Page 51 of Tooth and Nail

“I can’t believe that happened. Why did I say those things to him? I’m such an idiot,” he said out loud. In apparent agreement with him, Bear walked across the bed, hovered over his face for a second, lifted a paw, and put it down on his lips. He nodded before smiling against the soft pad of the cat’s paw, throwing his arms around him to drag his small body over his, with Bear looking down at him curiously. “You agree with me?”

Bear immediately lowered his face and ran his cheek along Eoghan’s jawline, starting a loud purr as Eoghan kissed him. Bear aggressively nuzzled him several more times before he moved the tabby off his chest and sat up in bed.

He caught a glimpse of himself in the dresser mirror which was at the foot of his bed, noting how crumpled he looked. The sheet and blanket had slipped down, and he stared at his bare chest for a moment. He had a smattering of hair between his own pecs, but it wasn’t anywhere near the amount of hair some of his lovers had on their chests. Kellen McGillis’ black Irish ancestors had been a hairy bunch, and it was one of the things Eoghan had loved about him. Holding his furry ass as he’d straddled Eoghan and rode his cock had been absolutely intoxicating. It had been an entire year since he’d had a man which was probably why he’d acted the way he had with Ari.

He'd kissed the man.

Caught in a wild and crazy moment of lust, he’d pulled his head down, covered his mouth with his own, and kissed him until he couldn’t breathe. But that wasn’t entirely true. Eoghan had barelybegunkissing him when Ari had turned him and slammed him against his own front door, trapping him there and mauling his mouth until they’d been driven apart by the sound of the pasta timer. That hadn’t been the end of his foolishness the night before…no, he’d made sure of that. He’dsauntered off to the kitchen with a dick so hard he could barely walk and proceeded to serve his guest a meal in virtual silence, before making up his couch, and slinking off to bed like a bitch.

“Oh, my God! I hate myself!” he said out loud, startling a loud protest from Bear who’d curled up in the warm spot on the pillow he’d just vacated. He twisted to look at him, getting a narrow-eyed gaze before the cat lowered his head back to his paws and shut his eyes.

“Sorry,” he said to Bear as he slid out of bed, cursing when he stubbed a toe on the corner of his bed, shaking the four poster, and rattling the loose finial at the top. He’d have to remember to reglue the thing. He hated doing it since the bed was an antique, but he seemed to routinely knock them out of the sockets at the top of their four posters. It meant dropping down on all fours and trying to find the things which invariably rolled under the bed on the hardwood floors. Speaking of which…the floors were exceptionally cold this morning on his bare feet. He slid into slippers and grabbed his robe off the door.

One of the only things he hated about his small house was that the single bathroom was in the hallway, which meant leaving the safety of the room where his partner couldn’t see him. Then again, this was why one didn’t kiss guys they worked with…so that they wouldn’t have to face their beautiful faces first thing in the morning as they fought for bathroom privileges. Sure enough, as soon as he opened the door, he came face to face with Ari who was walking out of the bathroom. He switched off the light as he stepped out, only to stop stock still as he spotted Eoghan.

“Oh, sorry, didn’t see you there,” Ari said, reaching back into the bathroom and switching the light on for him before turning around to face him. “Were you headed in there?”

“Yeah, I—” He swallowed. “Good morning,” he said, brushing past him as he stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. He leaned back against it and shut his eyes as he let his head thud back on the solid wood behind him. “Get a fucking grip, Sapphire.” Eoghan opened his eyes and got a closer look at himself in the mirror over his vanity. Then he wished he hadn’t. In the darkness of his bedroom, his reflection hadn’t betrayed his actual condition.

His black hair stood up at all angles, looking exactly as he’d expect it to look if he’d tossed and turned all night long. Sure enough, his eyes were bloodshot. He’d barely gotten any sleep. He rubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw and decided not to shave. He didn’t feel like showering either, but a quick sniff of his pits suggested he’d better not skip that step. He used the toilet and jumped into the shower, giving himself a quick scrubbing and washing his hair to get out the medicinal scent of the shampoo Wendy’s sanitizing team used.

When he finished brushing his teeth and rubbing a little styling gel through his hair, he opened the bathroom door to the strong scent of coffee. Cold air rushed into the bathroom, and he hurried back to his bedroom before shutting the door to get dressed. When he came out, the air in the house was still chilly, but the thick socks he wore inside his moccasins were keeping him toasty as he walked out to the front room.

In the shower, he’d pretty much resigned himself to having to make an apology. He didn’t want things to feel strange between them and he certainly didn’t want his new partner to feel like he needed to ask for the reassignment he’d threatened the night before. Eoghan had no doubt Ari had been completely serious about asking the chief to give him a different partner. When he got out to the living room, Ari was seated on the sofa, sipping a large cup of black coffee from one of his favorite mugs and petting Bear who’d taken up residenceon his lap. The cat was gazing up into Ari’s hazel eyes, but the moment Eoghan walked out, he looked up and meowed at him.

Ari glanced up and smiled, and Eoghan instantly remembered the way his beautiful lips felt against his. The man was simply perfect in every way. He cleared his throat and offered a smile of his own as he passed behind him, heading for the kitchen where the scent of his favorite brew called to him.

“I hope you don’t mind that I helped myself to your coffee makings,” Ari said, lifting Bear off his lap and gently moving him to his blanket on the center cushion. He stood and came over, standing on the other side of the room divider as Eoghan poured a large cup of coffee into a mug that was a twin to Ari’s. He took a long sip before answering, tasting the delicious brew on his tongue as he swallowed. Of course, Ari had made it perfectly strong, just the way he liked it.

“I don’t mind at all,” Eoghan replied before taking another long drink. “It’s the perfect strength.” Ari smiled and Eoghan couldn’t help but stare at his mouth as it turned up at the corners. He blew out a long breath, knowing what he had to do and dreading it. “I’m really sorry about how I reacted, Ari. I shouldn’t have gone on about it after you explained yourself in the office. I belabored the point to death, and you were right last night when you got mad at me about it. I should never have pushed you.”

He felt much better after he got it out, taking another sip of coffee, aware that they were still standing with the room divider between them like a protective barrier. He looked over his shoulder and pointed to a box sitting on the counter before turning back to him. “I have some muffins. Would you like some breakfast?”

“Honestly, I’d love a muffin but first, I need a shower and I wanted to say something myself. Do you mind if I just get it out before we eat?”

Eoghan swallowed, covering his nervousness with another sip of coffee before nodding. “Sure.”

“I want us to be friends.” Ari walked around to his side of the counter, stepping up close enough to touch him if he would allow it. “And…if you didn’t notice last night, I like you a lot.”

Eoghan pictured the way the man’s cock had looked behind the tenting fabric of his sweats and then remembered the way he’d tasted of the basil leaf he’d been chewing as well as the naturally sweet flavor of his mouth. He suspected other parts of him tasted just as delicious as his mouth…and…he was growing hard again. Against his better judgment, he took a step closer before answering, setting down his mug.

“I noticed.” His gaze dropped to Ari’s lips and when they turned up in a smile, he glanced up, staring into the hazel ones he was really starting to adore.

“I think you like me too, Eoghan,” Ari said, running his gaze over his face.

Eoghan nodded. “Very much…I’m just not so sure it’s a good idea to get involved with you.” He lifted his cup to take a sip of coffee to help hide his nervousness.

Ari grinned this time, showing bright, white teeth as he cocked his head to the side. “And, why is that…because I’m too much man for you?”

Eoghan snorted, having to quickly turn away as coffee sprayed from his mouth and nose. Coffee dribbled down the front of the clean shirt he’d just put on and splattered his tiled floor. The big, laughing man, practically bent over guffawing as he ran to the sink and turned on the water, quickly wiping his streaming eyes, nose, and chin. It was such a merry andlighthearted sound that it made Eoghan’s stomach flutter with butterflies.

“Oh, very funny,” Eoghan only half grumbled, inexpertly hiding his smile as he grabbed a roll of paper towels and tore one off. He blew his nose before tossing it in the garbage and then pulled off several more to bend down and wipe up the coffee from several spots on the floor.

When he straightened to his full height, he was standing only a couple of feet from Ari whose eyes danced with merriment. They were a delightful shade of golden butter pecan this morning. The grin he still wore underneath his beard made him look piratical, not unlike an amused cousin to Johnny Depp in his role as Captain Jack Sparrow. He was unbelievably handsome, and devilish as hell to boot. He suddenly wanted to kiss the man again. “We don’t have time now, but you’re mopping my floors when we get back home tonight.”

Eoghan stopped himself as he went to retrieve his coffee mug, catching sight of the surprised look in Ari’s eyes as he quickly dissembled; lifting the mug to his lips.

“You really want me to stay here again, Eoghan?” Ari asked with more than a little surprise in his voice. “I should get a motel. I don’t want to put you and Bear out.”

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