The One That Got Away (16 page)

The blond watched him walk past, biting his lip. There were so many things he wanted to say to Trace, but he just didn’t think the other man was ready to hear them yet, if ever. No; he was happy having a friend this special and would enjoy the special privileges that seemed to be 
developing as long as they lasted. Walking toward the bed, he didn’t bother with boxers or pajamas, sliding between the sheets, moving his legs over the cool, crisp cotton. “Mmmm,” he hummed sleepily, automatically scooting toward Trace’s warmth. Of all the things he would miss when Trace went home, the cuddling would be missed most.

Trace always started out on his side when he slept, though invariably he ended up on his belly half-across David. He shifted his arm to let David scoot over close and then hugged him as he yawned sleepily. “‘Night,” he murmured, warm, sated, drowsy and comfortable. Even the fact that this was the first time they’d slept together nude didn’t faze him. His fingers stroked David’s shoulder erratically.

“Night,” David mumbled back, burrowing into Trace’s chest. Best pillow he’d ever had. He drifted to sleep with his lips curved in a sated smile. 

WHEN Trace blinked awake before dawn, he knew he had a problem.

He was half on his side, half on his belly, curled over David’s side, his arm pulling the other man close, his head tucked into the curve of David’s shoulder. Carefully he sat up, looking down at the other man in the dim light. Asleep, David looked younger—not that he was old, that little voice in Trace’s mind insisted. The lines on his face softened, his lips a little fuller with warmth. Feeling swelled in Trace’s chest and groin, the heat of growing passion warring with something stronger but quieter, a reflection of the strength of their friendship layered with growing affection.

It was the desire that niggled at him. Trace climbed slowly out of the bed, checking that he didn’t wake David up. He grabbed shorts and a T-shirt and left the room, pulling the door closed. Slipping into the clothes, he headed for the kitchen and got a Coke out of the fridge. Sitting at the table, he pulled one leg up to brace his foot in front of him so he could prop his chin on his knee.

Their relationship was changing, and Trace had to admit he was scared. Scared and confused, enough that it had tinged his usually pleasant dreams with enough uncertainty that he was now wide awake and worrying over it. He took a drink and held the cold can to his forehead.

Last night had been incredible. The flaming hot pawing and kissing and 
touching and explosive orgasms—Trace hadn’t felt so satisfied after sex in a long, long time. Except now, he wanted more of it. More of it with David. And what would that mean to them?

Trace wasn’t so concerned about the bisexual label; he was comfortable with himself and he was comfortable with sex in general. He was more concerned that what he had with David would flare and soon burn out, leaving them too uncomfortable to even be friends anymore. The thought made his chest hurt so badly that he couldn’t sit still and he had to get up and pace, trying to shake the pain off. He didn’t want that, not at all. He’d rather give up the newfound passion than have that happen.

After a few minutes of moving he stopped at the sink to look out at the pinkish light starting to brighten over the backyard. What was he going to do? Sighing, he set the can in the sink and headed back to the bedroom.

He stripped down, seeing no point in wearing the clothes to bed. Besides, he wanted the comfort of David’s warm body against his. He slid under the sheet and scooted until he could wrap around the other man. After a few minutes, Trace was relaxed and warm and content. That had to mean something, he thought. Just being close to David made everything okay.

David shifted back into the heat of Trace’s body unconsciously, murmuring a sleepy, “Mornin’.” He kept his eyes closed, really wanting to stay asleep, but it just wasn’t in his nature. As soon as he was awake, his mind started working, and this morning it seemed fixated on the feeling of Trace crawling back into bed. Rolling over and resting his head on Trace’s arm, he asked, “Where’ve you been so early?”

Shifting to allow David to move, Trace opened his eyes slowly, focusing on the other man’s face. “Just to the kitchen for something to drink,” he said honestly. He lifted his hand and gently slid his fingers through David’s soft hair where it lay mussed above his ear. 

“Mmm,” David hummed, closing his eyes to lose himself in the feeling of Trace’s touch. “Did you start coffee?” he asked hopefully.

Trace’s lips quirked. “Sorry. I was hoping I wouldn’t wake you up.

We were up late last night. This morning,” he corrected. He kissed David’s forehead lightly.

“Yeah, but I’m not complaining.” Reaching up to run his fingers through Trace’s hair, David rolled his body close again. “We okay?” he asked, voice hesitant. Last night had been magnificent, but Trace’s friendship was far more important than any sex, no matter how mind-blowing.

“I think so,” Trace murmured. “I’m just… worried, I guess.” His fingers slid down to trace the line of David’s jaw. “Don’t want to lose you
or
this. I’m just not sure how it’s going to work.”

“I could show you some instructional videos,” David teased, rocking his body against Trace’s hip. His eyes grew serious. “You aren’t going to lose me, but maybe we need to talk about what we’re doing. If we are going to be serious though, I need coffee.”

“Okay,” Trace said softly. “You’re very important to me, you know that? My closest friend. Never saw it coming that you might be my lover as well.”

“Serious.” David sat up, dropping a kiss on Trace’s nose. “Coffee.”

He pushed himself off the bed and padded naked to the kitchen, throwing back over his shoulder, “And I do know that.”

Trace couldn’t hold back the smile that pulled at his lips. Damn, he was a lucky man. Shaking his head, he climbed out of bed and climbed back into his shorts and T-shirt, then pulled out some for David as well.

Having him unclothed within reach would be distracting as hell. And he 
wanted this conversation to go well. “I brought you these, you exhibitionist,” Trace teased as he entered the kitchen.

David caught the clothes automatically. “Damn. I was hoping to influence you with my stunning physique,” he chuckled as he pulled on the shorts but left the shirt on the counter. Turning back to the coffeemaker, he carefully measured the water and freshly ground beans.

Standing next to David until he’d finished measuring, Trace leaned to kiss his shoulder. “I don’t need any convincing,” he murmured, sliding his hand along David’s ass before going to the cabinet to pull out two mugs.

A wake of tingles followed Trace’s hand, swirling into David’s groin and causing his cock to swell. Damn, that man was potent, David thought, his eyes tracking Trace and watching the flex of muscles in his back and shoulders as he reached for the mugs. “If you don’t need convincing, what do we need to talk about?”

Trace’s movements slowed as he lowered the mugs to the countertop. When he turned, his face was serious. “If this doesn’t work, or if it burns out, I don’t want to lose you. I know how awkward a breakup is in a physical relationship. If it was us, it would tear me to pieces.”

David moved closer as the smell of brewing coffee filled the room, just the scent clearing his head. “So we work to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Raising his hand, he placed it flat on Trace’s chest. “Where do you see this going?”

Covering David’s hand with his own, Trace searched his face. “As far as we want to take it,” he said honestly, holding David’s eyes with his own. “It probably sounds unbelievable, but I fit better with you than anyone else. And I’m not even talking about sex.”

David’s hand turned over, his fingers threading between Trace’s.

“We do seem to fit pretty well, don’t we?” he mused, staring down at their joined hands. “I’ve never been as comfortable with someone as I am with you, but….” He paused, trying to find the right words. Trace had never shown any inclination toward men, and David already cared too much about him to be okay with this being a casual experiment. “Are you sure this is what you want? We can be friends. We can even be closer friends than we were before without adding the physical stuff. With someone else, I might be able to handle a little curious experimentation, but if we continue to kiss and touch, I’m going to fall for you.” David fingers brushed Trace’s cheek. He didn’t add that he’d probably already fallen and if Trace walked away now, it was going to hurt like hell.

Trace’s eyes half-closed as he turned his cheek toward David’s fingers, rubbing against them longingly. Everything in him was yelling that this was so right. He’d never felt that before, with a woman or man.

He ached with the rightness of it. Maybe that was why it scared him. He’d never seriously considered making a commitment of any kind to anyone.

But he wanted nothing less with David. He wanted to make this last. “I want this,” Trace said fervently. “I do.”

The tight knot in David’s chest released as he let go of the breath that he’d been holding, waiting for Trace’s answer. Running his hand along Trace’s side, he curled his fingers into the loose T-shirt and pulled Trace closer. “Want this?” He nuzzled Trace’s neck. “Or want me? I need to hear you say that not just any man could make you feel this way.” He could feel Trace’s cock growing against him.

Trace slid his arm around David’s waist as he pressed close. “Want
you
,” he said seriously. “David, no one’s made me feel this way. No woman. Certainly no man. It’s just you. I understand where you’re coming from with the falling thing. I’ve never wanted to spend more than a few 
nights with anyone. They just didn’t hold my interest. You had it before we even starting exploring each other.”

“And this is pretty incredible,” David added, nudging at Trace’s chin and rubbing their cheeks together. “Try this with me?”

Smiling, Trace nodded and turned his chin to kiss the corner of David’s mouth. “Not going to try. I’m going to do. With you,” he said quietly.

A warm glow like good scotch spread through David’s belly. “Yes,”

he murmured against Trace’s cheek. Sucking the full bottom lip, he cupped the back of Trace’s head, pressing their mouths together and teasing the seam with his tongue.

Trace hummed contentedly and relaxed against David, opening his lips and joining the leisurely kiss. He’d so grown to adore David’s kisses.

He couldn’t imagine a day now without at least three or four. Insane, he knew. Certifiable. But damn…. He shifted closer and pressed his groin against David’s thigh as he curled one arm about David’s neck and the other around his waist.

“Why did we get out of bed?” David asked, trailing kisses down Trace’s neck.

“You wanted to talk,” Trace murmured as he let his head fall back, exposing his throat to David’s lips.

“I did?” David groaned, accepting the offer of more skin with his lips and teeth. “I must be a fuckin’ idiot. Talking is highly overrated.”

“It really is too damn early to be out of bed,” Trace agreed, voice faint as he shifted against David some more.

A low rumble resembling a warning growl rose from David’s chest as his hands clamped onto Trace’s hips, stilling the movement, but not pushing his away. “Keep that up, and we won’t make it back to bed.”

Trace sighed ruefully. “I am sleepy, though. Come on. You can keep me warm. At least ’til I fall back asleep. Please? Pretty please?” he wheedled, knowing how much David hated going back to bed in the mornings.

Stilling, David framed Trace’s face with his fingers, staring deeply into his eyes. “I think I’d like that.”

“Yeah?” Trace said, brown eyes brightening. “Good, ’cause my toes are cold,” he said with a grin.

“Yeah.” David took Trace’s hand, leading him back to the bedroom.

Crawling onto the bed, he laid back on the pillows, pulling Trace close to his side. “I might just have to reconsider the whole ‘sleeping in’ thing if it feels this good,” he mumbled, closing his eyes to just enjoy the feel of the other man against his bare chest.

“Mmmm,” Trace purred sleepily, already cozy and lying half on top of David, his actually quite-cold toes slid under David’s calves. “Sleep now. Reconsider later,” he mumbled, rubbing his cheek against David’s shoulder. He still slept on the same side—the good side. It was easy to drift off now, knowing they were going to be okay.

IT had been six and a half weeks, and Trace thought of the time past in three two-week blocks: the two weeks of being closer friends than ever; the two weeks of dancing around each other, exploring, testing the waters; and then two weeks of doing, of kissing and touching and cuddling and 
David constantly blowing Trace’s mind. Those sorts of memories he tended to zone out over. Trace startled a little when the door opened.

When David walked back out into the waiting room, he stood up and raised an eyebrow, waiting for the news.

“Good as new. No lifting heavy weight for a few more weeks, but I can resume normal activities.” David waggled his eyebrows with an exaggerated leer.

Trace blinked and bit his bottom lip on a laugh. He still got caught off guard by David’s teasing. He didn’t mind so much, other than more than half the time he flushed in response. Some experienced man
he
was.

“No heavy weight, huh? Guess that leaves me out then,” he answered as they walked out of the building.

“Yeah, guess you’ll have to top,” David teased, swatting Trace on the ass as he jogged toward the car to stay out of reach. It was a beautiful day, and he’d been let off his leash. He felt like flying—or flirting with Trace, which felt like flying.

Eyes widening, Trace choked on a laugh and chased David to the car. Crashing into the side of the convertible panting with laughter, David turned just as Trace reached him. “You’re a funny guy,” Trace said, finally catching David against the side panel and gently pushing him against the car, one hand on each side of his waist.

“I’d rather have you think me irresistible,” David said, tilting his head and nuzzling Trace’s cheek.