to their place. He couldn’t help grinning. Our place! With the farm work, he was fitter than he’d ever been in his life, and he was eager to help Nick enjoy the results— especially in a bed that didn’t have neighbors on the other side of the wall.
“I’m glad we picked a house in the woods. Not a duplex.”
Nick glanced his way before making the turn onto their new road. “Their place is a lot fancier. That separate shower stall, the big deck, newer kitchen, fenced yard…”
“We have a deck. We can fix it up. Anyway, none of that would make up for the old folks downstairs.”
“You didn’t like them?”
“They’re okay. Frank’s a bit much sometimes, but I don’t think he really means it.”
“Then what?”
He felt the heat in his face. “I want to be loud.”
“Oh. Oh!” Nick gave a melted-chocolate chuckle and dropped his voice a register. “Do you?”
Brian shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Yeah, and that voice isn’t helping.”
In a more normal tone, Nick added, “They were both wearing hearing aids. They probably take them out at night.”
“Still.”
“Oh, I’m not arguing. I want you loud too. This place is a ton better than the motel.”
“That was embarrassing.” His growing hard-on wilted at the memory. He’d hardly dared suck Nick off hiding under the covers, the days before they moved. “Can you imagine? Helen banging on the ceiling and telling us to keep it down? I’d die.”
“Good thing the shack’s all ours and the neighbors are a long way off.”
“Yeah.”
The car bumped up the gravel drive to the front door. Nick tossed the keys in his hand as they got out. “How fast can you get naked?”
“Unless you want to clean dog poop, I’d better let Luger out first.”
“Oh. Yeah.” Nick’s smile faded, then returned. “Maybe I’ll get naked first.”
“Mm.” That sounded promising. Brian jostled Nick, who had to try twice to turn the key in the temperamental lock. They tumbled through together, and Luger greeted them with his own furry enthusiasm. His tail whacked Nick across the thigh with a thump Brian could hear, as the big dog half-rose on his hind legs, panting and whining.
“Man.” Nick bent to rub his leg. “Get him out for a quick run, wouldya?”
“Come on, buddy.” Brian grabbed at Luger’s collar. “This way.” He led the dog to the sliding door, lifted the bar out of the track and pushed it open. Luger squeezed past him the moment he could get through the gap. Brian leaned on the doorframe and watched his dog jump the rickety steps, run and sniff around, and then unload an afternoon’s worth of pee.
Nick’s warmth pressed against Brian’s back. “Luug looks happy.”
“I think he likes this place too.” The little house backed up on a stretch of scrubby trees, along fields that were plowed under, barren except for little clumps of rocks and brambles. Luger clearly found something interesting about them. His tail waved like a banner as he ran a patrol through the trees and then out onto the clumped, flat earth. His nose never lifted from the ground as he zigged and zagged after whatever scent had caught his attention. It was getting dark and as he moved farther away, he became a dim, fuzzy shape.
Brian put his fingers in his mouth and tried to whistle, but he hadn’t mastered that yet, despite months of trying. He got a sputtering of sound and a chuckle against his ear from Nick. He raised his voice. “Luger! Come!”
Like an arrow, the dog leaped toward them, coming out of the dim, twilit trees to sit in panting obedience in front of him. Over Brian’s shoulder, Nick said, “Good boy.”
The moment crystallized for Brian in a ringing truth. So good. So right. The man and the dog and the soft cool night falling, a bed with clean sheets waiting, and Lori safe, and Damon— he shut down any thoughts that might remind him of the little imperfections and breathed in the rightness. Oh, yes.
He leaned back heavily and Nick caught him, strong enough not to let him fall, and amused enough to say, “Whassup? A few flights of stairs do in your leg muscles?”
“No.” He turned and wrapped his arms around Nick. His first kiss was off-target and Nick’s stubble abraded his lips. Then Nick put his hands up to steady Brian’s head and met his mouth perfectly. The faint hint of Helen’s chocolate cake lingered. Nick’s hands were firm but not rough.