Page 33 of Comforting the Grump

Marnin snorted. “True, but even you should take a moment to think this through.”

“Maybe I’m a fast thinker.”

“You’re gonna make me ask, aren’t you?” He sighed. “Why are you saying yes? What are you getting out of this?”

“Good sex?”

“That can’t be all.”

I put my hand on his arm. “No, but it’s a great start. My supply of partners in Forestville isn’t exactly bountiful, you know? And even if I get lucky, it’s not always as satisfying as I hoped for.”

He scratched his chin. “No pressure, huh?”

Of course there was pressure, which was the whole point for him. “I’m safe,” I said softly. “I may not be your partner like the urologist thought, but I am safe. You need that right now, and it’s something I’m happy to give.”

Plus, and I didn’t say this part aloud, sex was Marnin’s preferred way of dealing with those pesky emotions he hated so much. The man didn’t do well with feelings, and right now, he had a crap ton of those brewing inside him. What better way to process them than with a good, hard fuck? I was all too happy to oblige since it happened to align with my needs.

“Auden can’t know,” Marnin said. “He’d fucking kill me with his bare hands if he knew I was defiling his little brother.”

I rolled my eyes. “Do I look stupid to you? Of course Auden can’t know. The man has a badge, a gun, and a hundred ways to get rid of a body without anyone being any wiser.”

Marnin blinked. “Great, now I have that visual on my mind.”

I leaned in, rising on my tippy-toes as I whispered into his ear, “I’m sure we can replace that with a more…stimulating one.”

He chuckled low. “Oh, you’re good. Let’s go.”

We spoke little as we drove back to his apartment, only exchanging some mindless comments on the traffic—anightmare, as usual—and the blue skies that were unexpected but oh so welcome after the endless drizzle. Marnin mostly stared out the window as I drove, but I could feel the weight of his gaze every time it flicked my way.

We pulled into his building’s parking garage, and as I parked in his designated spot, the finality of our arrival sank in like a stone.

“Here we are,” I announced needlessly, killing the engine.

Marnin’s hand hovered over the door handle but didn’t pull. The silence stretched—a thin line ready to snap. He cleared his throat. “I’m, uh…not usually this jittery.”

“Hey.” I brushed my fingers against his sleeve. “No expectations, all right? We’ll go with whatever feels right.”

He gave a curt nod, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he exited the car. His movements were stiff, betraying the nerves he tried so hard to conceal—nerves that were both endearing and heartbreaking. This man, always so guarded and in control, was showing me cracks in his armor.

We walked to the elevator, the click of our shoes against the concrete echoing around us like a metronome, counting down each moment. I watched him punch the button to call the elevator, his finger jabbing a bit more forcefully than necessary.

“Really, Ennio,” he said as we waited, “I’m usually smoother than this. You must think?—”

I held up a hand. “Let’s acknowledge the level of awkwardness here and leave it at that. We want this, but that doesn’t mean it’s not uncomfortable or weird.”

His lips twitched, a semblance of his usual smirk trying to break through. “No kidding.”

When the elevator dinged its arrival, Marnin swiped his card and pressed the button for his floor, his finger lingering a second longer than needed. His nervous energy was palpable, and I found myself leaning into it, absorbing it as my own. Becausedespite the fear, there was something else there—anticipation, pure and intoxicating. I hadn’t lied when I’d said we both wanted this.

Stepping over the threshold into Marnin’s apartment, a shiver ran down my spine. Marnin closed the door behind me, then stood there, his gaze locking with mine. I took his hand, feeling his pulse in his wrist. His heart was racing as much as my own. Apparently, we were both battling swarms of butterflies.

“Ennio…” His voice was gravelly, laced with vulnerability that made him all the more endearing.

“Shh,” I whispered again and closed the distance between us. My hands found the nape of his neck, fingers weaving through the graying strands at his collar. I pulled him down, bridging the gap between nervousness and want, fear and need. And then my lips met his.

The kiss was an ignition, a spark that set fire to the dry tinder of our restraint. It was intense, almost desperate, as if we’d been holding our breath for eternity. His tongue slipped into my mouth, where it met mine, only to start an intricate dance of push and pull, demand and grant, chase and capture. Jesus, the man could kiss.

He groaned somewhere in the back of his throat, then lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around him as he walked until my back was against the wall. So much better. The height difference had been killing me. Him too, apparently.

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