Seri’s face started to heat as visions of Severo’s tight bare ass floated into his mind… He shook them away. Not the time to think about that. Definitely not when in bed with the man. Well, in bed, as in…bed to actually sleep.
It was moments like this where Seri felt the most awkward, or rather, shy. But he wasn’t when the man was holding him so he could sleep. Okay, he had been at first, but after the first week of Severo starting in his bed, it had lessened.
What hadn’t, was his feelings during those moments beforehand, where they were just next to each other. It felt, in some ways, more intimate than being held. Because this was something lovers did. Lay side by side, talking as they unwinded for the day. Maybe, what really worried him, what made him feel shy and awkward, was that he liked these moments. Because Seri, as much as he tried not to, could imagine happily…doing this every night for the rest of however long he lived. Even if he knew it wasn’t something he could or should think about. Seri sort of wished he would stop worrying and just enjoy it to the fullest while he still could.
He glanced over and found Severo lying there, hands behind his head, looking at him with a soft smile. The man was so handsome, with his black hair loose and down past his shoulders, beard and mustache freshly shaved to its normal short length, accenting the curve of his jaw.
Severo was always handsome.…yet…the bags had returned under his eyes. The Dweller’s sleep had been fitful due to the pain, and the man hadn’t fully regained his coloring, still a bit pale. Then again, he had just stopped throwing up most of his food the other day. Fuck, Severo had really been put through the ringer the last few days because of him.
Clearing his throat, he set his tablet on the end table and said, “I’m sorry.”
“Why be sorry about anything? This is a good thing. We know at least this stuff won’t kill anyone.”
He lightly smacked him on the chest with the back of his hand. “That is not the point! And I wasn’t even testing if it was lethal or not. The point is?—”
“To find out the painful side effects so you can start to figure out how to eliminate them. Well, I think you know them now, so step forward.”
Seri wrapped his arms around himself and snapped with irritation. “It should have been Preston, not you! If anyone should be risking their life taking an experimental drug, it’s that bastard. He should have been the one hurting and in pain, and temporarily paralyzed, not you! Though, permanently would be better, if it was him!”
“I'm not used to you swearing.”
“Skya’s asleep.”
Severo sat up. “Seri. I’m fine.”
“You could have died!” A tremble ran through him at the thought. Because it was the truth, he could have killed Severo.
He’d been an idiot. He wasn’t sure where his mind had been when he’d injected the man, but it should have never happened. Seri should have had more protocols in place. He should have been prepared. But he hadn’t been.
Him being so many years away from the lab didn’t excuse any of it. His mind knew what he should have done, yet that knowledge had been nowhere as he sat there debating whether to test it or not. So, Seri had rushed around grabbing things, freaking out. Meanwhile, Severo could have been dying. And that thought…terrified him.
He flinched at the touch of rough hands against his face. His gaze flicked to Severo, his eyes wide.
The Dweller’s hands dropped, the man blinking as if he was shocked he’d just done that. “Sorry!” Severo blurted. “I shouldn’t have touched you… I just…I don’t like seeing you upset. But…” He cleared his throat, and rubbed the back of his neck. “How about just learning from this, and being more cautious in the future? Don’t beat yourself up about it. As the supposed victim of medical malpractice, don’t I have a say in assigning blame? Well, I’m taking full blame.” Severo rested his hands in his lap, and began to tap his fingers against his legs, like he was nervous.
Seri licked his lips, eyes drifting down to stare at Severo’s large, warm hands tapping away. Meeting Severo’s gaze, he slowly reached out and grasped his hands.
At his touch, the man’s movements stopped. And with his own shaking, Seri brought them back to his face.
Severo’s breath caught, the Dweller’s eyes widening slightly.
“I…I don’t mind you touching me,” Seri said softly, face heating.
Severo stared, gently caressing his cheek with one of his thumbs, before the man slowly began to lean in. Seri held his breath, not daring to move. Right before Severo made contact, his eyes fluttered closed. Seri trembled as the man’s lips brushed ever so lightly against his.
His eyes slipped open when that feathery light contact broke and Severo pulled back. Shyly meeting the man’s gaze under his lashes, a shiver ran through him at the heat he saw there. His cock perked up.
“Is this…is this okay?” Severo asked softly.
“Yes…” he rasped. “Please…” He licked his lips, tasting the man. “Please.”
He wasn’t sure what he was begging for, but…Severo kissed him again, and this time their lips were pressed firmly against each other. Seri moaned as the kiss deepened, his cock hardening fully.
Leaning in closer to the man, he wrapped his arms around his neck when Severo’s hands dropped from his face to pull Seri into his lap. He gasped at the hardness under his ass. Severo used that slight parting to delve inside.
“BAH,” Skya squealed loudly.
Seri was pulling back and jumping away from the man in an instant.
