CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
“Yeah. What is that saying? My eyes are bigger than my stomach? When I bought it, I thought it was a great idea, but now I have no clue what to do with all this space. If I ever host an orgy, though, it will come in handy.”
I gasped as a cat came racing for us, mewling. I bent down and offered my hand. They sniffed my fingers then bumped them.
“This is Pixel. He loves everybody. I’ll put the salads in the fridge,” Gabriel said and headed for the immaculate kitchen that shined with polished appliances. “Take your shoes off. Get comfy.”
Giving the cat a good ear scratching, I craned my head around.
The place probably cost more than I’d made in my entire lifetime.
As he set our salads in the fridge, and cracked a can of cat food, I toe’d my sneakers off and wandered toward the living room.
A plush set of leather sofas and a chair rested on a colorful Persian rug.
The entertainment system was all curved flat screen television and Bose speakers.
“Do you like video games?” He inquired from behind me. “I bought a PS5 on a whim. Only used it once or twice.”
I cocked a brow at him. “You want to get whooped again?”
He chuckled, looking delighted. “Despite appearances, you’ll find little things that might convince you this is a bachelor pad more than the refined condo of wildly successful physician.”
Before I could respond, he pecked me on the cheek and slid his fingers down my bare arm, the whisper-thin touch making me shiver.
He took me by the wrist and gently urged me to follow.
My heart started pounding again, but this time the jumping-jacks were all excitement.
I shuffled my feet clumsily across the waxed hardwood and into what I knew was his bedroom.
His idea of a bed was a king-sized mattress in the center of the room set upon a high frame and draped with black silk.
It almost looked like something out of a BDSM flick.
“What? No m-mirrors?” I croaked, my throat suddenly dry. I didn’t think I had the guts to watch myself being fellatiated in a ceiling mirror.
He simply laughed. “There is always room for improvement.”
He let go of my hand and moved to a walk-in closet.
Through the crack in the door, I could see him undressing, flashes of tanned skin stirring the primal part of me.
Guess I would be able to get it up after all.
I glanced at the bed. Are we really doing this?
I traced the angles and lines of the architecture in order to soothe myself.
“I need you to get undressed, down to your underwear,” he said from the closet.
Swallowing a lump, I fingered the collar of my sweater. My stomach started doing flips again and the conflicting message of nervousness and sexual desire was taking me on a roller coaster ride.
“I’m being a good boy, I promise,” he said, coming up behind me. He had changed into a rock-band T-shirt and a pair of jogging pants. “I keep telling you to trust me, but tonight I’m going to show you why you can.”
I bit my lip, wanting to make a quip about how it was impossible for him to be good, but I was too caught up in the choice presented to me. If I asked, he would take me home right now. Isn’t that reason enough to trust him? Don't chicken out now!
I gathered my courage and pulled my sweater and T-shirt off, wishing I weren’t so skinny.
It was hard to build muscle when you couldn’t afford gym membership and protein powder.
He disappeared again and I managed to slide my jeans down my legs.
I was thankful I’d put on a pair of my best briefs.
Perhaps, subconsciously, I was hoping things would head in this direction.
“Lay on the bed, face down. I’ll be right there,” he said from the bathroom, the sound of rushing water cutting through his words.
I did as asked, the silk sheets cool and soft.
I closed my eyes, doing my best to clear my mind.
I’d get in my own way if I let myself think about things.
I focused on the fabric under my body, the comfortable air against my back, the sound of my own heartbeat in my ears.
Mostly I thought about what he was doing in the bathroom.
Was he brushing his teeth in preparation for a make-out session?
His voice was so much closer. “Can you move to the edge a bit more?”
I obeyed, my limbs out of sync with the rest of my body. I was freaking out and hated it. Why couldn’t I respond like a normal guy to someone that wanted to have sex with me?
“I need you to relax. No thinking, just feel.” His tone was a rich purr, like a hunter about to seize its prey. “I said my intentions are pure and I mean it. But I won’t deny that I’m going to enjoy this.”
The sound of a cap popping snapped through the air and the scent of something sweet and spicy filled my nose.
For the briefest instant, I thought it was lube—I gasped as warm, wet hands were laid on my back.
He spread oil all over my skin then went to work on my shoulders.
The little moan of need that escaped my lips surprised me.
I should have known a massage was in my future considering his line of work. I almost laughed at my stupidity.
He said on a smile, “You thought I was going to fuck you, didn’t you?”
The erotic words on his lips almost had me begging for it. It was embarrassing that I’d never had a man inside me. My nerves didn’t allow it. God, what if Gabriel is the first? My response was nothing more than a rush of breath.
“It’s okay. I will if you want me to. But I won’t until you ask.
Tonight is about helping you relax and getting rid of some of that stress that’s been building.
” His warmed hands worked from my shoulders to my neck, skilled fingers finding knots and loosening them.
“There is a certain intimacy to massage, especially between lovers, and it has nothing to do with nakedness. It’s all about learning key points, those little spots deep under our skin that feels so good when they’re hit. ”
Right on cue, his thumb dug in just under my shoulder blade. It made me moan, not in pain, but sweet relief. A wave of tingles washed through me, and my brain released all the feel-good endorphins I needed.
“Looks like I found one,” he said, amused. “They’re everywhere. Some have more than others. Finding them is half the fun. Exploiting them is my favorite.”
As he ran his knuckles down along the sides of my spine, I managed, “Is this how you drive all your boyfriends crazy?”
He stopped for a long moment as if collecting his thoughts. Slowly, he moved up. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to do this very often. Most of my relationships are short lived.” A heavy breath brushed across my oil-slickened skin. “I hope that changes with you.”
I hid my smile in the sheets. His confession did something I wasn’t familiar with.
All I knew was that I craved it. I concentrated on his touch and the strength in his hands as they moved all over my back, working out years-worth of knots.
The oil tingled and warmed my skin, penetrating deep.
I was so blissed out that I didn’t care when he shucked my briefs down my butt.
“Can’t forget these muscles,” he purred. But he was entirely professional, massaging the globes expertly. “Feeling good?”
“Fuck,” I rasped. My response seemed to only amuse him further.
“Looks like I’m doing my job then.”
I lost all concept of time. All I knew was his masterful hands on my body, working down along my thigh, my calves, the scent of the oil relaxing me until I could fall asleep in this man’s comfortable bed.
“Turn over, baby boy. We’re not done yet.”
I did as asked, and we both chuckled at the hard on tenting my underwear.
“It happens often,” he said matter-of-factly, his attention on my cock pushing against the cloth. “But good to know I’m hitting all the right spots.”
Pressing my lips together to fight back the smile, I relaxed against the bed as he got to work on my feet.
No one had ever rubbed my feet. The oil ensured a smooth glide, every touch as magical as the last. The minutes slid by, and my entire body sang with sweet relief.
The attention and care he was showing hit more than a physical spot, however.
He moved over me to work my arms, and a surge of arousal beat through my veins.
Is this how he’d look when he arranged my body to his liking and fucked me for the first time?
I licked my lips and said, “Guess I’m obligated to put out now.”
He rumbled a little laugh. “I told you I was going to enjoy this. And before anything happens, you’ll be asking for it.”
Something in his tone let me know there was a dark desire there.
Maybe it was dirty and forbidden like my penchant for wearing lingerie.
I wondered if he’d tell me about it. It was something I couldn’t examine right now.
But maybe when we were a little closer we could tell each other our deepest secrets.
He moved to my other arm, kneading, and loosening until I didn’t think I had anything left.
If he were this skilled in the art of touch, what could he do with his cock?
“Enjoying yourself?” He murmured.
I nodded dramatically.
“Almost done. Let’s talk about a little aftercare. I need you to drink plenty of water. You’ll probably be a little sore tomorrow, but that’s how you know we got stuff to loosen up.” He lay next to me, his head resting on his palm.
I couldn’t fight my smile. “Thank you. I didn’t expect… This was really nice.”
He pushed a loose lock off my forehead. His gaze was bright as if he were burning from the inside out.
He came closer, those beautiful eyes sliding down to my lips.
He wanted to kiss me. Not some chaste pluck on the cheek, but a real kiss, with full lips and tongue.
My body clearly wanted it, my head turning toward him of its own volition.
I was ready. I’d been ready for this since the day I’d met him in the market.
But he didn’t come closer, just stayed where he was, looking at me with need.
“It’s getting late,” I said like an idiot, breaking the moment.
He nodded. “This should make you feel a little better.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, and we proceeded to stare at each other. “Really. I’ve…never had someone take the time with me like this.”
“You don’t have to go home. You can stay here,” he said softly, sparkling eyes of hazel running all over me as if I was interesting to him. “I have a fresh toothbrush in the bathroom. Plenty of soap. We can just sleep.”
I was in trouble. I wanted to stay so badly. I was in a place where my nerves were soothed, leaving me relaxed and open to pushing my boundaries. This was exactly the right time to stay. Like an idiot, I said, “My work uniform is at home.”
The glint in his eyes dimmed. “Right. We would have to get up earlier than normal just so I can get ourselves to work on time.”
“Ugh, look what I did. My habit of excuse-making has rubbed off on you,” I huffed, angry with myself.
“Hey, it’s okay. I accomplished my goals tonight.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Come on. I’ll drive you home.”
The ride to the west side of the city was quiet. I was angry with myself for not having the balls to stay. I was on the verge of begging him to turn around and take us back to his condo. But my uniform was at home. And we would have to get up extra early, so we weren’t late for work.
He glanced at me. “Tell me where you live. I’m not dropping you off blocks away in this chill.”
“Oh, ah—”
“Non-negotiable. I mean it.” He casted me a serious look that hit a spot I’d buried.
My cheeks heated and I reluctantly gave him my address. I figured he would discover the shithole I lived in eventually. And for the sake of being honest with each other, he deserved to know.
He frowned. “Are you section-8?”
A heat of another kind speared me, and I looked out the window. “Yes.”
He pulled up in front of the building and put his Jeep into park. “Look at me for a moment, please?”
I dragged my attention to him, surprised by the serious expression on his face. “Will you promise me something? If you need help with anything, let me know? I don’t—” He looked around at all the dilapidation. “I don’t like you here by yourself.”
I didn’t know what to make of the out-of-the-blue seriousness from him. “O-okay.”
He got out and I quickly evacuated the car. It wasn’t a good idea to leave a shiny vehicle idling in the middle of the ghetto. As he met me on the sidewalk, his expression shifted, the soft smile on his lips lovely.
“Thank you for tonight,” I said.
“Thank you for today,” he countered, his bedroom eyes hooding.
Ask me to come home with you, please. I knew I should get upstairs and his expensive car out of here as quickly as possible, but the blissed out feeling returned with a vengeance.
He whispered a curse. “I’m trying really hard to be good, but you have to let me do this.”
As he closed the distance between us, my body sang with victory. Gabriel kissed me sweetly and I forgot about the danger surrounding us. The entire world disappeared with the smack of our lips.
“More,” I whispered.
He grinned wickedly and took my lips again.
The kiss was gentle but deeper and the barest of tongue swiped along my bottom lip.
I opened for him. Kissing had always been filled with trepidation and awkwardness, but in the moment, I was comfortable.
He knew what he was doing, his movement careful, testing.
When I responded with enthusiasm, he went a little deeper, the flats of our tongues meeting.
He was the kind of person that kissed with his entire body, warm hands cupping my cheeks, his torso brushing against my own.
And when I dared to open my eyes… I stared into pure lust.
“You like that?” He purred.
I licked my lips and nodded, completely ready for more.
He smirked and stepped away. With a slanted grin, he cooed, “I’ll see you tomorrow, baby boy.”
I waved awkwardly as he got in his car and left. I stood on the steps for a long minute until I realized I was throwing wood. I quickly escaped to my apartment and gulped down a big glass of water. I plopped in bed and fell asleep with a big smile on my face.