Page 37 of When Ben Loved Jace (He Loved Him #2)

“Sure! Do you think Eric has a swimsuit I could borrow?”

Tim strips of his shirt. “Probably.” Then he unbuttons his shorts. They hit the patio at the same time as his underwear. “But do you really need one?”

I stare openly at that gorgeous uncut cock of his before Tim saunters to the edge of the pool and dives in. After resurfacing, he treads water while watching me.

“C’mon, Benjamin. Don’t be shy!”

That’s not how I’m feeling at the moment. I shrug off my shirt and ditch my shorts. Only then do I hesitate, because I’m already getting hard.

“You haven’t changed one bit,” Tim chuckles.

I’m not sure if he means my body or its obvious reaction. Either way, I walk to the edge of the pool and turn around before lowering my underwear.

“Damn!” I hear him say, as if impressed. “I missed that cute little butt of yours. Let’s see the rest.”

“Not a chance.”

I spread my arms wide and let myself fall backward into the water, which is cold enough to get myself under control again.

That, and I’ve never been the strongest swimmer.

I focus on attempting to appear at least somewhat graceful, although I’m nowhere near as comfortable in the water as Tim, who shows off by doing handstands before swimming a few laps up and down the length of the pool.

Chinchilla runs along the outside, tracking his progress.

“Does she ever get in?” I ask when Tim returns to me.

“Nope. I put her on an inflatable raft sometimes and push her around. She likes that. Even then she has to wear a life vest, because she sinks like a bowling ball.”

“That would be so cute!” I say, hurriedly adding, “to see her in a life vest, I mean.”

Tim grins. “Everything she does is adorable. Watch this.”

He splashes water at her. Chinchilla snaps at the air, like she’s trying to drink it. Or maybe she’s just offended. We play with her in this way, always missing on purpose, until she tires of the game and goes to find a shady spot to cool off.

“This is nice,” I say when Tim swims toward me.

“Uh-huh.” He’s got a look on his face that I remember well.

Although more is contained there than mere lust. He dives underwater, an arm wrapping around my waist, dragging me through the water with him.

When he surfaces again, my back is close to the side of the pool.

He stays near me, our kicking legs brushing against each other on occasion.

“Do you need time?” he asks. “To heal or whatever.”

I bite my lower lip. “No. That’s not what I need.”

His silver eyes dart down to my mouth and back again. “Because I want to be a lot things to you. Just not your rebound.”

I shake my head. “You could never be anything as simple as that. Not to me.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Tim grins and moves even closer, our bodies pressing together. He holds his face close to mine, as if taking in every detail. “Hey, Benjamin?”

“What?”

“I love you.”

I stare at him in disbelief. Then I throw my arms around his neck to kiss him. Tim reciprocates, his body angling backward, so he can take me with him through the water .

“Say it again,” I insist.

“I love you, Benjamin.”

“One more time.”

He laughs. “I fucking love you!”

I want to cry. Maybe I would if I didn’t have so many other needs.

I kiss him again, inhaling deeply through my nose, like I want to breathe in his essence.

His arms wrap around me as we bob up and down, making out like…

well, like a couple of teenagers, which is how it feels, as if a single day hadn’t gone by.

We’re right back to where we used to be. Where we belong.

He pulls back to consider me. “Now you say it.”

“I love you, Tim. I never stopped. Ever. Not for one second.”

His face crumples before he kisses me again. I’m used to feeling his need. Just not like this. I lean back to look at him, at the affection brimming in his beautiful eyes. I slick back his dark hair, nuzzle my nose against his, and smooch him.

“What does all this mean?” I ask.

“Whatever you want it to,” he promises.

“Everything. I want it all.”

He doesn’t shy away from this. “You’ve got it.”

Tim kisses me again. Then he lets go, spiraling beneath the water on his way to the ladder.

Miniature rivers course over his toned body as he climbs out.

Then he goes to a deck chair in the sun and plops down with his legs spread, his bare feet on the patio.

His biceps bulge as he places hands behind his head, leaving his masculinity on full display.

The tangles of black armpit hair, the washboard abs, the fat cock that is beginning to swell.

I’m already on my way, dog-paddling through the water like I’m trying to escape a sinking ship.

I forget about the ladder completely, making a beeline for him, which means having to scramble over the pool’s edge.

He laughs at my awkward antics, his balls bouncing.

I grin shamelessly and scurry across the patio.

I’m glad he left space on the deck chair for me.

I lay my stomach on the empty stretch between his legs and take his cock in my hand, admiring how thick and veiny it is.

“I’ve missed you,” I murmur to it while pumping.

Tim chuckles. “The feeling is mutual, believe me. Nobody has taken as good of care of it as you. Plenty have tried…”

“How many?” I ask with a playful pout before I put it in my mouth .

“I can’t remember all of a sudden,” Tim says, his eyes glazing over. “Oh, man… You’re the best.”

I’m determined to prove him right. I push myself up so my lips can inch along down to the base of his cock.

He always was a mouthful. I swear he’s gotten even thicker than he used to be.

Tim bucks against the back of my throat.

I happily take the punishment before letting him slide out again.

I shove my tongue inside his foreskin before trapping it between my lips.

Then I stop teasing him and really go to work, my eyes repeatedly seeking his as I work my hand up and down.

He pushes down on my head again and again.

I still remember all the little tells—can read his body just like the old days.

His muscles might be bigger, but they still tense and contract in the same way when he’s getting close.

“C’mere,” Tim says, reaching for me.

I quit grinding against the deckchair and eagerly comply, standing as he sits upright so I can fuck that incredibly handsome face of his. Now he’s the one playing me, reaching up with one hand to toy with my nipples while the other grips my butt, encouraging each thrust.

“Tim…” I warn when one of his fingers begins to massage my hole.

“Not yet,” he says, his hands going to my hips and pulling downward.

He wants me to sit on him. I want that too, especially when I feel his searing hot cock rub against me before sanity prevails. “I don’t think your precome will be enough.”

“You sure about that?” he asks, reaching down to pump himself a few times.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained! He’s slick when I try again. Tim was never the most patient guy when it came to loosening me up. I was never good at waiting. I grimace when he rams inside. Tim spits in his palm and strokes my cock, masking the pain with pleasure, but it’s still not enough.

“You’re too thick,” I say apologetically before making him pull out.

“Sorry. Uh…” Tim casts around. The only thing close to us is a bottle of tanning oil. “Think this will work?”

I laugh. “We’ve tried weirder things!”

We lube each other up, Tim inserts both his middle fingers, like he wants to pry me apart. He’s about to one way or the other, because I’m ready again .

This time we have more luck. I’m able to ease myself down all the way and hold myself there. Tim stretches his neck to kiss me while flexing his cock.

“All right,” I say, placing my hands on his chest and carefully bouncing up and down a few times. “Go for it.”

That’s all the encouragement Tim needs. He wraps his arms around my torso, clutching me tight, and starts thrusting like a jackhammer.

I fall forward, hugging his head to my chest, which he turns sideways to accommodate me.

I’m whimpering. He’s grunting. My oiled-up cock is rubbing against his stomach and he’s hitting me in just the right spot.

I can’t even catch my breath enough to warn him before I start shooting.

“Did you just come?” Tim asks.

“Yeah!” I gasp.

“Fucking awesome!”

He grabs my hips and thrusts long and hard.

Once, twice… and on the third, he growls while keeping me impaled, his throbbing cock unloading inside of me.

Then he collapses backward onto the deck chair, taking me with him.

I shift so our bodies are pressed together, allowing our beating hearts to reunite.

“This time it’s forever,” he says suddenly. “Promise me.”

I lift my head, not understanding the fear in his eyes. How can he have any doubts after the way we just reconnected? I don’t just mean the sex. His confession in the pool, the morning we already shared, the promise of the next few days…

“I’m back,” I assure him.

“You’re my boyfriend again?”

I smile and nod. “I’m your Benjamin.”