Mission: Without a Trace - Nicole Edwards Page 0,26

too.”

Reese couldn’t hold back the smile.

“And certainly not because I want to flaunt this in front of everyone. I know you’re not ready for that.”

No, Reese wasn’t ready for that. One day. He hoped.

When Brantley didn’t continue, Reese let all the spoken words settle between them before he made a decision for both of them.

“Then we’ll agree this is more. That we want to spend time together. So unless one of us says otherwise, we won’t try to put distance where it’s not needed.”

“I like that plan.”

Content that they at least had one, Reese went back to cooking dinner.

Another hour and a half passed while they talked about growing up in Coyote Ridge, some of the things that had changed. Main Street and the numerous new businesses that had appeared, the constant festivals being put on by the new mayor. And the fact the Gas ’n Go had undergone new management. Mundane, boring. Comfortable.

Reese declined another beer when Brantley started cleaning up the kitchen. He wasn’t interested in another drink when the only thing he wanted was standing right in front of him.

“I’m gonna shower,” Brantley said when he finished loading the dishwasher. “Join me?”

Reese followed but stopped when they stepped into Brantley’s bedroom.

“Not yet,” he said, curling his fingers around Brantley’s bicep and turning him so they were face-to-face. “Not yet.”

Without preamble, he leaned in and found Brantley’s lips with his own. The warmth that greeted him was a balm to his soul, giving him the distraction necessary to settle his nerves. This was his comfort zone. Didn’t matter that everything around it was the red zone; once Reese had pushed past that, he was fine. More so now that he knew what to expect from Brantley. Or more specifically, what not to expect. He knew the man wouldn’t push him for something he wasn’t ready for and that had gone a long way to easing his anxiety.

“Reese…”

“Please,” he whispered, sliding his hands up Brantley’s chest, cupping his neck, his thumbs brushing over the stubble along his jaw. “I need you right now.”

Brantley’s blue-gray eyes swirled with a mixture of frustration and confusion, the same emotions that warred inside Reese.

“Let me have you,” he rasped, stepping in close.

“You’ve got me,” Brantley returned, reaching for him, those solid arms wrapping firmly around him.

Right here. This was where he wanted to be. In Brantley’s arms. He wasn’t worried about tomorrow or the next day. With Brantley, Reese found himself only concerned with that moment in time. Whenever he was with him … it was the only place he wanted to be.

There wasn’t much grace when they crashed to the bed, nor was there any when Reese started tugging at Brantley’s clothes. Their lips met and parted again and again as they worked to get the other naked. When they finally were, Reese spread out over Brantley, soaking up his warmth, his strength, his desire. It was familiar to him, not to mention something he’d never had with anyone else.

But right now wasn’t necessarily about comfort. It was about need. A reminder that they were both here, together. That they had one another if no one else.

“Don’t move,” he whispered to Brantley, letting his lips trail down his jaw, his chin, working his way over Brantley’s throat.

He didn’t stop, getting lost in the exquisite taste of this man.

“Reese…”

Reese shook his head because he was not going to let Brantley talk him down. Not this time.

He skimmed his lips over Brantley’s pecs, past his ribs, over his washboard abdomen, licking and laving the ridges he encountered, continuing his trek lower.

He paused, kneeling between Brantley’s spread thighs, his mouth hovering over the hard ridge of his erection.

“We can take this slow,” Brantley said.

A reminder? A request? Reese didn’t know, but he needed neither. This was what he wanted, what he needed.

He let his breath fan the swollen head, keeping his eyes open because he wanted to watch as he took Brantley in his mouth for the first time. He wanted to memorize this moment because no doubt he would relive it a thousand times over later. It was important he remembered how eager he was, how anxious to pleasure Brantley in every way possible.

Brantley shifted, dragging a pillow beneath his head, propping himself up. The fact he wanted to watch, too, only spurred Reese on.

Leaning in, he let his lips brush the smooth head. A shudder scurried down his spine, lust blazing through his veins as he lapped at Brantley’s cock. He moaned, the