Page 35 of Daily Grind
In the softglow from the lights outside, Rob stroked Brian’s hair and shifted carefully to not crowd him too much in slumber, though given how fast Brian had fallen asleep and how dead to the world he now was, Rob probably could have held him all night and not disturbed him. Still, Brian needed the rest, especially considering how he’d looked at the shop and given the quips from the other barista.
He’d also apparently needed to get laid, given his enthusiasm and energy. For a guy who’d never sucked dick before, Brian had been damn good at giving head. At everything else, too. Rob stretched his back and grunted. He’d probably have some bruises tomorrow.
As he watched Brian sleep, Rob spied the wear and tear of stress. Too many late nights, worries, and caffeine. He didn’t know Brian’s business, but he did know what overworking could do—what it had done to him.
Even now, Rob wanted to kiss Brian, taste him. Go down on him. Listen to those gasps and moans—see that moment of abandonment, when everything would be right in the world for Brian.
At least Brian would sleep. He glanced at the alarm clock on the other side of the bed. No idea when Brian needed to be up, but he could make a guess. Rob slipped from the bed and padded into the living room to get his phone. As an afterthought, he shut the lights off. When he slipped back into bed, Brian stirred.
“Leaving?” Sadness there and exhaustion.
“Not leaving.” He cupped Brian’s cheek. “Setting an alarm.”
“Oh.” Brian rolled toward him and pressed his lips against Rob’s side.
Shivers up and down his body. No chance of getting it up again, but he wanted to wrap himself around Brian. Steal him away from the world.
He shouldn’t be so caught up this soon. And yet… he stroked Brian’s head. “Bri, what time do you get up?”
“Six thirty.” Hot words against skin.
That would work for him as well—enough time to get home, showered, and changed. Rob stared at the phone, then set the alarm to six fifteen. He had a feeling they might need a bit more time getting out of bed in the morning.
Brian slid an arm around Rob’s waist. “Put that thing down and come back here.”
He chuckled and set the phone down. “Whatever you want, Bri.” He rolled into that warm embrace.
Brian buried his face into the crook of Rob’s neck. “Promise?”
“Yes.” Not the most brilliant vow to make—but it felt correct. He kissed the top of Brian’s head. “I want to make the world right for you.”
A sigh. “You have.”
Rob closed his eyes.Good.
* * *
Rob stared out his window.The days had slinked along like mopey teenagers, sullen, dark, and annoying. Friday was closer to Sunday—but not there yet. He absently rubbed below his watchband—then froze. A nervous habit—and a reminder of a past he’d as soon forget.
A faint scar sliced across his skin from where he’d punched out a glass pane in his parents’ house to unlock the back door. But he’d been far too late to save his mother. In the end, the paramedics had told him it was an accident and had dragged him to the hospital to stitch up the gash.
His mother had been covered with a sheet. No care in the world would bring her back. He couldn’t save her. Not then. Not ever.
It had been far from an accident—they all knew that—but in the end, that’s what everyone said. Accidental overdose.
When a meeting reminder popped up, he shifted in his chair and clicked the dialog box closed.
An uncomfortable thought chased through his mind. Was he trying tosaveBrian? He rubbed his forehead. Maybe.
Perhaps he should dial this back to a fling, a casual thing, not the serious relationship he craved—that Brian also wanted.
They’d woken to Rob’s alarm on Thursday morning, completely tangled in each other. Brian had stared at Rob in wonder. “How’d you end up in my bed?”
“Shit, if you don’t remember, I guess I’m a piss-poor lover.”
A shit-eating grin from Brian. “Oh, I remember. And you’re not that bad.”
“Not that… ?” He’d pulled Brian in for a kiss and used those fifteen extra minutes to provejusthow good a lover he was. Brian had come hard, gasping, crying out his name, and spilling himself into Rob’s mouth.
