"Are you scared?"

"No."

"Have you done it before?"

"Yes. Now drop the subject, please. I told you I don't want to know about your prior history and I am not prepared to discuss mine."

I felt extremely jealous and territorial when it came to Jay. I couldn't listen to anything he had to say about past boyfriends without seeing red and getting aggressive. It was something that surprised me-the testosterone. I'd always considered myself rather laid-back. My brothers and father would rev up their males sides over many issues-football, work, relationships-but I never felt the need to flex my muscles and warn others away. With Jay I felt a side of me appear that I had sometimes thought was lost after the accident. The silverback-gorilla-thumping-his-chest part of me.

"So how many times have you done it? Just once?"

"No. Now hush."

He pouted. "I know you said you won't talk about... other guys. But you have to explain to me what is going on? Did someone... force you? Is that why you don't want to do it?"

I dropped my fork on the table, knowing I was not going to be able to enjoy the delicious stir-fry in front of me with Jay being so tenacious on the issue. "No one forced me to do anything. We don't have to do it, do we? Is there some sort of written code out there that I don't know about that says we have to do it before we are allowed to be gay?"

"No."

"Then why do we have to? What we do now is hot and s.e.xy and satisfying. We're equals. I just think a.n.a.l s.e.x brings an element of... inequality into the mix that I'm not ready for."

I picked up my fork and speared a baby corn. Jay, however, was looking at me strangely. He had his head tilted to the side and was regarding me in a speculative manner. "That's it, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"That's why you don't want to do it."

"Jay, babe," The endearment seemed to slip out at the least provocation. "Eat your dinner before it gets cold. Now can we drop it?"

He picked up his fork and scooped up some noodles, but he didn't put it near his mouth. With an almost idle tone he asked, "Liam, did you top or bottom?"

"What?"

"You said you'd done it more than once. Did you top or bottom on these occasions?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Just tell me." Was the man part pit bull?

"No."

"Why are you ashamed of it?"

"I'm not ashamed."

"Then why won't you talk about it?"

"I don't want...."

"Just tell me. Top or bottom?"

"Bottom. Now shut up." I stood up and left the table with my plate, sc.r.a.ping half of my meal into the bin. My stomach was full of knots and I knew I couldn't eat any more. I hoped it would bring an end to the conversation, but alas and alack, Jay wasn't finished with me yet.

He was twirling noodles around his fork, seemingly uninterested in my reply, but I knew he was intent on what I would say next. His tone was casual as he asked, "Bottom? Every time?"

My temper and impatience were rising. The guy was like a drip of water slowly eroding away a stone. "f.u.c.k you! Yes! Both times. Is that what you wanted to hear? The entire sum of my experience in f.u.c.king a.n.a.l s.e.x comes down to two f.u.c.king times. I bottomed each time. Happy now?" I shook my head. "You are a f.u.c.king w.a.n.ker."

I stormed off to the bedroom, completely ashamed and wanting to hide from Jay. But he just followed me, not upset at all at my display of temper or my insults. His voice was smooth and unruffled as he stood in the doorway and watched me fold clothes that didn't need folding. "So you've never topped?"

I spun back to him. "Jay! Don't you get it? I don't have loads of experience like you. I am practically a virgin. Didn't you just hear me say that I have done it exactly twice? Twice, man, twice."

I was humiliated. What man wanted to be with someone who had no idea what he was doing? Jay had been really nice about the physical side of our relationship, never belittling me or laughing at my inexperience. In fact, he complimented me so many times, I didn't know if he was telling the truth or not-and that made me insecure. Oh, I knew I could give him an o.r.g.a.s.m, but was that me or was that just oh I'm so glad I don't have to use my own hand?

But Jay either didn't get my mortification, or didn't give two hoots about my inexperience. He just nodded. "And you bottomed both times?"

I threw a ball of socks at him. "Yes. I told you that!"

He caught the socks and moved to sit on the bed near where I was sorting the laundry. Pit bull or bloodhound? He was on the trail of something I didn't understand, and he wasn't letting go. "Did you like it?"

I shrugged, unable to make eye contact with him. "What's not to like?"

He grabbed the T-shirt in my hands and yanked. I yanked back, refusing to look him in the eye, even when he deliberately moved into my line of sight. "Liam! Talk to me! Did you like it?"

Oh, f.u.c.k. Can I lay my pride on the line and talk about this like a girl? Maybe if we just get it over and done with we can move on. Or maybe he will laugh at me and leave. Either way, he needs to hear this. I met his eyes, holding steady as I whispered, "I came, didn't I? I must've liked it if I came."

Jay stood abruptly and drew me into his arms, softly kissing my brow, my cheek, and my lips as he whispered, "Oh, darling." So much was said in those two words. I could hear it-the obvious lie from my lips was negated by two simple words-Oh, darling. Jay was telling me he understood that I didn't like it, that I didn't understand why I didn't like it, that I was confused, hurt, and puzzled over the whole issue. And he said so much back without saying the words-it is okay not to like it, I am sorry you didn't like it, I like it so it is not something that you need to be ashamed you did.

We stood there hugging. Jay protected me this time, and whispered in my ear, "It will be okay, I promise. I'll show you how it can be more than you have ever thought possible. Would I let you down? I'll be the best teacher you could ever have because I would never, never, ever think of hurting a single hair on your body. I could never do a single thing that would cause you pain. You can trust me. I'll never let you down."

We moved as one, and lay on the bed with Jay cuddling me close. He held me and stroked my back with soft touches. He kissed me lightly, gently, with no intent other than rea.s.surance. I drew strength from his comfort, and from being close to him-but finally my pa.s.sion began to rise in response. I wondered if there would ever be a time when I could touch him and not be aroused. I moved in closer, deepening the kiss until we were both hard, and our bodies began to sing.

I kissed him hard. I wanted him. I wanted him now. But I had to make sure that he understood my feelings on the whole a.n.a.l s.e.x issue. "I still don't want to do it, Jay."

Pit bull or bloodhound, I didn't know. Whatever he was, he was also frickin' deaf. "You'll like it my way, believe me."

I laughed. "Your way? What? You think I was doing it wrong before? Because I tell you, there's not much to understand to the act. Erection, insert p.e.n.i.s, thrust until you come. Was I missing something?"

"You were catching instead of pitching, man."

"Huh?"

"Position, man. You are too dominant to be on the receiving end. You can top with me and you'll find it so much more satisfying. You've always seemed to me to be more of a natural top. You didn't like it the other way because it isn't who you are. You felt demeaned and out of control. Yeah?"

He was partly right, but I still felt uncertain. Could it be that simple? "But I don't want to do that to you, Jay. You're so vibrant and special."

He kissed me long and deep. Our tongues began to duel and I brought my pelvis into contact with his so we could rub together. "Do you think that by penetrating me you'll hurt me, Liam?"

I sighed. Jay was being so stubborn on the point, and here I was, wanting to get some loving! "Not hurt you exactly, just make you feel less... less good... about yourself." I was having trouble explaining to Jay the mixed emotions I felt after my previous experiences.

"You think you'll make me feel like a girl for being on the receiving end?"

I grimaced. "Something like that."

Jay didn't laugh at me. He just smiled and reached down to feel me through my jeans. "Liam, darling. If you take this lovely big c.o.c.k of yours and in your terms 'erection, insert, and thrust,' believe me, I will be screaming so loud that I won't know if I feel like a girl, a guy, or a b.l.o.o.d.y blue-ringed octopus. I do know, however, that I will feel absolutely, f.u.c.king great. Your neighbors will know that I feel great. I'm pretty sure that I will feel so great that they will call the cops to report a murder taking place and you will need your brothers to bail you for public disturbance."

I chuckled. "Have you seen my neighbors? I think it would have to be gunfire and a missile to make them give a s.h.i.t about anything other than their own lives."

Jay smiled coyly and ground against me. "If you provide the missile, I guarantee I will provide the gunfire."

I groaned at his sick joke. "Oh, s.h.i.t, that was bad, man." I rested my head against his chest. "Don't make jokes about that anymore, please!"

His hands were busy undoing my trousers and pushing them away. "I'll promise to not make any more jokes if you promise to use this big boy on me."

"No.... Babe...."

"I promise I'll love it."

"Jaaa-aay...."

It was a groan of concession and he knew it. He practically flew out of my arms, stripping off his clothes as he danced around the bedroom, clapping and singing in a little girl's voice. "Yay! Jamie's going to get f.u.c.ked well and good tonight. Jamie's going to get his a.r.s.e reamed. Jamie's going to have so much fun."

I choked and threw myself down on the bed face-first. The guy was a total nut case! But he made it fun and less stressful than it would've been otherwise. He acted like a kid on Christmas morning as he laid out a condom and lube for our use before turning to me with a pout. "Come on, come on! Jamie's getting impatient! Strip off and use that missile!" He attacked me and practically dragged the clothes from my body. I tried to distract him by cupping his c.o.c.k in my hand and bending my body around to take him in my mouth, but he stopped me.

"Uh, uh, uh! Naughty Liam! None of that now. Liam has a job to do and he is getting sidetracked." My breath exploded in laughter against his stomach.

I growled at him, low and rough. "Liam wants a lollypop before his job."

Jay descended into giggles and wrapped his legs around me, trapping my c.o.c.k against his stomach. "Nope! Lollypops are for good little boys, and Liam is a bad, bad boy. Liam needs to be a baaa-aaad boy and make Jay-Jay feel good."

The guy had a screw loose somewhere, but he was correct in saying that Liam needed to make Jay feel good. Making Jay feel good was rapidly becoming my favorite pastime. And if Jay insisted that f.u.c.king him until he came would make him feel good, well, I was willing to at least try.

I pinned him to the bed with my weight, forcing his arms above his head so I could kiss him senseless. He thrust against me, moving his hips but not trying to break the hold I had on his wrists. The feel of his naked body against mine was ecstasy. His smooth skin stroked mine. His pubic hair brushed against my sensitive shaft. His hardened c.o.c.k prodded my hip. I wondered how I had gone my whole adult life without doing this on a regular basis. I completely understood what Aaron meant now-being with Jay was the best thing ever. I never wanted it to stop and I constantly thought about when I was going to get him naked in bed with me next.

Once we were both breathless, I removed my hands from his wrists so I could explore his supple body. His body astounded me and never failed to turn me on. He was thin and slight, almost like a girl, but when you touched him, the hard, flexible muscle under the skin was as hot as all f.u.c.k. He was pale, but the paleness was extreme beauty to me. He reminded me of a lion, all tawny and fair, sunning himself on the Savannah-cuddly and cute, but with an edge of danger about him. And should a delicious meal suddenly present itself, he would be strong, resilient muscle that was tougher than any other on the African plains.

Jay immediately tried to roll from under me, but I wasn't having any of that. He was my captive and I was going to enjoy him however I wanted to, with no interference. I forced his arms back over his head. "Stay!" He smirked at me, as if he knew that was what I was going to do, and that is why he had deliberately moved. I growled, "No sa.s.s in my bed!" before biting him on his chest, just above the nipple.

"Ow!"

It was hard enough to leave a mark, but not hard enough to bruise. I licked it once before moving downward, slithering down the silky, red material under our bodies. I was heading for unmarked territory and I could feel my nerves start to rise.

But Jay kept me in check, and without a hint of nervousness, and with a heck of a lot of desire, he spread his legs wide so that I had access to that part of him that I had never explored.

"Yes, Liam. Oh, G.o.d, yes. Please, please, please. Don't leave me wanting."

My fingers brushed against his c.o.c.k, stroking lightly before venturing farther down. I had thoroughly investigated the shape of his shaft and testes on previous nights, but deliberately kept away from anything further. Now I had explicit permission to explore, investigate, and enter that part of his body. I was desperately curious, but I didn't want to cause Jay any discomfort or displeasure, so I had left it. Now Jay was urging me on, telling me he not only wanted me to go there, he was begging me to.

I dipped downward, brushing lightly across his pucker and was rewarded with a keening, wordless cry from Jay. I tried again and he jerked in my arms, spreading his legs wider, pleading with me.

"Oh, G.o.d, Liam. Don't tease me like that! Find that d.a.m.n lube, shove your fingers up inside me, and make me feel whole again."

I guessed you couldn't ask for any more blessing than that. The lube was within easy reach and the flip top meant I could open it with one hand. I dumped a large dollop on my finger and immediately pressed it back to Jay's hole.

He hissed. "f.u.c.k that's cold."

"Sorry."

"Shut up and continue. I don't care how cold the d.a.m.n stuff is, as long as it is slippery and it gets the job done."

I laughed and pressed in with a single digit. He responded beautifully. My slick finger moved easily past the first ring of muscle and inside his body. He arched and yelled. I pushed farther until I was all the way in, the lubricant doing its job and making my digit slip back and forth painlessly.

"More." Jay was panting and arching up. "More, man!"

With a little more lube I tried two fingers. I moved slowly, waiting for his body to respond before moving forward more. I thrust in and out, the muscles of his pa.s.sage becoming looser each time.

There was one thing I had always wondered about gay s.e.x, and I guessed it was the right time to ask. Jay would know and he wouldn't laugh at me.

"Show me where your prostate is." I was breathing heavily, excitement and arousal taking me higher and higher each time I breached his body.

Jay had trouble answering, and licked his lips several times before he finally got the answer out. "It's like a... b.u.mpy bit. Turn your fingers inward.... Up a bit.... Oh, f.u.c.k. Oh, f.u.c.k!" I chuckled as I presumed I'd found the right spot. I touched it again and watched him explode with pleasure on the bed. He certainly seemed to enjoy my penetration, which gave me confidence for the next part.

A bit more lube and Jay was wailing with desire as I used three fingers on him. He thrashed his head from side to side, gripping the headboard of my bed, obediently keeping his arms above his head as I had instructed. His obvious pleasure in what I was doing to his body gave me the courage to reach for the condom on the pillow beside us. I needed both hands and Jay cried out in protest as I removed my fingers from inside him.

"Shh," I calmed him. "If you were telling the truth about the next bit, you are about to get something much better than my fingers."

Jay stilled. "You better not be teasing me. Because I think I'm about to come and I need you in me, man. I need you hard, Liam. Hard and fast and strong and f.u.c.king hurry!"

My hands were shaking, I was breaking all my boundaries with this, but the condom was finally in place and I was ready. Jay helped, pulling his legs up so I could find his entrance easily. His hole was gaping and I pressed against him, my c.o.c.k moving into him. He gasped and I froze.

"No! Don't stop! Fill me up!"

I pushed forward, feeling the pressure envelope my d.i.c.k like a hot, tight glove. The heat was incredible. I pushed in a couple of inches and stilled, remembering the pain I had faced from my experiences, but Jay urged me on until I was in as far as I could go. I dropped my head to his shoulder, trembling with the need to buck and thrust, but knowing Jay needed the time to adjust before I moved. Just the knowledge of what we were doing was mind-blowing. We were as close as two people could get. I was inside Jay, inside his body, and he wanted me there.

"Move now. f.u.c.k me."

I supposed that was enough permission and I eased up on the reins I was gripping desperately. I pulled back, sliding slowly out, and then thrusting back in to the hilt. It was then I admitted to myself that this was the single best experience of my entire life. My hips snapped back and forward again, breaching his body and slamming home. Jay howled out his pleasure and I lost my mind.

My pelvis had a mind of its own, ramming into him over and over, my hands gripping his flesh, holding him in place so that I could lose myself in him. I squeezed my eyes shut, but that just made the sensations more intense as I was only concentrating on the feel of Jay's hot pa.s.sage around my flesh, so I pushed my eyelids open and focused on Jay. He had his head thrown back, yelling indecipherable things as I slammed into him. One hand was thrown up above his head, pushing against the headboard to keep his body in place for my forceful penetration. His other hand was clutching my shoulder, his fingernails unthinkingly digging into my skin.

I felt a sudden familiar wetness on my stomach and I looked down, knowing that Jay was coming and wanting to see him spend his load. His d.i.c.k was spurting white streams but my gaze was drawn farther down. The sight of my own d.i.c.k being swallowed completely inside Jay exploded my brain. Dimly I realized that maybe I was being too rough, but instinct had taken over and I plunged into my lover and climaxed dramatically.

It seemed to last forever. My pelvis rotated around, and I pushed the last of my s.e.m.e.n into the rubber balloon before collapsing in a heap on top of a welcoming body.

I was shattered. Completely and utterly shattered. I was unable to move a single finger, let alone move my whole body to the side to allow Jay to breath. Luckily, Jay was a strong man, not a soft woman, and he took my weight without complaint, wrapping his legs and arms around me until the shivering stopped. I don't think anything could have gotten a reaction out of me at that moment. Not a bomb going off in the foyer, not little green men tapping at the window, not even my dad walking in on us.

Jay recovered before I did, and finally shoved me to the side, where I simply flopped on my back and stared at nothing above me. I concentrated on breathing-pulling air into my lungs and back out again-as my brain had somehow forgotten it needed to do that to sustain life.

"Liam?"