Page 129 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

He was willing to die for me.

He went to his own bathroom and showered with the lights low. The water was so hot it turned his skin pink, but he still felt cold underneath it. When he was done, he put on a robe and dropped down on the edge of his bed. He turned off the lamp, and pulled back the covers, telling himself Cassidy needed rest, not him being needy and clingy, worrying every time he breathed too sharply or grunted.

He told himself not to be selfish.

Then he saw it again.

Cassidy’s body jerking from the bullets hitting his chest, so close to his heart.

He got up and damn near ran down the hallway. He stopped outside Cassidy’s door and took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm himself, when he heard his deep voice.

“Lane.”

He opened the door.

Cassidy was lying on his back, wide awake.

He had one arm resting across his stomach, the bandaged one lying carefully at his side. The faint silver light from the moon cut shadows over his chest, turning the bruises darker, and the muscle harder.

“Com’ere, sweetheart.”

Xander crossed the room and climbed onto the bed carefully, but Cassidy still groaned when he curled into him.

He lurched back. “Did I hurt you?”

“No.” Cassidy closed his good arm around him and dragged him back where he was “That wasn’t pain.”

Cassidy buried his nose beneath Xander’s chin and kissed the side of his throat, slow and sexy. “You smell good.”

Xander’s body reacted embarrassingly fast. Heat moved through him, low and helpless, blooming under the fear and stress of the night. Cassidy kissed him again, his warm mouth lingering longer on his sensitive skin.

“I thought you were asleep,” he whispered.

“I was.”

“You need to rest.”

“This is what I need.” Cassidy slid his hand up and down his back. “I’ll rest when I’m finished with you.”

Xander moaned, unable to fight Cassidy’s touch.

He lifted his face and Cassidy was watching him, eyes alert, mouth close, breath brushing over his lips.

For a second, neither of them moved. The air charging with everything they’d been waiting for.

Xander cupped Cassidy’s face, as he leaned in and kissed him. A quiet, tender press of his lips.

“Lane,” Cassidy murmured against his mouth.

Xander loved hearing his name there.

He answered with a shallow inhale before he tilted his head and kissed him again.

Cassidy slid his strong hand into his hair, holding him with that steady strength he craved.

He opened more, not in urgency, but surrender, and Cassidy took it with a tenderness that made the moment far more intimate than frantic passion could have.

Their mouths moved together in unhurried strokes, tasting and savoring.