“Take your cock, stroke it, match my movement and let's come together.”
Malcolm doesn't hesitate. The only sounds in the room other than our groans are of skin slapping skin.
“Come,” I order as my balls tighten and my orgasm takes over, quickly mirrored by his. I hold Malcolm through it. Both of us are a trembling mess. I lean over pressing a gentle kiss to his back.
“Mine,” I whisper, voice husky but full of the promise it means. “You'll never hide who you are again.”
“Yours,” he whispers back.
I hold the condom at the base before gently pulling out of him.
“I’ll be right back. Don't move.”
Carefully pulling the condom off, I tie it in a knot and head to the bathroom. Trash, wash my hands and wet a cloth. I do it all in that order, then head back and gently clean Malcolm.
“Stay the night with me?” The uncertainty in his voice leaks through.
“Wasn't planning on leaving.”
We still have things to work through. Details I need to tell him. Bradley being one of them. But that's for tomorrow. I lie to myself and pretend that’s good enough. That pushing it off until daylight makes me less of a coward.
He moves under the blankets, laying on his back as his head rolls to the side, gazing at me. It’s a look of contentment. Of love. Of being home. I get it.
But something inside me cracks.
I climb into bed beside him, resting on my side, propped on one elbow, watching him like I used to. Like this is still simple. Like I’m not torn in two.
This man is my world. He always was.
But I left Bradley to come here, heart still aching for someone else. For someone I haven’t been honest with. Not really. Not fully. And maybe that’s the worst part. I want them both. And right now, I’m lying to both of them.
Malcolm is still catching his breath, his skin damp, chest rising in slow, heavy waves. His eyes flutter open when I reach out, wiping the sweat from his forehead, letting my knuckles graze along the edge of his face as my hand lowers.
“You okay?” I ask.
He nods, a smile spreading. “Yeah. More than okay.”
I lean in and kiss him slowly. A quiet thank you spoken without words for the sacrifice he made for us.
“What you did tonight. Telling your family means so much to me,” I whisper against his mouth. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you,” he says quietly. “For coming here tonight. Comforting me. Giving us another chance. I know we still have a lot to work through. To say. But I'm so happy.”
I roll onto my back, holding my arm out, and Malcolm moves on instinct, curling into my side, resting his head on my chest.
My hand moves in slow circles across Malcolm’s back, soothing him and myself. “I told you I'd be there for you. Always. I just couldn't hide any longer. It wasn't healthy for us. For our relationship.”
We lay like that for a while, tangled together, heartbeats slowly easing into a peaceful rhythm. Eventually, Malcolm's breathing evens out, deep and soft, his body fully relaxed in my arms. Exhaustion from not only our sex play but from the events of the night washing over him. I stay awake a little longer, watching him sleep, my hand never stopping its slow movements along his back.
With a final kiss to the top of Malcolm’s head, I close my eyes and let sleep take me over. Tomorrow I will tell him about Bradley, shattering all that was repaired tonight.
Chapter 29
Malcolm
WakingupwithJeffersonin bed next to me is everything I've ever wanted. But things have changed. Not my wanting him, but now there's someone else who nips at my heart. It happened fast and unexpectedly, but I can't deny those feelings.
Bradley’s there. Even with Jefferson lying beside me, my thoughts drift to him. Is he okay? Feeling better? And that’s just a couple of the thoughts.
