Page 13

Gabe

E l Paso comes into view late in the afternoon, the skyline shimmering faintly in the distance. The drive has felt both too long and too short—stretched out by stops to feed and walk Annie, but also filled with moments of love and teasing that made time slip away. Despite Mika’s best efforts to keep me distracted with his creative—and often sinful—ways, I can’t shake the heaviness creeping over me now.

Annie is about to go to her new home.

I know this is good for her. Hell, it’s great. But damned if I won’t miss her like crazy.

Mika’s hand slips over mine, his body heat cutting through the melancholy like a balm. That quiet support he offers me without words? It’s everything.

Traffic on I-10 is surprisingly light, and the GPS leads us to a house on Yandell Drive without a hitch. The place is charming—mid-sized, with a large, neatly fenced yard. It’s clear the family takes pride in their home.

Before we even step out of the truck, the front door opens, and a couple steps out, holding hands with their little girl.

“Ethan and Betta Basquez, and their daughter, Elida,” Mika murmurs, his voice soft and reassuring.

I nod, unbuckling my seatbelt. My heart squeezes as I climb out of the truck, but as I take in the family approaching us, something inside me loosens. There’s a sense of rightness here, a quiet certainty that these people will be great for Annie.

“They’re good people, Gabe,” Mika says gently, stepping up beside me. “This will be an excellent home for her.”

His words wrap around me like a warm hug. How the hell did I ever manage this before him?

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Basquez, Miss Elida,” I greet them with a smile, my voice steady. “I’m Gabriel Staley, and this is Mika Blackwell.”

Ethan steps forward with an easy smile, extending his hand first to me and then to Mika.

“Please, call me Ethan,” he says. “And this is my wife, Betta. Thank you for rescuing Annie for us.”

I like that— rescuing Annie for them. As though she was theirs all along and we were just the bridge that brought them together.

Betta steps forward next, shaking my hand and then Mika’s, her expression friendly and grateful. Their daughter, Elida, hangs back a little, her shy smile blooming as she peers curiously toward the truck bed.

I crouch down, meeting her gaze with a soft smile. “Would you like to meet your new family member?”

Her eyes light up, and she nods quickly. “Please?”

I e xtend my hand, and she takes it, her small fingers curling trustingly around mine as I lead her to the back of the truck. When her eyes land on Annie, her mouth falls open in awe.

Annie, ever the charmer, wags her little nub of a tail as if she’s been waiting her whole life for this moment. She lets out a soft whine, her bright eyes fixed on Elida.

Mika climbs into the truck bed and picks up Annie’s red leash. His voice turns gentle, almost reverent. “Hey, Annie, look at your new girl,” he murmurs, his tone making my heart ache in the best way.

Elida presses closer to the truck, her excitement bubbling over. “Can I pet her?”

“Of course,” I say, stepping aside so she can have her moment.

Mika clips the leash onto Annie’s collar and lifts her carefully, bringing her down to meet her new family. Annie’s tail wags furiously as Elida crouches down, giggling as she strokes the dog’s soft coat.

Betta and Ethan exchange smiles, their pride and joy evident as they watch their daughter bond with Annie.

“She’s perfect,” Betta says softly, her eyes glistening as she glances between Annie and Elida.

I swallow past the lump in my throat, my own emotions threatening to overwhelm me. This is why I do this—to give dogs like Annie the love and security they deserve.

Mika steps back to my side, his arm brushing against mine. “You made this happen,” he says quietly, just for me to hear.

I nod, unable to speak. For all the loss I feel at saying goodbye to Annie, there’s an undeniable rightness to this moment.

Aft er leaving Annie with her new family, we decide to rent a hotel in El Paso for the night instead of pushing straight on to New Mexico. We’ve considered heading up to Silver City tonight, but it’s too close to the Gila packlands. Mika and I agree that it’s better to show up unannounced.

Mika goes out to pick up dinner while I carry our bags to the room. Tossing them near the bed, I give the place a quick once-over. It’s clean, nothing fancy, but it’ll do. I make a quick call to check in with Todd and Adam, then head straight for the bathroom.

Peeling off my clothes, I can’t help but grin. Let’s face it—I probably smell like cum and wet wipes after today’s adventures.

The shower heats quickly, and I step under the spray, thankful for the hot water. Too many hotel stays have left me with lukewarm drizzles, so I’m not about to waste this. As the water sluices over me, I think about Mika. Even though we’re still hours away from the packlands, I can’t help but worry about what’s ahead.

I’m just reaching for the towel when the bathroom door creaks open.

Mika steps in, his eyes dark and smoldering as they rake over me. My heart pounds, and a coil of lazy heat zings low in my belly.

“So beautiful,” he whispers, his voice rough and full of want.

He walks toward me, taking the towel from my hand and letting it drop to the floor. His gaze flickers over my body, but there’s something else in his expression—a hesitation I don’t recognize. The sight of him like this, a little unsure, takes me off guard. This is Mika, confident and bold. What could possibly unnerve him?

He looks into my eyes, and I brace myself. Is this the moment where he tells me something terrible?

“I need you, Gabriel,” Mika says, his voice trembling just slightly. “I want you. Inside me.”

The words hit me like a lightning bolt.

“No one has…I’ve never let anyone fuck me before. But I need this. I need you. Just you.”

His words are rough, raw with need, and they wash over me like fire.

My eyes widen, and my cock swells instantly. I’ve wanted Mika—I mean really wanted him—but I’ve been perfectly fine with letting him take the lead. Hell, it’s not like I’ve ever felt unsatisfied. I had wondered, though, if he’d ever…been on the receiving end, but I didn’t know how to bring it up. Now, here he is, offering himself to me in a way he’s never offered to anyone.

It’s overwhelming.

I feel honored, full of love, and so turned on I think I might come just from the thought of being inside him.

“Mika…” My voice breaks on his name.

He steps closer, his hands sliding to my waist, his touch grounding me as much as it ignites me.

“Are you sure, Mika? We don’t have to.” I try to keep my voice neutral, not wanting to let my own overwhelming desire pressure him. But damn it, I want this.

Mika doesn’t hesitate. He grabs the towel I’d been using and wraps it around my waist, using it like a sling to pull me against him. The heat of his body, the water still dripping from me soaking into his clothes, makes my head spin. His shirt clings to every chiseled muscle, outlining his frame in a way that’s nearly sinful. I don’t resist when he presses his mouth to mine. The kiss is fierce and consuming, a clash of lips, teeth, and tongues.

I grind against him, desperate to be closer, my hands gripping his shoulders, as though I might fall if I let go. But then Mika steps back, leaving me panting and dazed .

Slowly, he unbuttons his shirt, his fingers working each button free with a deliberate, maddening precision. My cock throbs, my whole body aching for him. The shirt falls open but doesn’t slide off, leaving a tantalizing view of his smooth, muscled chest as he kicks off his shoes.

He moves backward, out of the bathroom, and I follow as if pulled by an invisible thread of desire.

When he stops beside the bed, he continues undressing, and I’m mesmerized. His fingers glide to his waistband, unbuttoning his pants with the same unhurried sensuality. As he pushes them and his boxers down, the tails of his shirt part, revealing his cock, already hard and dripping.

That’s it —I can’t just stand here anymore.

I step forward, sliding my hands inside his open shirt, gliding over his chest, his shoulders, then down his arms, pushing the fabric free. Our mouths meet again, this time for a tender, lingering kiss as I ease him down onto the bed.

I guide him to the center of the mattress, lifting his thighs and spreading his legs wide. My hands move down his legs, removing his socks before I sit back to take him in.

He’s breathtaking.

Mika lies before me, thighs open, exposing every part of him—his cock, his balls, and that virgin pink hole I’m dying to claim.

“Fucking perfect, Mika. Perfect.”

Leaning over the side of the bed, I rummage in my bag until I find the lube. I set it down on the mattress, my gaze returning to him. I’m almost overwhelmed with the need to touch him everywhere, all at once.

“Where to begin…” I murmur teasingly, trailing a finger from the head of his cock, already slick with pre-cum, down to his balls. I let my touch wa nder lower, until I’m lightly caressing the tight, untouched entrance beneath them.

Mika groans, his hips jerking involuntarily. “Gabe, please, I need…”

“Need what, Mika?” I press just firmly enough to tease but not enter, stroking back and forth over his sensitive skin. “Tell me. Tell me exactly what you need.”

He pushes against my fingers, grinding his hips as if seeking relief, but I don’t give it to him. Not yet.

“Tell me what you need.”

“Fuck me, Gabe,” he finally gasps, his voice raw with desperation. As he groans his voice answers inside my head, “I need you inside me so much that I ache with it.”

He twists and writhes—his body begging even when his words don’t come fast enough. The sight is the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen. I know, without a doubt, that this moment, this memory, will stay burned into my soul forever.

“Soon, Mika, just let me… Have to get you ready. I don’t want to hurt you.” My voice is barely steady as I lean down, running my tongue over the head of Mika’s cock, savoring the salty taste of him.

He moans, hands tangling in my hair, guiding me closer. “Gabe, please…” His words are desperate, urging me on.

I grab the tube of lube and pop it open, refusing to rush this. As I coat my fingers, I focus on him, laving the sensitive underside of his prick, feeling the hot, firm weight of it against my tongue. My slick fingers trail along the crease beneath his balls, teasing until I brush against his entrance. His body jerks, and I let my fingers circle there before pressing one inside.

“Okay?” I manage to ask, my voice thick with need.

“ Oh, fuck, Gabe. More!” Mika’s response is a guttural plea, his hips bucking forward into my mouth and back against my finger, his entire body desperate for more.

“You’re so hot, Mika. Fucking love stretching you,” I murmur, sliding in a second finger. I crook them slightly, searching until I feel the telltale ripple as I find his gland. His whole body trembles, a sharp cry tearing from his lips as I press there again and again.

Mika writhes beneath me, his cock twitching against my tongue. “Gabe, I can’t—I’m gonna—”

I feel him tense and then spurt after spurt of his release hits the back of my throat. Swallowing around him, I push a third finger inside, gently scissoring, preparing him even as his orgasm rips through him.

Sliding my fingers free, I reach up and grab the pillows beneath his head. “Lift your hips,” I urge, guiding him as I shove the pillows beneath his ass and hips. The sight of him spread open, his hole pink and glistening, has my cock throbbing painfully. “So perfect, Mika. Pink and wet and ready for me.”

“Ready,” Mika breathes, his voice rough and needy. His dark eyes find mine, and I see nothing but trust and desire there. “Now, Gabe.”

I slick more lube over my cock, the cool gel doing little to ease the fiery heat coursing through me. Sitting back on my heels between his thighs, I nod. “ Grab the backs of your thighs for me. ”

Mika complies, pulling his legs back and opening himself wider. My hands settle on his hips as I line up, my cock brushing against the unyielding ring of muscle. I press forward, breaching him slowly.

His body resists at first, the tight heat gripping me as I inch forward. Mika grunts, his hands straining on his thighs as his brow furrows. I pause, forcing myself to hold still despite every instinct screaming at me to keep going.

“ Bear down, babe,” I murmur softly. “Let me in. I promise it’ll feel so good.”

Mika takes a deep breath, his body relaxing just enough for me to slide in deeper. My cock sinks into him in one long, agonizingly slow thrust until my hips are flush with his. I groan, overwhelmed by the feel of him surrounding me, squeezing me.

Mika hisses through his teeth, his chest heaving as he adjusts. My panic flares briefly, worried I’ve hurt him, but then I see it—the discomfort easing from his eyes, replaced by something raw and electric. He clenches around me once, his muscles rippling in silent invitation.

“You okay?” I ask, my voice shaky.

His lips curl into a small, almost defiant smile. “More, Gabe. Move.”

That’s all the permission I need.

“So good, Mika, so fucking hot. You’re gripping my cock so good babe.” I drive my hips harder, watching as Mika’s eyes roll back in his head, his lips parting on a guttural moan. Pulling back just a few inches, I thrust in again, as deep as I can go. God, it feels incredible. I can’t stop myself—I have to do it again.

I fuck him in short, firm strokes, each one wringing moans from both of us, the sound raw and addictive. My hips snap forward, my cock slamming into him, and his body grips me like a vise. I pull out almost completely, then sink back in, angling just right to hit his prostate. Mika’s shout tears through the room, and my cock twitches at the sound.

“Yesyesyesyes! Like that, Gabriel, again!”

I adjust my angle and pound into him, faster, harder, each thrust rubbing over his gland. Mika’s cries and grunts drive me wild, my gaze locked on the way my cock disappears into his tight, perfect body. He rea ches down, wrapping his hand around his own cock, stroking himself in time with my thrusts.

“Ah, Mika! Come for me, baby, come for me!” I’m desperate now, holding on by a thread as I watch his hand move.

Mika’s body tenses beneath me, and he comes with a shuddering cry, thick ropes of his release spilling across his stomach and chest. The sight pushes me over the edge, my fingers digging into his hips as I drive in deep, my balls slapping against him. My orgasm rips through me, filling him with hot, pulsing jets of cum as his clenching channel milks me dry.

I collapse forward, gasping for air, my cock still buried in his heat. God, I don’t ever want to leave. If I could, I’d stay here forever, but my limbs are shaking, and I know I’ll fall over if I don’t move soon. Mika lowers his legs, letting them flop bonelessly onto the bed. He looks as wrecked as I feel.

Carefully, I pull out, shifting to Mika’s side while I still have the strength. I should be a gentleman. Or something.

“Gimme a minute, Mika. When I can walk again, I’ll get a cloth, ‘kay?” My voice is hoarse, but I mean it.

“‘S’okay,” Mika mumbles, his eyes heavy lidded. “Need to shower. Gonna get up soon.”

We both mean it, but neither of us moves. Instead, we drift off, sated and spent, our bodies demanding rest, our souls utterly content.