DAKOTA LOVED Richmond. Not as much as Baltimore, though the city was a close second. But even his love for this city wasn’t enough to counter his irritation with Brenden. He pulled up next to the Magick Den’s van at the Raceway. The back doors were open as vendors and artists unpacked and hurried to set up before the doors opened for VIP ticket holders. “I told you we’d get here on time.”
Brenden rolled his eyes and pulled off his seat belt with an impatient jerk. “I like to get here earlier than this.”
“This isn’t our con,” Dakota reminded him. He got out and opened the trunk. “It takes us twenty minutes tops to set up our table. We can do the damned routine in our sleep.”
“But I like to talk to people before the doors open. I wanted to check in with Morris and see how the honeymoon went. We haven’t had a chance to see them since they got back.” Brenden pulled out the box they used for their old banner and tablecloth. “We don’t get to really talk to people at our cons. We’re too busy running things. And once the doors open here, everyone else is busy.”
“I have every faith in our ability to schmooze at any time.” Dakota took the box from Brenden and tossed it in the back seat. “Why the hell did you bring that?” He was sure he’d culled it before they loaded the trunk. Brenden must’ve snuck it by him.
“You’re losing it.” Brenden stuck his hand on his hip and glared at Dakota. “So our table and spot doesn’t look naked. We are trying to advertise here.”
Dakota should’ve burned their old stuff. He’d planned on hiding it from Brenden this morning, but he had to go out and get his run in before he died of blue balls. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take of waking up next to Brenden and keeping his hands mostly to himself. It would be easier if he made Brenden sleep in his own room, but the laughable fact was he couldn’t sleep anymore unless he was next to the irritating man trying to stare him down.
“Exactly.” Dakota reached under the throw blanket he’d put in the back and pulled out the box with one of their new banners and tablecloth. “We’re trying to advertise, so we’re using this instead.”
“No, we’re not,” Brenden said flatly. “We’re going to unveil our new logo at the big con in Annapolis. A whole new con and whole new advertising to go with it. It’s called branding.”
“Don’t be a twit,” Dakota retorted, shoving the box into Brenden’s hands. “We want to build more buzz. Waiting until the big con is a lost opportunity. I’m not letting you miss out.”
For once Brenden didn’t bristle at his tone or words. If anything, the baffling man had a pleased gleam in his eyes. “You won’t let me?” he asked in a deceptively soft voice.
Friends and acquaintances moved around them either snickering at their exchange or ignoring their familiar arguing. Dakota smirked at Brenden as he grabbed the other box with their flyers, cards, and another box of swag paraphernalia that he set on the roof of the car. “Who do you think is the boss between us?” he asked in a snickering tone he knew would get Brenden’s blood going. They hadn’t had a good argument in too long.
Brenden’s eyebrows beetled. “It sure as fuck isn’t you, Dakota Nye.”
At that blatant challenge, Dakota leaned in closer as annoyance was replaced with raw need. This hands-off shit was fucking stupid. He was dying to make Brenden whimper again, and he half suspected Brenden was pushing buttons to get Dakota into that same state. “You once promised I could do whatever I wanted to you,” he whispered.
Brenden glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot and whispered back, “I did. I also recall you made good on that promise more than once that night. But that was then, this is now.”
A hot thrill went through Dakota, and he eyed Brenden’s mouth. Dammit, tonight he was going to have that mouth on him. He forced himself to look at Brenden and not remember what Brenden could do with that mouth. “So it’s a one and done promise? I can’t have my wicked way with you again, carte blanche to do whatever I want?”
Brenden’s gaze heated. “Only if I get to do the same in return. So if you’re considering breaking out those ropes of yours, just remember you’ll be on the receiving end as well.”
Dakota pulled back, staring at Brenden in shock. He couldn’t be serious. But the challenge in Brenden’s expression was adamant, and Dakota vividly remembered how they’d wrestled around on the bed for the upper hand. Brenden only surrendered on his own terms. He was serious.
Hell no. Dakota didn’t let anybody tie him up, and he definitely hadn’t let anyone top in a long-assed time. Not since he was an experimental teenager. Then he remembered how Brenden devastated him with his mouth and temptation tugged. If he were to let anyone take charge, it would be Brenden. He’d never steered Dakota wrong yet.
“Fuck you, Bren,” Dakota said pleasantly before rampant hormones had him agreeing to some crazy shit.
Brenden gave him that cool smile of his, the one that screamed fuck you right back, and handed Dakota the banner box. “We’re using the old banner. Put this away.”
“Brenden Aloysius Wade, if you pull that box back out, I swear I’ll set it on fire right here in the parking lot,” Dakota snapped as Brenden reached into the back seat. “Trust my fucking instincts on this. I’m your media man, remember?”
Brenden glanced over his shoulder, and Dakota swore that the gleam of amusement was back again. Which proved his suspicion that Brenden was provoking an argument. “You think I’m here to entertain you?” Dakota demanded.
Brenden straightened empty-handed and shrugged. “I missed our arguments. They get me fired up.” He reached for the box in Dakota’s hands with a too-smooth expression. “You’re right about the banner.”
Dakota was too fucking horny to put up with this bullshit and Brenden too goddamned smug to let that slide. Brenden’s eyes widened as Dakota let go of the box and trapped him against the open door of the car. “Dakota.” The warning in his voice was offset by his sudden breathlessness.
It was the breathlessness that did Dakota in. He’d been planning on a quick, firm kiss, just enough to give Brenden notice, but knowing his annoying man was in an equal state of sexual frustration crumbled Dakota’s last bit of tattered reserve. He was kissing Brenden and he didn’t give two fucks who saw.
The box fell to the ground with a muffled thud, and Brenden’s hand came to his chest as if to push him away, but he fisted it in Dakota’s shirt instead as Dakota kissed him. It was just like when he’d kissed Brenden in the hotel room, fire meeting fire. Dakota didn’t know which he craved more, the kisses like this that threatened to burn him up from the inside out or the sweet lingering kisses they’d been sharing over the last several weeks. Dammit, he wanted more than this coy dance they’d been playing at. He wanted it all. And from the way Brenden kissed him back, Dakota wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
“Son of a bitch.”
Dakota pulled back with a soft curse at the sound of Felipe’s voice. He looked over his shoulder as Brenden straightened with a groan. “Do you have to always get in the last damn word?” Brenden said in a strangled whisper.
“You know I do,” Dakota whispered back.
Felipe passed Loki’s horned helmet between his hands as he stared at them in delighted amusement. He shook his head with a smirk. “I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure, but damned if Morris wasn’t right again about you two. You might want to lay off each other. This isn’t a damned peep show.”
“Hey there, Felipe,” Dakota said with an easiness he didn’t feel. His dick could hammer nails it was so fucking hard, and Brenden was in a similar state. He crouched and retrieved the fallen box. Luckily nothing had spilled out. If they didn’t have company, he swore he’d lay a kiss right on the outline of Brenden’s cock that pressed against his jeans.
“Behave your fucking self,” Brenden hissed, his face scarlet, and Dakota rose, handing him the box.
“I’d carry that low to hide that monster boner.” Dakota grabbed the other boxes and walked over to his friend. “For the record, this is all your fault, Felipe.”
Felipe rolled his expressive eyes as Brenden shouted after him, “I swear to God, Dakota Nye, I will end you.”
“I see that giving in to your baser urges has not done one damned thing to change your relationship dynamic. You still fight.” Felipe shook his head as they entered the back of the building. A con always appeared naked at the start, when the tables were still bare of their tablecloths and banners were just beginning to go up. Naked. He’d dearly love to be naked right now with Brenden.
“We’re like the Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s how we express our feelings for each other.” Dakota dropped the box onto their table. This wasn’t the best location. They should be along the side near the restrooms, but for some dumb-ass reason, they had cosplayer registration over there.
He eyed Felipe, trying to judge his reaction. “For the record, I never hooked up with Brenden when you and I were on and off.”
“Whatever. You would’ve told me if you were screwing around with someone else. But you’re lying to yourself if you think you two didn’t have a hold on each other past whatever weird familial ties you have.” Felipe’s gaze sought out Trask’s table, and he smiled softly. “I’m more than good. You and Brenden go be you and Brenden. You can’t be anything else.”
Then Felipe turned toward him, his smirk out and proud. “Brenden played the long game, and he’s got you, my friend.” He snickered and turned away. “He’s got you good.”
Dakota wasn’t quite sure how to take that, and before he could retort, Felipe had sashayed off. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Brenden bearing down on him with pressed lips, which meant trouble. Dakota abandoned the box and left Brenden to set up by himself. Maybe he’d cool down by the time Dakota returned.
He’d even get a little work in, so by the time he came back, he’d have an update to report. That ought to ease Brenden’s wrath. Dakota stopped by Jackie’s table, and she eyed him with an uncertain expression. “You and Brenden, huh?”
“It didn’t take the rumors long to make the circuit.” Dakota went to her side to help her set up the giant frame she hung her prints from.
“You molested him in full view of the open bay doors.” Jackie took out her duct tape to seal the joints as he steadied the frame.
Not nearly as much as Dakota wanted to. It was crazy, but in a weird way, he was getting a glimpse of what Brenden had gone through all those years. Brenden taunting and teasing and flirting when Dakota was dying to lay hands on him but afraid of what opening that last door would mean for them. Brenden had to believe he was in it for the long haul.
Dakota sighed. Long haul, not forever. Even in his thoughts, he couldn’t think of permanent commitment. So if Dakota didn’t have any real faith in himself, how could he demand that from Brenden?
“He had it coming. He provoked an argument.” Dakota had to admit it had been a satisfying exchange. They hadn’t sniped at each other in forever. They both enjoyed sniping at each other and getting irritated and waving their arms. It wasn’t serious. It blew off steam. And they laughed over it later.
“How is Brenden taking the public airing of your relationship?” Jackie asked as she climbed onto a chair and reached for the first print Dakota handed her. “And when the hell did this start?”
Those were good damn questions, and Dakota wasn’t sure he had an answer for either one. “I’m giving him space to cool down, because if he starts lecturing me, I won’t escape with my skin.” He also wasn’t sure he’d be able to avoid the temptation to try to kiss him again, and Brenden would brain him if Dakota pulled him into another PDA. He warily searched the con. Brenden was most likely at their table, setting it up and muttering to himself all the words he would’ve said to Dakota if given the opportunity. It was harder to pinpoint his location as more banners were raised. “As for the two of us… you could say it’s both been going on forever and it’s just started, not sure which is the most applicable.”
Fuck, he’d said applicable. Brenden was a bad influence. Surly bastard.
“Uh-huh….” Jackie’s tone was skeptical as she taped up the first row of prints with quick, economical movements. “And how far is it going?”
Questions like that made Dakota uneasy. He couldn’t gauge the future the way Brenden could. “We’re worried more about today. We’ll figure out tomorrow when we get there.”
Jackie made an exasperated sound as she accepted another handful of prints and tacked up the second row. “That’s such a you response. I bet he would have a different answer. What does your family think?”
“One damn thing at a time, Jackie, jeez. Feeling out our friends is enough of a leap. Family will come when we’re ready.” Dakota stepped back as she jumped down and turned to face him. They’d been close friends for years, and he’d hate to think she’d get upset over his relationship with Brenden. “You aren’t going to get weird about us, are you?”
“It’s going to take some getting used to. I’d always looked at you one way.” Jackie crouched down and hauled out another bin. “But I’m not going to treat you any different than I always have.”
A weight lifted from his shoulders. Maybe kissing Brenden like that wasn’t the best way to out themselves, but it certainly cleared up any guessing or arguments. “Hey, do you have the proposals for the ID badges? I don’t want to go back to Brenden empty-handed.”
“Yep.” Jackie turned to dig through another bin. “I like the way they turned out. I made a dozen different options. Then you and Brenden can decide if you want to make the staff and volunteers one image, the guests another, vendors and so on, or if you want to mix it all up.”
Dakota liked the mixing idea. Then they could have a set number of each made and it would keep everything from being similar. However, there was one image he had in mind for their core staff. Then everyone would know at a glance who to go to for questions. Ah, there it was.
Brenden as Brainiac was fucking genius. Dakota was so glad he’d thought of that. When Brenden noticed it would make his day, which was why Dakota was leaving it as a surprise. Brenden would need those boosts over the weekend in Annapolis. It was going to be mental.
“These are perfect. They’re going to look kickass on the badges. I’ll show them to Brenden and get his okay. You mind sending me the digital copies too?” That made ordering so much easier than trying to scan the images himself. He flipped through the proofs again with anticipatory pleasure. It had the vibe they were going for, kickass fun.
“Yeah, I’ll send them once I finish setting up.” Jackie handed over a folder and Dakota stuck the images in it before stuffing it in his backpack. That would please Brenden.
“Thanks, Jackie. I’d better go check in on my other half.” It was one thing to give Brenden time to cool off and another to let him stew.
“Good luck,” Jackie said dryly. “I promise to come to your funeral.”
“Make sure there’s plenty of booze and music.” Dakota shouldered his backpack and headed toward Brenden. The new banner was up, the tablecloth spread, and Brenden was laying out their flyers and cards in strict order of size. Dakota strolled up and refrained from commenting on the sad state of regimentation. Putting things in order gave Brenden a sense of security. “You were right about Morris doing the new image. It’s both eye-catching and elegant.”
Brenden gave him a cool, quick glance and didn’t respond. Dakota had to give it to him. He always knew when Brenden was pissed.
“I have the concept art for the badges.” Dakota came around the table and slid his backpack underneath.
“Yipee,” Brenden muttered, taking his seat and not looking at Dakota.
Dakota could not put up with this all day. “Okay, which are you pissed at? You started an argument and I shut it down. Are you mad because I kissed you in front of everyone or because I didn’t drag you off to a hotel room to finish what I’d started?”
“Both,” Brenden said in a disgruntled tone and turned to face Dakota. “Don’t you think we should’ve said something first?”
“Nope. Neither one of us would’ve been comfortable with a grand announcement. I mean, can you think of a way to broach it?”
Brenden sighed, some of the irritation easing from his eyes. “Not really. With my luck, you would’ve said screw it and announced it over the intercom.”
Dakota laughed. “Probably.”
Dakota reached over and took his hand. “Now I can do this, and if anybody feels the need to say something about it, they can come and face us both. I want to kiss you whenever the urge strikes me. And you were deliberately provoking me, admit it.”
Brenden’s fingers closed around Dakota’s, and a faint smile appeared. “Maybe. I’ll have to remember you take things too far.”
Not far enough. Not far enough at all.
“We’re going to have to have a team meeting with all our volunteers soon. The mass email and various calls have worked so far, but I want to make sure everyone is on board.” Brenden squeezed Dakota’s hand, then pulled out his clipboard and a pen. “What do you think?”
Well, at least considering work was better than doing nothing, because if Dakota had to sit next to Brenden all damn day making small talk, he’d lose his ever-loving mind. All he could think of was luring Brenden to some dark corner of the con and loving all over him.