“Have I ever told you how sexy you are and that you drive me completely crazy?”
“Really?” Brenden dropped his towel and crawled on the bed between Stephen’s open legs. His hands on either side of his head as he hovered over him.
“Yes.” Stephen wrapped his arms around Brenden’s neck and brought his head down as their lips met in a kiss. Brenden kissed his way down the side of Stephen’s neck, nuzzling and nipping at his skin. Stephen shivered. “I want you.” Brenden moaned, and the deepness in his tone made it sound as if he rumbled instead. “Brenden, please,” he pleaded.
Brenden pulled back and looked down at him, then smiled in a way that made his heart beat faster. “You want me, huh?”
“Yes,” he hissed when one of his sensitive nipples was tweaked.
“I’m not sure you deserve the pleasure of having me tonight.”
“Why?” Stephen licked his lips and reached out to touch Brenden, but his hand was grabbed and put over his head. He arched his back, pushing his pelvis up hoping for some friction, but was disappointed when he didn’t get what he wanted.
“Because you’ve been a very bad boy,” Brenden said closer to his ear, licking at the lobe.
“No,” he whispered, shaking his head.
“Oh yes, you have,” Brenden corrected. Stephen opened his eyes, he didn’t realize he had closed them. “Did you think I would let what you did yesterday go and you’d get away with it?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“But… but…”
“But nothing, baby.” Stephen opened his mouth to respond, but Brenden stopped him. “Yesterday for a short moment, I saw what my life would be like if you were not in it. And I didn’t like it.”
“But I’m fine,” he said, trying to bring the intimate atmosphere back in between them. He reached out running his hands up and down Brenden’s six-pack and muscled chest.
Brenden grabbed his hands and brought them to his lips, kissing them gently. “Stop trying to distract me.”
“I don’t want to be serious right now,” Stephen whined.
“Trust me, I want you so bad right now I’m harder than Chinese arithmetic,” Brenden said between clenched teeth. He took a few deep breaths and was still holding on to his hands. “Just listen to me for a minute.” Stephen relented and nodded, whatever Brenden had to say was important. “I know the kind of job we do and the dangers that go with it. And as much as I love the job we do, you and the kids are more important to me. Even if you weren’t pregnant, and you did what you did yesterday, I think I would still have the same reaction. You mean more to me than even I realized yesterday. We’ve come so far with things between us, and I don’t want to lose what we are trying to build together. I don’t want to have to worry every time you go out on a case…”
“I get it, all right.” Stephen looked away. “If you’re asking me to give up…”
“I don’t think you do.” Brenden turned his face so that they were looking at each other. “And I’m not asking you to quit your job. I would never ask you to do that.”
“Then what are you asking me to do?”
“Don’t let me live without you, Stephen. I’ve told you before that I regret letting you walk away from me five years ago. And I’m not letting you leave me any other way. Promise me you will think before you act. And I’m not just talking about yesterday. I’m talking about all the other times you’ve put yourself in unnecessary danger. Think about our children and think about me. Stop being so fucking selfish.”
“I’m sorry…” His voice cracked. “I didn’t think…”
“I know you are sorry, and it didn’t occur to you at the time,” Brenden said, then fell on the bed beside him. “And for what it’s worth, I accept your apology.”
Stephen let out a breath and looked at his lover. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Brenden said, looking at him with a smirk that made him worry.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’ve been thinking of a way to punish you…”
“I’m not a child, Brenden.”
“Oh, I’m aware of that. But the facts remain. I need for you to remember this punishment the next time you decide to run into danger without thinking of the consequences.”
“What are you up to?”
“The doctor wants to see you back in one month, correct?” Stephen nodded. “Then until you see the doctor, you and I won’t have sex until he gives you the all clear.”
