Chapter Eight

The computer screen blurred. Case didn't truly see a thing. All he saw or heard was Saul screaming that Emory was the one. He just felt… cold. Case had never driven home so fast in his life. Every light had been on his side. Thankfully, he hadn't passed any cops. He had done twice the speed limit and now he didn't know why. At first, he had thought he would grab his clothes and go before Saul came home. He could come back for the rest of his stuff later. Then he had walked through the door and just deflated. Where would he go? What had he expected, anyhow? Saul had paid for him like a whore. Case was the one who had been dumb enough to fall in love. Saul owed him nothing.

Case tried again to focus on the screen, listing the jobs available near him. There were plenty of strip clubs. He could go back to that. In fact, he could probably get his old job back. He would have to see Lonnie all the time, but staying here was worse. He could never unlearn what he had learned today. The pain would kill him if he stayed.

"Talk to me."

Case's eyes fell closed at the sound of Saul's voice. He fought the urge to cry. Case had been so very stupid. He had genuinely thought he could be a sugar baby and it wouldn't hurt. Falling in love with Saul was the worst pain of his life. That was saying a lot after losing his dream career. Still, it wasn't Saul's fault Case was an idiot. It also wasn't Saul's fault he loved someone else. The heart wanted what it wanted. Case couldn't force Saul to love him instead.

He picked up the box he had meant to deliver earlier and turned. Saul stood in the doorway of his home office, waiting for Case's attention. Case held out the box. "Happy birthday." Even he heard how broken he sounded. He couldn't fix that now. Case had never been able to fix anything in his life. He was just one bad decision after the next. This was nothing new.

Saul cautiously took the box. "You didn't have to get me anything."

Case looked away. He didn't give a shit about anything anymore. Saul could take the gift or leave it. It was whatever.

Saul popped open the gift.

Case knew what he saw. It was an expensive watch with the words "my love" engraved on the back.

Saul didn't speak. He simply took the watch from the box and inspected every inch.

Case took a breath. One of them had to be the one to face the truth. "I can't imagine Emory will let you keep it and I doubt the store will let you return it since I had it engraved. You can try, though. It doesn't really matter."

Saul's chin lifted. He looked as wrecked as Case felt. "I love it."

His chest hurt. Case couldn't breathe. He kind of wanted to start running and never look back. Maybe if he ran fast enough, he could outrun the pain.

Saul set the watch on the desk next to the computer. "I love you."

At Saul's words, something inside Case broke. "That's depressing, since I'm not the one. I guess I should've braced myself for that one since you baby the engagement ring you gave him all the time."

A deep line appeared between Saul's eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Even though he thought his words were obvious, he still motioned helplessly toward Saul's hand. "Emory told me about the ring on your pinky. It's his engagement ring. I watch you playing with it all the time. I wish I had known it was him you saw in your head each time you touched it. Maybe then I would've protected my heart. Maybe I could've stopped myself from falling in love with you."

Saul blew out a breath and grabbed a wingback chair that sat in the corner. He set it next to Case's chair. The moment he settled knees to knees with Case, he took the platinum band from his finger and held it out to Case. "Emory is a schemer and a liar. Look at the engraving."

Case accepted the ring. He twisted it from side to side, trying to read the faint engraving inside the ring. He read it aloud. "Thadd and Iris. March eighth." Confusion filled Case.

"It's my parents." Case handed the ring back as Saul explained. "My mom died when I was little, before we moved to America. This is her wedding band. It's all I have of her. I might've been young when she passed, but I remember her. Dad was different when she was alive. We were happy. Even through starving and freezing on the street, I never let go of the one piece of her I still have. Not only does it remind me of her, it reminds me of how far I've come." He stroked the ring one last time before focusing on Case. "I don't love Emory. A long time ago, I thought I did. I put up with a whole hell of a lot because I thought I did. When I realized he was only using me and sleeping with everyone he could while I was at work, everything I felt for him died instantly. That's how I knew it was never real." A sad look passed over Saul's features. "Every time I catch you looking for a job or a place to live, or you talk about doing those things, it's like having my heart ripped out. That's how I know this is real. You're the one. Unlike Emory, where I had to force it, I never have with you. I've never had to wish for it or dream about you being my entire future. You just are. Being with you is the easiest and most uncomplicated thing that's ever happened to me. Before I met you, I didn't know it was supposed to be easy and comfortable. I don't know what you heard between Emory and me, but you obviously missed me screaming at the top of my lungs for him to leave me alone." To Case's shock, a hint of a blush touched Saul's cheeks. "That's a bit horrifying at my job."

Despite everything, a snort escaped Case. "You've shown a lot of grace before now, so I think people will understand."

"I think we need to get a restraining order. Despite losing my temper, Emory has proven to be damnably unafraid of me. I doubt he'll stop. We've been split up for over a year."

Case tried to keep having an adult conversation without breaking down. He felt close to the edge, but they were communicating. That was something. "We'll do whatever you think is best. You've dealt with this longer than me. I trust your judgment."

Saul's gaze moved over Case's face, as if searching for something only he could see. "Do you trust me?"

Oddly, Case didn't even need to think about it. No one had come through for him the way Saul had in the past three months. "Yes."

"Do you believe that I love you?"

"Yes. Do you understand that I love you?"

A sweet smile touched Saul's lips at the question. "Yes."

"Then why didn't you tell me it's your birthday? I had to hear it from Maverick."

Saul turned and snagged the watch from where he had left it. "Honestly? I forgot. I've been so busy at work, trying to ensure we get our vacation, it slipped my mind. Plus, no one ever celebrates me. I find the day a bit depressing."

"What did Emory get you?"

Saul snorted. "A headache."

A smile snapped to Case's lips. It immediately slipped away. "To be fair, I honestly think he might need some sort of psychological help. Also, if I lost you, I'd fight like hell too."

A soft chuckle fell from Saul's sexy lips. "Emory is completely sane. He's vain, selfish, and can't stand to lose. He never fought for me at all until you came along. I'm sure he thought I sat around, crying about him and waiting for him to come back. When he saw that wasn't the case, it pissed him off, but his mental health is fine. He's just being Emory."

Case could see that. Someone like Emory would hate to think he lost, but he had. Case had no intention of letting Saul get away. "There's nothing I want more than to celebrate with you." He took the watch and slipped it onto Saul's wrist. "Let me spoil you on your day. Tell me what you want to do, and we'll do it."

"Come to bed with me."

A laugh burst from Case. "You have that every day. Don't you want something special?"

Saul's serious expression never wavered. "You are special and you're what I want most in life. Come to bed with me."

Case stood and held his hand out for Saul. Saul accepted and stood. Together, they made their way down the hall. For the first time, they felt truly real to Case. There was a peace in his chest he couldn't ignore. He was home. This man was his home.

Saul followed Case down the hall with his heart in his throat. He had raced home, catching every fucking light along the way, fully expecting Case would be gone. Finding Case looking for a job was almost as bad. That meant he intended to leave. The hurt in his eyes when he confessed to thinking Saul's mom's ring was Emory's engagement ring, that shit almost broke him. In all the things Emory had done to him, this was the first time Saul had truly wanted to do the guy physical harm. This was something he would not let Emory take from him.

Case had said he loved him. Saul's eyes burned each time he thought about it. He felt like he had won the moon. All the love and hope had nowhere to go. Saul overcame Case and squeezed him. With his lips pressed against the side of Case's neck, Saul inhaled. He wanted Case's scent imprinted on his lungs. Case didn't understand. There was no one more wanted. Saul had been captivated from the moment he set eyes on Case. This was infatuation that had built into love. He had a feeling that was a deadly combination that might turn him murderous if he lost Case. It was possible Case should be scared.

His hand slid down Case's stomach. He popped the button on Case's jeans. "You fill my arms perfectly." He slid Case's zipper down. "God, I never dreamed I could love someone this much."

Case turned in his arms. Their mouths met. They made their way to the bed while their tongues played. Saul did his best to strip Case. Frustration welled in his chest. Saul was dressed for work and had on too many clothes. He wanted to be inside Case.

Saul pulled away and yanked open the bedroom drawer. He found the lube. "Get that sexy asshole ready for me."

Case scrambled from his clothes while Saul stripped. Saul set his jacket aside before pulling the gun from his belt and setting it on the bedside table. Once nude, Case settled on his back. He played with his hole while Saul watched.

"Is this what you want?"

A muscle ticked in Saul's jaw. Case tested every ounce of his willpower. Saul unbuttoned his sleeves at the wrist and then went to work on the front. Case made a show of fingering himself. Saul moved a little faster to get undressed. He found a condom and rolled it down his length while watching Case's show. It felt like it took forever before Saul crawled between Case's thighs. He grabbed Case's jaw and forced Case to hold his stare while Saul impaled him. Saul ensured Case never looked away as he pulled out and did it again. The raw lust in Case's expression was addicting. It fed Saul's ego. He could never settle for less after being wanted by Case.

Using his core, Saul rocked inside Case while they held each other's stare. It was like they were connected on another level. Saul needed Case to know how special he was to Saul in every way. "How dare you think anyone could compete with what we have? Don't you feel this thing?" He didn't know how to describe the thing he meant. There was just something huge between them, making them more important than any relationship Saul ever had before him—like they were soulmates.

"I feel it. You belong to me."

"And you belong to me." Saul claimed Case's mouth. It felt like vows. He felt like they had just promised themselves to each other. Now his soul needed the connection of their bodies. Unexpectedly, Case used his strength against Saul. He rolled, straddling Saul's body. He took what he wanted. All Saul could do was watch while Case rode his dick. Case bounced and rocked. With his head thrown back, he used Saul. It was the most beautiful show he had ever seen. Saul was mesmerized. He ground his back teeth as pressure climbed his shaft. Soon, he would disappoint Case. Case was too sexy. His asshole felt too good.

Saul grabbed Case's cock and tugged. He couldn't let Case down. Saul beat at Case's dick like a jackhammer, trying desperately to get Case off before he blew. He strained beneath Case. Saul was so close. Too fucking close. He was frantic. Case made sounds like a man on the edge. They only dragged Saul closer to finishing before him. Then it was too late. A powerful orgasm had Saul's back bowing. He cried out. Saul grabbed Case's hips and used him. He pulled Case down as he pumped upward, straining to pull every twitch from his elated dick. He couldn't stop moaning as he rode the pleasure to the end. Case watched him like he seared the memory into his brain. Saul had no control. Ecstasy was in charge. When the final spasm passed, reality returned. He had blown first. Saul couldn't live with that.

He cupped Case's ass and urged him higher. "Come here. Straddle my face. I need to suck your dick."

Case did as told, leading his cock to Saul's mouth. Saul massaged the perfect globes of Case's sexy ass while he suckled him. Case got into it, riding Saul's face.

"Oh, God, baby. That's so good. Damn, you're so talented. I can feel your throat squeezing me. Fuck. Take it."

Saul used his fingers, probing Case while Case fucked his mouth. He found that spot inside that had Case moaning. Saul massaged, getting as deep as he could with as many fingers as he could without hurting Case. He didn't ask for permission. Saul simply kept stretching Case wider, determined to make him fly. Case strung together incoherent sounds and words as he went wild. He abused Saul's throat. Saul savored every moment. Case's body tensed. Saul moved his fingers faster. Case's body jerked and a loud cry burst from Case as cum filled Saul's mouth. Saul tried swallowing, with Case still pumping against his tongue. Cum and saliva overflowed his lips, running back into his hair. Saul didn't care. He wanted to be covered in the evidence of them. Everything about them was sexual and gritty. Saul couldn't imagine life being any other way now that Case had shown him real love. No one compared to Case. If Emory tried to hurt them again, Saul would kill him. He was done with that bullshit.