Chapter 23 Promises #2
"Shh," Cade hushed him, capturing his lips again. "It's okay now," he whispered, running his lips down Tristan's arched neck to his collarbone. "It's okay," Cade repeated, and Tristan unraveled a little more at each quiet reassurance.
Enjoying the sweet kisses and tender caresses, he waited for the commands, the teasing, but Cade's mouth and hands remained achingly gentle, reverent.
"What are you... what's... " Tristan knew he sounded stupid, but he hoped he got his point across.
Cade lifted his head, his eyes pleading. "Please let me. I need to show you."
Understanding his silent request, Tristan gasped softly. "Okay."
Tristan found himself on his back with a heavy, hard body on top of him while a calloused hand slid up his stomach and chest, to his nape, into his hair.
He tugged at his boyfriend's too-small t-shirt, and when Cade let him drag it over his head, the warmth of skin on skin crackled an electric charge throughout his body.
Cade's kisses were featherlight as they trailed across Tristan's shoulder, down his bicep, to the crook of his elbow, and to the inside of his wrist, where they lingered over the abrasions before continuing to his palm.
Like this — intense and gorgeous, dark eyes like midnight — Cade was utterly mesmerizing.
Because it was clear in every brush of his fingertips, in every graze of his lips; it oozed out of his pores, so obvious and apparent that it made Tristan's head spin. Cade was telling him with every caress, 'I love you. I treasure you. I'll cherish you always.'
The idea that those strong hands — hands that committed violent, merciless acts — could treat him like a precious gift made Tristan want to sob with gratitude.
After sliding Tristan's boxers off, Cade found the lube and squirted some onto his hand before fitting their bodies back together.
His other palm found his partner's, and he entangled their fingers in a sweet, intimate gesture.
He leaned in for another kiss as he reached down further, and Tristan opened his legs in invitation, his body thrumming with desire.
As his finger teased, Cade trailed his mouth down Tristan's chest, stopping to briefly suck on one nipple, scraping open-mouthed kisses down his stomach along the auburn happy trail, and pausing there.
"Tris," he whispered. "You're mine, right? Please say it."
It was a plea, not a command, and Tristan rushed to swear, "Yes, I'm yours. Only yours."
"Good," Cade mumbled, pushing a finger inside and swallowing Tristan's dick down to its base until.
Moaning at the double sensation, Tristan's hands twisted in the sheets as his boyfriend worked his mouth up and down with delicious suction, finger invading his body, probing the spot that had him whining pitifully for more.
The pleasure danced along his nerve endings, tingling every inch of his skin, as Cade pressed two fingers on his prostate while his mouth tried to suck his soul from his dick.
Tristan climbed higher, strung tight with tension, rocketing toward the edge, and when he felt a wet, hot tongue swirl around him, his orgasm crested.
Hips rising from the bed, fireworks exploding behind his eyelids in colorful bursts, he let out a low, pornographic moan, and when Cade hummed around his cock and swallowed down his release, it sent aftershocks splintering through his body.
When Cade popped off his dick, Tristan shivered as he enjoyed the boneless, peaceful feeling of endorphins flooding his bloodstream. With eyes closed, he sensed the other man's gaze on him and lifted one side of his mouth in a small smile that widened when he felt soft lips press there.
The welcome invasion of three fingers reminded him there was more to come, but a sudden curse startled him out of his languid daze.
"Fuck," Cade cursed as his hand froze.
Tristan's eyes flew open. "What?"
"No condoms."
He watched with fascination and amusement as his boyfriend's face cycled through the five stages of grief. Cade looked so disgruntled that Tristan would have laughed if the observation hadn't been so heartbreakingly true.
"I have some, but I don't think they'll fit you."
They stared at each other for several heartbeats with shared disappointment, then Cade removed his hand with a squelch that should have embarrassed Tristan.
In a moment of clarity, Tristan blurted out, "We don't need one."
"What?"
More quietly, he said, "I haven't been with anyone since I was tested last, so I'm clean. What about you?"
Cade seemed to take a moment to catch up, then replied, "I'm on PrEP and got tested recently."
"Okay then. You don't need a condom."
Lips parted slightly, Cade sucked in a small breath and asked, "Tris, are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I want to feel you, all of you," he answered, wanting this, maybe even needing it. "Please."
"Fucking hell. I can't say no to you," Cade muttered, attacking his mouth in a dirty, plundering kiss, and quickly shedding his underwear.
Tristan eyed the thick, veiny cock with appreciation and anticipation, his mouth watering as he watched Cade apply more lube and stroke himself a few times before settling onto his knees between Tristan's splayed thighs.
Sitting back on his feet, Cade pulled Tristan close, that dark gaze capturing his eyes, flashing hot with desire, steady and unflinching. It was so intimate and sensual that Tristan was spellbound, unable to look away, watching his partner's face with rapt fascination as his cock invaded his body.
Cade fucked him hard and deep, all the while whispering sweet compliments and effusive praise in a low, soft voice.
"You're so beautiful."
"You're mine, only mine."
"You're so perfect."
"You take my breath away."
"I never want anyone else but you."
The tender words warmed Tristan's belly.
He savored the feeling of Cade filling him magnificently, angling purposefully, hitting so deep, he could swear he felt him in his throat.
The combination was so potent, his whole body prickled with electric shocks that pulsated through his skin at every stroke.
Cade stared down at where their bodies connected with an erotic, dirty expression that made Tristan shiver. When Cade peered up again, his face glowed with such a staggering mixture of lust and adoration that soft emotions and burning hunger tangled in Tristan's gut.
When Cade clutched his thighs and picked up the pace, Tristan couldn't think anymore, couldn't do anything but feel. The graze of the cockhead against his prostate was delicious and sinful, and he let out a lewd moan as he reached out to cover the strong hands that gripped him.
Cade's face was taut with concentration, his arms and abs flexing and undulating with his movements.
He was magnificent, intoxicating, and the stunning view, combined with the ideal slant of his hips, had Tristan hurtling toward his second orgasm.
Eyes nearly black from blown pupils watched him hungrily while words still spilled from Cade's lips.
"You're so gorgeous like this."
"You look so amazing."
"God, you feel so good."
Tristan let his eyes close as the tension built to a crescendo, then Cade reached up to stroke his dick, his voice hoarse when he coaxed, "Are you gonna come for me, Tris? Wanna watch you. Wanna see you come undone."
The enticing words and the big, skilled hand squeezing just right ultimately plunged him over the cliff.
He climaxed again, his body spasming as cum spurted onto his stomach and over the fist stroking him.
Cade praised him, telling him how hot he was, how perfect he was, but the words sounded far away as his ears buzzed.
His body trembled as Cade hammered into him a few more times and then groaned.
Tristan savored the pulsing sensation along with a strange and satisfying warmth, and he knew he wanted to feel it again and again.
When Cade collapsed onto him, he basked in the feeling of being tethered, grounded, and as soft nips and wet kisses sprinkled his neck, he smiled at the feeling of rightness and contentment.
His boyfriend brushed damp, red curls off his forehead with his clean hand before he kissed him, sweet and soft, and regarded him with such adoration that Tristan's heart flip-flopped at the sight.
When Cade finally leaned back, his brown eyes hazy, he said, "I'm gonna get up now, okay," in a sexy, husky voice that had Tristan considering a second round. When his partner pulled out, he felt empty, then experienced the unfamiliar sensation of cum dripping from him.
Cade went to get a washcloth, and as he gently cleaned him up, Tristan's mind and body buzzed contentedly. Eyes closed, he heard the click of the lamp, sensed the faint glow behind his eyelids disappear, and felt the other man slide into bed next to him.
When Cade pulled him into his arms, Tristan nestled closer, and they lay tangled together, arms and legs coiled around each other.
Pressing his cheek to the broad chest under him, the steady, thumping heartbeat calmed and comforted him.
Feeling sated and safe, he started to drift off when he heard a whisper from the darkness.
"Tris, I need you to promise me something."
Alert now, Tristan's eyes opened, but he couldn't see anything but the vague outline of Cade's face. "What?"
"Promise me if you change your mind, if it gets too hard, you'll tell me. If you leave, I won't blame you."
"You think I can't handle dating a grumpy assassin?" was Tristan's instinctive, teasing reply.
"Tris, this is important. I need you to promise me." Cade's earnest tone convinced Tristan how serious he was, how much this mattered to him, and all he wanted was to allay Cade's fears.
"I don't think that will happen."
"But my job... "
"I know what you are, what you do. I still want you."
Tristan felt Cade's muscles stiffen, could almost hear the silent wheels turning, the questions, the doubts, so he continued, "But if it does get too hard, of course I'll tell you, and we'll talk about it. But that doesn't mean I'll leave."
Sensing his boyfriend's hesitance, he added, "Plus, you're an idiot if you think I would give up on something just because it's hard."
"Hey!"
The protest made Tristan snort as he smiled into the darkness. But he knew Cade needed reassurance, so he kept his voice gentle as he pledged, "It's not gonna happen, Cade. I'm not going anywhere. I'll protect your heart. I won't hurt you."
"That's my job, to protect you."
"It's both our jobs, dummy. You can protect me from what's out there, but I'll protect us in here," Tristan said, placing his palm over Cade's heart. "Don't worry. I'll fight for us, for our love."
"I... " Cade's voice hitched, and Tristan imagined that little crease appearing between his eyebrows.
"Tris, I don't know what love is. All I know is I've never felt like this before.
I know I want to keep you safe and happy, that I would give my life for you.
I want to watch baseball with you and take nature walks with you, and I really want to teach you how to cook, because seriously, you're a disaster in the kitchen. "
"Wow, nice!" Tristan protested weakly, swatting at a shoulder in the dark.
Covering Tristan's hand to avoid any more attacks, Cade continued, "And I don't want anyone else to touch you ever again. I just want you to be mine, forever. So, I don't know. Is that love?"
Those tentative words and the quiet, skeptical tone squeezed Tristan's chest with so much love that it momentarily trapped the breath in his lungs. He reached up to cup Cade's cheek as tears stung his eyes. "Yeah, baby. That's love."
His boyfriend winced as if he hadn't expected that response, and Tristan figured it would take a while for Cade to adjust to this new reality. But it was okay, because he would help him through it, whatever it took.
Cade pulled his hand to his mouth and kissed his palm, sweetly, reverently. "Okay," he replied, his voice shaky. "I believe you. And I... and I love you."
Sucking in a harsh breath, Tristan let the words slip into his heart and expand until it felt like it would burst from his chest.
"I love you, too," he answered, feeling like the last puzzle piece had just slipped into place. Tomorrow he'd think about it more, take time to marvel at the miracle of finding his person, but right now, in the safety of his boyfriend's arms, fatigue pulled at him.
"Sleep now," Cade told him.
Sighing, Tristan murmured his approval, sure he would never feel so loved and cherished as he did at that moment. He let his eyes close, inhaled Cade's familiar, soothing scent once more, and snuggled closer to his chest.
The nightmare was over, Natalie was safe, and he was home, in Cade's arms, just where he was meant to be.
THE END