High Heat (Hotshots 2)

“Tell me that when you’re all cold from the night air.” Adorable blush sweeping across his cheeks, Garrick rubbed his mouth like he was trying to believe Rain had actually kissed him.

“I saw the fireplace in your room. I’ll wear my new sexy-ass robe, and you’ll warm me up, and we’ll keep talking. Now enough excuses.”

“Okay, okay.” Garrick explained how to position himself to best help, and working together, they got Garrick dry, into his robe, and back on his crutches, limbs wobblier after the long soak.

Rain grabbed a towel to dry himself enough for the robe to not stick to his damp skin.

“Fuck.” Garrick took a fast seat on the lounger next to Cookie. “Damn it. Hadn’t thought about the water turning my legs to soggy breadsticks. Might need the chair.”

“Coming right up. And I’m gonna flip that fireplace on when I dash in.”

“I can’t decide whether you’re damn determined to get in my bed or simply cold,” Garrick said once Rain produced the chair, and they made their way across the patio to the double doors to Garrick’s room.

“Can’t both be true?” Finally drier but still cold, Rain slipped the satiny robe on and stood near the fireplace. Cookie gave him a snort and went and hopped up on the big bed.

“Hey! What about her bed?” Rain pointed at the almost-pristine princess bed in the corner.

“She likes it. Promise. And she sleeps there some. But somehow she decided her place is the other side of the bed.” Garrick shrugged as he transferred to the bed.

“You’re too nice.”

“As evidenced by the fact that I’m not sending you home like I should.” Garrick groaned as he stretched his legs out in front of him. “Cookie, go lay down. Rain wants your spot.” Shooing the dog off the bed, Garrick patted the place she’d vacated. “This isn’t like a...seduction. Swear I’ve got better game than this, but if you were serious about wanting warmed up, you can come over here under the covers. I might even manage some of that talking you’re so keen on.”

See, this was what Rain really liked about Garrick. He never stayed truly grumpy all that long, and he had a generous nature.

“I don’t think you’re trying to seduce me. Your bedding on the other hand...” He dove under the covers to come up near Garrick, buried under a pile of downy blankets and comforters. “Forget you, I’m going to make out with my new robe and these sheets. Damn. Which ex was into the high thread counts? I want to thank them.”

“You’re such a hedonist.” Garrick gave him a fond pat on top of the covers. “And my sister got me new sheets that fit this bed—the base is split adjustable so it took different sheets than my old setup. She said she wanted to spoil me.”

“Damn. Write that woman a thank-you letter.” Rain whistled low as he made a show out of getting comfortable. “You can do it after you email the doctor.”

“I guess I kind of need to, don’t I?”

“Yup.” Rain flopped his head onto Garrick’s shoulder. “Even if it’s not for me. Dude, it’s clear that you loved sex prior to the accident. Don’t give it up if you don’t have to. If it’s as easy as some pill or maybe a gadget...”

Garrick started coughing. “Not sure about gadgets.”

“Hey, you said you owned toys. It would just be one more thing to play with. I’m sure you could find some way to still be all bossy and badass while ordering me to use it on you...” Giving a shaky laugh, he shifted against the sheets. “And okay, now I’m all turned on again. Which was not my intent. But damn. Anyway, yeah. My dick is making the point for me—any of that can be sexy if it means we get to get off together.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll message the doctor tomorrow. But uh...” Garrick made an awkward gesture between them. “Us dating or whatever is probably still not the best—”

“Or whatever.” Rain cut him off before he could go too far down that unhappy trail. “We’re friends. Friends who work out together. And friends who are going to figure out how to get off together. Because that would be fun. And maybe if you’re really nice to me, the sort of friend who gets to see more of my underwear collection. And oh, feel free to order me to jerk off again sometime. That was fucking hot.”

He was intensely aware of wearing nothing under the silky robe, memories bombarding him.

“God. Keep talking like that and my nerve endings might spontaneously decide to cooperate. You’re something else, you know that?”

“Too much?” Rain asked carefully. He’d been told that a lot over the years—too loud, too colorful, too femme, too silly, too fun.

“Just right.” Garrick pulled him close enough to kiss his head. But when Rain cuddled closer, intending to kiss his mouth again, Garrick gently pulled back. “Not that I don’t want to kiss you. I do. God, I do. But I don’t want my mouth writing checks my body can’t cash and frustrating us both.”