Epilogue - Ben
A fter a long day of classes, it was a welcome relief to know I was coming home to my boyfriend. After everything had blown up, Sutton had hunkered down at our place, planning for a future that no longer involved finishing Stanford, or obeying his father's dictates, and I was eager to get home to him. I dropped my bag by the entrance and headed straight for the living room where Sutton sat, hunched over his laptop, eyes glued to the screen.
"Still enjoying your fan club, huh?" I teased, wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders from behind. His hair tickled my cheek as I nuzzled against him, feeling the warmth of his body seep into mine.
"Hey," Sutton murmured absentmindedly, his fingers flying over the keyboard. He was probably still caught up in the whirlwind of comments and messages that had flooded his social media after his latest post went viral.
"You're like a moth to a flame," I chuckled, pressing a kiss to the side of his neck. "But it's good, right? All the support and everything?"
"Yeah, but…" Sutton's voice trailed off, and he turned to look at me, his eyes wide and filled with something I couldn't quite place—fear, maybe? "Ben, you won't believe this."
"Try me," I said, squeezing his shoulders reassuringly.
"After that post went viral, an investigator dug into my dad's finances," Sutton started, his voice shaky. "They found out he's been embezzling from the church. My dad might be in deep trouble."
"Seriously?" My mind raced, trying to process what he'd just said. Sutton's father, Lawrence Holm—the holier-than-thou televangelist who preached fire and brimstone while condemning anyone who didn't fit his narrow view of righteousness—was a thief?
"Yeah." Sutton let out a shuddering breath, closing the laptop and burying his face in his hands. "It's all over the news now."
I straightened, running a hand through my hair, and something deep inside, something that marked my worry for Sutton, relaxed just a little. If I was being honest with myself, it would thrill me to see Lawrence Holm in jail, and to know that couldn't ruin any more of Sutton's events.
The expression on Sutton's face when he'd spotted his parents at Matt's speech had been enough to make me hate them far more than I had any right to. No one could ever make my sweet, kind-hearted boyfriend look that distraught, that heartbroken again.
Then he'd blown me away with the way he'd fought back. Sutton had remained true to himself, instead of dropping back into the asshole persona he invented to protect himself. He'd stood up for our relationship, for everyone, really. And I knew in that moment that there wasn't another person for me. My heart was completely lost to Sutton Holm.
"Wow." I needed to choose my words carefully here; the news had shaken Sutton, and I knew he needed to sort through these feelings on his own, in his own time.
"Yeah," he whispered. Seeing how glassy his eyes were, I moved closer, kneeling between his legs so I could make eye contact.
"How are you holding up?" As I spoke, a tear streaked down his cheek, and I brushed a thumb over his cheekbone to catch another tear before it fell. He took a shaky breath, composing himself. I smiled. "I see you trying to hold it together, and I want to let you know that it's okay if you fall apart, baby. You don't have to be strong, just let yourself feel all the things. I'm here for you."
"Honestly, Ben? I don't know if I will fall apart." He shook his head slowly, as if trying to clear away the whirlwind of emotions. "It's weird. I'm feeling everything at once, and my mind is a mess. Can I really be mourning the loss of my family while getting a sick thrill out of knowing that asshole might go to jail?"
"Of course you can," I replied softly, shifting forward to kiss each cheek. "It's tough, the mixed-up feelings we have for family."
"Yeah," he whispered. "And if he really took money that was meant to go to people in need, he deserves it."
"It's okay to feel sad about it. They're blood and there's a bond there that's hard to break. You can hate them, but a part of you might always feel some attachment to them."
"I don't think so. I think… I think you're my real family," he whispered. "You and Matt and Walt and Linda."
I smiled, continuing to stroke his face, to soothe him. "Of course we are, baby. And I'm here for you. And my family is, too. You're welcome to call Matt your brother, you know. Hell, sometimes I'd be happy to give him away. When he gets all wise and self-righteous, you can keep him for yourself."
He laughed, my joke hitting the mark. "You know you love your stepbrother. And you know you're lucky to have him." His eyes were red, his voice shaky, but laced with gratitude. He leaned into my touch, his lips trembling as they brushed against my palm, sending a warm tingle of awareness down my arm. The simple intimacy of the gesture got me deep in my chest, and now I was about to cry with him. Fuck.
"I know. I'm just teasing you to see that cute smile. And because I want to be sure you know you're not alone. Even if you never see them again, you're not alone."
He smiled, his eyes still glassy. "Thank you. For showing me what it should be like. I'm not sure I would have snapped out of this if it hadn't been for you. I'd be a khaki-wearing douchebag working on Wall Street or something."
I snorted, sliding my hand down to his chest, holding it over my heart. "Sure you would have. This version of you was in here all along, aching to get out. And this version of you definitely couldn't marry and have sex with a woman."
He burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Oh shit. I was so terrified of that. I'm so gay."
"Way gayer than me, anyway. I'd be happy to fuck a woman."
"You wouldn't!" he gasped. "You can't. You can only fuck me."
Chuckling, I lifted his shirt over his head and tossed it aside so I could kiss his chest and shoulders. "You're right. Only you. Now, how about we close that laptop and take a break from all the chaos? You need some distraction."
"Distraction," Sutton agreed, his eyes softening. "Also, you need to do everything in your power to erase that woman thing from my mind. I can't be wondering if you're always wanting a girlfriend, too."
I snorted. "I'm pansexual, not polyamorous. I can live without pussy. And I'm completely, one hundred percent devoted to you, my sweet boy."
He beamed at me, and I stood up and moved the laptop to the coffee table. Then, with a mischievous grin, I climbed into his lap, straddling him. I cupped his face in my hands as I brought our lips together, kissing him wildly. And then, in a husky whisper, I let out the words I knew would shift his focus entirely. "Fuck, now I want you inside me. Give me something no woman could give me."
"Too much prep," he grumped, and I kissed him again, as desperate to be close to him as he was to be close to me.
"Baby," I whispered between kisses, my hands sliding under his shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin against my palms. "You're so fucking sexy. I don't think I'll ever get enough of touching you."
Sutton's breath hitched as I teased his nipples, rolling them between my fingers while my mouth moved to his neck, nibbling and sucking lightly. "Ben…" he moaned, arching into my touch.
"Yeah, babe?" I murmured, letting my voice drop an octave. "You like that?"
"Fuck, yes," he gasped, his hands gripping my hips, pulling me closer. I could feel his hard cock pressing against me, and it sent a jolt of electricity straight to my core.
"Good," I smirked, dragging my tongue up the column of his throat before capturing his lips again. "Because I'm just getting started."
My hands roamed over his torso, marveling at the way his muscles tensed and relaxed under my touch. It felt liberating to touch him like this, knowing that he was mine for good, that everyone that mattered in our lives supported our relationship.
Sutton's body was mine to explore, and I wanted to learn every part of him. To trace the lines of his abs, to feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath my fingertips. Each caress was a silent declaration of love, a promise that he was mine and I was his.
"Can't get enough of you," I admitted, pulling back enough to look into his eyes. "Need you more every day."
"Then take me," he urged, his voice thick with desire. "I'm yours, Ben. Always."
"Always," I echoed, feeling a swell of emotion in my chest. I kissed him harder, our tongues tangling as we lost ourselves in each other.
Our kisses grew more passionate, more desperate. The rest of our clothes were tossed aside carelessly, leaving us both naked and needy. I laughed breathlessly as I pulled back, shaking my head in amusement. "Did you prep for me?"
"No. And Ben," Sutton whined, his eyes dark with lust. "I need you now. I can't wait."
"Fine," I grinned, pushing him gently onto his side. I positioned myself facing the opposite way, my gaze zeroing in on his hard, throbbing cock. It bobbed enticingly in front of my lips, and I couldn't resist leaning in, brushing a kiss along its length.
"God, your cock is gorgeous," I murmured, my breath hot against his skin. "I need it so bad. You want to fill me up?"
"Ben…" Sutton groaned, his voice a broken plea.
"Shh, I've got you," I assured him, wrapping my hand around the base of his shaft. I pressed another kiss to the tip, tasting the salty pre-cum that had gathered there. "Relax and let me take care of you."
"Fuck," he hissed, his fingers digging into my thighs as I took him into my mouth, savoring the weight and heat of him on my tongue. The sensation was electric, a heady mix of pleasure and power that left me craving more.
I couldn't take it any longer. The need to feel Sutton's cock against my tongue was overwhelming. At the same moment, I lunged forward, Sutton mirrored my movement, his mouth capturing my hard length. The sensation was immediate and intense, my body reacting with a shudder as his warm, wet mouth enveloped me.
He was perfect like this too, a gentle suction pulling me deeper into that exquisite heat. My lips wrapped around Sutton's cock, tasting him, savoring the salty pre-cum that leaked from his tip. We moved in sync, our bodies creating a rhythm that spoke of intimacy and mutual desire.
My hands roamed over Sutton's thick ass, pressing him closer and feeling the muscles twitch under my touch. His fingers traced patterns on my thighs, sending jolts of pleasure up my spine. His hand found its way to my balls, gently squeezing and kneading, driving me wild with need. Feeling a rush of intense love for him, I conveyed my emotions through every lick, every suck, pouring my adoration and desire into each movement. Sutton responded in kind, his moans vibrating around my shaft, making me ache with longing.
The room filled with the sounds of our ragged breaths, muffled moans, and the wet, rhythmic noises of our mouths on each other's cocks. Each moment was a testament to our connection, the unspoken bond that held us together even in the face of adversity.
I moaned softly, urging him to do more with my movements, but unwilling to let go of his cock for even a second to speak. He was talented at this. His tongue swirled around my head, the pressure and friction building an exquisite tension inside me. My own tongue danced along the underside of his cock, tracing the veins, teasing the sensitive spots that made him buck and gasp. Our hands never stopped exploring, mapping out the contours of each other's bodies, committing every inch to memory.
The dual sensations of giving and receiving were almost too much to bear. I felt my control slipping, the need for him consuming every part of me. Sutton's grip tightened on my hips, his movements becoming more frantic, mirroring my own desperation. The taste, the scent, the feel of him—it all combined into a heady mix that left me breathless. My hips slammed forward, fucking his mouth with a need that was almost feral. His tongue worked magic, swirling around my head, teasing the slit, driving me closer to the edge. My own mouth mimicked the urgency, sucking frantically on his cock, tasting the pre-cum that leaked from him, salty and intoxicating.
I held myself on that edge, waiting for him, needing my boy to come before I did. His body quivered in my arms, his fingers digging into my flesh, his mouth working harder than ever, almost desperate to choke on my cock. He was close, and I could sense it in the way his cock throbbed against my tongue. His hands clutched at my ass, urging me deeper, as if he needed this connection as much as I did. Soon, his body shuddered violently, his cock jolting in my mouth as he came hard, pouring his hot, salty cum across my tongue.
I reveled in the taste and feel of his orgasm, the way he whimpered and shook in my arms. I swallowed eagerly, not wanting to waste a single drop of him, feeling his cum coat my throat.
Then, finally, I let go, surrendering to the orgasm that had been building within me. It crashed over me, intense and overwhelming, as Sutton sucked me down eagerly, drinking every bit of my release. The pleasure was almost too much, my mind going blank with pure ecstasy.
I shouted, words failing me as my body convulsed with the force of my orgasm. He kept sucking, his tongue flicking over the sensitive head of my cock, drawing out every bit of pleasure until I was spent, trembling and breathless.
As Sutton's softening cock slipped from my mouth, words of love spilled from my lips again and again, a litany of devotion and gratitude. I held him close, savoring the warmth of his body against mine, the intimate connection we shared in this moment.
"I love you," I whispered hoarsely, my voice thick with emotion. Sutton, ever the eager slut, gently licked my cock clean, his tongue soothing and loving. I pressed a kiss to his thigh, and lay there like that, catching my breath as he caught his.
"Love you, too. And you should take my mind off of my troubles all the time," he said, chuckling softly.
We still had things to figure out, but Sutton and I, together, had managed to turn his worst fear into a victory, and that gave me hope that it would all work out.