Faded in to You Read online

  It was fantastic. Every stroke, every pulse, all of it had Ravinder drooling and slamming his left hand into the table. His toes curled in on themselves until they felt as if they would stay that way. Ravinder wouldn’t mind. The only thing that could change any of it was if Thaddeus decided they would stop.

  He’d die if that happened.

  Ravinder tapped his forehead on the table and yelled so loudly that his voice echoed off everything around him and returned like a pulse, pushing him closer to that delicious end that he craved.

  “Thaddeus…fuck me! Fuck me! Fuck…me!”

  As if in response, Thaddeus braced a large hand at the small of Ravinder’s back and added some pressure. Ravinder just about lost his mind. His climax coursed through him like water over a waterfall. It curled his toes then smashed forward, crossing his eyes and stiffening every muscle in his body.

  “Shit, baby!” Thaddeus grounded out. “You’re squeezing me so tight.”

  But Ravinder couldn’t help it. In that moment, he was experiencing the best orgasm of his life. It was the kind of release Alfred had spoken about that Ravinder hadn’t known really existed. “Oh, baby.” He whispered helplessly. “Darling.”

  “You enjoyed that?”

  Ravinder smiled, still trembling from the aftershocks. “Yes. Only thing would make it better was if you came for me.”

  “All right—where do you want it?”

  To Ravinder’s shock, he found himself replying before he could stop, “On my ass. I wanna feel it burning into my skin.”

  Thaddeus started fucking him again, slowly at first. Ravinder listened to his lover’s breath getting rougher, more ragged. He arched his back, taking Thaddeus’ cock deeper than before. He’d gotten hard again so he reached under to stroke himself until Thaddeus wrenched away from him. To his pleasure, Thaddeus came against his crack, spilling spunk at the top. Ravinder writhed as the trail of cum slid between his cheeks.

  He climaxed again. “Shit! Thaddeus, what did you do to me?”

  Thaddeus laughed softly as he kissed a trail down Ravinder’s back before moving up to touch his lips to Ravinder’s neck. “Like I said, a slut in my bed is a good thing.”

  Ravinder whimpered in reply.

  “So?” Thaddeus asked. “What do you think?”

  “Not a snafu,” Ravinder said, smiling dreamily. “Not a snafu at all.”

  Chapter Ten

  The air conditioner must have gone off at some point during the night, because even before Thaddeus opened his eyes, he knew something wasn’t right. Every inhaled breath was hot and muggy with a tinge of the things they’d done to each other the night before. His body was stuck to Ravinder’s, who was cuddled into his chest with his head tucked under Thaddeus’ chin. Reluctantly, he climbed from the bed and wandered to the thermostat. After tapping around on it, the unit hummed and the first brush of cool air left the vents. He stood with his back against it, moaning at the sensation it caused.

  He stared at Ravinder on the bed, dark hair covering his eyes. But Thaddeus could remember those eyes full of passion. He licked his lips and bowed his head with a smile. He couldn’t help it. Ravinder had come alive in his arms and surprised him in a great way. Their lovemaking had taken most of the night, but Thaddeus still hadn’t been satisfied. He wanted more. Tilting his head one way, he watched the rise and fall of Ravinder’s body. The longer he stood there, the more aroused he became, the more he wanted to climb back into the bed, and bury himself deeply in Ravinder’s heat.

  “Dang…”

  Thaddeus braced himself against the wall to stay on his feet. The feelings echoing through him were unbelievable.

  Thaddeus climbed back into bed behind Ravinder and kissed his shoulder. He rose to his elbow and reached over to push Ravinder’s hair from his face. Thaddeus was helpless when it came to touching Ravinder. Once he’d tasted him, felt him pulse hard against Thaddeus’ body, in his mouth, there was no going back. Thaddeus climbed over and lay facing Ravinder. He took that quiet moment to stare into Ravinder’s face, to admire the color of his skin, the flare of his nose and the way his mouth twitched from time to time. To Thaddeus, all those little tics made Ravinder even more alluring.

  Damn, you’re beautiful.

  Thaddeus’ heart did a little lurch and he closed his eyes tightly. Once the feeling had passed, he opened his eyes again.

  What did he really expect from this whole thing with Ravinder? Did he want a relationship? Thaddeus wasn’t the hit-it-and-quit-it type. Intimacy with someone else always carried meaning for him. He should’ve told Ravinder that just in case Ravinder didn’t want anything serious.

  The room still wasn’t as cool as he wanted yet, so he went and turned up the AC. He then glanced at the clock before climbing back into bed behind Ravinder. “Ravi?”

  Ravinder moaned and pushed back into Thaddeus’ body.

  “Baby?”

  “Is it morning already?” Ravinder asked.

  “Not quite, but we have work tomorrow…today. Should we call Abhay to get you here?”

  “Don’t say the ‘w’ word.” Ravinder rolled over to bury his face into Thaddeus’ neck. “I’m not ready to adult yet.”

  Thaddeus waited with a smile. Though he trembled at the feel of Ravinder’s day-old stubble against his flesh and warm lips on his pulse, he remained still, one hand resting possessively on Ravinder’s bare hip.

  True to form, Ravinder jerked away from him. “Damn, this is new.”

  “What is?”

  “I’ve never woken up to a man still being here before. They were always running for the door.”

  Thaddeus laughed softly and reached in for a kiss. “Well, their loss. I mean, who wants to miss the cuteness in the way your nose flares and that soft snoring you do?”

  “Snoring?” Ravinder smacked him. “I don’t snore.”

  “How do you know?” Thaddeus wiggled his eyebrows. “It’s not like you can hear yourself while you sleep. Last night, it sounded like you were cutting down trees in a forest with a saw.”

  “Take that back!” Ravinder tickled Thaddeus. “You take that back.”

  Thaddeus laughed and fought to stop Ravinder’s probing fingers, but he couldn’t. The mirth of being tickled left his hands flailing about without much success. “Okay! I give!”

  Ravinder looked quite pleased with himself. “I thought so.”

  Thaddeus gathered Ravinder into his chest and kissed his head.

  “I found your weakness,” Ravinder said, his voice filled with pride. “I like that.”

  “And what is my weakness?”

  “When we’re in bed? You’re ticklish.”

  Thaddeus grinned. “And what do I have to do to keep that secret?”

  “A debt to be collected later,” Ravinder said.

  Thaddeus knew he’d enjoy that collection. He’d see to it. Taking a breath, he settled back in the bed with Ravinder and pressed his chin on one of Ravinder’s shoulders. “I have to ask this. About last night.”

  “What about it?”

  “What are your thoughts?”

  “My thoughts are—you want to know if I’m regretting last night.”

  “I was trying to be…” Thaddeus inhaled deeply, his shoulders rising and falling heavily. “I don’t know what I was trying to be, but yes.”

  Ravinder lifted his head and smiled. “No second thoughts here. The only thing I could say was next time I want to see your eyes when you come.”

  “You’re so bad!”

  “Don’t you like your men that way, Thaddeus?”

  Thaddeus cleared his throat before wrapping his arms around Ravinder and pulled him closer. “Feel that?”

  Ravinder nodded. “You’re so hard. I swear, the only thing stopping me from jumping you right now, is the fact that I’m sore from last night and we have to go to work soon. Walking funny is not cute and we both know there would be questions.”

  Thaddeus grinned proudly. “I aim to please.”

 
; “Jerk,” Ravinder teased. “Anyway, Abhay knows I’m here. I told him to come back for me in the morning,” Ravinder said. “We still have some time before I have to go.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “And…” Ravinder climbed over Thaddeus and pressed him back into the pillow. “And I was thinking we could make out before I do.”

  Thaddeus grinned. “Is that so?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Ravinder kissed him. “This is exactly what I need right now.”

  * * * *

  Ravinder threw himself into work that day. He forwarded all the entries for the contest to Paresh, sent out a few tweets about it, then turned his attention to the website. He’d gotten some graphics from Paresh that Thaddeus had made and loaded those to the website as well as sending them out to people who agreed to be affiliates for a small feed. Even as he was hard at work, he kept looking up, hoping Thaddeus would pop in or something.

  Lunch time rolled around, and still there was no sign of Thaddeus. Ravinder shook his head. Just because Thaddeus had given him the best sex of his life so far didn’t mean Thaddeus owed him anything or the other way around. And it didn’t even mean sleeping together would ever happen again—Ravinder was never a clinger. He didn’t expect a ring on his finger for giving up a little ass. But Thaddeus was amazing between the sheets.

  And, if Ravinder were to be honest with himself, he would never be okay being anyone’s dirty little secret. He deserved better than that no matter how loudly this man made him shout, no matter the naughty things he’d made Ravinder beg for throughout the night.

  He ate lunch alone, nibbling thoughtfully on a piece of naan. When his break was over, Ravinder hadn’t managed to eat much. That went on through dinner as well, and by the time he lay on his back in the dark, Ravinder felt as if he were going crazy. He wandered the house that night, wondering why Thaddeus brought out such a fool in him. No answer came to him even as the darkness gave way to a sweltering morning.

  Ravinder stood before the mirror, feeling like a zombie, having to go to work on no sleep. Perhaps he could stay home—he didn’t really have to go into the office since he could work from anywhere. But he wanted to show initiative, work from home only if he had to. He rinsed his mouth then took a quick shower. When he stepped out and got dressed, he felt a tad more human than before.

  In the kitchen, he sipped on a cup of Chai tea, staring out of the back and watching the sun rise over the pool. Ravinder wasn’t sure how long he’d been standing there, but the ringing phone pulled him from his sun trance. Frowning, he hurried into the living room and picked it up.

  “Raja.”

  “You’re avoiding me.”

  Ravinder trembled. “Avoiding you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wasn’t avoiding you. I came to your office yesterday to see if you wanted to have lunch but you weren’t there.” Ravinder sat with his tea. “I didn’t want to seem needy or clingy or anything, so I gave you a wide berth.”

  Thaddeus exhaled loudly in the phone.

  “And I’m not game to be anyone’s secret anyway. You don’t owe me anything just because we had sex and I’m not going to hold you down. I just—”

  “Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”

  Ravinder frowned.

  “Ravinder, if I wanted a fling, I would have said so,” Thaddeus explained. “I didn’t expect to sleep with you then have you go ghost on me. Sure, we didn’t make any promises going into this, but we did the most intimate things to each other.”

  “What happens when I have to go home—when you have to go home?”

  “To Bathsheba?”

  “You’re from Bathsheba?” Ravinder asked.

  “No, I’m from Alliston just east of there,” Thaddeus said. “But I work in Bathsheba. What’s your next excuse?”

  Ravinder chuckled. “So what now?”

  “Now, you come to work and have lunch with me,” Thaddeus said. “And tonight, we’ll go out—I know you don’t like clubs, so we won’t go to one. I just want to take you on a date.”

  “In India? Is that safe?”

  “I don’t know if it’s safe anywhere. But I’d never deny my man.”

  “I’m not your man,” Ravinder said.

  “We’ve been through this,” Thaddeus reminded him.

  Groaning, Ravinder stretched his legs out before him. He was happy Thaddeus wanted something a little more substantial. Ravinder smiled and rested his head on the back of the sofa. “Are you asking me out, Thaddeus?”

  “Yes. So what’s your answer?”

  “Well, it depends.”

  “On?”

  Ravinder sat forward and rested his elbows against his knees. “What happens afterward?”

  “What do you want to happen?”

  “Everything.” Ravinder was stunned at how true that one word was. “I want you to take me home, strip me naked so I can feel your gaze on my body again.”

  Thaddeus moaned. “That does something to you…”

  “Yes. Knowing you’re looking at me—”

  “Okay, darling.” Thaddeus cleared his throat. “Tonight will be all about you. Whatever you want.”

  “That sounds good.”

  Thaddeus laughed softly. “So, can I interest you in lunch today? I have a few things I have to get done but I can be ready for about one-ish?”

  “That will be fine.”

  “Okay, see you later, Ravi.”

  Ravinder smiled as he hung up. Suddenly he was looking forward to going back to work. Knowing that Thaddeus wanted to see him, wanted to touch him, wanted to sit across from him for a meal was enough to raise his spirits. Shoving his cell into his pocket, he downed the rest of his tea that had long since gone cold. It tasted so bad he pressed his eyes closed to keep it down.

  After gathering a few things, he stepped through the front doors just as Abhay was pulling in through the gates. Ravinder waved at his driver. The man was so dependable. He made a mental note to write him a great reference letter before leaving and maybe putting in a good word with Paresh to keep the young man around. Abhay was hardworking and dependable—that was rare.

  Chapter Eleven

  The day ended and plans changed. Abhay had to go see his sister in Pune. Since Ravinder had never been, he agreed to accompany the young man. Glancing at the clock, he peered out of the window, but Abhay’s car wasn’t there yet, so he gathered his things and ran down the corridor to Thaddeus’ office.

  “Hey.” Thaddeus smiled.

  “Hey, yourself.”

  “Come in.”

  Ravinder pulled the door closed and walked to stand beside Thaddeus. They kissed and Ravinder leaned his bum into the desk and braced his palms on either side of him. “So listen, I know we were supposed to get together tonight.”

  “Yeah?”

  “But Abhay has to go see his sister in Pune. I told him I’d go with him. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “No.” Thaddeus leaned back in his chair. “I can’t lie and say I wasn’t looking forward to spending time with you. But if you want to go.”

  “Why don’t you come with us?” Ravinder said. He then smirked. “We could make out in the backseat.”

  Thaddeus laughed softly as he caressed Ravinder’s thigh. “And scar Abhay for life? No thank you. But when we get back from Pune, you’re all mine.”

  “I like the sound of that.” Ravinder leaned and kissed Thaddeus slowly, deeply. “So, are you coming?”

  “Not yet.” Thaddeus wiggled his brows.

  Ravinder chuckled, his cheeks heating. “Not that kind.”

  “Sure. Let me get a few things squared away, then I’ll be right with you.”

  “I’m going downstairs to wait for Abhay. Don’t be long.”

  “I won’t,” Thaddeus promised.

  Another kiss later, Ravinder left the office and made his way downstairs. He had to wait a few minutes but soon Abhay pulled into his usual spot. Ravinder walked over to greet him as Abhay stepped from the car.
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  “Are you ready to go?” Abhay asked.

  “Not yet. Thaddeus is coming with us,” Ravinder said. “I don’t think he’s ever been to Pune.”

  “Oh…um…I think I should warn you about this trip,” Abhay said.

  “Warn me? About what?”

  Abhay inhaled and exhaled, his shoulders rising up to his ears then falling. He rubbed his palms into his thighs. “My parents want nothing to do with me.”

  Ravinder tilted his head.

  “When I was twenty, I realized I didn’t like girls nearly as much as my parents thought I should,” Abhay explained. “I hid it for a couple of years, but then I was curious. My father found out from a nosy neighbor and kicked me out. They told my sister she’s to have nothing to do with me. She needs our parents, so I tried staying away from her. But you have to understand, it broke her heart.”

  “I’d imagine so. She loves you.”

  Abhay dragged his fingers through his hair. “I still have her present from her birthday. We haven’t had a chance to meet up until today.”

  “Well, I’ll know to keep my sexuality out of the spotlight.”

  Abhay laughed softly. “You’re…”

  “Yes. I’m kind of dating Thaddeus.”

  “I was wondering about that,” Abhay said. “The two of you would make a nice couple. And what do you mean kind of? It’s either you are or you’re not.”

  Ravinder shrugged. He turned and leaned his back to the car then folded his arms across his chest. “Right now, we’re just seeing what happens. It’s new.”

  “Now is the time you can’t really gauge things. I get it.” Abhay nodded and looked off toward the building. “At least you are free to love who you want. Even if the people around disapprove, they won’t really say anything. Here, a guy could get killed for even looking at another softly.”

  “Don’t worry. Things have a way of working out.”

  “It’s hard to believe that sometimes.”

  “I know. My best friend is getting married. I was so jealous I couldn’t handle how guilty I felt afterward. I mean, I love this cat like a brother.” Ravinder rolled his shoulders. “I didn’t think I could ever find a man who looks at me the way Darius looks at Alfred. Now I see the same thing in Thaddeus’ eyes and I melt. Trust me, this will all work out the way it should.”