“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Mitch finally said.
“Here.” Cody pointed out four or five little marks marring the skin around his hips. They were so faint Mitch hadn’t seen them during his cursory inspection. They looked like they could have come from Cody’s fingertips. As far as Mitch was concerned, they were love marks, made during unbelievably good sex, but based on the uncertainty rolling off Cody, he didn’t see things that way. Not only did he not see it like that, he’d brushed past Mitch and left the room.
Mitch ran his fingers over the marks and smiled. He loved being marked up by his handsome cowboy. There was no pain, just discoloration. His ass on the other hand was going to ache sweetly for a week. Both were exactly what he wanted to take back to DC with him. If he couldn’t have Cody there with him, he’d have Cody’s mark across his heart and on his skin. Mitch grabbed the shorts and pulled them on as he went in search of Cody.
The lights were still off. Cody stood in his kitchen with his back to him, pouring something into a pot. He tapped the can on the side, trying to get everything out. Mitch came in behind him, wrapping both arms around his chest.
“Stop being so concerned. I loved every minute of what we did tonight. I wanted everything you gave me. I asked you to make it rough,” Mitch said quietly behind him, resting his chin on Cody’s shoulder.
“I think I did a little harder than rough,” Cody said. He didn’t move out from beneath Mitch, but he also didn’t turn around. His concentration stayed on the contents of the pot heating on his stove.
“Well, whatever you did, do it just like that every time I ask. I haven’t slept that good in a long time. Although it would have been better sleeping if you would have stayed in bed beside me,” Mitch added quietly.
Cody didn’t say a word. They stood like that for several minutes as the beans began to boil. “Oh shit, are those Ranch Style Beans?”
That eased the tension and made Cody laugh.
“I love those things. You can’t get ’em in New York, did you know that?” Mitch stepped back a little to turn Cody around. “Stop being down. There’s no reason. I have less than twelve hours before I have to board the plane. Who knows when I’ll be back? I want to eat this food, maybe drink a beer or two, and then make love to you before I close my eyes again. Fair?”
Cody nodded.
“And I might need a pillow to sit on if we’re eating at that table.” Mitch chuckled.
“We can eat on the couch,” Cody offered, grinning at Mitch as he spoke the words.
“Okay, but I might need a pillow there too. We’ll see where this goes.” Mitch moved away from Cody. “Where’re the plates?”
Cody reached over and opened the cabinet closest to Mitch’s head before taking a couple of beers from the refrigerator.
“This looks delicious,” Mitch said as he began to load his plate with the dinner Cody had cooked him. Yeah, he was totally in love. Cody sucked him, rimmed him, and fucked him until his ass throbbed, and then cooked the perfect meal for him…steak and beans. They were a match made in heaven.
Chapter 44
“My turn,” Mitch said, rising from the sofa with a yawn. The clock on Cody’s microwave showed one in the morning. He could sleep on the plane tomorrow, but he was missing time snuggling with Cody. They didn’t seem like they were at a point where they could relax easily together and cuddle on the sofa since Cody sat in the only chair right beside the couch.
They’d eaten and watched a Thunder versus Mavericks basketball game. They talked easily about the game, about the teams and players. Cody followed sports more than Mitch, but he could hold his own enough to communicate on the topic.
The chair had been close enough to Mitch’s side of the sofa that he could hold Cody’s hand. It was more finger play than official handholding, but Cody participated, so that did count in the closeness Mitch needed. He wasn’t a hundred percent certain, but Cody’s distance may have been from earlier, still put off by the tiny, and thrilling, bruising he’d caused. Mitch hated Cody felt that way and had to set things straight. He actually had to set them both straight, and there was only a few hours left to do it all in.
For the first time ever, he resented how much traveling his job required. He could have used more time here. Time was what they needed and what they didn’t have. He held his hand out to Cody.
“Come on, big boy. It’s my turn,” Mitch said, and Cody glanced up with a questioning look on his face. “I’m done with the foreplay; now I want your ass.”
“I’m not sure watching basketball’s considered foreplay,” Cody said, giving him that smile he adored as he reached for the remote.
“And I’m certain it is.” He was in Cody’s way, and he refused to move as Cody stood.
“How’s your ass?” Cody asked carefully.
“It’s perfect. Kiss me,” Mitch said, lifting his hands to Cody’s face. He took his lips in a soft slow kiss. In this, Cody participated. They devoured each other’s mouths.
“I wanna make love to you, Cody.”
Cody turned off the television, plunging the apartment into complete darkness. Exactly what he needed for what he had in mind.
“Come in here,” Mitch growled, stopping Cody from dropping his shorts where he stood. He led them to the long bank of windows in Cody’s bedroom. Mitch hadn’t really noticed the brilliance of the room until the curtains were opened and he looked out into the night. He doubted anyone could see them this high up and there was a perfect view of downtown Austin spread out in front of them. “Here. Don’t move.”
Mitch grabbed the lube and a condom from the dresser and dropped his shorts as he stepped back to Cody who looked completely confused. Mitch placed the items in his hands on the ledge of the window as he lowered Cody’s shorts and kicked them with his foot in the general direction of a side chair. “Stop looking so confused and be here with me. Be in this moment.”