Dan smiled back, but his smile was much brighter. "Anytime."
Terry couldn't help but wonder just how true that was.
* * * *
Terry glanced up from the football game he was watching on the TV when the front door opened. His breathing hitched when Dan walked in and shut the door behind him. He'd been having trouble breathing around Dan for quite some time now. The man was just too good looking for his own good, or for Terry's good.
He winced when he noticed the bags under Dan's eyes and the exhaustion in his expression.
"Long day?" he asked. It was only two in the afternoon, but Dan had left for work the day before and hadn't come home last night. Terry knew he couldn't ask what the man was out doing, but he sure wanted to.
"Way too bloody long." Dan hung up his coat then walked over to plop down on the couch next to Terry. When Dan stretched his legs out in front of him, Terry couldn't help but notice the way his muscles flexed beneath his jeans.
"You want a beer?"
"Have to lock up my gun first."
"Why don't you give it to me and I'll go put it in your nightstand."
Dan's smile was weak, almost a yawn. "Can't. Has to go in the safe."
"Why don't you go lock it up and change into something comfortable? I'll make you a sandwich and get you a beer and have both waiting for you when you come back down. We can watch the rest of the game together."
"I will…just as soon as I can move."
Terry stood and then held his hand out. "Come on. You'll feel better if you're comfortable."
Dan grabbed his hand and then groaned as Terry pulled him to his feet. "I'm not sure I can climb the stairs."
"Well, you have to." Terry pushed the man toward the stairs. "I don't know the code to your gun safe."
After watching Dan climb the stairs—making sure he made it all the way to the top without falling—Terry headed into the kitchen. He made a roast beef sandwich for Dan and grabbed a couple of beers then headed back to the living room.
When Dan walked back into the room, Terry nearly swallowed his tongue. The man was wearing a pair of lounge pants that hung low on his hips and a tank top that hugged his muscular chest like a second skin. It was the same sort of outfit Terry liked to lounge around in, but it looked way better on Dan.
Terry felt an overwhelming urge to lick Dan from head to toe. His mouth even filled with saliva. Terry swallowed hard then gestured to the plate of food. "Eat."
He tried to concentrate on the football game and not the way the corded muscles in Dan's throat moved as he chewed and swallowed, but it would take more willpower than he had to ignore it. Even eating, the man was gorgeous.
"Rough day?"
Dan shrugged as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Long."
Terry wished he could ask more, but he knew he couldn't. When Dan leaned against the cushions and dropped his head back, letting out a loud sigh, Terry smiled. The man really was exhausted. He tried to go back to watching the game, but his gaze kept going back to Dan.
"Maybe you should head up to bed." As much as he wanted to spend some time with Dan, the guy's need for sleep was more important.
"I wanna watch the game with you."
That would make a lot more sense if his eyes were actually open.
"Dan—"
Dan waved a hand at him. "I'm good."
"Why don't you stretch out?" Terry asked. "You'll be more comfortable."
"Naw, I'm good. Swear," Dan said without even opening his eyes.
