With a low groan, Joe moved closer and slid his arms around Drew in return. He rested his head on Drew’s shoulder, the biggest sign of acceptance and trust Joe had ever given. Drew felt the way Joe trembled, as though he was finally releasing something long pent-up and hurtful. “Thanks.”
Drew gathered Joe close and tight, wishing he could somehow alleviate all of Joe’s fears and doubts, but Joe had to overcome them himself. All Drew could do was offer support and solace when needed.
“You don’t have to thank me, baby,” he said, pressing a kiss against Joe’s hair. “I want to be here.”
Drew felt the damp warmth of tears against his shoulder. “I’m so cold inside. Numb. Like I’m a hollow shell.”
“Then let me help you feel again.” The words were out before Drew even realized he was thinking them, paired with an urge to kiss Joe that was too strong to resist. He might end up getting his ass kicked, but he didn’t care. Joe needed him.
Before Joe could respond, Drew leaned in and brushed his lips against Joe’s—offering, questioning, but not taking. Joe had been through too much, had too much taken from him lately.
To his surprise, Joe moaned softly, and began to kiss Drew back. He tightened his arms around Drew, pulling him closer, as if Joe did want and need him as an anchor, as something to help fill up the emptiness. Echoing Joe’s moan, Drew parted his lips in a silent invitation and pressed against Joe, aligning their bodies so Joe could feel his warm, solid presence.
Joe didn’t hesitate to accept what Drew offered, deepening the kiss, exploring Drew’s mouth with an almost desperate need. He hooked one leg over Drew’s legs and moved against him, as though he wanted to wrap himself around Drew as tightly as possible. Drew yielded to Joe’s exploration, wanting to give Joe whatever he needed to feel warm, to feel whole.
Kiss flowed into kiss, and after a time Joe’s desperation subsided, becoming something else, less frenzied and more curious. Drew felt Joe’s big, warm hands on his back, pushing up under his T-shirt as Joe began to caress him almost tentatively, as though Joe wasn’t completely certain Drew would welcome the touch. Drew hummed his pleasure into the kiss and arched against Joe’s hands as he matched Joe’s curiosity, wanting to taste and explore as well. He reached for the hem of Joe’s T-shirt and slid it up, eager to feel more of Joe’s warm, bare skin against his own.
Drew’s response seemed to be the right one, because Joe’s caresses became more certain. He put his hands against Drew’s shoulders, and then scratched his nails down Drew’s back, not hard enough to break the skin, but definitely sufficient that Drew would have marks. Drew sucked in a sharp breath, heat pooling in his belly.
“You want to mark me up?” he asked, nipping at Joe’s bottom lip. “I’m good with that, but I want to return the favor, and we both need to be more naked for that.”
Joe’s eyes were dark with need. “All right,” he said softly. He grasped the hem of Drew’s T-shirt, tugging it upward. “Off.”
Drew sat up and swiftly stripped off his shirt. He tossed it over the side of the bed. “Your turn,” he said, voice low and husky. He’d hoped Joe would let him behind the walls enough for this, but he’d thought it was a longshot. Now that it was happening, he felt like an overeager teenager.
It only took a moment for Joe to strip off his own T-shirt, then he pushed Drew back against the mattress, rolling him onto his back and moving to straddle his hips. Lowering himself down, Joe pressed his mouth against the side of Drew’s neck, nipping at the area just beneath his ear. After a moment, he began to suck. The sting of the nip followed by Joe’s hot mouth on his skin was enough to make Drew’s eyes roll back in his head, and he didn’t bother to silence the moans that rose in his throat. He clamped his hands on Joe’s shoulders and dug his fingernails into Joe’s flesh, wanting to leave marks of his own.
Joe growled low in his throat, arching against Drew’s hands. He moved his mouth lower, kissing his way down Drew’s neck. When he reached the junction of Drew’s neck and shoulder he bit down again, harder this time, enough that Drew knew he was going to have a livid bruise.
“Yes!” Drew threw his head back on the pillow, offering better access. He dragged his nails down Joe’s spine in return.
Joe lifted his mouth away, giving a hiss as Drew scored his skin. “You like it rough?” It wasn’t really a question, and Joe didn’t wait for an answer. Instead he lowered his head again, shifting his body slightly downward at the same time, and this time he captured one of Drew’s nipples between his lips, sucking it into a taut peak.
“Fuck yeah, I do.” Drew answered anyway, wanting Joe to know without a doubt that what he was doing was welcome. Joe was harboring enough concern about too many other aspects of his life, and Drew wanted this experience to be both connecting and healing.
For a few moments Joe continued to play with Drew’s nipple before moving his attention to the other. At the same time he pushed one hand beneath the waistbands of Drew’s sweatpants and boxer briefs, cupping Drew’s cock in his big, warm hand. He squeezed.
Drew sucked in a hissing breath, his half-firm cock growing even harder in response to the touch, and he clutched Joe’s shoulders. “Feels good,” he murmured, not hiding his desire as he gazed down at Joe. “It’d feel even better if we were both naked.”
“If that’s what you want.” Joe moved away, but before Drew could do anything, Joe was tugging at Drew’s sweatpants. “Lift your hips, this will only take a second.”
Drew snapped his hips up, and he reached down to help Joe strip off his sweats and boxer briefs. Once they joined his shirt on the floor, he bent one knee and struck what he hoped was an enticing pose. “All yours,” he said, making a sweeping gesture to encompass the length of his body. “I don’t suppose you’ve got any condoms in your bag, do you?”
With a snort of amusement, Joe shook his head, but his gaze was riveted on Drew’s body. “No. Never occurred to me I’d need any.” He reached out a hand, scraping his nails down the fur on Drew’s stomach.
Drew’s abdominal muscles quivered in response, and he arched up, seeking more. “Too bad,” he said, sifting his fingers through Joe’s hair before tugging experimentally to see how Joe responded. “I’m starting to have fantasies about you pinning my wrists and growling in my ear while you fuck me through the mattress, but I reckon we can make do with hands and mouths this time.”
Joe gave a small growl of pleasure at the tugging, but even in the darkness, Drew could see the way Joe’s eyebrows shot up at his comment. “And here I was thinking you were no more of a bottom than I am.”
Drew flashed a playful grin as he tugged Joe’s hair again, harder this time. “I’m flexible. Depends on who I’m with, and what kind of mood I’m in.”
“I see.” Joe knelt on the mattress and grabbed both of Drew’s wrists. Using one hand, he pinned them to the pillow above Drew’s head. With his other hand he stroked Drew’s abdomen, combing his fingers down along Drew’s treasure trail. His teeth flashed in the low light as he gave a feral grin and wrapped his fingers around Drew’s cock. “I guess since I can’t pin you and fuck you, you’ll have to settle for the next best thing.”
White-hot need zinged along Drew’s nerve endings, and his breathing grew short and shallow as he bucked his hips against Joe’s hand. “It’ll do for now,” he said, sounding breathless even to himself.
“Good.” Joe stroked Drew’s cock, moving at a torturously slow pace. “Let’s see how long you can hold out.”
“Asshole,” Drew groaned, but there wasn’t any heat in it. He tugged at his wrists, wanting to feel Joe’s strength, and he rocked his hips, trying to ease the ache of arousal that Joe was stoking, but not relieving.
