Brett’s face as he saw the hair comb. It was gold and covered in pearls and leaves. Ornate and fancy, it looked as though it had come straight out of a fantasy novel.
Brett’s smile was worth every last penny the comb had cost. “This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever been given. I’ll have to do my hair all fancy tomorrow so I can show it off.” Brett got up and put the comb on his vanity. When he returned, he crawled across the bed and straddled Linden. “Thank you. I love it.”
“You’re welcome.” Linden put his hands on Brett’s hips and tilted his head for a kiss.
“Sleep over,” Brett whispered. “Just sleep. It’s too wet and cold out there.”
“You don’t have to convince me.” Linden gave Brett a wicked smile, then slanted their mouths together. “I hope kissing is allowed,” he said.
“Oh, kissing is definitely allowed.”
15
Brett
Brett woke with Linden wrapped around him. Linden’s face was buried in Brett’s hair and his arm was draped around Brett’s middle. Brett wanted to enjoy the moment, but needed to check on Ansel.
He moved slowly, trying to wiggle out of Linden’s grasp unnoticed.
Linden grumbled sleepily and held him tighter. “No.”
“You’re bossy in the morning.” Brett relaxed and shut his eyes again. Being stuck in bed couldn’t be called a hardship.
“Cuddle monster is my middle name. And now I get to cuddle you whenever I want.”
“Oh, do you?” Brett turned over, slightly conscious of his morning breath, but only slightly, because unless Linden had snuck out of bed and brushed his teeth, he was in the same boat.
“Mmhm. All the cuddles. You’re mine now. Linden’s boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Brett teased, wiggling closer. “Are we boyfriends?”
Linden opened an eye and looked at Brett. “Yes. Now shhhh. Let your boyfriend sleep.” His eyes fell shut, but his features were tense from trying too hard to relax the smile that wanted to form.
“What if I wanted to make my boyfriend coffee?”
“Cuddle first. Then coffee.”
Brett caved to the urge to kiss Linden. He brushed his lips against the corner of Linden’s mouth. Then kissed him again on the cheek. “I have to check on Ansel.”
Linden’s eyes fluttered open. “How about I go get us all coffee and muffins and then you can check on him in private?”
“Okay.” Brett agreed. Even though the thought of crawling back under the covers had its appeal, Brett hauled himself out of bed and pulled on a pair of sleep pants. Though they’d kissed a lot last night, they hadn’t gone further than that. Clad in briefs, they’d cuddled close and fell asleep somewhere in between kisses.
Brett fetched Linden’s clothes from the dryer and watched Linden slide into them. He let himself enjoy this moment of quiet happiness. It was too new to tell, too soon to know, but Brett was sure if they had half a chance, they could be great together.
He didn’t buy into the myth that there was a person out there who would complete him. Brett was complete all on his own, but he liked Linden. He was sweet and vulnerable. Brett liked what a good heart he had, how ferociously he clung to his friendships. Loyalty meant a lot to him.
Linden stretched, and his shirt rode up, exposing a patch of skin above his jeans. Covered or uncovered, Linden was easily the most gorgeous person he’d ever met. His full lips and his dark eyes were no match for Brett’s resolve, and he crossed the room and put his hands on Linden’s chest.
“How does Ansel take his coffee?”
“With more sugar and milk in it than is acceptable.”
“French Vanilla?”
“Of course.” Brett tilted his head and Linden must have read his mind, because his mouth was there, gentle and sweet. Brett broke away before they got carried away. “Hurry back.”
Linden kissed him again. “Promise.”
Brett let Linden out the back door, then trudged up the stairs to go check on Ansel. Ansel was already awake when Brett walked into his room. He sat on the edge of the bed with his head cradled in his hands.
“Hey,” Brett kept his voice quiet in case Ansel felt as rough as he looked.
“Hey.”
Brett sat down next to Ansel and put his arm around him. “Do you want me to take care of the store today? I’m not on until the afternoon at the cafe, so I can cover the morning for you.”
“No, it’s fine. The world doesn’t stop turning because I got my feelings hurt.” Ansel sighed and raised his head. “Was that Linden I