look offended.
“You sounded so possessive just now.” The heat in Brett’s stare had Roman’s mouth going dry. “What possible reason could you have for being jealous?”
Roman wanted to beat his chest and stake a claim, but he had no right. Instead, he slowly dragged Brett from where he sat leaned back against the headboard until he had the man flat on his back. Then he straddled Brett’s body. Brett stared up at him—like he silently begged to be touched. “I envy anyone who’s touched you.”
“I’m right here.” The softly spoken words held a challenge Roman couldn’t miss, but Brett didn’t know him. Not really. In most cases, Roman didn’t give a shit about that. This one time, he cared. He didn’t want to become an embarrassment to Brett. Brett was strong. Roman needed to make him proud. Brett wouldn’t be proud if he knew the real Roman.
“Is it okay if I kiss you?”
A bright smile lit Brett’s face. “You still have one kiss left that you can claim at any time, so yes.”
Roman shook his head. “I want to save that one for later.”
Brett expression turned serious—like he recognized Roman wanted to be a permanent fixture in his life. “I would very much like for you to kiss me.”
With Brett’s permission in place, Roman lowered his head. He lightly kissed Brett’s cheek before moving to his mouth. This kiss wasn’t like the ones they had shared before now. Roman found himself settling in for the duration. This wasn’t about going further. This kiss was about staying put. They softly brushed lips and stroked tongues. Roman savored Brett. He knew he couldn’t stay. Roman understood this wasn’t his life. They were temporary. For a moment, though, he got to pretend. For the past week, he had been allowed to enjoy a life totally opposite to his. He had been important to someone amazing. Kissing Brett, stroking him, was a lot like being in heaven. It had been a long damn time since anyone enjoyed his company without seeking sex. The way Brett kissed him left no doubt that this would be their night, savoring each other without removing any clothes. It was the perfect end to his L.A. trip. In fact, this was the best outcome he could have hoped to achieve. They would part as friends. As a pleasant memory. Roman would never have to see Brett’s expression turn to distaste when he learned all of Roman’s truths. To him, they would always be the chance at a real life that he had let slip away, but he cared. He felt too much for Brett to be more than this. He just hoped Brett didn’t hate him in the morning.
Brett stretched. A mound of covers weighed him down while a stack of pillows kept his foot elevated. The ache and stiffness reminded him he had slept through the night and forgotten to take his pain meds. Oddly, he didn’t feel too bad. A smile tugged at his lips. Brett had a feeling that was mostly due to Roman. They had spent the whole night kissing, making out, and snuggling like a pair of teenagers until he had fallen asleep. Brett covered his face with both hands, hiding a ridiculous smile.
He hadn’t known how much he needed what Roman had given. There had been no pressure to have sex. In fact, he had somehow understood that sex wasn’t even on the table. They had simply been enjoying each other. No one gave him that. They had played video games and eaten junk food, for fuck’s sake. No one had expected him to take them to a nice restaurant or meet them at their place after work. Roman fell somewhere in between the two types of dates he had grown accustomed to enduring: people using him for money or sex. Roman had wanted just him. His time. Brett’s throat unexpectedly swelled. He wanted more.
Brett tossed back the covers. The TV still showed their paused game. Their food trash still sat on the side table. The room was empty. In fact, the whole place felt bereft of life. Brett dragged himself into a sitting position, wincing as his left side protested the move. As he reached for his phone to check the time, his gaze landed on a note leaned against the lamp. His name had been scribbled on the outside.
Brett knew before he read the letter what it would say. Roman had gone home. He should have known his kisses were a