Tropical Depression Read online

  Tropical Depression

  By BA Tortuga

  Sequel to Rain and Whiskey

  Stormy Weather: Book Two

  The weather in the Florida swamps is looking a little rocky for retired football player, Galen, his laid-back lover, Shane, and their gator, Vic.

  When Galen buys into a football team, promoting and wheeling and dealing are the name of the game. He’s so busy he hardly gets to see Shane anymore, which means a lot of lonely naps on the couch.

  Shane is tied up with managing the bar, covering for unreliable bartenders, and serving drinks to good-time party boys. Used to be Galen couldn’t get enough of him. Now he can hardly pry Galen away from the phone, and Shane starts to wonder where he stands in Galen’s life. Will things ever be the way they were?

  When Galen starts to forget their dates, the pressure builds, jealousy and hurt swirling into a tropical storm. Galen and Shane need to seek shelter in each other before everything they’ve built is washed away.

  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  More from BA Tortuga

  Readers love Rain and Whiskey by BA Tortuga

  About the Author

  By BA Tortuga

  Visit Dreamspinner Press

  Copyright

  To my wife, who loves alligators beyond reason.

  Chapter One

  SHANE POURED himself a double, topped off with some lime juice, and knocked it back before toodling out onto the back deck. Man, Sunday afternoons? His absolute favorite. He heard the guitar of the Changos’ new song as he hit the door. “Len? Turn the music up? I fucking love that song.”

  The sun was beating down, and his favorite kiddie pool was filled and on the deck, a floaty in the bottom to cushion his ass. The scent of some hunk of meat on the grill was spicy and rich. Mmm… spicy. Galen’s come tasted wicked sharp after spicy….

  Shane stopped. Blinked.

  Okay.

  Dude.

  He’d only had two.

  Three.

  Tops.

  “Uh. Galen?”

  The alligator hadn’t been in the pool when he’d filled it this morning….

  “Yeah, darlin’?” Len sounded relaxed, happy. Perfectly normal.

  “Can you bring me the hose?” He squinted. Man, those claws were so bad for his floaty.

  “What? You can’t be out of water in that thing.” But he heard Len coming, dragging the hose. “You make me burn the grilled veggies and… shit.”

  “Uh-huh.” Okay, cool. So. Real alligator. Not a hallucination. Good to know. “Gimme the hose.”

  Galen handed it over without a word and went to turn it on, then came back to look over his shoulder. “That’s pretty good-sized.”

  “Uh-huh.” He took a stance and aimed at the gator’s nose, then squeezed the little yellow gun-end-doolie.

  The first shot of water hit the gator right on the snout, and all it got him was an open mouth full of teeth and a fucking ominous hiss. That big tail swished, Shane’s pool creaking.

  “Damn, Shane. Piss him off, why don’t you?”

  “Well, he’s in my pool, Len.” He sprayed again, this time in the ass. “What if it shits in it? The floaty’s already a loss.”

  “Well, we can always get another pool, darlin’. We can’t get another you.” The hose’s spray cut off abruptly.

  He frowned, blinked at the hose, then back at Galen. “Let up on the hose, Len. I can’t move him if you don’t.”

  Galen blinked innocently at him, toes moving off the hose, letting water flow again. The water splashed up in his face, making him shake his head and sputter. “Oh. Oh, you’re a bastard. Gonna stick this hose up your ass and fill you up like a balloon.”

  “Promise?” He got an evil, one-side-kicked-up grin before Galen frowned back at the gator. “’Course it won’t be any fun if we gotta watch our asses with this dinosaur. You know, they always say if you distract them with food or something, you can grab them by the tail and move them.”

  “Yeah?” He nodded. “Okay. You want to distract or grab? I bet we still got some bacon from last night.” He thought so anyway. Last night was sort of a blur of fucking and coming and Galen’s voice driving him higher and higher and….

  Shit.

  You can’t chase alligators with a hard-on.

  “You distract. You’re good at it. I’ll grab.” Galen grinned at him again and popped his butt, then moved around behind the pool.

  Shane started wiggling his ass and waving his arms. “Woo! Hey! Alligator! Outta my pool, beast! You got a whole fucking swamp. The green plastic turtle is mine!”

  He got another one of those openmouthed hisses, those jaws seeming enormous. But as soon as Galen moved in from the back to grab the tail, that gator whipped around, jaws snapping, making Galen yelp and jump back a good ten feet without ever touching the ground. “Holy Jesus fuck, Shane. Did you see that?”

  Shane stood there, hands in the air, blinking. “Uh-huh. I’ll buy another pool. They’re four bucks at the Walmart.”

  “And the floaties are what? Two?” Len edged around, grabbed his hand, and hustled him back from anywhere near the edge of the pool. “Which still doesn’t tell us how we’re gonna get that monster off our deck.”

  “We could poke him with your pool cue. It’s long.”

  “You even think about it and I’ll tan your ass with it. I paid a lot of money for that cue.” They stood there and stared as the big old armor-plated monster got comfy again, mouth closing, a satisfied grunt coming from it.

  “You’d have to catch me first.” He tilted his head, vastly unconcerned about an imminent attack on his ass. “We still got Black Cats and Roman candles?”

  “I bet we do. I’ll get ’em. See if they’re still dry.” Galen wandered off, pulling him along until he was another five feet away from the gator.

  He leaned against the house, looking, staring. “You look sorta like something on a pirate movie. Or you would, if you weren’t in my pool, stupid thing.”

  “Darlin’, if he starts talking back? He can have the house, and we’ll go to a hotel.” Galen came back, hands full of firecrackers.

  “Shit, if he starts talking back, we’re taking the camera and filming it all.” Shane took a couple of Roman candles, trying to remember if you pointed the lit end or the other end.

  “Maybe we ought to have supper first. Have a beer. Think on this.” Oh. Len was smart. Besides, there was that whole spicy meat thing.

  Shane nodded, stepping back toward Galen. “Maybe he’ll get bored and go home.”

  Then they could use the camera for more fun things.

  THE GRILLED veggies were only a little burned. The barbeque-sauced chicken? Perfect. Galen figured he should thank the gator for that, even if he didn’t want to get near the damned thing. He peered out the window at the deck. Yup. Still there. It occurred to him that they ought to call animal control. But he had other things to do.

&
nbsp; Like Shane. Who was still looking at the Roman candles and mumbling to himself. Lord knew, Shane might burn the house down or something. Sooner or later the gator would move on. Even if Galen had to hook a chicken to a deep-sea line and lure the gator back to the swamp.

  Shane? Was more immediate.

  Galen wandered over. Hands dropping to Shane’s shoulders, he massaged those tight, fine muscles. “You figure those things out yet, darlin’?”

  “Mmm…,” Shane moaned, head falling forward, shoulders rolling. That gave him all that pretty neck to mark—from the short hair under that gimme cap to the join of Shane’s shoulders. “I think so. Mmm. That’s good.”

  “Yeah?” Galen dug in harder, mentally running though his options. Should they fuck nice and hard? Should they play? He listened to Shane’s breathing and rubbed, grinning. He figured it depended on how hot Shane got.

  The fireworks landed on the table, Shane bending over, ass rubbing against him. “Yeah.”

  “Well, I figure since you’re not using the pool, we can let the gator stay a bit, find something else to do. Just you and me.” He pushed hard against Shane’s ass, leaving no doubt what he meant. He wanted. Now.

  “Oh.” Shane rippled, thighs parting, ass rubbing. “I can handle just you and me….”

  Sweet. Shane made him crazy, from that tight little ass to the way he moaned, to the heat coming off Shane’s skin. Galen bit into Shane’s neck, leaving a mark. His.

  “Uhn. Toothy bastard.” The complaint would have meant more if he hadn’t got that full-body shudder, that little cry.

  “Better than the gator, huh?” Talk about toothy. Damn. Galen worked at Shane’s loose pants and got them shoved down so he could touch skin, slide his hands over ass and thighs and around to cup Shane’s cock. “Where else should I use them?”

  “Use them?” Shane pushed into his touch. “Fuck, your hands are warm, Len.”

  “My teeth.” Yeah, he was feeling warm all over, wanting Shane like crazy. He didn’t think barbeque chicken was an accepted aphrodisiac, so maybe it was the whole “nearly had leg taken off by a dinosaur” thing. Danger made a man want. He licked Shane’s bruise, cupping Shane’s balls, stroking the fine hairs.

  “Oh.” Yeah, that was a happy little groan, that heavy cock jerking against his wrist. “Anywhere. Love wearing your bruises, love the ache of it.”

  “Mmm. Love seeing you wearing them, darlin’. Just love it.” Galen undid his jeans, easing them down too, cock popping out to slide against Shane’s ass. Galen shifted, letting his prick slide right into Shane’s crease, moaning at the feel.

  “Oh. Fuck. Len.” Shane leaned forward a bit more, that tight ass pressing against him, squeezing his cock.

  “That’s the idea, darlin’.” Galen laughed, one hand on Shane’s body, petting and touching. He brought the other to his mouth, sucking his own fingers, getting them good and wet so he could get Shane ready for him. Then he leaned back some, replacing his cock with his wet fingers, teasing against Shane’s hole. “Gonna fuck you right here over the table.”

  Shane’s laughter filled the kitchen, husky and low. “I can handle that. Shit. I can so handle that.”

  Shane arched against his fingers, taking him deep.

  Yeah. Oh, hell, yeah. Galen thrust in, opening Shane quickly, wanting too much to wait.

  Shane rode him, fingers scrabbling on the table, trying to get purchase.

  He used his free hand to get his cock wet, spitting into his palm and rubbing quickly before pulling his fingers out of Shane, pushing the head of his cock there instead. Then he was able to give Shane a little help, wrapping one arm around his waist and holding him still.

  “Oh.” That tight hole opened right up for him, Shane’s body pulling him in, eager, hot.

  “Love.” Galen shoved right in, starting a rhythm, hips rocking. “Love the way you feel inside. Love it.”

  “Uh-huh.” Shane nodded, breath panting from him, starting to sweat.

  Shane glowed in the light of the overhead lamp, making Galen catch his breath at how much he wanted this man. Still. Always. Galen moved faster, holding Shane up, hand searching out that sweet cock.

  “Fuck. Harder, Len. Want to feel it tomorrow.” Demanding little shit. Sexy, fine, demanding little shit.

  “You,” he said between bites to Shane’s ear, his neck, his shoulder, “should still be feeling yesterday.”

  Still, he gave Shane all he had, hips slapping that fine ass.

  Shane crowed, riding him just as hard, bucking on his cock. “Short fucking attention span, love.”

  “Isn’t that the truth.” His lover was about as focused as a six-week-old kitten. Galen laughed at the idea of Shane chasing string and moved harder, faster, pulling Shane’s cock in time.

  “Oh. Fuck. Yes. Len. Love!” Shane arched, going up on his toes as spunk poured on Galen’s fingers, ass tight as a fist.

  “Oh. Darlin’. Yeah.” That was all it took for Galen to go right over the edge, his hips snapping as he shot into Shane’s tight body.

  “Mmm… postbarbeque table fucking….”

  He hooted. “Pre-gator-chasing fucking.”

  Shane cackled. “That fucking beast had teeth the size of your cock.”

  “That’s a frightening image in my head, darlin’.” He laughed some more as they pulled apart reluctantly. “We should see if we scared him off with all that noise.”

  Shane nodded. “If not, there’s always the fireworks.”

  There sure enough always were. As long as he had Shane around.

  Chapter Two

  SHANE COULD feel the electricity in the air. Storm was coming. Cool.

  Victor had finally moved on, left four days ago and hadn’t come back, so Shane figured the gator had gone south. Or hibernated. Or did whatever gators did.

  They’d gotten plumb used to the bitchy ol’ boy too. It was sorta cool—like a garbage disposal and guard dog and freak-show attraction all at once. Vic really liked bacon and hushpuppies.

  And Miller Light.

  Weird-assed critter.

  “You think Vic’ll come back in the spring, Len?” Shane grabbed the hose and sprayed the accumulated gator funk from the bottom of his pool.

  “Don’t see why he shouldn’t. He knows where the free food is now. Maybe we need to get you a new pool, put this one out for him come then.” Galen tilted his head, pausing in the act of folding up a lawn chair, sloe eyes twinkling at him. “Maybe a little farther out in the yard.”

  He chuckled and nodded. “No shit. Man, the sky’s going black out there.”

  Shane’s prick was half-full, interested. He loved the storms.

  “Yeah. Wind’s picking up too. Gonna be a good year for it.” He got a grin, Galen putting the chairs securely away in the little storage thingee next to the house. He watched a minute, admiring Galen’s long-assed legs and heavy shoulders and chest.

  “You want the grill put up too or just covered?” He dragged the pool over to the shed.

  “We should put it up…. I got a feeling about this storm season.” They worked together, getting everything stowed away, bumping hips every so often.

  “Man, it looks bare out here….” The wind picked up, and Shane gasped, cock jumping.

  “Yeah. But there’s always the deck railing.” Galen came up behind him, hands on his hips.

  He leaned into Galen, eyes on the storm. “Did I ever tell you how I’d drive out and watch the storms, jack off as the storm hit?”

  “Mmm-hmm. You did. Did I ever tell you I dream about that sometimes?” Galen rubbed against his ass, nuzzled his neck.

  “You do? Really?” He reached back, fingers sliding over Galen’s ribs.

  “Oh yeah. Some of those times when I wake you up in the middle of the night… yeah. Now, of course, some nights I wake you up because I’m dreaming about you in that chair in New Orleans, getting pierced.”

  “Oh.” Fuck, sometimes Len said shit that made him wild, made him stupid with wanting.
“Damned near creamed my jeans, knowing you were watching.”

  “I loved watching.” Galen’s long fingers started working his jeans open. “Want to watch you now. Touch yourself for me, darlin’.”

  Shane groaned a little, felt himself blush, but didn’t bother playing the shrinking violet. He was hard and wanting, and Len smelled fucking good, and the wind was bringing that fine storm. He wrapped his hand around his cock, starting slow, dragging his palm over the skin.

  Lightning flashed, raising hairs all over his body, making his skin so sensitive. Galen moaned, cheek against his as he leaned over to look. “God, Shane. Damn.”

  “Fucking cool. The wind, the electricity on the air. Makes me ache for it.”

  “You look decadent. Fucking amazing.” Len bit him. Hard.

  “Len!” He jerked, the motion of his hand going a little faster.

  Galen urged him on with kisses and nips and hot, hot words, keeping him going as a brilliant fucking light show lit up the sky.

  He groaned, hips jerking, eyes wide as hell. His nipples were hard, cock stiff as stone, balls aching. “Soon. Shit. Want to wait for the rain….”

  “It’s coming, darlin’. I can feel it. Just hold on.” Galen reached down, hand cupping his balls, pulling them down and away from his body, stalling him.

  His head fell back, breath panting out of him, thighs hard.

  “So pretty.” The rain finally broke, pouring down on them, warm and good, the storm right on top of them.

  “Yes….” He started pumping in earnest, rubbing against Galen, so fucking hot for it.

  Galen rubbed right back, hand joining Shane’s finally, squeezing, pulling hard.

  “Oh. Oh.” Shane arched, one hand on the deck railing, hips rocking insistently. Another bright flash of lightning showed, and he jerked, coming hard enough to make his teeth click together.

  “Shane. Oh fuck.” Galen pushed him up against the rail so hard the breath whooshed out of him, rubbing against his ass hard and fast, groaning and jerking.

  His face was turned up to the rain, eyes blinking, flying with it.

  Galen finally stilled, panting hard. “Oh, love. Yeah.”