The rain picked up and continued well into the evening. Cliff found another movie, this one about old people who solve murders. Dade made some sandwiches and carried them into the living room. They cuddled on the sofa once more and watched that movie and another one. Dade didn’t remember the names of them because, while he watched the shows, his concentration was taken up by Cliff’s warmth and his hyperawareness that he was there. Like part of his brain refused to stop acknowledging that he was with Cliff.
Eventually, with his belly full and the movie playing, Dade nodded off and woke once the credits began. “Sorry. I guess I’ve been up late most of the week trying to make sure that I didn’tget behind. In middle school and high school, the teachers get a planning hour. They only have five classes a day instead of six. But we don’t get that at the elementary level. Sometimes, if there’s a teacher in the library, I can leave my class with them, but that doesn’t happen very often.”
“It’s okay. I liked it.” Cliff lightly kissed his hair. “Did you know that being able to fall asleep with someone is a test of trust? In the field we had to be able to sleep just about anywhere, in the heat of the desert on sand or on a plane that’s bumping around. It doesn’t matter. You take the opportunity to sleep when you can. At first, I could never fall asleep. The other guys would, and I’d be awake, watching all of them rest. My CO at the time told me that I had to trust the other men in my unit to watch over me too. That trust went both ways. And once I got that, I could sleep.”
“So, are you one of those people who falls asleep on a plane after like five minutes?” Dade asked.
“Actually, I am. You put me on a plane, and I fall right to sleep. It’s hours sitting in a seat with nothing to do, so I just go to sleep. Even in this job as XO, there are days when I work a godawful number of hours, and it can be nice to get home and just go to sleep.” He held Dade a little tighter, and he liked it, feeling safe in his arms.
“What’s the weirdest place you’ve fallen asleep?” Dade asked. He was getting more and more curious about Cliff’s life. It had some similarities to the one he knew growing up with his father, but there were definite differences. He got the impression that Cliff loved his job and his life, but it wasn’t the only thing.
“I don’t know. Maybe the time I went into the bathroom after working, like, twenty hours to solve an issue for my boss. I went in, sat down, leaned against the wall, and fell asleep for like an hour. Thankfully, there were so few people in the buildingthat no one noticed, and I went back to work, got the project finished, and then went home.”
Dade snickered. “Were your pants down the entire time?” Now that would be funny.
“No. I went in there for some quiet, and it’s the one place on post where no one will disturb you. If someone had come in, I would have snapped awake, taken care of things, and left. But no one did. And remember, you did ask the weirdest place I had ever slept. Though you might think that sleeping standing up in a hole in the ground might come in a close second.”
“Like in a foxhole? Yeah.” He sighed. “I can understand that. I dug my first foxhole when I was nine. Dad took me out and showed me how it was done. You know how most parents share special things with their kids, like take them swimming or maybe windsurfing? I got the pleasure of going foxhole digging.” Damn it all. He needed to stop running on about his father. No one cared, and it was a long time ago. He needed to get over it or else the crap with his father was going to overtake everything.
ChapterSix
Thankfully, thetalk about Dade’s father ended. Cliff had been sort of appalled at the thought of a kid digging foxholes. He’d asked if it was some sort of punishment, and Dade had explained that it seemed like it to him, but in his father’s eyes, it was supposed to be some sort of bonding exercise.
“You know, fishing, boating, or swimming would have been more fun,” Cliff had teased, and Dade rolled his eyes before settling back into Cliff’s arms.
“I know, right. Maybe I should petition for foxhole digging to be added to the Olympics.” He snickered and grew quiet as the movie continued.
“At least you can laugh about it,” Cliff said.
“I guess I have to. I mean, what sort of parent thinks of foxhole digging as a bonding exercise with a nine-year-old. I mean, I used to love to dig holes, and sometimes I’d bury things and play archaeologist to dig them up, but….” He paused, and Cliff hesitated. “Things are what they are. What did you and your dad do for fun?”
“Dad worked a lot, so I saw him most evenings, but the really interesting thing is that we used to go on these car vacations. I remember horseback riding out west, seeing buffalo, exploring caves, as well as gold mining ghost towns. We went to the top of mountains. My dad was the one who taught me how to swim, and he was a Boy Scout leader.” He sighed. “I guess I had it pretty good. My dad had his quirks, but he was fun to be around, and he seemed to like the time he spent with us.” The movie was starting to end, and Cliff yawned and leaned back against the sofa cushions, closing his eyes. It was still earlyenough, but he had had a full week and so had Dade. “I think I should get ready to go.”
Dade slowly untangled himself from the blankets and stood once the movie credits began. Cliff got to his feet and stretched his arms over his head as Dade wound his around Cliff’s middle. “Stay,” he said softly.
Cliff lowered his arms. “Are you sure?”
Dade rested his head against Cliff’s chest as Cliff held him. The evening had been an exercise in restraint and trying to keep his errant thoughts in check, especially when Dade shifted against him. He had to know the effect he had been having on Cliff—it was kind of right there most of the evening. And yet either Dade chose to ignore it or he simply hadn’t noticed. “Yeah, I’m sure.” He stepped back and began turning off the TV and lights. Then he took Cliff’s hand and led him down to the bedroom, closing the door after them.
Cliff cupped Dade’s cheeks in his hand, his heart racing at the warmth under his hand. Dade closed his eyes, and Cliff drew him closer, kissing him gently at first. But the passion seemed to rise from nowhere, and soon he found himself devouring Dade’s lips, needing him so badly, the want and desire were almost uncontrollable… and yet he needed to take a step back, at least in his head, and control himself. The last thing he wanted was to overwhelm Dade, and yet he felt kind of overwhelmed himself at the moment. He wanted everything, and he wanted it all at once.
Slipping his hands under Dade’s shirt, he ran his fingers up his belly and to his chest, tweaking a nipple until Dade groaned softly. He turned him, pressing his chest against Dade’s back, running his hands over his skin as he pressed his shirt upward.
Dade groaned even more loudly as Cliff held him tighter. He arched his back, and Cliff used that opportunity to kiss him again. He held him tightly, slowly exploring the acres of hot, smooth skin that he was able to bare. Cliff got Dade’s shirtoff and explored his lithe body, letting his hands roam before teasing his way down his belly.
He unfastened the button at the waist of Dade’s jeans. The fabric parted slightly, and slowly he slipped down the zipper. Dade’s reaction was electric as he vibrated in Cliff’s arms. Damn, he loved that reaction, kissing the back of his neck, tasting the slight saltiness of his skin. God, he wanted everything about this man. He was strong and sinewy, with muscles that stretched and seemed to go on forever.
“Make that sound again,” Cliff whispered as he lightly pinched Dade’s nipple. The mewly, needy cry was so sexy, it sent a wave of desire racing through Cliff. Damn, it was so guttural and sounded of pure passion. Cliff did it again, and Dade whimpered and leaned against him as his knees went out from under him for a fraction of a second. “Yes…,” Cliff moaned before sucking on Dade’s ear. “Show me how much you like my touch.”
“Cliff…,” Dade cried, and he kissed him harder, letting his hands wander down his quivering belly. He parted the fabric of his jeans before sliding his fingers just above the band of Dade’s briefs. He wanted to tease him, to drive him out of his mind, and by the way Dade quivered against him, it was working.
“That’s it. Show me how much you want me. How wild I’m driving you.” He had never been really good at dirty talk, but he wanted Dade to know that this was for him. That Cliff was going to take his time, and that the two of them had all night and Cliff intended to take as much time as he possibly could. There was no need to rush, and Dade was most certainly worth each and every second.
Dade shook as Cliff slipped his fingers under the elastic, wrapping around his firm length. “God,” Dade whispered, and shook as Cliff stroked him slowly. “Oh….”
“You like the way I touch you?”
“Yes…,” he hissed softly. “Don’t stop.”
