Page 7 of Part & Parcel

The game was approaching its end and Nick still had his blanket wrapped over his head like ET, staring sightlessly at the screen, still numb from the words he’d read, when he heard Kelly board theFiddler. He muted the television and nudged the cardboard box under the coffee table with his foot, but he didn’t try moving otherwise as Kelly stepped into the salon with an armful of groceries.

“Need help?” Nick asked him.

“No, this is all there is,” Kelly said as he deftly closed the door behind him with his foot, balancing a canvas bag full of groceries in each hand. He gave Nick a snort as he walked by. He didn’t comment on Nick’s blanket. It was probably too common a sight lately to warrant it.

Nick worried at his lower lip with his teeth as he tracked Kelly through the salon and into the galley. He had to crane his neck to watch Kelly putting groceries up, and his blanket fell away from his head.

“How’s your game?” Kelly asked as he pulled things out of the bags and laid them out on the counters.

“Eh.” Nick clicked the TV off, still peering behind him.

Kelly glanced up, his brow deeply furrowed. “You okay?”

“I’m good. Think I sat here too long, but I’m fine.”

Kelly put away the last items that required refrigeration, and left the rest on the counter in favor of moving back in front of Nick with his hands on his hips. He was scowling now, and Nick shifted self-consciously.

“What’d I do?” Nick asked him.

“You tell me.”

“I’m being good. I haven’t moved. Much.”

Kelly’s expression turned skeptical, and he stepped around the coffee table and put a knee on the couch next to Nick, leaning over him. Nick watched him raptly, suddenly breathless as Kelly’s fingers slid against his cheek. But what he’d thought was going to be a gentle caress—something too few and far between since his injury—was simply Kelly’s fingers pressing against the pulse point at his neck.

Nick held his breath as he gazed up at Kelly, who had his head lowered, his eyes unfocused and a frown on his face. He was mentally calculating Nick’s pulse rate; that was the expression he’d always worn, from the very first day they’d met, when he was doctoring someone. That familiarity didn’t keep Nick from watching him longingly, though.

Kelly’s frown deepened, and he raised his head to meet Nick’s eyes. They stared at each other for long seconds, and Kelly’s shoulders relaxed, his thumb grazing the point of Nick’s chin and sliding gently toward his lips. The fingers he’d pressed against Nick’s pulse curled, and when his thumb brushed Nick’s lip, Nick’s eyes fluttered closed. He didn’t realize it, though, until Kelly pulled his hand away.

Nick grabbed for him, managing to snag his hand before he could stand. Kelly’s eyes widened, and they found themselves staring at each other again as Nick held Kelly’s hand and Kelly knelt awkwardly next to him.

Nick pressed Kelly’s hand to his heart. “Sit with me?”

“You okay?” Kelly asked as he eased down beside Nick. His hand was warm through Nick’s thin T-shirt.

“Yeah,” Nick whispered. He slid his hand up Kelly’s arm, staring into his storm-tossed eyes.

“You sure? Your heart’s racing.” Kelly moved his fingers up like he was going to check Nick’s pulse again.

Nick licked his lips, nodding jerkily. “That’s because I’m nervous,” he practically gasped.

Kelly stared, unblinking, unflinching. His thumb rested against Nick’s chin again, and his eyes followed its progress as he slid it up the line of Nick’s jaw to his cheekbone.

It seemed like forever to Nick, like it took Kellyhoursto move. It seemed like he held his breath for so long that his lungs burned, that his body screamed for him to do something,anything, to relieve the pressure building.

It wasn’t until Kelly finally met his eyes again, when his fingers finally tightened against the back of Nick’s neck, when he finally leaned closer, that Nick sucked in a breath. A moment later Kelly’s lips were on his, warm and gentle and familiar.

Nick didn’t dare move, didn’t dare make a sound beyond the involuntary whimper that escaped his parted lips once Kelly pulled back. He was left with his eyes closed and his breath stolen, grasping Kelly harder so he wouldn’t move away.

Kelly brushed his nose against Nick’s, and then his lips met Nick’s again and he shifted like he might climb into Nick’s lap. Nick tightened his grip on Kelly’s forearm, and Kelly moaned quietly against his lips.

“I miss you,” Nick whispered between gentle kisses.

Kelly pressed his forehead to Nick’s, leaning his body against Nick’s shoulder. “Asshole,” he grunted.

Nick ducked his head, but Kelly put a hand on his shoulder and shoved off of him, raising up and slinging one leg over Nick’s lap. Nick gripped Kelly’s hips to remind him to be careful as Kelly straddled him, both hands resting on Nick’s shoulders, his head cocked. Nick swallowed hard, flushing with a heady mixture of nerves and adrenaline and desire as Kelly pushed his blanket off his shoulders with a smirk.

“How’s your heart rate?” Kelly asked wryly.

---