8
Hadrian was playing with fire. He wasn’t sure if Dorian really wanted more—wanted him—but he needed to know. So much so that he was willing to crawl into bed with him and hope for the best. He was really on a roll with good ideas.
That kiss in the shed played over and over in his mind while they ate and washed, and pretended the tension wasn’t smothering them.
And Dorian’s apology after. Hadrian tried not to be hurt by it.
He thought he understood the reason behind it—probably some noble or self-sacrificing ideal—but he couldn’t be sure.
Unfortunately, now that he was exactly where he’d intended to end up, he didn’t know what to do to get the answers he needed, or how to let Dorian know what he wanted.
Hadrian had spent his life being told he talked too much, but words had finally failed him.
He shifted closer to Dorian, feeling each point where their bodies met—the backs of his thighs, Dorian’s chest against his back, his ass pressed against Dorian’s hips—like a brand.
A shiver of want rippled through him, but he stayed still.
Hadrian knew what he wanted. Dorian was the reluctant one here. It would have to be his choice.
They stayed in that tortuous limbo for what felt like an eternity. Hadrian was too busy trying desperately to keep his imagination in check to find any rest, and from the sound of his breathing, Dorian wasn’t faring any better.
When Dorian’s hand brushed against his side—nothing more than a whisper of touch—Hadrian gasped.
Dorian hesitated, his fingers stilled, but each point of contact felt like tiny bursts of warmth that stole all Hadrian’s attention.
Dorian’s hand moved, gliding softly over his ribs to his stomach, sending heat radiating through his middle.
Dorian shifted closer. Close enough now Hadrian could feel the man’s breath on his neck. Feel the press of his solid body against his back. Hadrian’s spine tingled and his cock ached to be touched, but he remained still, letting Dorian lead.
The barest press of Dorian’s lips against his neck made Hadrian shiver and sigh.
He moved his head to give Dorian more, and for a long moment, he only felt the tantalizing warmth of breath against his skin.
Then another kiss came, still as gentle and soft, but Dorian didn’t pull away this time.
His mouth moved to trail kisses over his neck to the sensitive skin under his ear.
Then he took his ear between his teeth, biting down gently, and Hadrian moaned.
Dorian pulled back slightly. “Sorry,” he breathed.
Hadrian rolled over so they were face to face and brushed his fingers along Dorian’s cheek. “Don’t be.”
Dorian closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. “Do you…” He opened his dark eyes and looked at Hadrian. There was so much longing and fear mixed on his handsome face that Hadrian longed to pull him in. “Do you want this?” he asked quickly. “Do you want me?”
Hadrian had to hold back a laugh. How could this wonderfully confounding man not see how much he was wanted? Hadrian moved his hand to cup the back of his neck, running his fingers through the fringes of his short, silky hair.
“Yes,” he said firmly.
“Why?”
This time Hadrian couldn’t hold back the laugh. “Because you are… kind. You are brave.” He caressed his jaw with his thumb, still holding those dark eyes. “You know about crops and like apples and don’t tell me to shut up when I talk too much.”
A smile tugged at Dorian’s full mouth, and it made Hadrian’s heart sing. “I like it when you talk,” he said softly.
Hadrian huffed. “You’re the first.” He sighed. “You are nothing like what I expected, and I am glad I know you, even a little. Also, you are incredibly sexy.”
Dorian sniffed and shook his head. “You are nothing like I expected, either. And I am glad I know you. And…you are the most beautiful man I have ever met.”
“God-like?”
“What?”
Hadrian laughed and shook his head. “Dorian, I want you. I want you so very much.”
Dorian’s eyes darkened, and Hadrian thought for a moment he had said something wrong.
Then Dorian’s mouth crashed into his. There was nothing soft or tentative in his kiss now.
He devoured. Hadrian melted into the touch of Dorian’s hungry mouth, the feel of his warm tongue brushing against his.
He buried his hands in his hair and returned the kiss with all of his own need and hunger.
Dorian pulled back and peppered kisses along Hadrian’s cheek, his jaw, across his neck, then his hand was under Hadrian’s shirt, calloused fingers moving over his stomach and up his chest. Dorian tugged his shirt higher to get more access to his skin, and Hadrian was happy to help.
He sat up enough to tug his shirt over his head.
When he laid back, Dorian swung one leg over him and straddled his thighs, looking down at him.
The pressure against Hadrian’s already hard cock made him moan and lift his hips, trying to get more.
“Hadrian.” Dorian whispered his name like a prayer, or perhaps the last wish of a dying man. Hadrian opened his eyes, and his hands cupped Dorian’s face. He wanted to hear his name from him again. Over and over. In need. In joy. In friendship. In love.
Dorian moved his head to kiss the palm of his hand before lowering himself, his heavy body covering Hadrian’s.
Hadrian had the sudden urge to touch him everywhere and tugged desperately at his shirt until he relented with a grunt and pulled it over his head.
Hadrian barely had a chance to take in his dark, chiseled chest and hard nipples before Dorian was on him again, kissing his way across his ribs and down his stomach.
When he reached the top of his pants, he opened the button and pulled them down in one smooth motion, releasing Hadrian’s hard and, slightly embarrassingly, already leaking cock. Dorian sighed as he looked him over.
“You are so beautiful,” he said with the same reverence as before.
Hadrian opened his mouth to say something—probably a lot of something, as this felt like the type of situation where he would definitely feel the need to talk too much—but he cut off with a strangled cry when Dorian took him in his mouth.
Hadrian’s head fell back as Dorian took him deep, sucking hard, his warm tongue pressed to the underside of his cock.
He let out a deep, blissful moan as he tangled his fingers in Dorian’s hair and thrust into his mouth.
He lifted his head to watch as Dorian worked him faster and was mesmerized by the sight of his full, wet lips wrapped around him, dark eyes blown wide with lust watching him back.
“Oh, gods, Dorian. That feels so good,” he panted.
“Fuck. Please. Yes. Dorian.” He continued rambling almost incoherently, but he couldn’t help it.
Everything was suddenly overwhelming—too much and not nearly enough.
Dorian moaned around him, and Hadrian’s mouth fell open in a silent cry as he thrust harder.
Dorian’s fingers dug into his bare hip and encouraged him to take more.
He was making sounds now too, desperate noises around Hadrian’s cock as he sucked harder and took him deeper.
“Dorian, fuck. I can’t…I’m going to…” Hadrian loosened his grip on the man’s hair to give him a chance to move away, but Dorian only closed his eyes and worked him faster, driving Hadrian over the edge.
He held Dorian’s head in place as he thrust into his mouth, coming hard as his orgasm washed over him in waves of searing pleasure.
Dorian squeezed his eyes shut and rocked against the bed, his grip on Hadrian’s hip becoming almost painful as he swallowed down his release, and Hadrian realized he was coming too.
Just from taking Hadrian with his mouth.
When Hadrian was finally done, limp and panting, Dorian released him and pressed his forehead to his stomach. Hadrian ran his fingers absently through his hair until they both had their senses back.
“Well,” Hadrian said finally. “That was…” he sighed, then laughed.
Dorian nodded against his abdomen. “Yes,” he said against his skin. He couldn’t see Dorian’s face, but he could hear the smile in his words. “I think I ruined your pants though.”
Hadrian laughed. “They’ll wash. And I have more.”
“Really?”
“I am well prepared for many situations.”
“Including coming in your pants?”
“Well, one just never knows what you might get up to with you pesky rebels.”
Dorian laughed and pressed wet kisses along the smooth expanse of Hadrian’s stomach. Hadrian sighed and ran his hands over the man’s wide shoulders.
“I am a little disappointed though,” Hadrian said. Dorian stopped and gave him a questioning look. “I was hoping to return the favor.”
“You mean… You would want to…”
“Suck your dick until you scream my name in a fit of passion? Yes. I would very much like to do that.”
Dorian watched him for a moment, then moved up to cover his body so he was nose to nose with him. “Well, now I am disappointed too,” he said and kissed him. They got lost in soft kisses and warm touches for a long time. Finally, Dorian pulled away with a sigh.
“I should change.”
“Yes,” Hadrian said, running his fingers down his neck and across his chest, trying to memorize the way he felt.
“And we should sleep.” It was dark in the little house now—quiet and still.
Dorian was close enough that he could see the troubled look that crossed his face before he got up in search of Hadrian’s pack.
Hadrian felt the same weighted dread on him. He felt it in the cold bed while he waited for Dorian to return. He felt it when Dorian wrapped him in his arms and kissed his head. He felt it as he drifted into sleep.
What would happen to them tomorrow, when there was no more reason to stay?