Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters 1)

“My head hurts a little,” Duke admitted, draping his arm over his eyes, blocking out the afternoon sun shining through the sheer curtains. “You should really get some darker curtains.”

“I won’t be here that long. I’ll get my own place after I’ve worked and saved a bit.” Vaughan kissed Duke’s forehead, his dark brown eyebrows rising when he pulled back.

“What?” Duke peeked from beneath his arm.

“You feel hot. Like feverish hot,” Vaughan said.

“I’m just tired. And it’s hot as hell outside.” Duke looked at him sheepishly, like he knew it was a silly excuse as soon as it left his mouth.

“Yeah. But it’s not hot in here.” Vaughan got up and went into the bathroom, emerging seconds later with the thermometer and a cool rag. “You can gripe if you want but I’m taking your temperature.”

Duke opened his mouth like a good patient. His mood looked like it was already lifting as Vaughan took care of him. His man’s temperature was ninety-nine point four, which wasn’t bad but wasn’t good. If his temperature got over one hundred, he’d have to go to the hospital.

“I think a cool shower would help,” Duke answered Vaughan’s concerned expression. “I don’t feel like I have a fever. I feel like I had a stressful meeting and I need some rest, is all. Even Charlie showed up, but at least he brought me some things from my place.”

Vaughan ignored his excuses and wiped across Duke’s forehead, and then peppered kisses down his temple to his cheeks, and finally his lips. Duke opened willingly for Vaughan’s tongue, accepting it with excitement. There were mmms and groans while they nipped and bit at each other. “I’m so fuckin’ crazy about you.” Vaughan accented each word with a kiss. He took Duke’s good arm and wrapped it around his waist, letting his casted arm rest untouched on his other side.

Duke held him tight and turned his head to the side, letting Vaughan have his way with him. Demonstrating also that Vaughan would have full control when they were in bed. Most of the time, anyway. Duke trembled when Vaughan bit his earlobe. “Fuck. I’m crazy about you too, Vaughan.”

********

Really?

“More than you were…,” Vaughan hesitated and shook his head slightly. “Never mind.”

“Tell me,” Duke urged, turning Vaughan’s head back to look at him. He leaned in and captured those sexy lips, pulling the bottom one into his mouth for special treatment since it was particularly tasty. Vaughan hissed when Duke bit him, then moaned when he licked and sucked away the sting. “Tell me. Now.”

“It’s silly. And I’m starved,” Vaughan mumbled nervously. He turned, eyeing the tray of food Duke had bought up for him since he’d missed lunch. He secretly admitted he liked this side of Vaughan. It revealed his human frailty. That he wasn’t as perfect as he portrayed. He got scared, nervous, rattled and… jealous, just like any other man, and Duke wanted to rejoice. He thought he’d never be worthy of someone so composed and put together as the man beside him. But Vaughan wasn’t Superman, so Duke didn’t have to worry about playing the man in need of rescue.

Vaughan got his lunch tray, and after he was back on the bed eating his salad, Duke got up to shower. He leaned in and whispered in Vaughan’s ear, “Yes, I’m crazier about you than I ever was about Judge, and he can already see it, that’s why he baits you, handsome. And just so we’re clear. I was never in love with Judge. Not like I already am with you.” Duke cupped Vaughan’s cheek and oh so gently pecked him on his kiss-swollen lips before closing himself in the bathroom. Leaving a speechless Vaughan behind on the bed.

Vaughan woke for the fifth time that night. His alarm clock showed it was just after four a.m. Great. That time I slept a whole hour and five minutes. Lying next to a warm, shirtless Duke hadn’t stopped his mind from spinning. He had so much rattling around in his head it was no surprise he couldn’t sleep. One: Duke had told him he loved him and Vaughan was too shocked to even say it back. He’d been wanting to hear those words for over ten years. Now that they’d been said, he hoped they were true. He needed to trust that Duke was an honorable man and wouldn’t deceive him. After having known him most of his life, he’d never heard or seen anything that would make him doubt that trust. Two: Duke’s skin was still warm to the touch, so his fever was still there; in spite of the acetaminophen he took before they laid down. Three: How was he going to survive when Duke finally went back to work and started putting his life on the line again? Four: Work. He needed to get started at his new job or he’d lose it before he even started it.