Chapter Twenty-Two

Having Mason in his bed again felt like the greatest gift of all, and almost naked was even better, but it was the apprehension in his eyes instead of lust that worried Tessler. There was no reason for any insecurities or lack of confidence in this bed. Tessler wanted the flirtatious Mason back, the one who was tossing around food innuendos just a few minutes ago like bats leaving their cave at dusk, but now, he wasn’t sure how to bring that side of the man back to the surface.

He helped remove Mason’s boots, then took off his own shirt and pants before he lay facing him on his side. Mason turned to do the same and they adjusted themselves to share the same pillow. Tessler’s fingertips softly traced over one of Mason’s eyebrows, then ran down the side of his face and eased around the back of his neck, squeezing the tight muscles there. They silently held each other’s gazes. Tessler could sense Mason was holding himself back from completely letting go and fully being in this moment with him. He hated seeing the indecision floating in Mason’s gorgeous eyes and knew he had to change it before the evening shifted course all together.

Tessler reached for Mason’s hand and placed it on his bare chest and held it there. He closed his eyes and allowed the heat of Mason’s palm to sink beneath his skin. “I want you so fucking bad,” he said quietly. “I’m having trouble controlling myself, and I’m about a minute away from pinning you to this mattress and making you mine.”

Mason smiled weakly. His fingers fanned on Tessler’s firm chest. “Your words are a huge turn-on,” he said.

“Are they?” Tessler asked. “That wasn’t intentional. I was just saying what was on my mind.”

“I know, and that’s what makes it so hot,” Mason replied.

Mason’s statement was the boost of approval he needed to hear. He began to slowly undo Mason’s shirt, one button at a time, followed by an exploring caress of his fingers beneath the fabric of the shirt and over Mason’s smooth, hot flesh. Tessler had never spent this much time on foreplay before in his life, and the slow progression intensified every sensation he was feeling. When his fingers reached Mason’s belly button, he scissored their legs and almost brought their groins together.

Almost.

They were so close he could feel the heat of Mason’s cock and balls burning through the front of his jeans to brand him, and fuck, he wanted more. He wanted to feel that thick cock pulsing in his hand—and then maybe the back of his mouth if Mason was still on board with this. He pressed their foreheads together while his fingers went to work on Mason’s belt and then the button and zipper of his jeans. He spread the flaps of fabric open and eased his fingers into the oven inside Mason’s snug boxer briefs. His fingers found the sticky tip of Mason’s dick, and Tessler moaned. Pre-come had dripped around the head and more pooled at the slit. There was so much of it that Tessler’s mouth began to water. He closed his eyes and slowly inhaled as he tried to regain his self-control.

“Jesus, I can smell your pre-come,” Tessler sighed. “I want you in my mouth. I have to taste you.”

Tessler lifted his head to see Mason’s eyes. His pupils were blown, his expression glassy and desperate—just the way Tessler hoped. He watched Mason lick his lips and then came the subtle nod.

“Yeah? Are you sure?” Tessler questioned. “Can I take off your pants?”

The flicker of doubt only lasted a second, but Tessler didn’t miss it. He tightened his fingers around Mason’s cock and pulled off one stroke. “Mase, it’s just you and me here, and I already told you I have no issue with your scars,” Tessler soothed. “I saw most of them the last time, and I promise you, what I see or feel isn’t going to change how attracted I am to you. Please trust me. Let me show you how fucking turned-on you make me.”

Mason’s eyes closed. “You’re the first, which is why this is still so difficult for me,” he admitted.

“I know I’m not your first guy,” Tessler said.

Mason shook his head and grinned. “No, you’re not. I told you there’ve been a few guys and a handful of women over the years.”

“So, what you mean is, I’m the first person to see you all of you since the fire?”

“Yes, besides my doctors and BB, you’ll be the first … hook-up to see me.”

“BB has seen you naked?”

“Well, not … aroused like I am now, but yes. He’s seen me in all my glory,” Mason answered.

“Wow, I can’t believe I’m about to admit this, but I’m actually jealous.”

“Of BB?”

Tessler nodded. “I’m not the jealous type, but with you … well, everything is different with you.”

“I’m not attracted to BB in the least,” Mason said after a moment.

Tessler couldn’t stop the smile from lighting his face. He loved hearing what Mason was saying but then something else got stuck in his head. Mason had used the word “hook-up” to refer to what they were doing, and Tessler wasn’t sure he liked that reference. It diminished what he thought they had together, but maybe that’s all that Mason wanted.

“What’s wrong?” Mason asked.

“This doesn’t feel like a hook-up to me,” Tessler stated.

“I really don’t want it to be one,” Mason said and inched closer to Tessler until their noses almost touched.

“No?” Tessler asked and squeezed Mason’s cock again.

“Definitely not,” Mason said and then moaned when their lips brushed together. “I want …”

“Tell me what you want,” Tessler urged and covered Mason’s mouth with his.

“I want a lot more than one or two dates with you,” Mason answered after their kiss finally ended. “Does that make me sound too needy?”

“I kinda like it when you’re all desperate for my touch … my kiss,” Tessler teased and began a rhythmic stroke on Mason’s hot shaft as he started to lick an erotic path down Mason’s bristly jaw then onto his throat and collarbone. He nipped at the skin there and reveled in the fast intakes of breath Mason now needed. Tessler loved how Mason became so unglued from nothing more than his teeth scraping his skin. He could only imagine what kind of reaction he’d get from him if he used his fingernails over any sensitive flesh, or holy hell, restraints to hold Mason in place.

“Jesus, I do feel desperate,” Mason panted.

Tessler pushed the fabric of Mason’s shirt off of his shoulders and was relieved that Mason showed no signs of resistance. He lifted himself to his knees and began to work at pulling the jeans off of Mason’s hips. There was only a brief moment of hesitation on Mason’s part before he actually began to help Tessler pull his pants off. Tessler knew this was new ground they were breaking and didn’t want Mason to regress, so he climbed up on top of Mason to keep him covered up. For a long moment, Tessler just lay there and gently rocked against Mason. He kept himself lifted up on his forearms to maintain eye contact, and fuck, Mason’s eyes were saying so much without any words exchanged at all.

“Talk to me,” Tessler whispered as he stroked the sides of his head with his fingers. “Tell me where your head is at.”

“Your weight—” Mason began to say.

“Too much?”

“No, it feels nice … really nice,” Mason said and smiled weakly.

“Can I take off your boxers?” Tessler asked. “I want to get rid of mine, and I can take care of yours while I’m at it.”

Mason chuckled at that. “Multi-tasking?”

Tessler shrugged and grinned mischievously. He waited another second and when Mason didn’t discourage him, he hooked his thumbs into his boxer briefs and pushed them off his hips as he rose to his knees. Mason lifted his head from the pillow and watched in utter fascination as Tessler’s long erection sprang into view. Tessler stayed on his knees and pulled off a couple of slow, easy strokes on his cock while Mason watched. On the last tug, Tessler squeezed a big drop of pre-come out of his slit and Mason hissed.

“Let me suck you,” Mason suggested.

“Yeah? You want my cock in your mouth?”

Mason nodded but Tessler shook his head. “Use your words, Mase. I want to hear you ask for what you want.”

Mason lifted himself up onto his elbows. “I want to taste you on my tongue.”

Tessler moved to Mason’s side and finished removing his boxers and tossed them to the floor before he straddled Mason’s waist again. He inched higher up onto Mason’s chest and pointed the tip of his cock right at Mason’s lips. “This what you want?”

“Fuck, yes,” Mason nearly growled.

Tessler rolled his hips forward and pressed the spongy head of his dick against Mason’s lips. When he saw Mason’s tongue dart out to steal a taste, Tessler pulled back. “Keep your tongue inside your mouth for now,” Tessler directed. Then he proceeded to paint a slick trail of pre-come all over both of Mason’s lips. When he finished, he took a moment to admire the glossy sheen he’d given to Mason’s mouth and grinned. “That is the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen—my juice all over your lips.”

“I can smell it and now I want a taste,” Mason stated. His big hands came up behind Tessler and gripped each of his butt cheeks, then he slowly pulled him closer to his mouth.

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Tessler asked as he watched his cock getting closer and closer to Mason’s outstretched tongue.

“Very much,” Mason managed to say before his lips closed around the head of Tessler’s dick.

“Holy shit,” Tessler said. His groan was long and loud. “Your mouth is an inferno.”

Mason used the strength in his arms to pull Tessler deeper inside his mouth, and his tongue quickly went to work. He used it like a magic wand and laved the underside of Tessler’s shaft, traced all the veins, and even drifted lower to lick at his balls before he finally returned to that ultra sensitive spot just below the crown. It didn’t take long for Tessler to see stars flashing in his eyes and feel the first warning tingles of his impending orgasm. No way did he want to shoot down Mason’s throat this time around, so he regretfully pulled himself free from the sweet suction Mason’s mouth offered.

“I’m not coming in your mouth right now,” Tessler explained, “even though you have me dangerously close already.”

“I’ll edge you for a while,” Mason suggested.

“No, I have another idea, but it involves you letting me completely remove your boxers from your legs,” Tessler said. “Will you let me do that?” Tessler’s fingers were already curling over the waistband of Mason’s briefs and ready to tug when Mason’s hands stopped his progression. When Tessler’s gaze flew up to meet Mason’s, he found a mixture of fear and anxiety had washed over his face. God, he hated seeing that. All he wanted to do was make Mason feel desired and help him experience an orgasm he’d never forget.

Tessler let go of Mason’s boxers and climbed back up to lay beside him on the pillow. He leaned in and took Mason’s mouth, using his tongue to probe and swirl around Mason’s until he was completely out of his mind with need. Between their bodies, Tessler felt Mason’s hands fumbling at his waist. A second later, he realized Mason was struggling to remove his own boxers. Tessler continued to own his mouth until he felt Mason toss the garment to the floor. He started to pull away to look at Mason, but strong arms stopped him.

“Not yet,” Mason panted. “Just give me a minute to … get used to this.”

Tessler nodded and nipped at his bottom lip. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

Mason began to fidget and Tessler held his head in his hands. “Talk to me, Mase. Tell me what you need to make this easier for you. Please. I just want you to feel good about being here with me.”

Mason squeezed his eyes shut and seemed to grit his teeth. “Can we shut one of the bedside lights off?” he finally asked.

“Jesus, of course,” Tessler quickly rolled from bed and lit a large candle in a glass holder, which filled the room with the aroma of vanilla. Then he shut off both the bedside lights before he stretched out beside Mason again. His fingers went to Mason’s face and lightly stroked at the creases to soothe him. “The candle light dancing in your eyes and across your face makes you look so fucking gorgeous.”

“You’re being really nice and … patient,” Mason said. “Thank you.”

“I want this to be as perfect and comfortable as possible for you, Mason. I know you’re struggling with how you look, and I want to help you work through that.” Tessler trailed his fingertips down Mason’s side and stopped on the bumpy skin on his hip. He was going to keep going lower, but the frantic look in Mason’s eyes told him he shouldn’t.

“There’s something else you need to know,” Mason said after a long moment.

“Okay, please tell me.”

“The skin your touching now is overly sensitive,” Mason explained. “The softest touch can sometimes feel like sandpaper on an open wound.”

“Is that because of the skin grafts?” Tessler asked.

“Yeah, it’s fucked up, because in some spots I have no feeling at all, and in other areas my skin hurts to have clothing rub against it.”

“Would you rather I not touch you at all?” Tessler questioned.

Mason shook his head. “I want to have this with you,” he said softly. “If we go slow, I can show you where the bad spots are. The doctors are hopeful the nerves in these areas will eventually calm down so I’m not in so much pain.”

“I hope so, too, but until then, let’s map out your body so I can learn my way around your hot spots,” Tessler’s smirk was meant to lighten the seriousness of the moment, but Mason’s gaze didn’t express the levity Tessler had attempted with his comment.

“Damn it, I’m so nervous, Tess. I’m sorry.”

Tessler snuggled in closer to Mason and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “No apologizing,” he said. “I’m in this with you.”

“You didn’t sign up for this though,” Mason said.

“And you didn’t sign up to be with a guy who can’t even take him out on a normal date in public,” Tessler argued. “We’re both in this together. We’ll figure it out.”