The Night Gardener Read online

  He drew away to catch his breath, stolen clean away by the level of pleasure Zachary brought him. “I didn’t hear you leave the cottage for work. I didn’t hear you go to bed. Did you choose a room at the opposite end of the cottage?” He put a soft kiss by the side of Zachary’s mouth.

  “Would you rather I had a room closer to you?”

  Dane smiled as he answered. “If I’m honest I’d rather you were in my room.” His voice dropped to a whisper as fear this might be inappropriate hit him.

  Zachary smiled against Dane’s lips as he grazed Dane’s mouth with his. “Deal.”

  Dane’s stomach tightened. His thighs clenched as a throb of pleasure woke his cock. He couldn’t voice how much this meant to him, and he had to make sure Zachary meant it. He nudged his nose on Zachary’s and brushed his lips open-mouthed. “You’re sure?”

  Zachary touched his tongue to Dane’s.

  The surge of desire it brought practically drove Dane to his knees.

  Zachary whispered his answer between kisses. “I have never wanted anything so much. I couldn’t believe my luck when I found you’d rented the cottage. Let’s just say from the minute I laid eyes on you I’ve known you were what I needed.”

  Dane hugged him tight. Their bodies crushed together. Moments passed until Dane moved to gaze into Zachary’s eyes. “I guess I should leave you to your work.”

  Zachary stepped away. “That or make love to me.”

  Dane’s entire body tightened with desire. His cock, completely hard by now, strained against his jeans. He held out his hand to Zachary.

  Zachary took it and they walked together to the cottage door.

  Chapter Six

  Dane closed the door and turned to Zachary. His nerves set him trembling.

  Zachary’s eyes darkened at him, the pupils spreading over the clear blue. His half-smile held gentleness. He placed his palms on Dane’s chest and pushed him against the wall. The slow descent of his mouth to merge with Dane’s lips teased so badly, a low groan escaped Dane.

  He grabbed Zachary’s head and kissed him hard.

  Zachary responded kiss for kiss as he rammed his lower body against Dane. The rock-hard column of his erection met Dane’s straining cock and although there were two layers of fabric between them, a murmur of appreciation formed in Dane’s throat. It escaped as he opened his mouth for Zachary’s tongue.

  Dane slipped his hands around Zachary’s ass and grabbed him, pulling him even closer. His breath came in gasps as his balls lifted and desire fogged his mind. He thrust against Zachary, moaning.

  Zachary pulled away slowly. “You need this. Don’t move.” He opened Dane’s pants and pushed his hand into Dane’s underwear.

  Dane groaned loudly as Zachary’s hand made contact with his cock. He pushed into Zachary’s hand.

  Zachary pulled Dane’s pants and underwear together down his thighs. Dane’s thick cock sprang free. In a swift move, Zachary dropped to his knees and took the head of Dane’s cock in his mouth. He traced the shape all the way around with his tongue.

  The streaks of pleasure storming through Dane’s balls were so intense they were almost pain. He murmured and grasped handfuls of Zachary’s hair, rocking his hips up to Zachary’s ministrations.

  Zachary licked and sucked until Dane frowned and winced with the need to come. Zachary’s hands all over his balls, his mouth in a wet slide up and down Dane’s cock, sent Dane reeling into lust so deep he thrust hard. “Fucking hell … I can’t take it … I need …”

  Zachary pushed his fingertips under Dane’s balls until they teased at his ass rim. The friction of Zachary’s pulls on Dane’s cock and Zachary’s fingertips playing at the entrance to his ass sent Dane hurtling over the edge into an orgasm like no other. He thrust and yelled. He threw his head back, trying to breathe as the waves of deep delicious pleasure rolled over him, up into his ass, along his pulsing cock, and through his balls. It went on and on until his legs weakened and he slid down the wall.

  Zachary wasn’t finished. He bent lower following Dane and tightened his mouth on Dane’s cock as he cupped Dane’s balls in his palm. The move made aftershocks of orgasm rocket throbs through Dane’s cock. “Zachary … fuck … I…”

  Dane’s eyelids were so heavy he couldn’t open them. His body was weakened from the powerful orgasm.

  Zachary finally released Dane’s cock and slipped his hands around Dane to hold him close.

  Dane whispered in his ear. “That was the best orgasm I’ve ever had. When I can actually stand up, we’ll go to my room. I’ve got condoms. Fuck me then. I want to give you pleasure.” He kissed along Zachary’s jaw to his mouth and placed a series of grateful, happy, loving kisses on Zachary’s sweet lips.

  Zachary smiled as Dane kissed him. He rubbed his face on Dane’s and returned the kisses. “I would like that. You’re gorgeous. We fit each other so well. I want you naked on your knees with that delicious, hard ass tipped up for me.”

  Dane’s stomach clenched. His cock throbbed. He moaned softly into Zachary’s open mouth. “Fuck, that’s so sexy. Let’s go.” He struggled to stand.

  Zachary held his hand as they ascended the wide curved staircase.

  Dane’s heart hammered in his chest. The atmosphere sparked with sex, and anticipation grew in him. He practically threw the door of his bedroom open, and then strode to the bedside table drawer where his supplies of condoms and lube lay in the pharmacy bag. He’d tossed the bag in the drawer as he unpacked his luggage but didn’t expect to use them. It was simply a habit to have them with him.

  Zachary followed him to the bedside. His words were a whisper. “Naked now.” He pulled off his clothes as he gazed at Dane.

  Dane wrenched his clothes off, desperate to be naked for and against Zachary. His breath caught as moonlight beamed through the window and highlighted Zachary’s beautiful body. He spun around and flicked on the bedside lamp, hungry to see Zachary’s handsome face.

  Zachary picked up the condom pack and brought one out. He smiled softly at Dane.

  “Do you want to put it on me?”

  Dane ripped the foil open and held the coil of condom on the head of Zachary’s massive cock. He bent and pushed the condom down the hard column with his lips until Zachary’s cock was enveloped.

  Dane deliberately feathered barely there touches over Zachary’s thighs and balls, then drew away to check the condom’s fit.

  Zachary groaned and rocked his hips.

  Dane grabbed the lube and coated Zachary’s condom-covered cock, tracing his fingers up and down until Zachary winced and moaned.

  “I have to fuck you now, or lose it. My dick is leaking and my balls are aching.” He stole a kiss from Dane’s lips.

  Dane knelt on the bed and offered his ass to Zachary. His thighs weak with desire and his heart pounding, he rested on his forearms.

  Zachary covered Dane’s back with his body. His cock slipped along Dane’s dangling balls. He kissed Dane’s neck and then sucked, making shivers of sensation stream over Dane from the love bite.

  Dane pushed his ass up, desperate to feel Zachary’s cock slide in.

  Zachary knelt, grabbed Dane’s hips, and with a long, slow thrust his huge, slick cock slipped into Dane’s ass. Nerve endings ignited in waves of pleasure as Zachary pounded in and out of Dane’s ass.

  Dane threw his head back to breathe. The familiar start of an orgasm teased under his balls and as Zachary’s cock hit a particular place in his ass, Dane gasped. He came groaning, shocked he still had cum to spill across the bed.

  Zachary leaned over him and grabbed a handful of Dane’s hair as he rammed his cock deep and groaned. “Fucking … fucking hell.”

  Dane fought for breath. He felt Zachary’s orgasm in the way Zachary clamped his cock and hips against him hard.

  Zachary let go of his hair and Dane sank a little forward on his forearms, resting there and waiting for Zachary to finish.

  Zachary collapsed slowly over Dane. His open mouth against
Dane’s shoulder, he kissed there and whispered, “Damn, that was good. I haven’t felt so good in years. I could make a habit of fucking with you.”

  A grin formed on Dane’s face. His voice hoarse, he answered. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”

  Slowly, Zachary slid his cock from Dane’s ass. He crawled to lie beside Dane.

  Dane lay down, too and turned to Zachary. He slipped his arm across Zachary’s body and kissed his face. “You were right. We fit together well.”

  Zachary traced his fingertips along Dane’s arm. “With my last boyfriend, we’d take turns getting fucked in the ass. I like it. I can’t wait to have your cock in my ass.”

  Tingles shot over Dane’s skin from Zachary’s tracing and sexy words.

  “You made me come again. Honestly, I couldn’t believe I had any cum left after that orgasm downstairs. I haven’t had sex in months—about eight, yeah maybe eight.”

  Zachary raised himself on his elbow to gaze into Dane’s eyes. “I haven’t had sex in years.” He kissed Dane quickly and lay down again.

  Dane tried to keep the surprise from his voice. “Hell, and I thought I was in need. Can I ask you … why, why not?”

  Zachary sighed. “Never found anyone. No one connected with me the way you did. You’ll never know how good it was to have your friendly gestures—the coffee, the sweater, and then you looked at me and it was heaven to see the attraction in your eyes.”

  Dane’s heart filled with tenderness. He turned to Zachary. “Let’s get that condom off you. We could take a shower. It’s not late. Have you eaten dinner?” He smiled, remembering he hadn’t seen Zachary all day. “Have you eaten anything?” He gently trailed a finger along Zachary’s lips.

  Zachary’s eye’s twinkled. “I’d love to shower with you. I would love to eat with you.”

  Not certain his legs would carry him, he felt so relaxed from the sex, Dane rolled out of bed.

  Zachary followed him and dealt with the condom.

  Dane turned on the faucet and held out his hand to have Zachary enter the shower stall with him. He turned in the sprinkles of water and Zachary turned with him. Dane took a handful of his shower gel and soaped Zachary. He swept his hands all over Zachary’s gorgeous body and smiled. “You’re so sexy.”

  Zachary pushed his face up to the spray of water and ran his hands through his hair. “This feels great. No one has ever soaped me before.”

  Dane lathered his own skin and hair. He rinsed off.

  Zachary grabbed him close and kissed him.

  Tenderness washed over Dane. He ran his hands down Zachary’s back. “Let’s dry off and go get some food.”

  He handed Zachary a towel.

  They dried off then padded back to Dane’s bedroom naked.

  Dane brought clean boxers and a t-shirt from his closet. As he pulled them on, he saw Zachary putting on the clothes he’d discarded earlier—the same jeans and Dane’s hooded sweater. “Zachary, I can let you have clean things if you want—if you haven’t had time to bring your stuff here.”

  Zachary stopped dressing. He looked down at his jeans and at the sweater he was about to put on. “I, er, I wear the same jeans for gardening. Your sweater is comforting.”

  Dane brought boxers and a T-shirt from his supply. “You can’t be warm enough, babe. Have these, please.” He wanted to give Zachary another sweater but wondered if Zachary might be offended.

  Zachary took the clothes and dressed again. He grinned at Dane. “I guess I should do some laundry soon.”

  Dane scooped up the shorts Zachary had left on the bedroom floor. “I’ll put these in with my stuff. It just happens to be laundry day for me tomorrow. I’m in the mood for a steak sandwich, how about you?”

  Delight filled Zachary’s eyes. “Are there eggs? Janice would have left you eggs, huh? Can I have a fried one on the steak sandwich?”

  Dane dropped his and Zachary’s laundry into the hamper as he passed it by the bathroom door. “You sure can.”

  Chapter Seven

  Zachary made coffee and Dane turned a couple of steaks in the pan. He glanced at Zachary. “What do you do in the day, Zachary? I thought I’d see you today sometime before you started the garden work.”

  Zachary set the kettle of boiled water down. “I have another job. It’s in town.”

  Dane frowned. “You work all day and night?” At least this answered some of Dane’s curiosity.

  Zachary shook his head. “Not all day or all night, just parts of each. The day job is easy. I’m still for that.” He brought plates to the counter.

  Dane flipped the steaks onto a plate and cracked a couple of eggs into the pan.

  “Still, you mean it’s a sedentary job?”

  Zachary gave a short nod. He brought the bread from the box.

  “Zachary, can I ask you how old you are?”

  Dane caught Zachary’s hesitation, before he asked, “How old are you, Dane?”

  Dane studied Zachary as he answered. “Thirty, nearly thirty-one.”

  Zachary didn’t hesitate this time. “We’re the same age, Dane. I like that.”

  Dane put the steaks on the bread and slid a fried egg onto each, and Zachary popped another slice on top to make the sandwiches. He smiled. “Sometimes, you seem younger so happy, enthusiastic. I like that.”

  Zachary didn’t comment. He carried the plates to the table and Dane brought the coffee.

  Sitting with Zachary as they ate, Dane thought he hadn’t ever felt as happy. Good thing Jeremy jilted me. He smiled at the thought.

  “Will you go back out to the garden tonight?” He hoped Zachary would give it a miss and they could spend time together.

  “I think the garden can do without me tonight.” Zachary leaned to Dane and placed a kiss on his lips.

  ****

  Sometimes in the next weeks, Dane wondered why Zachary was always gone from his bed every afternoon without him noticing, and why he never saw Zachary arrive to work in the garden at night. He often went to find Zachary among the shrubs and small trees that Zachary pruned and readied for spring. He adored Zachary and left the questions unanswered. When it poured with rain, as it often did, they spent time together.

  They ate together, watched the televised ice hockey season, and listened to music, but they also made love. Dane knew it was love. It started out as hot sex and then became loving hot sex.

  Dane’s vacation flew by. Two weeks of it remained.

  ****

  Zachary kissed Dane softly. He pressed his cock against Dane’s erection as he wrapped his hands around both. He teased at Dane’s lips with his teeth and then slid his tongue along Dane’s.

  Dane’s cock reacted to the pressure of Zachary’s dick and leaked pre-cum. Dane’s ass clenched and his stomach tightened. He returned Zachary’s kiss and murmured his pleasure. “I’ll never get enough of you. I love you. You must know that.”

  They stood clasped together in the bathroom. It wasn’t often Dane showered alone now.

  Zachary’s breath mingled with his as they rested their faces together. “And I love you.”

  Dane swept his hands down Zachary’s damp skin. “I want your cock in my mouth. Let me taste your cum tonight.”

  Zachary moaned low as he let go of their cocks. “Fucking hell that’s made me leak.” He grasped Dane’s hand and led him to the bed.

  Dane pressed him down onto the soft quilt. He kissed along Zachary’s chest and stomach until he reached the tip of Zachary’s leaking cock. He kissed the slit, licked up the pre-cum, and then he brought the lube from the bedside table drawer and loaded his fingers with it.

  “Open your legs as I suck your cock. I’m going to finger that delicious ass of yours and get it ready for the fucking I’m going to give you later.” He kissed Zachary hard. As he drew away from Zachary’s mouth, his lover’s groan caressed his ears.

  He slid his hand between Zachary’s open legs. The touch of Zachary’s skin on his palm and wrist took his breath away. The sce
nt of sex and desire closed his eyes with lust for a few seconds. He sighed and kissed along Zachary’s stomach.

  Zachary bent his knees.

  Dane slid the tip of his finger around the rim of Zachary’s ass. He took Zachary’s cock into his mouth in a soft wet slide of his lips and pushed a finger into Zachary’s ass onto the spot inside he knew gave huge pleasure. He sucked Zachary off, basking in the masculine taste and feel.

  Zachary bucked his hips and moaned. He grasped the quilt in his fists. “Dane…” He sighed the name as he thrust into Dane’s mouth.

  Dane’s throat filled with cum. He stilled his finger in Zachary’s ass, slid it out, and tightened his lips around the delicious cock in his mouth. When Zachary stopped thrusting, Dane swallowed.

  Zachary reached a hand down to Dane’s head and stroked his hair.

  “Dane, fuck me,” he whispered.

  Dane slipped Zachary’s cock from his mouth. He kissed the head and then kissed up Zachary’s body. He grazed Zachary’s nipples with his lips and nuzzled in Zachary’s neck.

  “Lie on your side, babe. I’ll put a condom on.” He had the foil pack on the bedside table and stood to roll it on. He slicked on more lube. Dane still worried he might hurt Zachary, even though Zachary assured him otherwise. Dane thought years without sex might mean it hurt.

  He kissed Zachary tenderly as he leaned over to his face and then he pressed close and guided his cock into Zachary’s ass.

  Zachary groaned softly as Dane fucked him. The sounds of pleasure sent Dane reeling deeper into lust. Zachary’s tight ass around his cock made him moan and sigh. He thrust slow and then fast until, with sensations storming through his entire lower body, he orgasmed with a long moan.

  He collapsed against Zachary, his cock sliding from the gorgeous ass he’d just fucked. He held Zachary and whispered against his back. “Don’t ever leave me. I can’t face life without you. Come with me to California when I leave at the end of next week, or I’ll move here. I can work from anywhere. I’ll buy a place we can live together.”