Later that evening, Reese was standing at the stove when Brantley strolled into the kitchen, fresh out of the shower. Even over the aroma of marinara and garlic, he could smell the fresh, musky scent of the man, and like usual, it went right to his head. To say it was odd that he would ever think that way was an understatement. Reese had spent his entire thirty-one years finding perfume appealing over cologne. At least on his partners, anyway. Yet here he was, infatuated by the sexiest man in existence.
Stirring the sauce, he smiled to himself, wondering if he would ever get over this obscene need that made his blood run hotter. Rather than settle, it seemed to intensify day after day. Didn’t matter that they’d already taken their relationship to the next level.
Nine days ago, Brantley had asked him to move in with him. Eight days ago, they’d started moving his things. Seven days ago, he’d officially changed his address. On paper, at least. And now here they were, settling into a routine that was both relatively mundane and oddly exciting. Reese had never lived with a lover before. At times, he had wondered if he ever would.
“Did Autumn get moved into your apartment?” Brantley asked, grabbing two glasses out of the cabinet and moving to the refrigerator.
Reese cast a sideways glance, admired the man from the back, the charcoal gray T-shirt formed nicely to his muscular torso. “She did. The lease’ll transfer to her in December. She was thrilled. Said it’ll cut down on her travel time quite a bit.”
“How’s she likin’ Walker Demo?”
Knowing it was a sensitive subject, he turned his attention back to the sauce. “I didn’t ask.”
“You can, you know,” Brantley said, pausing as he was pouring tea into the second glass. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“I know.” And he did.
Although Reese had damn near fucked their relationship nine ways to Sunday when he panicked after Autumn Jameson, his replacement at Walker Demo, had caught on to the fact Reese and Brantley were exploring this thing between them, it seemed Brantley held no ill will toward the woman. Reese didn’t, either. She’d done nothing wrong by accepting his offer of drinks one night. Completely platonic, of course. The conversation had stayed on the topic of work mostly, but still. Reese had fucked up, more so by ignoring Brantley than asking a woman to have drinks.
“If she has work questions, I’ll be happy to help her out.” Otherwise, he saw little reason for him to interact with Autumn. It wasn’t like he’d known her before she had taken over his position so he could move on to the task force. He saw no reason for them to get chummy now.
Brantley carried their tea glasses around to the other side of the quartz-topped island, then returned to grab silverware while Reese dished their food onto two plates.
“Can you get the bread outta the oven?” Reese asked, grabbing the Parmesan cheese from the fridge.
They moved around the kitchen like they’d been in sync all their lives. When they had settled onto the barstools for dinner, Reese let the conversation lull. He knew Brantley. When it came to food, the man ate with gusto, and Reese had learned not to interrupt until Brantley had dished his second helping.
“What’s on your mind, Tavoularis?” Brantley asked around a mouthful. “I can hear your brain workin’.”
Reese chuckled, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “I talked to Z again today.”
Brantley reached for his tea. “Yeah? What’d your brother have to say for himself?”
“They want us to come to Dallas for Christmas.”
“Breakfast or dinner?”
Reese glanced over. “What?”
“Do they serve breakfast or dinner for Christmas?”
“Dinner.”
“Perfect. My family does the breakfast thing. We can swing through my folks’ place in the mornin’, then hit the road. We’ll be in Dallas in time for dinner.”
Well, that seemed relatively easy, Reese thought.
“What about Thanksgiving?” Brantley asked, picking up his fork.
“What about it?”
Brantley chuckled, chewed. “You haven’t given me an answer.”
Reese filled his own mouth with spaghetti, felt his nerves begin to churn in his stomach.
“They don’t bite, Reese.”
“I know.” He piled in more food. “It’s just…” Chew. Just chew.
“I’ll invite them over here,” Brantley stated. “This weekend. Saturday night. You can cook.”
Reese’s jaw stopped working and the damn rioting bullets began pinging around in his stomach. He grabbed his tea, washed down the mouthful, and cleared his throat.
This wasn’t the first time they’d had the conversation about Reese meeting Brantley’s parents. In fact, he was pretty sure they’d discussed it at least once a day since he moved in, and somehow Reese had managed to avoid giving him an affirmative. Didn’t look like Brantley was going to let him get by with it this time.
“It’s settled then,” Brantley said, reaching for his phone.
Reese set down his glass, then snapped his hand around Brantley’s wrist, making the man laugh.
“I’ve never met the parents before,” Reese said on a rush of air, his gut suddenly churning the spaghetti in a not-so-friendly manner.
“I fuckin’ love that about you.”
A strangled laugh escaped. “Brantley.”
“It’ll be fine. We’ll make it a casual thing. Just my mom and dad. No brothers or sisters.”
Reese knew it was going to have to happen sooner or later. And the truth was, he would rather meet them before Thanksgiving. Talk about a truly awkward situation for him to be introduced to the fam over a major holiday. He could see it now, Brantley walking him into his parents’ house, announcing his live-in boyfriend was there to meet all twenty-whatever of them there probably were. Oh, and by the way, Reece only recently realized he’s gay for me and me alone.
No, thank you.
While Reese was having a miniature panic attack, Brantley was staring at him, a huge grin on his face.
“Have I told you how hot you are when you’re tongue-tied?”
Reese glared.
Brantley laughed. “Okay, I’ll make you a deal.”
That got his attention.
“If you’ll agree to meet my parents, I’ll buy a couch.”
Reese glanced over at the sparse living room then back to Brantley. “And a TV.”
“Fine. And another TV.”
“And a dining room table.”
“Okay.” Brantley chuckled. “You drive a hard bargain, Tavoularis.”
“Plus some furniture for upstairs.”
Brantley’s eyes narrowed, then he shook his head, turned back to his food. “Nope. Never mind. No couch, no TV, no parents. We’ll continue to live in this empty house, just like it is. My folks’ll keep right on wonderin’ why I’m hidin’ you. And my nephew’ll think of you as candy from here on out.”
It was Reese’s turn to laugh, and this time he felt lighter than before. “Fine. But a couch, TV and a dining table. I pick them out.”
Brantley peered over, gave him a quick once-over. “You’re kinda new to this whole gay thing. You think you can color coordinate?”
Reese smiled so hard his cheeks hurt. “I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”
Brantley winked. “Deal.”
Reese wasn’t sure what it was about this man. Since the day he met Brantley Walker, he’d been in way over his head. The fact that he’d fallen for the guy when he hadn’t even realized he was interested in men said a lot. Then again, he got the feeling he wasn’t interested in men. He was interested in this man. Only Brantley.
“You want more?” Brantley offered, snatching his own plate before heading back to the stove.
“I’m good. Thanks.” Reese watched him. “You’re not at all worried about meetin’ my family?”
Brantley turned around with his plate full once more. “Why would I be?”
Reese shrugged. “It’s not weird?”
“No. What’s weird is the fact that we live together and neither of us has met the other’s family.”
He had a point there. Not that Reese regretted the fact they’d decided to move in together. It felt right to him. Or it would once he managed to convince the man to actually go out and buy some furniture. Maybe a pool table for the upstairs game room. Probably wouldn’t hurt if they had a guest bedroom.
Baby steps, he reminded himself.
An hour and a half later, Reese was crawling into bed beside Brantley.
“You’re not mad at me, are you?” he asked, feeling a tad vulnerable after their dinner conversation.
Brantley clicked the remote to turn off the television, the weather guy’s face disappearing in an instant. “No. Why would I be?”
Reese shrugged, then flipped off the lamp on his side of the bed. It pitched the room into darkness, not making his insecurities any better.
He flopped back on his pillow, stared up at the ceiling although his eyes hadn’t adjusted and he saw only black.
“I want to meet your parents,” he said, hoping to reassure Brantley that this wasn’t some fucked-up crisis he was undergoing. God knows he’d had enough of those lately.
“No, you don’t,” Brantley teased, his big arm sliding over his chest as Brantley eased up to his right side. “But that’s normal.”
As usual, he let the foreign sensations wash over him. The man was big and hard, a far cry from the women he’d been with in the past. Reese could feel the hair on Brantley’s leg as it brushed his, the scent of his musky body wash. Initially it had been awkward, this insane attraction he had to Brantley. Now it settled around him, comforting in its familiarity.
“Is it?” Reese turned his head toward Brantley. “Normal?”
“You said you’ve never met the parents before, right?”
“Yes.”
“So what stopped you before?”
“Never felt like the right time.”
“Does it now?”
“Yeah.” Reese relaxed again, staring up at the ceiling. “It does. Now it’s just nerves.”
“They’re gonna love you.” Brantley’s lips brushed his shoulder. “As much as I do.”
Warmth churned through him, filling his chest. Ever since they had declared their love for one another, it had gotten a bit easier for Reese. Sure, he was still uncertain of himself, but he figured that was to be expected in any relationship. However, there was the comfort of knowing they had something real between them.
No, he wasn’t quite comfortable with the whole PDA thing. Then again, Brantley wasn’t the lovey-dovey sort, so he didn’t have that to worry about. They also hadn’t gone out on another public date after the epic failure that was their first and only. Reese still felt ill when he thought about it, but it seemed Brantley had put it behind them.
“Relax,” Brantley whispered, his lips trailing upward toward his neck. “Let me have you, Reese.”
Oh, how he loved to hear that coming out of Brantley’s mouth. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he definitely enjoyed submitting to this man, giving himself over and not having to worry about anything but the pleasure that came from their bodies coming together.
“Can I have you?” Brantley taunted, his leg hooking over Reese’s, his big hand sliding down Reese’s stomach, making the muscles contract.
“You’ve got me.”
“Mmm.”
With little effort, Brantley shifted and was over him, Reese’s legs gripped between Brantley’s knees. That wicked-hot mouth blazed a fiery trail across his skin from his neck downward, over his chest. The man paused to tease Reese’s nipples, making his entire body harden from the exquisite sensation. He’d never felt anything like what he felt when Brantley touched him.
“Get the lube,” Brantley urged. “I’m gonna need it in a bit.”
While Reese twisted his torso, reaching over to open the nightstand drawer, Brantley’s warm mouth circled his cock. He groaned long and low, forgetting for a second what he was doing as he pumped his hips, pushing into the blessed wet heat working him into a frenzy. Somehow he managed to remember his mission, retrieving the lube from the drawer, tossing it in Brantley’s direction.
“Fuck, yes,” he hissed, cupping Brantley’s head, loving the way his hair tickled his palm. “Suck me.”
Brantley moaned, sending vibrations up through his shaft, which ignited a tingle in his spine.
Reese sank into the pillow, letting the pleasure consume him, the heat gliding up and down his cock. Every so often, Brantley would lick his balls, that wicked tongue stirring to life every nerve ending in his body.
It seemed to go on forever until Reese was hanging by a thread, seconds away from detonating.
As though he sensed it, Brantley stopped, moving over him again, their mouths melding together briefly. Reese thought that Brantley would take him then, but the man seemed to have other plans, because he broke the kiss and crawled up Reese’s body until he was straddling his chest, those muscular legs pinning his arms to his sides.
“Suck me,” Brantley ordered. “Let me feel that fuckin’ mouth on me.”
Eager to give Brantley what he wanted, Reese opened his mouth around the thick head, licked the pre-cum from the tip before sucking him in deep. From there, Brantley took over, his hands gripping the headboard as he pumped his hips, fucking Reese’s face. His arms were trapped, so it was Brantley who controlled the pace, the depth of his cock in Reese’s throat. His eyes had adjusted enough to see Brantley above him, staring down, watching.
“Oh, yeah. God, you’re good at that,” Brantley hissed. “So fuckin’ good.”
While he continued to lick and lave Brantley’s cock, Reese was barely aware of the man moving, the sound of the lubricant being opened. He waited, not sure what was going to happen. Once again, he was surprised when Brantley eased out of his mouth, sitting on Reese’s chest.
“Lube me up,” Brantley instructed.
Dragging one arm out from under Brantley’s leg, he held out his hand so Brantley could fill it with the cool liquid. He then proceeded to stroke Brantley’s rigid cock, enjoying the way it pulsed against his palm. That and the sounds of Brantley’s groans had his body throbbing, his blood reaching a boiling point.
“Fuck me,” Reese pleaded, still stroking Brantley as he stared up that incredible body.
As was the case anytime they were together, the overwhelming intensity of his lust slammed into him, made him desperate. It was a feeling he’d never known before Brantley. Heat and light seemed to replace his insides, churning and boiling, his muscles tensing, his cock throbbing as the ache overtook him.
“I need… Fuck, Brantley, I need you inside me.”
A tormented groan escaped Brantley before the man moved once more, inching down Reese’s torso, then shifting between his thighs.
Brantley did all the work, shoving Reese’s legs wide, draping them over his arms, pushing his knees toward his chest as he began prodding his asshole with the head of his cock. Time for foreplay was over, the need too great to ignore any longer.
Helping him along, Reese reached down, guided Brantley where he wanted him, and breathed in deep when he pushed forward, impaling him in one intense thrust.
Reese grunted when Brantley folded him in half and retreated slowly, a wicked-slow glide out, then in. Out once more.
“Oh, fuck,” Reese moaned.
“You ready, baby?”
Fuck, he loved when Brantley called him that and he had no idea why.
“So fucking ready,” he growled. “Fuck me.”
That was exactly what Brantley did. He fucked him. Hard, deep. So fucking deep.
They maintained a leisurely pace with Brantley jerking his hips to fill Reese impossibly full on every downstroke. It wasn’t long before sweat broke out over his skin, his cock so hard it hurt.
Brantley held himself over him, those all-seeing eyes staring down. “Tell me, Reese.”
“More,” he bit out through clenched teeth, accepting the pleasure that coursed through him every time Brantley drove deep inside him. “Make me come.”
Brantley kneeled upright, his hands shifting to Reese’s knees as he held him there, using him as leverage as his hips once again surged forward and back. He began to slam into him. Faster, harder.
“Oh, fuck.” Reese was panting, his chest heaving as he gripped his cock, stroking in time with Brantley’s thrusts.
“I’m gonna come,” Brantley warned. “You better come with me, Reese.”
Reese groaned, tightening his fist on his cock, jerking roughly. He was so damn close but it felt so fucking good. He didn’t want to come yet, he wanted it to last for—
“Oh, fuck!” Reese’s cock jerked in his fist as he came in a rush, his body shuddering from the near-painful blasts of ecstasy that rocketed through him.
Brantley groaned a second later, following him right over.