"How did that work with the whole gay thing? I assume you were out."
Sarah's smile was sympathetic but Daphne turned from where she'd been working, eyes rounded. "You finally came out?"
He smiled reticently at her. He wasn't surprised she had put it together, especially if Sarah had. "I actually told my folks a while back. But they wanted me to wait instead of coming out then."
That got a deep, unhappy frown from Daphne. "Shame on them."
A warmth grew from deep inside Carter's chest. Knowing he had the support of two of the most important people in his life meant the world to him. "And yes, most of my close friends knew. Not everyone, but obviously I felt I owed it to people I was working and living closely with." He shrugged. "Not like I was hooking up anyways. Between being a senator's son and rules on fraternization, I guess it wasn't too hard for it to not be a big deal at first."
Sarah scowled, but there was a fondness in her eyes. "You and rules."
"I'm not that bad."
Daphne snorted, turning her back on them. Okay, so he really wasn't that bad, but he had appreciated structure. It had been one reason he'd hated his mom's political career more than anything: uncontrollable chaos. It was why the military had appealed to him, and it'd been one of the few times his parents had shown true approval for a decision he'd made on his own in this life. Even he would admit it was nice seeing his dad look proud of him, no matter how pissed Carter was now.
He grinned to himself as he finished eating his breakfast. Then he looked over at Sarah. "I was thinking I could help out around here. Y'all don't have to pay me, I just thought if you had anything that needed doing, I could pitch in."
"You don't have to. You know no one expects you to work for your board. You're family." That warm feeling burst through him again.
"I know. I just … want to. I want to feel normal for a while."
Sarah and Daphne shared a sad look. "And thank you. Both of you, by the way," he said. "I know I haven't exactly kept in touch, but I missed y'all."
"We know," Sarah said.
Daphne reached across and ruffled his hair. "It's okay. You've been busy. We keep up with you pretty well." She took his empty plate and put it in the sink, then turned a stern look his way. "Just don't do it again."
"Yes, ma'am," he said.
"Good to see you didn't lose your manners in the big city," a deep, familiar voice said from behind Carter. Sarah rolled her eyes, but Carter flinched at Jeremy's tone. He sounded like he was teasing, but it was almost condescending. He turned to Jeremy and almost swallowed his tongue when he caught sight of the man.
Jeremy Beck had been the boy, and then man, of young Carter's dreams. He was a wild child with a daredevil streak, yet there was something almost sweet about him-though Carter would never say that to Jeremy's face. He'd always had classic good looks, but now at twenty-five, he was a walking wet dream. His shoulders and arms had filled out, as had his chest. His tight fitting white tee showed off a trim waistline and flat stomach. Carter was surprised, though, at the amount of visible ink the man sported. Most every inch of visible skin had a tattoo. He had sleeves and knuckle tattoos. His neck was covered. He even had one swooping cursive word over his right eyebrow.
Carter tried his best not to stare, but as Jeremy walked through the kitchen in his skin-tight black jeans, it was hard not to notice the nice swell of the man's ass and his shapely calves and thighs. He still walked with a certain swagger that was all his own, and it was fucking sexy. His jeans were rolled up a bit, showing off bare ankles above his ratty old converse that had been signed and doodled on with sharpies over every white spot available.
A dark James Dean with a rockabilly style, Jeremy was a train wreck, but he was one beautiful hot mess.
"Obviously, you forgot your manners," Daphne said. She pointed to her cheek, which Jeremy kissed after giving her a rakish grin. "You can't say good morning before you come and drink my coffee?"
"I was surprised to see Red there." Carter blushed when Jeremy ran his eyes over him. His face probably turned the color of his hair. "When'd you get in?"
Why are you even speaking to me? Carter didn't want to start his visit out with trouble, so he took a sip of his coffee before answering. Sarah beat him to it.
"Well, we got here about the time your fuck buddies decided to leave."
Carter almost choked on his coffee and Daphne's shoulders stiffened. Jeremy's eyes flicked to Carter, who kept his face as stoic as possible, then back to his sister. "We were having a jam session."
Sarah snorted, then turned to Carter. "Me and Daphne got you a cabin set up. It's the closest to the house, but not sitting right on top of it like the guest house. Thought you might want a little breathing room."
"Oh? You're staying a while?"
Carter cocked a brow at Jeremy's unreadable expression. "For a bit."
Jeremy studied Carter for a moment before humming noncommittally and going to pour himself more coffee.
Again, Carter bit his tongue to keep from asking, "That okay with you, Prince Jeremy?" He didn't want Jeremy to know he was still affected by his moods, by the loss of his friendship-or whatever had happened. Carter still didn't fully understand it.
Sarah just rolled her eyes again before addressing Carter. "If you wanna get your bags, I'll take you out there so you can settle in. Then we'll talk about what work you can help out with."
Out of the side of his eye, Carter could see that even though Jeremy's back was to them, his head was cocked enough to show he was listening to their conversation. Sarah put a hand on Carter's wrist and gave a subtle shake of her head.
"Sure thing," he replied, picking up his mug. He drained the last of his coffee and went to place it in the sink. He could almost swear it had been purposeful when Jeremy's arm rubbed against his as he placed the mug in the dishwater. He glanced at him, only to find Jeremy still staring resolutely at his phone on the counter in front of him. He gave Daphne a kiss on the cheek, earning a warm smile.
"Well, guess I'll see you for lunch," he said to Daphne.
She teased her hair, which was only slightly darker red than Carter's bright red locks. Some people mistook him for Daphne's kid since they both had the red hair and blue eyes. But his skin was smooth and white, blemish free, while she was covered in freckles.
"You're definitely a member of this family, only stopping by to see me when I cook."
Carter laughed, and damn did it feel nice after the tense couple of days he'd had before he'd arrived back in Tennessee. He said his farewells, even to Jeremy, but kept his gaze from wandering back and drinking up more of the man.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Jeremy didn't seem to be as cool as he had been toward Carter three years ago, but he didn't seem anxious to be friends again, either. And if Sarah was to be believed, Jeremy was the furthest from the kind of guy Carter had thought him to be if he was still hooking up with anything that walked.
Some things were best left in the past.
3
Jeremy ran his hands through short curls as the guy sucked him. Like a pro, the guy's mouth worked Jeremy's cock into his throat and bobbed up and down.
That didn't stop the guy's brown curls from changing to a shorter red pompadour in his mind's eye. Carter's name flitted through his mind as his balls drew up. "Fuck, I'm gonna cum."
The guy pulled off and stroked him quickly and efficiently with both of his strong, calloused hands. Jeremy's cock jerked and his head thumped back against the wall as his cum spurted out on the floor between them.
Jeremy's chest heaved as he caught his breath. "Those are some mad oral skills you got there." He had to give credit where it was due. Even if he'd been thinking about someone else. This was the first time he'd thought of someone other than fucking Troy in what seemed like forever.
Blue eyes smiled at him, and an easy grin stretched the guy's face. "You weren't so bad yourself." The sounds of the party outside filtered in through the closed bedroom door. Jeremy didn't know whose floor he'd just busted a nut on. Hell, he didn't even know the guy's name who'd just blown him. But that was what he had wanted tonight.
House parties hadn't been his scene since he was a teen. He wasn't even sure why he had come tonight. Another reason hanging out with his boys was probably not the best decision right now. But he'd had to get rid of the fucking itch under his skin, the constant feeling of being turned on. Even when he wasn't hard lately, Jeremy still felt that tingle of excited energy in his core.