Conflict of Interest Read online

  He wondered if he should mention the fight, or the fact that Jamie probably wouldn’t be staying long at the shelter anymore, not when he wanted Jamie to be with him. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he thought he should explain, but he didn’t know where to start. Finally he just whispered, “Thanks.”

  For the program, he thought as he hung up the phone. For Jamie. For everything.

  In the kitchen he rinsed Jamie’s blood out of the washcloth as best he could and checked to make sure the front door was locked. Sometime after Jamie came in, Dave and his girl had disappeared upstairs, and Alex hadn’t heard from them again. Have to thank him in the morning, too, he thought. For letting Jamie in, even though Dave didn’t know who the hell he was. With Jamie’s bloody nose and torn shirt, Alex was surprised Dave even opened the door.

  As he headed upstairs he glanced at the clock—it was almost four thirty. God. He heard the shower cut off and smiled at Jamie’s low humming. Guess I’m calling in again tomorrow. Or today rather. Staying home with that kid would be better than work, anyway.

  In his bedroom, he found a pair of boxers and a T-shirt for Jamie to sleep in. As the door clicked shut behind him, Alex turned, holding out the clothes in his hands. “You can wear these…”

  The words disappeared when he looked up and saw Jamie’s damp body, naked and glistening and hard. And naked, he thought absently, taking in the smooth expanse of skin dotted with freckles, the reddish downy hair that darkened the guy’s arms and legs and crotch. Don’t forget naked.

  Jamie grinned at him crookedly as he toweled off his head. “I don’t like to sleep in clothes,” he said softly, a faint blush pinking his cheeks.

  “Me either,” Alex whispered as he crossed the room, dropping the clothes to the floor. He stared at Jamie’s muscled stomach, the slight erection already peeking through the kinked hair at his groin, the hard nipples and droplets of water still clinging to his body. “You’re beautiful.”

  He stood and stared, almost afraid to touch Jamie’s body, almost afraid that he’d wake up and it’d be a dream, he’d be alone and left aching for this. But the smile on Jamie’s face encouraged him, and with tentative hands he traced the curve of muscle around Jamie’s belly button. His fingers splayed across the warm flesh, unsure of where to go, what to explore. Jamie’s skin was even softer than Alex had imagined, softer than a man had the right to be. Now that he was finally touching him, he wanted to feel everywhere at once. “Jamie…”

  Jamie took his chin in one hand and raised Alex’s face to his. “Don’t pull away any more,” he sighed, leaning close. “Please, Alex, not again.”

  “I won’t,” Alex promised.

  Jamie’s lips fluttered against his with the softest of caresses and Alex leaned into him, hungry for more. The next kiss was stronger, more sure, a crush of velvet skin that threatened to consume them both, and Jamie’s hands tugged at Alex’s shirt, eager to strip it away, to hold him tight with nothing between them, nothing at all.

  Leading Jamie to the bed, Alex tossed the shirt away, straddling him as he lay back against the covers. “You’re mine,” Alex whispered, kissing Jamie’s lips, his chin, his neck. His hands massaged Jamie’s biceps and his tongue danced across the erect nipples, tasting clean water from the shower and the tiniest hint of soap. “No more clubs, no more boys, none of that, not any more.”

  “No.” Jamie arched into Alex, grabbing fistfuls of thick hair as he pressed Alex’s face against his chest, his hips rising to push his hardening erection into Alex’s groin. “I told you I wouldn’t need them if I had you.”

  Alex kissed him again, reveling in the sweet taste of Jamie’s mouth and the eager hands roaming his chest. “We should try and get some sleep.”

  “We should,” Jamie agreed, but he hugged Alex to him and snickered against his ear. “Why don’t I think we will?”

  Alex laughed. “Father Nate’s going to think I’ve stolen you away.”

  “What a great idea,” Jamie sighed. “I like that.”

  With a kiss Alex extracted himself from Jamie’s arms. When Jamie held onto him, he explained, “Let me turn off the light.” He nipped at Jamie playfully, his lips closing over one nipple, sucking hungrily. “You get under the sheets,” he said as he stood. “Father Nate isn’t getting you back. I want you here with me, all day and every night. I’m going to kiss you awake and hold you until you fall asleep.”

  “Sounds wonderful,” Jamie sighed. Grinning, he burrowed beneath the blankets. Fisting them under his chin, he peeked out from the covers and said, “I knew you’d let me stay the night eventually. I just had to wear you down.” Alex laughed again and slipped out of his boxers. “Dayum,” Jamie muttered, whistling low. “Did I ever mention you had a nice ass? Shit.”

  “I believe you did, yes.” Alex clicked off the light, plunging the room into an instant darkness, and navigated his way back to the bed.

  Jamie held the covers open for him as Alex slid into his arms. His hands slipped over Alex’s hips to cup his buttocks, then eased between his legs. Resting his forehead against Alex’s, Jamie hugged him tight. “I’ve never kissed anyone before,” he sighed. “It was definitely worth the wait.”

  To prove his point, he kissed Alex again.

  Wrapping his arms around Jamie, Alex pulled him close, mindful of the bruise on Jamie’s cheek. With their legs entangled together, Jamie rested his head against Alex’s chest; his hair curled damply around Alex’s jaw. “I’m never letting you go,” Alex promised.

  He meant back to the streets, or to the shelter, or anywhere that didn’t include him. Jamie needed him, as much as Alex needed him—he finally realized that now. In the morning they’d drive over to St. Catherine’s, clear out Jamie’s tiny room, and bring his handful of belongings here.

  Alex kissed him tenderly as they snuggled closer together, the sound of Jamie’s steady heart beating against his chest. He’s saved these kisses for me, he thought sleepily, his lips hungry and his hands insatiable despite the late hour. They’re mine.

  All mine.

  THE END

  ABOUT J.M. SNYDER

  A multi-published author of gay erotic/romantic fiction, J.M. Snyder began writing boyband slash before turning to self-publishing. She has worked with several different e-publishers, including Amber Allure Press, Aspen Mountain Press, eXcessica Publishing, and Torquere Press, and has short stories published in anthologies by Alyson Books, Aspen Mountain Press, Cleis Press, eXcessica Publishing, Lethe Press, and Ravenous Romance. For more information, including excerpts, free stories, and monthly contests, please visit http://www.jmsnyder.net.

  ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC

  Founded in 2010, JMS Books LLC is owned and operated by author J.M. Snyder. We publish a variety of genres, including gay erotic romance, fantasy, young adult, poetry, and nonfiction. We are an invitation-only small press. Short stories and novellas are available as e-books and compiled into single-author print anthologies, while any story over 30k in length is available in both print and e-book formats. Visit us at http://www.jms-books.com for more information on our latest releases!