by M A Gray
“Please.”
It’s all he says, but I understand. He wants me to move forward. He wants me to slip my finger inside him, begin to prep him for my leaking cock.
Quickly, I grab the lube and a condom from my bedroom and return. I massage the lube around his hole, and Mav gasps.
“Cold,” he says in a strangled voice.
Leaning over him, I press a sweet kiss to his mouth. Then again, because I want to, and because I can.
When I feel the skin around his hole has relaxed, I insert the first finger. Slow. I go to the first knuckle, then stop and work him open. Mav makes a choked sound of need. I keep going until he loosens considerably before pushing my finger further inside the damp, clasping heat of his body. When he eventually accepts my dick, I’m not going to last. It’s been too long, and he’s so tight.
“How are you feeling, baby?”
His head is thrown back, his eyes closed, a beautiful flush darkening his cheeks. “It’s so tight, August.”
“I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“No. It feels like… like I’m full, is all.”
With my second finger inside, I start scissoring him. His muscles clamp around me, try to suck me deeper into his body. An intense shudder rips through him. He spreads his left leg wider, digs the heel of his other leg into my upper back from where it drapes over my shoulder. He starts humping toward my finger, clamping his hands onto my bunched thighs, moaning.
Clear fluid dribbles from his tip and paints his stomach. I lap up the juices and suckle the leftover precum into my mouth, loving how his fingers tangle in my hair and his nails scrape across my scalp. “Such a pretty cock,” I murmur. I suck his length to the back of my throat, and more precum pours onto my tongue. I let it pool there until it fills my mouth, then I pull off him.
“Come here,” I say.
Breathing fitfully, Mav uses my shoulders to pull himself forward. I ply open his mouth and release his essence so he can taste himself. He groans in surprise but drinks it all down. When I pull away, his eyes are glazed, his mouth wet and obscene.
“Good?” I growl out.
He swipes his tongue across his bottom lip, then nods.
“Tell me what you want.”
He says, “More.”
Chapter 19
Maverick
More.
I want more.
I want it all.
With him.
Forever.
I go still as August takes me in. He looks at me with so much tenderness. Has it always been there, that look? What about how sweetly he touches me, how gently he pushes me toward something I’m too afraid to want with my whole heart? My heart knocks unevenly against my sternum. That word. Forever.
Is it true? Do I want this for the rest of my life? That’s a long time. I’m not the same person I was six months ago, or even a year before, two years. Who will I be tomorrow? Will I be changed? Who will I be in a year or five, or ten? When that time comes, will I still want August. Will I still want this?
Of course I will. Yes. Yes to everything.
Why?
Because I love him.
The truth is scary. And aside from the pure glow of happiness swelling inside me, there’s dread, too. I’m thinking of Kaylie. I loved that girl so much and she was taken away from me too soon. What if the same thing happens with August? What if one day he goes out for a drive and doesn’t come back?
The possibility makes me sick. Now that I have him, I can’t lose him. I’ll do anything to keep him. Fuck.
As if noticing my change in mood, August rubs my shoulders in comfort. “What’s wrong, baby?”
That word. I close my eyes against it. No, I can’t lose this.
“Nothing,” I whisper. “I was just thinking.”
“You do that too much.”
He’s right. I smile. “Yeah.”
“Don’t think.” He whispers the words against my mouth, and I open for him. We sink against each other, and it’s so good I can’t take it. The way he cups my face like I’m precious, important. How he strokes his fingers through my hair and leaves a trail of sweet kisses down my jaw, to my neck, up to my ear. The steam of his breath against its shell when he takes the lobe between his teeth, nipping delicately. My ears flame. I try rubbing them against the side of his face. I need the friction. August laughs, returning to my mouth.
I feel like my body is pumped full of drugs. I’m floating. I’m both heavy in the heart and chest, yet light everywhere else. The way August touches me…
I’m so focused on the slide of his lips across mine that I don’t realize his hands have started shifting downward. He wraps one big hand around me. I jerk in surprise and groan, loud and long, a sound full of need.
“August.” His name is choked.
His eyes are slits as he watches his hand give me a slow pull, base to tip. At the head, he squeezes, though gently. Precum gushes out the tip and slicks his fingers. A rough sound is pulled from his chest. Red spots appear on his pale cheeks.
“So fucking beautiful. Look at this cock.” He lifts his sticky hand and stares at it in wonder. Then he licks the fluid off his palm like he’s licking an ice cream cone. My dick throbs from a sudden rush of blood.
I whisper, “How does it taste?”
His pupils enlarge. The green is the most slender of rings around the pit of black.
He goes for my cock again, squeezing more liquid from the tip and sucking it into his mouth. He transfers it to mine, letting it drip onto my tongue. An entire body shudder rocks me to the core. My precum slides down the back of my throat. I grip August to me with an iron grip, mauling his face. I’m so turned on I ache.
He returns to jacking me in excruciatingly slow strokes. I fuck his fist, trying to urge him faster, but he maintains the slow tempo. I growl like an animal, and August smirks. “Patience.”
He wants to play this game? Fine.
I start jacking him as well. He’s velvet steel in my hand, both soft and hard, and growing harder. August shifts his hand toward my hole, massaging the ring of muscle. Finally. Now we’re getting somewhere.
His eyes bore into mine. He sucks on his finger and returns it to my hole, smoothing the saliva around before dipping inside. My body sucks him in greedily. It’s a freaking desert and he’s water, life. When he’s seated all the way in, he begins working the finger in and out of me in torturous drags. He stuffs it deeper, and when he pulls out, I follow, wanting to keep him inside me as long as possible.
On the next pass, he stuffs a second finger inside me. I’m so full. I can’t imagine what his cock will feel like.
That’s when his finger brushes something inside me that makes my entire body light up.
“Holy shit!” I almost come, right then and there. My body throbs with impending release, and I lower myself back onto the cushions, panting, sweaty and shaky and wanting more, more, more. “What was that?” I manage, my tongue thick and heavy in my mouth.
August’s shoulders shake in silent laughter. “Want me to do it again?”
Garbled words are my only answer.
The second touch is even hotter than the first. I feel my body tightening, tightening… My cock swells, and my heels dig into the cushions. “Fuck. August.”
He pulls his finger from my hole and slams his mouth down onto mine. “Say hello to your prostate. I’m going to nail it when I’m inside you. You’ll come so hard you’ll black out. You ready, Mav?” He bites at my mouth like a crazy man. I can only wrap my limbs around him and hang on for the ride.
“Yes.”
I start turning over onto my knees when he stops me. “I want to see you.” His eyes shine like beacons. I’m afraid of what that light means. Yet it pulls me closer. I can almost reach out and touch it. I can almost understand.
Tentatively, I nod
and lean back while August grabs the condom. He kneels between my legs and uncaps the lube, dribbling some on his hand and working it over his turgid length. The head is a deep purple, the shaft veiny. It bobs with the stroke of his hand, and his eyelashes rest against his cheekbones from the pleasure of touching himself. I hold myself back from taking him in hand. But God, do I want to.
Then he takes his lubed fingers and splits me open a second time. I clench from the brush of cool air against my hole. August’s lips part. With reverence, he strokes a finger down my crease, and my hips rise off the couch, seeking penetration. My balls tingle. They feel so full, filled to bursting. And he isn’t even inside me yet.
Once he’s worked me open, he positions himself at my hole. We maintain eye contact for what feels like an eternity. “Ready?” he rasps.
I twine our fingers together and brush a kiss across his wrist, then nod.
At the first push, pain spears through me. He’s far thicker than his fingers, and my face clenches in pain. August stops.
“Um.” I lick the sweat from my upper lip. “How much farther?”
He looks down to where we’re joined. “Hate to tell you, but the tip isn’t even in.” He laughs at my expression. A second later, he drapes his beautiful, hard body over me. We lock together easily, like puzzle pieces. He braces his elbows on either side of my head, staring down at me. Because I’m helpless to resist, I touch the freckles scattered over his nose and cheeks.
“I love these,” I say.
The corner of his mouth quirks. “I hated them as a kid. Being a red head, I always got made fun of.”
“They’re precious.”
“Precious?” He makes a gagging sound. “Just what I want to hear.” But from his tone, I know he’s messing with me.
Tugging on his hair, I bring his head down so our noses brush. Our mouths are centimeters apart. “I love your freckles and I love your red hair.” And you, I think. I love you.
Then I think of another name.
Kaylie.
My stomach lurches. No, now isn’t the time for those thoughts. Nothing is going to ruin this moment.
“I’m ready,” I say. “Try again.”
There’s a greater pressure as August slowly inches himself inside me. Once the head is through, the pain eases a fraction. Deeper and deeper, he sinks into my body. Then he bottoms out. I gasp and try not to shake from how full I feel. My balls rest against his, our pubic hair mingling, dark brown and red.
He whispers tenderly, “Wrap your legs around my waist.”
I do as he says, locking my ankles behind his strong thighs. He braces his hands, and I watch his powerful muscles shift as he slowly pulls out and sinks back in.
I toss back my head and let the groan come. It’s impossible, but I somehow feel even fuller.
“I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“No,” I whisper hoarsely, digging my fingers into August’s firm waist. “You’re good.”
“Mm.” He strokes, in and out, going deeper each time. “Love how your body clasps me like this. It feels divine.”
“Divine.” I gulp. “That’s… high praise.”
“Only the best for the best.”
He turns up the speed a notch, now that my internal muscles have loosened. Electricity crackles through my veins. Sweat slickens my palms, and I can’t get a good grip on August. I touch his sweaty chest, loving how his pectoral muscles bulge. My hands return to his waist, as that’s the most comfortable spot.
He nuzzles my cheek, breathing hard. His breath puffs out with each thrust, sucks in with his withdrawal. Then he changes the angle.
A scream shatters the air.
It’s me, I realize. That sound is coming from me.
He nails that small organ inside my body, over and over, sending shattering waves of pleasure crashing over me. My nails scrabble at his back. A sob tumbles from my lips. Oh, God. Fuck. “Yes. Keep going. August. Right… there.” Another gasp as he plows into me with so much force my head hits the arm of the sofa. He grunts, fills his hands with my ass, and lifts it a few inches, changing the angle again. The pleasure overtakes me. It creeps in and blackens my vision. It pulses in my fingertips and toes.
“Fuck, Mav. You’re… I’m…” He jerks and stuffs himself so deep I swear I feel his cock hit my spine. One last swipe against my prostate, and I blow.
My spine arches, my nails bite into his skin. And strings of white liquid spurt in a rush and splash against August’s chest. Seconds later, he goes still and battles the pleasure of his own orgasm. With an animal roar, he fucks me raw and dirty, the sound of the springs loud in the space. I’m still coming, white ropes painting his abdomen. His cock swells and throbs deep inside me, spilling his seed into the condom. Then I let the pleasure sweep me up and carry me downstream.
Chapter 20
August
Later that night, I wake up in Maverick’s bed. Curtains cover the window, leaving the room dark. The only sound is Mav’s deep breathing.
We’re curled up together, body to body. His head tucked under my chin, his arm thrown across my chest. I lie on my back and stare at the darkness of the ceiling. In this moment, everything feels right. This, I think, is real.
I have Maverick Dumont, the kindest, gentlest, most beautiful man, in my arms.
Now the only question is how I’m going to keep him there.
Chapter 21
Maverick
Since Sebastian isn’t flying out until Saturday, that gives the Dumonts a chance to spend Friday night dinner together. All of us in one room, plus everyone’s significant other. The only person without a person is me. I very nearly invited August, but fear held me back. My uncertainty held me back. The guilt I’ve felt since making love with him held me back.
I’m so messed up inside.
Deep down, I know that what August and I have is worth the risk. I know I should move on and shrug off my baggage. But saying things are easy. Doing things are harder.
We all sit around the dining room table: me, my parents, Sebastian and Aidan, Noah and Max, and Kellan and Harp. Noah was able to work remotely for the week so he could be here for Sebastian’s engagement. I guess Aidan asked our mother for her blessing. Seeing her now, glowing, surrounded by all her sons… it’s probably the happiest she’s been in months.
Tonight’s dinner is meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. It’s not our typical meal, but it’s Sebastian’s favorite and since he’s now engaged, Mom wanted to do something special for him. As if he’ll let us forget it.
Sebastian waves to the center of the table. “Can you pass the salt, Noah?”
There’s a pause. I know it’s coming. I know it.
“And did you hear? I’m engaged.” He flashes his simple gold band on his left ring finger, giggling like a child.
“Of course,” Noah says dryly. “How could I forget?”
The number of times Seb has reminded everyone of his engagement is too many to count.
The meatloaf is delicious, Mom. And so is my engagement!
Kellan, you know what you need in your life? An engagement.
Dad, did you see the pictures of my engagement?
You know what I love more than family time? My engagement.
To his credit, Aidan has only rolled his eyes once so far. It was done lovingly though. Anyone with eyes in their head can see how devoted Aidan is to Seb, and how much Seb loves his fiancé. They’re always touching one another. A hand to the arm. Brushing hair from their eyes. I swallow and glance at my plate, wishing August was here. I should have asked him to come. He would have said yes. He’d have given me the courage to tell everyone I’m in a relationship with a man, even though everyone probably knows by now, since Kellan can’t keep a secret if his life depended on it.
If August was here, would he whisper into my ear? Would he
tease me about my brother? Would they talk sports? Would he take my hand in easy affection? Kaylie used to have dinner with us, on occasion. My parents loved her. I know they’d love August too.
Talk turns to the upcoming wedding. Aidan stutters through answering questions my mother tosses at him, fast as bullets. What kind of flowers? What color scheme? Will it be held in a church? How many people will be invited? Oh, will it be destination? Tahiti is lovely at this time of year.
Sebastian sighs and kisses Aidan’s cheek soothingly. “Mom. Stop interrogating the poor guy. I mean, obviously we’re gonna have a huge-ass ceremony in Tahiti with three hundred people.”
Aidan squeaks. “What?”
Sebastian grins teasingly. “Just kidding. There’s no way you’d survive all those people.”
My smile strains the longer talk goes on about the wedding. The air feels like it’s closing in.
Pushing back my chair, I say, “May I be excused?” Without waiting for an answer, I fold my napkin atop my plate and head to the back patio. Fresh air is just what I need.
Choosing one of the cushioned seats, I rest my face in my hands and let my body sink down. I’m happy for my brother, I am. But… will I get to have those things again too? Is that something August wants?
“Maverick?”
Mom closes the door behind her, concern plain on her face. Growing up, she was the one we all turned to for comfort, as Dad was always working. In recent years, she’s become even more involved with our lives. I think it’s hitting her that her sons aren’t babies anymore. They’ve grown up. They lead separate lives. Lives she wants to be a part of.
“Honey, what’s wrong?”
It’s a question from childhood to adulthood, and it never fails to make something clench in my chest. A reminder: I’m lucky to have family who loves me.
“I’m confused, is all.”
She waits, knowing I’ll tell her eventually.
Big sigh. Might as well come out with it. “I’ve been seeing someone the past few weeks.”