Page 131 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

“A week ago,” Gavin said honestly. By the time they had their blowout, it’d seemed like a moot point. “I got a full refund for the quarter, so at least there’s that,” he whispered.

“Okay,” Ben said softly.

Gavin could tell he had more to say, had a list of questions, maybe even a list of demands, but he didn’t say another word.

When Ben tried to slip his hand inside the waistband of Gavin’s pajamas, Gavin stopped his progress. He wrapped his slender fingers around Ben’s wrist, held him steady.

“Just let me touch you,” Ben whispered, seduction wrapped in a plea. He didn’t try to force his hand lower or shake off Gavin’s grip, but all of a sudden it felt like Ben’s entire body was trying to meld itself to Gavin’s. “I’ve missed you so goddamn much.” Ben trailed kisses down Gavin’s cheek to his neck. “Lemme make you feel good.”

Gavin hadn’t realized he’d loosened his grip in acquiescence until Ben’s fingers dipped into the top edge of his pants and grazed the head of his erection. He even whimpered at the contact. Damn it. “Tina’s in the next room…” A feeble argument, but it was the only one he could come up with.

Ben let his teeth graze against Gavin’s jaw as he slid his hand lower. He didn’t touch Gavin’s cock again; instead he ran his palm down Gavin’s thigh and slid his fingers over Gavin’s balls. “We’ll be quiet. Lemme make you come, baby. Please?”

Yeah, Gavin was going to deny that request. No problem. Especially when Ben cupped his balls tenderly and trailed his thumb up Gavin’s shaft. So much for being taken seriously. I’m saying no, but I really mean yes. What a joke.

Rather than admit defeat aloud, Gavin shifted against Ben. He reached for him and ran his hand up Ben’s strong shoulder until he could tangle his fingers into the mess of Ben’s hair. He pulled until Ben leaned over him and caught Gavin’s mouth in a hard, heated kiss.

Chapter Eleven

Ben

Thank Christ. Ben groaned softly into Gavin’s mouth, pushed his tongue deeper and slid it against Gavin’s. He wanted to bury himself in Gavin—literally and figuratively. He wanted to push himself in and never let Gavin go.

They had a lot to talk about—especially Gavin’s newest little bombshell—but all of that could wait. He needed this—no, they needed it. They needed to touch each other, hold on to each other, let their bodies take them away from the fighting and the bitter words they both said to each other, the things they wished they could take back.

When Gavin fisted his fingers more tightly into Ben’s hair and tugged sharply, Ben pulled back. His breath beat against Gavin’s skin in harsh pants as they looked at each other in the shadowy space between them. Neither said anything, so Ben kissed him again, more tenderly this time, as he wrapped his hand around Gavin’s cock.

When he started to trail kisses over Gavin’s throat, down his chest, and pushed Gavin’s pajama bottoms down lower, Gavin stopped him with one word. “Wait,” he whispered.

Ben did. He stopped cold, even paused the slow strokes over Gavin’s erection.

“Just…” Gavin whispered as he kicked his pants the rest of the way off, and then rocked his hips into Ben’s touch. He shifted closer to Ben, slid his other arm around Ben’s shoulder against the pillows. He didn’t say just hold me, but Ben thought he understood. He pulled Gavin as close as he could and started his rhythm again, steady and sure, as he pressed another kiss to Gavin’s temple.

Gavin moaned softly and writhed against Ben, thrust his hips up so his cock slid against the rough circle of Ben’s grip, slick with precome now.

“Whatever you need, Gav.” He meant it. Anything Gavin needed, anything he wanted, Ben wanted it too. He wanted to give Gavin the world, grant every wish like a demon genie from a lost and ancient world. He didn’t feel like he could ask Gavin to make promises, tie himself to Ben for better or worse, but damn it all, Ben was well past that and had been for years. His gasping heart belonged to Gavin, and nothing was ever going to change that.

When Gavin threw back the covers, Ben knew he was getting close. So quick, like a flash flood after a drought. Ben shifted over Gavin, let some of his weight rest on Gavin, let his body shield Gavin from the whole world, from their bickering, from Ben’s stupidity, from anything and everything. He’d been Gavin’s shelter since the day they met, and Ben didn’t want it any other way.

He moved his palm harder between them, his fingers tight around Gavin’s shaft, thumb working a frantic circle over the head of his cock, slicking its way through the clear fluid that beaded with every stroke. Gavin pressed his face to Ben’s neck, exhaled a harsh groan—almost a cry, almost a wail, but not quite. The sound muffled against Ben’s skin and made him shudder as well. He wanted to grind himself against Gavin, rut like an animal and bring on his own release, but he resisted the urge. Instead he carried Gavin over the edge, and didn’t that feel almost as good?

When Gavin went rigid in Ben’s arms, offered one last thrust through Ben’s grip, Ben only held him harder, kissing his hair, his cheek, anywhere he could reach until Gavin was coming hot and wet between them. If someone had told Ben a decade ago that a quick handjob in the middle of the night would feel just as intimate, just as meaningful an act of love as being inside someone else, Ben would’ve thought they were crazy. “Love you so much, Gav,” he whispered, slowing his hand until he finally stopped.

Gavin’s breath rushed against Ben’s shoulder, but he didn’t say anything in response.

After a long moment, Ben pulled back, but only slightly, only enough to reach for the tail of a sheet and wipe Gavin’s stomach clean. He kissed Gavin’s warm skin, touched him with gentle, loving motions, and tucked Gavin up close against him.

With one more deep, sated sigh, Gavin turned onto his side. He didn’t pull away, but spooned himself tight against Ben, pulled Ben’s arm over his waist. Ben thought Gavin might just pass out. That was pretty much their routine.

Eventually Gavin pushed his ass back against Ben. Invitation? Ben thought it was. He ground his hips against Gavin, groaned softly as he kissed Gavin’s shoulder.

“You didn’t come.” Not a question, statement of fact.

“No,” Ben whispered, still holding Gavin close but starting to move harder, more hopefully against Gavin.

“Good,” Gavin said, a sadistic tease in his voice, playful and punishing at the same time. He shifted a fraction of an inch away from Ben, just his ass, just far enough to make it impossible for Ben to grind against him. “I hope it hurts. You deserve it.”

Ben laughed softly, nipped Gavin’s shoulder with his teeth. “It does. And you’re probably right.”

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