Chapter 19

 

Every time Sven closed his eyes, he saw Geoffrey in that video, so he gave up trying to sleep and sat up against the headboard. Geoffrey adjusted accordingly, burrowing into his leg, his head on Sven’s bare thigh, his arm sliding between his legs. He stared down at him, his chest swelling with affection when he felt Geoffrey’s nose twitch from the hair probably tickling his nose.

The room was dark, but enough moonlight spilled through a crack in the blinds allowing Sven to see him and damn, he looked small against him in the faint light. Small and defenseless. Geoffrey was anything but. He’d been taking down an armed Nathan McDonald in a chokehold when Sven had burst through that door. Admiration joined the affection and he stroked his fingers through his light blond hair. It was so thick, it was still damp from the shower they’d taken when they finally got home from the hospital.

Geoffrey Ralse was a fucking beautiful fighter to his core.

He wanted to say he couldn’t understand why some man hadn’t snapped him up and kept him, but after seeing the kinds of people Geoffrey hung out with, he understood. Only a few carried enough integrity to even be worthy. He hoped he did. Sven could be himself with Geoffrey, could lose control and give in to the passion he felt so damn much because that fear he’d carried for so long had evaporated.

No, it had shifted gears completely, turning into anxiety over losing him and he’d come too fucking close to that today.

Geoffrey’s wish to go home earlier hadn’t happened for hours because it turned out the police had been alerted to the livestream, had pinpointed Geoffrey’s location, and showed up on the heels of Ward Security. Nobody was allowed to move until their hazardous device crew was called in to sweep the place and everyone had been questioned within an inch of their lives.

Sven refused to let Geoffrey out of his sight the entire time, even when the paramedics arrived and the cops tried to pull him aside for questioning. He stubbornly insisted they interrogate him where he stood, and he hadn’t given a shit when his frowns had intimidated the EMT checking over Geoffrey. He couldn’t stop scowling at that point. The bruise already forming on Geoffrey’s cheek and the blown pupils in his wide, shell-shocked eyes had made him furious.

He’d insisted Geoffrey let Dr. Frost check him out and the surgeon had gotten them in and out fast, but poor Geoffrey had nearly passed out in the shower once home. He’d asked Sven to stay and given him the sleepiest, cutest grin when they’d stepped into the stall because the faint naughty air was there as he pointed at the step stool. He really had stashed one in every room of his house.

He chuckled again and ran his fingers through his soft, blond hair and froze when Geoffrey stirred. He hadn’t meant to wake him and honestly thought he could stampede a herd of elephants through a room without waking a sleeping Geoffrey.

Now Geoffrey tightened his hand on the inside of Sven’s thigh. “Can’t sleep?” he asked, voice husky as he hugged Sven’s leg. “Worried about Dominic?”

“Yes.” That was a part of it. Though he’d yanked his friend back, he’d still taken the brunt of a blast from one of those homemade bombs. They had no idea what the extent of his injuries were, but he hadn’t awakened and the amount of blood covering him had sent alarm through Sven as he watched the EMTs hurriedly load him into an ambulance. Later at the hospital, Andrei had insisted Sven leave with Geoffrey, promising he’d call him when they had news.

Physically, Geoffrey was okay other than bruises and a headache from the drugs. Sven couldn’t help but worry how he would handle all this emotionally. Nathan McDonald had managed to hide a psychotic personality for years and then, when he revealed it, a big chunk of the world had been watching. Looking at Geoffrey. Tied up. Naked. Helpless. Well…seemingly helpless.

The return of his fury tightened his muscles. It must have been obvious because Geoffrey looked up at him, then sat up and shuffled around until he straddled Sven’s lap. “Air conditioning is too high,” he muttered as he pulled the covers up over his shoulders and tucked his face into Sven’s neck. “You feel so good. I’m okay. I promise.”

Sven wrapped his arms around that slight frame and pulled him as close as possible even though it really wasn’t that cold in the room. He needed this and it touched him that Geoffrey had picked up on that. Maybe the world saw a golden party boy, but Sven saw so very much more. And he knew there was so much left to learn. He fascinated Sven.

Geoffrey gave him all his weight and he loved the feel of all that warm skin against him and even more, loved the thump of that beautiful heartbeat against his chest. He kissed Geoffrey’s ear. “God, I love you,” he whispered.

Geoffrey stiffened, then abruptly pulled back to stare at him.

Realizing what he’d said, Sven stared back, his heart racing.

“What?” Geoffrey breathed the word. “Really?” This one was louder as he dropped the covers. “This isn’t just a reaction to the kidnapping and drugging thing?”

“Really.” Sven cupped the back of his neck and rubbed his other hand up and down Geoffrey’s smooth back.

He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?”

A grin pulled at his lips. “Yes, Geoffrey Ralse, I am sure that I am very much in love with you.”

“Well.” He cleared his throat. Then a wide smile shone in the dim light of the bedroom as he threw his arms around Sven’s neck and hugged him hard. “I can’t believe this! I love you, too. So much!”

The sense of relief and elation that hit Sven made him dizzy. He hugged Geoffrey back, one hand cupping his slender shoulder. He marveled over the lack of fear he had in touching Geoffrey, the giddy pleasure that consumed him instead. He was everything that Sven had ever wanted.

“So what now? We move in together? I have lots of room.” He sat back up, scrutinizing Sven’s face. “You do like this house, right?”

“I love your house, but I thought we’d start with just normal dating things. Meeting your brother in person. Maybe meeting my brothers.”

“We can do normal things together like shopping.” Geoffrey’s hold on Sven tightened and his eyes went wide. “You can go to the grocery with me. I hate grocery shopping. You’ll make it tolerable.”

“Okay.”

“And holidays. We can do all the holiday things.”

“Yes, but how about we hold off on that conversation and just enjoy this for a time, huh?”

Instead of launching into the argument Sven half expected, Geoffrey just nodded and hugged him tight again. “I can’t believe this,” he whispered, kissing his neck, then nuzzling his beard.

Sven’s dick filled with blood, fast. He tilted his head back, shuddering when the man opened his mouth over his pulse and sucked.

Geoffrey plastered his groin to Sven’s making him groan long and loud.

“There it is,” he hissed into Sven’s ear. He wedged his hand between them and grazed his fingers over the top of Sven’s cock.

Sven grunted, sucked in a breath, then groaned again when he wrapped his fingers around it.

“I love how loud you are during sex,” Geoffrey whispered into his ear. “My quiet man, so solemn most of the time and then you get turned on and let loose. It’s so fucking hot.”

But he wasn’t the hot one. And he wasn’t the strong one. Here he was turning to putty in this small man’s hands. One who had been through hell that day yet still pulled his exhausted self up into his lap to offer comfort. And apparently, more. “Hey,” he panted, his eyes rolling back into his head when Geoffrey stroked him with a firm grip. “Wait. You should…agh!”

Geoffrey had sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, bit down, and tightened his grip.

“Wait,” he breathed again.

Geoffrey let go of his lip with a lick across the top one. “Nope,” he growled. “You are not allowed to say I need time or anything like that. You just took the worst day of my life and made it the best. Do you hear me? The absolute best. That cancels all of that other bad shit out.” He rubbed his nose in Sven’s beard. “God, I’ve wanted you for so long and then we got together and I wouldn’t allow myself to hope for more, but I wanted it, Sven. Wanted to keep you so, so badly.”

“I’m yours.” Sven thrust up into his grip, nearly unseating Geoffrey from his lap. He grabbed his hips to keep him there, then couldn’t stop his fingers from stroking back to cup his ass in his palms.

Geoffrey kissed his cheek, then moved back to kiss his ear. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but my ass fits perfectly in your hands.”

“Oh, I noticed.” Sven dug his fingers in and rubbed Geoffrey against him. “Fuck, Geoffrey.”

He snorted. “Yes, you are going to fuck Geoffrey. Haven’t we been through this before?”

That brought a laugh from Sven—one he hadn’t thought he’d be able to release for a long time after seeing what he had today. He hugged him close, then growled and flipped them over so he could kiss the hell out of him. He kicked the twisted covers off their legs and thrust his tongue deep into Geoffrey’s mouth. Geoffrey met him, voracious, a perfect match for him in every way.

This time Geoffrey made the noise. He moaned and pulled Sven’s weight down on him. “See? I’m good. You know why? All I’ve ever felt with you is safe. And ridiculous, mind-melting lust,” he murmured the last as he ran his hands up Sven’s arms, clasping the sides of his neck—thumbs in his beard. He came back to his lips, kissing like he was making love to Sven’s mouth, and need streaked through Sven. He rolled to the side, pulling Geoffrey with him, freeing one hand to touch his body all he wanted. His heart pounded as he pulled their groins together, slowly rubbing against him. Then, he stroked his palms over the firm muscles in his arms and over his chest and when he slid down his belly, Geoffrey gasped into his mouth.

It wasn’t enough. All the fear from earlier had carved a deep place in his chest and he couldn’t stop touching him, making sure he was okay. “You’ll be lucky to be out of my sight for the next week. Or two. I’ve never been that scared.”

“Yeah, me neither. But he’s dead. It’s over.” Geoffrey pushed him until Sven was on his back and crawled on top of him, straddling his waist, his dick pressing into Sven’s stomach. “I don’t want to think about him, don’t want him in this bed with us.” He kissed Sven’s throat, then down his chest, fastening his lips around a nipple.

Sven arched up into him, his dick sliding along the crease of his ass.

“There is so much of you to love.” Geoffrey kissed his stomach. “I think it’s gonna take me years to get to every inch.” He licked down his happy trail. “Many, many, wonderful years.”

Sven’s world had narrowed down to those lips and the powerful burst of need raging through his body. He pulled Geoffrey back up to his mouth and grew frustrated when he couldn’t see him. He clasped his arm around him and used his feet to scoot them across the bed so he could reach the lamp on his nightstand. He flipped it on only to find the sexiest smile curving Geoffrey’s swollen lips and he plopped his chin on Sven’s chest.

“It’s like a carnival ride.” He pressed his lips to Sven’s collarbone.

“Then grab a condom and ride me.”

Geoffrey’s hands actually shook as he sat back up and reached for the supplies they’d left on both sides of the bed. “Are we doing this, Sven? For real?” He tore open the packet.

Sven rubbed his hard dick against Geoffrey’s ass. “Oh yeah, we’re doing this.”

He paused, holding the condom as he stared down at Sven. “No, I mean are we doing the together thing? The couple thing? I know we said we are, but there’s love now, so it’s real. It’s going to be just you and me.”

“Yes.” He nudged Geoffrey’s ass again, growing desperate to get inside him. “If this is about going bare, we can get tested. Tomorrow. I’m up for it. Just—”

“I’m a lot of trouble,” Geoffrey warned. “That’s what every boyfriend I’ve had has said.”

Picking up on the sudden thread of insecurity in his tone, Sven stopped thrusting his hips and really looked up at Geoffrey. Flushed with his pretty dick at full mast, the worry in those blue eyes wrenched Sven’s chest and yanked him out of the blurry haze of lust. He sat up, holding Geoffrey close as he leaned back against the headboard. He brushed his hair out of the way, then rested his hands on Geoffrey’s waist, keeping him firmly on his lap as he worked to get control of his breathing.

“I didn’t mean to make us sto—”

This time, Sven broke in. “Geoffrey, I don’t know what kind of men you dated in the past other than Brendon, and I’m still questioning that one, but they were all stupid. I’ve watched you for months and I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The energy. The talking. The restlessness.” He lifted a brow. “Do I really need to go on?”

“No, you really don’t.” He stroked his thumbs over Geoffrey’s hipbones as he held him. “I love all those things about you. If we’re going to talk flaws—or what you perceive wrongly are flaws—we’ll have to talk about mine.” He lifted his hands and ticked off on his fingers. “I snore. Loudly.”

Geoffrey nodded. “You do. I’ll get used to it. Or get earplugs.”

“Two, when I get upset, I clam up and you’ve already shown it annoys you.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, but I have ways to make you talk now.” He wiggled his ass on Sven’s lap and winked.

“Three, my job will cause me to be gone for days at a time.”

A frown pulled his lips down. “I probably won’t like that too much, but I could schedule those times for my work. I tend to get really lost in it once it’s going well.” He scooched in tighter and slid his hands into Sven’s hair. “So far, none of these are a deal breaker.”

“And four, I have a feeling I’m going to be possessive as hell with you when it comes to nights out at the clubs. Also, I don’t truly enjoy dancing and partying a lot, but I’ll work on that. For you.”

This time, Geoffrey’s laugh was full and long. “That was technically two things. But don’t worry, I have a feeling I won’t be going out so much anymore. Not after seeing the true colors of people I’d thought were friends.”

“A few did stand up for you, Geoffrey. Patrick and Abby turned out to be real friends.”

“True. We could just meet them out. At new places.” He softly kissed Sven’s lips. “Ones I don’t post on the social media accounts because I’ll be closing them tomorrow. Fuck, that’s going to be so weird, but I think…I think I could come to love that. How do you feel about dinner parties? Here?”

“You’ll trust them here with your…shit?” Sven cracked a grin as he repeated one of their first conversations from this past couple of weeks. It seemed like so much longer.

“Yeah. I saw them fighting with everyone else and they were pissed about the video. I think maybe they really care.” Geoffrey kissed him again. “Okay, you managed to convince me you can’t live without my brilliant self, so let’s get back to the fucking Geoffrey part.”

He started to move back, but Sven held his waist with one tight hand. “Right here. I meant it when I told you to ride me.” He took the condom Geoffrey had dropped on the sheet and rolled it slowly down his cock. Before he could reach for the lube, Geoffrey had it coating his hands and was slathering it all over him.

“I’ve never had sex bare before. I think I’m going to like it. I’ll call my doctor tomorrow.” He started to reach back to ready himself.

Sven stopped him and held out his hand for lube. He tapped Geoffrey’s hip to get him to rise up on his knees and after Geoffrey poured lube on his fingers, he reached under him and rubbed them over Geoffrey’s hole. Blue eyes instantly went half-mast as Geoffrey stared down at him and when he slid one finger into that warm, wonderful cavern, Geoffrey’s eyes shut and he moaned. Sven took his time, thoroughly lubing and stretching Geoffrey, loving the way the man shuddered and writhed above him. And when Geoffrey slowly sank onto him, those blue eyes never left his.

As always, the pleasure of sliding deep into Geoffrey scrambled his brain, but this time, there was a new awareness with it. Something powerful and deep. Something that felt permanent and so, so, unbelievably profound. Sven slid his hands up that sleek and sinewy back and the smile Geoffrey gave him just before his mouth came down over his didn’t have the usual cocky sureness, nor the hint of vulnerability. It didn’t even convey that naughty cast that turned Sven into useless putty.

No, this one said I plan to rock your world forever.

He couldn’t wait.