Evan laughed.
“What?”
“Jess said the same thing about tacos, and I gotta say, the both of you could use higher standards for fun.”
“You know, for a guy who knows that people think he’s interesting, you’re hard on yourself.”
“You think?” Evan laughed again. This time, it felt uncomfortable. “I’m usually known for being quite the egotistical, self-absorbed—”
“Stop that.” It came out harshly, a verbal slap Evan felt inside, and Brent took a deep breath, stepping back. “Look, if we’re going to hang out—you and me, or maybe you, me and Jess—you can’t do that. Be yourself. Be real.”
“That’s asking a lot,” Evan said neutrally.
Brent nodded. “I know. Welcome to the club. If she hasn’t yet, Jess will kick your ass if you pull that with her.” He took a deep breath. “Race back to the vehicles?”
Yeah. That was probably a better plan than Evan’s original idea that they make out against a tree.
The trip back down the trail took almost as long as it did to come up. After a few minutes of steady progress, Brent started talking again. Not about Jess, not about them, but just stuff in general. Hiking, exercise.
If they clashed on everything else, they at least had this in common.
And he had the advantage because he knew the trail better than Brent did. So at the last opportunity to pass, the last spot where the trail widened before they reached the head of it, he burst into a run and passed Brent.
He howled in protest, his footsteps pounding behind Evan as he kept up, but Evan had the lead and wasn’t giving it up.
Bursting into the parking lot, where their two vehicles remained the only sign of life for miles, he raised his arms in victory and slowed down, carving out a wide circle around a grinning, laughing Brent.
“Nice.”
“Thanks.” Evan winked, then he popped his trunk and stashed his bag in the back. Before he closed the door, he grabbed his keys and his phone, and laughed at the text message on the screen.
Jess: Be gentle on my husband. Unless he asks you to be rough.
Brent shot him a curious look.
“Do you want to know what your wife just texted me?”
He turned pink. “Aw, jeez.”
Evan held out the phone, and Brent came closer. Then he grinned and swore under his breath. “Uh…”
“We’ll have to do this again,” Evan said. “If only because it makes her happy.”
“Not just her,” Brent murmured.
Evan’s heart leapt. “No?”
Brent shook his head.
Evan moved closer, and Brent shifted too, and suddenly they were against each other, their bodies lined up and their hands all over each other. Brent started the kiss, but Evan finished it. He felt like a starving man, hungry and gluttonous for something he might not get again.
Brent pushed in, his lips strong, his tongue curious, and Evan met him stroke for stroke.
It was clumsy and desperate, and unbelievably hot.
This kiss felt damn near sweet compared to their first. Evan didn’t want it to end. He slowed down at the same time as he tightened his grip on Brent’s back, his hip. Fuck, there was his cock against Ev’s, and Jesus, he wanted to be naked.
He could grind them together here, just like this, but that would be a messy drive home.
