Page 24 of Off Limits

"You'd be all sweaty from working on the deck," Asher continued, grinning at Gabriel's pained expression. "And I’d tease you until you'd finally snap, pin me against the truck?—“

"You're doing this on purpose," Gabriel accused.

"Obviously. Is it working?"

Asher shifted to straddle Gabriel's lap, the blanket falling away. The whiskey made him bold, made him want.

"I mean, you're already hard, so I'd say yes."

"Brat," Gabriel growled, hands finding his hips.

"Your brat," Asher corrected, rolling his hips just to be an asshole about it. "You had your chance to run. Now you're stuck with me and my mouth."

"I happen to like your mouth," Gabriel said, eyes dark with that particular hunger that meant his wolf was very interested.

"Yeah? Which part? The talking back, or the sucking your?—"

Gabriel pulled him down for a kiss that was definitely meant to shut him up.

It worked. Mostly.

They made love there in front of the fire, slow and deep, the kind of sex that was as much about connection as pleasure. Gabriel's hands mapped every inch of him like he was trying to memorize it, even though he already knew Asher's body better than Asher did himself.

Later, the fire crackled, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Gabriel's knot pulsed inside him, keeping them connected, and Asher had never felt more complete.

"You know what's fucked up?" Asher said, tracing lazy patterns on Gabriel's chest.

"What?"

"Three years ago I was getting railed by strangers for rent money." He felt Gabriel tense and continued before he could get all protective and growly. "And now I'm getting railed by you for free. Terrible business model, really."

"Asher—"

"I should at least charge you in pancakes. Or those fancy coffee beans you hide in the back of the pantry."

"You know about those?" Gabriel sounded genuinely surprised.

"Please. You're not subtle." Asher shifted slightly, making them both groan as his movement tugged at where they were still connected. "But my point is, you've completely ruined my entrepreneurial spirit. Now I just lie here and let you fuck me for free like some kind of kept boy."

"You are a kept boy," Gabriel pointed out, amused despite himself. "My boy."

"See? Disgusting. We're disgusting." Asher pressed a kiss to Gabriel's chest. "I love you," he said, the words coming easier now after years of practice.

Gabriel's arms tightened around him. "Love you too. Always."

Sappy bastard. Asher loved him so fucking much it hurt.