Winter had never been more blown away in his life. Every time he thought there was nothing else Ivan could do to shock him, Ivan took things to a whole new level. The thing was, Ivan was right. There was something here. Winter would never forgive himself if he didn’t find out what. “Okay.”
Ivan blinked. A small smile touched his lips and disappeared, as if he feared to hope. “Are you being serious?”
Winter nodded. “Truthfully, you’ve already been paying my rent with your crazy tipping for the past two years. I can choose to think of this check as an advance on the next two years and...” Winter swallowed. Ivan’s eyes were beautiful. He was distracting, and—damn it—he belonged to Winter. “I want this.” The confession came out in a whisper. Winter couldn’t deny his heart the opportunity to have more of Ivan. Ivan looked every bit as moved as he leaned Winter’s way. Their foreheads met, and they didn’t move. For a long moment, they sat like that—foreheads touching and soaking up the moment. They had something. It felt real. Winter couldn’t walk away from this. Ivan had him snagged.
Winter’s nose was red, and his teeth wouldn’t stop chattering. Ivan couldn’t look away. He felt like a kid again. They had built a snowman, which had deteriorated into a snowball fight and ended in them making out in the snow. Inside the mudroom at the back door, Ivan helped peel away Winter’s wet clothing. He hung each piece of outwear on a different hook to dry. The rest of Winter’s clothes—mainly his socks and shirt, Ivan tossed toward the laundry room. He would worry about them later. Right now, he had to get Winter warm.
“Snow doesn’t look as cold on TV.”
Ivan couldn’t resist Winter’s smile. He kissed the tip of Winter’s red nose. “You’re adorable. How about a hot shower?”
“Are you joining me?”
As if Ivan would say no to that. “Absolutely.”
A sweet-looking smile touched Winter’s lips. He took Ivan’s hand and headed for the stairs. Ivan couldn’t look anywhere else other than at Winter as Winter led him upstairs and inside the bedroom. Winter still visibly shook. Ivan couldn’t have that.
“I’ll get the shower started. You need to get warm.” Ivan rushed inside the bathroom, determined to keep Winter safe from the cold.
He turned the steam feature on, hoping to warm Winter as quickly as possible. He turned to find Winter completely nude and waiting. He looked nervous, as if unaccustomed to having anyone stare at his naked body in the broad daylight. Ivan couldn’t have that. He needed to make them even. Ivan peeled off his shirt before stripping away the rest of his clothing. Without looking Winter’s way, he stepped inside the shower. Once inside, with hot water hitting him from every direction, Ivan held his hand out to Winter. When Winter set his hand in Ivan’s, Ivan closed his fingers around it and tugged. He held Winter’s stare. As much as he wanted to drop his gaze and eye Winter’s body like a pervert, Winter’s comfort was more important. He dragged Winter closer and blindly squirted some body wash in his hand before going to work, washing Winter’s skin. When he felt Winter relax, Ivan stole his chance to inspect Winter’s nude form. He was beautiful. Pale and firm. Winter made Ivan’s mouth water. Last night, he had enjoyed sucking Winter’s dick more than he dared to admit. Winter made him feel powerful. Desired. Ivan had been so busy amassing a fortune for the last fifteen years that he hadn’t bothered trying to build a personal life. Then he had crossed the street for a drink. Nothing had been the same since he set eyes on Winter.
“I can’t recall a time when I have felt so free.”
Winter’s gaze shot to his at the confession, as if he never expected Ivan to make such an admission. He made Ivan want to give him all the words.
Ivan backed Winter against the wall between shower heads. “I want to savor every moment. This isn’t about sex.” Even as Ivan made the claim, he cupped Winter’s cock and stroked. A gasp reverberated from the shower walls, caressing Ivan’s ears. He needed more. Winter went hard in Ivan’s hand. Ivan dropped his gaze to watch it happen. His dick craved attention as he stared at Winter’s. Ivan shifted his hold so he could rub their erections together before stroking.
“Oh god.”
Winter’s whisper could barely be heard over the water, but Ivan heard. His desire grew. He loved knowing he could please Winter with such a simple act.
“Let me watch you come, Winter. I’ve fantasized about you for so long. Don’t let me suffer another night without knowing how your cock looks when I’ve pushed you over the edge.”
Winter’s fingers dug into Ivan’s shoulders. His hips thrust. Ivan’s breath burst from his lips. They looked amazing together. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from their dicks moving against each other as he pumped and thrust. His muscles tensed and relaxed as he fought the urge to blow. Winter’s hold tightened on his shoulders. His stomach caved as he strained against Ivan. Ivan held his breath. He didn’t dare blink. Cum shot from Winter’s cock and a pant burst from Ivan. The sight sent him over the edge. Ivan leaned into Winter and claimed his lips as he pumped faster, stealing every pulse of pleasure.
As their tongues met and curled, stroking each other, Ivan filed the sensation away as another cherished memory. He had been deprived of human touch for so long that every brush of Winter’s fingertips felt like a treasure. Every second that passed, his obsession grew into something more. Something darker. Winter belonged to him. Ivan didn’t know how to let him go.
Four
A month alone with Winter hadn’t lightened Ivan’s touch at all. In fact, he was always half a second away from biting like a rabid dog every time anyone flirted with Winter. It turned out that everyone hit on Winter. Women. Men. It didn’t matter. Everyone gravitated toward him. Waiters tried giving Winter their number. Cashiers gave him discounts. Fuck, Ivan had called for a cable repairman when they had lost all but two networks, and after fifteen minutes of talking to Winter, Ivan had ended up with a free premium package. He had no goddamn clue what was happening. Obviously, Ivan had always known Winter’s worth. He just hadn’t expected to have the flames of jealousy constantly fanned.
Tonight was no different. Ivan had been biting his tongue all through their nice candlelight dinner while their waiter pretended Ivan didn’t exist. Ivan eyed the too-pretty blond who wouldn’t stop hovering over Winter, even after Ivan paid the bill.
“I have one final question before I leave you alone.”
Winter’s chest expanded as if he was tired of the guy’s constant presence. “Sure. What’s up?”
The blond went down on his haunches beside Winter’s seat. “What are you doing tonight after you finish dinner with your dad?”
Ivan’s temper snapped. He snagged Winter’s chair and towed it closer, nearly dumping Winter from his seat in the process. His heart skipped a beat in fear as Winter flailed for half a second before righting himself. Winter laughed as he smacked his hands down on the table, making silverware rattle and heads turn their way in his attempt to stop himself from spilling into the floor. “I think that’s Ivan’s way of telling you he’s most definitely not my dad and he doesn’t appreciate your question.”