Chapter 22
Marcus
It was nearly nine o’clock and I was still in bed.
Xavier was snuggled nearly on top of me, his face buried in my chest hair.
His fingers swirled through it, drawing little patterns before stroking it all away.
I wanted to stay with him like this all day, just him in my arms where he belonged.
But I had a job, and I never took a day off unless I was on death’s door.
Actually, you know what? Fuck that.
I reached over to the bedside table, grabbing my phone and hitting the speed dial button for the office. It only rang once before Mrs. Baxter picked up.
“Sheriff’s office,” she said simply.
“Hey Mrs. Baxter,” I replied. “I’m going to be working from home today.”
Xavier looked up at me, a surprised expression on his face.
“Everything alright, Sheriff?” she asked.
“Oh yeah, everything is fine. Better than fine actually.” I glanced down at Xavier, running my fingers through his dark hair. “I’ve just got some things here that really need my attention today. Call me if there’s an emergency, alright?”
“You got it, Sheriff,” she replied. Then there was a pause. “Tell Xavier I said hello.”
The line went dead and I couldn’t help but stare at my phone, a smile pulling at my lips.
“What?” Xavier asked, one eyebrow lifted. “What are you grinning about?”
“Nothin’,” I said, shaking my head. “Nothin’ at all.”
I set the phone back down on the nightstand, feeling Xavier’s fingers still tracing lazy patterns through my chest hair.
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the bed.
I’d never called in to work like this before, never prioritized anything over my duties as sheriff.
But lying here with Xavier, I realized I’d been prioritizing the wrong things my whole damn life.
“Did Mrs. Baxter just...” Xavier started, his eyes searching mine with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. “Did she know I was here?”
“Apparently,” I said, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face. “Guess we’re not as subtle as we thought.”
He propped himself up on one elbow, looking down at me with those beautiful light brown eyes. “And you’re okay with that? With her knowing?”
I reached up, cupping his face in my palm. His skin was smooth against my calloused hand, warm and perfect. “Yeah,” I said, surprised by how much I meant it. “Yeah, I think I am.”
Something shifted in his expression, a softness mixed with something deeper that made my stomach burst into butterflies. “Who are you and what have you done with Sheriff Marcus Webb?”
“Maybe I’m tired of hiding,” I admitted, my thumb stroking along his cheekbone. “Maybe I’m tired of being scared all the time. And maybe...” I paused, swallowing hard. “Maybe you’re worth the risk.”
Xavier’s breath hitched, and for a moment I thought I’d said too much, pushed too hard. But then he was kissing me, soft and sweet and full of promise. When he pulled back, his eyes were suspiciously bright.
“You can’t just say things like that to me,” he murmured, his voice rough. “I’m supposed to be leaving in three days, remember?”
“I remember.” My hand slid down to rest on his hip, keeping him close. “But that doesn’t change how I feel.”
He buried his face back in my chest, and I felt him take a shaky breath. We lay there in silence for a while, just holding each other, and I tried not to think about the clock ticking down to when he’d have to leave. Tried not to think about how empty this bed would feel without him in it.
“So,” Xavier finally said, his voice muffled against my skin. “What exactly are these things that need your attention today?”
I felt heat creep up my neck and my cock twitched, growing against him. “Well, I was hoping you might have some ideas.”
He lifted his head as he ground his hips against mine, that wicked gleam returning to his eyes. “Oh, I have plenty of ideas, Sheriff. The question is whether you can keep up.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”
“Maybe it is.” He shifted, straddling my legs in one fluid movement that made my breath catch.
The sheet fell away, revealing all that smooth, tanned skin that I couldn’t seem to get enough of.
His cock was already hard, standing proudly in front of him.
He reached down, wrapping his hand around both of us at the same time and stroked lightly.
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
I gripped his hips, feeling my cock thicken against his. I let out a soft moan of delight. “I think…” I took a deep breath. “I think I want you to fuck me.”
Xavier’s hand stopped immediately. “You… You do?”
I nodded, feeling heat fill my cheeks. “I’ve never done anything like that before but… well… I want you to be my first.”
“Really?”
“If that’s okay with you—”
“Of course it’s okay with me!” he practically shouted. “I just… well, I don’t get to top that often. I’m a little out of practice.”
“I don’t have any expectations,” I replied. “Just be gentle I guess.”
Xavier’s hand returned to stroking us both, his cock harder than I thought possible. “Oh, don’t you worry. I’m gonna take good care of you, Sheriff.”
I watched him lean down, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was somehow both tender and hungry.
My heart hammered against my ribs as the reality of what I’d just asked for sank in.
I was about to let Xavier inside me in a way I’d never let anyone before.
The vulnerability of it made my skin prickle with nervous heat.
“You sure about this?” Xavier asked against my mouth, his hand still working both our cocks together. “We can do anything else you want. No pressure.”
“I’m sure,” I said, though my voice came out shakier than I intended. “I trust you.”
Those three words seemed to affect him deeply. His eyes softened, and he pressed his forehead to mine. “Okay,” he whispered. “Just tell me if anything doesn’t feel right, and we stop immediately. Deal?”
“Deal.”
He climbed off me to reach for the nightstand, pulling out the lube and condoms I’d bought after our first time together. He sat them down at the end of the bed, making sure they were within reach. Just the sight made my cock throb with anticipation despite the nervousness churning in my gut.
“Roll over for me,” he said gently. “On your stomach. It’ll be easier this way for your first time.”
I did as he asked, settling onto my stomach and gripping the pillow beneath my head. The position made me feel exposed in a way I’d never experienced, but when Xavier’s hands smoothed over my back, warm and reassuring, some of the tension eased from my shoulders.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” he murmured, his palms sliding down to cup my ass. “You’ve got an amazing ass.”
“Yeah?” I managed, my voice muffled by the pillow.
“Hell yes.” His thumbs traced the curve of my cheeks, spreading me open slightly. “Just relax for me, okay? I’m gonna make this so good for you.”
Before I knew what was happening, his tongue was on my hole, hot, wet, and slick. I tensed up immediately, a groan of pleasure echoing into the pillow as I gripped it tight.
“Breathe, Marcus,” he said softly. “Just breathe and let your body relax. I’m just getting you ready.”
I forced myself to take slow, deep breaths.
Xavier’s tongue was magic, circling and teasing in ways that made my whole body shudder.
I’d done this to him before, but experiencing it myself was something else entirely.
Every nerve ending felt like it was on fire, pleasure shooting through me in waves I wasn’t prepared for.
“That’s it,” he murmured between licks, his breath hot against my skin. “You’re doing so good, Marcus.”
His praise made something warm bloom in my chest, mixing with the physical sensations until I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. I felt his tongue press inside me, just barely, and my hips jerked involuntarily.
“Easy,” he soothed, his hands kneading my ass cheeks. “I’ve got you.”
He worked me open with his mouth for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, getting me wet and relaxed. Then I felt his finger, slick with lube now, circling my entrance before slowly pushing inside.
The sensation was strange at first, but Xavier moved so carefully, so patiently, that my body gradually accepted it. He worked that single finger in and out, letting me adjust to the feeling.
“How’s that?” he asked, his voice rough with arousal.
“Different,” I managed. “But... good. Keep going.”
He added more lube, then a second finger, and this time the stretch was more intense. I breathed through it like he’d told me to, focusing on relaxing my muscles instead of tensing up. Xavier’s free hand stroked up and down my back, soothing and grounding me.
“You’re doing really good,” he murmured, moving his fingers back and forth gently. “Such a good boy.”
Heat flooded through me at his words. I’d spent my whole life being the one in control, the one giving orders and taking charge.
Even in Austin my hookups had always been on my terms. But here, vulnerable and exposed beneath Xavier, I felt something shift inside me.
Trust. Complete and utter trust for this man that was all suave and grace.
When he added a third finger, I felt myself stretch wider, and a low moan escaped my throat. The fullness was overwhelming, but in the best possible way. Xavier’s fingers brushed against something inside me that made lightning explode through my body.
“Fuck!” I gasped, my hips pushing back against his hand of their own accord.
“Found it,” he said with satisfaction, hitting that spot again deliberately. “That’s your prostate, Marcus. When I’m inside you, I’m gonna make you see heaven.”
My cock was achingly hard now, trapped between my body and the mattress. Precum leaked steadily, making a wet spot on the sheets beneath me. I’d never been this turned on in my entire life.
“I’m ready,” I panted. “Xavier, please. I need you to fuck me.”
“You sure?” His fingers stilled, and I could hear the concern in his voice even through his own obvious arousal.
“Yes,” I said firmly, turning my head to look back at him over my shoulder. “I want this. I want you. I… I need it.”
The expression on his face nearly undid me. It was a mixture of desire and affection so profound he couldn’t hold it back. He carefully withdrew his fingers, and I heard the sound of a condom wrapper tearing open. Then the click of the lube bottle again.
“Remember,” he said, positioning himself behind me. I felt the blunt head of his cock pressing against my entrance. “If it’s too much, you tell me immediately. Okay?”
“Okay,” I breathed, gripping the pillow tighter.
He pushed forward slowly, and I felt myself stretching around him. The burn was immediate and intense, so different from his fingers. I had to fight every instinct telling me to tense up, to pull away from the discomfort.
“Breathe,” Xavier reminded me, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my lower back. “Just breathe through it. I’ll go really slow.”
I focused on my breathing, in and out, as he gradually worked his cock deeper inside me. The burn started to fade, replaced by a fullness that was both strange and intoxicating. When he was finally seated all the way inside me, we both let out shaky breaths.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice strained with the effort of holding still.
“Yeah,” I managed. “Just... give me a second.”
He stayed perfectly still, pressing gentle kisses to my shoulders and the back of my neck while my body adjusted to having him inside me.
Gradually, the discomfort faded completely, leaving only that incredible fullness and the knowledge that Xavier and I were connected in the most intimate way possible.
“You can move,” I said. “Please move.”
He pulled back slowly, then pushed forward again, and this time the sensation was pure pleasure. He found a steady rhythm, not too fast, not too slow, but perfect in every way. Every thrust hit that spot inside me that made me see stars, and I heard myself making sounds I’d never made before.
“God, Marcus,” Xavier groaned, his hips snapping forward. “You feel so fucking good. So tight and perfect around my cock.”
I pushed back to meet his thrusts, chasing the building pleasure. My cock was trapped between my body and the sheets, the friction adding to the overwhelming sensations. I’d never felt anything like this before. It was complete surrender, and perfect connection.
“Harder,” I begged, past the point of caring how desperate I sounded. “Xavier, please.”
He gripped my hips tighter and picked up his pace, driving into me with more force. The headboard started hitting the wall with each thrust, but I didn’t care about the noise. All that mattered was this moment, this feeling, this man who’d somehow broken through every wall I’d built around myself.
“I’m close,” Xavier gasped, his rhythm becoming erratic. “Marcus, I’m—”
“Do it,” I urged. “I want to feel you cum inside me.”
That pushed him over the edge. He thrust deep one final time, his whole body shuddering as he came with my name on his lips.
The feeling of him pulsing inside me, combined with the friction against my cock, sent me spiraling into my own orgasm.
I came untouched, spilling onto the sheets beneath me with a guttural moan.
We stayed like that for a long moment, both of us trembling and breathless. Xavier carefully pulled out, and I felt the loss immediately. He disposed of the condom, then collapsed beside me, pulling me into his arms.
“Holy fuck…” I started but couldn’t find the words.
“Told you,” he grinned, pressing a kiss to my temple. “You saw heaven, didn’t you?”
I nodded. “Fuck yeah I did.”
I turned in his arms so I could look at him properly. His hair was a mess, his skin flushed and glistening with sweat, and he’d never looked more beautiful.
“Thank you,” I said quietly after a moment. “For being so gentle. For taking care of me.”
“Always,” he murmured, his fingers tracing patterns on my chest. “I’ll always take care of you, Marcus.”
The words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. Three days. That’s all we had left before he had to leave, before this perfect bubble we’d created burst and reality came crashing back in.
But right now, wrapped up in each other with the morning sun streaming through the windows, I let myself believe that maybe, somehow, we could make this work. That maybe I could be brave enough to fight for what I wanted instead of what I thought I should have.
Because what I wanted was lying right here in my arms, and I wasn’t ready to let him go.