Page 103 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“Not with you, they aren’t.”

Gabriel’s forehead drops to his nape, and he groans. “You know how to stroke a guy’s ego.”

“Hardly. You didn’t give me a chance.” So much for his research.

Gabriel gives a wry chuckle. “Sorry. When I’m with you, I turn into a two-pump chump.”

Right. Because he got so worked up from licking Ellis’ asshole. His face feels hot enough to start a small fire. “Now who’s stroking whose ego?”

Gabriel laughs, earning a groan of complaint when he gently coaxes Ellis to turn onto his side. “Spend the night?” He hurries on as if afraid the answer will be a no. “I have a spare toothbrush. And you can borrow my clothes, though I won’t be opposed if you want to sleep naked.”

If he was fully coherent, Ellis would go through a list of excuses for why that is a bad idea. As it is, he’ll be glad if he can drag himself to the bathroom, let alone be trusted with a moving vehicle. Or so he tells himself.

“Okay.”

Gabriel blinks at him. “Yeah?”

His beaming face alone is enough to solidify Ellis’ answer.

He cups the back of Gabriel’s neck and pulls him close. “Yeah.”

Ellis is hot. Boiling, really. The morning sun is filtering through the window and there’s a heavy, human-shaped heated blanket wrapped around him, snoring softly into his ear. Possibly drooling on his shoulder.

A coil of affection settles in his chest, his stomach filling with bubbles that keep forming and popping. It feels a lot like happiness, and the realization sets off mild panic. Happiness like this is dangerous. It means he has a lot to lose.

In a stealthy attempt at extracting himself, he carefully peels Gabriel’s arm off his chest and shuffles to the edge of the bed. And that’s as far as he gets.

The human blanket wiggles, letting out an unfairly adorable yawn. A pair of pretty amber eyes flutter open, bleary and heavy-lidded.

“Hmm, good morning,” Gabriel murmurs, wriggling closer and pulling Ellis exactly where he was before.

“Morning.” Resigned to his fate, Ellis wraps an arm around him. “I should nickname you koala bear.”

“I like that. Does that make you a eucalyptus tree? That would track. I kinda always want to climb you. ”

Ellis gives a very undignified snort. “Sure. Just don’t eat me.”

“I already did.” Gabriel’s grin is wicked, just like him. He trails his finger over the raised edge of Ellis’ cheek. “You blush so prettily.”

Groaning, Ellis fits his palm over Gabriel’s face. “Go away.”

“Nooo. I want cuddles.” He attaches himself to Ellis like a monkey, something hard and hot poking his hip.

Ellis swallows, his tongue gone dry. He’s suddenly aware of his very naked state, and Gabriel’s for that matter.

“Is that all you want?”

Gabriel blinks, as if he wasn’t aware of his aroused state until Ellis pointed it out. He doesn’t seem embarrassed in the least, and his smile is lopsided, a little sheepish. “I want a lot of things, but I’ll take what I can get.”

Here goes nothing. “How about my mouth?”

Empath or not, Gabriel didn’t see that coming, not if his gaping-fish expression is anything to go by. “Where did that come from?”

Ellis shrugs. “I suppose overthinking and porn-watching do interesting things to the brain. And seeing you suck me off might have contributed a little.”

“Porn-watching?”

“For research.”