Page 186 of Pistols and Plush Toys

Nikolai leaned in to kiss it. “Maybe yes.”

Elliot laughed.

“I did not hurt you?” Nikolai asked next, needing to be sure.

“No.” Elliot shook his head. “And you? Your arm?”

Nikolai had to shift to free his other hand, but when he turned his arm to see the bandage, it didn’t look like anything had bled through. He hurt, but he didn’t think he’d made it worse. “Is fine.”

“Good,” Elliot said, and yawned.

“Now we get up, before someone comes to find us.” Nikolai hated saying it, but he didn’t want to push their luck.

“Oh,” Elliot said, eyes widening. “Oh, um, yeah, probably lots to do today, huh?”

“Yes,” Nikolai sighed. “I have to check yesterday’s mess was cleaned up. See what we know about the Vitale family now. And you. We must settle what we do with you.”

Elliot sat more fully up. “I’m… I’m staying with you, right?”

The question was tentative, but it warmed Nikolai’s heart that Elliot felt he could ask at all.

“Yes,” Nikolai assured him. “Anything you want, I will give you.”

“Then I want to be right where I am,” Elliot said shyly. “Here with you.”

For that comment Nikolai had to lean in and kiss him once, twice, half a dozen more times.

Somewhere in the middle of that his phone went off. He groaned when he pulled away, taking in Elliot’s flushed swollen mouth, his bright eyes.

“We must get up,” Nikolai said, resigned.

Elliot sighed. “Fine.”

Nikolai tried not to be too pleased about the grumpiness in Elliot’s tone.

Chapter 31: Elliot

They took turns in the shower this time, Elliot going first while Nikolai dealt with some things on his phone. Elliot lingered when it was Nikolai’s turn for the shower, worried that he might need help, but Nikolai was quick to assure him that he could handle it.

Elliot tried not to feel disappointed by that.

Instead, he went downstairs to get started on breakfast. Moving around made some new aches known, but after a shower and a fresh set of clothes, he was feeling buoyant, despite everything that had happened yesterday morning.

Elliot cracked eggs and diced vegetables, humming to himself as he thought back on what had happened last night and this morning. They’d had sex.Kissed. He’d had Nikolai so close, around him and… and inside him.

It had been so incredibly good.

Elliot shivered thinking about those big careful hands on him, the way Nikolai had had Sheep kiss down his neck, and followed it later with his own mouth. The way he’d gone so slowly, so carefully. The way even the ache of being penetrated had felt good when Nikolai had done it.

He refused to think of his past experiences, how awful they had been in comparison. Maybe there would be a time in the future for processing that, but right now Elliot wanted to focus on what was good in his life. He’d lived through it and come out the other side and now—now he could look toward a better future.

By the time Nikolai came down, Elliot had everything cooking. Instead of going for the coffee machine, Nikolai cameup behind him, slowly curling his hands around Elliot’s middle. He kissed Elliot’s cheek and fizzles of warmth went through him.

“Morning,” Nikolai said, soft and sweet. Elliot loved howsweetNikolai could be.

“Morning,” Elliot said, unable to help his smile.

Nikolai kissed the shell of his ear, squeezing gently at Elliot’s hips, and a spike of sudden heat dropped into Elliot’s stomach.

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