Page 82 of Everything's Better With You
“That’s right,” Leslie breathed, nuzzling Joe’s hair. “The miner was ready to take his fortune and settle down on the homestead, make home and hearth. But the cocky kid was ready to fly.”
Joe sighed and turned gingerly on his side, facing Leslie. He tucked his left thigh in between Leslie’s and snuggled up against Leslie’s chest.
“Well, the cocky kid wanted you, still wants you, and really wanted this. He wanted to be close to you. And now he has you right where he wants you.” Then he wiggled. “But he wants closer.” He pulled on Leslie’s arm until Leslie wrapped it around him.
Leslie’s hand shook as he pulled Joe flush against him…for the first time, skin to skin. He wanted to weep at the wonder of having the man he loved, with all of his heart, so close to him. He let out a shaky breath and squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to blow the moment by getting all sappy.
“Finish the story, Leslie,” Joe said, and then he pressed a kiss to Les’s pec, sending goose bumps across his torso. “How does the story end?”
Leslie took a breath for courage. “The miner eventually convinced the cocky kid to come home, and once he had him in his sights, he was determined to love him forever.”
Joe sighed. “Mmm, forever. That sounds wonderful. I want to love you forever, Leslie.”
They held each other for a long time, just breathing. Leslie ran Joe’s last words through his mind several times, wondering:Did I hear him correctly? Is it possible he feels exactly as I do?
“Thank you for bringing me home and taking care of me.”
“I wish you would have called me, Joe. I’ll always take care of you.”
Joe lifted his head and pressed his palm against Leslie’s cheek.
“I didn’t want you to know how bad it is, because if I tellyou, that makes it real. I don’t want it to be real. The injury.”
“I know,” Leslie whispered. “God, you know I get it. And I’ll take care of you, Joe, seriously. I want to. I want this. Us.”
“This,” Joe said, running his hand over Leslie’s torso. “This is real. Us. Kiss me, Leslie.”
Leslie gazed into Joe’s troubled brown eyes and smiled. “No matter what, okay?” He brushed his lips against Joe’s and they both moaned. For a moment they were lost to the magic they’d created, this space where tornadoes, fundraisers, football, cheerleading…none of it mattered. It was just the two of them curled together in the dark and nothing could break their connection.
They touched and kissed for the longest time and it was everything Leslie had ever wanted. Joe slid his fingers under the waistband of Leslie’s boxer briefs and tugged at them until Leslie took over and removed the last barrier between them.
“Joe, you’re hurt—”
“And you’re going to take care of me.” Joe grasped Leslie’s hand, held it up to his mouth and Leslie groaned as Joe licked his palm. “Take care of us, Leslie.” He guided Les’s hand to his cock straining against Leslie’s own. “Make the pain go away for a little while.”
Leslie wrapped his hand around both of their erections and let desire take over, let his worries fade away, only keeping the slightest concern that he’d hurt Joe. That was enough to keep him focused on drawing out their pleasure, taking it slow until Joe was quaking against him, and it allowed him to keep enough control over himself that he finished when he was damn good and ready, when Joe had finished and was sated, that he’d enjoyed himself, and only then did Leslie allow himself to come. Under any other circumstances, he would have shouted a victory roar. Instead, he had a quiet moment ofsuccess where he nuzzled Joe’s hair and pressed a kiss against his head.
Joe murmured loving words and then slumped against him and fell deep asleep draped over Leslie’s body. Even if Leslie could have moved, there was no way he would miss out on this moment, on the trust Joe had placed in him. Instead, he covered them with the blankets and he basked in the peace and quiet interrupted only by the sound of pipes and creaks in the old building and the gentle rain blown against the window.
At some point in the night, Joe rolled over and Leslie woke in the wee hours curled up to his back. He wanted to stay with all of his heart and wake up with Joe, but he had concerns:
What if things were awkward between them?
What if all the talk of love and forever had been a fever dream?
What if they were caught?
He didn’t want to leave, but the responsible part of his little mental committee thought those were all valid concerns. He left the warm cocoon of Joe’s bed and pulled his clothes on in the dark. He couldn’t resist kissing Joe’s forehead before he left.
“Leslie? Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Twinkle Toes. Get some sleep.”
Joe grabbed his hand and opened his eyes wide. “I love you. I said it. I meant it. I want you to leave here knowing that.”
Leslie dropped to his not-as-bad knee and pulled Joe’s hand to his lips, kissing it.
“I love you so much, Joe. I wish I could stay.”
