Reading Time:
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Part 6

Eddie: I watched some gay porn

Buck stared at his phone for a moment, genuinely at a loss for words. He leaned on the changing table, and stared even as his son chattered against his cheek. He adjusted Wyatt and carried him out of the nursery. Buck had used nap time to do some cleaning and had a load of laundry left. Wyatt seemed a little clingy, so he grabbed a wrap and secured the kid against his chest to free up his hands.

Wyatt slouched contentedly against him, hands fisting in his T-shirt, and his eyes fluttered shut. Clearly, the kid had wanted to finish his nap in a better location. Buck patted his son’s back gently as he walked through the house and wondered how to respond to Eddie’s genuinely unhinged text. Finally, he just decided to lean in.

Buck: Did you enjoy it?

Eddie: It was weird

Buck laughed, stared for a moment then started FaceTime. Eddie answered immediately.

“How was it weird?” he asked.

Eddie made a face. “I expected to find it…at least arousing and I didn’t.”

“Have you ever found porn of any sort exciting?” Buck questioned and Eddie stared. “Or was that the first time you’ve looked at it?”

“I’ve never watched het porn, if that’s your question. Saw some magazines from other guys when I served but I never looked much at those either.” Eddie frowned. “So, it was weird.”

“It’s perfectly okay to not enjoy porn,” Buck said with a laugh. “So, don’t add this to your list of abnormal reactions to your situation. If you had a history of watching and enjoying it—then maybe there would need to be a discussion. Also, you’re demisexual, right?”

Eddie flushed and shrugged.

“You know that’s fine, right?” Buck questioned gently. “You don’t owe anyone an explanation about your sexual orientation or even your preferences. Confusion about any of this or the lack of boundaries regarding sex can be detrimental to our future interactions. Since, I’d never want to cross a line with you—I’m going to need you to communicate explicitly regarding your needs on the subject.”

Eddie made a face at him.

“Why do you think it was weird? Were the men unattractive to you?”

“They were good looking,” Eddie said with a shrug. “Physically fit, but more gym fit than work fit, which is fine. It was just sex.”

“It was lacking in emotional content then,” Buck assumed. “And not romantic.”

“Well, no, not romantic at all. It was just a sex scene not a movie with a story.” He frowned. “So, I watched a sex scene that I could not, in any single way, place myself in.”

“Right,” Buck said with a grin. “I honestly don’t think you’ll get that kind of emotional connection out of a porn movie either. Why did you watch it?”

“I….” He shrugged.

“Come on now, talk to me,” Buck murmured. “Are you guys finished with the tours?”

“Yeah, Christopher was tired, so I brought him home for a nap before dinner,” Eddie said. “I just wanted to see it—know what it was so things wouldn’t be…disappointing or hurtful.”

That was too charming for words. “It won’t be.”

“You can’t know that for certain.”

“Sure, I can, because it takes two people to create that kind of difficult experience. I can’t say I haven’t had bad sex in the past, but it was never about previous experiences and all about a lack of communication or chemistry. We’re not lacking sexual chemistry, as you already know. I’ve learned to communicate and I won’t let you get away with avoiding a conversation on any subject much less one so important as sexual intimacy.”

“Okay,” Eddie said and nodded slowly. “We’ll probably be over there in about two hours unless the plans need to change?”

“The plans are still good,” Buck assured. “I’ve steaks marinating.”

“Christopher loves steak. I’ll have to pry him out of your house.”

“Sounds perfectly reasonable,” Buck said and Eddie huffed a little. “Grilled shrimp?”

“Then you’ll have a hard time getting rid of me,” Eddie retorted and Buck just shrugged.

“Just remember you aren’t the only one with an imperative in this situation,” Buck said and just smiled when Eddie’s eyes went wide. “Maybe watch a video on Guides instead of porn, Eds. It’ll be easier to teach you how to blow me than to explain how epically unprepared you are to be bonded. See you in a few.”

He ended the call even as Eddie’s mouth dropped open.

* * * *

He watched a relatively short documentary on Guides while he waited for Christopher to wake up from his nap, decided that figuring out a blow job would be much less stressful than thinking about whole bonding situation, took a shower, and got his kid through a bath just in time to leave. They only lived fifteen minutes apart, but Eddie could see how the distance was going to grate on his nerves.

“What are you thinking about, Daddy?” Chrisopher asked from the backseat.

“Just wondering what level of dumbass I’m actually committed to,” Eddie admitted frankly and his son laughed. “What did you think of Buck?”

“He’s nice,” Christopher said. “His spirit animal is very wise and good. Is Buck your Guide, Daddy? Because, if he is, you got really lucky. Wolf Guides are special.”

“Yeah,” Eddie admitted. “He is.”

“Wow. You didn’t even have to do a big search.”

“I’m just as surprised as you are,” Eddie said and Christopher laughed. “We’re working on getting to know each other, okay? So, nothing is going to change immediately.”

“Right.”

Eddie made a face. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You probably need more documentaries, Daddy. Longer ones. More serious ones like from the Science Channel instead of YouTube.”

“It was made by the Burton Foundation.”

“As a summary?” Christopher questioned and Eddie huffed. “If you didn’t want me knowing what you were watching on the iPad, you should’ve used your iPods.” He paused. “Like you do when you watch adult movies.”

“I don’t….” Eddie exhaled sharply. “Listen, Mijo, I sometimes watch Rated R movies on the iPad, but I don’t watch adult movies. That doesn’t mean what you think it means.”

“What does it mean?”

“Just…it’s not the right term for a Rated R movie,” Eddie said helplessly and his son laughed. “So, let’s not use the term adult movie again, okay?”

“Until I’m an adult?”

“Until you’re thirty,” Eddie said in response and his son laughed again. “And maybe not even then. Let’s just decide that in the future, the very distant future.”

“Daddy, I’m gonna grow up.”

“Don’t threaten me, Mijo,” Eddie muttered and his son laughed. “Also, you were napping when I watched that video.”

“Nah,” Christopher admitted. “I was just lying there thinking about stuff and sorting my emotions.”

“Sorting your emotions?” Eddie questioned. “What does that mean to you?”

“Just checking my reactions to stuff to make sure it’s good, or if I need to think about things from a different perspective. Adira taught me in a dream—she said it would be important for me later.”

Eddie nodded and made a mental note to ask Buck if he dreamt with his spirit animal often because he didn’t and never had. He hadn’t even met Mars until a week after he’d come online, though he had vague memories of the black jaguar appearing the night he came online.

“Do you sort your emotions?” Christopher questioned.

“I….” Eddie made a face as he considered it. “I learned to sort my emotional responses to situations in the Army, but sometimes that method doesn’t work well in civilian life. I’ve had to learn different methods since I came home, sometimes, to deal with the things that I see and experience.”

“Because of PTSD? Is that why you wear the cuff? That’s what I heard at school.”

“What?” Eddie questioned. “Who talked to you about the conservator cuff?”

“Miss Flores said that Sentinels and Guides who use the cuffs are often too damaged to bond. I asked what kind of damage, and she said that PTSD was common for military veterans. Except she didn’t explain what PTSD even is.”

“It means Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” Eddie said quietly as he pulled into Buck’s driveway and parked.

He slid out of the truck, opened the back passenger door, and helped his son get free of the harness. Then he very carefully picked Christopher up, grabbed his crutches, and shut the door.

“I can walk,” Christopher said huffily, but threw an arm over Eddie’s shoulders.

“Yeah, Mijo, I know you can.”

Eddie held him a little closer as he considered how to navigate a landmine Ana Flores had left right in the middle of his relationship with his son. It was infuriating and he couldn’t help but wonder how many other situations he had ahead of him on that front. The front door of Buck’s house opened before he could even ring the bell.

“What’s wrong?” Buck questioned quietly.

Eddie cleared his throat and took a deep breath against his son’s hair as he carried Christopher into the house. He put his kid down on the sofa in the living room and squatted down in front of him.

“Sometimes people who have really upsetting experiences develop a mental condition because they are hurt emotionally by the trauma. They have a difficult time dealing with situations that remind them of the experience. Sometimes they remember it in a way that makes them feel like it’s happening again or they have nightmares about it. PTSD is a very serious condition and people who suffer from it need help and understanding.”

“Okay,” Christopher said quietly. “Do you have PTSD?”

“No, Mijo, I don’t. Sentinels process trauma differently than mundanes and we don’t normally have problems with PTSD or other psychological problems caused by trauma. Guides can sometimes develop depression or empathy disorders, but they have techniques to deal with that—you’ll learn those when you’re older.”

“She lied to me,” Christopher said quietly. “I should be able to trust teachers, Daddy.”

“I know,” Eddie said. “And I’m sorry that she did that. Dr. Salas filed a complaint about her and she’s not teaching anymore.” He glanced toward Buck who was leaning against the doorway leading into the foyer. “But I’ll be filing a complaint as well.”

Buck just nodded then focused on Christopher with a smile. “Hey, Superman, hungry?

“I could eat,” Christopher said with a nod and Eddie let himself relax a little.

Against his better nature, Eddie found himself sitting at a table on the patio watching Buck man the grill. The other man was eyeing him with amusement.

“I’m from Texas,” Eddie said in his own defense and Christopher laughed. “It’s weird being on this side of the grill as an adult.” The baby started to make noise from the monitor, so he stood. “I’ll just get the baby instead. That’s the better job around here.” He paused. “If that’s okay?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Buck said easily. “I have a bottle ready for him in the fridge—top shelf, blue top.”

Wyatt was sitting up in the crib when he entered the nursery, pouting posture in full force. The baby stared for a moment, clearly disgruntled by the fact that he was wrong the giant human, but then held out a hand in huffy demand.

Eddie picked him up and Wyatt sighed in a very exaggerated fashion like he was preparing to be very patient with his circumstances, and he laughed a little. “Hungry?”

“Milk!” Wyatt said with a firm nod. “Milk now.”

“I got ya, kid,” Eddie said then paused. “How’s your diaper situation?”

The baby just stared at him.

“Right,” Eddie muttered and took him to the changing table. A quick check left him relieved and exiting the nursery with the kid with no hesitation because if that situation was pending then he wanted to turn the baby over to the actual parent as soon as possible.

He took the baby and bottle back out to the patio just in time to watch Buck pull a covered tray of what turned out to be shrimp from the minifridge in the counter of the outdoor kitchen.

“Your uncle lived well,” he said with a glance around the set up.

“Yeah,” Buck said. “Very well and died young, unfortunately. He was a script writer and move producer—Dixon Mallory.”

“I’ve watched every single movie he ever made,” Eddie confessed. “His death was a real shock.”

“Prostate cancer,” Buck reported. “Every man on the maternal side of the family got an immediate physical because he was just fifty-seven years old and that shit isn’t supposed to hit until much, much later. There is paternal history as well, so I’d had an evaluation previously, but got another for the peace of mind.”

“I get it,” Eddie said. “My paternal great-grandfather had it near the end of his life, but it wasn’t what killed him. He had a heart attack and so did both of his sons. So, heart health is a big concern in the family as a result.”

“Fortunately, we get a boost from the psionic plane on the health front and most of our kind live longer than average,” Buck said. “But it hurts nothing to keep an eye on it. Medium rare?”

“Yeah,” Eddie said. “Chris can handle medium well at this point.”

“I handle it awesome,” Christopher announced. “Can I have steak sauce?”

“There are a couple of options in the fridge,” Buck assured. “And I made some cocktail sauce earlier for the shrimp. How do you feel about asparagus?”

Christopher made a face. “It’s okay.” He paused. “Corn on the cob is better.”

“Fortunately for you, I’ve already got some on the grill,” he said and Christopher smiled.

Eddie focused on Wyatt who was sprawled on his arm, content with the bottle he’d been given. The kid was slowly wiggling one foot and staring at him with Buck’s bright blue eyes—he felt judged on a level he’d never known before.

“He’s a latent Sentinel,” Eddie murmured then focused on Buck. “Right?”

“Right,” Buck said with a nod. “I wasn’t sure at first, but it became very clear because his visual acuity was advanced at his arrival. He’s observant and learning words at a pace faster than I anticipated but his pediatrician isn’t overtly concerned. But speaking of, you’ll want to get a list of doctors certified to treat latent children considering the arrival of his spirit animal.”

“Is it too soon for Adira to be here?” Christopher questioned.

“Your spirit animal came exactly when she was meant to,” Buck assured and Christopher nodded slowly. “But it does mean that your latency is kind of flimsy. You could come online very easily if you were put in a situation that impacted you empathically.”

“Like when Daddy was shot?” Christopher questioned and frowned.

Eddie cleared his throat. “No one is going to shoot at you, Mijo.”

His son sent him a look so jaded and sour that Eddie barely kept his mouth from dropping open.

“School shootings happen, Daddy,” Christopher said and rolled his eyes.

“Not often,” Buck interjected. “And never in schools run by the Burton Foundation. Mass shooters are rare the world over for a very good reason. In the past, when those numbers were higher, it was because the Sentinel-Guide population was low. These days our numbers are robust enough that no school in this whole country goes unmonitored by someone just like your dad.”

“That means a bad guy has to work extra hard to be a big problem,” Christopher said.

“Yeah, they do,” Buck said. “But, your dad is right. It is very unlikely that anyone would bring a gun anywhere near you on purpose.”

“Why?”

Eddie cleared his throat and shifted Wyatt up into a sitting position as he finished the bottle. The baby made a little sound like a mixture of a hiccup and a burp then wiggled happily. He set the bottle aside.

“Mijo, do you understand how the leadership of a region works amongst our kind?”

“Yeah….” Christopher said and his gaze narrowed. “Why does that matter to us?”

Eddie shared a glance with Buck. “Well, when I bond, I will become the Alpha Prime of Los Angeles. Eventually, when I’m older and Alpha Prime Ransone ascends to a national leadership role, I’ll become the Alpha Prime of the Pacific West unless someone more powerful emerges in the region.”

Christopher stared for a moment then sighed. “Wow, Daddy. That’s rude.”

“How is it rude?” Eddie asked in confusion.

“How am I gonna get a date now?” Christopher demanded and Buck laughed.

“You are too young to even thinking about dating,” Eddie muttered and his precious baby boy rolled his eyes at him and made a disgusted face at the same time.

* * * *

“I wanted to talk to you about something,” Eddie said as he focused on Christopher who was sitting on the patio space of Shannon’s ground floor apartment. He leaned on the truck, and she made the face at him. “It’s not bad.”

“Okay.” Shannon nodded and turned to stare at their son as well.

“The thing in El Paso, when I lost my shit on you about the weekend trip,” Eddie began and winced when she exhaled sharply. “I know I scared the fuck out of you with that, and I’m not sure how to fix that part. I was talking to Buck about it and he told me that…it was more about my perceived territory than trusting you with him.”

“What?” She turned to stare at him.

“He said that you trying to remove my child from my established territory was the root cause of my reaction, and it had little to nothing to do with trusting you. We both should’ve realized how that would go because of my imperative and my own vulnerable state. I was still using a cane, for fuck’s sake, and moving out of your apartment didn’t help that part even if it did prevent me from crawling out of my own skin.”

“Right,” Shannon made a face at him. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“Aren’t you?” Eddie questioned.

“Eddie.” She sighed. “I was afraid for you not of you. Christ, you’d already had one feral episode, and it happened in the worst possible circumstances that I can imagine. In the moment, it was scary for a variety of reasons, but I’ve never worried that you’d hurt me.”

“I’d never, ever want to,” Eddie said roughly. “Dios, it’s a nightmare. My mom’s reaction didn’t help, either.”

“No, but Helena is afraid of you, and she has been since you…got in her face for trying to parent Christopher.”

“It was gross,” Eddie exclaimed defensively and she laughed a little. “And you know it. She was trying to act like his mom and while I can’t fuck you now, I used to!”

She shot him a shocked look then laughed. “Shut up.”

“You shut up,” Eddie muttered as he watched Christopher read. “Oh, by the way, Christopher seems to think that Rated R movies are adult movies.”

She huffed. “I wish he’d stayed four years old.”

“Yeah, same,” Eddie admitted. “So, I told him that wasn’t what the words meant and asked him not to use them again because the last thing we need is for him to tell someone one of us watching adult movies while he’s around.”

“But speaking of what are you going to do about your Guide?” She paused. “Your male Guide. I know you’re flexible on that point, but you’ve not actually slept with another man before, right?”

Eddie huffed. “I’m not discussing my sex life with you, Shannon. It’d be weird.” He paused. “Isn’t there enough crazy between us?”

“He’s hot like fire,” Shannon said and just shook her head. “It’s a shame. Because surely someone else deserves him more than you do.”

Eddie grinned at her. “Shut up.”

“I was telling my therapist how good our communication has been over the last year,” Shannon said. “Also, you shut up.”

* * * *

Buck browsed through his texts, found nothing that needed a response, and put the phone onto charge. Dinner, the night before, had gone really well and he was relieved that Christopher had clearly been comfortable in his home. Eddie had looked a little tense at first, then he’d slowly relaxed over the course of the meal.

There was a bit of anticipation moving between them because of their compatibility and the fact that they’d both acknowledged what they wanted. Wyatt had been comfortable with Eddie, a very good sign as his son was picky about people.

He checked the time and wondered where his Sentinel was. Eddie had mentioned a custody exchange after around lunch time, and he figured that was probably done as carefully as possible considering the allergy issue. As if the universe had told Eddie Buck was thinking about him, his phone buzzed where it was sitting on the charger.

Buck picked it up and checked his messages.

Eddie: I think my ex is a monster

Buck laughed.

Buck: What does that say about you?

Eddie: I clearly have terrible taste. Anyways Shannon has Christopher and they’re probably plotting against me as I sit here in my truck. He already thinks I need a graduate school level education on how to get a Guide.

Buck: You probably do. It’s crazy how much I’m willing to put up with honestly. I should probably get a therapist.

Eddie: Can I come over or are you going to be contrary?

Buck: Don’t you mean come in? You’re probably sitting in my driveway.

Buck grinned as he imagined the look on Eddie’s face then walked to the front door. He opened it and just shook his head as Eddie left his truck. Since he had some food prep to do, he headed for the kitchen and only paused briefly when he heard the front door shut.

“I locked the door,” Eddie reported it as he put his phone and keys on the counter. “We need to talk.”

Buck raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

Eddie huffed then just crowded up against the counter and kissed him. Since Buck was whole-ass on board with it, he just pulled his Sentinel in and let his hands fall on slim hips. Want swelled in his chest, and he took a deep breath as the kiss ended.

“Your conversation style is…succinct.”

Eddie laughed a little and let his forehead rest against Buck’s. “You’re all I think about, and that’s insane since it hasn’t even been a week. I’m basically ruined for other people and now I’m completely your problem.”

“That should sound like a threat,” Buck said wryly, and Eddie took a deep breath. “But it’s pretty hard to be unhappy about it since you’re a pretty good deal. Granted, that’s mostly about your kid and you’re very entertaining ex-girlfriend. But as Sentinel’s go, you’ll do.”

“Good to know,” Eddie murmured. “Tell me what you need.”

“Honesty, explicit communication, and your undivided intimate attention,” Buck said. “The rest can be worked through as it happens, but I don’t function well in open relationships.”

“I don’t think I could operate in an open relationship either,” Eddie confessed. “And the rest sounds completely reasonable.”

“What do you need?” Buck questioned.

“Patience. I’ve worn the cuff since I came online, and I’d rather not rush into a bond. We deserve better, don’t you think? We’re both in a good place psionically so there is no medical or metaphysical reason to be reckless with it.”

“I agree,” Buck murmured and pulled Eddie a little closer. “Taking our time isn’t currently hurting anything. But I do need your permission to take you in hand on the job if things get difficult.”

“In hand,” Eddie repeated and Buck grinned. “Yeah, I can agree with that. I’ll let Bobby know so you’ll be listed as a conservator contact for me with the department.” He wet his lips. “Instinctually, I trust you like I’ve never trusted anyone in my whole life.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“I can’t see how it could be considering who and what you are,” Eddie murmured. “I’d really like you to take me in hand right now, Buck.”

“Sex might increase your desire to bond with me,” Buck warned.

“I can’t see how I could want you more than I already do.”

Buck took his hand and gently pulled as he left the kitchen. It was far too easy to lead Eddie right though the house and straight into his bedroom where the bed dominated and enticed at the same time. He pulled the baby monitor free of his pocket, put it on the nightstand then turned to face his Sentinel.

Eddie stared at him for a long moment then hooked his fingers into the front Buck’s track pants then pulled carefully. “Come here.”

Buck’s fingers glanced over the cuff and psionic energy shimmered on it. “If you’re concerned that I might try to take this off—”

“You’d never do something like that unless you had no choice,” Eddie interjected. “But is it a turn off?”

“It’s a reasonable boundary,” Buck said. “Without it, we’d probably already be bonded.”

“Agreed,” Eddie said. “And it’s tempting but we both deserve to take our time with that part.” He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside.

Buck wet his lips and did the same then tossed off the rest of his clothes because getting naked with his Sentinel was one thing he wanted in his new normal. Eddie focused on him entirely, and ran trembling fingers down Buck’s chest.

“You’re beautiful,” Eddie murmured then quickly shed his own clothes with no care where they landed.

“What do you want?” Buck questioned as he prodded Eddie toward the bed with gentle hands.

He stopped to toss the duvet onto the floor.

“I really enjoyed receiving….” Eddie took a deep breath and carefully wrapped one hand around Buck’s rapidly hardening cock. He stroked gentle and slow. “Dios, I’ve clearly been denying myself a good time.”

“Come here then,” Buck said and pulled him onto the bed.

He was relieved when Eddie didn’t hesitate to join him, and he pulled the other man into his arms with eager hands. The kisses were soft, exploring, and Buck found himself relaxing into the desire Eddie was unwittingly projecting.

Eddie’s lack of experience with men didn’t seem to be hindering his need to explore as his hands were roaming with far more confidence than he could actually own. Perhaps it was more about need and instinct, but Buck was relieved by it. The emotions were intense, lovely, and a little demanding.

“Any problems with latex?” Buck questioned as he ended the kiss.

“No, not at all but I’ve not been exposed to a condom since I came online,” Eddie confessed with flushed cheeks and took a deep breath as Buck settled on the bed beside him and ran one hand down his chest then confidently between his legs to cup his cock and balls. “Fuck.”

“I have Sentinel-safe ones, of course,” Buck murmured even as he wrapped his hand around Eddie’s cock and rubbed the head with his thumb. “I’ve had a recent screening and no partners since. I’m clean.”

“Yeah, I’m good, too,” Eddie said and shuddered. “Fuck, I’m not sure I could actually handle this without the cuff.”

“You’ll have me instead and, trust me on this, I’m going to be a thousand times better,” Buck said as he grabbed the lube from the nightstand and dropped a condom on the mattress for later use.

Then he slid down and sucked Eddie’s cock into his mouth.

“Dios, I….” Eddie’s hand curled around the back of Buck’s head but offered no pressure and his hips lifted into the attention. “You already are.”

Buck loved having a cock in his mouth—the smooth, heated skin pressed against his tongue, the scents of male arousal that were distinct and exciting. He used lube to slick his fingers, then pressed firmly against the other man’s asshole.

Eddie shifted on the bed under him, spread his legs and groaned softly—a clear mixture of pleasure and shock.

“Fuck.”

Buck lifted his head, released the cock in his mouth reluctantly, and wet his lips. “You good?”

“Yeah, I’m great,” Eddie admitted as rocked a little into the press of Buck’s fingers.

Buck pushed one finger in, and slid upward so he could watch Eddie’s face. His eyes were half closed, and his lips slightly parted as he breathed. He turned his head, cupped Buck’s head with a shaking hand, and exhaled slowly. He added a second finger, and Eddie spread his legs in response, clearly eager for more stimulation.

“Like this?” Buck questioned.

“Yes, just like that,” Eddie murmured. “Do you have a preference?”

“Nah, I’m good for either,” Buck assured. “I have tended to attract a certain kind of male attention in the past due to my size and vibe. I can come off a little intense at first glance.”

“You are intense,” Eddie muttered.

Buck grinned. “Some mistake an intense emotional landscape with a kind of dominance that really isn’t in my wheelhouse, but I’ve never left a partner sexually unsatisfied that I’m aware of.”

He pressed against Eddie’s prostate and the other man’s hand clamped down on his forearm. “That’s…wow.”

Buck grinned. “More? Less?”

“More,” Eddie urged and arched a little into the penetration when Buck started to slowly fuck him with his fingers. He grabbed the condom, opened it, and shifted so he could roll it onto Buck’s cock with steady hands. “More.”

Buck let himself be pulled closer and he slid over Eddie’s lean, strong body with a pleased sound he couldn’t keep to himself. He positioned himself, pushed into the warm heat of another person’s body feeling welcome and wanted in a way that was new, raw, and perfect.

Eddie wrapped his legs around Buck’s waist and rocked into each thrust while his hands clenched on his back. “I could be furious about all the dick I’ve denied myself over the years.”

Buck laughed a little and kissed his mouth, gentle and soft. “Good?”

“Yeah, fuck, it’s so good,” Eddie confessed. “I can’t believe I didn’t know this about myself.”

“You knew,” Buck murmured against his jaw as he thrust with one long stroke after another. “You can’t have been this needy of a hot mess all of your life and not known.”

Eddie shuddered, tightened his hold on Buck, and arched up off the mattress with a groan. “Dios, I think…I think I can come like this.”

“That didn’t happen in Germany with your lovely and strong Marine?” Buck questioned. “Did she peg you like this or did she put you on your knees? Because I’m considering turning you over and holding you down on this mattress so I can fuck your brains out.”

“You…for fuck’s sake,” Eddie gasped and started to shake. “It was like this because…she had honestly the best set of tits I’ve ever seen in my life, and I wanted as much access as possible.”

“Too bad we’re stingy bastards incapable of sharing,” Buck said wryly. “Or we could invite her to California for her next leave.”

Eddie laughed a little, but it turned into a soft, gasping groan as Buck pressed in deep. “That’s perfect.”

“Yeah, you are,” Buck said and brushed a soft kiss against Eddie’s mouth.

They settled together on the bed, a blend of bodies and deep physical pleasure. Buck shifted, pressed in deep, and Eddie shuddered then came—spilling messily between them.

“Christ,” Buck whispered and tucked his face against Eddie’s neck then let himself come.

“This is definitely the level of dumbass I’m dedicated to,” Eddie admitted, a little breathless as he pressed a kiss against Buck’s temple.

Buck laughed a little, carefully pulled away then rolled onto his back to lay beside his Sentinel. “Sounds great.”