Page 34 of Shelf-Made Man
Tobias would have guessed that making out with Alfie would be a bit uncomfortable due to their height difference, but bending down a little was no hardship, and Alfie sort of half climbed him anyway.
“May I undress you?” Alfie panted.
“Gods, yes, please.”
“I’m afraid we shall have to be rather rushed due to the countess’s imminent return. Which is a shame—I should prefer to savor you. But I doubt I’d last long anyway. You overwhelm me, Tobias.”
Fast, slow… Tobias was eager for Alfie any way he could have him. But he stopped Alfie’s roaming hands for a moment. “Are you sure you feel up to it? You’re injured.”
“The only pain I feel now is the burning of my desire.”
Tobias, who wasn’t capable of matching Alfie’s fancy talk, decided that actions spoke louder than words. Laughing, he scooped Alfie into his arms, carried him across the room as if he were a bride, and set him down on the newly made bed. Alfie gazed up at him, seemingly delighted. “A man who takes charge! Delightful!”
“I’m not really….” Tobias felt himself blush.
“Tell me what you want from me, please. It would bring me great joy to give you exactly what you wish for.”
That was a dizzying offer. “Well… you could start with more skin.”
“Of course!”
As Tobias fumbled with his own buttons and zipper, Alfie stripped out of his clothing so quickly itmusthave been magic. And there he was, naked: pale and sleek and perfect despite the few lingering bruises and healing wound. His tattoos sparkled and spun hypnotically.
Tobias, on the other hand, was chunky and hairy and decidedly imperfect. But still Alfie stared at him bright-eyed and grinning, cock hard, one hand reaching for Tobias. If he was faking desire, well, he was a damned good actor.
“What next, my Tobias? Please tell me it involves touch. I so very much want to touch you.”
Tobias responded by joining him on the bed.
A lot of touching happened after that—with fingers but also with lips and tongues. Tobias took care to avoid Alfie’s sore spots, but that still left plenty of elf to explore, and of course Alfie had veritable acres of troll to play with.Playbeing the operative word, because while their connection was intense enough to make them gasp and moan, to make Tobias’s blood roar through his body, it was also joyous and fun. They laughed together as each discovered delightful things about the other. Sex for Tobias was not only rare; it had also been destination-oriented. This time was all about the journey.
And what a journey it was!
By the time he and Alfie collapsed onto the mattress together, sweaty and sated, their time was nearly up. But neither was in a hurry to get up and dressed. Tobias liked the natural feel of Alfie snuggled against him, as if they’d been created to be together, as if they’d been doing this for years.
“Imagine,” Alfie said after a gentle kiss to Tobias’s shoulder. “If we are this good on our first try, imagine what we could manage with a bit of practice.”
“We could win medals.”
“I had thought I’d want to adventure with you, given the opportunity. And I would. But if we were granted more time, I’d want to spend much of it in bed with you. Making love, yes, but also talking. Simplybeing—together.”
They sighed in unison, knowing it was nothing but a fantasy.
Chapter
Fifteen
Aunt Virginia exclaimed happily over the decorations before leading Alfie and Tobias into the kitchen. “Much of our feast is precooked, I’m afraid. I’ve neither the time nor the endurance to make everything from scratch.”
Tobias sniffed the air appreciatively. “It smells delicious.”
“And I had such fun shopping for it all! It’s foolish, really. I’ve spent so many years fearing that others would appraise me poorly now that I am no longer young and beautiful. But the world doesn’t revolve around me, does it? Most people simply want to get on with their own day, their own business. And why should I care what strangers think anyway?”
“We know you’re beautiful,” Tobias said.
“Yes. Just as I know the same of you. And that is what is important.” She rubbed her hands together. “Ifyou boys would set the table, I’ll go get dressed for dinner.”
Tobias looked down at his sweater and jeans. “We’re not, uh?—”
