Up in Smoke (Hotshots 4)

Knowing he was fighting a losing battle, Brandt groaned as Shane used his lips and tongue to drive all his better sense away.

“Can we talk later?” Shane broke the kiss, damp lips still millimeters from Brandt’s. “Please. I’m trying to think through everything. I am. But right now, I just want you.”

Like Brandt could deny that request. “I suppose talking can wait. You are the birthday boy, after all.”

“Yep.” Some of the tension left Shane’s eyes as he leered at Brandt. “Why don’t you let me unwrap you?”

“Hey I thought I was the one with the cheesy lines.” Brandt laughed even as he let Shane tug him the rest of the way toward his bedroom.

“What can I say? You inspire me.” Already pulling at Brandt’s clothes, Shane nipped at Brandt’s neck. Yep. He was a goner. They should be talking, not fucking, but hell if Brandt could deny him a damn thing.

Chapter Twenty-Three

As far as birthday presents went, getting Brandt Wilder was at the top of Shane’s list already. The cake. The music notebook. The expression on his face when Shane had sung. And now, him, half dressed and eager, everything Shane wanted, right here for the taking.

“Shirt off.” He’d managed to push Brandt’s loose pants down and off, but he’d rather not strangle Brandt with his T-shirt. He let Brandt pull it over his head then was immediately there to capture his mouth in a blistering kiss.

Brandt wasn’t wrong. They needed to talk. But Shane needed this more. The world was tilting, everything on the precipice of change, and all he wanted was one more night exactly like this. Brandt was warm and urgent against Shane, all those gorgeous muscles rippling as he met Shane kiss for kiss, touch for desperate touch.

“Damn.” Breathing hard, Brandt tilted his head so Shane had better access to his neck. “You’re impatient tonight.”

Shane looked up mid-nip at Brandt’s collarbone. “The speed demon is complaining?”

“Not complaining.” Brandt groaned as Shane followed through on the bite. “Trust me. But I want you naked too.”

“Thought I was the one who got to make the wishes tonight?” Even as he complied and removed his clothes, he couldn’t resist the tease. He was totally going to milk this birthday business as much as he could. He was so used to the day being an afterthought, even for his own parents. Brandt making him a priority was new and delicious and rather intoxicating.

“You are.” Brandt stretched out on the bed, hair spilling over the pillow. He looked like a Roman god awaiting servicing, but then he moved his arms over his head like he was offering up all that power to Shane. “Whatever you want.”

“I want you.” Clothes off, Shane lay down next to him. That wasn’t quite close enough, so he moved to straddle Brandt, who responded by undulating his spine, further putting himself at Shane’s disposal. The perfect gift. Shane’s breath hitched. “This. I want this.”

He claimed Brandt’s mouth, slow now, leisurely sips. If this was his present, he was going to savor it. And work until Brandt burned as brightly as he did. Sliding his lips along Brandt’s bristly jaw, he then explored his neck, all the little places that made Brandt groan and gasp. Shane kept his touch light too, brushing over Brandt’s arms and torso, finding future spots for his lips to land. Muscular shoulders. Dip between his collarbones. Sternum. Dusky nipples.

“Damn.” Brandt was panting now, eyes glassy as his body shifted restlessly. “Can we go back to hurrying up?”

“Hush. Let me have my birthday present.” He raked his mouth along Brandt’s pec, capturing his nipple in a gentle bite.

“Fuck. Love your teeth.” Brandt’s groan had everything to do with getting the sort of friction he always seemed to like and nothing to with loving Shane, but still Shane’s pulse skipped at that word. Brandt threaded his fingers through Shane’s hair, grip just this side of too tight, like he wanted to keep Shane right there.

Keep me. Keep me. Shane’s heart laid down a desperate beat, an unspoken wish that underscored every touch, every love bite. Finally, it was him, not Brandt, groaning and him who reached for the nightstand.

“Oh yeah.” Lips kiss swollen and body wearing more than a couple of Shane’s marks, Brandt already looked thoroughly fucked out as he widened his legs and grinned.

Shane had to laugh at that. “Guess that answers how you feel about fucking tonight.”

“Have at me.” Brandt stretched his arms to touch the headboard again, and Shane wanted a picture of him exactly like that, eager and needy and all for him. “Here. Let me flip.”

“I want it like this.” Shane stayed him by pressing down on his shoulders. And damn, wasn’t that heady, pinning Brandt to the mattress. “Want to watch you come apart.”

They’d fucked a few more times after that first time, and Brandt almost always flipped over to some variation of on his knees. Which was fine and hot as hell, but this time Shane wanted to see his face. Felt primal and possessive in a way that wasn’t usually Shane’s thing, but right then he wanted every piece of Brandt he could get.