Raising the Bar Read online

  “Yeah.” Harper licked his lips and took another drag on his beer.

  “Like a bright, shiny new penny.” Freddy wiggled her brows at Dylan. “Enjoy your Scotch, sexy.” Freddy placed two glasses before him, grabbed another beer for Harper, then left them again to get back to customers waiting at the bar.

  “A sex club in Augusta. Go figure.” Dylan took a sip of his drink. He tilted his head as he regarded Harper. “From the way you looked at me, then Freddy, I’m guessing you’re not particular about gender.” Fancy words, yet blunt enough to be understood.

  “Nope. I’m just like you.” Harper waited to see if Dylan would admit it. To his satisfaction, Dylan nodded. Good. Not repressed about his sexuality, then.

  “I’m bisexual.” Dylan shrugged. “Never made any bones about it if asked, though I don’t go around shouting that I’m bi from the rooftops.”

  “Yeah, I get that.” Harper watched him drink, wanting to see those lips on him. Soon. He shifted on his stool to relieve the pressure on his dick. “Does Derrick give you shit for it?”

  “All the time. But it’s a brother thing. He teases Gage about anything and everything too.” Dylan frowned at Harper. “You seem pretty tuned in to my brother.”

  “If that’s your way of asking if I have a thing for him, the answer is no. I mean, yeah, he’s hot. Sexy, with those deep-green eyes and that fuckable mouth,” Harper answered in a gravelly voice, completely turned on by Dylan’s proximity. “But that’s just the outside package. Derrick’s more a friend. No sexual vibes there.” Harper liked that Dylan couldn’t seem to look away from his mouth.

  The doc took another large swallow of alcohol before putting the glass down.

  “That’s how I knew you weren’t him.” Harper scooted closer. “So how about you tell me what this morning was all about.”

  Dylan groaned. “In a nutshell, I lost a bet. We wagered on a favor, which was my mistake. Derrick never loses. It’s weird, but the guy has all the luck.”

  “Maybe he cheats.”

  “No maybe about it.” Dylan scowled. “But he’s hard to catch. And, unfortunately, he had nothing to do with the Bears’ bad luck last weekend. Then your boss called her meeting last minute, and Derrick had already scheduled some fun time with his almost-fiancée.”

  “Almost?”

  Dylan smiled, and Harper’s heart raced. “He’s still working up the courage to ask her to marry him. Sydney doesn’t take any of his shit, and it’s a wonderful thing to see him dance to her tune.” They shared a laugh. “So my brother begged me to be him today. I said no, then he broke out that stupid favor I owed him. At least I’m done with it now.”

  “I couldn’t figure out why you bothered me, at first. I mean, I’ve dealt with Derrick enough. I like the guy. But you weren’t right from the beginning. Being late is nothing new.” When Dylan cursed his brother, Harper grinned before continuing, “But you just gave off a different vibe. Made me sit up and take notice.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re the only one. Thanks for not telling Natalie.”

  “Sure.” Harper leaned over the bar and pulled two menus free. He handed one to Dylan. “Didn’t we agree on dinner to keep my silence?”

  Dylan laughed.

  They ordered food and talked, both of them keeping a lazy eye on Freddy, Harper realized. “So, Dylan, can I ask you something?”

  “About my practice, my brother or my sex life?”

  “I don’t need psychiatric counseling, contrary to popular opinion.” Dylan chuckled at that. “Your brother, I get. Don’t be jealous, but I think his looks are sexy as hell.”

  It took Dylan a moment before he flushed. “I guess I should say thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. And for the record, I can appreciate his beauty and not want to do him. You, on the other hand…” Again with the pink cheeks.

  Dylan swallowed audibly. “So you want to know something about my sex life. Go ahead.”

  “Well, you’ve been with guys and you’ve been with women. Do you prefer one over the other? I don’t. It’s apples and oranges to me. But I’m a sucker for fruit, so go figure.”

  Dylan laughed. He’d been laughing a lot tonight. Who would have guessed that Harper Reynolds could be so entertaining? Not a stereotypical building contractor more interested in beer and tits and ass than a good conversation. Harper had a keen intelligence and an eye for detail that intrigued Dylan. Like peeling back the layers of an onion, Dylan kept learning more about the man the longer they talked.

  “Like you, I have no preference,” he answered Harper’s question. “It boils down to how I feel about a particular person more than what gender they are. I love the female body. It’s different, filled with curves and softer flesh. Kissing a woman is sexy, warm.” He stared at Freddy, unable to resist looking at her. That woman he wouldn’t have minded getting to know better. Then he turned back to his dining partner. “But a man is harder. Firm, hot, and the sex, if done right, can go from zero to sixty in seconds.”

  “Yeah. You have a nice way with words.” Harper seemed closer, and his dark brown eyes looked hungry. “You ever been with two people before? A ménage?”

  “N-no.” Dylan cleared his throat, embarrassed to have a rock-hard erection while talking to Harper at the bar, for God’s sake. “Not that I haven’t fantasized about it, but reality and recriminations could be ugly the morning after.”

  Harper pulled back and frowned. “Recriminations? For what?”

  “I don’t know. Two people have a hard enough time handling emotions and issues in a relationship. Then you throw in a third? Someone’s bound to feel left out at some point.”

  Harper’s frown cleared and he laughed. “Man, you are way overthinking it. Imagine shoving into a warm pussy while sucking a guy off. Two sets of hands touching you everywhere. Sex on top of sex. You lying between two people set on making you come, over and over again.” Harper took another drag of beer. “I am so fucking hard right now.”

  “You like to share, don’t you?” Dylan was proud of himself for not sounding as if he were strangling on his own desire. Everything Harper had said seemed drawn out of his own psyche. And, right now, he had a difficult time not imagining himself between Harper and Freddy. As if the woman would consent to a threesome with a virtual stranger.

  “And that’s another thing,” Dylan added, trying to keep the conversation on an even level. More intellectual, less prurient. “Finding normal people who want to engage in something outside the norm isn’t that easy. Especially since I have to be discreet. My profession kind of dictates I not be so outwardly crazy.”

  “You think a threesome is crazy? Interesting. I’d pegged you as much more liberal in your views.”

  Dylan frowned. “I am. I don’t judge, and I think anyone who wants to explore himself should, without fear of reprisal.”

  “Oh man. You are so sexy when you talk like that.”

  Dylan blinked. “Like what?” Every time Harper looked at his mouth, Dylan grew breathless.

  “Fear of reprisal? You’re better than my twelfth grade English teacher. You’re sexy and you use big words.”

  Dylan shook his head. “You’re an idiot.”

  “Maybe.”

  Dylan lowered his voice. “Have you ever had a threesome?”

  “In college. But I was too young to really appreciate it. As I grow older, though, I wonder a lot about all I missed. I’m not getting any younger, you know. A little over a year ago, I ended up joining this place. I thought I’d find like-minded people who might want to play around. And then I was hit with a ton of work.” Harper sighed. “As thankful as I am to sock the money away, work has played hell with my social life.”

  “I can relate.”

  “I know. That’s why I think this place could work for you.” Harper pushed his plate away and finished his beer. “Come on. Let me show you around.”

  Dylan had already finished his food. He went for his wallet, but Harper stopped him by covering his
hands.

  “I put it on my tab. You can pay me later.”

  “Okay.” Dylan looked to where Harper still had a hold on him. “You going to let me go?” It intrigued him to be smaller than someone else. Not that Dylan stood heads above all his peers, but he didn’t date larger men. He’d never wondered why, just took it as his type.

  Yet with Harper, he couldn’t decide if he liked the man being larger than him or not. Because he had a feeling Harper was physically stronger as well. Harper showed every sign of being dominant, physically and mentally. What would that mean in the bedroom, where Dylan normally called the shots?

  “For now, Doc.” I’ll let you go for now, he was saying. “Come on. There’s something you need to see.”

  Curious, Dylan followed him from the bar, through the house—though mansion was a better description. They passed a billiards room, a closed-off smoking lounge that they thankfully avoided, an indoor pool and hot tub area, and then headed for a grand stairway guarded by a large man who nodded at Harper as they passed.

  “Second floor is for members only. But don’t worry. You’re with me.” Harper continued up the stairs. They passed a number of rooms.

  “How large is this place?”

  Harper stopped before a door and withdrew a keycard from his back pocket. “It’s got a good forty rooms. Used to be a hotel back in the day, and they’ve since added to it. We have nearly a hundred members, but membership is by invitation only.”

  They entered and Dylan asked, “So who invited you?”

  But Harper didn’t answer. Just as the door closed, he slammed Dylan against the wall and kissed the breath out of him.

  Dylan gasped, stunned and so turned on by Harper’s force he couldn’t breathe. He kissed Harper back, angling for dominance, and found to his shock he couldn’t manage it. Instead, Harper led. The bigger man threaded his hands through Dylan’s hair to hold him steady while he worked Dylan with his mouth.

  “Fuck. You taste so good. I need you, right now. Gotta have you,” Harper muttered as he sucked at Dylan’s neck.

  Dylan arched his head, baring more of his throat.

  “That jacket is hot. Everything about you turns me on,” Harper admitted. He pulled back to stare into Dylan’s face. “You’re single, I’m single. I’m safe, and just talking to you tells me you’re not the type to take risks.”

  “I’m with you, aren’t I?” Dylan breathed. It annoyed him to think he wasn’t a risk taker, and more, that Harper knew that much about him after such a short time together. The man seemed to have the ability to read him much too easily.

  “Are you?” Harper ground his hips against Dylan’s, and Dylan moaned at the hardness rubbing against his own.

  “Fuck.”

  “Oh yeah. You have no idea what I want to do to you right now.”

  “I think I might.” Dylan had to look up to meet Harper’s gaze. “So now what?”

  “Now I call the shots. I make you come.”

  Dylan’s pulse skyrocketed, from racing to nearly exploding. “How?”

  “My mouth, my hands.” Harper slowly slid Dylan’s jacket off and tossed it to a nearby chair. He unbuttoned Dylan’s shirt, keeping his gaze locked on Dylan’s. “You take it or give it? Because I want inside that fine ass.”

  Dylan blinked. “Um, I, well—” Then Harper kissed him again, and he lost his ability to concentrate. Before he knew it, he stood before a fully dressed Harper in nothing but his boxer briefs.

  “Holy shit. You are cut.” Harper trailed his hands over Dylan’s chest and abs. He teased at the band of Dylan’s briefs, and Dylan could feel his underwear sticking to him where his slit was wet. Harper kept his gaze on Dylan’s face while he grazed the tip of Dylan’s cock.

  Dylan hissed. “Why are you still dressed?”

  “Uh-uh, Doc. This is my play.” Harper looked down and smiled. “You’re a big boy, aren’t you?”

  Dylan groaned when Harper put his hand over him. With a gentle squeeze, he brought Dylan to his toes.

  “Push ’em down. Let me see that pretty cock,” Harper whispered.

  Dylan inched his briefs down and angled himself so that his underwear locked his thick shaft in place and showcased his pearling cockhead.

  “I want a taste.”

  “Oh fuck.” Dylan was panting, so turned on he couldn’t think. He grabbed Harper by the shirt and dragged him closer, mashing their mouths together as Harper’s fingers teased Dylan’s slit.

  The angry fusing of mouths didn’t last. “Naughty boy.” Harper stood back. “Ever played with toys, Dylan?”

  Dylan nodded.

  “What do you like?”

  Dylan would have argued that they could talk later, but Harper’s fingers went to his shirt buttons, finally. He started to take off his shirt, and bit by bit his magnificent chest was exposed. “A dildo. Clamps. A cock ring. Nothing too adventurous.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  Harper lost his shirt. Then he toed off his shoes and removed his socks. He unbuttoned his jeans but didn’t take them off, and Dylan stared at his incredible build with admiration.

  “You’re pretty cut yourself.” He dragged Harper close, and instead of kissing the man, put his lips around Harper’s nipple.

  “Oh shit, that’s good,” Harper groaned. Sensitive nipples. Dylan made note.

  He continued to touch and stroke, learning what Harper liked as the big man let Dylan have his way. But each time Dylan drew closer to Harper’s fly, Harper stopped him.

  “That’s off limits.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, oh.” Harper’s gaze turned mean, and Dylan was shocked to find himself playing the role Harper had seemingly given him with little fuss. “You need a lot of discipline. I can tell.”

  “I’ve never played the submissive. Ever.”

  “First time for everything, I’d think.” Harper licked his lips. “But I’m not into the lifestyle or anything. I just like to play.”

  “You’re good at this game,” Dylan admitted on a groan when Harper tugged at Dylan’s briefs.

  “I’m going to take a taste. I’m clean. You?”

  “Yes. But I always use protection.”

  “Even for blow jobs?”

  Dylan opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out. Then Harper was on his knees, and Dylan’s briefs were tugged down another inch.

  Chapter Three

  Harper shook as he knelt, worshipping at Dylan’s feet. Good Christ, but the man was built like an Adonis. Handsome of face and form. Harper usually waited until he knew his partners well before engaging in anything questionable, but he had to taste Dylan. Now.

  Just seeing that pearly white slit and that flushed cockhead exposed over the band of Dylan’s shorts set him off. The man was finer than fine. It just figured his cock would be amazing as well.

  Harper lowered Dylan’s underwear, not exposing him all the way, but little by little, to prolong the pleasure. Dylan groaned and shifted, clearly needing attention. Even though Harper had been expecting a nice-sized cock for a man Dylan’s size, he was surprised at the man’s girth.

  Harper didn’t wait any longer. He licked at Dylan’s slit and felt hands on his shoulders, gripping him tight. He licked again, then sucked the man’s cock between his lips.

  “Yes, God yes.” Dylan moaned his name and arched his hips off the wall, pushing deeper into Harper’s mouth.

  Salty, clean. Dylan smelled like sex—a compliment in Harper’s mind. The man wore designer clothing and used a soap that might as well have been an aphrodisiac. A hint of sandalwood and spice. Addicting. Harper dragged Dylan’s underwear down his legs and off, then pulled back to fully see his new lover.

  A long, thick cock, a nest of trimmed dark hair, and a heavy sac. He cupped Dylan’s balls and wanted to purr with satisfaction when Dylan spread his legs wider and palmed Harper’s head.

  “I want to fuck you so bad. Eat me. Suck me down. I need you. Please,” Dylan rasped, yet he didn’t push Harpe
r to do anything. He’d said please, and he waited, trembling.

  Harper had broken the man of his need to control, and for that Dylan had earned a reward. “That’s it. You need me, yes.” Harper kissed him, then sucked his balls.

  “Harper. Yes. That’s it. Oh Christ. Anything you want, it’s yours. Please.”

  Harper fondled Dylan’s sac and pulled his cock down. Then he took Dylan to the back of his throat in one swallow.

  Dylan swore and gripped Harper by the hair.

  Harper used his tongue, flicking underneath Derrick’s crown, and tasted a burst of salty fluid.

  “Gonna come so hard,” Dylan moaned.

  Harper bobbed over him a few times before Dylan lost it. He shouted and came, flowing down Harper’s throat like honey. Harper continued to cup and caress him, stroking his thighs and balls, running his hands back around Dylan’s tight ass. And he kept swallowing, sucking that thick, still half-hard rod as Dylan finally finished his release.

  After Harper slowly withdrew, Dylan leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

  Standing, hard as a pike and hungry for more, Harper looked his lover over, gratified to find the drugged pleasure there in Dylan’s cloudy green eyes.

  “You are incredible,” Dylan said hoarsely. “Now it’s your turn.”

  “Anything I want, I think you said.”

  Dylan straightened. “I said that?” He stared at Harper, his gaze drawing down Harper’s body to his jeans. “You need to get naked first.”

  “Take them off me.”

  Dylan took his time. “You’re bossy, you know that?”

  “I… Oh yeah.” He blew out a breath when Dylan unbuttoned his fly, giving him some relief from the pressure. He was so hard.

  Dylan pulled him out, pushing his underwear and jeans down to his thighs. “You’re a big boy yourself.” He held Harper in hand and sucked on his nipples.

  Harper rocked into his touch and wrapped an arm around Dylan’s back, keeping him close. “Yeah, that’s good. Your mouth is so warm.”

  Dylan continued to suck, alternating between Harper’s nipples. Then he slowly kissed his way down Harper’s body, until he knelt between Harper’s legs. With his jeans trapping his legs, Harper couldn’t spread his feet any wider. But then Dylan was running that amazing mouth across his pelvis and lower, all over his shaft. Those soft yet firm lips dragged the length of his cock.