Page 88 of Off Season

His cock jerks between us, leaving precome against my abs.

“Oh, God! Ethan!” Jacob pants, his fingers digging into my shoulders. “I’m gonna come.”

Pleasure pulses down my spine as I chase Jacob’s release with my own, hitting his prostate in a frantic rhythm. His back arches, and warmth seeps between us. He squeezes around me as he comes, and that’s all it takes. I come inside him, a ferocious roar escaping my throat. I’m unable to hold myself up any longer; my limbs shake and collapse on top of him.

Jacob runs his fingers through my hair, pushing it from my face. Taking hold of his wrist, I press a kiss to the center of his palm before raising my head and pressing a kiss to his chest, right over his heart.

“I’m not letting you go this time,” I whisper. “This is the start of forever.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jacob

“Am I doing this right?” Ethan asks, holding his flour-dusted hands up.

I peer around him to look at the dough he’s been mixing to make Elliot’s favorite cookies ahead of Blaine and Elliot’s birthday get-together tonight.

We decided to close the bakery today so Alex could focus on getting everything ready and so I could use the kitchen with no interruptions to make the selection of cakes I will be bringing with me.

As Ethan got Elliot and a sweet dish in the random generator Alex created, he spent all of yesterday in a slightly stressed state over what to do, until I suggested making his favorite cookies.

He looked at me, completely perplexed, but I reassured him I would help him. It took some convincing, as he didn’twant to rely on me to help him when I had to make the cakes, but I promised it wouldn’t be a bother.

“Yeah, that looks fine. Just make sure the chocolate pieces are spread evenly throughout.”

He grunts, pouring more crushed-up M&M’s into the mixing bowl.

I shake my head, grinning.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve settled into a relaxed routine. On the nights I’m working late, he lets himself into my house and gets dinner ready for when I get home, and when I have days off, I stay at his downtown apartment. We’ve gone on double dates with Alex and Blaine and slowly weaved our lives together.

Ethan’s been gradually lowering his guard every day. I can still sense it’s difficult for him at times, especially when he’s spent the majority of his life being a vault, but his actions tell me how he feels.

He’s so kind and attentive, that he doesn’t need to tell me with words how he feels.

As I place the sponge cakes on a cooling rack, I get to work mixing up the cupcake batter when I hear a knock on the door.

I lift my head, looking over to Ethan. “Did you hear that?”

He looks over his shoulder and takes a step toward the door. His brows lift in surprise.

“It's Zach,” he announces.

Wait…What? He’s supposed to be in Denver for at least another month. Worry prickles in my stomach.

“Go let him in.”

Ethan disappears. I hear the jingle of the bell above thedoor and the muffled sound of voices. Zach appears, looking a little worse for wear. Dark circles emphasize his tired-looking eyes. Tendrils of long, dark hair have escaped his bun.

“Hey, Jacob,” Zach says, smiling weakly.

“Hey!” I round the counter, wiping my hands on a cloth, before giving him a hug. “I’m surprised to see you back so soon. I thought you were spending the summer in Denver.”

His shoulders drop as his entire demeanor shifts. “Yeah, I…uh…I had to come back earlier.”

Ethan’s back stiffens. “Did something happen with you and Carter?”

I slide one of the stools across the floor and motion for him to sit down. Ethan crosses his arms over his chest, his jaw ticking as annoyance flares in his eyes as he leans back against the counter opposite.

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