Joey couldn’t remember the last time he slept so well. But as he slowly surfaced, he couldn’t understand where he was. The bed was all wrong, and there was far too much sunshine for the basement.

The most obvious difference though was that there was a firm, warm body by his side. Closer than that, even. Joey had his arm thrown across the broad chest and his head was nestled in the dip between the body’s shoulder and pec. His leg was resting against a much bigger one, and worst of all, his morning wood was pressed into the other guy’s hip.

After a moment of terrified panic, the events of the previous evening came flooding back to him. Gabe had rescued him from the city, and Joey had felt so wretched he’d asked to sleep in his bed.

He’d also promised nothing would happen.

Just as he was assessing the situation, trying to work out how to untangle his limbs from Gabe’s stunning body, Gabe’s eyes fluttered open. Of course they did. Because the universe couldn’t cut Joey a break for a second.

“Sorry,” he said, his voice coming out as little more than a croak. He was frozen, looking into Gabe’s lovely eyes as he stopped blinking and focused. Then they widened when he realized what was going on. “I was asleep,” Joey said by way of an explanation.

Gabe just looked at him, his plump lips parting as his gaze swept over Joey. He wasn’t exactly pushing Joey away.

But that was crazy. Gabe couldn’t possibly be interested in him in that way. He was a scrawny, pathetic, washed-up loser who couldn’t stand all the things Gabe loved. And yet there they were, eyes locked together, soft breaths intermingling. Gabe’s warm skin was exquisite pressed up against Joey’s, and if he was not mistaken, it felt like Joey wasn’t the only one suffering from a sleepy erection.

What the hell was he doing? He needed to get a hold of himself and leave. Gabe had already been so kind. Joey shouldn’t put him in an awkward position.

Except in that moment, Gabe brought his arm over and slid it around Joey’s waist.

Joey gasped and shut his eyes, cuddling closer and rubbing his nose against Gabe’s neck. There was no going back now. Not when Gabe’s fingers gently squeezed Joey’s hip. It felt like an invitation.

He cautiously kissed his lips to Gabe’s throat. The moan he felt from him in response was intoxicating, and in one natural move, they both turned their faces, mouths finding each other in a sweet kiss.

Joey’s heart was going like a racehorse. Was this a huge mistake? Was he fucking up a friendship before it even had a chance to begin?

The pull was too strong though. He wanted Gabe so badly there was no resisting now he had him. He’d been drawn to Gabe the instant he’d laid eyes on him. He could worry about the future later. If this year had taught him anything, it was that he had to seize the moment before it passed him by. Before it was taken away.

Gabe had both his arms around his back now, cradling Joey as close as he could against him as they kissed. Joey wasn’t sure how it was possible, but it was undeniable that Gabe felt some attraction towards him too. Maybe he liked to make himself feel better by fucking losers.

Joey screwed up his eyes and chased the nasty thought away. Even if Joey didn’t think much of himself, Gabe didn’t seem the type to use someone, let alone when they were vulnerable.

As if to reassure him against his negativity, Gabe moved one of his large hands to cup Joey’s face. There was obvious power in his grasp, but he held Joey like a precious and delicate treasure.

Joey suddenly realized he wasn’t being manhandled. Gabe wasn’t crushing him or throwing him about. Oh fuck, it felt so nice to be treated with tenderness. Joey wasn’t sure his heart could take it.

Gabe slid his hand gently down Joey’s throat, over his collarbones and down his chest until he was holding him by the ribs. The splay of his hand was almost large enough to reach from hip to nipple. Joey felt like he could do a lot of damage with all his strength. The fact he was being so careful made Joey whimper.

Joey wanted to feel Gabe all over. To know he was safe as well as so turned on he felt dizzy. So he wriggled his body, slipping underneath Gabe’s huge form. Their kisses were becoming more urgent, and the hot, rigid length of Gabe’s cock pressed wonderfully into Joey’s thigh.

“I want you,” Gabe murmured into Joey’s mouth. “I need you.”

Joey shivered at those words. He couldn’t have dreamed Gabe would really desire him. Even if they had nothing in common, even if this was only once, Joey needed it like air.

Gabe moved his body so both their cocks were perfectly lined up and rubbing through their underwear. The way he rolled his body over Joey’s made him moan wantonly.

This was too much. He didn’t deserve this. He’d crawled into Gabe’s bed because he felt awful for being rude. He’d only wanted some company; he never expected to tumble into his arms. But he wasn’t strong enough to give it up now it was happening. In fact, he realized he was clinging on to Gabe’s back with such intensity he knew it made him seem desperate. Maybe he was?

“It’s okay,” Gabe said. He ran his fingers through Joey’s hair and kissed his cheek. “I’ve got you.”

Joey believed him.

He kissed Gabe’s collarbone, drinking the scent from his skin. He smelled warm, like baked goods, but spicy too, like cinnamon. Also musky from the day and night since he’d presumably had a shower. It was very masculine and Joey loved it. He didn’t like guys who were ultraclean and drenched in aftershave.

“Yes, yes,” he murmured as they undulated together, their bodies fitting neatly alongside each other. He wanted more, more, more. His skin was on fire and his breaths couldn’t seem to quite get enough oxygen into his lungs.

Gabe captured his mouth again, their kisses frantic but still somehow gentle. Gabe didn’t bite him or thrust his tongue in his mouth. He coaxed the kisses from Joey, unapologetically. Gabe lapped him up, making promises with his lips over and over again.

Joey wanted him to make good on some of those promises. “I want you, please,” he begged. He couldn’t quite bring himself to look at Gabe as he asked. It had been so long since he’d had sex in a bed, not a hallway or bathroom stall. It had been forever since he’d done anything with someone he gave half a damn about. Someone whose full name he knew.

“You want-?” Gabe questioned.

“You,” said Joey against his cheek. “Inside me. Oh god, Gabe.”

Gabe nudged him with his nose so he could maneuver him for more kisses. For a moment, Joey was worried he might say no. “I want you so badly,” Gabe said, allaying his fears. “But only if you’re sure?”

Knowing what he did about Gabe, he probably wanted to take things slow. Ask Joey out to dinner, buy him flowers and all that stuff. But Joey had to be realistic. They were not compatible. This was purely physical attraction, and he wanted to take it as far as they could go, now.

“Please say you have supplies,” Joey panted rather than directly answer his question.

Gabe laughed into his mouth. “I take that as a yes?”

Joey rolled his eyes. Of course Gabe was a stickler for consent. Joey sort of wanted him to just pin him down and take him. But that wasn’t Gabe’s style.

“I want you to fuck me,” he said, grabbing Gabe’s dark hair and looking directly into his eyes. “Take me away, please, Gabe.”

Saying his name seemed to have an immediate effect on Gabe. He groaned and kissed Joey again, passionately. Then he reached over to his bedside drawer and snatched up a half-full tube of lubricant and fresh pack of condoms.

Joey’s breath hitched as Gabe dropped them by the pillows and hooked his fingers into Joey’s waistband, stripping him in one swift move that Joey was only too happy to raise his hips to help with. Then Gabe pushed down his own underwear, leaving them naked under the comforter. Joey whined and groped at Gabe’s shoulders as he squeezed some of the lube onto his fingers and found Joey’s hole, stroking it while their bare cocks brushed together.

He felt like he might burst in anticipation, shivering as Gabe caressed his sensitive flesh. Joey kept kissing him, whatever parts of his satiny, salty skin he could reach.

“Yes, please, oh my god,” he stuttered.

He dug his fingers into Gabe’s back. There was a chance at this rate he might leave bruises; Joey hoped Gabe wouldn’t mind.

Because he knew this would probably be a onetime deal, the thought of leaving Gabe with some kind of mark, proof that they had been together, was extremely comforting. He wanted Gabe to miss him after he was gone.

All coherent thought evaporated from his brain as soon as Gabe pushed a firm finger inside, breaching into his most intimate area. Joey couldn’t help but cry out and cling on harder.

“Sorry,” Gabe said, immediately stopping. “I should have warned you.”

But Joey shook his head and laughed. “Keep going. I want you to take me. I’m yours. I won’t break.”

Gabe kissed him some more as he pushed his finger in up to the knuckle, pulsing back and forth. Joey moaned into his mouth, running his fingers up and down his broad back, feeling the muscles working.

Luckily, Gabe listened to him and quickly added a second finger. Joey didn’t want this to hurt, but he didn’t want to spend half an hour prepping either. If they hung around, he might talk himself out of it. Right now he was just high on endorphins and chasing his release.

“How do you want it?” Gabe asked. He looked down at Joey with such intensity it made him gulp.

“Like this,” Joey said. On his back. He didn’t explain that was because he wanted to keep kissing Gabe. Wanted to keep looking at his beautiful face. Gabe didn’t ask why though, he just shifted so he was hovering above Joey between his legs.

Joey automatically drew his knees up to his chest, exposing himself. Trusting his body to this man he hardly knew. He was scared, but he knew Gabe would take care of him.

Gabe wiped his slippery fingers on the bedsheets and snatched up the pack of condoms, making short work of rolling one down his hard, red cock. He wasn’t so big that it gave Joey any alarm, but he would certainly know he was there.

“You’re so beautiful,” Gabe murmured, kissing him again as he angled himself, pushing his dick against Joey’s eagerly throbbing hole.

Joey wanted to tell him how gorgeous he was too. How he’d craved him from the moment he’d laid eyes on him. But he didn’t have the words. So he just continued kissing him hungrily, pushing his ass against Gabe’s cock, feeling the tip push through his threshold.

He took deep breaths, forcing himself to relax. Gabe inched in, keeping the burn manageable.

“Yes, yes,” Joey uttered, not capable of much else. That was ideal though. No thought, just action. Just touch and taste and the pleasure building from his toes to his belly.

Gabe bottomed out and gasped. His eyes were blown with lust and his skin covered with a layer of perspiration. He was perfection, a work of art. Joey held the side of his face, urging him down for another kiss, trying to explain how amazing he was making Joey feel.

After that, Gabe braced his elbows on either side of Joey’s head, caging him with his big arms, and began to slowly piston in and out of Joey. Within a few strokes he found Joey’s prostate, brushing against that electric bundle of nerves and causing Joey to cry out in pleasure.

Joey really hoped Gabe’s house had thick walls. After so many illicit encounters where he had to stifle his cries, Joey didn’t want to hold back at all. He wanted everything.

He grunted with every thrust, throwing his legs around Gabe’s waist for a better grip and a deeper angle of penetration. He wasn’t going to last long.

Neither was Gabe, though, judging by the look on his face. He was biting his lip and shaking. He moved to scoop Gabe up around his back with one hand and slid his fingers through Joey’s hair with the other. Joey held him tighter in response, kissing him between gasps for air.

“Going to…” Joey uttered.

Gabe nodded, encouraging him. He reached down between them. Joey’s cock had been rubbing quite nicely between their stomachs, but Gabe’s fingers wrapping tightly around it was heaven. Joey wailed and dropped his head back, his orgasm rushing upon him like a wave crashing down on the shore.

His vision blacked out as he spilled his release between them. Gabe only thrust a couple more times before he joined him, arching his back as he came in the condom deep inside Joey’s body.

Joey’s vision came back to him slowly as he blinked up at the bedroom ceiling. Gabe was holding him like he never wanted to let him go.

In his post-coital bliss, Joey never wanted to let Gabe go, either.