Benji wailed, but the minute the kid landed in his arms he quieted, snuffling a little against his neck. “Sorry, sorry, sorry.”
“For what? I got you.” He rocked, feeling just about lost. “I’m good. I’m a bull rider like your daddy. You think a little bump hurt me?”
“No.” Those little hands patted his cheeks, little soft touches that made him chuckle. “Good Jason.”
“That’s right. Candy and Poppy are rotten dudes, but me? I’m good, man.”
“Rotten Poppy!”
Oh, Lord. Now the kid was bouncing and laughing, calling to Coke. “Rotten Poppy!”
He got to laughing, tickled as hell. He heard Missy’s chuckle, heard Coke come rushing to grab Benji up. “I’ll show you rotten, pup.”
Benji squealed, a good sound this time, and Bax helped him up, easing him on. “We’ll look at the train, huh? Then he’ll be ready for Poppy there to read him a story.”
He nodded. “Then I gotta have some space, buddy. We gotta.”
“I hear you. We can escape. You know they won’t mind.” No. No one would make a fuss. A half hour and they’d admired Benji’s train and headed off with their melty ice cream to their little house.
He tried to take a deep breath, the wind almost cool on his face.
“Better, honey?” Bax patted his ass, lingering a little.
“Yeah. Yeah, that was intense, huh?”
“You did good.” Moving in, Bax put both arms around him, holding on. “You did.”
“You know I cain’t be good for much longer, right? I’m going to go wreck something or fight something or scream like a banshee.”
“We might get drunk and drown ourselves in the pool.” Bax hugged him hard. “You know I can do stupid.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen it. Fuck, I need a beer.” He kept running all the shit he’d never be able to do again through his head, over and over.
“Then go get a beer. You know where we are.” Letting him go, Bax stepped back, pushing him without a word or a touch.
“Fuck you. I don’t know where they are in the fridge.” He didn’t want to have to search and he didn’t want to look like an idiot and he hated that Bax had to push. He stormed into the kitchen, throwing the fridge door open so fast things rattled violently.
“They’re on the bottom left.” Bax said it quietly, rightthere behind him. “Jesus, Mini, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t poke you so hard.”
“Don’t.” He reached for them, shaking he was so pissed. He got hold of one of the bottles, before he spun around and slammed it into Bax’s chest. “Here. I’m going to take a walk.”
Somehow.
Jesus.
“No.” Bax took the bottle, but it crashed to the floor, exploding across their boots. Bax pulled him right up and kissed him, and that was like an explosion, too.
Jase snarled, body slamming against Bax, tongue pushing into that hot mouth. So fucking mad. That tight body against his felt good, right, even through the damned rage. Bax met him head on, stealing his breath. His fingers dragged down against Bax’s chest, fingers snagging against the soft shirt, tugging hard. Bax struggled out of the shirt, letting him have skin, letting him feel. That was what he needed. Heat and skin and want.
He kept them close together, one hand wrapped around Bax’s arm, the other was on that tight ass. Moaning for him, Bax pushed back, then forward, rubbing up on him. Looked like someone else liked that as much as he did.
Fuck, yeah. Bax smelled good, even if the smell of the beer started swelling up around them.
“Come on, Mini. Let’s get the hell out of this broken glass and go to bed.” It was like Bax could fucking read his mind, dragging him, stumbling and cussing to the bedroom.
“Everything’s so fucking different.” He got his fingers to working on Bax’s buckle.
“I know. I know.” Bax tugged at Jason’s shirt. “I got you. You know that. Come on…”
