Then Marcus realized his thoughts, and he stood stock-still in the center of his kitchen. He loved Tyler. Loved him in the way the air seemed alive when he opened the front door now, instead of dead and quiet before Ty started living there. Loved him in the way he woke up every morning and reached for Ty to see his smile.
Loved him because he was Tyler.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Blinking and shaking himself out of his reverie, Marcus discovered a concerned Tyler standing before him. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. What could he say? “Oh hey, by the way, I realized that I love you?” He’d sound like a dick, and coming on the heels of Tyler telling him that he loved him, Marcus wanted to make it special. After the trauma of the day, Tyler deserved it.
Touching his forehead, Tyler peered into his face as if he were a child with a fever. “Are you sure you’re not coming down with something?”
If he had his way, something of Tyler’s would be coming up very shortly.
Marcus caught Tyler’s wrist and pressed a kiss to the underside. “I’m fine. I think we should order dinner and relax tonight. You’ve had a traumatic day and could use a night of nothing but pampering.” The pulse under his lips fluttered, and Marcus sucked at Tyler’s skin. He pulled Tyler close, molding their bodies to a naturally perfect fit and couldn’t help the smile of satisfaction as Tyler wound his arms around him.
“I’m not really hungry,” said Tyler, and Marcus stifled a groan of longing as Tyler pressed kisses down the side of his neck, giving payback by sucking the skin along the throbbing vein. Taking Marcus by surprise, Tyler hooked one leg around Marcus’s waist and hoisted himself up, locking his ankles behind Marcus’s back, all the while continuing to kiss his neck and jaw.
“It pays to have a bendy boyfriend,” said Marcus, chuckling, and he cupped Tyler’s ass and carried him to the bedroom, still clinging to his waist.
“Where are you taking me?” Tyler slid down Marcus’s torso, allowing Marcus to feel every hard, muscled inch of him. Anticipation curled in the pit of Marcus’s stomach at the prospect of an uninterrupted night of lovemaking. Because tonight, for the first time, only love would be between them.
“I said you deserve some pampering. Get undressed, and I’m going to run you a bath. A bubble bath.”
Tyler’s eyes gleamed. “The tub is big enough for two, you know. I expect you to scrub my back.” He pulled off his shirt and stepped out of his jeans, passing in front of Marcus naked and aroused. “If you’re good, I’ll make it worth your while.”
Marcus pulled off his own clothes and joined Tyler in the bathroom. He gazed appreciatively at Tyler’s taut, muscled ass as he bent over to turn on the taps to the bathtub. Unable to resist touching that smooth expanse of naked skin, he ran his palms down Tyler’s back and over the globes of Tyler’s ass, then slid his finger up and down the shadowed cleft, teasing for a second at the tight little hole.
“Umm.” Tyler sighed and rubbed back and forth on the digit. “Feels amazing.”
Pressing a kiss to the back of Tyler’s neck, Marcus reached down and turned off the flow of water. He picked up a small bottle and poured it in the water, then pressed a button on the side of the tub, turning on the jets. Instantly the water foamed, creating clouds of bubbles and scenting the air with a cool, lemony fragrance.
“Go on in while I get the washcloths.”
Tyler slid down under the foam and moaned, leaning his head back on the tiles, his shoulders glistening from the soapy water. A dreamy smile rested on his lips, and his eyes fluttered shut. Marcus made certain to remain as quiet as possible and leaned over to kiss Tyler on the lips.
“Mmm.” Tyler sighed, and wound his arms around Marcus’s neck. “Come in.”
“I have every intention of doing so. Multiple times tonight.”
A tiny grin flickered over Tyler’s lips, but he didn’t open his eyes. Marcus stared for a moment at Tyler, wondering when the world had changed and having Tyler here was worth any sacrifice he might have to make. And that giving himself was really no hardship at all.
He entered the tub and dunked the washcloth underneath the bubbles, then squeezed out the excess and proceeded to knead and massage Tyler’s chest, shoulders and abdomen, staying clear of Tyler’s cock which rose up slick and reddened from the heated water. Tyler’s eyes remained closed.
“Turn around and let me wash your back.”
Tyler finally opened his eyes, and they simply stared at one another for a moment. The clouds of steamy heat and fragrance enveloped them in a sensual haze. Tyler got to his knees and turned around so his back faced Marcus, sidling close so his ass hugged up against Marcus’s erection. He hummed his approval as Marcus swirled the washcloth down his back. The strong muscles flexed and rippled under his hands.
Unable to resist any longer, Marcus dropped the washcloth and reached forward to grasp Tyler’s erection. Tyler turned his head as if to speak, but Marcus grabbed his jaw and ruthlessly took his mouth in a brutal kiss, plunging his tongue deep.
Tyler’s cock jerked and swelled as Marcus pumped him. Their kiss grew desperate, lips wet, tongues searching, and Tyler thrust hard into Marcus’s hand, both of them heedless to the water slopping over the side of the tub. A harsh cry split the tranquil atmosphere of the misty room, and Tyler came, shuddering from his release, spilling into Marcus’s hand.
Marcus slid his other arm around Tyler, holding him tight until his trembling ceased. Over the past year he’d laughed as his friends fell in love, mocking their obvious happiness. He scorned Julian’s devotion to Nick and, though mindful of Zach’s sensitive nature, still teased him where Sam was concerned. Love to him meant suffocation, boredom, and losing one’s sense of self.
Now, with his lips buried in Tyler’s damp hair, and Tyler’s heavy, wet body molded to his own, Marcus wondered how he’d lived without it all these years. Had he been sleepwalking through life, waiting for this moment to wake him? And if he hadn’t taken this step and opened himself up, he thought, kissing Tyler’s shoulder, he’d have spent the rest of his life half-alive.
The water had cooled and the bubbles faded, however neither of them made a move to get out of the tub. Tyler leaned back, resting his head on Marcus’s shoulder. Marcus continued to kiss along Tyler’s neck up to his ear.
“Ty?” Marcus ran his nose down the curve of Tyler’s cheekbone.
“Hmm?”
