The Quarterback (The Team, #2)

by Tal Bauer

There was something intoxicating about making someone you cared for orgasm. And he’d liked doing it. Maybe not enough to try sucking off more guys, but he liked sucking Colton’s cock.

“You’re the only man I’ve ever been with,” Nick said. “Me, too. I’ve never done anything like this before. Never even thought about it.” “I don’t know what I’m doing.” “Me, either.” Colton shrugged. “I watched some gay porn. That was kinda educational. It helped my dreams, at least.”

“Maybe I could be the only guy you’re ever with.” Colton spoke softly, almost a whisper. “I can’t imagine being in bed with any other man.” He couldn’t imagine being in bed with anyone else at all, really.

Who the hell was Nick, compared to football and the NFL and Colton’s glittering future?

What could this be between them? What did he want it to be? What if what he wanted outgrew what Colton wanted?

He nuzzled Colton’s cheek. “I like seeing you come. I like hearing you say my name when you do, too.”

Before they’d kissed, he could admit that Colton Hall, age twenty-two, was his best friend. After the kiss? Best friend wasn’t enough.

And what combination of events would lead Colton to be the number one college quarterback in the nation while he went home to Nick Swanscott, age forty-three, every night?

Professional NFL quarterbacks didn’t have older men as their… best friends. Lovers.

Day by day. Hold on to each of them, because eventually Colton would begin to drift away from him. He could see it like he could see the trajectory of a pass whe...

Enjoy yourself. When was the last time you were desired like this? When was the last time someone dreamed about you? Maybe it does have an expiration da...

Take it easy. Colton has a future, and its shape is in your hands. Don’t push. Don’t step too far. Don’t make an unforgivable mistake, something that can’t be taken back. Something Colton will have to live with, long after you’re gone.

He wanted to explore Colton’s body. Learn him head to toe. Learn what made him tremble and gasp, what made his toes curl, what made him scream Nick’s name. What left him breathless and unable to speak.

“You’re not supposed to touch yourself,” he whispered in Colton’s ear. “That’s my job.” “I’m trying not to come,” Colton whimpered. “I’m so fucking close.” “Roll over, and come in my mouth.”

Jesus, Nick

All the love he and Cynthia had made, all of it, suddenly paled as Colton breathed his name and kissed his knuckles, as he thrust and his aching cock ground against Nick’s.

Passion. He’d thought he knew what that meant. God, he hadn’t had a clue.

Would he be able to let this go when the time came?

He let his leg drift sideways and lean into Nick’s. Nick’s gaze darted to him as he took a sip of his coffee. He pressed his knee back against Colton’s. Colton smiled into his caramel macchiato.

Ugh little touches like this are so much better than smut

He’d woken in Nick’s arms Saturday, Sunday, and that morning, and each day, Nick was all smiles.

Saturday morning, Colton had moved all his things into Nick’s bedroom and bathroom.

Sometimes it felt like his life hadn’t really begun until Nick had thrown him against the front foyer in the jock house, pinning him to the wall with those pissed-off eyes.

He was impatient with Netflix shows and had started, but not finished, over two dozen.

Meeee

Colton got a separate text from Wes, sent just to him. You and Nick hanging out this summer? Yeah.

He stood so close to Nick he was inside Nick’s shadow. Kimbrough’s eyes darted to him, and he almost took a half step back, but—no.

Nick threaded their fingers together and squeezed back, and they held on maybe a second too long, because Kimbrough’s eyes knifed to where their thighs were pressed together and hiding their grasp

“Did you get any sleep?” Nick shook his head. “I was watching you.”

Cute

His happiness dimmed, though, as he gazed at Nick. “What’s wrong?” “How could you tell something is bothering me?” “I know you. Or I try to know you.” Nick’s eyes closed, and he took a slow, deep breath. “It’s nice to be known.”

“What do you see in me?” “Huh?” “Why on earth do you want me?” Nick’s voice was a whisper. “I can’t figure it out.” “Why wouldn’t I want you? Nick, you’re…” He swallowed. “You’re so freaking amazing it’s unreal.

“This seems like the time to ask what you see in me, but I’m kind of scared to.” What if Nick said something like Your muscles or How you play quarterback or even I don’t know, but you kissed me and it had been a while since anyone had?

“You’re genuine,” Nick breathed. “You’re exactly who you are. I look at you, and I can see your entire heart.” He inhaled, sharply. “And what I see, I trust.”

Wes texted. Is that a private chopper? And an oil rig? What kind of internship has you flying around in a private helo with Dom Perignon??? Justin texted. Colton frowned. “Congrats, Nick,” he texted, typing what they both should have said.

“Hey.” “Hey.” He couldn’t help it. He smiled and came across his office to squeeze Colton’s waist and drop a kiss to his lips. “What’s going on?” “Nothing. I just missed you.” “We had lunch an hour ago.” He kissed Colton again. “Together.”

Adorable

“I had an idea about something, and I wanted to run it by you.” “Oh, yeah?” “Yeah. Come sit down.” Colton led him to his couch and guided him to sit in the center. But instead of joining him, Colton sank to his knees in front of Nick.

“Colton—” “Shh.” Colton unbuckled his belt and pulled down his zipper. “Jim is in his office, and Lizbeth is outside the door. You don’t want them to hear, do you?”

“Shh,” he breathed against Colton’s cheek. “You have to be quiet.” “I don’t know if I can.” “Then shove your tie in your mouth.” He squeezed Colton’s ass again, two handfuls of glorious, thick quarterback. “Bite down when you scream.”

He’d always been an ass man. He’d never had this fine of an ass in front of him.

Nick took Colton’s chin in his hand. He waited, and finally, Colton’s gaze rose. Wide, uncertain eyes flickered to him and then away. “I want this,” Nick whispered. “I want to be with you. Yes, everything with you is new and different, but I’m not disgusted by any of it. Can’t you tell how much you turn me on?”

“Everyone likes blow jobs.” “I like you more than I like blow jobs.”

Could he stop himself from falling for Colton, though?

He was so damn hungry—greedy—for Colton, all the time.

Why would he come hang out with Nick when he had parties to go to and friends to be with, and fans who were dazzled by him?

Colton would be taking his clothes and his shoes and his PlayStation and leaving. The toothbrush and deodorant and razor he’d moved from Justin’s bathroom to Nick’s would vanish. How fast would Nick’s sheets stop smelling like Colton? How long would it take for his second pillow to lose the round hollow where Colton laid his head at night?

He was never going to hold Nick’s hand while they were walking down the street. He was never going to stay.

Nick didn’t have answers to Why and How and What the fuck. The closest he came was Colton’s gruff, soul-wracked reasoning in the car after that morning in Houston: when you feel like you’re falling for someone, does it matter if they’re a guy or a girl? Or your son’s friend?

Ultimately, he was going to lose Colton to time, because there was no way Colton would stay with him.

He was torn between what he should do and what he could do, between the son he loved and a man he thought he could.

Could Justin ever truly know him if he didn’t know how hard Nick’s heart pounded for Colton?

What would Justin say if Nick showed Justin his heart and Justin found Colton there?

He didn’t want to go to sleep because it meant he’d be one more day closer to when Colton shifted into his past and out of his future.

Most calls he sent to voicemail. Next to nothing interrupted his time with Colton.