Barely Existing - 13. Chapter 13

Gavin huffed into his pillow and humid, stale breath blew back into his face. He pulled back with a scowl. “Eww. Morning breath.”

He froze. What was that sound? Gavin listened and heard it again; knocking. He threw back the covers as the doorbell rang three times in rapid succession.

“I’m coming! Hold your horses!” The knocking stopped. “Fucking Crys. She's never been patient.”He sighed and rolled his eyes.Knowing his friend, she was probably standing at the door expecting him to gush about Tate last night. Not that Tate isn't gush worthy, but I ain't doin' that crap. He scrubbed the sleep from his eyes and stumbled down the stairs to his door. "I'm putting salt in her coffee," he grumbled.

He paused long enough on his journey to the kitchen to unlock the door. "Come on in," he yelled, not even bothering to open it or look back when he heard it open. "Coffee. I need coffee. It’s way too early for this," he muttered to himself and glaredat the clock on his stove.Okay, it wasn’t that early. The neon numbers showed it to be shortly after nine am.

He pulled two mugs down from the cabinet while the water heated in his one cup brewer. “Want a cup...“ He trailed off when he realized he was alone in the kitchen.

“Get in here and close the door, Crys! Stop letting all my cool air out.” He shook his head when he heard the door shut and the floor board creak outside of the kitchen. He reached back into the cabinet, stretching, to pull out the box of ground-filled pods.

“Fuck me.” Gavin heard a masculine groan behind him.

Startled, he jerked. The box he had been holding fell and pods scattered across the floor. He whirled around and leaned heavily against the counter. His hands gripped the cool stone and his heart beat painfully against his chest.Tate stood in the middle of his kitchen, head tilted back,examining the ceiling.

“Y-you’re not Crys.” Okay, not the brightest thing to say.

“No shit.” Tate kept his eyes locked on the ceiling and the tip of his ears turned pink.

“S-s-sorry. You st-startled me.” Gavin took a deep, calming breath, trying to get his stutter under control.“What areyou doing here? Sorry that sounded rude. What brought you by this morning? Not that it's not nice to see you, because it is.”He blushed when he realized he was rambling.

Tate’s green eyes flickered to him before returning to his study of the ceiling.“Breakfast,” he grunted.

Gavin scrunched his eyebrows together and looked at the ceiling to see what held Tate’s attention. “What are we looking at?”

Tate’s gazedarted to him again and he groaned. “You, ah, you.” Tate cleared his throat and gestured toward Gavin's lower torso.

Gavin looked down confused. “What’s wro-?” Mortified, his face heated and he covered himself with his shaking hands. He was wearing socks, and only socks.

He looked everywhere but at Tate.“I’ll just, um, I'll just...” He edged past Tate and into the living room.He ran across the hardwood floor, his socked feet slipping in his hurry to make it to his bedroom

His hands were still trembling as he pulled on a pair of briefs and took care of his bathroom needs.“Oh shit, shit, shit a brick,” he muttered as he pulled a t-shirt out of his dresser.“Yeah, I’m never leaving this room again. Jeez! I'm such an idiot! Inviting someone in the house without checking. Not even realizing I'm not dressed!"

“You were wearing socks. They're cute socks,” Tate said.

Startled, Gavin jumped and held his hands out protectively in front of him. Tate leaned casually against the doorjust inside his bedroom. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his jeans and the shirt Gavin had been holding lay crumpled at his feet.

He pointed at Tate. “Stop doing that! Shit!” He rubbed a hand across his face and Tate scooped his shirt off of the floor.

“Language.” Tate teased and pulled Gavin into his arms. He ran a soothing hand down the center of his back.

He dropped his head down and rested against Tate's chest and groaned. “Just kill me now.”

Tate ran a hand through Gavin’s hair, massaging his scalp. “Nope.” He gently tugged the short strands until Gavin’s gaze met his. “I have plans for you.And this.” He leered comically and squeezed Gavin’s ass.

Gavin laughed and shook his head. “Oh man, that was corny.”

“Are you from Tennessee?” Tate asked.

“What? Wait, no. Uh-uh. Don’t even…”

“Because you’re the only ten I see.”

“Wow, really?” Gavin laughed.

Tate grinned, looking entirely too pleased. “You did look pretty hot in the kitchen wearing nothing but those socks.”

Gavin flushed and ducked his head. “Stop mocking me.”

“I’m not mocking you, baby.” Tate pulled Gavin tighter to him. “Fuck, but you standing there in the kitchen, barely dressed. Hell yeah it did it for me.” Tate rubbed against Gavin, proving just how much it did do for him.

Gavin moaned, his thinly covered cock perking up and taking interest.Tate ducked his head and kissed Gavin, claiming his lips. Their tongues twirled and their teeth bumped as they rocked against each other. The rough fabric of Tate’s jeans rasped against Gavin's thinly covered cock, sending shivers down his spine.

Gavin dug his fingers into Tate's muscled back, desperate to get closer, needing more. Tate grabbed Gavin's firm, round ass, cinching their bodies tighter together. He used the grip to urge and control Gavin's movements and the resulting moan was anything but a protest at the dominating touch.

Tate pulled back, gasping for air as Gavin attacked, sucking and biting at his collar bone. “Fuck baby! I didn’t come here for this.”

“I know, but please Tate, don’t stop.” Desire burned through his veins. He should be ashamed, pleading the way he was and letting Tate take control. Fuck it. I want it, what's there to be ashamed of?

“Oh honey. Not going to stop.” Tate’s large hands moved to his waist. Gavin moved in for another addicting, all consuming kiss just as Tate threw him onto the bed. Gavin gasped in shock and a millisecond later his back hit the bed and he bounced. Just as quickly Tate's large body covered his own, pressing him into the mattress.Tate’s body heat soaked into him, warming him in places he never knew were so cold. Gavin luxuriated in the feel of his man. Yes, mine! Who was he to fight something that felt so right?

Tate pulled away and nipped Gavin's jaw. He curled his tongue around Gavin's earlobe and his teeth gently tugged at the gauge in Gavin's earlobe. Tate's warm breath caressed the outer shell of his ear and Gavin shivered. He tilted his head back, silently begging for more.The delicious torture continued, curling Gavin's toes, before Tate moved down to his chest, teasing with his lips, tongue, and teeth. Tate sucked a nipple between his teeth and Gavin's jaw dropped open in shock. Okay, wow. Yeah, that’s kind of awesome.He moaned, unable to hold it in. This was something he had never much enjoyed in the past and now Tate's talented mouth was sending sparks shooting through his body.

Tate released him with a pop.The cold air hit the wet flesh, causing the bud to pebble. The protest died on his lips when Tate switched to the other side, giving it the same treatment. Gavinarched closer to Tate and pulled the other man's head tighter to him, craving more.

He needed something but he was unsure what that something was. His balls ached and were drawn tight to his body. “Please Tate.” His voice was hoarse and sounded foreign to his own ears. “Please.” He moved restlessly and tugged at Tate's hair.

"Hush baby. I've got you." Tate's voice was husky and dark. He pressed a last kiss to the middle of Gavin's chest and moved down Gavin's torso, pausing at his tight stomach. A growl rumbled in his chest as he licked and sucked at the small pool of precum.

"Oh God! That's so hot." Gavin moaned and his head fell back to the bed. Tate sucked on the same spot, worrying it with his teeth.He pulled back and admired the bright red mark, satisfaction written in the cocky smile stretching his lips.

Gavin ran his fingers through Tate's mussed hair again. His gaze roamed Tate's face, noting the determined expression and clenched jaw. It was the tenderness and desire glittering in Tate's gorgeous green eyes that stole his breath.

"Tate-" Gavin began, only to stop when Tate moved further down. Tate settled between his spread legs and Gavin forgot what he was going to say. Tate nuzzled the crease of the smaller man's thighs, deeply inhaling the scent of his lover.

Gavin laughed and pushed his head away. “Stop. Stop. That tickles.”

Tate’s grin was pure mischief. “Oh I’m sorry. Does this tickle?”Tate’s tongue traced a fiery path up the seam of Gavin's balls to the head of his cock. Gavin bit his lip and narrowed his eyes at Tate's chuckle. Tate winked at him. He swirled his tongue around the tip of Gavin's cock before sucking it into his mouth. Gavin watched as the larger man's lips slowly slid down the length of his cock before the rested at the base. An animalistic growl rumbled in Tate's chest and the vibrations sent chills down Gavin's spine.

“Tate.” He moaned desperately, more turned on than ever before in his life; his earlier mortification was completely forgotten. Nothing existed in that moment but Tate and his wicked mouth.

Tate's teeth gently grazed the sensitive head and Gavin's muscles tensed as his orgasm rushed to the surface. It was too soon. He clenched his eyes shut, trying to block the image of Tate working his cock better than it had ever been worked before. Shit, shit, shit!Think of something else! Anything else! And he tried. He tried to think of Crys or his sister walking in on them. He tried to think of visiting his parents and that kind of worked, but Tate had doubled his efforts. His mouth was too hot, the suction too perfect, and his tongue was pure magic working every sensitive spot.

“Tate, Tate! I’m gonna…” Gavin's body shook with the effort to hold back. Tate increased his suction, his lips sealed around the head of Gavin's cock. His hand joined the party and Gavin dug his heels into the bed and his fingers clenched Tate's hair. Tate groaned around him and that was the tipping point. His body curled over Tate's head as he released into Tate's mouth. His body twitched with each spurt and moans poured from his lips. He flopped back onto the bed as his orgasm ebbed. His body jerked as Tate cleaned him with gentle licks.

Tate nuzzled his balls one last time before moving up and over Gavin. His body covered Gavin's, as if he knew the smaller man would need the comfort. He pressed sweet, soft kisses to his forehead and murmured soothingly into Gavin’s ear.

Gavin sighed contentedly. Nothing had ever felt so right, so natural as being with Tate. Gavin nuzzled Tate’s neck, inhaling his unique scent. Yeah, this is perfect. When he was with Tate he felt complete; like he was exactly where he needed to be. Why would I fight this? Maybe I never believed in love at first sight, and I'm not ready to call this love, but there's something different about Tate and how I feel when I'm with him.

Gavin opened his eyes, his gaze meeting Tate’s. “Wow.” He licked his lips. Emotions he could not name danced in those startling green eyes and Gavin felt himself falling.There were no questions and no doubt he would explore whatever it was between them even, if he did not completely understand it.

Gavin smiled softly at Tate and kissed him. He poured himself into it, urging Tate to understand what he was not ready to say. Their kiss was tender, intense, and short-lived. When they parted only the sound of their panting filled the quiet room. Their gazes locked and understanding passed between them. Gavin knew Tate understood and he knew he was not alone in the way he was feeling.

***

Tate looked into his mate's chocolate brown eyes and felt at peace with his bear. His mate was falling for him as surely as he had already fallen for the smaller man. Tate caressed Gavin's cheek with his thumb and smiled. He knew he needed to tread carefully. He could not continue to keep his bear secret from his mate. He only hoped when the other man discovered the truth he would not run from him. Soon, he promised himself.

Tate kissed Gavin gently on the lips. "Get dressed baby and we'll go out and grab some breakfast.

Thank you for reading chapter 13! Big thanks to Valkyrie for all of her work! Any and all feedback is very much appreciated. 
Tate is relieved to know his mate is falling for him but knows he can't keep his bear a secret for much longer. Gavin's knows he needs to explain his past and why Tate's sexuality upset him the night they met. Chapter 14 will be...enlightening.