Keeping his voice pitched low hoping not to break the spell weaving between them, Lincoln urged Shayne to continue, “What’s that?”
“Is your middle name really Hansel?” Lincoln tried holding his laughter on the inside.His body shook in response. One light blue eye peeked open at him in response. “Is that a no?”
“Go to sleep, Shayne.”
Shayne huffed. “Fine. Don’t tell me.” Shayne’s silence was petulant to say the least. Lincoln’s gaze swept over Shayne’s perfect angles. Damn. He was in so much trouble with this one.
“It’s Beau,” Lincoln admitted as Shayne’s breathing deepened.
“Knew it would be something sexy.” Every word was slurred, making Lincoln absolutely sure Shayne would never remember this conversation in the morning. Even long after Shayne slipped into dreamland, Lincoln still couldn’t look away. He hadn’t missed the conversation between Shayne and Henley earlier in the day. Shayne had an interview on the other side of the country in three days. What if he only had three short days left with the manin his arms? Was that something he could withstand? No matter how many times those questions spun around Lincoln’s brain, he hadn’t been able to face them with an answer. In his wildest dreams, he’d never envisioned meeting someone like Shayne. In his worst nightmares, he’d never considered losing someone like Shayne.
Grady tappedhis knuckles on the wooden surface almost hoping Ryker wouldn’t answer. That thought barely passed through his head before the door opened, stealing his chance to change his mind. Just as it had earlier in the day, the sight of Ryker’s oddly colored eyes and sexy mouth left Grady off kilter. A surge of anger ran through him. He shouldn’t notice those things about another man.
Without a word, Ryker stepped aside,silently welcoming Grady inside. The rage boiling under his skin kept Grady’s feet glued to the ground and caused his voice to sound gruffer than intended as he waved away Ryker’s invitation. “No. I’m not staying. I just wanted to check on you.”
A flash of humor crossed the other man’s features. “Cop, I’m not trying to air condition the whole neighborhood. So, you know, like you’re momma always said, get the fuck inside.”
“I’m off duty,” Grady said as Ryker closed the door behind him, since he was incapable of crossing the threshold without some form of argument passing his lips.
“Cops don’t stop being cops when they shed their uniform.” Ryker’s claim caused chill bumps to rise on Grady’s skin. Not because of his words, but due to the other man’s proximity as he said them. Grady swore Ryker’sbreath caressed his ear when Ryker spoke while moving past him. He shifted from foot to foot, more uncomfortable than he’d ever been in his life. Ryker’s mismatched gaze traveled the length of Grady’s body at the nervous motion. His mouth lifted in one corner, forcing Grady to focus upon it. At least that’s what he told himself. There was no way in hell Grady lusted after another man.
“Wow, Cop. You’re really uncomfortable right now, aren’t you?”
He shook his head even as his lips refused to shape a lie and deny it. “After the Plethora incident, I was worried about you.”
Ryker’s stare was too knowing. It did nothing to abate Grady’s anger. “Do you make a lot of late night house calls like this one?”
“No.” Fuck. Even Grady heard the desire in his voice. What the ever living fuck was he doing here? Ryker took a step toward him.Grady’s brain screamed for him to step back. His feet refused. In their defense, they were probably listening to his dick. It was closer after all, and hard as steel.
“What a mess you’re creating for yourself right now, Cop. You’re as straight as they come.” Obviously Grady was experiencing some fucked up form of tongue paralysis. He couldn’t speak. Ryker shifted even closer until barely an inch separated them. He hadn’t realized until that moment how much taller Ryker stood. Grady had to tilt his head back to hold the other man’s gaze. “Now’s the time to chime in,” Ryker said, taunting him. The roaring need to do something, anything, rose up and overtook Grady’s brain before taking control of his body. Without his permission, Grady’s fingers gripped Ryker’s T-shirt and tugged.
Ryker didn’t obey. He didn’t budge a single inch. Instead, he held Grady’s stare as heslowly lowered his head, forcing Grady to acknowledge what was about to happen. He wanted to run away. God only knew how much he didn’t want this, except he did, and he couldn’t stop. When Ryker’s lips finally met his, Grady sucked in a deep breath. The room spun, making him realize it was the first true gulp of air he’d taken in since his knuckles brushed the wood of Ryker’s front door. With his eyes closed, his mind steadied. As Ryker’s tongue swiped Grady’s bottom lip, he forgot everything, including his inhibitions. Not who he was kissing. Grady was incapable of forgetting that detail. Ryker was too freaking amazing. The brush of lips on lips was gentle until Grady let Ryker in. His back hit the door as Ryker’s fingers dug into his jaw, holding him in place, and consuming him. There were kisses, and then there was whatever this was.
“You’ll regret me,” Ryker promised as hepulled away before attacking Grady from a different angle.
“No,” Grady said against his mouth, recognizing the truth. Maybe this wasn’t his life, but it was his moment. He’d never wanted another man before Ryker, but he did want Ryker.
Ryker’s mouth moved to Grady’s throat. “I’ll regret you.”
6
For eight solid weeks, Lincoln showed up. On the days he had to work, he went to Shayne’s the second he was showered. If he had a day off, Lincoln was on Shayne’s doorstep the moment he was up and moving for the day. He couldn’t stay away. It was the way Shayne’s face lit every time he saw Lincoln. No one else looked him that way. Usually, people looked through him—not Shayne. It began in his eyes and moved to his lips. How was he supposed to resist? What would he do when Shayne was gone? That was the problem. Eventually, Shayne would be gone.
It was an accident. There was every probability Lincoln had heard Shayne’s name in the news hundreds of times—without realizing it—before they’d met. Now his name rang loudly in Lincoln’s ears every time it was mentioned. Still, he hadn’t been intentionallysearching for it when the short sports update found its way into Lincoln’s usual morning radio show. At the first mention of the sexy hockey player who was buried under his skin, Lincoln had been incapable of focusing on anything else as they’d dropped the bomb. Shayne Smith was rumored to be the Seattle Flight Wings’ new goalie.
He’d known it was only a matter of time. They weren’t meant to last. He’d have to let go. It had always been inevitable. All of those thoughts and more ran through Lincoln’s mind, lending not an ounce of comfort. Shayne hadn’t said a word. Granted, neither had Lincoln asked, but still, not a single word. For two whole month’s, Lincoln had shown up, and they’d never spoken of it, but there it was, hanging between them. A part of him hadn’t want to know. Shayne’s inescapable departure was—no doubt—the reason their scorchingkisses had always ended there ever since the one night they’d come so close to real intimacy. Neither of them wanted to know what they’d be losing when it was over.
Those depressing thoughts carried Lincoln through the final hour of his workday. By the time he was driving home, Lincoln had made his decision. He wouldn’t see Shayne again. He couldn’t be the reason Shayne never stepped back on the ice, even if it there was choice to be made by Shayne, and Lincoln didn’t trust himself not to beg at this point. As he stepped out of the shower, the massive weight of knowing he’d never set eyes on Shayne again sat heavily on his muscles, making his every movement feel the same as swimming through quicksand. Only when the beads of water clinging to his skin dried away, leaving him chilled, did Lincoln realize he’d been staring sightlessly into space with a towel wrapped around his waistfor close to twenty minutes.
He shook his head and moved to the kitchen. If he was staying in tonight, there was no sense in getting dressed. There was no one to please or impress. He stood glaring at the inside of his bare refrigerator. Of course it was empty. Everything was empty. That was his life—a long series of barren days and long nights. For a moment, he’d hoped. Hope was a real motherfucker. Maybe if he learned to stamp it down he’d find peace. Instead, he crammed his days with more work than one man could handle, hoping to sleep at night so he could start over the next day. That is until Shayne. When they’d met, he began to dream and delegate his workload… then dream some more.
Since he’d come full circle with his thoughts and still his fridge had grown no magic food, Lincoln slammed the door closed.He may as well get dressed. It seemed a trip to the grocery store was in his near future. Lincoln made it halfway to his bedroom before a loud knock rent the air. No one ever came to see him. He had the front door open before he remembered his state of undress. When he spotted Shayne on the other side, Lincoln was hard-pressed to choose what thrilled him more—the sight of Shayne, looking sexy as sin, or he hadn’t accidentally flashed a group of girl scouts.
Shayne’s expensive business suit, delicious cologne, and gorgeous smile were enough to tempt an angel from the heavens. He held up two plastic bags. “It was my turn to come to you. You do too much, and besides, we need to celebrate.” The scent of sweet and sour chicken wafted over Lincoln. Shayne’s gaze traveled down his body. “I don’t know about you, but I’m suddenly starving.” Lincolnwas too, but seeing Shayne so soon after he’d decided he wouldn’t, rendered him mute. It also made him realize he was weak. As long as one of them kept showing up, he’d keep doing this, riding this relationship out to its evitable fiery demise.
He took a step back, allowing Shayne to pass. The man’s cologne enveloped him as he moved inside the room. Lincoln tightened his grip on his towel as he closed the door behind him, shutting out the world. He followed on Shayne’s heels to the kitchen. No more than a tug in the right place stood between Lincoln and falling on Shayne like a man too long denied.
“This food was the celebration,” Shayne explained, setting the bags on the dining room table before moving back to stand toe to toe with Lincoln. “That is, before I saw you like this.” He snagged Lincoln’s waist and tuggedhim forward. It was Shayne’s expression. Lincoln was captivated. Lust-filled determination flashed in the man’s gaze. Lincoln didn’t get to enjoy it for long before Shayne’s mouth covered his. Lincoln’s stomach growled. It had nothing to do with the food sitting only feet away. This man made him long and crave. Even if he only had tonight, or he never saw Shayne again, Lincoln couldn’t turn his back. He needed Shayne’s touch. The towel was gone. He didn’t think he’d been the one to remove it. Shayne’s hands cupped his ass, kneading.
