Page 48 of Merrick

“That’s not the same thing.”

Wilder’s fingers pressed and kneaded their way over his ass and the backs of his legs, and Merrick’s breath caught in his throat when Wilder spread his cheeks apart and paid the same attention to his asshole. As soon as the touch was there, it was gone, and Wilder finished his inspection with a soft tap against the back of Merrick’s knee.

“You…are a mess,” he announced.

The bed creaked when Wilder stood.

“Where are you going?”

“To get you cleaned up.”

The thought of moving was torture, more than Merrick could handle. He shook his head and reached up, beckoning Wilder back into his bed.

“Not yet, please.”

If there had been a question, it was answered. Wilder sat back down on the bed and pulled Merrick into his lap. He exhaled completely, lungs deflating and shoulders sagging. Merrick leaned all of his weight into Wilder’s chest and just like he’d done in the days prior, Wilder continued to hold him up.

“You tell me when, okay?”

Merrick nodded, enjoying the peace. Enjoying the quiet.

“Yes, Sir. I will.”

CHAPTER 18

Wilder

The next morning,Wilder would have rather flayed off his own skin than untangle himself from Merrick’s arms, but he had to get up and get to work. Merrick still got up and made him coffee, sinking to his knees in the kitchen and rubbing his face against the front of Wilder’s slacks while Wilder drank his coffee.

“If you have any bad feelings today, call me, alright?” He held Merrick’s chin in his fingers after their goodbye kiss, keeping the other man’s attention locked on him.

“I’m fine.”

“I hear you and I believe you, but if that changes…”

“Why would it change?” Merrick asked.

“Last night was a lot. For both of us. And it was a first for you?—”

“Not for you?”

Wilder’s tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He’d punished people before, more times than he could probably count, but he’d never felt as raw as he did standing there in Merrick’s kitchen.

“Yes and no,” he admitted. “It’s not been like that for me before.”

Merrick nodded. “I’m okay.”

“I believe you.”

“I’ll let you know if I’m not,” Merrick said, swallowing hard. “I do love you. I didn’t just...that wasn’t just a thing I said in the heat of the moment.”

“And I love you,” Wilder promised, sealing the truth with a kiss.

He’d thought he loved people before, but there was no comparison. He was either going to spend the rest of his life with this man, or he was going to be alone. He hoped for the former, but either way, Merrick Shannon wasitfor him.

They finished their goodbyes with Merrick swearing he would start looking into the art show idea before he went into the shop and that he would text Wilder about whatever he discovered. That was the most he could ask for, and he carried that promise with him on the way into the office.

Wilder tried to work, but he couldn’t focus, his brain too distracted. By eleven, he’d called Justin, who told him Micah was making lunch if he wanted to come over. He arrived on his friends’ porch just before twelve, relief washing over him when he stepped through the door. Keith let him in with a quick hug and hello before leading him into the dining room where Justin sat at the table with his laptop open in front of him.