Page 148 of Body Check

“Yeah,” Dakota said, setting a hand on Gavin’s thigh. “I have.”

“Oh, fuck. That’s great news.” Gavin grabbed him and kissed him soundly, deep and thorough, and Dakota’s head spun by the time he finally let go.

But Gavin sobered, nodding toward the envelopes of cash. “You wouldn’t have to, you know. If you wanted your own place or whatever, you have the means now.”

Dakota squeezed his leg. “I didn’t decide to move in with you because I need an affordable place to live, Gavin. I could have stayed with Violet, Jeff, and the kids. Or found a place somewhere on my own. I did it because I love you. Because Itrustyou.”

The look in Gavin’s eyes made Dakota’s throat thicken.

“I trust you too,” he whispered. “So much.”

And for both of them, trust was harder than love. Or it had been when they first met. But now, Dakota knew without a single second of hesitation that Gavin was it for him. Gavin was the man he wanted to wake up beside every morning.

Dakota wanted to ride with Gavin to HCI, wanted to swing by his office and lovingly remind him to take a lunch break and stretch. He wanted to get to know Thad and watch Gavin smile down at his niece Lily like maybe he was thinking about a family they could have some day.

Dakota wanted it all.

With a sigh, he leaned forward, wrapping his hand around the back of Gavin’s neck and pulling him in for a kiss. One of the envelopes of money tumbled to the ground and Dakota let out a soft laugh but kept kissing Gavin.

He kissed him like he’d never stop, like it was all he ever wanted to do. All he’d ever need.

He fumbled for the buttons of Gavin’s black shirt, undoing each one slowly as Gavin’s tongue stroked his. They only parted to take sips of oxygen before diving in again.

When the shirt was open, Dakota smoothed his palms along Gavin’s chest, savoring the tickle of his soft chest hair and the feel of his warm skin below.

He rubbed his thumb along the pebbled rise of Gavin’s nipple, drinking in his quiet gasp. He did it again, and harder, until Gavin shuddered and sat back, shrugging off his shirt with short, jerky movements.

Dakota laughed softly and reached to help him undo the buttons at the cuff. He got them undone and Gavin tossed the shirt on the floor like it had offended him.

“Eager, huh?” Dakota teased, pressing a hand to Gavin’s chest and gently pushing him down onto the sofa cushions.

“For you? Always.”

The rough promise in Gavin’s voice made emotion tighten Dakota’s throat. He reached out, opening Gavin’s belt, then undoing the fastenings on his trousers.

He sat back, staring down at Gavin’s bare chest, drinking in the sight of him. He ran his hands along Gavin’s body, feeling the tickle of hair against his palms again and loving the way he arched up, shuddering as Dakota skated his thumbs along the grooves beside his hip bones.

As expected, Gavin’s impressive abs had softened a little, less rigidly defined than when they first met. And all Dakota could feel was relief.

Because he wanted this man alive.

Dakota didn’t want him to train and stress himself into an early grave. He wanted him alive andhere with him, a part of his future.

So, he dipped his head and pressed his lips to Gavin’s pec, then skated them down over his stomach with soft glancing kisses that made Gavin clench and shiver.

Dakota reached down, slipping his hand into Gavin’s trousers and underwear, finding his cock below. He was only half-hard, but his skin was warm and soft as Dakota stroked.

Dakota dropped his mouth to Gavin’s pec, teasing his nipple with his tongue, flicking it and softly biting, alternating between the two until Gavin arched up into his touch, letting out the most delicious sound of pleasure.

The tight confines of his clothing made it difficult for Dakota to get any kind of good rhythm going, but Gavin’s cock was fattening up in his hand anyway. The drop of liquid at the tip made Dakota want to taste, so he pulled his hand away, lifted his head, and licked it from his thumb, sucking at the skin before releasing it with a wet pop.

Gavin groaned, low and deep in his throat, and then he was fumbling for his trousers, shoving them and his underwear off and tossing them on the floor.

Dakota laughed softly. “I’m starting to feel a little overdressed here,” he teased.

“Seems like you should do something about that then,” Gavin rasped.

“Seems like I should.”

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