Cam got it—his lover’s reaction—mostly.When he’d gotten the call that his mother had had a heart attack, Cam had also shifted into high gear, his sole focus getting home to Boston as fast as humanly possible.Nic was doing the same sort of thing now, focusing all his energy on nailing Vaughn, who Nic no doubt suspected for Curtis’s death.Cam was right there with him.But when Cam had gotten that call two months ago, Nic had held him close those first few minutes after, when his mind had been a tornado of grief, fear, and regret.Nic hadn’t allowed himself that moment yet and Cam was pretty sure he’d get a Beretta in his face if he tried to force it.
He had to proceed with caution.Pushing off the door, Cam grabbed his duffel and caught up with Nic.He coasted a hand over his lower back, letting him know he was there, before nudging the suitcase out from under his hand.Nic’s fingers dragged over his, lingering as he continued to talk to Lauren and Mel, and Cam internally cheered at the small breakthrough.
Ducking his chin and hiding his victory smile, Cam pushed the suitcase toward their bedroom, scaring their cat back from wherever he’d slinked out of.He turned on the light in time to see the orange ball of fluff scale the side of the bed, running from the rolling monster.
Cam parked the suitcase in the corner and stepped over to the bed, toeing off his shoes and scratching behind Bird’s ears.“Not happy to see us?Did Uncle Aidan spoil you?”
Purring, the gigantic cat spread out the length of Nic’s pillow and rolled on its side for more scratches.Cam indulged him another minute before venturing to the bathroom, stripping down to his boxers, and starting the shower.When the water was steaming hot, he turned to find Nic standing in the doorway.
Coat and tie gone, sleeves rolled up, he braced his elbows against the jamb, stretching.“I’m going to change and head into the office.”
No, he was not.Cam closed the distance between them.“You’re going to shower first.”
“Unnecessary.”Nic started to move back into the hallway.
Cam shot out a hand and grabbed the front of his shirt, hauling him back in.“When’s the last time you showered?”
“You know that as well as I do.”
He did.They’d showered together yesterday morning at the hotel in Norfolk, which seemed like a lifetime ago.
“You smell like saltwater and airplane,” Cam said, and Nic wrinkled his nose.Cam chuckled.“Exactly.”He tugged Nic the rest of the way into the bathroom and shifted him back against the vanity.
“You don’t smell so hot yourself, Boston.”
“Hence my state of undress,” he said, unfastening Nic’s shirt buttons.
“Hence?”
He answered Nic’s raised brow with a wink.“Your fault, Counselor.”
Working free the last button, Cam pushed the dress shirt open, admiring the torso that had become as familiar as his own.Muscled but not overly so, sprinkled with brown and gray hair, and covered in words, numbers, and symbols that told Nic’s story, the good and the bad—emblems, sayings and teammates’ names from when he was a SEAL, the rainbow frog and trident, the stark kill count.He trailed his hands up, over ridges and ink, eliciting an indrawn breath.Pushing the shirt off Nic’s shoulders, Cam exposed in the mirror the part of the story he still didn’t know—the giant cypress tree inked on Nic’s back with the lettersGScarved into its trunk.A mystery, amessNic had called it, and not what Cam needed to be worried about right now.
There were more immediate wounds to heal.
Tearing his eyes from the mirror, he was relieved to find Nic’s closed, his head hanging slightly back.Presented the opportunity, Cam licked at the hollow of his throat and felt Nic’s words rumble against his tongue.
“Thought you said I stink?”
“You’re still the hottest piece of ass I’ve ever fucked.”
Nic righted his head, smirking.“The mouth on you...”
That phrase, uttered when the dirty talk turned Nic on, when he wanted more, had become one of Cam’s favorites, a challenge he’d never turn down.“Get in the shower and I’ll put it to good use.”
Nic dropped his trousers, JAG Corps tattoo flexing on his right hip as he stepped into the glassed-in shower big enough for two.“You coming?”
“Gonna get the coffee brewing, then I’m right behind you.”More of that caution.Not telling Nic to go to sleep, but if it happened to be decaf Cam brewed...
He started the coffeemaker, grabbed Nic’s phone off the dining bar, and ducked back into the bedroom, plugging Nic’s device up to charge.Bending, he pulled his own out of his pants pocket and texted Mel and Lauren that they’d be in around nine.
Thank Godcame right back from Lauren.
Take care of himfrom Mel.
He grabbed the open cable on the dual charger, plugged his in next to Nic’s, then headed back to the bathroom and nearly tripped over Bird, who’d made a nest in Nic’s clothes.
“Fucking traitor,” he mumbled.
