Chapter Sixteen
chapter SIXTEEN
E than felt as though he were suspended from a single-fiber thread, one that wasn’t strong enough to carry the weight of his hair, much less his body. He was going to snap any second, and watching Beau gasp for breath as he came down from his orgasm certainly wasn’t helping.
With measured movements, Ethan made his way back onto the bed, hovering above Beau. Once he felt the warmth of Beau’s muscular body against his thighs, he had to fight the urge to slam into him, to plunge his dick into the scalding heat of his ass in one barbaric thrust.
He couldn’t do that though. He had to be easy with Beau.
Gritting his teeth, he slid his stiff cock along Beau’s, then down over his balls, teasing them both briefly. Using his left hand, he lifted Beau’s right leg, opening him up to Ethan’s gaze and the blunt head of his dick. Forcing his attention away from the titillating sight of Beau’s puckered hole, Ethan peered up at Beau. His hooded eyes were just as focused on what was going on between his legs as Ethan had been.
An unexpected growl erupted from Beau’s chest, his hands clenching at his sides before their eyes met. “Fuck me,” he begged in that sexy, husky voice, and Ethan was even more tempted to slam himself home.
Sliding the head of his cock lower, he circled Beau’s asshole, applying minimal pressure. He wasn’t going to sink into him just yet, but shit, he wanted to. Propping Beau’s leg on his shoulder, Ethan grabbed the lube, pumped a small amount into his hand, and proceeded to coat two fingers.
As he continued to divide his attention between Beau’s face and the enticing entrance into his body, Ethan slid one finger inside of him slowly. “Does that feel good?” he asked as he thrust his finger in and out of his ass with gentle strokes.
“Need more,” Beau begged, dropping his head onto the bed.
“Watch me,” Ethan told him.
When Beau was once again focused on what Ethan was doing, he slowly added a second finger. “You’re so fucking tight,” Ethan said as Beau’s ass gripped his fingers. “Relax.”
“I need to feel your cock inside me,” Beau said, his voice coming out impatient and strangled.
“I’m getting there, baby,” Ethan crooned, scissoring his fingers gently. He didn’t want to hurt Beau.
Unable to maintain his slippery grasp on his own control, Ethan pulled his fingers out and stroked his cock once, twice, before taking the lube and squirting some over Beau’s asshole. An enthusiastic rumble escaped from his chest as he leaned forward, forcing Beau’s leg farther back, opening him more as he slid the head of his dick against the tight, slippery hole.
He worked himself into Beau slowly, inch by luscious inch, until only the head of his cock breached the tight ring of muscles. The fierce resistance of Beau’s body was a delightful mixture of pleasure and pain, causing Ethan to suck in a breath. “Relax for me, baby. Just relax.”
“Oh, fuck,” Beau growled. “Ethan. Oh, shit.”
Ethan immediately stilled. “Am I hurting you?”
“No,” Beau reassured him. “Oh, God. Please. Fuck me.” Beau looked him in the eyes, the hunger and need evident in the chocolate-brown depths. “I need you inside me. Completely.” Beau’s request was a mere whisper, but Ethan heard him. He heard him to the depth of his soul and he couldn’t refuse this man anything.
Ethan pushed in a little deeper, carefully watching Beau’s expression, determined that he was not going to hurt him. He was just as eager as Beau was, but not if it meant he was going to cause him more than the necessary initial pain.
Excruciatingly long seconds later, Ethan was buried balls-deep inside of Beau, but he didn’t withdraw immediately. Hell, he couldn’t move, the pleasure was all-consuming, grabbing him by the balls with its intensity. He took a moment to just breathe, admiring the point where he was joined with Beau.
Shifting so that he could hold Beau’s leg up high, he began pumping his hips, not pulling out, simply applying friction. When the hard line of Beau’s mouth softened, Ethan eased back, slowly sliding out until only the head of his cock remained inside.
He repeated the torturous process until Beau began to rock his hips, their eyes locking together once more. Leaning forward, Ethan released Beau’s leg, propping himself over him and plundering his mouth as he began to slowly thrust in and out of him, quickening his pace. It wasn’t long before sweat was beading on his brow, and Beau was sliding his large fingers into his hair at the back of his head.
The erotic moans that escaped Beau’s mouth had Ethan increasing the tempo until he was lunging forward deep, retreating slowly, over and over. Faster, harder, until they were both breathing hard, unable to sustain the kiss because the need for oxygen was just too great. Their eyes were locked on one another’s, and something ignited deep in Ethan’s chest.
This. Was. Different.
Right here with Beau, Ethan felt a connection he’d never felt before—not even with Gavin. As though not only was he fucking Beau’s body, but he was also making love to his soul. The two of them the only people in the world. The only thing that mattered was the way their bodies slid together, a sense of fulfillment overwhelming the loneliness that Ethan had felt for so long.
Needing to pull himself back from the unacceptable possibility that he was getting in over his head, Ethan began pounding his hips against Beau, holding himself above him with his arms while Beau gripped his hips, pulling him in deeper with every downstroke.
“Fuck,” Ethan growled. “It’s too good.” Better than anything he could recall, and the way Beau’s body gripped him even tighter had Ethan’s breath catching in his chest. Oh, fuck. He was going to...
“Come for me,” Beau urged. “Come inside me, Ethan.”
The way Beau said his name, it was like coming home. Finally, a place to end up that wasn’t empty and desolate, despite all the fancy furnishings. This was what it meant to feel complete. A man who looked deep into your eyes and connected with your soul.
Ethan wasn’t able to hold out any longer. “Stroke your cock,” he demanded. “I want you to come with me.” Although, Ethan wasn’t sure he could wait long enough for Beau to make that a reality.
Beau gripped his cock with one hand, the back of Ethan’s neck with the other and stared deep into his eyes. Ethan began slamming into him, the friction and heat of Beau’s extraordinary body taking him higher than he thought possible.
“I’m gonna come,” Ethan said, biting his bottom lip, praying that Beau was close. “Come for me. Come with me.”
The deep growl that emanated from Beau’s chest sent a shiver igniting at the base of Ethan’s spine and racing upward at lightning-fast speeds. Beau’s hand stilled, his cock jerked and spilled semen onto his rigidly defined stomach at the same time Ethan erupted in his ass. His entire body was consumed by sensation, a strange feeling that he was floating overpowering him until he could barely hold himself up any longer.
Beau’s arms wrapped around him, and Ethan realized he’d collapsed onto Beau’s chest, the sticky warmth of Beau’s cum coating his stomach. They were both breathing heavily. Ethan knew he should move. He knew he was supposed to detach himself from this man, to keep that well-implemented distance between them, but he couldn’t find the energy—or the inclination—to move.
By the time the world stopped spinning, Ethan had no idea how much time had passed, but the light stroke of Beau’s callused fingers down his back was soothing him into sleep, and he wasn’t quite ready for that.
As he forced himself up, his muscles immediately argued with his brain’s decision, but he ignored them. He needed to get a washcloth and dispose of the condom. Maybe after that he could return to the warmth of Beau’s arms.
When Beau abruptly shifted off the bed as soon as Ethan was off him, he wondered if maybe he was already in over his head.
And worse, he wondered if he was the only one.
BEAU WASN’T SURE whether he was going to be able to walk, but somehow he managed to drag himself to a sitting position. That had to count for something.
When Ethan had bolted for the edge of the bed, Beau knew he’d be looking at the front door within minutes, and the last thing he wanted to do was to appear overeager to stay. Because he wasn’t interested in waiting for Ethan to give him the boot, he figured he had better get his head on straight.
He was still reeling from the overwhelming feeling of Ethan inside of him. Holding him close, feeling his heartbeat against his chest, for a brief moment, Beau could actually imagine what it would be like to wake up every day to this man. To kiss him each morning and every night. To hold him in his arms and make love to him for the rest of his life.
And then, all too quickly, Ethan was gone.
“Hey,” Ethan said from where he stood beside the bed, his words unusually gentle. Maybe the guy didn’t want to let him down too hard. That was something at least.
Peering over his shoulder, he noticed Ethan standing beside the bed. Lifting one eyebrow was about all he could muster because that second orgasm had zapped every ounce of strength he had left, but he continued to stare at Ethan over his shoulder.
“How about a shower?”
Was it just him or did Ethan sound a little uncertain? Maybe Beau had read him wrong. Maybe he hadn’t been jumping out of the bed to get away from him after all.
Nodding, he forced himself to his feet and insisted that his legs carry him around to the other side of the bed. Since Ethan was still standing there staring at him, Beau stopped in front of him.
Ethan took one tentative step closer, the clearly cut muscles of his bicep flexing as he lifted his arm. The next thing Beau knew, his hand was in Ethan’s, and much like earlier, he was following him. Only this time they were going to the bathroom.
Once inside the oversized room, Beau admired the black-and-silver décor while Ethan disappeared. The shower water came on, and that’s when Beau realized the shower was discreetly tucked away behind the wall. Making his way around, he found himself standing in what had to be a six-foot by six-foot room without a door. The walls, ceiling, and floor were tiled in large, gray slate squares, and there were two showerheads on adjacent walls and a rain-showerhead in the ceiling.
“Nice,” he whispered.
He hadn’t meant to say anything at all.
“Come here.” Ethan beckoned him with a finger, and Beau obeyed.
Walking beneath the spray, he fully expected the water to be cold, but he was pleasantly surprised. Ethan must’ve noticed his reaction. “On-demand water heater,” he explained with a mischievous grin.
Beau smiled back, the uncertainty from earlier dissipating into thin air.
And when Ethan pulled him flush against his body, Beau groaned. God, the man felt so fucking good. Every hard plane of his body, every sinful angle, seemed to fit perfectly against Beau. Letting his hands roam, Beau wrapped his arms around Ethan and moved in for a kiss, his hands sliding over the smooth, wet skin of his back.
“I promise, I didn’t bring you in here to seduce you,” Ethan said with a smile when he pulled away long minutes later.
“I’m not complaining,” Beau answered with a rough chuckle.
Ethan reached for a bottle sitting on the shelf and proceeded to pour a handful of what appeared to be shampoo into his hand. “Turn around.”
Beau raised an eyebrow, bewildered. He’d never showered with a man before. Actually, he’d never showered with anyone before, so needless to say, he didn’t know what was expected of him. At the most, he lasted maybe five minutes in his own shower.
“Another first?” Ethan asked directly.
Beau’s only response was to nod.
“Not even I understand why I like being the first for you,” Ethan mumbled, the proclamation laced with what sounded like confusion.
Beau’s heart swelled, threatening to fill up his entire chest cavity. This was a side of Ethan he hadn’t known existed. The other side of that carefully erected wall that Ethan presented to the world. And despite Ethan’s declaration, Beau had to remind himself not to get too close too fast. As it was, he knew he would easily fall in love with Ethan. Hell, he was more than a little bit there already.
Unable to speak, he pressed another kiss to Ethan’s lips, seeking the warmth and reassurance that he found in this man’s arms.
“Turn around,” Ethan instructed again, and this time Beau complied.
“Move back under the water.”
Beau inched backward beneath the shower spray until he was once again flush with Ethan’s body, back to chest.
“Okay, now move forward again.”
Beau laughed but did as he was told.
Tenacious fingers were suddenly in his wet hair, kneading his scalp in the most sensual way. He clamped his mouth closed to keep from groaning out in ecstasy. Several minutes later, Ethan was pulling him back under the water, the soap rinsing out of his hair and down his body. Once the suds all seemed to have washed away, Ethan was pressed up against him again; this time his mouth was on the back of his neck, and instinctively, Beau reached around behind him and clasped Ethan’s firm thigh to steady himself.
That simple touch, Ethan’s lips against his neck, had his body forgetting all about the sheer exhaustion from earlier and instantly hoping for a replay. His muscles were no longer tired; the nerve endings were sparking like they were gearing up for a marathon.
With his other hand, Beau reached behind him and gripped the back of Ethan’s head, holding him closer, never wanting him to stop. Ethan’s hands slid around his body, his palms caressing his chest slowly.
“I figured for sure you’d be sore,” Ethan said softly, his mouth close to Beau’s ear.
“You’d think,” he said, unable to find words. Truthfully, his ass was a little sore, but not in a bad way. It was a constant reminder of the most incredible experience of his entire life.
Twisting in the circle of Ethan’s arms, Beau turned to face him, cupping Ethan’s face with his hands and leaning in to kiss him. What he expected to be laced with the ferocity of their renewed need turned out to be gentle and tender and... oh, God . Beau pushed Ethan up against the tile wall and crushed his body against his.
Ethan’s fingers were digging deep into the muscles of his back.
When they had to finally come up for air, Beau took a step back and smiled at Ethan. “Turn around.”
A knowing smirk was the last thing he saw on Ethan’s face before he turned instantly to face the wall. Grabbing the same bottle Ethan had used earlier, Beau filled his palm with shampoo and proceeded to wash Ethan’s hair, paying particular attention to his scalp the same way Ethan had him. Not content with stopping there, Beau grabbed the bar of soap that was sitting in the soap dish and inserted it between his hand and Ethan’s skin. From there, he worked the bar into a lather over his body, paying close attention to every angle and crevice.
As he went, Beau studied the tattoo across Ethan’s back. He could easily read the words now, and he recognized them as a Shakespeare quote: This above all: to thine ownself be true . Beau was tempted to question Ethan about it but decided against it for the time being. He had a feeling there was a deeper story associated with the selection, and he certainly wanted to understand what it was, but he also knew there was a time and place for everything.
Returning his attention to ensuring Ethan was squeaky-clean, Beau moved the soap over his chest. When he worked his way down over Ethan’s stomach and lower, he was pleasantly surprised to notice Ethan’s cock was hard. “That feel good?” he whispered against Ethan’s ear, inhaling the musky scent of Ethan’s skin.
Without a response, Ethan’s head fell back, his cheek brushing against Beau’s as he held him there, allowing him to get closer. Still rubbing the bar of soap against Ethan’s cock, Beau used his other hand to grip Ethan’s chin, turning his head so he could easily access his mouth. Before he knew it, they were chest to chest once again, their mouths fused together as another explosive kiss detonated upon impact.
Beau had never known a kiss like Ethan’s. Nothing compared to this.
“We need to finish up here,” Ethan said when they broke apart a short while later.
“Worried we’ll run out of hot water?” Beau teased.
“No, I’m worried I’ll have you bent over in this shower.”
Beau didn’t see an issue with that scenario. In fact, a mental image sprang to mind, and he gripped the length of his cock.
Ethan retrieved the bar of soap from Beau’s hand and finished washing his own body and then took it upon himself to do the same to Beau. By the time he was clean, his legs were ready to give out, and his cock was a steel rod standing tall and proud between them.
After the water was shut off, Ethan grabbed two towels from a cabinet on the wall just outside of the shower and tossed one over to Beau. With brisk movements, he managed to dry himself in record time and was following Ethan back into the bedroom.
“Are you hungry?” Ethan asked, stopping halfway across the room.
“As a matter of fact... ,” Beau answered, and then all but tackled Ethan to the bed.
In a heap of arms and legs, Beau sought Ethan’s kiss, unable to get enough of the man as they lay skin to skin, this time Beau coming down over Ethan.
At this rate, Beau wasn’t sure they’d ever make it anywhere outside of Ethan’s bedroom.
And he damn sure wasn’t complaining.