Chapter 58

FIFTY-EIGHT

I can't believe how many people came and saw my work tonight. Even now, I'm shocked as I stare at the empty gallery and my images still hanging on the wall. When I agreed to the showcase, I didn't know how it would go, but I'm so glad I did it.

Alek was supportive all night, singing my praises, and I swear I fell in love with him all over again.

Moving through my portraits, I stop before the one I never intended to put on display. It's a happy memory, even if I know what came after, but it's the last image I have of Tommy. We all look so happy and untouched by the violence this world offers, but we've all changed since that night, even in little ways.

Alice struggles to sleep with the lights off.

Lally is scared of loud noises, thinking it's gunfire even if she won't admit it.

Alek worries continually about all of us and is still healing.

Skylar . . . well, he won't admit it, but I found him placing flowers at Tommy's memorial, and Bones? Bones is Bones. He keeps it all inside, but we've become a lot closer.

As for me? I have nightmares, ones I don't tell Alek about, but he knows, and he never demands I speak. He simply holds me through them. Last night, when he pinned my hands behind me while we were playing, I freaked out so badly I cried.

Yes, we all have our shit now, and we will never be as free as we were in this photo, but we are alive and we have to keep living.

I can't dishonor Tommy and his sacrifice for me by not. It's hard, and sometimes I feel so much guilt for him dying to protect me that I can't breathe, but I'm trying.

I want to make him proud, so when we meet each other again, he'll give me that wicked Tommy smile and welcome me into his arms.

I never thought I'd have to live without him, but I am, and I know I would give anything for one more minute with him. He was so fucking young, but that is life. We take what we are given, and we find happiness between then and the end.

I smile through the pain as my eyes rove over his handsome face.

"You ready, pretty boy?" Alek calls, and I turn to see him standing with his hand out, waiting for me.

I turn forward, my eyes lingering on Tommy's face, and I smile softly. "You'll live on in all of us and through our art, I promise," I murmur before I take Alek's hand and let him lead me to the gallery exit. Once there, I look back at the image and reach out to turn off the light.

"Take me home," I tell Alek.

"Gladly." We head toward his car and our home.

Toward my future with him.

We barely make it through the front door before I grab him and throw him into a wall. I hear something crash, but neither of us care as our lips meet in a desperate, wicked kiss, our tongues tangling as he tries to strip my jacket off with a mumbled growl of impatience.

Grinning against his lips, I tug his shirt out of his pants and slip my hands inside the deep, gaping material, caressing his chest. He moans, his head falling back against the wall as I slide my mouth down his throat and across his pecs.

"Pretty boy," he begs.

Smirking, I slide lower until I'm on my knees, and I meet his gaze.

"Fuck," he whispers. "You look like a goddamn angel right now on your knees for me. You make me feel like a fucking devil about to defile you."

"Hmm, really?" I ask as I undo his belt and slowly tug his pants down, exposing his tight black boxers and his huge, hard length underneath. The sight makes my mouth dry as my dick jerks. I want to feel him inside me. "I think it's more like I'm about to defile you," I retort with a grin.

"Too fucking true. You've tempted me since we first met," he growls, sliding his hand into my hair as I place a kiss on his cock. Gliding my mouth up his body, I press my lips to his once more.

"Then let me tempt you again," I whisper wickedly. "I know what I want as a prize for being a good boy and keeping my hands to myself all night." We've talked about it before.

He smirks. "You felt me up in the bathroom."

"Doesn't count." I nip his lips. "I want your ass. I want to be inside you while I stare into your eyes."

I pull back slightly, watching him gulp. I know it's a big step for him, and I can wait, but it's what I want. I've been imagining it for so long. "Evan," he whispers.

"I'll be gentle," I promise, kissing him softly. Sliding my hand down, I grip his cock and rub him through his boxers. "Don't you want that? Me inside of you? Claiming all of you?"

"Yes." He pushes himself into my hand.

Stepping back, I release him as I take off my jacket and toss it aside, kicking off my shoes, then I head to the stairs. "Then come on, big guy, let me make you feel good."

He stumbles after me, swearing as he shoves his pants off and slips his arms around me from behind as we hurry up stairs. He grabs my pecs before slamming me into the hallway wall, yanking my pants down and ripping at my shirt until I hear buttons ping away as he strips it from me. His lips slide down my back before he bites the globe of my ass, making me moan. Desire hammers through me so hard I can barely think.

My cock weeps, desperate to be inside him, my abs clenching in want.

"Alek," I warn as he slides up, his hands hitting the wall on either side of my head as he presses against my back, rubbing his hard cock along my ass.

"You want me, pretty boy? Then you better fight for it," he whispers darkly, and I grin.

I knew he wouldn't make it easy, and it's exactly what I want. I spin in his arms and leap. He catches me as I wrap my legs around his waist, both of us grunting as we hit the other wall. His palm grips my ass, and he turns and stalks to his room, carrying me easily, and once there, he throws me onto his bed. I slide and twist, landing on top of him, pressing my mouth to his ear.

"You're mine, Alek Anders, just accept it."

He tries to push me off, and I lift up enough for him to roll, his dark eyes watching me hungrily as I tangle our legs together, rubbing my body against his. "You're mine too, pretty boy," he says, placing his hand on my shoulders then sliding it down to grip my ass. "But show me how much I'm yours. I need you."

The old Alek never would have dared to utter those words, so in reward, I lean down and kiss him until he's panting, rolling his hips against me.

Reaching over to the bedside table, I uncork the bottle and rub the cold lube over my dick before kissing him again. "Lift your legs, baby."

He does as I ask, hooking his hands behind his knees and lifting them as I continue to kiss him, circling his hole with two lubed fingers until he pushes onto them like we've been playing with. Sliding them inside him, I work them deep as he moans against my lips, his whole body jerking. "Does that feel good, baby?"

He hums, licking my lips as I work them deeper before pulling them out. "Then imagine how good I'll feel," I tell him as I twine our hands and hold them above his head while I press my dick against his hole.

Leaning down, I kiss him once more before leaning up.

He looks up at me, his eyes wide. "Have you ever . . ." He trails off, but I know what he's asking.

I claim his lips in a promising kiss. "No, this is my first time doing this, and I'm glad it's with you."

When he relaxes, I slowly press inside him, letting him adjust as I work myself into his tight, warm ass. Feeling him wrapping around me as his plush lips part on a moan is addictive, and I know we'll be doing this over and over if he lets me just so I can capture that expression again.

"Evan," he groans, pushing down to take me deeper.

"That's it, let me make you feel good," I murmur as I work myself as deep as I can, and then I lean down and kiss him as he adjusts to me being inside him. He feels so fucking good, so fucking tight and hot, that I can barely hold back, but I do. I finally get why he's like an animal when he fucks me.

"God, move, please."

Keeping our hands together, I slide my lips across every inch of his body I can reach as I pull out and thrust back in, claiming his ass with slow, rolling thrusts that have us both groaning.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck." He releases my hands to grip the bedding, ripping at it before they slide up my thighs.

Smirking, I tilt his hips so I hit his prostate with each thrust, making him cry out below me. His dark eyes open in shock, his breath leaving him in a woosh. "Oh fuck, there, right there?—"

"I've got you, princess." I lick my lips and run my eyes over his tattooed, muscular body. I love how he looks below me and hearing the pleas on his lips.

I pull out and slam back in, speeding up. I need to watch him bounce on my cock, need to be as deep as I can. His tight, hot ass grips me like a fucking vise, already making me want to blow.

He moans loudly, the sound so fucking hot I can't take it. I bite his nipple, making him yelp, and then I sooth it with my tongue while I fuck his ass. His hands grip my hips, urging me on.

"Evan, I can't—it feels too good."

I bottom out in his clinging ass, fighting my own pleasure as I watch him. "Shh, baby, I've got you. Hold out a bit longer, I don't want to come just yet. I want to feel and see you like this all night."

His nails dig into my skin, cutting it, his jaw jumping as he grits his teeth, fighting his release as I stroke inside him. Sweat drips down our bodies as we fight off the inevitable pleasure so we can be locked like this forever.

"Please, pretty boy," he whimpers. "I can't . . . You feel too good—I—oh fuck!"

I watch as his cock jerks and swells before shooting ropes of cum all over his chest as he gasps and shudders below me, his thighs shaking against my body from the force.

Seeing him come like that pushes me into madness. I can't take it either.

My lips meet his once more, swallowing his grunt of pleasure, and then I follow him, filling his pretty ass with my cum. I slump into him, our bodies still locked. His arms come around me as he kisses the top of my head, and I kiss over his racing heart.

"I love you, Alek Anders, every single inch of you, even that cruel, mocking mouth."

"I love you too, pretty boy, even if you act like a rich prick."

I can't help but smile. Everything feels right in the world when we are like this.