Page 187 of The Menagerie

Like that, they fall into a deep, peaceful sleep.

WHEN ROWANwakes in the morning, it’s the warmest he’s ever felt.

For a brief moment, it doesn’t registerwhyhe feels this way, until he tries to turn over onto his side and is greeted with Mal’s peaceful face. Mal’s right arm is flung across Rowan’s stomach, curling protectively around his side. His face is nuzzled into Rowan’s shoulder, one cheek smooshed up so his lips are parted slightly, a thin wisp of drool in the corner. Hair ruffled within an inch of its life.

He’s by far the most beautiful thing Rowan’s ever seen, and he looks his fill to commit every part of this moment to memory.

Gently he brushes a lock of hair away from Mal’s forehead, the thin golden strips of light streaming in from the windows illuminating his perfect face. The action makes him stir, a soft trilling moan of sleepiness rising up from the back of his throat.

“Morning,” Rowan whispers, voice scratchy with disuse.

“Mmm, mornin’,” Mal rumbles back.

Rowan runs a hand through Mal’s soft hair, strands sliding silkily through his fingers. With a shudder that racks his entire body, he realizes he wants to wake up like this every single day for the rest of his life.

He cups Mal’s chin and draws him in, when Mal stops him.

“Mmf, I’ve got morning breath, man,” Mal complains, hand over his mouth.

“Don’t care. Been waiting forever to kiss you.”

Mal does not, in fact, taste like morning breath. He tastes like nothing much at all and too much all at once. Tastes likeMal, and Rowan thinks that it might be his new favorite taste.

They kiss slow and languid, Rowan running his tongue along the seam of Mal’s lips before delving inside, licking behind his teeth. Mal moans, opening his mouth wider as he melts into the kiss. After a lifetime, Mal pulls away.

“Rowan, want you….”

“I got you, Mal.”

Rowan kisses him once again before coaxing Mal to roll over onto his side, his ass pressed firmly against Rowan’s morning wood. With a little finagling, they work their briefs off in a tangle of limbs, Mal pressing back against Rowan and grinding his ass into Rowan’s hard cock. It sends a pulse of desire through Rowan, making him buck his hips forward.

As Rowan reaches over to the nightstand to get the lube, Mal hikes up one leg, spreading himself wide for Rowan. After squeezing lube onto his fingers, Rowan wastes no time in working Mal open. He’s still so slick and open from last night that it takes only minutes for him to get Mal panting and writhing in Rowan’s arms.

“C’mon…,” he whines.

“Always so impatient,” Rowan says and laughs, dipping forward to kiss Mal’s neck as he continues to finger him.

“Mmm, fuck….”

Rowan sucks a bruise on Mal’s neck as he pumps himself, spreading the lube on his cock. And as Rowan slides into him, he gasps and feels his abs tighten as Mal’s heat envelops him. Mal moans, a bright and beautiful sound in the quiet of the room. His head dips toward his chest, and Rowan takes the opportunity to kiss behind his ear as he pulls out and thrusts back inside.

“Oh fuck… feel so good, Mal….”

“Rowan, fuck me….”

A swoop of desire fills Rowan’s belly as he fucks into Mal in deep, slow thrusts. A breathy sigh greets every thrust as his hips press hard into Mal’s ass. Mal hikes his leg higher, gripping under his knee to open himself more to Rowan, allowing him to slip impossibly deeper inside.

They move together, hitches of hips and breath as Rowan slides in and out of Mal’s heat. He chases his pleasure, clutching on to Mal for dear life, as if he’ll vanish if Rowan doesn’t hold him tightly enough.

“Fuck! There…,” Mal moans.

Rowan obliges him, alternating grinding against his spot and pistoning into him, turning him into a moaning mess in his arms. It’s like his hips have a mind of their own as he fucks him, Mal clenching around him eagerly and with abandon. He’s sucking him in deeper, deeper, undoubtedly bruising his ass as he drops his leg and reaches back to pull Rowan closer.

The position is good—incredible, even—hitting deep and hard and letting Rowan feel Mal’s muscular back pressed firmly against his chest. But it’s been too long since he’s seen his face. Too long since he kissed his lips.

“Mal, turn over. Wanna see your face.”

Rowan pulls out and they swap positions, Mal on his back with Rowan nestled in between his legs.

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