Page 107 of Luxuries of Lust

Breaking away from Gem’s lips, Rusty trailed biting kisses across his jaw, and Gem dropped two hands to his ass and squeezed. For some reason, it made him laugh, and he hid the half-manic sound in Gem’s neck. He slipped his hands under Gem’s shirt, dragging the material up in silent question.

Gem extracted his arms from the shirt and tossed it to the floor before tugging Rusty closer. Their chests met, and Rusty circled Gem’s neck with his arms and kissed him again. A sliver of insecurity trembled in Rusty’s chest as he chased Gem’s mouth, memorizing the ways Gem moved so he couldreplicate it.

When it came to kissing, Rusty was less experienced. Most of his clients hadn’t bothered, and the ones who did had always kissed Rusty selfishly. They were forceful and rushed and sloppy. For the most part, he’d preferred to skip the kissing and just get to the fucking; at least then, it would be over quicker.

But kissing Gem? He could have kissed Gem forever. Even though he lost the rhythm sometimes or missed a step in the dance of their lips, Gem never grew annoyed or impatient. He’d simply smile and angle Rusty’s head to start again, leading while Rusty followed.

And it was good. It was so good.

Shifting in Gem’s lap, Rusty rubbed against the erection trapped in Gem’s shorts, and Gem grunted, fingers flexing on Rusty’s ass. A subtle anxiety trickled down Rusty’s spine at the feeling of a hard dick near his ass, but he breathed through it, filling his nose with Gem’s scent. He didn’t have to be scared, not with Gem.

So he licked into Gem’s mouth and rolled his hips again. Gem moaned, and Rusty drank it down. He’d never felt powerful being the object of someone’s desire or the vessel of their pleasure. Until now. Until Gem. Giving Gem pleasure, being the reason Gem was hard, was a heady, wild feeling indeed.

It made Rusty feel strong and sure, confident and fierce. It made him feel free and unshackled. And by gods, did it make him feel powerful.

A grin split his mouth as he ground down on Gem’s cock, soaking in the sounds of his pleasure. “Does that feel good, Gemae?” he whispered in Gem’s ear as he slid one hand down his chest.

“Yes,” Gem whispered.

Lifting onto his knees, Rusty ran one claw along Gem’s clothed erection, and Gem jolted. “I wanna make you feel good.”

With a breathy laugh, Gem lounged back against the headboard, surrendering to Rusty’s touch. “You already do, ashari.”

Rusty cupped Gem’s dick through his shorts, making the Araknis moan. “Then I guess I’ll have to blow your mind, and yes, that pun is intended,” he said, and Gem half-laughed, half-whimpered as he rubbed himself against Rusty’s palm.

“Only if you want to.” Gem cupped Rusty’s face, dark eyes hooded but serious, like he knew the levity of what Rusty offered. “Rus—”

“I want to,” Rusty said, and it was mostly true. He had baggage, yes, but he didn’t want it to hold him back. He trusted Gem. Maybe it was time for Gem to put a little trust in him.

Rusty curled a hand around the back of Gem’s neck and kissed him briefly. “Just…” Swallowing thickly, he kept his eyes closed, not wanting to see Gem’s reaction. “Don’t hold me down, okay?”

“Rusty.” His name left Gem’s lips like a broken thing, but Rusty kissed it away.

“Don’t, Gem. It’s okay—”

“It’s not okay.”

Opening his eyes, he glared at Gem, hating the pity twisting his features. “Stop. What’s done is done. It doesn’t define me, and I sure as fuck won’t let it define this.”

Gem turned away, jaw working as he blinked rapidly. Rusty gave him time, thumb rubbing soothing circles under his ear. Then he sniffed and nodded, facing Rusty again.

“I wish I could take every ugly thing away, and I’m sorry that I can’t,” Gem said as a single tear escaped his lowest left eye.

Rusty wiped it away with his knuckle. “We can replace them with beautiful things, and this”—he kissed Gem between his largest eyes, then the tip of his nose, then both corners of his mouth—“is a beautiful thing.”

Their foreheads met, and they breathed each other’s air for several long seconds. When Rusty kissed him, Gem hesitated only a moment before kissing him back. They built the heat back slowly, and every time Gem faltered, Rusty whispered reassurances.

As he sucked on the tender skin under Gem’s ear, the Araknis asked, “What do you need, sweetheart?”

Rusty knew he couldn’t kneel. That would fuck his head up too much. So he nuzzled Gem’s earlobe and said, “Lay down.”

Given his height, Gem had to lie diagonally across the smaller bed, and Rusty chuckled as he admired the contrast of his dark skin against the light bedding. His upper hands crossed above his head, middle hands relaxed on his bare stomach. His lower hands gave him away, fidgeting with the frayed hem of his shorts. But he watched Rusty with something akin to adoration in his eyes.

Crawling up his body, Rusty hovered over him, touching the tips of their noses. Then he pecked Gem’s chin and cheeks and brow, grinning in triumph when the Araknis laughed. He worked his way down Gem’s body, taking his time—more for his own sake than Gem’s. When he reached Gem’s belly button, he nuzzled him there, and Gem squealed and pinched his ear.

“No tickling!” he ordered sternly, and Rusty bared his canines and growled playfully. Unperturbed, Gem flicked him right on the nose, making him sneeze, and laughter poured from Gem again. In retaliation, Rusty bit him above the hip, and his giggles morphed into a whine. “Ah, fuck!”

Rusty’s fingers didn’t shake as they unbuttoned Gem’s shorts, and he dipped his head to inhale deeply, where Gem’s scent was strongest. Two hands smoothed over his head and shoulder, and he stiffened momentarily. Before Gem could pull away, Rusty grabbed one wrist and guided his palm to his cheek.

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