Page 26 of Over and Above (Mount Hope #4)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Magnus

I’d had a lousy day. It’d been a lousy start to my new year, honestly, and in the past, that would mean exhausting my overstressed body working out or brooding at home with a nice tequila or whiskey. Solitary pursuits because I wasn’t fit company, but at some point in the last few months, I’d started craving Eric when I had a shit day or wanted to vent.

He’d been on night shifts recently, so when we pulled into the driveway at the same late hour, a thrill raced through me, like I’d summoned him through sheer want.

“Another long shift?” I asked as I exited my SUV, trying not to sound too eager in case he’d also had a rough day.

“Nah.” Eric shrugged, greeting me with a slow smile. “Covering a partial for another paramedic. Trying to save up my own leave for after the baby comes so I can help Maren as much as possible.”

“That’s smart.” I huffed because I wanted to do similar, and the universe kept thwarting me.

“You’re the one who looks like you had a tiring day.” Eric stamped his feet, a bitter wind whipping between us. More snow was likely on the way. Up in the mountains, the skiers were having a record season, and down here, the town kept getting dusted by passing storms as well.

“Tiring is one way to put it.” I groaned, gesturing with a gloved hand. “Have a restaurant, they said. Be your own boss. It will be fun.”

“What sucked all the fun out of today?” Despite the frigid temperatures, Eric didn’t seem in a particular hurry to head inside.

“Supplier issues. A fryer acting up. And then one of the cooks quit in a huff.”

“I’m sorry.” After a fast glance at the main house, Eric patted my arm through my coat. “That sucks.”

“It is what it is.” Simply being able to talk about it had me relaxing considerably. Eric’s steady presence tended to have that effect on me. “Typical restaurant stuff. The only difference is, like you said, the urgency of trying to arrange work for time off when the baby comes. Not going to be able to do that as easily if I’m shorthanded at The Heist.”

“We’ll all pitch in with the baby.” Eric’s tone was pragmatic but reassuring. “And hopefully, you’ll find another cook soon.”

“Yeah, I’m going to reach out to your buddy Sean’s boyfriend. Denver. See if any diner cooks at Honey’s are jonesing for extra work or something different without outright poaching his people.”

“That’s smart.” Eric looked over at the house again. All the windows were dark. “Household seems asleep.”

“It does.” I nodded, hoping he was thinking what I was thinking. “You want to come over, drink a beer while I shower, maybe hang out a while?”

“Absolutely.” Eric gave a tight smile, body language seeming more reluctant than his easy agreement would suggest.

“Everything okay?” I asked as we walked toward the carriage house.

“Yeah. My day wasn’t bad, but it’s been a long week and not enough sleep. I missed yesterday’s scheduled nap to take Maren to an ultrasound.”

“It’s okay if you need to sleep.” I unlocked the door and greeted the eager dogs.

“I’m awake now.” Eric matched his pointed tone with heated eyes, and suddenly, I was also wide awake.

“And how did the ultrasound go?” I fetched fresh water for the dogs and handed out treats.

“Great. The baby appears more baby-like in the pictures, not as much of a mysterious shadow.” Eric hung his coat next to mine. They looked good in a row like that. Right. “No more concerns about size or growth, which is great. The birth is getting closer and closer. The baby shower is Sunday afternoon.”

“Yep. I’ll be there even if I have to rearrange some coverage at The Heist.”

“Good.” Eric’s expression was guarded. “If everyone who’s invited comes, it’s going to be a packed house. I guess it’s good that Rowan and Caleb decided to move the venue to the community center by the park.”

“I’ll come early,” I promised. “I can help you set up the food and whatever else is needed.”

“Thanks. We always do make a good team.” There was that tight smile of his again, but before I could press, he waved me toward my bathroom. “Go shower. You’ll feel better. I’ll help myself to a beer.”

“Good plan.” I took a quick shower, cursing the small bathroom. Housing prices had dipped after the holidays, and my insurance settlement had finally arrived. The timing was right to consider buying a new place, but despite my dislike of the cramped quarters, I was reluctant to start looking.

Maybe I simply liked it here too much. Emerging from the bathroom in a towel to find Eric sitting on the loveseat, playing with my dogs, underscored that sentiment. If I moved, everything would change. No more midnight meetings in the driveway or random late-night movie watching. And no more little gestures like him putting on one of my favorite playlists and dimming the lights for a cozier vibe.

“This is nice.” I gestured at the room. “Thanks. Good choice of playlist.”

“You did the whole mood lighting and music thing for me when I had a hard day. Thought it might work for you.” Eric patted the seat next to him on the sofa.

“It does.” I didn’t waste any more time before joining him, and I made short work of drawing him to me so I could show my appreciation with a kiss.

And one kiss turned into ten, turned into him straddling my towel-covered thighs, grinding together to the rhythm of a hard rock song. My cock poked out of the towel, and I shifted away from the friction of Eric’s jeans.

“Loft?” I suggested. “Want you naked.”

“That’s an easy wish to fulfill.” Mood turning more playful, Eric discarded his shirt and jeans on his way to the loft stairs. I whipped off my towel and chased him the rest of the way to the stairs.

Once we were both upstairs and delightfully naked and winded, Eric stretched out next to me.

“Are you in the mood for anything specific?” He ran a hand down my chest, stopping to idly trace one of my bird tattoos. “You’re the one who had the lousy day.”

“You. I’m in the mood for you.” I leered up at him before reaching for the lube on the shelf behind me. Slippery was good for frot or fucking both. Might as well be prepared.

“We can…uh…skip the condoms.” Eric’s cheeks went bright pink. This was the first opportunity we’d had for penetrative sex since I’d shared my test results, and I’d half expected him to simply not bring up my idea of going bare again. I was more than pleased that he had.

“I’d like that.” I pulled him in for a warm kiss. “You want to bottom, or are you more in the mood for topping?”

“I can have that choice?” Eyes wide, Eric seemed genuinely perplexed by my offer.

“Yes, Eric, you can have that.” I leaned in for another kiss, this one softer. God, he was so sweet under all those layers of competence and self-protection. He could have whatever he wanted from me. “I haven’t bottomed a ton, but the chance to try it condom-free has me curious.”

“I haven’t topped much either.” Eric worried his bottom lip with his teeth. He seemed younger and more vulnerable than usual.

“Good.” I stopped him with another kiss before he could continue to abuse his poor lip. “We can figure it out together.”

“Okay.” He nodded, expression comically serious like I was asking him to recite the steps for CPR. He reached for the lube, but I took it back.

“Let me.” I was a little picky about prep, preferring to be in charge of the stretching. “You just keep kissing me.”

“I can do that.” He was adorably intense as he curled into my side. I threw a leg over him, giving myself room to work as we made out. Typical Eric, he put his entire self into the task at hand, kissing me while stroking my chest and arms. He was such a present kisser, barely controlled hunger tempered by an urge to please. By now, he knew I loved the hunger, the aggression of teeth and little nips and tongue and deep kisses, and any hesitance he’d had early in our friendship was long gone. Instead, there was comfortability that was sexy as hell because Eric truly allowed himself to let go.

While I lost myself to Eric’s kissing, I stretched my rim, rubbing slick circles, drifting along on the stream of intimacy, gradually going deeper. Unlike Eric, who could come hands-free and seemed to crave direct, intense prostate pressure, I preferred a more measured approach, building up to the sharper sensations.

“God, I love kissing you.” Eric pulled back to peer down at me, lips damp and kiss-swollen.

Love you too. The words were right there, filling my throat, making my sinuses burn. But that wasn’t what he meant. And now was not the time for these realizations either.

Deciding I was prepped enough, I withdrew my fingers and wiped them on my discarded towel.

“Come on. I’m ready.” Not in the mood to move and also wanting to see Eric’s face, I drew my legs up and back as he moved between them. Eric took the opportunity to copiously slick his bare cock with lube.

“Jesus.” He let out a shaky groan. “I’m already on edge.”

“Good. I like you all horny and needy like this.” And bare . I liked him bare, liked that there was nothing between us. Well, nothing other than that inconvenient little thought I’d had moments earlier, but right now, all I wanted was this. “Fuck me.”

He lined up his cock, and I exhaled, remembering to relax into the penetration. My abs quivered, my body still unsure what it thought about the stretch and burn. I liked the fullness, though, the indirect pressure especially, and I liked sharing this with him most of all. Watching his face was such a turn-on, the wonder and awe and undisguised lust.

“Oh holy cow. Magnus .” His needy groan was matched by the heat in his eyes and cheeks dusky with pleasure.

“That’s it,” I encouraged as he thrust, short strokes becoming more fluid as he found a rhythm that had us both moaning.

“It’s too good.” He paused, long, lean torso vibrating with barely contained tension.

“No such thing.” I rocked upward, encouraging him to resume thrusting.

“Trying to last.” He gritted the words out, and, lord, did I want to see this man detonate. I wanted him to fall apart. Fall into me. Let go of the last of that restraint he carried every day.

“Don’t.” I bucked my hips, a reckless desire to snap his control. “Just go. Let me worry about me.”

Eric opened his mouth like he had another protest in him, so I started jacking my own cock, hard and fast, as much to give him a show as to get me there. However, as soon as Eric sucked in a breath, approval clear in his eyes, my arousal increased. Perhaps I liked his gaze on me or the way he resumed thrusting, but I also just liked him , full stop. And I definitely liked turning him on, hearing his moans mingling with the music filtering up from downstairs.

“I’m gonna…”

“Yeah, you are,” I urged. I stroked faster because every time I increased the pace, he moaned that much more until, finally, he squished his eyes shut and started hammering me hard. Control snap achieved, an almost palpable thing, the way the tension he’d been holding fled, body loose and limber now as he fucked me furiously. “Come on, Eric. Come.”

“Yes.” He groaned like he’d needed that permission. I could feel him, warm and urgent in my ass, no condom between us. And when his strokes started to stutter, I could feel the warmth of his come. Strange, but wonderful.

He thrust a final time, the extra slickness making his cockhead glide over my prostate in a way that turned the electric sensation into pure pleasure. I jerked myself faster, thinking about him in me, his come in me, replaying how he’d let go and fucked me like his life depended on it. I glanced up at him, his come-drunk face, small, pleased smile, soft features.

Fuck. I really do love him. The thought hit right along with my orgasm, which burst out of me, come hitting my chest and chin. The climax seemed sweeter, sharper, laced with all those mixed-up emotions. Joy. Relief. Confusion. Love. Sadness. Fear…because what the hell happened now?

And that question lingered as Eric carefully pulled out, and we fumbled through some cleanup with my towel before collapsing in a heap, his head on my chest, my arms around him. Perfection, but could it possibly last?