His smile was brilliant. “Finally.”
He pulled me up the stairs, both of us stumbling in our haste. We made it to the landing before he pushed me against the wall, kissing me hard enough to bruise.
“I love you,” he said between kisses. “I love you. I love you.”
By the time we made it to the bedroom, neither of us wore a shirt, his shoes had bounced down the stairs, and my button fly had sprung open. Finn yanked at whatever I had left, not even caring to close the bedroom door.
“Wait,” I said, catching his hands. “Slow down.”
“I don’t want to slow down.”
“Just—” I cupped his face, making him look at me. “I want to remember this. Our first time after saying I love you. I want it to be—”
“Everything,” Finn finished. “I want it to be everything.”
“Yeah.”
We helped each other out of the last of our clothes as we moved toward the bed, hands everywhere, mouths finding skin. I needed this man more than I needed air to breathe.
“I need you inside me, Chase.”
A growl bubbled up from deep inside. “Whatever my baby wants.”
He purred. “Your baby. I like that.”
“My man. My sweetheart. My—”
“Boyfriend.”
I pulled back and met his gaze. “Boyfriend.”
He smiled and nodded. “Oh, I almost forgot. I need to tell you something, too.”
I froze. Shit. More news.
“I got tested last week, and I started on PrEP.”
For the hundredth time that day, I was stunned into silence.
Finn stammered on, “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I’m all for being smart and safeand—”
“Yes.”
Finn’s words stilled.
The silence stretched as we stared, each trying to read the other’s thoughts.
Finally, I said, “I tested a month ago, and I couldn’t even think about being with anyone else with you in my life. I’m all yours, Finn. Every part of me. Every part of me you’ll have, at least.”
His smile was all teeth and gums. I could feel it in my gut.
“I want all of you, Chase. Every last drop.”
The drawer to the side table flew open, then the pop of the lube bottle echoed in the bedroom. There was no tearing sound this time.
It also didn’t take hours to get Finn ready. His legs flew into the air, presenting me with a pucker painting to make Van Gough blush. By the time my second finger slipped inside him, he was begging for more than any digit could give.
I leaned over him, my shadow consuming his form, and kissed him with every ounce of love I’d ever known.
