by Kensie King
“I almost did it. I was right there. I was going to kill them both, but Stone found me, stopped me. I lost it. I—I couldn’t be around anyone anymore. I didn’t know what I would do to them or myself.” He released a breath. “That was the last time I was out there.”
He looked down at our linked hands, distaste on his face. “So I understand if you can’t be around me. I’m a murderer—”
“You’re not,” I said vehemently. “You were hurting, you reacted, but you didn’t go through with it.”
“I can’t trust myself. You can’t trust me. It’s better if I stay in here.”
I squeezed his hand as all the pieces fell into place, as I understood why he was so afraid to leave his apartment. “I trust you, Preston. I know you won’t hurt anyone. I know you—right here.”
I placed my hand over his heart and he held it to his chest. A flicker of hope passed over his face, and it gave me hope, too. If he could see this, see that he wasn’t a danger to himself or anyone else, we could move on. We could be together.
Then he released me. “I can come up here. I’m trying. But the rest…”
The rest. That was what we were missing.
That was what we couldn’t get past, no matter how hard I wished we could.
I stood, my heart aching, knowing I had to do this. “I need to go.”
“Eric, wait. I’m trying. You have to see that.”
“I am. It’s not—I don’t want to force you to do something that’s so hard for you. And I really appreciate you opening up to me. But—but I can’t live like this.”
“What’s it going to take?” he asked, standing and grabbing my arms.
“I don’t know,” I said, broken, trying not to let emotion overcome me.
“Don’t keep running from me.”
“I told you I’m not running. I’m doing what I need to do.”
His fingers brushed my arms, and I tried not to give in to his touch.
“I need to leave early on Friday,” I whispered, forcing the words out.
“Why?”
“My friend wants me to come stay with her.”
“Just temporarily?” He met my eyes. “Or is this a permanent thing?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
Shock reflected in his eyes. I couldn’t do anything to help it. I had to take care of myself and do what was right—even if that meant letting Preston go.
I stepped away from him and walked to the elevator without looking back.
#
The damn sun was so bright. It was like I hadn’t felt it on me—really felt it—in years. Feeling the sun through the pane of a window was a whole different experience than feeling it while standing perfectly still out in the middle of whatever the hell this place was.
Some park Stone drove me to.
But there were people here—little ones and big ones. Kids playing with kites and parents watching them or talking on their cell phones. It was all so…normal.
I’d built it up to something huge in my head, until I didn’t think I’d ever be able to go anywhere again. And here I was. Outside.
Stone sat on a bench nearby, pretending not to watch me. I didn’t care. He knew what a struggle this was—or should be. But now…it wasn’t so hard. And it was worth it if I could convince Eric to be with me.
I loved him, and if he was going to make compromises, I had to as well. I needed him in my life—and that meant being able to be with him in more places than just my home.
It wasn’t work to walk around the nearby lake, to smile at a family by the swing set, and pull off something more like a grimace when a man’s dog jumped up to sniff my crotch. But progress was progress, and I knew how important that was.
More than that, I knew it was possible to return to the real world. I’d gone out every single day this week, and tonight I had one more stop.
I found Stone on the same bench. “Let’s go.”
“Back home, sir?”
I shook my head. “Eric’s.”
“Sir?”
I led the way to the car. “Take me to Eric’s.”
“Then if I may, can I suggest one more stop before we go?”
An hour minutes later, I arrived on his doorstep with a bottle of wine. The nerves that raced through me weren’t because of stepping into a new building or the long ride over here. They were because I wasn’t sure Eric would take me back.
I knocked and waited, anticipating how he’d look. How his body would feel pressed against mine.
And then he was there, opening the door, his eyes going wide.
“Eric,” I said.
His mouth dropped open. “What are you going here?” He glanced around the hallway, as if expecting someone else. “Is Stone with you? Are you okay?”
I smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Everything is just fine. Would I bring wine if there was a problem?”
“But…”
“Can I come in or would you like to do this out here?”
“Of course. Come in.” He stepped back, still in shock. “Do what?”
“Fix this once and for all.” I walked inside, charmed by his little apartment. “It’s cozy. You want a glass of wine?”
“Preston…”
I turned to smile at him again, to take in how good he looked in a simple pair of jeans and a sweater. I’d never wanted my hands on him more.
But I kept my distance and instead pointed to the kitchen. “I think you could use a glass of wine.”
He walked ahead of me and pulled out a wine opener and glasses. When we both had one in hand, I asked, “You have a few minutes to talk?”
“I was just…” He gestured to his bedroom. “Packing for tomorrow.”
My stomach clenched, but I forced myself to stay calm. It was just a little trip. It was what he needed to do. And this was what I needed to do.
“Let’s sit.” I made myself comfortable on the couch, and he perched next to me. Close enough for me to reach out and touch his leg. “You look good.”
He ran a hand through his hair with a laugh. “Thanks. Not exactly expecting company.”
“I needed to see you.”
“You must have needed to see me really bad if you came all the way here to do it.”
I reached for his hand, unable to stop from making that contact with him. “I did. It’s important.”
His eyes searched mine, and then he squeezed my hand. “I’m glad you did. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. And I need you back in my life, Eric. Wherever that might be.”
“You mean…” He licked his lips, looking unsure. “You’re okay if we—if we aren’t always at your place?”
“Looks like. I’ve been everywhere this week. To the park, to the damn mall, all over the hotel, and to the fucking Space Needle.” He laughed, and I continued. “But really, the only place I wanted to be was with you.”
Tear shimmered in his eyes, but then he said the last words I expected him to say. “I’m still going tomorrow, though.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You’re still going?” Preston asked.
I couldn’t help but grin. “I promised Jane I would. But I’ll be back. It’s just a visit.”
“You sure? Because I couldn’t stand it if you left for good. I’d follow you.”
“You would?”
“I would.”
I climbed onto his lap, my heart bursting. “Good. Because I don’t want to be away from you anymore.”
His arms came around me immediately, holding me close to his body, so tight I could barely breathe.
“Eric,” he murmured. “God…I can’t be away from you like that again.”
“I know. It was torture.”
His mouth closed over mine, tongue pressing inside of my mouth to lick deep. His fingers squeezed in the back of my hair. “Damn, you feel good.”
I wiggled against his cock, making him groan. “It’s been too long.”
“Way too long.” He
stood with me still in his arms. “I’m going to make love to you in your bed.”
The way he said it. Your bed. Make love. There were so many things right about that. We’d never had sex anywhere other than his suite before, and he’d never called it making love. We’d fucked, drove each other mad and enjoyed it, but this…this was love.
Preston set me on the bed and then moved aside my suitcase. “You can take a few minutes off, right?”
“A few minutes?” I frowned. “That’s all it’s going to take?”
He growled out a response that had me laughing. “I’m pretty sure that was a challenge.”
“Bring it on. You—oh, God…” Words failed me when he pulled off my jeans and gripped my cock.
My body instantly ached for him, ached to have him covering me and inside of me. Everywhere.
He made quick work of his clothes, tossing them on the floor with all the things I hadn’t packed yet. Then instead of picking up the pace, he crawled over the top of me, his cock leaving a trail of pre-cum up my leg and making me squirm. He kissed me gently on the lips.
“I really missed you. Everything about you,” he said, lips brushing mine. “I love you, Eric.”
“I love you, too.”
He froze, shock the first thing appearing on his face. Then he scooped me into his arms, kissing my face, my neck, my shoulders and then my mouth again. “I never thought I’d hear you say it.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him close. “I’ve felt that way for a long time, but I was scared to say it. Scared I would and then things wouldn’t work between us.”
“They’re working, right?” he asked. “This is good.”
“It is good. I love you,” I said again, because I could.
He grinned. “You can’t say that to me and then just leave tomorrow. I can’t be away from you.”
“Then come with me.”
He didn’t respond at first, eyes dropping to my lips. Maybe because he didn’t know where else to look. Didn’t know how to answer.
“It’s okay.” I touched his cheek. “Preston, I understand. This is already a lot—all that you’ve done. I know you can’t go.”
He looked up, eyes locking on mine. “No. I can do this.”
“You really don’t have to. It’s a whole weekend away.”
He kissed me. “And I’ll be with you the whole time. Right where I want to be.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Although…” His lips curved. “You could work a little at convincing me.”
With a laugh, I pulled off my shirt so I was completely naked and pushed him back on the bed so I’d have better access as I kissed my way across his abdomen.
His breathing quickened as I nipped his happy trail all the way down to his cock. It curved up to his belly, welcoming me. Making my mouth water. I wanted him to know how much I needed him. How much I’d missed him.
When I closed my lips over the head of his cock, Preston released a long breath. Then I started to suck, taking him as deep as possible and then sliding my mouth back up his shaft. I hollowed my cheeks and sucked hard, taking him from panting to calling my name over and over again.
“Eric…what you do to me…”
I was fully prepared to make him come like this, more than once if I could, but his control broke and he grabbed my chin for a kiss. “I need to be in you.”
He flipped me over onto my stomach, and I propped myself up with my elbows, already prepared for him. I needed him in me as much as he needed to be there. To feel home with Preston. Our new home.
After I heard the rip of foil, he reached around me to slide his hand down my cock. When my body responded, ass rising into the air, he slid inside of me. I was so full of him, all I could do was touch my forehead to the comforter and let the sensation hit me.
“That’s right,” Preston said. “Right there.”
He pumped his hips against me, moving in and out, the friction so delicious I was seconds away from coming already.
“I’m going to make you come over and over,” Preston said. “So you can feel it tomorrow when we’re on the plane. You’ll only be able to think about my cock in you and how much you’ll always want it in you.”
“Yes. Please,” I groaned, pushing my ass back against him.
He moved his hand back and forth on my shaft, making me moan. “Preston, please—I can’t—”
He pumped faster and brought me to a quick climax, holding me as my body shuddered, and then slamming against me a few more times to take his own orgasm. And with his arms wrapped around me, I realized something.
Both of us had broken free of the past. We’d done it together, and now we could have a future.
#
“We could have taken my jet,” I mumbled, mostly because I was nervous and I needed something to distract me.
Eric only grinned as he sat next to me in first class. The engines started, and I gripped the arms of the seat. He pried one hand free and held it. “This is all part of the experience. You sure you’re okay?”
“As long as you’re here.”
“I promise I won’t leave.”
He chatted on and on about his friend Jane, taking up time as the plane taxied down the runway. “When we’re in the air, we’ll get a drink.”
“A strong one,” I said.
He squeezed my hand. “Are you sure this is okay?”
I returned the squeeze. “You don’t have to keep asking me. I wanted to do this. I am doing this.”
“You’re right.”
“So, what do you want to do first when we get back home?”
I looked over at him with a grin. “You said home.”
“I mean back to Seattle.”
“I was hoping you meant my place. Or yours, whichever you’d prefer. I want to live together.”
His eyes widened. “Really?”
“Really.”
“You’d move into my place?”
I shrugged. “I mean, I’d prefer something bigger, with studio space for my painting—maybe somewhere for you to work, too. But if you want to live in your apartment, we can make it work.”
“No. I mean, not no—I don’t care about my apartment, I just want to be with you.”
The plane picked up speed and instead of paying attention to that, I kissed him again. “You just made me really happy.”
“I think I’m going to be doing a lot more of that once we get to Jane’s,” he said, lifting his eyebrows.
I chuckled. “Why wait?”
“What?”
I waited until the flight attendant passed before pointing to the bathroom. “I dare you.”
His mouth dropped open. “You’re a dirty man, Preston.”
“Hey, I’m out here. In the real world. I might as well try everything.”
He grinned. “You’re on.”
Once the plane was at cruising altitude, he unbuckled his seatbelt. But before he stood, he leaned in to kiss me. “I really, really love you.”
“I love you, too.”
His eyes lit up the way they always did when I said that. Then he got up and wiggled his fingers in a wave. “See you in a minute.”
I watched his ass as he walked down the aisle, feeling full for the first time in years. Eric coming into my life had been the best thing that could have ever happened to me. He’d saved me, plain and simple.
After another moment of appreciation, I got up and went to join Eric for another new adventure.