more efficient ways to do things.

I can’t say I’ve always been good at taking constructive criticism or not being able to do things right the first time, but it feels different with carpentry, and with Tripp, maybe because I’ve never actually wanted anything as much as I want this.

We work for hours, and where this used to be something I liked to do alone, it’s nice to do it with Tripp by my side.

It’s close to midnight when Tripp yawns. “Ready to call it a night?” He must see something on my face because he lets out one of his deep, happy laughs. “Okay, so clearly, you’re not. Are you superhuman? Not require sleep?”

I chuckle at his playfulness. It’s one of my favorite things about Tripp. “We can go in.” My gaze lands on his mouth, the same mouth that had been on my dick not that long ago, the mouth that feels so good against mine.

Heat stirs in my groin. I want him again, want all of him and to feel this need that burns through me and makes me crave more.

Tonight has been perfect.

Tripp is perfect.

So many things that should matter don’t matter with him. Or maybe what I mean is, more things make sense with Tripp. I let myself see more parts of myself, like my bisexuality and this newly discovered fervent desire.

“I want to go in,” I amend, walking over to him. The way his pupils flare tells me he knows I want him, but Tripp just leans against the counter and waits for me to make the first move. “I want…” I place my hand on his stomach, feel the heat of his body through his shirt, the definition of each muscle.

“What do you want, baby?”

That. I want to hear him call me that again and again…but that’s not all. Does Tripp fuck men? Does he let them fuck him? Would I want Tripp to fuck me? I’m not sure that’s something I’m interested in, at least not now.

But when my eyes find his mouth again, I realize it’s not fucking that I specifically need, just more of him, of his touch, of the unexpected pleasure I’ve found in him, pleasure I’ve never known before.

“You. I want you.”

“I want you too.” Tripp grabs my hand. “Come on. I’m taking you to my bed this time.”

We get our coats and hurry along the snowy walkway to the house. The second we’re inside and down to our shirts and jeans, Tripp’s mouth crushes on mine again.

We kiss as we stumble to his bedroom, Tripp tasting me before giving me the chance to taste him again too. Jesus, I love kissing him, love the feel of his rough scruff, how hungry he seems for me each time we touch. I never knew what it felt like to be wanted before Tripp, not really, and I definitely never knew what it was like to truly want someone until him either.

Tripp pulls back, and I rip his shirt over his head. He grins, and then I’m tugging out of mine too, and we’re on each other again. I sink into the feel of his muscles against mine, hard body for hard body, hairy chest for hairy chest. I swear I could get drunk off the feeling.

“Do you want to fuck me?” Tripp asks, his lips traveling down my neck.

Hell yes. I’ve been thinking about it just before, but it feels like there’s no going back from there. I guess there’s no going back from anything, not really, and I don’t want to go back, but…

“We don’t have to. I like what we’ve been doing. But if you want to, you can. I’d like to share that with you.” He nips at my needy skin, and I groan.

“Yes. Fuck yes. I’ve never done it before, but I want to.”

“Okay. I’ll go freshen up. Get naked and on the bed. If you change your mind at any point, just tell me, and I’ll blow you instead.” He winks, always so playful and easygoing. I’ve never been that way, but I’m softening around the edges. I’m learning to lighten up, and it’s incredible.

Tripp presses a quick kiss to my lips, then disappears into the bathroom.

I take my jeans and underwear off, then lie on the mattress. I feel like I look stupid waiting for him. I can’t figure out what to do or how to position myself, which makes my thoughts spin. But a moment later, a very naked Tripp Cassidy comes out.

My eyes are drawn to his soft cock, studying the way it hangs between his legs, over his big balls. How red his hair is there, and the way it travels up over his stomach and chest and down his thighs. Tripp’s broad, hairy pecs, and that square jaw, with his bright, happy, caring blue eyes.

When he kneels on the bed beside me, all I can do is focus on how fucking beautiful he is.

Tripp Cassidy is beautiful, inside and out. Maybe I’ve noticed beautiful men before and didn’t let myself acknowledge it, but it’s not something I’ve thought a lot about with women either. Desire and romance—the kind that comes all wrapped up in feelings—just didn’t use to be important to me. They were distractions, but that’s not the case now. Not with him.

“What?” Tripp asks, kissing my pec. “You’re looking at me funny. Second thoughts?”

“No. I just realized how beautiful you are.”

Tripp sucks in a sharp breath.

“Was that the wrong thing to say?”

Tripp sits up. “No. It was perfect.” He closes the distance between us, his mouth crashing down on mine. He kisses me while he moves to lie on top of me, rutting our cocks together the way I’ve recently learned I love so much.

I rub my hands up and down the wide expanse of his back, then down to his ass. It’s slightly furry, like mine, nothing I’ve ever given much thought to before, but it’s never been something I had to consider with other lovers. I would assume that’s something Tripp likes. The way my cock continues to harden and my hands search greedily, it’s obviously something I like too.

Tripp pushes his hand between our bodies, wrapping his fist around my erection and stroking. He does what he’s so good at, bringing me to the edge before pulling off, and I wonder how that will work when I’m fucking him. If he’ll find a way.

“I’m gonna need to be opened up. It’s been a while for me. Do you want me to do it to myself, or do you want to do it?”

My cock twitches between us. “Me. I don’t want to miss anything about what it’s like to be with you.”

“Christ, baby.”

“If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it’s if I do something, I need to do it really well. I’m nothing if not an excellent student.”

Tripp grins, which elicits a grin of my own.

“Oh yeah?” Tripp flops onto his back and pumps his brows. “Have at it.”

“Wait. I said I like to study and learn, and that takes instruction. And I might have questions.” I don’t even recognize myself right now, this light, fun Rhett, but this is what Tripp brings out in me. It’s a part of myself I wish I’d discovered earlier, and then so much of my life might’ve been different.

“Get the lube out of the drawer—bottom one, toward the back.”

“You keep yourself in good supply,” I tease.

“Most of the time I’m having fun by myself. I should make it as good as possible, right?”

“Yes.” It’s not something I thought about much before Tripp.

He shoves a pillow beneath his hips, raising himself for me. This is…new, but it doesn’t necessarily feel that way. Everything I’ve done with Tripp feels like a natural progression. Being with a man isn’t as confusing or as much of a surprise as I would have thought.

“What next?” I ask.

“I need your fingers.” He interlocks his with mine for a moment. “Start with one, then two and three. Stretch me and fuck me with them. Once my body gets used to doing this again, I won’t need to be stretched as much.”

My cock jerks. Hearing him tell me that is hotter than I expected.

“Stretch and fuck. Got it.” I try to pretend I’m not nervous.

Tripp lets go of my hand, and I slick my fingers with lube. I kiss him again, take his mouth while my hand slips between his legs, down past his balls, between his ass cheeks. There’s hair there, of course, just like mine, and I ease in deeper, until I reach his wrinkled hole, never taking my mouth off his. I feel like I could do this forever—just kiss Tripp.

He spreads his legs wider, and I rub my fingers in circles around his rim first, playing with him. When he moans into my mouth, I figure that means it feels good, so I do it more, letting our tongues move together while I touch him.

Tripp threads his fingers through my hair, deepens the kiss, and I use more pressure on his hole, push forward, the tip of my finger sliding inside him and… fuck , it’s so hot and tight in there. The deeper I go, I can’t imagine how this will feel around my cock. I can’t believe he’s going to give me this. That Tripp wants me to fuck him, to be that close to him; that he trusts me with his body.

“Fuck yes,” he says. “Feels good. If you curl your finger some, you’ll find my prostate. It feels amazing to have it stroked.”

I find a spot in his body that feels a little different and rub it. “Like this?” Tripp’s hips thrust forward, and I laugh. “I think I found it.”

“Yes. You so fucking did. Fuck me with your finger and keep playing with my spot.”

I like him telling me what to do so I know I get it right. I pay attention to every sound he makes, every move of his body, making sure I’m giving Tripp the most pleasure possible.

“I’m ready for a second one. We don’t have to take too much time on this part. The main event will be our favorite.” He winks, and my heart flutters.

I pull my finger out, add more lube, then try to work two inside him. I’m surprised at the way his body opens for me, wonder if it feels good to him. Does it hurt? Is there pressure? What is he thinking?

When he lets out another hungry, needy sound, it goes straight to my balls, making me throb even harder for him.

Precum leaks onto his belly in a small pool as I fuck my fingers in and out of him. What does it taste like? I can’t help remembering the feel of his skilled mouth on my dick, and…I want to give him that. But what’s pulling me in just as strongly is how curious I am. Hell, I’ve got my fingers in his ass, and yet I haven’t even touched his cock?

I wrap my other hand around his thick shaft, feel how hot and hard he is, the throb of his veins against my palm. Tripp hisses in response, and I jerk my hand back.

“No. Don’t stop. It’s good,” he urges me on, and for a moment, I feel silly. Did I think I hurt his dick by stroking him? I might not have touched another man’s erection before, but I have experience with mine. And then Tripp runs his palm up and down my thigh, helping me refocus on us. “So good, baby.”

Those words fuel me, making me feel like I’m doing something good, showing Tripp how much he means to me, how much I appreciate him, and I don’t feel like I’ve done that enough with people in my life—show them I care, that they matter. I didn’t know how, or I was scared, or I couldn’t find it in myself to care about anyone other than my dad. And so much of that was just to try and make him care about me.

But he never did. Never would. He’s sick and hateful and—I shake my head, not wanting to give him space in my head. This moment is about me and Tripp.

I push two fingers deep inside him, then take his cock into my mouth. He’s hot against my tongue, his dick stretching my lips. His skin tastes like salt and musk. I take in the heady scent of him, lowering my mouth more. I don’t take Tripp as deep as he does me—I don’t have the skill he does—but I try my best, try to do what I think would feel good to me, bobbing my head and fingering him.

“Jesus, baby. Fuck yes. That’s so goddamned good.”

I’ve been told I’m good at a lot of things in my life, but it’s never gone straight to my head like it does in this moment, never filled me up and made me feel alive the way it does now. The only thing I can compare it to is working with Tripp, building with him. In such a short time, he’s become almost all that’s good in my life.

Tripp, Meadow, and my brothers.

I keep working his cock with my mouth, loving the way he tastes and feels. This is all such a rush, I swear I feel like I could come just from pleasuring Tripp, fingering him and blowing him and knowing I’m making him feel so fucking good.

“Stop, stop.”

I immediately pull off him.

“Sorry. You weren’t doing anything wrong. I was really close to coming, and I don’t want to do that until you’re inside me.”

“I want that too.”

Tripp pulls me down and kisses me. “I don’t know if I can make it last this time. I want you too much.”

His desire for me makes me feel like I can fly, makes me feel like despite everything in my life, I’m the luckiest person in the fucking world. Tripp Cassidy, the kindest man I have ever known, wants me.

“I don’t need that this time. I just need you.”

The blue of his eyes nearly disappears behind his widened pupils. “Christ, I’m in so much trouble.”

“Why?”

“Shh. It’s good. You want me like this? On my back?”

My gaze finds his lips. “Yes. I can reach your mouth that way.”

He smiles. “I like the sound of that.” I pull my fingers out of him, then move so I’m between his legs. Without me having to ask, Tripp says, “Condoms are in the same drawer. Then lube that big cock for me first.” Which is obvious, and something I would have assumed, but I also like that he told me. I like knowing what to expect.

Once I’ve taken care of the protection, I pump lube into my palm, hands shaking slightly as I slick myself up.

I’m about to fuck a guy.

I’m about to fuck Tripp, this man I feel way too much for.

He keeps his legs open wide and pulled back for me. He’s so fucking sexy like this, so beautiful. I bend over him, Tripp’s hand at the back of my head as our mouths again find each other. He strokes my tongue with his while I hold the base of my erection, pushing against his hole, trying to work my way inside.

His ass clamps down on my cock, hot and tight and sucking me in. I move slowly, not wanting to go too fast and hurt Tripp, needing this to be perfect for him. His hand tightens in my hair, Tripp kissing me harder when I push farther in. I can’t believe how his body is opening up for me, what it feels like to be surround by Tripp’s heat.

More, more, more. I keep pushing and we keep kissing until I’m all the way inside.

“Fuck.” I drop my forehead against his, the two of us just breathing for a moment.

“Yeah, that’s all I’ve got too,” Tripp says. “You’re fucking big.”

“Too big?”

He chuckles. “Hey now. Are you trying to get dick compliments?” His ass spasms around my cock with his laughter, and heat races down my spine.

“No…”

“Perfect big,” he adds.

“I really need to fuck you.”

“That makes two of us.”

I pull back, leaving the head of my erection inside him, before thrusting my hips forward. Tripp moves with me, our bodies in sync, him taking and me giving, over and over again. The room is already spinning, my skin tingling and sensitive. Fucking Tripp feels better than nearly anything in my life ever has, like every small pleasure I’ve had throughout my life is coalescing into this one moment, making it bigger and better and perfect.

“So good, baby. Harder.” He pumps lube into his hand, then strokes himself while I give him what he asked for. I’d give Tripp anything he asked for, always, I’m fairly certain.

His bed hits the wall, and not gonna lie, I’m filled with pride over that, at how hard I’m taking him and how good it clearly feels to him. Our gazes meet and hold, Tripp’s mouth open slightly in pleasure, and I’m so fucking thankful for him, for this moment and how he makes me feel.

“Right there, baby. Fuck. You’re about to make me come.”

My fingers squeeze his hips, hold him so damn tightly, like I’m going to lose him if I don’t keep my hands on him. I’m lingering close to the edge, my orgasm seconds away from taking me under, and then Tripp’s body arches upward, his ass squeezing my cock as the first spurt of his release lands on his stomach.

“ Rhett, ” my name whispers breathlessly past his lips, his dick spasming as he shoots again, and then I’m right behind him. My body lights up from the inside out, color exploding behind my eyelids as pleasure wraps around me. My orgasm hits me hard, balls drawing up as I come inside the condom, in spurt after spurt, right alongside Tripp.

It takes us a moment to come down. My breathing is heavy and choppy, but then I look at a sated, blissed-out Tripp…and smile.

He does the same, reaching up to cup my face. “What are you smiling at?”

“You.”

“Us.”

“Yes. Us.”

I have an us, and I never want to lose it.