****
In the end, Aiden moved in with two suitcases, a backpack, and a big athletic bag that had seen better years. Several boxes of less critical possessions remained at his parents’, and they weren’t even quite done packing. They left before finishing because first Maud and Patrick were around, and then Annika woke up and further thwarted their attempts to get privacy.
Cole pressed his thumb on the button by his door. As it opened he said, “Do you want to add your print and voice code now?”
“Let’s put my things inside first.”
“Right.” He was a bit nervous, hoping Aiden liked the apartment or at least found it acceptable for the next couple of months. “We’re in the living room. Kitchen is this way.”
He gave Aiden a tour, which didn’t take long as the apartment was on the smaller side. It consisted of a living area, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and a pair of hall closets. The tour wrapped up with Cole pointing out his houseplant. “Mom got this plant for me when I moved in. She thinks every home needs a plant, and somehow I haven’t killed it yet.”
“Are you nervous about me liking the apartment?” asked Aiden, not at all interested in the plant.
“Yes.”
“It’s a perfectly good apartment. Can we have sex now?”
Cole’s answer came in the form of grabbing Aiden’s hand and leading him into the bedroom at a good clip.
“So you’re aware, I’m going to come embarrassingly fast,” said Aiden as they entered the bedroom. “It’s been so long.”
“We’ll have to make up for lost time.” Not one to dally, Cole set about getting his man naked. “I’ve been dying to get your clothes off.”
“By all means.” Aiden kicked off his shoes while Cole lifted his shirt over his head.
Hot damn, he was gorgeous. The nicely toned chest Cole had admired when they were out on the water looked even better now that it was part of the man he loved, and of course getting to touch it didn’t hurt either.
Cole bent down to kiss Aiden’s left pec, then kissed a trail over to its twin while bringing his hand up to caress the side of Aiden’s neck.
“Mmm.” The moan was barely audible, just loud enough to let him know he did something right and encourage his dick, which, honestly, needed precious little encouragement by this point. It was already swelling in anticipation.
As was Aiden’s, to a degree noticeable through his pants. Cole took that as a sign he ought to get on with the clothing removal, so he kept lavishing attention on his man’s neck while unbuttoning his pants. In one move he yanked down the pants and underwear, revealing his prize.
It was a very lovely prize indeed, a touch slender but generously long and completely hard for him. Cole supposed two plus years of celibacy would make a man ready to go, so he knelt down to take Aiden’s ruddy erection in his mouth.
“Oh, yes, please,” said Aiden. A long moan followed as Cole started a gentle back and forth motion, gradually easing more and more of Aiden’s cock into his mouth.
He got about three-quarters of Aiden’s length before he hit his gag reflex. Maybe that was something they should work on, because he thought the ability to deep-throat would be incredibly hot, and he doubted Aiden would mind being a practice subject.
Aiden’s moans grew louder, and his balls tightened. He hadn’t been exaggerating about how quickly he’d come. “Close,” he said, or rather panted. Cole decided to speed up a touch and was rewarded with Aiden’s hands on his head. He was so incredibly thankful in that moment, grateful to be the person who got to love Aiden, to be with him and make him come.
Another few seconds and Aiden cried out, “Ahhh,” as he came, shooting out more than Cole could swallow. Cole didn’t let that interfere with the blowjob. He simply let cum drip out the corners of his mouth as he continued to work Aiden’s cock until he felt Aiden shiver.
While Cole stood up, Aiden collapsed on the bed and said, “That was so fucking good.”
“I’m glad.”
“Look at you with my cum on your shirt. I almost hate to ask you to get naked. Almost.”
Cole made short work of his clothes and crawled beside Aiden on the bed. “Sexed out is a good look on you.”
“I’m not sexed out yet. I’ll be ready for round two shortly.”
“Pfft, there’s nothing short about what you’re packing.”
Aiden’s eyes tracked down to Cole’s crotch. “Ooh, I like what I see. I think you should put that dick in my ass soon.”
His dick twitching in agreement, Cole said, “Good plan.” He scooted closer for optimal making out and dove in for kissing.
They were good together, as he’d known they would be. Aiden didn’t hold anything back when they made out, making all kinds of little gasps and moans Cole hadn’t heard in their previous clothed make-out sessions. His hands roved over Cole’s chest, back, and ass. They tangled in Cole’s chest hair, raked up his spine, and left trails of desire in their wake.
Eventually Cole’s lips migrated to Aiden’s neck. He seemed to enjoy being touched on his neck, so kissing there seemed like a good idea. Sure enough, oral attention on his neck was a real turn-on for Aiden. He writhed and made the most sexual whimper Cole had ever enjoyed eliciting.
“Your neck’s a hot spot, hmm?” asked Cole rather unnecessarily. He wanted to learn all of Aiden’s hot spots.
“Yes.” More writhing.
“How do you feel about me leaving a mark?” It wasn’t that Cole had a kink for leaving hickeys so much as he didn’t want to get carried away.
“I was about to ask for one.”
All right then. He kissed more, adding a couple nips before he started sucking Aiden’s neck in earnest. Meanwhile, Aiden decided that was a good time to reach down and start fondling Cole’s balls, a somewhat risky move timing-wise but one of which Cole’s cock heartily approved.
He kissed the hickey he made on Aiden’s neck. “Have I mentioned how incredibly hot you are?”
“You don’t need to. I can tell.”
“It doesn’t hurt to say it.”
“No.” Aiden kissed his lips for a good long moment. “It doesn’t hurt at all. You’re pretty hot yourself.”
“I thought appearances don’t matter much to you.”
“Not as much, no. That doesn’t preclude all appreciation. And when I came, while I wasn’t blocking emotions very well … oh, love, there aren’t words to describe how glorious it was to sense the way you feel about me. I wish I could return the favor.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Cole got the sentence out in between more kisses. “Just enjoy.”
“Let’s work on possible activities, then. I believe your dick inside me is an excellent place to start.”
Cole thought so, too. He moved to the edge of the bed so he could fish lube out of his nightstand. “Very good place to start. Then later we can move on to your dick inside me, maybe after some shower foreplay.”
“I like this plan.” Aiden flopped over on his stomach and spread his legs.
“Look at you, babe. So damn sexy.”
“You can look all you’d like, but I’d prefer you get on with the fucking while you’re at it.”
Since it had been a long time for Aiden, Cole wasn’t going to rush the prep, and anyway, prep could be wonderfully erotic in itself if done correctly. To that end he kissed the back of Aiden’s neck while slowly teasing his asshole with a single lubed finger, moving his kisses down Aiden’s spine.
“Mmm.” Aiden’s skin shivered under his ministrations. “So good.”
This was good for Cole’s ego as well as his dick. He spent several minutes working Aiden open and caressing him, enjoying all the little sounds his ministrations earned.
Eventually Aiden said, “I’m ready. Need you now.”
More than happy to comply, he poured a generous amount of lube on his cock and spread it around. While he lubed up, Aiden flipped over onto his back and arranged a pillow under himself, legs already up in the air.
“Please, Cole, hurry up.”
The begging got to him, so much so that he deemed a sharp tug on his balls necessary. “You got it, babe.”
He lined himself up while Aiden’s legs came to rest over his shoulders. Gently, he started pushing into his partner.
Aiden’s breathing grew sharper, but he said, “Don’t you dare slow down,” so Cole obeyed. It was not remotely surprising that Aiden was a pushy bottom, and Cole liked this. It meant Aiden was into the sex and actively participating.
He was going to pause once his head was in, but Aiden said, “No stopping.” Therefore, he kept a slow but steady pace until he could go no deeper.
“You feel amazing.”
Aiden looked amazing, too—all of him, not just the visual turn-on which was the sight of his ass taking Cole’s cock. After a minute he relaxed, and his own erection came back. “Please proceed with the fucking,” he said.
Cole chuckled. “With pleasure.”
While Cole started to thrust, Aiden developed a rhythmic up-and-down motion of his hips that soon moved his prostate in line with Cole’s dick. It was glaringly obvious when that happened. Aiden’s cock jerked, and he made a yelping noise followed by, “There.”
Unfortunately, “there” was a little vague when they were both moving, so it took a couple more tries before Cole found his target again. The second yelp helped him identify it.
“There. Right there.”
This time Cole was able to keep up the prostate stimulation. Having been hard and eager himself for some time now, he didn’t think he’d last much longer, but that didn’t look to pose any problems. Aiden’s movements were becoming less controlled and he was leaking pre-cum. Meanwhile, Cole became vaguely aware that the grunting noise he heard was in fact coming from his own throat.
“Faster.”
He obliged, snapping his hips and falling into the sensation of Aiden’s body surrounding his dick. Not long before he came, now, as this was far too good to last.
Aiden started jerking himself, adding to the symphony of sexual noises that already consisted of his whimpers, Cole’s grunts, and the smacking of bodies meeting each other.
“Going to come.” Cole would’ve loved to have lasted longer, but watching Aiden stroke himself, combined with the fantastic heat and friction his cock reveled in, longer simply wasn’t possible.
“Yes. Give it to me.”
Cole was delighted to. His grunting neared a crescendo as he slid back and forth, finally reaching his release. He poured him cum into Aiden, all of his senses experiencing pure bliss as he came long and hard.
“Oh, yes.” Aiden dragged the word out as his hand flew over his erection. A long moan followed. “Yes, Cole.” Then he was coming, and the contractions of his muscles breathed new life into Cole’s orgasm.
It took a minute for Cole to return to awareness, always the sign of an especially good orgasm. He gingerly slipped out of Aiden and then, out of strength, fell beside his man.
Eventually he found enough energy for a few words. “Wow, babe.”
“I know.” A pause, and Aiden went on. “We should clean up, but that sounds like too much work.”
“We’ll just shower and change the sheets.” Though it seemed impossible at the moment, Cole was sure he’d manage the tasks eventually. Besides his lack of energy, he was utterly content lying with his head on Aiden’s stomach and didn’t care to move any time soon.
He owed Max big time for setting them up.
Chapter Eleven
“Are you nervous about your parents liking me?” asked Aiden, on the way to the restaurant where they were to meet Cole’s parents.
“No.” There were plenty of reasons to love Aiden, and he felt they’d be perfectly happy on the strength of Cole adoring him.
“Why are you nervous, then?”
“I’m afraid they’re going to do something embarrassing like ask when they’re getting grandchildren.” Over the last few years they’d grown too focused on the subject for Cole’s liking.
Aiden chuckled. “They’re not going to scare me away from you, love.”
“When you put it that way, I sound dumb.”
“You’re not dumb, but you are stressing yourself out. I, on the other hand, will admit to hoping they like me.”
“They will,” said Cole. “What’s not to love?”
“How about the fact that I gave their son an ultimatum to let me bond with him forever, or walk away, with about sixty seconds to decide?”
“Wait, are you feeling guilty about that?” It was the first Cole had heard of it.
“A bit.”
It didn’t seem like ideal timing for the conversation, but he wasn’t about to let the comment lie. “It wasn’t your fault, babe, and anyway it all worked out. You know I’m happy, and I love you.”
“Yes.” Aiden reached for Cole’s hand. “I know. Will your parents see it that way, though?”
“I think so.” Cole resolved to keep an eye on Aiden’s needless guilt. “We’re about to find out. They’re across the street.”
When they were all standing outside the restaurant, Cole made the obligatory introductions. “Aiden, meet my parents, Christina and Andrew Gallagher. Mom, Dad, this is Aiden.”
His mom went in for a hug, where his dad stuck with a handshake. They certainly didn’t look as though they were upset with Aiden in any way.
“We’re so glad to finally meet you,” said his mom. “Cole is crazy about you, so we’ve been getting rather impatient.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Aiden was more relaxed now, so Cole could only assume he’d sensed for himself that Cole’s parents had no hard feelings.
“Ours, too,” his dad said. “Let’s go sit and chat.”
Cole had been right. After a few minutes of generic questions about where Aiden grew up and his studies, Dad asked, “So, what do you think of children?”
Cole groaned. “Dad!”
“I have three children, Aiden, so I don’t think it’s unreasonable to hope for grandchildren.”
“Maybe not, but this inquisition is unreasonable.” Cole looked to his mother. “Make him stop.”
She was no help at all. “We’re just curious.”
Unbothered, Aiden simply said, “Starting a family will be several years down the road, once I finish my education and get my career moving in the right direction.”
Both of Cole’s parents perked up. “But you do want kids?”
“Yes, eventually.”
“Hallelujah!” His dad was all smiles.
“I was going to say you have no idea how delighted we are to hear this, but I suppose that’s not true, is it?” His mom was very matter-of-fact about the statement, which Aiden was bound to appreciate.
“I have an idea.” Aiden gave Cole an amused look. He was enjoying this far too much. “I also want to thank you for raising such a wonderful man. I’m very fortunate and honored to have him for my anchor and partner.”
If he hadn’t already won them over, that did it for sure. Cole thought his mom was about to launch herself across the table to squeeze the stuffing out of Aiden, though she settled for patting his hand while Dad looked on with shiny eyes.
“It’s been our privilege, and we’re very glad he found someone who makes him so happy.” She turned her smiling face to Cole. “You two make such a handsome and adorable couple.”
“We already knew you were good for Cole,” said Dad. “It was obvious from the way he talked about you.”
Since they’d welcomed Aiden so readily and put him right at ease, Cole decided he’d forgive his parents for their overly eager questions about grandchildren.
****
By the time Cole headed back to work, he thought that he and Aiden were doing very well at getting used to their new lives together. Aiden liked the apartment well enough to renew the lease for another year, and while they had some minor hiccups related to cohabitation, nothing was looking truly problematic. Cole now went to bed
with an extra blanket because Aiden slept best when the bedroom was quite cool, and Aiden agreed to stop putting sharp knives in the dishwasher blade-up, a practice Cole hadn’t even known existed until he reached in and cut himself.
Aiden still had nightmares about his kidnapping, so more often than not he woke them both up yelling. For his part, Cole was loath to let Aiden out of his sight. Maud had been right. They couldn’t just sweep the kidnapping under the rug and act like it hadn’t been traumatic. She found a therapist in New Kilkenny, and they had an appointment the following week.
Difficult start aside, Cole was happy, in love, and more sexually satisfied than he’d ever been thanks to Aiden’s desire to make up for lost orgasms. His ass and jaw were sore in the pleasant reminder kind of way, and his thighs were less cooperative than normal. All for a good cause.
He met Gabe in the ground floor lobby. “Hey, man, congratulations again!” said Gabe, clapping him on the shoulder. “Please tell me I get to meet him soon.”
“I’ll check with Aiden. How does dinner sometime this week sound?”
“Perfect.”
Aiden liked meeting people in restaurants now that he could enjoy eating out again, so he’d probably be happy to have dinner with Gabe.
Gabe said, “Max is very pleased with his matchmaking.”
“He can gloat all he wants.”
“Too happy to care? Damn, you are in love.”
Cole’s reply was preempted by his watch chiming with the specific chord that signified a call from Aiden. He stabbed the “answer” button. “What’s up, babe?”
“Privacy, please?” Aiden’s voice was strained.
He popped the earpiece off the side of his watch and placed it in his ear so only he could hear Aiden. “Done.”
“I thought I’d be all right, but the foralkenoid is still screwing with me. I haven’t learned the techniques to mute emotions in a way that matches my abilities, and I’m losing my mind here.”
Cole frowned. He worked not three kilometers from his apartment building, so he hadn’t thought this would be an issue. “Shit.”
“I’m sorry to ask you to come home, but…”
His to Hold Page 9
