What Remains by Bailey Bradford (to read list txt) 📕

know where the others go when they die, the ones that don’t linger. They could just cease existing, or maybe they’re reincarnated—”

Laine refused to even consider any of those scenarios. He tugged gently on Sev’s hair until those pretty eyes met his. “Hey. Nothing—nothing—is going to keep us from being together, okay? We aren’t going to just disappear. Whatever happens, we’ll find each other, even if we end up back here as…” Laine searched his mind for something ridiculous, anything to replace Sev’s frown with the smile he loved so much. “Even if we come back as a couple of ants, or…or platypuses, we’ll be together. I promise.” Somehow, he’d make sure of it. Sev was imprinted into his very DNA. If there was such a thing as reincarnation, Laine would spend his next life looking for Sev, and he’d damn well find him.

Sev’s lips curled up and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “Gay ants? Gay platypuses? Really?”

Laine strove for his most serious tone. “Who said anything about being gay? Maybe you’ll be the little woman and I’ll be the big strong man—hey!” He yelped as a tiny bit of pain spread from his chest outward. “You pinched me,” Laine grumbled, hoping Sev didn’t notice the effect that bite of pain had on him.

Sev’s wicked smile dashed Laine’s hope. “And you liked it,” Sev purred, reaching between them to palm Laine’s cock. “A lot, judging by how fast you got it up.”

Sev sounded so smug Laine was tempted to paddle him, or… Sev’s teasing expression changed, turned to something darker, demanding. “So you think I’d be the ‘little woman,’ hm?” He pinched Laine’s cockhead hard through the layers of clothes.

A streak of fire burned down from the tip of Laine’s dick to his asshole. He clenched his butt cheeks as that whole area tingled with anticipation. His heart hammered in his chest as trepidation bloomed like a morning glory. Maybe teasing Sev like that had been a little…too much.

Sev gave him a heated look then nodded. “That’s right, baby. You’re in for it now. You just threw down the gauntlet, so to speak, and challenged my manhood.” He wiggled his hips, rubbing his erection against Laine’s hip. “So now I’m going to have to prove just how much of a man I am. You know, all that machismo bullshit.” Sev smiled wickedly as Laine shuddered. “Oh yeah. Next time you want me to fuck you, just ask. You don’t have to goad me into it.”

Was that what he’d done? Laine thought about it while Sev continued grinding against him. Yeah, it was. Sev had topped exactly twice, and he’d been so nervous when he’d done it Laine hadn’t pushed for more.

Plus, he was a little worried about how much he liked feeling Sev pounding into his ass. Laine tended to think, at least when Sev was fucking him, that he might just prefer to bottom the majority of the time. Then he’d come out of that well-fucked bliss and panic at the thought of never being in Sev’s sweet ass again. He knew it didn’t have to be one way or the other, but still, it kind of kept Laine from initiating a change in their love-making.

Except he obviously had tonight. Laine locked stares with Sev and pulled up his most commanding tone. “So prove how much of a man you are already.”

Sev’s nostrils flared, a small thing that Laine found incredibly sexy. “Don’t expect me to go easy on you, Laine. I’m kind of on edge here.”

Even though he couldn’t quite snuff out a trickle of fear, Laine nodded. “I don’t want easy. Just don’t do any permanent damage down there.”

Sev rolled off him and onto his feet in one graceful movement. He stared down at Laine with a fierce look in his eyes, exuding a confidence that nearly made Laine come in his pants. “I wouldn’t hurt you, ever. But you will feel me for days.” He held out his hand. “But we need to be in the bedroom. Can’t fuck you into the mattress otherwise.”

Need coiled in Laine’s groin and spread up to his stomach. He took Sev’s hand and let his lover help him up. The walk to the bedroom took twice as long as it should have with both of them groping each other and pulling off clothes. By the time Laine tumbled down onto the bed he was utterly naked.

The previous two times Sev had taken him, Laine had been on his back, but tonight he wanted, needed, more. He rolled to his stomach and rose up on his knees. “Come on,” he ordered, dropping his shoulders and spreading his legs. His cock brushed over the blanket. It felt so good but wasn’t nearly enough friction so Laine arched his back and rubbed his dick against the nubby material.

“You want this bad, don’t you?”

Laine turned his head and grinned at the sight of Sev holding his cock at the base, waving the wet-tipped length back and forth. There were no signs of nervousness in the man, just that same confidence Laine had noted in the living room.

That didn’t, however, mean Laine was giving up control. Bottoming didn’t mean being passive, not in his book. He reached back and pulled one cheek aside, knowing he was exposing more than just a hole. “Almost as bad as you want this.”

Sev groaned and let go of his dick. Laine watched him as he grabbed the lube. He hadn’t caught on until this moment how badly Sev needed this. The vanishing spirits had shaken Sev up, shaken them both up. This promised to be a very pleasurable diversion that would help them let go of that particular worry for a while.

Laine brushed his fingers over his pucker then pressed lightly against the tight ring.

“Stop that,” Sev snapped, shooting him grin. “That’s mine, and I have the lube.” Sev held up the bottle in one hand while pushing Laine’s eager fingers away with the other.

Laine settled his forearm