“Thanks.His voice, his mannerisms, even his fucking cologne all bring back memories of things I’ve tried hard to forget, you know?”
“All I know is that Warden must have felt there was no other option than to bring him in.I don’t like being put in this position.”
“Me either.”
“It took all my limited willpower not to choose bloodshed when he came into the conference room,” Gunnar added.
“I hate that he can still get to me like this.One look, one word, and I’m right back there…at The Facility.”
Gunnar turned and gripped the nape of Bryn’s neck.“You’re not there.You’re here, with me.”He traced paths along Bryn’s cheekbones with his thumbs.“And I won’t let him hurt you again.”
The fierce protectiveness made Bryn’s chest tighten.“I know.”
“Do you?”Gunnar squeezed a little.“Because I mean it.”
Bryn swiveled to straddle Gunnar’s thighs then leaned toward him.Gunnar took the hint and responded with a fierce kiss, sliding one hand into Bryn’s hair while gripping his waist with the other, pulling him closer.Bryn slipped a hand under Gunnar’s shirt, mapping the warm skin of his back, feeling the muscles shift as Gunnar deepened the kiss.When Gunnar licked a trail down Bryn’s neck with his tongue, Bryn tilted his head to give him better access.
“Mine,” Gunnar growled against his throat, and the possessiveness in his voice sent shivers down Bryn’s spine.“No one else gets to touch you like this.”
“Yours,” Bryn agreed, breathless, pulling Gunnar up for another searing kiss.He tangled his fingers in Gunnar’s long hair.Time disappeared as they traded kisses that moved from desperate to more tender, hands exploring every inch they could reach while still dressed.When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard.
“Stay with me tonight?”Bryn asked.“Just…stay.Hold me.Nothing more.”
Gunnar pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.“If that’s what you want.”
Bryn stripped to shorts and a T-shirt while Gunnar used the bathroom then they swapped before sliding beneath the comforter.Though it was the first time they’d shared a bed it wasn’t awkward, and Bryn was exhausted enough not to mind that nothing physical was going to happen.
They lay together in the darkness, Bryn resting his head on Gunnar’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.But sleep wouldn’t come.
“So many dead,” he said.“And those are the ones we know about.”
“We don’t have to do this.We can find another way.Focus on the production facilities rather than method of distribution.”
“But if Russo really is building some kind of pumped-up mob army…” Bryn let the thought hang.“What happens when he perfects this Thanacrine?Wedohave to do this.”Bryn pressed closer, drawing comfort from Gunnar’s warmth.“But we do it our way.We can’t let Giles call the shots.”
“We have three days to go through every detail of this plan.Every contingency.Every exit strategy.And if anything feels off…”
“We pull it,” Bryn finished.He focused on Gunnar’s heartbeat, steady and strong, and tried not to think about what tomorrow would bring.
Chapter Three
Bryn awoke before his alarm, Gunnar’s arm still draped protectively across his chest.It was tempting to take a hold of Gunnar’s wrist and take a peek at his future intent, something that often resulted in Bryn becoming both hard and needy.He didn’t do it, because even though Gunnar never minded Bryn poking around in his head, doing it while he was unconscious seemed wrong.Instead, Bryn stayed still, memorizing the warmth and weight of Gunnar’s well-muscled arm.Then there was a knock at the apartment door.Emmett had a key and always let himself in.Warden usually called Gunnar on his cell rather than ascending four flights of stairs, which left the least palatable option.
“Fuck,” Bryn muttered, extracting himself from Gunnar’s hold.He checked the time.“It is way too early to be dealing with this.Gunnar, wake up, I think Giles is here.”
“He’s too fucking early,” Gunnar mumbled.
“Tell me about it, but I think he’s at the door.”
“Let him wait.”
“He’ll quit being polite and break through it if I don’t go out there.”Bryn scrambled out of bed then yanked on his jeans.“You need to be in your own room.I don’t want him knowing about us.”
“Goddammit.If I didn’t already have enough reason to hate him.”Gunnar, clad only in black briefs and T-shirt, hauled himself out of bed.“I was warm and having a very…stimulating dream about you.Gonna take a shower.A cold one.”
Bryn hooked his tongue back into his mouth then went to answer the door.
“Giles.You’re early.”
