Page 40 of Bulletproof
“She’s a love, isn’t she?” Cam asked, smiling down at the black Lab.
“She sure is.”
“Derek’s on the balcony.” Cam opened the door wider and stepped aside. “Come in.”
The immediate invitation, the lack of hesitation about whether or not Derek wanted him there, flooded Travis with a sense of belonging. They welcomed him, without question.
He stepped into the suite, said hello to Jeremy and Alan, and headed toward the sliding glass doors thatled to the balcony. He paused to watch Derek deep in conversation with Brandon. Derek was speaking with his head down, his face full with emotion, while Brandon listened, offering a reassuring word here and there. Witnessing the bond of their friendship left a hollowness in Travis’ sternum. He longed for that kind of bond, and realized he shared something similar with Derek. In time, he hoped itwould become as strong as the friendship Derek and Brandon shared.
He continued to watch Derek, who appeared deeply upset, twisting and yanking on the length of his gorgeous hair with frustration. Why, though? Did seeing him with Ashley upset Derek that much?
As if feeling Travis’ presence, Derek looked up and they locked eyes. The discontent distorting Derek’s face fadedand a warm smile greeted Travis. Travis slid open the sliding glass door without waiting for an invitation, and the coolness of the night hit him.
“What are you doing here?” Derek asked, happily.
Recognizing the need for privacy, Brandon slipped past Travis and shut the sliding glass door behind him.
Travis took a step forward and placed his hands on eitherside of Derek’s face. His heart beat faster, like little bolts of electricity running through his veins, as his thumbs caressed the stubble on Derek’s cheeks. “I wanted to make sure you were OK. You were upset. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would bother you so much. About Ashley. I should have—”
“You don’t owe me an explanation. From the start, we both stated how much we valued ourfreedom. I had no right to run out of there.” Although Derek said he wasn’t bothered, the sadness and turmoil in his eyes told their own story of heartache.
“I want you to know that it’s not a regular thing, me and her. We broke up a few years ago, but sometimes still hook up. Even when we were together, we always had an open relationship. It was never just me and her. Honestly, it’snothing more than a casual hook up every now and then.”
Derek was quiet for a moment. “A casual hookup?” he mumbled. “Is that what we are?”
“No. Me and you are friends. You’re my fucking best friend, Derek. I haven’t said that to someone since I was in grammar school.”
A tiny smile formed on Derek’s lips. “Anthony Landis?”
Startled, Travis’ mouthhung open for a second before he remembered telling Derek that Anthony Landis was the only other person he’d brought to the top of the Hollywood sign. “I can’t believe you remembered that.”
“Of course I remembered, Travis. You carved your way into my heart the first night we met.”
“You have no idea how much that means to me, how muchyoumean to me. You know how closeyou are with Brandon, and Alan, and Jeremy?”
Derek nodded.
“Imagine going your whole life without a friendship like that, and then finding it. I feel like I can tell you anything.” He paused, as lines to his 10 Things poem shot into his head. He wanted to share them, but hesitated because he knew they were silly and unpolished. It wasn’t really a poem by most standards.It read more like a list than a poem, and he was embarrassed. A small voice in his head pushed him to say it anyway. “10 Things I like About You,” by T. Fontana. Numbers 3 and 4. I like the way you listen when I talk to you under the stars. I like that you see the person inside of me, past my scars.”
Derek’s eyes took on a misty hue and he pressed his lips together in a quiveringsmile.
“It’s true.” Travis dropped his hands to Derek’s shoulders and gave the hard muscles that resided there a small squeeze for emphasis. “I love that I can talk to you about some of the crazy shit in my head without feeling embarrassed or self-conscious. You calm me when my nerves are ready to split my body open at the seams. You’re my best friend. And I treasure that.”
“Best friend?” Derek presented a crooked smile.
“Yeah. It’s a big deal to me.” He placed a soft, slow kiss on Derek’s mouth and offered his tongue. “You’re more than just my best friend, Derek. I really care about you.”
Derek caressed Travis’ cheek with the back of his fingers. “I really care about you, too.”
The sincerity behind Derek’s eyes, in hiswords and his touch, filled a need that Travis had craved for as long as he could remember. He pressed his body against Derek’s, wanting to feel this magnificent man all over him. “Show me,” he whispered. “Take me to bed and show me.”
Derek answered with a long passionate kiss, and then led Travis through the suite, past the rest of the guys, who didn’t do more than give them a casualglance, and into his room. Once behind the closed door, Derek slipped his shirt over his head, revealing his broad chest covered in the beautiful black and gray artwork that Travis loved so much.
Travis graced one of the tattoos on Derek’s left pec with a delicate kiss as he pulled at the waistband of the man’s jeans. Impatient, Derek took over and pushed them down to the floor. Hestepped out of them with the grace of an awkward teenager, stumbling and falling into the wall.
A small rumble of laughter escaped Travis.
“Sorry,” Derek said, sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to rush things. I know you like it slow. So do I, now that you showed me how wonderful it can be. I just got a little carried away.”
