Order (Tattoos and Ties 2)

“We have great sex.”

“I prefer the term making love,” Alec murmured, and those perfectly pouty lips pressed against his chest.

There was a small lancing sting to his heart. Maybe some small part of him had truly wanted to believe Alec might love him, but that was all right too. He’d learned how to absorb blows to the heart a long time ago. Even gotten to the point where his heart had stopped feeling anything until he had met Alec. He’d get back there again when the time came for this to end. Instead of dwelling on the inevitable ending, he went the other direction, celebrating a victory of his rightness of the meaning behind their relationship and chuckled. A rumble that erupted in his chest and caused Alec to lift his head to look at him.

“What? You don’t like my choice of words?” Alec asked cheekily, resting his chin on the back of his hand placed over Keyes’s heart.

“We’re too different,” Keyes responded, lifting his head enough to look in Alec’s eyes.

“And?” Something speculative crossed Alec’s handsome brow. Alec had told him often enough that he was hard to read, and this same look happened right before they started to play the twenty questions game Alec seemed to like so much.

“You’re confusin’ great sex with somethin’ more meaningful,” he explained, waiting for the next question. Seconds passed before Alec’s weight abruptly lifted off him. Keyes fought the sudden move. When that failed, he reached out, grabbing Alec’s arm. He wasn’t ready to lose Alec’s warmth or those heart-pleasing, light soothing caresses. He watched Alec’s back go ramrod straight and his jaw clench shut. “It’s okay. It’s really great sex.”

“Don’t belittle my feelings, Keyes. I meant the words I’ve said. It didn’t just slip out unexpectedly.” Alec yanked his arm free while rising to his feet.

Keyes sat up, resisting the urge to knock himself in the head. No talking was the best talking. Why couldn’t he keep his thoughts to himself like he always fucking did?

“You’re mad,” he said half-accusingly.

“No shit.” Alec left him there and stomped toward the bathroom. The pictures rattled on the walls as the bathroom door slammed shut. Keyes shifted, his overexerted body protesting as he pushed to his feet. He wandered through the house then out to the patio, gathering their discarded clothing before going back to the bedroom, his whole focus locked on that still shut bathroom door. He tossed the clothes on the bed, dropped his boots by the nightstand, and carefully placed Alec’s expensive shoes next to his. He manned up and padded across the floor to gently knock on the bathroom door.

“I’m sorry I made you mad,” he said through the closed door and waited. There was no response, and he couldn’t hear anything from the other side of the door. After a minute or so, he tested the doorknob. It turned, and he pushed it open a few inches, peering inside through the crack he’d made. Alec was naked, his bare ass propped against the sink counter, his arms and ankles crossed defiantly. Alec lifted his gaze, keeping his head bent as he stared at Keyes. He had only seen Alec mad once or twice before, but he was fierce. Where most people didn’t cross Keyes due to his size, in the moment, Alec became the bigger threat, so he tried again. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Alec asked, his tone clipped and sharp. No unnecessary words, which was weird for the usually talkative lawyer.

“For makin’ you mad,” he replied, because until right that second, he hadn’t considered why he was sorry, other than he wished he hadn’t said what had made Alec so upset.

“I know my feelings. I’m pretty self-aware and open to whatever happens between us.” Okay, maybe this was the first time he’d seen Alec truly angry. His mister was severely serious and intently focused, those icy eyes staring a hole right through him. Alec’s tone was hard and unyielding and left no room for doubt.

“Okay, agreed,” he said, still stuck in that weird position with the door only open a few inches. Should he push the door completely open and walk in or should he just close the door and let Alec have his privacy? He truly had no idea what to do next. He just wanted Alec to stop being so angry.

“So why in the world would you think I’m lost in all the sex we’re having?”

Oh, hell no. That was a landmine kind of a question. One of those fuck-with-your-head questions where there was no right answer.

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked.

Alec’s jaw firmed, his eyes narrowing, making it clear he didn’t like that question at all. “Of course I don’t want you to leave. I was elated to see you here. Even if you come here every night, that wouldn’t be enough time spent with you—and before you think it, my wanting you here has very little to do with our sex. You’re great company.”