24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Shane

Ten Years of Age

“ G o away, Mouse! You're so annoying!” I stood at the front door of the Michaels’, hearing the oldest girl shout through the wood.

“But I want to play too!”

“Boys aren’t supposed to do their nails!”

“Why not? I would look great with nail polish, and I could do yours, too!”

Another deep, booming voice rang through the house. “Elias, leave your sisters alone. Nail polish isn't for boys. Go find something else to entertain yourself.”

“But Jarman is out with his family today.”

“Do something by yourself.”

I took that as my cue to knock.

Eli’s chipper voice filtered through the door. “I’ll get it!”

His eyes brightened when his gaze landed on me.

“Hey, Mo-- oof .”

He flung his tiny little body into mine, forcing me to catch him. He pulled back after I gave him a squeeze, and I could see the hurt in his face at being rejected by his sisters.

“Come on,” I told him, taking his hand and pulling him out of the house. We trudged up the short path to my place, where my sisters were all huddled on the couch together, exhausted from the annual school shop.

“Hey, Mouse’s sisters wouldn’t let him paint his nails. Want to help us?” And just like that, my sisters were all scrambling off the couch to get their beauty supplies.

Present

"Will you stop pacing? You're just as bad as Tyler," Cal scolded.

"Hey!" Tyler interjected.

I was moving around the house restlessly, nerves making my body vibrate

"Oh please, you two are wearing a track in the floor,” Cal continued.

Tyler grumbled, but we both knew Cal was right. He and Hunter were definitely more relaxed—or maybe just the type to worry internally. But for me, sitting still was out of the question. Eli hadn’t answered a single one of my calls or texts since that morning. Despite his assurances that he didn’t have any regrets about us, I couldn’t help but get the feeling that something had changed.

"Mouse can navigate the city, Jarman,” Cal said in an attempt to comfort me. “He might be young at heart, but he isn't really a child."

"It's not that," I began, struggling to put my thoughts into words. "It's just…Well, we…" I stopped myself. I wasn’t sure if Eli was ready for them to know. The mere thought of it made my stomach churn. I wasn't sure I could be a closeted partner—I'd kept my sexuality under wraps before, but I knew what it was like to be open and proud with a boyfriend. And with Eli, I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. But was it something he could give me?

“Oh my god, you slept together!” Cal shouted.

I froze on the spot, heat crawling up my collar. Both sets of eyes were on my face, which must have said it all, because I saw his expression change.

“I don’t know why I didn’t pick up on this sooner!” Cal launched to his feet, damn near bouncing on his toes. “My gaydar needs some tweaking. God, was it good? Has he realized the magic of a good dicking?”

The door pushed open and Eli looked around the room.“Wehaven't got to the dicking yet, but I’ll let you know—but I’ve definitely learned that two cocks are better than one.” Then those blue eyes met mine—and he winked. Fuck, my little Mouse was a tease. Despite the playful gesture and the flush creeping over my cheeks, I was out of my mind.

"Where have you been? I've been worried sick," I blurted out, storming across the room but stopping short of touching him. I wasn’t sure where we stood on PDA—even with the reveal of our sexual relationship.

"Busy. I bumped into your ex-boyfriend. I get what you saw in him now," Eli said casually. I blinked. Those definitely weren’t the words I expected to hear.

"Oh, yeah?" I managed, cutting my eyes to the other two in the room. It was a silent gesture to leave, but they looked ready to break out the popcorn

"Yeah, he helped me out, and I was pretty busy after sorting out a few things," Eli continued, acting as if it were just another day. He sauntered up to me, gripping my biceps and standing on his toes to stamp a kiss to my cheek.

I stood there, dumbfounded, hoping my expression conveyed the urgency for him to elaborate—but he didn’t look back. My stomach clenched as Walked the fuck away.

"Oh, no, no, no, no—of all the times you could choose not to talk, now is not one of them, Mouse! What the fuck did he say?" I demanded, frustration swirling with the anxiety in my gut.

Eli glanced over his shoulder, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Just some advice, that's all," he quipped, shrugging his shoulder and shutting the bedroom door.

I turned to face Tyler and Cal, who were clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Advice?! What kind of advice?" Though our spectators had nothing to say on the matter

I spun on my heel, stomping down the hall and shoving through the bedroom door, finding Eli in the midst of stripping off his work clothes. The sight of that perky little ass distracted me momentarily. But I was not about to drop the subject because of that ass—even if those red Calvin Klein briefs did cradle it perfectly.

I forced my eyes back to Eli’s, which sparkled with amusement.

“See something you like?” He shook his hips, all innocent and cute, which was my kryptonite when it came to Eli Michaels. My cock twitched behind my sweats. Damn him.

“You know I do, but you’re not about to weaponize that thing. Now why did you and my ex decide to have a little pow wow?”

Eli snickered. “‘Pow wow?”

“Eli,” I scolded—or tried to. Damn it, he looked good in those boxer briefs

“He said that he’s a hopeless romantic and he’s happy for us. I really, really didn’t want to like him, but he’s too damn nice—and good looking. Which I hate to admit because I don’t want to compete with Mr. Perfect when I’m all rumpled and scrawny.”

“I love rumpled Eli—every part of you.”

Eli’s eyes lit up. “Good. Then he said he was worried about me, that I didn’t seem happy. And he wanted me to be happy so I could be everything you deserve.”

I folded my arms. “‘Everything I deserve?’ I’m lucky to have you, Eli—any part of you you’ll give me.”

Eli gave me that goofy grin, crossing the room until I could wrap him in my arms. “He was right though,” I opened my mouth to argue, but he continued. “About me being happy, that is. I’ve been hiding a lot of things and dismissing even more—and Jordan got me to admit it.”

That stung. I knew my Eli wasn’t happy, but I didn’t know what to do to make it better. “Eli…” My eyes burned, tears pricking beneath the surface. Just the thought of him hurting ripped me apart.

“Let me finish, babe. When I said I was unhappy, that it wasn’t just me being unhappy with myself—but my life. I needed to remember what made me happy, and learn to chase that instead of what was expected of me.”

I clenched my jaw, annoyed that I’d have to thank Jordan for getting through when I couldn’t. Though I was also happy that Eli finally saw it. “And what makes you happy, sweetheart?” I asked.

Eli looked up at me, big blue eyes sparkling. It made my body forget how to function. “You and hockey—in that order. I love you, Shane.”

I didn't realize a tear had left my eye until Eli was catching it with his lips.

“I’ve always known it. I took it for granted, and I didn’t realize it until it was gone. I want this life with you. I want to be on the ice.”

I slid my hands up his chest to cup his cheeks, feeling the smooth, silky skin under my fingertips. “I want a life with you, too, so much.”

His lips meet mine, all too briefly. I had to bite back a whine as he pulled away. “Good, that's one thing off the checklist. I have been busy, I spent all day applying for any job on the ice that I could, which is surprisingly a lot. Jordan may have helped and left me your boss's card. He gave me a few names to contact, in which I did and left my details with them, they said they would get back to me, so… here's hoping.”

His words came out in the frantic rush, that typical “Mouse” energy pulling a smile to my face.

“That's amazing; anyone would be lucky to have you. What are you going to tell your dad?”

And just like that, my Eli disappeared again. His smile fell and teeth sank into his bottom lip.

"That's the hard part—I’ve failed him," Eli confessed, his voice thick. "He isn't going to like it, and I don’t know how he will handle… us, you know? But I want to tell him in person. I think he deserves that much, but I’m scared. I have all these what ifs in my head—what if he doesn't accept us? What if he doesn’t accept me ? What if he doesn't see me as his son anymore? I’ve looked up to him my entire life. Yeah, he was tough but he was a good dad…I don’t want to say goodbye but the man I know now is so different—I can’t have him as a boss and my dad."

I nodded, understanding all too well. My man was a people pleaser through and through. He lived for people's smiles, especially those he loved. Having your father suddenly scolding you every five seconds and leading you into a life you didn’t want was enough to make anyone cower in the corner.

“How about we go together? We can do a family dinner, invite my whole crew so you have all the support. Just rip the band aid off all at once.” I suggested.

Eli mulled it over, a nervous smile curling his lips. “Yeah, I think that's the way to go. I want… this, and I want to feel like I did yesterday. This morning, I woke to horrible emails, and you didn’t give me a morning kiss hello. You went to Cal first. I just felt like it was all a slap in the face: first shit emails about what a failure I am and then my man going to someone else.”

I grimaced, not realizing that my actions hurt him like that. “Sweetheart, I didn’t mean for it to be like that. I wasn’t sure if you wanted the others to know—”

“Of course I do!” Eli shouted. “I didn’t have this big revelation for you not to give me any attention! I’m sorry, but I’m needy. I want all of your attention—I think I want it more now than ever.”

Feeling a pang of guilt, I grabbed him and hauled him close, lifting him until he wrapped his legs around my waist. “Don’t ever apologize for being you, for saying what you want. I love it when my man’s needy for me.”

“As long as I’m that man, ”he huffed against my lips.

“You are all the man I need, little Mouse,” I reassured him.

His lips crashed against mine, tongue plunging into my mouth. I smoothed my warm palms over the cool skin of his back. Eli rutted against me, blood rushing south so fast it made my head spin.

“I want you,” he whispered between kisses. “I want to feel you—all of you—inside me.”

A feral, animalistic noise left me. “Promise to tell me—”

“I promise—but I won't. I want all of you.”

I moved to the bed, crawling onto the mattress as I gently lowered him to the pillows. I rose onto my knees to look at him, to really drink him in. Eli’s cock was hard and leaking, the wet spot spreading on the cotton letting me know how turned on he was—by me .

I leaned over and kissed his cheek, his jaw, then below his ear, pulling a whine from his lips as he arched into my touch. He tugged at my hoodie until I lifted to pull it over my head. His hands clawed at my back, nails biting into my skin. Fuck, I loved how responsive my little Mouse was. I kissed along his collarbone and followed down his smooth chest and stomach, right down to his golden happy trail. The number of times I saw that little trail of hair and wanted to follow it with my tongue…I spent so long scolding myself for wanting something I couldn’t have.

But now he was mine.

His hands moved to my hair, palms brushing the short buzz cut. I lookup to see him watching me through his thick blond lashes, breath coming out in short pants, lips sinfully red from the passionate kisses. I wanted him to, ruffled and debauched because of me. I mouthed over his hot length through the cotton, the sound of my name leaving his lips music to my ears.

“Please,” he whined. “I want you inside me.”

I nipped the inside of his thigh before soothing the sting with my tongue, “patience sweet Mouse.”

I hooked my fingers behind his waistband, slowly pulling the fabric down with each sweet little whimper that left him. Once it was exposed, I blew a breath over that sensitive skin. He bowed up, causing his cockhead to brush my lips. I licked away the sticky, sweet reward.

“Babe, please.”

God, I loved it when he begged. I licked a stripe up his shaft, dipping into his slit to collect more of that intoxicating liquid, the taste exploding on my tongue. I moaned, knowing there would never be a day I got over the taste of him.

Before it became too addictive, I reached over to my bedside table, enjoying the view of a panting, flushed Eli lying with his legs splayed open for me. God, he was the most beautiful man. I grabbed the bottle of lube and a condom, pausing to gauge his reaction. There was no trace of fear, those blue eyes blown wide with nothing but desire that had the potential to consume me. His hand hovered over his cock, giving himself a gentle tug. I was quick to get between his legs and bat his hand away. “Mine,” I murmured, ducking between his legs and sucking one of his balls into my mouth. I moved to the other, loving the feel of them on my tongue.

The noises coming out of Eli’s mouth were filthy and obscene. I trailed lower, hooking my arms around his hips and tilting them to find the perfect angle. The sight of his pretty little hole made my dick jump against my stomach. I took a breath to steel myself, because there was no way I was coming until I was balls deep inside my man. I lapped my tongue over him, fumbling for the lube with one hand. I licked over that tight little pucker while I lubed my fingers, humming at the taste, the vibrations against his skin making him squirm.

I smiled, swirling my tongue around his hole until the muscles relaxed. My lubed finger followed and at first, there was resistance until my sweet Mouse relaxed and let me in. I worked him open, loving the way he writhed under my touch and rocked onto my fingers. I worked another finger in on the next stroke, sucking and licking at him to keep him relaxed. Eli was completely under my command and fuck, it had me dripping like a faucet. I scissored and worked his hole open, hitting his prostate in measured thrusts before adding a third digit.

“Please, babe. Please, please, please…” he pleaded, which had me ripping off my sticky sweats and suiting up in record time. I took his leg and wrapped it around my hip, opening him up and hovering over him so I could see that beautiful face.

I paused for a moment to take him in. For so long he was the only man I really wanted, the man I dreamed and shamelessly came to from the moment sex came into the picture… And he was mine , looking at me with such affection and trust it took the air straight from my lungs. I lined my cockhead up with his entrance, pausing to give him one last chance to back out.

He didn’t.

The heat from those pretty eyes was enough to have me pushing through. I gave a tentative rock of my hips, not missing the slight wince on his face. I poised myself to stop, to retreat, but his head thrashed back and forth on the pillow. “Don’t stop.” He rocked his hips, taking me in even deeper.

I moved a hand between us, fisting his cock and giving him slow, deliberate strokes. With each pass Eli thrust into my palm, seeking my touch. He jolted forward and bucked back, unsure which touch he craved more. I bottomed out, pausing to let him adjust to the intrusion. I waited until he started to move, squirming beneath me and whimpering, “Please, Shane; don’t stop.”

I pulled back and snapped my hips forward, groaning against the sensation of his tight heat. Each thrust pulled filthier words from his mouth, eventually trailing off into a string of incoherent mumbles. My orgasm tingled the base of my spine but I held off—Eli was coming first. And judging by the way his cock throbbed between us, he was close.

“Like my cock in your ass, sweet Mouse?” I angled his leg higher on my torso and pegged his prostate once more.

“Yes!”

“Goodboy, because this ass is mine.”

“Yours,” he muttered between desperate attempts at drawing in a breath. “It's yours; I’m yours.”

“You take me so good, sweetheart.” The praise made his blue eyes brighter. I leaned down, needing his lips on mine. We kissed, my hips slowing to give deliberate attention to his sweet spot. His cock wept between us, creating a slick glide between our stomachs. Eli released his grip on the sheets, clawing at my ass and pulling me closer. Our bodies molded together like they were made from each other. He groaned and spurted between us, hot, wet come spreading over my stomach. His ass strangled my cock so tightly that it was impossible not to surrender to my own orgasm.

My vision whited out, electricity shooting through my veins. I’d never come so hard in my life. I collapsed over Eli, nuzzling into the crook of his neck.

“God, that was amazing,” he murmured against my ear.

“Mmhmm…” was all I could manage, enjoying his hands mapping out every inch of my body.

Worried that I would crush him, I moved to push up only to have him hold me tighter. “I like your weight on me.” His lips met my neck, making me relax into him.

“We do have to clean up eventually.”

“We will. I just want to hold you for a little longer.”

Those words combined with the feathered touch of his fingers over my back sent a shiver down my spine. I melted in his arms, falling into a sense of comfort I’d never felt before. I loved looking after Eli, from commanding his body to protecting him with my life, but having Eli love me like that was something I never knew I needed. Now that I had it, I never wanted it to go away.