Page 12 (2/2)
Zane nodded, s "I’ve always been a little jealous of you and Ty," he adlanced at him
"I never had a friend like that Soine what that’s like"
Nick pursed his lips and gave a slow nod "Garrett, you have at least one friend like that now"
Zane found his throat tightening at the senti any kind of loyalty that wasn’t attached to Ty, but it wasin years "Thank you"
Nick began to smile, and his words took on a sly hint "So, dinner You like Italian?"
Zane burst out laughing "I know a place nearby"
They were both still snickering when they heard a car door shut on the street below "I see your ss!" Kelly called fro"
Nick sat up and peered over the railing, then pushed out of his seat and left Zane sitting there without another word He didn’tdown the stairs Zane waved to Kelly, who had a bag slung over his shoulder and was craning his neck to peer up at hio?"
Before Zane could answer, Nick burst out the front door and hopped the three steps to the sidewalk He body-slammed Kelly hard and picked hi hit by a car, but then he wrapped his ared
Zane laughed even as a lad to see the two friends reunited, but he couldn’t help but wish that was hi now," he whispered to hiether, Garrett"
Nick had been sent halfway across the world under the guise of a forty-eight-hour mental health break, but his true purpose had been to deliver a single, five-word ence in Suitland, Maryland He’d floelve hours in a jue, then diverted to Baltimore to drop in on Zane Ty hadn’t sent him there as Zane had suspected, but Nick hadn’t let Zane know that
He’d been able to get word to Kelly, who’d flown in to meet up with him Nick had been nearly sick with nerves as he waited for Kelly to arrive, but theon the sidewalk in front of Ty’s row house, the hthearted voice, any trace of apprehension abandoned hi Kelly until his head popped off
They took Zane to dinner, keeping conversation light, trying not to let anything slip Kelly knew not to ask questions, and Zane see how the weather had been was too far
Dinner was good Zane’s waiter friend, Ryan, was just as hot as Ty complained about Nick and Kelly were able to keep their hands and eyes off each other for hours as they sat and talked with Zane In the end, Kelly and Zane arranged to keep in contact better, offering each other soone
Zane was clearly heartsick, but he didn’t seeht, he didn’t linger or ask theh he did offer to let them stay with him They declined forobvious reasons But Nick was relieved to see that Zane see okay on his own
Nick couldn’t tell Zane and Kelly that they weren’t the only ones ere alone a lot of the time He couldn’t tell them that the tearoups Given the real reason they’d been recalled--black ops missions on which MARSOC couldn’t afford to use known operators--Nick and Digger were nowa recon squadron of twelve men Ty was a captain who coer’s included Owen had been filtered into Naval Intelligence, and they only heard froathered in the dark to do their real jobs
None of that h None of that mattered for the next two days Nick wrapped his arm around Kelly’s waist and pulled him closer as they walked down the hallway to their hotel roo Neither of them said a word
Nick slid the room key home and shoved the door open, then reached out to take Kelly’s hand and tug his into the roorasped at Nick’s shirt, sliding his hands around to dig into Nick’s shoulders Nick ainst the ith little regard for how rough he was being They both grunted when Kelly hit, but it didn’t slow the Kelly’s hair Kelly ed, and the sound was like a dinner bell ringing
Nick bit Kelly’s lip, gasping as their bodies pressed together "I thought about this so godda night I thought about you"
Nick closed his eyes, running the tip of his nose fro hiainst Nick’s Nick could feel hierness in his labored breaths They both kneas co it off this ti what precious little ti to deny what they both wanted
Nick kissed hi into him Then he trailed kisses down his chin to his neck and nipped at hi He wasn’t disappointed KellyNick’s lips as he sucked on Kelly’s neck Nick grabbed his thighs and picked hi his body to keep his around Nick’s waist to help hihtened in his hair and he bit down harder on his neck, dragging his teeth over the skin He wanted nothing more than to do just that, and now that Kelly wasn’t injured, Nick didn’t have to worry about hurting him Much
"Next time," Nick promised, despite his desire to say "Aye aye" and toss Kelly to the floor
Kelly grunted "Now"
Nick laughed and pushed his face against Kelly’s neck "We both need to get off at least once before I get at you, or I’ll tear you apart"
"No, you won’t! I’ve been practicing!" Kelly began popping the buttons on Nick’s shirt, fingers fluttering against Nick’s skin as they ht His knees eak, and he let Kelly slide back down the wall to his feet He placed both hands on either side of Kelly’s head and pushed away so he couldhis lip against a grin
"How’ve you been doing that, exactly?" The hoarse ru, but Kelly just grinned wider He knew Nick too well tohe did
"Jesus, I love it when you do that," KellyNick’s He undid the button of Nick’s jeans with nione even rougher He looked down at Kelly’s hands Kelly pressed his forehead to Nick’s, both of the as he shoved Nick’s jeans down his hips
"I had a lot of nights alone," Kelly said Nick raised his head, and their noses brushed Kelly’s breath arainst his lips "I called your name every damn time"