A Sweet Man

by Jaime Reese

  Each breath came quick, mesmerized by Ben taking the initiative and positioning himself over Bull’s ready body. He gripped Ben’s hips the moment he felt the contact, urging him to go slow. A hissed breath filled the room—his or Ben’s, likely both in concert. He guided Ben’s movement, easing him down until Ben’s pinched features relaxed.

  “Breathe,” he said.

  Ben gripped his wrists and shoved his hands up against the headboard.

  Bull’s dick twitched. Their gazes locked. Challenging. He dared Ben to take control while Ben dared him to relinquish it. Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to Ben’s lips. He lingered close, nuzzling him, but pulled away enough to let Ben read his lips. “I told you I was yours.”

  The flash of heat in Ben’s eyes was instant. Bull moaned when the grip tightened on his wrists and his hands were guided toward the top edge of the headboard. Without objection, he followed the silent command and gripped the edge of the wood.

  Long fingers pressed against the side of his throat. He sighed, knowing it was Ben’s way of feeling every single breath and vibrated moan he triggered. Ben leaned forward and sealed their mouths in a kiss as he pushed his body onto Bull’s, impaling himself inch by inch until he was fully seated. Bull tore away from the kiss with a curse, breathing heavy. He barely had a chance to recover before Ben thrust himself onto him harder, over and over, slow, then fast, shallow, then deep.

  With a white-knuckle hold on the headboard, Bull arched into Ben, begging for more. He growled and groaned as he writhed, gripping the damn board in his hands until his fingers went numb.

  Ben released his neck and planted both hands on his chest for balance. A desperate whimper escaped Ben as he shifted above him, arching his body back and then forward as if searching for just the right position until he flattened his hand on Bull’s cheek, the desperate plea clear in his expression.

  “My turn?”

  A half-nod was all it took for Bull to take back control. He grabbed Ben’s hips and thrust up into him at full speed, driven by a need to possess that shocked him. Ben threw his head back, a mix of groans, grunts, and gasps spurring Bull on to quicken his pace. He slid his arm around Ben’s waist and flipped them on the bed.

  He hovered over Ben as he exhaled a shaky breath, waiting for a tell that the switch in position wasn’t welcome. Ben yanked him down for a searing kiss that left him breathless one second, and then mindlessly thrusting with unrelenting force the next.

  Strong hands fisted his hair. His heart jackhammered a savage beat as he hooked his arm under Ben’s leg and shifted their bodies, driving himself deeper into Ben’s welcoming heat, wanting it to singe his soul.

  “I love you,” he whispered into the crook of Ben’s neck, needing to say the words even though Ben couldn’t hear them. With the words whispered, he felt freer in that moment as his hips plunged into Ben, chanting the words in his head as he drove their connection deeper with each pounding thrust.

  Ben threw his head back, the uninhibited sound of his yelled release bounced off the walls of their bedroom. With a final deep thrust, Bull tightened his arms around Ben and grunted and gasped his release, spilling himself deep inside the man who had stolen his heart.

  They held each other, neither one letting an inch sneak in between them.

  A stroke to the back of his neck drew his attention. He stared into those green eyes and swore he saw something hidden within their depths. Ben stroked the sweat-slicked hair away from Bull’s face and then pressed a gentle kiss to each of Bull’s features. After one last, gentle kiss to his lips, Ben tightened his arms around Bull’s neck and rested his head on his shoulder.

  Bull turned his head and brushed his lips against the dark strands, breathing him in, reveling in the tenderness of the perfect moment. He closed his eyes, knowing the words he had whispered were true and forever etched into his heart and branded into his soul.

  Ben adjusted the heat under the skillet as he poured the pancake batter. Reaching into the cabinet above, he pulled out two dishes and a pair of glasses, setting them aside. Preparing breakfast was the least he could do for Gabriel, considering he had worn the man out last night and hadn’t given him a chance to recover.

  The pain in his ass was proof of that. So was the fact that he was up before Gabriel.

  He grabbed the juice from the fridge and shoved the door closed. He poured one glass and started on the other, stopping midway when he felt the weight of a gaze on him. He didn’t need the visual confirmation. He felt Gabriel’s presence in the room, sensed each time that heavy gaze landed on him. Refusing to look up, he finished pouring and closed the carton before stuffing it back into the fridge.

  A thick arm snaked around his waist from behind, pulling him back against a wall of muscles. He closed his eyes and leaned back, reveling in the warmth and safety of the man holding him. He turned in the embrace, throwing his arms around Gabriel’s neck and resting his head on his shoulder. This was what he wanted. More of this.

  All of this.

  Gabriel held his chin between his thumb and index finger, pulling his face up.

  Ben couldn’t look him in the eye, not when everything was so fresh in his mind. His gaze slipped to Gabriel’s mouth. Damn those lips were beautiful. Full yet masculine. He wanted to do wicked things to that mouth. He wanted to memorize those lips tracing every inch of his body.

  “Why are you getting shy on me now?” Gabriel asked.

  Ben shrugged and looked away. Gabriel grabbed his chin with more force and turned his face again, those brown eyes staring back at him were hard and unyielding. Ben pulled himself out of the hold and returned his attention to the stove, turning off the burners and stacking the pancakes onto both plates. He couldn’t do this right now. His mind was flipping through snapshots too quickly to keep his body under control. With a scowl, he gestured toward the barstool, urging Gabriel to take a seat.

  They ate their pancakes, the weight of that stare like a heavy chain bearing down on him. Avoiding eye contact, Ben kept his rapt attention on the stack of pancakes, occasionally taking a bite or two. A large hand touched his forearm, squeezed, then pulled away, drawing his attention.

  “Do you regret last night?” Gabriel slowly signed.

  What? Ben vehemently shook his head. “Never,” he signed, his hands moving rapidly.

  “Then why can’t you look at me?”

  Ben looked away, his cheeks burning. Another snapshot from last night flickered in his mind sending his pulse into high gear. He blew out a slow breath, battling between wanting to recall the memory pieces and pushing them aside.

  Gabriel shot up from his seat, nearly toppling the barstool back onto the floor. He stalked over to his worktable and snatched his tablet. Returning to the kitchen, he swiped and tapped at the screen and then tossed the tablet on the countertop so hard it bounced when it hit the surface. He gripped Ben’s chin and pulled his face up, forcing eye contact. Patience was one of Gabriel’s virtues, but right now, those rich brown eyes staring back at him didn’t possess a lick of it.

  “If you can’t look at me to sign, then type it out. But I’m fucking losing it not knowing what’s going on right now.”

  Ben shook his head. He was screwing this up. He pressed a kiss to Gabriel’s lips, hoping to ease the growing tension. Honesty. It’s all he’s ever asked for. Just be honest. He fidgeted for a moment, ignoring the heat of his flaming cheeks. He took Gabriel’s tablet and started typing.

  Gabriel stood behind him, reading over his shoulder as each word appeared on the screen.

  Last night was the best night. Ever. No regrets at all. Everything was perfect. Better than I ever thought it could be.

  Those beefy arms reached around him from behind and typed out a question. Then why can’t you look at me? Gabriel’s hands retreated from the tablet and wrapped around his waist, holding him, waiting for his reply.

  He leaned back, sighing at the warmth surrounding him. Mustering up a little courage, he resumed typing. B
ecause all I see is the way you looked last night.

  Gabriel nuzzled his neck before reaching around him to type. Was I so ugly you can’t stand the sight of me in the morning?

  Ben couldn’t control the rising chuckle that erupted. There was definitely truth to the whole O-face thing and Gabriel’s was worthy of a billion memory pieces. He ducked his head as a hand slid under the hem of his T-shirt and a thumb brushed back and forth against his stomach. He swayed as a slow kiss pressed to his shoulder.

  A squeeze to his ass drew his attention.

  Gabriel nudged the tablet, reminding him to reply.

  With a sigh, he typed out two words. I’m horny.

  He moaned as an unmistakable hardness pressed against his ass. Gabriel was not helping him right now. At. All. Ben typed another two lines on the tablet. That’s the problem. I don’t want to stop.

  How’s that a problem? Gabriel typed out. The puffs of Gabriel’s chuckle at the side of his neck shot another bolt of need through his body.

  He turned in the embrace and pressed his forehead to Gabriel’s chest, a muffled growl escaping him. Last night he had experienced a hint of the fire that burned between them. He wanted it. All of it. Every single second he could steal, memorize, and cherish.

  Gabriel pulled his chin up, the worry staring back at him cut through his heart.

  “My ass hurts,” Ben finally signed with a frown. “And it pisses me off.”

  “Want me to kiss it and make it better?”

  Ben’s nostrils flared, his entire body heating at the visual Gabriel’s words painted. He gripped the waistband of Gabriel’s sleep pants and twisted it in his fist.

  “I should have gone slower last night…maybe we should have stopped after one time,” Gabriel signed. “I should have been more careful.”

  What? No! Ben shook his head. “Everything was perfect,” he signed. “I want to but can’t. And I don’t know what to do. And it makes me mad.” His lips puffed with his deep exhale. “I hate this.”

  “There’s a lot we can do.”

  He immediately perked up.

  “A lot of couples don’t have sex in their relationships—”

  He jerked back. Did he really just say that? “We’re definitely having sex. A lot of it.” He pursed his lips and crossed his arms. Something had awakened inside him. Gabriel claimed he had a warrior fighter that lay dormant. But after last night, Ben was pretty sure it was a horny sex monster with one heck of a healthy appetite.

  “You’re bossy.” Gabriel held back a smile as he stroked the hair away from Ben’s eyes.

  He relaxed his stance, that tender caress always weakened him. “You didn’t complain last night,” Ben signed.

  Gabriel ducked his head, trying to hide a smile. Ben remembered every tiny detail, had memorized the way Gabriel’s chest heaved and how his dick had twitched when Ben had gripped his wrists. It was all so new and exciting. He wanted to try everything Gabriel would allow to happen between them. Those rich brown eyes met his again. “The discomfort. It gets easier.”

  With practice? Ben nodded. It better.

  “What I was trying to say before,” Gabriel said, stroking his thumb on Ben’s cheek.

  He sighed and leaned into the touch.

  “…Is that there are other things we can do.”

  His eyebrows hiked up, waiting, begging for an answer to calm this ball of energy ricocheting in his body.

  Gabriel leaned in and kissed a trail up Ben’s neck, licking and nibbling between pecks. Ben swayed, drugged by the warmth and wetness of those lips against his skin. He exhaled a slow, steadying breath when Gabriel took a step back. “We can use our mouths. We can use our hands. Either or both. Or we can switch things up.”

  What? Ben groaned when their mouths pressed together in a kiss and a hand cupped his growing hard-on. His mind was foggy, savoring the tongue sliding against his and the large hand rubbing him through the soft material of his sleep pants.

  Gabriel pulled away, capturing his bottom lip between his teeth before releasing him from the kiss. “What do you want to do?” he signed, refusing to break eye contact.

  “All of that,” Ben signed.

  With a grin, Gabriel bent and wrapped an arm around Ben’s knees, raising him over his shoulder and hauling him out of the kitchen. The laughter rose through Ben’s body as he slapped Gabriel’s ass on their way to the bedroom. Gabriel braced the back of Ben’s legs and cupped the back of his head as he very slowly set him on the bed.

  The laughter faded, replaced by a searing pain slicing through Ben’s chest. He pushed Gabriel away. Hard. “Don’t do that,” he signed, shaking his head and fighting the sting in his eyes.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were hurting that—”

  Ben shook his head as he swatted away Gabriel’s hand. “You’re being careful with me.” He pinned Gabriel with a glare and signed each word with equally hard hand movements. “Don’t. Do. That.” He fought to control the stir of everything swirling inside him. “Please.”

  His ever-patient Gabriel sat on the bed, the mattress dipping as he slowly settled in place. He clasped his hands between his legs and waited.

  Honesty was hard sometimes. Especially when it was tough to peg what was wrong. But deep down, Ben knew exactly what had triggered his reaction. “Everyone is always careful with me and I hate that.” He glanced up, begging for Gabriel to understand. “Don’t be like them. Please. Treat me the way you treat everyone else.”

  “No.” That dimple made an appearance. “Because to me…you’re not like everyone else. You’re my Ben.”

  Ben swallowed past the rock lodged in his throat. He scanned Gabriel’s features as each huff of breath came faster than the one before.

  “You were right. I didn’t fight you when you were bossy last night. You know why?”

  Ben slowly shook his head.

  “Because you wanted something and didn’t back down. And that confidence is sexy as hell.” Gabriel stopped signing and leaned in, pressing their mouths together in a gentle, closed-mouth kiss. “I won’t ever complain or argue about that. Especially if what you’re wanting is me.” Gabriel’s expression darkened, the intensity in his gaze sending a ripple of heat up Ben’s spine. “Use your mouth, your hands, either or both. I don’t care as long as it’s on me. And only me.”

  Ben’s heart was going to smash through his chest if it pounded any harder. The desire to experience everything new with Gabriel had shot to the top of his Must-Do list. But it wasn’t just the thick muscles and warm skin. Something else had happened last night, something other than just their bodies coming together.

  And he craved that more than anything.

  He flattened his hand against Gabriel’s cheek and pulled him into a kiss. He traced every curve of muscle down Gabriel’s torso until he reached the waistband of his sleep pants. Dipping his hand under the elastic, he gripped Gabriel’s growing hardness, stroking up and down, smiling into the kiss with every twitch of hard flesh in his hand.

  Ben tore away from the kiss, his heart pounding against his chest like a caged animal trying to break free. “I want to know what it feels like…” He stopped signing and took a steadying breath, fisting his shaking hands. He exhaled slowly, then stared back at Gabriel. “I want to know what it feels like to be inside you.”

  Gabriel reached over to the nightstand, fumbling for the lube. In a frenzy, Ben hurriedly yanked off Gabriel’s pants and underwear and then worked to rid himself of his own clothes. He knee-walked onto the bed and grabbed the lube. He slowly worked to prepare Gabriel, just as Gabriel had done to him the night before. He carefully pushed and stretched, one finger, then another, watching…memorizing…

  Every flex of muscle.

  The way Gabriel’s eyes screwed shut and his throat worked, battling for control.

  How those fingers dug into the mattress.

  He was the one doing this to Gabriel. He was the one driving him to the edge. Ben squeezed more lube on his hands
and slicked himself up. Biting the corner of his lip, he thought of what to do next and froze.

  It was funny how quickly confidence faded.

  He grabbed the towel and wiped his hands. A touch to his arm stilled him. He glanced up at Gabriel.

  “What happened?” Gabriel signed.

  He shrugged, fidgeting with the towel in his hands as his pulse galloped.

  Gabriel hooked his finger in a come here motion. Ben leaned forward, resting his body against Gabriel, sighing the moment their bodies pressed together. Gabriel tucked his finger under Ben’s chin, drawing his face up.

  “Do you want to do this?” Gabriel asked.

  Hell. Fricken. Yes.

  “Now would be the time to say no if you want to stop.”

  Ben huffed out a silent chuckle and set the towel aside. “I’m worried I’m going to mess up. But I want to do this,” he signed.

  The corner of those full lips twitched upward. “There’s my fighting warrior.” Gabriel cupped his face. “Everything you do will feel good. Do you know why?”

  Ben absently shook his head, almost as if in a trance, staring at those full lips, waiting for the next few words to move them.

  Gabriel took Ben’s hand and flattened it against his chest, the strong fast pounding of Gabriel’s heartbeat thumped against Ben’s palm. “Because this is what you do to me. And it makes everything feel good.” Gabriel pressed their mouths together, teasing, licking, and gently nipping at Ben’s lip.

  A moan crept up Ben’s throat, the need overpowering the worry thrumming through his body. Shifting on the bed, he positioned himself over Gabriel and aligned their bodies. Refusing to let the worry ruin the moment, he blew out a shaky breath and inched forward, gasping a breath when he entered Gabriel and the tight heat surrounded him. He screwed his eyes shut, willing his body to calm. There wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to lose it before he had this experience.