Chapter Twenty
Bryce bumpedinto Jesse six times as they tried to make some sort of breakfast out of the groceries Alex and Celia had brought. Jesse was lactose intolerant, which pretty much left anything in the freezer for quick meals inedible. They had eggs, bread, and bacon, though. Neither of them was a good cook, and they’d rather spend their time kissing than paying attention to food.
Which was how they wound up setting off the fire alarm.
Jesse froze, but only for a heartbeat. Then he went to the living room window and opened it. Bryce turned off the bacon and took it off the heat. His heart was racing more than it should, but he glanced to Jesse to see how he was.
Jesse leaned against the wall and stared out the window. His plaid boxers were fresh out of the box, complete with creases, and he hadn’t put on anything else. The bruise around his neck was worse, but otherwise there was no sign anything had happened to him the day before.
Except for the way he held himself. Jesse was toughing out the morning, but Bryce could see the cracks in his armor. He’d sworn that he didn’t need anyone to protect him. That didn’t mean someone shouldn’t try.
“You had a hell of a day yesterday,” Bryce said quietly.
“I’ve had worse.”
“Really?” Bryce moved over to the window and closed the blinds. “Your apartment burned and your life was in danger three times.”
Jesse shot him a wry grin. “Okay. It’s hard to come up with worse. I mean, there’s the day my uncle died. Day my first lover broke my heart. And last night. Kind of a three-way split. At least this time I had you.”
Bryce didn’t want to think about what might have happened if he hadn’t been there. He also didn’t want to think about the impulsive wave of love he’d experienced last night, or how Jesse’s words brought that emotion back. Everything was too new between them for that kind of seriousness.
And yet… there was a chance Bryce’s heart didn’t give a damn about time and knew what he wanted.
“Do you think it’s related to the museum theft?” Bryce asked.
“You mean, is there anyone else out there who would want to kill me?” Jesse shrugged. “Nothing I’ve done at the bureau’s brought any high-profile attention. Haven’t pissed off any mob bosses or terrorist organizations. Mostly been working fraud cases. Got to be my independent work that’s caught someone’s attention.”
“You mentioned Lawson talked to you.”
Jesse lightly hooked his finger into the waistband of Bryce’s pajamas. “You trying to pump me for information? Had enough of the director doing that last night.”
Bryce drew closer to him, happy when Jesse wrapped his arm around him casually. Touching him made Bryce feel better, let him push away the worry building in his chest. He’d fretted over lovers, friends, and witnesses before, but with Jesse, his heart was in a clamp.
If he were smart, he’d tell Bonnell to reassign him and make someone else Jesse’s protection. But he couldn’t bear the thought of not knowing what was happening to him.
“Keeping our minds busy,” Bryce replied.
“Is it weird? I don’t want to think about this shit for a change.” Jesse leaned against the wall and languidly stroked Bryce’s back. “It’s too much. I don’t think I can handle it.”
“Oh, now you want to slow down,” Bryce teased.
Jesse pursed his lips, then got a devilish glint in his eyes. He leaned forward and raspberried Bryce’s neck. When Bryce laughed, he did it again, pulling Bryce closer.
Bryce’s fears melted as he wrapped his arms around Jesse. Holding him calmed even the worst tension twisting his stomach. As long as they were together, they could protect one another. With Jesse, the world was more than monsters and investigations. Even after horrible nights, sunlit mornings making breakfast were possible.
Bryce kissed him. Jesse had so much more skill than him, and Bryce was happy to surrender to him any time. During a long, thorough, achingly deep kiss, Jesse shifted their positions so Bryce was up against the wall. He was solid muscle. The feel of him and the passionate way he kissed made Bryce hard. Thinking about Jesse made him hard, but having him excited every nerve.
Kissing Jesse was making Bryce’s mouth stubble burned. Each brush of lips was more sensitive than the last. Bryce gripped Jesse’s ass, enjoying the feel of his muscles. He dragged him closer and their still-covered cocks rubbed against each other. A couple of layers of cotton weren’t much, and he relished the friction. Jesse grew harder.
“Tell me we still have condoms,” Jesse growled lustily in Bryce’s ear.
“Plenty,” Bryce replied. Alex had put a whole box in the bag of newly purchased clothes he’d brought over. They’d only used a couple.
“Good.” Jesse kneaded Bryce’s ass with one hand. He playfully bit Bryce’s earlobe. “Bedroom.”
The one tiny growly command was enough to make Bryce harden the rest of the way. He dragged Jesse to the bedroom. They kissed and stumbled their way there. After shedding what little clothing they had, they scrambled onto the bed. Bryce was just about to mention they’d forgotten the condoms when the front door of the apartment opened.
Sticky, clammy paranoia took over as Bryce rolled Jesse to the farther side of the bed. Without wasting a thought, he grabbed his Glock from under the bed, unclicked the safety, and aimed toward the front door. He motioned for Jesse to stay quiet and stay put. Then, he slipped off the end of the bed and went to the bedroom door. Prepared to face whatever came through the door, Bryce peeked around the corner.
