Page 24 of Private Exhibit (Gentleman Hackers #4)

ANDY SHUDDERED at the way Devon looked at him.

Gods . It was almost too much.

He'd spent all day pacing the morgue, nothing to do but wait for the hours to tick by.

There were no bodies to autopsy. No ghosts or families to console.

Nothing to clean. It had taken everything Andy had to stop himself from running up to the third floor.

To his old office. To throwing himself back into his endless research, knowing there was nothing to find.

He'd almost broken, knowing there was a sweet, perfect boy just on the other side of the door. A boy who deserved to live.

But he'd resisted. Barely, but still. He'd spent all day, determined not to even think about Ashworth-Grahams. He wasn't going to let it get in the way. Andy fully intended to just enjoy what he and Devon could experience together.

And now? Seeing how Devon looked at him?

Gods . All thought fled. Nothing existed beyond the two of them. Andy had planned to give Devon whatever the boy wanted that night. Instead, Devon was giving him something.

Andy muttered a curse. He'd never felt so powerful as he did in that moment, having Devon's riveted gaze on him. Never felt so alive. Standing there completely naked, he felt like he could take on the world.

He stepped right up to Devon, tipping the boy's face up so he could look him in the eyes. “Tell me what you want,” Andy asked, his voice a low, husky murmur.

Devon trembled. “Anything,” he gasped. “Oh gods. Everything.”

“Everything?”

Devon nodded.

“Tell me,” Andy murmured.

“I want…” Devon slowly shook his head, then covered his face with both hands. “Too much. I don't know!”

“Hey,” Andy whispered. He grabbed Devon's hands and slowly pulled them away to find a pinched look on the boy's face. “Devon?”

Devon's lower lip trembled. “I want too much and there's no time –”

Andy cupped the boy's jaw with both hands, brushing a thumb across his lips.

“Then here's what's gonna happen,” he murmured.

“Daddy's gonna undress you. Alright? Then we're gonna take a shower together.

I'll wash you all over. Touch you everywhere. Find all your favorite spots.” Andy stopped suddenly, realizing he might have to be cautious with that. “Is there anywhere I need to avoid?”

“Why– Oh .” Devon shook his head, his jaw working like he was struggling to speak. Finally, after a moment, he whimpered, “ Please .”

A smile slowly took over Andy's face, hearing all the things packed into that one little word.

Please touch me everywhere. Please make me feel .

For a boy who'd never been kissed before, Devon probably also hadn't done anything else, which meant he was probably desperate to experience all the things he'd been missing out on. All the touches. All the connection.

“Don't you worry, baby,” Andy murmured, brushing their lips together. “Daddy's gonna take care of you.”

Devon moaned.

Andy took Devon's hand and led him into the washroom. The boy gaped at the space, his eyes wide as he took it all in. Andy got the shower running, then knelt down and helped Devon out of his shoes. He slowly undressed him, watching a blush spread from Devon's cheeks down to his chest.

Devon rocked where he stood, hands fidgeting at his sides.

Andy stepped up close to him, almost but not quite touching, and tipped Devon's face up. “Look at Daddy,” he murmured.

Devon slowly lifted his gaze.

Andy smiled at him. “Gods, you're beautiful.”

“No, I'm not,” Devon mumbled.

“You are to me,” Andy told him, then kissed the boy as he wrapped him up tight in his arms.

Devon gasped. He held there, frozen and breathless for a moment, then let out a delicious moan and kissed Andy back, his entire body trembling in Andy's arms. “Oh my gods,” Devon panted.

Andy grinned. “Come on.” He took Devon by the hand and led him into the shower. Andy grabbed him and kissed him again, then stopped just long enough to reach for the control panel, turning the glass surround from clear to blackout .

Devon gasped again.

“Now it's just us,” Andy murmured, stepping slowly around behind the boy and kissing along his shoulders. “Just this little space. No distractions. But next time, we'll try mirror . How's that sound?”

Devon moaned, his gaze flicking from one wall to another and back again, his eyes wide and dark.

And Andy did as he'd said he was going to do.

He slowly washed Devon all over, keeping in constant contact with the boy, exploring every inch of his skin, the two of them discovering together all the places Devon liked to be touched.

Andy took his time. He caressed the boy's chest, tracing the neat, faint lines from top surgery.

Massaged his shoulders, feeling the tense muscles there.

Groped his legs and teased past his groin, noting the tiny incision marks where some laparoscopic procedure was done.

Devon inhaled sharply, looking like he was gearing up to blurt out an explanation. “I won a charity grant,” he began. “For a surgery. Since I figured I should never have kids anyway…”

Andy silenced him with a kiss, not wanting either of them to dwell on Devon's condition. He felt when Devon's worry short-circuited, the boy's little body melting against him.

So Andy redoubled his efforts, kissing him over and over, unable to resist.

It was almost an hour before Andy finally slid a hand between Devon's legs, slowly teasing him with feather-light touches. Devon moaned and nearly collapsed in his arms, his entire body trembling.

“Daddy,” Devon gasped.

“I've got you,” Andy murmured, stroking him harder and faster.

“Daddy's got you.” He gently nudged Devon's legs farther apart, giving himself more room to work.

Andy dipped two fingers into Devon's hole, grinning at the sound of the needy, gasping moan that ripped out of him.

Oh fuck . Andy shuddered. “You want Daddy inside you?”

Devon practically choked out a sob of need as he nodded.

Andy grinned. “Alright,” he murmured, easing the fingers deeper inside the boy. “We'll go slow, I promise.” He nuzzled Devon's jaw. “I'm gonna spread you out in the middle of my bed. Enter you slowly. Have you look me right in the eyes as I fuck you.”

“ Please ,” Devon begged.

Andy chuckled, unable to help himself. He felt so happy, it simply gushed out of him.

Holding Devon steady, Andy teased the boy for a few more minutes, then finished washing and rinsing both of them before he shut off the water and wrapped Devon in a big, fluffy towel.

He took his time drying the boy, kissing him as he went.

Finally, Andy took Devon by the hand and led him back to the bedroom.

Devon blushed as Andy positioned him in the middle of the bed, on his back, legs spread wide.

“Just look at me,” Andy murmured, positioning himself between Devon's legs, slowly rolling on a condom while the boy watched.

He did as he'd promised, entering Devon slowly, giving him a chance to watch.

The boy winced in pain but begged him not to stop, so Andy kept going, seeing Devon's need and desperation to finally experience this.

Gods . Andy needed it, too. He needed to be inside this boy.

To be part of him. To share this moment of human connection. Of life.

Slowly but surely, Devon relaxed, and as Andy moved inside him, he watched the boy's body tremble with pleasure and need.

Andy swooped down and kissed him, then sat back on his heels, gripping Devon's hips with both hands as he thrust into him over and over. “You see Daddy, sweet boy?”

Devon nodded, wide-eyed as he looked at him.

Gods . Even when Devon broke eye-contact to look down at where their bodies were connected, Andy felt that gaze right down to his core. Felt it all over his skin. The way Devon watched him was like a tangible caress. It was so beautiful. So achingly perfect.

Then Devon looked right into his eyes as he arched his back and cried out.

Andy stared, his rhythm faltering. Holy fuck . The ecstasy on Devon's face was exquisite. To think he'd almost denied himself this. He might have missed out on this incredible experience, never getting to see just how truly breathtaking this moment could be.

He seized Devon in his arms, holding him tight as he gave a few final thrusts and came.

Devon gasped in his ear. “Oh.” He choked out another soft cry. “I felt that,” he whispered. “Oh my gods.”

Andy grinned as he held the boy tight, panting and trying to catch his breath. “Yeah?”

Devon nodded, and Andy heard him sniff. “I never thought…”

Andy pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, seeing the sheer joy all over the boy's face. He couldn't help grinning. He'd given Devon that.

He held Devon tight, gently kissing him and touching him all over, until he finally had to stop as his cock began to soften.

Andy got up to dispose of the condom, then pulled Devon back into his arms until hunger drove them out of bed.

They ordered dinner to be delivered and spent the rest of the evening watching a movie and making out until Devon's eyelids began to droop.

Andy put Devon in bed, then went back to retrieve the vase of flowers. He set it on the nightstand, then nudged Devon closer to that side and climbed in behind him.

“So you can see those when you wake up,” he murmured, pressing a kiss behind Devon's ear.

Devon gave him a sleepy grin and closed his eyes.

Andy curled up naked with Devon in his arms. It felt like hours before he finally fell asleep, not wanting to miss a moment of having that precious little body beside him.

But exhaustion eventually took over. Andy drifted off with a smile on his face, enjoying the best night's sleep he'd had in as long as he could remember.

When he woke the next morning, Andy enjoyed one fleeting moment of perfection, remembering everything from the night before, fully aware that Devon was still there beside him. Gods . He couldn't imagine anything better.

But the moment passed. Before Andy even got his eyes open, he knew something was wrong.

Andy sat up. He saw Devon lying on his back, both arms clamping a pillow down over his face.

“Devon?” Andy asked, tugging on the pillow. “Baby? What's wrong?”

From behind the pillow, Andy heard a choked sob.

Oh gods . “Devon? Sweetheart? Are you in pain? Are you–” Andy swallowed hard.

Shit . “Do you regret–” Gods, please, no .

Andy pulled the pillow away, and Devon immediately covered his face with both hands, but not before Andy saw the wet cheeks and pained expression.

“Devon? What's–” Andy moved closer, then stopped, feeling the damp sheets under his leg.

“I'm so sorry,” Devon sobbed.

Andy blew out a breath. Just an attack , he realized. “Hey,” he murmured. “It's alright.”

“I ruined everything,” Devon cried, still hiding behind his hands.

“No. No, sweet boy. It's fine. I've got a mattress protector on the bed.” Andy paused, breathing a humorless laugh.

“Gods. Four years, and it's still habit to put it on.” He paused again.

“Junior insisted on sleeping between us, those last few months. And sometimes he refused to wear his diaper.” Andy touched Devon's hands.

“It's fine, baby. Really. You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Why don't you go get cleaned up, and I'll change the sheets, alright?”

“I can't,” Devon choked out.

“What? Why?”

Devon took in a shaky breath. “I've been trying for an hour, but I can't.” He choked out another sob, then said, “I can't feel my legs.”

Andy's breath caught in his throat. Oh gods . Suddenly, he was grateful not to have Devon's gaze on him. He felt Devon's confession like a punch to the gut, and it was all he could do to hold back tears of his own.

Oh gods. Not now. Please, not now . This couldn't be it. The beginning of the end. They'd only just gotten started.

Andy took a slow, deep, shaky breath, then had to hold it for a long moment before he let it back out.

Gods-damned Ashworth-Grahams .

He grabbed Devon's hands, carefully pulled them away, and gave Devon a kiss as a wave of determination charged through him.

Andy had to solve this if it was the last thing he ever did.

“Don't worry, baby,” Andy murmured. “Daddy's gonna take care of everything.”