“Now you,” Garridan said.
Sage frowned. “I don’t look like you.”
“You are exactly what I like.”
Sage hesitated, but finally pulled the shirt over his head and held it against him for a minute. Then Garridan’s eyes changed and seemed to eat Sage up. Sage dropped his shirt.
Garridan walked over to him and Sage was sure he was going to kiss him. Instead, Garridan bent to pick up Sage’s shirt. His arm brushed against Sage’s stomach as he did.
Sage reached out and ran his hands over the expanse of Garridan’s back, switching to Garridan’s chest when he straightened. All that smooth skin underneath his fingers made Sage want to touch every inch of Garridan’s body.
“Lay on the bed,” Sage said, his voice going husky with lust. “I want to touch you some more.”
Garridan folded the shirt quickly, laying it on top of his own. He turned and sat on the bed before falling back.
“I’m just going to touch you,” Sage said, as if Garridan was the one that had the issue with intimacy.
“Whatever you want, mate.” Garridan put his arms above his head.
“I might bond with you. I don’t know if I’ll be able to help it. You can bond with me too, if you want. Take off your pants,” Sage was so nervous and horny, all at the same time, his hands shook.
Garridan lay there for a few seconds, probably trying to process all the words Sage had strung together. He’d spoken so fast they sounded like one big word. “Pants off?”
Sage nodded.
Garridan stood, getting as naked as Sage would allow. He folded them neatly and put them on top of their shirts. “Underwear?”
Sage shook his head. “I’m not ready for that thing yet,” Sage said, referring to Garridan’s cock.
Garridan lay back down on the bed, his arms above his head once again. Garridan did that so Sage would know where his hands were at all times. It was an incredibly sweet gesture and hit home the fact that Garridan wouldn’t do anything Sage didn’t want.
Garridan chuckled and Sage was so stunned he couldn’t speak for a second, which was quite something considering normally he couldn’t seem to shut up around his mate. “God, do that again.”
“What?”
“Laugh. I’ve never heard it before.”
“I haven’t had a reason until now.”
“Oh God, that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,” Sage said, his hand came up to his heart.
Garridan smiled. “It’s true.”
Sage took a step closer, unbuttoning his pants as he did. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to take them all the way off and didn’t make the decision until he pushed them down. He kicked them off as he climbed on the bed.
“Just let me…um…if you…um…don’t like something you’ll tell me. Please.” Sage sat next toGarridan.
“Yes. And you’ll do the same,” Garridan said.
“Yeah. I won’t freeze up. I’m not scared of you.” Sage needed to hear himself say that aloud just to confirm the knowledge.
“I’d never hurt you.”
Sage smiled. He knew that. Sage ran a finger down the ridge of Garridan’s abdominal muscles and then back up again. They jumped underneath his fingers. Sage bent down and kissed where his fingers had just been.
“You can touch me,” Sage whispered as he lifted up.
“I want a kiss.” Garridan brought a hand around the nape of Sage’s neck. Sage leaned down. When their lips connected, Garridan did that thing again. That slow press of lips that made Sage melt against him.
