Chapter 7

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WARD

WARD KEPT forgetting that this wasn't real.

Fuck . Skylar was perfect. Whether the boy was simply playing a role or was genuinely this responsive, he was truly a fantasy come to life. Every sigh, moan, and plea was music to Ward's ears. Trapped beneath him, Skylar's body was hard and soft, tense and pliable. Ward brushed his nose along the boy's jaw, trying to chase Skylar's scent, and felt the barest rasp of stubble against his skin. A part of him thought that it should have felt uncomfortable.

But all it did was turn him on even more.

“Sky,” Ward gasped.

Skylar clawed at the bedspread. “Daddy,” he replied breathlessly. “Oh fuck. Don't stop. Don't ever stop. I wanna live on your cock forever.”

Ward laughed. He couldn't help it. He hadn't felt this kind of existential joy and pleasure in longer than he could remember. Other than those few, brief moments of having Charlie in his arms, Ward wasn't sure he'd ever felt so close to someone. So wholly connected.

Skylar gasped. His whole body tensed up, and he squeezed his eyes shut. “Oh please,” he whispered, sounding like he was talking to himself. “Oh please, please, please.”

Ward curled his hands over Skylar's fists as he pushed in to the hilt. He loved taking someone like this. Loved having a smaller body beneath his. It gave him a bone-deep, satisfying sensation of shielding his partner from the world, surrounding them with nothing but pleasure.

But with Skylar, for whatever reason, it felt so much more intense. Like the boy needed exactly what Ward was giving him.

Maybe he was reading more into it than was really there. Or maybe Skylar was just that good at his job, making Ward believe what he wanted to believe. Whatever it was, Ward wanted more.

Skylar gasped again. “Oh god,” he choked out, his voice thready with desperation. “Ward!”

Ward pulled back and slowly thrust in again.

“Oh my god, yes, yes, yes, right there!” Skylar gushed. “Oh please…”

Ward inwardly cursed. He was so close. So fucking close. But as much as he wanted to come, he also didn't want this to end. He pulled back slowly, certain that the tiniest bit of friction was going to send him over the edge.

Then he thrust slowly back in.

Skylar choked out a moan, then sucked in a ragged gasp as his eyes flew open. The boy went utterly still for half a heartbeat, not even breathing, before he let out a shout as his insides clamped down around Ward's dick.

Holy shit . Ward couldn't stop staring at Skylar's face. The wide eyes. The parted lips. The expression there was clear. The boy was actually surprised that he'd come. The shock and relief were plain as day.

And Ward had done that to him.

“Fuck,” he gasped as the realization sent him over the edge. He curled around Skylar's little body, pushing in deep as he came, wanting to feel Skylar wrapped around his dick as it pulsed inside the condom. “Sky,” Ward choked out.

When Ward finally opened his eyes and looked down at the boy, he found Skylar smiling serenely, eyes closed. “Fuck, I really do love it when you say my name like that,” the boy whispered.

Ward closed his eyes and grinned, gently nuzzling the boy again. “It felt good to say your name,” he admitted.

“Yeah?” Skylar wiggled beneath him, sending aftershocks of pleasure through Ward's body. “Did you like it, Daddy? Did it feel good to fuck your boy?”

“Hell yes,” Ward swore. Tired and sated as he was, he couldn't wait for a chance to do it again.

His dick began to soften, so Ward gently pulled out, then got up to dispose of the condom. He paused in the bathroom, glancing at himself in the mirror. He'd just fucked a boy, and his own reflection looked more relaxed and at peace than he'd ever seen it. His brow smooth and unlined. A soft smile on his lips. His only regret was that Skylar didn't have a dick. Ward curled his fingers in towards his palm, imagining holding a boy's dick as he fucked him, feeling it pulse in his fist as the boy came.

He actually wanted that.

Ward turned away from the mirror and stopped short at the sight of the slim, sensual body still splayed out across the bed. Skylar arched his back, stretching languorously.

“Geez, kitten,” Ward gasped. Too much more of that, and he'd have to take the boy again.

Skylar grinned. “Kitten, huh?” He rolled onto his back, stretching his arms up over his head. “I like it.” Skylar paused, his smile slipping. “Ward?”

“Yeah?”

Skylar drew his arms back down, his expression turning guarded. “Would you–” He broke off with a curse. “Good grief, this is stupid,” he muttered to himself, then shook his head. “You know what? Fuck it. I'm gonna ask anyway.” He took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then blurted out, “Would you hold me? Even if it's just for a minute. I mean, you don't have to, but–”

Ward climbed back up onto the bed and silenced the boy with a kiss. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Skylar's blue eyes lit up. “Yeah?” He curled up against Ward, settling down with his head on Ward's shoulder. “Holy shit. That was amazing.”

Ward wrapped his arms around the boy. He took a slow, deep breath, letting it back out on a contented sigh. Skylar fit perfectly against him. Small and warm and soft, while the texture of his skin and the hardness of his muscles never let Ward forget that he was holding a man instead of a woman. Ward smiled, running a hand down Skylar's back. He smoothed the hand over Skylar's ass, muttering a curse as he groped the firm cheeks, then continued down so he could grab the boy's leg and hitch it across his body.

Skylar grinned and snuggled closer, throwing an arm across Ward's chest. “ Mmmm . I honestly wasn't sure if you were the cuddling type or the we're-done-move-on kind of guy, but I'm so glad it's the former.”

Ward curled a hand through Skylar's hair and turned to kiss the boy on the forehead.

Skylar languidly ran a hand across Ward's chest, tracing the lines of his muscles with those long, slender fingers. His movements slowed, then finally stopped altogether. Skylar's hand rested right over Ward's heart. When Ward looked down at the boy's face, he found Skylar's eyes closed, the boy's breaths soft and shallow in sleep.

Ward reached across the bed and dragged the other half of the comforter over on top of them. It didn't fully cover them both, but at least Skylar was wrapped up against the crisp, night air coming through the window. Ward closed his eyes. He'd let himself enjoy this moment while it lasted.

He woke with a start, confused for a moment to feel another body against his.

It all came flooding back. The nerves. The wedding. The dancing and flirting. Watching Skylar's stunning transformation as the real boy inside broke free. The incredible, mind-blowing connection he'd found in that bed. Beside him, Skylar was still fast asleep. When Ward glanced at the clock, it showed that it was just after two in the morning.

Ward winced as he carefully slipped out from under Skylar. His bladder couldn't be ignored until daylight. Ward padded into the bathroom, quietly eased the door shut, and relieved himself. He washed his hands, then shut off the light they'd left on earlier as he padded back towards the bed.

Skylar stirred. “What–”

Ward started to lie back down beside him. “ Shhh . Go back to sleep.”

“ Hmmm ,” Skylar replied in a mumble, then sucked in a breath and sat up. “Shit. I fell asleep. Oh fuck. I'm so sorry.”

“It's okay–”

“No, I'm not supposed to do that.”

“Sky,” Ward insisted, cupping the boy's face with both hands, trying to read Skylar's expression in the dark. “It's okay.” He paused, cringing at the thought running through his head. Damn it . He didn't want to remember that this wasn't real, but he had to face the truth. “If it's about the time…I can pay you extra–”

“ Don't ,” Skylar cried, slapping a hand over Ward's mouth. His other hand went around the back of Ward's neck, and the boy pressed their foreheads together. “Don't. Fuck.” A tiny whimper escaped him. “Please just let me pretend this was real for one more minute,” he whispered, sounding like he was talking to himself.

Ward's chest tightened and a smile threatened to take over his face. “Sky…”

“I've never felt anything like this, Ward,” Skylar blurted out, still curled up close to him. “I know I'm not supposed to say things like that, but it's true. I've never had an orgasm that didn't come by my own hand before. Not once . And the fact that I fell asleep! Fuck. I've never felt safe enough to do that, even if it weren't against the rules. I mean, Charlie felt safe enough to crawl into your lap even though you were a perfect stranger, and he's usually got good instincts about people, so I guess it really shouldn't be a surprise, but still. And I shouldn't even be saying all of this, but something about you makes me want to just blurt out the truth and be real with you and drop the fucking exhausting act that I have to put on all the time–”

When Skylar finally broke off to suck in a ragged breath, Ward kissed him.

Skylar gasped, then moaned and sank into the kiss, parting his lips. Ward slipped his tongue past them. Geez . Skylar tasted so sweet. So perfect.

Ward got lost in the moment. Nothing existed except Skylar. The boy's lips. His tongue. His warm, slender body. When Ward finally came up for air, he found himself stretched out on top of the boy, with Skylar's expression dazed and dreamy.

And an hour had gone by.

“Holy–” Skylar gasped. He looked up at Ward with wide eyes, then slowly shook his head. “Wow. Sheesh . That's all I've got. Just wow. I think you fried my brain.”

Ward couldn't help grinning.

Skylar turned to glance at the clock, then winced. “Shit. I really do have to go.” He didn't move, letting out a little whine. “Damn it. I don't want to, though. Can we just hide out in this room forever?”

Ward traced the boy's jaw with his fingertips. He didn't want Skylar to go, either. But he was going to need some sleep so he could make the drive home safely. He gave Skylar one more kiss, just a lingering press of his lips, then forced himself to pull back. “Okay.”

Skylar whined again, but he got up all the same.

Ward gathered up his discarded clothing and pulled his underwear back on while he watched Skylar get dressed. The boy pulled an ironed shirt and a pair of slacks out of his garment bag, hanging the dress up in their place. Skylar dragged on some black socks and a pair of black Oxfords. He tucked in his shirt, leaving the top few buttons undone, and didn't bother with a belt. With his hair mussed from sleep, the boy looked exactly what he was: someone who'd just tumbled out of bed after getting thoroughly sated.

It was all Ward could do not to rip those clothes off and take the boy again.

Instead, he made himself drag on his pants and walk Skylar to the door. They were almost there when Ward remembered he still needed to pay Skylar for his extra time. He started to turn back, but Skylar caught him by the arm.

“Ward.” Skylar looked up at him with a desperate plea in his eyes. “I said don't, and I meant it.” He closed his eyes for a second and sighed heavily, like the weight of the world had landed on his shoulders. “I really do need the money, but I don't want it. Not from you. I won't take your money, okay? Not after tonight. You gave me something that…Shit. You gave me something I never thought I'd get to experience. And maybe that sounds stupid, coming from a whore, but–”

Ward winced at the word. “Don't call yourself that.”

“But I am. And I absolutely hate it, but I don't really have a choice right now.” Skylar reached up and covered Ward's mouth with a hand before Ward could reply. “But tonight was like a dream. It was magical and beautiful and perfect. Please just let me pretend it was real. Please. I need that.” He paused, then leaned close and closed his eyes again, whispering, “Daddy, please.”

Ward muttered a curse, dragging the boy into his arms. He gave Skylar another sweet, lingering kiss, and felt Skylar's little body melt against his.

When they finally pulled apart, Skylar looked almost drunk. A lazy smile pulled at his lips, and those stunning eyes of his were dark and heavy-lidded. He ran a hand back through his hair and nearly lost his balance. A soft laugh escaped him. “ Sheesh , I didn't know anybody could kiss like that,” he murmured.

Then Skylar held Ward's gaze as he reached behind himself, feeling around for the door handle. He finally found it and pulled the door open. Skylar took a step back, never breaking eye-contact, like he was trying to memorize Ward's face or commit this moment to memory.

Skylar started to turn away and ran right into the door. He laughed at himself and shook his head, then looked at Ward again. His foot caught on the door, making him nearly stumble again, but he caught his balance and finally gained the hallway. He lingered there in the open doorway, still holding Ward's gaze.

“Goodnight,” Skylar whispered.

“Goodnight,” Ward whispered back. “Drive safe.”

Skylar nodded. He hesitated another moment, then finally tore himself away with a sigh, looking like it had taken a monumental effort to do so.

Ward couldn't resist peeking out into the hallway, watching the boy head for the elevators. Skylar moved slowly, almost unsteady on his feet. When the boy turned to press the button, Ward saw a soft smile on his face.

Skylar closed his eyes and touched his lips with his fingertips.

Ward muttered a curse. He grabbed the door frame, forcibly holding himself back. Every cell in his body screamed for him to stride down that hallway, grab Skylar, and tell the boy not to leave. Not now. Not ever.

But what good would that do? It wasn't like this had truly been real, no matter how amazing it had felt. And unless Ward made another appointment and came back up to the city, he'd probably never see Skylar again.

He had to let the boy go.