Ball & Chain (Cut & Run 8)

Ty managed a weak smile. “My hero.”

Zane flattened his palm against Ty’s cheek. “Come here.”

Ty promptly stripped off the clothing Zane hadn’t gotten off him last night and crawled back into the bed beside Zane. Zane scooted and laid himself out, reaching for him. Ty pulled the covers over both their heads and Zane gathered him up to hold him.

“Sorry I ruined the night,” Ty offered. “I’m really sorry.”

“We’ll laugh about it later,” Zane said, skimming one hand through Ty’s hair.

Ty snorted. “Don’t be nice to me when I’m hungover.”

“Quit being an ass.” Zane poked him hard in the side, and Ty chuckled against his chest. Zane hugged him tighter before loosening his grip again. He’d learned that at times like these, Ty wanted to be held but sometimes couldn’t tolerate it, so Zane let him decide. Ty rested his head on Zane’s shoulder, his fingers playing with the hair on Zane’s chest.

Zane was desperate to know what Sidewinder had gone through to make Ty’s nightmares so devastating, to make Digger and Owen walk away from the Marine Corps, and to make Nick look positively haunted when he thought no one was watching. But the only thing Zane could do was offer his shoulder. Literally.

Zane tapped under Ty’s chin and got him to raise his head, then leaned in to steal a kiss. “You okay?”

Ty wrapped his arms around him and threw a leg over him to pull him closer. Zane closed his eyes, his chest aching. It was moments like this that made dealing with the shit of their pasts worthwhile, that made their future seem possible.

He pressed his lips to Ty’s temple. “Love you,” he whispered.

Ty smiled and snorted against his neck. “I know.”

They were both silent, soaking in the peace and quiet. Then Ty narrowed his eyes at Zane. “I proposed on a moonlit beach in Scotland. How do you just say ‘Nope!’ to that?”

Zane laughed. “I’m surprised you remember it.”

Ty muttered some more as he cuddled back down. Zane began to relax again, allowing Ty’s weight to push him into the bed. They were both almost asleep when something thumped from the room next door, followed by boisterous laughter.

“Assholes,” Ty said. He raised his head and banged on the wall above the short headboard. “Assholes!”

A few seconds later, someone banged back. If they said anything, the thick walls drowned it out.

“What the hell are they doing up this early?” Zane asked.

“Screw early, what the hell are they doing, period?”

“Sounded like someone fell out of the bed. I’m putting money on it being Kelly.”

“Me too. Nick shares a bed well, but Kelly spreads like a f**king puddle of Jell-O. Forces you to fight back.” More laughter came from the other side of the wall. Ty rested his elbow against Zane’s chest. “Want to make some noise on our side?”

Zane slid his fingers down Ty’s defined arm, stroking the marred face of the bulldog tattoo. A bullet had ripped through the ink and formed a jagged scar, but that just made it look tougher. Zane tore his eyes away from it to look up into Ty’s. “What’d you have in mind?”

“The kind of noise that you have to hold on to the headboard for.”

Zane’s body was instantly interested in this new proposition, and the predatory look in Ty’s eyes said he knew it.

Ty leaned down and gave him a slow, sensual kiss. Zane dragged his hands up Ty’s arms, over his shoulders, and down his back to hold on to his trim waist as they kissed. Ty smiled against his lips and climbed over him, staying on his knees and straddling Zane’s thighs, putting both hands on Zane’s shoulders. Zane tipped his head back, more than happy to give in to Ty’s attentions.

Ty’s hands plunged into his hair, and his scruff scratched at Zane’s chin and lips. It stirred the warmth inside Zane, and his skin heated with each stroke of Ty’s tongue against his. When their mouths parted, Zane whispered, “Let’s make some f**king noise.”

Ty’s breathing was harsh when he nodded. Zane dragged his hands down Ty’s body to grasp his ass. Ty responded, his muscles bunching, his c**k stirring against Zane’s groin, kicking up a wicked feedback loop between the two of them as they rubbed against each other and grew more and more aroused.

Ty halted it before they could get too far ahead of themselves, throwing the covers off and rolling out of bed.

“Ty,” Zane said, deadpan. “Wasn’t finished over here.”

“Do you have any idea how many times I dreamed about you?” Ty asked, going to the massive fireplace. It was cold in the room, which while perfect for sleeping wasn’t as conducive to other activities. He turned on the gas logs, grinning mischievously at Zane. “Every night.”

Zane followed that come-hither look, giving up on the idea of grabbing the headboard in favor of being laid out on that rug in front of the fire. Ty was obviously thinking the same thing.

Zane took their bottle of lubricant from the bedside table and dropped it to the floor at Ty’s feet. He pulled his T-shirt over his head, tossed it to the side, and joined Ty on the thick rug in front of the fireplace.

Ty gripped his chin and kissed him, slowly maneuvering them both until they were stretched out on the plush rug. He immediately laid Zane out, settling between his legs, gathering up Zane’s wrists to hold him and kiss him soundly. “Every night,” he repeated in a whisper.

Zane relaxed into the rug as Ty’s weight bore down on him, and as Ty’s hands closed around his wrists, he gave a gentle moan. The thought of Ty taking control and holding him down sent a shudder through him. It was something Ty hadn’t done since getting home, something Zane had sorely missed. Zane couldn’t help but wonder how much of Ty would never be the same again after this past year. So many things were still missing. Every time Ty seemed to regain something, even something as trivial as wanting to overpower Zane and screw him into the ground, it was like a weight being lifted from Zane’s mind.

“Please,” Zane whispered.

Ty was already mostly hard, and he rubbed himself against Zane’s hip. He gathered Zane’s wrists into one hand, grip tightening, and the kiss became more demanding as Ty responded to his plea.

Ty’s free hand slid down Zane’s body, fingers digging in possessively as they dragged along his chest and then his ribs to his hip. Ty pushed up to give himself room to rut into Zane as he licked and bit and sucked at his lips.