Page 40 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

“Clear!”

“Kitchen clear!”

“Moving upstairs!”

Cassidy ignored them as he took the staircase three steps at a time, pulse slamming against his ribs.

Multiple doors stretched down the upper hallway, but instinct had him racing through a pair of double doors, Bluetooth still pressed tight into his ear.

“Xander. I’m in your bedroom, where are—”

A side door flew open, and Xander barreled into him so hard it nearly knocked the breath from him.

Xander wrapped his arms around his waist and buried his face against his throat.

Without hesitation he embraced him back. He cupped the back of Xander’s head with one hand, locking the other around his back.

Cassidy closed his eyes, realizing for the first time in a long time he’d been afraid.

Not professionally concerned or alarmed, but terrified.

Xander was shaking against him, falling apart.

“Why is this happening?” Xander choked out. “What did I do that was so wrong?”

“Shhh.” He stroked his hand through Xander’s damp hair. “You’re okay now, I’ve got you.”

Xander pressed closer.

“I’m so tired of being scared.”

Cassidy eased his palm over bare, warm, supple skin, now realizing Xander was damn near naked in his arms. The towel wrapped low around his hips was just holding on, leaving so much of him exposed beneath his hands.

The more he caressed and the tighter Xander squeezed him, the more his trembling eased.

The lights surged back on, making him blink until his eyes adjusted.

He cupped Xander’s cheek and edged him back far enough to look at him.

Fuck me.

Those usually sparkling eyes were red-rimmed and full of tears. His wet lashes clumped together in dark spikes, fear still lingering on his beautiful face.

But something else was there too.

Something tender, open, desperate…wanting.

It’d been so long since anyone had gazed at him in that way, all Cassidy could do was stare.

He couldn’t be seeing what he thought was in Xander’s gaze.

This young, talented, gorgeous fucking superstar couldn’t possibly want his old, gruff ass.

No.

Xander was just scared, emotional, and clinging to the first safe thing he saw.

That had to be it.