Nick’s smile faltered for half a second, just long enough for a zip of jealousy to sting before he smothered it.
“I haven’t seen this teddy bear caring side in you before.Should I be jealous?”Nick teased as he poured coffee into one of the three mugs he had placed on the counter.
Nick noticed Axel grimace at his teddy bear comment.He knew it was a prison instinct for him to hide any soft emotions.Being soft got one in big trouble inside those concrete walls.
He had wondered how Axel would react seeing the love of his life again.He had also wondered how they would handle their personal relationship once they got here.Everything had happened so fast, they hadn't discussed it.
“You better be jealous,” Axel’s voice had dipped lower, rougher, the way it always did when he was saying more than the words themselves.He set the towel and cloth on the counter and Nick’s breath caught as his hand splayed across Nick's lower back.Heat shot straight through Nick, his breath catching as Axel’s fingers lingered a beat too long.
Damn, that man’s touch always turned him on.But now was not the time to think about his reaction.Axel and he were stuck here together compliments of the security devices on their ankles.
Axel wasn't going anywhere, but he did wonder how Axel would tell Jenna about them.If he would tell Jenna.
Nick was a demonstrative kind of guy, and he didn't know how he could keep his hands off of Axel now that they were out from behind the prison walls.But then again they had done a pretty good job of keeping their relationship a secret in prison.Or so he’d thought until Cyn had come along and mentioned a couple of times about their relationship and not quite following through on what she’d meant while he’d questioned her on the papers he and Axel were being asked to sign back in prison.
Oh crap, who was he kidding?Nothing was a secret in prison.
He watched as Axel grabbed a mug of coffee and lifted it to his mouth.Nick’s pulse thudded low and heavy, his body reacting before his mind could shut it down.His cock clenched in a really nice way as Axel's lips curled over the rim of the mug and he sipped his coffee.
Suddenly Axel’s gaze drifted to him and his chestnut colored dark brown eyes twinkled as he caught Nick watching him.
Axel lowered his mug, pursed his mouth, and licked his lips, his pink tongue making Nick’s breath back up in his lungs and a slow heat curled through Nick’s gut, tightening everything inside him.
Axel’s eyes warmed, and darkened, a silent acknowledgment that he saw everything Nick wasn’t saying.
Man, the guy had always made him feel right nice whenever he looked at him.Despite neither of them identifying as to being gay, they’d fought their mutual attraction to the point of physically fighting with each other in the beginning, much to the guards and other inmates amusement.Then they’d been forced to become cellmates, and they had eventually caved to the irresistible sparks between them.Funny how the same man who once threw punches at him now made him feel steadier than anyone else ever had.
Man, he wondered if he could sneak a kiss from him before Jenna returned.The thought hit him hard, reckless, and terrifying, because he didn’t know where Axel’s heart truly lay anymore.
* * * * *
Jenna halted in the hallway, just like she had done earlier when she’d heard the intruders.
Axel and Nick stood in the kitchen, staring at each other.Their looks were intense, raw, and hot.She would have to be blind not to see that there was something going on between the two men.
Gosh, she’d never expected Axel would be into another man.Had never anticipated she would find it sexy to watch the man she had once loved with all her heart look at another man in a similar way as he had done with her.
She had no idea what to do except to stare at them.
The stranger was good looking.Younger by several years than both herself and Axel.He had brown wavy hair and a sexy five o’clock shadow.His eyes were dark blue, the color of a stormy sky.
He was smiling at Axel, and she noted laughter creases at the sides of his eyes.She suddenly wondered what he’d done to get himself into prison.A man who looked like that at another man, had some goodness in his heart.
She continued to stare as both men seemed oblivious to her.
Heavens above.Axel washere.
How many times had she dreamed of him one day being released from prison and looking her up.She had fantasized about getting him an early release through Cowboys Online, the very program for convicts she had created.But she had known it was unethical because they knew each other and she hadn't wanted to compromise the Cowboys Online program further by doing it.Despite it being unethical, she had written a couple of letters to Axel letting him know the program existed and for him to apply and that she would gladly step aside to avoid any conflict of interest.He had never written back or contacted her.
Now her assistant, Cyn, was in charge of Cowboys Online, and she had somehow persuaded Axel to apply and had gotten him out.
The thought that Jenna was dreaming haunted her as she watched him.He still looked so damn good.Sexy.So cute.
Her body hummed with arousal just as it had always done when she thought about him.Just like last night when she’d masturbated to him being here.
Abruptly Axel's gaze broke away from the other man and zeroed in on her.The shift was so sudden it felt like the air tightened between them.
Surprise crashed through his face as he saw her.For a heartbeat he looked almost young again, unguarded, hopeful.Then he grinned and her whole world just suddenly felt right.
