Page 50 of Curious

He’d said it. The only words Jeremy had ever needed to hear.

“Nothing else matters,” he assured him, joining him in three long strides and pulling him into his arms for a blistering kiss.

Then he lifted his head with a breathless laugh, relief fizzing through him, making him feel lighter than air. Jesus, he’d thought it was over. He hadn’t known, hadn’t had any idea that Owen would ever love him back. That he was even thinking in terms of forever.

“You suck at communicating outside of the bedroom, you know that?” he complained.

Owen was staring at his lips. “I’ll do better. You’ll teach me. Until then, let’s go communicate where I’m at my best.”

“What about your hand?”

“Forget it. I need you now.”

“You’ve got me.” He took Owen’s good hand and led him to the bedroom, joy and lust and love battling for dominance inside him. Owen was here, where he belonged. And he wasn’t going anywhere.

He loves me.

Jeremy went to the dresser and pulled out his suspenders, and Owen paused at his belt after taking off his shirt. “Those uncomfortable things better be for you.”

He shook his head, stalking his prey. “Over twenty-four hours of torture, Owen. Of loving you and wondering if I was losing my only family, my best friend and my lover in one fell swoop. Twenty-four hours of forcing myself to breathe and eat and talk to people when I just wanted to stop the world until you came back to me.”

“Loving me?”

Jeremy nodded. “Completely and, until ten minutes ago, hopelessly. I’ve loved you for a long time. I never thought I could have you, and not just because you didn’t like men. Your family is my family. You are my family, Owen. If I lost you…” His voice broke. “All I want to do now is tie you to my headboard, kiss every inch of you and make love to you with the cock you say you can’t get enough of. Nothing else, I promise. I just need you not to distract me.”

Owen’s cheeks were flushed. “For you, Jeremy. Only for you. But just one time.”

We’ll see.

He watched Owen finish undressing, studying the body he couldn’t get enough of. No agreements, no rules, no limits or labels, just Owen. It sounded too good to be true, but here he was, naked and kneeling on Jeremy’s bed. “Where do you want me?”

“Everywhere,” Jeremy groaned. “But for now lie on your back and put your hands over your head.”

“On my back?” Owen hesitated but then obeyed, his expression expectant. Aroused.

Jeremy tore off his shirt and pushed down his sweatpants before climbing onto the bed beside his lover. He leaned over him, suspenders in hand. “Grip the headboard.”

“Don’t make it too tight.”

“Yes, Master Finn.”

Owen breathed out a laugh. “Don’t think I’m going to forget this when it’s my turn.”

Jeremy bent down and kissed him softly on the lips. “I promise I’ll make sure you won’t.”

Owen’s eyes darkened to a stormy blue as Jeremy wrapped the suspenders around his wrist and the headboard, tying a knot that was sloppy but effective. “Too tight?”

Owen shook his head.

“Good. Now let me welcome you home properly.”

Jeremy kissed and touched every inch of Owen he could reach, taking his time until he was squirming and swearing softly beneath him.

“Jeremy, damn it.”

“What is it, Owen? Don’t you like it?”

“I love it,” he growled. “But you know what I need.”

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