Watching Mateo sleep was one of Sean’s favorite things. Sometimes, when he came over for a nap, he’d pretend to sleep until Mateo’s breathing deepened and then he’d spend an hour staring at him. Yeah, it was probably a creepy thing to do, but the man was fucking gorgeous. When he was awake, Mateo was all naughty charm. Asleep, he was angelic beauty. It was fascinating.

This morning, things were different. Those gorgeous full lips had been wrapped around Sean’s cock. He’d kissed that neck—bitten that shoulder. Fuck. He needed to get up and find something else to do. His dick was already hard. After slipping from the bed, Sean grabbed his bag and headed for the bathroom. He found his pj pants and brushed his teeth before heading for the kitchen. The least he could do was make Mateo breakfast. He opened the fridge. A hard body molded to his back. Mateo’s scent filled his nostrils as the man’s arms encircled his body. Sean’s eyes fell closed as he savored every sensation.

“I woke up, and you were gone,” Mateo said, kissing Sean’s neck.

Sean bit back a whimper. His erection was back with a vengeance. “I thought I’d make you breakfast.”

“Mhmm,” Mateo hummed against Sean’s throat. “I kind of hoped you’d be breakfast.” Sean twisted in Mateo’s arms and captured the man’s lips. Mateo leaned into him as their kiss deepened, grinding his hard cock against Sean’s. The doorbell rang. They both looked at the screen hanging above the fridge as it fired to life with the front door’s security camera feed. Mateo’s dad stood at the door—waiting.

Mateo faked a cry against Sean’s shoulder. “My dick is so hard right now and my dad is at the door.”

Something wicked rose inside Sean. He palmed Mateo’s cock through his pajama pants. “Guess I’d better find a shirt.”

“Fucking evil,” Mateo groaned before stealing another deep kiss and turning away.

Sean sucked in a deep breath before trying to move. He ached with want. The brush of his cotton pants against his erection was torture, but he made it down the hall. Sean took his time finding a shirt. He didn’t want to face Mateo’s dad with his dick tenting his pants. Sean heard the angry voices as he passed the staircase before reaching the living room. He slowed, not wanting to intrude.

“Just read the report,” Renato snapped, sounding furious. “You are worth millions and this guy is a thief.”

Sean sat on the steps. He couldn’t take another step.

“I don’t give a shit what you dug up on Sean. He’s no thief.”

Renato growled. “He stole money and a car from a guy he was dating. It’s all in the police report.”

“And?” Mateo sounded bored, but Sean thought he’d faint. He couldn’t force a full breath into his lungs.

“And what? He’s a fucking crook and you’re bringing him to your mother’s house for Christmas. You mark my words, son, he’ll sue us over that cut. He saw an easy mark in you.”

“I am easy,” Mateo said, obviously attempting to give his dad a stroke.

“Goddamn it, Mateo. Everything isn’t always a joke. Even if he doesn’t mean you harm, he will hurt you. You have a reputation to uphold. If you ever stop fucking around and actually win a title, everyone will be talking about him and not you. You’ll look like a fool.”

Mateo laughed. It was so fake it hurt Sean’s heart. “I thought I was a gatekeeper. That’s what you’ve always said, so really, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Pull your fucking head out of your ass,” Renato roared, making Sean jump. “Stop thinking with your dick and embarrassing everyone. You’re a man. Act like it. You’ve had your mother crying all night—the way you always do. I’ve never met a more selfish, ungrateful—”

“Okay, well, this has been fun,” Mateo said, cutting him off. “It’s always nice when you stop by for a visit. I’ll walk you out.”

“If it wasn’t for your grandmother always coddling you.”

“Yes, I know,” Mateo said, sounding tired. “I wouldn’t suck dick. Yada yada. Let’s go.”

“We should’ve beat you as a child,” Renato said, his voice getting farther away.

“It wouldn’t have helped,” Mateo said with laughter lacing his voice. “I let people beat me now and I kind of like it.”

Whatever retort Renato had was muffled by the door. Sean assumed Mateo had closed it in his face. For a moment, silence filled the house. Only the sound of a grandfather clock ticking in the den filled the unnatural quiet. Then, footsteps moved in his direction. Mateo came into sight. He stopped at the foot of the stairs as if he’d known Sean was there.

Mateo leaned his shoulder against the wall and stared at Sean—expressionless.

“I’m not a thief.” Sean didn’t know what else to say.

Mateo didn’t hesitate. “I know.”

“But I did do the things he said.”

“It doesn’t matter to me,” Mateo said as if it really didn’t.

It mattered to Sean. “I shouldn’t have let you get blindsided like that.”

Mateo’s mouth lifted in one corner. The bitterness in Mateo’s expression made Sean’s eyes sting. “What? That? That was a typical Tuesday morning for me.”

Sean fucking hated that. “Still, I should’ve told you everything about me before you had to hear it like that.”

“So tell me now,” Mateo said with a shrug.

Sean took a deep breath and picked a place to start.

“When I was a senior in high school, I went with my friend to a college party. I expected drinking and possibly drugs but never planned on meeting Dylan. He was perfect, and I was swept away. The day I turned eighteen, I moved in with him without a second thought. My parents argued against it, begging me to go to college, but I knew best.” Sean swallowed around the threat of his throat swelling closed. The sick pit opening in the center of his being wasn’t an unfamiliar sensation. He was exhausted from the fear and pain. “I was stupid,” Sean admitted, seeing it all now. “Things changed the instant I was under his roof. I was a prisoner. He wouldn’t let me see my parents and I didn’t have a car or money of my own. I depended on him for everything. He wasn’t the kind of abusive you see on TV. Dylan didn’t pick fights to beat me down. He picked away at my brain, stripping me of everything. I was too stupid to live and too ugly for anyone else to want me. That’s why I wasn’t allowed to leave the house. Yet he’d bring friends over like he was proud of his project. He wanted them to see me house broken.”

Sean didn’t look at Mateo. Instead, he chose to stare at his hands. They were his, and they were real. If Mateo tossed him, they’d still be with him. “Eventually, I hit bottom and no longer cared if I woke up. In fact, I hoped I wouldn’t. It was almost like he’d been watching and waiting for me to get to that point. That’s when he brought home someone else.” Sean couldn’t do this. If Mateo needed the words, then Sean would rather be alone. He couldn’t go back to that place. “Later that night, after Dylan fell asleep, I stole the money from his wallet and his keys. I should’ve just took off on foot and found the nearest phone, but I was so fucking scared and not in my right mind. The car was the fastest way out and I needed money for a place to stay because I couldn’t face my parents.” Sean shrugged. “The rest is pretty much what you would imagine. I was arrested. Dylan said he’d wouldn’t press charges if I came home.” A small smile tugged at the corners of Sean’s lips. Even to him, it felt evil. “I refused.” His smile fell. “Now I have a criminal record and things have been much harder than I ever dreamed.” He finally met Mateo’s stare. “Then I met you, and you’ve been like breathing clean air after being trapped in a burning building. I’m sorry.”

Mateo straightened away from the wall. “Why are you apologizing?”

Sean shrugged. “For me. It was pretty much a blanket apology for this,” he said, motioning toward himself. “You’re amazing. I forgot for a little while that I’m a mess. No one else has ever given me that. I should go.” Sean started to stand.

Mateo held a hand up, stopping him. “Do I get to talk?”

Sean nodded, feeling like an idiot. Mateo should get to have his say. After all, he’d given Sean a few months of peace. He settled back down on the steps.

Mateo smiled. Sean focused on the dimples he loved. His eyes burned. Fuck Dylan for stealing another beautiful thing from him. If there was any justice in the world, wherever he was, Dylan was dead.

* * *

There was a thick layer of pure rage coating Mateo’s brain. He had money. It wouldn’t take much to find this Dylan guy and destroy him. Sean was more important right now. He needed Mateo calm and accepting. Mateo knew, because that was what he’d always needed from his parents that he’d never gotten. But, Sean and he, they had each other. Whatever Sean had been through, it was the past. Mateo was his present and future. Sean had nothing but rainbows and shit coming his way because Mateo would never let ugliness touch him again. It had to start now.

“Dad showed up, and I missed my chance to tell you how fucking sexy you are when you first wake up in the morning. Of course, you’re always gorgeous. But this morning, you woke up as mine and I can’t stop thinking about it.”

The confusion written on Sean’s face had Mateo’s smile turning real. Making Sean happy was fucking awesome. It was like getting lit minus the consequences.

“Wait,” Sean said, as if trying to keep up. “So you’re not mad at me?”

Mateo’s smile was out of his control. “Not at all. Now, as for my dad, I’m always pissed off at him.”

Sean still wasn’t smiling. It was stabbing Mateo in the heart. He sat down on the steps, hip to hip with Sean. “Look, everyone has a past. God help me, I hope no one is hiding around the corner with a background check on me. You’d rightfully run for your life.” He took Sean’s hand and held on.

“I don’t know,” Sean said, sounding thoughtful. “I’m pretty head over heels in love with you. It would probably take a lot to drive me away.”

Sean was so goddamn brave. Mateo’s heart was stuck in his throat. Beyond telling Sean, in the heat of the moment, he was falling for him, Mateo hadn’t worked up the nerve to say the actual words. Sean had said them so calmly—like he had no doubts.

Rather than attacking Sean on the stairs, as he wanted, Mateo calmly stood. Since he was still holding Sean’s hand, Mateo didn’t leave Sean any other choice but to stand too.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m guessing you don’t want to get fucked on the stairs.” Sean didn’t respond. Mateo glanced over. A small smile hovered on Sean’s lips. Turning, Mateo walked backward, still leading Sean to the bedroom. “Spill.”

Sean shook his head. “I just realized I don’t care if I get fucked on the stairs. You’re worried over my comfort and I…” Sean shrugged without finishing.

Mateo stopped moving. “You what?”

“I don’t care about anything other than being with you.”

Most people would take Sean for granted. He was that nice guy who never got the credit he deserved. Mateo would never treat him as anything less than the prince he was. He’d been unhappy for a long time—always searching for something unnamed. Mateo still didn’t know what he’d been missing in his life. All he knew was—he was finally whole now. “I love you.” He’d expected to feel awkward. For it to be hard. Instead, Mateo had never been calmer.

Mateo didn’t have time to pat himself on the back. Sean took two steps, closing the gap between them and claiming Mateo’s lips. Sean wasn’t one to initiate things. This was the second time this morning he’d found his dick in Sean’s hand. The man’s kiss was fierce, but the way he dove his hand inside Mateo’s pants had Mateo’s head spinning. His back hit the wall. Goddamn. No one ever took control of him, and he’d never expected this rough treatment from Sean. He liked it, but he fucking loved being in charge.

Without giving Sean time to argue, Mateo swept the man’s pants down his hips, letting gravity carry them to the floor. With Sean nude from the waist down, Mateo spun, shoving Sean against the wall before lifting his feet from the floor. He kissed Sean as deep as he could get before turning his face away.

“Hold on to me.” That was all the warning Mateo gave before he licked his fingers, stretched Sean’s asshole, and pushed his way inside.

Sean gasped against the intrusion. Mateo made sure it turned into a moan as he switched angles. He held Sean’s hips and surged upward, taking what he needed.

“You make me so goddamn horny. Do you know how many times I’ve jacked off to the scent of you lingering on my pillows? You’re in my fucking head, Sean.”

The sounds of pure ecstasy coming from the back of Sean’s throat were the only noises he made. Mateo couldn’t stop talking.

“You could tell me you’ve killed someone and I wouldn’t care. I just want to be right here, holding you and connected to you. Fuck,” he cursed, trying to hang on to an ounce of sanity. “I want to watch your sexy dick bounce against your stomach like this forever. Shit, look at the way it’s leaking for me. I haven’t even touched your cock, and it’s crying for me. Do you know what that does to my head? No one gets excited to see me. You fucking drip for me.”

“Oh, god,” Sean whispered, making Mateo nuts.

“And this ass. Goddamn, Sean. So tight and just sucking me inside.” He stopped moving and held Sean’s stare. The man’s flushed cheeks and unfocused eyes drove him insane. “I could just stand here and your ass would milk me dry. That’s how greedy you are for me. You can’t hide it, and I fucking love it. I love you.”

Sean sucked air. It sounded ragged and broken. “I love you too.”

At the confession, Mateo lost all sense of reason. He fucked Sean hard—like he hated him. In truth, he wanted to crawl inside the man and never leave. His life was sick and unhealthy. Sean thought he was dirty, but he was like undriven snow compared to Mateo. His orgasm hit, nearly buckling his knees in its intensity. His cock throbbed and jumped inside Sean’s ass. Mateo’s gaze never moved from the gorgeous dick on Sean’s stomach. Fuck, he could taste it from last night. Salt and man. He slipped from Sean’s ass and dropped to his knees. Sean’s cock filled his mouth without thought. He sucked and savored. His tongue swirled around Sean’s crown, lapping up every drop of pre-cum. When it was gone, he licked Sean’s slit, trying to get more.

“You’re so goddamn delicious,” Mateo swore before swallowing the man’s cock. He’d get his salty reward one way or another. Patience wasn’t his virtue. He played with Sean’s balls and urged the man to openly fuck his face. Sean didn’t get it. Mateo loved this shit. It was raw and real. Sean couldn’t hide a single emotion from him while Mateo had the man’s dick in his mouth.

“Tell me you love me,” he demanded before tightening his throat around him again.

“I love you.”

Yeah. He did. Mateo could feel it. His lips slid up and down Sean’s erection, the silky skin giving under the pressure. Mateo closed his eyes, opened his throat, and let Sean pound it. Sean’s short fingernails dug into the back of Mateo’s neck. A roar of triumph raged through him as Sean cried out his name. A hot flood of cum filled Mateo’s mouth. Mateo swallowed and sucked, trying to get it all. It still coated his tongue as he kissed Sean’s stomach.

“You’re so fucking amazing, baby. No one is allowed to think otherwise. Not even you.”

“I love you,” Sean repeated, sounding hoarse as he tried pulling Mateo to his feet. Mateo stood and captured Sean’s lips before his own said something he couldn’t take back—like Sean was his and he’d cut out anyone who wanted to get in between them. Even if that someone was his parents.