Page 32 of Protecting his Heart

Two hours later, he had enough meals for forty portions of the various recipes, including a chicken balti, chicken enchiladas and Hunter’s chicken. He portioned them out into various containers and left them to cool, snagging one of the chicken balti concoctions for his dinner.

Settling on the sofa, he turned on the TV and ate while catching up with the news. He found several other odd jobs that needed completing—and had done for a while—to distract himself further, and when the food had cooled, he placed some in the fridge and some in the freezer.

By the time the clock said ten-thirty, he was still wired, but he needed to sleep. Having never forgotten Evan’s order to be prepared, he had a shower, cleaned himself out and, once he was back in bed, he stretched and lubed himself, a process which turned him on far more than he wanted it to when there was no end to the arousal in sight.

He lubed the plug, inserted it with a grimace as his dick pulsed and leaked, and breathed out slowly, trying to calm himself. Putting away the supplies and washing his hands, he settled into bed, exhaling through every twinge and lick of fire.

He hadn’t expected to sleep, but warm hands lulled him from slumber, and he blinked to clear the bleariness. “Mmhmm,” he moaned as Evan’s hands skimmed across his skin, goosebumps following the charge.

“I love that you’re wearing this for me,” Evan murmured, biting his earlobe and pressing against the base of the plug. “But go back to sleep. I’ll take care of you.”

Owen inhaled shakily, eyes closing as he let Evan have free rein of his body. As he floated, he felt his body let go of theplug, the emptiness dragging a whimper from his throat. But then it was replaced with something larger, and that emptiness disappeared. Heat warmed his back and legs, with more heat banding across his stomach and chest. He sighed and relaxed fully as the gentle rocking lulled him.

Soft words reached his ears, and he stretched for them. “I love you.”

Another gentle caress, wrapping around his cock this time, and a slow burn licked through his body, sending him into the softest orgasm he ever remembered having. A gasp sounded in his ear, and he smiled even as he fell back to sleep, safe in knowing Evan was with him.

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Chapter 10

Evan

Evan had never thought he was into somnophilia, but the idea of taking care of Owen’s needs while he was unaware was surprisingly arousing. He loved it best when the man was awake and interacting with him, but this was a pleasant change, though he wouldn’t do it all the time. After he’d cleaned them both up, he settled into bed beside Owen, listening to him sleep. He’d had a shit shift, losing two of their patients, and it weighed on him, as it always did. Losing himself in Owen was the best way to ease those memories, but he’d never forget.

Despite being home around one-thirty in the morning, he still woke at six o’clock when Owen’s alarm went off.

“Sorry, sweetheart. Go back to sleep,” Owen whispered, brushing his lips across Evan’s cheek.

The next thing he knew, his own alarm woke him up. He reached for it, yawning, and looked, bleary-eyed, at the screen to cancel it. He dropped his hand back to the pillow, taking the phone with it, and let his eyes fall closed again. He wouldn’t sleep again, even though he’d only had six hours sleep, but he could wake up gently. He’d have another nap later in the day because his last shift started at midnight, and it was the only way he’d survive it.

He rolled to his back, staring up at the ceiling, knowing he needed to get moving but not wanting to. Wanting to bask in the remembered glow of being in Owen’s arms. It wasn’t as good asthe real thing, but it was all he had while they were apart. That and the nagging need to ignore how his thoughts sometimes couldn’t trust that Owen wouldn’t back out of what they had. That took him more effort than he wanted to admit aloud. He believed Owen when he said he wasn’t going to push Evan away, but he couldn’t help the wayward snatches of thought, even though he tried his hardest.

Refusing to dwell on them again that morning, he pushed the covers aside and got up, going through his morning routine to waste some time before heading out of the house for Book Drunk, the local coffee shop slash bookshop all the royal family used because it belonged to one of their own, Oscar, Prince Christian’s fiancé.

Entering the warm building, he rubbed his hands together to get the feeling back into them and aimed for the counter. He’d only met Oscar twice, and they hadn’t interacted much, but Evan was good with faces and names and knew who he was. He wasn’t sure about the other people who worked there yet. He unzipped his coat and unwrapped his scarf as he waited.

“Good morning. What can I get you?” The staff member had a name tag that said Chloe.

“Morning. A cappuccino, an iced water and a cheese and ham toastie, please,” he said, pulling his wallet from his trousers pocket.

“Not a problem.” She rang them up just as Oscar came through a door in the back, presumably the kitchen.

Oscar glanced at him and smiled. “Evan! Nice to see you again. How’re things?”

Chloe glanced at him, and Oscar nodded at her before refocusing on Evan and sliding a tray onto the counter next to Chloe.

“I’m good, thank you. Just trying to blow off some cobwebs from an early morning finish.”

Oscar frowned, and then his expression cleared. “You’re a nurse, aren’t you?”

Evan nodded. “Well remembered. Yes, I finished at 1 a.m. this morning and have the night shift tonight. Not the best changeover, but it is what it is.”

“Ouch, yeah. That sucks.”

“I have two days off from tomorrow, though, so I can’t complain too much.”

Oscar smiled. “Make sure you drag Owen in.”

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