Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Piper was almost afraid to believe that this was reality. That he wasn't dreaming again. Up to this moment, there'd been no hint that Juno was ready to accept what Piper was willing to offer.

He felt like crying a little and like laughing. He felt like screaming, and he felt like pressing Juno to the window and fucking him in hopes that someone would see him lay claim to this man. Because that's what he wanted—to claim him as his own. He'd never felt so possessive before in his life, but as he moved his kisses from Juno's lips to his neck, he couldn't stop himself from leaving a mark there.

And then one on his pec, and on his stomach, and on his hip.

He'd laid Juno out beneath him and stripped them both down in hurried motions, clothes piled at the foot of the bed, and Juno was flushed from toes to torso. His movements were still slow and sluggish, so Piper knew he needed to take care with him. He was probably teetering on the edge of another migraine, and the last thing Piper wanted was to trigger more pain.

He kissed over his hip bones slowly, looking up at Juno's face. His eyes were wide, staring up at the ceiling, looking almost lost. It was the same expression Juno had when they were on the boat. He knew Juno was still holding back, but he was starting to feel those walls crack.

This was the first step.

The second would be proving to Juno that he could be trusted with all the things that were crushing him inside. That he could provide a soft landing and safe spot to be the sort of vulnerable that Juno was terrified to be.

It wouldn't be forever. Piper knew that. This would settle into something quieter and calmer. He didn't think he'd go a single day without wanting Juno more than words could describe, but he knew it wouldn't always feel so intense.

They'd eventually stop driving. They'd see the sights, and they'd get home, and reality would set in.

Juno would figure out where he fit into Piper's life, and Piper would figure out the best shape to twist himself into so Juno could let his guard down more often. It wasn't a difficult task. Piper had been doing that most of his life, and for the first time since his little brother had come along, Piper wanted to do it.

"Baby?"

Piper blinked in surprise and looked up. "Mm?"

"Can the rest of this wait until morning? I don't think I can get hard right now."

Piper had noticed. Juno was a little thick but nothing like he usually was whenever Piper got his lips on him. And that was fine by him. He surged up and touched his chin, getting his attention. "I'm going to call down to the front desk and see if we can stay another night."

Juno frowned. "But the observatory?—"

"We're still on schedule, sugar. And you need a day of rest."

"I'll probably feel better tomorrow," Juno attempted to argue.

Piper smiled at him and ran the tip of his finger over his lower lip. "Then I'm sure we can find a way to occupy our time here. In bed." He kissed his right nipple. "Until we have to be back on the road." He kissed his left nipple. "But it would make me feel better if you didn't take the risk."

Juno sighed as he pushed up on his elbows and scooted toward the pillows. "I'm sorry I made you get naked for nothing."

"Getting to hold you against me like this isn't for nothing. Trust me," Piper told him.

Juno settled into his embrace, turning toward him. Their limp cocks brushed together, sending tendrils of quiet pleasure through him. He rocked against Juno softly, chasing it.

"You're an easy man to please," Juno said.

Piper smiled at him. "No. It's just easy for you because you're right for me."

"Now, that needs to be a line in a movie."

"The epic tale of us," Piper said with a smile. "Maybe I'll write a book now that I'm officially retired."

Juno nestled closer, nipping at his collarbone with sharp teeth. "Well. If you ever need anyone to act out sex scenes with you, I'm your man."

Piper tipped Juno's head up and kissed him again. "I wouldn't trust anyone else. Now, let's eat our gross cold pizza so you can take more meds and get some sleep."

Juno wrinkled his nose, but Piper relaxed when he didn't argue. It was nice. It was a kinder moment than he'd expected to have, and his heart was still soaring because now that he had time to stop and think, it was all settling in.

Juno was his. Juno wanted to be his. And there was no more hesitation left between them.

They reached the upper peninsula of Michigan just after four o'clock the day after they were meant to be there. Piper waited until Juno was asleep that night before calling Adam to let him know they were delayed. He felt bad since he knew that Adam was doing him a massive favor, and they were at the whims of the northern lights forecast, but Piper meant what he said about giving Juno an extra day of rest.

They both needed it, if he was being honest with himself.

Adam, luckily, seemed unbothered, but he'd always been that kind of guy. They'd worked together for a few years when Piper was in training, and Piper had actually missed him when the guy had taken a job at a private lab in the Midwest.

This was the first time Piper had a real excuse to see him, though he was starting to wonder if maybe the reason he didn't have many friends was because he kept waiting for reasons to hang out. Things might have been different if he'd taken some initiative.

But he couldn't say he was upset about it now. All of those decisions brought him to exactly where he was—and that was with Juno, who had finally admitted he wanted to be with Piper. And that was all he needed.

"We're going to be pulling into the hotel soon," Piper said into his phone at the gas station as they were filling up. Juno had gone in to use the bathroom, and Piper called up Adam to give him their ETA. "I think we're going to be pretty beat tonight, and it looks like clouds."

Adam sighed. "Yeah. Not a great night for the planets, but tomorrow will be good. I've got Jupiter and Saturn mapped, so y'all can come here after ten, and it'll be perfect."

Piper had seen those two planets more times than he could count, but it felt different now. It felt like he was doing this for the first time all over again. He was smiling to himself as he put the gas pump back and screwed the lid on the tank. "And the lights?"

"Tonight might be a good night for them," Adam said. "The type of cloud coverage we have will actually work in their favor. The patterns should be pretty cool. I'll send you a text with some coordinates to a field I usually hang out in. No one lives out there, so it's all dark skies."

"You're the best for this. Sorry I haven't been a better friend over the years."

Adam laughed softly. "Like I have? Phones work both ways."

That was true, Piper supposed. It didn't always have to be him reaching out, but he still knew he could do better. "All the same…"

"We'll talk when you get here," Adam interrupted. "There's no need to beat yourself up, okay? I'm glad you called, and I'm glad I could help. See you soon."

Piper hung up, and a second later, he saw Juno making his way over to the car.

Piper's heart skipped in his chest. He was falling so hard.

"What are you grinning at, nerd?" Juno asked as he leaned on the open passenger door.

Piper's smile widened, and he winked. "You."

Juno rolled his eyes, but his cheeks flushed as he ducked his head and dropped to the seat. Piper grabbed his receipt, then got in and started the GPS to their little inn, which was only a few minutes from the gas station. It was a quaint little thing with a view of Lake Superior, which Piper knew he was going to appreciate.

He always felt more settled when he was around water. It was calming—almost healing in a way—and he desperately needed that. Things had been sheer chaos from the moment he left his former job, and he was ready for everything to slow down.

"You okay? You're really quiet," Juno said as Piper turned down the lane that led toward the inn.

Piper tried for a smile. "I think I'm just a little tired."

"It's not your heart, right?"

It was his heart, but not in the way Juno was asking. He felt tender and bruised from the last few days, and what he really needed was some time to connect with his lover. Their relationship was new, and it had been going at warp speed, then suddenly, it had crashed to a complete stop. Now they were moving again, but Piper felt like they hadn't had time to breathe.

To just be with each other.

He wanted to learn all of Juno's nuances—all the bits and pieces that made him the man he was. Not just his tragic past or uncertain future. He wanted to wake him up with the perfect coffee because he knew exactly how Juno took it. He wanted to know what seasonings he couldn't live without and the ones that made him turn green. He wanted to know if he put his left shoe on first or his right one. He wanted to know what color shirt Juno was wearing in the morning without even opening up his eyes because he'd learned all his preferences and his little habits.

And he knew they had time, but it felt like so much of his life had already passed him by, and the pressing weight of middle age was starting to get to him. How much had he squandered by ignoring huge, important pieces of himself?

"Baby? You okay?"

Piper smiled in spite of himself, and he pulled into the guest parking spot before turning off the engine and twisting to face Juno. "I'm happy."

Juno blinked. "Oh."

"I know I seem low. I'm feeling a little off-kilter since…"

"I went and fucked this all up?" Juno offered.

Piper closed his eyes in a long, slow blink, and he reached for Juno's hand. He pressed the man's rough knuckles to his lips and just held him there, feeling the warmth of his skin. "You didn't fuck this up. This has moved faster than either of us expected it to. And being hookups was never going to work. We like each other too much."

Juno laughed softly. "Yeah. I was being kind of a jackass about that."

Piper finally opened his eyes and met Juno's gaze. "I also know it's not easy for you to deal with both your sight and a sudden new thing you have with me."

"And I know I haven't been easy on you. The one thing I wasn't confused about was how I felt. I was just scared that once you realized being with me was going to be hard work, you'd find a way to politely end things. And that would ruin me more than you leaving me on the side of the road."

Piper didn't understand, and yet, he did. He knew abandonment was Juno's worst fear, and coupled with his low self-esteem and his history of not being cared for by the people who were meant to take care of him, it made him a bit of a mess. Juno just didn't understand that Piper wasn't afraid of messes.

He wasn't afraid of being patient.

He just needed to stand on solid ground. He'd been in zero gravity for long enough. It was time to feel steady.

"We'll figure this out," Piper said. He dropped their hands to the console between the seats. "How do you take your coffee?"

Juno frowned. "Uh…cream. Sugar. Heavy on the cream, light on the sugar. If it's a really good roast—like something imported, you know? Not bitter?"

"Yeah," Piper said with a smile.

Juno smiled back. "Then I like it with just milk."

"I suppose you are sweet enough on your own, sugar."

Juno flushed. "Cheese!"

Tugging him forward, Piper cupped his chin. "I'd argue I'm romantic, but tomato-tomahto." And before Juno could give him shit about that, he leaned in and kissed any remaining words off Juno's tongue.

The inn was small and quaint. It had a café but no room service, so Piper called down to the desk while Juno was in the bathroom and reserved a table by the window. "It's a first date," he said softly, hoping Juno wouldn't hear.

The woman at the desk sighed. "That's so sweet. We'll make it special."

Piper tossed his phone on the bed, then peered around the corner into the bathroom, where he found Juno standing at the mirror, staring at himself. He had his shirt off, his jeans slung low around his hips, and he couldn't help but touch. He wrapped his arms around Juno's waist, feeling the heat of his back sink into his chest.

Juno smiled at him in their reflection. "We look good together. I never want to forget this."

Piper dipped his head and kissed the side of his neck. "Maybe you won't have to worry about that." There was a chance Juno's condition would only affect one of his eyes. He knew Juno was checking his progress every day, but as the weeks stretched on, he didn't mention any changes.

Piper was taking no news as good news.

Juno said nothing for a long while, then spun around to face him. "Shower with me."

Piper nodded and surged in for a kiss. As their tongues tangled, he reached for the button on Juno's jeans and popped it. He pushed the zipper down, and they fell around his ankles. His cock was hard, poking through the slit in his boxers, and Piper took it against his hand, giving it several strokes before he finished undressing him.

He broke the kiss softly, leaving Juno naked and trembling with need. Gripping the hem of his shirt, he met Juno's gaze. "Do you want to help or watch?"

Juno swallowed heavily. "Watch." He backed up toward the shower and felt his way to the faucet without taking his eyes off Piper. The water began to rain down, and within seconds, there was steam.

Piper carefully pulled his shirt off, then removed his pants. His cock was slightly thick in his briefs, and he palmed himself through the fabric before finally pushing it down to his ankles and kicking them away. Juno licked his lips hungrily.

Piper had never felt so wanted in his life.

"Can I suck on you? I know you haven't taken anything, but I really want to feel you in my mouth."

Piper's whole body went searing hot. "Yeah. Yes. I want to see you on your knees."

Juno groaned as he dropped to the floor with a heavy thud, and he crawled forward, wrapping his hands around the backs of Piper's thighs. His lips parted gently, and then his tongue darted out and gathered the tip of Piper's soft cock between his lips.

Piper gripped the edge of the sink to keep himself steady. His body didn't seem to know what to do with the rush of blood it was feeling. A little went to his cock, plumping halfway. The rest to his face, where he was heated and a little dizzy. He reached down with his free hand and traced a touch around Juno's lips as they wrapped around his cock.

Juno looked up, and their gazes connected. Juno sucked in a breath, then took Piper's dick all the way into his mouth. It lay softly against his tongue, and he felt a rush of pleasure as Juno began to knead it in his mouth, suckling softly.

"I want you to fuck me," Piper said.

Juno breathed in so hard he started choking, pulling off before he turned too red. He looked up at Piper with wide, watery eyes. "Seriously?"

Piper was a little confused at his shock. "Yes, sugar. Seriously. Why wouldn't I?"

"It's just…we haven't…" Juno stopped and shook his head. He pressed his hands to the tiles, then pushed himself up and grabbed Piper by the shoulders. "Get in the shower. I'm getting the lube."

Piper groaned softly and kissed him before pulling back to obey. He avoided the boiling hot spray and adjusted it down to something reasonable, and then he leaned against the wall as he traced his fingers through clouds of steam. The air was thick and sat wet in his lungs.

His body was still humming with need, and he felt a sort of warmth pooling at the base of his spine. He wanted this so badly. He wanted Juno.

"Sugar?" he called.

"Just a second!"

It was longer than a second but shorter than a minute before Juno appeared. He had the lube in one hand and a thick plug in the other. Piper let out a groan as he held the shower door open, then closed it with a firm click behind his lover.

"I want to open you on this. Can I?"

Piper wasn't sure his legs would hold him up for the duration of being toyed with, but he'd do his best. He nodded, then let Juno drag him in for a kiss before he was spun against the far wall. The shower was narrow enough that he could spread his legs and brace himself on the sides of his feet. His hands pressed to the tiles, and he stuck out his ass.

"Fuck. You are so gorgeous." Juno punctuated his sentence by pushing the tip of the plug against Piper's hole. It was hot and slick from lube, and with just a little prodding, it slipped past his ring of muscle and nestled inside him.

The stretch was almost unbearable. He panted as it overwhelmed him. His knees were shaking.

God, it had been too long.

"Talk to me," Juno begged.

"I…it…" Words felt beyond him. He licked his lip and tried to focus. "Fuck me with it."

There was a beat of silence and stillness, and then Juno grabbed the base of the plug and pushed it in. Hard. Piper let out a soft cry as the angle hit him perfectly, and his vision went white in the corners. Dear God, he was going to dry-come.

"Fuck, look at you," Juno murmured as he began to fuck him with the plug harder, faster, deeper. For a wild moment, Piper thought his ass was going to swallow the whole toy. He clenched harder, lost in the soft slapping sound of Juno's hand hitting his ass.

It was too much.

"Need you," he whispered.

Juno's hand stilled. "Sorry, what?"

"Need you." His voice was stronger now. "Please, Juno. I need you."

"You can have me," Juno said. He tugged, and Piper let out a soft gasp as the plug popped out, dropping to the floor beneath his feet. He looked down at it—stark black against the pale tiles. Then he felt the press of Juno's cock against him. "Take a deep breath."

Piper did. Juno reached around him, cupping his soft dick and heavy balls. He rubbed them against his palm as he began to rock his hips, and between one breath and the next, his head slipped inside.

Piper groaned, dropping his forehead to the tiles. "I'm going to come."

"You're not hard," Juno said, toying with the tip of his cock.

Piper let out a thready laugh as he began to rock his hips, taking Juno deeper. The sensation was building, his face hot, his fingers tingling. "I know. I'm going to come anyway. I can't…it's so…you're…" He trailed off with a moan.

Juno fucked his hips forward, hard enough to send Piper crashing into the wall, and then Juno pinned him there with his body. He fucked Piper with lush rolls of his hips, filling him completely, his cock dragging against his prostate with every movement. Piper couldn't see, couldn't hear. He could only feel, the thickness of his lover spreading him open, the heat of his breath, the sharpness of his teeth as he dug them into Piper's shoulder.

He shivered and chased the sensation, wanting it. Needing it. It was going to be different from his orgasm before. This was deeper. Heavier. His lungs struggled to inhale.

"Juno," he whispered.

Juno grabbed him by the hips and began to fuck him rabbit-fast, the soft slap-slap-slap filling the bathroom. It was wholly erotic in ways Piper had never experienced with any lover. He was owned.

Possessed.

Loved in ways that didn't need to come with words or declarations.

His throat was tight as he gasped and rocked harder against Juno. His ears began to ring, and his face went numb as his orgasm took over. A soft cry escaped him as he lost himself to the pleasure, and he was only peripherally aware of Juno holding him tighter, fucking him harder and faster.

He felt it when Juno came. The hot spurt hit his insides in pulsing waves, and Piper damn near fell to his knees. It was only Juno's arms that kept him upright, and it took him a moment to find his footing as his heart began to calm down.

He tried to laugh. He tried to sob.

All that came out was a strangled noise that lodged against the back of his tongue.

"You're so fucking perfect," Juno whispered. He pulled out slowly, the empty feeling almost too much for Piper as Juno spun him and eased his back against the wall. Juno's rough hand reached up, tracing his forehead. "You might have a bruise."

"Did I hit my head?"

Juno laughed. "No. You were pressing it against the wall."

He wrapped both arms around Piper, his fingers gently playing with his loosened hole. He could feel the tiny gape that would close up by the time they had dinner, and a wild, irrational part of him wanted to tell Juno to put the plug back in so he stayed open.

"Did you come?"

Piper eased him back and cupped his cheek. "I had an orgasm. It was…different."

Juno dropped his hand between them and touched Piper's cock again. It was completely soft now, his balls still a little heavy. "I just need to know that it was good."

"Yes, sugar." He kissed him, a touch of tongue, a lingering press of lips. "It was so, so good."