Josiah moaned.

“Relax, Josiah. Let me in.” His breath on Josiah’s neck made him shiver, but then he pressed a kiss there. And another, and another. His teeth bit into Josiah’s skin as he kept pressing forward. Pushing inside.

Josiah’s breathing sped up. When Tristan filled him, the reaction was automatic. He moved back, trying to get closer. Wanting Tristan to move. To fuck him. But that’s not what this felt like, was it? It was more. Unexpected. And he was drowning in it.

Tristan’s nails dug into his shoulders as he pulled out then slammed forward again. Slow and smooth, but with strength, too.

“So fucking good. You’re going to be the death of me, Josiah. You know that, don’t you?”

He nodded, though he wasn’t sure why. He didn’t want to be the death of Tristan... but he wanted him. Wanted him more than he realized before. Knew emotions twirled and built inside him that he shouldn’t feel. That Tristan wouldn’t want.

With each thrust, his nails bit deeper. He pushed Josiah’s body so he met each of Tristan’s pumps. Skin to skin. Tristan to Josiah. Just like he wanted.

Over and over, Tristan filled him. Fucked him. Made love to him. It felt incredible. Made him happy, even though he knew he was in over his head. But still... Josiah’s eyes burned. Wetness dripped onto his hand that rested under his head, unsure how to feel. He was sure it would make Tristan pull away. Walk away. He almost turned his head to face the pillow, rather than sideways, but then Tristan’s lips pressed to a spot beneath his eye. They had to have come back wet, but he kept going. Didn’t slow his movements as Josiah’s pleasure built higher and higher. As the water rose higher and higher and Josiah sunk deeper and deeper.

Sadness and happiness blended together. Teo. Teo had been the only other person who’d ever been inside him. The only one he’d wanted there, and feeling this made Josiah miss him more. But he wanted Tristan here, too. Wanted it over and over, because he’d changed something inside Josiah. Made him want again. Made him feel something besides emptiness again. He had a life now, and knew he was strong enough to give himself a future, too, but this? Feeling connected, being together with someone. He craved that, too. Had craved it from Mateo, and now with Tristan.

Tristan’s body slapped against his. His shoulder stung where Tristan held him, but it just added to the pleasure surging through him. Their bodies moved together. Josiah’s cock rubbed against the blanket, creating a friction that added to the feel of Tristan inside him.

“I’m going to come, Josiah. You’re so fucking good. So tight, squeezing my cock.” And then one of his hands went down, under Josiah, and wrapped around his erection. He thrust harder, faster, stroking him at the same time.

That was all it took. Josiah’s insides exploded. His body went rigid as he came, hot semen pulsing out of him in waves. Tristan kept up his movements. Stroking and pumping.

Josiah felt Tristan’s cock jerk inside him. Felt Tristan stiffen on his back. Heard him quietly whisper, “Josiah...” That simple word—his name that he’d heard millions of times in his life made him shiver. Again, he almost asked. Say my name again...

And then Tristan was gone. Pulled out. Stood up. Fear raced up Josiah’s spine. He should let him walk out. It’s what Tristan would expect and what he’d agreed to, but suddenly not what he wanted. “Don’t go. Not yet.”

A small nod. “Okay.” He pulled the condom off and tossed it into the trashcan before lying next to him again. The bed was so small they hardly fit, but that was okay. Twin bed, two bodies. He’d done that before.

It was forever until Tristan spoke. “What’s today?”

The thought of lying didn’t even occur to him. “His birthday.”

“And he left you? That’s how you ended up here?”

Veto, veto, veto. “He saved me first. Saved me many times. But yes. He left me in the end.”

Josiah melted into Tristan when he felt an arm wrap around him. Thank you.

He hadn’t expected this. Hadn’t expected to need it, either, but he did.

“And you wanted me to help you forget him?”

Josiah turned to face him. Looked him in the eyes. “Partially. But more than that, I wanted you. Want you. I never thought I could want someone other than Mateo, but you gave me that back. That...desire. I never thought I would care about someone again, but you gave me that, too.”

Josiah waited for him to get up. To tell Josiah he was crazy. That he’d told him he didn’t do relationships and this was just a fuck. But Tristan didn’t move.