Chapter Eleven

While Rob ached slightly from being fucked, the pain was a pleasant appetizer to dinner. After another quick—and separate—round of showers, he drove Brian to Church Brew Works for dinner. Reasonable brewpub with excellent food located in a decommissioned Catholic Church, complete with the fermenters where the altar would have been.

“I love this place.” Brian slid into the seat. “Though my parents still haven’t been here.”

This place was so close to his house. If they hadn’t biked all over creation, he’d have suggested biking here. “Why ever not?”

“It’s too sacrilegious for them. They came to Mass at this church sometimes.” Brian looked around. “But I’m glad they saved the building. They’ve done preservation work, too. Maintaining the stained glass and all that.”

“So I’ve read.” When he’d first looked for houses, his real estate agent had taken him here and given him a small history lesson about the area. “I could see how eating and drinking in a place you used to pray might be uncomfortable. Especially if you’re still practicing.”

“Which they are.” Brian closed his menu.

Before Rob could continue the conversation, the waiter came and took their beer and food orders.

The ache in Rob’s arse when he shifted on the wooden chair only made his lips twitch. Brian certainly could fuck the way Rob liked it—hard and demanding. He didn’t bottom often, but he’d repeat that in heartbeat with Brian. And yes, with a cock ring on, too. If he were to be on the receiving end, he preferred the pounding to last a while.

Brian’s cheeks were tinged with red again. Rob extended his hand across the table, and after a moment’s hesitation, Brian placed his own hand in Rob’s grip. “Something the matter?”

Brian’s blush deepened. “I still have to tell my folks I’m dating a guy.”

Ah. An ache—like an old wound reacting to a coming storm—flared in Rob’s chest. “You said it would be fine before . . . are you sure?”

“I think? But I don’t know.” Quiet words. “I mean, they’ve never reacted badly to anything LGBTQ. Didn’t freak out when same-sex marriage became legal or anything like that. They’ve met Justin and Eli—knew I went to their wedding.” He shrugged. “But—”

“You’re their son.”

“Yeah.” Soft, nervous words.

Their beers came, thank goodness. This topic brought too many old memories close to the surface. Shouting. Tears. Slammed doors. He took a long sip of his beer.

Brian fingered his glass. “Every month we have a family dinner—my parents and brother and sister. It’s next Sunday.” He lifted his beer and drank.

“And you plan to tell them?”

Brian nodded. “I don’t want to hide it. Don’t want to hide you.”

A different ache in his chest. Warmer. It stung in a way that brought moisture to his eyes. “I—thank you.” He took a breath. “I know family is complicated. If you need to . . .”

“No.” A single strong word. “Look—I hid this part of myself for so long. I’m done.” This time it was Brian who reached out.

Rob slipped his hand into Brian’s. “Why now? Why me?”

Brian ran a finger around the top of his glass. “Been asking myself that, too. Maybe because I’m thirty-eight and the world has changed and I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks.” He met Rob’s gaze. “You walked into my shop and brought the freaking sun with you. I’ve been blinded since.”

Now that was a line and a half. He couldn’t help laughing. “Get off.”

A squeeze of his hand. Brian’s smile was as warm as it was serious. “I’m not joking.”

His heart tumbled around in his chest at that. “Good.” The word was too thick in his mouth, but it made Brian beam and blush again.

Like always, he’d fallen fast. Usually that meant he’d smack up against the ground at some point, but he intended to enjoy this particular fall for as long as it lasted.

He hoped the ground never showed up.

Their food came and they spent the rest of dinner stealing bits from each other’s plates, laughing, and talking about where they wanted to bike next.

Rob set down his fork and pushed his empty plate away. “Someday I want to bike the Great Allegheny Passage.”

“Just the Passage, or all the way to DC?” Brian finished his beer and set the empty glass down.

“At least to Cumberland, Maryland. I’d love to do the whole thing, too, but that’s a long haul.” He’d need at least a couple of days to make the trip to Maryland. “There are places catering to bikers along the way.”

An absent nod from Brian. “There was an article in the paper awhile back from a reporter who did the ride to DC.” Brian frowned. “I wish the shop were in a good enough place to do something like that.”

Rob bit his tongue to keep from grilling Brian about work. The few times he had, Brian had shut those conversations down. It had been such a perfect day so far, no need to ruin it. “Maybe someday you can.”

A wan smile. “Maybe.” A peek of tongue from his pink lips. “I’d love to go with you.”

Oh, the trouble they’d undoubtedly get in together. And the nights. He shifted again and wondered if Brian was the least bit interested in bottoming. He wouldn’t mind sinking into that body sometime. He glanced at one of the saints in the stained-glass window and laughed.

“What?”

“I confess, I’m having impure thoughts.”

That brought out Brian’s big grin. “Me too.”

“Well, let’s go do something about that, shall we?” He caught the attention of their waiter and asked for the check.

A couple of minutes later, they were out the door and heading for his car. A few minutes after that, he pulled into his narrow driveway and around the back of the house. By the time they got into the living room, Rob’s hands were tangled in Brian’s hair and his mouth was on those devilish lips. He pushed Brian up against the wall and took his time claiming his mouth, his chin, and his neck.

Lovely little gasps and moans. Brian’s hips rocked, his dick hard against Rob’s thigh. “We should—”

He slid a hand over Brian’s chest and fondled his nipple through his thin t-shirt. The rest of the sentence was lost in a breathy moan. He kissed Brian again and let his lips hover over Brian’s. “We should what?”

Such wide eyes, so full of want and need. God, how he loved turning Brian on, then inside out. His queer-as-fuck barista, his Americano.

“Bed.” Brian pressed his hand against Rob’s bulge, sending waves of heat through his limbs. “Now.”

He leaned in, thrusting against Brian. “Eager, aren’t you?” He grazed his lips over the stubble on Brian’s neck, then bit at the flesh there. “We have all night.”

A soft moan. “Now who’s the tease?”

Oh, sweet Brian. Rob took both of Brian’s hands and stretched them up before pinning them against the wall. “Seeing you is a tease.” He pressed close, cock to cock. “Your voice, your body, that mind.” He sucked on Brian’s lip.

The groans were deeper now. “Glad I’m more than a cock to you.”

He was. “So much more.” Their bodies meshed so well. “Though I adore every inch of your dick.”

That got him a laugh. “You can have it again, any way you want. Mouth, hand, ass.” Even though Brian’s arms were still pressed above him, he leaned his head forward to catch Rob’s lip. “Anything.”

Having Brian buried in him had been quite the experience. Rob thrust hard against his trembling body. “Perhaps you’re right about taking this to bed.” He let Brian go and stepped back. “After you.” He gestured to the stairs.

Brian licked his lips. “You just want to stare at my ass.”

“There’s a lot of things I want to do to your arse, but we’ll start with staring.”

Brian’s eyes widened—but he headed for the stairs. Rob followed, and yes, it was a fine view, those cheeks in tight denim, the seam running down between the crack. Naked was even better. He cupped one cheek and let his fingers drift between Brian’s legs.

Brian damn well nearly tripped. He grabbed the railing and stopped. “Shit, I can’t think when you do that!”

Rob stopped one step below and kept fondling Brian’s taint through the denim. “Can’t help it when you wear such tight clothes.”

“Oh, so it’s the clothes that are the fault, hmm?” He looked over his shoulder, a grin showing his teeth. “Not your wandering hands or overactive libido?”

Rob slapped him playfully on the butt. “Up you go.” Brian resumed climbing the steps. “Your libido is just as active.” And his hands as wandering.

“My parents told me never to play on the stairs.” They made it to the top, and Brian pulled Rob into a kiss, his hand working at the button of Rob’s jeans.

Rob couldn’t help but flinch. It had nothing to do with Brian and everything to do with his parents. There been very little fun to be had, on the stairs or otherwise. “You’re lucky they cared.” Hopefully, they would still care after the following Sunday.

A pause in Brian’s movements. Brian cupped Rob’s face with one hand. “Don’t mean to hurt you.”

“You aren’t.” He kissed Brian, then whispered against his lips. “Keep going.”

A grin there, and Brian took Rob’s mouth, parted his lips, and unzipped his jeans.

God, the wicked things Brian did to Rob’s cock once he’d gotten his hand down Rob’s pants. He nearly forgot his own name when Brian slid to his knees and sucked down his cock right there at the top of the stairs.

Hot, eager mouth. A tongue that darted and teased. Those brown eyes looking up at him. Rob slid his hand over Brian’s hair. “Such a good cocksucker.”

Brian visibly trembled and moaned at that, and doubled his efforts.

“Like hearing that? Cocksucker?” He stroked a finger over Brian’s forehead.

He pulled up, but kept jerking Rob off. “Yeah, I do.” Soft words. “It’s hot and reminds me of who I am.”

“You’re my bisexual barista who loves sucking dick as much as eating pussy.”

Another visible shiver. “Yeah. I— Yeah.” Brian’s eyes were large and his face flushed. He swallowed. “I’m your lover.”

Yes, he certainly was. Rob cupped his chin. Someone also seemed to like a bit of power games, which was fine with Rob. “Mmm, you are. And you fucking love my cock, right?”

Brian nodded.

“Then you better put your mouth back to work and show me how good you are.” He tightened his grip.

And if that didn’t encourage Brian. He closed that hot mouth around Rob’s shaft and licked and sucked as if his life depended on getting Rob off. Rob threaded his hand through Brian’s hair and rocked his hips. “Fuck, yes. Just like that.”

Brian’s deep moan vibrated through Rob. With each stroke, Rob sank a bit deeper into Brian’s throat.

“That’s right. Take it all.” He doubted Brian would—deep throating took practice. Hell, his own gag reflex got to him on occasion. But he sure enjoyed Brian’s attempts to swallow every inch. Seeing his cock slide in and out of Brian’s mouth, watching Brian’s eyes glisten at the corners when he looked up for approval—burned his blood and tightened his balls.

Except Brian was making his legs shake, which made standing tricky, especially with the stairs so close.

He pulled Brian off his dick and slipped his thumb between those pouting lips. “Bedroom. I want you naked and kneeling at the foot of my bed.” He let Brian go.

Not even a word. Brian rose and headed into the room, pulling his shirt off as he went. By the time Rob followed, Brian’s shoes were off and his pants were around his ankles. He stripped everything else, and knelt exactly as Rob had ordered, right at the foot of the bed. His whole chest was flush and his dick hard. Beautiful. Brian on his knees. For him.

More than anything, Rob wanted to pull Brian up, press him down onto the mattress, and fuck him until they both came. He knew Brian wasn’t ready. He might never want that—which was fine. So many other options, after all.

He shed his own clothes and sat down on the bed. “Tell me what you want, Bri.”

A swallow and a shiver. “I want you to come down my throat.” His gaze met Rob’s, and there was such determination there. “I want to be the best you’ve ever had.”

Rob’s chest tightened. He’d had some mind-blowing encounters in his life. Sex that made him soar and sore, but nothing had prepared him for the amount of emotion Brian wrung from him every time he opened his hot American mouth.

That had nothing to do with Brian’s ability to swallow dick. He stroked his cheek. “You’re pretty damn fine.”

A self-depreciating chuckle. “Considering I don’t know what I’m doing?”

He ran his thumb over Brian’s lips, then pressed it between them. Soft and warm, Brian’s mouth was a delight. “You know what you’re doing.” He fucked that mouth with his thumb until Brian squirmed on his knees. “You only need more practice.”

He slipped his thumb from Brian’s mouth and Brian chased after the digit.

“If you’re so eager—” He sat forward and pressed the tip of his cock between Brian’s open lips.

They both moaned. Brian’s mouth felt so fucking good. Couldn’t fault Brian’s cock-sucking skills, not the way he bobbed, sucked, and licked until it was all Rob could do to grip the comforter and thrust in time. “Fucking hell, you’re a natural.”

A groan. Brian drew back. “You taste good.” He licked the tip, delving his tongue into the slit, then mouthed down Rob’s shaft to the base.

Yeah. Natural, indeed. Even exploring, Brian hit all of Rob’s spots. Heat pooled in his spine and his balls tightened. It took all Rob’s self-control not to pull Brian’s head up and feed his cock back into his mouth.

Tentatively, gently, Brian nuzzled Rob’s balls, then kissed his sac.

Rob held his breath as lightning shot through his veins, tingling down his arms to his fingers. He stroked Brian’s hair. “Suck my balls.”

A flash of those brown eyes, then Brian took in a nut.

Rob shuddered and gasped, both from the warmth and the pressure. He leaned back as Brian shifted from one sac to the other, rolling them in that fucking amazing mouth of his.

Too much. Too hot. Rob lifted Brian’s head by his chin, the skin of his sac cooling in the air of the room. Brian’s lips were curved into a cocky-ass smile, and his hand moved between his legs. “Liked that?”

That was obvious. Rob smoothed his thumb over Brian’s chin. “So did you.”

“Love making you moan.” Brian shifted, giving Rob a nice view of him jerking off. “Hottest fucking thing in the world.”

“Then why don’t you finish the job?”

That was all the encouragement Brian needed. He swallowed Rob so fast that Rob gave Brian one of those moans he loved.

“Fuck,” Rob murmured. He took Brian’s head in his hands and slowed his efforts a bit—including holding him still when Brian swallowed as much as he could. A whimper and a shudder, and Rob let him draw back. “I like fucking you deep, Bri. Think you can handle it?”

In answer, Brian went down on him, father down than before. Not all the way, but damn if the man didn’t have control over his gag reflex after all. Rob closed his eyes. “Yeah, like that.”

Brian did exactly that again and again and again, until Rob was clutching Brian’s head and moaning each time Brian swallowed him. On the last time, he’d taken Rob practically to the root, his mouth stretched so wide around Rob’s shaft.

Rob’s balls were so fucking tight and his blood burned. One more like that and he’d empty himself down Brian’s slick throat. “Gonna come.”

Another fucking chuckle. Brian licked and sucked the head. He met Rob’s gaze with eyes that defined smoldering, then slowly—very slowly—took every inch of Rob’s cock into his mouth.

Hottest thing Rob had ever seen or felt. His vision hazed and he moaned as every bit of tension released and he spilled his balls down Brian’s throat.

Even after he’d finished, Rob shuddered and gasped, because Brian hadn’t stopped. No, he’d just swallowed every drop and kept going. Every nerve in Rob fired and his moan turned into something close to a sob. “God, Bri, stop. Please.”

Brian eased off him and sat back, his expression halfway between concerned and a smirking mess. “How’s that?”

Little bratty fucking—Rob hauled him up and kissed him, tasting his own salt and musk. They ended up tangled on the bed, Brian moaning beneath Rob, his very hard cock thrusting against Rob’s thigh.

“That was exquisite.” Rob traced his fingers over Brian’s face. “You taste so good with my seed on your lips.”

Brian shivered beneath him, but said nothing. Something close to worry crossed his brow.

Rob smoothed it out. “What’s wrong?”

Silence for a bit. “What’s it like? Being fucked?”

Ah. Curiosity, not worry. “In the arse?”

Brian nodded. “I’ve never done anything . . .” He trailed off for a second, then focused on Rob. “But you liked it.”

“I did. I do.” Rob rolled over on his side and ran his hand down Brian’s chest. “I would think it’s different for every man.” He pinched Brian’s nipple between his fingers and relished the catch of breath. “Just like everything else is.” He let go. “Some men don’t like anal at all. Some love it.”

“You?” Definitely curiosity there.

He huffed. “My yes is those jizz stains somewhere up above your head.” He waved up at where he’d come earlier. “For me, it generally depends on the partner. It has to be someone I trust.”

That made Brian’s eyes go wide.

Rob kissed his nose again. “I love it when you act all innocent.”

A laugh and a sheepish grin. “This all still feels new. And . . . perfectly normal.”

“As well it should.”

Brian propped himself up on his arm. “I want to try.”

A zip of pleasure ran through Rob, but he was too spent to get it up a third time, at least for a while. “Why don’t we see if you even like having your hole played with?”

A flush and a nod.

“And I can return the favor for that rather lovely blowjob.”

“Oh good.” Brian flopped down on the bed and put his hands behind his head. “’Cause you taste good with my come on your lips, too.”

Fucking hell. Not an innocent bone in Brian’s body. Rob wrapped his hand around Brian’s shaft and stroked a few times—long enough to make Brian’s eyelid’s flutter shut and a groan part his lips.

He patted Brian’s thigh. “Scoot yourself up to the pillows, and I’ll get the lube.”

A shudder ran through Brian. “Okay.”

Rob slipped off the bed and retrieved the bottle from the nightstand.

This would be interesting. Looking down at Brian, he could certainly envision Brian in the throes of orgasm, his dick rocking in and out of Brian’s body. Maybe they would get there. And if not? Well, Brian made a damned good top, no doubt about that.

***

Brian shivered when Rob climbed back in bed. He’d loved making Rob come, both by blowing him and fucking him. He’d enjoyed Rob’s mouth around his dick and frotting had been mind-blowing.

Every way he and Rob had gotten off had been hotter than hell. In some way, that reminded him of Anita. They’d never failed in bed.

But he’d never had anything inside his ass, not even his own finger. He’d thought about it enough, especially after watching porn, but had been too chicken to try.

This could be a disaster.

Rob must have sensed how nervous he was because he set the lube aside, laid down next to Brian, and drew him into a deep kiss. He smoothed a hand over Brian’s chest, stopping to tease his nipple.

Even when Brian moaned into Rob’s mouth, he didn’t stop—kissing or pinching. God, his balls ached for release. He thrust against Rob’s thigh.

He’d been hard since the drive back from dinner and there still wasn’t a part of Rob that Brian didn’t want to lick and suck.

Rob must have felt the same way, because he broke the kiss, slid his mouth down Brian’s body, and licked at his abused nipple before trailing lower.

“Could spend ages here,” Rob whispered before licking and sucking at his abs and stomach.

“Or you could move lower.” He fingered one of Rob’s curls.

A dark chuckle. Rob kissed Brian’s bellybutton, then shifted downward. Warm breath on his cock. “Bend your legs.”

Brian did and Rob settled between his thighs.

Hot fingers stroked the tender flesh there. “I rather like this view.” Rob followed his fingers with his tongue.

Electricity through Brian’s veins, followed by goose bumps. “Fuck.” He closed his eyes.

That’s when Rob swallowed the tip of his cock.

Brian arched against the mattress from the sheer pleasure rippling through his nerves, firing them off like Christmas lights. He gasped and moaned and twisted on the bed. When he finally could see again, he got the most awesome view of Rob taking him entirely in one go.

God, that mouth. He found Rob’s head and curled fingers into his soft strands. Rob cupped his balls and played with them until Brian couldn’t see or think straight. “Gonna come if you keep doing that.”

Rob backed off. “Can’t have that yet.” He kissed the tip and drew his tongue down the shaft, but rather than mouth his balls, like Brian expected him to, Rob pressed his lips to Brian’s taint.

Fuck. Brian gasped and pushed his head back against the pillow. He was so sensitive there. Couple of girlfriends had figured that out during blowjobs, but they’d just stroked him—not mouthed him.

“Thought so,” Rob muttered. Then he hummed and went back to licking and sucking.

Cock. Taint. Balls. Thighs. Not enough to make him come, but enough to bring him right to the edge over and over. He couldn’t think to put syllables together to curse.

A faint click caught his attention, but only until Rob closed his mouth around his dick. Cool, slick fingers pressed against his taint—and before Brian registered what that meant, Rob touched his hole. Pressed against it. Circled it.

Fuck. Heat straight to the back of his brain and down into his balls. What came out of his mouth was something between a whimper and a moan.

Rob’s chuckled vibrated his cock until he pulled off. But those fingers stroking over his hole never stopped. “How’s that?”

“Good,” he croaked. So fucking good. He wanted to claw his way off the bed, but couldn’t get his limbs to work. “Oh God, Rob.”

“Mmm. Nice.” Rob’s voice was deep. “I’m going to slide my finger in. Relax and push back. Tell me if you want me to stop.”

“Okay.” He breathed out and shivered when the lube bottle snapped again. Every bit of him shook with need and lust and—

Rob kissed his thigh, and pressed his finger against Brian’s hole—and in.

Air left Brian’s lungs. Didn’t hurt, not at all, but the intensity scrambled his brain and stole his thoughts.

Rob fucked him slowly, and Brian squirmed against the tingling that ran up his spine and the intimacy of Rob’s breath on his thigh.

Rob moved inside him and it felt . . . good. Filling. He exhaled and closed his eyes.

“How’s that?” Rob’s words were as gentle as his fucking.

“It’s . . . different.” Lethargy in his voice. “But good.” Getting better, actually. He shifted his hips and spread his legs wider.

Rob chuckled. “Let’s see if we can do better than good.”

Next time Rob pressed in, it was harder. Little daggers of pleasure arced up Brian’s spine and his breath caught. Rob repeated the thrust and soon was plunging in and out with quick, sharp thrusts.

Brian’s toes curled. Holy shit. “That’s—better.”

“Hmm.”

Wasn’t sure what the hell Rob did, but every fucking nerve in Brian’s body fired with lust. His balls tightened and the top of his head must have cracked off because it felt like his brain exploded. He clutched and the sheets and groaned. “Oh, fuck!”

Whatever Rob had done, he did again, with the same results. “Good fuck or bad fuck?”

“Good!” He practically cried out the word. “Just—don’t stop. Please—please don’t stop.” He rocked his hips in time with Rob’s thrusts.

Shit. If it felt like this with one finger, he’d never survive Rob fucking him with his cock. He twisted the bedspread in his hands. Why why why hadn’t he tried this ages ago? He groaned and gasped.

“Shit, Bri. You’re so fucking tight.” Rob kissed his thigh. “Can’t wait to have my dick inside you.”

“You could—you could—” He wanted that so badly, the need for Rob sudden and intense. To be fucked like he’d fucked Rob.

“Not tonight,” Rob said. “I’m more than a little spent.” He mouthed Brian’s balls. “I think you’re going to enjoy this anyway.”

He could barely see for the sparks of gold and white hazing his vision every time Rob thrust his finger in. His balls fucking ached, which didn’t make sense, since Rob hadn’t even touched his cock and he’d gone soft, despite his blood being on fire.

“I’m going to add a finger.” Rob slipped out completely.

The loss was almost painful. Brian exhaled and, even to his ears, it sounded suspiciously like a whimper.

A little puff of warm breath on his balls. “Don’t you worry. I’m not leaving you empty for long.” There was the sound of the lube bottle snapping, the cool slick liquid on his skin and around his hole, and then the pressure of Rob entering him.

Brian arched against the mattress, Rob’s fingers plunging in deep and rough. A little pain, but so much pleasure. Stretched and fucked and claimed. “Oh, God.” Thin, breathy words. The pleasure ripped through him and built in his balls.

“So, better than good yet?” Deep, dry amusement in Rob’s voice. His thrusts picked up speed and hit that spot in Brian that shot lights into his skull with every damn stroke.

“Yes!” The answer came out as a squeak. So fucking good, he couldn’t put words together. “Shit, I should have—Rob—please—” He wanted to come so badly, but his hands were still clenching the bedspread and if he let go, he might hit the ceiling. Or shatter into pieces. He wasn’t sure what all was holding him together.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” Rob murmured.

When Rob’s mouth closed on Brian’s cock, he nearly lost everything—his mind, his body, his soul. Might as well have gotten out a Sharpie and scrawled “Property of Rob” across him. Somehow he managed to let go of the bedspread and tangle his hands into Rob’s hair.

Rob swallowed his cock, running his talented tongue over the shaft, pressing everywhere. All the while, he slammed his fingers in and out of Brian’s ass.

Heaven and hell mixed together. Heat and flames and pleasure. His whole body shook as if he’d been plugged into a wall socket. When Rob took him to the root and drove his fingers in, Brian couldn’t climb any higher.

“Rob—” It was the only warning he managed before he was coming and coming, the flames consuming and shaking him. Felt like forever, the trembling and shattering, the blinding light.

He’d never had an orgasm spent him so completely. An eternity later, he managed to see and think again.

Rob was humming contentedly, his head resting against Brian’s thighs, his fingers moving slowly inside Brian.

What came out of Brian’s throat when he tried to speak was nothing more than a wheeze and a croak. God, Rob’s fingers still felt good. How was that possible? He closed his eyes and his heart tumbled around in his chest.

Rob kissed his thigh. “I’m going to assume you liked that.”

Loved it. Every moment. He struggled to prop himself up and peered down at Rob. “I’ve never come like that in my life.”

Lovely eyes, almost green in the light that filtered through the windows. “That’s only your first time.” Rob finally slid free from Brian.

He shuddered, both from the loss and from Rob’s words. “Please tell me it won’t be my last.”

Rob’s grin was full of teeth as he crawled up Brian’s body and kissed him. “If I have my way, that will be very far from the last time you come with me inside you.”

His moan was swallowed by Rob’s mouth. A sharp spike of desire ran down his spine, followed by a single thought: I love this man.

Terrifying that. Utterly. Always the beginning of the end for him.

He didn’t want to lose Rob, but he had no idea how to keep a relationship going. They all left him in the end—he drove them away. The shop ate his life.

Rob broke the kiss and smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

He licked his lips, tasting his own jizz, and nodded.

Water in the bathroom—Rob washing his hands. Brian lowered himself back to the mattress and stared at the ceiling, thoughts chasing thoughts chasing pleasure and hope.

Rob understood the pressure Brian was under, maybe more than anyone he’d dated. Rob had built his own company, after all. Maybe the shop wouldn’t come between them. Maybe this could work.

Was it too soon to be in love? How’d that work with men, anyway? He only knew himself—and he was as odd as they came.

When Rob returned, they both slipped under the covers. Brian curled up into Rob’s strong embrace. “You’re quiet.” Soft words against his forehead. Then a kiss.

Brian nuzzled Rob’s neck. Tell the truth? Probably the best idea. “I’m a little overwhelmed.”

“From the sex?” Warm fingers stroked his back.

“From everything.”

A chuckle. “Everything? Well, I know the waiter from dinner was cute, but . . .”

He tickled Rob’s ribs and they moved against each other, their laughter filling the room. “I’m trying to be serious here.”

“Oh, love.” Rob brushed the hair from his eyes. “I know.”

“Love,” Brian repeated.

Rob kissed him. “Is that a problem?”

“No.” Not really. “But my track record isn’t good.”

“Neither is mine.”

Great. Brian closed his eyes. “So we can fuck this up together.”

Another laugh. “Or make it work.”

He kissed Rob’s shoulder. “Let’s try that.”

Rob’s answer was to pull him closer. Warmth, the smell of salt and sex and Rob. Everything Brian wanted. He teetered over the pit, peered into the unknown, and sent up a silent prayer to the universe. Please. Just this once, let it work. Please.