Landen's hand was still on his waist. Fingers spread wide over the curve of it, gripping like he wanted to hold on forever. Like he liked the feel of it. Like it wasn't something to be ashamed of, something to hide, something to apologize for.
Adriel's mind spun.
Why?The question was still there, flickering at the edges, even as Landen kissed him breathless.
Why me? Why this? Why would someone like him want someone like me?
Landen's hand squeezed. A small pressure, a reassurance, like he could feel Adriel pulling away even while standing right here.
Adriel kissed him harder. Tried to pour the question into it, the confusion, the desperate wanting. Tried to ask with his mouth what he couldn't form into words.
Do you mean this? Is this real? Am I allowed to want this?
Landen answered by deepening the kiss further.
His tongue pushed deeper into Adriel’s mouth, explored the heat of it, tasted him like he couldn't get enough. His other hand slid from Adriel's neck into his hair, fingers curling into the strands, gripping just enough to send a shiver down Adriel's spine, making him gasp.
He could feel everything too sharply; the pull of Landen's fingers in his hair, the grip on his waist, the press of Landen's thigh between his legs, the hardness he could feel now, unmistakable, Landen's cock pressed against his hip.
He wants me.
The thought hit him like a physical blow. Made his breath stutter, his heart stop, his whole body lock up for a single frozen second.
Landen was hard.
Adriel's mind went blank. The questions, the insecurities; all of it just…stopped. Replaced by the feel of Landen's body against his, the evidence of want pressed hot and heavy against his hip.
He moaned.
Couldn't help it. Didn't try to stop it. The sound came from somewhere deep, somewhere he'd kept locked away for years, and it spilled out of him like a confession.
Landen groaned in response.
The sound vibrated through Adriel, made his toes curl, made his hips shift forward without permission, seeking more contact.
Landen pulled back just far enough to breathe.
His forehead pressed against Adriel's. His eyes were dark, pupils blown, lips wet and slightly swollen. He looked ruined. Looked like Adriel had done something to him, like this was affecting him as much as it was affecting Adriel.
"Fuck," Landen whispered. His voice was wrecked. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."
Adriel couldn't speak. Couldn't form words. Could only stare up at him, chest heaving, lips parted, whole body trembling.
Landen's eyes dropped to his mouth.
Then he was kissing him again.
Harder this time. Faster. Less controlled. Like the admission had broken something open in him too, had let loose whatever restraint he'd been holding onto.
Landen's thigh pressed harder between his legs.
Adriel gasped. His hips jerked forward, grinding against Landen's thigh without permission, without thought, pure instinct and need. The friction was a torture, not enough, too much all at once.
"That's it," Landen murmured against his mouth. "Let me feel you."
Adriel's face burned. But he didn't stop. Couldn't stop. His hips moved again, small and needy, seeking more of that pressure, more of that feeling.
Landen's hand on his waist tightened. Guided him. Showed him how to move, how to rock against his thigh, how to find the rhythm that made Adriel's eyes roll back.
