Page 84 of Out of the Storm

“Ready?” Jeff asked, his smile turning the slightest bit devilish.

“Uh, I’m not sure. For what?”

“Last time I tried to blow you, I...” Jeff trailed off. His facial expression—lips curled, face reddening—suggested he’d rather not finish the sentence. He cleared his throat before continuing. “I think it was your hands that . . . bothered me. Holding onto me, I mean.”

“Oh.” Gary’s stomach tensed from the sudden wave of nauseating guilt. “I’m so sorry, Jeff. I never meant—”

“Gare,” Jeff clipped, shaking his head. “Just leave it. I’m not mad.”

“Okay.”

“But I want us to try again.”

“While looking fancy?” Gary asked playfully, nodding toward the ties and wiggling his eyebrows.

With a snort-laugh, Jeff said, “No, uh, I thought maybe I could tie your hands to the headboard.”

“Whoa!” Gary laughed nervously. “I’ve never tried something like that before. Bondage. Wow.”

“Neither have I.”

“Well, I mean, if you think it’ll help, then—”

“I have no idea, but...” With a sigh, Jeff sat on the edge of the bed. “I thought we could find out. I have to try. I have to be... better.”

Gary reached for Jeff’s hand. “Don’t talk like that. You’re perfect. Right now. Just like this.”

“Yeah, it’s perfect that we can’t move past hand jobs.” Jeff pulled his hand away. “Or, fuck, it’s even more pitiful than that because I can’t even seem to bring myself to let you touchme.”

“Jeff.” Gary reached for Jeff’s hand again. Thankfully, Jeff didn’t pull away. “Jeffrey.” Gently, Gary tugged on Jeff’s hand. “Come up here.”

After placing the ties on the nightstand, Jeff climbed into bed. Gary rolled onto his side, and the two faced one another.

Staring into Jeff’s beautiful brown eyes, which were filled with so much sadness, Gary was overcome with a powerful yearning to help rid Jeff of every bit of the pain and fear and worry he still felt. With a tentative hand, Gary reached up to sweep his fingers through Jeff’s hair, and he was rewarded with the sweetest little smile.

“We’ve only been together for a couple of months,” Gary said. “Even shorter than that officially. What’s the rush?”

“If I had met you before...” Jeff’s tiny smile vanished. It pulled at Gary’s heart. “Gare, I’d have taken you to bed right away. I’d have known every Goddamn inch of you by now.”

“I’m happy with the way things are.”

“Yeah, but, Gare, I really like you.”

“So? It’s still okay to take our time.”

Jeff leaned forward and kissed him. And even though it was just a small brush of Jeff’s lips against his own, Gary’s stomach tumbled.

“I kind of love this,” Gary said. “I love that every single kiss is so special.”

Jeff smiled again. God, it was wonderful to see.

“Don’t lie to make me feel better,” he said, though he was still smiling.

“I’m not. I swear to you, I’m not.”

For the next couple of minutes, they exchanged soft kisses, each of them so incredibly precious. Gary cherished every one, loving every second of this closeness they’d built. Even once they finally stopped kissing, Gary was still lost in his bliss when he moved hisfingers through Jeff’s locks again and noticed a tiny scar right near his hairline. He touched it with his thumb.

“What’s this?” Gary asked.

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