Page 28 of Bear the Burden

Glancing up, Wesley saw a large canvas above the bed depicting some kind of cityscape, the color washed in sepia. In addition to the glass doors, there were also large windows that let in natural light.

“This is an amazing bedroom,” he commented as Hyett began to put away the stacks of clothes from his bed. “You don’t have to clean up because of me. Honestly, my bedroom could use a cleaning service compared to yours.”

Wesley’s wasn’t that messy, but he didn’t want Hyett to feel embarrassed. The only people who probably had spotless bedrooms were the ones who actually had a cleaning service or housekeeper. Two things Wesley couldn’t afford.

But he liked Hyett’s messiness because it offset Wesley’s feeling that he was too broke to date a guy who could afford such a fancy home.

Since Hyett kept cleaning, Wesley grabbed the remote off the nightstand and turned on the television. He became lost in the baking reality show but was fully aware of Hyett moving around the room. When he grabbed the dirty dishes and walked out, Wesley kicked off his shoes and eased onto the bed.

Just for a moment, he closed his eyes, but when he opened them, the room was bathed in darkness and there was a solid, warm wall of heat at his back.

As carefully as he could, trying to minimize the pain, Wesley turned over then settled. He gazed at the man who was coming to mean so much to him. Since they’d met, Hyett had been there for him, looking out for him in all the ways that mattered.

Hyett’s eyes slid open, as if he’d felt someone watching him. Then he reached out and brushed aside the hair from Wesley’s forehead. “What a sight to behold when I open my eyes. How are you feeling?” His thumb brushed tenderly over Wesley’s cheek.

“Still sore.” Staring into Hyett’s smoky eyes made something close to love blossom inside of Wesley, and he knew in that moment, this was the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

His mate.

Wesley slid his fingers through Hyett’s silky hair, watching as his mate’s eyes closed and a satisfied smile tipped the corners of his lips. He really was gorgeous, and made Wesley burn for just one touch, one caress from his strong hands.

Before he lost his nerve, he dipped his head and licked a long path from collarbone to earlobe. The skin was salty, but the scent reminded Wesley of rough leather and spice, something wild and untamed.

The man groaned then softly sighed. Wesley ran his lips over Hyett’s strong jaw, smiling and aroused at the stubble grazing across his mouth. When he moved back toward Hyett’s chin, Wesley took a chance and grazed his lips over his mate’s, just a whisper of a touch, but enough to feel Hyett’s warm breath tickle his skin.

Please don’t reject me again. Hyett might have explained why he’d pulled away earlier, but the fear still remained. Wesley was damaged, and his mate was possibly the most breathtaking man he’d ever seen in his life.

Hyett turned his head, deepening the kiss. It was a consuming, dominating caress of lips. Wesley began to tremble, clutching Hyett’s arms, a smoldering mess of heat and need.

Something pressed into Wesley’s stomach. Hyett was hard, and getting harder with every stroke of their lips.

“I want to taste you,” Hyett said against Wesley’s mouth. His mate pulled away and reached for the button on Wesley’s pants.

He grabbed Hyett’s wrists to stop him as his heart beat wildly. Wesley’s bravado vanished, leaving him a mess of self-doubts and fears.

“What is it?” Hyett’s brows knitted together as he searched Wesley’s eyes.

“My leg.” He couldn’t stop hearing the rando’s cruel words in his head or remembering the horrified expression he’d worn that night.

It would kill him if Hyett looked at him the same way.

“Please, will you trust me?” He extracted his wrists from Wesley’s death grip. “You’ve trusted me this far. Don’t stop now.”

They stared at each other as Hyett unfastened Wesley’s pants, and then slid them down his trembling thighs.

“Trust me,” Hyett whispered. Wesley closed his eyes, bracing himself when his mate slid down his body, taking Wesley’s pants and underwear with him. Hyett settled between his legs then shouldered them apart.

Wesley’s eyes flew open when he felt warm kisses on his inner thigh.

Hyett was kissing his scars. He wasn’t horrified or calling Wesley all kinds of vile names. His breathing turned shallow as Hyett tenderly kissed and licked the skin as if it was flawless instead of a hideous mess.

Then he sucked Wesley’s cock down his throat, using his tongue to trace the heavy vein. The feeling was so incredible it was a wonder Wesley didn’t come right then and there. The way Hyett’s throat worked with each swallow drove him insane.

“God, yes. Feels so….” His eyes slid shut as his mate turned him into nothing more than needy groans and hot aches. Wesley’s breath hitched when wet fingers worked their way inside his ass, stretching him until he feared he would start drooling.

Hyett’s talented mouth popped off Wesley’s cock then moved lower, licking a long line from the base of his prick to his balls. The guy licked, sucked, and nibbled at his sac until Wesley couldn’t take it any longer, his cock throbbing painfully for release.

“Fuck!” He blew his load, his ass clenching as his seed shot down Hyett’s throat, pleasure hammering against every nerve ending in his body. His orgasm stole his breath and blazed hellfire through his veins. Somewhere in there, he croaked out Hyett’s name.

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