Chapter Thirteen - Ev

He should say it. Just blurt it out like he did everything else. I love you too, Daddy. But the words were stuck in his throat, trapped behind the fucking what-ifs.

It was stupid to still be worrying. Gabe had said all the right things. Done all the right things. And even now, he wasn't pushing. He was just here, strong and solid, holding Ev so tight that he felt like Daddy could squish the damaged bits of him back together.

Gabe loved him. Ev just had to let go and trust.

"Can we go back to bed?" he asked, not bothering to lift his head.

"Sure, tiger," Gabe said, and he stood with Ev still secure in his arms. Ev hung on for the ride back to the bedroom and refused to loosen his hold when Gabe tried to lower him to the bed. They ended up sprawled across the middle of the mattress with Gabe on top of him, pressing him down into the sheets. "Ev," Gabe said, a hint of worry in his voice. "Will you look at me, baby? I need to see that you're okay."

Ev loosened his grip reluctantly, and Gabe shifted until he was braced above him on his elbows. "My head is spinning," Ev admitted. "I don't know which way is up anymore."

"The last two days have been a lot," Gabe said. "How can I help? Do you need space?"

Ev's reaction to that was visceral. No. He needed the opposite of space. He needed Gabe all up in his business, touching him, distracting him, and making the unhappy butterflies go away. "Will you— Can you…" His face went hot, but he ignored it. "Can you make love to me? Just, like, sweet, boring, vanilla sex. Without any kink?"

Gabe's smile was warm but rueful. "I can absolutely do my best," he said, dropping a kiss to the tip of Ev's nose. "But, tiger, you make it hard to turn the Daddy Dom off."

Ev liked that more than he should, but he pushed it away. He needed this. Needed physical proof that there was more to their connection than just their kinks aligning.

"If you want boring, though, you better be on top."

Ev jolted in shock, staring at him. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

Gabe grinned and rolled them so Ev was straddling his hips, his hands braced on Gabe's broad chest. "Only that boring isn't in my repertoire, so if that's what you want, you're going to have to take the lead."

Ev found Gabe's nipple through his thin tee and pinched it, hard.

Gabe hissed and smacked Ev's bruised ass in retaliation. "Brat."

"Asshole," Ev shot back, then dissolved into laughter. "Fuck, we're failing at this already, aren't we?" he said, smiling down at Gabe through the curtain of hair falling in his face and tinting the world red. "I love you too, Daddy," he said, the words coming easily. He'd been crazy to think there was any stopping them.

Gabe's expression went warm and possessive, and he slid a hand to the back of Ev's neck, tugging him down into a sweet, slow kiss that was everything Ev had asked for. "Damn, that sounds so fucking good," he told Ev when the kiss broke. "Say it again."

"I love you," Ev repeated, kissing Gabe again, deeper this time, letting himself get lost in it.

They traded kisses and murmured endearments back and forth as Gabe stripped Ev out of his clothes, then shucked out of his own with Ev's help.

"Up here," Gabe said, urging Ev forward until he was straddling Gabe's chest, his hands braced on the headboard. Then he took Ev's soft cock into his mouth and sucked him until he was hard and couldn't stop his whimpers of pleasure or the small thrusts of his hips.

"Da—Gabe, please."

Gabe released him with a pop, and Ev shivered at the cool air against his heated skin. "Don't fight it, tiger. We can be who we are and still have our boring, vanilla sex."

Ev huffed, trying to pass it off as annoyed instead of amused. "You're really stuck on the boring thing. You know that wasn't my point, right?" He reached down to give his cock a stroke or two and take the edge off, but Gabe was faster and caught his hand.

"I just don't think anything between us could ever be boring. And there's no reason to pretend we're vanilla when that's not what makes us happy. I can make love to you and be your Daddy at the same time."

Well, when he put it like that, Ev had no argument. "So, make love to me, Daddy," he said, reaching back to feel for Gabe's cock. His hand closed around it, and he hummed, pleased at just how hard Daddy was. "I really, really need you."

Gabe pushed himself up to his elbows and started kissing his way across Ev's chest until he reached one of his piercings. There, he paused, licking and sucking, teeth tugging the little loop. Ev whined at the zings of pleasure that went straight to his cock, and he fisted Daddy"s length as well as he could with the awkward angle.

Finally, Daddy stopped his torture and nudged Ev to slide off his chest. "Get the lube for me, baby."

Ev shivered and hurried to find it in the nightstand drawer. He grabbed it with a sound of triumph and turned back to where Gabe was stretched out on the bed, one hand tucked behind his head, his muscles bulging with tension.

"How do you want me, tiger?" he asked, reaching down to stroke his erection.

"Just like this," Ev said quickly, his mouth watering as he scanned Daddy from head to toe. Maybe he could get a taste before Daddy spread the lube.

"Is that right? You want to bounce on Daddy's cock until you make a mess?"

Ev's belly swooped. Oh shit. Why did that push at his mind-set so hard? He struggled to find his words. "Y-yes, Daddy. So much."

"Show me, boy," Daddy said, gripping one of Ev's thighs and tugging until he was straddling Daddy's chest again, but in reverse this time, his vision filled by Daddy's hard, straining cock. Behind him, Daddy gripped his ass cheeks and massaged them, sending little zips of pleasure-pain through him as he pressed on the bruises.

Ev groaned, rocking back into the pressure, his thoughts going hazy. Daddy's cock was bobbing enticingly in front of him, so Ev leaned forward and closed his lips around it, swirling his tongue across the tip and catching the drop of precome beading there.

For a minute, it was just him and Daddy's cock, stretching his lips, filling his throat, and making his head swim. Then Daddy pressed his wet fingers to Ev's crease and started massaging his hole. Ev groaned, rocking between the cock in his mouth and the fingers teasing his ass. It was so good, pleasure and a hint of pain from both sides. Daddy's free hand stroked his flank as he lavished words of praise and encouragement on Ev, that he was doing so well, his ass and his mouth were perfect, and his sounds were going to make Daddy lose his mind. Daddy's fingers sank into Ev's body, expertly opening him up, glancing over his prostate with every twist of Daddy's wrist, ratcheting his pleasure higher. Ev groaned in appreciation and took Daddy's cock deeper in his throat, gagging around the length.

"Fuck. Stop, baby. Stop. You feel too good, and Daddy needs to be in your ass when he comes."

Ev was tempted to ignore him, enjoying himself too much to listen, but then Daddy took his fingers away, leaving Ev open and empty. He sat back reluctantly and let himself be manhandled into position. Daddy added lube to his cock and then held it steady so Ev could sink down on him.

Ev met Gabe's eyes as he sank back, holding his gaze even as his vision blurred and his focus shifted to Daddy's cock easing inside, hitting all the right places. Whimpers fell from Ev's throat as his body opened, letting Daddy in deeper and deeper. "Oh god," he whispered, not sure if it was pain or pleasure making his head swim. He reached the base and froze, trembling. "Oh fuck. Daddy. I can't." Ev wasn't sure why, but he was suddenly on the verge of tears. He was so full. Daddy was so deep like this that Ev felt it in his lungs, even though that was impossible.

"You're okay, tiger," Daddy reminded him, holding him by the hips to keep him steady. "You already did it. I'm all the way in. Just relax."

Ev took a shaky breath, then another, a whine slipping free when he exhaled again. "Daddy," he begged, his fingers digging white imprints into Gabe's forearms.

"Breathe for me, baby," Daddy said, rubbing his thumbs in soothing circles in the hollows above Ev's hips.

Ev did as he was told, matching his breathing to Gabe's until his body finally started to unclench. He sighed in relief as the overwhelmed feeling faded, to be replaced by the sensation of being filled to his limit. "You're really big in my little hole, Daddy," he said when he could talk again, earning a groaned chuckle.

"I know. You're so damn tight, I almost lost it." Gabe flexed his hips, pushing forward before easing back again.

Ev gasped at the deep ache that was somewhere between pleasure and pain. He rolled his hips, chasing the sensation. There. Fuck, that was good. He leaned back and braced his hands on Daddy's thighs, and holy shit,the new angle was incredible. He moved faster and faster, until he was bouncing on Daddy's cock, his own erection—which he'd lost at Daddy's invasion—back at full staff and slapping against his belly with every thrust. "Oh my god, Daddy," he gasped, on the edge but unable to stroke himself when he needed both hands to maintain his rhythm. "Please. Please. I need to come."

"I've got you, tiger," Daddy ground out, his jaw clenched. He wrapped a hand, slick with lube, around Ev's cock and stroked him hard and fast.

Ev cried out as sparks exploded under his skin, racing from his dick to the tips of his fingers and toes, throbbing and zapping as he came and came. He was barely aware of Daddy gripping him by the hips and slamming up into him over and over, except for the fact that it dragged out his orgasm and sent him floating on a wave of aftershocks.

When it finally slowed to a stop, Ev slumped forward, but he was caught before he could land on Daddy's chest.

"You made a mess, tiger. I need to clean up, unless you want to end up glued together."

He grumbled but went with it when Daddy tipped him sideways, his cock slipping free as Ev melted into the mattress. Fine. This was acceptable. For now. But when Daddy got back, Ev was reclaiming the spot as his personal weighted blanket. Because somehow, that had been the most intense sex of his life, and Ev was in need of major cuddles.

Ev finished typing up the list Asher needed and hit send, making a whooshing sound as the window minimized. Then he leaned back in his swivel chair and stretched his arms over his head, feeling his back pop several times. Ugh. So good. He needed to get up and move. It had been a long couple of hours with Gabe in meetings and Ev playing the Monday morning email catch-up game.

He was about to push back from his desk when the phone buzzed, the caller ID showing an Arizona number. Nothing too strange about that. Most of their big clients had unlisted numbers, though it was usually their agents calling, not the stars themselves. He picked up the phone before it could transfer to the answering service.

"DeCain PR. Gabriel Diaz's office. How can I help you?"

There was a pause and then a familiar voice. "Everett?"

Ev stopped breathing. A rush of heat washed over him, then cold. Oh no. No-no-no.

"Everett Bailey, is that you? Answer me," his mother said, her voice clipped.

"H-hey, Mom," Ev managed to get out, hating the way his voice wavered at the beginning. "What's going on?" he asked, even though he knew. Fuck. He knew, but he wished he didn't.

"I can't believe it's really you," his mother sobbed, making him cringe as guilt reared its ugly head. "We thought you were dead."

Well, that got rid of the guilt real quick, replacing it with a familiar helpless frustration. "No, you didn't. I email Dad twice a year, specifically so you know I'm still alive and perfectly healthy and happy."

"Those emails could be fake," his mother said, her voice choked with tears. "You disappeared. What is a mother supposed to think when her little boy just up and vanishes for six years?"

"I went to college,Mom."

"I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw you on TV. And playing the piano again! Your father and I were so relieved."

Ev scrubbed at his face. Kelsey had been working the talk show circuit since the videos of her singing had hit ten million views in three days. The casting agents had wanted Ev too, but he declined. Of course, that didn't stop them from playing the viral video on their programs. And now, his worst fear had come true. His parents had seen it and found a way to contact him. "Mom," he started, but she didn't let him get any further.

"I've never been a fan of tattoos and I don't know what you've done to your poor hair, but it's certainly made you recognizable. At least you have that Kelsey girl. She's very attractive. Are the two of you dating? She seems a little young for you, but I'm sure the reporters will eat it up. Have you spoken to your agent? Douglas will know the right people to reach out to. Of course, you'll need to work on your appearance, but your father and I would be willing to—"

"Shut up," Ev snapped, unable to continue listening as she tried to steamroller his life again. He clenched the phone to keep from dropping it, his entire body vibrating. He wanted to stomp his feet and scream at her. He wanted to run. He wanted his Daddy. "I'm not interested. That should be clear as fucking glass by now."

His mother gasped, and Ev could imagine her clutching her pearls. "Don't be so dramatic, Everett," she chided. "And watch your language. This is a difficult business, and you need your parents' support if you want to be successful."

Ev laughed, but the sound came out wrong. "You're seriously delusional if you think you can force your way back into my life at this point. I cut you off for a reason, and you clearly haven't learned anything from it."

"Don't be rude, Everett. If you would just calm down and listen—"

"Listen? Why should I listen to you when you've not once in your life listened to me?"

"That's uncalled for. And no way to speak to your mother. I only want what's best for you."

"In that case, don't ever call me again. I have no interest in hearing from you, and I'm sure as shit not going to roll over and give you what you want."

There was movement at the office door, and Ev looked over to see Gabe watching him with one eyebrow raised. He cringed, well aware of how bad this sounded from one side. He didn't bother to draw things out any longer. He hung up the phone, with his mother still railing at him.

"Everything okay?" Gabe asked, his gaze drifting from Ev's hand, still crushing the phone's handset, to his tense arms and shoulders, and finally to his face, where he searched Ev's expression.

Ev pressed his lips together to stop their trembling, but it didn't work. He shook his head, vision blurring.

"I've got you, tiger," Daddy said, gathering Ev up and ushering him back into the office.

When Daddy sat down on the sofa, Ev crawled into his lap and curled against his chest. Daddy rubbed his back and murmured soothing words in his ear until Ev's breathing evened out and his tense muscles started to loosen. He sighed and wiped at the dampness on his cheeks, hating that she could still get to him after all these years.

"I can think of three people who that might have been—well, four, if we include that asshole agent I cut ties with last week."

Ev gave a wet laugh. "I would have been slightly more polite to that guy."

Gabe waited him out, his hand never ceasing the gentle massage up and down Ev's spine.

"It was my mother. I guess she saw the video of Kels and me on TV, figured out where I work, and conveniently forgot that I don't want anything to do with her." Ev groaned. "I hung up on her. Shit. She's probably going to keep calling back until she gets to talk to me again. Fuck. Fuck."

Gabe caught his chin and pressed a finger to his lips, quieting him. "Breathe, tiger. It's going to be okay. IT will block her number and any associated numbers from our system, and I'll make sure security knows she's not welcome in the building. And if she does somehow get in contact with you again, you give the phone to me, and I'll handle it."

Ev looked into Gabe's warm blue eyes and believed him. Ev didn't need to worry because he had a real Daddy now—a Daddy who loved him. And Daddy would take care of everything.