Chapter 13

How can he even ask that? I storm past him and slam the door behind me, but he grabs my arm. He’s bloody strong and spins me to face him.

“Ivan, what the fuck is going on? Is this how you visit people, by beating down the door, then storming in?”

“Do you normally brush off people you’re fucking with ‘thanks for a good time’?”

Brodie recoils like I’ve slapped him.

“I was letting you go to spend your day with your friends. You said that’s what you do.” He walks into the kitchen.

I follow him, not letting him get away from me again. “I said usually, not that I had plans to do that today. I planned to spend it with you, or I hoped to.”

He’s shoving bed sheets into the washing machine, but he sinks back onto his knees and looks up at me with a guilty look. I could fall for this stupid, stubborn, adorable man. “Washing the evidence away?” I lean against the door frame.

“Something like that. I didn’t want to be able to smell you if you weren’t going to be around.” Okay, I can add brutally honest to the list of his attributes. “Look, I’m not good at this. I’ve not had any real relationships. I’ve had girlfriends but have never wanted more from them, never fantasised about them. I never wished I’d stayed after leaving them. I don’t know how to behave around you because I want all that with you.”

I step closer to him, holding out my hand. When he takes it, I pull him upright and against me. I want all that with him too. Maybe we’ve gone the wrong way about it. Sex before even knowing each other’s names, unprotected sex on the promise of a clean bill of health. I get lost when I’m with him. I’ve never felt as deeply about anyone as I do about him. “Look, I’m new at this too. I’m not one to date. I like to have a good time and spend the summer messing around with the tourists. That’s because they’re not here for long and won’t ask for any commitment. But you’re different. I want to get to know you, spend my time with you. I want you, Brodie. More than anything else.”

“Merrick knows what happened,” Brodie blurts out. “I mean, he knows I hooked up with a man, not that it was you.”

I lead him back into the living room and push him gently down on the small sofa. “What did he say? I bet he was surprised.” Was it a good surprise or a ‘what the hell have you done’ surprise? I don’t know Merrick, so I can’t tell if he’s a supportive friend or not.

“He was surprised and very confused. I’ve gone to gay bars and clubs with Merrick and Josh, and men have hit on me plenty of times, but I’ve never thought about it and always turned any offer down. Until you. I wanted to kiss you. Not to know what it would be like kissing a man but what it would be like kissing you. Because there was no way I couldn’t. Desire took over, and I ran with it. I’m so glad I did.”

“I am too.” I can’t stop myself from leaning towards him and pressing my mouth to his. It’s a quick, chaste kiss but with a promise of more to come. “How do you want this to go?” I nibble at his lips and trace my nose up the length of his.

He sighs. “I want to be with you, but maybe we shouldn’t tell them you’re my mystery man. That we met for the first time at yesterday’s dinner and bumped into each other again at the cafe this morning. We can take it from there.”

That makes sense. It will keep Drew off my back. And Merlin. That fucker wants Brodie. “Merlin fancies you. He asked if I was going to go after you because if I wasn’t, he would.” I laugh when Brodie’s cheeks pink up. He exudes confidence yet blushes at the idea of a man liking him. “You have no idea how gorgeous you are, do you?”

“Don’t say shit like that to me. It’s embarrassing.”

He gets even redder, so I kiss him again. “You’re fucking hot as hell,” I tell him between kisses, and he laughs. “I wish you hadn’t stripped the bed. I want you again.”

“Then here will have to do,” he whispers.

“I’m not fucking you with the curtains open. Come with me. I’ll bend you over the bed.”

“Fuck, yes. I want it hard.”

How can he be blushing one second and be dirty the next? But I’m not going to complain. I drag him from the sofa to his bedroom, which is only a few steps away, but I’m desperate.

I grab the lube as Brodie attacks his clothes, pulling his jumper and T-shirt over his head and throwing them haphazardly across the room. His jeans are next, but they get tangled at his ankles thanks to the boots he’s wearing. I watch with amusement as he curses and yanks them from his feet, then kicks them to the side. His jeans follow.

In a wordless invitation, he bends over the bed, places his hands flat on the mattress, and spreads his legs. I can’t hold back the urge to smack his firm butt cheek. The loud crack of my hand on the taut skin resonates in the room. Brodie yelps and shoots me a look over his shoulder. It’s not one of chastisement but of surprise and a little bit of desire.

“You like that!” I grin broadly and do it again.

“I like your cock in my arse more. But yeah, you can do that again.” He sways his hips as I stroke my lubed-up finger over his entrance. I’m transfixed by the beautiful sight of my finger slipping easily inside the tight muscle. He moans low, dropping his head, and pushes onto my finger. “God, how have I lived without this?” he mutters as I add another finger.

“So greedy. You look breathtaking as your arse swallows my fingers.” I’ve got three fingers pumping and stretching him. “Ready for my dick?”

“So ready. I’m close just from your fingers.” He pants, digging his fingers into the mattress so hard his knuckles turn white.

I apply more lube to my cock, press the head to the softened pucker, and slip inside, gliding to the hilt in one slow motion. His muscles ripple around my length, and I grab his hips and pull back. Our grunts and groans of pleasure echo in the room as we both race to our orgasms, getting closer and closer. I want to see him as he comes. I pull out, ignoring Brodie’s protests, flip him onto his back, and ram my dick back inside him.

“Stroke yourself, baby.” I lift his legs and hold them up against my chest. My gaze is fixed on his as he throws his head back and comes. The tendons in his neck are taut, his jaw rigid as he shudders through the intensity of his climax. I pick up speed and slam one, two, three more times and cry out my release. I lower his legs and chuckle as they flop off the edge of the bed. I drop down, my hands on either side of his head, and kiss him. A long, slow kiss. I lick leisurely into his mouth until he joins in, and our tongues dance lazily together.

Brodie has a dopey-as-fuck smile on his face. “This just keeps getting better and better.”

I couldn’t agree more.