Ulric’s gaze flew up, locking onto him in surprise.
“I’m sorry,” Gage whispered, pressing their foreheads together. “I shouldn’t have left.”
“But I—I did things.” Ulric squirmed. “I should’ve just talked to you first, maybe.”
Gage huffed. “And me being a knucklehead, I would’ve just turned you down.” He pulled Ulric closer, cradling him. “I appreciate what you did for my family.”
Ulric snuffled, his eyes growing wide. “You’re not... pissed anymore?”
Gage shook his head. “Nope. I was being an idiot. I’m sorry.”
Ulric still looked disbelieving. In a smaller voice, he said, “I didn’t want you to work so many hours. I just—wanted you to stay home. With me. You weren’t hugging me much anymore.”
Gage’s chest squeezed tight. “You were always asleep when I got home. I didn’t realize that the hugs were so important to you.”
“That’s why I gave your mom the money,” Ulric said. “I don’t want you to think I’m buying you, or anything. ‘Cause I’m not. I just...” He gulped.
“You just...?” Gage nuzzled him, just savoring the weight of Ulric in his arms, Ulric recovering a little from that altercation.
“I don’t want you to stress out over money all the time,” Ulric blurted, looking embarrassed. “I love you.”
The warmth in Gage’s chest built, like a steady flame growing in a hearth. “Love you, babe. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to realize it. I’m sorry for all the crap I said.”
Ulric’s mouth fell open. “You... what?”
“Love you,” Gage said again. “And I’m sorry. You heard that, right?”
“But I...” Ulric looked at the buns on the ground. “I’ve been eating so much, Gage. All the weight I lost, I think I’ve put them back.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s never mattered to me, Muffin.” Gage cupped his nape, pulling him close. Ulric made a soft sound of surprise; Gage kissed him, slow and sweet, a proper kiss that sent tingles exploding through his skin. Ulric groaned. “Gods, I’ve missed you,” Gage whispered. “Will you—”
And now his heart thumped, his stomach squeezing. Ulric had turned him down before. He could do it again. Gage swallowed. “Will you be my boyfriend? I know I’ve fucked up. I might fuck up again. But you have every right to tell me I’m being an idiot.”
Ulric’s mouth fell open; Gage wasn’t sure if Ulric was breathing.
“Please say yes,” Gage whispered, his pulse thudding in his ears. “I want you in my life, babe. For a very long time.”
Ulric was still in pain, but there was hope in his gaze now, disbelief and warmth. “I... Yes.” He ducked his head, leaning into Gage. “I’m sorry I kept putting it off. I just...”
The tightness in Gage’s chest eased. “When we get home, I’m going to kiss every inch of you,” Gage whispered. “Will you let me?”
Ulric sucked in a quick breath. “You—You promise?”
“Yeah. I promise.”
Gage held him tighter, stroking his scent all over Ulric’s skin. In the distance, the siren of an ambulance wailed.
This was a new beginning. And Gage wasn’t going to mess up again. “I’ll prove it to you, babe. However many times you need.”
Ulric looked down, smiling to himself. Gage didn’t want to let him go.
29
Gage Convinces Ulric That He’s Beautiful
Gage pressed Ulric up against the front door, slanting their lips together. “Mm, babe.”
Ulric’s heart skipped. This still felt surreal. Gage had been with him this whole time—he’d followed Ulric to the hospital, he’d stuck around anxiously while Ulric received his stitches. Then Ulric had been held under observation for some hours, and Gage had squeezed onto his hospital bed, unwilling to let him go.
“You haven’t hugged me enough yet?” Ulric asked, holding his breath. Was this a dream?
Gage smiled and kissed him. “Nope.”
He slipped his hands under Ulric’s shirt, caressing his back, his side, being careful to avoid the stitches. He pressed kisses all over Ulric’s face, his lips pulled into a warm smile. Then he reached down, grabbing Ulric by the ass. “Fuck, babe. I love your ass so much.”
Ulric’s face grew hot. That was the first time he’d heard Gage say that. “Because you like being inside?”
“Because I like holding you there. Mm.” Gage pushed his hands into Ulric’s pants, down his underwear, grabbing one cheek in each hand. Privately, Ulric thought his own ass was a bit much. But the way Gage kneaded his cheeks, squeezing them, cupping them, his eyelids half-shuttered in enjoyment... His bulge hadn’t been this big when they’d left the car.
Ulric had been watching Gage this whole time; Gage seemed to honestly like spending time with him. He’d been smiling and nuzzling Ulric, and Ulric felt like he’d been forgiven. It was such a weight off his chest.
“C’mon, let’s get upstairs,” Gage murmured, thrusting his tongue into Ulric’s mouth, tasting him again. “Wanna show you how hard you make me.”
Ulric groaned, reaching down to caress his alpha. There was no mistaking the line in Gage’s pants, the thick length he wanted to slide into Ulric. Gage smelled like musk, pine and, faintly, the liquor from his job last night.
Gage had called in to the gym today—so he could care for his sick boyfriend, he’d told his boss. He’d given his notice at the bar, too.
“I’m gonna drink from your spout,” Gage whispered, grinding roughly into Ulric’s palm. Ulric’s blood surged between his legs. And Gage slipped his fingers between Ulric’s cheeks, searching out his entrance.
“You just want that hole,” Ulric muttered.
“I want to kiss it.” Gage smiled. “Make love to it like how I’m gonna make love to you.”
Ulric flushed. “That’s too cheesy.”
“Only too cheesy if I sprinkle some parmesan on you.”
“Please don’t.”
Gage’s eyes gleamed. “Why? Afraid I’d love licking you all over? Every tiny crack? Or... here?”
He slid his fingertip over Ulric’s hole, a feather-light touch, too faint to do anything but tease. Ulric’s nerves tingled all over. “Gage.”
“Yeah?” Gage licked his lips. “What do you want?”
Ulric squeezed Gage’s covered cock, a demanding pressure that made Gage’s eyes darken and his cock shove against Ulric’s palm. It would
