Page 66 of Man Advantage

“Now,” Cole said.

Ford came with Cole’s name tearing out of him. His cock pulsed in Cole’s fist while Cole kept fucking him through it, drawing the orgasm out until Ford couldn’t separate pleasure from the ache of being stretched around him.

Cole followed before Ford had caught his breath. His rhythm broke. He drove in deep and stayed there, coming with Ford clenched around him and his mouth open against Ford’s shoulder.

For several seconds, Cole’s body shook behind him. Ford reached back and held the back of his neck until both of them could breathe again.

For a while, neither man moved.

Then Cole’s mouth found the back of Ford’s neck. Ford turned his face enough to catch the corner of his mouth.

“Worth staying awake for?” Cole asked.

Ford reached back and pulled him into another kiss. “Ask me again after round two.”

Cole laughed into his mouth. “I need food first.”

Cole eased away to deal with the condom. Ford rolled onto his back and watched him cross the room naked, comfortable enough to leave his clothes where they’d fallen.

Cole returned with a wet washcloth and cleaned them both before climbing under the blankets. He pulled Ford against him, and Ford went without pretending he needed space.

“Charlotte told me she loved me,” Cole said.

Ford shifted enough to see his face. Cole had called Charlotte after every game, but he hadn’t mentioned that part. “She does.”

“I didn’t say it back. The call ended before I could.”

“She won’t hold it against you. She hangs up on me at least twice a week.”

Cole smiled, but it didn’t last. “I wanted to say it.”

Ford waited. Cole’s chest rose against his, then fell.

“I love her,” Cole said.

There had been other moments when Ford understood that. Cole sitting on the bathroom floor through a stomach bug. Cole learning which bubbles made ginger ale medicine. Cole answering every one of Charlotte’s calls from Chicago. Hearing him say it still knocked the air out of Ford.

“She knows,” Ford managed.

Cole studied him. “Do you?”

Ford’s heart hit hard once. “Do I what?”

“Know I love you too.”

Ford had spent months wanting this man in his bed, his house, and in every part of his life he had kept locked down. Cole had come home and gone straight upstairs because Ford asked him to. Now he was watching Ford as if Ford’s answer could still send him away.

Ford moved closer until no space remained between them. “Yeah. And I love you.”

Cole’s mouth parted, and his body went still against Ford’s.

Ford kissed him before either of them could make the words harder than they were. Cole rolled Ford beneath him and kissed him back until Ford was half-hard again and laughing into his mouth.

“That’s your reaction?” Ford asked. “Trying to suffocate me?”

“You seemed too comfortable.”

“I just did all the work.”