Chapter Eighteen
Finley had put his whole heart into that one word and waited with breathless anticipation for Kieran’s response.
It came in a slow stretch of a smile, the rustling sound of Kieran toeing off his socks, and the dip of the mattress beneath his knee.
The answer was a long stretch of hard muscle on top of him and a thumb tenderly brushing over Finley’s cheekbone.
Parting his thighs to make room for Kieran felt as natural as breathing, and he wanted to make space for him in all aspects of his life.
Kieran pressed a sweet kiss to Finley’s forehead, the tip of his nose, and his eyelids. “Say it again,” Kieran said shakily.
The significance of the moment wasn’t lost on Finley nor was it overshadowed by the events of the past few days.
No one had ever wanted Kieran to stay before, and that single word could be his salvation or his undoing.
Finley recommitted to the promise he’d made in the diner.
He wouldn’t falter or fumble; he’d double down.
No one would want him the way Finley did.
It was probably too soon for such a strong declaration, so he decided on a safer approach.
Sliding his fingers into Kieran’s silky hair, Finley pressed a kiss to his lips. “Stay with me. We can take things as slow as you need.”
A wicked smile spread across Kieran’s face as he trailed his free hand down Finley’s side.
“I can take it real slow.” Finley’s breath hitched at the carnal promises shimmering in Kieran’s dark gaze, but his lustful thoughts dissipated when Kieran’s fingers danced over a sensitive spot under his ribs.
And since Kieran was watching him so closely, he didn’t miss the reaction.
His southbound hand reversed course and sought the ticklish spot once more.
Kieran swirled his thumb over the area and grinned like a devil when Finley squirmed and released a sound that was part giggle and part groan.
“Interesting,” Kieran announced seconds before he tugged Finley’s shirt free from his waistband and shoved the material up under his armpits.
Finley’s muscles tensed and bunched when warm fingers brushed against his bare skin. “Is this really the best use of our time?” There was no denying his arousal since his erection was on full display beneath his tight denim.
Kieran scooted down the length of Finley’s body until his lips hovered over the ticklish spot his fingers had uncovered.
Kieran gazed upon Finley’s bare skin like it held the secrets of the universe.
He’d felt no one’s attention so keenly and couldn’t resist squirming, which created friction everywhere their bodies touched.
Finley thought Kieran was impervious to his plight until their gazes collided and he saw the impish delight dancing in his tormentor’s eyes.
Kieran licked his bottom lip before lowering his head and nuzzling his nose against Finley’s sensitive skin.
He choked back a second giggle, but his muscles tensed and goose bumps broke out all over his body.
Kieran’s chuckle was a decadent, dark-chocolate brownie with extra hot fudge sauce.
“I can’t think of a better use of our time.
” He kissed the ticklish spot, then circled it with his wicked tongue.
Finley bit his lip and squirmed, and Kieran used more of his weight to hold him down.
Gazes locked once more, Kieran said, “I want to learn everything about you.” He pressed one last kiss to Finley’s ribcage before scooting higher to drop a peck near his sternum.
Kieran had to feel Finley’s heart hammering against his ribcage.
“I want to learn every dream you’ve stashed here.
” He moved up again and nuzzled his lips against Finley’s temple.
“And the secrets you’ve locked in here.” Their lips met and held for a few heartbeats before Kieran pulled back.
“I’m going to be the man who cherishes everything you are.
I won’t make the same mistake as those other guys. They didn’t deserve you, but I will.”
Tears stung the back of Finley’s eyes. “You already do, but I know that’s a conclusion you’ll have to reach on your own. Doesn’t mean I can’t start your journey off with an affirmation, and I’ll happily repeat it as often as you need. We deserve each other. We deserve happiness.”
Kieran’s mouth quirked up at the corner. “You learn that kind of thinking from your mom’s studio?”
Finley groaned. “Rule number one: never mention my mom or sister when we’re getting naked or on the verge of getting naked. Boner killer.”
Kieran chuckled. “Maybe she could bottle that up and sell it to people who get erections at the worst times.” Kieran thrust his hips forward, grinding his hard-on against Finley’s. “For the record, this isn’t one of them.”
He captured Finley’s mouth in a hot, hungry kiss because the time for talking had passed.
Or had it? Was Finley’s offer to take things slow a reaction to their whirlwind relationship or a last-ditch effort at self-preservation?
Weren’t both things important? Kieran sucked on Finley’s tongue, and he forgot his own name.
Kieran broke their kiss to nuzzle Finley’s neck, sucking the sensitive skin beneath his ear.
Finley shivered hard, and Kieran repeated the action, adding tongue and teeth this time.
He pressed his lips to Finley’s ear and said, “This is going to be so much fun.”
Kieran Sullivan gave entirely new meaning to taking it slow as he stripped Finley bare.
There wasn’t a spot on his body Kieran hadn’t caressed or kissed or a ticklish spot left undiscovered by the time he rolled to Finley’s side and submitted to the same torture.
Kieran was better at hiding it, or he wasn’t ticklish, but Finley discovered plenty of erogenous zones he exploited until Kieran waved his discarded white sock as a flag.
“But I haven’t licked the best part yet,” Finley said, eyeing Kieran’s erection. Precum glistened on the head of his cock, making Finley’s mouth water. “I’ve fantasized about wrapping my lips around this since you dropped your shorts the first day we met.”
Kieran threaded his fingers into Finley’s hair and guided his mouth toward his dick. “Show me.”
Taking a page from Kieran’s book, Finley bypassed the expected.
He didn’t lick or suck the broad head or take it down his throat.
Finley nuzzled his nose in Kieran’s thatch of dark pubic hair, discovered another erogenous zone on the inside of his thighs, and sucked Kieran’s balls until he yanked Finley’s hair and begged for release.
Placing his tongue at the base of Kieran’s cock, Finley licked a path toward the head, never tearing his gaze away from Kieran’s obsidian eyes.
“Don’t tease, baby. Suck me. Slowly.”
Finley swirled his tongue around the slick crown and wiggled the tip inside the leaking slit.
Kieran growled and fisted the bed sheets.
If he wanted slow, Finley would give it to him.
He located that sweet spot on the underside of his cockhead and swirled his tongue against it until Kieran squirmed.
With a dark chuckle of his own, Finley wrapped his lips around Kieran’s dick and eased down his shaft.
When it got to be too much, he breathed deeply through his nose and sucked his dick down farther until—
Kieran thrashed his head. “I’m going to come.”
Finley eased off and restarted his oral seduction all over again. Kieran settled his breathing when Finley nuzzled his fur and kissed his thighs but was back to panting by the first swipe of tongue against his taut sac.
“Any slower and I’m going to die,” Kieran begged after the fourth round of oral edging.
Finley had never gotten so turned on just by giving someone else pleasure. The barest friction against his cock would set him off, and he refused to come until after Kieran did.
Finley retrieved a condom from his wallet, then realized the only lube they had on hand was the Monkey Grease his mother had made. The urge to close the drawer and bury his face in the mattress was strong.
A firm hand fisted his cock and pumped. “Don’t overthink the lube’s origin right now. Let’s test it out on my ass.”
Finley tossed the condom onto the bed and squeezed the lube onto his fingers. “It’s a little thin for anal sex.”
Kieran parted his thighs, exposing his pucker, and said, “Good. Come here.”
Positioning himself between Kieran’s legs, Finley rubbed the oil against his entrance. It was slick and silky, allowing Finley’s first finger to glide right in. Kieran groaned and pulled his legs toward his chest. “More.”
Finley knew it had been almost two years since he’d bottomed, so he ignored Kieran’s demand, taking his time to tease and tantalize with one digit and waiting until Kieran’s hips moved on their own before adding a second.
Finley crooked his fingers and rubbed them against Kieran’s prostate, earning a strangled gasp.
Kieran’s cock jerked like a phantom lover was caressing it, signaling he was close.
Easing his fingers free, Finley ripped the condom wrapper open and suited up.
He slicked more lube along his erection before lining his cockhead up with Kieran’s entrance and pushing in to the hilt.
His channel was so tight and hot that Finley had to stop or risk coming already. Kieran held his gaze, an impish gleam shining in his eyes as he reached down and stroked his dick.
“Right there with you,” he said. “We’ll go slow next time.”