Mission: Without a Trace - Nicole Edwards Page 0,49

his goddamn life. Something had him biting them back. Not because he didn’t want to say them. More so because he didn’t want to diminish this moment.

No one had ever loved him. Not since Jeremy, and looking back on that now, Brantley wasn’t so sure Jeremy had loved him. More that he’d been looking for an anchor in the chaos. Brantley had failed him in that regard, but he damn sure wouldn’t fail Reese.

“You confuse me,” Reese continued, as though he had to fill the space. “I left the other night and … I felt like there was a hole in my chest. It felt like the right thing to do because I only want to protect you. I continue to fail you and—”

“You haven’t failed me,” he cut in. “I told you, you can’t.”

“Just because I love you, Brantley, doesn’t mean I know how to be with you.”

“But I do,” he countered. “I know enough for the both of us.”

Unable to resist, Brantley drew Reese in, his lips hovering over Reese’s mouth. They stood like that, breaths coming in deep pants, neither taking that final step. There was a warmth churning in his chest, a strange quiver in his stomach. His entire body was hard, so fucking hard.

Goddamn. Brantley wanted this man with every ounce of his being. The pain in his chest had lessened, replaced by a glimmer of hope.

“Brantley…”

Unable to resist, Brantley leaned in, meeting Reese’s lips, brushing them softly with his own. He didn’t inhale him the way he wanted, but rather kissed him as though the world might end tomorrow. Long, deep, slow. And Reese kissed him back. For a man who claimed he didn’t know how to be with him, he sure knew how to be vulnerable to him.

Warm hands curled around his sides, sliding slowly up, down. No rush.

Reese’s touch was all he needed. It was more than he’d ever expected. And while he was terrified that this would ultimately end badly, Brantley had never lived his life running from what scared him. He was the one who did the recon, led the charge. He had no doubts Reese wanted him, loved him, even. It was because of that, he knew he could get them where they needed to go. Together.

“I need you,” Reese whispered.

Those words had Brantley jerking Reese to him, crushing their mouths together as hands began to roam. The need to get as close to him as possible was so intense it threatened to steal the air from his lungs.

He wasn’t sure how it happened, but they managed to fumble their way to his bedroom. But rather than let Reese take control, Brantley maintained a firm grip on the reins. He took Reese down to the mattress, crawling over him, covering him with his body. He was aware of Reese’s wet clothes, but the heat from his skin made the chill bearable.

Their tongues danced and dueled while they managed to get rid of the clothes keeping them apart.

Brantley produced a condom, lube, kept them close at hand while their bodies continued to grind in the most exquisite places.

“Let me have you, Reese,” Brantley whispered.

He felt Reese tense beneath him, but neither of them moved. Brantley wouldn’t push the issue, but he wasn’t going to back down easily, either. Not anymore.

“Let me have you,” he repeated. “Let me love you, Reese.”

A strangled moan escaped the man beneath him as strong arms banded around his back, holding him tightly.

“Yes,” Reese mumbled. “Love me.”

Brantley’s cock throbbed. The aching need to slide inside the man was so strong, it robbed him of air. But he knew this wasn’t going to be quick. No way he would take Reese without working him damn close to the edge first.

He managed to work himself out of Reese’s hold, sliding down his body, letting his lips and tongue trail over his warm skin, pausing to kiss his shoulder, to nip his bicep, back to his chest, lower. He teased Reese’s nipples with his teeth, loving the way Reese reared up to meet him, begging for more. There was an urgency to Reese’s movements, a similar one building inside Brantley, but he ignored both, taking his time. He gave Reese what he asked for, licking, sucking, working his way lower. When he took his cock in his mouth, Reese’s hips shot up off the bed. Brantley solved the problem, easing him back down, then curling his arms beneath Reese’s knees, holding his thighs in place, making him vulnerable in