Page 186 of Devoted

Sam had taken over the meal planning from me and Rami once he realised we had the same ten meals on a rotation. Thanks to him, all of us were benefitting from a broader diet.

Even if I did forget key ingredients every time Sam sent me out with a list.

Given Sam’s aversion to heights, we’d booked a hotel room nearby instead of flying straight home. We walked there from the venue, Sam’s excited chatter entertaining me the entire way.

“I’m so glad you did this,” I told him as we finally stepped into our room. After carefully stowing his books under the desk so one of us didn’t accidentally damage them, I picked him up in a bear hug. “I love seeing you this happy and excited.”

“I love feeling like this,” Sam said, clasping his arms behind my neck as he stared at me adoringly. “It’s all because of you, Zeke.”

“No,” I said, brushing my nose against his. “You’re the one who put in the hard work, Sam. You were the one who had the sessions with Dr. Tyler. The one who had the courage to tell Gabs what you needed to make this happen. It’s all you, baby.”

“But I’m only here because ofyou.You gave me the determination to seek help. Without your support, I might’ve given up weeks ago.”

Privately, I disagreed. Sam might not think so, but he was one of the strongest beings I’d ever come across. Just getting up and going about his day was harder for him than most people. Having a front-row seat to his anxiety, I was in awe of how well he managed on a daily basis. I wasn’t sure I could do it.

But Sam could. He did. Every damned day, he tried.

And on those days when he tried and nothing would work? When he went back to bed and shut out the world? That was when I came in with my expert blanket burritos, noise cancelling headphones, and whatever else he needed.

Sam had fought alone for so long, and I didn’t doubt he would’ve continued doing so, even if we hadn’t met.

But we had. And now, he didn’t need to fight alone. I was going to be there for every good day. For every bad day.

“How about we get in the shower and get clean” I said huskily, toying with the bottom of his shirt. “Then I can show you how proud I am of you by dirtying you up again?”

“Yes,” Sam said, stepping out of my embrace to start stripping. His hands froze on his belt. “Oh my god, do you know what I’ve just realised?”

“What?”

“There are no supes in this hotel, right?”

“Right,” I said slowly, not catching on as to why Sam was bristling with excitement. “I set wards when we arrived, and no supes have crossed them.”

Sam’s eyes held a wicked gleam. “And there’s no risk of a compulsion net hurting any humans around us?”

“No.” We’d been over this before—nets didn’t harm humans with neurodivergent or psychological conditions in the same way as direct compulsion. “Why?”

“Because…” Sam trailed his hands up my chest, batting his eyelashes in a way that was far from innocent. “If you put one up around the room, no one will be able to hear how loud you make me scream.”

I picked him up with a growl, backing him up until we collided with the wall. “Baby, I have a net up already for that exact reason.”

“You do?”

“Oh yeah.” My cock ground against his as I pressed him harder against the wall. “I’ve been thinking about this for weeks now. As soon as we decided on a hotel, I realised what it meant. I’ve beendreamingabout the noises I’m going to tease out of you. The way you can scream my name without having to worry about who might hear.”

“Zeke,” Sam whined, his nails digging into my shoulders as he humped against me frantically. “Shower. Now. Please.”

I kissed him hungrily as I carried him into the bathroom. I didn’t break away even as I leaned over the bath and flicked the shower on. Only when the room was full of steam and Sam was panting in my arms did I finally pull back.

We didn’t speak as we hauled off the last of our clothes, our mouths finding their way back together as we clambered into the bath and under the spray.

Letting the hot water rinse away the day, my tongue plundered Sam’s mouth as I squeezed his rear. Our cocks brushed together teasingly, hinting at the pleasure to come.

“I need it. Now,” Sam moaned. I didn’t know what was more captivating—his glassy eyes or his deliciously swollen lips. “Make me come, Zeke. Please.”

Normally I’d go to my knees for him, but Sam wouldn’t like that without me washing him first. Instead, with one of my hands I lifted him off his feet, bracing him against the wall. Into the other, I pumped some of the hotel’s conditioner. With him slightly higher, our cocks lined up perfectly, making it easy for me to wrap my hand around us both.

“Fuck yes.” Sam’s head fell back as he gasped. “That’s it.”

---