Coda 01 - Promises

move. I can’t hang on much longer.”
    “If I move an inch, I’m going to come.”
“I think that’s the point.”
    He smiled a little at that and opened his eyes to look down at me. Still, he didn’t budge. I took one of his hands, moved it between us to my cock, and pushed against him. That deep purring sound started again in his chest, and he finally relaxed against me and started stroking me off with his hand as he started to thrust. Not deep thrusts, just barely rocking against me, slow and gentle. That exhilarating friction and his strong, rough hand working on me—it was amazing. I reached up and grabbed the headboard with both hands so I could push back and then closed my eyes and let myself get lost in the sensation. It only took a few strokes for me. As soon as my muscles clenched around him, he grabbed me and slammed in hard one last time with a cry that was as much surprise as anything else.
    For a minute he stayed there, still inside me, feeling my body spasm around him. Then he pulled out and dropped down on top of me, wrapped both arms tight around me, and became dead weight. For just a fraction of a heartbeat, I thought he had fainted, but then I realized I could hear him whispering, “Oh God. Jared. Wow. Jesus.” An endless string of breathless words whispered into my hair.
    I turned my chin, kissed his ear and then managed to gasp out, “You’re heavy. I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry.”
    I pushed hard, and he rolled lazily off of me and lay spreadeagle on his back. “Wow.”
    I was laughing as I got up and made my way on wobbly legs to the bathroom. I cleaned up and brought the towel back in to him. He still hadn’t moved. He looked astounded, blinking at the ceiling. I started wiping him off.
    “Can we do that again?” He sounded so earnest that I had to laugh.
    “What, already?”
“God, no. I mean, once I can move again.”
“When do you think that will be?”
“Maybe by Monday.”
    I laughed and lay down on my back next to him but with my head on his shoulder. “I’ll give you ’til morning.”
    “I didn’t realize it would feel so different.”
“Does it? I wouldn’t know.”
    “It was….” He was obviously struggling for a word but settled on, “ Intense .”
    “‘Intense’ in a good way?”
“In a very good way.”
I laughed again. “I’m glad you approve.”
    “And it’s good—? I mean, when, um. You know, the other…?”

    “Are you asking me if it really is good to be on the receiving end?”

    “Yes.” Obviously relieved that he didn’t have to elaborate more.

    “It can be, yes. It was just now.” I shivered a little, remembering. “Are you worried about it?”

    “A little. Well.” He laughed nervously. “More than a little, to be honest. But I trust you.”
    “There’s no hurry.” But now the rational side of my brain was starting to make noise again. “Matt, are you sure this is what you want?”
    “Why are you asking that now? Isn’t it what you want?” He sounded mostly amused but also a tiny bit exasperated.
    “You know it is.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
    So I told him about my conversation with Chief White. But when I was done, he just shrugged. I couldn’t see it, but felt his shoulder move under my head.
    “You’re not worried? A few days ago, you didn’t want them to know.”
    “I know. But I realized something. They all assume we’re lovers anyway—that’s what they’ve thought for months now. You have no idea how many times since your birthday they’ve teased me about our ‘lovers’ quarrel’. The fact that I was here the other night only reinforced it. The only way to make them not think it would be to never see you again. And that’s not an option. So if they already assume it’s true, and I want it to be true, and you want it to be true— well, I guess I just couldn’t see any reason anymore why it shouldn’t be true.”
    “I love your logic.”

    “I thought you would.” I could tell he was smiling even though I couldn’t see his face.

    “So the Chief’s wrong? You don’t have to make a choice?”
    He turned toward me, nudged me onto my side so that he was tight against my back, and wrapped himself around me like a blanket.
    “I’ve already made it, Jared. He thinks I have to choose just one, either you or my career, but I don’t. I choose both.” He kissed the back of my neck. “I’m not giving you up for anything. But I’m not quitting my job either.”
    “Is that really