SafetyInNumbers-Final (13 page)

He didn’t need the hand Billy offered for balance, but he took it because he’d take any excuse to touch, to connect. When he tried to turn, Billy stayed him with a hand on his hip and slowly stood up, dragging those clothes along his back. He shivered and moaned, more aroused than he thought possible. “Billy.”

Big arms wrapped around him, surrounding him in strength and heat and cloth, and Liam feared he might come just from that. “Someone has a clothing fetish.”

He didn’t know he had any fetishes or how Billy knew what he was reacting to, but he couldn’t deny how turned on he was right now. “I have a fetish for you in clothes.”

“That works just fine with my possessive streak. Keep turning, let yourself enjoy it.” Billy’s encouragement of his response made it hotter. There was never a chance to feel awkward or embarrassed about what probably wasn’t normal, not when Billy sounded as turned on as he was.

He turned slowly, enjoying the feel of the material sliding across his skin. It felt like a caress, lighting fire to every single nerve ending. When they were face to face, he pressed close, immersing himself in everything Billy made him feel. “Do you have a clothing fetish?”

“No, I have a Liam fetish.” Billy’s stern face softened with affection. “Liam clothed, Liam talking, Liam eating, Liam naked, Liam responding so beautifully to me. That’s my turn on.”

“So I turn you on all the time?” Liam was stunned by how naked Billy looked just then. His lover was telling him that he held all the power and it was a heady trip.

“I wish you could see the look on your face right now. That confidence might just be the hottest thing about you.” Billy tipped his chin up and leaned down to take a kiss. Instead of the bruising kisses that often left him panting and lightheaded, this lazy exploration was doing something to his insides. Softening him, easing him back from the edge just a little. “Now you know that you have me wrapped around your little finger, how’s that make you feel?”

“Powerful.” That was the truth. There was another truth that was more important. “But I don’t want that. I want you to see me as an equal, to see that we each have different strengths and skills that we bring to the relationship. Not that one of us is more important or powerful than the other.”

Billy cradled his face and placed another soft kiss to his mouth. “I’m not sure where you got the impression that our friends don’t have equitable relationships, but I promise you that we are equals—equally important and equally powerful in this relationship. Unless you can tell me that I don’t make you as crazy and horny and stupid as you make me?”

Liam had to think about that. Billy made him feel all those things, but Billy was the only one who regularly expressed them. How often had Billy said that he was making him crazy and, instead of responding in kind, he gloated? “Yes, you do, you know you do. I’m sorry I don’t say it…”

“Stop.” The kiss Billy gave him that time was hard, fast, and bruising. He wasn’t sure which one he loved more. “You do say it, you just use different words.”

“Words that make it sound like I’m reveling in the power you’re giving me.” It made him feel petty now that he thought about it.

“Yep, and it’s so fucking hot.” Billy leered at him. “I love it and you know I love it, that’s why you respond the way you do. We’re not new to this, it’s been building between us for a while and we’ve learned how to get a reaction out of each other. That reaction you have to being naked while I’m clothed is the same reaction I get when you show me that sexy confidence. It makes me want to go all Billy Bear on you.”

Somehow, that felt right and Billy had accepted his reaction as normal and good. Was he going to argue that Billy’s reaction was wrong? He might not have enough experience to have figured that out on his own, but he wasn’t stupid. “I like the sound of that, but my new fetish might be getting in the way.”

“Not really. You could get on your knees, unzip my pants, and pull my cock out. Your hand would feel amazing wrapped around it and it would look so fucking hot sliding past your lips.” Billy grabbed his hair in one big fist and tugged, and Liam could imagine that fist guiding him as he worshipped Billy’s cock. “Just the thought of your mouth around my cock makes me crazy. Would you like that, Liam? Would you take it all, open that pretty throat and let me in?”

Liam opened his mouth to answer, but only a strangled whine came out. The hand in his hair tugged again until his head dropped back, allowing Billy to stroke his throat. “You’d be so tight here.” That big hand wrapped around his neck and rested there. “I’d put my hand just like this so I could feel it.”

“Billy…” It was all he could manage and he hoped it conveyed how much he wanted it.

“It’d be hard to do at first and that’s okay. Practicing is half the fun.” Billy replaced his hand with his mouth, licking and sucking until Liam cried out. His knees buckled and Billy eased him onto the bed. Before Liam could pull him down, Billy pushed away and stood over him. “We’ll add that to the someday list, baby. Tonight I have a promise to keep and as tempting as it is to start practicing now, I’m going to prove to you that I keep my promises.”

Liam didn’t know what promise Billy was referring to, but he was beyond actual words. All he could do was watch Billy remove his clothes, trading one fetish for another. He loved everything about Billy’s body—the bulky muscle, the fur, the tattoos, the scars—and his fingers fairly itched to touch and pet and love on Billy. He scooched to the end of the bed, unable to sit back when everything he wanted was being revealed to him.

The last of Billy’s clothes hit the floor and then those big hands grabbed him roughly, dragging him up the bed and pinning him to the mattress. It lit him up from the inside out and he knew exactly what promise Billy was fulfilling. He arched up, loving the rough feel against his skin. “Billy Bear.”

Billy growled and took his mouth, pushing inside to explore every inch. Liam knew his lips would be swollen and bruised, but he didn’t care. Billy used his whole body to hold him in place and when Liam wiggled, Billy only locked him down more. It was exactly the response he wanted and Liam loved that Billy knew it.

“You’re mine,” Billy declared when they came up for air. “Whether I’m pinning you to the bed or you’re taunting me with that sexy confidence. You, Liam Ellis, are mine, just as I’m yours. That’s our equality, our partnership.”

“Forever?” He meant to say it with the confidence Billy loved, but it came out as a question. Until that moment, he didn’t realize how badly he needed that promise from Billy. He kept telling himself that was what they were moving toward, but he was good at bluffing when he wanted something badly enough. Now, he badly needed Billy to make it true.

“Forever,” Billy promised. It was more freeing than he expected for both of them. He could tell Billy felt it as much as he did, because that mouth took his in another bruising kiss, stealing his wits and sealing their fates together for all time.

Billy released his hands, but continued to use his big body to hold Liam in place as he explored. With lips, teeth and tongue working over every inch of him, Liam was powerless to do more than stroke whatever parts of Billy he could reach. They were equal partners and he knew he’d get his turn to explore. This here was Billy staking his claim just the way Liam had been begging for months.

He cried out when a scruffy cheek rubbed against his dick and Billy grinned up at him. “So sensitive.”

Liam might have responded or thought about responding, but Billy didn’t even give him a second before he was swallowing Liam whole. He buried his fingers in Billy’s hair, more to hold on than to guide, and watched as he bobbed up and down. Every few strokes he felt pressure on the head of his cock, heard Billy gag a little, and each time he seemed to go deeper. It registered about the same time Billy grabbed his wrist and dragged Liam’s hand down around his neck so he could feel his own cock sliding into Billy’s throat. It was...shit, he didn’t even have a word for it. Breathtaking. Mind-blowing.

“Billy…” He was so close, but he didn’t want it to be over yet. Those dark eyes looked at him, but Billy didn’t stop. “I’m gonna...Billy, please...not ready.”

Billy released him long enough to rasp, “It’s okay, baby, it won’t be the only time.”

Before he could argue, Billy had him to the root and he felt that slide all the way down to his toes. His orgasm traveled up the same path and he gave up the fight, spilling himself down Billy’s throat until he felt wrung dry.

“That was beautiful.” Billy’s raspy voice had his eyes fluttering open. “You’re beautiful.”

“Your voice is really sexy like that.” Liam leaned up and licked his way into Billy’s mouth, tasting himself on his tongue. “Hmm, that’s nice too. You need to suck my dick every morning.”

“Are you waiting for me to argue?” Billy grinned down at him and rubbed his scruffy cheek against Liam’s smooth one. How could something so rough be so soothing? “Watching you come nearly destroyed me, baby. Where do you keep the supplies?”

Liam reached for the bedside table and blushed when he took out the lube and box of condoms, both of which were unopened. “I, uh, bought them this afternoon.”

“Good thinking,” Billy praised, kissing him one more time before tearing into the packages. “I don’t want to assume anything here, Liam, and I really don’t want details, but you have done this before, right?”

“Yeah, yes...I mean, not a lot, all things considered, but yeah, of course.” The stammering response made him blush more. Did his inexperience show? It was important that this be equally as good for both of them.

“Hey, what’s that panicked look for?” Billy came over him, blanketing him with warmth and strength. “Talk to me.”

He hated to admit this because if it really wasn’t good for Billy, he didn’t know how to fix it. His experience leaned more toward the strip, screw, and scram variety. Everything with Billy was different from the first hellos, with months of foreplay leading up to Billy taking the time to make him feel wonderful. “You’re making this so good for me and I wanted it to be as good for you.”

“Just good? Cause from where I’m sitting, it’s pretty fucking phenomenal.” Billy actually looked a little insulted by his choice of adjectives and shook his head. “Liam, I asked so I would know how to prepare you. That’s all. I just didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Oh. Uh, well, no details, just one guy before...before...and a couple of flings after.” Liam chewed on his lower lip, not sure if he should confess to the rest. Billy recognized the tell immediately and waited him out. Finally, after another agonizing moment, he admitted, “No one since I met you.”

All the insult fled when Billy realized how long that was. “That’s over two years.”

“I knew what I wanted.” He was pretty sure he wouldn’t be jealous if Billy said it hadn’t been that long for him. What mattered was the last year that they really started getting closer, not before. Even then, could he be jealous of something that happened before they officially got together?

“And you said my face is expressive?” Billy rubbed against his cheek again, soothing him instantly. “For the record, I had an on again off again fuck buddy when we met. It fizzled out soon after and I haven’t wanted anyone but you since.”

Okay, he would have been totally jealous if the answer had been any different. “Cause I make you crazy.”

Billy growled and dove for his neck, no doubt leaving a mark. He often teased Red about the marks Bull left, now he couldn’t wait to show Billy’s marks off. “You definitely make me crazy. Now I’m gonna return the favor. Plant your feet on the bed.”

Liam didn’t hesitate, spreading his legs and bending his knees so he was completely open to Billy’s retribution. He’d never wanted to be paid back more, not with Billy watching him closely as his big, blunt fingers stroked behind his balls and down into his crease. Despite his lack of recent activity, he wasn’t a virgin, he wasn’t afraid, and he was so ready to welcome Billy into his body. When Billy circled his entrance, he relaxed and pushed down, letting that digit slide right in.

“Feel good, baby?” Billy asked as he stroked in and out, slicking him and reminding the muscles of how good it could be. Liam tried to focus as Billy came over him, replacing his fingers with his cock. Billy knelt between his knees and pushed his legs up until Liam was holding himself wide. “Damn, that’s so fucking hot.”

Liam could only nod as he felt the head of Billy’s cock circle his hole, teasing and pulling back, and just driving him out of his mind. He needed to take Billy into his body, to feel that connection, and he couldn’t wait another minute. “Billy!”

Billy’s gaze snapped to his at the same time as his cock nudged inside. “Say it.”

“Billy Bear, pl...” The requested words died when Billy slammed into him, making them one. After all the months of waiting and wanting, needing and fearing it would never happen, he finally had a place of real belonging. In Billy’s arms, loved harder than he believed possible. Even without the word being said, he felt it in all of Billy’s actions. The trip to this point, their starting point, hadn’t taken any of the traditional roads, but that didn’t stop all the feelings from building along the way.

“I thought I knew...” Billy pulled back slowly, giving him a chance to catch his breath. “I thought I knew how this would feel.”

Liam reached for Billy, urging him down until he was filling him and surrounding him, loving him from all sides. “It’s better.”