Page 64 of Need Him
Chapter 24
Gareth
Gareth had a few days to glimpse what the future could look like while Ben was living with him, but when he received the go-ahead to move into his apartment, Gareth struggled to keep his feelings hidden. He didn’t want to push Ben into staying with him when he’d recently received the gift of freedom, but as his boyfriend and Daddy, Gareth didn’t want to let him go. But he kept quiet and showed the right amount of excitement when Ben picked up the keys.
Ben had arranged for someone to cover him at work that Saturday, and they got settled into the fully furnished apartment, which was handy, as Ben only had the suitcase he’d left his previous home with. They invited Victor and Preston over for the evening. His boy had told him what had happened when he’d left Ben and Victor to cause trouble the other night, and he’d be glad he’d messaged Preston to keep them company. He had no doubt Ben could’ve coped, but with Preston as support, it had been easier on him.
When Gareth had returned home the following morning, Ben had been wide awake and eager to speak to him about an idea he’d had. An idea of using Gareth’s blog to unite boys and Daddies, like a matchmaking service. After asking how it would work, Ben brought out the notepad he’d been writing on and listed everything they might need and how they could get it to work. Ben was a planner if nothing else.
Gareth still wasn’t sure if it would work, but he’d agreed to write a blog post about it and was currently waiting for it to go live. Soon, all the readers of Boys, Daddies, Snuggles and More would give their opinions on the matchmaking idea.
Ben was like an excitable puppy, which was why Gareth had invited their friends around. Anything to keep his boy from bouncing around the apartment any more than he already was.
“I’m glad we checked what we needed before I moved in. I wouldn’t have been able to make any food without the pots and pans,” Ben said as Gareth washed the new items and he dried and decided where to put them in the cupboards. “And I wouldn’t have been able to have guests. No mugs are an issue for those tea drinkers among us.” He chuckled, and Gareth’s chest fluttered at the happiness coming from him. “I was also thinking about getting some toys. Then Victor could be little around here if he wanted to. What do you think?”
Gareth stared at him, the pots forgotten in the sink. How could anyone have thought this man was anything but the kind, gentle person he was?
“What?” Ben froze and wiped at his face. “Do I have something on my face?”
Gareth shook his hands, getting the excess water off, but he didn’t dry his hands. He couldn’t. He stepped forward, cupped Ben’s cheeks and kissed him. Kissed him the way he’d haltingly told him he loved to be kissed. Deep, hard, passionate. When he couldn’t take the lack of oxygen any longer, he pulled back, chest heaving for air.
“I fucking love you.”
Ben stared at him, his eyes dilated and glassy, his hands gripping Gareth’s wrists. “What did I do?” he mumbled, the words coming out as if he was drunk.
“You care so much about other people. Making them feel at home. Helping them. Doing whatever you can to ease their stresses. You’re amazing.”
There was much more Gareth could say, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to explain it all in a way that would make Ben understand what a precious gift he was to the world.
Ben’s lip disappeared, and Gareth chased after it with his mouth, dragging it out from his teeth. “Do we have time before—”
The doorbell rang.
Gareth rested their foreheads together. “Nope. We don’t.” He pecked him on the lips and headed for the door.
“Not fair!” Ben called after him.
It was a good job he was still in the cock cage because Gareth knew his hands would be down his trousers quicker than he could say “supermarket sweep.”
“Hey. Come on in.” He opened the door wider for Victor and Preston to enter.
“What’s not fair?” Victor asked when Ben joined them.
Ben thumbed over his shoulder at Gareth. “Working me up and telling me we can’t finish.”
Victor laughed and dropped onto the sofa. “Isn’t that your usual state?”
Ben threw a cushion at him and plopped down next to him. “Yes, but usually, when he works me up likethat, I am allowed to come.” He pouted and glared at Gareth.
Gareth held up his hands. “Why are you mad at me? I wasn’t the one who arrived at the wrong time.” The pouting didn’t stop. He changed the subject. “What takeaway are we choosing? If we order it now, it should be here within the hour.”
“Indian!”
“Chinese!”
“Chips!”
Gareth sighed. “You lot are impossible. Ben can choose because it’s his house warming party.”
