Night by Night

by Tymber Dalton

  “Rule two, if we are going to try to have a deeper relationship, including sex, then it’s only the two of us in this relationship, for sex or play. We don’t date anyone else, either. Rule three, I’m in charge. Of you, of us, of our family. Period. I will give you input, but I make the rules and the final decisions. You do what I say, and I will carry the burden of everything except what I tell you to worry about. Can you accept those three rules?”

  A dark, terrifying chasm loomed in front of Hank no matter how he tried to avoid it. Telling Dox no to any of this wasn’t an option.

  Not when he had JJ’s life to consider.

  If it wasn’t for her, sure, the two of them could take their time, explore, figure this shit out.

  She didn’t have time. She was looking at a lifetime of doctors and injections and blood sugar monitoring. Of learning how to eat healthy, of constantly being aware of what every choice she made would do to her body.

  He wanted her to have a normal life—karate, gymnastics, Girl Scouts, soccer, dance classes. Friends and excelling in school. Get her on the robotics team, if that’s what she wanted. Whatever she wanted to do. Maybe with Maddox there to help tutor her she’d excel in STEM classes.

  He couldn’t do any of that for her now with this additional burden added to his plate, because every spare moment he spent working to earn money for her medical treatments meant less time he’d have to devote to her as a father.

  And he’d still fall epically short.

  Here before him sat a man willing to make him his husband and make her his daughter and help care for her.

  Love her.

  Protect her.

  Devote his life to her.

  Comparing the two options…well, saying yes to Dox was a no-brainer.

  It also wasn’t exactly an option that repelled him, either.

  Hank met his gaze. “Yes, Sir.” Hell, it even felt right calling him that.

  Felt natural.

  Didn’t that mean something?

  Dox’s gaze softened, that heartbreaking vulnerability still right there, on the surface. “How long’s it been for you?” he asked Hank, and Hank didn’t need him to clarify.

  A laugh barked free. “Three or four years, give or take. Too damn long.”

  “Me, too. Not quite that long, but too damn long.” Dox turned them so he could lay Hank back on the bed. “How about we stop talking for a little while and take care of something first?” Dox asked.

  Hank nodded. “Please.” Inside his shorts his cock throbbed now, aching, and wasn’t that a positive sign? Maybe it wasn’t guaranteed long-term success, but damn, it was the first real sign of life down there in a long fricking time.

  He trusted Dox. If Dox said Hank could stop this at any time, Hank believed him.

  Dox had never, in all the years they’d known each other, betrayed his trust.

  Ever.

  Especially now, when the man had every reason in the world to back off and walk away from a problem that no one expected him to accept responsibility for.

  Yet, here he was, stepping up and taking over.

  Dox was right—if that wasn’t love, what was?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Back in high school, there’d been countless fantasies Maddox rotated through in his mind relating to Hank. Over the years they had drastically decreased in frequency, both because it was tough thinking about not having Hank in his life and because he’d had real-life partners to devote his time and energy to.

  All those fantasies now came roaring back to mind.

  He also immediately swept them away.

  Maybe there’d be other nights to make them come true.

  For tonight, he knew he had to go slow, take his time. Hank was desperate and broken and emotionally gutted. There was no doubt in Maddox’s mind that, under different circumstances, Hank would’ve asked if he was kidding, they both would’ve laughed it off, and Maddox would have quietly and sadly closed a door in his mind, knowing those dreams would never come true.

  Honestly? Tonight he didn’t even give a shit if he came or not. If he could do nothing more than take Hank’s mind off everything else for a little while, soothe his raw and aching soul, it would be enough.

  More than enough.

  Years ago, he’d been the caretaker, the one to back bullies down. What Hank didn’t know about were all the times Maddox had stood back and given a challenging stare to some fucker who thought they were going to bully Hank, but there Maddox was, watching his back.

  Too many times.

  He hadn’t wanted to rub Hank’s face in it.

  Now, Hank was taller and beefier, in shape without having to try, because of the jobs he’d worked. No soft, cushy office job for him. He could easily kick Maddox’s ass, if he wanted to.

  Maddox sat up, watching Hank, trying to control his own breathing so he didn’t hyperventilate. The realization that his greatest hope was about to come true nearly overwhelmed him.

  Those blue eyes stared up at him and now it hit him why he’d always gravitated toward men and women with blue eyes when dating.

  None of them had ever measured up to Hank, the sweet sky blue and midnight flecks watching him now.

  He straddled Hank and held his hands in front of him, wiggling his fingers at Hank.

  Hank tentatively reached up and let Maddox lace fingers with him.

  Maddox brought Hank’s hands up to his mouth and kissed them, then pressed them against his chest.

  “If you feel you need to,” Maddox said, “anytime you feel you need to, you can tell me stop, or no, or say yellow or red if you need me to slow down or stop. Understand?”

  Hank nodded. Beneath him, Maddox felt Hank’s cock, hard and pressing against him.

  Maddox knew he now wore a smirk and didn’t even try to hide it. Instead, he shifted a little, deliberately grinding against the other man. His own cock was trying to punch through his shorts, so why should he suffer alone?

  And, obviously, there was the added benefit of helping stoke Hank’s furnace, too.

  He knew it was working because Hank’s lower lip caught under his teeth and he shifted against Maddox, trying not to lose the friction between them.

  “That’s it,” Maddox softly encouraged, kissing Hank’s hands again. “That feel good?” He rotated his hips a little, just enough to pull a needy gasp from the other man and make Hank’s fingers tighten around Maddox’s hands.

  That widened Maddox’s smile. “Yeah. You like that, huh?”

  Maybe it was better this way. With fourteen years’ experience under his belt, it was both humbling and sexy as fuck that he got to be the first man to do this with Hank. He was mature enough at this point in his life to hopefully not fuck it up, to know to not worry about himself right now.

  To know how to make it better for Hank than maybe it would have been way back then.

  Maddox leaned forward, pinning Hank’s hands over his head against the mattress and bringing Hank’s lips within kissing distance again. No hesitation whatsoever from Hank when Maddox slanted his lips over his to kiss him again. Hank responded, kissing him back with a growing hunger that Maddox had to tamp down within him to maintain control.

  All while doing a slow bump-and-grind against Hank that was definitely going a long way to distracting him, if the sweet, soft, needy noises he was making were any indication. Maddox took his time, too, savoring this kiss, wanting it to last.

  Wanting everything about tonight to last forever in his memories, the way Hank had lasted forever in his heart.

  When Maddox lifted his head again, Hank’s came up off the mattress, trying to follow him. Definitely a good sign.

  “Stay,” Maddox whispered, sitting up and releasing Hank’s hands. He reached down, peeled off his own shirt, and tossed it on the floor. Then he rose up just enough he could tug Hank’s shirttail up and out of his shorts. Hank helped him get it the rest of the way off him, discarding it to the floor.

  He scooted down Hank’s body far
enough he could lean in and trail kisses down his firm, tight abs, circle his navel with his tongue. The man’s skin felt scorching hot against his lips, and he smiled to himself as he felt Hank’s breathing quicken.

  He’s mine. I just have to not fuck this up.

  * * * *

  Shit! Hank nearly shot his load in his shorts when Dox kissed him while he ground against him.

  This wasn’t only a matter of necessity and practicality—this was fucking sexy as fuck, and Hank wasn’t stupid enough to lie and argue it wasn’t.

  He had a moment to reflect upon his own lacking skills in the seduction department before Dox unfastened Hank’s shorts and started easing them down his hips as he kissed his way south.

  Hank clenched his fists, struggling to obey, to keep his hands where Dox had put them, even though what he wanted to do was grab Dox’s head and fuck his mouth. Desire had wound to a fevered pitch within him, sex never feeling this hot before.

  Ever.

  Then Dox looked up, a triumphant smile on his face. “I won’t even make you hold it this time, buddy,” he said. “Because I have a feeling I won’t have any trouble getting you up a second time. Then I can really have some fun making you come.”

  He sounded cocky and confident, and everything like the old Dox.

  Like the guy who’d literally saved his ass how many times?

  Just like he was still saving his ass now.

  That meant it was only fitting his ass belonged to Dox, right? He was the one putting all that work into saving it and pulling him out of the fire.

  And, shit, the guy was talking about getting him off not once, but twice?

  Sign me up.

  Maybe it wasn’t the most responsible thing to do under the circumstances, but trying to be a responsible adult hadn’t been working for him for years.

  Time to change course.

  Dox watched Hank watching him, intense passion and hunger fueling a furnace behind his brown gaze.

  Hank knew maybe he’d look at this in morning’s light and think it was a mistake.

  For now?

  There was nowhere else he wanted to be except right here.

  Hank forced himself to keep his hands in place even as he rounded his back a little so he could lift his hips and allow Dox to slide his shorts down farther.

  As the fabric slowly exposed his stiff cock pressing for release inside his briefs, Dox’s smile widened. “Oooohhh, we are going to have so much fun, buddy. I promise you, you will go to sleep tonight a very happy man.”

  His cock eagerly twitched over that, which made Dox’s smile twitch in reply.

  Dox pulled Hank’s shorts all the way down and off him. He smiled up at Hank before leaning in and lightly grazing his teeth up and down the outline of his cock through his briefs. Hank clasped his hands together, trying to force himself to remain in place.

  Even through the fabric he felt the warmth of Dox’s breath against his cock and that nearly dragged him over the edge.

  Dox sat up again and cupped his hand around Hank’s bulge, gently squeezing and pulling another needy moan from him.

  Then he paused. “You doing okay?”

  Hank eagerly nodded. “Please don’t stop!”

  Dox’s hand pulsed around Hank’s cock.

  Squeeze…release. Squeeze…release.

  He slowly raked his nails down it, from tip to balls, drawing a shudder of pleasure from Hank.

  “Please!” Hank gasped.

  “Please…more?” Dox teased.

  “Yes!”

  Dox chuckled and slipped his fingers inside the waistband of Hank’s briefs, slowly working them back and forth, his fingers brushing against Hank’s abs.

  “Take my hands,” Dox said.

  Practically trembling with need now, he reached down and wrapped his fingers around Dox’s hands.

  Waiting.

  Dox’s brown gaze bored into him. “Show me what you want me to do next, buddy.”

  Hank’s throat felt dry, but he pushed Dox’s hands down, taking his briefs along with them. He felt cool air hit his cock, which twitched and sprang free as Dox exposed it.

  Dox’s voice sounded ragged, strained. “Damn, buddy. That’s hot.” Now Dox’s breath really scorched his sensitive flesh. “We have to have another kind of talk, but that can wait. I’m fine risking this tonight.” He turned his hands and squeezed Hank’s. Then he released him and finished removing Hank’s briefs, tossing them to the floor.

  Easily shouldering Hank’s thighs apart, he settled in and glanced up one last time with a sexy smirk before the tip of Hank’s cock disappeared between his lips.

  Choking back a strangled cry, Hank grabbed Dox’s head and tried to rock his hips against him, needing more right fucking now.

  But Dox wouldn’t be rushed. With just the head of Hank’s cock in his mouth he used his tongue to slowly swipe along the slit, circle the head along the ridge, play with his glans, just to do it all again.

  He let out another strangled cry as Dox released his cock and looked up at him. “Eyes open. Watch me. If you can’t hold it that’s okay, but I want you watching me when you come.”

  Hank threw out an arm, finally found a pillow, and dragged it under his head so he could obey. Between his thighs Dox’s torso felt warm, skin-to-skin contact Hank hadn’t realized how starving he’d been to feel until this moment.

  Once Hank was ready, Dox’s fingers encircled the base of Hank’s cock again, and he started over.

  Torn between wanting to hold back so this lasted for-fucking-ever and needing to nut right now, Hank realized he was holding his breath when he gasped for air.

  Everything felt so.

  Fucking.

  Good.

  This wasn’t just because it’d been forever since he’d been laid. Dox was giving him, so far, the best blowjob he’d ever had in his life.

  I hope I can make him feel this good.

  Because, yeah, he wanted to do it. He wanted to be able to give Dox at least this level of pleasure, because…damn.

  And still Dox’s gaze remained fixed on Hank’s as more of Hank’s cock disappeared between his lips, until he felt Dox’s chin against his balls, his breath warm on his flesh.

  Dox started moving, head slowly bobbing up and down, his tongue apparently weaving a magic spell around Hank’s cock, sucking and licking and loading him on a rocket sled launching straight into orbit.

  Then Hank hit the point of no return, his balls almost painfully aching as they drew up close and pleasure spiked through him. It took every bit of will he had to keep his eyes open and watching Dox as ordered. From the way Dox’s gaze narrowed as he swallowed and swallowed while Hank rocked his hips in time with his movements, he knew Dox was grinning and pleased.

  He settled one hand on Dox’s head and threaded his fingers through his hair, needing the contact, needing him.

  I need him.

  I don’t just need him, I want him.

  * * * *

  If Maddox’s mouth hadn’t been full of about eight solid inches of beautiful cock, he would have been screaming in celebration and doing a victory dance. He swallowed every drop of cum Hank’s balls pumped out, wanting all of it.

  While Hank climaxed, a nonsensical stream of words and swearing and pleasured sounds rolled from the man. Maddox wasn’t even sure if his guy realized he was speaking in tongues or not.

  Fuck what anyone thought Masters and Doms should do. He liked giving head, and he wasn’t beyond playing dirty to quickly convince Hank that this would be far more than a marriage of convenience between them.

  This was forever, as far as Maddox was concerned.

  This was the solid foundation on which Maddox wanted to build their lives together, giving his guy everything he needed, loving him, showing him how he felt.

  No bullshit mind games, no passive-aggressive nonsense, no holding back.

  If he ever lost Hank, he didn’t want it to be because the man had no clue how he really felt or how go
od things could be between them.

  When Hank finally finished coming, his fingers played with Maddox’s hair, his grip easing, relaxing. His chest rose and fell as he caught his breath, and Maddox gently released his softening cock after placing a last, tender kiss on the head.

  Then he crawled up the bed, lying next to Hank and pulling him close so their bodies were pressed together and Hank’s head lay cradled in the crook of his arm.

  And he kissed him. Gently, tenderly, loving the awestruck wonder painting Hank’s gaze with need and amazement.

  “See?” Maddox told him. “That was easy, wasn’t it?”

  Hank nodded, apparently beyond speech right now, but Maddox spotted the way his eyes looked too bright.

  He suspected the emotional breakdown that had started earlier could now fully run its course. So he wrapped Hank in his arms, hooking a leg around him, too, and held him.

  Sure enough, the tears started. Hank softly sobbed in his arms as Maddox held him and nuzzled his forehead with his lips, whispering to him that he was okay, that they were both safe, that he’d take care of him and of JJ.

  That they were a real family now, and Hank wasn’t alone any longer.

  That Hank could finally, finally relax and rest. That the weight was off his shoulders.

  That he loved him.

  The last he said more than the rest, over and over again. It finally struck him had Hank ever died before Maddox got to confess this to him, it would have forever left a dark, painful spot on his soul, to be carried with him until his death.

  It took Hank a while to finally calm down, and as he lay in Maddox’s arms, he snaked one around Maddox’s waist and snuggled in closer.

  Then Hank tipped his face up to stare into his eyes for a long, quiet moment.

  “What about you?” he finally asked.

  “What about me?”

  “Dude, that’s not a banana in your shorts.”