I should apologize,he thought, then glanced at his schedule, noting that he was due in court in ten minutes. He wrinkled his nose and shrugged. “Fuck it!”
Chapter 9
Nate Lends A Hand
Early morning sun had begun to rise in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was warm in Colin and Joshua’s cozy bedroom on the upper level of David’s cabin, and Joshua murmured in sleepy contentment as he slowly withdrew from slumber. He turned over in bed and nestled against his husband’s back, then inhaled deeply and exhaled against Colin’s spine, letting the warm flow of his breath ease Colin into wakefulness.
Colin wriggled in bed until they were face to face. “Howdareyou!” he growled out, his arms tightening around Joshua, who shook with soft laughter.
“I’m just pushy that way,” Joshua replied. He buried his face against Colin’s chest, sinking into the warm, inviting cocoon created by their embrace. He inhaled the scent of Colin’s skin and pressed soft kisses to his bare chest, drawn ever deeper into the aching intimacy of the moment. “God, Ilovethis,” he whispered.
Colin nodded and his arms tightened, pressing his naked body against his husband’s. “Jesus,yes,” he breathed out. Locked in each other’s arms in the semi-darkened room, they seemed alone and adrift, secluded in a universe of their own creation, a universe Colin never wanted to leave. He lifted Joshua’s chin until their eyes met, then kissed him, feeling his breath catch in his chest as the power of that kiss filled him with reverence not only for the man he held in his arms, but for what they became in moments like these.
“Jesus, Joshua,” he whispered, his voice husky. “I love you so fucking much.” Their eyes met again, and he saw that Joshua’s chocolate brown eyes were smoky with tears.
“As I love you,a thaisce,” Joshua choked out.
“Iwantthis,” Colin whispered against Joshua’s ear, drowning in the sensual bliss created by their intimacy. “Just this, Josh. Only this. Just us like this. Forever.”
Joshua nodded, the richness of their intimacy completing him, melting their souls into one. “God, how Iwish!”
For several minutes they lay in silence, luxuriating in their closeness, then Colin stirred. “Do wehaveto get up?” he asked, his voice a soft whine in the darkness.
Joshua’s laugh was a breath against Colin’s throat. “You can bet that Nate will be banging on that door any second now, bugging us to come eat breakfast.”
Colin groaned, drawing Joshua an impossible inch closer. “Thisis the only food I need.”
“Ambrosia,” Joshua replied, lifting his hand to caress Colin’s cheek.
“Ambrosia?”
“Immortal food.”
“Well, I’ll buythat.”
They both winced as a tap sounded on their door. “Breakfast you two!” Nate’s cheerful voice called out.
“Damn!” Colin grumbled. His arms locked around Joshua’s body, holding him close for one more precious moment, then he sighed and released him.
Joshua lay back on his pillow, gazing up at Colin who leaned over him on one elbow. “Thank you for this.”
Colin dropped his eyes, his brows furrowed in thought, then he lifted his head and skated his fingertips over Joshua’s arching cheekbone. “It was special, wasn’t it.”
“Veryspecial.”
“Better than sex?”
“Well...” Joshua drawled out, then grinned. “Damn near.”
* * *
“What the hell, you two!”Nate exclaimed when they wandered into the kitchen. “Youlikecold eggs?”
“There are worse things,” Colin replied.
Joshua smiled as he settled into the chair next to him. They both reached for their coffee mugs, and as their fingers brushed, Joshua’s eyes darted to the tabletop. He bowed his head against the flush he felt rising on his cheeks, and as he lifted the mug to his lips he could hear Colin’s soft, knowing laugher.
“Well,you twohad a lovely morning, didn’t you,” Nate teased, arching an eyebrow.
