“Good having you over again.”

Was Gabriel being tested already? Orion was giving him a sideways glance as he unlocked his front door. Even locking it was a rarity on this side of town—another sign that Orion wasn’t the same man who’d left.

“It’s good to have company,” Gabriel chose to counter, smiling at Orion. He followed him inside and kicked off his shoes. “And it was really nice of Cora—uh, your Gramma—to invite me over.”

“Speaking of it being good to have company…” Orion shook his head. “Half the town seems to be visiting her, but not being able to get out is driving her crazy.”

Gabriel knew Cora’s unstoppable energy, and he didn’t envy Orion the task of keeping her resting. “I bet.”

“Feels like a long time since you were last here,” Orion laughed, leading Gabriel to the couch before heading to the kitchen. “Beer?”

“Yes, please.” Gabriel waited until Orion was back and took the bottle, clinking it against his. “To another week down.”

Orion looked thoughtful, but on-edge. His foot jiggled where he’d crossed it over his knee. “You know, if you wouldn’t mind… I could come over, too.”

“For more hot sex?” Gabriel winked when Orion turned red. “Sure. We can do that here.”

“Not your place?” Orion rubbed his chin. “Do you have roommates?”

Gabriel crinkled his nose. That had been his other option. He’d taken a crappy shed over roommates, and he’d do it again in a heartbeat. “No way.”

Orion nodded slightly. “Does Chad live nearby?”

It took Gabriel a second to realize where that question had come from. Oh, fuck. Maybe he thinks I’m playing him. Or taking Chad back. Ew. As if. “Oh, God. No. By Hidden Creek standards, not at all.” Orion looked like he was figuring out how to ask the next question, so Gabriel cut him off with a huffed sigh. “Fine. I just like it better here than my place. I live in Art’s goddamn shed, okay?” It was a little louder than he’d meant. He cringed and gulped his beer, coughing on it.

Orion looked startled at his outburst. “Oh. Oh, yeah, that makes sense. His…” He didn’t seem to know how to continue the question.

“Converted shed. Kind of an apartment.” Gabriel was just as edgy as Orion now, his gaze firmly down on his drink. “If we’re just screwing around, here’s better.”

Orion was silent for a few moments, which left Gabriel with his uncomfortable thoughts: he wasn’t letting him in physically because there no point in getting attached emotionally. He was just going to leave for the big city before long. The crappiness of his place was just a bonus reason not to go there.

“I’m not judging,” Orion finally said, his brows furrowed. “I hope you know that.”

Gabriel chuckled. “I do,” he shrugged. “It’s a cheap-ass place. Just means I can save up faster.” Not that that’s gone very well so far. He was frustrated now, picking at the label before finally giving up and ripping off as much as he could.

“That’s a good goal.” Orion smiled at him, but it was still a sting. He’d gotten out, after all. Gabriel hadn’t.

There was never going to be a number in his bank account that made him feel safe moving out. There was always the possibility something would happen—he couldn’t get a job, he couldn’t find friends, some emergency back home brought him back, just like it had Orion—that would undermine the whole thing.

But staying here felt intolerable, too.

“Let’s just fuck, okay?” Gabriel tried not to sound too sharp. “I’d rather not think about all that.”

“Of course. Sorry.” Orion ran his hand slowly up Gabriel’s thigh, setting aside his bottle. “I just wanted to make sure you’re safe.”

Gabriel shook his head slightly. Why? He doesn’t owe me anything. “I’m fine, man. I’d be a lot more fine if I got laid, though.”

“Fair enough,” Orion laughed. “I can honestly say I understand that now. The last week has been hell.”

“You never got horny before?” Gabriel couldn’t bring himself to believe that.

“No. But… it wasn’t about one person before.” Orion’s hand ran over Gabriel’s hip, up his stomach and chest. “It was just a… nonspecific need.”

Gabriel’s cheeks felt hot. “You wanted me?”

“That’s what I’ve been telling you,” Orion said. He winked. “I wasn’t kidding.”

“Well, in that case, who am I to deny you your heart’s desire?” Gabriel said lightheartedly to hide his embarrassment.

He couldn’t remember anyone ever specifically telling him he was hot. Saying they wanted him, not just sex with him because he was there. Even when Chad had told him he was hot, it was clearly designed to get him turned on—which rarely worked—and ready for Chad to plow.

Orion’s hand paused, his thumb resting on Gabriel’s nipple. “You always can. At any time.”

Oh, now he’s being even sweeter. Gabriel squirmed. “That won’t be necessary.”

Orion’s eyes glinted teasingly as he ran his thumb around Gabriel’s nipple, so slowly as to seem absentminded. “Are you sure?”

“Very,” Gabriel moaned.

Orion flicked his thumb lightly across the skin, making Gabriel squirm even more as heat coursed through him. Every touch—the lighter, the better—ignited a need within him.

A need not just for sex, but for Orion.

Yeah, Orion was right—this week had felt long.

Gabriel tried to shove the thought aside when Orion pushed his shirt up, then tugged it off completely.

“You’re not as scrawny as you look.” Orion winked.

He snorted. “Gee. Thanks.”

“Welcome!” Orion cheerily told him before he leaned in to kiss him. “I like it. You’re really distracting to have around the farm, you know.”

“Am I?” Gabriel didn’t really believe it, but he was willing to suspend disbelief in the name of foreplay. “Even for a straight boy?”

“Well, let’s just say you shattered those illusions pretty quickly,” Orion laughed. “Especially this last week.”

Gabriel grinned and shifted until he straddled Orion.

He liked the view from his lap. It brought them to about even heights, and he could look Orion in the eye as he shifted forward. Their hard cocks came into contact, the sensitive shafts grinding together slowly until sparks exploded under his skin.

“Fucking need you,” Orion hissed, his nails digging into Gabriel’s back.

He raked them gently down, all the way to the curve of Gabriel’s lower back. It made his hair stand on end, and his spine tingled with pleasure. “Oh, Jesus,” Gabriel panted, staring at him. That felt incredible, but he couldn’t remember the words to tell Orion so.

Orion was good at interpretation, though. He smirked and did it again, slower this time. “You like that?”

“I—fuck, yes,” Gabriel panted. He was desperate now, hard and throbbing in his jeans. All hope of conversation was gone. He was going to fucking lose it without contact now.

It was no use. Fucking wasn’t going to get him over Orion. It was only bringing him closer, and he couldn’t escape. Like Orion was a planet of his own, and Gabriel a satellite hopelessly caught in orbit, plunging through the universe after him.

Goddamn it. He was never going to be free of the man, and he was suddenly unsure he wanted to be free.

He felt freer in Orion’s arms than he had in five years alone.

Or with Chad hanging around him, but that was an even worse kind of loneliness—being alone while in a relationship, supposedly. He didn’t want to think about Chad now, though. Not worth the effort.

Orion’s hands had just popped open the fly of his jeans, and Gabriel’s, and he was tugging their shafts into the open air between them with a meticulous, yet callused hand. When had he lost his shirt, anyway? Orion had definitely had a shirt on a few minutes ago.

Gabriel squirmed again when he found Orion’s hand on his lower back, pulling him against him hard until their cocks were trapped between their abdomens.

“Couldn’t get enough last time?” Gabriel teased when he caught his breath, grinning.

“Never,” Orion whispered. The word had a particular resonance he couldn’t quite wrap his head around, and he didn’t want to try. “I looked up a lot of frot videos this week.”

Gabriel beamed. “Yeah? Wanna try something else?”

“Anything.” Again, Orion’s sincerity blew him away. There was no posturing or posing like Chad—no need for it, really. Orion wasn’t insecure in himself, and he was eager to learn.

It was so fucking hot that Gabriel found himself breathless for a second. “Mm… right. It’ll work better with me on my back.”

Orion scooped him into his arms, and he gasped at how effortlessly Orion lifted him. The muscles of his arms and shoulders barely seemed to work at it, and Gabriel wasn’t exactly a hundred-pound weakling, like Orion had said.

But dating a guy whose job required his body in top shape had its perks. Gabriel grinned at Orion as he relaxed into his hold. “Where are we going?”

“On an adventure.”

“A dick adventure?” Gabriel looped his arms around Orion’s neck. “My favorite kind.”

“I’m starting to agree,” Orion answered. He shouldered through a doorway, carefully swinging Gabriel through it without a single bump, and then Gabriel was flat on his back on a bed.

He didn’t even have time to look around and wonder if this was a guest room or Orion’s main bedroom, or admire the decor.

Orion’s mouth was on his, hot and heavy, as Orion straddled him.

They kissed for so long that any plan he’d had slipped out of Gabriel’s mind. He was working on pure instinct now, his body doing what it was trained to do—but with his heart involved now. That made all the difference.

“I can’t believe…” he started when Orion finally turned his head away to give them a second to catch their breath. Then, he shook his head. It sounded dumb.

Orion paused and raised his eyebrows, patiently waiting.

Gabriel squirmed and closed his eyes. “That you’re into me.” It sounded more desperate than he’d meant it to be.

“It took me by surprise, too, believe me,” Orion chuckled quietly. “And at the same time… it all just makes sense. Sex with you—even, uh… what would you call it… non-penetrative?”

Gabriel chuckled. “I don’t usually distinguish, as long as we’re both feeling good.”

“Huh. Sure,” Orion nodded, looking as though he were filing that detail away. “Even frot felt so fucking good. I wasn’t waiting for it to be over.”

Gabriel’s mouth must be hanging open, he knew, but he couldn’t help the reaction. It hit the nail on the head. Even with Chad, and in plenty of his hookups, he’d been trying to get off as quickly as possible. With Chad, often, that meant waiting until he was done drilling him, then jerking himself off. There was no consideration for his needs, and certainly no enjoying the moment.

But with Orion, he wanted to slow down and savor every touch, every look, every kiss. He wanted to drink in every look Orion gave him, like he was precious and fuckable and interesting and… well… valuable.

It made his heart hurt for a second. Even his fucking eyes burned, the traitors. He closed his eyes quickly and drew a breath, then nodded as he let it out. “Yeah. I know.” It was the shortest answer he could give when he didn’t quite trust his voice.

There was no way this was love. Not yet. But at the same time, there weren’t any barriers to it, and that hurt.

Because real life was going to throw barriers in their way all too soon, and they’d go their way, and now he was fucking ruined for everyone else.

Now that he’d had a man look at him like Orion did, how could he settle for anyone else?

Orion’s cock nestled between his thighs, the thick length reminding Gabriel of why he was there. It wasn’t to swap feelings, it was to goddamn get this energy out. He quickly refocused on that, grinding up against Orion slowly but with determination.

“Oooh,” Orion whispered, kissing near his ear. “That’s good.”

“You know what’s better?” Gabriel wriggled up the bed until Orion’s cock nestled firmly between his thighs, then squeezed gently.

Orion hissed, his nails digging into Gabriel’s shoulders again. “Oh, fuck.”

“Mmhmm.” Gabriel slapped Orion’s ass playfully. “Go to town, big boy.”

Orion stared at him, then laughed for a moment and kissed him. “It sounds sexy when you say it.”

“What? Big boy? It’s true,” Gabriel teased. He leaned down enough to catch Orion’s lips in another few kisses. Orion’s hips flexed under his hands as he drove forward, thrusting between his thighs a few times in quick succession.

“Oh, Jesus. That’s good,” Orion murmured. He sounded awestruck. His movements didn’t stop—they became smoother and more fluid, his hand pinning Gabriel’s shoulder to the bed. The other hand wrapped around his thigh to do the same, keeping Gabriel in place.

With each thrust of their bodies, Gabriel’s sensitive cock bumped and ground against Orion’s abs. Goddamn, that felt good. So did Orion’s cock, thrusting against his sensitive, smooth skin. The head of his cock rubbed along his balls and, in a teasing motion both pleasant and frustrating, along his sensitive hole.

He could imagine Orion deep inside him, holding him in place as he gave gentle thrusts at first. Then, Orion wouldn’t be able to help going faster. He’d keep his legs wrapped around Orion’s waist as Orion grunted and moaned his name.

The anticipation was almost too much to handle. Gabriel’s whole body quivered with pleasure and need. He had to hold onto him long enough to show him how that would feel.

But this—this itself was fucking incredible. The tight, wet heat of their bodies together, droplets of moisture from their cocks and sweat along their stomachs and thighs lubricating the way.

“I’m gonna... Jesus, Gabe,” Orion panted. “Not long.”

“Come on, baby.” Gabriel finally ran his hands up from that hot, rounded ass that was flexing so beautifully under his touch, to his back. He cupped the back of Orion’s neck and pulled his mouth close so he could kiss him.

Orion panted against his mouth, trying to kiss him back, but his eyes were squeezing shut, his thrusts hard and fast now. “I need… Gabe. I need you. Oh, fuck. It’s so good!”

Gabriel was just about on edge himself with these words, his toes curling into the bed. “Yes, baby,” he whispered. “Come on. Give me all you’ve got, gorgeous.”

Orion grunted and gasped, and then his thrusts became quick and erratic, Gabriel’s thighs slick with wetness. The pleasure written so clearly across Orion’s face was a sight to behold, and Gabriel memorized every damn second.

Never know if I’ll have another time. The thought was sobering, but Gabriel pushed it aside.

“Oh, my God.” Orion buried his face in Gabriel’s shoulder for a second, and then he laughed quietly, breathlessly.

“Mm?”

“You make me feel… horny. Like I never knew before.”

Gabriel rubbed his back slowly, kissing the side of his neck. “Good. I should hope so.”

“What did I ever do to get another chance with you?” Orion finally propped himself up on his elbows, kissing Gabriel’s cheek.

“I dunno. Hit on me? It’s pretty easy.” Gabriel winked.

Orion laughed, and then he scooted down the bed, kissing Gabriel’s chest slowly.

When that hot mouth closed around Gabriel’s nipple, he remembered his need. “Oh, fuck,” he whispered.

Orion hummed gently. “I want you feeling good, too, baby. Can I try sucking you off?” He glanced up at Gabriel’s expression, holding himself on his elbows as if waiting for an answer.

“You… yeah,” Gabriel whispered. He hardly knew how to react to being offered a blowjob, let alone seriously asked if he wanted one. It was amusing, yet so goddamn sweet that he couldn’t laugh.

And although the whole world said not to compare, he couldn’t help but draw the comparison in his head. Chad never did it, and he sure as hell wouldn’t have asked before doing it.

Half a second later, Orion’s mouth had him focusing on the man he was with, and him alone. Orion’s kisses along his abdomen and down his stomach to his groin were tantalizing, making Gabriel almost squirm out of his skin.

“I need you, too,” Gabriel panted by the time Orion’s lips made contact with his shaft. “Oh, fuck. I’m so hard.”

“I’ll have to draw it out next time, then.” Orion’s broad tongue swiped a wet, warm stripe up his cock toward the tip, and he sucked the tip into his hot, wet mouth.

Gabriel stifled his whimper as his senses exploded with pleasure. His whole body burned with pleasure and… well, there was no other word but joy. He was so damn happy it almost hurt.

How fucking often did he get a blowjob, let alone from this guy?

Orion swallowed his shaft, almost experimentally, to the base. The sight of himself disappearing past the kiss-swollen pink lips was way too hot. Gabriel couldn’t close his eyes and miss a second of the action. He was going to need to remember this for many, many future showers.

And the feeling. Oh, fuck. Gabriel wanted to come on the spot, and it took all he had to hold back for at least a minute. He had to give the guy some warning, after all.

That was about all he managed, though. With the smooth, rhythmic slide of Orion’s mouth around his shaft, the tongue flicking around his head, and the squeeze of his throat around the head once Orion managed to get past his gag reflex…

“I’m—baby, any second, gonna come,” Gabriel whispered, squeezing Orion’s shoulders tightly.

Orion didn’t pull his mouth off, though. He hummed once, quietly, and kept bobbing his head, even as Gabriel quivered. His balls tightened, his shaft thick and needy, and then he lost control.

“Yes!” Gabriel groaned, throwing his head back and thrusting up into Orion’s mouth with each clenching, quivering streak of passion across Orion’s tongue.

Orion’s mouth stayed tightly on Gabriel’s shaft, and he swallowed it all without pause. When Gabriel finally opened his eyes again and looked down, Orion was grinning up at him, licking his lips.

Even that was so fucking hot it made him twitch with pleasure. “Oh, for fuck’s…”

“What?” Orion said, grinning.

“You’re… deliberately being hot as sin.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Orion smirked. “Would you prefer I be all awkward and insecure? Oh my God, I just sucked another man’s cock?”

Gabriel grinned. “And did it so damn well.” He shook his head wordlessly, rubbing his face as he melted on the bed. “Oh, fuck. That was… Jesus.”

“If you’re feeling like I do right now, I did my job.” Orion settled on his side next to him, scooting further up the bed again. “Good.”

“Yeah. Yeah, you did.” Gabriel rested his hand on Orion’s side and closed his eyes to catch his breath.

He had no damn idea where this was going, but it had all been worth it for tonight.

* * *

It was almost a disappointment to leave, after such an amazing evening, but there was no point in sticking around and prolonging the chance of awkwardness.

Gabriel’s heart sank when he pulled up in Art’s driveway and his spot was taken by an all-too-familiar truck. That made twice this week, and he was starting to see why Orion had been concerned to hear about Chad coming over.

His hopes weren’t high for getting into his place without interruption. Sure enough, before he’d even passed the porch, Chad stumbled down onto the lawn.

“Hey. Hey, Gabe. Wait up.”

Chad caught himself on the porch rail and then strode towards him. After such a great night with Orion, Chad stood out in even starker contrast: dressed like a slob, acting every inch the part of a desperate, drunk ex-boyfriend.

Gabriel stifled his sigh. He kept walking toward his house, his hands closing around the keys in his pocket. Chad had never made him feel afraid, but he wanted to be away from him.

“Where were you tonight?” Chad had caught up with him, but he was having trouble looking over at Gabriel and walking straight.

Gabriel countered, “I hope you’re not driving tonight.”

“Nah. Art’s a cool dude, man. He’s letting me crash. It’s all good. He’s cool. But not as cool as me.”

“Right.” Gabriel stepped out of Chad’s way when he tripped yet again.

“Where were you, though? Hanging out with that guy? Mr. City Slicker? Too good for a good old country boy now, are you?” Chad sneered. “Like Ryan thinks shit about you. He ain’t gay. You know that. Or are you sucking straight boy cock now? Getting that desperate?”

Gabriel scowled and turned on his heel, shoving Chad’s chest to get him to back off. “Leave me the fuck alone.”

“What?”

“I’m serious. Don’t you fucking touch me,” Gabriel said, his voice dropping to a growl. He tried all he could to emulate the calm control that Orion possessed around Chad, but he couldn’t do it. Chad pissed him off too much. “Leave me alone.”

Chad rolled his eyes. “Whatever. If you don’t want to see me anymore. Think you’re too good for me. That’s fine. Whatever.” He doubled back for the house, muttering things about fucking Ryan and his fucking fancy shit.

Gabriel’s annoyance faded once he was inside, all alone in peace and quiet once more.

Visiting Art was clearly an excuse to keep an eye on Gabriel, and he was annoyed at himself for not having seen it before. Orion had been right to be wary. He must be sensing competition now—rightly or wrongly. But surely he’d just go away sooner or later.

If not, Gabriel was on his way out of town sooner or later. He’d have to take a leap eventually.

Gabriel kept the TV off so he could hear any drunk and rowdy guys approaching, but there was only silence. As the evening wore on, rain began, and it beat down on the tin roof of the glorified shed in a staccato rhythm that made it hard to sleep.

The wind picked up as he curled tighter under the covers, pulling them around him. Every time he was just about to drift to sleep, he jolted awake again to a rattle or bang.

“It’s just the siding on the shed,” he mumbled, his voice cracking. Half-asleep, yet wide awake. The worst place to be. But even reassuring himself out loud only emphasized the silence that closed in again when his voice faded.

Weirdly, he found himself wishing Orion were there. Anyone, he meant. Not just Orion. Not specifically him. Or maybe specifically him. But it was too fucking late at night to think like that.

Fuck. Gabriel wished he’d accepted Orion’s help, but his pride would never let him. What a hell of a place to be.