CHAPTER 23

Micah

It was done. Ainsley was gone, no longer a stain on our lives or a shadow above our heads. Ding dong, the bitch is dead!

I didn"t get a chance to ask how the whole ordeal went since Bash attacked me when he swung by my place afterwards and sucked my brain out through my dick. I even intended to get the story after I managed to form sentences again, but then I dropped to my knees for him and eagerly returned the favor. After we were both sated and wrung dry, Bash finally gave me the rundown on the entire fucked up conversation he had with Ainsley, including the interesting little tidbit about her mysterious cousin.

Upon seeing how worked up I got after learning of Kit"s deceit, Bash was instantly grateful he had told me after his blowjob. In that state, I was likely to bite his junk off in an accidental rage, and that would have put a serious damper on our relationship. Once I had calmed down, I knew it was pointless to be pissed. Kit might have orchestrated our whole relationship with his twisted cousin, but I still chose him. If it wasn"t him, it would have been someone else. I had tried so hard to avoid my feelings for Bash that I would have picked the next willing man if Kit hadn"t been there.

After that, I decided the details shouldn"t matter to us anymore. We were free of their drama and I could now devote precious attention to my gorgeous boyfriend and his equally gorgeous piece of pelvic hardware. I had years of pent up sexual frustration where Bash was concerned, and I planned to put it to good use.

We slept in Saturday morning, exhausted from another round of frantic blowjobs in the middle of the night. Even after two weeks of living together and sleeping in the same bed, I still woke up some mornings in a panic, expecting to find the bed cold and empty. Whenever my mind registered the warm, solid body next to me, it soothed my racing heart and the realization hit me all over again that Bash was truly mine. He was really there next to me, and he wouldn"t be going away this time.

Honestly, he was lucky I let him out of the apartment at all. Having him to myself after all these years had latent obsessive tendencies popping up, and I frequently fantasized about handcuffing him to the bed to keep him with me always. Of course, part of my brain still functioned normally so Bash was safe from my disturbed fantasies. Just so we"re clear, chaining him up to my bed would be a bad move, right? I mean, there"s no wiggle room there? You know what? Nevermind! Handcuffs = bad. Got it.

Bash groaned and stretched lightly next to me before nuzzling my neck from behind. He was a big fan of spooning and I was happy to take full advantage. "Morning, baby," he rumbled, voice scratchy from sleep. It had heat rushing south and perking up my morning wood.

I smiled to myself, loving the feel of him pressed to my back. "Good morning to you. What do you want to do today?" I snuggled back into his chest more, feeling him hum as it radiated through my bones.

"I actually want to take you somewhere. You up for a surprise?" Bash said and I could hear the excitement creeping into his sleepy tone. Needless to say, I was intrigued. He knew I couldn"t resist surprises, damn him.

"Ooo, any hints? Is it somewhere fancy or funky?" I asked, knowing he wouldn"t tell me anything even if I begged. His penchant for edging extended beyond our bedroom activities.

Bash chuckled low behind me. "You know me better than that, MM. I won"t give you any hints about our date, but I will tell you that we have to get there no later than 5:31pm."

Ignoring the oddly specific time, I focused on the only word imprinted on my brain from his comment. "Date? This is a date?" my voice betraying how much that single word affected me. I didn"t have to see it to know that Bash was smiling. It was a force of nature I could always sense from him, like smelling a coming rain in the air.

"Yeah M, a date. I want to show you something special," Bash murmured in my ear, his breath ghosting over my flesh and making goosebumps ripple across my skin.

I twisted in his grip to face him, and fuck me if he wasn"t the most beautiful thing I"d ever seen. His golden hair was mussed from sleep, he had marks in his cheek from the pillow, his skin had a light red flush to it, and his stunning green eyes glittered in the light. He was messy and disheveled and absolutely perfect. I wanted nothing more in my life than to wake up to his face each and every morning. Even though I knew it was healthy to spend some time at my own place, some days I severely regretted not making the move to his apartment permanently.

As I drank him in, mesmerized by his stupid good looks, an overwhelming mix of feelings swept over me. It was equal parts relief, surprise, and gratitude that we at last had each other, but more than anything I felt happiness. I was steeped in joy, my entire being encased in it like impenetrable armor. Tears glazed my eyes as I fought to contain the immense flood of emotion. Bash"s brows creased in the middle as he noticed the watery sheen in my gaze.

"Baby, what"s wrong?" Concern etched into his face and tone. I smiled and kissed him soundly on the lips, pulling back before he could deepen it.

"Nothing at all. I just…I can"t believe we get to do this. Be together for real. It just keeps hitting me that we actually found our way here…to each other," I sighed happily, my smile feeling permanently screwed onto my face. "Tell me this is real…tell me we"re real, Bash."

His eyes softened and his lips curved upwards gently. "Yeah, Micah baby, we"re real. I think we were always meant to end up here." His gaze was riveted to mine, both relaxing me to my core and setting me on fire with need. That was how it was with him. He had the power to make me feel everything at once in dichotomous sensations. Fire and ice, pain and pleasure, peace and excitement, heaven and hell. With a single touch, he had it all rolling through me in turbulent, wondrous waves. I"d ride these waves forever if given the chance.

Bash brushed my lips with his in a brief kiss and rolled off the bed. He stood and stretched, gifting me with an impeccable view of his toned stomach under his sleep shirt, and a groan that made my cock do a little stretch of its own. Bash then smirked flirtatiously and held out his hand to me. "Care to join me in the shower?"

Gee, let me ponder that question for a nanosec—yes. Yes I would.

Keeping my enthusiasm tucked inside, I silently took his hand and let him pull me out of bed. We wasted no time divesting each other of our shirts and boxers. Bash opened my shower door and turned on the water, getting it to the perfect temperature before allowing me to step in. He grabbed his loofah and drizzled his body wash over it, permeating the air with his decadent scent. My cock twitched like a Pavlovian dog drooling in response to his delicious smell. Ugh, he hasn"t even touched us yet and you"re already causing problems…down, boy!

Any doubts I had of Bash noticing my growing hard-on vanished when his smirk grew and he delicately ran a single finger down my length to the root and then back up, letting out a breathy chuckle when it jerked under his touch. I swallowed hard and forced myself to stay still so I wouldn"t jump him prematurely. I could be patient. I could! Most days.

However, I was less than optimistic that today would be one of them when Bash took the loofah and ran it down my chest all the way to my dick, then circled the tip with the soft mesh. A moan escaped me and my eyes drooped as the stimulation set off electric sparks throughout my groin. Mercifully, he started washing the rest of my body in smooth, soft strokes, putting me in a trance that had all my focus narrowing down to his hands on my body. My breath came in soft pants as Bash washed everything from the waist down. One hand reached my ass and he pulled my cheeks apart, using the other hand to run the loofah through my crease in a teasingly slow speed.

My breathing stuttered at the feel of it, absently wondering how he would dirty me up now that he had me clean. Bash"s eyes never left mine, the shimmering emeralds boring into me as his breathing increased to match me. The steam in the room mixed with the electricity crackling between us, creating a potent cocktail that had my pulse racing, my cock hardening, and my hole clenching in anticipation.

Like a switch being flipped, Bash"s gentle patience turned into desperate need. His mouth descended on mine, my lips parting to him on instinct. Our tongues lashed together, moans mingling and blending. His hands dove into my hair, anchoring me to him. I pulled his hips into me and his cock slid against mine. I mewled into his mouth, but he abruptly pulled away and I whined at the absence.

"Turn around. Hands on the wall, baby," Bash demanded, his pupils dilated and overtaking the lily pad irises. I spun around without hesitation and planted my hands on the tile, arching my back slightly. The vulnerable position had my ass popping out toward him in blatant invitation.

I heard him detach the shower head and bring the hose down to me. He ran the powerful jet of water between my cheeks, washing away the soap still hidden there and the feel of it had my hole contracting. A whimper was pulled from me when he slid the water jet down and under me, running the spray up and down my aching cock. He then cupped my balls from behind and fondled them gently, tugging and pulling in time with the up and down of the shower head. I was awash in sensations that were all too much and nowhere near enough.

"Oh god…baby, touch me," I breathed, my head dropping back against my shoulders as I felt the tingling beginnings of an orgasm. He replaced the nozzle and brought his hands back to roam hungrily over my body, kissing and sucking at my shoulders and neck as he went.

"Damn, Micah baby, you are so beautiful. The things I want to do to your body…God, I want to fucking wreck you and put you back together so you know who owns every perfect inch of you. You"re mine," he rasped in my ear, and I swear my heart stopped beating. How many years had I dreamed of hearing him say those words?

"Say it," he growled, his hands digging into my hips as his erection pressed against my crease. "Say who you belong to, baby."

"You," I gasped out. "I belong to you. Always you."

"That"s right, my love. Now tell me what you need." His right hand made it"s way down my spine to cup my ass cheek, squeezing it tightly and eliciting another moan.

"I need…" I stumbled over my thoughts, not knowing how to articulate this fierce craving I had. I just felt…empty. I was so empty and I needed him to fix it. "I need you in me…fill me, baby, please," I begged him.

Bash smiled against my neck as he placed one more kiss there. "I know exactly what you need, sweetheart." His warmth disappeared from behind me as he dropped to his knees. My eyes widened as Bash gripped my cheeks and separated them, and anticipation thrummed through me. I heard him hum softly as he kneaded my ass and got a full view of my tight center. I tensed involuntarily, causing my hole to pucker and wink, and he let out a guttural groan.

"Fuuuck, that is so hot, baby," Bash whispered roughly. "Your sweet little hole is so needy already. I want to feel it clench around my tongue. Is that what you want, M? Do you want me to fill you that way?"

Holy fucking hell, yes yes yes. I need his tongue in me before I spontaneously combust.

"God yes, Bash. I want your tongue so badly! I want it everywhere." I was mindless with desire, on edge from the tension building to toxic levels within me.

"If you insist, baby," Bash chuckled darkly before his tongue darted out to lick a long, wet strip between my ass.

"Fuck!" I spasmed from the incredible feel, my skin on fire. Bash ran the tip of his tongue around my rim, teasing the edges and drawing out inhuman sounds from deep within me. I clawed at the wall and pushed back on his tongue, silently pleading with him for more.

He then started to lick and suck at my hole like a man starved of his favorite meal. His groans and the wet, sopping noises he was making surrounded me, cocooning me in a filthy symphony of depravity. I was soaking in the pleasure of it, ready to drown in everything he had to give. He sucked for another minute and then his tongue speared the relaxed, swollen entrance. I gave a shout, back arching to feed him more of my ass, my dick pulsing precum. God, this is what I fucking needed. I want him to own every part of me.

"Holy shit…do it again. Fuck me with your tongue, Bash. Deep as you can."

Bash growled and plunged his tongue back inside as far as it would go, and white lights exploded behind my eyes. Ecstasy spiked in my veins like an electric charge, the feeling unrivaled. I lost all concept of self-control as my moans rang out around us, and I couldn"t find a shit inside me to give if anyone heard me.

"Goddamn, you taste so fucking sweet, Micah…let me hear you, baby. Let me hear how badly you want it. Give me every filthy noise you have." His voice was a hoarse rumble, ravaged with lust. He dove back in, his tongue pushing further into the tight tunnel. A yelp ripped from my throat and my cock leaked like a sieve. I felt my orgasm swell, an incessant need to come surging in my veins.

"Sweet fuck, Bash…you fill me so good, baby…I can"t wait til it"s your cock inside me…ffffuck, you"re gonna make me come." My hips were thrusting backwards in time with his tongue pumping inside me. Bash"s groans grew louder and more frantic as I felt the thick, wet muscle inside me twist around. I cried out as pleasure burst forth from every atom in my being, my climax so dangerously close and yet unreachable.

"Bash! Oh fuck me, I want to come…" My eyes squeezed tight as I prepared to plummet over the edge he had dragged me to. Just as I was about to detonate, Bash pulled away and my knees nearly gave out from the incredible loss.

"Noooo! Baby please, I was so close!" I cried, actual tears seeping out from frustration.

Bash came up and plastered his chest to my back, his left arm wrapping around my waist. "Shhh, I know love, don"t worry. I"ll get you there, but I want us to come together. Press your legs together hard," he commanded gently as he rubbed comforting circles on my stomach. I didn"t know what he wanted, but I did it anyway, trusting he would take care of me as he always did.

The second my legs closed, Bash shoved his dick through the junction of my thighs from behind and the feel of his cockhead brushing my sack had me convulsing. "Bash, what…oh shit," I gasped, words failing me as my stolen orgasm muddled my brain.

"You"ll see…now squeeze your thighs around my cock, baby. Let me use this gorgeous body of yours." Bash started pumping his hips forward, causing his swollen length to piston in between my legs, grazing my balls on each thrust. At the same time, Bash wrapped a hand around my shaft, stroking it in time with his thrusts and it was pure fucking heaven.

"Oh fffuck, yes Bash," was all I managed to croak out, my release making a quick comeback and racing to the finish line. Bash kept smacking into my ass from behind, growing more erratic in his thrusts and I knew he was close.

"Fucking hell, you feel good, Micah…I can"t wait to watch you take my cock like a good boy…your greedy ass will swallow every inch and you"ll beg for my cum." His dirty mouth had me shaking, balancing precariously on a cliff"s edge. One more push and I"d fall to a sweet death.

"Bash, I"m gonna fucking come!" I cried, reaching down to grab the arm around my waist, needing to be as connected to him as possible.

"Fucking come for me, baby…give me that beautiful orgasm and cover my hand in it," Bash bit out, his hips stuttering as I felt warmth flood my inner thighs. My orgasm exploded from me in a rush of pleasure so intense it stole my breath and blacked out my vision.

"Oh fucking shit! Micah!" Bash shouted, his voice reaching me from far away, from another world where I no longer was. I was floating in space, outside of reality and only aware of the bone-melting bliss that was only possible out here. Bash had shot me into another universe and I didn"t want to come back down.

Vaguely, I realized that I was now on the cold tile floor, sitting sideways between Bash"s legs as he held me against his chest. His heartbeat was a metronome steadying my own pulse as I slowly floated back down to where he was, coming back into myself bit by bit. I felt his lips dropping sweet kisses to my temple as his arms tightened around me.

"Are you okay, baby?" Bash murmured to me. He reached up to turn off the icy water that had only just then seemed cold to me. It was a dire contrast to the heat that had raged through my blood not two minutes ago.

I tilted my head to look up at him, and he smiled softly when I caught his gaze. "That was amazing, BB…I don"t even have words," I mumbled, exhaustion leeching the energy from my bones.

Bash must"ve figured out I was fading fast, so he stood us up carefully and wrapped me in a plush, navy towel. Then without warning, he scooped me up in his arms and my own shot around his neck in a reflexive panic. "Relax, M, I"ve got you. I won"t let you fall, sweetheart," he laughed softly. I melted against him, feeling so adored and cared for that the heart that beat only for him thumped hard and fast in my chest.

He laid me back in bed and crawled in next to me, setting a phone timer for our date before he pulled me to him. I slung my leg over his hip and an arm across his waist, but tilted my face to his in a soundless request. Bash stroked my cheek and kissed me sweetly. "I love you, Micah. You have my whole heart, baby."

Sleep stole me from Bash"s embrace, but not before I whispered back "I love you more."

*****

Bash woke me up a couple hours later and we made our way to whatever mysterious place he planned to take me. I asked a million questions in the car, all of which went unanswered because I just couldn"t help myself. I was a contradictory mess, both loving being surprised and unable to stand being so out of the loop. The anticipation and frustration of the mystery had me fidgeting in my seat and running at the mouth.

Bash took it all in stride as he always did with me, proving that he had the patience of a martyred saint. I was not so useful in exercising patience, and my restless state of mind wasn"t calmed by how disturbingly hot my boyfriend looked while driving. He had dark wash jeans that showed off his toned thighs, a forest green v-neck that clung to his firm pecs and complemented his eyes, a snapback flipped backwards over his lush hair, and mirrored Oakleys that tied the look together in devastatingly sexy perfection. He drove with one arm flung over the steering wheel and kept his other hand clamped over my thigh, kneading the muscle every so often. I could probably swim in the puddle of drool I produced by the time we arrived at our destination. It really wasn"t fair on my poor hormones. They could only handle so much.

Twenty minutes later, we pulled into a small parking lot near a massive arched bridge that crossed over the river. It looked vaguely familiar, and I studied it from below until I felt Bash grab my hand. "Come on, baby. We need to hurry before we miss it." Bash tugged me towards a trail head that started to slope up, and I struggled to keep up with him.

"BB, slow down! Why are we rushing, you psycho? What are we missing?" I grumbled as he continued to drag me behind him in a weird power walk-jog as we scaled the rocky terrain.

"You"ll see if you hurry! We"re a little behind, and I want to make sure we get the full effect," Bash said, not seeming to break a sweat on our frenzied hike whereas I was panting up a storm. Oh come on, I used to run for fuck"s sake! I shouldn"t be this winded…I need to accept that if I was ever in a horror movie, I"d be the first to die. Bash called it. I"d be the token gay guy who wasn"t able to outrun the psycho killer because he likes pizza too much and hasn"t been to the gym in months.

We hike-jogged for another ten minutes before we reached a clearing at the top, and the breath left my body in one full whoosh. We had come to the top of a limestone cliff, the striations cutting earthy lines into the rock that seemed to flow over the edge of the cliff face. The breathtaking vista was split by the river that branched to the left and right of us, stretching on for miles with the weathered steel creating a rustic cage for the water beneath. The iron arch looked like outstretched arms curving to protect the bridge below as cars passed over it on the highway that ran off into the distance. It was nearly anachronistic, looking both out of place in our time and perfectly blending in.

The whole scene before me was incredible and picturesque, but the true beauty came from the sun that was just beginning to fade below the hills to our right. The red and orange flame was leaving hazy streaks that ricocheted off the hills and melted into the blue sky in a heart-stopping landscape. The colors blurred together in effortless harmony, and the serene blend was reflected in the river"s rippling surface.

Awestruck, I barely registered when Bash wrapped his arms around me from behind, planting a kiss on my neck before resting his chin on my shoulder, silently taking in the scenery with me. We stood like that for several minutes, hardly cognizant of the handful of other people there snapping pictures on the corner of the cliff outcropping.

"Bash…this is so beautiful," I whispered, soaking in the peaceful moment with his strong arms holding me.

"It"s called the 360 Bridge. I discovered this place during my freshman year, and I always wanted to see it during the sunset. Never managed to make it on time. I wanted to share it with you the first time I actually got to see it like this." Bash"s voice was filled with quiet wonder as he swayed us gently side to side, almost subconsciously.

"You did always have a thing for bridges," I chuckled softly. "I remember the summer you found that old, rickety train bridge in the woods near my house. You acted like you had discovered the Secret Garden or something, and took God knows how many pictures of that thing. Pretty sure you dragged me to it every day for a month before it got too hot."

Bash"s laugh rumbled through my back. "I don"t know why I was so obsessed with it. It just had this haunting, historic quality to it, you know? It was like it had been hidden in time, just waiting for someone to come find it again. It felt like we became part of its story when we discovered it. I liked thinking of it as a special kind of magic." I caught the wistfulness in his tone, and I turned my head to catch his eyes.

"Thank you for bringing me here, BB. It"s absolutely perfect," I told him earnestly. I felt the adoration and relief in his gaze down through to my toes. His lips brushed mine in a tender kiss, that simple touch saying so much without a word being spoken.

"I want to share everything special in my life with you, Micah. You were the one person who never judged me for my quirks or odd obsessions. You always made me feel like how I saw the world was special. Even when I told you how much of a techie I was, you never once made me feel stupid for wanting that, even if you teased me a bit for being a geek. It was like everyone expected me to be a certain way and like certain things, and you helped me feel like the real me was perfect as I was. You gave me strength to own the parts of me that I used to hate. God, I don"t know what I would have done without you, MM. You make everything better, sweetheart," Bash murmured, his nose nuzzling the spot behind my ear.

His sweet admission had my skin buzzing lightly, layers of emotion building in me as I thought of how far we"d come and everything we"d been through.

"We made each other better, baby. You pulled me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow, helped me stop being afraid of being part of the world. Without you, I probably would have settled on a community college and living at home, too scared to put myself out there and make friends and be myself. Before you, I had acquaintances at best, but no one who ever cared to know me on a deeper level. You talked to me, asked me about myself, encouraged every whim, and supported all my dreams even as a kid. You had such a beautiful heart, and you were the first person to care about me outside of my family. I don"t think I"d want to know the man I"d be if you hadn"t been my best friend. It"s not surprising I fell for you." My soft confession hung in the night air, the painted colors of the sunset now muddled below the horizon.

Bash let out a deep, happy sounding sigh as he twisted me in his arms until my upper body craned toward him. He cupped my jaw in one of his hands, his other arm still snug around my waist. His eyes studied my face, taking in every detail of my features as if they were a precious gift. The intimacy of the moment was made all the more intoxicating by the fact we were now the only ones remaining on the cliff edge. It felt as though we were the only two in the world, lost in each other and living a lifetime in a single heartbeat.

"Micah," Bash breathed, running his nose gently up and down the bridge of mine. "You mean the world to me. I"ll never stop falling in love with you. I fall more every single day, baby."

I was helpless to stop the tears that escaped from the corners of my lids as his lips slid against mine in a kiss so full of emotion that it pierced me through to my core. His tongue danced with mine in a languorous, careful exploration of the connection we shared, running so deep that it was impossible to remove.

It was a perfect moment in time, imprinted on my heart just like Bash was. He was more than my soulmate. He was a piece of my very soul, woven into my being.

After we managed to pull apart and pull ourselves together, Bash led me over to the edge of the cliff. We sat down with our legs hanging over, my head resting on Bash"s shoulder as we talked mindlessly while the moon rose over the riverscape. We discussed movies, books, our classes, our upcoming fall finals, and anything else that came to mind. It didn"t matter how many iterations of the same conversations we had over the years of our friendship, we never tired or grew bored with each other. I didn"t think we ever would.

When I mentioned a research paper I had written about the poor state of mental health care across Texas, Bash grew serious and nervous in the same breath. "B, you okay?" I was worried about the flip in his mood and wondered what I had said to trigger it.

"Yeah, I"m just…" he paused as if contemplating whether or not he wanted to tell me what was on his mind. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I"ve been working on something. An app designed for people to get better access to mental health services and keep track of their illness. It would have a symptom tracker and preliminary diagnostic tool, and be able to find therapists nearby who either accept insurance or do pro-bono counseling. Maybe even include articles about how to cope with mental illness and stuff. I want it to be a go-to for people struggling with psychological issues, like my mom. I really hope I can sell it one day and see it at work. It"s become a pet project, you know?" Bash looked so vulnerable and unsure of himself that it killed me to see.

My Bash was so confident in his abilities and didn"t get nervous about things like this. That only told me that he was genuinely invested in this idea, and he wanted it badly.

"Bash baby, that sounds amazing! I mean, it"s hard for people to know where to start when they"re dealing with that shit, you know? It"s overwhelming when you"re experiencing all these problems in your head and it"s hard to explain it to others. It"s also scary as fuck to not always know what the real problem is and try to seek out help when you"re not sure of the cause. And I know for a fact that Texas is ranked one of the worst states for mental health care, so this app would be a huge help to people who don"t have easy access to those types of services. You should also add a section for online therapy for people who might live out in the country or something!" My enthusiasm in his idea seemed to rub off on him because he was soon smiling and talking through all the particulars with me like I was his business partner. Excited and passionate Bash was one of my favorite sides of him, and I couldn"t hold back from kissing the giant grin off his face.

I attacked his mouth for a couple of minutes before we separated, panting and catching our breath. His smile was so sweet and stunning that it almost made me dive back in for more. I resisted only because his eyes boring into mine was one of the best feelings on earth. "Thank you so much for believing in me, M. It means more to me than I can ever tell you," Bash whispered, his thumbs stroking my cheeks as he held my face.

I reflected his smile back and kissed him softly, keeping my forehead pressed to his when we stopped. "I will always believe in you, Bash. I can"t wait to see what you accomplish, my love. And I want to be right by your side for every second of it. Always."