Chapter Twenty
By the time Brantley and Reese madeit home, it was just after eight.
They hadn’t rushed, taking the opportunity to eat at a restaurant so Reese could have a salad—his request—and they’d stopped at not one, but two Buc-ee’s on the way back, although they only needed gas at one of them.Traffic was heavy, but that wasn’t unusual through the I-35 corridor on a Sunday evening.
They’d filled the time with conversation, rehashing what they knew, and tossed around a few hypotheticals.But that was all they were.They had very few facts that would get them the answers they were seeking.But Brantley wasn’t giving up hope.Not yet.They’d gotten this far, and though progress was slow-going, they were inching forward.
Needless to say, he was glad to be home.
Once inside, Brantley dumped their bags in the front room, intending to deal with them tomorrow.Reese made sure Tesha had fresh water, then prepared her dinner.
“When you’re done, come join me in the shower,” he told Reese before making his way to the bathroom.
Brantley didn’t wait, figuring his husband would show up when he was ready.He stripped and stood beneath the hot water, shoving all thought from his mind.He needed the mental break, a little reprieve from everything bouncing through his gray matter.He didn’t want to think about Kylie or her mother or some corrupt government officials.Not right now.
Closing his eyes, he focused on breathing.In, out.Slow and steady, while the hot water beat down on his tired muscles.He forced himself to relax, to clear the jumbled mess of information rattling around in his head.He wasn’t big on meditation, but he could see the appeal.
When he heard Reese, he lifted his head and opened his eyes, watching as the man he loved discarded his clothing.Funny how he never doubted that Reese would show up for him.The man seemed to know what he needed, and he was always there.
Goddamn, he was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.
When Reese stepped into the shower, Brantley reached for him, pulling him closer.He wasn’t in a rush, wasn’t inundated with chaos.He simply wanted to savor this time with his husband and to block out all the rest for a little while.
“Thirty minutes,” he told Reese.“No work, no worries.Only us.”
Reese’s honey-gold eyes glittered.“I like that idea.”
Brantley cupped Reese’s face, enjoying the way the stubble on his jaw scraped his palm.He leaned in, sealing their lips.The kiss started slow, sensual, then took on the heated edge it always did when they were together.Still, they maintained a leisurely pace, one fueled by passion that never seemed to burn out.
For long minutes, they teased and fondled, hands roaming, tongues and lips searching.
Feeding his need to touch, Brantley proceeded to wash Reese, ensuring he got every smooth surface, every crevice.When Reese returned the favor, Brantley sighed and moaned, giving himself over to the man he loved.By the time they were finished, their thirty minutes were up, but Brantley wasn’t even close to being finished.He turned off the water, grabbed two towels, and passed one to Reese.
He gave his body a good rub with the cotton, then dumped the towel on the floor and took Reese’s hand, leading him to the bedroom.Within seconds, he was plunging into the heated depths of his husband’s body, pleasure accosting him as Reese stared up at him with heat and love burning in that golden gaze.
“I love you,” Brantley whispered, pushing in deep, sliding out slowly.“So fucking much.”
Reese’s eyes remained locked with his as Brantley drove them both to that inevitable place where they would linger until they soared.And when he came, it was with Reese’s name on his lips.
“Feel better?”Reese asked as they lay in a heap on the bed.
“For now.”
“Me, too.”
“Mmm.”Brantley wanted to remain like that forever, just the two of them, skin to skin.
“Do you have a headache?”Reese whispered after several minutes.
“It’s not too bad,” he admitted.
Brantley thought he’d hidden it better.Thankfully, it hadn’t exploded into full migraine territory, but it was gradually increasing.Oddly enough, sex derailed it momentarily, something about endorphins or whatnot.At the same time, it usually came on full force afterward.
“You stay here,” Reese said.“I’ll get you a pill and make sure everything’s locked up.”
“You sure?”
Reese responded with a kiss on his lips, causing Brantley to smile.
