Page 42 of Sugar

“Yeah. Yeah, it is.” Juno didn’t mind admitting that he’d been wrong. “Do you know what that bright one is?”

“Jupiter,” Piper told him without having to stop and think about it. “She’s always out this time of year.”

Juno turned his head to look at him. “Why do you call Jupiter a she? Isn’t he the king of the Roman gods?”

Piper’s smile was very soft. “Which would make you his queen?” He touched Juno’s cheek briefly. “I call her that because she protects Earth. I’ve never really believed in any sort of god before, but she’s in the exact right spot that keeps asteroids from destroying us. I don’t think a man would do that.”

“You would,” Juno said quietly.

Piper huffed a laugh and shrugged. “Maybe now. When I was younger, I was an asshole. I was tired and frustrated and overworked. I could have been kinder. I used to hate that I wasn’t a better man back then, but maybe if I had been, I would have found someone to fall in love with.”

“Why is that a bad thing?” Juno couldn’t help but ask. That was the dream, wasn’t it? To find love? To spend your life without being so damn lonely?

Piper knocked his forehead against Juno’s temple and breathed deeply. “Because then I probably wouldn’t be here with you, and that thought is unbearable.”

Juno felt those words like a physical blow—not unkind, but powerful enough to knock him off his feet if he hadn’t already been lying down. He turned his face toward Piper. He’d seen enough of the stars for now. He’d seen enough of the stars for a lifetime, in fact, but not nearly enough of Piper.

It felt almost cruel to lose his face so soon after finding it. He reached for him, and Piper surged into his touch. “Tell me what you’re thinking, sugar.”

Juno couldn’t. He didn’t want to give voice to his fears then. He wanted to bask in the moment of quiet stillness and simmering want. He turned his face up, and Piper understood immediately. He cupped Juno’s cheek and pushed his tongue between his lips. Juno accepted the kiss with a heavy groan, his body rolling into Piper’s.

Massive hands reached for his thighs, pulling him, twisting their bodies until he was straddling Piper’s waist, his legs in a wide v. And then he felt it. Piper was hard, throbbing against his own stiff cock, and Piper let out a heavy groan as Juno rolled his hips.

“Not here,” Piper said in a ragged whisper. “The bed. Please.”

Juno didn’t argue, though he kissed him for a long, lush moment before pulling away. His knees trembled a little as his feet hit the floor, and he offered a hand out to Piper, who took it. They stood there a moment, just staring. Juno did his best to paint another picture in his mind. Maybe he’d forget one day. He probably would.

That was life.

But he’d hold on to it for as long as he was allowed.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

They made it to the bedroom quickly, though not without pausing so Piper could suck on Juno’s pulse and rub his newly found erection into the side of his hip. It sent sparks flying through him, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it had been this intense before.

He used to enjoy sex. He rarely had trouble finding partners who were interested, and there had been a sort of forbidden thrill when he was younger. He’d always come hard and sometimes fast. It had always been good.

But it had never been like this.

Piper was fighting off his orgasm by the time they got to the side of the bed. He had to hold his dick by the base and squeeze as he watched Juno peel out of his clothes. Everything the man did in that moment was erotic. From the way he rubbed his hand under his nose, to the curls falling over his forehead, to the way he wriggled his toes as he situated himself on the bed.

Piper swallowed heavily as he pulled his travel bag close and pulled out the lube. Juno’s eyes widened, pupils dilated. The left one wasn’t tracking him, but the right one was. Piper felt so fucking seen. He dropped the little bottle on the comforter, then pulled his shirt off.

Juno sucked in a breath.

It had been years since Piper felt wanted. He’d always been a fairly good-looking guy, and he’d aged well, but he hadn’t paid attention to whether or not he was still attractive. This feeling was new. It was different.

He wanted more of it.

“Pants,” Juno demanded after a beat.

Piper smiled and pulled his sweats down to his knees. They were still faintly damp from Juno’s bath, and thinking of that made his stomach twist painfully. Something had gone wrong—something bad enough to send Juno into a panic. But he hadn’t wanted to ask.

He didn’t want to ruin this.

He studied Juno to make sure he was still with him—present and needy—and when he was satisfied, he kicked his sweats away, then pressed his knee to the comforter. His dick hung there, fat and throbbing, dribbling precome at the tip. He watched Juno watch him.

“You can touch me,” he said, “but I might shoot off early.”

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