Page 112 of Men of Fort Dale: The Complete Series

As he spoke, Carter’s eyes slowly slid over to look Marco in the face, gaze stuttering for a moment before locking on.

Emotion drained as Carter’s face went almost entirely slack.

By the time he finished, Carter’s mouth was partly open, and only his eyes showed anything, wide open and filled with something bigger than Marco had words for.

“Because you’re a good man. A strong man who has survived so much, enough that no one would blame you for being bitter and angry at the world. Instead, you keep trying to do the right thing, even if other people don’t always see it that way. That is who I see. That is the man named Carter Grant.”

Then Marco saw a slight flicker of life behind Carter’s eyes. The twinkle of hope, painful and inspiring as it was. Along with it were a flash of joy, a surge of pain, and an ache that had nothing to do with anything painful. It shot across Carter’s face, and Marco smiled when he saw it.

Carter’s arms were strong and fierce as they wrapped around Marco, pulling him close. His fingers were gentle as they grabbed Marco’s face and tilted it so Carter could bend down and kiss him. It was nothing like the other kisses, having all the heat from before but slower and not nearly as sharp.

It was perfect, and Marco felt his heart skip as he melted against him.

He could feel Carter coiling up as though preparing to strike or drag Marco off, and he had a good idea of the destination.

That was okay with him. The physical was where Carter spoke the clearest and felt the most comfortable expressing himself.

“Marco,” Carter breathed, voice quivering at the edges.

“The bed this time?” Marco asked with a small smile.

Carter nodded jerkily, and Marco took him by the hand, leading him away from the temporary workout space and up the stairs to the loft.

He wasn’t surprised when Carter pushed aside the curtains, letting in the sun.

As much as Carter enjoyed bending him over things, Marco had noticed how intent Carter’s face was whenever they had sex face-to-face.

Marco turned, pulling Carter down onto the bed and into the comfort of the small pit.

Carter’s body was hard against his, his breathing sharp and quick, but his hands were steady as he pulled Marco’s shirt over his head.

They were gentle as they stroked Marco’s bare chest and trembled slightly when they reached his throat, brushing it lightly.

Lifting his hips when Carter undid his pants, Marco wrapped his legs around the man’s waist. Carter ran his fingers over his thighs, over the curve of his ass, and then down the ache that was Marco’s covered erection.

His eyes were wide, pupils swollen, darting all over Marco’s body with the same look of wonder on his face.

Marco drew him down, pulling their faces together and kissing him gently. He ran his tongue over Carter’s, gripping his back as he shivered under the man’s touch. All Carter’s weight and strength pressed against Marco, and he marveled at it.

Reaching between them, he undid Carter’s pants and grabbed the bottom of his shirt.

A pull of his arms later exposed the broad expanse of Carter’s chest. The sun caught the hair on his chest, making it shimmer.

Marco returned the favor, running his hands over it, down the stretch of his stomach, and then up his back.

They took their time stripping their last pieces of clothing until heated skin pressed together.

Marco tasted Carter once more as the man bowed over him, kissing him slowly and deeply.

Their cocks lay side by side, rutting against one another with every shift of their hips, drawing low noises from them.

Carter drew back slowly, his eyes locked on Marco’s face as he leaned over to open the nearby drawer. Marco stared at the bottle and the foil wrapper. His breath caught in a moment of hesitation before deciding to risk it.

“If you want,” Marco said quickly, voice soft. “I trust you.”

Carter hesitated, looking at the condom in his hand in understanding. “I...fuck, I haven’t?—”

“Neither have I,” Marco said.

For all the risks he took when young, he’d never gone bare with anyone.

And if he’d been asked if he would be willing to bareback with someone he’d known for only a handful of weeks, he would have laughed and said no immediately.

Yet, with Carter, this man who was quickly becoming so much more than anyone, Marco said yes in a heartbeat.

Carter snorted, shaking his head. “Shit judgment.”

“Good instincts,” Marco corrected gently.

Carter tossed the condom back in the drawer without another word, cracking open the bottle of lube. A thrill ran through Marco as he realized the other man was on board with the plan, that he trusted Marco enough, that he wanted it.

He wasn’t all that surprised when Carter spread some of the lube on his hand and, instead of smearing it over his cock, pressed it against Marco.

Carter’s eyes, now shining with green and gold, locked onto Marco’s face as the first digit slid into him.

Carter’s finger was thick, but compared to his other parts, it was a smooth slide in.

“Your face,” Carter said roughly.

“What?” Marco asked.

A second finger pushed in, Marco’s hips twitched, and Carter smirked. “That.”

Marco wouldn’t be surprised if he was a spectacle, but it didn’t help that Carter was resolutely watching his face.

The eye contact was so steady and insistent, Marco couldn’t even think to draw his eyes away.

Not even when the third finger was added, or Carter spread his fingers carefully, drawing a whiny moan from Marco’s lips, which only made Carter grin again.

“Bastard,” Marco said with no heat behind it.

However, he grabbed the bottle beside him and quickly lubed up a hand.

Carter frowned when Marco sat up, drawing his fingers out.

That stopped when Marco’s slick hand wrapped around his cock, gripping the thick shaft and stroking it slowly.

Marco suddenly understood what it was like to have someone be putty in his hands as Carter’s shoulders eased, his eyes fluttering.

“Probably not going to last too long,” Carter admitted.

“I don’t care,” Marco told him, kissing him again.

He lay back, happy to give Carter control and more, to have him over him, strong and capable. Carter pressed himself against Marco and pushed forward. The entrance was far easier than before, though there was still a slight burn as Carter opened him that last little bit.

Marco ignored it, wrapping his legs around Carter’s waist to draw him in deeper.

He couldn’t believe how warm Carter felt inside him, how much smoother it felt as he entered him.

Marco swore he could feel everything as Carter slid the last couple of inches into him, moaning softly as he held himself up, one arm on each side of Marco.

Carter let out a long, slow breath. “This...wasn’t expecting this.”

Marco squirmed, finally pulling Carter down so he could kiss him. Considering their position, Carter had to sprawl atop him and shift inside Marco. He moaned into the kiss, gently nipping at Carter’s bottom lip, finally releasing him so the man could move.

Carter did so, pushing himself up so he was almost kneeling, holding tight to Marco’s waist and pulling back to bury himself once more. The effect was immediate on them both, with Marco moaning, wrapping his hands around Carter’s forearms, and Carter bowing forward with a sharp hiss.

They had done slow before, maybe even languid a couple of times. This felt completely different, even accounting for the lack of a condom. Carter took his time, thrusting into Marco, careful to make sure Marco felt his body come to life when Carter pushed against his inner nerves.

Carter bowed forward, hunching over Marco as he thrust. His hands curled under him, gripping his shoulders as he rocked. For his part, Marco did the best he could to wrap his arms around Carter’s broad back and hold tight, burying his face in the man’s neck.

It ached, the pace at which they built toward the inevitable end.

Marco kissed and nipped at Carter’s neck as the man slid into him, his body tight as though every nerve ending was being struck with pure pleasure.

Strong hands gripped him, and he was caught in every tense of Carter’s body and the slightest sound, gasp, moan, or soft growl that left him.

When it was over, it was Carter who cried out, Marco’s lips falling from his as he thrust in one final time, sheathing himself completely.

Marco clung tightly to him, shivering as he felt the pulse of Carter inside him.

It was a first, the first, and right before his mind was wiped clean with ecstasy, he hoped it wouldn’t be the last.

Breathless and a little shaky, Marco held tight to Carter after he slipped free of him to slide back to the bed. He didn’t have to roll over to face him because Carter pulled him against his side with a grunt. Marco wrapped an arm around the man’s waist, burying his face in his chest.

“Good?” Marco asked softly.

“I hope so,” Carter said quietly.

And Marco said nothing, closing his eyes because he knew precisely what Carter meant.