Page 124 of Out of the Storm

“I know it’s not about me.”

“I feel bad.”

“Don’t. Ever.” Gary smiled a little. “Boy, it’s a little funny to hear you say that you felt me being possessive because I reallywasfeeling that way.”

Jeff cocked an eyebrow in that all-too-adorable way of his.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, I mean, I was feeling like I wanted to... to keep you.”

“I like that. In theory. But—”

“Dial it back?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah, okay, I can do that.” Gary started to stroke Jeff’s face, enjoying the way the scratchy-yet-kinda-soft hairs prickled the skin of his fingertips, and the two smiled at each other. Gary’s stomach fluttered in a wonderful way. There had been a reason for that surge of possessiveness. It hadn’t been because of his typical need for closeness, either. Or notonlybecause of it. It wasmore. “Jeff, I-I think I was... maybe feeling a touch possessive because I feel... I feel a forever way about you. Geez, maybe that sounds fast, but I mean that I wanted to... to keep you. Sorry, I—”

“Gare.” Jeff’s smile broadened. “I know what you mean.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, I, uh, I feel that way too.”

Gary’s whole body was suddenly so tingly and warm, and his stomach was still fluttering in that wonderful, wonderful way. Looking into Jeff’s brown eyes, which were so soft andkind, Gary could barely breathe. He took a moment to enjoy that feeling—as though his bond with Jeff was so powerful it sometimes made it hard to perform a normal bodily function like breathing.

And then he found the courage to put what he was feeling into words.

“I love you, Jeffrey.”

With a soft hum, Jeff said, “I love you too, radio man.”

Their lips connected again, and this time, they kissed each other slowly. Sensually. Gary kept his hands light as they moved over Jeff’s body, and when Jeff started rolling his hips again, there was a tenderness to his movement—a beautiful fragility that hadn’t been there before. Again and again, their lips connected, and the sweetness behind each of their kisses had Gary’s eyes filling with tears. Suddenly, his cheek was wet, and he opened his eyes to see that Jeff was crying too. Gently, Gary pushed Jeff back enough to break their kiss for a moment so he could say those three words one more time.

“I love you,” Gary said. “I needed to tell you that again.”

“I love you too.”

“I’m sorry for before. I’d never—”

“Gare Bear, I know.” Jeff sat up. “I want to try something.”

Without first elaborating, Jeff removed his briefs, and then he hooked his fingers inside the waistband of Gary’s briefs to remove them too.

“Can I take these off?” Jeff said, though he was already tugging on them a bit.

“Yeah.”

They removed their shirts next. By the time they were both naked, Gary was hard again. Jeff was too.

“Sit up for me,” Jeff said softly.

He helped Gary position his pillow up against the headboard, and then Jeff straddled him, shifting his hips sothat their cocks were basically pressing up against each other’s. The sight sent Gary’s heart pounding.

“Give me your hand,” Jeff said.

When Gary complied, Jeff wrapped Gary’s hand around both of their lengths and then placed his own hand on top. Jeff’s hand started to move, and Gary let out a whimper.

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