Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
They were having a fun day, and he rolled with it even though he was exhausted by nightfall. So when they began falling asleep during a movie on the couch, and Emerson ushered them up to bed, he excused himself to his room as well.
Just as he was getting comfortable in bed and tuning out the noisy thoughts on spin cycle in his brain, he heard a sharp knock on his door, then feet padding inside the room.
“You awake?” Emerson asked in a shaky voice.
“Yeah.” Rhys was lying on his side with his back to Emerson, which helped disguise his sputtering breaths.
“Can I… Is this okay?” He felt the mattress dip and inhaled sharply as he nodded.
When Emerson lifted the covers, then slid behind Rhys, he nearly whimpered out loud.
As Emerson’s hand braced his hip, his mouth brushed against Rhys’s ear, making him shiver. “Tell me again how we fell in love?”
His heart stuttered. “We?”
“Uh-huh. You and me falling in love.”
“Slowly…” he replied in a hoarse voice. “During the bigger and smaller moments in our lives…”
“And all the spaces in between,” Emerson murmured.
There was a quiet, drawn-out moment where Rhys felt Emerson’s harsh breaths against his shoulder.
“I don’t know how to do this,” Emerson whispered. “How to not have doubts or not be afraid. Like everything is just gonna come crashing down again. But every time I imagine you not being here, with me—with us—I can’t breathe. I don’t want— I can’t—”
Rhys twisted onto his back so he could look him in the eye. “You have me, Em. I’m yours.” He reached out to lift Emerson’s chin with his thumb. “The question is, are you mine?”
Emerson angled his head, his gaze intense, his mouth hovering a breath from Rhys’s, and it was the most delicious torment. Thrilling and heartrending all at once.
To long for the love of your life to see you, really see you, just as you are.
And still want you anyway.
“I’ve always been yours,” Emerson said, and Rhys’s breath caught. “I’m in love with you. And I want us to be together, even if we stumble along the way.”
Thank fuck. Rhys trembled as he tried to get his lips to work. “We’ve already been through a lot, so I figure we’ve had plenty of practice already.”
“True,” he mused. And then he closed the distance so their mouths lined up. Emerson gripped his jaw, licked into his mouth, and kissed Rhys painstakingly slowly yet toe-curlingly deep until Rhys melted against him.
When they pulled apart, they stared into each other’s eyes, and Rhys felt the urge to pinch himself because he could scarcely believe that Emerson finally admitted his feelings.
“You look tired.” Emerson swiped a thumb beneath his eye.
“It’s been a busy day.” Rhys smirked, and they shared a sweet smile.
“Mind if I sleep here tonight?” Emerson asked in a hesitant voice, which was endearing. He was still uncertain, even with both their hearts flayed open. “Just want to be close to you.”
“Hell yes.” Rhys adjusted his pillow, then reached under the sheets to push down his briefs and kick out of them. “Join me?”
Emerson smirked. “Bare?”
“Please. Wanna feel you.”
Emerson sighed dreamily, discarding his shorts and underwear on the floor. He scooted behind Rhys, wound his arm around him, and Rhys nestled soundly against his frame.
But sleep wouldn’t come for either of them. Instead, Rhys was hard as a fence post and Emerson wasn’t much better off as his erection dug into Rhys’s back.
“Oh fuck,” Emerson groaned when Rhys squirmed against him. Soon enough their bodies were slowly grinding as Emerson kissed along the sensitive skin at his nape.
Rhys hissed when Emerson reached forward and encircled Rhys’s stiff cock. “Let me make you feel good.”
Rhys’s entire body lit on fire as Emerson jerked him with a tight grip. But it didn’t feel like enough. He was raw and emotional and needed more. So much more.
“Want you to fuck me, Em,” he gasped as he ground his ass against Emerson’s groin. “Please, fuck me.”
Emerson’s hand stilled on his shaft. “I’ve never…”
“Doesn’t matter.” Rhys turned his head and kissed Emerson’s jaw. “It’s just you and me, and I want to feel connected to you right now.”
“I want that too. Are you sure I won’t hurt you? Your ribs—”
Rhys’s hand reached back to Emerson’s hip, and he pulled him flush against him. “Just like this. From behind, nice and slow.”
“I won’t even last my first time,” he balked, too inside his own head, and Rhys felt guilty for asking, especially if he wasn’t ready. “You’ll probably be so tight—”
“It’s totally cool if we wait. Sorry. I only wanted to feel you inside me, no matter how long it lasted. We have years to practice and improve our stamina. But tonight just feels so…”
“Special,” Emerson whispered as he kissed his shoulder. “I need you too, and I want to try.”