Rewarded with that sweet, shy smile, Felipe swallowed as the tether pulled taut between them. The room felt a world apart from the Paranormal Society. It reminded him of Oliver’s lab, or even Oliver himself, before he knew him: apart, untouchable. The invisible hand on his heart tightened when his eyes lingered on Oliver’s mouth. More than anything, he wanted to kiss the pale pink of his lips until they were blood-flushed and his mind was so distracted it was impossible to think of a single thing to fret over. Closing the gap between them in two steps, Felipe stood near enough that he could feel the whisp of Oliver’s breath as it quickened.
“Are you sure Mr. Turpin can’t hear us?” Felipe asked, his body stirring at the thought.
“If we’re quiet.”
“I can be quiet if you can.”
Slipping his arm around Oliver’s back, he drew his body flush against him as he captured his mouth. Oliver stiffened in his grasp before releasing a strained moan and leaning into him. With swift fingers, Felipe unbuttoned their coats and shucked them onto the armchair behind them while Oliver’s hands deftly loosened their ties before turning to Felipe’s shirt. He had half-freed Oliver’s waistcoat when the other man’s hands came to rest on his naked shoulders. One hand tentatively slid into Felipe’s hair, fingers gently raking through his curls. Hands that knew the human body better than anyone at the society still hesitated on Felipe’s form as if he were something special, something more. Never did Felipe think that uncertainty and reverence would send his blood humming the way it did when Oliver Barlow touched him.
Backing Oliver into the wall, Felipe pressed against him, one hand exploring the curves and planes of his body still hidden beneath far too many layers of fabric. As Felipe finally unbuttoned Oliver’s shirt and pushed it from his shoulders, he traced his eyes over the black hair dusting the pale flesh of Oliver’s chest and down his stomach to the waistband of his trousers. He was solid and beautiful and achingly alive. What he wouldn’t give to have him in his bed with all the time in the world to learn what he enjoyed. When Felipe’s palm slid across the other man’s growing erection in agonizingly slow strokes, Oliver released a half-choked breath and broke away from his lips.
“Are we really doing this in the library?”
“Why not? I’ve wanted to do this all day. Besides, we probably have more privacy here than in my rooms. How long has it been for you?” Felipe whispered.
Oliver opened his mouth to speak, but the words refused to come as Felipe nipped at the tender flesh behind his ear and down the length of his neck. His fingers dug into Felipe’s arm as he gasped. “Too long. Three years?”
“What I don’t understand is how no one has snatched you up.”
Oliver’s throat bobbed beneath his tongue as his trembling hands came to rest on Felipe’s sides. “Probably because I didn’t look for anyone. Because it’s so hard to do things like this that I gave up.”
Felipe pulled far enough back that he could see Oliver’s face.
Flushing and averting his gaze, Oliver dropped his head onto Felipe’s shoulder. “You weren’t really asking. I’m sorry, I just—”
“No. Tell me,” Felipe replied, gently turning Oliver’s face back toward him.
His grey eyes glistened as he bit his lip. “I don’t want you to find me annoying, too.”
“Why would I find you annoying?”
“Because I’m difficult to deal with, especially when doing things like this. I’m very ticklish. It doesn’t take much to overwhelm me in a bad way if you touch me lightly, and then, I start laughing or I have to stop to calm down. People get mad at me for ruining the moment. Or they do the opposite and try to manhandle me.”
“And you don’t like that?”
“Not really. I tend to assume everyone is cross with me until proven otherwise, and that doesn’t help. I worry, if we go further, you’ll find me difficult as well.”
Felipe’s arms tightened around Oliver’s waist. “Your past lovers called you difficult?”
Nodding, Oliver stared at him as if waiting for Felipe to step away. How dare they. How dare whomever Oliver had given his heart or body to call him difficult for having needs. How dare they make him afraid to try again. If Felipe got his hands on any of Oliver’s past lovers, they were going to have a stern conversation. This week he would make certain Oliver knew it was worth another shot. Sliding his leg between Oliver’s, Felipe gently parted his thighs as he ran a firm hand down his back and over the curve of his buttock. Oliver’s eyes widened, pupils blowing wide as Felipe squeezed and felt the bob of the other man’s erection against his leg.
“I highly doubt you’re difficult, Oliver. We all have things. I don’t like my hair pulled or my feet touched, and for some people, those are cardinal sins. Then again, I won’t tolerate a man who refuses to kiss me. But if you want me to touch you with a steady hand or slow down when you need it, I will. Just tell me what you need with words or a squeeze. Do you want to keep going?”
“Yes,” Oliver replied immediately, relief washing over his features, “but not actual sex, right? I don’t think we can manage that here. Not enough room.”
Felipe laughed. “No, we don’t have to go that far. You said slow, and I’m not one to push. Think of this as my thanks for agreeing to dine with my family tonight.”
“I’d like to. And I promise I’ll never not kiss you.”
Drawing Felipe back to him, Oliver pressed his lips to his, tongue sliding into his mouth as his nimble fingers found Felipe’s fly and freed his cock. Felipe growled low in his throat. Whatever fear or resistance Oliver had seemed to dissipate as they lost themselves in each other’s bodies. The small parlor filled with the echoes of their labored breaths and half-smothered moans as Felipe took them both in hand. Hissing under his breath, Oliver twitched and braced himself against his partner.
“Is this good for you or too much?” Felipe whispered.
“Good, just let me do it with you.”
Felipe shut his eyes as Oliver’s hand wrapped around his, while with the other, he circled his nipple with his thumb. The slide of velvety flesh between his palms and the heady look Oliver gave him as he raised his gaze while running his tongue along the sensitive curve of his clavicle was almost too much to bear. As Felipe increased his pace, Oliver’s low moan vibrated through his throat as a bead of moisture leaked from his head. Slicking it over both of them, Felipe hoped he could last until Oliver finished even as his knees wobbled.
It had been far too long for both of them. Between the other man’s fingers digging into his back and the stifled gasps he pulled from such a composed throat, Felipe was close. Oliver’s grip tightened a second before his whole body jerked and he spent into Felipe’s hand. Ecstasy rolled through Felipe hot and fast, flooding his body across the tether. Biting back a cry with a final pump of his hand, Felipe tipped forward as the orgasm rocked through him. Oliver caught him, holding him steady until the aftershocks passed. Gentle fingers ran through his hair as Oliver whispered soothing nothings into the side of his face.
