Page 87 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

Oh.

And just like that, Gabe remembers they were in the middle of something. More accurately, his dick reminds him by trying to tear a hole in his shorts. His mind swarms with ideas, with every possible way he could show Ellis how much he wants him, body and soul. He wants to erase the memory of every person who has ever made Ellis feel inadequate, not good enough. Of every person who’s taken something from him and never given anything in return.

Ellis might not know what he wants, but he’s trusting Gabe to find out, to take care of him.

Gabe will take such good care of him.

The next kiss has none of the urgency, but all of the heat, setting his insides on fire. He lets it consume him, lets himself get swept in it, in Ellis.

Ellis clings to him like he’s lost in the ocean and Gabe is a buoy, the only thing that can save him, like he would drown if he let go. It occurs to Gabe that might be what Ellis thinks he needs—for someone to save him.

Gabe doesn’t think that’s true. Ellis doesn’t need to be saved because he’s done that himself a long time ago. He had no choice.

He doesn’t need a savior. He just needs someone to see him. To love him.

I volunteer as tribute.

Ellis throws his head back, breaking the kiss when Gabe rolls his hips, slow and sinuous, letting him feel it. He kisses the corner of Ellis’ mouth, his stubbly chin. “Good?”

“Mhmfm.”

Smiling, Gabe continues to pepper kisses over his jaw, pressing one to the spot below his ear and making him shiver. Then he licks the spot, tasting salt and Ellis, just to see what happens.

He isn’t disappointed.

Ellis’ hands fly to his hips, holding him in place as he thrusts up, again and again, groaning with each drag of his cock against Gabe’s.

Moving his mouth lower, Gabe kisses and licks over his throat, mindful not to leave any marks. Not yet, anyway. Ellis’ stubble burns his lips in the best way, making them oversensitive and puffy. Out of curiosity, he carefully scrapes his teeth over Ellis’ Adam’s apple.

Ellis arches off the sofa, mumbling, “Gabe.”

Gabe grins like a maniac, proud he’s reduced Ellis to a state where he’s not even able to say Gabe’s full name.

His grin disappears, morphing into a drawn-out moan when Ellis sinks one hand into his hair and pulls. Probably a payback, not that Gabe’s complaining.

Ellis continues delivering short, gentle tugs as Gabe works his way lower, trying to get his mouth on every inch of exposed skin. The tug is far from gentle when he licks and nips on Ellis’ nipple, confirming his theory that Ellis is planning to match the torture with his own. Ironically, it seems like a win-win.

By the time Gabe has reached Ellis’ tummy, they’re both a mess, Ellis’ breathing shallow and ragged, and Gabe’s scalp sensitive and tingling in the best way. Every time he doessomething Ellis loves, he’s hit with a blast of desire and pleasure, which makes him feelmoredesire and pleasure, which makes his emotions amplify, which gets Ellis all riled up, which makes Gabe’s emotions more intense. They get stuck in this emotional loop that just gets more and more intense.

It’s fucking awesome.

Gabe presses a wet kiss below Ellis’ bellybutton and props his chin there as he seeks out Ellis’ gaze. Fingers hooking into the waistband of Ellis’ pants, he raises an eyebrow. “Yes?”

The word is barely out when Ellis breathes out a shaky but decisive “Yes.”

Lips curling into a grin, Gabe starts to tug the pants and underwear over Ellis’ hips. He feels like a kid on a Christmas morning about to unwrap his most anticipated present; torn between wanting to tear into it at once, or take his time and really savor it.

He sucks a bruise into Ellis’ hipbone when it’s revealed, figuring no one will be looking there. It pulls a hiss out of Ellis, probably more from surprise than genuine pain. When Gabe looks at him, he finds him already looking back, eyes dark and glazed over, lips redder than Gabe has left them.

Another tug, and Ellis’ cock springs free, so hard it slaps against his belly with an obscene sound. Groaning, Gabe works Ellis’ clothes down to mid-thigh, unabashedly staring as Ellis’ cock twitches, pre-come pooling on his stomach. He’s uncut, a discovery that comes as a surprise but a welcomed one because Gabe has always had a bit of kink for that.

A choked off laugh comes from Ellis. “You’re staring like you don’t have one yourself.” He’s nervous, Gabe can feel it, the connection between them buzzing with it.

Curling a finger, he grazes the knuckle over Ellis’ length. The touch is featherlight, but Ellis reacts as if he’s seconds away from coming. It makes Gabe’s already filthy mind whirr with possibilities. If Ellis is so responsive to a simple touch…

“The difference is, I’ve never wanted to choke on my cock.”

Ellis’ eyes fly wide open, some unintelligible sounds falling from his mouth.