Page 7 of Mutual Desire

Craig’s jaw tightened at the mention of Nick’s name, his blue eyes sharpening. For reasons Damien couldn’t fully grasp, Craig had always bristled at the mere mention of Nick. Whether it was jealousy or something deeper, Craig made it painfully clear how much he disliked Damien’s best friend.

“You spend the whole day with him now?” Craig said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “And ignoring my calls while you’re at it. If you’re trying to avoid me, just say it.”

Damien stifled a groan. “I wasn’t avoiding you, Craig. I told you—I was helping Nick fix a bug in his software. It took longer than expected.”

Craig’s expression darkened, the tension radiating off him. “It was my day off, Damien. We could’ve spent it together. But I guess Nick’s thing was more important.”

Damien frowned, trying to recall Craig mentioning his day off, but nothing came to mind. “I didn’t know it was your day off.”

“Exactly,” Craig shot back. “You didn’t ask because you didn’t care.”

Damien rubbed his eyes, exhaustion seeping into every word. He exhaled sharply. “Craig, that’s not fair,” Damien said, his voice tinged with frustration. “You’re always working crazy shifts. How was I supposed to know? And this isn’t about not caring. I was helping a friend. It’s not like I was out fucking around.”

Damien sighed again, fatigue pulling at every muscle in his body. He didn’t have the energy for a fight tonight. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to hold back his frustration. He hadn’t even realized it was Craig’s day off. His schedule was always all over the place. But even if he had known, he would’ve still spent the day helping Nick. His best friend had needed him.

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow, Craig. I’m exhausted,” Damien said, not giving his boyfriend a chance to reply and further drag out their fight.

Craig wasn’t letting it go, though. He stood, his frustration bubbling over. “You’re always the first to complain that we don’t spend enough time together, but the minute Nick calls, you drop everything.”

Damien’s exhaustion turned into irritation. “Because you’re married to your job, Craig! You pick up every shift they throw at you. Don’t act like I’m the only one at fault here.”

Craig’s eyes flashed with disbelief. “You’re blaming me for helping people? For saving lives?”

Damien shook his head. “That’s not what I’m saying.”

“It sure sounds like it.” Craig’s voice was low and dangerous.

Damien dragged a hand down his face, struggling to keep calm. “I just wanted to come home and not fight. Can we do this tomorrow?”

Craig’s shoulders sagged slightly, the tension between them palpable. “I waited for you all day, Damien. Do you know how that feels?”

Damien’s heart ached. He stepped closer, cupping Craig’s face gently.

“I’m sorry,” Damien whispered. “I didn’t mean to forget. I should’ve asked. I wanted to spend the day with you so badly today, you have no idea.”

Craig looked at him, the hardness in his expression softening for a moment. Their lips met in a tender kiss, but when Craig’s hands slid to Damien’s waistband, Damien gently pulled away.

“Not tonight, babe,” Damien murmured against his lips.

Craig’s eyes darkened with frustration, his mouth finding Damien’s neck. “When was the last time I touched you?” His voice was raw, almost vulnerable.

Damien sighed, his exhaustion palpable. “I know, honey, I know. But I’m wiped. Please, just... not tonight.”

Damien moaned as Craig’s hands unbuttoned his pants and started loosening his fly,his lips still grazing his neck. Asmuch as Damien loved being kissed there, he was too drained tonight to let his horniness win over the exhaustion pulling him down.

“Craig…” Damien whispered breathlessly as Craig’s lips brushed his neck.

Craig moved his mouth back to Damien’s, kissing him with an intense hunger.

“Honey, not tonight,” Damien whispered between kisses, his lips lingering against Craig’s.

Craig put a sudden stop to the kiss, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Damien in awkward silence. He stared at him, almost as if searching Damien’s face for a hidden reason behind his reluctance.

“What’s wrong?” Craig finally asked. “You don’t want me anymore?”

The question hit Damien like a slap. His brow furrowed in confusion.Where the hell was this coming from?

He couldn’t understand why Craig would think even for a second that he didn’t want him. It was the first time Craig had ever said anything like that. Sex had always been amazing between them. Why couldn’t Craig see how utterly exhausted he was and connect the dots? He was a medical doctor—surely, he knew that libido took a nosedive when someone was this burned out. Damien couldn’t deal with this right now. And to think he had thought tomorrow would be the worst part of his week with that dreadful presentation looming. Now he wasn’t so sure.

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