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It wasn’t like Stone needed sex. It was good, sure, but he could just as easily be physically satisfied with masturbation. Sex was a want, not a need. He could go without it for a long time quite comfortably, and had done so before.
But at this point, Ivo hadn’t so much as kissed him in a year.
Granted, there were good reasons for that. He’d been trapped on an alien planet for months, and only back on Earth for just over a day before being so horribly mangled Stone had actually scooped some of his organs up bare-handed to shove them back in. So it made sense that he wouldn’t be feeling terribly amorous after that, or during the long and painful recovery.
Ivo was, mostly, recovered now. But he was different. Quieter. Meaner. He didn’t work on his machines or perform maintenance on his babies or talk about his plans for a glorious future. He binged Spanish soap operas and screamed at video games for an anonymous audience. He’d let his hair grow back - it was almost at his shoulders now - and gained significant weight and neglected his hygiene.
And he neglected Stone.
Their relationship had always been unconventional.
They’d never gone on a single formal date. But even if Robotnik only showed affection sporadically, he did show it. He’d accept a kiss on the cheek or grab Stone’s wrist when handed his latte or sneak up behind him to pinch his ass and then laugh at him jumping in surprise. And then there were the moments when a kiss turned deeper and Stone found himself enjoying the pleasure of the greatest man alive, a man who somehow decided Stone was worthy of his vulnerability and passion and -
Well. Neither of them ever said love.
For whatever reason, the loneliness was hitting Stone hard today. Maybe it was because the telenovela broadcasted on the huge screen had contained a particularly touching reunion between the long parted Eduardo and Paulo, the only gay couple on the show. Maybe it was because Ivo’s shirt was too tight and worn thin, almost giving Stone a view of his lover’s chest. Maybe it was just him finally reaching some breaking point, the extended isolation getting to him. Whatever it was, he was horny and lonely and wanted nothing more than to curl up in Ivo’s arms and touch him.
He could try, couldn’t he? There was nothing stopping him. It wasn’t like there was some rule forbidding their fraternization or whatever. Sure, Ivo usually initiated, but Stone could make a move if he wanted. And he did, quite badly, want. He’d given Ivo more than enough time. It was his turn to take initiative.
Stone straightened his shirt out and smoothed back his hair. He checked his reflection in the nearest shiny surface - acceptable, at least. With confidence in his walk he approached Ivo as the credits began to roll on the TV.
“Great,” Ivo complained, “now I’m out of shows to watch. That was the latest episode!”
“You burned through them quickly, sir.”
“Well they need to make more!”
“I’m sure they’re working on it. In the meantime - “ He perched on the arm of Ivo’s chair. “Maybe you’d like to do something else?”
Ivo looked at him sideways. “Like what?”
“Like… something with me?” Stone let one hand fall until his fingertips rested against Ivo’s wrist. Why did he feel so nervous? It wasn’t like he was expecting a rejection. Sure, it had been some time, but Ivo -
Scoffed. “Like what? You want me to help you cook dinner or something? That’s what you’re here for.”
Oh. Oh, it stung. “That’s not all I’m here for,” Stone said, desperately. He moved his hand off Ivo’s wrist and onto his thigh - surely he’d notice that.
And he did. He glanced down at Stone’s hand, the unmistakably intimate location, and said, “Yeah, you’re supposed to clean, too. So go do that if you’re bored. I’m gonna play Hollow Knight.”
Stone pulled his hand away slowly, like he was moving underwater. As Ivo pulled the game up on the screen Stone retreated, silently sliding off the chair and backing away towards the rear of the crab. It wasn’t until he’d reached the safety and relative privacy of his bunk that he let his face change.
“Stupid,” he muttered, failing to hold back tears. “Stupid, stupid.” He fell onto the little cot and buried his face in the thin pillow. It wouldn’t do much to silence the noise, but he could cry quietly. Even now, when his heart felt like roadkill, he could keep his sobs to a polite minimum.
It was stupid. It really was. To think the doctor still had any interest in him after how horribly he’d failed him? First he’d been unable to protect him from being banished to a strange and alien planet, and then he’d been useless when he’d returned. He’d been there while Ivo was at the top of the world and he’d let him fall. Ivo was done with him, there was no question anymore. Oh, he wouldn’t kick him out, not yet. Not until the badniks could take over his tasks, or he found a new and better assistant. One who wasn’t an utter disappointment.
Whatever they had, it had died long ago. Because of Stone.
Stone lay there wallowing for several minutes, soaking the pillow. He deserved it. He deserved to be humiliated. What was he thinking? He was desperate and needy and pathetic and he’d embarrassed himself. Stupid. Thinking he was entitled to the doctor’s affection.
He just… he felt so empty. Working for Ivo had never made him a popular person, and his time at the coffee shop had only confirmed his distaste for most people - and yet the complete removal of all human contact besides Ivo had affected him more than he’d thought. Especially when Ivo barely even looked at him anymore. Stone barely existed anymore.
He took a deep breath and pushed off from the bed. This wasn’t how he handled things. It didn’t matter what Doctor Robotnik wanted or didn’t want, Stone was here to serve him no matter what. This… “dry spell” was affecting his productivity, and that couldn’t be allowed. If he felt he had a need, then he was obligated to fill it. And the doctor wasn’t.
He rolled on his back, pulled out his phone, and downloaded an app.
The download took only seconds - even under the sea, Robotnik insisted on the fastest speeds - and it was quick and easy to set up an account. Fake name, of course, and a profile pic consisting of a quick shot of his own abs, shirt pulled up to reveal them, but his face hidden. He typed a quick message into the bio.
looking for some quick no strings fun
vers, can’t host, eager to please
tell me where to be and I’ll be there in 20 minutes
Then he set his phone down and went to change his shirt.
Ten minutes later, he’d arranged to meet a guy going by the name Cal at a bar near the docks. He’d also changed into a tight pair of jeans and a tight black tank that hugged his chest but showed off his broad shoulders. Even without his motorcycle jacket he looked good, and he knew he looked damn good in that jacket.
“I’m going out for a while,” he called as he ascended into the body of the crab, towards the little garage. “There’s a casserole in the fridge.”
He got a vague sort of hum in response. Fine. Better for him not to be asking questions anyway. Stone could think of a cover story on his way back if he felt the need to. If he thought Doctor Robotnik gave a damn about what he was up to.
The ride to the bar was quick. He parked out front and made his way in. The place was pretty empty - it was a Tuesday? he hadn’t even noticed - so it was easy to identify Cal in a red shirt sitting at the bar with a bottle of beer.
“Hey,” Cal said as Stone approached. “Are you Jake?”
“That’s me,” Stone confirmed. It had been the first name to come to mind.
“That’s what I hoped you’d say.” Cal’s eyes were on him, heavy and hot. He was looking at his chest, his hips, his face, his hands, his crotch, and clearly he liked what he saw. Stone bit back a shudder at the thrill of being so wanted after so long. Once, he would have hated being looked at like this by a stranger, but right now it made him feel electric.
Cal wasn’t bad, either. Stone had gone for the first guy to message him, and that was Cal. A little shorter than Stone but stocky, with a wide, simple face and a clean style. And, most importantly, eyes that were looking at Stone like a snack.
“Is it rude,” he asked, “to say I got lucky?”
Stone smiled. “Well, you haven’t yet.”
“I’m an optimist. May I buy you a drink?”
Stone should have said yes, should have spent five minutes making sure he wasn’t about to sleep with a serial killer, because that was kind of the whole point in meeting in a public place, but Cal’s blatant attraction felt like a blast of air from an open oven door. He didn’t want to wait through the niceties, and it wasn’t like any serial killer was going to take out Stone.
“I’d rather you pay your tab and I can give you a lift home.”
Cal raised his eyebrows, then chuckled. “Damn. Can’t say no to that.”
Stone waited patiently while Cal flagged down the bartender and paid off his single unfinished beer. “All set,” Cal said as he returned. “You have a motorcycle?”
“Yeah.”
Cal whistled low. “Oh, I gotta see that.”
Stone led Cal outside and to his parked bike. Cal whistled again in appreciation, and then a “wow” when Stone posed, straddling it. It occurred to Stone as Cal climbed on behind him that he didn’t have a helmet for his passenger. That should have stopped them, but Stone started the bike up anyway. He just wouldn’t crash. Plus it wasn’t like Cal was anyone important.
Cal grabbed Stone tight around the waist and even that chaste touch was enough to make him tense. His arms were strong, holding him close, and his body was warm against Stone’s back, and when he shouted directions over the roar of the bike his breath flowed hot across his neck. By the time they arrived at the designated apartment building Stone was slightly flushed and breathing hard and more lost than ever. Carefully he climbed off the bike, painfully aware of his boner bulging in his jeans, and helped Cal dismount as well. And noted, with a little satisfaction, that Cal had a similar lump in his pants.
“Goddamn,” Cal said, looking from the bike to Stone. “That was hot. Can I kiss you?”
The suddenness of the question would have surprised him if he wasn’t thinking the same thing. “God, yes.”
Cal seized him by the front of his jacket and pulled him into a kiss. They wasted no time, all lips and tongue and teeth from the first moment. Cal guided them towards the entrance of the building but they missed, going instead a few feet inside the narrow space between it and the next building. It wasn’t exactly a romantic spot, dark and dirty and populated by trash cans, but that didn’t stop them. Stone was barely cogent, one hand on Cal’s face and the other sliding down his chest. Cal hooked a thumb in Stone’s waistband and left it there, a tease, as he ground his hips against Stone’s. This was juvenile and embarrassing, making out and getting dry humped in an alleyway, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t. It felt so good, so rich and filling and he hadn’t even realized how hungry he was. Cal could fuck him right here if he wanted. Maybe he would. Maybe he’d grab Stone and flip him around and bend him over and just take him -
A high pitched squeal caught his attention. It was a very distinct sound - a high powered electronic firing up. Stone opened his eyes to see a red dot on Cal’s forehead. Two more squeals came in quick succession and by the time Cal opened his eyes two more dots had joined the first.
“Back up,” said a familiar voice, over the crackle of a radio. “Hands where I can see them. No touching the barnacle.”
A badnik - no, three badniks - had appeared at the entrance to the alleyway. All three had laser sights pointed at Cal’s head.
Stone wasn’t sure if he should sigh or scream.
“You,” said the badnik, broadcasting Doctor Robotnik’s voice. “You want to live?”
Cal lifted both hands and carefully took a step back from Stone. “Uh… y-yes?”
“Take off your pants and put them on your head.”
Cal cast a confused glance at Stone, who shook his head.
“Sorry about this,” he said. “It’s… complicated.”
“No, it’s not,” said the badnik. “It’s quite simple. You touched something that didn’t belong to you, so now you’re going to wear your pants like a hat and run barefoot for a mile in the street.”
“Huh?”
“You’ll be fine if you do what it says.” That was a lie, but Cal definitely wouldn’t be fine if he panicked. Addressing the badnik, Stone said, “At least let him wear shoes.”
“No. But I’ll be merciful and make it half a mile, so it’s just one round trip. If! You apologize.”
Stone pressed his lips tight. “For what?”
“For this!”
“For what?” Stone repeated firmly. “I don’t belong to you.”
“Yes you do!”
“Not for this! Not anymore! You’ve made that perfectly clear!”
There was quiet for a moment.
“Jake?” whispered Cal. “Do you know these… things?”
“Yes.” Stone did sigh, now, heavily. “Just let him go, Doctor.”
“Only if you return immediately.”
“Fine.” The mood was pretty thoroughly ruined anyway. “I’m sorry,” he said to Cal. “This is not what I had in mind.”
“Uh, hey. It’s okay. Things happen.” Cal glanced at the ominous drones still aiming at him. “Are you okay?” he whispered. “Like… do you need help?”
For a moment, Stone felt a pang of something. Regret, maybe. Cal seemed like a really nice guy, actually. Way nicer than someone picking up complete strangers at a moment’s notice should be. If things were different, he’d give him a chance. Things could be different.
“Probably, but not like that.” Stone smiled sadly. “Thank you, though.”
“Hey, it’s cool. Um, and if you ever do need a friend, you’ve got my number.” Stone wasn’t actually sure if the emphasis on “friend” was euphemistic for another hookup or a rescue from the abusive relationship Cal seemed to assume he was in (and he could have been more wrong). Either way, he wouldn’t be making use of it, but it was sweet.
“Alright, that’s enough,” said Robotnik. “Scram before I get bored and change my mind.”
Cal scooted sideways out of the alley, trying not to turn his back on the drones. Only when he reached the actual door of the apartment building did he break into a run.
Once the door slammed shut, the badnik turned on Stone. “As for you - “
“I got it.” Stone stormed past the trio, actually shouldering one on his way out. He shoved the helmet on, revved the bike, and peeled out at an unsafe speed.
He had a few minutes to sort his feelings out before getting back to the crab, but that wasn’t going to be nearly enough.
He was angry. That was probably the main one. Angry at the doctor and at himself. He was all set to have a perfectly nice one night stand, and Robotnik had to go and ruin it. But he should’ve seen it coming. He should’ve known better than to think he was allowed to have anything.
Guilt, too. For poor Cal, held at gunpoint for the crime of answering a cry for sex on social media. And for Ivo, who clearly had missed Stone. Missed him enough to track him down. But not enough to touch him.
The doctor claimed Stone belonged to him, and Stone couldn’t identify what that made roil in his chest.
And beneath it all, beneath all the emotions and the pain of being human and of love unrequited, he was still fucking horny.
He reached the crab without issues, a minute or so ahead of the badniks, and drove his bike into the little garage. There, he lingered, taking his time in placing his helmet on its designated shelf and hanging his jacket neatly beside it and buffing out a little smudge on the bike with his finger. He could only draw it out for so long before a badnik approached, beeping warily. His gear stowed, Stone allowed the badnik to shepherd him into the main chamber of the crab.
Where Robotnik waited.
“So,” he began, his voice light and singsongy, “who was that?”
Fuck it. “A stranger I met online to have sex with.”
Apparently his bluntness surprised Robotnik, too, because he just blinked. “Why?”
“Why?” Stone shoved the badnik aside and stomped forward, closer to Robotnik’s throne of sloth. “Because you won’t even look at me anymore!”
“So you decided to cheat on me?”
“Did I? Because that would imply we still had some sort of relationship.”
Robotnik’s face twisted. “Fine. Thanks for making it official.” He turned his chair away and Stone’s heart stopped.
“No,” he said, “no, no no no, please - “ Stone staggered forward, taken off guard by the stab of genuine panic in his gut. “Please, I - I’m sorry, sir, I’m so sorry, please don’t do this.”
“Well which is it, Stone? Do you want to stay or go? Make up your goddamn mind.”
“I - I want - “ What did he want? To get laid? To be seen? To be held? “I want you,” he sobbed. “But you don’t want me.” Stone put his head in his hands. “I can’t keep going like this. I’m not as strong as you. I need something. And I don’t - I won’t - “ His hands shook. He dropped them to his sides and made tight fists to still them. “I’m sorry, Doctor. It won’t happen again.”
He could be stronger. He would be. For Ivo. Because despite it all he still loved the doctor. And if he had to sacrifice his own needs for him, he’d do it. No matter how painful that might be.
“You think I don’t want you anymore.”
It was almost a question. Stone wondered if he should answer.
“I failed you, sir.”
Robotnik made a strange sort of grunt, a wet and rough sound. “You failed? You failed?” He spun around suddenly, and Stone was shocked to see his cheeks shining with tears. “You dug my mangled corpse out of the literal ruins of my own hubris and nursed me back to life, only to get this hot garbage back instead of the man you knew, and you think you failed?” He laughed, a harsh bark. “I’m the failure here, Stone.”
“Then… what did I do wrong? Why won’t you touch me anymore?”
“Because look at me, Stone! I’m disgusting! I’m a blob! And you’re still young and charming and smoking hot! I’ve just been waiting for you to realize it.”
Stone did what he was told.
Stone looked.
Ivo’s hair, fiery red, haloed around his head like an aura. It glowed in the blue light of the screens, the color shifting like a sunset. His eyes, set deep in dark circles, still sparkled when the light touched them. His face was wrinkled with the wisdom and intelligence of his years, a map of his genius. His moustache hid the downward curve of his mouth but gave him a dashing air, like a bold adventurer or daring rogue. His body was largely hidden by his choice of clothes but his forearms showed the muscles he’d had to work so hard to rebuild after long immobilization and his hands were as deft and graceful as ever under the gloves. And the swell of his stomach - maybe it was fat build up but Stone longed to bury his face in that softness.
“Doctor,” Stone said, his voice breaking, “you’re gorgeous.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Ivo muttered, looking away.
“I’m not.” Stone took a step forward, then another. He reached the foot of Ivo’s chair and fell to his knees. “Please. Let me prove it?”
“You don’t have to do this. I don’t need your pity.”
“I know.” He placed one hand on Ivo’s knee. With the other, he reached up and took Ivo’s hand. “May I?”
Ivo squeezed his eyes shut and turned away further, but didn’t pull his hand free. “Whatever.”
Stone rubbed a gentle circle on Ivo’s thigh. It was a little dizzying to be this close to him after so long. He fought the urge to tear Ivo’s clothes straight off and instead opted for letting the barrier stand. His caresses could go over the cloth until Ivo was more certain, or until Stone was even more desperate. (Which, granted, probably wouldn’t take long. Between his earlier overtures and the whole misadventure with Cal he’d been worked up for hours.) He ran his hand along the outside of Ivo’s thick thighs, not squeezing but pressing down enough to feel the wonderful give of their mass. He proceeded upwards from there, sliding under the robe to encircle Ivo’s torso. He’d been so skinny, before, and while Stone had loved his body then he preferred it this way, soft and warm, built from home cooked meals and healthy rest. And his chest, oh, Stone had barely dared to dream of what his chest might look like now.
He leaned his head against Ivo’s thigh and sighed contentedly. Even this much contact would have been enough to keep him happy. All he wanted was the opportunity to worship, to bask in Ivo’s warmth.
Daring, he pushed the hem of Ivo’s trunks up a little and pressed his lips to the soft skin there.
Ivo shuddered and Stone paused, glancing upwards. Ivo’s mouth was covered by his hand, resting his chin on it like it was no big deal, but his eyes were closed.
“Is this too much?” Stone asked.
Ivo croaked, “No.” Then he cleared his throat, sat up straighter, and repeated, “No. You can keep going. If you want.”
“I do. I want. Doctor - “ Something snapped; Stone hadn’t lost control yet, but it was starting to sway. He shoved Ivo’s shirt up over his belly, exposing it, and surged up to kiss it.
“Ah - Stone, what are you doing?” Ivo squirmed. “Not - that’s not - “
“You said I could do what I wanted. Didn’t you?”
“I didn’t mean - “
“I want this.” He placed a hand on either side of Ivo’s belly, stroking and caressing while he left increasingly sloppy kisses across it. He wanted to bite it, really, but that might have been too much for now. The urge didn’t fade, and if a few of his kisses had a little more teeth than necessary Ivo didn’t protest.
Ivo wasn’t saying much of anything, actually. But his breathing had gotten louder, and there was a flush blooming on his cheeks. Stone suddenly decided that wasn’t good enough. He slid a hand under the thin fabric of Ivo’s shirt (oh, god, his chest was soft too) and pinched a nipple.
Ivo yelped. “What the hell, Stone?”
“I like your voice,” Stone offered as explanation. “I like your belly, and your chest, and your hands, and your thighs.” He started to rise, kisses venturing upwards with him. “I like the sounds you make, and the faces. I like seeing you in ecstasy, and I like seeing you desperate and begging for more, and I like seeing you looming tall over me and I like seeing you helpless on your back.” Smoothly, he slid onto the chair, his knees bracketing Ivo’s thighs. Whether by reflex or on purpose Ivo’s hands went to his waist, holding him there. “I like your eyes, and your mouth. I like this part - “ he kissed the tender skin just under the hinge of Ivo’s jaw, “- and this one - “ another kiss behind his earlobe. “And I’m going to tell you every part of your body that I like, but it might take a while.”
“I don’t think I can wait a while,” Ivo groaned.
Stone grinned. “Honestly? Me either. But I’ll do it anyway, for you.”
“Ugh, shut up.” Ivo seized Stone by the back of the head and pulled him into a kiss.
It was heaven. Stone moaned into it, open mouthed. Ivo’s tongue dug into him, rough and possessive, and Stone nearly fainted. And then Ivo grabbed his ass and Stone stopped thinking. All his plans (and he’d meant them!) vanished. All he knew was that desperate blistering want, and Ivo was right here.
For the first time in his life, Stone understood that a human really could lose control.
He watched himself, helplessly, grab Ivo’s face to keep him from pulling away. His hips ground into Ivo’s lap and against that wonderful belly. It was like his body was tired of letting his stupid fretful mind run things and decided it was time to take the pleasure it had been denied for so long. Even when Ivo tugged at his shirt he pulled it off without thinking. All he knew was that he was exposed, and Ivo’s hand was on his chest, and then Ivo kissed his skin and it was unbearable.
Stone clawed at Ivo’s shirt, wanting it gone but not knowing how. His fingernails snagged something and there was a tearing sound and now the shirt was gone. Good. Stone pressed his body against Ivo’s, trying to make as much skin to skin contact as possible. It was like a drug, like an addiction he thought he’d kicked flooding back in. He’d happily drown in this.
He got a little bit of awareness back when Ivo called his name. Panted, really. “Stone - fuck - ah - Stone!”
“Ivo,” Stone murmured back. “Ivo, Ivo, Ivo.” He chanted the name between kisses like a mantra. “Ivo. I missed you, Ivo.”
“I’ve been right here,” Ivo grumbled, but they both knew what Stone meant. “I missed you too.”
Ivo was already down to his boxers, having given up on wearing pants long ago. It bothered Stone, another symptom of whatever decline Ivo was going through, but right now it came in extremely handy. There were no troublesome belts or zippers for Stone’s fevered mind to grapple with. All he had to do was slip his fingers under the elastic waistband, and -
Ivo threw his head back, swearing loudly, when Stone grabbed his hard cock. “Stone!”
Stone loved the sounds Ivo made. He didn’t tease or play; there was no time for that. He went directly to stroking, his fist curled around Ivo’s shaft, his thumb playing with the head. Ivo pulled him in, digging the tips of his gloves into Stone’s back as Stone worked him.
“Stone! Fuck, Stone, I’m - I can’t - “
Stone didn’t relent for a moment. Not when Ivo jerked in his chair beneath him, not when he threw his head back and groaned, not when he spilled hot and wet over Stone’s fingers. It wasn’t until he went slack, breathing hard, that Stone released him.
Stone had been honest, before, when he told Ivo he was gorgeous. But now, he was divine. Sweat shone on his forehead and his wild hair had gone even crazier and he gazed up at Stone from under heavy lidded eyes, his chest heaving.
“Fuck,” he said again, reverently. “Stone.”
Stone lifted his hand clear of Ivo’s boxers, careful not to stain them. He licked Ivo’s still-warm cum off his fingers one by one, savoring the taste almost as much as the little whine Ivo let out at the sight.
“Stone,” he groaned again, like it was the only word he could remember. Maybe it was, if his mind was anything like Stone’s right now, and Stone hadn’t even come yet.
Maybe he didn’t need to. Maybe this was what he really needed, to serve and to service Ivo, to share in his pleasure, to have a taste of his genius and a glimpse of him at peace.
When Ivo pawed at Stone’s waistband, he changed his mind.
It was never going to take long. Hell, Stone was a little surprised he hadn’t come in his pants already. When Ivo fished his cock out, the lightest touch sent Stone into a spasm. He curled up, arcing over Ivo, letting him do whatever he wanted. He was nothing but a plaything for this brilliant man, and it was everything he ever wanted.
Orgasm came over him violently. Every muscle in him tensed and trembled, straining hard enough to snap bones. His mouth flew open and he lunged, digging his teeth into the side of Ivo’s neck as he burst, beaten and torn and battered by the sheer force of it. His hips jutted uselessly and his arms went limp and he tasted blood. It was exquisite.
It was a long, long time before either of them moved, or at least it seemed like it. Stone slumped against Ivo, too hot and too sweaty but unwilling to separate. For once, Ivo didn’t push him away either. He draped an arm around Stone’s shoulders, letting his hand rest on his bare back. Neither of them wanted to move, but eventually Stone’s jaw started to ache and he had to pull his teeth from Ivo’s skin (and oh, god, that was deep, whoops). Once that happened, time restarted. Stone tore himself off Ivo and wobbled to the kitchen. He grabbed two handfuls of paper towels. One he used to clean his own leavings off of Ivo. The other he pressed against the bite mark in lieu of a proper bandage. (The first aid kit was in the bathroom and that was beyond him at the moment.)
“Ow,” said Ivo.
“Sorry,” Stone replied. “I didn’t mean to bite so hard.”
“No, it was hot. I’m into it.”
Stone smiled. “If you weren’t, I’m sure you’d have let me know by now.”
His knees threatened to drop him to the floor again, so instead he crawled into Ivo’s lap. It wasn’t the most comfortable cuddling position, but that couldn’t possibly matter less to him now. It was next to Ivo, and that’s all he cared about.
Ivo stroked his hair. “Bet Cal wouldn’t have let you bite him,” he muttered.
“You really don’t need to be jealous of Cal.”
“I dunno.” Ivo waggled his fingers. “Maybe I should have the badniks take him out, just to be sure.”
“Maybe.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” He let his hand drop.
“Were you really avoiding being intimate because you thought I wasn’t attracted to you?”
“Don’t say being intimate.”
“Dodging the question.”
“Maybe.”
“So all of this could have been avoided.” Stone hummed in satisfaction. “Maybe all those people that talk about how communication is important for a healthy relationship have a point.”
“Sounds fake.”
“I love you.”
Ivo’s hands stilled. “What?”
“I love you.” Stone squeezed Ivo. “I’m in love with you. I have been the whole time.”
“Oh. Well. That’s nice.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“I know that! If I wasn’t in love with you I wouldn’t need your permission to say so!” Ivo cleared his throat. “But, given the recent revelation about communication, I suppose I…” He mumbled something.
“What was that?”
“I said, I… love you too. Freak.”
“Your freak.”
“You’re embarrassing.”
Stone chuckled, nestling into Ivo’s chest. After a few moments, Ivo’s fingers moved and the chair slowly rotated back to face the screen. Soft music played; Stone would recognize the theme to La Última Pasión anywhere.
“Did another episode come out?”
“No. We’re starting from the beginning again. Shush.”
Stone closed his eyes and smiled.