Jasper’s expression was unreadable, and he didn’t say anything.

“Uh, hi… Jasper.”

Without a minute to spare, he pulled Evan inside by the arm and locked the door behind him.

Standing much closer now, Evan could see the man’s intense eyes more clearly. He looked ready to slam him against the wall and do it right there, but he didn’t.

Seeing the hesitance, Evan placed his hand over Jasper’s’.

As they stood there, an abrupt bell sound took them out of their tense silence. Jasper retracted his hand, squeezing past Evan to get to the door. When he opened it, he was met with the face of a kind-looking older woman.

“Oh! I’m sorry for arriving so suddenly. It seems like you might be a bit busy.”

“That’s no issue. It’s nice to see you again, Minerva.”

Jasper's mood shift was a bit jarring.

“It’s good to see you too. But I really wouldn’t want to interrupt. How about this? I’ll be in town for the week, so come see me when you get the time.”

“I’d love to. Just text me the address. You know, the same way you could have told me you were coming.”

“I can’t surprise my own grandson a little?”

“Ah, alright… I do appreciate the visit.”

The woman’s smile widened, as she grabbed the door handle.

“That’s all I ask. I'll see you soon.”

She shut the door, leaving them in silence again. A slightly more comfortable one.

Jasper locked the door with a sigh.

“She seemed nice.”

He turned to face Evan.

“Nice? Saint would be far more accurate. She’s the only adult who was ever willing to take care of me.”

Evan went quiet. Seeing her was clearly bringing back some not-so-pleasant memories for Jasper.

“…I’m sorry about what happened at the exhibition. It was kind of unwarranted.”

“At least you understand… I shouldn’t have snapped like that either.”

“I do need to admit something, though. You saying that the place wasn’t for me hurt more than expected. I mean, I shouldn’t care about belonging there anyway, right?”

Jasper slipped past him, heading for the bedroom door.

“Well, what do you think? You told me you once wanted this life, didn’t you? Or did you just find a little joy in creating something? Either way, I’m sure you have your answer already.”

Evan walked up behind Jasper, who was standing in the doorway.

“To be honest… I think I’m a bit jealous of you. This whole world you’ve gotten into and can somehow live from. It looks so interesting. …Fun.”

“I assure you, it was never easy. Still isn’t. You should be happy that you have a good job and get to live comfortably.” Jasper paused.

“I often bordered on having nothing at all. It felt like a miracle when I started earning enough from my work. But that doesn’t mean I’m well off now. Far from it. It’s a life of uncertainty.”

Evan knew he was right. He had been told that many times in the past. And yet…

“You really enjoy it though, don’t you?” Evan trailed his fingers up under Jasper's shirt, making him shiver.

“I… yeah. Despite everything, there’s nothing else that could make me feel this good. The art and the people I get to meet… it makes it all worth it.” Jasper leaned back, letting the other man’s body support him.

Evan smiled, sliding his hand further up. He loved the way Jasper’s muscles tensed.

“Exactly…”

Jasper abruptly grasped Evan’s arm, a heated look in his eyes.

“This time… I want you to fuck me.”

That was not what he expected to hear. But damn if it didn’t make him feel something. He liked it both ways, after all.

“You’d give me the honor?”

Jasper chuckled, pulling Evan’s hand out. He then released his arm and stepped forward.

“I don’t want to think right now… Make me forget it all.”

Evan watched Jasper carefully as he yanked his shirt off and threw it to the floor. Seeing Jasper like this was familiar, but there was a hint of something else. Something new.

“I could never say no to that…”

Throwing his own shirt to the floor as well, Evan walked closer. He traced the harness Jasper still wore, slipping a finger under the longest strap that crossed his chest.

“Want me to take it off?”

Evan tugged at it with a smile. He then let go, making it slap against Jasper's skin. A melting sigh left him.

“No. It looks good on you…”

Jasper’s cheeks darkened, as he got down onto the bed, and ran a hand over his own thigh.

“Come get what you want then, Evan…”

If the sight of him feeling himself up wasn’t powerful enough, then that was officially his cue to ravage the man.

Evan crawled over Jasper, pushing him down by the shoulder.

“How is it that every other day I want to be completely broken by you, but tonight I feel the exact opposite?”

Jasper reached for the back of Evan’s head and held him close.

“Let’s just say… I always know what men want. No matter the situation.” He snuck his other hand in between Evan’s legs, sliding his fingers over his clothed cock.

Evan struggled to stay still above him. His lips trembled, trying to conceal a moan.

“Mmh… fuck… Yeah, you do…” With slight difficulty, Evan kneaded his knee into Jasper's crotch.

Seeing the man shudder beneath him, a pleased smile parted Evan’s lips. He dug his fingers into Jasper's hair, gripping it firmly by the root.

Jasper gasped, his strength failing him, as his arms fell back down onto the mattress.

Satisfied, Evan looked over at the nightstand, where the lube and remaining packets from last time still stood.

He gathered what he needed with his free hand and placed it on the bed.

“You’re taking too long…”

Jasper whimpered, grinding his lower body against Evan’s knee. If this kept going, Evan wouldn’t be able to control himself much longer.

“Huh, why do I still feel like making you wait?”

“Evan…”

He held Jasper’s hair tighter, yanking it down, as he practically crushed his cock with his leg.

“Yeah?”

A shaky whine escaped Jasper.

“Fuck… you…”

With a laugh, Evan let him out of his grip, placing both hands on the rim of Jasper’s pants. It was about time…

It didn’t take long to get them both out of their clothes. He would love to keep teasing Jasper, but he was getting quite impatient himself.

After smearing some lube on his fingers, he pushed the cold liquid gently inside Jasper.

It didn’t mean he couldn’t go a little slower than usual, though. Just to mess with him.

Jasper pressed his lips tightly together.

“Let me hear you, Jasper…”

“Not if you… keep stalling. I want you inside me…” His voice was almost hypnotizing.

Evan had to pause for a moment to mentally refresh after that. He dragged his fingers back out and reached for the bottle next to them.

“God… I love you.”

As Evan rolled a condom on with the lube, he noticed Jasper giving him a certain look. He had to follow that up, didn’t he?

“Not like that.”

Jasper laughed but was abruptly cut off when Evan, with a sudden thrust, breached his body.

“Agh— Yes! Finally…”

Evan pulled him closer by the hips, making Jasper choke on air as the head of his cock hit against his prostate. Being fully enveloped by Jasper felt so good that he impulsively moved inside him with needy thrusts.

To gain some control back and to feel Evan more, Jasper threw one of his legs over his shoulder. Evan’s eyes widened at first, but it didn’t hinder him. He let out a huff, as both of his hands slid down Jasper's thighs. With a smug grin, Evan got a good grip on his ass.

“Good enough for you, Jasper?” Evan shoved himself to the hilt inside Jasper as he groped him.

“Nngh— No. Harder.”

Evan had to wonder if Jasper knew exactly how he made him feel.

“Ah, good answer…”

Evan returned his left hand to Jasper’s hair while he slapped his ass hard with the other. Jasper yelped, and his body arched visibly.

At last, Jasper’s thirst had been satiated.

His moans were so sweet, as he squirmed and quivered with every thrust or slap against his bare skin. Pre-cum leaked down Jasper’s cock, which Evan felt slick his own as well.

When he checked to see how red Jasper‘s skin was getting, a desperate whimper came from his direction.

“I- I… fuck… I’m—“

Evan trembled when Jasper suddenly tightened around him. With such a beautiful man writhing in pleasure beneath him, Evan couldn’t possibly hold himself back anymore.

He shoved himself as deep inside Jasper as he could, which made a strong surge course through his body. Letting out a heated moan, Evan came. He had to place both hands on the bed to stabilize himself.

Evan drew his cock out of Jasper, as he let the man’s leg fall down onto the mattress. Their eyes connected, exhausted grins on their lips.

Breaking away from it momentarily, Evan glanced beside the bed, knowing exactly where to dispose of the rubber.

Once it was thrown away, he leaned his head down between Jasper’s legs.

“I could get used to seeing you like this…”

Jasper didn’t say anything. He just took in a shaky breath and watched Evan with half-lidded eyes.

Evan trailed his tongue over the opaque liquid that was dispersed across Jasper’s abdomen and inner thighs. His breath hitched when Evan came into contact with his cock, but he stayed quiet otherwise. Evan was enjoying the unspoken tension.

He did move away eventually, though. Since Jasper had pretty much been licked clean, he was out of excuses to keep going.

Evan nestled into the bedsheets next to Jasper. He couldn’t be bothered to move the extra packet or the bottle, though he had just enough energy to pull the covers over them.

A comfortable silence hung in the air as Jasper absentmindedly grazed his fingers over Evan’s chest.

“It still burns. I love that feeling…”

Evan snuck a hand under Jasper’s body. He grabbed his ass roughly, digging his fingers into his soft skin.

Jasper couldn’t conceal a gasp of surprise in time, and with a soft whine, he buried his face in Evan’s neck.

“Who’s cute now?” His hand remained clasped on Jasper, making the man shakily clutch his chest.

“You. Still you.”

Evan chuckled and let go of him, deciding to wrap his arm around Jasper's waist instead.

“Fine… I guess I’m gonna have to accept that label at this point.”

“Good. Took you long enough.”

He rolled his eyes, holding Jasper tighter to himself.

“There was, uh, something I wanted to ask you back at the exhibition.”

“Oh?”

“I was just curious as to why you’re so determined to, I guess, prove art to me.”

“Right… that. Honestly, I’m not sure. Maybe I’m hoping to turn a skeptic around to it. You know, because trying that with my family wasn’t exactly working out.”

Evan didn’t know what response he could possibly come up with for that, which was becoming pretty common with this guy.

“Huh… I see.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s a bit ridiculous.”

“No… I wouldn’t say so. I’d probably have done the same if I were as convicted and passionate as you.”

Jasper went quiet. He smiled to himself, but he was also trying to keep it subtle. As he caressed Evan’s chest, he moved his body as close to him as possible.

“You can be really charming when you want to. Ugh, just… fall asleep already.”

“As you wish, sir…”

As a deep red spread across Jasper’s cheeks, he growled dismissively and closed his eyes.

Evan buried his face in the man's hair. With a satisfied sigh, he followed suit and dozed off as well.