Now that Ben was undressed, he had backed Ari up against the wall to return the favour. Ari would have been more helpful with this if Ben hadn’t been working his way down his chest at the same time as unbuttoning his trousers; all he could do was close his eyes briefly and moan a little in anticipation. Still – “No one’s breaking anyone,” Ari returned firmly, in the tone of you know that’s a promise. Ben was only teasing, of course; he had to be very, very aware of that by now. Anyway, if anyone had been in danger of having their heart broken here, it had always been Ari before.

But he didn’t mind reiterating his feelings as often as they had a chance to, however they could. So he opened his eyes and looked carefully at Ben, catching his chin with a hand. He tilted his face upwards to hold him there, just to make sure Ben could see the adoration in his eyes. “I couldn’t if I tried,” he admitted, because it was far too late to change anything. He wouldn’t know how to leave him now. He wasn’t sure his heart would survive it.

“But I, ah, won’t promise the same for your furniture,” Ari added, back to their joking tone, smirking shamelessly as he stepped out his trousers and underwear and pulled Ben back up against him, winding his arms around his bare shoulders while he was still pressed against the wall for the moment. (Fortunately, though, furniture could be replaced.)

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