22

The sun is bright in the sky when I startle awake, and I reach beside me to find cold sheets. A frown tugs at my lips, but it disappears when I catch a whiff of something delicious. I climb out of bed and put on shorts and a t-shirt before making my way to the living room.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Theo calls from the kitchen, and I smile at the sight of him in loose sweatpants and one of his long-sleeved crop tops, standing over the stove. Bacon sizzles in one frying pan and pancakes brown in a second.

"I could get used to this, you know," I say as I walk over to him.

"What's that, waking up to a pretty man in your kitchen every morning?"

I make a show of scrunching up my nose in confusion. "What? No, having someone cook for me." The sound of his laughter brings a giant smile to my face as he whips around and slaps at me with the spatula. I wrap my arms around him and pin his flailing hands to his side. "You smell like cookies again."

He leans into me before grimacing and glancing up, mischief dancing in his eyes. "And you really, really smell like a man this morning. Go take a shower. I'll have food ready when you get done."

"What if I'm hungry now?"

He grabs the ‘bad pancake'—you know the one, the first dollop of batter that ends up shaped funny and burnt—and shoves it into my mouth before I can stop him. "Aww, what's wrong sweetie?" he asks, poking the pancake further into my cheeks as they puff out. "Isn't it delicious?"

"The most delicious," I say, except it comes out more like, "Be muff velishes."

His eyes light up as he pats my cheek. "You love it? Let me grab you another!"

"No!" I shout, turning and scrambling out of the room as he chases after me.

"Wait, honeybun! I have more pancakes just for you!" The cackle that follows me through the hall is downright villainous.

I lock myself in the bathroom with a giant grin on my face, chewing and swallowing as I chuckle. Once I rid myself of my hamster cheeks, I climb under the spray before taking a few minutes to run a razor over my head. Refreshed, I get dressed and return to the living room to find Theo plating our food.

He's stunning as he drops the plates onto the table, radiating pure joy from his smile, and it doesn't fade as we sit to eat. We chat over breakfast—brunch, if you consider that it's after eleven—and it strikes me how incredibly easy it has always been with Theo.

Ever since the day I met him and he flashed me that beautiful smile, I've been wrapped around his little finger. Completely smitten. Nineteen years old, and he walked into the room with the confidence of a man who knows he holds the world in his hands. I was awed, and if I'm being honest… jealous.

Jealous of the sunny way he viewed the world, and jealous of the way it loved him.

It's not in my biology to be attracted to someone at first glance, so I can't even say that's what pulled me to him. He's an anomaly—a piece of my life I've never been able to fit into my carefully crafted box. From the moment he crashed into that practice session, something inside him has called to something inside me.

He never wanted me to change, expected nothing from me aside from my trust.

The singular person in my life who's remained constant.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Theo sidles up behind me as I wash dishes, pulling me out of my head.

"You," I say softly, and he wraps me in a tight hug.

"Are we going to discuss last night?"

"We probably should." His hold slackens, allowing me the chance to pivot until we're face to face, arms still anchored around my middle.

There's a curiosity in the way he watches me. "You're calmer than I expected."

"What did you think would happen? I'd run away, screaming like a little kid who got stung by a bee?"

"I mean, if the shoe fits… ouch!" He yelps as I swat him on the ass.

"Or maybe a man running from a rooster is a better analogy."

Those blue eyes narrow as he sticks his pointer finger in my face. "We don't talk about Henry," he hisses as I grin. He curls up against me, laying his cheek on my chest as his demeanor turns serious. "You claimed me."

"I did."

"Publicly."

"Very much so."

His hand lands on my stomach, mindlessly drifting over my skin. "Where does this leave us?"

I hesitate, taking a deep breath as I hold him against me. "There's no guarantee I won't fuck this up, Theo."

"Life doesn't offer guarantees. But this? You and me? It's the closest either of us will ever get to one."

"Why do you have so much confidence in me?" He tilts his face up to look me in the eye, baring himself completely.

Hiding nothing.

"I've been trying to persuade you to date me for years, and your only explanation for rejecting me is that you don't want to hurt me. Answer me honestly… do you want me? Want this ?"

It hurts my heart that he feels the need to ask, though the question is justified. "More than I've ever wanted anything in my life."

With a softer voice, he asks, "What does it feel like to be without me?"

"It kills me," I whisper as I coast my fingers across the soft skin of his cheeks.

"That's why I know. Every day, you sacrifice your happiness because of this misguided belief that it protects me. But guess what?" I hum, encouraging him to continue. "Each time you reject me, it is a blow to my fucking heart. Have you thought about that? Have you considered that you're already causing me pain?" I swallow past the lump in my throat as he stares at me, daring me to look away. "Because you are, Dante. You hurt me every minute you drag this out."

Guilt punches me like a knife in the stomach. "Theo…"

"Oh, would you shut the fuck up and kiss me already?" He closes a fist over my shirt and yanks me towards him with a groan. The instant our lips collide, he launches himself into my arms, and I scramble to catch him as he wraps his legs around me.

We're a flurry of hands and lips as I spin and sit him on the counter, sending a plate crashing to the floor. When I turn my head to follow the racket, he grips my chin and drags my face back to his. "Leave it," he demands, and my moan rumbles against his mouth as I surrender to his kiss.

His tongue pushes into my mouth, licking and sucking as we devour each other. My mind shuts down, able to focus on nothing besides the pressure of his lips and the slide of our tongues as they move together.

With great effort, he rips his mouth away. "You're mine now." I nod, leaning back in because I'm desperate for the taste of him, but he halts me with that firm grip once more. "Say it. I need to hear it."

"Yours… all yours. Always yours."

"Good boy," he murmurs as he crashes his lips back to mine, hands tracing over every inch of my body as we fight to get closer. Our bodies are pressed flush, his heels digging into my lower back, and I can't help but groan at the weight of his cock against my stomach. I grip his ass and drive my hips forward, every nerve ending firing at the friction.

When he separates us, I grunt my objection, and he smiles as I try to fight him. He nudges me away with a palm to my chest and then jumps off the counter and lands in front of me. "Can I touch you?" he asks, and I release a heavy breath as I nod frantically.

"I might actually die if you don't," I breathe, and he laughs as he steps into my space. Just as I'm thinking I could live off the sound of his happiness, he grabs the nape of my neck with one hand and drags our lips together.

I'm consumed by the way he moans into our kiss, and when he cups my cock through my jeans, everything else fades to background noise. I fumble on a breath and make a pitiful sound, some kind of desperate, wailing gasp, like it's the first time anyone's ever touched me.

And maybe it's the first time it's ever mattered.

The drag of his palm along my cock has me thrusting into his touch, and before I know it, we're moving into the living room.

I stumble. Desperate and floundering, touching him anywhere I can because I need to be grounded, need my feet to be held to this earth before I simply float away.

Theo guides me with steady, sure hands on my body. It's surreal, dreamlike, the way he moves with me. Confident and assertive. There's desire there, burning as hot as white flames, but it's under control. Sedate, even as it threatens to burn me alive.

Patient and lurking, crouched and ready to pounce.

He is the one in control, and I find myself surrendering to it, gladly giving it to him.

"On the couch," he orders, and I drop in the very center as he takes a few steps backward. I frown and try to stand, but he raises an eyebrow and holds his hand up. "You stay put and wait for me right there." He smirks when I reluctantly sit back and then hooks his thumbs through the waist of his sweatpants.

He nudges them down by a few inches, exposing more of the pale, creamy skin of his flat stomach. "I'm so glad you came to your senses, because it would be a shame to waste this."

"Waste what?" I say, voice strained, as he gives me that confident smile again. He pushes his pants lower, flashing me a strip of delicate, dark red.

"What do you think, Dante? Do my colors match okay?" Those pants dip a few more inches, showing me a deep maroon lace—a perfect complement for the crop top he wears. With another shove, his sweatpants slide to the ground, revealing his lace and satin panties and thigh-high black stockings.

"Oh, holy fuck," I groan as he drags his palm up his crotch, where his hard cock fights against the fabric and his swollen, pink head pushes out over the elastic. He's a small man, and every part of him is beautifully proportional, the perfect size to be swallowed up by my hand.

Or mouth.

I'm not too picky.

He takes an exaggerated step in my direction and my cock strains against my jeans as I watch him in complete fixation. "Are you enjoying the view?" he asks, spinning until I catch a glimpse of the thong that showcases his round little bubble butt. After a playful wiggle, he turns to face me and moves closer.

My body feels like a furnace, overheated and on edge, almost foreign as I fight not to lose control of myself. Another step forward puts him directly in front of me, and he stands with his feet spread wide, letting me get my fill of him. His cock is rigid and fighting against the restraint of his panties, his smooth balls tucked neatly inside.

There's not a single hair to be seen on his body.

"Look at what you do to me." He grabs my wrist, placing my palm against his dick as he rocks forward.

"Fuck, Theo," I whine, and he smiles as he guides me over his swollen crown, wetting my skin with his pre-cum. His knees drop onto either side of my hips, and my hand slides around to grip his ass. My fingers trace over his leg, skirting over the sheer fabric. As I slide them upwards, I give extra attention to the exposed skin of his thigh before skating to the crease of his hips.

He whimpers my name as his cock flexes against the satin, both of us watching as my fingers drift up the outline of his rigid shaft. "Look at you," I mutter, letting my fingertips coast up and down his length, memorizing every tiny reaction. "You are the most incredible thing I've ever laid eyes on."

The weight of his body sinks on my lap, making my head fall back onto the couch, and he grinds against me in a way that takes my breath away. "I've wanted you for so long," he murmurs, hands running across my torso before grabbing the hem of my shirt. I lean forward and he tugs it off and tosses it to pool on the floor.

There's a sexy smile on his face as he drags his fingers through the hair on my chest, giving just the smallest tug. He holds onto my shoulders, using them for leverage as he sways his body over mine. I can't tear my eyes away from the sight of the straining bulge in his panties as he moves.

His hips swing forward, dragging along the length of my cock and making me pant like a fucking dog. It takes no time at all until my balls are drawn up against my body, begging for release, and I haven't even gotten undressed.

Every inch of me is on fire. I'm burning up and ready to explode, and I can't possibly hold on much longer. "Fuck, Theo, give me a minute…"

He hesitates, slowing his motions and meeting my eyes. "Do you want to stop? You hold the reins." He drops a sweet kiss on my lips, rolling his hips in a slow, controlled motion.

"No, no, definitely not," I breathe in a rush, shaking my head as he chuckles gently against my mouth.

"Then what's wrong?" He resumes his rhythm, moving harder and faster and immediately putting me back on edge.

"It's…" My breath comes in desperate gasps as he rides me, the pounding deep in my core getting stronger by the second. "You're going to…"

"What am I going to do?" Fingertips trail over my chest until he pinches at my nipples, and my hips drive up into him as I grit my teeth.

"Theo," I whimper, begging, as I glance down at the glistening head of his cock. My hand on his ass squeezes, and he releases a loud moan before he leans forward and claims my lips. He sucks my tongue into his mouth as his perfect body rolls against mine.

"Take it," he murmurs, kissing me like his life depends on it. "Whatever you want, it's yours."

My fingers dig pits into the meat of his ass as I thrust up into him, and the tension inside me coils until it's bordering on painful. No matter how hard I fight myself, straining my thigh muscles and trying to regain control, it's no use. My hips drive up into him, and I whimper against his kiss.

I rip my mouth from his, a string of curses working through my clenched teeth. It's too much sensation, too much want, and I'm powerless to my body's demands as I sprint towards the edge.

I fucking hurl myself straight at it, and I couldn't even stop if I tried.

"Fuck… fuck !" I thrust upwards, a moan being wrenched from deep within me, and in that moment, my entire world shatters as I'm catapulted into blissful oblivion.