Page 84 of Witch's Promise

A pause, then, "Thinking's dangerous, you know."

Sean let out a weak laugh. "No shit."

The water was beginning to run cool, so he turned it off, pushing open the glass door and reaching for the towel. Gabe was leaning against the doorframe, watching him with that samelook he always gave when he knew Sean was spiraling. It wasn’t pity—thank God—but more like Gabe was waiting for him to snap out of it, to come back to reality.

Sean ran the towel over his body, the fresh clothes Gabe had left feeling soft against his battered skin. The moment of silence between them stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was just... them.

But it didn’t stay that way for long.

As Sean stepped closer, his legs still shaky, Gabe’s arm shot out to steady him. The touch wasn’t just practical—it sent a spark through Sean that reminded him just how much had changed between them. It was a different kind of pull, one that dragged him deeper, past the surface level of care and into something much more dangerous.

"You need to rest," Gabe said, his voice a little quieter now, like he could read the shift in Sean’s thoughts.

"I need..." Sean’s throat went dry, the words sticking. He should say he needed sleep, or maybe a drink, or another round of whatever twisted therapy this was turning into. But none of that felt right. What he needed, what he wanted, was standing right in front of him.

Gabe’s brow furrowed, his grip still firm on Sean’s arm. "What?"

There was no hesitation. Sean grabbed Gabe by the front of his shirt, pulling him in until their lips crashed together, hot and desperate. The frustration, the fear, the guilt—it all melted into that kiss, and it wasn’t gentle. Fuck gentle. He didn’t deserve gentle.

Gabe responded instantly, his hands sliding up to Sean’s neck, fingers threading through his wet hair. Sean’s back hit the wall, and the cold tile was nothing compared to the heat pooling in his gut. They kissed like they were both starving, like this was the only thing tethering them to the world, grounding them.

Sean pulled back, his breathing ragged, eyes wild as they searched Gabe’s face. "I need you. Now."

For a second, Gabe looked like he was about to protest, to tell him they should slow down, that Sean wasn’t ready for this. But that thought died when he saw the raw intensity in Sean’s gaze. Gabe’s grip tightened on Sean’s hips, pulling him closer, pressing their bodies together.

"I’ve got you," Gabe whispered, his voice rough as his lips found Sean’s again.

Everything after that was a blur of heat and touch and need. Gabe’s hands were on him, everywhere, tracing the lines of his muscles, finding every scar, every bruise. And Sean, for the first time in what felt like forever, let himself give in to it, let himself feel instead of think.

They made their way to the bed, limbs tangled as clothes were hastily discarded. Sean’s body was still weak, still a little sore, but fuck it. He didn’t care. All he cared about was the way Gabe’s hands moved over him, the way his mouth tasted, the way their skin slid together like it was meant to be this way.

There was nothing gentle about it. Not in the way Gabe pressed Sean down onto the mattress, or the way Sean’s hands gripped the sheets so hard his knuckles turned white. The need between them was like a damn tidal wave, crashing down, pulling them both under.

"Fuck," Sean hissed as Gabe’s fingers dug into his hips, holding him in place. Every touch, every movement was electric, setting his nerves on fire. "Please, Gabe, I need?—"

"Yeah," Gabe rasped, his lips brushing the shell of Sean’s ear. "I know what you need."

There was no room for hesitation now, no space for second-guessing.

Sean's breath hitched as Gabe’s fingers tightened their grip, pulling him closer until there wasn’t an inch of space leftbetween them. Gabe’s body was solid, grounding him, pushing away the swirling chaos that usually clawed at the edges of Sean’s mind. Everything felt sharper, clearer—the way Gabe’s skin felt hot against his own, the way his breath came in heavy, uneven pants as he leaned in closer, lips ghosting over Sean’s neck.

The tension that had built between them over days boiled over now, and it was like a fucking dam had burst. Sean felt the pull deep in his gut, a raw need that he didn’t have the energy to fight. Didn’t want to fight.

Gabe's hands slipped lower, fingertips brushing teasingly along Sean’s thigh before sliding up to his ass, pulling him forward until their cocks brushed together. Sean groaned, the sound guttural, ripped from somewhere deep inside as the sensation jolted through him like a live wire.

"Fuck," Sean muttered, his voice hoarse as he pressed his forehead against Gabe’s shoulder, trying to steady his breathing. "Fuck, I?—"

Gabe didn’t give him time to finish the thought, didn’t let him lose himself in the usual spiral of doubt. Instead, Gabe shifted, one hand sliding between them, fingers wrapping around Sean’s cock with a confidence that stole the rest of Sean’s breath away. It was rough, fast—exactly what Sean needed. The friction, the heat, it was too much and not enough all at once, and he gasped, eyes squeezed shut as he tried to hold on to the last thread of control he had left.

"Let go," Gabe whispered against his skin, his breath hot, his words commanding. "I’ve got you."

The low rasp of Gabe’s voice sent a shudder down Sean’s spine. The grip Gabe had on him was relentless, every stroke deliberate, and it was pushing Sean right to the edge. His body was on fire, each nerve ending lit up like he’d been doused in gasoline and Gabe was the match. He couldn’t think—didn’twant to think. He just needed to feel something other than guilt, other than pain.

And Gabe was giving him exactly that.

Sean’s hips jerked involuntarily, grinding against Gabe’s hand as the pleasure built, every stroke sending him closer to the point of no return. His hands dug into Gabe’s back, nails biting into his skin, but Gabe didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned in, biting down on the sensitive skin of Sean’s neck just hard enough to draw a sharp gasp from him.

"Shit, Gabe," Sean growled, his voice rough with need as he bucked into Gabe’s hand. His body felt like it was seconds away from giving out, his head swimming with heat and desire, and yet he wanted more. Needed more. "Don’t stop—please, don’t fucking stop."

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