Page 40 of Rarely Pure and Never Simple
"You're exhausted. You can't even concentrate on getting undressed."
Blaze tipped his head back, disoriented at having to look up at Damien. He wanted to protest that he was fine, he'd just been lost in thought, but all he managed was, "Huh?"
The vague fuzziness in his brain spiraled down into outright confusion when Damien knelt at his feet to unlace his remaining boot. "Lift your foot."
"The fuck?"
"Everyone needs a little help sometimes. Even you."
"I don't need help undressing. I've been doing that on my own for several years now."
"Yes. I'm sure." Damien tugged off one sock and then the other. He rose up on his knees, unbuckled Blaze's shoulder holster, carefully wound holster and gun together, and set the whole thing aside on the rock.
"Damien?"
The humor had died in Damien's eyes, replaced by something that was warmer than his usual flat stare but just as hard to read. "Would you get mad if I kissed you?"
"Um." Eloquent, precise and meaningful.Well done, Emerson. Too off balance to stop his brain from spinning, he could only watch in a strangely disconnected way as Damien stroked the outer edge of his ear and leaned in to kiss the corner of his mouth.
The chaste kiss sent an electric jolt down his spine and hot-started his brain. "This is such a bad idea. We really shouldn't."
"Probably not." Damien heaved a little sigh through his nose. "But I'm wondering if I've always made this more complicated than it needs to be."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Sex. It gets all tangled with other expectations. I find you attractive.Reallyattractive. I'm comfortable with you. More than I've ever been with anyone I've tried to take as a lover. Always disastrous."
"Well, hey, I like you, too and all that…" Blaze trailed off and reached a hand out tentatively to stroke a finger through Damien's hair. So soft. "Let's see if I'm getting this. Since we're comfy with each other and we don't feel like killing each other, we should be fuck buddies?"
Damien blushed to the roots of his hair. "Maybe? That sounds terrible."
"When's the last time you had a boyfriend?"
"I… don't."
Blaze let out an exasperated grunt. "Please tell me you're not a virgin at your age."
"No." Damien looked away, his face such a deep red Blaze feared he might have a stroke. "I have one-nighters. They usually leave right after."
"Last one was?"
"A few years." Damien shrugged. "They make me edgy."
"Really? I'm shocked."
"It's not… what about you?"
"Do I get edgy? Not usually. I find sex relaxing."
Damien nudged his knee. "Funny. Do you have boyfriends?"
"No. Not since, well, not for a long time. I have one-nighters. They usually leave when I piss them off too much. Sometimes when I toss them out."
"Ah." Damien slid closer and laid his head on Blaze's shoulder. It was such a sweet, trusting gesture Blaze thought he heard his heart creak. "You don't make me angry. Too often."
"Now there's a ringing endorsement." Despite all his warnings to himself, he wrapped his arms around Damien and pulled him in tight. "You don't irritate me too much, either."
"Good."
