“How diplomatic of you.”
“I have my moments.”Gunnar closed the door behind him.“You okay?”
“Define okay.My ribs hurt, I just fed a vamp I’d rather avoid, and said vamp is now going to be my permanent coworker.So by my standards?Fantastic.”
Gunnar sat on the edge of the bed, and Bryn settled beside him.
“For what it’s worth,” Gunnar said, “I think you handled that better than expected.”
“What, the feeding or the potential tantrum?”
“Both.Warden dropped a bombshell without warning you.I was impressed by your restraint in not actually throwing anything.”
“I wanted to, and the night is young,” Bryn said.
“This complicates things,” Gunnar said.
“Everything’s already complicated,” Bryn pointed out.“At least now we can be miserable together on a more regular basis.”
“Very romantic.”
“I’m a romantic person.”
“You’re many things,” Gunnar said, settling his arm around Bryn’s shoulders.“Romantic isn’t one of them.”
“Rude.I can do hearts and flowers.”Bryn leaned into Gunnar’s warmth.“So what now?We all pretend to be supportive teammates while I resist the urge to stake Giles?”
“Pretty much.Though I’d prefer you resist the urge to stake anyone.It’d be messy, and he did save our asses today, much as I hate to admit it.”
“Spoilsport.”
Gunnar kissed the top of Bryn’s head.“I’ll make it up to you.”
“You’d better.Because if I’m going to survive having Giles around full-time, I’m going to need all the incentive I can get to behave myself.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“How about you start by kissing me?That seems like a good option, favorable to all parties involved.”
Gunnar cupped the nape of Bryn’s neck in the possessive way that made Bryn’s insides turn to goo.He let Bryn move at his own pace, being careful not to jostle him and Bryn knelt on the mattress, being equally tentative in the way he moved.He tangled a hand in Gunnar’s hair.
“Love your hair,” he murmured.“It’s so silky.”
“And manly.You forgot manly.”Gunnar kissed Bryn’s jaw, then the corner of his lips.
“Oh, yeah.That.”Bryn nipped at Gunnar’s lower lip then licked away the sting.
“You getting a taste for blood too?”Gunnar mapped the curve of Bryn’s shoulder blade, tracing light circles beneath his shirt.Bryn shut his eyes and pressed a hand to Gunnar’s chest, feeling the low rumble of a growl that meant he was making an effort to hold back.
“No.Happy to leave the red stuff to Giles…and also not to talk about him ever again.”
Gunnar lowered him to the mattress.“Careful, we both know you’re terrible with doctor’s orders.”
Bryn croaked a laugh and flopped, letting Gunnar settle over him.“Says the worst patient on the planet.Worried I’ll break?”
“Worried I won’t be able to stop if you do,” Gunnar murmured.He pushed his knee between Bryn’s, and braced his weight on his elbows.Bryn shuddered at the touch.
Gunnar deepened his kisses and let his touch wander, gentle at first, then more greedy once Bryn begged, “Don’t stop.”The nagging pain in his ribs was nothing compared to the ache of his need.He hooked his fingers into Gunnar’s belt loops and tugged.Gunnar took the hint and shimmied out of his jeans and shorts.The sight of his flushed, rigid cock had Bryn licking his lips.“Want you in me.”He craved the completeness of Gunnar filling him but his body had its own agenda, rewarding him with white-hot pain every time he twisted wrong.“Shit.”He sucked in his breath.Gunnar went still.
