Zach stilled, wondering what would happen between them if he didn’t like it. Cael had sometimes talked about what he did with other guys in the past. Zach knew Cael always topped, and he didn’t want Cael to sacrifice anything he enjoyed for him, because Cael would. Zach couldn’t let Cael do that though and wanted to know if this would be an obstacle in their changed relationship.
Cael eased back and cupped Zach’s jawline. “What’s wrong, Pook?”
Zach sighed.
“Zach. Talk to me.”
Zach blew out a soft breath. “This is probably going to sound weird.”
“What?”
“I’ve never really enjoyed sex before.”
“Then why—”
“Because everything with you tonight has been fucking amazing.”
Only silence and soft breaths echoed in the darkness surrounding them.
Zach continued. “I thought… I was hoping—”
Cael crushed his lips to Zach’s, cutting him off, and pulled his body flush against him. A sudden gasp escaped Zach as Cael’s tongue invaded his mouth, licking, exploring, devouring. Cael broke their kiss and rolled Zach onto his back, letting his weight settle over Zach. He captured Zach in another deep, heated kiss.
Zach ached for more. He wanted this man, and the thought of being filled by him lit a fire deep inside his core unlike anything he’d ever felt before. Zach spread his legs a little wider, and Cael sank down into the space between his thighs. Cael rocked his pelvis and his cock rubbed against Zach’s the way it had earlier on the couch, and Zach moaned, desperate to know how it would feel buried inside him.
“Cael, please…”
Cael tore his lips away from Zach’s. “Be right back.”
Zach could only make out Cael’s shadow as he crawled to the edge of the bed and opened a drawer, rummaged around, then closed it and returned to hovering over Zach. He leaned down, and Zach felt Cael’s warm breath in his ear.
“If you change your mind, promise me you’ll tell me.”
Zach nodded. “I will.”
“Roll over and get on your elbows and knees,” Cael commanded as he sat back.
Zach hurried to get into position. Grabbing a pillow as he rolled, Zach squeezed his arms around it and tucked it against his chest, making sure to rest on his elbows and knees as instructed. The exposed position left him open and vulnerable and, for a brief moment, uncertainty clouded his mind.
“I’m going to get you ready first,” Cael whispered, rubbing his open hand over Zach’s buttock, slowly moving his fingers into his crack.
“Okay.”
Cael pulled his hand away from his skin. A moment later, cool, wet fingers returned, lightly skimming the sensitive area between Zach’s cheeks. Cael found Zach’s puckered ring and circled a slippery fingertip around it, then pressed in ever so slightly.
Zach gasped, his muscles clenching against his will.
“Try to relax,” Cael said, his voice soft and reassuring as he gently caressed Zach’s back at the base of his spine. His hand slid across to Zach’s hip then over his buttock. Cael eased his finger in a little more until it could go no farther. Slowly, Cael pulled out and pushed in again, repeating the process with deliberate strokes.
Zach’s tension eased as the foreign sensations went from intrusive and weird to enjoyable.
“God, you’re so amazing, and so beautiful,” Cael whispered.
Zach snorted quietly. “You can’t even see me.”
“I always see you.”
Zach’s breath caught in his throat.
Cael pulled his finger out, and, before Zach could protest because he really didn’t want him to stop, Cael eased two fingers into him. Zach flinched at the added pressure, willing himself to relax.
“You still okay, Pook?”
“Yeah,” Zach breathed.
Zach lost track of time as Cael massaged his tunnel. Cael cupped Zach’s balls with his other hand, drawing another gasp from Zach. With three fingers buried inside Zach’s now slick and stretched entrance, Cael reached for Zach’s cock and stroked him as he pumped his fingers in and out.
Gasps turned to moans and whimpers until, out of nowhere, Cael turned and curved his fingers, brushing over some deeply sensitive spot while still jerking his cock. A sudden burst of pleasure shot through Zach, forcing a garbled scream from him.
“Like that, huh?” Cael teased, his fingertips grazing that bundle of nerves again.
“Mmm-hmm.” Zach could barely find his voice as he squeezed the pillow tighter.
Cael removed his fingers. “Turn over.”
Zach heard the sound of plastic tearing as he scrambled to get on his back, wanting more of whatever it was Cael had done. The moment Zach rolled over, Cael pushed Zach’s legs up and scooted in close. Cael pressed the tip of his sheathed cock against Zach’s hole and paused.
“You still want this, Pook?”
“Yes. God, fuck yes.”
Cael pushed in slowly, pausing every couple seconds which gave Zach time to breathe and adjust. Though Cael had taken care to prepare him, Zach’s ass burned a little with each forward movement. Half way in, Cael leaned forward onto his elbows, nestling his nose alongside Zach’s. Cael’s breathing deepened as he fully inserted himself into Zach.
“Fuck, Cael,” Zach whispered. Cael was inside him. Every hard, hot inch of his best friend was inside him. Cael slid out and pushed back in again, and again. With each patient, increasingly faster stroke, the stretching pain faded, pleasure unfolded its place, and sex took on a whole new meaning.
“Oh my God, Zach.” Cael’s shaky whisper tumbled from his lips.
Still on his elbows, Cael squeezed Zach between his arms as he rocked his hips in a steady rhythm, sinking all the way to the hilt each time. He trailed a line of wet kisses down Zach’s cheek and along his jaw to his neck. He licked and sucked and nipped as he thrust harder and faster, stoking the fire burning in every cell of Zach’s body.
“This can’t be real,” Cael murmured, his panting breaths hot and moist on Zach’s skin.
“It’s real,” Zach managed a low growl, not sure if it was to convince Cael or himself. “So fucking real.”
Cael lifted his head and captured Zach’s lips in a searing, wet kiss, grunting into his mouth with every penetrating thrust. “I want to make you come again.”
Cael pushed up onto one hand, grabbed Zach’s throbbing, dripping dick, and squeezed up the length of his shaft.
“Fuck.” Zach pulled his legs up higher, and when Cael thrust into him again, he rubbed right over that magic spot he’d found earlier with his fingers. “Oh fuck, right there.”
Straightening, Cael increased the speed and intensity of his strokes, both with his cock inside him and his hand around him. All the pain had gone, leaving Zach with only the incredible pleasure of the orgasm building deep within. He hovered on the edge, so close to falling over.
All rational thought abandoned Zach, save for one. Here in the dark, as indescribable pleasure swirled through him, his body joined with Cael’s in the deepest, most intimate way, Zach was no longer blind to his heart’s desires. His heart flooded with how much he loved this man, his soul imbued with the deep affection and love pouring from Cael.
Pure ecstasy of Zach’s impending release trickled through him, like a wave cascading across every nerve. Oxygen failed to reach his brain and Zach’s head spun as he lost himself in feeling all the exquisite things Cael was doing to him.
“Cael.” Zach breathed his name as his senses shattered.
With a loud, uninhibited grunt, Zach fell apart, coming hard and long, fully consumed and enveloped by Cael. His dick pulsed and his tunnel clenched as pure joy shot through him. Zach vaguely registered Cael’s hand still jerking his cock as he leaned forward, sliding even deeper. Cael wrapped his hand around the base of Zach’s neck and powered into him, grunting and groaning, breathing heavy and fast.
Cael cried out, his body tensing. He slammed into Zach and stilled as his fingertips d
ug into Zach’s skin. As their convulsions died down and oxygen fed his brain, the reality of this moment knocked Zach on his ass.
Breathless and without sliding out, Cael dropped down to his elbows, letting their sweaty, sticky bodies press together, and pecked Zach’s lips. Cael lingered close as his breathing slowed, barely more than a shadow in the room lit only by a sliver of moonlight peeking through the window around the edge of the blinds, but Zach didn’t need light to see him.
As the years had passed, Zach had memorized him. Every detail had etched itself into Zach’s memory. Details he’d never noticed or cared to notice in others. Like the tiny scar just above Cael’s right eyebrow, or the gold flecks in his light brown eyes that no one could see unless the sunlight was just right, or the way one side of his mouth always curved a little higher than the other when he smiled.
Christ, he really was in love with Cael.
“Please tell me we’ll be doing more of that in the near future,” Cael said, touching the tip of his nose to Zach’s. “Because that was… I can’t even… no words can do justice in describing how incredible you are and the way you make me feel, Zach.”
“I can think of one.” Zach replied. “Fucking transcendent.”
Cael laughed. “That’s two. And who on Earth says transcendent?”
“Shut up,” Zach retorted, but it came out with a laugh. “Do you even know what transcendent means?”
“Mystical or supernatural or something like that.”
“Well, yeah, but I meant it as in unequalled and fucking perfect.”
“So, you mean?”
“Yeah. We are definitely doing that again.”
Cael kissed him. “I love you.”
“Good.” Zach smiled against his lips. “Because I love you too.”
Chapter 14
Cael woke to muted gray light filtering into his bedroom and the covers thrown back on one side of the bed, revealing the wrinkled outline of a body impression. Content, he closed his eyes and stretched his arm out, flattening his palm on the still warm sheets Zach must have only vacated moments ago.
The toilet flushed and moments later, the bed dipped. Cael blinked his eyes open and smiled, warmth wrapping his heart, as Zach lifted Cael’s hand and slid under it and back into bed with him. Scooting in close, Zach pulled the covers over them. Cael squeezed him tight, tucking Zach under his arm.
“So what are we doing today?” Cael asked, his voice still gravelly from sleep.
“Don’t fucking care,” Zach mumbled, his face pressed to Cael’s neck. “Long as we do it together.”
Cael’s heart swelled as he smiled and kissed Zach’s temple. “You wanna take Taylor out and visit Gramms? I’ve been meaning to stop by. I’m sure she’d love to see you both.”
“Sure.”
“Maybe we can swing by and visit Abbey, then your parents too.”
Zach snorted. “You just want to tell everyone about us, don’t you?”
“I can’t wait to tell everyone about us.”
“Can’t wait, huh? Well, I can solve for that really fucking fast.”
Zach scrambled out of bed and ran out of the room, still completely naked. Naked. Cael still couldn’t believe his best friend had slept in his bed naked with him all night.
Less than a minute later, Zach returned with his cell phone in hand and jumped back in bed, a huge grin sprawled across his handsome face. As much as Cael loved Zach’s naked body pressed against him, seeing genuine joy all over Zach was even better. Knowing that Zach’s current elated state existed because Cael had taken a chance and kissed him yesterday overwhelmed his heart with pure bliss. He’d never imagined all this would come from a kiss and his conveyance of a few simple words. Cael would do anything to see Zach happy like this every single day.
Zach cozied up with Cael and held the phone above them, the screen zoomed in on their happy, smiling faces. Zach snapped the picture. Cael turned his head to look at Zach and was met with a kiss. Cael couldn’t help the smile that formed on his lips.
Zach rolled onto his back as his thumbs flew over the screen of his phone. Cael pushed up onto his elbow and watched as Zach typed out the message:
We finally figured it out.
He hit send, sharing the five words and two pictures with their families. Zach looked up at him, humor and affection dancing in his eyes. “There. It’s done.”
“You do realize what you just did, right?”
“Yeah. So?” Zach’s phone dinged.
“Bet that’s Chloe. She’s probably been glued to her phone since last night.”
Zach lifted his phone and unlocked the screen. “Nope.”
He turned it so Cael could read it.
Gramms: About damn time he finally told you! Love you both.
Cael laughed and swiped his hand down over his face. He could feel the heat in his cheeks.
“Oh shit,” Zach whispered. He puffed out his cheeks. “Dude, this is the thing Gramms asked if you had told me last time we were there. No wonder you panicked.”
“I did?”
“Pfft. Yeah you did.”
“You were pretty pissed, if I recall.”
“Because since coming out to me in high school, you’d never kept secrets from me, and I couldn’t imagine what it could be other than maybe you were gonna move away or had some incurable disease or cancer or something. I swear the first thing that went through my head was that I was gonna fucking lose you, man.”
“I’d never even thought of that. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to be. I get it now. Let’s just promise each other no more secrets like that anymore, okay?”
“Deal.” Cael sealed his promise with a soft kiss. God, he could kiss those lips all day.
Another ding.
Cael pulled away and they turned to read the screen.
Chloe: OMG u 2 are so in love.
Chloe: Taylor’s still good, btw. Enjoy your morning. Come home when you’re ready.
Zach: Thx Chloe. I owe you.
Chloe: Seeing my brother finally happy is payment enough.
Zach furrowed his brow and glanced at Cael. “Finally happy?”
Cael twisted his lips and scrunched his forehead, giving a slight shrug. “It’s been a long ten years.”
“Jesus, Cael.”
A text from Zach’s mom chimed in.
Mom: My handsome boys. I knew you’d figure it out.
Zach: Thx mom.
A direct message to Zach popped in from his mom.
Mom: Your dad wants you both over for dinner tonight.
Zach looked up at Cael and raised both brows. “You good with that?”
Cael shrugged one shoulder. “Yep.”
Zach: 5 ok?
Mom: Yes. You’re bringing Taylor too, right?
Zach: yeah
Mom: ok. See you then. Love you.
The texts stopped. Zach dropped his phone on the bed beside him, closing his eyes for a long moment. Long enough for Cael to worry that something was wrong.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Zach asked. He opened his eyes slowly, meeting Cael’s thoughtful gaze.
Staring down at Zach, Cael inhaled deeply. “I was afraid it would mess things up between us,” Cael whispered. He gave his head a slight shake. “You’re everything to me, Zach.”
“I am?” Zach’s eyes watered ever so slightly. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths.
“Uh, yeah. For a long time.” Cael blinked and huffed a quiet laugh to keep the tears that threatened from falling. “But enough mushy stuff. Seriously, what do you want to do today?”
Zach’s lips quirked.
“What?” Cael asked, his brows pinched and his grin spreading.
“Nothing. Just thinking of how adorable you are.”
Cael gave Zach a playful shove. “Shut up.”
Zach giggled, and the sound wreaked havoc on Cael’s heart in the most blissful way possible.
“But, to answer your question, I was
hoping we could make time to see Abbey today.”
“Pook, there’s always time for that.”
The humor in Zach’s expression faded, replaced with something more thoughtful. He held Cael’s gaze, his eyes searching, as he pressed his lips into a tight line.
“What?” Cael asked.
Zach drew in a slow, deep breath. “You’ve always made time for me without even a second thought.”
“Yeah.”
“I was never alone in anything, was I?”
“Nope, but I knew you felt it. Especially lately. I just didn’t think I could ever be the person to give you what you needed.”
Zach grabbed Cael’s hand and squeezed.
“Well, you are.” Zach paused, thinking. “All my past relationships, something was always missing. When you kissed me the first time yesterday, it was the last piece of the puzzle. Everything became so fucking clear. We’d been best friends and practically family for so long, I hadn’t realized I’d fallen in love with you, and I was fucking terrified that you didn’t feel the same.”
“Yeah. Me too. Those few seconds after I told you nearly killed me.”
Zach stared up at him.
Cael planted a brief peck on Zach’s lips. “Come on. We’ve got lots to do today and the first thing I want to do is take a shower with you.”
“You start it. I’m gonna toss my clothes in the dryer.”
“‘Kay.” Cael rolled over and lay on top of Zach, kissing him again as his cock slid and hardened against Zach’s. “God, I really want to fuck you again.”
Zach wrapped his legs around Cael’s waist and held him down. “I really want you to fuck me again,” Zach growled, low and husky. He reached between them and squeezed their cocks with one hand, drawing a hungry groan from Cael.
“You liked having my dick in your ass, huh?”
“You have no fucking idea.”
Cael couldn’t scramble for lube and a condom fast enough. As Zach pulled his legs up, Cael lubed his fingers then gently probed Zach’s puckered hole. Easing his fingers in, Cael carefully massaged and stretched Zach, watching him for any signs of pain or discomfort.
“Fucking hell, Cael. Please just fuck me already.”
Cael rolled the condom on, slicked it up with more lube, and pressed the tip against Zach’s slippery hole. He attempted to go slow, worried Zach might be sore, but Zach hooked his legs around Cael’s hips and ass and pulled him all the way in, immersing him balls deep inside his tight heat. Cael fell down over Zach, his heart pounding hard in his chest as Zach locked his ankles around his ass, and Cael kissed his best friend whom he could now call his boyfriend.
Before It's Too Late (Troubled Hearts Book 3) Page 13