Page 58 of Sugar

He kissed over his hip bones slowly, looking up at Juno’s face. His eyes were wide, staring up at the ceiling, looking almost lost. It was the same expression Juno had when they were on the boat. He knew Juno was still holding back, but he was starting to feel those walls crack.

This was the first step.

The second would be proving to Juno that he could be trusted with all the things that were crushing him inside. That he could provide a soft landing and safe spot to be the sort of vulnerable that Juno was terrified to be.

It wouldn’t be forever. Piper knew that. This would settle into something quieter and calmer. He didn’t think he’d go a single day without wanting Juno more than words could describe, but he knew it wouldn’t always feel so intense.

They’d eventually stop driving. They’d see the sights, and they’d get home, and reality would set in.

Juno would figure out where he fit into Piper’s life, and Piper would figure out the best shape to twist himself into so Juno could let his guard down more often. It wasn’t a difficult task. Piper had been doing that most of his life, and for the first time since his little brother had come along, Piper wanted to do it.

“Baby?”

Piper blinked in surprise and looked up. “Mm?”

“Can the rest of this wait until morning? I don’t think I can get hard right now.”

Piper had noticed. Juno was a little thick but nothing like he usually was whenever Piper got his lips on him. And that was fine by him. He surged up and touched his chin, getting his attention. “I’m going to call down to the front desk and see if we can stay another night.”

Juno frowned. “But the observatory?—”

“We’re still on schedule, sugar. And you need a day of rest.”

“I’ll probably feel better tomorrow,” Juno attempted to argue.

Piper smiled at him and ran the tip of his finger over his lower lip. “Then I’m sure we can find a way to occupy our time here. In bed.” He kissed his right nipple. “Until we have to be back on the road.” He kissed his left nipple. “But it would make me feel better if you didn’t take the risk.”

Juno sighed as he pushed up on his elbows and scooted toward the pillows. “I’m sorry I made you get naked for nothing.”

“Getting to hold you against me like this isn’t for nothing. Trust me,” Piper told him.

Juno settled into his embrace, turning toward him. Their limp cocks brushed together, sending tendrils of quiet pleasure through him. He rocked against Juno softly, chasing it.

“You’re an easy man to please,” Juno said.

Piper smiled at him. “No. It’s just easy for you because you’re right for me.”

“Now, that needs to be a line in a movie.”

“The epic tale of us,” Piper said with a smile. “Maybe I’ll write a book now that I’m officially retired.”

Juno nestled closer, nipping at his collarbone with sharp teeth. “Well. If you ever need anyone to act out sex scenes with you, I’m your man.”

Piper tipped Juno’s head up and kissed him again. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else. Now, let’s eat our gross cold pizza so you can take more meds and get some sleep.”

Juno wrinkled his nose, but Piper relaxed when he didn’t argue. It was nice. It was a kinder moment than he’d expected to have, and his heart was still soaring because now that he had time to stop and think, it was all settling in.

Juno was his. Juno wanted to be his. And there was no more hesitation left between them.

They reached the upper peninsula of Michigan just after four o’clock the day after they were meant to be there. Piper waited until Juno was asleep that night before calling Adam to let him know they were delayed. He felt bad since he knew that Adam was doing him a massive favor, and they were at the whims of the northern lights forecast, but Piper meant what he said about giving Juno an extra day of rest.

They both needed it, if he was being honest with himself.

Adam, luckily, seemed unbothered, but he’d always been that kind of guy. They’d worked together for a few years when Piper was in training, and Piper had actually missed him when the guy had taken a job at a private lab in the Midwest.

This was the first time Piper had a real excuse to see him, though he was starting to wonder if maybe the reason he didn’t have many friends was because he kept waiting for reasons to hang out. Things might have been different if he’d taken some initiative.

But he couldn’t say he was upset about it now. All of those decisions brought him to exactly where he was—and that was with Juno, who had finally admitted he wanted to be with Piper. And that was all he needed.

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