Love Him Free (On the Market #1) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,74

Most of them shut down the market and events, and part of him was looking forward to the excuse to stay in and watch the streets flood. They didn’t get hit as hard as some places, but the summer usually had one or two big storms that killed the power all day.

He used to love it as a kid. He’d take Levi’s chubby hand in his and drag him through the puddles once the thunder and lightning had moved on. They’d catch little frogs that seemed to spring up from the ground, and they’d smile at the old man who had a barbershop and used to hand out what he called, ‘penny candy’. He died before Simon came back—when he realized the entire town had not existed in a bubble.

His old enemies had moved on, the people he’d envied now holding positions of power. He saw Ronan with his dark eyes, and Fitz with his never-ending smile, and he realized he’d never be like them. But maybe that was okay—at least, it felt okay now. It felt like maybe they didn’t mind so much he was never going to be social the way they were.

Maybe Birdie’s apology and admission had proved something. Simon had only believed what he wanted to, because it was easier than dealing with the stuff he had going on inside.

He tapped his foot on the ground in an absent rhythm, then perked up when he heard James’ soft yips. Rocco came around the corner not long after, and he smiled, gathering Simon into his arms for a kiss.

‘Ready?’ he asked when he pulled away.

Simon nodded, then led the way to his car. James perched on the console between them, and the drive was almost too short. Simon wasn’t as anxious as he was the first night, but knowing this was an ending had him on edge. There had been a sort of humming desire between them since Rocco had sucked his cock, and Simon wanted to get this over with because as much as he wanted to drag this last night out, he also wanted Rocco to get off. Rocco’s pleasure had become just as important as his own—if not more. Things felt unequal and strange, and Simon wanted to be back on even footing.

He startled out of his thoughts when Rocco touched the side of his neck, and he offered a smile of apology when he felt his lover’s rough thumb brush against his jaw. ‘Sorry.’

Rocco shook his head. ‘Do you want to eat, or watch TV? Rest for a bit?’

Simon bit his lip. It sounded nice—even if it was procrastination. But no. That wasn’t what he wanted at all. ‘I want you.’

Maybe the ferocity of his need was all these years of being deprived, not just of sex, but of touch. He’d steadfastly avoided even the most casual affection from anyone but Levi—and even his brother was stingy. But he didn’t think he’d react with anyone else the same as he did with Rocco. Simon wanted to believe—no, needed to believe—that only Rocco could make him feel this way.

Just inside the front door, Rocco took slow, deliberate steps toward Simon, and when they were touching, he backed him up against the wall. He held him, achingly similar to the way he had at the bakery, one large thigh parting Simon’s into a large V before lifting him high onto his toes.

Rocco’s head dipped low, his nose brushing along Simon’s cheeks, followed by lips—parted, hot breath ghosting over Simon’s oversensitive skin. He groaned, and Rocco moved one hand to circle his throat, just resting lightly there with fingers pressed to his pulse point.

Simon’s heart raced, and he let his head fall back against the wall as Rocco laid waste to the crook of his shoulder with tongue and teeth. There would be marks—God, there would be evidence left behind beyond empty balls, sweat, and a few tears.

“Precious,” Rocco murmured against his clavicle, and those three words rushed to the tip of Simon’s tongue, but he held them back. Even if Rocco wouldn’t hear them, Simon refused to utter them just then. Not yet, though he would be a fool to think he could hold out much longer.

Simon’s temperature rose another degree before Rocco finally let him go, sliding him to the ground before taking both hands in his. He walked backward as he led the way to the bedroom, and he flicked on one of the low lights. The camera was where it was before,