Emerson walked to Sean and slipped his arms around Sean’s waist. “Yes. I think it’s great that you can stay with me. There are so many movies I want to show you.”
Sean laughed and buried his face into Emerson’s neck. “Let’s pop one in now.”
“I can think of another thing that would be entertaining.”
“Hmmm?” Sean kissed at Emerson’s skin. “What’s that? And keep in mind I can’t move my left hand.”
“You won’t have to move at all for what I have planned.”
Sean’s teeth were suddenly pressing into Emerson’s neck. He nibbled tentatively and it sent a shiver down Emerson’s spine. “I’m listening,” Sean said, his breath hot against Emerson’s skin.
Emerson’s grip around Sean’s waist tightened. “Come lay down in bed with me.”
“Yes.”
Emerson took a step backward and Sean shifted with him, never breaking from their embrace. Sean’s lips still kissed and sucked at the sensitive areas on Emerson’s neck. It felt so good, Emerson was already getting hard.
When they got to the bed, Sean untangled their limbs. Gently, he sat on the bed and used his good hand to move farther up. He laid down, his wounded palm raised up over his head. His posture was so inviting, willing to do anything Emerson asked.
First, they needed to get rid of their clothing. Emerson went to the side of the bed and peered down at Sean. “I’m going to undress you.”
Sean started to shift, to get to the buttons of his shirt, but Emerson stopped him.
“I want to do it. I told you, you won’t need to move. Just relax and let me do all the work.”
Sean’s eyes narrowed. “You want me stay still and pretend I’m asleep?”
With a snort, Emerson said, “No. Unless that’s what you want. I’d much rather hear those delicious sounds you make. I want you to squirm and call out my name.”
“Emerson,” Sean said in a breathy voice as he beckoned Emerson forward. The sultry look on Sean’s face made the hairs on Emerson’s arm stand on end. The memory of Sean the manipulator flashed through Emerson’s mind. He had been trying to seduce Sean, but Sean was working to push all of Emerson’s buttons first.
Emerson sat on the bed beside Sean—who stretched out like a model on a beach, though careful to keep his injured hand out of the way. Sean wore a pinstriped shirt of gray and purple, tight over his lean frame. Emerson moved his fingers to the tiny buttons. He slipped each one through its buttonhole deliberately. After the top, and final, button, Emerson slid his hand up to gently cup Sean’s face. He bent over and kissed Sean tenderly. He pulled away, then got back to work on the clothing.
Under Sean’s dress shirt was a plain, black undershirt. Emerson couldn’t get over how well Sean wore clothes. The outfit would look ridiculous on almost anyone else, but Sean had the charisma and charm to pull it off. Emerson tugged at the sleeve of Sean’s right hand and slipped the garment off his shoulders. Then he carefully did the same to the left, taking his time to make sure the fabric didn’t touch either burn. The black shirt followed after, leaving Sean’s chest bare.
For a moment, Emerson just stared in admiration. Sean took care of his body but more than that, he was perfectly proportioned. His neck was elegantly long, and his chin softly curved. High cheekbones that emphasized the shape of his eyes. Manicured eyebrows and long, beautiful lashes. A spray of freckles was barely perceptible along the bridge of his nose. Gorgeous didn’t begin to describe him.
And as he looked down in awe, the weird thing was that Sean was looking at Emerson in almost the exact same way. What was there about his plain features that could entice this man?
Emerson stood up to remove his own shirt. Sean’s eyes were glued to him as he stripped off his pants.
“Keep going,” Sean said, a hint of hunger in his tone.
Smiling, Emerson took off his boxers, too. He didn’t feel abashed being naked in front of Sean. Though Sean’s beauty could be intimidating, Sean’s behavior never put up that barrier. The singer didn’t exude a superior attitude. He acted just like a normal person. It was so odd, when Emerson half expected Sean to flaunt his celebrity status.
“Emerson.” Sean’s voice was soft as his eyes traveled up and down Emerson’s nude skin. “You’re so beautiful.”
Encouraged by Sean’s words, Emerson moved back onto the bed and set to work on Sean’s jeans. He unbuttoned them, then slid down the fly. Sean did wiggle his hips to aid Emerson in getting the clothing off. A new touch, Sean wore briefs instead of boxers. The tight material concealed his erection, though it was obvious Sean’s body was responding to the sights and sensations around him.
Emerson moved his hand to cup Sean through his underwear. Despite the layer of cotton, Sean’s heat came though. Emerson bent lower and let his mouth follow the same path as his hand. When Emerson opened his lips and mouthed Sean through the fabric, the heat increased and Sean’s musky scent filled his nose.
Sean let out a moan and Emerson’s whole body twitched. The sounds the man made drove desire deep into Emerson. He quickly stripped of the last garment, then moved onto the bed. He aligned their bodies, his cock nestled in the softness of Sean’s ass.
“What did you have in mind?” Sean asked, shifting his hips to bring them even closer. “You want to fuck me?”
“That might be the safest way.”
Sean laughed softly. “I’d like that, Em. I want to feel you inside me.”
Emerson moved his lips to kiss at the nape of Sean’s neck. “I’ll be gentle. I’ll take good care of you.”
Sean drew in a long breath and tilted his head forward so Emerson could reach more of the skin on his neck. “I know you will.”
Emerson rolled the opposite direction and opened the drawer in the nightstand. Inside were all the things he needed. He took a condom wrapper and a bottle of lube and returned to Sean.
“I’m going to get you ready,” Emerson said. He laid back down, keeping their bodies close, but far enough that Emerson could see what he was doing. He deposited a liberal amount of lube onto his hands and rubbed it to take away the chilly sting. When it was warm enough, he lowered his pointer finger to Sean’s entrance. Just the lightest of touches, and Sean bucked his hips backward wildly.
“Relax, Sean. There’s no need to rush.”
There was frustration laced into Sean’s words when he said, “I want to feel you.”
“You will, but I won’t do anything until your body is ready.”
Now Sean’s moan was half pleasure and half impatience. The man’s sex drive was very demanding. Apparently he didn’t want it slow and sweet—which was what Emerson had been aiming for.
Emerson resumed his exploration. His finger traced the hole a few times before slipping inside. The heat of it made him gasp. Sean mimicked the noise.
“Em,” he called out. “More.”
So impatient. Maybe he did display some of the tendencies of a celebrity. Emerson gave him what he wanted. He pulled out, then added his middle finger inside. There was a stretching of the skin, but not a ton. Sean was used to this. Emerson didn’t want to think of Sean’s ex-lovers right then. He wanted to focus on the amazing warmth of Sean’s body, and the soon-to-be tightness around his own cock.
He slipped out his fingers, then used three. More stretching, but Sean loved it. He began to mutter incoherent words, but obviously begging. Each utterance fueled Emerson’s desire. He loved the noises Sean made. It showed he was pleased and that made Emerson surprisingly happy.
“Please,” Sean got out.
Emerson obliged. He removed his fingers from Sean’s depths then grabbed the condom wrapper. He opened it, unrolled it over himself, and then added a layer of lube. Ready, he positioned himself at Sean’s entrance. The hard nudge pressing on him made Sean issue a low keening noise.
“How’s your hand?” Emerson asked, his tip still poised and ready.
“It’s fine. Now fuck me.”
Definitely not slow and s
weet. “Flip on your stomach.”
Sean quickly shifted so he lay flat. Emerson moved with him, situating himself between Sean’s legs. This view was amazing, of Sean’s trim waist, the muscles of his back, the delicate shape of his ass.
Emerson took himself in his hand and moved back to Sean’s asshole. He’d prepped sufficiently and with just a little push, he sank right in. Sean enveloped him, the skin so tight around Emerson that he had to pause and take a deep breath. It felt too good.
“Em.”
Sean’s sweet and needy voice on top of the pressure sent Emerson into a dizzy tailspin. He had to finish this quickly.
He took hold of Sean’s hips and lifted him slightly. Sean kept the position when Emerson moved his hands back to dig into the skin of Sean’s ass. He kneaded the muscles, enjoying the red lines his attentions left on the pale skin.
Below him, Sean writhed, his wordless cries rising in decibels. Emerson thrust his hips forward, the slap of their skin echoing around them. Despite the fast pace and the near-blinding passion, there was still a tenderness to it, a deeply satisfying emotional high.
When Emerson thought Sean’s voice couldn’t get any higher in pitch, Emerson shifted slightly so his hand could grab ahold of Sean’s cock. He used the momentum of his hip movements to carry his lube-slicked fingers along Sean’s sensitive skin. He was so hard. Harder than he’d been during their last encounter. Sean liked to be fucked. And this position, with his ass way up in the air, seemed to escalate his desires.
“Can I come, Em?” Sean asked, his voice breathless and muffled slightly by the pillow under him. “I’m ready to.”
“Yes,” Emerson answered. He was ready himself.
Emerson concentrated on keeping his thrusts and the motion of his hand consistent. When he felt Sean’s whole body tense, he let himself go, too. He shot his cum into the condom, and let the contractions of Sean’s asshole milk him dry. His hand gripped Sean’s cock and continued to pump till the singer relaxed his muscles. That was his cue to get Sean into a more comfortable position. He gently pulled free from Sean’s body and helped steady Sean as he flipped over onto his back.
With Sean safely resting, Emerson stood and headed to the bathroom. He removed the condom and tossed it into the toilet, then washed his hands. After grabbing a hand towel, he returned to Sean. The singer was sprawled out lazily, the crook of his arm covering his eyes.
“I’m going to clean up a bit,” Emerson said.
Sean made a grunt of acknowledgement.
He set to work wiping down the sheet as best he could. He’d wash them—or maybe he could convince Sean to wash them—tomorrow. When he was finished Sean still hadn’t moved. A sudden jolt of worry panged in Emerson.
“Sean? You okay? Did I hurt you?”
Sean moved his hand and revealed his startling green eyes. He smiled. “I fine. I’m only basking in the afterglow. Come lay down?”
Emerson put the soiled towel into the hamper, then settled in beside Sean. He rested his head on Sean’s shoulder and draped his arm over Sean’s chest. They both breathed heavily.
“You sure you’re okay?” Emerson asked.
Sean moved his hand—his uninjured one—down to the top of Emerson’s head. He gently laced his fingers through Emerson’s hair. “I’m good, Em. That felt amazing. You’re very in tune with my body. You reacted perfectly to what I wanted.”
Emerson felt a pleased grin curved his lips. “I told you that you were easy to read. But don’t be afraid to speak up if I’m doing something wrong.”
The gentle pet of Sean’s fingers stilled for a moment. “I’m sure you never do anything wrong. I’m seeing just how perfect you are.”
“Don’t say that. To see me, you have to see my flaws, too.”
“Flaws? They haven’t shown up yet. I’ll keep my eyes open, though.”
Emerson sighed. “We should probably get you in the shower to get you cleaned off.”
“I guess. What time is it?”
He raised his head and glanced at the clock on the microwave. “About nine-thirty.”
“Not sure I have a movie in me tonight, then.”
With a laugh, Emerson leaned over and kissed Sean’s lips. “I think you need to get to bed. It’s been a long day. We’ll watch a movie tomorrow.”
Chapter 16
Sean flipped the sausage patty with a spatula and pressed down on it. The pan sizzled and filled the apartment with the heavenly scent of meat and maple.
“Order up,” he called over his shoulder.
“Coming,” Emerson said from the bathroom. He emerged in black slacks and a boring, gray dress shirt. “Smells good.”
The week had passed in the blink of an eye. Sean had never had a live-in boyfriend, and these few days with Emerson fulfilled all of his dreams. Waking up with Emerson, and the dogs, in the morning, squeezing in a quick walk around the block, coming back to cook while Emerson showered. Then him rushing off to work while Sean busied himself on the computer. In the evenings, Sean would cook dinner, then they’d snuggle and watch old movies. The weekend had been even better—they hadn’t left the house all day.
Even Macie kept her distance, calling instead of showing up. It was a little slice of heaven, and it made Sean sad to think it might end.
Emerson went to his place at the table, and the dogs sat on the floor gazing up at him. It hadn’t taken Pip long to pick up some of Ninotchka’s bad habits. Sean set a plate consisting of a sausage patty, a croissant—store bought, since Sean wasn’t going near the interior of the oven—and a scoop of seasoned potatoes.
“This looks amazing,” Emerson said, gazing down on the food. “You’re still surprising me.” He glanced up and graced Sean with a wide smile. Those few moments of their connected eyes made Sean’s heart flutter. Then Emerson broke it, and returned to his meal.
“This has been nice, hasn’t it?” Sean asked, sitting opposite with his own plate.
“It’s been paradise.”
The flutters increased. “Maybe we should think about doing this long term, despite what the doctor says today.”
“You mean you want to move in with me?”
Sean laughed. “I was actually thinking you could move in with me. I do have a little more space.”
“Sean, we’ve barely known each other two weeks. Isn’t this kinda fast?”
“It’s totally fast, but I’m happy with this arrangement. You said you were, too.”
Emerson pushed potatoes around his plate, piling them into a mound. “Yeah, it has been great. All the time spent together is wonderful. But it’s only been that way because you’ve been laid up. If we moved in together, and you were all better, you’d have obligatory parties to attend, and interviews to go to. We wouldn’t be at home, watching movies or playing dominoes.”
So practical. That was one of the things Sean loved about Emerson, but it also sucked to be constantly reminded how impractical Sean was. Emerson was very similar to Macie in that regard. She never turned down an opportunity to point out he was overreacting or being illogical.
“I think we could make it work,” Sean insisted.
Emerson raised his chin and a sad smile framed his lips. “I think we could, too, sometime in the future. Now’s not the right time.”
Sean nodded, and dropped the subject. He knew where Emerson’s fears came from—he was still so convinced Sean would grow bored and move on. It had only been two weeks, but didn’t Emerson keep saying he knew Sean so well? Did he really think Sean capable of acting so callously?
It came with the territory of being a celebrity. People assumed these things about him. And in cases like Carl, they let the expectations dictate their actions. Everyone assumed you were better than them, so why not make their ideas become reality? No, Sean wasn’t like that. And he’d take as long as he needed to prove it to Emerson.
“Maybe we can still have sleepovers,” Sean said into the silence.
Emerson looked up and a happy light danced in h
is eyes. “You and Pip are welcome here anytime.”
When Emerson returned to eating, a thought struck Sean. So that was it! Emerson didn’t want to become dependent on Sean, in case Sean decided to throw him to the curb. Staying here, being together in this zone, was so much better for him. Better for them both, it seemed. Sean hadn’t even been tempted to touch Emerson’s old guitar, though he had Emerson play it for him every night—just to keep his vocal cords in practice.
It wasn’t the same. I miss mine, he concluded to himself. He wanted to play, strum his fingers along the metal strings, hear the hollow tones echoing around him, feel the heavy weight of the instrument in his arms. He hoped Dr. Warner gave him good news. This week had been nice, but real life was ready to return.
They finished eating, Emerson practically shoveling the food into his mouth. When he stood to put his plate in the sink, he asked, “Will you be here when I get home today?”
“Would you like me to be?”
“You know I do,” he answered, then turned on the tap to rinse off the leftover croissant flakes.
“Then we’ll be here. If the doctor gives me an all clear, Macie might get me something booked for later in the week, though.”
Emerson nodded. He was too kind, too courteous. Sean half wished he’d make a demand, like “No! You have to stay with me the whole week, too!” But that wasn’t Emerson’s way. Another reason why Sean loved him.
“I can pick up Chinese food on my way home,” Emerson said, walking toward the door. He slipped on his shoes and pulled on his heavy jacket. The air was still brisk this early in the morning.
“That would be great.”
They paused on the doorstep, close to one another, but not touching. Sean ran his gaze over Emerson’s face. Those brown eyes could be so expressive. There was a hidden depth to them, and Sean constantly tried to find the bottom. Tentatively, he reached out his hand and cupped Emerson’s cheek. Emerson leaned into the touch. Sean drew Emerson forward and their lips met softly. So many kisses over the past week, and yet each one was a delight.
When Emerson pulled away, Sean sighed heavily. “Have a good day.”
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