Chapter Eight

With Ben tucked in beside him, acetaminophen running through his veins, and a broken fever, Rider felt a lot better. Ben slept peacefully, as if he hadn't already slept through the night at the ER. Rider felt oddly awake for someone who dozed off and on all night. He couldn't stop thinking about the report Richard had sent or how casually Ben admitted to handling everything alone. A background check had been run on Ben when they hired him, but juvenile records were sealed. Rider couldn't have known Ben had been kicked out by his parents at fourteen. He had lived on the streets, in and out of jail until he turned seventeen. Then a charity that helped gay teens rejected by their parents to find shelter and education for a successful future had stepped in. Ben really had handled everything alone. He wasn't alone now. Rider saw him.

He ran his fingers through Ben's hair. Ben shivered in his sleep. Rider tucked him in tighter. He was still so fucking angry with himself for not paying attention and a little mad at Ben for always nearly killing himself for Rider's sake. Ben could've died coming back to work that soon after such a major surgery. As much as Rider understood now, Ben was drowning in medical debt, but Ben should have said something. Rider would never let him struggle. But Ben never told him anything. It was like Ben didn't see him as human, and it was Rider's fault.

Since hanging up his skates, Rider had fought so fucking hard to hang on to hockey. It destroyed everything in his life, especially him. He had turned into an unfeeling robot who put work over everything. Then this gorgeous and maddening fireball had burst into his life, refusing to put up with his shit. Rider couldn't live without him. So Ben had to let him in.

Rider kissed his forehead.

"You should be sleeping." Ben sounded more asleep than awake.

"Don't worry. I'll fall asleep soon."

Ben snuggled closer. "Good. I need you better."

"I'll be fine." Because he had Ben. That was all he needed.

Ben stared at the expanse of Rider's shoulders. There was a sexy spot between his shoulder blades that called for Ben's lips. He scooted closer, trying not to wake him. All he had to do was kiss that spot, and he would know if Rider still had a fever. He gave in to temptation. A sexy chuckle made Ben's lips vibrate with them pressed against Rider's back.

"Do you plan to do anything with that?"

"What?"

Rider shifted, pressing his ass against Ben's erection. "That."

Ben hid a smile.

"I can feel you smiling against my skin."

Ben kissed him again because he couldn't resist. "I would never molest a sick man."

"I've never been too sick to get molested in my entire life."

They had stripped to their underwear before going to bed. There was so much sexy muscle on display. Ben couldn't resist him. His lips found that same spot between Rider's shoulders. He dipped his hand inside Rider's underwear at the hip, peeling it down a hair.

"I know you like getting blown. What else do you like?"

Rider took a ragged-sounding breath and Ben knew he was hard for him. "I'm kind of partial to getting fucked, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to watch you come."

God, he was perfect. They had spent one night touching, but the topic of preferences hadn't been discussed. Rider gave off top energy. Ben would rather not bottom, but—like Rider—he would happily do whatever it took to make Rider blow. He just wanted to be with Rider.

Ben hummed against Rider's skin as he pushed Rider's underwear down another inch. "There's nothing I want more than to be inside you."

Rider whimpered in a way that had Ben leaking pre cum.

Ben urged Rider onto his stomach. He straddled Rider's body and kissed his nape. "You're still on the mend. Just rest. I'll take care of you."

Rider didn't move or make a sound—like he was afraid Ben would stop if he disobeyed.

Condoms and lube sat on the bedside table. Ben tried not to think about that too much. He grabbed both and moved them to the bed, where he could find them later. First, he wanted to explore and enjoy every inch of Rider. He had spent too many nights dreaming. Ben had to know if reality lived up to fantasy.

He slowly stripped Rider of his underwear as he kissed a path down Rider's spine. Ben stopped to nibble his ass cheek. Damn. The globes of his ass were so firm and perfect. Years of skating showed in his powerful lower body. Once Ben had Rider nude, he quickly stripped off his own underwear so he would be ready the instant he needed to be. His lips found Rider's skin again. He licked the small of Rider's back.

Rider made a sound that had Ben hiding a smile.

Ben opened a condom and rolled it down his length. He wet his fingers with the lube. His lips stayed glued to Rider's back as he shifted positions, urging Rider to make room for him between his thighs. Ben fought the urge to impale him immediately. That wasn't really what he wanted. Ben needed Rider to know he was worshiped. There was no one else out there who wanted Rider as badly as Ben. No one else would put him on a pedestal the way Ben would.

He coated the outside of his condom in lube as he kissed his way lower. Rider breathed harder by the second, openly anticipating Ben's next move. He wouldn't make Rider wait. Ben grabbed Rider's ass cheeks and spread them, going face first between them. His tongue found Rider's asshole. Rider whimpered while Ben licked and prodded. He moved restlessly beneath Ben. Ben tortured him until Rider begged.

"Please?"

It was the quietest of whispers. Ben didn't miss it. He shot upward and pressed his crown against Rider's waiting hole. Ben froze. He waited until he felt Rider's muscles relax. Then he thrust.

The cry that tore from Rider was everything. It was pure need. Ben dug his knees into the mattress and took Rider's ass. He was hot and tight. Greedy. Ben thought he might go insane. He hadn't been inside anyone in almost three years. Plus, Rider was his biggest fantasy. Ben had to keep his back teeth locked to stop himself from coming immediately. He shifted positions until a deep moan vibrated from Rider. At the sound, Ben went to work. He pounded that spot that would drive Rider wild.

Neither of them spoke. It was like they were both too lost in the reality of the moment. Ben had the only man he wanted. He couldn't focus on words. Nothing mattered except ensuring Rider came back for more. Unlike Rider, Ben had nothing else to offer. He didn't have money, fame, or even a family. But Ben would love him and fuck him like no one else ever had before. Rider could leave him behind any time he liked, but he would damn well remember Ben.

Rider's muscles tensed.

Ben held his breath and kept up the pace.

Rider's entire body jerked while he muffled a cry with his face buried in the mattress. His body convulsed, milking Ben. Ben bit his bottom lip and squeezed his eyes closed. His entire being focused on the pressure climbing his cock. Then ecstasy. A loud pant burst from him as his dick jumped and spat inside Rider's ass. Breathy whimpers sounded muted against Rider's skin. His orgasm was top tier. He had wanted to come just like this for much longer than he cared to admit, even to himself. Rider was so much more of everything than anyone else. He was exhilarating and maddening. Rider was Ben's personal rollercoaster. Ben couldn't get enough. He prayed this didn't end.

Truthfully, Rider still felt sick as hell. His muscles ached and his head pounded. But for a while, Ben had taken all that away. Ben had eaten his ass, fucked him senseless, and then cleaned him up and tucked him into bed. Spoiled didn't begin to cover the way Ben treated him. Things should have been the other way around. Ben was the one with a set of stitches and an ambulance ride under his belt. Rider would make them even. He swore it.

For now, his eyelids felt too heavy.

Rider didn't want to fall asleep. Ben was in the shower. He watched the door, waiting to see him again. His gaze moved toward the dresser where they had left the flowers from Tanner. He supposed he should go back to work. Ben needed his job… unless he could convince Ben to let him take care of him. Rider's eyes slid closed. Ben was too independent. He would never want to be that reliant on Rider.

The bed dipped beside him. Rider's eyes shot open. It was dark. He didn't recall falling asleep, but the day was gone. "What time is it?"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. It's ten p.m."

Rider snagged Ben's waist and hauled him against his chest, tucking him tightly against his body. A content sigh escaped him. "That's better." He slid his hand up Ben's bare stomach to his chest, savoring every second until he reached Ben's heart. Rider closed his eyes and focused on the steady thump against his palm. He had never felt less alone in his life. Rider knew at that moment he would never be happy sleeping without Ben again. "I'll go back to work tomorrow."

"If you're feeling up to it and that's what you want, then that's cool with me."

Rider kissed Ben's ear. "I don't know if it's what I want, but it's the adult thing to do, I suppose. But I also need to set some boundaries with Tanner, and we can't keep killing ourselves for zero appreciation. I want our nights to be like this. Not at the office, scrambling to make deals happen."

"Okay. I'll help you talk to Tanner."

"No." This one time, Rider didn't want that. "You'll try to smooth things over, and I don't want that. I'm tired of getting walked on and micromanaged." He squeezed Ben, hugging him because he couldn't resist. "But I also don't want you to worry. No matter what happens, you won't be unemployed. I'd never knowingly let you struggle. We'll talk more about that tomorrow."

"All right. I trust you."

That was all Rider needed to hear. He planned to take good care of Ben. "Goodnight, baby."

"Goodnight."

Rider heard the smile in Ben's voice. That was good. Rider would keep him that way. First, Tanner. Then, he would build them something new and better. They were done with the constant hustle. It was time to focus on them. Rider planned to take over Ben's life in a whole new way. He couldn't wait to feel better, so he could give Ben the attention he deserved.