Page 89 of Carver’s Craving

At least he’d warmed up a bit. We didn’t wear pajamas to bed. What was the point since we were just going to wind up naked anyway? I stroked my finger lazily from his cheek to his throat, down his chest, over to his flank, lower still until I cupped his ass.

He fitted us together so our cocks brushed.

“I have a request.” God, could your voice be any smaller?

“Sure, baby, what’s up?” Genuine concern. So typically Styx.

“Dr. MacCauley said all our tests came back negative.”

“Which we’d sort of expected since neither of us has ever had sex without a condom. Are you saying you’re ready to go bareback? Because we both know that’s a hell of a big step.” He brushed our cocks again.

“Keep that up and I’ll find it hard to think.” With amusement.

He leaned over to nip my ear. “I think that’s sort of the point, don’t you?” He jiggled his butt under my hand.

“I wanted to suggest something different tonight.”

“You have my full attention.” Styx’s tone became serious. “Whatever you’re thinking, my answer’s yes.”

“Maybe you should hear me out?” My tone, in comparison, was a little dry.

“I’m listening.”

And he would be. He could goof off—especially when it came to the dogs—but he knew when to be serious. That was also in contrast to the man I’d known back home. “I’d like you to top me tonight.”

For the longest time, the only sound in the room was our breathing and Walter’s snoring.

“Are you sure? I mean I think you said you were vers.” He hesitated. “That was so long ago.”

“I know. I’ve done it both ways…but bottoming almost always makes me feel vulnerable in a way I’m not comfortable.”

A long pause. “What’s different tonight?”

“You.” Said without a moment’s hesitation. “And…I’m feeling really raw tonight. After talking about Mom. After you playing that song. I guess I want to be comforted tonight and, to me, that means putting myself in your hands. Because I know you’ll take care—”

Styx pressed his lips to mine. When he pulled back, just the barest hint of a smile was visible in the light. “You’re my responsibility. Of course I’ll take care of you.”

I wasn’t certain what he meant, but when he shifted so I could roll on my back, a momentary hesitation was soon pushed through and I did what he silently asked.

“Are you okay if I prep you? I mean, this is going to be rough for you if it’s been a while. I won’t ask how long because I think the answer would scare me. Or at least make me nervous.”

I chuckled. “You wouldn’t be wrong. But it doesn’t matter to me. I know you’ll go slow. I know you’ll stop if I need to ask you to do that.”

“Yes. Yes, to all of that.” He pressed his hand to my sternum. “So I grab the lube and we get on with this?”

I checked my gut again. And came up with the fact I was comfortable with this. I’d discussed parts of this with Justin tonight—sort of skirting around the issue. To my relief, he hadn’t asked for specifics. He was good like that—knowing when to press and when to back off. “Yes. Grab the lube and we can get on with this.” I put a pillow behind my head, got comfortable, and opened my legs. I might’ve been a little sore from a day on the construction site, but those aches were nothing compared to the physical longing strumming through me. Oh, and a hot shower to work out some of the kinks had helped.

Styx opened the bottle of lube with a snick. “Now, this might be a little chilly.”

“Uh…I have used lube before.” He’d warm me up soon enough.

He traced his fingers around my rim.

I remembered to breathe.

Slowly, he sank one finger into me.

The feeling of discomfort—more for the psychological aspect of the act than any physical pain—dissipated quickly. “I can take more.”