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He forced a smile. “You too.” He nodded to Mr. Dawes before he made a beeline for the door, feeling that if he stuck around too long somehow they’d know. “Thanks for dinner.”

  He stepped outside and then turned to find Tommy on his heels.

  “You okay, man?” Tommy asked, patting him on the shoulder.

  He nodded, feeling like a goddamn drama queen. “It was just a little hot in there, that’s all.”

  They started to walk toward Brett’s truck and, feeling bad about rushing out, Brett glanced at Tommy. “Sorry I didn’t stick around longer.”

  “No worries. Mom was just glad you came by.”

  Brett pulled open the door of his truck and stepped up into the cab. “You on for Barney’s this Friday?” he asked, feeling a need to do something “normal”.

  “Well, Mitch called me just before you came round. He’s having a pool party on Friday night. You should come.”

  A pool party sounded normal enough. “Thanks,” Brett said, “I’ll do that.”

  “Sure.” Tommy stepped away and looked up. “What about Cade? You want him to come?”

  Brett’s head snapped up from where he’d been inserting the keys in the ignition. “Cade?” A rush of defensiveness surged within him. “Why’re you asking me?” he said stiffly.

  Tommy shrugged. “I know you had some problems with the guy at the start, that’s all.”

  Brett studied Tommy’s expression for a trace of tension, anything to suggest he knew about him and Cade. He let out a breath after finding nothing. “No, me and Cade are good now,” he said casually as the engine roared to life. “When I see him tomorrow I’ll ask him.”

  “Great.” Tommy patted the hood of the truck and waved. “See you Friday.”

  ***

  Brett thought about the evening the whole way home, and with every inch of ground that disappeared beneath the Chevrolet’s wheels, the muscles in his back and shoulders tightened further until he wanted to ram his fists into the dashboard. He was being paranoid, freaking out over nothing. Tommy and his folks didn’t suspect a thing. The idea that Brett was sleeping with Cade wouldn’t even enter their heads, not even for a second.

  Then why the hell was he wound up tighter than a minister’s wife?

  He scrubbed his hand over his face and focused on the road ahead. He needed to chill out, stop thinking so damn much. Or else he’d be driving himself to the loony bin.

  When he reached the junction to turn off for Cade’s house he slowed down the truck. Was Cade really worth all this paranoia? He could drive down there now and settle this whole thing. He could end it. Then he’d never have to freak himself out like this again.

  But damn it, he didn’t want to end it. Not even close.

  He pressed his foot on the accelerator and headed uphill toward his own place. He pulled up outside the house and jumped down from the driver’s seat. The fresh country air calmed him in a way the Chevrolet’s air con hadn’t managed to do. He breathed deeply and then blew it out slowly. He’d take tonight for himself, get a good sleep. Maybe the morning would bring the clarity he needed.

  He went inside, switched the foyer light on and headed straight upstairs. He took his time taking his clothes off. Paranoia had made him sleepy as hell. When he was naked he padded out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, stepped under the water and waited for the hot spray to ease his muscle ache.

  He must have been in there five minutes when he sensed movement behind him. He twisted to the side, but two large hands caught him by the shoulders and held him in place.

  “Easy there, big guy,” Cade muttered through the steam. “It’s just me.”

  Brett stiffened at the deep sound of Cade’s voice, fists clenching at his sides as Cade’s hands rubbed his shoulders. He wanted to pull away, to resist what was about to happen. But Cade’s masterful touch had Brett leaning forward. He rested his forehead on the damp tiled wall and closed his eyes as Cade’s fingertips dug into his shoulders, erasing the stress from his muscles. Ironic how Cade could make the tension disappear when he’d created it in the first place. But that was Cade. He was everything—a colleague, a friend, a joker, a lover. He made Brett’s head spin, and when the head of Cade’s swollen cock brushed the seam of his ass he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

  He straightened and turned slowly to face the other man. Cade’s blue eyes studied him, desire flaring in the black pupils. Brett’s cock rose between his legs, hardening the longer Cade watched him. As Cade moved in and brought his lips down on Brett’s, the heat of the contact drove thoughts of anything outside the shower stall to the back of Brett’s mind.

  “Know I should have called,” Cade mumbled against Brett’s lips. He reached down and wrapped his fingers around Brett’s shaft. “Couldn’t help myself.”

  Cade squeezed his cock and Brett groaned into the man’s open mouth, the sound disappearing down his throat. Cade pushed forward, backing Brett up to the wall. When Brett’s back was flat against the tiles, Cade’s tongue drove between Brett’s lips, conquering his mouth in long, harsh sweeps. As need flared deep within him, Brett dug his hand into Cade’s wet curls and pulled the man closer, deepening the kiss. Their mouths melded together, their sharp breaths mingling while their erections rubbed together in a friction that had Brett on the brink.

  He pulled his head away and drew in a deep breath. Cade moved in again and nipped at the base of Brett’s neck, then sucked and bit his way along Brett’s shoulder. Leaning his head back, Brett let Cade’s mouth torment his skin, his nipples, the indent of his belly button. But instead of continuing the descent and enveloping Brett’s cock in his mouth, Cade straightened and reached for the shower gel.

  “Let’s get you nice and clean, huh?”

  Through half-lidded eyes, Brett watched as Cade soaped up his hands and started to run them over Brett’s body. It felt so good, so right to be here with Cade, to see the man’s cock leap as he stroked his hands over Brett’s torso. They worked. In bed, out of bed. Why the hell had he been worried?

  “Turn around.”

  At Cade’s order, Brett faced the wall again. Cade glided his hands down his back to his buttocks. He worked the flesh with his hands and Brett’s cock speared against the tiles, straining so hard he thought his cock would break through the wall. Cade moved closer and sucked at the crook of Brett’s shoulder. The heat of his mouth sent sharp, electric sensations shooting down Brett’s spine and he pressed his ass into Cade’s hands.

  “What is it?” Cade muttered in his ear, his voice dark with sex. “Want me to fuck you? Is that it?”

  Unable to speak, Brett could only growl. Cade’s deep chuckle echoed in his ears as the man slid his hands between Brett’s buttocks. His balls tightened as Cade slicked up his hole with soap, making him nice and slippery, ready for Cade’s cock.

  When the guy settled the plum head of his dick at his entrance, Brett dipped his head and squeezed his eyes shut. Cade entered him smoothly, stretching his passage until his cock was rubbing against all the ridges. Brett clenched his jaw, his breath coming in harsh pants as he waited for Cade to withdraw. He needed it fast tonight. Hard and fast.

  As if reading his mind, Cade pulled out and then drove right back in. He penetrated Brett in short, quick strokes, groaning in Brett’s ear on the in-stroke. Reaching around, he grasped Brett’s cock and started to pump up and down. Intense pleasure burned through Brett’s body and his hands slid along the slippery wall as he tried to hold himself together. But he couldn’t last. With a howl that caught in his throat, his hips jerked forward and he came all over the white tiles. Cade drove into his clenching ass one last time before joining him in white-hot pleasure. As he shuddered his release, Brett finally slackened against the wall. For long minutes, Cade lay against him, water still streaming down their bodies. When Cade straightened, Brett did too and they rinsed off in silence before shutting off the water.

  “The soap was okay, right?” Cade asked as he dried off with a towe
l.

  Brett looked at him, his mouth watering at the sight of smooth muscled torso. “Uh, what do you mean?”

  “The soap was enough to make you ready?”

  “Oh sure, yeah.” He nodded, grabbing a pair of boxers from the hook on the back of the door.

  “Good.” There was a pause before Cade spoke again. “Everything okay, Brett?”

  He glanced at Cade again to find the guy wearing a pair of sweats. “Yeah.” He hesitated and then shook his head. “Listen, you should have called first.”

  Cade gave a small smile. “Knew you were going to say that.” He walked past Brett out of the bathroom.

  “You did?” Brett followed him to the top of the stairs.

  “Sure.” Cade shrugged. “I know this isn’t easy for you. It’s just when I saw your lights on tonight…” He trailed off. “Won’t happen again, I promise.”

  Brett stared at Cade in confusion. He’d expected the guy to be mad, insulted that he had to call before coming over. But instead he was being reasonable, more than reasonable. It instantly put Brett at ease and he couldn’t help but smile.

  “You wanted me that bad, huh?”

  Cade grinned back. “Get over yourself.” He started down the staircase. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Brett watched him disappear through the front door and then headed for the bedroom. He could breathe again.

  ***

  As Cade twisted the key in his car’s ignition and pressed down on the accelerator, his mind was still in Brett’s bathroom. The sex had been hot—shower sex always was—but Cade was more concerned with the tension he’d sensed within Brett when he’d first stepped into the shower, and the resistance he’d felt before the other man had finally given in. It was the first time Brett had tried to hold off since the day in the barn and Cade knew in his soul that it wasn’t a good sign.

  Pulling up outside his house, he cut the engine and blew out a long breath. Maybe dinner with Tommy’s folks hadn’t gone so well. Or maybe Brett just hadn’t been in the mood when Cade had first stepped into the shower. Slamming a palm on the steering wheel, Cade swore loudly. He shouldn’t have surprised Brett like that. Though they’d been screwing for almost a month now, Brett was obviously still getting his head around it. Cade knew from past experience that when guys first accepted that they could like other guys, the fear of being outed stayed with them for a long time.

  He got out of the car and went into the house. After he’d locked up he headed upstairs and pulled his cell out of his pocket. Jess wouldn’t mind a late-night phone call if Brett was involved.

  “I don’t know what to do about it,” he told her after he’d explained what had happened. “Do I keep my distance for a while?”

  “I don’t see why,” Jessica replied. “I think you’re overanalyzing.”

  He smirked. “I thought it was only girls who did that.”

  “Jerk.” She yawned down the line. “You’re telling me that he hesitated when you surprised him in the shower. That sounds pretty normal to me. He probably thought you were an intruder.”

  He shook his head despite the fact that Jess couldn’t see him. “Even after he knew it was me he was still tense.”

  “So what? I get tense all the time. Work, friends, the weather. You said he had dinner at a friend’s house, right?”

  “Right?”

  “Well, they were probably talking about his folks. His dead folks. That would make anyone tense.”

  Remembering the way Mrs. Dawes had held Brett at the funeral, Cade saw Jessica’s point. “You might be right.”

  “I’m always right,” she corrected.

  He smiled, lowering down onto his bed. Then, remembering Brett’s silence after they’d finished fucking, he frowned. “I still think he’s having doubts though.”

  “He probably is. You’re the first guy he’s been with. I’d be having doubts too.”

  “And you don’t think I should be worried about that?”

  “Not yet. He’s still screwing you, right?”

  Feeling a hell of a lot better, he lay down on his back. “Anyway, enough of me. How’s everything there?”

  “Good,” she told him. “My boss has me working like a dog but I’m used to that.”

  “Sorry for calling so late.”

  “Anytime, honey,” she said with a smile in her voice. “It’s not like I’m sleeping. I’ve got a presentation tomorrow and I’m shitting myself.”

  “Bullshit.” Jess never stressed about anything. “You go get some shuteye and I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Okay.” She yawned again. “Say hi to Brett for me.”

  “Will do.” He grinned. “’Night.”

  “’Night.”

  He dropped the phone on his bedside table and propped his hands behind his head. Jess was right. No point worrying about Brett until it came down to it. For now he’d just enjoy the ride.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Damn, I’m beat,” Cade said on Thursday afternoon as they doused themselves with water from one of the outside faucets.

  “Me too.” Brett shook out his hair, sending droplets of water flying in all directions. “Can’t wait to get into a hot shower.”

  Cade slanted a glance in his direction. “A shower, huh?”

  Remembering how it felt to slide up against Cade, both of them covered in soapy water, steam rising around them, Brett felt heat crawl up his neck. He’d returned to normal since dinner at the Dawes’ house. Every time he thought back to that night, he couldn’t figure what had gotten him so weirded out in the first place. Not that he’d had much time for thinking about it. They’d been flat out on the ranch this week, working fifteen-hour days. And when they weren’t working, he and Cade were fucking. Life was good.

  He was about to suggest that he and Cade try out the shower scene again, but before he could make any kind of offer Jimmy appeared around the barn and strolled toward them.

  “Hey, boss, I want you to take a look at one of the troughs,” he called in his gravelly voice. “I think there’s a leak.”

  Brett wiped his wet hands on the front of his jeans. “Sure, I’ll be right there.” He started to follow Jimmy, glancing back at Cade with regret. “Guess that shower will have to wait.”

  Cade shrugged. “Guess so.” He backed up toward the drive and then stopped. “You want to come over for dinner tonight?”

  Dinner at Cade’s? He hadn’t been at the guy’s place since the night with Jess. If he wasn’t ready to go back now, he’d never be. “Why?” he asked, holding out his arms. “Is there a game on I don’t know about?”

  Cade flashed him a grin, the dimple in his cheek deepening. “You never know. I’ll see you around six. You can shower first.”

  Laughing as the other man ambled off into the distance, Brett turned to follow their wrangler. It was long after six when he knocked on Cade’s front door, clean-shaven and fresh-smelling.

  “Come on in,” Cade said when he pulled the door open.

  Brett stepped inside and brushed past the other man’s body, feeling a tingle of electricity buzz down his spine. “So where’s the food?” he asked, eying the kitchen door. “I’m starving.”

  “Actually, bad news about that.”

  Turning back, Brett couldn’t help but grin at the sheepish expression on Cade’s face. “What?”

  “I figured out about ten minutes ago that I don’t have two slices of bread to rub together.”

  “And there was I thinking you were a smart guy.”

  Cade shrugged. “I have other qualities.”

  Damn right. And as Brett stepped forward, backing Cade up against the wall, it was an entirely different hunger zipping through his veins. “So what now?” he asked, eyes focused on Cade’s firm lips.

  “Well, I thought we’d get dinner at Delia’s,” Cade said, the words caressing Brett’s mouth. “My treat.”

  Brett straightened. “Delia’s?” The wheels of his mind spun into overdrive. Delia’s was a p
ublic place. People would see them, they’d think—

  “Hey,” Cade said lightly, bringing him back down to earth. “We’ll just eat like any other two guys who work together.”

  The reason behind Cade’s words permeated Brett’s mind and he released a breath. “Sure.” Then realizing he might have offended the other man, he continued, “It’s not that I—”

  One long finger covered his lips, silencing him. “It’s okay,” Cade soothed, his blue eyes holding Brett’s. “I don’t want people talking either.”

  Warm relief washed over Brett and he nodded. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” The words were barely out of Cade’s mouth when his lips found Brett’s, moving over his mouth until Brett opened for him. Bracing his hands on either side of Cade’s body, Brett leaned into the kiss and thrust his tongue along Cade’s. The rolling lust in his stomach tightened and then fanned outward, curling around his cock and tugging on his balls. He aligned his whole body with Cade’s, loving the hardness of the man’s chest and thighs. He’d never have to worry about pushing Cade too far, of breaking him. Men weren’t delicate. It was a definite perk of screwing a guy, he noted. He’d have to start a list.

  Abruptly, Cade ended the kiss, tearing his lips away and sucking in a deep breath. “Not yet,” he said, placing his hands on Brett’s shoulders and pushing him backwards. “You’ll go longer with food in your belly.”

  Though his body screamed at him to pull Cade back into his arms, he gave a shrug of defeat. “Fine. But we’re eating fast.”

  “You got it.” Cade headed for the stairs and turned on the first step. “Wait here. I just need to get my wallet.”

  Brett wandered through the hallway while he waited, scanning the space for what remained of June Armstrong’s trinkets. Cade had cleared most of them away but the antique clock Brett’s mom had given June as a Christmas present one year still hung beside the phone, and along the walls a few framed photographs broke up the sheet of floral wallpaper.

  Brett’s gaze caught on a photo of June with her arms wrapped around her pre-teen son. Brett and his mom had been close but he’d never seen a mother-son bond as strong as the one shared between Cade and June. It probably had a lot to do with Ken’s abusive past—they’d taken care of one another when the man of the house wasn’t in a fit state to look after his wife and kid. Again, anger twisted inside Brett as he thought of all the pain Ken had caused his son.