Tash picked a bottle of red from the wine rack and opened it, pouring himself a small glass first and drinking it down quickly. He then poured two glasses and brought Brandon’s over to him.
“Here you go.” Their hands touched briefly, but Brandon merely nodded and placed the glass on the counter. He poured the ziti into the salted, boiling water.
“I’d like the sauce to cook a little longer, but I’ll cook the pasta anyway.”
“Brandon, why are you here?” Though it may have been abrupt and rude, for the life of him, Tash couldn’t understand what a good-looking young man like Brandon was doing spending his Saturday night with him.
“Why did you leave today?” Brandon countered, then took a hasty gulp of wine and wiped his mouth with his hand. “As amazing as finding Luke and Ash was, it was kind of dimmed because you weren’t there to share it with me.”
“I didn’t belong there. I barely know you.” Tash returned to the table to sit. He stared into the crimson depths of his wineglass. “It was a time for family. I’m surprised you’re not with them all now.”
“Luke and Jordan wanted me to come back home with them,” admitted Brandon. He joined Tash at the table, and the two sat, sipping their wine until both their glasses were empty. Tash poured them each another glass.
“Of course they did. I’m sure Ash and Drew want you with them as well.” He sipped the wine, his fingers tightening around the stem. “That’s why I don’t understand why you’re here.”
Several moments passed before Brandon answered. “You know, all my life I only wanted to belong, to have people who loved and cared about me. Everyone wants that. I had Ash and Luke, of course, and I was luckier than most in the system.” He traced the bottom of his wineglass with his finger. “We were different, ’cause we never knew our parents, and our foster home was less than perfect.”
“To say the least,” said Tash grimly.
“Finding Luke and Ash today was the culmination of everything I’d hoped for—all the years I spent on the street and at the shelter, it’s the only dream I had. All of us together, safe, and happy? I never thought that would happen. But you know what?”
Tash finished his second glass of wine. The warm glow of the kitchen light played off the golden highlights in Brandon’s hair. The wine had relaxed Tash
“What?” He smiled at Brandon.
“In the back of my mind, it wasn’t enough. Something was missing.”
“Missing? What could possibly be missing?” Tash couldn’t imagine what Brandon meant. He knew how ecstatic Luke and Ash were to finally have their family reunited.
“Not what, who.” Brandon grasped Tash by the hand. “I missed you. You shouldn’t have left with that lame excuse about intruding on family. In some ways I know you better than I know them.”
“Don’t be silly.” Tash knew his protest sounded weak, but what could he say when his heart was pounding in his ears and hazy need coursed warm and thick through his body. Even as he struggled against it, his cock swelled in his pants, the thin material leaving no doubt to his arousal. This couldn’t happen; he had to stop it right now.
Brandon persisted, refusing to back down. “I’m not. You keep fighting this attraction between us, but I don’t understand why. That nonsense about our difference in age doesn’t cut it with me.” Still holding his hand, Brandon stood, pulling Tash up flush against his chest. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Ever since I met you, I haven’t been able to think of anyone else.” His breath blew hot against Tash’s cheek, smelling sweetly of the tomatoes and wine. Tash’s head spun.
“It’s so quick, and you could do so much better than me.” But even as he spoke, his lips found Brandon’s in a scorching kiss. They clung to each other, hungry and desperate, tongues tangling as their mouths slanted across each other, deepening their kisses.
“I don’t want anyone else.” Brandon gasped, then moaned as he flexed his hips against Tash’s, their erections pressing against each other through their pants. “I want you. Please, I really need you tonight. So much about today has been unreal, but you. You’re the only real thing I feel like I have to hold on to right now.”
How could he say no to that? Staring into Brandon’s uncertain eyes, the years fell away and hope flooded through him, along with a need to hold Brandon in his arms.
“I want you too,” admitted Tash, “but—”
“No buts. I may be confused about my life right now, but the one sure thing in it is you. The way you make me feel and why. You’re caring.” Here Brandon stopped and kissed Tash on the lips. “Concerned.” Another kiss. “And so incredibly handsome.”
This time the kissing didn’t stop for a long time. When it did, Brandon’s eyes were glazed and his breath came short. “One thing I’ve learned is that nothing in life is ever certain. When I was little, I thought my brothers and I would always be together. That didn’t happen, but I’m all right. Now that I’ve found them, I don’t want them to think they have to be responsible for me.”
“You’re incredibly mature for your age.”
“I’m twenty-five, not ten,” Brandon snapped, raking his hand through his hair. “You need to stop focusing so much on our physical ages. I told you once before I’m not your average twenty-five-year-old.”
“I don’t think there’s anything average about you at all.” Tash slipped his hand to grasp Brandon around the neck. He pulled Brandon close and rested his lips against the soft, warm skin of Brandon’s temple. “In fact what I know is that you’re amazing.” The atmosphere had changed from casual to intense, heavy with the promise of passion. Tash brushed Brandon’s lips with his, then, swept away by the man’s immediate response, pressed his lips to Brandon’s. Tash leisurely explored Brandon’s hot mouth with his tongue, deepening their kiss. The fierce desire he’d suppressed all day rose within Tash; nothing could have stopped him at that moment.
Was there anything better than kissing someone you wanted so badly your body actually hurt from the suppressed tension? It had been so long, too long to be without the touch of another man. Tash could sense the impending orgasm in his body as a tingling rush seared through his veins. With regret, he pulled away from Brandon’s lips and stood stock-still with his eyes squeezed shut, willing his body to cool down.
“If you’re going to tell me to stop and leave—”
“No.” Tash reached over to brush a hank of that glorious hair off Brandon’s forehead. “I need a moment, however.” Embarrassed, he pointed at the tenting in his pants. “If we keep going, this might be over before it begins.”
