He fiddles with my stereo, and the easy listening station I like fills the truck.
“Iprogrammed it for you. It’s number one and your default. No more searching every time.”
“Really? Thanks. I know I could probably sit with the manual and figure it out, but…” I shrug. “You know me and tech stuff.”
The drive to my apartment is slow. The rain has made the road to the highway like a washboard, and the wipers struggle to keep up. When we finally arrive, Ethan isn’t shivering as much, at least.
After grabbing his things, we dash up the steps and now stand at the entrance of my apartment, dripping on the floor.
“It’s already cozier here,” Ethan says, shivering as he removes his coat.
“Leave everything right there. Come here. You’re freezing.”
Taking his hand, I lead him into the bathroom and grab a towel, but a new idea forms. “It’s not a fancy tub or anything, but how about a warm shower and I wrap you in the fuzziest blanket I have after you’re dry?”
“With you?”
“Yeah.”
He nods as he still shivers and pulls at his shirt. “Then yes.”
I turn toward the shower and start the water. When I turn around, Ethan is already shirtless and fighting to remove his soggy jeans. “I can help you.” My voice doesn’t sound like mine. It’s deeper, and after a moment, I realize it’s longing. That thing I’ve kept inside for too many years has reared, and I can no longer ignore it.
Ethan remains still and lets me help him as the bathroom fills with steam. His shivers have slowed, and I briefly wonder how he’d last in the winter here.
Then he’s naked in front of me while I’m still fully clothed. I rush to remove my clothes and let them join the heap ofEthan’s. After adjusting the water temperature, I motion for Ethan to step inside first.
He sighs as the warm water hits him, and I step up against his back.
“Do you always get that cold?” I ask as I wrap my arms around him and position him further under the water.
Ethan rests his head back against my shoulder as the water rolls down his front. His eyelashes stick together, and I feather a kiss to his temple. Having Ethan here in my shower should be overwhelming, but it feels like the thing I never thought I’d have.
His head tilts to the side, and his pulse is visible there through his damp skin. It’s definitely beating faster than normal, and after pressing my lips to it, he sags a little more against me and answers.
“The last few years, I’ve found it harder to shake the cold when it sets in. Like skiing was okay, but once I sat and unzipped my coat, if the wind was too chilly, it felt like someone dumped a bucket of water over me.”
“I’m always hot. Even when the winds blow, my ears might feel cold, but I’m always warm.”
He hums and subtly pushes back against me. “I can tell. You’re warm now. Feels nice.”
I don’t know whether he means the skin-on-skin or the water and me holding him, or even something else. But I agree. My gaze travels down his body, and his cock isn’t hard, but he’s about to feel mine against his ass soon. Holding a wet Ethan in the shower isn’t something I can tell myself not to react to.
Until now, I didn’t know what I was missing by not sharing this with someone special. He’s trusted me to care for him since before our first horse ride. Sure, it was leading him to a store to buy things for a ranch, but the trust was always there. My palms slide over his skin as I kiss the corner of his mouth.
“Can I touch you?” I whisper against his ear, and this time his shiver isn’t from the cold.
“Please.” His eyes flutter open and meet my gaze. A longing that mirrors mine shines there. If Ethan were mine, I’d make sure he’d never have to wonder if I cared. I’d show him every day.
My hand drifts between his legs, and he sags against my chest with a soft moan. My free arm holds him tighter against me as I explore this man who trusts me with more than what brand of cream soda is the best. He turns his face toward mine, and I kiss him deeply as I take his cock in my hand.
“Feels good, Colt. So good,” he mumbles against my lips.
The water still flows down our bodies, and it catches me off kilter how easy this is and how good it feels to bring Ethan pleasure. It fills a hole I’ve kept thinly covered for so long, and I kiss him with more intensity than I ever thought possible. His cock grows harder in my hand, and he huffs small pants against my lips every time I stroke him.
His body trembles against me. “Let go, Ethan,” I murmur against his lips. “I got you.” Whatever he’s holding back, it’s not just his orgasm, and my heart yearns to make him feel cherished every single day we spend together.
Ethan’s body tenses as he surges his lips against mine. His kiss feels almost grateful as he moans into my mouth and comes over my hand. His free hand cups the back of my head as he leans into me in his post-orgasmic state.
