His hand drifted out to Sam’s hip as Sam cupped his cheek, drawing them closer together. His fingers inched under Sam’s T-shirt, grazing low along the smooth, warm skin of Sam’s abdomen. Sam moaned, breaking the kiss as he tilted his head back into the couch cushions. Ollie was seriously tempted to keep kissing Sam—that spot right at the base of his neck—and to straddle Sam’s thighs so he could run both hands up underneath Sam’s shirt. He could almost feel Sam’s warm skin, imagine how Sam’s muscles would flex under Ollie’s touch.
But he hesitated.
“I love you,” he whispered, and Sam opened his eyes partway and grinned at Ollie, then sat up, wrapped both arms around him, and pulled him into a gentle embrace.
“I love you too.” Sam kissed his forehead. “And I... don’t think I’ll ever get enough of hearing you say those words.”
Ollie let out a long, shuddering breath and relaxed into Sam’s chest, his hand coming to rest on top of Sam’s T-shirt again. “I’m sorry it—” He shook his head, stopping himself, and then started over. “I mean, I’ve loved you... for so long. I hope... I hope you knew...”
Sam nodded into him. “I did. Of course I did, love. I always,alwaysfelt it. I knew. I know.” Another kiss brushed against Ollie’s forehead, and Sam paused and then added, “Words are... very powerful and important. But they’re not the only way. You... show me how much you love me all the time. Every day. I love the words. And god, I do love hearing you say them. But... I know, love. Even without them, I know.”
Ollie blinked back tears and nodded. “S-same,” he rasped, and he rested his head against Sam again and closed his eyes.
They sat there for a few more minutes in a comfortable embrace, Ollie listening as Sam’s heartbeat became steadier and more rhythmic. Finally, when he felt himself start to drift off, exhaustion tugging at him, he groaned and straightened up.
“We should probably get to bed,” Ollie said, grimacing as he glanced at the clock. “It’s nearly midnight. And if you’re still on Boston time... you must be exhausted.”
Sam shook his head. “Nah, it’s not so bad. I’m fine, love, really,” Sam assured him. “Not that...” He trailed off, and Ollie’s grimace turned into a grin as Sam’s eyes seemed to darken considerably.
“Not that you... mind going to bed?” Ollie suggested, still grinning.
Sam’s cheeks turned bright red, and he ducked his head. “I’m just looking forward to holding you,” Sam admitted, his voice low and husky. “It’s been hard... sleeping without you.”
His admission made Ollie’s stomach clench with the unwelcome reminder of crawling into bed alone every night for the last eight weeks. He nodded in understanding, stood, and offered Sam his hand. Sam took it without hesitation, letting Ollie help him to his feet. Together, they locked up, turned out the lights, and headed upstairs.
They were both tired, but they took turns showering and getting ready for bed. Ollie went first, so by the time Sam was finished, he’d tidied up the bedroom, pulled back the comforter, and gotten all settled on his side of the bed, his eyes lightly closed as he waited.
When Ollie felt the bed shift next to him and then felt Sam’s warm body slide into its spot, his heart skipped a beat. He turned onto his side and was immediately gathered up into his boyfriend’s embrace, pulled flush against him. Both of his hands came to rest on Sam’s solid chest, and Ollie groaned in protest as he felt the material of Sam’s T-shirt.
“What is it, love?” Sam asked quietly, his lips brushing Ollie’s temple.
“You’re... wearing a shirt.” Ollie felt heat rising in his cheeks, and he buried his head into Sam’s shoulder as he tried to hide his embarrassment.
Sam seemed to hesitate for a second, his body tensing maybe just a little, and then Sam’s hand caressed gently along Ollie’s forearm as he kissed the top of Ollie’s head. “I didn’t realize clothing would be optional tonight.”
Ollie muffled a nervous laugh into Sam and then steadied himself with a deep breath. “I’d really... Um, I’d really like it to be. O-optional, that is. And I’d like... I’d like to try for more than that, too.”
There was a silence, but he felt Sam’s arms tighten around him, and then he heard Sam let out a shuddering breath that seemed to ripple through his body. “Are you sure, love?”
God, yes.That was Ollie’s first thought. But he couldn’t seem to answer right away, and instead, he tilted his head back until he found Sam’s eyes—kind and loving and hopeful—and he smiled, brought one hand up to cup Sam’s cheek, and then kissed him gently.
“I’m sure, Sam,” he said when they parted.
Sam closed his eyes for a moment, nodding slowly. Sam’s hand then pressed lightly into Ollie’s lower back as Sam leaned toward him and kissed his forehead and his cheeks and then his lips again with soft, fluttering touches.
“I promise you, I will love you and always, always respect whatever your boundaries are,” Sam said. Then he exhaled shakily and added, “That means whether you’re... ready for more tonight or not, or if we, um, get started and you change your mind.”
Ollie knew. He had no doubt at all that Sam would be respectful and careful. But he still nodded, wanting to make sureSam knew too. Then he tucked his head up under Sam’s chin and snuggled closer to his boyfriend as a warm anticipation spread through his chest.
His eyes closed, and his hand drifted down from Sam’s cheek, his fingertips brushing lightly along Sam’s skin. Sam sucked in a sharp breath, the sound sending another flood of heat through Ollie—this time much lower. He groaned and tilted his head so his lips could find Sam’s neck while his hand continued tracing a path down Sam’s chest and across his abdomen in search of the hem of Sam’s shirt. And when his fingers grazed along the smooth, warm skin of Sam’s stomach seconds later, he heard the deep rumble of something in Sam’s throat.
“God, Oll. I...” Sam’s low voice trailed off as his hand settled gently on Ollie’s hip.
Ollie opened his eyes and met Sam’s gaze, now dark with desire. He smiled softly and moved along with Sam as Sam helped him shift onto his back on the bed. Then he dropped his eyes to where both hands now pushed upward on Sam’s T-shirt, revealing his muscular, tanned chest.
Sitting back a bit, Sam helped by pulling his shirt off over his head. He tossed it to the floor and settled back in his spot, part of his weight resting on Ollie. And Ollie reached out again with both hands, smoothing his palms over the wide expanse of skin in front of him. He felt Sam shudder, and he looked up to see Sam closing his eyes.
“You’re gorgeous, Sam.” Ollie brought one hand up to touch Sam’s cheek while the other settled in the center of Sam’s chest. Then he drew Sam back down to kiss him, their lips meeting softly.
