Love Him Desperate (On the Market #5) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,27

pulling up next to Isaac’s truck. The air around his house always smelled like hot metal and wood smoke, and he thought he could still hear the crackling of the forge in back.

Raphael liked him. He wasn’t a man Raphael would fall in love with, but there was something about the way Isaac was rough, and always a little soot-stained, and calloused, and missing the softness of tact. He’d never hesitated to ask Raphael about his body—about his wants, his limitations, and where he could push boundaries.

He never hesitated to make it hurt just a little, and that pain coupled with pleasure kept Raphael grounded in moments like this when the rest of the world seemed like they wanted to wrap him up in bubble wrap and then kick him when he fell, making themselves feel better about it when they told themselves it wouldn’t hurt.

He’d spent too many of his years building up a tolerance for that kind of pain, but some nights were harder than others. He knew why, deep down. He knew why there was a soft, vulnerable spot inside that had been stripped of its defenses tonight.

The evidence was in a long string of reaction emojis in response to his poorly taken selfies in his closet mirror. It was Dmitri texting him every word he knew to make Raphael feel sexy and wanted and worthy when he helped pick his outfit—and it had meant nothing, in the end. His confidence landed him a couple of ableist slurs at the beginning and end of a bad date and another orgasm in Isaac’s hands.

The last part wasn’t the worst, but for the first time, it wasn’t what he wanted. For the first time in a very long time, he craved more. He craved quiet nights and soft laughter and the chance to hold and be held without any expectations. He wanted the promise of adventure without being left behind, and the promise of being himself without being abandoned for it.

And Dmitri could offer those things, but Raphael knew they came with a price too heavy to pay.

With a breath, he knocked on Isaac’s door, then pushed his way in. He didn’t bother checking around, instead heading straight for the bedroom. He untucked his shirt before his gaze landed on the other man. Isaac was on the bed, legs spread into a wide V, his hard cock erect and weeping as his big hand stroked from root to tip.

Raphael didn’t feel the same rush of hunger this time. His fingers were steady as he worked his buttons, and he stripped off his jeans, his orthotics thumping on the ground as he bared himself completely. He let Isaac’s big, steady hands draw him close, into a fierce kiss before he was rolled onto his side. Isaac pushed the wedge pillow between Raphael’s legs, and the pressure in his hips eased so fast, he couldn’t stop his sigh of relief.

“Who got you worked up, babe?” Isaac asked, dragging his teeth along the back of Raphael’s shoulder.

He was hard, getting harder with every sweep of Isaac’s rough palms.

“Bad date. Very bad date. I brought you cake as incentive to make this very good,” Raphael murmured as he heard Isaac suck on his fingers. They brushed between his cheeks and then pressed against his hole, and the tip of his first finger pressed in to the knuckle.

“Yes?” Isaac asked.

Raphael nodded, groaning, pushing back. “More.”

The lube was next, a generous amount, and Isaac played his body with the familiarity of an old lover, getting him right to the edge without working for it. Raphael didn’t mind. He wanted to unleash, he wanted to come and shake apart, and then breathe himself back together.

“Do I need to kick someone’s ass?” Isaac asked him as he lifted Raphael’s leg and pressed the head of his cock against Raphael’s hole.

The condom crinkled a little, until he pushed in, and then Raphael just felt full, and hot, and wanted. “Maybe…maybe later,” he groaned. He was losing his words in the face of being split open, and he knew Isaac didn’t need more from him. He was surrounded by a warm body, and firm pillows, and careful hands guided his weak, stiff hips so he could feel every second of it.

His face went hot, and his balls went tight, just before his right leg started to spasm.

“Good, yes,” Isaac grunted. “God, you’re so—” and then he stopped as his hand flew over Raphael’s dick, dragging him gasping and begging