Page 57 of Resilience on Canvas

Robert smiled. “Alright, then, see you tomorrow.”

“Night, Robert,” Joe said with a wink.

After kicking off his shoes, Robert made his way to him and Henry’s bedroom. He found Henry sitting on a stool in front of his new easel, clean paintbrush in hand, staring at a blank canvas.

“Hey,” Robert said, making his way over.

He pecked Henry once on the lips.

“Hey,” Henry said back.

Robert moved to straighten up, but Henry caught his shirt collar and kissed him once more.

Their tongues touched, and Robert’s heart fluttered, the little flicker of love he felt for Henry intensifying and burning hotter than it had been for the last week.

Groaning into Henry’s mouth, Robert let himself surrender to the familiar feeling of want, and his cock started to swell.

Thank God that the feeling of hopelessness hadn’t stolen this from him. Not completely, anyway.

Before Robert could take things further, Henry broke their kiss.

“Were you out havin’ a cigarette?” he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.

Robert cringed. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Henry said with a warm, forgiving smile. “I know how things are right now.”

“Thanks, Hen.”

Henry released Robert’s shirt collar, and Robert walked behind Henry to wrap him up in a backward hug. He rested his chin on Henry’s shoulders, lust and love burning inside of him. Together, they looked at the canvas. “What are you thinkin’ of paintin’?”

“Mmm... I ain’t sure yet. I’m kind of tired of landscapes.”

Robert kissed Henry’s cheek. “Whatever you paint, I’ll love it. Everyone will.”

Henry hummed happily, and Robert pressed their cheeks together.

Closing his eyes, Robert focused on the love and lust that were still swirling in his chest, and he let his hands fall to Henry’s lap.

Even though Robert’s fingertips only barely reached low enough to graze the evidence of Henry’s hardness, it was enough to make Robert’s cock stir.

Robert had to finish what he’d started. He’d been so numb lately that he hadn’t really had it in him to be intimate with Henry too much over the last week, and now, with the feelings of mine and want rekindled by Henry’s kiss, Robert was overcome with the intense need to take Henry to bed.

Because there was more to taking care of people than paying for things, wasn’t there?

And Robert ought to be taking better care of his little wolf .

Lowering his mouth to Henry’s neck, he began pressing a series of kisses along Henry’s sweet skin. Pausing, he murmured, “I haven’t been the best husband lately, have I?”

“What?” Henry set his paintbrush on the little table with the paint tins. He turned to face Robert. “I hope yer kiddin’. I couldn’t imagine havin’ a better husband.”

“But I haven’t been carin’ for you properly.” Robert took hold of Henry’s hands and coaxed Henry to his feet. Robert then started toward the bed, urging Henry to follow. “I need to fix that.”

Before Henry could protest, Robert clutched tight to Henry’s shirt and yanked him in for a passionate kiss.

When they collided, Henry moaned into Robert’s mouth.

Quickly, Robert started removing Henry’s clothes, not breaking their kiss even for a second as he unfasted each of Henry’s shirt buttons.

When Robert then tugged at the button on Henry’s pants, Henry pulled back a bit, but Robert followed him, leaning forward to keep their kiss continuous, not yet willing to part.

Henry chuckled. Finally, once Robert had successfully unfastened the front of Henry’s pants, Henry pushed Robert’s shoulders back, forcing the two of them apart.

“Robert, I need to breathe a little,” he teased, shrugging out of his shirt.

Chuckling, Robert started unbuttoning his own shirt. “Yeah, well, enjoy the reprieve because the second I’m naked, I’m kissin’ you some more, and I won’t be lettin’ you break free so easily.”

Henry’s eyes flew wide. “Good Lord.”

Son of a bitch, Henry was cute.

Robert rushed to remove the rest of his clothes.

By the time he looked back up, Henry was a mess of lust—naked by the edge of the bed, holding his own hard cock in his hand, pleasuring himself with slow, sensual strokes.

He was sucking on that plump bottom lip of his, too, and his beautiful brown eyes were large and pleading and filled with want.

Robert’s stomach tumbled.

“You alright there, Hen?” Robert teased, removing his final piece of clothing—one off-white, hole-riddled cotton sock.

“Uhm, maybe?” Henry said, still stroking himself. “Just thinkin’ about what you said.”

Robert flung his sock toward the wicker laundry basket.

Grinning, he cocked an eyebrow and said, “Which part?”

“About you not lettin’ me break free,” Henry replied. “I like the thought of that.”

Robert strutted toward Henry, his heart starting to hammer from excitement.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Henry licked his lips and swallowed as Robert leaned in close. He let out a trembling breath and said, “I want you to take me like that. I’ve been wanting it.”

“See, I knew I hadn’t been takin’ proper care of you,” Robert said in a low, throaty voice.

He reached up and took a fistful of Henry’s hair.

Henry winced, and Robert’s stomach tumbled some more when he saw the lust still shimmering in Henry’s eyes.

“Are you sure this is what you want, Hen? You want me to be rough with you?”

“Yes,” Henry begged. “Please, yes, Robert.”

Henry’s plea sent a shiver of want up Robert’s spine, and he pulled Henry in for a kiss, crushing their lips together. Over and over, their lips met, impassioned moans tumbling from both of their lips as they climbed up on the bed and Robert settled on top of Henry.

Robert could only stand a few seconds of rolling his hips before he had to stop to rummage through their nightstand for the Vaseline. After he found it, he took a few fingers-full to lubricate his shaft. Henry lifted his legs so that Robert could then lubricate him, too.

While Robert coated Henry’s pucker with the Vaseline, Henry let out a soft, needy whine, and Robert pushed one finger in to the middle knuckle. Henry sucked in a breath.

“Oh, God,” he breathed right before Robert crooked his finger slightly, trying to find that spot Henry liked so much. It wasn’t long before he felt what he was looking for. Gently, he pressed on it, and Henry’s hand shot out to clutch Robert’s thigh. “Easy, Robert. I’ll come.”

“I won’t play too much,” Robert said, moving his finger in and out a few times. “Just a little. Remember we found that this made it easier for you to take me?”

He pushed a second finger inside. Henry’s other hand shot out to twist the sheets.

Robert had to fight to ignore his own throbbing need so he could finger-fuck Henry for a bit longer.

In and out. In and out. Robert pushed a third finger into Henry’s hole, and the sensation caused Henry to murmur a hushed cuss word, his eyes screwing shut. Robert smirked.

“I won’t be takin’ it easy once I start fuckin’ you. Let me make sure yer ready for it.”

In and out.

After a little while longer, Henry said, “Can you fuck me now? Please?”

“God, well, if yer beggin’ for it...” Robert replied playfully.

He retracted his fingers before scooting forward on his knees to line himself up with Henry’s slick and ready hole. Henry rested his legs on Robert’s shoulders.

“Ready, little wolf?” Robert said, the tip of his cock touching Henry’s warm entrance .

Eagerly, Henry nodded. Robert jerked his hips forward, pushing himself inside. Gasping, Henry tensed, and Robert felt a pang of worry. He leaned forward to press a kiss to Henry’s lips.

“Do you want me to fuck you soft? I still can. I was only kiddin’ before.”

Henry shook his head. “No, I-I want you to take me rough, Robert. Just need a minute.” He took a couple of breaths. Warm fondness spread through Robert’s chest. Christ, he loved his brave little wolf. “Alright, I’m ready.”

Slowly, Robert shifted his hips back before thrusting forward as hard as he could. Henry cried out. Robert paused, worry settling in his stomach, but then Henry nodded once, providing Robert with the encouragement and reassurance to continue.

Robert fucked Henry twice more. Hard.

“Lord Almighty,” Henry rasped. “Just like that.”

Henry’s words provided Robert with the final push he needed.

When Robert resumed his thrusting, he let want consume him.

He fucked Henry harder than he thought he’d ever let himself.

All the while, Henry’s moans and cries and whines stoked the fire in Robert’s soul, reigniting a passion that only moments before, he’d thought might have been lost forever.

Giving Henry what he wanted, fucking Henry how he wanted to be fucked, Robert felt like he was reclaiming a piece of himself.

He was still a caretaker, through and through.

Emboldened by the realization, Robert took hold of Henry’s wrists and pinned him to the bed. Pressing them into the mattress, he continued to roll his hips.

Henry’s next moan—soft and needy—struck Robert in the chest, making his heart stutter.

“Mine,” Robert said, through a forceful thrust. “I need to hear you say it.”

“Always yers,” Henry replied .

“Forever.” Robert shifted his weight to press more firmly on Henry’s wrists. “I’ll never let you go, Henry Davis. Don’t you forget it.”

Henry’s breath hitched, and the sound sent a shiver of pleasure pulsing through Robert’s veins, traveling the length of his spine. Everything started to tingle. Goddamn, he was so close.

After one more thrust, Henry let out a long, low moan and came. Warm, white pleasure spurted from Henry’s cock, and Robert’s own member started to pulse.

“I’m comin’, too, Hen.”

Slowing his thrusts, Robert shut his eyes and surrendered to his orgasm, emptying himself inside of the man he loved. When he was finished, he paused to catch his breath, still lost in the wonderful state of post-orgasm bliss.

Henry’s voice brought him back to the present. “Uhm, Robert?”

Dazed, Robert opened his eyes to see Henry looking at his wrists, both of which were still pinned to the mattress, his fingertips turning white.

“Oh, Christ, sorry,” Robert said, removing his hands.

Laughing, Henry began opening and closing his fists.

“Goodness, that was...” Henry let out a breath. “I loved it.”

“Yeah? Are you sure it wasn’t too rough?”

“I’ve been wantin’ that from you for forever.

Before I even thought of us bein’ intimate like this, I wanted it.

I mean, before we met, I would watch you lose yer temper when someone tried to shortchange you on those vegetable hauls or I’d watch you strut through town with this honest-to-God fire in yer eyes, and, oh, I knew I wanted to experience it somehow. ”

Robert snorted a laugh as he settled onto his back next to Henry. “I’ve never met anyone else like you, little wolf. God, you see flames, and you run right into them. I swear. ”

Henry rolled over to face him. “Just when it comes to you.”

“Not true. Yer a brave son of a bitch, Henry. When it comes to plumb near everything.” Robert swept a hand through Henry’s hair. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Maybe I’m a little brave.” Henry smiled bashfully, a blush coloring his cheeks. “Sometimes.”

“Nuh-uh.” Robert shook his head. “All the time.”

Threading his fingers through Henry’s soft brown-blond hair, Robert made himself a promise. Someday, he would make Henry see the strength and courage he had inside him.

And Henry would know why Robert called him his little wolf.