Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

locked. He noticed how Cole's smile reached his eyes and formed small creases all around the corners.
    "I mean it, you know. I like you. A lot. I can't help but feel like there's something here, between us. I'd really like to take the chance and see where it goes." He couldn't tell by the look on Cole's face if he'd said too much or how the other man felt about his confession. "Either way I want you to know I don't normally do things like this."
    "Yeah, me either," Cole assured him even though he knew they weren't talking about the same thing. The sex Cole had done. On more than one occasion. That's not what he was referring to. It was the intimacy that was new to him. He didn't cuddle. He didn't discuss feelings or even think about a future. But he'd never felt like this before either. Like he wanted to. "You make me want more, too, Michael. And I'll be honest. That scares the shit out of me. But I'm not ready to run away from it just yet."
    "That's good. Good." Michael yawned. The long day and passionate night had finally caught up to him, and he was drifting off to sleep. Cole was in his arms. He knew his dreams were going to be sweet.
    ****
    Cole woke naked, sweaty and with extra appendages. Oh wait. Those aren't mine, his brain comprehended as it came back online. Michael was his very next thought. Cole lay pillowed on his smooth chest. His left arm bent under him and lay flush along Michael's side. His right arm was draped across his body, hand resting on a big, strong shoulder. His right leg draped over and tangled between Michael's two long ones. The position trapped his awakening cock between his own body and Michael's hip.
    Cole held himself still, listening to the slow, rhythmic thud of Michael's heart. He didn't want to wake him. He needed the clarity of a new dawn to contemplate all that had happened between them, and what was to come.
    First off, he refused to feel bad about or regret any of it. Even if this thing between them didn't go anywhere, it was the single greatest accomplishment of his life. Not for surviving after being thrown out when he was just twenty years old. Not for working two jobs to pay his bills and save enough money to buy his bakery. Not for turning his bakery into a successful business that now employed six other people. None of it.
    His greatest triumph was in opening himself to the possibility of being hurt, even though it terrified him. He'd been hurt enough. But if he kept the walls and defenses he'd built up around himself in place, he'd never have a chance with Michael. And he wanted that chance; wanted the chance to love and be loved.
    Michael's movement brought Cole out of his internal monologue. He wasn't awake yet, but he was becoming restless. The arms wound around Cole tightened. He felt the soft pad of Michael's foot slide up his calf, coming to rest just below his knee. Cole's cock sprang to full life.
    Yep, Cole had a foot fetish. And those long, arched and totally lickable feet of Michael's had been driving him crazy from the moment he first opened his eyes on that beach. "Don't look down," had been his mantra for the last forty-eight hours for more than one reason. Last night when he had Michael's leg pushed up to his chest and had been pounding into him, it had taken every last drop of his will power not to turn his head and pull that fat, juicy big toe into his mouth and suck on it.
    The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge of what would happen if he did. What always happened when men found out about his obsession: they left. Of course, they never left before telling Cole how sick and twisted he was. He wasn't sure what those words would do to him if they came from Michael's mouth. Especially now he'd opened that fucking door leading straight to his vulnerable heart.
    As if he could read his mind, Michael's foot began traveling a path up and down Cole's leg. Aw, fuck it all, Cole thought to himself. He was going to have to be honest with Michael, and risk the consequences, if he was going to give this vulnerable thing a try. He stared at Michael's serene face and silently begged, Please don't hurt me.
    Michael opened his eyes and found Cole smiling sheepishly at him. He could so get used to this. " Mmmm. Morning," he croaked, "you been awake long?"
    "Nah. Just a few minutes. You make a very comfortable pillow. Warm and soft." He nuzzled a little closer and rubbed his leg up Michael's inner thigh. When his knee touched hard flesh, he looked down, then