THIRTY-SIX
______
SEAN
He liked to smother me in his sleep. Perhaps it was because his subconscious worried about losing me again. Or perhaps he simply enjoyed the fact he wasn’t alone anymore. Whatever the reason, his body sought mine out in the darkness every night he’d spent in my bed. An arm wrapped around me, one of his legs tucked between mine. His breath gentle against my cheek. And so, as early morning light flooded the room, I was content to lay trapped by the welcome confines of his embrace.
I liked the way he smothered me.
“Good morning.” A smile curved Dante’s lips as he blinked at me with sleepy eyes. He rolled onto his back with a yawn and stretched, before returning to snuggle against my side.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, remembering the sweet violence of the night before.
A flush crept up his cheeks as he snorted with laughter. “My arse hurts.”
Turning onto my side, I smoothed a hand over his bare butt cheek. “Poor baby,” I crooned. “I could kiss it and make it better.”
At my hopeful tone, his chest rumbled in amusement. “Maybe later.” He turned to glance out the window before smiling at me. “The sun’s up.”
I raised my eyebrows at him. “And you’re still here.”
“Right where I belong.” Wonder tinged his voice, as if he couldn’t quite believe it. Tucking his face into my neck, he inhaled. “You smell good,” he murmured as he trailed kisses along my collar bone.
My eyelids lowered, and I sighed in pleasure. “And you feel good. I think I like waking up with you,” I added, tilting my head back as he made his way up my throat. “You’re so snugglesome.” Lazy hands strolled the length of my spine and I damned near purred.
“What can I say? Happiness makes me horny.”
I burst out laughing, hugging him close. “And while I love that about you, we probably should get up.” The words left my mouth, but I made no move to get out of the bed.
“Soon.” His fingers slid over my hip as we began to move against each other. “Not yet.” Reaching between us, he wrapped his hand around both our erect cocks and began to stroke. I gasped in a breath, my eyes falling closed. “Every time I start kissing you,” he whispered, “I never want to stop.” His tongue delved into my mouth then, and I met it with my own.
Never.The words echoed through my brain as I gave myself over to his hands and lips.Never stop.
* * *
Thirty minutes and one shower later, we made our way out of the flat to find Roger sitting at the patio table with a cup of coffee and his laptop. His phone sat within easy reach on one side of him, while a pen and notebook sat on the other. No doubt, he was one of those people who had turned working anywhere at any time into an art form.
“Good morning, Roger,” Dante said as we approached.
He looked up. “’Morning.” His gaze slid past Dante to me. He nodded in acknowledgment. “Sean.”
Anger welled anew as I stared at the man who’d stolen my father’s career. I couldn’t avoid him now Dante and I were together. He was part of Dante’s life and I would have to learn to live with it. But he must have seen the loathing in my eyes because his expression altered as he realised… I knew the truth. He dropped his gaze, allowing his shoulders to slump forward. The urge to scream crowded my throat. As impossible as it might have been for this tantrum-throwing, child-abusing, blackmailing arsehole to appear vulnerable, Roger was giving it his best shot. Dickhead. “I’ll make us some breakfast,” I said with a tight smile.
Dante nodded. “I’ll make the coffee,” he said as he followed me inside.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to talk much during breakfast. Dante and Roger spent most of the time talking about the marketing for the new album and what cities to include in the tour. Dante told his father he’d offered me the job of tour photographer. I expected Roger to show some form of resistance to the idea. Or at least ask to see a portfolio of my work, as proof I was up to the task. Instead, he simply nodded, cleared his throat, and welcomed me aboard. The expression on his face as he said the words gave him away.
Roger was terrified of me.
It made sense. I knew the worst of what he’d done. I had the power to destroy him. Did that make him less of a threat to my relationship with Dante, or more?
After the meal ended, Dante rose to clear the empty dishes. I started to help, but he insisted I stay right where I was. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said before heading inside.
Now we were alone, Roger and I stared at each other in silence. I’d found him intimidating once. Now I knew him to be nothing more than a bully. Growing up gay came with an inbuilt crash course in how to deal with bullies. I could handle him. “If you’re planning to warn me off Dante, don’t bother. I’m not going anywhere. Not this time.”
Roger took a deep breath, releasing it in a sigh. “I realise that.” He relaxed back into his chair as he assessed me. “What do you want, Sean?”
Frowning, I shook my head. “What do you mean?”
