Marie Sexton - Coda 02 - A to Z (24 page)

“You don’t have to do that, Ang.”

He looked up at me with his lopsided grin. “I know, Zach.” He pushed my shirt up out of the way and leaned down to kiss my stomach. “That’s why I want to.”

Call me selfish, but I wasn’t going to argue too much.

I wanted to touch him while he did it. I
always
wanted to touch him. I loved the feel of his skin against my hands. He let me pull off his shirt, and then he started, and I couldn’t think about anything else. There was only the exquisite warmth of his mouth on me and his soft skin under my fingertips as I touched his shoulders and the back of his neck. There was my hand on his head and his thick black hair, coarse and spiky against my palm. And—

Everything stopped. We both realized at the same moment what I had done.

I pulled my hand away, already apologizing. “Angelo, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean—” But when I looked down at him, I was stopped short by what I saw. He was looking up at me with his eyes wide. I expected anger, but it wasn’t there at all. There was only surprise.

“It’s okay,” he said, and his voice was filled with astonishment.

“I didn’t mean to,” I said again. “I got carried away.” “It’s okay,” he said, firmer this time, and he started to smile. “It won’t happen again, Ang.”

“Never listen, do you?” he said, shaking his head in amusement. “
It’s okay!”
He really did smile then. He moved up so that we were eye to eye. “Everything’s different with you, Zach.
Everything.
I always hated it when other guys did it. Lots of reasons why. But the biggest one was ’cause it felt like they were tryin’ to be in control. It felt like they were
taking
.”

“I didn’t mean it like that—”

“
I know
, Zach! That’s what I’m sayin’. That’s why it’s okay. ’Cause you never try to take anything I’m not willin’ to give.” He kissed me then, softly, and his lips were still touchin’ mine when he said, “You never take anything at all.”

“I’m not sure that’s true.”

He nodded. “
I’m
sure. Think I would know. You give me so much, Zach. Don’t think I ever give anything back.”

I knew
that
wasn’t true. I had my business because of him. I had my whole life back because of him. “Angelo—”

“Shut up, Zach.” He took my hand, kissed my palm, and then turned his head so that my fingers were in his hair. “I want you to take whatever you need, Zach. That’s the only thing I have to give you.”

I still thought he was wrong. I didn’t understand how he could possibly feel that way. But his eyes begged me not to argue, and to accept what he was trying to give. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close against me. “I love you so much, Angelo.”

“I know, Zach.” He laid his head on my chest. And I could tell, holding him against me, how much effort he had to put in to what came next. I felt his arms around my waist clench and his whole body tense up. And his voice was so soft, just a whisper, I had to strain to hear him. He said simply, “I love you too.”

It brought tears to my eyes, hearing him say it. I knew I probably wouldn’t hear him say it again for a long time, but I didn’t care. It was more than enough. I held him tight and said simply, “I know.”

Epilogue…
M
ARIE
S
EXTON
was always good at the technical aspects of

writing but never had any ideas for stories. After graduating from Colorado State University, she worked for eleven years at an OB/GYN clinic. She quit the clinic at about the same time she started reading M/M romances. At some point in the ensuing months, the static in her head cleared, and her first story was born.

Marie lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Matt and Jared often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.

Visit Marie’s web site at http://www.MarieSexton.net or find her on Facebook.
Don’t miss Matt and Jared’s story in