Thirst (Hellish #4)(17)

The instant he freed Baptiste’s erection, Ethan swallowed him. He took no mercy. The need to fuck with Baptiste’s head, the way Baptiste fucked with him, was killing Ethan. They’d never be even. Ethan had been quietly longing for too long. That didn’t mean Ethan couldn’t try balancing the playing field. Only when he had Baptiste pulling at his hair and begging did Ethan climb up Baptiste’s body and claim his mouth. He fully intended to push his way inside with no lubricant other than his spit. Ethan had to get inside Baptiste before the man changed his mind. He swiped his crown across Baptiste’s asshole, panting in his desperation. Baptiste turned his head and gasped for air. Ethan’s lips collided with Baptiste’s cheek. It was wet. He jerked back. Silent tears slipped from Baptiste’s eyes. It was like a sledgehammer to the chest. He couldn’t breathe. Baptiste still couldn’t feel him. Ethan didn’t know how to make Baptiste see the truth.



Ethan froze, staring down at him, looking every bit as disappointed in Baptiste as he was in himself.

“I’m sorry. Don’t stop. I want you.”

Rather than pushing forward, Ethan’s weight settled between Baptiste’s thighs. His eyes filled with understanding. It was worse than dying. Baptiste didn’t want to stop, but he also couldn’t explain how making love to Ethan meant he was letting go of men he’d loved more than life.

“You don’t have to be alone,” Ethan said, wiping the moisture away from Baptiste’s cheek. “You’re not alone. I can set you free.”

He was such a mess. Ethan deserved better. “I don’t understand why you want me. You could have anyone.”

Ethan’s gaze softened. “I more than want you. I die a little every passing moment I don’t have you.”

Baptiste stopped breathing. He’d heard those words before. The memory slammed into him like a bulldozer, wrecking him.

They spent every waking moment together. Each one was torture for Baptiste. Eirik never touched him, but he watched Baptiste with open hunger. His heated stare kept Baptiste on the edge of all-consuming desire and scared to death to make a move.

While sitting in a field of flowers, Eirik avidly listened as Baptiste read. Mid-sentence, Baptiste broke beneath the strain. His gaze shot to Eirik. “You should not watch me as you do.”

Eirik’s mouth lifted in one corner. “How do I watch you?”

Heat rushed to Baptiste’s cheeks. He shouldn’t have said anything. His insides shook with nervousness. He dipped his chin to hide his blush. His words came out stuttered. “Never mind. I just…”

A flower touched Baptiste’s cheek, bringing his chin up. Eirik brushed the soft petals along Baptiste’s jawline. “Tell me how I watch you,” Eirik whispered.

Baptiste couldn’t look away from Eirik’s beautiful gray eyes. He swallowed. He’d never been more scared in his life. Men didn’t look at men the way Eirik looked at him, especially men like Eirik—a warrior. He couldn’t deny Eirik’s request. “Like you want me,” Baptiste whispered, bracing for the worst.

Eirik moved onto his knees. He crawled, closing the distance between them until he had Baptiste on his back, and he straddled Baptiste’s hips. “I more than want you. I die a little every passing moment I don’t have you.”

Baptiste stared harder at Ethan, searching for anything. “It’s not possible.”

Ethan shifted and brushed his crown across Baptiste’s asshole. “Tell me how you feel,” he demanded, sounding stern and ratcheting up Baptiste’s lust.

“Confused.”

Ethan kissed his jaw while still toying with his ass. “I meant physically, gorgeous. Tell me how you feel.”

The way Ethan kept using his crown to massage the spot between Baptiste’s balls and asshole had his dick leaking like crazy. His mind was a mess. Baptiste licked his parched lips. “Turned on,” he whispered, shyness roaring in like a freight train despite everything else.

“Don’t be scared. You’re with me. Tell me.”

Baptiste closed his eyes and focused. “You’re killing me. I want to shove my hand between us and jack off. You have me so close to release. But I’m curious too. I need to know if you can make me come by this alone.”

Warm lips touched the shell of his ear. Ethan’s cock found its way inside just enough to tease him before disappearing again. “You already know I can.”

The air in Baptiste’s lungs disappeared. He couldn’t think. Nothing penetrated his mind. His body was in control. His balls drew up tight. Ethan’s cock stretched his asshole again. This time, going deeper before disappearing.

“Do you want it?”

A gasp escaped Baptiste. “Yes.” Pressure beat at his crown, screaming for release.

“Say my name.”

Baptiste writhed beneath him. He was so close. His body burned. “Ethan.”

Ethan’s cock gently pushed at Baptiste’s asshole, driving him insane. He was right there. Ecstasy lingered right out of reach. “Say my name,” Ethan demanded.

It didn’t make sense. He didn’t know how he knew, but he did. “Eirik.”

“Good boy,” Eirik said, claiming Baptiste’s mouth as he took Baptiste’s ass—hard. An orgasm roared through him. He couldn’t think. Baptiste could only feel. Waves of pleasure rocked him to his core. His soul knew this man, even though he didn’t look the same. He didn’t understand. It didn’t matter. Eirik was there. Three years. It had been three of the longest fucking years. He’d been empty. So goddamn empty. No one could understand. Tears rolled from his eyes. He couldn’t stop them.