Page 55 of Black and Brown

“In Saigon, Vietnam, I studied the properties of natural serums, antitoxins, ways to prevent diseases and to cure them. I did it so I could help soldiers that were exposed to toxins while trudging through the brush and sleeping in swamp-infested lands.”

Grace had few details about his partner’s background, but he knew their pasts were no longer of consequence. Only now mattered.

Mirage slid both hands up Grace’s arms until he cupped his face, stroking his cheeks with his thumbs, deliciously scraping the bristly hairs covering his chin.

Graced closed his eyes.

Mirage’s hands were rough and callused from mastering combat knives.

“I don’t remember any of this, Mirage. Kissing, touching…sex.”

It was an embarrassing confession, but not more so than kissing like an inexperienced teenager.

Mirage didn’t laugh at him, didn’t even crack a smile.

“It’s just like firing a grenade launcher,” Mirage murmured against his throat. “Once you do it, even if it was a decade ago…it’ll all come back to you once it’s in your hands.”

This was Grace’s first intimate touch from a man, and he was glad it was with Mirage, a man he respected more than anyone in the world.

Need reared in his groin and dominated all else.

Grace shuddered with excitement at what was about to happen.

Mirage held the back of Grace’s neck and pulled him close until their mouths were an inch apart.

The world slowed, leaving only the two of them.

Mirage’s breath was minty, his lips parted, blowing puffs of anticipation against Grace’s chin.

Fuckin’ kiss me already.

Mirage nodded at the unspoken order, his eyelashes fluttering, his full lips curving into a soft smile, as he kept them suspended in that moment…hanging over the edge of delirium.

Grace’s dick was stone, and his balls throbbed for a different kind of release. One that didn’t involve his right hand.

He didn’t know when he’d wrapped his arms around Mirage’s waist or when his hands had balled the fabric of his hoodie in a tight grip.

Mirage leaned in and tentatively touched his mouth to his, gentler than a warrior of his caliber should possess the ability to be. And Grace allowed all logical thought to slip away.

Grace

They were lip to lip, nose to nose.

His cock responded like an adolescent’s first time getting some action.

Mirage’s breaths were as warm as his palms. Then he parted his lips just enough to drag the tip of his tongue along Grace’s bottom lip.

A gesture so sexy that it changed everything he felt about their connection.

The almost violent rush of revelation—that he’d never truly lived until now—made his head swim.

Mirage licked his way inside, all slow and sweet, until he found Grace’s hesitant tongue and coaxed it out to play.

Grace was a rookie at this game, but it didn’t stop him from joining in.

This kiss was intense and feverish.

An urge of possession and desperation came over Grace that made him clutch Mirage harder.