“Do you keep track of all that?”
“As much as I can. At this point, it’s all with some on-the-ground org. So, more their thing. But I like to watch live footage if there’s any.”
“Is that happening during the chess match?”
His lips twist a little. “Yeah.”
My fingers stroke the inside of his wrist, and his eyes slip shut.
I’m in so much trouble. I know it cerebrally, but being near him is like anesthesia. I feel brave leaned up against him. I could give him all of myself and not worry what I get back.
I rub my cheek against his hair. “You’re such a prince. The most gorgeous man in San Francisco…hiding out with me.”
I can feel him swallow. His head sort of bows.
I trail my fingertip over the warm skin of his forearm. “You feel that?”
“What?” It’s husky.
“That’s the lack of strings attached, my dude. Just you and me here, right now.”
His hand grips mine. “There’s this guy…” His voice is so quiet, I can barely hear it. “On the board of elders. Really pissed that someone left a rainbow flag in the grass by the sign.”
I tuck our joined hands against my leg…stroke my thumb over his bent fingers. He pulls his hand away. When I open my eyes, his are full of feeling. I try to hug him with us pressed between the walls like we are.
“I love you. Like friends love each other. Don’t get scared because I said so. Promise?”
He shakes his head once. His handsome features bend with tension.
“I’ve got enough of the warm fuzzy shit so I can give it out without needing to get it all back. You know what I mean?”
His eyes are shut, his face grave as he rasps, “You go out first. If someone’s out there, kneel down by the other side of the porta-a-room and pretend to mess with the foundation of it. Push against it. It’ll push against me, but it’s okay. Frown at it and go inside. Text me how long I should wait. If you step out and I’m all clear, say that out loud. Go into the port-a-room, and I’ll go inside. You stay in there for another five.”
When his eyes meet mine, they’re hard. I fucked up. Too much, too soon. Where’s your chill, bro?
Then he grabs my face and kisses me so hard it hurts.
“You’re the prince, Vance Rayne.” His eyes are shut again, his head bowed.
I do as he said, and we both make it back inside.9VanceHe steps into my foyer at 10:15 that night, wearing a hooded jacket, dark jeans, and gray boots. As soon as he lowers the hood, I know there’s something wrong. His lips are pressed together, and he won’t meet my eyes.
He hangs his jacket on the coat rack, and I move in closer. I can’t tell if he would want it…but I want to hug him. I’m relieved when he comes for it first. He locks me up against him, pulls a big breath into his lungs. Then another, like he hasn’t breathed all day till right now, pressed against me.
Then he shoves me up against the wall, covers my mouth with his own, and rubs himself against me till we’re thrusting at each other. I go for his zipper, and his hand locks around my wrist.
“No. Not here.”
He drags me upstairs, not letting go of my wrist until I’m on my back on the bed. Then he strips me of my boxers and shirt. He’s up on his arms above me, rubbing his thick cock against mine.
“You good for it?”
“Ready.”
He fucks me so I’m wasted by the time I come, so that I know I’ll hurt tomorrow. When we’re panting on our backs, he surprises me by turning on his side—so I do, too. He shuts his eyes, and I can feel the tension in him.
“You hungry?” It feels like a stupid thing to say, but I can’t keep from saying something.
His eyes open. He reaches out, rubbing the back of his hand over the trough between my pecs.
“How was your day?” The words sound thick, as if he’s speaking underwater.
I fold my hand over his, press his palm against my chest. “How was yours?”
He licks his lips, seals them together. Then he sets his gaze away from mine.
“That good, huh?”
He’s up off the bed so fast it makes my head spin. I hold my breath until I find him at the kitchen counter. His whole body’s taut, his shoulders heaving, casting thin and wavering shadows in the dim light of the table lamp.
Shit.
Brother’s not a talker. I don’t know if I should pry. I’m pretty good at leaps of faith, though, so I move over to him slowly…wrap myself around him from behind. I kiss his nape and stroke his back until chills move in the wake of my fingers.