stripping and lubing up, changing the game plan, but he didn’t. When Nick came in a few minutes later, naked and perfect with his clothes held in one hand, Brian was still fully dressed, nothing bare but his feet.
Nick raised an eyebrow and set his clothes on the dresser. Before he could open his mouth for whatever snark occurred to him, Brian wrapped a hand around his elbow, pulled him in and kissed him hard. Nick grunted at the impact of their bodies and grabbed Brian around the shoulders, turning the kiss wet and hungry. Brian’s lips were pinched against his teeth, but he grabbed Nick’s jaw with his free hand and held him still, driving his tongue into the wet space of Nick’s mouth.
Nick arched toward him, not away, the hard length of his cock rammed against Brian’s thigh. He tangled his other hand in Brian’s hair, and their kiss became a struggle between need and breath. Brian finally pulled free to gasp a lungful of air.
Nick’s eyes sparkled. “Were you watching porn while you were home alone?”
“No.” I was imagining you dead. That wasn’t sexy and he didn’t say it. “Turn around.” He shoved Nick toward the pile of his clothes, tugging the bottom of the jeans over the edge of the dresser before bending Nick onto it.
“You know, it ruins the caveman vibe when you pad the edge for me first,” Nick quipped, leaning down on his folded arms and sticking his ass out.
Brian smacked him hard as he could, the flat of one hand landing with a crack on Nick’s round, pale ass cheek. Nick ducked out from under him and whirled, his back to the dresser. “What the hell? Brian?”
Brian stood there, his palm tingling, staring into Nick’s dilated eyes.
“Brian?”
He blinked, his erection wilting. “I don’t know?”
“Look, I don’t mind being manhandled, you know that.” Nick folded his arms. “But that was fucking hard!”
“I’m sorry?” He bit his lip to keep it from trembling. “I didn’t mean to.” What the hell is wrong with me? I could’ve hurt him. He’d never seriously used his size and strength against Nick. Not once.
Nick’s angry stance eased. “What did you mean to do?”
“I don’t…” He turned away. “I should, um, go sleep on the couch.” They hadn’t slept apart since the day they moved in, but he had to offer something.
Nick caught his arm before he could reach the door. “Fuck that. Brian, talk to me. What’s going through that head of yours?”
“I don’t know!” He took a shaky breath, then a steadier one. Be a grown-up. Use your words. “I was turned on but also… angry, I guess.”
“At me?”
“No. Yes? I’m not sure.” He rubbed his forehead. “At life, maybe.”
“Okay, but I don’t get why now. Things are good, aren’t they?”
“Are they?” He felt so stupid, emotional about things he couldn’t explain. It was dumb to be angry that Nick was doing cop-like stuff. It was selfish and wrong to take that anger out on Nick. I’m crazy in the head. He urgently needed to talk to Dr. Murphy but she wasn’t here and Nick was, looking at him with that luminous hazel gaze. Waiting for him to make sense, when nothing in his head made sense. “I suppose they are.”
“Brian, come on.” Nick tugged at his arm. “Come to bed and talk to me.”
Brian let himself be pulled over there and looked down as Nick turned back the sheets. “I’m still dressed.”
“Yeah. That’s kind of hot.” Nick slid onto the mattress, his lush body all hard curves and angles on the blue sheets. He didn’t let go of Brian’s forearm, and Brian had to go with him or pull free. So he lay down too, his jeans rough on the smooth linens. Nick flipped an edge of the comforter over them and rolled up on one elbow. “Where’s your head at, big guy?”
Brian blinked hard and tried to joke. “Not getting in your ass?”
Nick tapped him gently on the cheek. “Other head.”
“Um.” He closed his eyes, because it was easier to be an idiot when he could pretend to be invisible. “What’s your end goal of this thing with Charlie? What are you hoping for?”
“Catch McNaught and Reggie and whoever else is burning shit and shaking people down. Get evidence. See them behind bars.”
“And then?”
“And? Isn’t that enough?”
“I… is that enough for you? You’ll go back to ordinary job hunting and fixing up the house?”
Nick paused. “I’m going to hit the sheriff up for a job.