Page 58 of Broken Ice, Mended Hearts

His expression reminded me of a sulky kid as he pulled out the next form and hunched over it. I started in on mine, and the only sounds were the neighbors in their pool and Sven’s pen scratching across the paper. I was trying to make sense of some legal mumbo jumbo when Sven’s voice made me jump. “Which one are you on?”

I waited until I signed my name, then glanced at the top of the page. “Assumption of Risk, whatever the hell that means.”

“Oh, it says we release them from liability in case we’re injured.”

“Whatever. At least I only have two forms left.”

“Look at this one.” He held it up so I could see. “It’s at the bottom of the stack.”

I found it and read the title out loud. “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. This is where we give someone the authority to make medical decisions for us, right?”

“Yes,” he said. “Who do you give it to?”

“The last few years, Nick Johnson. He’s the most responsible guy I know and a great friend besides. How about you?”

“Alex. Nobody else I’d really trust.”

I nodded. “It’s bullshit, anyway. It doesn’t go to them unless we’re not able to decide for ourselves.”

“I’ve got an idea. Neither of us has any family we’d trust, or we wouldn’t be appointing Nick and Alex.”

Looking up, I nodded. “True.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What if we appointed each other? I trust you, and if we’re partners, it makes sense.”

I tilted my head as unexpected warmth filled my chest. He was right. We cared for each other, so there was no one better to trust with something like this. “Hell yes. That’s a great idea.”

His smile made my dick twitch, and I couldn’t resist leaning over to tug on his lower lip. When we finished the forms a few minutes later, I got up and took off my T-shirt. “Get in the pool.”

He bounced his eyebrows. “Why don’t we go inside? I need a reward after all that hard work.”

Without taking my eyes off him, I shed my trunks and kicked them aside. “Get. In. The. Pool.”

He stood and took off his clothes. I was mesmerized—sun-kissed skin emphasizing a perfectly honed physique, hair bleached from the sun, blue eyes sparkling in the late afternoonlight. His cock was already getting hard, and as mine did the same, I walked over and slapped his ass.

“Fuck! That hurt.”

I took his hand, and we jumped into the deep end together. When we rose to the surface, we let each other go and swam a lap, coming to a stop in the shallow end, near the steps leading out of the pool. I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my lips against his and exploring his mouth with my tongue. I was hit with a mix of sensations—the tangy taste of lemonade, the familiar scent of chlorine, and the comforting bulk of his body. My heart raced, and as much as I wanted to break the kiss and tell him how I felt, I couldn’t find the right words.

He reached for my cock and started jerking me, and when he caressed my cheek with his free hand, I moaned. I hoped he understood what I was feeling. I had the growing conviction that it was no accident we were together. He filled the gaps in my life as no one ever had. Every day, my heart leaped at the strength of his hugs, the glow in his eyes when he looked at me, the easy laughter that helped me remember life was more than a thing to be endured. It was a gift to be savored, and because of Sven, I was experiencing that.

I was lucky he’d stuck with me all summer, even though I acted like a fool most of the time. We enjoyed sex, but I’d closed myself off from the joy of his affection, and I didn’t let myself admit how much I cared for him. I searched again for the right words to say, but to hell with it. If I couldn’t tell him what was in my heart, I’d show him with everything I did.

He was jerking me fast, and I reached for him. His cock was thick and heavy, and when I squeezed, he broke our kiss. “Make me come, Pip.”

He growled when I jerked him harder, the low, rumbling sound setting my balls on fire. “Yeah,” I said. “We’ll get there together.”Please know what I’m trying to say.

“Wouldn’t want to go with anyone else,” he whispered near my ear. He lowered his head, and I squawked when he bit one of my nipples. It stung, but the twinge was full of pleasure, as much from being with him as because of his teeth. I jerked his dick with one hand and found his navel with the other. He was sensitive there, and when I fingered it, he threw his head back and groaned.

My balls started tingling, so I looked into his eyes. “Getting close. Slow down so I can wait for you.”

“No need.” His eyes glazed with lust, and he jerked me harder. “I’m already there.”

He grunted as a hot jet of his cum spurted into my hand and took me over the edge. We shuddered together as he clamped his lips over mine to keep us quiet. Groaning into each other’s mouths, we slumped against each other while we came.

Soon, I drew away from his mouth, desperate for air. While we panted, I closed my eyes, enjoying the aftershocks of a powerful orgasm. Unexpectedly, Sven started chuckling.

“The fuck?” I asked, my voice weak. “What’s funny?”

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