Page 22 of Cross & Crown

orders.

He wondered sometimes how he’d gone five years

in Recon without molesting his friend. He’d either been

absolutely blind to the attraction or he was rewriting the

memories in his head, becausedamn.

Nick returned, Kelly’s bag thrown over his shoulder and a

smile on his face. “Ready to go home?”

“You’re not even going to feed me first?” Kelly teased.

“Just going to take me to your boat and fuck me?”

“That’s SOP, yeah. Come on.” He led Kelly out into the

brisk evening.

21

His Range Rover was parked in a no loading zone right

beside the taxi lane, and airport security was standing beside

it, writing out a ticket. Nick handed Kelly his bag and gestured for him to load it in the car. Kelly watched him as he slid his overcoat and suit jacket aside and tapped the badge on his

belt with one long finger.

The rent-a-cop gave him a wave and moved away, and

Kelly climbed into the passenger side. Nick got into the car a

moment later, grinning crookedly.

“You just abused your authority,” Kelly told him.

Nick nodded and started the car.

“You enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

Nick side-eyed him. “So did you.”

“So much.”

22

Chapter 2

he choppy water lapped at the hull of Nick’s yacht,

Tthe sound rhythmic and deep, like Kelly could feel it

in his chest as he lay awake in the main cabin. Nick was curled beside him, his breathing uneven, his body tense.

He was dreaming, and his restlessness made it impossible

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