Page 45 of Throw Down

Briar didn’t stir even once, and Derek decided to take it as acompliment.He wouldn’t sleep so soundly if he didn’t feel safe, despite Derek’s rough looks andtemper.It provoked a deep need to care forhim.The feeling surprised the hell out ofDerek.He’d spent his entire life looking after people and resenting every minute ofit.Who would have guessed he’d ever feel an urge to do itvoluntarily?

It disturbed his calm. He tried to settle down beside Briar’s warm, pliant body, but he was tooagitated.His mind, always calculating, now flipped back and forth between dozens of worst-casescenarios.If he was half as smart as everyone thought, he’d end it now and vow to never touch another managain.But he couldn’t—not now. He was already in toodeep.It wasn’t going to endwell.

He lay awake, watching Briar sleep, until the gray light of dawn began to creep across thebedroom.

Then he forced himself out of bed and into an ice-coldshower.

Chapter Seventeen

BRIAR

Briar woke with a start, flailing hard.His pillow went flying. A sheet was tangled around his legs and his cheek felt suspiciously damp, like he’d been drooling.He swiped at his face and squinted blearily at his unfamiliar surroundings, fighting back a squiggle of panic.

Judging by the grayscale light filtering in from the window, it was barely past dawn.The last thing he remembered was the peaceful sound of lapping water and how shockingly gentle Derek’s fingers felt as they brushed up and down the back of his neck.

He bolted upright and glanced down at his body.Still naked.

“How in the hell…” He looked around helplessly, imagining how ridiculous he must have looked drooling in Derek’s truck without a stitch of clothing.

He’d never seen the bedroom, but he recognized the exposed wood beams of the ceiling in Derek’s cabin.The whole room smelled like him.Hesitantly, Briar lifted the sheet to his nose and breathed deep, taking in the familiar pine scent of his soap.This was Derek’s room, his intimate space, and Briar knew instinctively that hardly anyone had ever seen it.

His eyes roamed, taking in every detail, from the dog-eared copy of an old psychology textbook on the bedside to the cheap picture frame on top of his dresser.He cocked his head and listened, picking up a faint clatter from the kitchen, and then he slipped out of bed and padded over on bare feet to examine the photograph.

At first, he thought it was a family photo, but it was only Derek’s younger siblings back when they were scrappy, hand-me-down teenagers.West was easily recognizable, thin and pale, sitting on the front steps of a dilapidated old farmhouse with his siblings ranged around him.His grin was self-conscious and lopsided.The middle brother, James, had his arm thrown casually around West’s shoulders while their oldest sister hugged them both from behind.The youngest girl had a smudge of dirt on her nose.She rested her head on West’s knee, staring into the camera with sweet green eyes that reminded him of Derek.Everything in their body language spoke of fierce love and loyalty.

It must be a memory Derek kept close to his heart.He obviously loved his family dearly, but whenever the topic came up, he shut it down hard.

The click of a latch startled him.He whirled around, and the photo accidentally slipped from his fingers.

Derek watched him from the doorway.

“Caught in the act,” Derek said, sounding amused.

He looked gorgeous, dressed in a simple undershirt and soft gray sweatpants.His dark hair fell messily over his forehead, in need of a trim, but Briar would rather bite off his tongue than suggest one.The ragged, half-feral look suited him.

The beast to Briar’s beauty.

Briar snorted at the thought.This morning, Derek was the beauty and Briar was a scrawny, naked gay boy caught nosing around his personal belongings.

He stared, landed like one of Derek's catfish, searching for air, until Derek shoved away from the door frame and approached.

Briar took an instinctive step back, bumping into the dresser and knocking over a stick of deodorant.He had the crazy urge to cover his dick with his hands, but Derek wasn’t looking at him at all.

Derek bent down and scooped the picture frame off the floor.

“It’s a nice picture,” Briar volunteered, feeling awkward and embarrassed.

Derek nodded, wiping Briar’s fingerprint smudges from the glass with the hem of his t-shirt, but he didn’t reply.

“Were you the one who took it?”

“Nah. Mom wanted to send a picture of all the kids to Dad back when he spent Christmas on the rigs.”

Briar frowned and pointed out, “You’re one of the kids.”

“I was at work.” Derek set the photo back on his dresser, angling it just so.Then he turned his attention to Briar, flicking his gaze over his naked form.His eyes sharpened and heated.“I like this look.”

Briar wasn’t body shy by nature, but something about the perfection of Derek’s own physique made him nervous.He glanced around the room, aimlessly searching for his clothes, just to avoid looking at him.

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