their lips together. His own felt a little raw from all the action and Grey’s stubble, but he didn’t care. Couldn’t help wanting to kiss Grey even more.
Grey touched his face, running his fingers over Cort’s jaw. He pulled away and the smirk twisting his mouth was so damn sexy. “Besides, I know you’re gorgeous, because Lucien was interested in you. Plus, Wiley said you look like an Instagram model.”
Cort felt heat creeping up his neck. “Don’t know about that, but I’m definitely not interested in Lucien. Pretty sure it’s obvious where my interest lies.”
“Maybe just a little.” Grey kept stroking his stomach. “I want to know more about you. What made you go into your field?”
“A man named Jack Benson.”
“A lover?”
“No,” Cort said on a laugh. “Nothing like that. I worked for him when I was a teenager. I always thought I’d go into the healthcare field like my mother—she was a nurse—but getting to know Jack changed my mind. He was blind but always seemed to recognize the customers that came into his deli. He ran the place like you wouldn’t believe and remembered what people liked. Nothing slowed him. Nothing got him down. He told me that after he’d lost his sight as a teenager, he’d given up, and that a vision therapist turned his life around. That’s when I knew what I wanted to do.”
“What brought you to Savannah?”
“A job. My mother died, and my sister moved with her family to Arizona. There was nobody left for me in South Carolina.”
“So no serious boyfriends there?”
Cort wrinkled his nose. “I had one serious relationship at Rosemont, but we parted ways when he returned to California. Since then, I haven’t dated much. What about you?”
Grey propped up on one elbow. “I was always too caught up in my career; then I had the pestilents chasing me. I lived in Oregon before here.”
“Parents?”
“They’re there. We were estranged even before I left. They were never all that interested in having a kid. Not sure why they did.”
“I’m sorry.” Cort touched his face.
Grey kissed the tips of his fingers. “Don’t be. I got over their disinterest a long time ago.”
“I can’t imagine. My mother was always in my business. I think she felt she had to make up for the loss of my dad. He died right after my little sister was born.” He stroked his hand down Grey’s arm. “I’m glad I came here. Glad I met you.”
“If you can say that after this morning, then I must be pretty damn good.” Grey grinned.
“Oh, you definitely are.” He rolled over on top of Grey, having forgotten about the sticky, drying mess on his chest. He grimaced as the cold hit him. “Hold on and I’ll grab something for you.”
“Don’t bother,” Grey whispered. “I think I’m ready to get us all messy again anyway.”
Chapter 17
Grey rubbed his eyes before sliding his fingers over to dig into his temples. His head was throbbing yet again. It had been aching off and on for nearly three days. Which was exactly how long the warning spell had been wrapped around the property.
And how long Grey had known Clay thought he was a traitor to the Circle.
Not that he’d spoken to Clay about it yet, despite Cort’s prodding and nudging that he should. How the hell was he supposed to approach the man about such an accusation? He wanted to believe he’d misheard Clay completely, but the words were still ringing like a bell in his brain.
“Head hurting again?” Cort said as he sat on the sofa beside Grey. His large hand wrapped around his neck and started massaging tense muscles. Some of the pain started to recede, and Grey sighed with relief. “Have there been any more changes to your vision lately?”
“Nothing much. Just varying degrees of shadows and light instead of pure darkness. I can’t actually make anything out, though.” He didn’t know whether to be excited or disappointed that his vision hadn’t changed more. Part of him was afraid that it would revert to pure darkness, but he was more afraid that this was as good as it was going to get. He was of no use to the Circle, and he was putting Cort in danger because he couldn’t protect him properly after dragging him into this life.
“Should we talk to Dane? Maybe he can help with the headaches,” Cort suggested.
Grey shook his head, though his heart warmed at Cort’s obvious concern. “I don’t want to tire Dane over a stupid