Caught Running (27 page)

A happy smile spread on Brandon's face. “Missed this,” he murmured, opening his hands to splay his fingers over Jake's chest.

"It's been right here,” Jake whispered as he ducked his head and kissed Brandon gently.

Brandon winced and sighed in apology. “Not been fair to you,” he murmured, soaking up being so close.

"Don't worry about it, baby,” Jake murmured with another kiss. “It's enough to do this every night."

Brandon pressed his face closer, deliberately inhaling Jake's scent with a low, slow breath. He was so sleepy, but he didn't want to give up enjoying this time close to Jake. “I gotta cut back,” he murmured to himself. “This is more important."

Jake turned his head and brushed his chin against Brandon's hair, frowning at the words.
Cut back?
“Cut back on what?” he prodded.

"Mmm. Work. Running myself ragged,” Brandon answered drowsily. “Rather be with you."

"Are you saying you want to quit coaching?” Jake asked evenly, though he wasn't sure why the thought upset him so much.

Brandon stiffened. “No,” he said, waking up a little. “I was thinking more along the lines of shelving the doctorate and quitting the tutoring.” He fell quiet for a few moments. “Do you think I should quit coaching?"

Jake hesitated, frowning thoughtfully. “Which do you enjoy more?” he finally asked in response.

Rousing himself to give it some serious thought, Brandon tried to separate the fact that coaching meant more time with Jake. He'd been doing the tutoring for five years now, and while he did enjoy it, it wasn't at all challenging. The doctorate just didn't seem to be coming together. And with the baseball team, for the first time, he was accepted. Included. Welcomed. He sighed. “The coaching,” he murmured.

"Then that's what I think you should do,” Jake answered, his voice betraying that he hadn't expected that answer.

Brandon shifted back so he could look at Jake. “You sound surprised,” he said. Honestly, he was, too. But then a lot of things in his life had changed the past couple of months.

Jake shrugged a little guiltily and smiled. “A lot of things about you have surprised me,” he admitted as he rested his head back down on the pillow.

"Like what?” Brandon asked, smile pulling into a grin.

Jake just shrugged again, blushing slightly and pulling Brandon closer to hide his face against his neck. Brandon laughed and poked Jake's ribs. “C'mon now,” he wheedled. Jake swatted at him and rolled until he was on top, burrowing his face into Brandon's neck and growling playfully.

"Man, pulling information out of you is like pulling teeth,” Brandon said, still laughing. “Fine. I'll just go with my current assumption that you're rather fond of me,” he said as he slid his arms around Jake's neck.

Jake pulled back then and kissed him, smiling as he did so. “I
am
rather fond of you,” he murmured cheekily between kisses.

"Well, I sure hope so. You up to seeing me more in the mornings and evenings? Wouldn't want to wear out my welcome. I've been spending a lot of time at your house already,” Brandon's voice teased, and for the most part he felt that way. But buried underneath it was uncertainty.

"It's easier, right?” Jake asked with a frown as he propped himself up on Brandon's chest and looked down at him. “Staying with me?"

Brandon looked up at him evenly, the teasing gone. “I don't stay with you because it's easy."

Jake returned the serious look for a long moment before breaking into a teasing grin. “You stay with me ‘cause it's hard?” he asked innocently.

Lips clamping on a smile, Brandon thumped Jake's chest with the back of one hand, shaking his head. “Yeah,” he said wryly. “That's it exactly.” He was slowly figuring out that he wasn't going to get words from Jake. But the actions were pretty damn incredible, and he told himself to be content with that.

"Is it?” Jake asked in a more serious voice as he leaned back down to brush his lips over Brandon's again. “Exactly?"

Sliding his hand into Jake's hair, Brandon contradicted himself. “Not exactly,” he whispered against his mouth.

Jake grunted and kissed him again. “Tell me,” he urged, the words gusting over Brandon's lips.

Brandon shivered and closed his eyes. “Tell you what?” he asked. “Why I stay?” His fingers clenched into Jake's skin, holding on tight. He was afraid he'd ruin it. Jake merely nodded, his nose brushing against Brandon's cheek.

Jesus
. Brandon was so tempted to keep turning it around, each of them asking question after question as they banged the issue around like a crazed ping-pong ball, but he didn't think he could take it. Brandon was already so tired and out of emotional fortitude that he'd let the conversation stray to this. His heart pounded. “Because I want to. I want you. And I hope—” his voice faltered, and he had to swallow before he could continue, “hope someday you might want more."

Jake closed his eyes and smiled against Brandon's lips. “I do,” he responded simply.

Three heartbeats. “
Christ
,” Brandon choked out. “Why the hell did you make me go through that?” he asked, if possible clutching Jake closer.

"Go through what?” Jake asked, innocent and wide-eyed as he raised his head again.

Growling, Brandon shifted his hands and went for Jake's ribs and ticklish spots. “Bastard,” he swore.

Jake squawked and flopped to his side, curling up like a cat to protect his belly. “What'd I do?” he cried as he fended off the jabbing fingers. Brandon kept at him, sliding one hand down to catch the sensitive skin behind one of his knees, muttering all the while as he tried to get Jake on his back. Jake flopped again and wrapped his arms around Brandon to hold him closer, close enough that he couldn't reach him anywhere. “Bad!” he scolded.

"Bad? Me? Bad?” Brandon huffed. “Son of a bitch, making me think I'm going to scare you off. Always teasing and making light of things."

"But..."

"No buts!” Brandon insisted as he took Jake by surprise, rolling them and straddling his hips. He grabbed at Jake's wrists. “You tell
me
now, Jake. If only this once."

"Tell you what?” Jake asked teasingly as he stretched out under Brandon and smiled. The smile faded and his eyes darkened as he looked up at his lover. “That I think I'm in love with you?” he asked seriously.

Brandon stared down at Jake with wide eyes, totally speechless. Then he shook himself. “Not—Not unless you mean it,” he stuttered. He saw Jake's eyes change, change like they did when they were in the midst of driving each other crazy, and his breath caught.

Jake was silent, looking up at Brandon in the light of the single lamp. “I'm pretty sure I love you,” he stated calmly.

Brandon thought his heart would give out before Jake said something else. And his comment was just as earthshaking as the one before it. Brandon slowly let go of Jake's wrists, lowering his hands to the other man's chest as he peered at him in wonder. Jake gave him a crooked, slightly self-conscious smile and shrugged.

Brandon studied him, drawing on the cues he'd memorized in Jake's behavior. “You're not teasing,” he murmured, a statement rather than a question.

"No,” Jake answered with a shake of his head. He was beginning to wonder if he'd been a little too hasty. He'd thought he'd read Brandon right, he usually did, and he'd thought he'd get a similar admission in return. Now he was getting a little nervous. And blushing harder.

Jake's reddening cheeks made Brandon smile, and he slowly bent over until their chests touched and their mouths rubbed together. His eyes closed, eyelashes brushing over Jake's cheekbones. Jake licked his lips and closed his eyes, raising his chin and humming. Brandon's tongue followed after his lover's, lightly skimming into a kiss, slow and easy. And when the kiss ended, he sighed, cheek to cheek with Jake. “Love you, too,” he breathed.

Jake didn't move or speak. He simply kept his eyes closed and tried to remember to breathe. He'd never told anyone he loved them. And he'd never been happy to hear it before this moment. A shiver ran through him, and he turned his head against Brandon's, sliding his hands around the other man's back.

Brandon had nothing else to say. Nothing could top that one, he thought, feeling dizzy and warm all over. Jake said it first.
Amazing
. He drew in an easy breath, the vise around his chest giving way, and slowly levered himself up to look at his lover. Love, now. Not just lover.

Jake finally opened his eyes and looked up to meet Brandon's. “You still tired?” he asked after a moment of composing himself.

"I feel remarkably energized, actually,” Brandon said, eyebrow quirking. “I'm sure I'll crash hard later, though."

Jake smiled briefly and then bit his lower lip, a frown creasing his forehead. He couldn't think of a thing to say. His heart was still racing.

Brandon's brow furrowed, and he reached to slide the pad of his thumb over the abused lip. “What's this for?” he asked in a soft voice.

Jake's eyes closed at the gentle touch, and he smiled again. “We've made me speechless,” he answered with a little laugh.

Grinning, Brandon lightly nudged the tip of Jake's nose with a knuckle. “No witty comeback?"

Jake huffed and shook his head. “Kiss me,” he requested softly. More than happy to obey, Brandon didn't hesitate, dipping his head to capture Jake's lips in a slow, open-mouth kiss that lasted for some time before he finally pulled away. Jake reached up as soon as Brandon moved and tugged him back down, moaning into the second kiss and tangling his fingers in Brandon's hair.

Heat tearing through Brandon's gut, he pressed his body closer to Jake's, starting to rock his hips slowly, a groan escaping from deep in his throat. Every touch and every sound took on a whole layer of meaning, and Brandon's hand shook as he cupped Jake's face.

Jake groaned and raised his knee to slide his foot over Brandon's calves, wrapping his legs around him as he did so. He jumped violently when a knock sounded on the door.

When Jake sat up suddenly, Brandon flailed and grabbed at his lover's shoulders to keep from flying backward. But his pulse spiked, and he closed his eyes, gasping for breath. “Fuck,” he hissed, his denim-covered groin rubbing against Jake's boxers-covered one.

"Yeah?” Jake called out in answer to the knock, his voice only a little hoarse.

"Got some surprise visitors for you, Coach.” Troy's voice came through the door.

Brandon lowered his forehead to Jake's shoulder for a few seconds before pushing himself back to crawl off Jake's lap.

Jake flopped back down and sighed as he willed his body to calm. After a moment he rolled off the bed and slid back into the track pants and T-shirt he'd shed earlier and then shuffled to the door to open it.

Brandon sat at the table, sliding on his glasses and shoving around a stack of papers. When the door clicked open, he glanced up to see Troy standing there with his head bowed, looking up at Jake guiltily . Beside him stood Misty and four of her cheerleaders, smiling pleasantly. Brandon's stomach turned.

"Uhh,” Jake managed to comment.

"They've traveled all this way to support the team,” Troy supplied in a tight voice. “But they didn't think to call ahead for rooms,” he added. “We're going to have to double-bunk some of the boys."

Jake nodded in a daze and half-turned back into the room. Then he stopped and turned back uncertainly. If he went to get the clipboard, Misty would surely shoulder her way in. “We'll clear up two rooms for them tonight,” he finally answered, annoyance over this development barely concealed. “The rest of the week you're on your own,” he told Misty coldly.

Brandon watched Misty's face twist and he felt dread building. Misty was quick to confirm his fear. “You should help us out, Jake. We came all this way. Why, you've got two beds in this room; surely the four coaches could bunk together as well as the students,” she said, her voice sickeningly sweet.

"Sure we could, if we had known you were coming,” Jake answered coldly. “In fact, Troy, clear out
one
of the rooms for them. We'll call for a rollaway to be brought up,” he added as he turned to go fetch the clipboard.

Eyes widening, Brandon flinched as Misty shrieked about calling Tom, and she just kept on yelling. Troy and the girls shrank back into the hallway, obviously embarrassed. Seeing Jake's shoulders tighten dangerously, Brandon scrambled a little to get up and walk up behind him—ostensibly to look at the clipboard—but he also placed his hand on Jake's shoulder, a touch that wouldn't be questioned between friends. But it was one he hoped would help keep Jake from going totally postal on the screeching harpy.

Misty indeed pushed her way into the room and despite the calming attempt by Brandon, Jake's temper flared. He shoved the clipboard into Brandon's hands and ushered him out of the room, slamming the door on all of them before rounding on Misty. The shouting could be heard but not understood in the hallway, and soon Troy shooed the four girls away and told them to go wait in the lobby.

He then turned to Brandon and asked, “Do you have your key?"

Brandon tore his eyes away from the door to look at Troy, patted his pockets, and shook his head. “Probably on the table,” he said, looking back at the door in ill-concealed concern. Not for Misty.

Troy stepped forward and banged on the door. “Jake! We need you to help with the boys!” he called, knowing that would be the only thing to cut though the rage Jake was channeling. A moment and a few quiet snarls later, the door opened, and Jake stepped out into the hall and stalked down the little corridor without a word to them.