High Heat (Hotshots 2)

“We should go in,” he said at last when he trusted his voice not to fail him again. “Hell. I know it’s early, but all I want to do is go to bed.”

“All right. Let’s make that happen.” Releasing his hand, Rain made quick work of unloading Garrick’s chair and crutches. He handled greeting Cookie, immediately putting her on the leash and racing down the driveway. “Back in a flash.”

And he was, returning when Garrick was still sitting on the side of the bed, not having gotten any further than taking his shoes off. He could hear Rain making sure Cookie had food and water and then he was there in the bedroom, crawling up behind Garrick.

“You don’t have to stay. I know what I said earlier, but...” Sighing heavily, he studied his hands. “I’m a major drag tonight. I wouldn’t want to be around me either. And you weren’t wrong about my maybe needing a pain pill after all that walking. Can’t mix that with...you know. And not exactly in the mood for fooling around anyway.”

“Garrick.” Rain wrapped him up in a hug from behind, one of Garrick’s favorite things that he did, pressing himself all along Garrick’s back. “I’m not staying for sex. I’m staying for you.”

“Why?” The word came out way more plaintive than he’d intended.

“Because we’re friends. And I care about you a lot. You said you didn’t want to be alone, and I don’t want you alone either. I’m staying because I think you could use a friend right now, even if you don’t want to talk anymore. I can simply hang out, make you some of those vegan brownies you like, fetch the pain meds. Whatever you need.”

“This.” He leaned into the hug. “I need this. Feel like I don’t deserve you though.”

“Hush.” Rain kissed the side of his neck. “You’re having a rough time. You’re allowed some bad days.”

“Don’t want to be...needy.” His mom’s complaint echoed again.

“You? You’re the least needy person I know.” Rain laughed. “Let me take care of you, okay? You know how you’re always talking about liking to spoil me.”

“Not doing a very good job of that tonight,” he grumbled, but he still didn’t pull away from Rain’s steadying embrace.

“Well, let me try for once. Okay?”

“Well, if it involves brownies...” He managed something of a laugh. “But not yet, okay? I...this right here. This is good.”

“Yeah, it is. And I’m here for it. Here for you. As long as you need.” Giving him another soft kiss, Rain helped him out of the nice shirt he’d worn for the party. By the time Rain joined him under the covers, both of them in their underwear, he was so weary and wrung out that he was close to tears again. Which Rain seemed to recognize, holding him close as Garrick continued to wonder who he was in a world where he could no longer count on being able to touch the sky.

* * *

Rain woke up with a stiff neck and a warm body pressed against his. The sore muscle was understandable—he’d fallen asleep in a weird position on Garrick’s shoulder and apparently never found his own side of the bed. But the warm body, now that was a nice bonus, worth a pinched nerve or two, especially since it came with a hard cock pushing against his hip. Not that Rain was going to assume that it was an invitation, not after last night’s emotional bender, but he also was only human and couldn’t deny it was a turn-on, being wrapped up by Garrick’s bigger body.

“Mmmph.” Garrick made a cute little huffing noise into Rain’s hair, holding him closer before dropping a kiss below his ear. “You awake?”

“Am now.” Rain had to chuckle. Outside the light was still faint, but they’d fallen asleep pretty darn early. “You having a hard time staying asleep? Need something?”

“I’ve been up awhile, watching you and Cookie sleep. You’re both adorable, by the way. And neither of you moved an inch when I went and showered.”

“Did you now?” Rain stretched, figuring his chances of getting lucky were getting higher by the second. Garrick smelled like he’d taken the time to shave and a quick brush of his jaw confirmed that. And his breath was minty, as if he’d brushed his teeth too. If he’d done all that, odds were good that he might have taken a pill, not that Rain was going to ask. This was too lovely of a wakeup to risk ruining by embarrassing Garrick, who could still be touchy about the meds.

“Uh-huh. Couldn’t stay asleep any longer. My body’s rarely been one to need crazy amounts of sleep. And someone was being all sweet, using me as a body pillow.” He snaked an arm down Rain’s front, more deliberately seductive than when he hadn’t been sure Rain was awake. And Rain honestly wasn’t that surprised that Garrick wanted sex—it was a natural reset button after the past few days. Sex was a great equalizer like that and Rain had used it for similar purposes in the past, so he was happy to be that sort of distraction for Garrick.