Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1)(4)
“Hello, Duke. Long time no hear.”
What the… “Who’s this?”
The sexy, deep chuckle that came through his speaker and resonated in his groin had him frowning at his body’s reaction. It’s been way too long.
“It has been a long time. My father is in the bathroom so I picked up when I saw your name on the screen.”
Shit. It’s Vaughan. Nope. Definitely not the young-sounding, scrawny high school geek he remembered. “Damn. Sorry, Vaughan. I didn’t recognize your voice. You’ve grown… I mean you’re older. No. You just sure sound different.” Duke rolled his eyes at his ridiculous rambling.
“Interesting,” Vaughan said sensually, his voice a deep, melodic purr. “Although it’s been three years. You sound just like I remember, Duke. So how have you been?”
Duke’s mouth was hanging open and it took him a second to realize he was talking to his best friend’s son, not some phone sex operator. He had to clear his throat before he could continue. “I’ve been real good. Business is good, of course. I’m sure your dad told you all about it.”
“Yes, he did. But I’d like to hear it from you.”
Duke frowned again. Either it’d been a while, or he was imagining the flirtatious tone of the conversation. Had to be. Duke remembered those days. Guys or girls. It made him no difference. Vaughan was in his early thirties, he’d flirt with a damn mailbox if it was designed prettily enough. Duke finally got himself together. “So what was Quick calling me for at this hour?”
“He wanted you to come join in on the fun. We’re at Harry’s, but I think we’re gonna call it a night. I have an interview and I’m sure y’all have work to do.”
Duke couldn’t get over how mature Vaughan sounded. He’d been in the kid’s life since he was a teen. Since his freshman year in high school. He knew the guy would grow up to be amazing. He’d always had a level head. Never got caught up in the bullshit that so many kids did these days. He looked forward to talking to him again.
“Yeah. I’m going into the office tomorrow to wrap up for the week. I won’t keep your dad long, though. I’m sure y’all have plenty to catch—”
“Hold on one second, Duke.” Vaughan cut over him. He heard the smooth man talking to someone who he presumed was their server. “Thank you, honey. You were great.” Then that deep sexy chuckle. “Naw. I’m good. Just the check, love. Thank you… Okay. I’m back. You still there, Duke?”
Damn. Was he. Yep. Just like he thought. Thirty-year-olds loved to flirt and see if they could get a rise from you. “Yeah, I’m here.” Duke was ready to end this conversation; he was feeling some type of way for having wood while talking to Quick’s son. “I’m gonna hit the hay. I’m exhausted.”
“Mmm. I see. Boyfriend keeping you up late?”
Duke smirked. How cute. “Can’t exactly say that. I sure wish, though.”
His comment was met with silence and Duke thought that maybe he’d grossed the kid out until a moan almost too soft to hear reached his ears, and Duke wondered if Vaughan was doing something… maybe with someone else while he was on the phone. Until he spoke again.
“What else do you wish for, Duke?”
“W-what?” Duke stammered in response to the loaded question.
“Oh, never mind. I’ll find out soon enough,” Vaughan said casually.
Duke laughed, more so from nervousness rather than anything striking him as funny. There was no mistaking Vaughan’s coy tone.
“Good night, Duke. Sleep well.”
The next thing he knew, the line was dead. Duke was speechless. Fuck. And hard.
Vaughan didn’t bother telling his dad that Duke had called. He laid in bed that night thinking about his plan. He’d been attracted to his father’s friend since he first brought him around. Even then, Vaughan knew his true orientation, because Duke could make him hard as steel just by entering the room. All that before the man spoke a word in that deep-southern-down-home-drawl. He didn’t sound like a hick, but sort of like a hot cowboy. Vaughan shook his head as he ran his large hand down the smooth patch of hair in the center of his chest, all the way to his cock. He pulled on his considerable length a couple times, imagining Duke kneeling next to him, watching him pleasure himself.
When he was a junior in high school, he’d come over to his dad’s on the weekends praying that Duke would come by. Whenever he did, Vaughan would have to restrain himself from confessing his love, knowing Duke wouldn’t reciprocate. Would have nothing to do with a kid. At that age, Vaughan couldn’t have taken being laughed or cooed at for having a—what grownups considered—puppy love crush on the older man. Instead, he’d observed Duke from afar. Touched himself as he watched Duke and his dad play catch in the backyard. Daydreamed about Duke sneaking into his room while everyone else was downstairs enjoying the barbeque. Shit. He head a ton of jerk off material. He paused mid-stroke, his back arching from the intense feeling of anticipating having Duke soon. He wouldn’t beat off. Not now. He’d wait. Let all the pent up want and need for the man he was destined to have build until he got what he had desired for so long.
He’d just known that when he came home Duke would be playing house with that big bastard, Judge. Imagine his surprise when he called during finals last year and his father told him that Judge had fallen in love with someone else and chose to end the “arrangement” he had with Duke. Vaughan had wanted to pump his fist in victory, knowing that Judge had been his only real competition. But his celebration was short-lived when his dad told him how upset Duke was. He’d told him that he tried to hide it from everyone, but when he thought no one was looking, Duke got a real forlorn look on his face. It took everything in Vaughan not to leave school right then and run back to Atlanta to comfort Duke. He couldn’t, not then. He had to be a man when he went back, wouldn’t give Duke an excuse to associate him with the kid he was when he saw him last. He was tall like his father, six-two, built strong, with tightly packed muscles, cropped dark hair that required little product, and then his best asset… his mind. He was brilliant. “A force to be reckoned with,” his law school mentor would say.