11. CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 11
Colden
H eart beating in triple time, I suck in breath after breath and blink away the white spots glowing in front of my eyes. My head spins and I feel like I’m on the best trip ever. Before I have a chance to come to my senses, a naked Neo straddles my hips.
“Mind if I take care of this?” Long cock in his hand, he strokes himself.
Shit. I’m an asshole. Caught up in the feel of him and my own epic orgasm, I didn’t take care of the stunning man over me. I reach for him. “I can—”
He slaps my hand away. “Finger me.”
I choke on my surprise that Little Neo Price—who, for the record, is far from little—is a bossy fuck in bed. A sly grin blooms like he knew how I’d react to his command, and he winks. Gone is the shy, nerdy computer programmer and in his place is a confident man who knows exactly what he wants.
I approve.
My spent dick twitches. Apparently, he approves too.
I lift my finger to his mouth and he takes it, sucking and twirling his tongue around it like he just did to my cock, until it’s good and wet.
“Come ‘ere.” I cup the back of his neck and pull him down, claiming his mouth. His lean body, taut with his pent-up release, hovers over me, and I relish the heat of him. Hot mouth, hot body… holy shit… hot hole. “Fuck, Neo.”
He laughs against my mouth, then pushes back, his ass sucking in my finger. He rocks forward, then pushes back again. I take the hint and work my finger in and out. The hand on his dick speeds up. A droplet of sweat trails over his temple. Through parted lips, his heated breath hits my forehead, and heavy lids give new meaning to bedroom eyes. Transfixed by the pulse fluttering in his neck and the quickening of his breath, I couldn’t look away if I was forced to. Every point his skin touches mine propels a jolt of electricity through my body.
His orgasm comes without warning. Hot streaks of come spew, hitting my chest, jaw, and stomach. His ass clamps down on my finger and my dick rages with jealousy. Through it all, those cognac eyes pin me in place. So when my name falls from his lips in a strangled shout, I’m witness to the emotion in his penetrating gaze. And for the first time in my life, I’m free.
Free of the weight of being subpar in a family of extraordinaries. Free of expectations. Free of the mundane life I thought I wanted. In this moment, I’m soaring with every quiver and shudder of Neo. And while he looks at me like I’m the center of his world, I can almost believe…
In anything.
He collapses onto me, sealing us together with his come. “Don’t move your finger.”
“Bossy.” I kiss the top of his head, which should be weird because I’ve never been one to show much affection after sex, but it seems everything with Neo is different.
One long finger swipes the glob he spewed from my jaw. The scratching sound from his touch on my stubble fills the cocoon of the room. When he lifts his finger to my lips with the offering, I gladly take it, relishing the taste of him and wanting more.
“You like it?” Confident, bossy, knows-what-he-wants-in-bed, Neo slinks behind an unsure, cautious version.
I draw in a slow breath, hoping the seething that flares when I think about who made this man feel unsure about his desires doesn’t show. Instinctively, my fingers flex and he wiggles his ass with a breathy groan.
“If the rest wasn’t being used as glue, I’d tell you to feed it all to me.” A stream of water wets my back as ice melts around us. That’s new too. Shooting my load and my ice simultaneously has never happened before.
Arms and legs holding onto me like a spider monkey, he rests his head on my shoulder. “And you don’t think it’s weird that I like having your finger in my ass after?”
“I’m going to kill every asshole who made you question what you like.” I press my lips to his forehead, because apparently, I’ve become a forehead kisser.
The same long fingers that played with my hole, trail lazily up and down my arm. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. Sex should be about enjoyment for all parties involved.”
Interesting… I lift my head and peer at him. “And have you had sex with more than one person at a time?”
The flush I fixated on this morning blooms down his neck. I want to lift him to see if it reaches his chest, but that would mean losing the skin-to-skin contact. Something I’m not willing to do right now.
“On occasion.”
I drop my head back. My dick hardens as images of him fucking and being fucked by two guys flit through my mind, making my chest burn. “Fuck, Neo.” His body shakes, and his chest vibrates against mine. “Hey.” I pinch his side with my free hand. “You gonna let me in on the joke?”
He brings his arm up and rests his chin on his hand, eyes shining with his Neo magic. “You’ve said Fuck, Neo at least five times. I’m beginning to think that’s all you can say when you’re horny.” He bats his eyelashes with all the exaggeration of an animated character and grinds his hips into my straining cock. “Do I turn you on, Mr. Frias?”
“Fuck yeah, Neo.”
His laughter is loud and full and exhilarating. He plants a quick kiss on my mouth, then taps my arm. “Finger out. We’re showering, then going to bed.”
I do as he says. “As long as I get to put it back in sometime soon.”
“Anytime, baby,” he purrs like he’s Marylin Monroe, then shakes his ass.
I growl and stalk toward him. He jumps and squeals with laughter, jogging to the bathroom. I follow him like a love starved puppy, enjoying the bounce of his bottom, and eager to explore the lean lines of his body more.
***
If I thought showering with Neo was a revelation—soapy hands and over six feet of slick, glistening skin—I was wrong. Because waking wrapped in his long limbs with his hot breath hitting the back of my neck made moving the last thing I wanted.
And for a moment, I let myself believe he was a guy I met, liked, and started dating. Not my best friend’s baby brother. That this was our first weekend getaway together. That our biggest worry was whether to leave bed to eat or risk passing out when we decided against it because the only hunger we needed to satiate was for each other. Not a safe house because some dumbass villains are engaged in a pissing contest to see who the biggest asshole is. But the latter is our reality, which propelled me to ease out from under Neo’s hold and sneak from the bedroom as the birds sang their greetings to the rising sun.
Now, hours later, I’m on my third ice coffee, tired of trying to make sense of what Arlo sent last night while I was having my mind blown. Sprawled on the velvet sofa in the loft over the kitchen, the scent of banana bread perfumes the air. My gaze shifts from my book and the scenery out the window. The lushness of the trees full of green leaves surround the cabin tucked away from civilization.
“Hey.”
I look up from the book I’m reading and can’t help but grin. Hair spiking all over his head and sheet marks lining his scruffy face, Neo’s smile is tentative as he stands on the ladder, peaking over. I want to pull him onto my lap, tug my old t-shirt over his head, and spend hours kissing him. He climbs up and takes in the wall of bookcases packed with paperbacks and hardcovers from years of Bean and me using the safe house as our own personal library of sorts. The tiny, pink briefs he wore last night leave nothing to the imagination and I want to rip them from his body. With my teeth. Instead, I squint and say, “What’s on your underwear?”
Yep, I’m smooth.
His ears turn red, and he looks down at his front. He clears his throat. “Um, code.”
“Fuck, Neo.” My loose basketball shorts tent.
His cheeks pink and the sweet rumble of his laughter only tents my shorts more. “Geeky underwear does it for you?”
“ You do it for me.” I slide the bookmark into my book, then stand. And pretend the tremor in my voice was because I need to clear my throat and has nothing to do with the boulder of dread that took up residence in my stomach the moment I opened my eyes.
If what happened last night was a onetime deal—no matter what Neo said in the heat of the moment—that’s fine. People say shit they don’t mean all the time. You do it for me is just a saying.
Right?
Right.
“I’ll make you breakfast.” I slide past him to the ladder, the wooden floor planks warm under my bare feet.
Neo catches my wrist as I pass, pulls me to him, and takes my mouth, deepening the kiss with every swipe of his tongue. I moan into him, and he tugs me closer until our hard lengths press into each other. His palms squeeze my ass, and his hips grind into me. Were my eyes open, the friction would make them cross. It feels so good. So right.
For my entire sexual life, I’ve always been in charge. By some unspoken agreement with my partners, whether a quick fuck with a guy I met at a club or the few longer relationships I had, I was dominant. And I always thought that was what I liked. But Neo tips my reality on its axis. Submitting to him feels as natural and right as waking up next to him did this morning.
With a final grind that has us both moaning, he pulls away and presses his forehead to mine. “You do it for me, too. Always have.”
My breath lodges in my sternum. Hearing those words from Neo, open, honest, brilliant Neo, is like being on a tilt-a-whirl, thrilling, terrifying, and slightly nauseating. Part of me wants to fuck him, make love to him, and fuck him again. Part of me wants to run as far and fast from him as I can get. Part of me wants to drop to my knees and beg him to never leave me. And part of me—
I card my hand through my hair. There are too many damn parts, and I’m being selfish when I should be thinking about Neo’s safety and my promise to Dacker. “Food. You need food.”
“Sure.” He follows me down to the kitchen and stands in those distracting briefs, legs going on forever. “What do you want me to do?”
I pour coffee I brewed earlier, adding ice, and slide it to him. “Drink your coffee and read over those.”
He picks up the stack of papers I left on the counter. “Fax paper?”
“Didn’t think faxes existed anymore, did you?” The analog clock hanging on the wall near the back door shows it’s after noon. “You want breakfast or lunch?”
He settles onto the stool, sipping his coffee. “Whatever. Maybe lunch, you’re probably ready to eat. Fax seems strange, considering the technology used to protect this place.”
“I’ve learned it’s better not to ask why SPAM does or doesn’t do things. It leaves you with a headache and no closer to understanding.” I take out hoagie rolls, lunch meat, and grab a tomato.
I slice the tomato, glimpsing his face as he scans the documents. Eyes skim the words with a rapid back-and-forth movement while his eyebrows rise and fall like waves crashing against the surf. “SPAM doesn’t know who’s in charge of the Delmarva Area Villain Association?”
“There’s been a lot of disruption in the eastern chapters recently.” Tomato sliced, I grab lettuce from the crisper. “Long-time leaders have been pushed out and replaced.”
His eyes dance with amusement. “Kind of like high school. Everyone wants to sit at the cool kids’ table.”
The ever-present knot in my stomach loosens a little being on this side of his smile. “Only it’s worse because they’re adults.”
“Then, like politics.” He rocks back and forth on the stool, his mouth quirking.
“Yep.” I rinse and dry lettuce, then set it aside. “There’s always some jostling for power, but in the last year it’s been significant.”
“I see it all the time at the university. Someone wants to chair this group or that. Or thinks they should be department head. Or gets pissed because someone else received money for their lab. They’re always comparing and fighting to be top of the food chain.” He sighs and places the papers in a neat stack on the counter. “I still can’t believe I didn’t have any suspicion about Alex’s power. I know he lied about everything, but still… Defending my dissertation next year, but too dumb to see what was in front of me.”
Setting down the knife, I reach across the peninsula and squeeze his arm. “Trusting the person you’re dating isn’t dumb. It’s brave.”
He pats my arm like he’s waving away the comment. “So by getting close to me, Alex thought he could get his hands on my research.” The long fingers that played with my hole last night touch the silver pendent attached to the braided leather cord around his neck. “This is the exact reason I don’t keep everything in one place.”
I hand him a plate with a roll on it. “You planned for a bunch of dumbass criminals competing in an even dumber competition to come after your research?”
He takes the plate and hops from the stool, giving me a playful push as he rounds the peninsula. “Okay, not this exact situation.” Sighing, he piles turkey, cheese, lettuce, and condiments on the roll, piling it high with pickles.
“I think his power is actually less useful than mine.” I leaf through the pages, pulling out the profile of Alexander Atteridge, aka. Paris Ridge. “Paris can freeze time for insects, but only for five seconds at a time.” I read further. “Apparently, he needs ten minutes to recharge between freezes.”
A snort explodes and his hand flies to his mouth. “He’s terrified of bugs. Thinks they’re out to get him.”
“I hope they plan a coupe and destroy him one day.” Asshole. I tear into my own sandwich, plotting all the ways I can do damage to Neo’s ex.
Neo flicks my thigh in admonishment, but his beaming expression tells a different story. “So how long do you think we’ll be here?”
Noticing he’s eaten most of the pickles from his hoagie, I lean over the counter and get the jar. “Until SPAM neutralizes the threat.”
“That doesn’t sound ominous at all.” He plucks more pickle chips from the jar, popping two into his mouth before adding more to his half-eaten sandwich.
I steal a pickle chip from his plate, dodging his slap. “It’s not. They’ll probably mess with chapter members’ internet access or intercept emails. Something that causes enough of a problem with communication to prevent them from getting through the competition.”
“What about after? What’s stopping them or anyone else from trying to get to me again?” His tone shifts to concern, and being flayed would be less painful than bearing witness to Neo’s worry.
I shift until I’m facing him, resting my hands on his shoulders. “I won’t allow it.”
“It may be hard to believe, but I don’t think we’re dealing with people who are concerned about asking permission, especially from you.” With a raised brow, he pops another pickle into his mouth.
I catch the droplet of pickle juice dripping down his chin with my thumb. “The world would be a better place if everyone sought my permission.”
He grasps my wrist and brings my thumb to his mouth. “But you don’t like being in charge all the time.”
My brain freezes at the feel of Neo’s tongue sliding over the pad of my thumb. Seeing his perfect lips wrapped around any part of me is… N-ugh . Somehow, I’m able to form words. “Says who?”
“Says me.” He leans in, whispering in my ear. “You know what I want to do?”
I shake my head, all moisture evaporating from my mouth.
“I want to take you. Right here. Bend you over this counter and fuck you.” His hand trails under my baggy shorts. “Bring you to the brink, but not let you come.”
“You wouldn’t?” I’m panting now, and he’s only telling me what he’s going to do. The heat of his palm burns my thigh and I tip my hips. He pinches the sensitive skin and I jump.
“Let me take care of you.” The pleading in his voice mirrors last night, and the knot in my gut untwines a little more.
I nod, the movement so slight were he not so focused on me, he would have missed it.
But he doesn’t miss it, because Neo doesn’t miss anything. With more tenderness than any human deserves—especially me—he presses his perfect lips to mine. “You’ll tell me if there is anything you don’t like or want to do.” I nod again. “We don’t need a safe word because I will always take care of you, Colden.”
At his words, the knot bursts to shreds. The backs of my eyelids prick and my nose tingles. I’ve had people who care for me. My parents do in their way, and I’ve always been able to count on my aunt and Dack. But having this man, this brilliant, gorgeous, loving man state it so clearly, so emphatically, leaves me lightheaded.
He stands and I sway with the absence of his closeness. But when he tugs his shirt over his head and slides those nerdy briefs down his long legs, the world shifts again and there is balance.
He strokes his cock, extending from the nest of neatly trimmed curls. “Before I fuck you into oblivion, you’re going to suck me.”
“I am?” Gaze glued to his hand on his cock, I lick my lips.
“You are because you didn’t get to do it last night and you want to.” Leaning in, he licks a path up the side of my neck.
My gaze glides up his lean frame, taking in the dusting of light hair that ends just under his bellybutton and the miles of smooth skin, interrupted by pink nipples that stand erect. “How do you know?”
His hand stills and his expression morphs into stern professor. My cock weeps with need. “Are you questioning me, Colden?”
“No?” Reconciling this Neo with all the other Neos I’ve known is eye-opening, but I want more. Wanting more of Neo seems to be my default.
A quirk of a smile plays on his lips. “Lose the shorts and take me.”
I push my shorts down, kick them to who-knows-where, and drop to the floor in a nanosecond.
“God, you look good on your knees for me.” He cards his hand through my hair, and I practically purr at the touch. “Open up.”
He taps my lips with the tip of his dick, slick with precum, and I open, taking his hot steel as he feeds it to me. The velvety skin smooths over my tongue and I hum my approval.
“That’s it.” His head drops back, and he lets out a moan that sends sparks to my balls. “So good.” His hips jut, like he’s testing.
I open my throat and grab his ass, pulling him to me. Needing to be filled by him in any way possible.
He jerks his head forward and grabs my hair, stilling me. “You’re not in charge. Remember?” I groan my dissatisfaction even as precum seeps from my tip. “You’ll take what I give you. When I give it.” Pricks of pain sting my head as he tugs on my hair, and I draw my eyes to his. “Understand?”
I nod, mouth full, senses full, chest full, of him. Hollowing my cheeks for emphasis, I suck.
“Your mouth is a gift.” His hips jerk and the fingers in my hair tighten. “Because you’re so good, I’ll give you what you want.”
Fuck. I can’t get enough of in-charge Neo. I reach for my straining cock, but with a sharp tug on my hair, I stop.
“Hands off. That’s mine.”
I drop my hand and moan around his length. And I’m rewarded with the quick buck of his hips. My head held in place, all I can do is open my throat and take him as he fucks my face. Gripping his thighs, the muscles contract under my fingers with every thrust. My eyes water and saliva dribbles from my mouth. It’s raw and powerful and nothing I’ve ever experienced.
Like we’re connected on a level that transcends anything as mundane as the physical world, he pulls out and tugs me to standing. Massaging my jaw with his magical fingers, he crushes his mouth to mine, taking me under in a tidal wave of lust as he grinds his erection into mine. As my knees begin to shake, he pulls his mouth from me.
“Please tell me this place has lube and condoms.”
With a chuckle, I drop my forehead to his chest and try to catch my breath. “Aunt June’s romanticism for the win.”
“Only you could turn me on so much that mentioning your aunt doesn’t kill my boner.” He kisses me. “I’ll get the supplies; you get in position. Head and torso on the counter, arms up, resting by your head.” He swats my ass, then jogs to the bedroom.
I push the plates to the side, not caring when the knife and cutting board tumble to the ground with a clatter, and position myself as instructed. Not having to worry about whether I’m doing what my partner wants, or if they’re enjoying things, or if I’m good enough, is a revelation.
“Perfection.” Neo’s voice is as soft as his touch to the dip of my lower back. “You’re so beautiful, it hurts my eyes.”
My chest expands at his praise. I want to tell him that he’s the one who’s gorgeous. That his smile could light the world. That around him, I believe I can be more. But the heat of his skin as he presses his chest to my back erases all the words. And when he trails his palms down the outside of my thighs and back up the inside, then fingers my balls, my eyes roll back in my head.
“You like that.” It’s not a question, so the only response I give is some incoherent gibberish because his tongue is doing some magical shit on my neck, shoulders, and back. “And this?”
His magical tongue slides down over my ass cheek and glides down my crack. I let out a pleading moan when he pulls away. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got you.”
He spreads my cheeks, and my stomach does a cartwheel when he groans and says, “This hole is mine.”
But there’s no time to savor his declaration because he slams his tongue in, licking and tasting me with a fervor that is addictive. With every swipe of his hot tongue, I writhe against the counter. My cock is full to the point of pain, but I don’t dare reach for it for fear Neo will cease the attention he’s laving on my hole as retribution. “Love that.”
Love you is on the tip of my lips but years of guarding my feelings keeps it locked away, even when I’ve given control of my body and mind to the man pressing a long, lubed finger inside me. “Fuck, Neo.”
“Fuck, Colden. Your ass is greedy. Ready for another?”
I lift my hips and press back to take more of his finger. “Yes. Hurry.”
A second finger joins the first, stroking in and out.
“Fuck.” A galaxy of stars bursts behind my eyes as he hits my prostate. “More. Please.”
“Only because you asked nicely.” He adds a third finger and I’m ready to lose my mind. The gentle press of his lips along my lower back and sides is the best contrast to the way he’s working me.
“More.” Panting and grasping the edge of the counter, I rock into his touch. “Need you.”
He slows his kisses and fingers. “What’s the magic word?”
Fuck. This man is going to be the death of me. “Now.” Teeth sink into my cheek. I start and swing my head around to see the little shit grinning. “Did you just bite my ass?”
“Did you just try to control things?”
Bubbles of effervescence shimmer from my gut to my chest, bursting forth in giggles. Me, Colin Frias, is not only giggling, but I’m giggling during sex. “No?”
“Liar.” Mouth spread wide with his own laughter, he leans up and kisses me, effectively altering my giggles into groans. He pulls away. “But I don’t have the patience to make you wait.”
He stands, and the crinkle of him opening the condom is a freaking symphony to my ears. He makes quick time of sheathing himself, then slicks both of us with lube. I press my cheek to the butcher block countertop, and sigh with relief when he slides the tip up and down my crack before plunging in.
“Yes.” The word is gritty and dirty and everything I didn’t know I needed to hear from him. He stills, catching his breath. But after a beat, he moves. Fast, hard, deep, shallow, deep, hard, fast. Every move, a surprise, but every move what I need. What I want.
He plows into me with such force, my feet leave the ground. I grip the sides of the counter; the edge digging into my palms, and my palms prickle. It’s raw and real and right . With every pump, my cock rakes against the counter, but it’s not enough. With that magical sense he has, knowing my needs before I do, he reaches under and fists me.
“Yes.” I throw my head back in search of his mouth.
He gives it to me, teeth clacking together, tongues searching and finding. Perspiration streaks my skin and with every stroke of my prostate, tingles consume me, curling my toes. Sparks like fireflies in the night sky dot the edges of my vision.
“You will not come until I tell you, Colden.” The command growled into my ear, nearly has me spilling my spunk in his hand.
“Please don’t make me wait long,” I plead, because with Neo, I’m not above begging.
He jerks me in rhythm with his pistoning hips, and right when I think I can’t hold out for a second more, he takes mercy on me. “Come.”
A shout roars through my throat in chorus with Neo exclaiming my name. Shivers wrack my body, insistent on surrender. My fingers burn. Frozen water bounces off the cabinets, floors, and countertops, and I topple over the edge.
Eyes slammed shut, I brace for impact as I plummet back to earth. But the crash doesn’t come. Instead, warmth washes over me as I’m worshiped with kisses and praise, destroying everything I thought I knew.
My chest heaves, and behind the protective casing of my ribs, my heart whispers, this is right, true , this is everything we’ve always wanted . But my brain is louder, shouting, this won’t last. And when it ends, I’ll be standing in the rubble, left to rebuild on my own.