“Oh, I’m ready for it,” Wilder said as Cash worked his way down his body, nuzzling the dark trail of hair down the middle of his stomach.
He licked the mark he’d left on Wilder’s hip and laid one hand on Wilder’s right thigh. “Does this hurt?”
“No. The hurt is farther down.”
“Good. Want to make sure you don’t move your leg too much.”
Wilder groaned, and his cock jerked, like the idea of being held down was exciting.
“Oh, do you like that?” Cash teased, licking a long, wet stripe up Wilder’s length.
Wilder blew out a slow, measured breath. “I might.”
“Holding you down?”
“Mm-hm.” Wilder pressed his lips tightly together, his hips flexing and going nowhere thanks to Cash’s firm grip. “There’s—not many people I’d let do it.”
Cash smiled, stroking his thumb back and forth on Wilder’s hairy thigh. “I know.” It was a privilege to be trusted so much.
He angled Wilder’s cock upright and suckled the bead of bitter precum from the tip.
“Cash, pleaseGod,” Wilder whined in frustration, and Cash snorted out a laugh.
Reminding himself they’d both had a long day and Wilder really needed to sleep, he stopped teasing and took him deeperinto his mouth, sucking as he pulled off and then taking him back down. He worked up a slow, steady rhythm of that, dragging his tongue along the underside of Wilder’s cock with each pass. Low groans left Wilder on every exhale, his limbs trembling as he fought the urge to move. His good knee rose, planting his foot flat on the bed beside Cash.
It didn’t take long before Wilder’s fingers wound into his hair. “I’m—I’m gonna come?—”
Cash took him deep with a greedy hum, and Wilder’s cock swelled and jerked. Bitter cum spilled down his throat, and Wilder shouted hoarsely, one hand twisting in the sheets viciously while the other combed through Cash’s hair, careful not to grip too tight. It was a small gesture but a sweet one, that Wilder was mindful of his comfort even when he was so far swept up in his own pleasure.
Wilder’s body went lax, and Cash smiled as he slid away and dragged the blankets over him. He sat on the edge of the bed, pressing the heel of his hand to his own cock. He could take his time with his hand after this, replaying the sight of Wilder’s desperately undulating body in his mind. First, he wanted to make sure Wilder was comfortable.
“Still with me, or did you fall asleep?” he whispered.
“I’m with you. Sort of.” Wilder smiled, blinking his eyes open. His cheeks were flushed, and he tangled his fingers with Cash’s. “You sure you won’t let me take care of you? Doesn’t seem fair that you get a taste and I don’t.”
“Rain check. When you’re not hurt.” He sighed, thinking about how good it would feel to be skin to skin with him. “Six weeks from now, I’ll have my way with you.”
Wilder’s brows rose, and the color on his cheeks darkened. “Have your way with me? I like the sound of that. Please do have your way with me. Have your way with me many times in a row.”
“That’s the plan.” Sobering, he said, “I have to ride out with the others in the morning again and finish moving the herd. I’d really like you to stay in bed as much as possible. I have a feeling you’re going to hurt pretty bad tomorrow.”
“I’ve had worse.”
Cash covered Wilder’s mouth with his hand, and Wilder snorted out a laugh, pulling it away.
“What if I promise I made them pay? Would that help or make it worse?” His gaze was assessing. This was a test. Did he want to know how much Cash could stomach about his past?
Cash considered his answer seriously before responding, tugging Wilder’s hand into his lap and spreading his fingers out, facedown. He traced the letters with his fingertip, and Wilder’s fingers flexed against his thigh.
“I’d like to hear about it sometime,” he finally said. “When you’re ready to talk about it. I don’t want you to think there’s any part of your past that I’d turn away from. It might be hard to hear about some of the things you’ve had to go through, I won’t lie. But you went through them. The least I can do is listen and be understanding.”
Wilder’s eyes swam with emotion in the dim light streaming in through the gap between the curtains. “Even if I did bad things? Even if I hurt people?”
Softening, Cash leaned down and kissed him, slow and sweet. Wilder melted into it, chasing his mouth when he tried to pull away.
“Even if,” he promised. “You survived, and I’m so glad.”
Wilder’s sigh gusted against his damp lips. “You’re too good for the likes of me, Cash Arden.”