Chapter Eighteen

Adelicious ache settled in Brian's ass, waking him up—or that was part of the reason. The other reason had slept next to him all night, spooning. At some point, Greg had moved until Brian couldn't feel him anymore. The combination of Greg's body and what it had done to Brian woke him.

He stretched as he searched for the man who had set him on fire with a song. He found Greg on the side of the bed, lying on his stomach and his face buried in the pillow. Brian moved closer until he curled into Greg's side. Throwing his leg over Greg's, he trailed kisses down a muscular shoulder.

"Greg," Brian whispered and kissed the back of his neck.

"Hmm," Greg mumbled. The sound of it came out sleep-slow.

Brian smiled and kissed him. "You have to wake up now."

"Mmm. No."

Brian chuckled, kissing between Greg's shoulders. "I require a song, young peasant."

Greg rolled over so quickly, Brian squealed, and his heart beat out of his chest. Greg grabbed Brian around his waist and hauled him up so that he was lying on top. When Greg sang an old song about rising in the morning and being joyful that they were together, Brian chuckled.

Brian braced himself with his arms on Greg's chest and smiled, kissing him when the song ended. He sat up, the sheet a pool of white around his hips. Greg's hard length pressed against his balls and ass. He could go another round if not for the deep satisfaction. "I never knew you could sing like that. You're amazing."

Greg smiled but otherwise didn't say anything.

"When did you learn to play guitar?"

"My grandpa taught me when I was young."

Brian absently traced a finger through the hairs on Greg's chest. "Were you close to your grandparents?"

"I never knew my grandma. She died before I was born. But I'm still close to my Grandpa. I don't get to see him much. He lives in one of those retirement village places in Florida." Greg pushed the sheet away, exposing Brian's cock. He didn't take it in hand, but the gaze was enough to make it fill with blood.

"My grandpa died a couple of years ago. I still miss him. You should take the time to go see yours." How did Brian manage to have a conversation with the hard cock beneath him, and his own hard and wanting?

"He's coming here for a visit at the end of the summer." Greg took him in hand finally, holding him lazily as if he wasn't quite ready to put effort into getting Brian off.

"Will…um…will you let me meet him?" Wanting to meet family implied he wanted a serious relationship. Brian knew it did, but he made himself ask the question. Fear be damned in the face of how Greg made him feel. He wanted more, and it was about time he let himself have it.

"Of course." Greg didn't seem to know the effort it took for Brian to take such a step.

"I don't want to assume."

"Assume? That our future dates will go well?" Greg let his cock go and wrapped his hand around Brian's nape, pulling him down until their lips were a few inches apart. "I'm serious about us. You know that."

"I guess we need to talk."

"About why you have fuck buddies, you mean?"

As much as Brian hated that look on Greg's face because it was slightly accusatory, he knew why it was there. Brian hadn't kept who he fucked a secret, and Greg had probably seen him flirt before, especially with Jackson.

Brian nodded and kept it at that.

"I won't be a fuck buddy."

Brian cupped Greg's cheek. "You're not."

"So why don't you do relationships?"

Brian sighed and rolled off Greg. He sat next to him, taking his hand in his and playing with his fingers. He felt as if he was on top of a bridge. All he saw was Greg with his arms open as if saying It's okay. I'll catch you.

"When I first got out of college and took over my father's business, I had a fling with this older man. He was a friend of my father's and came to town on business a few times a year. It was nothing serious, but I convinced myself it could have been if he lived closer and all that stuff. I was young and probably a lot na?ve."

"Did he hurt you?" Greg's lips thinned, and his eyes held a level of threat Brian had never seen on him before.

Brian shook his head. "No. Not in any way." Brian shrugged again and thought about how he should explain himself. "I knew he vacationed in Florida the same week every year because he used it as a tax write-off. It was legit, but I still don't know what business he did down there. Anyway, I thought I'd surprise him. He surprised me when I saw him on the beach with his wife and kids."

Greg's eyebrows went up.

"Well, I told myself that I wouldn't ever lead anyone on, which he kinda did with me. I mean he was charming and made promises on occasion. I don't know that I cared about him enough to want him to live up to those promises anyway, but that wasn't the point. He lied, and not to me, but his poor family. So I've been upfront with everyone. They knew I didn't want serious or dating right from the start."

Greg smiled. "Except for me."

Brian cupped his cheek. "You're the only one I have ever made promises to, and I intend to keep them."

Greg sat up. "Me too. You know that, right?"

Brian kissed him, lingering. "That's the second sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me."

"What's the first sweetest thing?"

Brian's brows drew together, and he shook his head. "You singing that beautiful song to me, of course. Duh. Silly."

Greg's lips turned up for a second. "I'm glad it worked."

"That will work every time. Trust me. You know what else will work."

"What?" Greg grinned.

"If you make love to me, then we shower, and then you make breakfast for us."

"You're assuming I can cook." Greg chuckled.

"Can you?"

Greg shrugged. "I do all right."

"Well, I don't so…"

Greg pounced on him, surprising Brian for the second time that morning. He had Brian underneath him with his hands held above his head so quickly Brian didn't know what hit him.

Brian got with the program in a hurry, wrapping his legs around Greg's waist.

"I feel so used." The grin on Greg's face spoke of how he felt about that.

"Get to work, cowboy." Brian chuckled and then roared with laughter when Greg nipped at his neck with playful little bites.