Page 78 of Daily Grind
Rob shook and wrapped his arms around Brian. “I’ve had no one to tell this to.” He took a breath. “She was cold and dead. A teacup sat next to her, and her pills, the one she took every day. Apparently, she’d taken a week’s worth in one sitting.”
Brian felt Rob’s hollow laugh and he pulled back. “She killed herself. I’d abandoned her, just like my dad had, and she killed herself because of it.”
Brian rubbed Rob’s arms. “You didn’t leave her, you came back. You didn’t abandon her!”
Rob kissed his forehead. “You’re sweet. And correct. She’d planned it from the beginning, right after my father died. I threw a spanner in by rushing home and not leaving her.” He traced a finger down Brian’s face. “I know that in my head, but my heart’s never quite caught up.” He pulled away and strode to the window. “Now I’m an orphan.”
Brian shivered and followed. It wasn’t cold, especially on the third floor now that the weather had warmed. He wrapped his arms around Rob and kissed his neck. “You’re not alone.”
Rob took Brian’s hand and lifted it, placing it on his chest—over his heart. “No. I’m not. Thank you for that.”
They stood like that for some time, breathing each other, holding their bodies together as cars drove past on Darlington. Brian was the first to move, to rotate Rob away from the window. “Come to bed with me.”
A faint smile. “Thought you’d never ask.”
They stripped without word and slid under the covers, flesh to flesh. Rob’s skin was cool and soft, but his muscles so tense beneath. Brian kissed him and pulled him close. “I have off Saturday.”
“Do you?” Whispered words.
“Thought maybe you’d like to go hiking up in McConnells Mill.”
A sigh and Rob relaxed, molding his long body against Brian’s. “That sounds lovely.” He cupped Brian’s face in his hands. “Should I bring my camera?”
“Of course. There’s an old mill and a covered bridge and trials and…” Brian nestled against his shoulder and breathed in Rob’s scent. “Always bring your camera. You’re an artist, aren’t you?”
Rob’s laugh was closer to a sob. “I guess I am.”
Brian listened to Rob’s pulse beat steadily, in counterpoint to the ragged nature of his breathing. After a time, that evened out and Rob shifted his legs, then his body, then his mouth, and every inch of Brian flared. “You don’t have to—”
“Shh.” Rob kissed him, his lips sliding sweetly against Brian’s. Not demanding, but it melted every bit of Brian anyway. Their bodies moved and slid, creating delicious friction, cocks rubbing together, so much like their first night.
Intimate, heady, perfect. Senses ignited, skin tingled. Brian’s moans were caught and returned by Rob. Hands moved and touched and pinched and caressed. He whispered Rob’s name against his freckled skin, veins on fire as their bodies rocked toward bliss. Murmurs of promises and love.
In the end, he broke first, a cascade of sparks firing along his spine and he spilled against Rob, slicking the skin between them. His lungs ached for air as he cried out his release.
Rob joined him, coming hard a moment later, hot against his stomach. They both continued thrusting and moving until the pleasure was too much to handle. Brian bit Rob’s shoulder to stifle a moan. “Can’t…”
Rob was all breath and shudder. He curled his fingers into Brian’s hair, his mouth brushing Brian’s cheek.
When they stilled, Rob murmured against his neck. “You’re a wonder. Thank you for tonight. For all of the nights. For everything.”
The world swam in lazy circles around Brian. Would that they could stay wrapped like this. Two bodies, two souls tangled together. “I haven’t done anything. You walked into my life and swept me off my feet.”
“Did I now?” That beautiful smile.
He brushed one red curl from Rob’s forehead. “Blew in off the street, all sunlight and charm.”
Rob pecked him on the nose. “Hopeless romantic.”
He pulled Rob in for a much longer kiss, plying his mouth open with lips and tongue until Rob’s breathlessness returned, then relented. “Or something.”
“Fucking hell.” Rob squirmed against him. “You keep that up…”
Brian rolled until he straddled Rob. He wasn’t hard and neither was Rob. They were both a wonderful sticky mess. “I could, if you want.”
“Mmm.” Rob closed his eyes. “Want to. Don’t know if I have the energy.”
That was fine, as well. “Let me get a towel, then.”
