Chapter 3

Eli Ruiz is going to ruin me. Just like last night, he's sulky through most of dinner. A glass of wine seems to do the trick of relaxing him, so I give him another tonight. Miraculously it works again. He sips at the moscato, head tilted back to look up at the darkening sky, and I wonder what's going through his brain.

Is he wondering why a forty-year-old man has purchased his pleasure for a week? Is he wondering why I brought him to my beach house? Is he wondering what I'm going to be like in bed? I don't know what he's thinking but I wish I knew. It's been so long since I let myself get lost in somebody.

Marcus died three years ago from pancreatic cancer. He never even made it to see a year after fifty. It took me a while to get him to settle down with me, but he was worth the wait. Marcus was my wild child despite being older than me. He tested me in every way, made me better, made me want for things I had never wanted before. I miss him every single day.

But I have to move on, for myself and for his memory. I'm ready to love again, to take care of someone, to have a partner.

Maybe I can break past that barrier inside me that says I can never have something like what I had with Marcus again. Beau used The Boyfriend Experience and had nothing but great things to say. Something about this experience has to help me, get me over the divide I've been so afraid to jump.

The problem is Eli. I can't figure him out. Yeah, he's here to play my boyfriend but I don't want a totally contrived experience. I want to be with a person this next week, not a robot. So I need to shatter through his barriers to get him to relax. If fucking him will get him to relax, that's not a hardship on my end.

He's beautiful with dark, curly hair, long eyelashes, a few moles scattered around his lithe torso, and eyes that penetrate me to the very depths of my soul.

Eli finishes his wine, then carefully sets the empty glass on the table. He blinks his dark brown eyes at me a few times and smiles in a way that sets my blood to boiling. He's got a gorgeous damn smile with wide lips that are made to be kissed, made to be bruised from my teeth biting down on them.

"Will you take me to bed now, husband?" Eli asks, voice low and husky, just the right side of wicked too.

I don't bother cleaning up the table, which is highly unusual for me. I like cleanliness and order in most aspects of my life. Eli lets out a surprised gasp when I pull him out of his seat. He sways for a second, but I steady him with a firm grip on his waist.

"Go ahead of me and get ready," I order him, nodding towards the stairs.

He blinks slowly again, eyes focusing back on me, before biting his lip and worrying the tender flesh a little between his teeth. With a nod, he tugs out of my grip and heads towards the bedroom with a purposeful stride. My watch says it's just shy of six in the evening, so I stand and stare at the ocean as I give him a fifteen-minute head start. The sun is at just the right angle to be sending an orange glow over the water as the waves break against the shore.

I watch the seagulls fly above the beach for a while, letting myself get distracted. I try not to think about this being the first time I've fucked someone that isn't Marcus since my twenties. If I think about it too much, I might not be able to go through with it.

Once fifteen minutes creep slowly by, I head into the house, and up to the bedroom. The image that greets me takes my breath away, like a punch to my chest. I open the door to find Eli spread out on the bed, knees bent, putting on a filthy show for me.

"Fuck," I say out loud. I don't think my cock has ever hardened so fast. Just from the sight of him. Sweaty and waiting for me on the bed, his lip caught between his teeth.

"I couldn't wait," he whimpers as he glides a lube-slicked hand up and down his cock. "But I didn't finish prepping myself because you said you want to do that." Eli huffs a little as his hips thrust up into the tight grip of his fingers. "Please get over here. Please touch me."

His breathy plea goes straight to my cock. Every single ounce of control in my body snaps. I hurriedly hop around to remove my pants, underwear, and then finally my shirt. A relieved sigh escapes him when I join him on the bed, letting our naked skin finally touch.

His hair is messy from the day, but also from his head dipping back on the pillow in pleasure. The tight corkscrew curls hide half of his lust-blown gaze from me.

Running my hands up his thighs, I pull them further apart so that I can fit myself between them. For a while I sit there and just watch him touch himself.

His cock isn't particularly big, but it's nice sized, and I liked the feel of it in my hand this morning. I know I'll like the feel of it in my mouth too. The idea of sucking him has me clenching my jaw with want. My mouth practically waters at the idea of it weighty and swollen against my tongue. Fuck.

"Stop touching yourself," I demand, voice husky.

Eli lets out a little whimper but stops. He pants as he stares up at me from under his eyelashes. I grab the lube from beside him, pouring a generous amount onto my fingers.

"Flip over." I use my hand to help guide Eli onto his knees, then I spread his gorgeous cheeks. God. I can't wait to be inside him. I rub lube over his hole, gently pressing a finger in, teasing him just a little. He's so fucking tight. A little gasp escapes Eli at my touch. I can tell that he's trying to keep me from hearing his sounds.

"Let me hear you and don't lie to me. If something hurts, tell me. If you want me to stop, tell me. If you want me to do more of something, tell me too. You have to tell me what you want."

Eli lets out a frustrated noise. "What I want is for you to stop talking, get lube inside me, and then fuck me. That's what I want."

I slap his ass once and smile at his pleased inhale. I do as he says though because I know not everyone is a fan of lengthy prep. Once I'm done getting him ready, I put a condom on, slick myself up, and kneel behind him. I run a hand up his bare back, feeling the bumps of his spine beneath my broad palm. He's not a tiny man but he's on the thinner side, easily eclipsed by my larger body.

I slowly push into him, watching as I disappear into the tight vise of his body. He takes me easily, as if he was made for me, and I try to not think about that too much. I take a steadying breath once I'm fully inside, my hips flush against his ass. I stay there for a moment so he can adjust, but again, I've underestimated him. Eli shoves back against me with another annoyed grunt.

"Come on, Colby." There's an edge of petulance to his voice that calls to something inside me that I haven't thought about for years. "Please," he says even more softly as his fingers tangle in the rumpled bedsheets.

I take mercy on him and start to move. The glow of sunset fills the room, turning Eli's sweat-slick skin a beautiful shade of burnt orange. His enthusiastic moans, my breathless whines, and the sound of our skin meeting … it's more than I can bear. It's been too long since I've been with someone like this, since I've felt the thrill of having someone underneath me. Giving someone pleasure while taking my own.

I tug him up until his back is pressed to my chest, so we're both on our knees. I can reach my hand around his neck perfectly. His face is gorgeous from this angle, his parted lips, and firmly shut eyes, he's so fucking beautiful. Turning his face as I continue to thrust deeply inside him, I press my mouth to his parted lips. He moans into my mouth as I thrust into him even sharper, nailing the spot inside him that makes him see stars, and that's when I've got his number.

My Eli likes it just on the edge of pain. But I think maybe he might like something else more.

"We'll talk about this later," I whisper against Eli's sweat-slicked cheek.

"Whatever," he numbles before letting out a moan when I roughly slap his thigh.

"You're a bad, bad boy."

He nods fervently against my shoulder. "So bad."

"But you'll be good for me, right? You can be my good boy."

Eli lets out a stifled cry. His thighs quake and his lips tremble in need against my own. Oh, he likes that too. I wonder how often he gets called a good boy, how often he gets praised. I will make it my mission the next few days to make it just a tad rough, but tell him how good he is too. A beautiful dichotomy.

I bite his neck hard as I reach down to take his cock in my hand. I can feel the rising tension in his body, feel that he's close to the edge, and I decide to not tease him tonight. I'll get him there fast and let him come. Because I'm a nice guy. I speed up, gritting my teeth against my own impending orgasm, and tug harder on his cock.

He tenses against me and goes limp as he comes into my hand with a muffled shout. I know not everyone likes to be fucked after they come, so I pull out and roughly shove him onto the bed. He goes happily, blinking up at me in the dazed way that makes me feel decidedly possessive. Leaning over him, I take off the condom to tug rapidly at my cock.

"Yeah," Eli eggs me on while biting his lip. "Come all over me. I'll sleep with it on me. I'll wear you on my skin so everyone knows I'm yours. I'm yours. Aren't I, husband?"

I come with a groan, painting his taut stomach with my release. He grins up at me, head cocked to the side, curls askew and damp with sweat. I watch, entranced, as he swipes a finger through the cum on his stomach to bring it to his mouth. He sucks the cum off, then releases his finger with a loud smacking pop.

If my dick could rally, it would. I lean down and kiss him, swiping my tongue into his mouth to taste my release mixed with the taste of Eli. A small, happy moan escapes him and I swallow it down. I lean over to grab my T-shirt, but when I return to wipe Eli off, he shakes his head at me.

"I'm wearing it."

A shocked laugh bursts out of me. "You can't be serious. That'll be so uncomfortable."

"Fine," Eli relents. "But leave a little on me and rub it in."

I do as he asked. I wipe most of it off but leave a little, then gently rub it into his skin. He closes his eyes with a blissful smile on his face. I kiss him once more before tossing the shirt to the floor. The mess will bother me but it's worth it to lie beside Eli post-orgasm. He curls up in my arms, satiated and smelling like me, and I think that maybe this wasn't the worst decision I've ever made. Actually, I think it's pretty far from it.

He rubs his cheek against my chest like a cat, so I play with the curls on top of his head. It's still early, the sun just now dipping below the horizon, but only a few moments go by before I hear Eli letting out soft snores. I lie awake for a while, just running my fingers through his hair, listening to the sweet sounds he makes in his sleep.

I'm going to figure Eli out if it's the last thing I do. This week can be as much for him as it is for me. I'll see to that.

Eli moving restlesslybeside me wakes me up from my own fitful sleep. Indecipherable mutters escape him while he twitches helplessly on the other side of the bed. The sun isn't even up yet. I roll across the bed, sling an arm across his waist, and tug him against me.

He stills, mumbling something I still can't understand, then snuggles back against me. I assume he's gone back to sleep, but he proves me wrong.

"Sorry," he mumbles softly.

"It's fine," I reassure him, rubbing my thumb against his hip. "I was sleeping badly myself. You okay?"

He hums dismissively. A moment goes by before he tugs my hand with his own, wrapping it around his chest. I bury my face in his messy curls and brush my lips against the sweaty nape of his neck. A shiver passes through him, so I pull him tight against me, seeking my own comfort in his still sleep-slack body.

"I've always talked in my sleep," Eli explains, words still a little sleep slurred. "Since I was a kid. If it'll bother you, then I can sleep in another bedroom."

"No," I whisper roughly against his neck. "We'll sleep together this week."

I'd missed having someone else in the bed with me. I don't care if he talks in his sleep, walks in his sleep, or even elbows me nonstop… we will sleep in the same bed for the next few nights. I know it'll be hard when I return home but I'll deal with it then.

"Think you can fall back asleep or are you up?"

He lets out a jaw-cracking yawn. "Sadly I'm up. Once I wake up, I can't go back to sleep. Unless I'm sick. Then I can nap or fall back asleep during the night."

I chuckle against his neck. "Good to know."

He stills in my arms. Just when I'm about to ask him what I've said, he rolls over to face me in the dark. Even with only the light of the moon in the bedroom, he's a beautiful thing. His eyes are so big, like doe eyes. Big and searching me for answers I don't know how to give.

"Well, if we're both awake." He cuddles up close to me, blinking those big eyes at me. I can't help but let out a chuckle. His eyes narrow at me in agitation, and he goes to roll away, but I hold him tight, unwilling to let go.

"How about we talk instead."

"Yes," Eli drawls with an eye roll, "we're husbands for the week to talk."

"That's what husbands do," I tell him, landing a soft smack on his ass. "They talk. Husbands don't just fuck all the time."

"Fine," Eli relents.

"Let's talk about our limits."

Eli grunts. "Sure. I have basically no limits. I mean I have soft limits, but you paid fifty thousand dollars for me, so for that price, there are no limits."

"Well, we're not doing golden showers or scat or blood play. Right off the bat."

He blinks those big eyes at me again. "Fine. But just so you know, those are my favorite things, so this entire experience has soured for me."

I let out a loud laugh and he grins wickedly back at me. "Touché."

Throwing his leg over my hip, he plays with my hair. I close my eyes against the touch, luxuriating in the simple act of being touched for no other reason than being touched. It's been so long. Eli's touch is so tender, so gentle, as if he knows I've been without it for far too long. His fingers scratch at my hair, before soothing the skin, and then trailing softly along the back of my neck.

"Go on," Eli urges softly.

"How do you feel about being dominated?"

"Love it."

"Spanked?"

"A plus."

"Choked?"

"If you've got experience with breath play, then sure."

"Biting?"

Eli bites his lip. I feel him start to grow hard against me. "Yep."

"Edging?" I ask, voice low and husky.

Eli shrugs. "I can take it or leave it but it really depends on the partner."

I run my nose along his cheek and kiss his forehead. His fingers dig into my scalp for a moment before relaxing. I use this as my chance to kiss down to his neck, to his throat, then nip at his Adam's apple. His leg tightens around my waist for a moment as he ruts against me.

"Primal play?" I ask, my voice a low growl. I shiver helplessly when his cock leaves a trail of pre-cum on the skin of my stomach.

"Fuck," Eli whispers hoarsely just before pressing his mouth roughly against mine.

I gently roll him onto his back, kissing him deep and slow. Licking into his mouth, tasting him, it's easily one of the top-five kisses of my entire life. Eli lets out these little moans as we kiss that I fervently wish I could record and play back later when I need them most. I pull away to lean on my forearms, hovering above him. Despite the darkness of the room, I can easily see the visible flush high on his cheeks. Desire shimmers in his hooded eyes.

Rolling my hips against him, I slide our cocks together until he's shivering beneath me. It's a little dry without lube, so I hold my hand in front of him, and without even needing to ask, he licks a wet stripe up my palm. Quickly, I take both of our cocks in hand and start rutting. It only takes a moment before he's coming, legs tight around my waist, and I use his cum like I did in the shower to finish myself off.

I'm not letting him lie around covered in my cum again. I grab some tissues and wipe us both down. He laughs in the dark, a breathy little laugh, and softly kisses the corner of my mouth in thanks.

"I've never been chased and fucked before but I'd say that was an enthusiastic yes to trying that one out," he says sweetly, still a little out of breath.

I kiss him once more with my own smile. After a few sweet, orgasm-soft kisses, I tug him out of the bed to shower together. Under the rainfall shower, I tenderly wash him, skimming my fingers over the soft skin of his abdomen. His stomach contracts under my fingers and he hisses at my touch. I kiss him again because I can, because I want to, because his kisses are rapidly becoming one of my favorite pastimes. We kiss so long that the water runs cold, something that's never happened here before. I try to not dwell on that too much as we start our day.