“Eager, aren’t you? I see it in your eyes. I can’t wait to be inside you again.”

He took his shirt off next, and when he did... “Holy shit.”

There was new ink there, on his chest, above his heart.

Ben

“You made your mark on me where it counts. I am yours and you are mine.”

He couldn’t speak, didn’t know what to say. Ben couldn’t take his eyes off of the name, his name on Dante’s chest.

And then Dante was there, on the bed. He pushed Ben’s legs backward, toward his chest, and then shoved a pillow beneath his hips.

Ben didn’t take his eyes off Dante as he opened the bottle of lube, as he coated his finger and then Ben’s asshole.

His eyes automatically tried to close because, “Christ, that feels good...” But he forced them open. He didn’t want to look away from Dante for a second.

He tensed up slightly when Dante worked the first finger in. It had been months for him, but it felt good too, felt right. Dante worked another finger in, stretching and fucking Ben with one hand, while the other, he used to help hold Ben’s legs back. Maybe this hadn’t been the best way to do this, but he’d needed the ties. He needed that back.

“I love seeing you like this...at my mercy. In this I can give you what you want.”

Not need, want. “Yes,” Ben hissed.

And then Dante’s fingers were gone. His cock pressed against Ben’s ring before he pushed his way inside. The stretch stung in the best fucking way. The second Dante was inside, he stilled. Touched the side of Ben’s face and watched him. This was the first time he’d been inside Ben when they looked each other in the eyes.

“You are mine,” Dante said before pulling out, and thrusting again. He hit Ben deep. Ben took in the feeling of being full, reveled in it because this was what he wanted. He hadn’t been willing to admit that before Dante. He’d thought with Tristan it was because that would be the only way to have him, but it wasn’t. It was what Ben wanted too.

Ben opened his mouth to ask for it harder, but then locked his lips again. This was Dante’s show.

“What do you want?” his lover asked. “More?” And he gave it to Ben, hard, fast and deep. Neither of them looked away as they made love.

Dante wrapped a hand around Ben’s dick and stroked. It only took a few pumps of his hand before Ben blew—come squirting up his chest and then inside him as Dante let go.

It was quick, but then, it had been a long time for the both of them. And they had time. They could go again.

Ben welcomed Dante’s weight as he lay on top of him. They were both sticky with sweat and come, just the way he liked it.

Dante didn’t untie him right away and Ben was okay with that.

“When did you do it?” Ben asked.

“About a week ago.”

“I love it,” Ben replied.

Dante chuckled. “I figured you would.”

Ben’s questions didn’t stop there though. Honesty all the way. “I love this...what we have. You fucking me...but what if I want you, too?” It was a logical question. If they were in a relationship, it had to be give and take.

Dante didn’t hesitate. He leaned onto his elbow and looked down at Ben. “Then you will have me. You already have me in every other way.”

He untied Ben and they lay there together, sweaty, sticky bodies and held each other.

For the first time in Ben’s life, he felt happy. He felt whole. He hadn’t realized he’d never felt whole before Dante.

That didn’t mean his chest didn’t ache when he thought about his sister. About all she’d suffered in her short life, but he’d done his best by her. It was all anyone could do—their best to help others, and to be happy. He hoped she would be proud of him. He hadn’t always done the right thing. Even in regards to his father and what Ben had let happen, but he was secure in his decision.

“How long do you think until you can go again?” Ben asked and Dante laughed. “What? I asked, didn’t I? I didn’t demand.”

“You’re going to be a handful.”

Ben probably would be, but he was okay with that.

EPILOGUE

Ben leaned against the wall, his eyes firmly planted on the men standing on the other side of the room.

From the distance, he could see Tristan shake his head and roll his eyes. Mateo was animatedly defending his stance on whatever it was that the two men weren’t agreeing on.

Dante laughed, as he said something, obviously trying to keep the peace.