A Different Light Page 10

  Bennett sputtered in complete shock. “What…what do you…why did you ask me that?”

  “Don’t you remember, you were always the good boy, staying up late to study, and I was the bad boy, staying up late to…not study.” His words were slow, tone low and suggestive. Like he was trying to seduce Bennett with his voice alone.

  Clearing his throat, Bennett replied, lifting his chin, “I did happen to stay up late. I had painting to finish. I’m behind schedule.”

  “Maybe you deserve a reward then.” Mac had taken a step forward, his steps fluid and easy. His body radiating sex and want. How Mac did that, Bennett would never know. But he could feel his body respond. Cock twitching and growing, the warmth of his blood heating with every step he took closer.

  “I…no. I just did what I had to do. No reward—”

  Mac was so close that he lost his train of thought. So close that Bennett could reach out and grab what he wanted all week, but he was so weak with want, he couldn’t get his mind to cooperate to move his limbs.

  “You don’t want a reward for your hard work?”

  Mac’s hand came up as if in slow motion. At first, it was just his fingertips, gliding against Bennett’s waist. A shiver rushed through him. Then Mac’s palm touched, warming, moving around his side until it settled at the small of Bennett’s back. Mac slowly pulled him to his chest. He could feel Mac’s heat seep through his own shirt. “There’s nothing you can think of that you’d want?”

  Bennett’s breathing picked up. His mind raced. His balls tingled and tightened. He knew Mac had to see the pleading and want through his eyes. Bennett couldn’t hide it, not then, not so close to Mac, feeling his body against his and his breath wisp across his lips as they stared into each other's eyes. It felt big, like Mac wasn’t just staring into his eyes but into him, searching for something.

  Then Mac was closer, so close he could feel the words against his lips. “Because I think you deserve a kiss for being such a good boy. You want that kiss, Princess?”

  All Bennett could do is close his eyes and nod. Speaking was beyond his abilities at that point. When did Mac become so sensual, so sexual, and so easily radiating desire? Bennett loved sex, the tease, the lead up to the physical explosion of pleasure. But Mac brought it to a whole other level. Using words and small innocent touches, turning it dirty and provocative.

  “B, open your eyes.”

  Bennett listened. As hard as it was to not just stay floating in the place of just feeling, he opened his eyes. What he saw made him moan. The want, the need in Mac’s eyes matched what Bennett felt coursing through his own body. He couldn’t think of anything else, because as lost as he was in the sensations Mac had him feeling with his eyes closed, he was just as lost in the heat that poured off the man now.

  “What did you think would happen, B? Coming out here all flustered and angry with just a t-shirt and those cute boxers on?”

  At first, Bennett had no idea what he was talking about, but then he remembered. He slept in his “Particle Physics Gives me a Hadron” boxers and had been so lost in his anger that he’d never put on pants.

  He swallowed, trying to loosen his tight throat so he could speak, but Mac leaned in, lips touching Bennett’s ear, and the only thing that came out was a whimper. He never whimpered. Fuck.

  “Nothing turns me on more than you in full on Princess mode with your geek on full display.” And to prove that, Mac pulled them tighter together with the hand that still rested at the small of his back. Bennett could feel Mac’s hard length pressed against his. The barrier of the worn jeans that Mac had on and Bennett’s boxers was like paper between them.

  “I’ve been good this week too. Not kissing your sweet lips, not touching your body, not taking you against any and all surfaces when you were so goddamn sexy with the paint splattered all over you and your shirt sticking to your body, soaked from your sweat. So, maybe I deserve a reward too.”

  “Oh god, yes.”

  Mac pulled his face back just enough so that Bennett could look into his eyes again. He had that cocky grin playing at his lips but this time it didn’t annoy Bennett, it lit him on fire.

  Mac’s eyes dropped and stared at his lips, making his nerves come alive. He licked his lips and Mac moaned. That sound. God, that sound went straight to the center of all that swirled around them.

  Bennett remembered his moans from that blowjob, the sound doing just as much that night as seeing Mac on his knees, his soft lips wrapped around Bennett’s cock. And hearing it again brought those memories flashing through his mind taking an already heated moment and making it hotter and more.

  “Please.” He didn’t know what else to say. It’d felt like they’d stood there frozen forever. Simple touches doing more than any amount of foreplay Bennett had ever experienced.

  “I like when you beg me, B.” Then Mac’s lips were on Bennett’s, his tongue forced into his mouth, his taste exploding through every part of him. Bennett wrapped himself around Mac as much as he could. His arms around Mac’s neck, hands in Mac’s soft hair.

  What must’ve been only seconds passed, and Mac pulled back, warm breath skating across Bennett’s lips. At the same time, Mac started to move them, taking steps back with Bennett still wrapped in his arms, Mac spoke, “You have no idea the effect you have on me. How many times I sat there talking to you this week when all I wanted to do is get my hands on you, anywhere and everywhere.”

  Then Mac was placing wet kisses on his face, following a path across his cheeks to his ear and down his throat, wringing moans out of Bennett. Mac’s hands moved from his back, gliding down the few inches to his ass. Gently pulling him in tighter with one hand as he used his other hand to pull Bennett’s shirt out of the way, he sucked a mark on his collarbone.

  When Mac pulled back, Bennett opened his eyes. He’d sat on the bike and pulled Bennett between his spread legs. Bennett couldn’t help it, the look of Mac’s kissed wet and swollen lips was too much.

  Just as he leaned down to take those lips again, he heard someone clearing their throat. He looked up and was greeted by a blonde woman Bennett thought he recognized but wasn’t sure. She was gorgeous. She had long blonde hair braided over her shoulder, black framed glasses that she made look sexy as all get out, and what he could see of her thin frame was covered with tattoos. The arms crossed over her chest, smirk playing at her lips, along with the black motorcycle boots and black jeans with a sleeveless white shirt, just added to the look of an absolute badass who gave no fucks what people thought of her. She absolutely must be a friend of Mac’s. They both radiated that same cocky attitude.

  Bennett tried to take a step back, but Mac hadn’t either noticed or didn’t care that they had company, because he wouldn’t take his hands off Bennett’s ass. “Mac.”

  “Hmm.” Was Mac’s reply as his lips went straight for the mark he’d left on Bennett. He tried to push away again, but as soon as those goddamn lips touched his skin, his eyes closed and he moaned.

  Until the badass blonde spoke again, this time louder.

  “Mitchell Alexander get your goddamn pervy lips off Bennett.”

  Mac quickly pulled back, clearly startled, if his wide eyes were anything to go by, and Bennett’s eyes flew open and locked on the girl. How did she know my name?

  The dirty smile that bloomed on Mac’s face had the tips of Bennett’s ears turning red. What had they been thinking, making out like a couple of teenagers in the middle of the driveway? Him in his goddamn underwear for fucks sake.

  Without letting go of Bennett’s ass, Mac looked over his shoulder at the woman. “Hey, Allie.” The woman—Allie—just shook her head and smiled.

  He pushed on Mac’s chest, and with the lowest voice Bennett cold muster, he grumbled. “Let go of my ass.”

  “Okay, B.” Mac replied, smacking his ass lightly before he let Bennett completely step back. But now he felt even more exposed than when he’d been up close and shielded by Mac’s body. “Bennett, I’d like you to
meet my best friend and all-around pain in my ass, Allie. Allie, you know Bennett.”

  Mac stood up from where he’d sat on the bike while groping Bennett, adjusting himself before turning to face his friend.

  “Nice intro, jackass.” Allie walked around the other bike toward Bennett, holding out her hand. “You probably don’t recognize me. My full name is Allison Granger, we went to school together.”

  He shook her hand, knowing he knew that name but trying to pick his brain as to who she was. Then it hit him. “You’re the mayor’s daughter.” Mac laughed, and Allie rolled her eyes at him. Bennett was lost. “I’m sorry, was that…wrong?”

  “No. You’re fine, since that’s how you remember me. But, as you can tell, I’m not the same girl you once knew.”

  Bennett had to agree. With every bit of skin on her arms covered with colorful tattoos and even some on her fingers, she was nearly unrecognizable to him. But they’d never been friends either. “You definitely look…different, but good different.”

  Allie laughed. “Thanks. This town doesn’t really like different and a girl having tattoos and owning the bike shop doesn’t help me.”

  “I bet. Small towns can be tough that way.” A bit of awkward silence followed. Bennett stood there in his underwear and wondered how to extricate himself without seeming like he was running away. Mac saved him. Again.

  “Hey, Allie, let’s get going. I’ve got a ton of work to do when we get back from our ride.” Then he stood and turned his attention to Bennett. “Hey B. You wanna take a ride?”

  Bennett could feel the heat rising in his face as he rolled his eyes at the double entendre. He’d already been caught practically climbing the guy in his boxers in the middle of his driveway. What was left to lose? “You could only be so lucky.”

  Mac was surprised by his come back, and that more than anything had Bennett feeling smug. Allie giggled at them and walked away to pick up her jacket off her bike, putting it on as she climbed on and started it up. Mac walked over to him, lust replacing shock.

  “You, Princess, are dangerous.”

  “And what does that make you then?”

  “Don’t you know? I’m the bad boy that’s going to corrupt the boy next door.”

  A quick hard kiss and a wave later, Bennett was alone as the sound of the engines faded in the distance. And he knew that something had shifted that day between Mac and him.

  He just wondered if he would be able to handle it.

  =

  “B, where are you?”

  Mac walked into the Cole home wanting to talk to Bennett after their hot kiss that morning. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say, he hadn’t thought that far ahead. He’d just dropped his bike off, rushed to change his clothes, and made his way over to the house.

  “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” Mac yelled, the sound echoing through the house.

  The house was looking good, and they were ahead of schedule, except for Bennett who was a little behind. But Mac didn’t care at this point, he wanted to talk to Bennett and maybe flirt and kiss and touch. And maybe he needed to stop acting like he was a teenager with his first crush because he wasn’t.

  Just as his foot touched the bottom step of the stairs, Bennett spoke from behind him. “Indoor voice, Mac.”

  Mac quirked a smile, just hearing that chiding made him want to both smack the guy and kiss him silly. He turned, facing Bennett. Smile still firmly in place. “You gonna spank me, Princess?” Mac winked.

  “Of course, you went there.” Bennett rolled his eyes and turned back into the room he’d just come out of. Mac followed, watching Bennett’s ass move as he did.

  “Stop doing that.”

  Mac’s eyes shot up thinking Bennett had caught him—not that he cared ‘cause hello sexy ass—but he hadn’t, he was still walking toward the kitchen. “Stop doing what, B? I’m innocent of all things.”

  A laugh burst out of Bennett just liked he hoped. The man’s laugh was nothing like he thought it would be. It was smooth and deep and made things buzz in Mac’s body.

  “What did you want anyway?” Bennett had started pouring himself some water from the fridge as he spoke. Gesturing with the gallon jug as if to ask if Mac wanted any, Bennett put it away when Mac shook his head.

  He stood there watching Bennett. Wondering how he’d ever be able to be in the same room as him and not want to do dirty things to him. Bennett took a deep drink from the glass and Mac stared as his Adam's apple bobbed with each swallow. He stared at the sweat trickling down the side of Bennett’s face, his tongue licking his lips free of the moisture that had gathered from the water.

  “Earth to Mac.” Bennett was snapping his fingers in front of Mac’s face, shaking him loose of the path his thoughts had taken.

  “Sorry. I, uh, got lost in thought.”

  “Yeah, I could see.” Bennett’s eyes dropped down Mac’s body, then looked back up and winked. Apparently, his dick was making a cameo appearance. “Now, what did you need? You came in here yelling like it was something important, but all I’ve gotten out of you is snark and you leering at me.”

  “I did not lee—” Bennett gave him a look that said he was full of shit. “Okay, I was leering. That wasn’t what I wanted, it was just a bonus.” Mac walked over and sat at the small table that sat in the breakfast nook in the kitchen. “What are your plans for the day?”

  “Same as yours. Work. Why?”

  “Don’t be a brat, B.”

  “I have the hallway upstairs to finish. I probably won’t get that done today but it’s worth a try.”

  “Okay, well instead of working all night again, you wanna come over and I can cook dinner for us.”

  “You can cook?” Surprise in Bennett’s voice would’ve been fine, even understood, since he didn’t really know him. Not many people thought Mac had many talents. But the near condescending tone was not. Mac had enough of that shit.

  “Yes, Bennett. I can cook. What, did the tattoos throw you off?” Mac huffed, angry and annoyed. He stood from the chair, ready now to be out of the room and away from the one guy he’d sought out.

  One step forward, two steps back. He was beginning to hate the dance.

  “Mac. Come on. This is you. You don’t—”

  “I don’t what? What do you know about me? You think it’s okay to judge people like that?”

  “No, that’s not what I was doing. I know enough about you to kn—”

  “You know nothing about me other than what you think you know because of how I look.” Mac started to walk away, done with the conversation, He needed to end it where it was before he said something he’d regret. That was him being a grown up. Just as he made his way out of the kitchen and into the family room, Bennett caught up with him. He grabbed Mac’s arm, stopping his forward momentum.

  “Mac, wait. Look it wasn’t meant as an insult, more of an observation.”

  Mac sneered. “An observation? And when or what did you observe that would tell you that I can’t cook?” Just as Bennett opened his mouth to speak, Mac rushed on, stopping anymore shit from falling from those sexy lips. “Was it when I taught you how to tape the baseboards? Or when you saw me teaching Jesse how to use the nail gun the other day? Oh, I know it was when I had your cock in my mouth!”

  “Mac! No. Not the last part jackass.” Bennett’s cheeks had gone red. Mac couldn’t tell if it was anger or embarrassment. At that moment, he was hoping for embarrassment. The fucker deserved it. “Yeah, I mean, everyone has strong suits. There’s nothing bad about that. I’m not the best at manual labor while you are. You aren’t the best at math and science. I happen to be excellent at both.”

  “Do you even hear yourself? You sound like an entitled white-collar asshole that looks down at people for not being just like you.”

  “I…that’s not true. Just because you don’t like hearing the truth doesn’t make it any less true.” Bennett crossed his arms over his chest. A move Mac had seen him do before.

  B
ennett was getting even more riled up, Princess-mode was at full speed ahead. Mac hated it. He wanted to be talking about dinner plans, thinking about getting his hands on Bennett, planning ways to make Princess Bennett come out and get flustered.

  But not this Princess Bennett.

  This is the one that couldn’t see the flashing red caution sign right in front him, this Bennett was the one that judged Mac because of his tattoos and work boots and small town life. This Bennett judged him just like his parents always had.

  “Maybe you’re the one that can’t see the truth Bennett. Maybe you need to take a hard look in the mirror.” Mac walked out then and Bennett didn’t stop him. Thank god for small favors. He was tired of it. He’d planned to be getting to know Bennett more, maybe work past some issues that still lingered between them. Obviously, those issues were bigger than he’d thought.

  As he walked across Bennett’s yard, he pulled his cell out of his pocket and called Danny. “Hey, man. What house you at today?”

  “I’m over at Bell’s today. We’re framing out the sunroom for her. What’s up, boss?”

  “You mind switching jobs with me today?”

  “You want me to go to Bennett’s? Why? What happened now?”

  Mac sighed, He knew he’d have to explain it to him at some point, but right now, he just didn’t have the energy to do it. “Not now, Danny. I’ll explain later. Can you do it?”

  “Yeah, Mac. I’ll be right there.”

  “Thanks, man. I’ll make my way over to Bell now.” Mac hung up just as he reached his truck. Opening the door, he climbed in, suddenly feeling much older than his twenty-seven years.

  It was days like this he wished for a rewind button, but damn if that’d actually help any. He and Bennett had some bigger issues to work out than he thought. He only hoped working them out was a possibility.

  Bennett threw down the damn stupid freaking roller, luckily it landed in the paint tray. Nothing had been going right. The paint on the wall kept running. Then the roller wouldn’t roll. Then, to make things even fucking better, the handle on the roller brush broke mid stroke which wouldn’t have been a big deal if the fucking roller hadn’t then smacked him right on the face. Sigh.