ATF Alternate Universe
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended, etc., etc.
Pairings: Vin and Chris
Author's Notes: Thanks to Mog for creating this universe for us to enjoy!
Chris Larabee clutched the bottle of wine in a deathgrip as he walked in the heat of the dusky July night. He couldn't believe how nervous he felt as he headed toward Vin Tanner's apartment building. One of Buck's favorite phrases came to mind as his steps rang out. "Nervous as a long tailed hound dog in a room full of rockers." That was exactly how he felt. He still couldn't believe that this date was really happening. Vin was his best friend, had been for over a year, but lately their relationship had undergone a very pronounced change. It had happened so gradually Chris almost couldn't put his finger on when his feelings toward the beautiful, lithe agent had deepened to something more than close friendship. If he had to pinpoint the exact moment, he would guess it would be the night of the Peterson surveillance, about one month past.They had been working on the Peterson case for several weeks, without a fresh lead, when suddenly one of Peterson's "mules" had been caught carrying cocaine and guns into Texas from Mexico. The mule had been arrested at the border, and the El Paso police had contacted the Denver ATF when a plan ticket to Denver was found among the mule's belongings. After intense questioning by the El Paso police, the mule had confessed the plan to meet up with a member of Peterson's gang. Chris had pulled some strings and the mule was able to make that meeting. Wearing a wire and bringing along his associates, Ezra Standahl, of course. Peterson had gotten suspicious and cancelled the meeting, but the bureau was able to get a fix on one of Peterson's hide-outs and the seven took turns with surveillance. JD and Buck were cleaning up some loose ends that day and Chris needed someone to work with him in the van. Vin had offered, and unbeknownst to Chris, missed a physical therapy appointment in order to help his best friend. Several hours into the mind-dulling work, Chris noticed Vin grimacing and shifting around in his chair, which was unusual for the normally quiet, placid man. Vin had finally confessed about the skipped appointment and had admitted that his left shoulder was locking up on him. Chris, feeling very guilty about being the cause of Vin missing his therapy appointment, had started to give Vin a soothing shoulder rub as they passed the time. At first, it was merely a friend helping another friend. But as Chris massaged and rubbed that tight, stiff flesh, he felt a spark of electricity, a tingle of desire shoot through his body. He jumped slightly as he felt a stirring below the waist. He breathed deeply, inhaling the clean, crisp, outdoorsy smell of Vin's hair and body. Before he knew it, his hands had left Vin's shoulders and were skimming through Vin's soft, shiny hair. He stopped himself, shocked at his boldness.
"Vin, I-I'm sorry," he had stammered, afraid to meet his best friend's eye. When he finally mustered the courage to look, he gasped in surprise at the slow, sensuous smile spreading over Vin Tanner's lips.
"Maybe we should pick this up after working hours," Vin had teased huskily, sapphire eyes twinkling.
"Sounds good to me," Chris had answered back, feeling like he was in a dream.
But then Chris had been called out of town, to testify at a trial in Tucson, which had dragged on for almost two weeks. After that, the Peterson activity had heated up again and the agents found themselves working nights. Finally though, the timing was right. Vin had suggested Chris come to his house for dinner on Saturday night and his friend had eagerly accepted. Tonight was the night.
+ + + + + + +
The door flung open at Chris's nervous knock to reveal Vin Tanner standing on the other side, looking just as apprehensive.
"Hi Chris," Vin greeted shyly. "Just put the steaks on, hope you're hungry."
The ATF leader nodded, words momentarily escaping him as he looked Vin over slowly, from head to foot. Yeah, I'm gettin' hungry all right, he thought to himself, as he took in the handsome man standing before him. Vin was dressed in faded jeans, ripped at the left knee, frayed slightly at the ankles and snug in all the right places. His white cotton shirt was unbuttoned enough to reveal a vee of tanned skin at his neck, and the beginnings of a well-defined chest. A hint of his collarbones showed at the opening. Chris couldn't wait to sink his teeth into that bare skin. His anxiousness was about all but gone as he licked his lips in anticipation. He averted his eyes quickly as the heat began to pound in his crotch. Maybe it'd be better if I at least waited until I'm out of the doorway to start attackin' Vin, he thought to himself wryly, as he stepped aside and allowed his friend to close the door behind them.
"Yeah Vin, I'm starvin'," Chris finally was able to answer, grinning wolfishly as he walked into the apartment behind the sharpshooter, his eyes caressing Vin's firm butt, molded into the well-worn denim.
"....for bringing the wine, Chris," Vin finished and turned to face his best friend. Chris looked up, startled, as he realized Vin had been talking to him, but he had been too enamored with the sight of Vin's backside to notice.
"Sorry Vin," Chris replied sheepishly when he noticed the sharpshooter looking at him questioningly. "You just look too good in those jeans."
"Yeah, well, you ain't lookin' so bad yourself there, pard," Vin replied, as his vivid blue eyes travelled up Chris's long, taut body, taking in the form-fitting black jeans that did very little to mask the large bulge at the front, and continued upward, latching onto the black Polo shirt that hugged his whipcord lean, muscular chest and strained at the bulging biceps. In the past few weeks since that first encounter in the surveillance van, Vin came to realize how much he loved to look at Chris's body. Right now, he was imagining the feel of those arms pulled tightly around him while he worked to peel the black jeans past narrow hips and down Chris's... Stop it Tanner! Stop it! he screamed silently. Don't get carried away. You don't know what's goin' on with Chris, his inner voice warned.
Chris looked at Vin, watching the flash of emotions pass across his face. Maybe he's changin' his mind, maybe I shouldn't even be doin' this, Chris agonized silently. What the hell am I doin' here, anyway? Vin's my best friend, what if this ruins things between us?
Both men cleared their throats at the same time and then stood in tense silence, looking anywhere but at each other.
"Uh, why don't I pour us some wine," Chris blurted out, anxious to break the uneasy silence, so foreign to them both.
"Good idea, I'll go check on the steaks," Vin agreed with relief, hurrying off to the grill situated on his balcony.
In the kitchen, Chris frowned at the way his hands trembled as he poured the Merlot. Christ, I can take on any arms dealer or a drug cartel, but now I'm shakin' like a leaf. He shook his head and gulped down half a glass of wine, hoping it would calm his frazzled nerves. What is goin' on with me? he wondered.
He'd been married, had a son. Why was he so drawn to Vin? He'd never had feelings like this for a man before, had been brought up to believe it was wrong. But here he was, standing in his best friend's kitchen, trying to fight his attraction to the man. He teared up at the memory of his dead wife and son.
Would they approve? he questioned. He wiped away a few tears as he stood in the small kitchen, remembering how kind-hearted and non-judgmental his wife had been. Life and let live had been one of her favorite mottos, it was one of the things Chris had loved about her. Chris knew that Sarah would want him to be happy now that she was gone. And he felt happiest when he was with Vin. He refilled his glass and made a decision. Life's too short, he thought to himself. I want Vin and I think he wants me, too. I'm gonna do what I need to be happy, he told himself and walked out of the kitchen to go find the man waiting for him on the balcony.
+ + + + + + +
Chris stepped out onto the balcony where Vin was nervously turning over the steaks and seasoning them repeatedly. He set down the wineglasses and moved to stand next to his friend at the grill.
"Easy pard," he joked, trying to ease the strain the had developed between the two of them. "I'd like a little steak with my pepper."
"Sorry Chris," Vin apologized with a half-smile. "Guess I got a little carried away." He continued to avoid Chris's gaze, staring at the flames rising up from the grill as he spoke.
"Vin."
"Yeah, Chris?" Vin answered, looking up at Chris, then back down again quickly.
"Look at me." The older man reached out to take Vin's chin in his hand and gently brought it up, forcing Vin to look him in the eyes.
"Look, I'm sorry about what happened in there. I've never had these feelings about a man before, Vin. It's a little awkward. But I know I want this, and I hope you do, too." He looked over at his best friend, who he hoped after tonight would be his lover. Vin's expressive blue eyes gave away nothing. Chris felt a sudden hollow feeling in his stomach. What if Vin's changed his mind? Please Vin, no, you can't, now that I finally know what I want he silently despaired. He looked the sharpshooter in the eye again, forcing his voice to stay calm. "How do you feel about it, Vin, about us? You ever been with a man before?"
"Yeah, lots," Vin answered back in a whisper.
"What!" Chris said, louder than he meant to.
"I don't mean lots of men," Vin began to hastily explain as he saw Chris's expression change and heard the shock in his voice. "I mean I been with a man, lots of times. Well, it was just one man, and I... Oh, hell, I'm not explainin'' myself very well," he finished, exhaling sadly. He looked back at Chris, who had walked away from him, and was now turned away from his, hands on the railing, leaning over, looking at the darkening sky.
"Chris, I..." he fumbled. He decided to try again. "Chris, you don't know a lot about me, about my past. I wanna tell you about things before I met y'all," he said softly.
Chris turned to face Vin. "You don't have to tell me anything, Vin. It's your business, not mine." He downed his drink. Maybe this was a mistake, he thought to himself regretfully.
"No, I want you to know, Chris. It's important to me to tell ya," Vin insisted.
"OK Vin, sure," Chris acquiesced.
"Steaks and spuds are about done. You set the table while I finish up out here?" Vin asked.
"Sure thing, pard," Chris replied, taking the wine and heading back into the apartment.
+ + + + + + +
Vin waited until they had finished most of their dinner and most of the bottle of wine before he started his story. He needed the courage the alcohol would provide and hoped it had mellowed Chris a little bit. It had not gone well out on the balcony when Vin had started to try and explain things about his past and he didn't want a repeat performance. He cared about Chris so much and was afraid the older man wouldn't want him after he heard his tale.
"You ready to tell me, yet. Vin?" Chris asked, seeming to read Vin's mind.
"Yeah, cowboy," Vin grinned back shyly. "I was just about to, was just wonderin' how to start."
"Start at the beginning Vin," Chris sighed as he poured more wine for both of them. "That's usually the best place."
Vin nodded and licked his lips nervously. "I ran away from the orphanage when I was 16. Joined the army, told 'em I was 18. That's where I learned to shoot so good." He paused and took a long drink of the merlot.
"Go on Vin," Chris encouraged.
"Stuck around doin' that for a couple years, then went back to Texas. Didn't go home to Tascosa, though, went to Dallas." He gave Chris a melancholy grin. "Wanted to see the big city. So anyhow, I never finished high school, since I dropped out and joined the army. Only job I could get was at a place called Manfred's. 'Manfred's, A Club for Discriminating Gentlemen'. That was their slogan, Chris. Whatta ya think about that?" he asked, with a short, dry laugh.
Chris shrugged. "Don't know Vin. Sounds okay to me, I guess."
"Yeah, there were certainly a lot of gentlemen that came in the club, that's for sure," Vin began again. "I made pretty good money, 'pecially for somebody like me, that never finished school. I tended bar, got good tips, didn't have to do nothin' sleazy or anything for 'em. We had to wear these outfits, you would have died laughin' Chris, seeing me dressed up like that." He shook his head and laughed, an easy, heartfelt chuckle this time. "Matter of fact, think I got a picture or two around here. Hang on a sec, let me see if I can find one." Vin left Chris sitting at the table, a little confused with where Vin's story was leading. He didn't have long to ponder, though. Vin was back in a matter of minutes, holding a picture, which he handed to Chris.
Chris looked at the picture, seeing a breathtakingly handsome, barechested man standing behind a bar. The man wore white cuffs at his wrists and a black bow-tie around his neck, with black tuxedo pants that hugged his trim waist. His hair, which reached well past the shapely shoulders, shone golden in the artificial light of the club. He looked more closely at the photo, drawn to the large, deep blue eyes of the man. "God Vin, that's you!" he exclaimed.
"Yep, sure is. One of my friends there, Terry, took that of me. Here's his picture. I took it that same night."
He handed Chris the other photo. In it was another beautiful young man, with olive skin and dark hair, dressed similarly as Vin, and holding a tray of drinks.
"He was one of the cocktail waiters," Vin offered by way of explanation.
"Was he your lover?" Chris asked. "The one you were just talking about before?"
Vin's face clouded. "No, no, he wasn't. We were just good friends. Terry's boyfriend was Manfred. He's the one who owned the club."
"I see," Chris replied, feeling strangely relieved that the other beautiful young man had not been Vin's lover.
"So anyway," Vin started again, setting the pictures aside and sitting back down next to Chris, "there was this regular customer, William. He was a good friend of Manfred's and always sat at the bar. Drank a vodka martini, three olives," Vin remembered. "He always tipped me good, was always real nice to me, never tried nothin' like some of the other customers did."
Chris closed his eyes tightly, trying not to imagine Vin, so handsome, so young, at the mercy of the male patrons of the nightclub. Christ, no wonder he acts like he's older than he really is, he thought to himself bitterly.
"One night, my car broke down after work, wouldn't start. And I was standin' out there in the pourin' rain, tryin' to fix it. And William drove by, asked if he could give me a lift. I sure was cold and wet, Chris, just wanted to get out of the rain. And he was a nice enough guy. So I said, sure, and got in his car. It was real nice, a red Lamborghini. He drove me home. Nothin' happened, just gave me a ride. Next time I worked, he asked me if I wanted to have dinner with him sometime. Most of the guys dated men from the club, so I didn't think it was any big deal, 'sides, it was just dinner and I was hungry a lot of the time. Made good money, like I said, but by the time I paid the rent and got my car fixed, didn't have a lot left for extras, like food. So I went out to dinner with him. It wasn't a real fancy restaurant or anything, but the food sure was good and there was a lot of it. After dinner he asked me if I wanted to go back to his house for a drink. I said yes. You shoulda seen his house Chris! It was a mansion! He had a butler that answered the door for us, and a swimming pool and a hot tub and all these rooms! We had some drinks and then he asked if I wanted to get into the hot tub. I did, it looked great, but I didn't have a bathin' suit. William said there were suits in the pool house, for me just to go pick one out and hop in. We were havin' a good time, drinkin' champagne and talkin' in the hot tub. And then he kissed me."
Chris knew what was coming, but he still choked on the Merlot when Vin said it. "What happened then, Vin?" he managed to gasp out.
"Well, we kissed for a while. I wasn't really sure what to make of it. I had been with a few girls when I was in the army, but never anything serious. It just didn't feel right, I guess. It wasn't bad kissin' William, that I remember. I had a lot of champagne that night, so I don't remember a lot, just mainly remember wakin' up in his bed the next mornin'. And his butler brought breakfast to us on a tray and he didn't bat an eye. It was just like it was the most normal thing to do, servin' breakfast in bed to two men.
After that, William asked me out a lot. I had dinner with him a couple nights a week and he gave me money to get my car fixed and to buy groceries. I never asked him for it, but he made me take it. That wasn't why I was sleepin' with him, Chris, I swear," Vin protested strongly, blue eyes blazing into Chris's pale face. "You gotta believe me."
"I believe you, Vin," Chris answered back, feeling slightly queasy.
Somewhat mollified, Vin began talking again. "One night, about three weeks after I first went out with William, I drove home from work and was walkin' to my apartment, down this alley. I had to park pretty far away from where I lived. A bunch of guys jumped me. They were callin' me all kind of names, like pretty boy and fairy. There was five of 'em, I think and they kept punchin' me and kickin' me. I woke up, laying face down in that alley. I got up, finally, and made my way home. You shoulda seen it when I looked in the mirror. They knocked two of my teeth out, my lips were all cut up, I had a black eye and big, ol' bruises all over. My side was killin' me too. I didn't have enough money to go to the hospital, so I just cleaned myself up, best I could and went to sleep. I didn't have to be at work for a couple days, so I figured I'd be all right by the time I had to show up at the bar. Couldn't exactly be waitin' on customers lookin' like Frankenstein, could I?"
"Vin, I had no idea..." Chris began, but Vin waved him off.
"Next day, William called. He wanted to pick me up for dinner, said he had somethin' to ask me. Told him I couldn't, but I didn't tell him why. I didn't want anybody to see me lookin' like that, I was so embarrassed. I tried to fight 'em, but there were five of 'em and I don't even think I threw three punches.
So I told him no, that I'd see him at the club in a couple days. I went back to sleep and next thing I knew, somebody's bangin' on the door. I wasn't thinkin' real clear or I'd never have answered it, but I did. It was William. He said I sounded funny on the phone and he knew there was something wrong. He took one look at my face and made me go with him. He took me to one of his doctor friends and got me fixed up. Got two new teeth for me, too. He begged me not to go back to my apartment, told me I could move in with him. Said there was plenty of space, said I could even have my own room. Well, I sure didn't want to get beat up like that again, so I told him I'd move in with him for a while, until I was feelin' better. William said he had a surprise for me, that's why he had called. He found out from Manfred that I didn't graduate from high school, and he wanted to help me get my GED and then go onto college. He wanted to pay for it all. He said he'd talked to Manfred and I didn't even have to work at the club anymore, either, just maybe on special occasions or if Manfred was running short. I didn't know what to think, Chris, my head was swimmin'. College! I couldn't believe it. Figured there was no way I'd ever amount to anything, but here was my chance!
William was really good to me, Chris. He never pressured me to sleep with him, but I did, 'cause I wanted to. I wasn't in love with him or anything, but I was grateful for what he was doin' for me and he was always very kind. He got me a tutor and I had my GED in six months. My grades hadn't been that good when I was in school before, but the tutor really helped me learn. I enrolled in college that fall..."
"How old were you, Vin?"
The younger man frowned, trying to remember. "Hhmm, guess I was 19." He had a sudden thought. "Chris, you aren't gonna tell on me are ya? That I'm two years younger than I said I was? The army never did figure out I was only 16 when I enlisted."
"No Vin, your secret's safe with me," Chris reassured. So Vin's only about 25, not 27 like he's claiming to be, Chris thought to himself. Shit, I thought he was young before...
"...and I took up karate. I wasn't gonna let anybody beat me up like that again. I got my black belt about a year later," he said proudly. "I really liked college, and I had plenty of time to study since I really didn't have to work much and William paid for everything. He gave me a really nice Jeep to drive and I could buy anything I wanted, I had my own credit cards and everything."
"So he was your sugar daddy?" Chris asked, suddenly feeling very angry and jealous.
"Yeah, I guess he was," Vin retorted, stubbornly. "But he wanted to do it. He wanted to help me and I let him. Was that so wrong Chris? Should I have kept workin' in that bar, starvin' and gettin' beat up? Or should I have let a friend help me out? He and I both were gettin' what we wanted."
Chris relented a little. He looked at Vin, taking in his delicate features, slender frame, and fine, soft hair. He was sure that William had felt Vin was worth every penny he spent on him. He mulled over what he now knew of Vin's early life. He'd lost his only family at a young age, was sent to an orphanage, ran away to the Army and then ended up working at a gay bar while he was still a teenager, getting hit on by men old enough to be his father. He knew he was being too judgmental, too hard on Vin. Vin had done what he needed to survive. And who was he to judge him for it?
"You're right Vin, I'm sorry," Chris apologized. "Please tell me the rest."
"No, just forget it!" Vin burst out, leaving the table and running to the bathroom. He slammed the door shut and turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on his face, trying to stay calm and not start crying.
"Vin! Vin! I'm sorry, please come out!" Chris stood at the door, shouting to be heard above the noise of the running water.
The water stopped. "No. Just get out of here, this was all a mistake," Vin said sadly, his voice breaking.
"Vin, please! Let me come in! I was wrong! Tell me the rest, I want to hear it."
Several terse seconds ticked by and then the door was finally unlocked. Chris eased the door open, and saw Vin standing forlornly, head bent down, hair spilling into his face.
"Vin, come on, talk to me," he pleaded.
The smaller man continued studying the floor and shook his head. Chris came forward and embraced him, softly stroking his hair. Vin fought him and pulled away.
"You don't know what it was like!" Vin suddenly shouted. "I was all alone after my mom died, living in the orphanage and then gettin' carted around to the foster homes. Nobody wanted me, they just wanted the money and another hand to help with farm and ranch chores. Hell, half of 'em didn't even let me go to school regular, wouldn't feed me unless I put in a full day's work." He grinned at Chris, bitterly. "Awful hard to concentrate at school with an empty belly. So I missed a lot and worked instead, like they wanted me to. Seems like I was always hungry back then. Amazin' what someone will do for food when they're hungry." Vin finished, with a humorless chuckle.
Chris looked at him with agonized blue eyes. "How old were you?"
"I dunno, eleven, twelve, somethin' like that."
"And they had you workin' all day, instead of goin' to school? And starvin' ya?" Chris shouted angrily, wishing he could find the people that did this to Vin and hurt them. Hurt them like they had hurt a small defenseless, boy who had not had anyone to care about him. Well, things were different now. Vin did have someone to care about him and he would always be there for him, from now on.
He went to Vin again and hugged him, holding him tightly, protectively. "Vin, it's all right. I was wrong about what I said."
The fight left Vin and he sagged into Chris, collapsing into those strong arms as he started to cry. "W-William was the f-first person to care a-about me, Chris, since my mom died," Vin struggled out between sobs. "It was k-kind 'a nice to have someone care, was that so bad?"
"No Vin, it wasn't bad at all," Chris soothed, squeezing Vin tightly. He pushed bad slightly, to look into the tear-stained face. "Why don't we go sit down in the living room and you can tell me the rest. Okay?" he asked, smiling at Vin encouragingly.
Vin drew a shaky breath. "Okay Chris," he agreed and let the older man lead him into the other room.
Chris sat down on the couch and patted the space next to him, gesturing for Vin to sit next to him. The sharpshooter shook his head and anxiously paced the room instead.
"Vin, you doin' okay?" Chris asked, concerned.
Vin stopped pacing and stood uneasily in the center of the room, facing Chris, but unable to look him in the eye.
"Vin, please come over here and sit down," Chris begged. "It's okay."
Vin sighed and walked over to the couch, sitting at the end, as far away from Chris as he could.
Undaunted, Chris slid over close to Vin and put an arm around the younger man's shoulders.
"So then what happened Vin?" he asked in a low voice. "You were telling me about going to college," he prompted.
Vin looked at Chris then, sapphire eyes clouding at the painful memories. Just when Chris thought he would have to pull the words out of Vin, he started speaking.
"Yeah, went to college. I really liked it and it sure was good not to have to worry about makin' enough money to pay for things. William really helped me turn my life around."
"He sounds like a good man, helping you out like that," Chris offered.
Vin flinched slightly and looked away from Chris, staring straight ahead at nothing. "Yeah, he was," Vin said softly, almost to himself.
.
"So, anyways, my junior year, companies came on campus to do interviewing. My grades were pretty good, and a few of my professors recommended me for interviews. I went on a few, but they really weren't what I wanted to do. And then one day, I saw a poster advertisin' for Law Enforcement recruits. Chris, I couldn't believe it! I know it sounds really hokey, but I felt like I found my calling." He turned to Chris, smiling as he recalled that day, his eyes lighting up. Chris's heart swelled at the sight and he pulled the sharpshooter close, stroking his soft cheek and wishing the smile would stay on his face forever. God, he's been through so much, he thought to himself, as he smiled back encouragingly.
"Growin' up in the orphanage and in those foster homes, I saw a lot of bad things happen, Chris," Vin said as the smile died on his lips as he remembered. "Ran across a lot of bad people, too," he said with a small shudder. "Wanted to help make things right, 'specially for the kids out there, for long as I could remember. And here was my chance! I went and signed up that day. William was a little mad when I told him that night, said he wanted something better for me. But I knew that was what I wanted to do. William finally came around when he realized how much I wanted to do it.
Seemed like forever 'til I could go through the academy. They did all kinds of background checks and I had to take a bunch of tests. Guess I passed everything, though. Glad nobody ever found out about me lyin' about my age. Could've gotten in some trouble, huh? And that probably would have blown things for me."
Before Chris could reply, Vin started talking again.
"I finally graduated from school and got enrolled in the Policy Academy the next day. Made me cut all my hair off, and it was halfway down my back, then. William was really pissed when he saw me that night! I thought he was gonna cry, he was so mad!" he said with a chuckle. "He wouldn't talk to me for two whole days! Shit, it was my hair, wasn't it? I wasn't all that happy about it, either, but, guess it had to be done, no use frettin' over it."
Chris shook his head and smiled widely, picturing a young, fresh-faced Vin with his newly shorn head. Sure would have been somethin' to see! he thought to himself. Bet he was awful damn cute in that uniform.
"Once I enrolled in the academy, I decided to move out of William's house. I was makin' decent money as a police recruit and could afford an all right place to live in. 'Sides, William had done so much for me already, if I stayed any longer it would have been like I was talkin' advantage of him. I'd always told him it was just 'til I got on my feet. Plus, he was so mad about my hair gettin' cut off, I was gettin' tired of hearing about it. I didn't see him that much when I was at the academy. There was so much studyin' and tests and work. I was beat most of the time. You remember how it was, huh, Chris?"
"Yeah, it was tough," the older man agreed. "They want to weed the one's out quick that can't cut it."
"Well, they weren't gonna weed me out," Vin protested strongly. "I was gonna do it, I was gonna be a cop and that's all there was to it. So I worked my ass off at it."
And what a lovely ass it is, Chris smiled to himself.
"Finished in the top 10 percent of my class," Vin said proudly. Chris nodded slightly at his friend. He knew this, having read Vin's personnel file before asking him to join the ATF. It was noted in the file that Vin's weapons and tactical skills were among the strongest the Dallas Police Department had ever seen.
"Well, I was havin' a great time after I graduated. I was finally doin' it, Chris, I was a member of Dallas's finest! My partner and I had a real good beat in an old part of downtown. Got to know quite a few of the shopkeepers down there, real nice folks. I liked lookin' out for 'em. I had been on the job a few months, when William called out of the blue. We hadn't really seen each other since I moved out, but I stayed in touch with Terry from the club and he told me William was still comin' in and always asked about me. Well, anyways, William asked if I could come over for dinner and that Terry and Manfred would be there, too. Kind of like a celebration dinner for me, passing the academy and all. Willliam said he was sorry he hadn't been more supportive of me and that he wanted to have this dinner for me. I thought it'd be good to see them all again, so I said yes and we scheduled it for Friday night, right after I got off work. I was runnin' late that day, my partner and I had to bust some kids that were stealing from some of the stores, and I got hung up with paperwork. I called William and told him I was gonna be late, 'cause I still needed to change clothes and clean up. He said that was fine, they'd wait for me. Well, I left the station about an hour late and got over to William's house." Vin clenched his hands into tight fists, fighting back tears. "A-and, a-nd, when I got there, George, that was the butler, Chris, George, never answered the door. So I decided to go around back, thinkin' maybe they were all out there, havin' a few drinks at the pool. And when I got back there, I could see into the house through the windows. The back of the house was mostly windows. And they were all lyin' there on the floor. All of 'em. William, Terry, Manfred and George. I kicked the door in, Chris, to get to 'em. God it was terrible! There was blood everywhere. And they were all dead, Chris! All of 'em!"
Tears flowed freely down Vin's face and Chris immediately grabbed Vin and held him in another tight embrace, stroking his hair softly, rocking him soothingly as he cried.
"It's all right Vin, you don't have to tell me any more," Chris said, trying to comfort his distraught friend.
"It must have been awful for you."
"I-it was awful," Vin agreed, trying to catch his breath as his sobs subsided. He clung to Chris's shirtfront and looked up at Chris miserably. Chris's heart broke at the sight of Vin's perfect face marred with tear tracks.
"Vin..."
"I didn't know what to do, Chris. I just stood there in the middle of that room starin' at them, at my friends. Then my police training kicked in. What if the people that did it were still in the house? I called for backup and then I went and looked around. I didn't have my gun with me, guess it was pretty stupid to be walkin' around like that, lookin' for 'em, but I had to do something. I just couldn't stand there and stare at Terry and Manfred and...." He choked up again and his voice broke. Chris just held him tighter as he struggled to get the words out.
"I didn't find anything and some guys from the station came in a little while. They wanted to know what I was doin' there. I told 'em William was an old friend. Got a few funny looks, but I didn't care. They were my friends and they were good to me. Took care of me when I didn't have anybody else."
"I know Vin, I know. It's all right, you don't have to explain to me," Chris said comfortingly.
"Never did catch who did it. Investigators think it was robbery gone bad. But Chris, if I had gotten there when I was supposed to..."
"Don't even think it Vin," Chris cautioned. "There wasn't anything you could have done, except maybe have been killed, too." Fear clutched at his gut, thinking how close Vin had come to being murdered. 'God Vin, an hour earlier and you would have been dead. Thank God you worked late.
"I kept thinkin' maybe if I'd been there, I could've done something, something to have saved 'em," Vin continued in a desperate voice. "Case got buried, there were no fresh leads. I couldn't stand it anymore, thinkin' about it, about what happened to my friends and nobody cared. Said there was nothing I could do, I just had to forget about it. Well, I couldn't forget about it, Chris. I resigned from the force. That's when I took up bounty hunting. Figured maybe I could catch the guys on my own, if I couldn't do it as a policeman."
Chris pushed Vin away from him gently. "So that's when you started bounty hunting?"
Vin nodded. "Yeah, but I still didn't catch the bastards. Felt a little bit better at first when I caught some other killers, though, but after a while, I realized my heart wasn't in it. I wanted to help people, that's why I got into Law Enforcement in the first place, but I felt like such a failure. Couldn't even help my own friends, couldn't bring their killers in."
"Vin, don't be so hard on yourself," Chris pleaded. "The police investigated and they couldn't figure out who did it. You're only one man. You tried your best to help 'em, that's what really matters. Your friends know that."
"I can't ever forget, Chris. It still feels like it was yesterday. I can still see it all in my mind."
"How long did you bounty hunt?" Chris asked, trying to keep Vin from continuing to relive the horrible event.
"Guess it was 'bout two years."
Chris would always remember the day the former bounty hunter came into their lives. Hair flying, blue eyes flashing, he had looked like an avenging angel as he came out of nowhere in the deserted warehouse to save Nathan from a sniper's bullet. Vin and the ATF team were both there, unbeknownst to each other, to capture the same man. Chris had convinced Vin to join his team soon after and they had been inseparable ever since.
+ + + + + + +
"Chris?"
"Yeah Vin?"
"Thanks for listenin' to me and tryin' to make me feel better about it..about what happened."
"You're welcome, pard," Chris replied softly, putting his arms around Vin again and holding him close. The two men rested silently against each other for a time, breathing in unison, listening to each other's heartbeats. Chris was glad to feel Vin finally relax in his arms.
"Thanks Chris, I'm feelin' better now," Vin said, pulling out of Chris's embrace and planting a shy kiss on the older man's cheek.
Chris gasped in pleasant surprise at the kiss and his cheek tingled where Vin's lips had touched it. He wanted more, but didn't want to rush Vin, especially so soon after his heart breaking confession.
"Vin, tell me somethin'."
"Sure Chris, anything. You know that."
"Are you okay? I mean really okay about all this, right now?"
"You mean about bein' with ya?" Chris nodded. "Yeah Chris, I am. Haven't been with anybody since William. Think it's about time, don't you? I'm so tired of the bad memories, Chris. I wanna have something good to think about."
"Vin, I've never kissed a man before, but I sure wanna kiss you right now. That okay?"
"Yeah Chris, it's okay," Vin answered with a slow smile. "'Bout time ya did. Been waitin' for weeks."
Chris moved forward, timidly letting his lips brush against Vin's soft, lush mouth.
"That the best ya can do, cowboy?" Vin teased, pulling his mouth away from Chris's.
Chris licked his lips as he looked back at Vin. His mouth felt like it was on fire, his lips were burning to taste more of Vin. With a growl he plunged forward again, attacking Vin's mouth lustfully, forcing the full, red lips open, shoving his tongue inside to caress and explore. Vin eagerly returned the embrace, searching for Chris's tongue with his own, moaning as the two tongues met.
Chris pushed Vin flat onto the couch, covering the younger man's slender body with his own. He ground his growing erection into Vin's crotch, reveling in the feeling. Chris finally broke the kiss, coming up for air.
"God Vin, you make me so hot," he panted in his lover's ear. He nibbled on the sensitive lobe, pleased when Vin clawed at his broad back and arched up against him.
Chris leaned down and bit at Vin's tanned neck, alternating with gentle nips and quick, deep bites. Chris deftly unbuttoned Vin's shirt as he worked his way lower and lower, finally reaching Vin's chest. The older man tongued Vin's brown nipples until the sharpshooter could barely breathe from the sensation.
"Chris, Chris," Vin moaned.
"What is it Vin?" Now it was Chris's turn to tease.
"Don't stop, please, don't stop," the smaller man begged, clutching at Chris's shoulder's desperately.
Instead of answering, Chris brought his mouth down hard onto Vin's begging mouth, silencing the pleas as he drove his tongue into that sweet, hot mouth again. He loved the taste of Vin, the feel of his mouth on his, as their tongues entwined and battled against one another for dominance.
Vin suddenly broke the deep, wet kiss and pushed Chris off of him. Using the element of surprise, the sharpshooter then shoved him onto his back on the other side of the couch and straddled him.
"My turn now, cowboy," Vin taunted huskily.
Chris's whole body was a glowing hot ember as Vin pressed his hardened member into him as he leaned forward to pull Chris's shirt off his willing body. Seeing the naked flesh of Chris's body excited Vin into a frenzy and he fell onto the older man, burying his even, white teeth into Chris's neck. He twisted him over, raking his nails down Chris's bare back as both men landed on the floor. Vin was now on the bottom, but he pushed against Chris again and moved until the two were side by side. Vin reached out and pinched one of Chris's pink nipples, hard, bringing a startled cry of pleasure from his lover. He followed with his tongue, toying with both nipples until they hardened into stiff, aching peaks.
Chris knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer. His erection was throbbing against his tight, black jeans, begging to be released. One look at Vin's face convinced him that he was suffering in the same way. He needed to end the sweet torture now. He flattened Vin back onto the floor and laid on top of him, wrapping one hand in Vin's luxurious mane of hair and unbuttoning his shirt the rest of the way with his other, exposing Vin's well-muscled abdomen to his lustful gaze. He pulled his hand free of Vin's hair and bent down to unzip the snug jeans, licking his lips in anticipation of the treasures he would uncover.
He fell back with a cry as Vin struggled against him, trying to push him back and away. He grabbed at Chris's jeans, reaching for the zipper, bringing it down. As he struggled to pull down the tight material, Chris recovered and moved back into his original position with a taunting smile for his lover.
"Just lay back Vin and take it like a man," Chris teased as he unzipped his jeans slowly. Sliding the pants down Vin's slim hips, Chris was even more aroused when he saw Vin was not wearing underwear. Every beautiful inch of his hard, magnificent cock was exposed to Chris's wanting eyes.
"God Vin," Chris breathed, "you're beautiful. I can't wait to taste you."
He bent down to lick the tip of Vin's swollen cock, tasting the salty, clear liquid dribbling from the eye.
"Mmm, you taste so good Vin, I want some more," Chris whispered as he leaned down and devoured Vin's cock, taking it deep into his mouth.
"Oh God...Oh God.... Chris....don't......stop!" Vin bit out through clenched teeth, grabbing the blond head tightly as he thrust himself again and again into Chris's willing mouth.
Chris quickly pulled away, releasing the rock-hard shaft from his lips, letting it slip down his lips slowly.
"Doin' okay Vin?" he asked coyly, taking in Vin's trembling body and flushed face with a satisfied smile. "You want some more?"
"Please Chris, please. I can't take it...please....," the sharpshooter begged frantically, trying to grab at Chris and force his head back down onto his rigid cock.
"Say it, Vin," Chris said, breathlessly, eyes glittering with passion, "tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it," he whispered in Vin's ears, licking and biting it as he spoke.
"Use your mouth, Chris, please..."
"Use it for what Vin?" Chris asked, toying with his lover mercilessly.
"Suck me, lick me, take me in your mouth...anything...now! Please!"
"Like this, Vin?" Chris asked, and then descended again on Vin's arousal, engulfing it in his warm, wet mouth. Vin sighed with pleasure and Chris knew neither one of them would be able to last much longer. His teasing of Vin had nearly sent him over the edge, too. He began to milk Vin's cock with his mouth, bringing the younger man closer and closer to fulfillment. Chris was getting hotter and harder as Vin began to twist and grind into his mouth. He couldn't believe how aroused he was becoming from doing this to Vin. He couldn't wait to make love to the passionate sharpshooter. He never knew it could be like this with another man.
And then his cellular phone rang.
He nearly choked on Vin's cock at the sound. "No, God, no," he moaned, pulling his reluctant mouth away from Vin.
"Chris? Chris?" Vin called, bewildered at his lover's actions. Caught in the throes of passion, he hadn't realized the phone was ringing.
"Larabee!" Chris growled into the receiver, once he had found his phone, thrown into the corner of Vin's living room, along with his car keys.
"Okay, got it. Be there in about 20 minutes. No, don't worry about Vin, I'll tell him."
Vin had somewhat recovered by now and was sitting up on the floor, watching Chris.
"What's up, Chris?"
"That was Josiah. FBI needs back up on the Peterson thing. There's a buy goin' down in about an hour. Just picked it up with the wiretap. Told 'em we'd meet 'em at the warehouse. You okay to go?"
Vin nodded, pulling himself together quickly. "Let me get my guns. I made coffee earlier, can you get a couple cups for us, to go?"
"Yup," Chris replied. "We'll take my car, I'll met ya down there."
+ + + + + + +
Chris eyed his partner, sitting silently next to him as the Ram flew down the nearly deserted streets of west Denver. "Doin' okay Vin?"
"Yep," the sharpshooter responded as he slammed a freshly loaded clip into his 9mm pistol, and took a gulp of scalding hot coffee.
"You're not buzzed at all from the wine, are you?" Chris asked worriedly.
"Nope, it'd take more than two glasses of wine, couple hours ago, to put me under the table," Vin replied. He smiled slightly at Chris. "Don't worry pard, I'm doin' fine," he reassured. "Just sorry we got interrupted is all."
"You ain't kiddin' Vin. I couldn't believe it when the damned phone rang. Makes me almost wanna rethink my career choice," he joked dryly.
"Should at least make ya think about ditchin' that phone, that's for sure," Vin agreed.
Conversation halted as they pulled onto a sidestreet, three blocks from the warehouse. They would go on foot to the surveillance van, so as not to alert any early arrivals from the Peterson entourage to their presence. They crept forward to the van and slipped inside after giving the prearranged signal.
"'Bout time y'all got here. We were beginnin' to think you were gonna miss out on all the fun," Buck greeted them.
"Got tied up with traffic," Chris deadpanned. "What's the deal?"
Buck filled them in on the buy and Chris set the plan in motion. Everyone fell into position, silently waiting and watching as the FBI went to work. The buyers arrived right on time and the operation was running like clock-work. Everything continued to run smoothly and finally the signal was given for Chris's team to move in.
"ATF! Drop your weapons and hands up where we can see 'em!" Chris barked as he shot out from behind a stack of crates.
Two of the unarmed buyers raised their hands in the hand, each still clutching a suitcase filled with money. Chris and Josiah came forward to handcuff them. The other three bolted, each moving in a different direction, and were immediately pursued by Nathan, Buck and Vin. Ezra and JD, in the surveillance van several blocks away, left cover and raced for the warehouse. Nathan easily captured his man, leaping onto the back of the unarmed man, taking him down quickly. Buck and Vin's quarries had darted into the same corner of the warehouse, hidden behind a pile of boxes and crates.
"Count of three," Buck had whispered to Vin.
The sharpshooter nodded and mouthed the countdown. The two men sprang into action, running full speed into the obstruction, sending the boxes flying. They quickly ducked behind the crates, as a hail of bullets flew into the air, then flung themselves upward, firing as they moved. They connected with their targets, injuring, but not killing the two criminals. Vin and Buck easily disarmed and handcuffed the wounded men, as Ezra and JD met them.
"Another excellent job, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Wilmington," Ezra began. "I commend you both."
"Thanks Ez," Vin replied. "Can ya get the medics over here?"
"They will be dispatched momentarily," the southerner promised as he went in search of the paramedics.
By now, the rest of the FBI team and several police officers had made it into the warehouse and took over the proceedings, freeing up Chris to check on his team members. Josiah, Nathan, Ezra and JD were all accounted for. Where are Vin and Buck, he frantically wondered to himself, searching rapidly through the crush of people for the missing men.
He was relieved to finally spot the two at the far end of the warehouse, holed up in a corner with two prisoners. He strode quickly to them, scanning them both for injuries as he approached.
"You both all right?" he asked tightly.
"Yep, piece 'a cake, chief," Buck replied lightly as Vin nodded silently.
"Good, we're outta here, FBI and black and whites can take it from here."
"Glad to hear it pard. Don't know about you fellas, but I'm beat," Buck answered.
"Hate to tell ya this, Buck, but your beauty sleep is gonna have to wait. The brass says we gotta file some paperwork tonight. I need everybody back at the office, ASAP."
"You kiddin' me?" Buck shouted in exasperation as the rest of the team walked up.
"Nope," Chris replied flatly. "Vin, c'mon I'll give ya a ride. See the rest of y'all at the office. Sooner we get there, the sooner we can get home."
+ + + + + + +
Chris sped through the empty Denver streets toward Vin's apartment. It was close to two a.m. and both men were bleary eyed with exhaustion.
"What a night," Chris said.
"You said it, pard," Vin replied.
Chris turned to his best friend with a start. "Didn't realize I said that out loud. Damn, I'm tired."
"Me, too, Chris," Vin replied with a yawn. He looked over at Chris, then looked down quickly when the older man noticed his gaze and looked back.
"What is it, Vin?"
"Um, I was wonderin', if you'd, um, wanna stay with me tonight."
"You mean this morning, don't ya?" Chris replied with a grin.
"Yeah, guess I do," Vin smiled back.
"I was hopin' you'd ask me, pard. It's a long drive home and I'm beat."
"Oh," Vin responded, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice, but failing miserably. "Yeah, guess you wouldn't want to drive all that way."
"Tell ya one thing, though, Vin," Chris said.
"What's that Chris?" Vin replied quietly, looking out the window, unable to meet Chris's gaze.
"I sure as hell ain't sleepin' on your couch, Vin."
"You're not?" Vin asked in pleasant surprise, turning to face the older man.
"No, I'm not. So you better make room for me in that cozy bed 'a yours," he answered with a wink.
"Think I can definitely do that, pard!" Vin replied excitedly.
They settled back into an easy silence. Chris mulled over the details of the arms bust, grateful that everything had gone smoothly, with no injuries to the law enforcement participants. And Vin handled himself like a real pro, like he always does, Chris thought proudly to himself. There had been no problems with separating their personal and work relationship back at the warehouse. It had been business as usual from the time Chris took the call at Vin's apartment. He was so excited about the prospect of this relationship, having always felt the barrier of his job between him and Sarah, because he couldn't tell her about his undercover work. That part of his life had been off-limits to his wife. But with Vin, it would be different. He could share all aspects of his life with the sharpshooter and vice-versa. This first date had proved that for both men.
+ + + + + + +
They finally reached Vin's street and Chris eased the Ram into a nearby parking spot. It was pitch black inside the car, but Chris could see Vin's eyes sparkling in the gloom.
"You sure about this Vin?" he asked.
"Yeah, Chris, I'm sure," Vin rasped, grabbing for his lover's hand. "C'mon."
Chris leaned forward to take possession of Vin's ripe mouth. He pressed his lips urgently to the soft lips, gently forcing them open, teasing at Vin's tongue with his own. Vin moaned into Chris's mouth, closing his lips quickly to suck on Chris's tongue as it flicked into his mouth. Chris pulled the younger man close to him, grinding his pelvis into Vin's as he deepened the kiss. He moved away from Vin's mouth to nip at his neck, biting into Vin's velvet skin, making Vin purr with passion.
"Chris... Chris.." Vin moaned, grabbing Chris's back, pulling his lover against him tightly. "I can't wait Chris, please...."
His pleas were silenced with another bruising kiss from Chris and then in the next instant, Chris pushed away from Vin shakily.
"W-what's wrong?" Vin cried sharply.
"Nothing's wrong Vin, it's never been better," he replied huskily. "But this isn't the way I want it to happen, okay, pard?" he reassured. "I wanna make love to you in your nice, warm bed, not out here in the Ram. It means too much to me Vin, to make it cheap like that."
Vin's heart melted at Chris's tender words. "I'd like that too, Chris. Whatta ya say we take this upstairs, then?"
"Sounds like a fine idea to me, pard, c'mon."
+ + + + + + +
Both men collapsed on the bed gratefully, not even bothering to remove their clothes.
"God, it feels good to lay down!" Chris exclaimed, stretching his lean frame with a sigh.
"Sure does pard," Vin agreed, closing his eyes as his tense muscles began to relax. Within seconds, his breathing evened out and slowed. Chris looked over with a small smile at Vin's sleeping form, as he tugged off his shirt.
"'Night Vin," he whispered, leaning over to kiss Vin lightly on his soft lips, then rolling back over on his side. His leaden eyelids closed and he was soon fast asleep, snuggled next to his lover.
+ + + + + + +
The next thing he was aware of was a pleasurable warmth in his private area. He came more fully awake at the feel of nimble fingers sliding his already unzipped jeans and black silk underwear down his lean, well-muscled legs. He opened his eyes to take in the glorious sight of a naked Vin Tanner straddling him, lush mouth reaching for his rapidly hardening organ.
"Ooohh Vin...yes..God...yes...," he moaned as Vin greedily sucked the head of his pulsing penis, then plunged down, to take him deep into his hot, demanding mouth. He stroked Vin's soft curls lovingly as the sharpshooter wound his tongue around his length with long, lingering licks, unconsciously tightening his hold on the younger man, until he found himself frantically grabbing Vin's head and forcing him to swallow him even deeper, pushing into his mouth, over and over again. Vin allowed Chris to hold him like this for several thrusts, then eased him back, and out of his mouth.
"Ya like that Chris?" he panted.
"Oh yeah Vin, I like that," he growled and he gently pressed the sharpshooter's hand back to his erection. "Why'd ya stop, it was feelin' so good."
"Just had to make sure ya liked what I was doin'," the younger man replied with an evil grin as he stroked Chris's cock, keeping it hard. "Sounded like I was hurtin' ya or somethin'."
Chris didn't reply, but tried to lead him back to his burning, throbbing cock. "More Vin, just like you were doin'," he begged huskily.
Vin moistened his lips with the tip of his ruby, red tongue. Chris felt himself stiffen even more as he watched the sharpshooter's movements, knowing that at any second, that beautiful, moist mouth would be on him. He shuddered at the sensation as Vin licked and sucked on him, knowing he couldn't hold out much longer. He gasped as Vin reached for his balls and began to squeeze them gently in his hand. He came into Vin's waiting mouth with a final, powerful thrust, groaning as his hot seed spurted from him in wave after wave.
Vin swallowed everything Chris had to give, then collapsed, exhausted on top of the older man.
"Jesus Vin, what a way to start the day," Chris said with a satisfied grin as he pulled Vin close, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss, starting at the taste of himself on Vin's mouth and tongue.
"Now, what are we gonna do about you?" he asked, breaking the kiss as he felt Vin's erection pushing against his stomach.
"I could think of a couple things, Chris," Vin said lustfully as he rolled off Chris and onto his back. "Whatta you wanna do?" he asked, stretching himself out to give Chris a full view of his naked body.
"Ooohh Vin, I wanna do a lot of things," Chris said coyly, leaning down to suckle Vin's earlobe.
Vin shivered with anticipation.
Chris slipped off the bed, heading toward the bathroom. "Be right back, don't go anywhere," he winked at Vin.
"Chrisss," Vin cried in frustration, "where the hell are ya goin'?"
"Need to find something, be right there," he called.
Vin fell back on the bed with a groan, trying to concentrate on the ceiling tiles instead of his burning, throbbing erection.
"Sorry to spoil the mood like that Vin, but I had to find somethin'. I think we're both gonna like this," he said, grinning triumphantly as he displayed a bottle of baby oil in his hand.
"Whatcha gonna do with that Chris," Vin asked mischievously.
"A little of this," Chris intoned as he spread some of the fluid on Vin's chest, softly stroking and soothing the lean torso. He glided his slick hands over Vin's nipples, tweaking them lightly with his thumbs, smiling wickedly as Vin began to moan and stir restlessly beneath him.
"What's the matter Vin," he whispered, as he moved to straddle Vin's legs.
"Chris...Chris...I need....I want...."
"Whatta ya want Vin? Ya want some of this?" Chris teased, easing down, blazing a trail of hot, soft kisses down Vin's swollen cock. He tongued at Vin's tightened ball sacs, drawing each into his mouth gently, then released them just as carefully as Vin whimpered and writhed helplessly.
"Chris, please..." Vin pleaded, lifting his hips off the bed, reaching for Chris's mouth with his inflamed organ. Chris pinned Vin's hips back onto the bed and devoured his cock with one swift movement, smiling inwardly as Vin yelped in surprised pleasure. He licked and sucked at the tip voraciously, coiling his hand around the base, pumping with firm, even strokes.
Vin suddenly tensed and gave a soft cry, releasing his essence into his lover's ravenous mouth. Chris licked his lips after swallowing the sweet, creamy fluid, loving every part of the smaller man that lay panting, satisfied at last, underneath him.
He laid down on his side next to Vin on the wrinkled, disheveled bedsheets, petting and soothing the younger man as he caught his breath. Vin blue eyes were brimming with happiness as he gazed at Chris.
"Did I do okay, Vin? It was my first time doing that, ya know," Chris joked.
Vin gave a lazy, half grin. "Yeah pard. Done it any better and I'd be needin' mouth to mouth right about now."
"I can arrange for some 'a that Vin, all ya had to do was ask," Chris teased back, coming forward and meeting Vin's lips in a languid embrace. Wrapped tightly in each others arms, the two sated lovers slept peacefully.
+ + + + + + +
The next thing Chris was aware of was the sound of running water. He opened his eyes and stretched contentedly, reaching for Vin, but coming up empty. "The shower," Chris said as he finally made the connection between the running water and Vin's disappearance. A slow, seductive grin broke across his face as he stole out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
+ + + + + + +
Chris silently slid back the shower door and drank in the sight of Vin's tanned, wet body, glistening as the water cascaded down his velvet skin. The sharpshooter was in the middle of washing his hair, head tilted under the running water, eyes closed as the shampoo ran down his face in small streams of white. 'Doesn't even know I'm in here,' Chris thought to himself with a smile. He slipped in the shower, grabbed the bar of soap and began to massage Vin's muscular chest.
"Jesus!" Vin yelled out, jumping in surprise, eyes popping open to stare at Chris. "God, you scared the shit outta me, Chris!" he yelled again, blue eyes wide with fright.
"Sorry Vin," Chris apologized, but couldn't keep the grin off his face as he bent to the task of thoroughly soaping up the still startled younger man. He could feel Vin's heart beating rapidly as he worked the suds over his pecs, then turned him around gently to face the wall. He rubbed Vin's shoulders lightly, working his way down the younger man's smooth back to his buttocks. He worked up a large handful of lather and liberally coated the rounded cheeks with soap. He slowly slid his soap-slicked hands into the cleft between Vin's cheeks, grazing at his pulsing opening again and again, lingering, but never penetrating. Vin had recovered from the shock by this time, moving to lean against the tiled wall, arching his back, fully enjoying Chris's ministrations. "More Chris, more," he begged, desperately thrusting his ass upwards toward his lover's wandering hands. Chris chuckled lustfully and pressed himself against the firm buttocks, leaning over Vin's slippery back to nibble at his ear. "Vin, I don't know how you got so dirty," he whispered teasingly as he licked the tender flesh of his lobe, "but it could take hours of this to get you clean." Vin shivered with longing and grabbed Chris's hand, placing it on his hot, swollen manhood.
"What's your hurry, Vin?" Chris whispered again, as he removed his hand from Vin's cock, instead moving it upward to continue stroking and soaping Vin's chest.
"No, Chris...lower, go lower...please," Vin panted as he pushed back against Chris.
"Where? Here?" Chris said, toying with Vin as his hand traced a leisurely path toward Vin's crotch, then stopped, midway down.
"N-noo, lower....lower...," Vin choked out, between his rapid breaths. "Please Chris, I can't take it..."
Chris grinned with satisfaction, realizing how much pleasure he was giving to his young lover. But he was not ready to end the fun just yet. He pulled his hands back from Vin's front and resumed stroking and petting his backside, gliding his hands into the cleft once more, then sliding down to rub at the backs of Vin's thighs. He soaped up again and continued to run his hands over Vin's trembling thighs. Vin parted his legs with a moan, giving Chris access to his inner thighs and sending his lover a silent invitation. Finally, a soapy hand began to smoothly skim Vin's inner thighs, and travelled further upward to cup and caress his tightened ball sac. Vin went weak in the knees at Chris's touch, sinking to the shower floor. Chris gave no quarter, easily reaching around the kneeling man, to fondle at his painfully erect cock with two sudsy hands.
"Chris...Chris, please.....," Vin whimpered softly, moving to his hands and knees, pushing back hard against Chris's thick, swollen shaft.
"Vin, you feel so good, this feels so right," Chris said softly as he bent over Vin's back to nuzzle at his neck. "I wanna make love to you right now, right here."
"Yes....yes! Please...now!" Vin cried with desire, writhing and bucking against the older man.
Chris was glad he had done a little research, so he knew what to do. He liberally coated his rock hard shaft with the creamy shampoo and prepared to breach Vin's opening, then lost his nerve. 'What if I mess up and hurt Vin?' he thought to himself. 'What if I don't do it right?'
"Chrisss!" his young lover wailed. "Chrisss, don't...make me wait any longer!" he begged, enraptured, reaching behind him to grab at Chris's hips and press the older man inside him.
"Ooohh.....yesssss........" Vin moaned, grinding his hips as Chris's large, slick cock penetrated him.
Chris regained his confidence as he lost himself in the incredible sensation of Vin's tight, hot body enfolding his. He pushed in further, gasping with pleasure.
"Vin, I've never felt anything so good," he whispered, marveling at the feelings humming through his entire body as he thrust deeper into Vin.
"Are ya ready Vin?" he whispered seductively in his lover's ear as he began a slow, teasing motion, rocking his hips as he sheathed himself more fully into the smaller man. Chris savored every second as he penetrated Vin fully and reached around to touch and stroke Vin's needy cock.
"Oh God...Oh God....Oh...." Vin cried out again as Chris pulled out slowly, then inched his way back into the waiting warmth over and over, while massaging Vin's weeping, engorged cock.
"Chris....please.....give it to me! God....please....harder........faster!" Vin shouted in ecstasy, entreating Chris to give him his release. His older lover finally relented, pounding himself furiously into Vin's willing, pliant flesh, riding him relentlessly as the warm water from the shower washed over them, drowning out their cries of passion.
Chris sank into Vin with one final, powerful thrust, sending both men over the edge. Spilling their seed simultaneously, the two lovers then collapsed, exhausted, onto the wet shower floor.
"God Vin," Chris panted, "this was one hell of a first date."
He kissed the younger man tenderly on the cheek and moved to stand up. He helped Vin to his feet and grinned at him. "Think you'd like to go out with me again sometime?" he joked.
Vin laughed as he lathered up his hands and started to wash Chris's chest. "I'll check my calendar, cowboy and get back to ya on that," he teased. "Think I can pencil ya in sometime."
"You just do that cowboy," Chris replied, playing along. "Oh, and Vin," he continued, "I got a feelin' your water bill's gonna be kinda high from now on."
THE END
