Unearthed (The Dungeon Black Duology 1)

Kevin’s smile spanned wider. “No, you don’t.”

“Yeah, I do!” Without thinking, Max pulled off his shirt and tossed the thing over to the side. “See?” He angled his shoulder for Kevin to see. “Geez. We go to the pool all the time. How have you never noticed them?”

Kevin shook his head and laughed, eyes glued to Max’s upper body. “I dunno. I mean, honestly, they’re not very noticeable with such a dark frickin’ tan.” Absently, he ran his fingers over Max’s skin. “Damn, dude. Seriously. How do you get so dark with Irish in your genes?”

Max swallowed again, loving the feel of Kevin’s touch. “Got Navajo in me, too, remember? Compliments of Mom.”

“Oh, yeah…” Kevin mumbled. “Forgot about that…” His fingertips drifted down to Max’s collarbone next, then followed the line of Max’s chain to his dog tags. Or rather, his dad’s dog tags that he never took off. Max shivered, sucked in a breath, but didn’t attempt to stop him.

Kevin paused and met his eyes again.

Max held his stare, then smiled.

“You know, Kev,” he murmured. “It’s kind of only fair that you take your shirt off now, too.”

Kevin stilled, but soon the corners of his lips curved. Curved into that awesome quirky grin. Tugging off his tank top, he set it to the side, then gave Max an expectant look. “Alright. Shirt off. You happy now, Mr. It’s Only Fair?”

Max grinned and shook his head, eyes flashing mischievously. “Hell no. Not even close.”

Kevin’s face turned confused, but before he could ask, Max tackled him onto his back. He couldn’t help it. Just happened. A different part of his brain taking over. As if seeing Kevin half naked, so close to him like that, with no one else even remotely nearby… God, it was like Max’s hard drive just fried, making him not only need to see Kevin’s body but feel it against Max’s own. All firm and smooth, sticky-hot from the sun.

Both boys laughed as they tumbled about, wrestling like they frequently did.

“You’re not gonna pin me, Max!”

“Oh yeah, I am!”

Kevin wriggled out from under him, then wrangled Max onto his back. “See?” he panted, grinning ear to ear. “It ain’t gonna happen. Give up.”

Max just snickered. He was only getting started. Wicked smile widening, he bucked Kevin off, rolled fast, then pinned his opponent beneath him. Kevin grunted through more laughter as he tried to get free, but soon Max had his hands pinned by his head.

Max beamed, lungs heaving, their faces just inches apart. “Ha… So glad… I didn’t give up.”

Breathless, Kevin laughed. “You know I’ll get free.”

And truth be told, he probably would. But Max didn’t want that. Didn’t want Kevin to get free. He felt way too good beneath Max’s body. Too awesome. Too perfect. Too irrevocably right. Impulsively, Max dipped down and snagged Kevin’s bottom lip, holding his friend captive with his teeth.

“Heh. Won’t be getting away from me now,” he mumbled.

Kevin froze, heart pounding against Max’s chest, then shockingly, moaned against Max’s mouth. The soft sound swept through Max’s entire body, igniting the very center of his chest. Next thing he knew, he was kissing Kevin earnestly, brushing their lips repeatedly together.

Oh, God. He was kissing his very best friend.

And his very best friend was kissing him back.

Max released Kevin’s wrists. Kevin tunneled his fingers into Max’s hair. Wow. So soft. Kevin’s mouth was so soft. Max’s pulse raced faster. His breath shallowed out. Oh no, he was trembling, but he just couldn’t help it. Was too overwhelmed. Because in that moment, he realized what he’d been waiting for all along. This special connection with Kevin. This special bond. Best friends. Companions. Fated to be together. He could feel it in his bones. Why they’d always been so attached at the hip. They’d been made for each other. Two pieces of one whole. And now there was no going back.

Max exhaled and poured himself into his kiss, gave everything he was to his Kevin. Because Kevin was his, and he was Kevin’s. It’d been that way from the very start.

Kevin swiped his tongue tentatively against Max’s lips. Max tried not to groan but still did. He met Kevin’s timid advance with his own, parting his mouth wider, testing Kevin’s flavor. Oh… Oh, God… He liked how Kevin tasted. Liked how Kevin felt, smelled, and sounded. Everything about him pleased every sense Max possessed. He wondered if Kevin felt the same, too.

Abruptly, Max stilled, Kevin’s parents busting into his brain. Oh, God. Would Kevin freak out in a second? Be pissed that Max had done this to their friendship?

Pulling back, he met Kevin’s half-dazed eyes, glanced at his pink, swollen lips.

“Kev,” he breathed. “Shit… I’m sorry.”

Kevin stared at him, breathless, then frowned super-sad. “You are?” he whispered. “Why?”

Max blinked, hope returning. “You’re… not mad?”

Kevin’s lips curved back upward. “No. Why would I be?”