by E M Lindsey
Will took in a small breath, sighing it out with a tiny tremble. “I just don’t know when it’s going to stop. How can he possibly want to sign up for all this drama?”
“Trust me,” Derek said, his tone knowing, “when the person’s right for you, it’s worth it. I didn’t ever think I’d see my brother open up to anyone again, and when you came along, I knew it was meant to be.”
“But what if it isn’t?” Will asked. The pressure of being Sage’s first after the death of his fiancé, it was a heavy weight to bear. “What if it doesn’t work out in the end?”
“Then it doesn’t,” Derek said as though it were the simplest thing in the world. “Maybe it’s not meant to be forever, but I’m pretty sure it is right now.” He trailed off with a shrug. “How do you feel about him?”
“I don’t know,” Will admitted. “It’s so hard to put into words. It’s like…it’s like being able to breathe again, but you didn’t know you were struggling before. You know what I mean?”
Derek’s gaze flickered toward Molly’s bedroom, and his smile was soft. “I know exactly what you mean. I think you should trust yourself and trust Sage. It might be hard, but he’s not eager to let go.”
“Yeah,” Will said softly. “Neither am I.”
It was a profound moment when Sage realized he was more stressed about how Will would take the tire slashing than the vandalism itself. He spent the forty-five minutes waiting for the cops, pacing the parking lot in front of Sam’s chair and muttering to himself, conjuring up all the ways Will might break it off just to avoid another situation like this.
“I think you should give him the benefit of the doubt,” Sam finally said, causing Sage’s footsteps to stutter. “He’s not weak.”
“I didn’t say he was,” Sage defended. He hugged his arms over his chest and stared down at his untied laces. “That’s not what this is about.”
“Isn’t it?” Sam’s words had him looking up, and once he had Sage’s gaze, he shook his head. “You need to trust him. This is probably one of his worst fears, and him asking if you wanted to call it off wasn’t because he’s pushing you away. He’s giving you space to deal with the fact that this dude attacked you.”
“Not me, my car,” Sage pointed out.
“Not much of a leap between you and your car,” Sam told him. “It could have been you in the car, and it freaked him out because he cares.”
“I just,” Sage said, then sank down to the curb at Sam’s left, leaning his head on the other man’s knee. He almost never sought physical comfort from his family, so it was no surprise when Sage startled a bit, then landed clumsy fingers against the back of his neck. “I already fucked this up once, I don’t want it to happen again.”
“So don’t let it,” Sam said, petting the back of his shorn hair gently. “He gave you an out and you didn’t take it. Spend tonight reassuring him that this fucker didn’t scare you off. You’re stronger together.”
Sage nodded against Sam’s knee and breathed out a small sigh. “I want to find this guy and make him regret ever looking in Will’s direction.”
“You’re not the only one. I heard Tony speaking to Kat about it, and I think he had to remind her that Jasmine wouldn’t benefit from her mom going to jail over this.”
Sage couldn’t help his laugh, knowing full well Kat would have done it if she could get away with it. “I’m glad his face was on the camera. I can’t believe how fucking stupid he is.”
“I can,” Sam told him, and Sage lifted his head, looking up at his friend. “He’s vicious and cruel, but he’s not very clever. He can spot someone in a vulnerable position, but it’s the only thing he seems to be good at. Eventually, his bullshit was going to catch up with him.”
“I’m glad it was me and not Will,” Sage said. “He’s been through enough.”
Sam let out a tiny laugh as he shook his head. “You know, he’s probably thinking he wishes it were him instead of you? He’s not the only one who’s been through some shit lately.”
Sage felt his cheeks heat, and he looked back down at the ground. “Maybe, but it kind of seems distant now. When I’m with him, it doesn’t feel so intense.”
“I know,” Sam reminded him, and Sage looked up to see the fond smile only Niko could put on the other man’s face. “Try to breathe through it. Give your statement and let the cops take care of the rest.”
Sage nodded, knowing he didn’t have much choice in the matter. Luckily, the police arrived shortly after, and Sage was able to give his statement. It took a while to get it all sorted, and it was well past dinner by the time the cops took the video and promised to be in touch. Derek and Will had been texting periodically, and Sage twice offered to call the night off, but Will was insistent that he didn’t care how long it took—he just wanted them to be together.
It was enough to alleviate Sage’s fears that Will was pushing him away, and he was happy to grab Tony’s truck and head over. Derek and Basil had taken off just a few minutes before he arrived, and when he got into the apartment, he saw Molly and Will waiting for him, packed and ready to go.
Molly launched herself at Sage who lifted her into a hug, and he caught Will’s gaze, smiling at him. “You ready?”
“Yep. I brought some movies and my Thor dolls, and some of my Spidermans, and my pillow because I missed it when we was sleeping at your house,” she told him.
Sage let her slip to the floor so she could get her stuff, and he took the time to lean in and nuzzle a kiss against the apple of Will’s cheek. “I’m glad to be done.”
Will turned his face to press against Sage’s cheek with his nose. “Me too. Did everything get taken care of?”
“As far as we could. They took the security tapes, and my insurance people sent over a tow. James has tires for me, so he’s going to throw some on and drive it over in the morning.” Sage reached down to hook Will’s bag over his shoulder, and the three of them headed down to Tony’s truck. On the way, Sage noticed Will glancing up and down the street, a worried look in his eyes. Sage reached for him and pulled him close with one hand as he unlocked the truck with the other. “He’s not around here.”
“I’m just worried he’s watching me,” Will said.
With every fiber of his being, Sage hated Joe for making Will uneasy. “I think he hauled ass out of town after he did what he did to my car. I mean, he pulled a ballsy move, doing that shit in the middle of the day. I don’t think he stuck around to see if he was going to get busted.”
“Probably not,” Will said, but he didn’t sound sure.
Sage helped Molly get into her seat, then he threw the bags in the back and walked Will over to the passenger side. Before Will could open it, Sage touched his cheek to get his attention. “Listen, why don’t we drive around for a bit, maybe find a place to get ice cream. That way we can keep an eye out if we’re being followed.”
Will’s face shone with relief, and he leaned in for a quick peck. “Thank you. I know it sounds crazy.”
“It doesn’t,” Sage assured him. “I don’t expect you to feel safe for a good long while, and I’ll do whatever you need to so you can relax.” He was rewarded with one more kiss before heading to his own seat and getting in.
Molly didn’t seem to mind the ride, or the stop for ice cream in the next town over. By the time they finally got to Sage’s, it was late, and Molly was almost asleep. Will seemed far more at ease when it was obvious no one was watching them, though there was a slightly tired drag to his step as he collected Molly and headed in.
She didn’t put up much of a fuss as Will tucked her into the guest room, and he left the door cracked before heading into Sage’s bedroom where the other man was waiting. Sage gave him a careful look as Will closed the door, and he felt a little bit of heat flare to life in his belly as he noticed the very pointed look Will was giving him.
“I know this wasn’t what we had planned,” Will said quietly.
Sage shook his head. “It wasn’t, but I’m pretty
good at adapting.”
Will’s smile was soft, but it brightened his eyes, and he reached behind him to flick the lock on the door before taking long strides to close the distance between them. The move was full of purpose and significance, and Sage knew there was no reading into it. Part of him felt a tiny flare of panic, but it wasn’t enough to put a damper on his mood. Will looked gorgeous right then—he looked gorgeous always—and Sage wanted him.
His hands reached out the second Will was close enough, and his fingers curled around his hips, helping Will straddle him on the edge of the bed. Sage was larger than him, but Will was a perfect fit, his face aligning with his exactly. His trembling fingers slid up the edge of Will’s shirt, searching until they finally met warm skin.
“Is this okay?” Will murmured, dipping his head low, pressing his nose against Sage’s temple.
“More than,” Sage promised. “I’ve wanted this for a while now.”
Will nodded, then turned his head and their lips met. The kiss started slow, a gentle press of lips, barely parted, slotting together like puzzle pieces. Then Sage’s tongue darted out, just to taste, and it ignited something in them both. Will’s mouth opened on a half moan, his own tongue pushing out, hot and slick as it moved against Sage’s. Sage felt a groan bubbling up in his belly, but he held it back, terrified that Molly might hear them and ruin the moment. He didn’t want to lose this, didn’t want to give up this momentum.
It was strange to feel another man in his arms, and yet it also felt so right. “I didn’t think I’d ever meet someone I wanted to do this with again. I was so sure, and then you came along and turned everything upside down,” he admitted, his passion loosening his tongue.
Will breathed heavy through his nose as he pressed their lips together again. His hand trailed between them, stopped by the waistband of Sage’s jeans. Instead of venturing lower, he ground his hips down. When Sage felt the press of Will’s erection, his head tipped back, and he let a low moan escape his chest.
“Yeah,” Will said, grinding down again. “Is this okay? I need to know this is okay.”
Sage lifted his head up, looking Will directly in the eye. “This is perfect. I want to taste every inch of you.” His hand lifted, his fingers drawing along the edge of Will’s exposed collarbone. “Can I?”
“Yes,” Will said, easy and calm. “Anything you want. I’m yours.”
Sage’s face went molten hot as his trembling fingers scrambled to get Will’s clothes off. It was awkward and they laughed more than he expected to as they struggled to get naked, but it wasn’t long before Sage was pushing Will back against the sheets, bracketing his head with both hands pressed into the mattress.
Sage had touched Will a lot in the time they’d known each other, but skin to skin was an entirely different world. He was worried he would start comparing every moment to when he was with Ted, but his past was the last thing on his mind. He lost himself in the warmth of Will’s skin, in the soft press of his hands, the gentle scratch of calloused palms as they brushed up and down his sides.
He leaned in to kiss him, a slow, intense thing, then moved to drag his lips down Will’s jaw. He paused and gently sucked under Will’s ear, his cock twitching at the sound of a faint gasp, and then he moved lower. His hands gripped Will by the hips as he paused to run his tongue over one nipple, and when he felt Will’s dick respond to that, he moved to the other.
“You have to tell me what you want,” Sage muttered against Will’s skin. “I want to make you feel good.”
“You are,” Will said, breathless. His hands were fluttering between the tops of Sage’s shoulders, into his hair, and back down again. “I’m sorry, I don’t…it’s been a while and I’ve wanted this for so long. I’m a little overwhelmed.”
Sage paused, resting his chin on Will’s sternum and looked at him. “Do you want to slow down?”
“No,” Will said. He pushed himself up on one elbow slightly and touched the edge of Sage’s jaw with his other hand. “I know this is big for you, and I don’t want you to regret anything.”
“I couldn’t,” Sage told him. “Not with you.” He licked his lips, then pressed a kiss over the thrumming beat of Will’s heart. “This would be big for me even if I hadn’t lost someone before,” he told him, and was surprised at just how true his words were. “The way I feel about you, it’s a huge thing, and it’s important all on its own. I want to do this right because I’m falling for you.”
Will’s eyes were wide, a little watery, but he gave a firm nod. “Same for me.”
“Good.” Sage kissed his nipple, then a little bit lower. “I want to suck you off. Is that okay?”
Will’s laugh was high and tight, and his hips thrust a little against Sage’s body. “Are you seriously asking me if that’s okay?”
“Yep,” Sage said. “Consent is sexy, babe.”
Will laughed once more, but his gaze was soft. “Then yes. I want you to suck my dick. I want you to make me come. I uh…I brought condoms, so…”
Sage was off in a flash, grinning along with Will’s continued chuckles, and he rummaged through the bag on the floor until he found them. He briefly considered the lube, but he wanted the first time using that to be without risk of interruption or feeling rushed. He pushed it back into the pile of Will’s clothes, then pulled one of the foil packets out of the box and set the rest aside.
“Is it okay that we use them?” Will asked softly. “I got tested pretty regularly with Joe, but I don’t want to risk anything, and I know he wasn’t being faithful.”
“Yes,” Sage said firmly. “It’s absolutely okay.” He straddled Will’s calves, looking down at his body, feeling another rush of desire. Unable to help himself, he curled one hand around his dick and began to stroke himself. He couldn’t stop his smile when he saw Will’s own dick throb in response, and he dragged one hand up Will’s hairy thigh to curl around it. He was cut, the head leaking, and he touched the tip very gently with the pad of his thumb. “Gorgeous,” he murmured softly.
Will let out a tiny moan, his head falling back against the pillows, and his hips moved in time with Sage’s hand. When he was fully hard, Sage put the edge of the condom packet in his mouth and tore it open, pulling it out and positioning Will’s cock straight. He watched with hungry eyes as Will’s face went a little darker as Sage rolled it on, and his breath stuttered in his chest.
Will was possibly the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He didn’t want to waste another minute of not having this man inside some part of him, so he grabbed the base and immediately sank his mouth down. It had been a while, and though he hadn’t forgotten the basics, it took him a minute to adjust to the feeling of his mouth being full. He suckled the head as his hand continued to stroke Will’s shaft, and he tuned himself in to every gasp, every twitch Will gave.
Will was so responsive, and Sage felt a sudden and intense urge to please him, to give him everything he wanted. He pulled back up and looked Will in the eye the moment he got the man’s attention back. “Tell me,” he all-but begged. “Please. Tell me exactly what you want. I need it to be good for you.”
Will’s eyes went wide with some understanding, and he pushed up on his elbows. “You want me to direct you,” he said, more a statement than a question.
Sage bit his lip and nodded. More than anything, he wanted that. He wanted Will to take a little bit of the control, to let Sage do and not think. To not second guess if he was good enough, or right enough.
Will gave a firm nod, then put his hand on Sage’s cheek. “Take the head into your mouth and suck it. Keep stroking me for a while. That was so good.”
Sage’s body shivered with pleasure as he did. Something slotted into place, something he hadn’t really understood he needed. He complied easily, Will’s appreciative moans like oxygen, and he tightened his grip just slightly when Will’s body responded to him.
“Touch,” Will said, sounding like he was fumbling for words. “Touch my balls, and take me deeper.�
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Sage closed his eyes and lost himself to the sound of Will’s labored breathing as he did so, letting Will’s cock fill him more. His hand pressed between Will’s legs and cupped him gently in his palm, rolling them with a gentle motion. Will’s hips thrust up a little, fucking against Sage’s face until he seemed to realize it.
“Sorry,” he breathed, stilling himself.
Sage quickly pulled off, his hand still stroking Will firmly. “It’s fine. I liked it.”
“Yeah?” Will asked, his eyes now nearly all pupil.
Sage gave him a firm look. “Yes. Everything, all this right now, I needed it. So, please, if it feels good…”
“Just promise me you’ll stop if we need to stop. No questions asked,” Will insisted.
Sage leaned in and pressed a kiss to Will’s hip. “We’ll talk more about it, but for now, stop absolutely means stop. I promise, I’m so fucking good right now. I’m so close.”
Will groaned, his head falling back. “That’s the hottest thing I have ever heard.”
Sage couldn’t help his smirk as he quickly took Will back into his mouth. His hand returned to stroking, the other to the space between Will’s cock and ass, pressing gently there which made Will whimper. It only took another moment of encouragement before Will’s hips were moving again, and Sage adjusted himself, opening his mouth as wide as he could, taking it all in.
Will’s murmurs of praise were just enough, sending whirls of pleasure from Sage’s untouched dick, and his knees started shaking with the need to rub himself on something, to let himself go. But he wasn’t ready yet. He wanted Will to find his climax first. He rubbed on Will’s perineum a little harder, taking him in deeper, and he felt Will’s hands grasping at his shoulders.
“I’m…I’m close, I’m,” he breathed out.
And then he was coming. He pulsed against Sage’s tongue, his last thrusts stuttering into the back of Sage’s throat. His seed filled the condom, thick and warm, and Sage momentarily mourned not having a taste of it.
As Will came back to himself, Sage was overwhelmed with need. He grabbed the other man by the hip with one hand, stroking himself with the other. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard Will murmur his name, but he was too gone, too wrapped up in how good it had been—how perfect. He conjured the echo of Will’s groan as he was coming, and that was exactly what he needed to spill, hot and wet, over his knuckles.