willed Stephen to believe it, too, with everything he had.
Stephen finally collapsed, falling into his arms. Champ pulled him in close and stroked Stephen’s back as he held him. “If I could do nothing but hold you from now on, it would be enough.”
“Daddy.” Stephen cuddled in and held on.
“That’s right. Daddy’s got you. You can let go and rest. It’s safe.” He wouldn’t let anything happen to Stephen.
“Daddy. You make my soul burn.”
“Good. Because you own mine.”
“I’ll take care of it. Promise.”
“I believe you.” He kissed Stephen. He did—he had no other choice.
Chapter Ten
Stephen dozed for a bit before he slid from the bed and headed for the bathroom. He did his business before he moved over toward the shower and turned on the water. He smelled like sex. And Champ. And while he didn’t want to wash Champ away…
Truth was, he was ripe.
He laughed at himself and stepped under the spray, soaping himself up with Champ’s bodywash. It was woody and masculine, like Champ himself. He breathed in deeply as he sudsed up.
Oh, he ached in the best possible way, and the hot water felt so good.
He thought he heard a sound and he froze.
“Hey, baby. Is there room in the shower for Daddy to join you?”
“Oh hey. Come on in. I smelled terrible.”
“I bet you didn’t smell that bad.” Champ climbed in with him.
“Like sex. Like a tomcat,” he teased.
“Oh, that wouldn’t be bad at all.”
He turned to face his lover, lifting his face for a kiss. “Daddy.”
Champ purred, lips moving against his as they kissed. They were rocking together, almost dancing. It was magical. The water rained down around them, increasing that feeling.
Champ’s hands wound around his waist, holding onto him.
“It’s good, being together.” He cupped one of Champ’s asscheeks and squeezed.
Champ groaned for him. “It is. It feels right too. Like it’s how it should be.”
“Yes.” He didn’t have another word to say.
Champ tugged him closer so their bodies rubbed and took his mouth again. Pushing his tongue in, Champ explored, tracing his teeth and sliding over his lips.
One of the hands on his hips moved around to cup his ass, and Champ held him there as they rubbed together. He could feel the heat and hardness of Champ’s need as it grew against him.
“You can’t need again.”
“We napped,” Champ pointed out.
Stephen giggled, so happy it wouldn’t stay in.
“Oh, I love that sound.” Champ peppered his face with kisses, chasing across his cheeks.
“I’m glad. You make me happy.”
“Good. That makes me happy.” Champ chuckled. “I’m glad there’s a lot of happy here.”
“Yes. It’s going to be hard, leaving tomorrow. I just want to take a week and bask.”
“Then do it. I’ll cover your rent, your responsibilities. Whatever. I’m not hurting for money, and I want to be with you.”
“But what about…what about school? I should finish what I started.”
“You should—especially if it’s what you want to do. If you’re not enjoying it, that’s another story.”
“I love my job. I just want to do my job.”
Champ’s eyebrows pulled together in a frown. “I don’t understand.”
“I guess. You know how it is—you have to do things you don’t want to, to be successful, to make money.”
“Ah. Or you could hire someone to do the parts you don’t like. I could help you with that too.” Champ gave him a warm smile. “The upshot as with everything here is that I want to be with you. I want to have time to love on you. To get to know you. All the things.”
“Oh…I have to finish school, but once I do? Yes.”
Champ hugged him tight. “That’s awesome. How much more school have you got?”
“This semester in class, and then I do a semester making art. I turn what I made in, and they judge it.”
“So how long is two semesters?” Champ asked, looking slightly woebegone.
“December in class, I’ll graduate in May.” And he was so ready.
“That seems like such a long time.” Champ pouted for him, the look exaggerated and, frankly, adorable.
“I could stay here, though, and if you were serious about studio space…” He felt so weird about asking.
“Yes! I would love to have you here. I’ll show you the studio space when we’re done. You can design it any way you want it.”
“If you’re sure…” He grinned at his new lover.
“I’m very sure. I want to do everything I can to make you happy.” Champ slid his fingers along Stephen’s cheeks.
“I want to make you smile. I want you.” He wanted to give himself over.
“You do.