19 comments/  19092 views/  47 favorites

Burning Honey Ch. 01

By: elleem



Author's note: 

Long time reader, first time posting. This is really my first whack at any kind of romance. Hopefully it's a decent start. If there's interest, I'll continue - so please do give me any feedback you may have!




--------

"Can I get another, please?"

The bartender shot Aspen a glance from the corner of his eye. Sure, he'd been sitting at the bar for less than an hour and had just downed his third gin and tonic, but Aspen was fine, really. It was open bar at this deathly-dull gala - some charity thing thrown by Ruby's company - and its only redeeming quality was the top-shelf liquor flowing freely.

The bartender passed the drink over silently, clearly deciding it wasn't worth the trouble to say anything. Aspen didn't really blame him; he stood out like a sore thumb in his rented, almost-fitting rental tux among the sea of designerwear. He must have realized he wouldn't be getting a hundred-dollar tip from Aspen. He took the drink without comment and glanced at his ancient watch. One hour down. He sighed.

"Not enjoying the party?"

The voice came from directly beside him and Aspen would have jumped, had the gin not made him a little slow to react. He swiveled his stool around to come face to face with - it might have been the booze talking, but Aspen couldn't think of any other way to describe him - a man made of gold.

Tall and broad, the man seemed to take up Aspen's entire field of vision. He had that kind of year-round tan that Aspen felt sure came from weekending in places like St. Kitts or Nevis. His hair was a dark honey blonde, threaded throughout with streaks of sunlight - it was too long, Aspen thought, the tips curling at his collar, to exactly blend into the well-starched crowd of businessmen milling about. No, this man wouldn't exactly blend in anywhere. He was smiling at Aspen expectantly and of course his teeth were perfectly straight, though not, Aspen noted, the artificial white of toothpaste commercials. His eyes, warm and green-yellow, were crinkled by the grin, the slight laugh lines framing them suggesting that this was a common expression. He looked...well, he looked inviting. He must be some sort of schmoozing guru, Aspen decided, the guy they called in to broker business mergers or whatever men in suits did these days. He seemed persuasive somehow, although Aspen really couldn't say how he had come to that conclusion, as the man had barely spoken.

"Oh - it's fine- I'm just -" Aspen managed out before he was cut off by a rich chuckle. He stared just a little as the man made a flick of a gesture to the barman and was immediately presented with a glass of amber liquid and an obsequious sort of half bow. Looking at the fine cut of the man's suit - the perfect length sleeve just skimming over admittedly impressive biceps, the silk shirt with its topmost button undone underneath an ever so slightly loosened shiny gold bowtie - yeah, he was the type to leave a hundred dollar tip. Aspen didn't blame the barman for looking like he was on the verge of abeyance.

"No need to play nice," the man winked at Aspen before knocking back the drink without hesitation. "Painfully dull, isn't it? Not even any interesting people watching to be done, and most of 'em are as boring as they look," he grinned at Aspen conspiratorially. Aspen felt himself smiling back.

"It's not that bad," Aspen tried halfheartedly. "Well, okay, it is, but I don't know anyone here. At least there's booze." He raised his glass slightly to the man, who did the same with his freshly refilled tumbler.

"So," the man said, leaning in. "Does that mean you're crashing? Because I could think of much better parties to crash than this one."

"No, no," Aspen hastened to correct him. For some reason his cheeks had warmed at the man's closeness. "I do know one person here - I came with my girlfriend actually, Ruby Santiago, she's just over-" Aspen made a gesture to the spot where Ruby had been deep in conversation with a few silver-haired gentleman, but she was gone. Probably was off having them sign an iron-clad contract selling their livelihoods away, knowing Ruby. "Well, she was over there," he finished.

"Well," the man said. He hadn't moved his gaze from his face, even while Aspen had been gesturing towards across the room. "She seems to have left you to the wolves, hasn't she?"

Aspen winced. "She does that sometimes," he admitted. "Oh - not that you're bad company, in fact you're rather..." He trailed off, not knowing what had gotten into him. Sure, he was no social butterfly, but why did he suddenly sound like a moron even to his own ears?

The man leaned further in and Aspen found he couldn't look away from the green-gold of his eyes. They felt scorching as they returned his gaze.

"You're rather..., yourself," He said lowly.

Just then an older man, portly and balding, approached them.

"Mr. Marsters, I thought you should know Mr. Ahern has just arrived," the man said, not sparing a glance at Aspen. It was strange to see this middle aged man treat the younger one - he couldn't be out of his early thirties - with such deference.

"Thank you, Mathison, I'll be there in a moment," he said, though he made no move to get up. He was still looking at Aspen.

The man he called Mathison hovered uncomfortably. "With all due respect, sir, I told Mr. Ahern--"

"Alright, I'm coming. No need to get your panties in a twist." The man stood. He nodded to Aspen and a slow grin grew on his face. Aspen felt something like nerves flutter up within him. "Nice talking to you..." The man said, offering him a hand. Aspen reached out and grasped it from his sitting position. "Aspen," he said. "Aspen Altier."

The man give his hand a gentle squeeze. "Aspen," he repeated, and then he loosened his grip, and strode away, Mathison close on his heels. It wasn't until they were halfway across the massive ballroom that Aspen realized the other man hadn't shared his own name.

~~~

An hour and a half later, Aspen was feeling just fine. Three more drinks had helped plenty with that. He was making his way determinedly towards the cab stand out front and, he thought, doing a fair job of it - he wasn't stumbling, not quite, although he didn't remember the pavement outside being so uncooperative when he was entering.

Ruby had sent him home. She'd dutifully collected him from the bar and made the rounds introducing him to people who all looked vaguely the same to Aspen's admittedly slightly unfocused gaze: men in luxury suits, women in stiff dresses. They all shook his hand and inquired politely as to Aspen's work - "He's a journalist," Ruby would answer crisply for him. "He covers the environment in big business - you know, greening initiatives and so on." That wasn't quite right, but they'd nod knowledgably and the topic would move right on to "company matters." Aspen hardly had to say a word other than to the bartender.

Finally, Ruby had taken pity on him. She drew him aside, her brown eyes gleaming with excitement. "Darling, go home, would you? I'm this close" she put her thumb and first finger together so they almost touched - "to getting Bernie to agree to try out my restructure plan for R&D - you know, the one I told you about? I'm not leaving until he does - and I know you're bored as it is."

It was very like Ruby. She was an ambitious woman, sharp as a tack - it had been what attracted Aspen to her in the first place. Still, every now and then he felt like little more than an accessory. It's just because she's in her element here, he told himself. And he wasn't exactly fighting to stay, either.

He had just reached the curb and was about to stick out a hand for a taxi when a sleek black sedan pulled up, right in front of him. It came to a halt and Aspen for a fleeting moment felt sure it was waiting for him. Then the glass doors behind him swung open and when he turned there was the golden-hued man striding towards him purposefully. Not towards you, dummy, Aspen rebuked himself. Toward the car.

The man did stop right beside him, though. He looked at him without saying anything at first, just let a grin play around his lips. Finally, "Well, look who it is, my bored friend." He looked amused and completely sober. "Hello there."

"I'm not--" bored? Your friend? Neither response seemed appropriate. Aspen let out a little sigh and settled on, "Hello."

The man's grin widened. His eyes looked like they were dancing, Aspen decided. He opened the door of the car and turned back to Aspen, gesturing to it. "Can I give you a ride somewhere?"

Every part of Aspen told him to politely refuse. Somehow, he found himself nodding dumbly, letting the other man press a hand to the small of his back and guide him into the car before him. He was warm. Aspen could smell him, too: expensive cologne with something more primal underlying it. Aspen took a deep breath.

After the man had climbed in after him, they sat looking at each other for a moment. Then that perfectly chiseled face broke out into a grin once more. "So," the man said conversationally. "You going to let us know where to take you?"

"Oh!" Was all Aspen could say for a moment. You're drunk, he told himself firmly. Get it together. It wasn't altogether convincing. He'd been drunk plenty without acting like this. Turning from the man, he gave the driver directions as coherently as he could manage - apparently passably, as the driver nodded. "Thank you, Nelson," the man told him, and then pressed a button that caused a dark paneled partition to rise between them. "Nelson prefers to drive without distraction," the man explained.

The hotel where the gala had been held was about a twenty minute drive from Aspen's loft apartment, if there wasn't traffic. Aspen figured he could make small talk for ten of those twenty minutes, maybe. Or he could just look out the window intently. Likely he'd never see this man again, or only briefly, the next time Ruby dragged him along to some work outing.

When the car pulled away from the curb, Aspen lurched forward - stupidly, he hadn't touched the seatbelt beside him. He scrambled back into the seat, blushing, and was fumbling with the buckle when the car made a sharp turn that sent him flying right into the man, who was securely belted in. He grabbed Aspen's hip to steady him, pulling him - was it unintentionally? - closer. "Whoa, there," he murmured. His eyes were hot. Aspen didn't move; he was breathing in the man's spicy scent. He felt a little lightheaded; clearly those gin and tonics had gone straight to his head, although typically Aspen had no problem holding his liquor. "I, uh, sorry," he said lamely, looking away and starting to wriggle back towards his seat.

The man's grip on him only tightened, however. The hand not on Aspen's hip rose to Aspen's chin, tipping his face up, forcing Aspen's blue eyes to meet burning gold ones. Aspen didn't breathe. He didn't know what was happening but he could feel his body trembling. And then the man leaned in and kissed him.

No, Aspen thought vaguely somewhere. This is not a kiss. It didn't feel like one - not one that he'd ever given or received. This one felt more like drowning, or being consumed by fire - the man's lips were hot on his, fine stubble grazing his cheeks, that scent enveloping him and it was all Aspen could do not to moan. When he did give in the man did not pull away but took advantage of Aspen's parted lips to swoop in, nibble at the lower one, swipe his tongue across the top one, until Aspen groaned again and pressed himself tighter against the man. He made some growling noise of approval and Aspen was lost in the feeling of their breath mingling, tongues tangling. 

He didn't pull away, just whined a protest when the man shifted them, pulled Aspen onto him so that he straddled his lap. Another noise was torn from Aspen, muffled by the man's lips, as their bodies pressed together and Aspen was amazed to find that he was ragingly aroused, his rock hard cock rubbing against this golden stranger's through layers of silk and polyester, and neither of them could get enough. Both of the man's hands were now cupping Aspen's ass and he pulled away from Aspen's mouth just long enough to bite at and then kiss his neck, whispering, "So sexy," right into Aspen's ear so that he shuddered. Not giving him a chance to respond the man stole his lips once more, fierce in his passion. Aspen's mouth felt bruised and swollen and he wanted more. Their hips were grinding together now, hard and fast and frantic, the man squeezing his ass so perfectly, and when he pulled away one more time to breathily groan out, "Aspen," it was too much and not enough. Aspen felt his back arch up involuntarily with the pleasure as he spilled, shuddering, into his pants.

For a moment the world went blank and all Aspen knew was the roaring in his ears and the heat of the body pressed to his. The feeling of rapidly cooling wetness against his crotch intruded, though, and gradually he became aware of the large hands running up and down his back, both soothing and sensual. It was a shock to open his eyes and meet the intense gaze awaiting him. There was hunger in those eyes, more desire than Aspen had ever seen directed at him. 

"Aspen," the man said, and Aspen felt a shiver run down his spine at the huskiness in his voice. Aspen had to clear his own throat to respond, causing the man's smirk to return. 

"I-uh-yes?" Those hands were still rubbing his back. Combined with the look the man was giving him Aspen felt sluggish, hypnotized. The man leaned in so that their lips were almost touching.

"We're here," he said, and the smirk slid into a grin.

"Wha--" Aspen was just noticing that the car had stopped moving. A glance out the tinted windows revealed them to be right outside his apartment building. "Oh."

With a blush, he began extricating himself from the man just as the car door was pulled open, revealing a uniformed Nelson standing to hold the door open.

Before he knew what was happening Aspen was on the sidewalk as Nelson folded himself back into the driver's seat. The back window rolled down to reveal the golden man wearing what Aspen had already come to think of as his customary grin.

"See you again soon, Aspen," the man said, and then they were driving away.

Aspen put a hand to his swollen lips and glanced down to see a distinctive wet spot on the rented trousers.

Fuck. What just happened?

And then, still not moving:

I never found out his name.

"Fuck!"

Burning Honey Ch. 02



Author's note:

Wow, you guys are amazing! Thank you all so much for the support - I only hope part two will live up to your expectations. Again, your thoughts and suggestions are very much appreciated.

I'm thinking there will be a few more parts of this - please bear with me, I don't have much time to dedicate to writing. In fact almost all of this story was written on my phone on the way to and from work each day - so if you ever see someone furiously typing on the train, looking up nervously from time to time - you never know, it could be me!

~~~~~~~~




It was almost a week later that Ruby invited - fine, it was more like insisted - Aspen come meet her at her building for lunch. She'd gotten a new office, she told him, just six months into the job; a nice big one, though not the corner, with an amazing view he just had to see. "Just come up for a minute," she had told him. "Besides, I didn't get a chance to introduce you to my boss Carrie at the gala. Promise you'll come and make me look good? No jeans, darling."

That had been that. Never mind Aspen's protests that really he had a busy day, and couldn't they meet at the restaurant like they had planned? There was just no arguing.

And so that was how, come Friday around noon, Aspen found himself riding the elevator alone up to the 12th floor of her impossibly slick office building. Even the elevator was ostentatious: gold paneled, with a marble floor and mirrored sides. Aspen was faced at all angles with the sight of himself wearing his one pair of too-tight dress pants, purchased straight out of college and worn perhaps six times total since. He was wearing a button down, too, the deep blue one that Ruby always said brought out his eyes. He'd even tucked it in (though admittedly Ruby had texted to remind him to do so). All in all, he looked like a nervous wreck, he decided as he examined his reflection, brushing an unruly black lock of hair out of his face.

Truthfully, Aspen was a bit of a nervous wreck. Not that he'd necessarily run into that man, of course. Maybe he'd just been a high-rolling guest at a charity event, after all. And yet even the possibility of seeing him again had Aspen's pulse racing.

The night of the gala after he'd been dropped off had been a blur: somehow he'd gotten himself into his apartment, undressed, and into bed, though he didn't remember a moment of it. He'd woken twelve full hours later with a splitting headache and a throbbing erection.

If that night felt like it'd happened in fast forward, the rest of the week, by contrast, was excruciatingly slow. Everything took Aspen twice as long: he'd be typing out an article steadily and suddenly, wham, he'd be hit by the memory of the man's golden eyes locked with his, and there went his concentration. Or he'd be chopping vegetables and out of nowhere he'd start imagining what those broad shoulders would look like out of the perfectly tailored tux. He thought they'd probably look bitable. He'd left the vegetables half-chopped and hopped immediately into a ice cold shower.

He'd taken more than a few of those in the past week, because he absolutely refused to touch himself while thinking of a complete stranger--a male stranger at that, even if he was the most attractive human Aspen had ever seen, of either sex.

He'd been avoiding Ruby, too. It was easy enough to do; they worked nearly opposite hours during the week and Ruby lived on the other side of town. But Ruby knew his column's deadline was 9 am Friday to run in the Sunday paper, and he wouldn't get edits back until late afternoon, so the lunch date was impossible to wriggle out of. Just the thought of sitting across from Ruby in her favorite posh restaurant, listening to her tell him about her day, caused Aspen's stomach to churn with guilt.

Aspen was so lost in thought that when the elevator door dinged open on the sixth floor he walked right out - and right into a group of men in suits entering the elevator.

"Oh, sorry, wrong fl--" Aspen started. The words died on his tongue, though, because the man leading the group - the man Aspen had just knocked into - was over six feet of golden muscle. And he was grinning like the cat that caught the canary.

Aspen stepped out of the way mutely. Even if he thought he could trust his voice, he didn't think he could speak without saying something really very idiotic. Like, who are you? or possibly can I take off your pants?

One of the men - Aspen thought he recognized him from Saturday's gala - pressed the button for the fifteenth floor. The others made loud jokes about some upcoming golf expedition. None of them spared Aspen a glance. The golden man wasn't facing Aspen but he could see his face in a mirrored panel, and he was watching Aspen intently while still responding to the men ribbing him for some missed shot last time they were on the greens. When the man laughed, deep and warm, Aspen felt a bolt of something red hot shoot right to his groin. He felt glued to his spot in the corner of the elevator.

It was a relief when the elevator door swung open on twelve - or it was, until Aspen heard the man tell the others, "I'll catch up with you in the conference room. I want to grab the O'Grady files from my office."

These words caused Aspen to jolt forwards. Maybe if he walked quickly enough he'd avoid any interaction and he really thought that was best given the circumstances. 

Except he didn't know where he was going, with Ruby's new office. And the secretary at the front of the floor was glaring at him with a no-nonsense look. He slowed as he approached.

"Hi, can you point me towards Ruby Santiago's office, please?" Aspen asked, trying to smile at the woman. The secretary, a middle aged woman with hair pulled severely back from her face, glared at him for a moment longer before turning to her desktop without responding.

"Don't worry about it, Millie, I'm on my way back there myself and can show Aspen here the way," came from behind him. Shit. So much for avoidance. As Millie fell all over herself in gratitude (what was it about this man?), he casually put a hand on Aspen's back. He was barely touching him and yet Aspen was hyper aware of the fingertips just brushing over him, like a promise. He shuddered, hardly perceptible, but he thought he felt the man's gaze shift to him. "It's just this way, if you'll come with me."

Oh god. Aspen didn't even want to think about the implications of that statement. 

"Yeah, sure," Aspen muttered, keeping his eyes down. "Thanks."

Aspen stayed behind the man as he led him through a winding maze of cubicles toward a line of offices. Not that he was looking, but Jesus Christ that tailor deserved a medal for the way the man's pants fit his muscular ass. Ruby, Aspen reminded himself furiously. You're here to see Ruby.

He was still admonishing himself when he realized the man had come to a halt outside a closed door. Aspen just stopped himself from walking into the man, who turned around just in time to catch Aspen's arm as he stumbled slightly.

"Rather clumsy, aren't you?" The man was, again, clearly amused. Aspen flushed, feeling like more of a fool than ever. 

"No actually, I'm not," he snapped. The man hadn't released his arm. In fact, his thumb had begun to just lightly rub across the sensitive skin of his inner forearm. Aspen's pique fled right out of him; that featherlight touch was driving him crazy and he couldn't think. "It's only when you're around--"

"Glad to know," the man cut him off, and Aspen made the mistake of meeting his gaze, "that I have such an effect on you." He was almost purring. Oh god.

"Um." Aspen couldn't look away; he was trapped in those tawny depths. "Could you - I mean, is this - where's Ruby's office?" He tried valiantly.

"Are you....sure you want to walk over there right now?" There was no mistaking it: the man's voice had become downright husky. That trademark grin was nowhere to be found--he was watching Aspen with raw hunger.

"Of course," Aspen breathed, although he had sort of forgotten the question. "Oh - yes, we have lunch plans and I told her..."

"That's not what I meant," the man said, and the smirk slid right back into place. "I meant, do you really want to walk over there right now?" He flicked a glance down. Bemused, Aspen did the same.

Oh god. Do I really have an erection in the middle of a cubicle farm? He groaned.

"Come on, in here," the man said, smirk now a full fledged grin. He was enjoying this, Aspen reflected as the man pulled him into the office at which they'd stopped.

After the man had pulled the door shut behind them, there was a pause. Dear god, this is so embarrassing.

"Really? I'm not embarrassed at all," the man winked at him. Aspen groaned again as he realized he'd spoken out loud.

In a flash, before Aspen knew what was happening, he was being pinned against the door. For a minute the man just held him there, looking him up and down as though he were famished. He bent closer, so that they were cheek to cheek, taking his time now that he had Aspen where he wanted him. The man brought one hand up to cup Aspen's face; the other was resting at his hip, keeping him pressed to the door. When he leaned in even further to kiss Aspen (steal his lips, more like, for his mouth on Aspen's felt distinctly possessive) he could feel the other man's equally hard cock pressed against his. He didn't understand why he felt like he was drowning.

When the man finally pulled away, both were nearly breathless. "Let's just see," the man panted, "if I can't help fix your, ah, little problem here."

The hand that had been tracing Aspen's jawline began skating a path down his body: Aspen felt frozen in place as he felt fingers brush his neck, his collarbone, the planes of his chest and finally, oh god just lightly, so lightly, against the front of his pants.

"It's not - gah - little," Aspen didn't even know how he was speaking. All other control of his body had been sacrificed--his hips were bucking forward, head lolling back against the door, as he lost himself in the feeling of those hands, strong and large and powerful on him.

"So I'm noticing," the man said between playful bites to his neck, pausing to lick his way up to an earlobe.

"And you're not exactly - helping," he gritted out.

The man stilled. Aspen gave a little moan of displeasure at this, pushing himself closer into the man's touch, and felt the man grin. "No, I'm not, am I?"

Shoving Aspen back, the man buried his face in his neck once more as he began working on Aspen's belt buckle. Aspen whimpered just a little as he worked the zipper down, just those thin layers of fabric keeping him from the man's hot touch, and he wanted - it was torture, he needed - "Please," he pleaded, and then the man had his pants shoved down to mid thigh, boxers with them, his fist immediately wrapping around Aspen's achingly hard length as both men groaned in mingled relief and urgency.

His grip was firm but he was stroking Aspen so slowly, so goddamn slowly, and when Aspen thrust his hips forward the man just returned his other hand to Aspen's hips to pin him back against the door. "Please," Aspen begged again, and thank god, thank fucking god, the man was becoming more forceful now, faster too, his fist twisting up and down Aspen's length and the friction was unbearable - Aspen's mouth was just open and his eyes were shuttering closed when the man again halted his actions, though he didn't move away.

"Look at me," he rasped, and Aspen didn't even think about it, just opened his eyes to find that perfect face inches from his own, and eyes blazing with golden fire. 

"You have no idea," the man nearly growled, resuming his stroking, "how much I want you naked underneath me right now."

Aspen thought he might have let out some strange sound, but he was entirely consumed by the intensity in the man's stare: his entire world was blue crashing into that green-gold.

"But this," the man added, "will have to do. For now."

With that he released his hold on Aspen's cock--but before he could protest, the man had dropped to his knees with a feline grace.

A large hand circled the base of Aspen's cock. He couldn't think. His breath was coming out in sharp little bursts. The man's fine stubble was was scraping pleasurably against his skin, enflaming him as the man nuzzled into his groin, nipping gently at the juncture of Aspen's inner thigh. One of Aspen's hands was clenched beside him and the other one was somehow moving to thread into the man's thick gold hair. The man smirked up at him as he pulled back to press his closed lips to Aspen's tip--his cock was already dripping and the sight alone made it twitch. 

When the man's tongue, wide and pink, flashed out to lave the head Aspen nearly collapsed--his legs were water as the man hummed what seemed to be his approval. Eagerly now he wrapped his lips around Aspen's length, immediately diving down on him almost right to the base, and Aspen cried out and thrashed against the man's hold on him. Almost at once the man pulled back completely, smacking his lips appreciatively.

"You taste fucking amazing," the man told him lowly, his hot breath on Aspen's wet cock causing Aspen to spasm and attempt to force his head back into place. After teasing Aspen for just a moment by keeping his lips firmly sealed, he gave in, hot tongue swirling expertly down his length until again he had him entirely embedded in his throat. He sucked him powerfully and the whole time his eyes never left Aspen's face, as if memorizing it.

Aspen didn't know how much more he could take. It had never been like this before. His whole life was between his legs right now, everything reduced to the wet heat surrounding him, the hands that had moved to cup Aspen's ass. When the man pulled back and pushed his legs just a bit apart to nibble softly on his heavy balls he thought for sure he would die right then.

It was just as the man had taken his cock once more down to the root, Aspen squirming against him, that, like some horrible dream, he heard it: two distinct knocks on the very door he was pressed against.

Aspen froze. The man did not, sucking more ferociously if anything, pulling back to kiss at the head almost feverishly, and when Aspen gained his senses enough to try to use the hand buried in his hair to pull him away the man only growled, "No," and returned to circle his tongue forcefully along the underside of Aspen's sensitive cockhead, gold eyes heavy lidded with lust, reddened mouth obscenely stretched around him, and it was with this image burned into his retinas that Aspen threw his head back, vision blackening, holding back a scream, and came harder than ever before in his life.

He could feel the man cleaning him carefully with the flat of his tongue, but he couldn't move, couldn't even look down, though his grip on the man's head had slackened. He was trembling and when he felt the man rise, releasing his hold on Aspen for just a moment, he was sure he would fall apart. Almost instantly the man was pressing him back again, more gentle this time, kissing his lips, still frozen slightly parted in pleasure. His hands were pulling Aspen's pants up, tucking him in, zipping him up, smoothing up his chest. The two knocks came again and the man pulled away to say loudly, voice only slightly hoarse, "Just a moment."

Aspen just looked at him. He knew he should be horrified, mortified - and yet he was still languid from release, drugged by the scent of the man around him. He almost didn't register what was happening as the man pulled him further into the office, away from the door; put him in a chair and patted down his hair like a child. When the man took a step back, Aspen couldn't help but admire his fine form with something like awe. It was only as the man started towards the door that Aspen jolted into awareness.

"Wait!" he said, half rising from the chair. The man paused, turning back to him. "What about you?"

The man's face, which he had schooled into a neutral face, split into a wide grin. Those gold eyes were glittering again. "Not that I don't appreciate the offer, but do you really think that now's the time?"

"I--didn't mean that! I mean, not that I--" Aspen could feel his face warming and wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or the sudden ardent desire to have the man's golden cock in his mouth, bury his face in his crotch and surround himself with that masculine scent--Aspen took a deep breath. "I meant, what about the massive tent you have going on?"

Nonplussed, the man looked down at the very prominent bulge in his designer slacks. "Shit."

Aspen had a mad urge to laugh. And then jump on him.

"Look, I'll just have to sit behind my desk, and you answer the door. We can say we were discussing your column on Vitatech, we were thinking of acquiring them last year--"

"You read my column?" Aspen broke in incredulously, but a muffled "Mr. Marsters?" came from behind the door, and without thinking he rose to answer it.

He opened it almost as if in a trance, and was met by Millie's dour face, instantly scowling at the sight of him. She pushed past into the office. "Mr. Marsters? The gentlemen from Terracom are waiting for you upstairs--"

"Oh! Aspen! There you are, darling."

Behind Millie was Ruby, her painted red lips stretched in a wide smile. Aspen tried to lift the corners of his lips up. He wondered what would happen if he just made a run for it, bolted straight out. "Hi, Ruby."

"I was wondering where you were, you're fifteen minutes late! But I see you've met Cary, my boss - he hasn't been boring you to death, now, has he?" This was directed, with an impish grin, over Aspen's shoulder to where the golden man--Cary--now stood, Millie hovering beside him.

Cary...his name is Cary.

Wait, did she say boss?

Cary. Not Carrie. 

"So, darling, ready for lunch?"

Aspen stared, first at Ruby, then back at the man.

"I--" His throat was constricting. "I think I'm going to be sick."

With that, he pushed past a shocked Ruby and made a beeline for the men's room.

~~~

Five minutes later he was standing over the marble sink with its fancy burnished taps, face dripping with water. He hadn't actually been sick, but it'd been a close call, and he still felt his stomach roiling. Luckily he'd spotted the sign for men's room just across the hall - so not too many of Ruby's colleagues had been privy to his humiliating exit.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

The door swung open and Aspen tensed, watching in the mirror as the golden man--Cary--pushed it closed behind him, locking it with a latch Aspen had noticed but felt he had no authority to touch.

"Hey," the man said, rather sheepishly. Aspen didn't feel this merited a response and continued to stare. "Look, I told Ruby I'd come check on you in here, she's taking over for me upstairs."

Again Aspen had no response. What the hell was he supposed to say? Great, shall we pick up where we left off? warred with Stay the hell away from me. He examined his hands, gripping the edge of the sink.

"I told her I'd have Nelson take you home." A pause. "I'm hoping you'll let me come along. To talk," he added as Aspen's head swiveled up.

"Talk about what?" The question shot out of Aspen's mouth before he could even think about it. Your habit of molesting me in semi-public places? My inability to form full sentences around you? The fact that I just had the all-time best sexual experience of my life with my girlfriend's male boss, and neither of us was even naked for it?




Burning Honey Ch. 02



The man sighed and ran a hand through his honey-colored hair. It made him look tousled in a way that had Aspen's knuckles turning white where they grasped the sink.

"It wasn't supposed to go this way," Cary said. Aspen thought the name suited him.

"Wait, what?" Aspen turned now to face the man. "Wasn't supposed to go what way? What do you mean?" Aspen had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. 

"I knew who you were last weekend at the gala." Aspen simply continued to stare at him, mouth slightly open. The man went on. "I recognized you from the picture on Ruby's desk."

Aspen was processing this. He knew the photo Cary was talking about; he and Ruby on the beach, his arm around her, Ruby with her customary wry look, Aspen grinning too broadly. He'd wanted to be flattered when she'd had the picture printed and framed, but he'd always had the sneaking suspicion that she'd chosen it more for the way she looked in her bikini than out of affection for him.

"To be honest, Aspen, I asked Ruby to invite you. I wanted to talk to you. What ended up happening...well, that wasn't the plan. I generally have more self restraint than that. Than this." He was watching Aspen carefully.

None of this was adding up. "You planned that? To talk about what, exactly?" He asked, eyes narrowed. 

"Look, it's a long story, and this bathroom isn't really the place. I was going to tell you about this earlier in my office but...well, I got distracted. I need your help, Aspen. And hopefully this will help you, too."

"Help? What are you talking about? How could I help you?"

"I can't get into it here. Can we go someplace to talk? I'll keep my hands to myself," he raised them, palms facing Aspen in a gesture of appeasement, "I promise."

He looked so fucking impossibly sexy like that, something between hope and desperation in his face, looking at him like he was all that mattered in the universe, that Aspen almost made a grab for him.

But Aspen knew better than that now. Play with fire, get burned. That was how it went. 

"No, you look, Cary," Aspen was suddenly furious. "You set up some strange meeting and end up mauling me in your fancy black car. Then you waylay me as I come here to see my girlfriend, your employee. Now you tell me you want me to help you? No way," he said, shaking his head. "No fucking way. I don't know what you're playing at here - trying to seduce me to use me against Ruby, or -"

"It's not like that," the man broke in, and Aspen could see some heat in his gaze now. "I told you that wasn't part of the plan - I didn't expect you to be so... And then you come in today wearing those ridiculously tight pants and you gave me this look -" he cut himself off with an almost agonized groan and Aspen had to remind himself to breathe. 

"The bottom line," he said after a moment to compose himself, "is that I don't want to get mixed up in - whatever you're up to. So no, we can't go talk somewhere. I'll find my own way home."

Cary looked as though he was trying very hard not to say something: Aspen gave him just a moment to out with it, but when nothing was forthcoming, he sighed and made for the door. Cary didn't move.

Aspen pulled the door open, looked back. "You won't be seeing me soon this time, Cary," he said firmly. It was for the best. The man was clearly dangerous.

It occurred to him as he pressed the call button for the elevator that he should be proud how well he'd managed that. Last time he'd seen the man he'd barely gotten out a coherent thought. This time he'd solidly put him in his place. Which was the right thing to do, he reminded himself.

So why was he left feeling like he'd just made a terrible mistake?



Burning Honey Ch. 03



Author's note:

I. Am. So. Sorry. All of you have been so supportive and here I am months late with the next installment.

If it's any consolation at all, this installment is just about twice as long as the last one. There should be either one or two more chapters coming after this one. I hope you enjoy it! As always, your thoughts, constructive criticism, anything -- all are appreciated whether in the comments below or direct feedback. Thanks for reading!

~~~~~

"So I told her, of course, to pack up her desk first thing - I mean, can you imagine? Poor girl, but she had one job, and she had Kearns sign on all the wrong lines--"

"Ruby," Aspen said suddenly. They were eating dinner at his loft; he'd made a shrimp scampi with linguine. Nothing he'd ever heard her praise in particular, nor object to. A neutral dish, just like the while oxford shirt and dark jeans he wore: neutral. It was a strategy. "I think - I think we should take a break."

Shit. That wasn't how he'd planned to say it. He didn't want to give her false hope - he didn't think he could be with her anymore, and that wasn't likely to change, not ever - not after what he'd done to her.

You're definitely not breaking up with her for him, Aspen reminded himself. Even if it is because of him. The thought was supposed to make him feel better.

It'd been three days since the scene in her office. Ruby had been miffed, as he'd known she would be. He was supposed to have nodded and shook hands and kept his mouth shut. Only his protestations that it was the flu, and did she want him to just get ill right there in the hall? seemed to be grudgingly accepted.

He'd played off that flu excuse to avoid her the next day, feeling horribly guilty the whole time. Sunday, though, he'd been unable to continue the excuse; they'd made brunch plans with some client Ruby was wooing, and he knew if he bailed it would be, in Ruby's eyes, an unspeakable betrayal, rivaling even infidelity. And then she'd come over that night, though she hadn't balked when he told her he was exhausted, still recovering, and just wanted to sleep. It suited her just fine, actually. Ruby liked sex, certainly, viewed it almost as a sport, a competition in which both parties won--but she wasn't interested in having it all the time. She preferred sex to take place at times scheduled in advance, so that she was perfectly coiffed and smooth and ready. Sometimes Aspen wondered if she came prepared with a minute-by-minute plan for how best to use the time to maximize pleasure.

It hadn't bothered him before, not much. It was one of her quirks. He'd never been a sex addict, anyways - oh, sure, he liked it as much as anyone else, and he'd had his fair share of it, but the urge to copulate had never controlled his life. At least, up until now.

He didn't know what was wrong with him. He barely knew Cary - he was stifling the voice in his head that told him that the man's eyes were honest, if mischievous, the curve of his lips fair and good natured, his touch gentle but strong - and yet Cary was all he seemed to think about. Cary, in his suit. Cary, out of his suit. Cary, in his bed. Cary, in his boxers - no, wait, he must wear the sexy kind of underwear I could never pull off - sitting at his kitchen table with an espresso and the paper.

Sometimes before he could control himself Aspen would see himself with Cary. He tried to stop himself from slipping into ridiculous fantasies but sometimes it'd flash before his mind's eye, unrelenting: two bodies, one large and deeply tanned, muscular with a fine sheen of sweat, the other paler and slighter, toned but lean, pinned beneath the first. Naked, just like Cary had growled right into Aspen's ear, breath hot on his skin. (Sometimes his hands were tied. Aspen had never had his hands tied; he'd honestly never even thought about it. Now he was thinking about it. Fuck, he was thinking about it.)

"You're joking, darling," Ruby said, almost startling him. She seemed surprisingly calm.

"What? I'm not joking, Ruby. I'm just, you know, going through some stuff right now and --"

"Aspen, what the fuck?" It was rare for Ruby to curse, but she said it without real rancor. "What's gotten into you? You promised to come with me to Maryann's wedding next week. You're not getting out of it."

"I - this isn't about that!"

"Maybe not, but you haven't wanted to go from the moment I brought it up," she cut him off. Well, that was true. Maryann was Ruby's catty best friend, a woman with an artificial smile who was quick to criticize. Aspen was sort of friends with her fiancé Paul - poor guy, Aspen thought.

"You're not listening, Ruby. I can't - I can't be with you anymore."

"Fine, we'll take a break. But you're still coming to the wedding with me." She told him, matter of fact. "They already have a place card for you, darling, and it'd be so tacky to show up with someone else, though I wonder if I asked Cary if he might -"

"Fine," Aspen ground out. "I'll go with you to this - but I mean what I said, Ruby, I need -"

"Yes, yes, I heard you," she said, standing in a businesslike way. "Well. Thank you for dinner, Aspen." He could see she was upset now, putting on a face. She usually preferred to address Aspen by silly pet names, darling or dear or sometimes - he winced to think it - honey. At least she'd given up on cutesy abbreviations of his name after he'd refused, point blank, to respond if she called him either Aspy or Penny.

She walked around the table and gave Aspen a kiss goodbye, right on the lips, as if it were an absolutely normal night. "Less garlic next time, darling." Maybe she wasn't that upset.

As Aspen locked the front door behind her, he distinctly felt that he had only been granted a temporary reprieve. If that.

---

It was later that week, as Aspen was leaving the paper's offices downtown, that he noticed the dark car with tinted windows that was parked just in front of the building. Almost as if it were waiting for him.

The sight did not please him.

He strode directly up to the car and knocked on the dark backseat window. It was only a moment before it began to roll down to reveal gold hair, gold skin, gold eyes fixed on his. The anger that had flared inside him was warring now with a liquid heat that seemed to rush through Aspen's veins at the sight of the man. God, he's gorgeous. Bastard.

"I'm sorry," Cary said, before Aspen could get a word out. "I really am. But I need to talk to you. This is really important, Aspen, otherwise I'd just leave you alone - well, no, I probably wouldn't," he added, almost as if to himself, "but the point is --"

"I get it," Aspen said, and the man looked astonished that he was capitulating so easily. "You're not going to leave me alone until I hear you out, are you?" He was annoyed, but resigned to it.

"No," the man said, grinning. His smile made Aspen's lips twitch despite the stern face he was working to maintain. "Hop in."

"Do I have to?" The words were out before Aspen could think better of them. He blushed. "I mean, can't you tell me about this over the phone, or send me an email --"

"I hate to come across as paranoid so soon after we meet," the man told him, "but I have my reasons for wanting to talk in person. Come on. You can sit up front with Nelson if you don't trust me."

Aspen didn't want to sit next to Nelson. He wanted to be pressed against that strong, hard body. "I don't trust you," he said. "And no promises that I'll help. I'm just listening to what you have to say so that you'll get off my back."

Still, though, he walked around the car and opened the door to the back seat. He made a show of buckling himself in and did not look at Cary until he was settled. When he at last dared a glance, it was to find Cary's eyes already on him.

"So," Cary said after a moment. "Come here often?"

Aspen blushed at the memory of the last time he'd been in this car. It was a stupid joke, really, and overused. But those eyes were so damn warm as they tracked him.

"Where are we going?" Aspen asked, as the car pulled away from the curb and made its way down the street.

"Someplace public," Cary answered. "I figured it'd make you feel safer. You know," he added, "since last time I - how did you put it? - mauled you?"

Aspen flushed again. He felt off balance. Cary was grinning.

"Don't worry," the man said, smile fading. "I won't try anything."

Aspen looked at Cary, took in the tailored dark blue suit he wore with such ease, the thoughtful furrow in a dark blonde brow, the now serious lilt of those full lips, lips that had stretched so perfectly around his cock--and he was pretty sure his thoughts were plainly written across his face, for the man sucked in a breath: what if I want you to try something?

"But don't tempt me," the man murmured.

Aspen bit his lip in an effort not to smile. He didn't know what he was doing with this mostly strange man who somehow felt comforting, like he'd known him his whole life. It suddenly felt as if the tension between them had broken, and it was easy to just be there, sit beside him. They didn't speak for the rest of short ride, but it was a comfortable silence, not at all what Aspen had expected.

The coffee shop that Cary led him to wasn't the kind of place Aspen would have expected some hotshot corporate suit to frequent, either. It was small and two storied, with little to no decor to speak of; the woman at the counter was not some twentysomething barista with a nosering but a pleasant woman who could have been anywhere from sixty to eighty years old. She was well preserved and smiling, but with a tiredness that looked to run deep.

Cary ordered them both the cafe special, doubleshots of espresso poured over sweet condensed milk, and carried Aspen's drink and saucer upstairs. He headed for a table in the back without hesitation, clearly his usual spot.

Aspen had taken two sips of the drink - it was deliciously rich - before Cary spoke again.

"Are you hungry? They make the best media noches in the city - Camilla's direct from Cuba," he said. Aspen shook his head mutely. The tension between them was mounting again: that easy atmosphere had gone, and Aspen felt an intense curiosity for what was to come.

"How much do you know about Ryder Corps?" Cary asked abruptly a moment later. That was the company he and Ruby worked at; a large umbrella corporation, valued at many millions, though still a relatively new player in the market. They produced a number of household products under several brand names: dishwashing liquid and window cleaner and the like.

Aspen took another tiny sip. "Not a lot. You stay out of the news for the most part, don't you? Most of what I know about the company is from Ruby."

Cary nodded. "Yes, we've been quiet as a corporation for the past few years. No major changes. No crazy acquisitions or groundbreaking new projects. We're coasting. It's been a strategy," he said, not looking entirely happy about it. Aspen waited for him to continue.

"Look, Aspen, I've only been at Ryder for about a year now. They dogged me for months before I even agreed to talk to them - I had a high flying position at Macrofirm at the time, sure, but the amount they were offering was absurd. I was curious."

"You took a job because you were curious?" Aspen asked skeptically. Cary shot him a look.

"Well, partly. The absurd salary may have played a factor." He winked at Aspen. "They made me senior vice president of corporate strategy and service. It's actually a good fit for me. But I haven't forgotten how aggressively they courted me for it. Money, promises - they even started feeding me my old boss's secrets, all his under-the-table deals I never would have agreed to. Ryder did its homework on me."

Aspen was pensive. "What does this have to do with me?"

"I'm getting there." Contrary to his words, Cary seemed to be taking his time. He sipped at his espresso, put it down on its saucer, toyed with the handle.

"Ruby works directly below me," he said finally. "Can I assume you know what it is our team does?"

"I've asked. Ruby gets as far as incubation centers and pilot programs before my eyes start glazing over," Aspen admitted. The man laughed, a rich, low sound that Aspen wanted to keep.

"Yes, that's part of what we do. I'm not surprised Ruby describes it in that way - that's her favorite part of the job. But we aren't just developing new projects. We're also keeping an eye to the big picture, you know, making sure the machine is working smoothly - seeing what brands and divisions overlap and could benefit from collaboration, identifying ventures to be trimmed back...well, suffice it to say that we're granted considerable oversight over the corporation as a whole."

"Okay," Aspen said slowly. He was getting a vague idea where this might be heading.

"My predecessor was fired - a man named Larry Tish. That's rare - usually a SVP would be asked to resign, quietly. No one's making any secret that Tish was fired, though no one can tell me exactly why. And the man's dropped off the map since."

"You mean he's missing?" asked Aspen, intrigued despite himself.

"I don't know about that. I just know that someone of his standing should have had another job lined up minutes later - probably nothing amazing, but at least a new board of trustees gig. But there's been nothing. Professionally speaking, Tish is a ghost."

Under the table Cary's knee bumped Aspen. He knew he should move his leg, but he let the contact linger. Cary's lips twitched, but he continued.

"At first the job seemed straight forward. Usually when you inherit a position - especially when your predecessor has been fired - you're inheriting a load of issues, as well. From the start, it's been fairly quiet. Maybe too quiet, which was why I started digging deeper."

"And?" Aspen asked despite himself.

"Look, this is where I need your help. I think - I found something. A cover up, I don't know. I don't want to say too much in case I'm totally off base, I need a clear perspective. I need you to look into it."

"Why not your team? Or one of Ryder's lawyers? You know, someone who's actually trained to investigate this stuff. Why are you coming to me?" But dread was already settling into the pit of Aspen's stomach. There'd be only one reason that Cary would come to him for this.

"Because I don't know who I can trust within the company. And because you did it for Solysis Inc." Cary sat back and looked at Aspen. Aspen felt suddenly too hot and quickly ducked his head to stare into his drink. Here was a man who already set Aspen on edge in both the best and worst way, and he was talking about the most horrible period of Aspen's life like he knew what had happened. He couldn't speak; words refused to form on his lips.

Cary continued, but his voice was softer. "You graduated a year early from Northwestern with high honors, double majoring in environmental science and journalism. You landed a job right away with the Chicago Tribune--"

"It was an internship," Aspen corrected him through numb lips.

"An internship," Cary acknowledged, "that turned into a job. You were writing articles for them after less than a year editing. Under the name William Altier. Why William?"

"It's my middle name," Aspen heard himself explaining as if from far away. "I was hoping to limit the jokes about someone named Aspen writing about environmental issues."

"But you switched your byline when you moved here."

"I had to," Aspen said. "But you probably know all about that, don't you?"

"The basics," admitted Cary. "I've known Irene for years." Irene was Aspen's editor at the paper. Traitor, he thought without real heat. Irene, an old family friend, had been his staunchest ally four years ago when it felt like his world was crashing down around him. She'd even offered him a job when he'd feared he'd never be hired again - Aspen would forever be in her debt. He was tapping his foot anxiously, he was suddenly aware.

"I'd like it if you told me what happened yourself," Cary said, still in that softer tone, but it wasn't so much a request as an order, silk over steel. Aspen was surprised to find himself answering. Even Ruby didn't know the details.

"It was actually all an accident," he told Cary, who was watching him carefully. Both men had abandoned their drinks half full. "I'd been writing for the Trib for nearly two years at that point. Nothing serious - I was only, what, twenty two at the time? Barely ready. Anyway, they were sending me out on fluff human interest pieces mostly. I was interviewing people for this 'day in the life' series - you know, postman, city alderman, that sort of thing. I told you it was fluffy," he added, seeing a corner of Cary's mouth quirk up, but the man nodded for him to continue.

"This guy worked at one of Solysis' manufacturing plants just outside the city, and I was just following him around for an hour. Anyway, I had gotten pretty much what I needed - how he saw his work as impacting the community, what his family thought, you know, that kind of bullshit. He was a real open guy - didn't need much prodding to talk about his life, gave me details I really didn't need to know. I don't even think he thought twice about what he was showing me, he was just going through his normal routine."

Cary was nodding in all the right places and made no attempt to interrupt. Aspen hadn't told the story in so long. He found it was easier to get out with Cary's golden gaze fixed on him, like it was keeping him upright.

"He was just showing me how he closed up shop for the night - pull this lever here, push this button. I was hardly paying attention when he mentioned, casual as hell, that the water used in production each day was stored until it was picked up along with the rest of the plant's waste to be taken out of state for disposal. All but the runoff, he said.

"The way the machine had been built, you see, allowed just a little seepage - not much, by most counts - maybe a gallon a day total. It was manufacturing flaw - a 'quirk,' he said. Everyone knew about it. They put a big bucket to catch the runoff, and someone would dump it into grass by the side of the factory. I probably looked horrified at this point - that's when the guy says, it's just a little water.

"Just water, for Christ's sake! I mean, unbelievable. Just cadmium-contaminated water. That's carcinogenic, you know. And sure, nothing was pointing to any human harm from it, not yet. But you know what the kicker is? They made solar panels. They were marketing themselves as these bastions of environmental saintliness and meanwhile weren't reporting even the 12 million gallons of contaminated water per year that they were disposing of legally, by industry standards, because there's no regulation requiring them to, let alone the illegal run off. I mean, come on, it was a story begging to be written."

Aspen had officially gotten worked up now. He usually did when telling the story - it hadn't become any less infuriating. At some point he had picked up his paper napkin and begun to year it to shreds. When Cary reached out a hand to stop him, one large hand folding over his, he found that he didn't mind, despite the man's assurance that he wouldn't touch him.

"So you discovered a violation of the EPA."

"Yes," Aspen responded stiffly. "It wasn't going to shut down the company, obviously. They'd broken the law by not disposing of biohazardous material in the proper way, but it's not as uncommon as you'd think. Still, it was going to be my big headline. I was going to use them as an example for the way supposedly environmentally-conscious companies use sketchy laws and loopholes to misrepresent the energy footprint used in production. Their public image was going to take a serious blow.




Burning Honey Ch. 03



"The guy I'd been interviewing had no clue what'd been going on. As far as he'd known, it was just water. Hell - I wouldn't have known if I didn't have to research solar panel production for my senior thesis. Once I told him what he'd been handling - the guys sometimes washed their hands in that water for god's sake - he was shocked. And angry that the company hadn't said anything. He agreed to be my source as long as I used an alias for him in the article. I interviewed him for another hour and more violations - minor ones, granted - kept coming out. We took pictures of the bucket. He saved some emails from his supervisor telling him he could dump the water out back onto a zip drive I had with me. It was going to be my big break."

"But something happened," Cary prompted him, for Aspen had gone quiet, eyes still fixed on his now-cold drink. His hands were still now, too.

"The article ran. I finished it just in time to swap out the fluffy piece. I had to move fast," he said, glancing up at Cary. "I just felt this - this adrenaline. Like it was what I was meant to do. Anyway, my editor there, Thom - he was onboard the whole time, reviewed all my material, OKed it with the editor-in-chief. He agreed we had to jump on this. We pulled an all-nighter to get it done and to the presses in time.

"By the time we were done I was exhausted. I went home and slept for most of the day. When I got up, the first thing I did was check the website - articles go up almost immediately. But it wasn't on the Trib's site. When I called Thom, he didn't pick up, but by then it was past 5 and not unusual," he said bitterly, "I just figured I'd talk to Thom about the web article the next day."

"But when I got there, my desk was all packed up already, not that there was much there. And Thom was out. Someone told me he thought he'd left for vacation, but it was obvious when my zip drive with the photos and transcriptions of my interviews and everything I had was gone - so stupid, I didn't even have a backup - and that was finally when I saw the day's paper. On the front page they ran a correction with a note from the editor-in-chief apologizing for what they called 'unfounded accusations' against Solysis. They blamed it on an illegitimate source and shoddy fact checking. I tried calling my guy at the plant but he wouldn't pick up, and later I found out he'd been fired. It was my fault. Apparently one of the Tribune's board members was a major shareholder in Solysis."

Aspen felt like a balloon that'd been punctured. Every time he told the story it felt worse, like he was that stupid kid all over again. There'd been more coverage on his "faulty" reporting than the issue itself. Sure, there were those blogs that had picked up the story and were labeling the Trib's quick response as a cover up, but no legitimate source had backed him up. Thom had dropped off the map entirely.

"And that's when you moved here." Cary's voice seemed from far away. Aspen was lost in remembering.

"No. First my girlfriend at the time dumped me. Then my dad died, and then I came here." Aspen blinked. He hadn't meant to share that part of the story. Somehow Cary's gaze had him unraveling.

"I'm sorry," Cary said sincerely, but in a way that made Aspen feel that he'd already known. "But I'm glad you're here now." That seemed to be sincere, too.

Aspen fidgeted just a bit. He'd destroyed his napkin and his espresso was stone cold. There was nothing to distract him from the man sitting across from him. He cleared his throat. "I'm sensing you knew most of this. Why would you ask me to look into this, with my track record? Last time wasn't exactly a success."

Cary smiled at him, but it was a tight, grim expression. "This time you have me on your side. And I need you for this, Aspen, no doubt about it. Will you at least look into it?"

Aspen had his "No, I said I'd hear you out and I've done that" response on the tip of his tongue but somehow when he opened his mouth he found himself saying "Fine. But no promises. I'm just looking it over, I can't get involved in another--"

"Good enough," Cary interrupted. "Come on, I have some files for you in the car."

Aspen kept close behind Cary. He was suddenly very aware that he had just spilled his whole stupid sob story to this man who he still barely knew anything about--other than his name, place of employ, and the taste of his lips.

At the car, Cary held the door for him. He climbed in, still feeling exposed. Inside, Cary produced a very large black binder, stuffed to the gills with papers. Aspen stared.

Cary chuckled, almost sounding nervous. "I guess you could say I'm a bit...fixated on this. I'm seeing signs everywhere that... Well, I'll let you decide. Did you want us to drop you back at your office? Or at home?" He took off his suit jacket before buckling himself in.

"Hm? Oh - my loft, please." Aspen had been staring again. That pinstriped shirt clung to Cary like a second skin: Aspen could see the broadness of his shoulders and chest, the sharp taper to his trim waist. His mouth was dry.

Again they rode in silence, though Aspen couldn't help himself watching the man out of the corner of his eye. He was flicking glances back at Aspen, too; like their eyes were magnetically attracted. Cary's face was unreadable.

When they had pulled up outside Aspen's loft, Cary handed him the massive collection of documents. The set of his jaw was rigidly determined when he said to Aspen, "Say hi to Ruby for me."

"Um," said Aspen. "We actually - I mean, I - we broke up." He hadn't meant to say that. He could feel the heat rushing to his face. He hadn't moved to open the car door.

"Did you, now," Cary said after a moment, almost neutrally, although Aspen thought he saw his expression relax just a hair. Aspen nodded, barely. What am I doing? "And why is that?"

Aspen just gaped. How could he ask that? Surely it was obvious. "What - well, I couldn't stay with her, not after what I - what we - it wouldn't be right to -"

"But I thought we'd put all that behind us," Cary said smoothly, though he was moving toward Aspen now, sliding along the backseat slow and deliberate, and Aspen could not move. His throat had closed and though he opened his mouth to respond no words emerged. His eyes were locked on the man advancing towards him, cornering him against the passenger side door, just the overstuffed binder between them.

"Aren't we putting that behind us, Aspen?" Cary whispered, and he was so close now that Aspen could smell him, musky and warm and real, those gold eyes not allowing him any escape. "Aren't we?"

It was too much and Aspen couldn't, no he couldn't, but somehow he found that he was moving, setting the documents on his lap -- his hands were on Cary's shoulders and his fingers were twisting into the ends of his hair and he was looking into that face, which, even fervent as it was now, seemed to always carry a lingering hint of that quick perfect smile, and without thinking further than that he closed the distance and his mouth was on Cary's. He could taste the sweet espresso on his lips. Cary gave Aspen only a moment to lead before he was wrapping a strong arm around his back, crushing him to his body and kissing Aspen so fiercely that he was sure he'd be marked by it. He felt consumed, taken over, like this moment was the only sustenance he'd ever needed and he could live off it forever.

It felt too soon that Cary slowed, gentling his grip on Aspen, pulling back so that their mouths only just brushed. Aspen was nearly panting or he would've complained. "Tell me to back off now," Cary said almost roughly. Aspen could only stare. "Tell me that you don't want me to come upstairs. Last chance."

Aspen was so damn hot, drenched in this man's golden gaze, he couldn't think and all he could do was rock forward, rock a little closer to that solid golden body and spicy scent, but his eyes were fixed on Cary's when he said, "Come upstairs" through trembling lips.

They were silent on the way up to Aspen's penthouse loft, but it was a charged silence. Cary couldn't seem to resist touching Aspen now - a hand on his back to help him out of the car, tracing across his shoulders, brushing teasingly over his ass - so that by the time they'd reached the elevator bank Aspen's nerves were jangling. Mrs. Abrams, a sweet old lady who lived on the 11th floor, rode up with them. Aspen was fidgeting while Cary kept one hand on the back of Aspen's waist, tapping some gentle code there out of Mrs. Abrams' view, humming cheerfully all the while. When Mrs. Abrams exited, smiling politely, Cary tugged Aspen up against him and slid an arm around his chest to keep him there. Aspen was surrounded by the smell of him, the feeling of his hard body behind him, the warmth of his breath on his neck. Aspen's own breath seemed to desert him.

"Relax," Cary murmured directly into his ear and Aspen was suddenly aware that his entire body was rigid. He inhaled deeply, and again. "That's better." Cary's mouth was pressed to the back of his neck, the shell of his ear. Aspen had given in, let his eyes fall shut, when he heard the door ding open on his floor.

Shaking himself out of his torpor, Aspen extricated himself from Cary's arms to unlock the door with quavering hands. He waved Cary in before him.

Cary whistled. "Some place you got here," he said. It was the typical response to Aspen's loft: the high ceilings with massive exposed beams, the spiral staircase leading up to the open second level which comprised Aspen's bedroom, the antique furniture which seemed almost at odds with the modernist lines of the place. One full wall of the large room was entirely made of glass, revealing the sun-soaked city beyond.

"Thanks," Aspen said. "My dad left it to me." This was more information than he'd intended to convey. He could feel himself reddening. He busied himself by finding a spot for the massive binder on his desk. This done, he looked up to find Cary watching him, still standing in the doorway.

Shit. What am I doing? Aspen was panicking slightly now. He hadn't thought this through. Why had he invited him back up? He'd never been like this with anyone. He hardly knew the man.

Cary was surveying Aspen: he was stock-still as a hunter waiting out his prey, but Aspen could see anticipation in every line of his body. The sunlight had dappled over his already golden hair, highlighting the strong planes of his face, and Aspen found himself lost in the vision before him, dazed.

"Aspen," Cary said, and he crossed the room in three long strides. He was beside Aspen now, but he didn't touch him. "Hey. Look at me." Aspen didn't want to admit that when the man was in his field of vision he had trouble looking at anything else, so instead he shook his head dumbly, even as he did so unsure why he was avoiding those swirling honey depths.

"What do you want, Aspen? Just tell me. Anything you want." He just gently touched Aspen's hand, hanging by his side, but it was enough to send a tremor through him.

"I want--" The last word died on his lips, but when at last he raised his gaze to level witCary's, it hung unspoken between them: you. I want you.

The fire that suddenly roared in Cary's eyes was too much and Aspen didn't know who moved first but now they were entangled, and Cary was kissing him roughly but it was more than that; his hands were everywhere, mapping out Aspen's body almost desperately, and Aspen was squirming closer, little noises of need escaping him, and they were the only the only thing in the world that mattered at that moment.

Cary pushed Aspen back just far enough to pull his tee shirt over his head, latching immediately onto the sharp angle where shoulder met neck, biting and licking across his collarbone. He ran his hands up Aspen's smooth torso, only lightly brushing over Aspen's already peaked nipples so that he groaned.

Smirking, Cary bent to take one pink nub between his teeth, and Aspen arched up to meet him. Cary's hands were at his waist now, fingers skimming his stomach, and when he straightened to capture Aspen's mouth again, nibbling on his lower lip, he began to work open Aspen's jeans. Aspen could only moan and thrust his hips forward. When at last Cary had triumphantly rid him of his belt and conquered his fly he wasted no time in shucking both pants and boxers off Aspen, his hard cock slapping up against his bare belly. Cary allowed him to step out of the pants before he pushed him back just slightly to run his eyes up and down Aspen's naked body.

"Finally," he husked, and then he was turning Aspen around, trailing a hand from the base of his neck all the way down over his ass, making Aspen shiver. "Finally," Cary repeated but it was more of a groan this time, and he pulled Aspen flush against him, tucking his chin over Aspen's bare shoulder and grasping his jutting cock with both hands. He wasn't gentle with his stroking and Aspen was writhing in the confines of his arms.

"Cary," he panted. "Cary, let me -"

"Shhh. Plenty of time," Cary whispered in his ear but even as Aspen bucked forward into his hands he shook his head.

"No," he managed somehow, "you don't - I need -"

"What do you need, baby?"

"I need," Aspen said, and moaned as Cary thumbed a large pearl of precum and slicked his cock with it. "Wait - ah - Cary - to touch--"

Cary's hands stilled. "What's the magic word?" He asked playfully.

"Cary," Aspen groaned.

"I do like hearing my name from your lips," he nipped at Aspen's shoulder, "but that's not what I was looking for."

"Please, Cary!" It was a moan of frustration more than a plea, but it was enough. Reluctantly Cary released his grip and turned Aspen around, keeping him locked in his arms. He had half a grin on his face but his eyes were hot honey on Aspen's skin.

Aspen let a hand trail out between them. He was shaking with desire and yet he could only move slowly. It was as if in a trance that he watched his fingers dip under Cary's collar, scrape his nails against the skin on his neck. He could feel Cary swallow. Now he was - somehow, without fumbling at all - so slowly undoing the first button, and then the second. Aspen felt compelled to touch every inch of golden skin he uncovered, peeling the silk away to reveal a magnificent torso lightly dusted with golden curls.

Cary moved to remove the garment but Aspen stopped him, sliding a hand over his shoulders and shucking the shirt from his body, running his hands all the way down to the wrists. Immediately he went to work on Cary's slacks, more urgent now. After Cary had slid them off he made a grab for Aspen, who stepped out of the way, putting out a hand to keep him there.

Aspen didn't say anything. He was too busy drinking his fill of the most perfect, the most insanely - shit, he couldn't handle how sexy Cary looked standing there bare naked in the middle of his living room. The man was made of pure muscle: solid pecs with quarter sized brown nipples, the kind of abdomen found mostly in bodybuilding magazines, a sharply defined Adonis' belt that led the eye straight down to Cary's rock hard cock, nested in a neat bed of gold curls and framed by powerful thighs that could have been carved from stone.

Oh. His cock was indecently large, Aspen thought with the one corner of his brain that seemed to still be sort of functioning. He had the vague impression that he should be worried by this but all he could do for the moment was stare, struck dumb. He felt like he couldn't open his eyes wide enough - he wanted to see everything, every inch of skin, every muscle, every hair. And he wanted to - he needed to touch him.

"Cary," he breathed and it was too much for both of them - they met halfway with a violent clash of tongues and teeth, hands frantic to stroke and explore. Aspen found himself biting at the spot on Cary's broad shoulders he'd spent so much time imagining - that perfectly smooth gold skin was slightly salty, irresistible, and Aspen followed a path of his own making down and across Cary's chest, raking his thumbnail over a nipple, soothing with his tongue. He felt possessed. He had no plan, no idea what was happening: all that existed was this man, this perfect being who was strumming his every sense into overdrive.

Aspen wanted to drive him mad with it all, make Cary feel exactly what he himself was feeling - wanted to make him lose it completely. He needed to.

Keeping his eyes on the tanned expanse of skin before him, Aspen sank to his knees. He explored the flat ridges of Cary's abs with lips and tongue, his hands now on each hip, fingers curving around his muscular ass. When he got to Cary's belly button he kissed it almost chastely, flicking his gaze up for the first time to see Cary's face unshuttered by desire: his eyes were only half open but burning, lips slightly parted, breathing heavily. It was the most beautiful thing Aspen had ever seen.

With single-minded determination he nibbled his way down the trail of dark golden hair, biting harder at Cary's hips, hoping he was leaving marks. He kissed at his inner thighs, avoiding the thick hard cock between them until Cary groaned. Flicking his eyes back up at him he gave him a sly smile as at last he let a hand wrap around Cary's base.

"Fuck, yes, Aspen," Cary's growl seemed almost involuntary, and the sound of his voice, uneven, made Aspen shiver.

Blue eyes never leaving Cary's, Aspen licked his lips. Some part of him was dimly aware that he had no clue what he was doing, but another part of him, instinctive and maybe even animalistic, was driving him forward, until he had pressed his face into Cary's crotch, inhaling the heady aroma. Cary had sucked in a deep breath which he let out shakily as Aspen flicked out his tongue to taste the skin there. It was as if this exploratory contact had flipped a switch in Aspen: suddenly he couldn't get enough, licking and sucking at Cary wildly, no finesse whatsoever in his technique, just a raw hunger that kept his lips and tongue working feverishly. He tasted indescribably irresistible.

Cary's hands found their way to the back of Aspen's head; he threaded them into Aspen's dark hair but instead of forcing him closer he was pulling Aspen back, just slightly, forcing him to slow his movements. Aspen chanced another look up through his lashes and saw Cary's glimmering eyes intent on him, his red mouth slightly open.

Obediently Aspen relaxed, pulling his mouth of Cary entirely with an obscene pop as he held his eyes, and then deliberately wrapping his lips around just the tip, letting his tongue flick into the slit there, once and then again when Cary let out a groan. He let his tongue explore each inch of Cary's throbbing erection, nibbling at the juncture of his thighs, swiping across the heavy balls that hung below. He was afire with the strange power he felt every time he heard Cary's breath catch.

He wanted to devour Cary whole. He kept their eyes locked together as he pulled back and, keeping his pace leisurely, let his lips encircle the crown. He forced his jaw to open its widest and slowly, centimeter by centimeter, took him into his mouth. Cary's hand was still fisted in his hair, tense but motionless. He felt the tip of Cary's cock brush his throat and choked a little. Cary made a soothing sound but Aspen ignored it. He wasn't giving up that easily.

Pulling back enough to take a deep breath, Aspen watched Cary, whose body was taut with pleasure. He was trying to keep his breathing even but not quite succeeding, and it pleased Aspen that he was the cause of it.

This time when he lowered his mouth over Cary's massive wet erection he was prepared and when the head hit the back of his throat somehow he managed to swallow it down and there he was with his nose pressed against the man's pelvis. It was bizarrely exhilarating.




Burning Honey Ch. 03



For a second it seemed as though Cary could only groan wordlessly, then he managed, "Fucking - shit, Aspen, so good -" until Aspen hummed his agreement around his mouthful and Cary had to break off again. As Aspen pulled back once more he made sure his lips were tightly sealed around Cary, the tip of his tongue drawing wild patterns on the underside of Cary's cock. When he reached the head he let it spring from between his lips before instantly sucking it forcefully back into his mouth.

This seemed to be the breaking point for Cary: his hands now were forcibly pressing Aspen's head to his crotch, holding it in place as his he shallowly thrust in and out of Aspen's throat. Aspen felt sure he would suffocate but what a way to go, his nails digging into Cary's ass, the salty taste of his skin on his tongue, a perfect furrow between Cary's eyes as ardor and control warred within - it was enough to make Aspen moan, loud but muffled, and Cary seemed to roar his pleasure in response, and Aspen could actually feel him erupt in his throat. Cary's grip on his hair had tightened but he wriggled back until his mouth was filling with Cary's seed, almost sweet beneath the tang.

When at last Cary went languid he tugged Aspen up to him. "You missed a bit," he said, voice still husky, that easy grin sliding back into place, and he bent to lick the bit of his own cum which had clung to the corner of Aspen's lips. Then they were kissing, Cary's tongue dominating his mouth, lips and teeth insistent, and Aspen felt sure that if it weren't for Cary's arms wrapped around him he'd have collapsed. He was so hard it hurt.

"Fuck, Aspen," Cary said when at last he relinquished his lips for a bare moment. "I thought you'd never--"

"I haven't," Aspen said quickly. He was flushing. "I just really wanted to--"

"Yeah," Cary smirked, kissing him hard again. "And it was fucking incredible."

Aspen felt himself turning a deeper shade of red and tried to mumble out something like a thank you, but Cary leaned in to suck his bottom lip into his mouth, and his words turned into a moan.

"You drive me fucking crazy, you know that?" Cary pulled back to say. "Those big blue eyes. That look on your face like you have something you could say but would rather keep to yourself. Not to mention," he added with a growl, "how insanely sexy you are."

Aspen just looked at him, mouth slightly open. No one had ever said anything like that to him before, never mind the fact that it was coming from a man who was heady as sex personified.

"You don't believe me," Cary murmured into Aspen's ear, taking a moment to flick his tongue against the lobe.

"Well--" Aspen started but Cary was spinning him around, one hand at Aspen's hip, the other splayed across his chest, keeping his body tight to his own.

"Your skin is so smooth," he whispered in Aspen's ear, rubbing small circles on his chest, "like porcelain. Your neck," he gave it a gentle bite, "so long. You've got these tight lean muscles -" he ran the hand not clutching Aspen's hip over his abdomen, down around the back of his thighs, "and fucking hell, your ass..."

Cary was walking them forward now, taking them the few steps to Aspen's small kitchen table in the middle of the room. Aspen still felt dazed from his words and let Cary gently push him over the table, allowing him to position his hands so that each grasped a far corner of the table. Cary was not far above him, mouthing the back of his neck, hands running along his stretched body, but when Cary stepped back Aspen felt suddenly very exposed, bent over for him, and made a motion to straighten up. Cary put a hand in his lower back, keeping him there.

"Fuck," he said after a moment, like he'd worked to get that one word out. But apparently Cary was done with words, for he swooped back down over Aspen, hands on his shoulders first, pressing against him so Aspen could feel his cock, reawakened already, against his thigh. Aspen's own erection was trapped against the wooden table below, and he rocked back against Cary desperately.

Cary smoothed his hands down Aspen's back, taking a step back as he did so, until his hands were at the base of Aspen's spine. Slowly, too slowly, with a feather light touch, he traced the curves of Aspen's ass. Aspen wriggled impatiently, craning his neck to look back at Cary who had a look of - what was that? Awe? - on his face, lips slightly parted, entirely focused on Aspen's bare bottom.

"Cary," Aspen breathed and his gaze flicked up to Aspen's and the lust there was so palpable that Aspen couldn't help it, a tiny moan escaped him. A brief grin flitted over Cary's face and Aspen felt a pang of something like longing behind his navel. Gently, Cary raised a hand to Aspen's shoulder, pushing him back down and arranging him so that he faced forward, away from Cary.

"Shhh," he murmured in Aspen's ear. "Gonna make you feel so good, baby. Just relax."

Trembling and aroused almost to the point of pain, Aspen lay there obediently as Cary resumed stroking his ass, though his touch was stronger now, massaging the muscle as though he couldn't hold back. When he trailed a finger through the cleft of his ass, brushing almost imperceptibly over Aspen's virgin opening, Aspen sucked in a sharp gasp. Perhaps encouraged by the sound, Cary reversed his path, stroking from the sensitive skin just behind his balls back up, pressing just hard enough to drive Aspen crazy.

Then Cary knelt, and Aspen could feel hot breath on his skin. There was a moment when he knew what was about to happen and wondered if he should say anything to forestall it but then he felt the soft warmth of Cary's mouth descend on his ass, his tongue tracing the cleft, nipping at each cheek, and oh holy god he was kissing - there was no other way to describe it - he was kissing Aspen's tight furled pink hole, lashing at it with his tongue, opening him and making noises like Aspen was the finest delicacy on earth and Aspen was squirming, arching back for more because no one had ever touched him like this, no one had ever made him feel like he was coming apart and falling together at once. It could have been just seconds or hours later that Cary pulled back, just slightly. Aspen felt the touch of his fingers replace his lips and, desperate for contact, shameless, he groaned and pressed against him.

"You like that, don't you," Cary's voice was thick with lust. Aspen couldn't respond, not with words; but he made some kind of sound and Cary must have understood. "You've got such a perfect, such a fucking delicious -" but he seemed unable to finish the thought for without warning or hesitation he had buried his face again in Aspen's ass, lips and teeth frantic, tongue stabbing at his opening, and it was almost too much and not even close to being enough. Suddenly Aspen found his voice but his tone was one he did not reconcile, didn't think he'd ever used, as helplessly he begged, "Cary, please, more Cary - please, Cary, fuck me, Cary!"

And yet for some reason Cary went still, causing Aspen to groan, but the next second Cary was pulling him off the table, turning him around and pinning him there against the edge so there was barely a handsbreadth of space between their bare bodies.

When Aspen was able to pull his eyes from Cary's chiseled torso, he found Cary waiting to meet his gaze. "Are you sure?" Aspen could live in that golden stare.

"Yes," he said simply, and immediately Cary was tugging him forward. "Wha--"

"You really want our first time to be on your dining room table? What would we tell the kids?" Cary paused long enough to kiss him, hard. "Where's your bed?"

And then Aspen was pulling him across the room, over to the spiral staircase which had never seemed so damned inconvenient---

And that was when the doorbell rang.

It almost gave Aspen a heart attack. "Who-what time is it?"

Cary shrugged, gesturing to his naked body with a nonchalant confidence that almost distracted Aspen entirely. "Don't seem to have my watch on me."

But already Aspen was searching out the blinking numbers above the stovetop, knowing what they'd say: five o'clock. Which was exactly when Ruby had texted him to say she was bringing by the suit she had chosen for him to wear to the wedding, since after the ill-fitting gala tux she apparently no longer trusted Aspen to dress himself.

The doorbell rang again.

"Fuck." Aspen was suddenly diving for his pants, throwing Cary's silk shirt at him. "You've got to get out of here. There's no telling how long she'll linger or what she'll poke her nose into, you know Ruby."

"Ruby's here?" That got Cary's attention. "I thought you said you broke up with her." Aspen paused just long enough to see those gold eyes narrow.

"I did! I mean, I tried. I mean, there's just this stupid wedding and - " Aspen's phone started vibrating in his pants pocket - "shit, you've got to get out of here. You can go down the back staircase." Pushing a protesting Cary towards the back door, Aspen snatched up his shirt along the way, pulling it over his head.

Aspen had opened the door and all but shoved him out when Cary put out a hand to prevent him from shutting the door in his face.

They simply looked at each other for a moment, Cary still with his pants unbuttoned and shirt askew. The next second they were on each other, mouths and hands and bodies, until Aspen pulled back regretfully. "Go."

"Do I have to?" Cary asked, leaning in to nuzzle Aspen's neck. "I mean, you're on the twenty third floor. That's a lot of--" But then Aspen, laughing, was pushing him away and closing the door before he wouldn't be able to.

The doorbell rang again, and Aspen threw himself in front of the tall mirror that hung in the living room section of the massive open room. He looked rumpled; he straightened his clothes as best he could. Aspen could see where Cary had paid close attention to the juncture of his neck, fresh marks threatening to rise, and fumbled for a sweatshirt hanging over the back of an armchair. There was nothing to be done, however, for his kiss-bruised lips, nor the stupid starry look even he could see written in his eyes.

He walked over to the door and, thinking it was best to go into this prepared, peered through the peephole. Ruby was standing there, holding a garment bag aloft, an annoyed look on her face at having to wait. The sight of her caused Aspen to flush with guilt; the last lingering touches of desire fled from his body.

He gave himself just a moment to picture a disgruntled and disarrayed Cary making his way down stair after stair and, despite the situation, felt something like a laugh curl in his belly.

Aspen took a deep breath opened the door just as Ruby leant forward to ring the doorbell a fourth time. Show time.



Burning Honey Ch. 04



I'm so sorry for the long hiatus. Thank you to anyone still reading, and I hope you enjoy it!

---

It was a long half an hour later that Aspen managed to push Ruby out the door as she coached him on what to say at the wedding ("Remember, dear, we'll just call you my date and leave it at that, no need to go into the details, hmm?") and reminded him to comb his hair the way she liked. He only half listened, spending her entire visit taut with nerves, but she didn't seem to notice at all. How did I ever put up with her? Aspen thought distantly.

When he'd locked the door behind her after agreeing to be ready to go bright and early in two day's time, he made his way over to sit at the kitchen table where so lately he had been spread beneath Cary, let him have free reign of his body and--

Aspen dropped his head into his hands. What was going on with him? What was going on with Cary? Aspen felt muddled, stupefied by the mere thought of the golden man whose presence immediately warmed his blood. Aspen didn't think he could keep away from that, didn't think he wanted to. And yet...

He had never been with a man before. Never even thought about it and that was the honest truth. He sighed and wondered if he was being naive to think - to feel like - like Cary was more than a dangerous attraction. He didn't want to lose his head completely, but he had the sinking feeling he might be too late already. The feel of Cary's skin under his fingertips, that smile, those golden eyes... He felt stupid even thinking it, but it felt right.

Don't get ahead of yourself, Aspen, he remonstrated himself. It's just..something physical. Biological maybe, because it felt like some part of him was programmed to respond to the man's golden hue, his scent, his touch, God, his taste...

"Stop it," Aspen said aloud to the empty room. He sighed and stood to grab the giant binder of information Cary had left for him to go over. At least it would take his mind off of the man himself.

--

It was nearly six hours later when Aspen, bleary eyed and thrumming with information, put the binder down. He'd taken a break long enough to fix dinner and shower, then had moved into his bed but continued reading, a ridge between his brows.

The binder was very organized, almost compulsively so - it had a title page and a table of contents and even an appendix at the back. Kind of silly, he thought. He wondered if Cary's secretary or someone had put it together; he pictured some starry eyed girl desperate for even one golden glance of approval and then winced. He wasn't far off from that himself.

Cary's number had been on the first page. He dialed it as he bit his lip, firmly reminding himself not to sound like a pathetic--

"Marsters," came Cary's deep voice. For a moment Aspen couldn't speak: he was thinking of the way that voice had sounded earlier, husky with lust, transforming his name into something almost reverent..."Hello? Anyone there?"

"Why didn't you tell me all the evidence points to you being at the head of a major EPA violation?" Aspen blurted out.

"Oh," Cary sounded amused. "Aspen. You're a fast reader."

"Well?" Aspen demanded, half embarrassed at his own lack of tact. He had planned to phrase that a little more carefully, but as usual the man had thrown him off balance.

"What are you wearing?" Cary returned.

"Oh, come on! You're the one who said this was so important, and you're the one, if I'm reading the material correctly, with his job and reputation on the line. Tell me."

"I was getting to it," Cary said mildly. He lowered his voice. "Bet you're naked."

Aspen flushed. It actually was true, he hadn't bothered dressing after his shower - the perks of living alone - and was laying bare on his belly amid the sheets on his bed. His cock pulsed underneath him. He said nothing.

"Okay, okay," Cary sighed. "Aspen, do you really think I'd ask you to look this stuff over if I were guilty? I didn't want to say anything earlier to influence your thinking. But I think it's pretty clear that I was hired to be a fall guy. And I want to know why."

"All I see," Aspen said measuredly, "are a number of documents of corporate policy and strategy with more than a dozen clear violations of the EPA. And all of them have your signature. Or are you saying they're all forgeries?"

"No." Cary sounded suddenly tired. "It's my signature all right. I have copies made of everything I sign, of course. All those documents exist. It's just that there have been subtle changes - a sentence here, a paragraph there - to include policies I'd never agree to, never. They - whoever - kept the final page with my signature as is and must have replaced the rest of the pages. I swear it, Aspen."

He sounded so serious, more so than he had thus far, and Aspen was inclined to believe him, if only because he thought the man seemed smart enough that he wouldn't willingly affix his name to such clearly damning documents. But he wasn't going to let onto that quite yet. Let Cary squirm. His eyes crinkled at the thought.

"And where are these original documents?" He asked instead.

"I have them, at home where they're safe. And I put copies in the appendix."

"You...made that appendix?" Aspen had a sudden image of Cary copying and hole punching and shook his head. "Never mind. So these are the documents Ryder is publicly presenting? These ones that blatantly say that the company is illegally disposing of pesticides, for example?" Aspen couldn't imagine why anyone would do that.

"You'll find some of them posted on our website, not that anyone reads through that crap," Cary said bitterly. "The thing is, Aspen, the thing that makes it so strange - I oversee pretty much all the big movements within the corporation. And I happen to know most of these violations cannot be happening. Like you said about the disposal of chemical waste - I've talked to the company, hell, the driver himself who picks up the hazardous material every week according to the real policy."

"Couldn't he be in on it, too?" Aspen pointed out. "Not that I believe you yet," he added hastily. He heard Cary sigh deeply.

"He could," he said. "But that would make this a pretty intricate conspiracy. What's the motivation? I don't know, Aspen."

"Can we go to a plant to see for ourselves?" Aspen was asking before he thought about it. Then again, that was, after all, how he'd stumbled into the last cover up. Perhaps it wasn't a bad idea.

"The production facilities aren't local - they're in Indianapolis," Cary said.

"Oh, right," Aspen started, but Cary cut him off.

"I can have plane tickets ready to go for tomorrow morning."

"Oh!" Aspen didn't know what to say. "Wow. Um, but I can't go tomorrow. I have a deadline. And the next day is that wedding I have to--"

"Right. With Ruby." Cary sounded less than pleased. "After your wedding, then."

"It's not my--" Aspen started, but thought better of it. "Look, I don't know, plane tickets aren't the cheapest things in the world, and--"

"Aspen," Cary said, voice relaxed once more. "Don't worry about it. We'll fly out on Sunday, okay? And be at the plant Monday morning. I'll take care of it. I'm the one who asked for your help, remember?"

"Okay," Aspen said reluctantly.

"More importantly," Cary breathed into the phone, "you're naked."

"I didn't say that," Aspen said, though he was suddenly hyperaware of the feeling of cotton sheets against his skin.

"But you didn't deny it," Cary's voice was like honey. "I can picture you, naked on your bed. It's fucking hot."

"You haven't even seen my bed," Aspen informed him, trying to keep his breathing even.

"It's not really my focus. I bet your sweet pink nipples are hard already. I wish I were there to bite them." Aspen let out a little sound, to his own chagrin. "Damn it. Come over, Aspen. Or I'll come over. Please. I need to see you."

"Cary," Aspen said, half laughing, half pleased at the almost desperate note in his voice. "No. It's past midnight and I have a column to write tomorrow morning. And anyway, haven't you ravished me enough for one day?"

"Oh no," Cary told him, voice deepening even further. "No, I haven't even gotten started with you. I'm gonna know every inch of you, Aspen."

"You are?" Aspen was shivering in his bed despite the warmth of his loft.

"Oh, yeah, baby. You just wait. Next time, no interruptions. I'll tie you down if I have to. And I'll start with your neck, your fucking sexy neck. I'm gonna bite it and leave my mark on you, Aspen, all over, down your chest. I'm gonna lick at those tight nipples until you're begging me for something, anything more."

"Yeah? And then?" Aspen's mouth was dry. He had rolled into his back and groaned as his state of arousal made itself very clear.

"Mm, I might have a little fun at that point," Cary said, but he still sounded very serious. "I'll kiss your cock, all over, but too light, too quick, until you're writhing for me. And your ass - I'm gonna taste you, get you soaking wet and ready for me, until you're begging me for it." Aspen couldn't help it, his hand had wrapped around his cock already, thumbing the wetness from the tip down, and his mouth was open. He could only exhale into the phone at Cary's words.

"Ah, fuck yeah, baby, you like this?" Cary sounded rough. Aspen could picture him on the end of the phone line, gloriously nude, that golden body tight with lust, a large hand circling that thick hard member, and he might have let out a whimper. God, what was this man doing to him?

"Yeah," Cary went on, not seeming to mind Aspen's loss for words. "Yeah, I'm gonna put my fingers inside you, so tight and hot, until it burns just a little, and then I'm gonna find that magic spot that makes you see stars. You're gonna want to touch me so bad, Aspen. You're going to beg me to let you suck my cock."

"Yeah," Aspen rasped. "Fuck, I want to."

"But I won't let you. Only for a second. Just long enough to get me nice and ready for you. Because I need to be inside you. Fuck. I'm gonna make it so good for you, Aspen. I'm gonna fuck you slow and tender until you're ready to scream and then I'll give it to you, pound into you until you forget your name and only remember mine. You want that, baby? You want me to make you come?"

"Fuck," Aspen moaned, "please yes."

"Come for me, baby, right now." Cary's voice was a growl now - Aspen could hear the strain in it, could tell he was just as close, and he was stroking himself furious and fast, Cary's golden visage swimming before his eyes, his voice in his ear, and Aspen let himself go under, let the tides of pleasure pull him down.

"Cary." The name came past his lips unbidden, like a prayer, and he was spent, languid with release. He could hear Cary let out a groan on the other end of the line that he knew meant he had reached his own climax. He sighed deeply in contentment.

"Damn, that was hot," Cary said lowly. "God, I can't wait to get my hands on you again. I'm not letting go once I do, you hear that?"

Aspen's breathing on the other line, already deep and even with sleep, was the only response.

---

The Saturday of the wedding was a gorgeous, crisp spring day. Ruby came to pick him up,as planned, at one o'clock. She drove a sporty white compact. Aspen figured she had wanted to drive so that he couldn't run away, not that he intended to. The way he figured it, if he made it out of this stupid wedding alive, his obligations to Ruby were officially complete and he could start fresh, a clean slate. And start ignoring her existence with a clear conscience.

Keeping this in mind, he was on his best behavior. He'd dressed in the suit she'd chosen, which, he had to admit, fit him perfectly. When Ruby had looked him over from the driver's seat and said, "Lovely, darling! See, I knew you'd clean up nicely," well, Aspen had just gritted his teeth. Ruby of course looked pristine in red

They passed the drive mostly in silence. Aspen for one felt awkward and tongue tied; what were you supposed to say to the woman you had cheated on, with her boss, no less? But Ruby seemed content to hum along with the radio.

The wedding ceremony was held in the prolific garden of a historical mansion on the outskirts of the city. Aspen wryly noted that, yet again, he was surrounded by rich, polished men and women very much unlike himself. It reminded him of Ruby's work gala --indeed, the bride Mary Ann worked with Ruby, so likely some of the bland faces were the same--and he couldn't help but let his thoughts flicker to Cary, to meeting him that first time. The thought shot a bolt of arousal direct to his groin. Stop thinking about him, Aspen thought firmly.

The beginning of the wedding itself was a relief, for Ruby was holding his arm in a near-crushing grip, pulling him around beside her as she flitted from group to group, greeting nearly everyone in attendance. By contrast it was a blissful respite to sit on the sun-warmed wooden chairs for the ceremony, watching Mary Ann walk down the aisle. He had to admit she looked beautiful in a frothy white confection of a dress, dark hair caught up in her veil, the customarily nasty curl to her lips absent for the moment. She actually looked happy for once. Her husband-to-be Paul, on the other hand, watched her procession toward him with a look of mingled awe and fear. Aspen really couldn't blame him.

Once Paul had kissed the triumphant bride, the guests were ushered into a patio for cocktails. Aspen drank his first rather quickly and Ruby's introductions were slightly less irritating after the second. He refused the third drink proffered to him by a waiter with a tray, though; he remembered all too well the last time he'd gotten more than buzzed at an event with Ruby.

Even the sit down dinner wasn't as bad as he expected--he'd been nervous, since he knew he'd be stuck beside Ruby, but on his other side was the groom's younger brother Alan who was studying journalism, and they immediately hit it off.

Soon enough Ruby wandered from the table to make her rounds, which suited Aspen just fine. He didn't see her as they were cutting the cake, or the first father-daughter dance; in fact, he didn't spot her until the band had struck up a more lively tune and most of the guests had made their way onto the dance floor. Ruby was standing by the tables, in deep conversation with an older, tall man Aspen unsurprisingly did not recognize. Aspen figured he should at least ask Ruby to dance once, to complete his obligation as wedding date, and with this goal in mind he made his way over to the pair.

Ruby had her back to him. She was speaking rather more quietly than she usually would, he noticed, but he pushed the thought away to slide next to Ruby, who looked up at him in surprise.

"Oh! Aspen," she said. She didn't look wholly thrilled to see him, but he guessed that was understandable.

"Hi," he said, putting a hand on her back. "I came to see if you wanted to dance. Hello there," he added, nodding to her companion.

"Er, hello," the man muttered, obviously ill at ease. At that point Ruby's perfect manners kicked in and almost automatically she made the introductions.

"Larry, this is my date, Aspen Altier. Aspen, this is Larry Tish, a former colleague of mine."

"Nice to meet you," Aspen said, sticking out a hand, but his mind was whirling.

Larry Tish? Wasn't that the name of the guy who had Cary's position before he was fired?

He turned to Ruby. "So, how about that dance?"

She eyed him almost warily. "Darling, frankly I'm exhausted. Would you get me a diet soda from the bar? I'll meet you there in just a moment."

"Sure," Aspen said slowly. Ruby patted his arm in a way that clearly said good boy. He nodded to Larry and turned to the bar. Once he got there, though, he turned back to see Larry taking Ruby by the elbow and leading her out of the main hall.

Just what are you up to, Ruby? Aspen thought. Something was off. Ruby had only started at Ryder Corps six months ago, and Larry Tish had been fired over a year ago. They shouldn't have known each other, unless it was from something else, but that felt like too much of a coincidence. Almost without thinking, Aspen moved towards the exit to follow them.

He heard them before he saw them--the unmistakable sound of, well, kissing. Catching a glance through the hedges, he saw them there in a dark corner of the patio where cocktails had been served earlier, locked in a close embrace.

Sick, Aspen thought. Larry Tish had to be in his sixties, and not in the dapper older gentleman kind of way. Why had Ruby invited him at all if she already had someone new, anyway? Well, at least he didn't have to feel guilty anymore. That was a familiar kiss, even from what he could see of it--a kiss that lovers share. It was clearly not the first time. Aspen turned to go--he didn't really need to see this--but froze when he heard Ruby say his name. He turned back to see she'd pulled away only slightly, his arms still around her.

"Enough, Larry. We can't have Aspen notice anything. It would ruin everything." Too late, Aspen thought laconically, then, ruin what?

"I thought you'd already done a good enough job at messing this up--you let him dump you, for Christ's sake." Tish's voice was harsh, and he pulled her roughly back to his lips, but Ruby ducked away.

"I told you, I have it under control, Larry. It'll be fine if you stop making unexpected appearances when we agreed you'd best fly under the radar."

"Yeah, well, you were the one to introduce me to your date by my real name." He sounded almost petulant.

Ruby snorted. "It's not like he has any idea who you are. And once I get him on the story idea, he'll be too busy investigating Marsters to look into you. He's probably halfway to drunk anyway." Ruby's voice dripped with disdain. Aspen felt sick.

"God, you're bad," Tish groaned out, and then their faces had mashed together once more.

Aspen was already sidling away, keeping his footfalls soft and silent, when he heard Ruby tell him, sultry as she'd never been with Aspen, "You have no idea."

Aspen's mind was whirling as he walked back into the hall. Only one thought kept rising to the surface: I have to tell Cary.

Distracted and nearly numb, Aspen nodded his way through two more songs. Ruby was nowhere in sight. He couldn't take it anymore.

Grabbing Alan from the dance floor, Aspen tasked him with telling Ruby that he wasn't feeling well and was going to take a cab home. Apparently his daze made for a believable semblance of drunkenness, because Alan just grinned and agreed, giving Aspen a lingering look that even a few weeks ago Aspen thought he probably wouldn't have registered. Aspen smiled weakly in return and clapped him on the back. Flattering as the attention of a college boy might be, he had his hands full with one man.

It was only as Aspen made his way toward a cab out front that he realized he didn't have an address--for there was no question in his mind, he was going to see Cary right now. This was too important to wait. It was just as he was reaching for his phone to text Cary and ask that he saw the broad, dark figure rise from a bench half hidden from view by a potted plant.

"Mr. Altier?" Came a deep, calm voice. Aspen stared.

"Nelson? What are you doing here?" Aspen asked, a finger of dread trailing down his spine.

"Mr. Marsters sent me." He answered, face unreadable. "To keep an eye on things." To keep an eye on me, more like, Aspen thought grimly. He hadn't asked for any of this. Jesus! He didn't know what to think.

"Well, Nelson, you can take me to Mr. Marsters then, and he can see for himself." Aspen was glad that his voice sounded steady, at least. Nelson nodded and pulled out his keys; when he hit the unlock button, Aspen jumped at the resultant beep that sounded from the dark car, partially hidden in shadow.




Burning Honey Ch. 04



Aspen sat in the front seat this time, feeling bizarre enough as it was without sitting alone in the back with his thoughts. Nelson remained silent, but he turned on the radio, and the slightly staticky rock n roll music seemed to settle Aspen's nerves somewhat.

They didn't have very far to go - within fifteen minutes Nelson had turned onto one of the ritzier neighborhoods in town, and then he was pulling up into the driveway of a massive brick townhouse. Within moments of parking the car, Nelson had unfolded himself and somehow managed to get around to open the door for Aspen. Nelson led him to the door, pressing the intercom.

"Yes?" Even distant and crackling through the speaker, Cary's voice sent a hot charge through Aspen.

"Mr. Marsters, I have Mr. Altier here for you. If you won't be needing me tonight, I'll be off and pick you up at noon tomorrow for the airport." Aspen had completely forgotten about the trip to Ryder's plants. It suddenly did not seem like a great idea.

"Thanks, Nelson. Tell Abby I'm sorry to keep you out so late on date night. Send Aspen on up." A moment later the door buzzed, and Nelson pulled it open, gesturing Aspen inside. Aspen waved rather miserably goodbye. He was a nice, if quiet guy, despite the stalking gig Cary seemed to have set him on.

He blinked as he walked into the foyer. It was a dramatic entryway, two storied marble with a massive chandelier. It wasn't what he'd pictured for Cary--too sleek, somehow.

And then he saw Cary coming down the stairs and he wouldn't have noticed if they were atop the Eiffel Tower. Cary had clearly been in bed--he was shirtless, all perfect golden muscle, wearing only a pair of drawstring pants that hung dangerously low on his cut hips. He was very obviously not wearing anything underneath them. Aspen's mouth went dry. He wanted to look at Cary for hours and at the same time felt it'd be safest to avert his eyes.

Cary didn't speak as he approached him. When they were face to face, Aspen opened his mouth to speak, not entirely sure what he was going to say--but Cary shook his head, took Aspen's face in his large hands.

"No, wait," he whispered, and the sound, like dark velvet on his skin, made Aspen shiver pleasurably. "Before you say anything..."

And as if in a trance, slowly, blue eyes drowning in gold, Cary brought their lips together. The moment they touched Cary let out a sigh of something like relief, and all pretense of slow and gentle fell away. Cary's lips were insistent, his tongue determined to map every inch of Aspen's mouth, and Aspen was letting his lips be plundered, his hands clutching Cary's smooth gold shoulders, hot to the touch like a fever dream.

Both men were almost panting when Cary finally pulled away, hands dropping from Aspen's face only to snake around his waist. "I needed that," he said, and Aspen knew what he meant, felt suddenly lighter than he had in days, until Cary continued, "Now you can tell me what happened," and Aspen remembered what he'd come to say and the weight dropped back onto his shoulders.

"How'd you know something happened?" Aspen said, his heart beating too fast in his chest. He thought of Nelson in the shadows waiting for him and wondered what the hell he had gotten himself into.

But Cary just laughed. "Are you kidding? I can read it all over your face. Come on, we can sit in my den."

Cary led him past the grand marble staircase to a front room that looked impossibly large, an effect enhanced by the sparse furniture. There were a number of very ugly, too-ornate chairs and a Victorian style sofa around a dark wood coffee table, and that was pretty much it--except for the massive fireplace that was clearly the centerpiece of the room. Aspen looked at Cary, who shrugged.

"I don't spend much time here. But I thought it might be a bit too distracting to invite you directly into my bedroom." Aspen shivered at his hot look.

"Now," Cary said, sitting on the sofa and gesturing for Aspen to do the same, "tell me what has you so freaked out."

Aspen sat and for a moment didn't speak. He thought of everything Cary had said and done up until now. He thought of the bizarre binder with too many details and the stolen kisses and being stretched over his kitchen table, Cary atop him, and he decided, for once, to stop thinking and go with his instinct. Remember where that got you last time, Aspen thought wryly, and yet - he wasn't going to fight it, maybe couldn't fight it. He was going to have to trust Cary.

Taking a deep breath, he told Cary what he'd seen and heard that evening of Ruby and Larry Tish. Cary didn't try to touch him or interrupt, just watched him closely. When Aspen was done, Cary let out a low whistle.

"I thought there was something strange with Tish," he said, "but I admit, I hadn't considered Ruby." He gave Aspen a sidelong glance and Aspen suddenly wondered if he was having the same doubts: that this was all too neat, that maybe Aspen wasn't on his side.

"Really?" Aspen said, striving for a light tone. "Now that I know she's involved, I can't believe I didn't see it from the start. I feel...well I feel like an idiot, that's what," he finished, rather lamely. He looked down at the sofa upholstery, picked at a loose thread.

Cary's hand closed over his. "You're not an idiot," he said gently. "You just have really terrible taste in women." Aspen laughed, but quickly sobered.

"Cary, what do we do?" He asked. "Do we confront them, or--"

"Aspen," Cary said, and his face had gone calm and assured, "I'll tell you what we're going to do. We're going to stick to the plan. Tomorrow we fly out to Indianapolis - I've arranged that tomorrow night we'll have dinner with the head foreman there, no one on the corporate ladder. I know him, trust him as much as I can trust anyone at Ryder these days. Monday when the plant opens we'll hold a surprise inspection."

"But we already know it's Ruby and Tish behind all this," Aspen objected. "Shouldn't we, I don't know, tell someone?"

Cary shook his head slowly. "We don't know enough. We have a who, but not a why or how. Hell, there might be other people in on this, too. And we have no proof." He sighed deeply and Aspen ached with it, wanted to smooth out his furrowed brow, kiss the line of his neck until his shoulders lost some of their tension.... "Aspen, I have the feeling that what you overheard tonight is just the tip of the iceberg. I need you to promise me you'll be careful. We don't know their full plan or what lengths they'll go to for it."

Aspen looked at him in some surprise. "They have no idea I even know you."

"Yes, and that's our best defense right now. We have the element of surprise on our side, but who knows how long that'll last? I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you because I got you involved in this mess."

Aspen scoffed. "They would've dragged me into it anyway."

"And you'd have been safely ignorant and would've painted me as a corporate asshole who hates the environment." Cary smirked at him.

"I wouldn't have believed it," Aspen said, but his tone had softened. Cary gave him a skeptical look. "Fine, maybe I would have."

"Well," Cary said. "Lucky I got to you first." His eyes were at once intent on Aspen.

"Yeah," he answered softly this time, and Cary leant further in to kiss him, light but lingering, and Aspen let his hands run over and across that bare broad torso. When Cary pulled away Aspen groaned, leaning back to recline invitingly on the sofa. "Come here," he said breathlessly.

But Cary shook his head smiling and stood, extending a golden hand to Aspen. "Come on," he said lowly. "I'll give you the tour."

---

It was clear almost immediately that the 'tour' was going to be cursory at best. With one thick arm trapping Aspen to his chest, Cary gestured with his free hand to indicate the sights. "The kitchen," he said, and Aspen got a vague impression of stainless steel and granite. "The dining room," bare but for a giant table surrounded by at least ten chairs. "The gym," a blur of equipment.

And then Cary was leading him up the stairs. When they reached the top Cary paused. "The bathroom," he said, pointing to a door slightly ajar. "That's the guest bedroom, another one, another, and that's my office. And this," he said, pulling Aspen to the furthest door down the hall and pushing it open, "is my bedroom."

It was the only room so far that felt as though it was lived in. The walls were, to Aspen's surprise, a deep, warm yellow, contrasting with the bland palette of the rest of the house. A dark wood wardrobe stood tall and imposing against one wall; a door cracked ajar revealed a sliver of the master bath. But Aspen's focus was on the massive bed, dove grey silk covers slightly rumpled. He could picture Cary in that bed, Cary sleeping, Cary sitting up reading over his notes, Cary naked and stretched out...

"Are you just going to stare at my bed," came Cary's voice, smooth as honey in his ear, "or are you going to get in it?" Aspen might have laughed if one of Cary's strong hands hadn't at that moment begun to travel down his chest, tracing a pattern on his hip, and suddenly all he could focus on was the hot presence behind him, Cary's arms around his body, his back pressed to the firm chest and the unmistakable searing ridge of his erection against Aspen's ass.

"Cary," he breathed, barely, and it was enough: impatient, Cary spun him around, locking his hands behind Aspen's neck but keeping him at arm's length, walking him backwards until his knees hit the edge of the bed and gave out, blue and golden eyes blazing together the whole way. Cary, already shirtless, let go of Aspen just long enough to shuck his drawstring pants, and then he was gloriously, completely nude, a vision of gold skin and sleek muscle. Aspen's mouth was open for a moment and then he scrambled forward, needing to touch the smooth heat in front of him, needing to latch his mouth onto every ridge and taste every inch of him.

But Cary kept him at arm's length for just a moment more, hands on his shoulders, eyes on his, silently slowing him. Finally, deliberately, he pulled Aspen to him until their faces almost touched. Aspen could feel the heat from all that bare skin and his hand slipped up to trace the line of Cary's jaw and then Cary closed the centimeter of space to kiss him fervently, slow but deep, and Aspen was sinking into him, lost and happy to stay that way, content to live in the feeling of Cary's stubble against his cheek and tongue entwined with his.

Cary broke away panting, pushing Aspen gently back against the bed so he was half-reclining. Aspen was so hard it hurt. "Fuck," Cary swore. "As hot as you are in that suit, I need you naked. Now." Aspen lifted trembling hands to start on the knot of his tie, fumbling, until Cary brushed them away to help. As soon as the tie was loosened it was off, followed by his shirt so quickly that he hardly noticed what Cary was doing. He gathered both of Aspen's wrists in one large hand, raising them over Aspen's head where they rested on the bed. "Keep them like that." Cary was smirking.

"Cary--" But he didn't answer - instead he dove into the juncture of Aspen's neck, biting and kissing him, stroking along the sides of Aspen's torso until he came to the waist of his trousers. He curled his fingers underneath the waistband, just brushing Aspen's hardness, and a groan was ripped from his throat.

"Cary," he was aware that he was nearly whining, "can't I--"

"In a minute," Cary said, but he was distracted, his expression avid with lust as he unbuttoned Aspen's pants and worked them down his legs, smoothing along every inch of skin uncovered. Aspen never had found anything about the backs of his knees remotely sexual until Cary was crouched between them, letting his fingertips play against the skin, and he felt like he was on fire. When the trousers were off he put his hands to the waistband of Aspen's briefs but didn't remove them, eye level with the growing wet patch that marked the tip of Aspen's aching cock.

He gasped as the man's scorching mouth closed over the spot. He could feel the hot wetness of his tongue though the cotton and thought he might die if Cary didn't give him more, soon.

Apparently Cary felt the same because almost instantly he had shucked the briefs from Aspen's body and without giving him even a moment to feel exposed in front of him, completely nude with his wrists still held shakily above his head, back flat on the bed, he swallowed Aspen down to the root.

Aspen howled. It was - it felt so fucking perfect and he had to fight to keep his eyes from closing with pleasure because fuck if the hottest part wasn't seeing that full red mouth wrapped around the base of his cock, gold eyes flashing with intensity. Or maybe it was the little growl he could feel in the back of Cary's throat, or maybe just the velvet heat surrounding him, he wasn't sure but he was sure that if Cary kept it up for one - more - minute - he bucked up his hips wanting to bury himself in that perfect mouth -and yet just as he was he was sure he could not hold on another moment he felt Cary back off, then circle thumb and finger around the base of his cock and squeeze just gently until climax receded. "Oh come on," Aspen groaned.

"Sorry, baby." Cary didn't look sorry. He looked pleased as the cat who ate the canary. "Soon." Aspen felt a little tremor of something between thrill and trepidation, but only for a second, because then Cary was pushing his legs apart, nuzzling into his crotch. His wet open mouth traced Aspen's balls and he groaned, but too soon Cary pulled back.

"Flip over." Cary was nearly whispering, his voice was so low, and he moved to help Aspen into his belly, hard cock rubbing into the silk bedclothes below. For just a moment he felt ungainly laying there, arms still stretched out, but then Cary had gripped his hips, pulled his ass up to his face and buried it there, inhaling a scent that was entirely Aspen. He let out a muffled curse but Aspen barely processed it because next moment Cary's tongue had flicked out, spiraling over Aspen's tightly furled pink hole, kissing it, sucking at it, darting out to punch through that ring of muscle. It felt incredible, alien and so perfectly right, as Cary coaxed him open, dug his tongue deep inside Aspen, and yet it wasn't enough, he wanted more, he needed--

Aspen wasn't sure if he spoke out loud of Cary was just so in tune with his body that he heard his plea that way, but almost regretfully he withdrew his questing lips and slid a hand between Aspen's spread cheeks, just pressing lightly between them. "Damn, you're delicious," Cary sounded almost as desperate as Aspen felt. The words felt like they were burning on his skin, and Aspen groaned and pressed back into Cary. He heard him flick open a bottle distantly. Teasing, Cary tapped his finger against Aspen's wet hole, circling it, pressing just the tip inside just to pull it back out seconds later. He was driving Aspen mad.

"Cary," he gritted out, and he couldn't see Cary's face but he felt the smirk there. He felt him lean forward and press a kiss to his lower back, and then - slowly - he drove a slick finger deep into Aspen.

Aspen gasped. It felt - well, it didn't hurt, not exactly, just felt like a stretch and a bit of a burn. No one had ever put anything inside him before. It didn't feel good exactly, but Aspen liked the way Cary caught his own breath.

And then Cary began to move his hand, at first carefully and then faster, and Aspen only noticed a little more burn when Cary slipped a second finger alongside the first. It was starting to feel nice, really, if a bit odd, when Cary curved his fingers in some way deep inside him and -- shit. Aspen's vision went white for a second and he knew he let out a sound but he couldn't even hear it because that felt fucking--

"Cary," he found himself saying, "now. Please now."

Cary slid a third finger inside him but Aspen hardly noticed. He had bigger things on his mind. Specifically, the bigger thing he knew was jutting proudly from between Cary's legs. He needed it.

"Hmm?" Cary asked, striving for an innocent tone. "What, now?"

"Come on," Aspen moaned, pushing his ass back onto Cary's fingers. Shit, that felt good. "Please. I need..."

"Need what? Say it."

"I need your cock in my ass now!" The words shot out of Aspen before he could think them, loud and wanton.

Cary didn't waste time responding. He was already sheathing himself in a condom one handed, the fingers of his other still sunk deep into Aspen's opening. Only when he'd snapped the rubber into place did he hesitate.

"This will be easier on you if you get on top," he murmured, pulling Aspen up to him.

"No." Again, the words burst out of Aspen before he had even considered them. Cary looked surprised. "Please. I want...I need you on top of me." As soon as the words were out of his mouth he realized they were true. He wanted that muscular, shining gold skin covering him, pressing him down, taking him. Aspen bit his lip and wriggled his ass back slightly on Cary's fingers.

The lust was blazing in Cary's eyes, and damn him if that sexy smirk didn't flash across his face before he was crushing Aspen's lips under his own in a blazing kiss, easing him back onto the bed. There was no more hesitation.

Aspen couldn't help the tiny noise that escaped him as Cary withdrew his fingers; he felt oddly empty for the scant seconds it took for Cary to press the blunt head of his cock to his opening. For a moment he was afraid, terrified like he had just taken a step out over an abyss and was waiting to fall, but then Cary cupped one large hand at his hip and pressed forward, slow but deliberate.

At first all Aspen was aware of was the pain. He knew his face was screwed up, knew every muscle in his body was tense with some archaic flight instinct, was aware of the pressure at his opening--could almost see the white-hot stretch there--and yet it was almost distant, as if it were happening to some other body and he was simply watching from afar.

Then Cary pulled his face close, breath hot on his cheek. "Relax, baby," Aspen couldn't even tell if he was speaking out loud or if he was reading it all in those impossible golden eyes, "open up for me. Push down. Let me in, Aspen." All of a sudden Aspen was hyperaware of every sensation--the pain roared back, yes, but every inch of his skin touching Cary's came alive at the same time, golden heat flooding into him, and he gasped in one deep breath and--it was the most incredible sensation, feeling Cary slide inside him, Cary, inside him.

"That's it, baby," Cary said so quiet Aspen almost missed it, but his face was etched with something between pleasure and agony. It was that look that did it, and Aspen's hands flew from where they'd still been pinned to the bed, and he was bracketing that gorgeous face with them, awestruck. The deep breath he'd taken whooshed out of his lungs, the last resistance of his body yielded, and Aspen felt Cary slide all the way inside him, felt the stretch and an indescribable fullness that he'd never before felt or even dreamed was possible.

"Aspen," Cary groaned, then they were kissing, long and deep, and Aspen could feel that every inch of himself had been consumed, taken over by sensation. There was nothing but this. His mouth on Cary's became frantic and he let his legs wrap around Cary's waist, trying to pull him deeper, moaning into his mouth at the mingled pain and pleasure of it.

Cary pulled away just enough to murmur, "Good? You okay?" and nip at Aspen's earlobe.

"Cary," Aspen managed, pulling him down to bite at his tempting bottom lip, "fuck me." His arms wove themselves around his neck and slowly, so damn slowly, Cary pulled back, let Aspen feel every inch and ridge of his thick cock slip out of his own body's firm grip. When Aspen felt almost empty, Cary locked that golden gaze with Aspen's, and slammed back in, the length of his cock scraping against that delicious spot inside him.




Burning Honey Ch. 04



Aspen screamed. And writhed, and begged, delirious with want: he was burning, aflame as Cary pounded into him, relentless, muscles corded and so fucking beautiful that Aspen could only plead for more, more of him, more of this. That gold skin was hot where it pressed into every inch of his own and the honey blonde hair was mussed from where Aspen had grabbed it to pull him even closer, and Cary seemed incapable of getting out more than a few words at a time, just "you feel.." And "God, yes baby," but it was when he gasped out "Aspen" like it was some kind of prophecy that he completely lost it, jackhammering into that spot over and over like a man possessed.

Aspen felt it building long before it crashed over him, gathering speed from someplace deep within him, higher than his bellybutton, some hidden reserve of fire within him suddenly roaring to life. His mouth flew open, though he couldn't get a word out if he'd tried, and every muscle in his body tensed up, his hands digging into Cary's shoulders--he felt himself suffused, flushed with the most gorgeous golden heat from the tips of his toes to the crown of his head. It only took that final brush of Cary's flat stomach against his throbbing erection to let himself trip and he was cumming, harder than he ever had before, his channel spasming with each jet that erupted from his otherwise untouched cock, desperately clutching Cary closer even as the other man cried out again, wordless this time, and snapped his hips forward in one last powerful thrust as though compelled to sink himself into Aspen as far as possible.

They lay like that for a while, not moving, and after a moment, when he had vaguely regained his senses, Aspen noticed that he wasn't the only one who was--ever so slightly--trembling.