“Thank God you’re okay,” Newton clung to Gage right there in the hospital waiting room, not giving a damn that there were a dozen other people around watching them. “I was so worried, Gage. I can’t even… just… thank God.”

He shot Newton a half-grin. “They said I was damn lucky that the bullet just grazed my neck. Half a centimeter the other direction and I wouldn’t be standing here now.” His smile had dimmed as he spoke, but it came back with full force They were getting pissed off at me in the exam room because I wouldn’t answer their questions until they told me you were okay. You really put me through a scare, babe.”

“I know,” Newton swallowed hard and swiped at his cheeks as tears sprang to his eyes. “I’m so, so sorry. I never thought he would come after me like that in broad daylight, just in the few minutes I was alone. But he must have been watching the apartment the whole time.”

Of course, Newton didn’t really know what Martin had been up to or why. Newton was just repeating the things he’d heard from Officer Chad.

All Newton knew for sure was that Martin had pushed him down and then had punched him in the face when he’d tried to get back up. Everything after that was sort of a blur up until Gage showed up.

Then everything had gone completely crazy.

“You don’t need to apologize,” Gage said, using his thumb to catch a tear that had started rolling down Newton’s cheek before he could brush it away. “None of this is your fault. You didn’t cause any of this.”

“I should have listened to you.” Newton shook his head. “I was stubborn and stupid and you almost—”

He choked on the last word, unable to even finish that thought.

If anything had happened to Gage, Newton never would have been able to forgive himself. Newton was the reason that bullet had even had the chance to get close to him, and he knew Gage was just too nice to admit it.

“You are not stubborn or stupid or any of those things,” Gage said, pulling Newton close and burying his face in Newton’s hair. “You are amazing and sexy and the best thing that has ever happened to me, okay?”

The rumbling of Gage’s voice in his chest was soothing as it vibrated through Newton’s body.

Thank God for this man.

This wonderful, caring, selfless man.

Gage pulled back just enough to look into Newton’s eyes, and he smiled down at Newton before planting a sweet kiss on his forehead.

“Did they arrest him?” Gage asked, finally.

Newton blinked. Then shook his head. Did Gage really not know? Did he not remember what happened?

Gage’s expression clouded. “Why not? Where is he? What the fuck?”

Newton looked around. If anyone in the room hadn’t been looking at them before, they definitely were now.

Taking Gage’s hand, Newton led him off to a side corridor where it was just the two of them.

“They didn’t arrest him, Gage,” Newton said. “They shot him. He tried to shoot you and then they shot him. They didn’t arrest him because… because he’s dead.”

For a moment, Gage was completely silent, his eyes wide as he searched Newton’s face. “Dead?” he whispered, finally.

Newton nodded. “You saved my life. And then Chad saved both of us.”

“I still can’t believe… dead.” Gage shoved a hand back through his short hair as he shook his head. “That fucker will never hurt you again now. Never, Newton. You’re finally safe now.”

“Yeah,” Newton said, exhaling slowly as the realization dawned on him for the first time. “I-I think I really might be.”

“You are,” Gage repeated. “You really are. It’s over, Newton.”

Another tear rolled down Newton’s cheek, but he was too stunned to really notice or care. Was it really over? After all this time, all of the hell that Newton had been through… it was all just… gone?

Martin was gone. Gone forever.

It really was over.

“Let’s get out of here,” Gage said, taking Newton’s hand again. “I think we both need to go somewhere we can just relax.”

“Where would that be?” Newton asked, frowning as he looked up at Gage. “My place is…” he shuddered, his voice trailing off.

“No, not your place.” Gage let go of Newton’s hand to put his arm around Newton’s shoulders instead. “We don’t have to go back there until you’re sure you’re ready. We don’t have to ever go back there if you don’t want to.”

“Where, then? Your house?”

Gage shook his head. “Not my house. Our house. Home.”

It took a few seconds for the words to register, but when they did, Newton couldn’t hide the smile that spread across his lips.

“Home?” He looked up at Gage. “Really? Me and you? Home?”

“That’s right,” Gage said, laughing as they walked out the hospital doors. “Me and you. Our place.”

Home.

Newton didn’t know how long he’d been asleep, just that it had still been daylight out when he and Gage had fallen into bed, and now it was dark.

Really dark.

If Gage hadn’t been lying next to him, an arm slung protectively over Newton’s chest, he would have probably been disoriented, scared, or panicked.

He wasn’t any of those things, though.

He was home.

Home.

With Gage.

It was still a strange feeling, still felt foreign to even think about it. But it still made Newton smile.

And even though it was probably going to take some time to get used to the idea, he was so, so happy that Gage had decided to share his home with Newton.

Here in Gage’s bed, here in Gage’s arms, Newton felt safe. Safer than anywhere else in the world.

There might not be anyone left to run from, but Newton still needed this, this extra bit of security, this extra feeling of being protected.

He wondered how long it would take before he stopped being scared, before he stopped remembering all of the day’s horrific details in slow motion and in vivid color.

Newton put his hand over Gage’s, both of their hands covering Newton’s heart.

Yeah, this was exactly where he needed to be.

Gage stirred, and Newton went still, not wanting to wake him up after the day he’d had.

“Are you okay, babe?” Gage asked, his voice low and gravelly with sleep. “Did I wake you?”

Newton smiled, though it was so dark that he figured Gage couldn’t see it. “No, but I think I might have woken you up.”

“Oh, really?” Gage turned onto his side and kissed Newton’s forehead. “Did you need anything? Are you hungry?”

It was so typical of Gage—the one whose neck had been grazed by a bullet just hours ago—to only be concerned with what Newton might need. It made Newton feel more than a twinge of guilt, but he was also beginning to accept that Gage really was just that good, just that caring.

“I have everything I need right here,” Newton said, entwining his fingers with Gage’s before bringing Gage’s hand up to his lips. “You are everything I need, and I love you for it.”

Gage sucked in a sharp breath, and Newton belatedly realized what he’d said. Maybe it was the darkness and Gage’s hand over his heart that had made Newton feel safe enough to say it.

Maybe it was the stress of the day that had kept him from regulating what he said out loud and what he kept inside.

Or maybe it was just… love.

“Did you say…” Gage left the question hanging, and for the first time ever, Newton heard the uncertainty in his voice.

Oh, God. Was it too soon? It was probably too soon. They probably, definitely, hadn’t had time to get to the point of saying those words, no matter how much Newton’s heart thought otherwise.

But the words had already been said, and Newton couldn’t unsay them now.

Even if he could have, he didn’t want to.

“I love you,” Newton repeated, the words bringing the smile right back to his face. “I don’t know if it’s too soon, or if you don’t—”

Whatever he’d been about to say was interrupted by Gage’s lips pressing against his, Gage’s hand slipping behind Newton’s head to pull him even closer as they kissed.

If that wasn’t enough of an answer, Gage broke away just long enough to say, “I love you, too, Newton. I think I fell in love with you the moment I first saw you. And that initial spark has grown and grown every single day since then.”

He stopped talking and kissed Newton again, rolling over and supporting himself above Newton who spread his legs wide and wrapped them around Gage’s waist.

Newton moaned as Gage’s insistent cock pressed against him, throbbing against his ass as Gage kissed him hungrily, deeply.

“Oh my God, Gage,” Newton gasped, pressing down against that thick cock as Gage planted a trail of kisses across Newton’s cheek and down his neck. “I love you so much. It feels so good to say that, and ah—”

Gage’s mouth had moved lower still, his teeth grazing across Newton’s sensitive nipple and sending an electric jolt straight through his body.

“I love you, too, babe,” Gage said, raising up to look Newton in the eye. “It does feel really good to say it, doesn’t it?”

“So good,” Newton panted, not sure if he was talking about love or kissing or Gage’s hard cock. It didn’t matter, though. It all felt good. Newton loved it all.

“And I want to make you feel even better,” Gage said, his low voice rumbling up from his chest as he moved lower down Newton’s body. “If that’s what you want…”

“Please,” Newton said, not giving a single care that he was begging for it. He wanted it so badly. He needed it. “Please, yes… suck me, Gage. And then… then I want you to make love to me.”

“Oh, fuck, Newton,” Gage growled. “You’re making me so fucking horny.”

Without saying another word, he raised up, lifting Newton’s legs and sliding his boxers off as easily as if Newton was a rag doll.

Just like with everything else, Gage was probably the only person in the world who could manhandle Newton like that and still make him feel completely safe and secure, completely loved.

Gage made quick work of his own underwear, lowering himself down onto his stomach between Newton’s legs once they were both completely naked.

Taking Newton’s cock into his mouth, Gage looked up at Newton as he sucked, his big brown eyes full of heat as he slid his hands up Newton’s body before lightly, playfully raking his fingernails down over Newton’s stomach.

Every time Gage took Newton’s cock deep, another jolt of pleasure rocked Newton’s body, making him moan longer and louder than any porn star he’d ever seen.

“Oh my God, oh my God,” Newton tossed his head back and forth on the pillow as Gage’s tongue swirled around the head of his cock. “Gage, I’m already… oh my God… already so close…”

Gage raised up a little and grinned, reaching down to stroke Newton’s cock even though his lips weren’t around it anymore. “That’s okay, babe. I want you to come for me. I want to taste it.” He lapped at the head of Newton’s cock again to emphasize his words. “And then I want to fuck you. I want to make love to you until you come for me again.”

Newton didn’t even know what to say besides, “Yes, God, yes… p-please do that… all of that.”

Gage lowered himself down and swallowed Newton’s cock again, making him gasp as it hit the back of Gage’s throat and the muscles there contracted around the sensitive head. Newton was getting so close, the climax building inside him like a tidal wave that threatened to overtake him at any moment.

He reached down to run his fingers through Gage’s short hair, his grip tightening as his hips bucked upward. Gage moaned, the low rumble teasing Newton’s dick just enough to push him over the edge.

“I’m coming, Gage,” he cried out. “Oh my—oh Gage… I’m… I’m coming.”

Newton tossed his head back and squeezed his eyes shut as his cock erupted straight down Gage’s throat, the muscles there kneading and contracting, milking every drop until Newton was writhing and gasping, every nerve ending in his body alive and dancing.

Finally spent, Newton opened his eyes in time to see Gage raise up and rock back on his heels, gently rubbing his hands along Newton’s thighs as he smiled down at him.

“That was beautiful, babe,” Gage said, slightly breathless. “Fuck, I want to see you make that same sexy face every single day of my life.”

Newton didn’t know which face Gage was talking about, but the words made him smile anyway.

“It’s a good thing it’s dark in here,” Newton said. “Because I have a feeling that whatever face I was making just then would only be sexy to you.”

“That works out well,” Gage laughed. “Because I’m the only one who needs to see it. Are you ready to show it to me again?”

“Yes,” Newton answered without hesitating. “I mean… I think I’m ready? But… I might need a couple of minutes…”

Gage leaned in deep for a kiss, then planted another kiss on Newton’s cheek, one on his neck, and one on his chest before sitting back up.

“You can take all the time you need, babe,” Gage said, reaching down to playfully stroke Newton’s cock. It had gone soft after he came, but it was already half-hard again and quickly recovering. “There’s more I can do to make you feel good until then.”

Newton wasn’t sure how he planned on doing that, but he definitely wasn’t going to argue.

“Turn over on your stomach for me, babe,” Gage said, helping Newton over and then lowering himself down again between Newton’s legs.

Newton tried to look back over his shoulder to see what Gage was doing, but it was too dark and he was too far back, lying on his own stomach with his head just above Newton’s ass. Gage was so close that Newton could feel his hot breath against his skin, a feeling that was completely forgotten once Gage’s big hands started kneading Newton’s ass cheeks, lifting and spreading them open, letting the cool air from the room hit his hole.

“Oh, Gage,” Newton said, his voice muffled by the pillow.

And then he gasped as he felt something warm and wet lap at his hole, something that felt so good it took him more than a few seconds to realize it was Gage’s tongue, gently teasing as Gage’s hands kept his cheeks spread wide.

“Ah… ah…” Newton arched his back and pressed his ass against Gage’s face, hoping to feel his tongue deeper.

As always, Gage didn’t let him down.

“Yeah, babe,” Gage growled, lapping at his hole to punctuate each word. “Bring that beautiful ass back here to me. I want to taste you, Newton.”

“Yes,” Newton moaned, unsure if Gage could even hear him, but trusting that Gage knew what he needed. “Please, please, yes.”

He felt Gage’s tongue press insistently, felt the heat from Gage’s mouth wash over him, felt those rolling waves of pleasure move through his entire body until he was bucking and writhing and moaning louder than he ever had before.

With his hips in the air, Newton felt Gage’s hand reach around and start to stroke his cock, pausing only for a moment to say, “Looks like someone is ready for round two.”

“Oh my God,” Newton panted. “This wasn’t round two?”

Gage laughed. “This was more like… intermission.”

“I think intermission might be my new favorite thing.” Newton’s whole body was so relaxed that he didn’t know if he could even move, let alone go another round with Gage. But he was damn sure going to try.

Luckily for him, Gage had things under control.

Just like he always did.

“I want you on your back this time,” Gage said, lifting Newton, turning him over and laying him back down so easily it made Newton marvel all over again at the man’s strength. “I want to look into your eyes when I’m inside you, when I’m making love to you.”

Those words alone could have made Newton come, and his cock jerked in response, the head already slick again with pre-cum.

Gage stood up from the bed and moved around to the nightstand. Newton tracked every move he made, loving the way all of those sexy muscles flexed and bunched as he walked. Gage’s body was like a work of art, and it made Newton smile just knowing that out of all the guys in the world, he was the one who Gage was happy to let look at it, touch it, taste it.

Seeing Gage naked felt special, like it was Newton’s birthday, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day all rolled into one.

Gage walked back over to the bed, his hard cock bobbing out in front of him, sheathed in a condom that he was slowly stroking, covering it with the lube he’d retrieved from the nightstand.

It had been so long since Newton had done anything like this with a guy that he wasn’t sure if he could take all of that big, beautiful cock at once.

But he was absolutely going to try.

“I’m gonna go slowly,” Gage said, as if he was reading Newton’s mind. “At first, anyway.”

Newton moaned in anticipation as Gage climbed back onto the bed, sitting back on his knees as he looked down at Newton.

“Have I told you today how beautiful you are, babe?”

Newton grinned. “Maybe once or twice.”

“Then I haven’t said it enough.” Gage pushed Newton’s legs back again and reached down, his slick fingers sliding between Newton’s ass cheeks and circling, teasing the edges of his hole. “Your whole body is beautiful, Newton. I love every inch of it. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Newton said, never getting tired of the way those words sounded. “So, so much.”

“Are you ready, babe?” Gage asked, his fingers gently rubbing over Newton’s hole, dipping in just a little with each pass.

“I’m ready,” Newton nodded. “I need to feel you inside me. It’s all I’ve been able to think about.”

“Oh, fuck,” Gage growled. “Keep talking like that and I don’t know how slowly I’ll be able to go. I could come just looking at you spread out like this.”

Newton sucked in a sharp breath as Gage’s finger slipped inside his hole. It wasn’t deep, probably just half-way in, but Gage stopped and used his free hand to rub up and down the inside of Newton’s thigh.

“Are you okay, babe?” Gage asked. “I know I told you how horny you make me, but seriously, I only want to do this if you’re completely comfortable with it. I’ll come just as hard from other things if we stop right now.”

“Please don’t stop,” Newton said, shaking his head. “Please… please keep going.”

Slowly, carefully, Gage’s finger slid back and forth, in and out, until Newton was pressing back against Gage’s hand.

Then, just as slowly, Gage began to add a second finger.

Newton’s body tensed briefly as his body stretched to accommodate the extra thickness, but it was only uncomfortable for a moment. When Gage pressed both fingers in and brushed up against that special spot inside Newton, he cried out in pure pleasure.

“Oh, my—oh ah, Gage,” Newton panted. “Right there. Right there. Just like that. Please don’t stop.”

Gage’s fingers pushed deeper, pressing against that spot over and over again until Newton couldn’t even speak anymore.

Only then did Gage slowly pull his fingers out. “I think you’re ready, babe,” he said.

“I’ve never…” Newton swallowed hard as he tried to remember how to form words. “Never been so ready. I need you inside me again, Gage. Need your cock.”

“Oh, fuck,” Gage murmured, moving into position and lining the thick head of his cock up with Newton’s needy hole. “I’m gonna go slow, babe, but tell me if it hurts. You’re in control.”

Newton nodded, pulling his legs up closer to his chest to give Gage better access. He didn’t care if it hurt. He knew it would only feel that way for a moment, anyway, and then it would feel…

“Ah,” Newton hissed as the head slipped past that tight ring of muscle. Even though Gage had stretched him and had used plenty of lube, his cock was still thicker than just two fingers. A lot thicker, judging by the way it felt like he was filling Newton completely after just the first couple of inches.

True to his word, Gage stopped at the first sign of discomfort. “Are you okay, babe? Tell me what you need.”

“N-need you to… to keep going,” Newton ground out through gritted teeth. “Don’t stop until you’re all the way inside.”

Gage pressed forward, sinking inch after inch inside slowly, steadily, Newton’s body slowly stretching to accommodate him.

“Like this?” Gage asked. “Is this good?”

“Perfect,” Newton nodded, each shallow breath he took making his chest rise and fall rapidly. “Keep going.”

It took a few more minutes of panting slowly pushing, but Newton could finally feel the short, coarse hair above Gage’s cock as it tickled against his ass.

Once he was all the way in, Gage stopped, leaned in, and kissed Newton sweetly.

It felt so good, Gage’s tongue entwined with Newton’s while his cock filled Newton’s ass. He didn’t ever want that feeling to end.

But he needed more.

“Faster,” Newton said, closing his eyes as Gage pulled nearly all the way out and then pushed all the way back in. “So good, Gage.”

“Let me see those beautiful blue eyes,” Gage said. “You’re so tight and I’m so fucking horny. I don’t know how long I’ll last. And I want to be sure I’m looking into those sexy eyes when you come again.”

Gage reached down and started stroking Newton’s still-hard cock as he slid in and out, slowly fucking Newton nice and deep, hitting that spot inside him with every thrust.

“Oh God,” Newton moaned. “That feels…”

“Amazing,” Gage finished for him. “So fucking good.”

“I want to come again,” Newton said, not caring if it sounded needy. He did need it, needed this release even more than the first one. “I’m already close again.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Gage growled. “Your ass feels so good, babe. All you have to do is tell me when.”

Newton nodded, his mouth open as Gage fucked him, his cock throbbing as Gage stroked him. It was sensory overload, and each stroke, each thrust took him closer to the edge.

“Harder, Gage. Faster… please…”

Gage thrust harder, picking up speed as he pulled out and pushed back in over and over and over again until they were both crying out, the room filled with the sexy sounds of their lovemaking.

“I’m coming,” Newton gasped. “I’m coming, Gage.”

“That’s it,” Gage gritted out, stroking and thrusting even faster. “Come for me, babe. Come with me, Newton… now.”

It was all Newton needed to hear, and he gasped as the orgasm rocked through him, spilling out over Gage’s fist even as Gage’s cock swelled even thicker inside him before erupting in a flood of sexy, delicious moans.

When they were finished, Gage lowered himself down onto the bed next to Newton, sliding out of him and then pulling him close to kiss him gently, sweetly as their bodies melted against each other.

“So beautiful, babe,” Gage murmured.

“So perfect,” Newton replied.

“I love you, Newton.”

As long as Newton lived, he would never get tired of hearing Gage say those words. It had taken him a lifetime to find someone he could love, someone who could love him back unconditionally.

It had taken him forever to find the man who was meant for him, the man who was perfect for him.

The man he could trust.

“Love you, too. So, so much.”