Page 40 of Friends With Benefits: Cole & Gabe
Crossing the club, Max took a seat next to Dane. He gave his shoulder a squeeze and smiled. “How are you doing tonight?”
Dane looked at him and returned his smile. “I’m okay. Thanks.”
The man was beautiful, and not only in body. Max could see the beauty within, even if Dane couldn’t. “So, what do you think?”
“About what?”
“The new guy. Cole.”
Dane shrugged. “I like him. I hope he stays.”
“Gabe sure seems to have taken a shine to him.”
Dane chuckled softly. “To say the least.”
“They’re beautiful together,” Max murmured. “Their rhythm is perfect, like two halves of one whole.”
“I noticed,” Dane whispered.
“Are they together tonight?”
“I’d bet money on it.”
Max fell silent for a moment, then asked casually, “So, how long do you think it’ll take them to figure it out?”
Dane looked at him and smiled. “Only time will tell, I guess.”
EPILOGUE: FIVE YEARS LATER
“You have a very...gentle... touch, when the situation calls for it.” Cole smiled. His and Gabe's sessions weren't always so gentle.
Gabe shrugged and let his eyes drift over Abel's face, then softly ran his fingers through the boy's hair. “But you have a special way with him... that no one else does. And it's...” he shrugged again and smiled. “It's beautiful.” His gaze moved to Cole's face, brow furrowing slightly. “What?”
Why were tears trying to push into his eyes? He didn't know. Maybe it was the tenderness they had shared with Abel... having a real chance to teach the kid what it felt like to be loved. There were plenty of people out in the world who would scoff at calling what they did with Abel —Love... but fuck 'em. Looking at Gabe now... he could still see the man's love for Abel floating behind his baby blues. There seemed to be a little more there as well, but he was careful to keep it in the shadows, hidden.
“Nothing.” Cole leaned down and kissed Abel's warm head, his hair damp from their lovemaking. Gabe untucked his arm, reached across the pillow above Abel's head, and twined his fingertips in Cole's blond strands, now darker from sweat. “You're not getting sappy on me, now are you?” Cole smiled.
Gabe shrugged. “Would a littlesapbe so terrible?” He pushed his fingers deeper into Cole's hair. “Could make things more interesting... maybe take things to a new level.”
A new level?He stared at the man, unsure if he was serious or just fucking with him. Before he could decide which he preferred, Gabe withdrew his hand and rolled onto his back, chuckling softly. “Fuck, man. Don't pay me any mind. The kid's got my head full of fuzzy bunnies, rainbows, and unicorns.”
Cole laughed and shook his head, then lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. “Yeah,” he murmured. “Me, too.”
