Page 308 of Sticks and Stones
Someone was off the juice.
Ethan stretched, and rolled to his side.
“Are you okay?” Gene asked, touching his cheek with nothing but tenderness.
The man before him was shirtless, and Ethan could see the marks all over his body.
Ethan knew who put them on him.
“That doesn’t matter. Did I hurt you?” he finally asked.
Gene shook his head.
“It does matter to me. We went hard, and I know what I can do.”
Blackhawk moved closer, and cuddled into Gene’s body because he was scared. He’d likely crossed all kinds of lines hours ago.
And he didn’t remember all of it.
Because he needed him, Gene held Ethan against his body, hoping they survived this.
“I’m okay, Gene,” Ethan admitted. “I’m just a bit scared,” he said. “Your body is a mess,” he admitted, running his fingers over the hickey on his chest.
The big man relaxed.
They were fine.
“I mean, I don’t mind a few bite marks. I had a damn good time, and you have just as many.”
Truer words had never been spoken. Only, Ethan was still worried.
“Did I hurt you?” Ethan asked. “Please tell me that I didn’t hurt the one person I love,” he whispered.
Gene soothed him.
“Oh, you hurt me so damn good I want to do it all over again,” he said, keeping it light.
Ethan sighed.
He was so grateful that Gene was able to manage him and that they were home.
Safe.
Because he needed to reconnect, Ethan lifted his head, and found the man’s mouth. The kiss was deep, gentle, and it was full of love.
It was crystal clear that they were both back to normal. Well, as normal as they were to begin with…
When Gene broke the kiss, he stared into his eyes.
“We have to talk about it,” he said, knowing that Ethan would just skirt over the whole conversation if he could. “I took your ass.”
Ethan had a serious look on his face, and Gene waited for him to be upset.
But he wasn’t.
“Then, you’d better give it back. I sit on it.”
That took Gene a second, and when he saw the man he loved smiling, he got it.
