Page 156 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

“I know,” Gavin whispered, the two small words catching on a groan as Ben pushed deeper.

When Ben slowed down again, ran his hand over Gavin’s chest, Gavin knew he was trying to draw it out, make it last all morning. But Gavin wasn’t so patient. He reached for Ben’s hand and drew it down his body, guided him to his rigid cock.

Ben shuddered against him as he started to stroke Gavin, his palm slick and warm.

“Please, Ben, just…” Gavin needed more.

With those words, Ben shifted and rolled Gavin under him, pressed his knees between Gavin’s thighs and thrust in hard and deep. His pace quickened, turning rough and needy.

Suddenly, what had started out as tender and slow became a frantic, heated dance. They moved together, their sounds catching on the air, disappearing in the morning light as sparks and shudders ran through Gavin. He was so close to the edge, and Ben must have known. He picked up the pace again, pushed Gavin into the mattress and drove in as deep as he could.

Gavin lifted his hips, tried to get even closer to Ben, but there was no use. Ben sheltered Gavin completely, his movements becoming harder and more erratic. Before Gavin could say anything, or even make another sound, Ben stilled suddenly and pulled back, dragging Gavin along with him until Gavin was seated on Ben’s lap. He ran his hand across Gavin’s hip, down his abdomen until he could wrap his fist around Gavin’s erection, stroking him again, harder, in a way he couldn’t before.

Ben muttered something into Gavin’s ear, something he couldn’t make out, couldn’t understand, but Gavin nodded anyway. Whatever Ben said, Gavin was fairly certain he’d agree.

Leaning over slightly, Gavin reached for the headboard. He needed some support, some stability, because even in this position, Ben pounded into him, stroked him faster. “Shit,” Gavin muttered. He held his breath and squeezed his eyes shut as he spilled through Ben’s fingers.

And then, just like a fucking porn star, Ben pulled out, less careful than usual, and gave Gavin a light push before stroking his own cock. Gavin could feel the wet heat on his back as Ben came all over him.

That was a first. Jesus. Had Ben saved that one for a special occasion? Gavin never had developed much of a kink over Ben coming on his face. Or his chest. Or his belly. But that? Maybe it had just been too long. Maybe he’d been starving for Ben and anything he did would’ve been the Best Thing Ever, but even as Ben murmured his name, ran a dirty T-shirt down Gavin’s spine, cleaned him up, Gavin still thought that was the most weirdly erotic thing he’d ever experienced. And that was saying a lot.

He collapsed on the mattress and rested his head on the rumpled pillows. “What the hell.”

Ben laughed and smacked him on the ass before stretching out next to him. “We seriously need to start making more time for this,” Ben said, breathless even as he pulled Gavin close again. “More time for us.”

He was right, of course. They’d made a lot of progress on listening to each other, talking things out, compromising. But the last few months had sped by in a blur. Gavin’s attention was always divided now, and so was Ben’s. They needed a better balance, and Gavin wasn’t sure how or when that would happen.

Ben brushed a kiss against Gavin’s shoulder when he pulled Gavin to his chest. “You can go back to sleep now if you want.”

Gavin let his eyes drift shut, thinking that sounded like an excellent plan.

“But first,” Ben whispered, tugging tenderly at Gavin’s hair. “Tell me what kind of tattoo you want today.”

He’d been putting it off for too long, really. He knew Ben was a planner, knew he liked to have a heads-up before he did almost anything, especially inking someone. “I’ll tell you when I wake up.” He tried to sound even more tired than he already was, tried to get Ben to drop it for another few hours. Drop it until Ben’s kit was open, his ink out, his gun ready. He figured he’d have a better chance if he sprung it on him.

“You’re gonna have to tell me eventually, Gav.”

“I will. Promise.”

And with that, Ben tightened his arms around Gavin, and they both drifted off for another few hours.

Chapter Thirty-One

Ben

“No,” Ben said firmly.

Gavin let out a heavy breath and asked, “Why?”

“No names.” Ben had a lot of personal rules he followed when it came to his work. He wouldn’t ink anyone who seemed unsure or pressured by their friends. He’d just have a consultation with them and then make an appointment for later in the week. He wouldn’t tattoo anyone who seemed like they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol—he had a rainbow rose tattoo on his own ass to remind him what a bad idea that was. His biggest one, though, the one he’d never crossed the line on, was names. People broke up, people died, people cheated on each other. Ben couldn’t count how many names he’d had to cover up in his career.

“It’s not just any name, Ben.” Gavin leaned a little closer, as if he could change Ben’s mind by batting his eyelashes and running his hand up Ben’s thigh. “It’s your name.” Gavin pressed a kiss to Ben’s neck, trailed his lips higher so he could whisper against Ben’s ear. “I want your name on me.”

He knew how to get Ben, that was for sure. “Do you have any idea how many clients I’ve turned away over this in the last couple of decades?” Of course, if he said he didn’t like the idea of inking Gavin with his own name—marking him, claiming him—he’d be lying and they both probably knew it.

They were alone in the house, at least for the moment, and Gavin shifted from his spot next to Ben. He faced Ben, crawled into his lap and straddled his thighs as he wrapped his arms around Ben’s shoulders. “I’m not just any client.”

Ben was on the verge of giving in. He knew it. Gavin knew it. Gavin leaned in, kissed him hard on the mouth, slid his tongue against Ben’s. When he pulled back, just for the sake of curiosity, Ben asked, “Where would you want it? If I were willing. Which I’m not.”

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