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Cass groaned. “Yeah?”

“Mmm.” Ash didn’t say anything else. He just stroked himself again, deliberately letting his briefs work down as he did. His cock stiffened even more at his touch, and he heard Cass suck in a breath and whine something that sounded like Ash’s name again. “Full unwrapped, right?” he teased, his other hand gliding along his ass and downward, pulling his briefs even lower.

Cass didn’t answer except with another deep, needy whine, which sent Ash even closer to the edge, pleasure and arousal and heat coiling low in his groin. He turned around again slowly, bent over to give Cass another view of his ass as he pushed his briefs down the rest of the way, and then straightened, just barely teasing his fingers between his ass cheeks.

God, he was being so brazen.

“Jesus, Ash.” Cass’s low, throaty whisper was followed by a rough grunt, like he was as close to the edge as Ash was.

Part of him ached with a want to finish now—it would only take a few good, fast strokes. Another part of him longed to bend back over, maybe hike one leg up on the couch, hear Cass’s reaction when he ran his fingers down to his hole.

Maybe next time.

He whimpered at the thought and flattened his palm back along his ass cheek again.

From behind him, Cass groaned.

“Can I see you now? Please.” The words were strained, like Cass was barely holding onto his control.

Ash’s stomach swooped, and he slowly twisted back around, his hand stroking up from the base of his cock to the tip. He closed his eyes and moaned, Cass’s name escaping his lips on a soft breath.

“Perfect. Ash, god, you’re just . . .” Cass trailed off, and Ash slid his hand down and then back up his shaft slowly, deliberately, teasingly. His thumb brushed over the head, and he shuddered and moaned again, louder this time, as a jolt shot down his spine, heat building in his groin. Through the phone, he heard Cass panting, his heavy breathing faster and more uneven.

Whatever control Cass might have had was nearly gone. And he’d done that. He’d brought Cass to that point.

It felt empowering.

He lowered himself back onto the couch, his legs falling open as he continued to stroke himself. Each pump of his fist brought him closer and closer to losing control himself, heat and pleasure and a delicious, full pressure screaming for release. He opened his eyes partway, and he saw Cass watching him, groaning, his cheeks flushed and his eyes dark and intense.

“Perfect.”

“Fuck,” Ash gasped. He screwed his eyes shut and threw his head back against the couch cushion as he came hard, the pressure releasing in a burst that made his hips jerk. He reached up with his free arm to cover his eyes, breathing heavily, and he groaned and stroked himself one last time, milking the last throb of his orgasm.

He heard Cass’s rapid breathing, too, and when he lifted his arm enough to see the phone screen on the coffee table, the display was dark, as though Cass had maybe put the phone down. Ash smiled, closed his eyes, and lay his head back again, letting his racing heart calm and his breathing slow.

He was about to sit up when he heard rustling and then Cass’s voice, quiet and thick, but full of some deep, raw emotion Ash couldn’t immediately identify.

“God, Ash . . . I wish I could hold you right now,” Cass said, and he let out a short breath and added, “You’re incredible. Beautiful. Perfect. That was . . . that was amazing.”

Ash opened his eyes again. This time, Cass was there on the phone screen, his chest still rising and falling rapidly and his eyes sated and happy and relaxed. He imagined Cass’s hands on him right now, caressing up his chest, and then Cass’s lips covering his in a gentle, affirming kiss.

He gave Cass a weak smile and dipped his head, heat rushing to his cheeks. “I’m glad you liked it,” he said quietly. “I did too.”

He heard a soft agreement, but somehow, Cass seemed to know he needed another minute. He sat up slowly, trying not to dwell on the twinge of embarrassment at the fact that he was completely naked, his legs still open, cum on his stomach and chest.

“. . . incredible. Beautiful. Perfect . . . amazing.”

Ash met Cass’s eyes through the camera, and he stayed there as long as he could, letting all of Cass’s words wash over him. It was another one of those moments that gave him a feeling of hope, helped pull him out of the darkness. He smiled and then blinked as a tear slipped down his cheek. Shaking his head, he laughed and reached up with one hand to wipe it away.

“Beautiful and perfect,” Cass repeated in a low murmur, which only made Ash shake his head again.

Still, he felt the pure adoration in Cass’s words, and it did something inside of him, stitching together the edges of the dark hole he kept tumbling down. He blinked back another tear and then cleared his throat.

“I should, um, get cleaned up. Give me a few minutes?”

Cass nodded softly. “Yeah, me too.”

Ash pursed his lips, holding Cass’s gaze again as more warmth built up in his chest. Then he smiled, pushed himself to his feet, and gathered up his clothes before heading to the bathroom to change.