Chapter 15

15

ISAAC

There are questions I want to ask Adrian. Does he know how to drive? How did he expect to get to Sumner? How did he survive those days when he was on the run? But those questions can wait. Because right now? Simon is asleep, we're alone, and talking is the last thing on my mind.

"So, is Star Trek really better than Star Wars ?" Adrian asks after I check that Simon is, in fact, asleep. The kid can fake it and then be up playing as soon as my back is turned. But today wiped him out.

"Do you really care about that?" I reclaim my spot next to him on the couch and run my fingers down his chest. His eyes widen, and I worry he's going to bolt. I'm never this forward. For several reasons. I don't go to the gym. My focus is Simon. And things like working out are a luxury I can't afford money-wise or time-wise. So I have a dad-bod, and I accept that.

Guys are another luxury I can't usually afford. Because they come at a cost. And Simon is the one who pays. I need to slow this thing with Adrian down for that reason. But kissing Adrian and hopefully getting him naked is all I can think about. I trust Adrian. That should worry me more than it does. But right now? I want something for myself.

But the man is still going on about Star Trek and Star Wars . "This interests you." He gestures to the models on the bookshelf. "So I'm curious. Which one do you like better?"

"Right now, I don't care about either of them. Or anything but continuing what we started earlier." I climb onto his lap and his hands move to his side as if he's afraid to touch me. I kiss his chin. "Adrian?"

"Yes." He stares at my chest. And not in a lustful way.

I sigh. "What's going on?"

He still doesn't look at me. "Nothing."

"Nothing is right. I'm throwing myself at you, Adrian, so something should be going on. Unless…you don't really want…" Oh God. Have I misunderstood? Why would he want a single dad from Mule Creek, Missouri? And now I've thrown myself at him. But earlier…did something turn him off? Was it Simon's poop comment? Or did he hate dinner. Or just decide?—

His arm wraps around me, keeping me in place, and he finally looks at me. "I want you, Isaac. You're all I think about."

"Really?" Why is my voice squeaking? I clear my throat. "Then kiss me already."

He smiles, showing off his dimples. The kiss is sweet, and I quickly turn it into more. It's been a long fucking time. And there's a hot guy on my couch. My son is asleep and not likely to wake up. This is it. I'm not wasting a minute. I move his hands to my ass. Adrian is a gentleman and all that, but I'm giving him the signal that this is a go. A rocket grenade of a signal. Why is he not taking it?

I kiss him again, slowing it down but savoring every taste. "Isaac." Slow kisses down my neck. His hands in my hair. Now we're getting somewhere.

There are too many clothes between us. And we need to take this to the bedroom in case Simon wakes up, but I'm not willing to risk him pulling away. I have the first few buttons undone on his shirt when he grabs my hands. "Wait, Isaac. Please."

The no in his voice has me scrambling off him, turning away to hide my humiliation. And my hard-on. What now? Is there a protocol to follow after unsuccessfully attempting to seduce a prince? You're too boring. Paul's words haunt me.

"I'm getting a drink," I say, barely looking at him. "Do you want anything?" I wait a second and then dart to the kitchen before he can answer. And before I break down.

When he doesn't come after me, I'm relieved. And disappointed. I scrub my face and down an entire glass of water. I turn and lean against the counter. Adrian is standing in the doorway.

"Hi."

"I'm sorry I threw myself at you." I hang my head, not wanting to see the pity—secondhand embarrassment?—in his eyes. He probably gets hit on all the time.

"Don't be sorry." Adrian sounds closer. His warm hand cups my cheek, and I lean into his touch. He tips my face until our eyes meet. The embarrassment is there. God.

"You don't have to be so nice."

"I'm not being nice. If I was nice, I'd tell you this has nothing to do with you."

Oh God. Not the it's-not-you-it's-me speech. I can't turn away because he's holding me firm. "Adrian?—"

"Please let me say this." He kisses my forehead. "I've never used a knife until today." Kisses my nose. "Or cleared a table." He kisses my jaw. "I've never even driven a car."

"Never?"

He shakes his head. "There are so many things I've never done, Isaac."

My eyes dart to his with sudden understanding. "You've never had sex?"

"I have. With my intended bride. And it was awkward and not satisfying in the least. I thought it was me. I've never felt the need to be with anyone in that way. Until you."

"Really?" My heart skips a beat or two.

"I want to be with you, Isaac. So much. But I feel helpless. And stupid." He backs up and puts his hands behind his head. And for a second, I'm mesmerized by his arms. He drags his hands over his face.

All this time, I've made it about me. It really has nothing to do with me. Except I've been making it worse. Time to regroup. I grab his hands and pull them down. "So what you're telling me is this is like the knife."

"Yes," he says, his eyes downcast.

I lean closer. "You need me to help you hold it and show you where to point it? I can do that."

He laughs, and his body seems to relax. "Yes. Exactly."

I wrap my arms around his waist. The scent and warmth of his body has mine reacting. Adrian slips his hand to my nape, his thumb rubbing circles and driving me crazy. I squeeze his ass because I can, and fuck , I've wanted to do it for so long. Pushing up to my toes, I kiss him again. Slowly. Gently. Letting him set the pace. And when he starts getting into it, deepening the kiss, I pull away. His pupils are dilated and his lips swollen. Fuck. He looks good.

"Can I touch you, Adrian?" He closes his eyes, his breaths quickening, but he nods. I move my hand between us and push against the bulge in his pants. He moans and thrusts into my hand.

"Isaac, I—" He chokes on his words when I squeeze his hard cock.

It's not enough. I undo his belt and then the button of his pants. I whine a little as my fingers finally gain access, slipping past his briefs and wrapping around his hot cock. The sexy sounds he's making escalate as I stroke him. I suck on his neck and whisper in his ear, "I think this knife is sharp enough. Let's go stab a few things."

"God, yes."

The geek is stronger in my room, but I can't worry about that. Adrian either likes me or doesn't at this point. And the way he's desperately kissing me, I'd say he likes me. We tumble onto the bed, and he stops kissing me and pulls away as if he's just now realizing where this is going.

"Can we take it slow?" he asks, and then before I can answer, he adds, "I just don't want to mess this up. I have a tendency to do that."

"You can't mess this up. I don't expect you to be perfect, Adrian."

"Huh." His brows crinkle. "Right. That's good then."

I run my thumb over his brows. They are exquisite. I suddenly wish I could draw. "Do you want to just explore each other?—"

"Yes."

I laugh. "Don't you want to hear the other options?"

"If you must. But that first one sounds fairly good."

"Or," I say, drawing it out, "I could tell you what to do and how to do it."

His breathing increases, and I have my answer before he says the words. "I changed my mind. I want the second option. Please."

"Take off your pants—leave the underwear."

He scrambles off the bed and out of his pants, almost falling in his enthusiasm. I manage not to laugh. "What about the shirt?" he asks.

I bite my lip and let my gaze travel over his gorgeous, lean body. "Leave the shirt on. I want to take it off myself."

He closes his eyes with a moan and grabs his cock.

"Did I say you could play with the knife? It's mine."

He lets go, his eyes wide and desperate, and fuck, I can't believe I get to do this with him. "Now, get on the bed, Adrian."

He stretches out on the bed. And, because I'm me, I worry about the bed being a queen instead of a king. Adrian takes up a lot of room. Stop, Isaac . Adrian is doing enough thinking for both of us. Tonight is about action.

He stretches his arms over his head and his fingertips push against the headboard. Leaving his body exposed. Ready for me to do whatever I want. I grab my cock at the sight of him, worried it will be over too soon. I'm still fully clothed.

Is Adrian naturally submissive? My blood pounds hot. Take it slow. My mind is still in charge, but my dick wants to take over. To fuck Adrian until he screams my name.

Fuck off, both of you .

I get myself under control and advance toward Adrian on my hands and knees. My gaze roams over his body. The shirt rides up, leaving his abs exposed. His muscles contract as if he's trying so hard to be still. Not undressing him first was a mistake.

My eyes lock onto his, and Adrian's shallow breaths quicken as I approach. When I'm over him, still not touching, his eyes plead with me. I lean down and, without our bodies touching, brush my lips over his. The barely-there touch has me wanting to crush our bodies together. To slide into the heat of his body.

Keeping this light is one of the most difficult things I've had to do. If my body touches his, I'm gone. I focus on his mouth. Kissing each part of it. The corners that hold his smile. His bottom lip, his pout. Every time I pull away, he follows, and I dip in again. "Open for me, babe." He gasps, and I delve in, kissing him thoroughly.

When I pull back, Adrian's eyes on me are needy. And adoring. "Isaac, please."

I quickly kiss him again before scrambling off him. He whines in protest. "Sorry, babe. I'm a little rusty at this, but I'm thinking fewer clothes." His face clears, and he grins.

Once we're both sitting up on our knees, I unbutton his shirt and part it to expose his chest. There's a sprinkling of hair and his nipples are hard, waiting for me. I trace the outer edge, enjoying the needy sounds he makes before brushing my thumb over the nub.

He gasps, thrusting into my hands. So gorgeous. I catch his gaze as I pinch his nipple, watching him fall apart in my hands. But touching isn't enough. I flatten my tongue and lick him, eliciting delicious moans. I feel greedy as I suck the nipple into my mouth. His hands cover my head, holding me in place. God, that's fucking hot. Kissing my way across his chest, I give the other side the same treatment.

Finally, he pushes me away. Did I go too far? Too fast?

He pushes his dick down as if he's trying to stop himself from coming. From me licking his nipples? But this is his first time. His first real time. "Fewer clothes," I say again, and he nods, licking his lips. I push his shirt off, stopping just a moment to enjoy his broad shoulders and biceps before helping him take the shirt off completely.

When he's finally free, I glance down at his briefs. A wet spot spreads over the black material. God, is there anything sexier than that?

He tips my chin up and catches my eyes. "Now it's your turn."

I could get used to this bossy side. Something to cultivate. Later. I hold out my hands so he can undress me, and he takes a quick breath. His hand slips under my shirt and explores. My back. My sides. My chest. His thumbs stroke and tease my nipples. Payback. I don't whine or push him away. I enjoy the teasing. The anticipation. Fuck, I've missed this. But I've never felt this needy before.

He pulls my shirt off, staring at my chest, desire in his eyes. Intellectually, I know he wants me. But seeing the desire in his eyes, feeling it in the way he touches me. The hardness of his cock. It overwhelms me. His hands reach for my jeans, and I scramble away.

Hurt flashes in his eyes, but I hold up a finger. "Wait." I take a shuddering breath. "I'm close." I slip off my pants and hook my thumbs in my briefs. I give him a questioning look. Does he want these off now?

He nods. "I want to see you."

My dick likes that a lot. I pull the briefs off and stand next to the bed. Letting him look. My dick is hard and already beaded with precum.

And his is…still covered. I crook my finger, beckoning him. When he's standing before me, I press our lips together, savoring the connection. "Your Highness." I kiss his neck and trail my fingers down his sides. All that glorious muscle. "You're a bit overdressed. Permission to relieve you of these?" I snap the waistband of his briefs.

He giggles, and it's…addicting. But is he laughing at my cheesy lines or my wandering hands? The possibility of Adrian being ticklish is something to explore in depth later. "Yes," he says with another laugh. "God, yes." I hook my fingers in the waistband and pull them down, torn between staring at his gorgeous cock and watching the wonder and desire on his face.

Once they are down around his ankles, he kicks them free. His focus returns to my body, and his eyes take me in.

"Can I…?" He swallows. "Can I touch it?"

I didn't think I could get any harder, but my dick rises to the challenge. I nod, not trusting my voice to keep from begging him.

He moves off the bed and approaches me, his eyes on my cock. His gaze flicks up and then back down, and he licks his lips again. It's probably unconscious, but my dick doesn't care.

He reaches out and stops. Just like the knife. I take his hand and guide it to my cock. We both groan as he wraps his fingers around me and squeezes. Holy Jesus. I will myself to not come right there in his hand. And thinking about his hand covered in my cum doesn't help at all.

His thumb swipes over the slit. My body tenses, and I try to stop, but it's been so long, and this man is so hot. I grab the back of his head and yank him into a messy kiss and angle my body so our cocks line up. He moves his hand to my ass. The skin-to-skin contact is amazing, but the friction isn't enough. I swipe the precum and use it to make the slide easier, kissing him desperately as I jack us both.

"Isaac—oh my God." He clings to me as we thrust into our hands, and then I'm there. My entire body is on fire as my orgasm hits. I try to focus on him. Watching his face. But it's difficult, so I close my eyes and just let myself feel. Enjoy. Savor.

As I come down from the high, my brain decides to reengage, letting the doubts creep in. His first time, and I couldn't wait.

"I'm so sorry?—"

His fingers touch my lips. "That was amazing. I've never let go like that…I don't mean sex. Just—" He shrugs, but I get it.

I start to move his hand and realize it has cum on it. Without second-guessing myself, I lick our cum off his fingers. My dick wants to get hard again but doesn't get very far. Adrian's eyes are hot on me.

"You're so gorgeous. So sexy."

I blush at his words. Has anyone ever said that to me?

We clean up, showering together, and I get to taste him. Water glistening over his skin. Drops hanging from his lashes. I fall to my knees and suck him off. Is it his first blowjob? Not sure. But it's definitely his first one with a man.

His hands are in my hair, not pushing, just—keeping me from leaving? I swallow as much as I can, and he kisses me. Not bothered at all by the taste of himself on my lips.

I want to fuck him. Which is unusual since I normally like to bottom. But the need to show him. Dominate him? What the fuck? Take care of him? That part makes sense. We can't do any of that because Simon will be up in a few hours. I don't kick him out, although I should. I can't resist holding on to him, knowing he'll soon be gone.

When I wake up, startled by something, I immediately know it's later than it should be. The light coming from the window. The shadows in the room. The night before comes rushing back, but when I reach for Adrian, he isn't there. Did he call Reginald to pick him up?

I shake off the disappointment. He could be in the bathroom. And even if he didn't stay the night, so what? That doesn't mean anything. Certainly not worthy of the crushing disappointment I feel when my brain tries to convince me this was one-sided.

After putting on joggers and a T-shirt, I wander to Simon's room. It's not like him to sleep in. His bed is empty. Laughter reaches me before panic sets in. I hear Simon's not-so-quiet whispers. "Daddy must be really tired."

They are in the living room. Simon once again dragged his castle and action figures out. Adrian attacks the castle with Simon's T-Rex. As I watch them play, my heart doesn't know how to feel. Adrian is amazing, and Simon is already attached. Just Simon? Shut up, brain.

Simon and I haven't had enough positive things in our lives, so I can't push this extremely good thing away. And I'll probably regret this later, but for now, Simon and I being happy and excited about something, someone, is enough. I grab a cup of coffee and sit on the floor next to Adrian. He uses the T-Rex to bite my nose. "Morning, Daddy," he says with a wink. I don't dare kiss him, but I let my appreciation shine in my eyes.

"Morning, Daddy," Simon echoes. "Want to play? You can be Donkey Kong."

"Okay." I laugh, taking the action figure. Only in a kid's imagination do T-Rex, Donkey Kong, and Princess Leia belong in the same world where there aren't any worries of copyright infringement. And yes, Simon enjoys Star Wars . Even though Star Trek is clearly better. And I absolutely love that the princess isn't the one being rescued. Instead, she's the one doing the rescuing.

"Hold on, Han Solo, your princess is on her way to rescue you from the giant T-Rex." Adrian's roar has us both giggling, and Simon shakes his head. "Not like that." Then he demonstrates, using his whole body.

God, I love this kid so much. And this man? I think I'm getting there. I push away the anxiety that thought causes. I'm going to enjoy this as long as I can.

But in my heart, I know it can't last.