Uncertainty slithered through Ulric’s chest. But Gage had said he loved Ulric, and... maybe Ulric should learn to trust him. He bit his lip. “Okay.”
Gage secured the blindfold around Ulric’s head. Then he helped Ulric scoot further up the bed. He plucked off Ulric’s socks and stroked Ulric’s calves and thighs. “Remember me touching you here?”
He’d done that, sometimes. When they’d snuggled together on the couch and Ulric pulled his legs up. Gage would reach over and touch Ulric’s knee, or his lap. “Yeah.”
“Here, slide your pants off,” Gage said.
Ulric didn’t mind removing his pants—Gage had seen him a few times without. Hell, Gage knew what his hole looked like. And... maybe Ulric didn’t mind giving Gage an eyeful of his cock. He squirmed out of his pants, the cool air of the bedroom skimming his thighs.
“Mm.” Slowly, Gage pressed Ulric backward, until his back thumped against the mattress. Ulric’s stitches twinged. “Lie back for me, babe.”
The sheets rustled. Gage caught Ulric’s knees, spreading them open. Ulric’s face grew hot. “But this is fucking,” Ulric said.
Gage chuckled. “Nope. Still kissing.”
He lifted one of Ulric’s legs, kissing from his ankle up the side of his calf, to his knee. Ulric held his breath. He’d never been kissed there before. And Gage’s lips trailed over his skin, a light, damp touch. Ulric bit back his groan.
“Feels good?” Gage’s voice slid down his spine.
“Yeah.”
Warm breath raced down the inside of Ulric’s thigh. Not long after, Gage’s mouth followed—soft kisses, the sharp points of teeth on Ulric’s sensitive skin. Gage bit him lightly, just enough to let Ulric know he was there. Then he kissed higher and higher, until he reached the crease of Ulric’s thigh. Ulric thought Gage might kiss his cock. He held his breath.
Instead, Gage switched to his other leg, doing the same. Ulric’s instincts grumbled. “You missed something.”
Gage laughed. “Yeah? What’d I miss?”
Ulric spread his legs wider, showing him. But rather than touching Ulric’s cock, Gage slipped a finger between Ulric’s cheeks, stroking around his hole. “I’ll kiss this at the end,” Gage said. “There’s still the rest of you.”
“Fuck.” Ulric growled, wanting more. Wanting to hide in the desperate need of sex, instead of letting Gage see the rest of him. But he’d agreed.
Gage reached the top of Ulric’s thigh. Then he began unbuttoning Ulric’s shirt. Ulric’s stomach flipped.
“You’re beautiful,” Gage murmured. “See, everywhere I kiss, I think that’s beautiful. Give me a chance to show you, babe.”
He kissed all the way along the underside of Ulric’s belly, from one side to the other. More and more of that fabric fell away, until Ulric’s belly was entirely exposed, and then his chest. Every inch Gage uncovered, he kissed.
He reached the last button on Ulric’s shirt, popping that open. Gage kissed Ulric’s collarbones, then his shoulders. Then he kissed up Ulric’s neck, and Ulric knew Gage could see his whole body now. He felt far too naked.
Gage lay down next to him, still clothed, and pressed kisses all over Ulric’s face. “This is beautiful, too,” Gage whispered. “This right here. What I’m kissing.”
Ulric’s throat grew tight.
Maybe he couldn’t see himself in the same light yet, but he felt Gage’s complete acceptance of him. He felt as though he could be utterly naked with Gage, and... it would be all right.
Through the blindfold, Gage kissed his eyelids. Then Gage kissed his nose, and his mouth. “Turn over,” Gage whispered. “I’ll get your back, too.”
His whole front covered in kisses, Ulric eased out of his shirt. He rolled onto his unhurt side; Gage kissed his hair, then his nape. Then he dropped kisses all across Ulric’s back, down his spine, and to his ass.
“Told you this is a fucking beautiful ass,” Gage growled, squeezing it. “Loved it the moment I spanked you.”
Ulric flushed. He remembered that popcorn incident. “It’s just my ass.”
Gage smacked his cheek lightly; Ulric felt it bounce. “Mm, fuck,” Gage whispered. Then he grasped Ulric’s ass, spread it open, and kissed between his cheeks, all the way to his hole. Blood surged between Ulric’s legs. Gage’s face was pressed intimately against his cheeks, his stubble scraping Ulric’s skin. He couldn’t possibly...
Gage kissed him right where he was vulnerable, a slow, deliberate touch. And he flicked his tongue against Ulric’s entrance. “Relax for me, babe.”
“But—” Ulric swallowed.
Something stroked him there, soft and wet. Then it nudged at him like it was seeking entrance.
It wasn’t a spot where anyone had ever kissed, either. Ulric’s face scorched.
“Feel good?” Gage’s voice vibrated through Ulric’s most sensitive parts.
“Fuck.”
“Relax.” Gage kissed his hole again.
So Ulric relaxed. And Gage pushed his tongue inside, a hungry presence spreading him open. Ulric forgot to breathe. Gage was tasting him there. “What—What’re you...”
Gage’s breath rushed against his skin. Was he amused? “Have you never been kissed here?”
“No.”
Gage’s rumble of delight went all the way through Ulric’s insides. “I didn’t realize you were a kiss virgin, babe.”
“What’s a ‘kiss virgin’?” Ulric was glad he couldn’t see Gage’s expression. He wasn’t anywhere as experienced as his alpha was.
“It’s what I call someone who hasn’t been kissed in places.” Gage licked Ulric’s hole, firm and slow. Then he groaned, pushing his tongue back in, sliding out, pushing in again. As though he was fucking Ulric there, but with his tongue. Pleasure scattered down Ulric’s veins.
Ulric bit off his groan. He hadn’t expected this to feel so good.
“Getting you all ready for me,” Gage murmured. He slid a finger into Ulric, and then another. Ulric’s nerves sang as his body stretched around Gage, clinging to his fingers, begging for more.
“Gods, you’re so damn ready,” Gage rasped, pulling his fingers out. He patted Ulric’s hole lightly, before leaning away. The nightstand drawer rumbled open.
Then fabric rustled, and the next time Gage pressed up against him, he was completely naked against Ulric, his thick cock wedging between Ulric’s cheeks.
Ulric’s instincts came roaring back; he growled, turning to try and seek leverage.
Except Gage pinned him
