Page 143 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“Yes? Would you like something?” Gabe asks, feigning nonchalance when the hard length of Ellis’ cock slides against his own.

“Yeah. You.”

Gabe grins. “Done.” Pushing himself up, he slides open the bedside drawer to fetch lube and a condom. He flips the cap of the lube bottle open. “Do you want to watch?” He’d love to feel Ellis’ fingers again, but having that dark, hungry gaze on him as he gets himself ready is just as good.

“I…um…”

And okay, a blushing Ellis is not an uncommon occurrence, but they’ve done this before. Why is he getting nervous now?

“Hey.” Gabe brushes Ellis’ hair off his forehead. He’s starting to get worried, because Ellis won’t look at him. “What’s wrong? Do you not want to?” He was so sure this is what Ellis wanted.

His throat bobbing, Ellis shifts his gaze to meet Gabe’s. “I want to feel you inside me.”

This must be what a near-death experience feels like. Gabe’s vision blurs, narrowing down to a thin tunnel, the rest of his senses checking out.

Ellis smirks, like he knows Gabe’s brain just shut down for a moment. “Did I finally shut you up?”

The teasing successfully snaps him back. “Are you implying I never shut up?!”

Ellis laughs, no longer looking nervous, just hopeful. “Please?”

The gravity of the moment descends on Gabe like a heavy weight. “Are you sure? The timing is a bit…”

Seeking comfort in someone else’s body is a normal response, but this is supposed to be Ellis’ first time. Does Gabe really want to do it like that? What if Ellis regrets it later? Gabe couldn’t live with himself.

A warm hand on his cheek snaps Gabe out of his whirring thoughts.

“I know,” Ellis says, gratitude and adoration seeping out of him. “But I’m a right mess, and I want to be as close to you as possible. You’re my solace, remember?”

Solace. Safe place.

Fuck. How is he supposed to say no to that?

You don’t, genius. Shut up and make your man feel good.

“I remember.” He nuzzles into Ellis’ hand, pressing a kiss to his palm. “Turn over for me.”

A shadow of disappointment falls over Ellis’ face. “Can we do it face to face?”

“Oh, we absolutely will,” Gabe promises, kissing him on the nose. “I just want to get you ready first. It will be more comfortable that way.”

“Oh, okay.” Ellis easily flips onto his stomach, stretching his body out like an overgrown, sexy cat. “You’re the boss.”

“Hmm, I like that.”

One of these days, he’s going to have a talk with Ellis about casually dropping statements like that. He obviously has no idea how twisted Gabe’s mind can get.

That’s for another time, though.

Gabe slides on a condom and reaches for the lube, pausing. Seeing Ellis like this, open and trusting, laying himself out in front of him like an offering, is a sight to behold. Gabe could see him like this a hundred times and it wouldn’t get old.

Ellis turns his head to throw Gabe an impatient look. “What are you doing?”

“Appreciating the moment.”

“Can you appreciate it more actively?”

Gabe shrugs. “Alright.” He flops onto his belly between Ellis’ parted thighs and grabs his firm cheeks, pulling them apart. Diving forward, he gives Ellis’ hole an enthusiastic lick.