Tight Quarters (Out of Uniform 6)

“Front desk security is really common in this neighborhood.” Spencer tried to keep his tone from turning defensive. “This was my parents’ LA place for years. They loved the downtown location, and when they retired to Hawaii full-time, they insisted I take it over since it was so close to the paper.”

He tried to see the loft through Del’s eyes—the art deco styling, dark hardwood floors, high ceilings, large open living space that included a kitchen along the far wall with a long work island with bar stools in front of it. The cherry dining room furniture off to the side of the kitchen had been a find of his mother’s. After taking possession of the place, Spencer had put his own touches on it over the years—the large leather sectional was his, as was most of the art on the walls. And he knew he sounded very much like a privileged rich kid, something he tried to avoid, but he couldn’t deny being lucky to not have to worry about rent on a writer’s budget in LA.

“I’m pretty sure you could fit my barracks room in the elevator up to this place.” Del stroked his smooth jaw—his hair was shaggier than when Spencer had seen him last, but his face was smooth, and he smelled like the beachy aftershave he’d worn on their first meeting. Spencer wanted to bury his head in his neck, soak the scent in, but he restrained himself. Barely. “But I like it. My mom would kill for your view. Me, I’m thinking how ten flights of stairs is a lot to have to run down in an emergency, but I’m practical like that.”

“Knock on wood, I’ve never needed to do the stairs.” Spencer laughed. “Are you hungry? I haven’t started—”

“I can wait on food.” Intent clear in his eyes, he backed Spencer against the couch. Ah, there he was, Bacon the deadly operator, only this time Spencer was his target, and he was only too happy to be marked, so he didn’t make any move to escape. “I’ve been thinking about kissing for you for weeks now. Need to see if you taste like I remember.”

“Well, by all means.” Spencer looped his arms around Del’s neck, ready for the assault of his mouth. But to his surprise, the man was much more pliant than he’d been the last time they kissed. Still intense, purposeful in how he held Spencer and how he claimed his mouth, but way more willing to let Spencer explore. Which was nice, being able to prove that he was more than just a ready pair of lips—he wanted to impress him in the worst way, knock him for a loop, the way their first kiss had flattened him in a way he still hadn’t recovered from.

So he explored, learned that Del liked it aggressive, moaning when Spencer used his teeth and tongue. Sucking at Del’s full lower lip made him shudder and respond by deftly tumbling them both onto the couch, Spencer landing on top of him.

“Fuck,” he groaned against Spencer’s mouth, pulling him tightly against his torso. His chest seemed broader, if such a thing were even possible. He was warm and curiously cuddly, nuzzling into Spencer’s neck and seeming in no hurry to progress beyond this leisurely making out. So Spencer indulged him with long, drugging kisses until they were both breathing hard, bodies straining.

“What do you need?” he whispered in Del’s ear before kissing his jaw, still trying to read him, figure out this new facet of this fascinating man.

“You.” Del chuckled, cheeks staining pink. “Shower with decent water pressure. Only got a lukewarm rinse at the base before hitting the road. Feels like I haven’t been really clean in forever. I don’t want to be too scuzzy for you. Eventually, the dinner you promised. But right now...you.”

“You’ve got me. You want me and the shower both? I’ve got a dual-headed shower in the master and a tankless heater—all the hot water you want.”

“Oh yes, please.” His face tipped back, and Spencer would have given in to any request of his just to keep that dreamy look of pleasure on his features.

“You’re in a different mood today,” Spencer observed as he rolled off him and offered him a hand up.

“Is that the nice way of saying I’m not as aggro as I was at the hotel?” Del laughed as he followed him to the master, which was tucked away behind the dining area. “I’m not...that’s not always how I get after a mission.”

“Oh?” Spencer flipped on the lights in the bathroom, which really was a big space, and he was only too happy to be able to give Del the shower he craved. “Thought you were all about the brains-being-fucked-out thing.”

“Ha. Never said who was getting fucked.”

“Touché.” A frisson of excitement swept up Spencer’s spine. Oh yes, he was going to enjoy the hell out of this visit.