He gave the other one the same attention. I gripped his shoulders and tried not to fall apart already.
"Bedroom," he said. "I want you in my bed."
He took my hand and led me through the apartment. The bedroom was as minimalist as the rest. King-sized bed with black sheets. Nightstands with precisely placed lamps. Nothing personal except a single book on the nightstand.
Elio pulled me to the bed. Sat down and pulled me between his legs.
"We're going to take this slow," he said. His hands rested on my hips. "I'm going to undress you. Touch you. Learn every inch of you. And you're going to tell me what feels good. What you like. What you want more of. Can you do that?"
"Yes."
"Good. Because communication is important. I need to know what you're feeling. What you're thinking. This only works if you're honest with me."
"I will be. I promise."
He unbuttoned my jeans. Slid them down slowly. I stepped out of them. Left standing in just my boxer briefs while he sat fully clothed.
The position should've made me feel vulnerable. Exposed. Instead I felt powerful. Because Elio was looking at me like I was everything he wanted.
"Your turn," I said. Reached for his sweater.
He let me pull it off. Then his shirt underneath. I ran my hands over his chest. Lean muscle. A few scars. Warm skin.
"You're beautiful too," I said.
"I'm not—"
"You are. And I'm going to keep saying it until you believe it."
He smiled. Pulled me down onto the bed beside him. We lay facing each other. Close enough to touch. Close enough to see every detail.
"I've thought about this," Elio said quietly. His hand traced patterns on my side. "About having you here. In my space. In my bed."
"What did you think about?"
"Everything. What you'd look like against my sheets. What sounds you'd make. How you'd respond to touch." His hand slid lower. Hooked in the waistband of my boxer briefs. "Can I take these off?"
"Please."
He slid them down. Left me completely bare while he was still in jeans. The contrast was deliberate. Maintaining some control even as he let himself want.
His hand wrapped around me. I gasped and arched into the touch.
"Already hard," he murmured. "So responsive. I barely have to touch you."
"It's you. You do this to me."
"Good." He stroked slowly. Learning my body. "I want to do more. Want to show you what it feels like. But I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"
"I trust you. Completely."
"Then lie back. Let me take care of you."
I lay back against his pillows. Watched as he kissed down my chest. My stomach. Lower.
"Elio—what are you—"
"Teaching you. Showing you how good this can be." He looked up at me. Eyes dark with want. "Tell me to stop if you need to."
