Page 73 of Top Shelf
“This isn’t an ultimatum or anything like that, okay? I don’t need this job. I can go work literally anywhere else in the city. I can work inanycity. Hell, I can retire on the money I made already if I want to. I want to be here if you’re here. And you’re with me.”
Ferris’s gaze slowly dropped to where I was still holding one of his hands. “You want me.”
“Yes. I hope that’s been obvious.”
He burst into a fit of laughter and shook his head. “Yeah. But…youwantme.”
Ah. Yes. I understood what he was searching for. I used my free hand to touch under his chin, drawing his gaze up to my lips and chin. His favorite spot to look. He relaxed a fraction. “I need you to hear me, okay? To see me.”
“I see you.”
Fuck. I was obsessed with him. I needed to be home immediately, but I think I needed to say this first. “Being adjacent to the league will be painful sometimes. I wasn’t ready to be done when I retired. But I’ve healed. And I think being with you will make that hurt a lot less.”
“But—”
“I’m not done,” I said, squeezing his hand. His lips closed. “It’ll hurt less when I’m with you because I’m in love with you.”
He made a soft noise of shock, his gaze flickering up to mine, then back down, then up again. He looked uncertain. “I…I think I love you too. I don’t know what it’s supposed to feel like. It’s so different to the way I feel about my parents or my friends or anyone I’ve ever known. I just…I want to be with you all the time. I want to kiss you all the time.”
I leaned in and gave him what he wanted. His moan sounded a bit like a sob. “Ferris, I need to get you home, okay? I’m going to fuck the absolute breath out of you.”
“Yeah.” He whimpered and nipped at my mouth. “I need it. I need you.” I started to pull back, but he yanked me close again. “I love you, okay? I’m scared I’m getting it all wrong, but it feels right when I say it. When I say I love you. Because I do.”
I traced a touch down his nose, over his lips, along his jaw. He closed his eyes, thick lashes fanning downward. He was so fucking beautiful. “You might regret it when you’re still young and virile and I’m…not.”
“Are you trying to talk me out of this?” he asked.
“Just giving you an out.”
“No, thank you, please. That hurts my feelings.” There was something in his voice that said he was telling the truth. “I don’t want an out. I just want you. No conditions.”
“Then you have me,” I told him. “I won’t say it again.”
“Okay,” he whispered. And then he let me go.
The drive homewas hell on earth because speeding was impossible in traffic, and then there was a delivery truck in my parking space. I told Ferris to get out, go inside, and undress while I circled the block to wait for my spot.
He obeyed.
My body was tense all over enough that my hip and knee were already in searing pain, but I knew it wouldn’t matter the moment I got inside and pinned him to the mattress. Though, no. I was going to fuck him against the wall first. Then in the bathroom, holding the counter so he could see the look on his own face when I made him come.
Then I’d take him to the bed and eat his ass until he cried.
And then—when he was wrung out and ready to give up—I would make him come for the final time.
My dick was raging hard by the time the truck left my spot. I had half a mind to flip off the driver, but I was afraid he’d get out and we’d have to fight, and that meant Ferris would be waiting even longer for me.
So I shoved my anger aside, and it melted into nothing the moment the door closed and I headed for the bedroom.
He was waiting for me at the edge of the bed, naked with his dick in his hand. His gaze met mine, and he stroked faster. I let him for a long, lush moment, until his thighs began to shake.
“Stop.”
He dropped his hand.
I moved into the room, closing the door behind me with a loud click, then set my cane against the dresser. Ferris jolted but still didn’t move. His eyes were on me as I pulled my scrub shirtoff and let it fall to the floor. The pants were next—a tug on the tie, and they loosened before pooling at my feet.
My dick was still hard, tenting my boxers as I kicked the pants away and took a step closer.
