Cooper crossed his arms, trying to focus on the smell of the stew in the crockpot instead of his guilt. “I’m talking to Vernon and Autumn while you’re gone.”

Noah leaned over and nuzzled his neck. “I don’t feel right about your talking to them without me. It shouldn’t all come down on you. I should be there. Maybe…maybe it’ll help them understand better since it’s me. They know how much we meant to each other. They practically helped raise me for three years. That has to count for something.”

It wouldn’t. Not with Vernon. What Cooper didn’t understand, was why.

Cooper shook his head. This was something he needed to do alone. He wouldn’t risk Noah getting hurt by how things would very likely go down. “I need to do this. Plus, you leave tomorrow. I know you don’t want to put off getting your stuff any longer than you already have.”

“And what about everyone else? Are you ready for people to know? It’s going to look strange, baby. I live with you. I have a shop on your property. It’s going to look permanent.”

“That’s because it is. I don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t want this to be okay with my family, because I do. It won’t stop me but…I don’t want to lose them either. Regardless, they raised me. And I’m not going to pretend it won’t cause some shit at work, too. We both know it will, but this?” He put his hand on Noah’s leg. “We’re more important. Fuck everyone else. I love you.”

He could feel the switch in Noah instantly. See the fire in his eyes and the need on his face. “I love you, too. Now get your ass upstairs. After tonight, it’s going to be way too long before I get to fuck you again.”

Cooper couldn’t think of anything he wanted more at that moment.

***

Noah’s hunger for Cooper never diminished. All the other man had to do was speak or breathe and Noah wanted him. “Upstairs.” He nodded his head toward the stairs.

Cooper stood. “You know there’s no one else I would allow to order me around the way you do, right?”

Grabbing his shirt, Noah pulled Cooper toward him. “Same goes for you, baby. Now go upstairs, so I can fuck you.” He gave Cooper a little shove. Not that Cooper needed it. Coop made it to the stairs in no time flat, taking them two at a time, with Noah right behind him.

As soon as they made it to the foot of the bed, Noah stopped him, his lips colliding with Cooper’s. Their tongues battled, one surrendering, before fighting to take control again. He loved his power play with Coop.

When his guy shoved his hands under Noah’s shirt, he pulled away far and long enough for his shirt to get pulled off before he was kissing him again. Cooper’s thumb brushed over the piercing in Noah’s nipple before he tugged on it, making Noah cry out.

“Wanna suck you.” Cooper sat on the edge of his bed, making quick work of Noah’s jeans. He felt twitchy, as though he would bust out of his skin if he didn’t have something, everything from Cooper right now.

When Noah’s jeans and boxer-briefs were gone, he was immediately enveloped in the hot cavern of Cooper’s mouth. Coop took him deep, before pulling back and paying special attention to the head. “Yeah. That’s it. Christ, I love your mouth.”

Noah ran his fingers through Cooper’s short hair, rocking his hips so when Coop slid his mouth down again, Noah could fuck it.

His lover did everything Noah liked: sucked his balls, let his tongue probe the slit before pulling him to the back of his throat again. Pleasure built deep inside him, quickly finding it’s way to the surface, until he had to pull Cooper back. “Wanna love you,” he said, before lowering his mouth to take possession of Coop’s.

And then he pulled the other man to his feet. With slow hands he undressed him, showing him all that tanned, golden skin, stretched across hard muscle. “You are so fucking sexy.”

Noah grabbed the lube and a condom from the bedside drawer. Their bed was high, making it perfect for the way he wanted to take Cooper.

After the rubber was in place, he looked back at Coop. Noah pushed him so he bent over. “Let me see that sexy ass.”

Coop leaned over, his upper body held up by his elbows on the bed. When his fingers were lubed, he added a little to Coop’s hole before pushing a finger inside. “Oh fuck. Yes…” A heavy breath fell from Cooper’s lips. He’d never get tired of that sound. Never get enough of Coop taking his pleasure.

He used one, then two fingers to stretch Coop, twisting, turning, pulling, pushing. The man rode his hand, pushing back into it, alternating between making little gasping sounds and asking for more.