Free Safe in His Arms by Claire Thompson Page A

here in thirty minutes. Meantime we can take a quick swim
    in the pool to refresh ourselves? Okay?‖
    Russell looked over at Hank, whose face had taken on the urgent, pleading
    expression of a little boy fervently hoping for a new toy or that trip to the zoo. In a
    quiet, humble voice, Hank added, ―Russell. I don‘t know how to say this. But last night.
    The way you stayed…I‘m—I‘m not used to that. I‘m not used to being…cared for. I
    want to say, even if you have to go now, well, I want to say…thank you.‖
    Russ smiled. Something about this man continued to poke past his normal defenses.
    He was a challenge, the outer bad boy image countered by the sad, conflicted man
    beneath. Despite himself, Russell was intrigued.
    ―You‘re welcome.‖ He looked at his watch. ―I guess I can stay a little while longer.‖
    ~*~
    The cool water felt good as Hank swam his laps. He was aware of Russell watching
    him from the side of the pool and it made him swim harder and faster than he would
    have if alone.
    Russell had joined him at first and swum a few laps before climbing out. ―Too cold
    for me,‖ he‘d said, wrapping his naked body in a large towel and settling himself on a
    lounge chair.
    Hank didn‘t remember a whole lot from the night before, but he knew he‘d made a
    spectacle of himself, begging and pleading like a baby for Russell not to leave him
    alone. He was embarrassed to think he‘d humiliated himself in that way, but thank god
    Russell hadn‘t called him on it this morning.
    What a feeling, to wake up with someone beside him again. Even before Reese had
    walked out for good, he‘d pretty much stopped sleeping over. Hank could have kept
    the twinks he liked to pick up from the clubs overnight, but he rarely did. Once he was
    done using them, he liked to send them on their way.
    Why had he been so insistent with Russell? It must have been the dope he‘d
    smoked, he told himself, though even as he formed this thought he knew there was
    more to it than that.
    He shook the water from his face as he surfaced and took a breath, leaning hard
    into the butterfly stroke. He still didn‘t understand what had possessed him to suck
    Russell‘s cock, yet it had felt so right. Hank Seeley, always the one in control, had felt
    this urge, this compulsion, to worship the cock of another man. He hadn‘t just wanted
    to make the guy come, he‘d wanted to taste him, to savor him, to please him, to show
    his gratitude.
    Gratitude! What the fuck? Hank tried to laugh at himself. He must be losing it. He
    focused instead on the sex. Now, that was hot. Scorching. Hank wasn‘t used to letting
    someone else be the top, but it had been so intense—the way Russell had just taken
    over, guiding his massive cock inside Hank, possessing him in a way Hank hadn‘t
    experienced before.
    Hank was used to rough play, but he was always the one in control. In fact, he‘d
    engaged in some pretty intense bondage games from time to time with guys both
    willing and not so willing, but he‘d never been on the receiving end. Something about
    Russell was different from any man he‘d been with. He was…masterful. Again a word
    Hank wasn‘t used to using in reference to someone else, and yet it fit.
    Hank reached the side of the pool where Russell was sitting and lifted himself out,
    ―Watch it, you‘re getting me wet,‖ Russell said, but he was smiling.
    Hank leaned closer and shook his wet hair like a dog, laughing as the droplets of
    water sprayed the big man. He was caught unaware by Russell leaning suddenly
    forward to grab Hank around the waist. Hank lost his footing and fell heavily against
    Russell.
    ―Hey, let me up!‖ Hank cried indignantly.
    ―I will when you stop acting like a little brat,‖ Russell said, though his voice was
    teasing. ―You know what happens to little brats, right?‖ Russell‘s grip was tight, one
    massive arm wrapped around Hank‘s waist as he balanced him over his knees.
    ―Oh, I‘m so