Page 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ETHAN

I woke up before him, the soft rhythm of his breath warming my neck. At some point during the night, Sebastian had shifted lower, resting his face on the pillow beside me, his arms wrapped possessively around my waist. Moving carefully, I turned to face him. Morning sunlight filtered into the room, bathing him in a soft glow, and I allowed myself to take him in.

Freckles dotted his shoulders, just a light dusting over lean muscle. There weren’t any on his face as far as I could tell. His breathing remained steady, the rise and fall of his chest calm. I brushed my fingers through his hair, marveling at the details I’d overlooked before. The chocolate waves always looked slightly unruly in the mornings or after we spent hours kissing or fooling around. Subtle streaks of blond threaded through it, a hint of gold in the rich brown, catching in the light. Even his thick eyebrows and stubble carried those same faint highlights.

His nose was straight, perfectly proportioned, while his lips—fuller in sleep—pulled downward at the corners, softening his otherwise sharp features. He didn’t snore or make a sound beyond the faint exhale of his breath. Sebastian was, in every sense, devastatingly handsome, and the thought struck me with a weight I couldn’t ignore.

This man, lying so close to me, had been inside me last night. And I had wanted him there.

My stomach tightened at the memory. The attraction I felt for him was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I ran the tips of my fingers over the stubble on his cheek, trailing down to his lips. They were impossibly soft, a stark contrast to the roughness of the rest of him. When was the last time I’d felt this drawn to someone? I couldn’t remember. From the moment he first kissed me, something about him felt different. He ignited something deep within me, a fire I hadn’t even realized was there.

Sebastian made me question everything. Every kiss, every touch blurred the lines I thought I’d drawn for myself. I wasn’t sure if it was men in general or just him, but he had changed me in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

Last night had been a revelation. Another man had shown interest in me, but it hadn’t stirred even a fraction of what Sebastian did. I thought about Christian, his confidence around Sebastian, the way he spoke about him like he wasn’t extraordinary, like he wasn’t the god that he was.

Christian had been with him for years. He told me so himself. Sebastian kept calling him back because he knew how to follow orders. That’s what he’d said. If I wanted to keep him, that was the secret: give him everything he wanted.

Christian’s words lingered in my mind: It’s strange because, even though you look like his type, you don’t act like it. His eyes had narrowed, his gaze appraising me. It’s like you’re a wild little Sebastian. He tilted his head, his smile sharp. If he’s into training you, I’d love to take you for a test drive, lamb. I think we could have a lot of fun together.

He had laughed, but I’d been too stunned to respond. It was the second time someone had drawn that parallel between Sebastian and me. I had no idea what to do with that.

Leaning down, I brushed my lips softly against his, careful not to wake him. Then I shifted away, shrugging off the robe I’d borrowed and sliding closer to him. His skin was warm against mine, and I sighed at the feeling. He made that soft humming noise again, instinctively pulling me tighter into his arms.

The memory of last night flooded my mind. Truthfully, I’d expected Sebastian pushing inside me to hurt. I had prepared myself for the discomfort, for the pain. But the opposite happened, and that freaked me out. The slide of his dick into me felt…perfect. A part of me hated how much I loved it.

Thinking about it now, my body reacted before I could stop it. I grew hard at the thought of him, the way he had moved, the care he had taken. I loved his roughness, but there was something irresistible about the tenderness he’d shown me. It wasn’t just sex—it was something more, something I wasn’t ready to put a name to.

The problem was, this was temporary. It was always meant to be temporary, and I knew I would never get over him. No one else would ever feel this good, would ever make me feel the way he did.

And I didn’t know how I was going to survive it.

My mind was clearer now. The haze of jealousy and rage had lifted, leaving me with one undeniable truth—I wanted him. I didn’t want to give up having sex with Sebastian, no matter the risks. Because as much as I knew this would ruin me for anyone else, I also knew I wanted it to be him .

If I didn’t have sex with Sebastian now, maybe I’d end up doing it with some other man eventually. Because as much as he was the only thing I could think about right now, it was a very real possibility that I could be attracted to another man someday. Sebastian had already broken me open—led me into a realm of possibility I hadn’t even known existed.

If it happened with someone else, all I’d be able to do was compare. Wonder if it could ever feel like this.

At least this way, I could keep him special forever. As my first.

I pressed closer to him, sliding my hand over his chest, down the firm expanse of his torso. Sebastian always praised me, but his body deserved admiration too. Lean and well-defined, it fit him perfectly. My fingers hesitated briefly at the waistband of his briefs before slipping inside to find him. His cock was warm in my hand, half-hard, and the memory of how closely acquainted we had become last night made my face flush.

I began stroking him slowly, pressing soft kisses to his neck, hoping to wake him.

Sebastian hummed and I tightened my grip, drawing a soft moan from him. He stirred, his hand sliding up my back until it found bare skin. His palm settled on my ass, and he let out an appreciative sound before squeezing me firmly.

“This is definitely the best way to wake up,” he murmured, his deep voice rumbling against my jaw. He hooked a leg over mine, pulling me closer, and let his fingers wander lower. When they slipped between my cheeks and brushed over my rim, I gasped.

“You’re even more handsy when you’re sleepy.”

“Guilty,” he said, chuckling.

Sebastian shifted lower on the bed, pulling my leg over his hip. Goosebumps exploded as he kissed the sensitive skin of my neck, his hand exploring me with unhurried intent. I barely managed to keep stroking him in this position, but I wasn’t about to stop.

“Where’s the lube?” he asked, his voice thick with sleep and arousal.

I reached around, fumbling until my hand found the bottle, passing it to him. The cap clicked open, and within moments, his finger was back, slick and insistent as it pressed inside me.

“That’s better. Hike your leg up.”

I adjusted, giving him a better angle, and as his finger moved inside me, I moaned involuntarily.

“Much better,” he purred.

Sebastian added a second finger, sliding in effortlessly this time, and groaned softly. “You’re so relaxed,” he whispered, his lips brushing my chest.

I arched into his touch, letting the pleasure consume me. “I love how you use your hands.”

“Yeah?” he asked, his fingers moving faster, pressing harder.

“Yeah. Get another one in,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess them.

He paused, his eyes meeting mine, half-lidded with lust. “Are you sure about that?”

I tugged on his hair. “Let’s try again.”

“You don’t have to pressure yourself,” Sebastian said gently.

“I’m not. I want this. I want you. I need it to be you, and I need it to be now.”

“You don’t have to do this for me.”

“I’m not. This is for me. I want you inside of me again. Make me come like that, Ash, please.”

His lips parted, his expression was conflicted for a brief moment before he nodded. “Anything you want, my darling.” He kissed my chin softly.

“Just don’t—” I began, and he froze, waiting. “I don’t want you to turn me around, even if it’s easier. Can we face each other?”

His gaze softened. “Yes, we can.” He worked a third one in, the stretch burning for a moment before easing, leaving only pleasure in its wake. His free hand slid between us, stroking me gently, amplifying every sensation.

He kept an excruciatingly slow pace, teasing me until I felt like I was going to lose control. Just as the tension built to an unbearable point, Sebastian pulled his hand away. He leaned over me, kissing me deeply—dirty and uncoordinated, and fucking perfect.

Reaching to the nightstand, he grabbed a condom. The faint rustling of the wrapper filled the quiet room, and my heart clenched. This time it was equal parts nerves and anticipation.

He gave me a questioning look. His hair was a mess of waves, his face flushed just slightly, and when I nodded, he smiled—a small, reassuring curve of his lips.

He rolled the condom on with practiced ease, stroking himself with lube before kneeling close to me, keeping me on my side.

“Like this, okay? I’ll come closer as soon as I can,” he reassured me.

“That’s okay. Do it.”

Sebastian pulled my leg up, bending my knee toward my ribs. His dark eyes locked onto mine as he positioned himself. “Any last words?” he teased, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

I shook my head, and he pressed forward. The fat head of his cock breached me, and I felt an almost overwhelming urge to close my eyes, but I kept them on him. His lips parted, and the teasing smile disappeared, replaced by a focused frown. Adjusting his weight on his knees, he pushed in further, glancing down between us. The burn was sharp, but the pressure made me gasp.

His eyes snapped up to mine.

“I’m okay,” I told him.

He nodded, adjusting his stance as he pressed my leg higher.

“Arch,” he instructed. I obeyed, and he slid in deeper, a sharp groan escaping him as he bit down on his lip hard. “That’s it, pet.” His voice was rough, tinged with awe.

It was so much better watching his face, seeing every ounce of pleasure etched across his features. He was holding back, moving slowly, savoring every moment. I arched my back further, and he sank deeper, his groans growing more desperate.

“Do you like that?” I asked, my voice shaky.

His dark eyes locked onto mine, blazing with heat, and he nodded. “Your body is fucking heaven, Ethan. You feel so good, it’s unreal,” he said, his voice reverent.

The words made my head spin, and I closed my eyes, letting the weight of his praise wash over me.

Relaxing into the bed, he sank inside, bottoming out.

“Oh God,” he whispered, his voice almost breaking. He stilled, letting me adjust, and I took a shaky breath as my body acclimated. Just like yesterday, there was a burn, but it was paired with an all-encompassing fullness that sent sparks through me. Every nerve ending felt alive, waiting for the smallest movement to ignite them.

His hand found my cock, stroking gently.

“Fuck,” I gasped, my hand flying to stop him.

“I know it feels like too much, pet. I’ll go slow. Relax into it,” he murmured soothingly.

I hesitated before lowering my hand.

He resumed stroking, his touch light and careful. “How does that feel? Are you good?”

I clenched around him instinctively, and the sound we both made was pure need.

“Fucking incredible,” I managed to breathe out.

“Yeah?” His voice was raw, tortured, and when I met his gaze, he looked wrecked. His dark brows knitting, lips parted and shining with spit. His chest heaved—his entire body was taut with restraint, holding himself back for me. He looked like a god, and all I wanted was to be his offering.

“Yeah. Fuck me, Ash,” I said, the words coming out desperate.

His groan was guttural, almost a growl, as he pressed his lips together. One hand braced on my thigh, pinning me to the bed, while the other curved around my hip to steady himself. He didn’t pull out—instead, he used his grip to press himself deeper inside. His hips rolled slowly as he withdrew and pushed back in.

“Fuck,” he groaned. He repeated the motion, the slow drag of his cock keeping me teetering on the edge. I could see the tension in his body, building instead of easing. He was holding back.

“Ash,” I called.

His eyes snapped to mine, impossibly dark with arousal.

“What do you need?” I asked, searching his gaze.

“To make you feel good,” he said, his tone almost pained. His hands gripped me harder, the pressure skirting the line between pleasure and pain, sending a sharp jolt of arousal through me.

I moaned, and he responded by pulling me back onto his cock more forcefully.

“I want you to feel good too. How do you want me?”

He closed his eyes, shaking his head as though trying to resist. “This is great.”

“Ash, please.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Ash, look at me,” I said firmly, and his eyes locked onto mine. “I love it when you’re rough, and you’re not hurting me in the slightest. I have a high threshold for pain. This feels really fucking good.”

Sebastian stilled, his hips rolling slowly as he studied me. The tension in his jaw softened, and after a beat, he nodded, a low growl escaping his throat.

He reached up suddenly, grabbing a pillow and tucking it under my hips, lifting me toward him. “Tell me if it’s too much.”

I nodded, anticipation building as he shifted my leg to the side and leaned forward. His large hands encircled my wrists, crossing them above my head and pinning them to the bed.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he instructed.

I complied, curling them tightly around his waist.

Sebastian’s dark eyes roamed down my body, lingering on every inch of me. “You’re perfect like this,” he murmured, his thumb gently stroking the delicate skin beneath the bracelet he’d gifted me.

I was about to beg him to move when he leaned down, his lips capturing mine in a slow, deep kiss. I kissed him back eagerly, melting into the warmth of his mouth. As his tongue slid against mine, his hips snapped forward hard, and a surprised gasp escaped me. He did it again, putting even more force behind it, drawing a soft cry from my lips. He leaned his weight onto my pinned wrists, setting a rough, punishing rhythm that stole the breath from my lungs. Each thrust was intense, and I couldn’t hold back the sounds escaping me—groans that quickly turned into desperate whines.

Sebastian adjusted his knees, shifting slightly, and thrust again, angling perfectly to hit that spot inside me that made my body ignite. I arched my back, hiking my legs higher around him, and he grunted above me.

“Do you like that?” His voice was like velvet sliding over my skin.

“Yes,” I gasped, my voice breaking under the weight of my pleasure. “Fuck, yes.”

Sebastian kissed me deeply, his grip on my wrists tightening as he thrust, the sound of skin meeting skin filling the room. “Can you take it harder?”

I nodded desperately, and he adjusted his angle again, his thrusts becoming almost brutal in their intensity. My body rocked beneath him, pleasure building unbearably as my cock, heavy and aching, bobbed untouched between us. I was on the edge of losing it.

“Grab my dick,” I pleaded.

Sebastian’s lips curved into a wicked smile, and he shook his head. “You’re not coming, pet. I’m taking my time with you.” His voice was deep and utterly commanding. He kept his relentless pace, his cock plunging deep inside me, leaving me moaning helplessly beneath him.

His body gleamed with sweat, the sheen of it making every muscle in his chest and arms stand out. He was breathtaking—his teeth clenched, his brow furrowed with effort, every movement filled with unrestrained desire.

One of his hands shifted from my wrists, sliding down my body. His touch was hot and possessive as he explored me—my chest, my hips, my thighs—before resting over my neck. His eyes darkened as he took me in. His thumb pressed lightly on my lips, and I opened my mouth instinctively, sucking on it.

“You’re the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, pet,” he said, his voice reverent. He leaned down, licking over my lips before murmuring against them, “The hottest thing I’ve ever fucked.”

“Ash,” I moaned.

“What do you want?”

“Faster,” I begged, but he shook his head again, smiling that maddening smile.

I groaned in frustration, and he chuckled softly, clearly enjoying this. “Do you want to come?”

“Yes,” I practically whimpered.

“Not yet.” He kissed me again, deeply. Then, without warning, he nearly pulled all the way out, leaving just the tip of his cock inside me. A mischievous grin spread across his face before he started fucking me with shallow, torturous thrusts.

“Oh, fuck,” I moaned loudly, my body writhing beneath him as I tried to chase the pleasure he kept dangling just out of reach. “I thought you wanted to make me feel good,” I said, my voice dripping with frustration as I tried to pull my hands free.

“Aren’t you feeling good?” he teased, his lips quirking into a smirk. He let himself push deeper, giving me a few perfect thrusts that sent a shiver of pleasure up my spine, only to pull back and resume the shallow torture. Over and over again.

“For fuck’s sake, just stay inside,” I snapped.

Sebastian laughed softly. He leaned his weight onto my hands and thrust hard, filling me to the hilt. My body arched off the bed as he finally started fucking me with the intensity I craved. His pace picked up, hard and fast, driving me insane with need. I was sure if he so much as breathed on my dick, I was going to come.

“Ash, please.”

He groaned, his control slipping as his body moved frantically against mine. Something clicked in my head. He wanted me to beg him to let me come. Of course he fucking did.

“What?” he asked, his eyes gleaming with amusement, a smirk tugging at his lips.

I arched my back again, and his eyes tracked the movement hungrily. “Ash,” I moaned, drawing out his name just enough to make him feel it. “Come inside me.”

The smirk fell from his face. His eyes widened, and his grip on my wrists tightened almost painfully, drawing a helpless mewl from me.

“You’re too fucking good,” he growled.

“You too, Ash. Please let me come.”

He nodded, his restraint shattering as his hips slammed into mine, each thrust perfectly angled to wreck me. My entire body tensed as he finally wrapped a hand around my cock, stroking it just once before I came hard, my release spilling across both our chests.

“Oh, fuck,” I gasped, my body trembling as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me.

Sebastian kept stroking me gently, contrasting with the hard, frantic thrusts of his hips. His movements turned erratic, and then he groaned deeply, his mouth falling open as his eyes squeezed shut. His entire body tensed, and with a final thrust, he came, groaning again as he buried himself deep inside me.

He lifted his hand from my wrists, placing it on the bed beside me.

I stretched my fingers, testing them—they felt almost numb from the pressure of his grip. I reached my fingers through his hair and tugged him down to my lips. Sebastian hovered above me, his breaths still coming in short, heavy bursts. His body radiated heat, his eyes closed as he began to steady himself.

I’d been right—there was no way I’d ever have sex again without thinking of him. My body was still trembling from the force of my orgasm and the raw intensity of how he’d claimed me.

As his breathing evened out, Sebastian pressed a soft kiss to my lips, slow and tender, like he was pulling me back into him. When he finally opened his eyes, they were lazy, warm, and utterly captivating.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

I couldn’t help it—I laughed. The corners of his mouth twitched as his brow furrowed slightly in confusion.

“Are you kidding me?”

He smiled then, a small, boyish curve of his lips. “I’m not kidding. Are you hurt?”

Sebastian shifted, pulling out of me gently, disposing of the condom with practiced ease before falling back on the bed beside me.

“Aren’t you going to run to the bathroom?”

His smile deepened as he reached for the robe on the bed. Using it, he cleaned my chest first and then his own. “You asked me not to.”

He reached for my hand, lifting it to his face. His fingertips brushed over my wrist delicately, his expression serious. It took me a moment to realize what he was doing.

“Ash, I’m fine,” I assured him, but he didn’t let go.

Instead, he shifted his focus to my other wrist, inspecting it just as carefully. “I should get you ice for this,” he said, frowning slightly as he lifted my hand. The skin around my wrists was red, faint imprints left from where he’d pinned me down.

“It doesn’t hurt. Don’t fuss,” I said, brushing it off and curling on my side. I kissed his neck, hoping to distract him.

Sebastian’s fingers drifted to my ribs, tracing light circles down my back before stopping between my cheeks. His thumb pressed gently against my rim, and I gasped, oversensitive.

“Doesn’t hurt?” His voice was a low rumble against my skin, thumb moving in small, teasing circles.

“Nah,” I breathed, my lips grazing his neck. “It feels good.”

“You weren’t kidding about your threshold,” he murmured, almost to himself.

I chuckled, but his tone turned serious.

“I’m not joking, pet. That was rough—even for me—and it was only our first time. You need to tell me if it hurts.”

I considered that for a moment. “It’s not that it doesn’t hurt. It’s just…the kind of pain that feels good, not bad.”

Sebastian’s lips parted slightly, his eyes widening as he processed my words.

“You’re really good at not crossing the line—keeping it right where it needs to be,” I added with a shrug.

“I thought you didn’t like that.”

“You were the one who told me I liked getting rough,” I reminded him, arching a brow.

He shook his head, correcting me. “Just getting rough—not receiving it.”

I stared up at the ceiling, shrugging again. “Can’t it be both?”

A grin spread across his face, caught somewhere between surprise and amusement. “But you don’t like it when I make you bend over.”

“That feels different. Just like you ordering me around. Though, I guess that gets easier the more I know you,” I admitted, pausing before adding, “I thought you got off on humiliating me.”

Sebastian’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Of course I don’t.”

“I know that now. I can read your creep face much better these days. That’s why I like looking at you.”

That earned me a startled laugh from him. “Stop calling me that,” he said, grinning.

“When you stop calling me pet, I’ll consider it,” I shot back, my grin widening.

Sebastian laughed again before rolling over me, peppering kisses across my neck and holding me tightly. His strong hands slid around my back as he pulled me close, his body warm and solid against mine. I wrapped my legs around his hips and my arms around his neck, clinging to this moment.

The intimacy of his touch was already getting to me. “Are you not done with me yet?”

“After a fuck like that?” he murmured against my skin, his lips brushing the sensitive spot under my ear. “Not a chance, darling. Good luck getting out of my bed.”

For one moment, I closed my eyes and let myself feel it—the weight of him holding me, the way his voice softened when he called me darling. I let myself imagine, just for a second, what it would feel like if he were actually mine.