He sighed as his shoulders sagged. "Of you. This. Us. It doesn't make sense."
"It makes perfect sense," I argued. And even if it didn't, who cared? It didn't make it any less true.
He eyed me doubtfully. "In what world does a gay guy develop feelings for his straight best friend and not get his heart broken?"
Shaking my head, I dipped down, brushing his lips with mine. "This one. This isn't fake for me. Not anymore." I waited for him to at least glance at me, but he refused. I grabbed his jaw. "Will you please look at me when I'm about to tell you I'm in love with you?"
His narrowed gaze jerked to mine. "Rook, if you're fucking with me, I'll never forgive you."
"I'd never forgive myself. So, believe me when I say I love you. I think I've loved you the whole time. I just didn't understand."
Noah’s nostrils flared, but he remained mute. Gaze locked on mine, he refused to say a word. But his eyes told a story of his own heart, giving me the courage to continue.
"Believe me when I tell you that you have the ability to rip my heart right out of my chest. But if you don't love me back"—I swallowed around the lump in my throat—"trust me when I tell you I'll be whatever you want me to be. I'm not losing you." I tightened my grip on his jaw. "Tell me you understand. No matter how you feel, it's me and you. Always has been and always will be."
He slumped against the wall and scrubbed a hand down his face.
"This is real," I whispered and dusted my lips over his again. "This is exactly where we're supposed to be. I've never been this sure of anything in my life." I pulled back and studied him when he remained quiet. "Damn it, Noah. Tell me it's real.
His chuckle was quiet before he held my gaze. "I've been in love with you since I was twelve fucking years old, you moron."
A crooked grin tugged at my lips. "Seriously?"
Noah rolled his eyes before his lips twitched. "It's a good thing you're a pro-worthy basketball player. You're not very perceptive."
"No?" I chuckled as relief rushed through my soul, leaving a content lightness in its wake. I ran my hand over his neck and down his chest. Feathered my fingertips along the trail of hair that ran in a thin line down his belly. I backed up just enough to fist his cock and began working his shaft in a measured rhythm. "You sure?"
"That's not what I meant." His laugh turned into a moan that I swallowed as I slanted my mouth over his. The kiss was languid. My strokes slow torture.
When I broke away, I panted. "My eyes are open now. Whether you want me or not, I'm yours."
"It's all I've ever wanted." Noah's breathing picked up along with the speed of my hand.
His deep groans and thrusts through the tightening grasp of my fingers were more than I could take. "I want to bury my cock inside you. I want to feel everything and show you how much I want you."
With fumbling hands, he shut off the water. "Then don't make me wait."
Fourteen
Noah
My knees dug into the thick blanket as I gripped the solid oak headboard. Anticipation sang in my veins with electricity crackling from every one of my nerve endings. I held my breath as Rook lightly ran a rough hand over my ass from where he sat back on his calves taking in the view behind me.
"So fucking hot," he mumbled while his hand cupped my sac, gently massaging the sensitive flesh. The sharp sting of his teeth sinking into my ass cheek made me buck and a raspy laugh whispered behind me. "Couldn't resist."
I glanced over my shoulder and cocked a brow. "You're not stalling and chickening out, are you?"
Rook's eyes blazed with fire. "Fuck no. It's my first time looking at your asshole with balls hanging right in front of my face. Cut me some slack. I'm horny as fuck and would like to not come the second I stick my cock in you."
"So romantic." Snorting, I widened my legs, earning the groan that clawed up his throat.
"Not helping, dick." The cap of the lube cracked open, and after a beat, the brush of Rook's finger over my hole made my legs shake. "Where's that smart mouth now?"
"If you don't hurry up and fuck me, it'll be around your dick."
"As much as I'd love for you to gag yourself on my cock, I'll pass. Right now, I want you right here." His fingertip teased the tight ring of muscle, and I hissed. "More?"
Nodding and ignoring the urge to push back, I held still.
"Tell me then. What do you want?"
"Your fingers inside me. I want you to get me ready so you'll stop fucking around and fill me with your cock."
"Such a dirty mouth. Maybe I will fuck it after all."
As it turned out, Rook had a filthy mouth in bed. I loved it. "And maybe I won't let you fuck me at all if you don't give me your damn finger."
"So. Damn. Horny." Rook bit out each word through his clenched teeth. "Are you always this way?"
I wasn't, but Rook made my body react with impatient desire. "It's not like we won't do it again. Stop making me wait."
"Fuckin' right," he growled at the same time his slick finger sank into me. The slight burn had nothing on the intense rush of euphoria that flooded my bloodstream.
My moans grew louder as the pressure and burn increased with each finger he slipped inside me, stretching me until I was ready to take his cock for the first time.
When he withdrew, I heard the rip of foil and glanced back as he rolled the condom over his length and slicked a thick layer of lube down his thick cock. My mouth watered and his gaze met mine. It wasn't fire that flickered in his whiskey eyes. It was coal, smoldering just before the inferno.
He lifted to his knees, pressing the tip to my hole, shaking with the effort to hold back. "You ready?"
"So ready I might die if you don't move." The way my heart thrashed in my chest, I wasn't sure if that was a real possibility or not.
"So dramatic." Without warning, he shoved inside me with one slick slide, ripping a violent moan from my chest and causing my fingers to white knuckle the headboard.
We both froze. Rook was inside me. His fingers digging into my hips. Not saying a damn word. My gaze shot over my shoulder again. What I saw was something that would etch itself in my memory forever. His eyes were closed—jaw slack as his chest rose and fell rapidly.
"Rook?" My voice was nothing more than a croak, and his eyes slowly peeled open.
"Give me a second. I knew it would feel good. Fucking imagined it enough, but—" He groaned when I shifted restlessly and his blunt nails dug into my flesh. "Stop moving or I'm going to come, and I really, really want to fuck you."
My lips twitched, but the humor was short-lived. Rook pulled back a few inches before rocking forward, and my knees threatened to give out. He repeated the move, withdrawing further and thrusting harder. My legs quaked and a moan dripped from my lips. "More. Give me more."
"Fucking hell." He pulled back and slammed back inside me. Over and over, he thrust, hitting my prostrate and whispering filthy fucking words.