Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

“Damnit, Vaughan. This is so hard for me to understand. That—”

“That anyone could love you so much,” Vaughan interjected. He gripped Duke’s chin, tilting his head back up. He took a chance and leaned down to lightly brush Duke’s lips with his. The heady sensation of touching Duke, being intimate with him made Vaughan dizzy. “Or, you can’t understand that I love you that much.”

“Both,” Duke whispered. His head was still angled as if wanting more contact with Vaughan’s mouth, so he happily obliged. He kissed him deeply, his tongue tapping lightly before bursting through the barrier, exploring his man again. Getting familiar again. Duke’s good hand came up and gripped the side of Vaughan’s neck, rubbing his thumb back and forth over his rapidly beating pulse. Duke moaned and angled to the other side, his own tongue on its quest for exploration. Vaughan let Duke explore for a while as he leaned back and gave Duke the entire span of his long throat. Oh, how beautifully he did it. Duke nuzzled into him, lightly kissing and licking his way across his Adam’s apple. Vaughan gripped Duke’s cheek, forcing him to stay at an especially sensitive spot on his throat and was getting ready to take it up a notch when he heard a deep, growly throat clearing.

Duke separated his mouth from Vaughan’s neck, albeit begrudgingly. The gorgeous man smelled so fucking good and tasted like the finest wine, which was crazy since he was so young. But as he got to know Vaughan and spent more time talking with him, he was noticing how much of a man he truly was. Mature and strong. Fearless had been added to Duke’s long list of Vaughan’s admirable qualities. And the man loved him. Loved him enough to put his own life on the line to save him. Seeing those scars, exactly like his own, had completely undone him. Despite his suspicions, he wasn’t prepared to actually see the physical proof. How the hell would Duke even consider walking away? He’d wanted reassurance and he guessed he’d gotten it. This beautiful man intended to be with Duke forever.

“I guess the cat’s out the bag,” Quick said drily, as he strolled past, looking at his son’s open shirt, his surgical wounds on full display. Quick’s thickly corded forearms were loaded up with packed grocery bags as he made his way through the rest of the house.

Duke let go of Vaughan, but the man held on to him, still looking into his eyes, his hand still caressing Duke’s cheek. He had a bone to pick with his best friend. He wasn’t letting him off the hook as easily as he did Vaughan. He pulled Vaughan’s hand away and kissed a couple of his knuckles before dropping it and turning to follow Quick into the kitchen. “You asshole!” Duke thundered as soon as he turned the corner and saw his friend casually posted-up against the counter drinking a bottle of water.

“Here we go,” Quick mumbled under his breath.

“Seriously.” Duke gaped. “How the hell could you allow him to do something like this? It was dangerous and foolish, Roman. What if something had happened to him? You would’ve lost your best friend and your son, but you would’ve hated me. Probably wouldn’t have attended my funeral if Vaughan had died on that table. I can’t believe you let him do it!”

Quick’s green eyes flashed with anger before he took a breath to try and reel it in. “Have you fuckin’ met my son? Huh? What the fuck makes you think he asked for permission? He’s a grown man, Duke! He made a decision and that was it. No matter how much I disliked it, especially the part about being anonymous; I had no say! All I could do was pray for both of your lives, so that’s what I did.” Quick finished his piece and turned back to putting away the groceries.

Duke pushed his knuckles into his eye sockets. “He made the decision with his heart, not his logical mind.”

“That’s why nothing on this earth would’ve changed it. Not me, his momma, you, or any other thing on this planet. He’s in love, Duke.” Quick turned back, and Duke noticed his pal was looking over his shoulder, meaning Vaughan had to be standing there behind him. “He would’ve gave you both his fuckin’ kidneys.”

Jesus. He was in love with his best friend’s son. This was like a story out of a bad episode of To Catch a Predator. Duke had to shut down that thought. He hadn’t fallen for Vaughan when he was a teenager. Had never looked at him sexually for even a second. But before him stood a man who knew what he wanted and kept his own counsel. He was a good man for Duke. Quick must’ve seen a look on Duke’s face because his friend came over and guided him to one of the chairs at the small table in Quick’s eat-in kitchen. Duke looked out the bay window over the luxurious backyard he’d help his friend design.