In Deep

by Bailey Bradford

  “Aaannnnd that’s enough for you.”

  Draven raised his head, opened his eyes and somehow managed only to yelp a little when the entire world dipped. He’d have sworn his chair moved, which was why his ass hit the floor. “Ow!”

  “You’re such a wuss.” Riveen was squatting by him. “And you hate getting drunk. Did Titus really get to you?”

  Draven cradled his head in his hands, trying to keep whatever it was from swirling.

  “I know you swam up the coastline for miles. Were you following his car?”

  Draven started to nod, thought better of it, and grunted, “Nyeah.”

  “Oh damn it.” Riveen sighed and ran a hand over Draven’s hair. “You tender-hearted idiot. You knew he was leaving, and after—”

  “No!” Draven would never be so drunk that he’d want to go there. He refused to even think That One’s name.

  “Drav, it’s been years— Never mind,” Riveen muttered. “No reasoning with a drunk. Let me get you some water.”

  The ocean sounded like a good place to be. Draven tried to get up but quickly realized he needed to hold himself stationary since everything else was moving. “Schwim.”

  “Jeez, dude, not when you can’t even talk right. Do not move.”

  Draven closed his eyes but that was worse than having them open. “Fuuuuck.”

  “Yeah, you’ll be saying that a lot in the morning. You know tequila turns you inside out. You must really like Titus.”

  ‘Like’ was too mild a word, but Draven wisely kept his mouth shut.

  Just like I kept it shut around Titus. Didn’t tell him. Guess it doesn’t matter. He left. He left me.

  “If you’re gonna be a sappy drunk, I’m giving you a few more shots of tequila so you’ll just pass out for twelve hours.”

  Draven flipped Riveen off…maybe. He might not have gotten the right finger up or used too many of them.

  “Shit!” he bellowed when Riveen doused him with iced water.

  “There. That oughta help you sober up.”

  “You ashhole!” Draven tried to kick at Riveen, who apparently had gotten a freakin’ five-gallon barrel of iced water. It just kept coming and coming.

  Then it wasn’t, and Draven was in the bathroom, and Riveen was shoving him in the shower, clothes and all.

  Draven had no idea how he’d gotten from the living room floor to where he was. He was lucky he didn’t drown himself in the shower as the hot water pelted him.

  “Dunno if that’s the right way to sober up someone who’s drunk,” Riveen was saying. “But I did enjoy dumping the pitcher of water on you.”

  “Pitcher?” Draven blinked and swiped at the water running into his eyes. It dawned on him to move his head out from under the direct line of spray.

  “Yeah, pitcher. You know, the one you keep in the fridge?” Riveen handed him something.

  Draven took it. It was a toothbrush.

  “Use it, bro. You have gut-rot breath. Like something you ate crawled back up and festered in your mouth.”

  “Urk.” Draven slapped a hand over his mouth. It’d have been nice if he’d remembered he had the toothbrush in that hand. He jabbed himself in the eye. “Fuck!” The burn caused by the toothpaste made him whimper.

  “You are a fucking menace to yourself!” Riveen yanked the toothbrush out of his hand. “Gods, I better get a brother of the year award for this.”

  Then Riveen was in the shower with him, also clothed, although Draven thought he only had on swim trunks.

  “Come on. Get out of these.”

  It was easier to let Riveen undress him than to fight about it. Draven stumbled a few times and smacked his head once against the tiled wall. Other than that, he was relatively unscathed when Riveen handed him a body scrubber.

  Draven washed himself automatically. His arms ached—all his body ached from swimming so far and fast.

  “Soons he lefth, I ran out—” he began.

  Riveen coughed. “Let me, er, let me get that toothbrush back in here. I can help you use it.”

  “Can do it myself,” Draven snapped as his head began to pound. “Oh fuck. My head.”

  Riveen didn’t comment, just handed him the toothbrush once more. “If this is about Titus leaving, aren’t you being a tad melodramatic?”

  Draven shoved the toothbrush in his mouth and glared at Riveen.

  Riveen rolled his eyes. “Please, like I’m scared of you. Nope. You have Titus’ phone number, right?”

  Of course he did. They’d texted every day, making plans or just chatting.

  “And he doesn’t live that far away. Less than two hours. That’s not even far enough apart to qualify as a long-distance relationship if you want to keep seeing him.”

  Riveen needed to quit making sense.

  Draven spoke around the toothbrush. “He left.”

  Riveen gave him another eye-roll. “Would that be after you asked him if you could keep seeing each other?”

  “I didn’t ask him.” Oops. Draven had drunkenly stumbled right into that one.

  “Right, you didn’t ask him about it, because this way, you could be all wounded and not risk your heart,” Riveen said. “Like you did with Arin.”

  Draven jerked the toothbrush from his mouth and pointed it at Riveen. “Don’t go there! You don’t know what it’s like to have your heart broken!”

  Riveen nodded. “True. I’m not interested in that organ. I prefer to focus on the one lower down.” He grabbed his crotch. “Keeps me from ending up drunk as shit in a shower.”

  “You’re still in a shower with a drunk,” Draven retorted.

  “Oh good! You’re surly again. You must be sobering up.” Riveen adjusted the showerhead so that the water smacked Draven right in the face. “Finish up in here and put an end to your pity party. Don’t lie to me and, more importantly, don’t lie to yourself. You didn’t want Titus enough to take a risk on him, so you don’t deserve to feel abandoned. You could have talked to him.”

  “He could have talked to me,” Draven argued. He started brushing his teeth again.

  “What if he was hurt? Did you ever think about that?” Riveen asked. “How much do you know about Titus’ past? Maybe he has reasons to be afraid to take a risk on you. Maybe it wasn’t a case of him not wanting you but being too afraid. Like you. Geez, I’m thinking you’re both idiots. I bet he got attached to you. He didn’t strike me as the casual sort, which is why I didn’t really try to get in his pants.”

  Draven stared at his brother, too stunned by Riveen’s insight to even inform him that Titus would have never hooked up with him. Was Riveen right? Draven recalled the awkwardness between him and Titus before they’d parted, the way Titus wouldn’t look directly at him. Titus’ hands were trembling when he’d tried to lock the condo door. He dropped the keys twice. His breathing was funny. Why didn’t I ask him what was wrong?

  But Draven knew the answer. He hadn’t asked because he hadn’t wanted to see, hadn’t wanted to know. “Damn it.”

  “What?” Riveen asked before laughing. “Oh, I know. You realized I’m right and you’ve been a jerk.”

  Draven would get Riveen a brother of the year award, and smack him with it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Summer was going to drag by. Titus wished he’d been able to teach summer school—he’d have had something to help pass the time. As it was, he’d spent the week since he’d returned from the coast moping around like a lovesick fool. And he’d put off dinner with Stacy and Michelle. If he told them that he was ill a second time, they’d show up at his doorstep.

  The idea of spending an evening with them made his heart ache, and it also made him feel like the biggest asshole in the world, because he was envious of their relationship. He wanted that kind of bond…and he knew who he wanted it with.

  “Stupid. Don’t be stupid.” Titus opened his eyes and gave the bridge of his nose a rest. He got up from the couch and stretched. Maybe he’d feel less moody if he actually left the hou
se.

  That meant showering first. Titus sniffed his pits. “Definitely showering.”

  There was no point in sitting around feeling sorry for himself, or thinking he was heartbroken. That last one was stupid. He and Draven hadn’t even spent a full week together. It wasn’t like Titus loved him. That just wasn’t possible in such a short time.

  I’m going to stop thinking about him. Just stop it, Titus. Stop the pity party and pouting and all the other crappy p-words that are downers. If he gave himself that lecture often enough, eventually it’d actually sink in.

  Just like if he kept telling himself there was no way he could have truly fallen for Draven. It was only the sex, and the fact that Titus hadn’t had any involving someone other than himself in years.

  And the reason for that didn’t bear thinking about. There was nothing Titus could do to change the past.

  But I could stop letting it control my future.

  Titus groaned and stripped off his clothes in the bathroom. He wasn’t in the mood for any deep thinking. He was just in a summer funk. That was all that was wrong with him.

  He should be reveling in the adventure he’d had. Think about the good times, the sex, Draven…

  “Fuck. Ugh!” Titus stepped into the shower and turned it on. The water was cold, but Texas was hot, and Titus hadn’t bumped the AC down, so he was fine being pelted by chilled water.

  He cleaned himself almost mechanically until he reached the lower part of his stomach. Then parts started tingling and images burst into his head like they’d been held back by a bungee cord that had snapped.

  Draven, kissing him, touching him, fucking him—and Draven smiling, scowling, laughing, leaning close to whisper in his ear, sharing touristy info and sexual innuendos.

  And rather than becoming aroused, Titus’ mood plummeted. He missed Draven. Lying to himself about it wasn’t helping. Whether it was stupid or not, he missed the man.

  That might have only been the case because Titus had been alone for so long. Not that he’d had options where he lived…the dating pool for him was borderline microscopic, and even Stacy and Michelle kept their relationship hidden.

  Titus didn’t want to live like that, not if he found someone he loved.

  But he hadn’t found that someone yet.

  Yes, you have.

  “Shut up,” Titus muttered to the voice in his head. “I have not!”

  He finished cleaning up then turned the shower off. He hadn’t stopped thinking about Draven, but he was going to try to stop being so down about their fling coming to an end. They’d both agreed on what they’d done beforehand. Titus’d had no right to change the established rules even though he’d wanted to ask Draven if there was a way to make a relationship work. Although Titus wasn’t sure he’d have actually been brave enough to speak up.

  He walked into his bedroom, a towel around his hips. His phone screen was lit up, so he’d either had a missed call or a text. Or both.

  Titus was betting on a text from Stacy. He really needed to get over himself and go see her and Michelle. Maybe he’d call her and offer to show up with pizza for dinner tomorrow. They could watch a movie and stuff themselves on cheesy, greasy goodness.

  That was what he’d do. Titus crossed over to his phone before he could change his mind. The screen went dark just before he got there, but he picked up his phone then tapped it.

  And almost dropped it when he saw the text.

  Can I come talk to you?

  Titus’ heart pounded so hard he halfway expected to keel over. He placed a hand on his chest as he reread the message from Draven. He hadn’t been able to delete Draven’s contact info, but even if he had, he would have known that number.

  And though it was possible that he should have given the request some thought, Titus didn’t. He replied with,

  Yes, of course. Would love to see you again.

  It was perhaps too enthusiastic, but it was still less than what Titus held back.

  Draven answered him in seconds.

  I’m at the Holiday Inn. Be there in five minutes.

  “Here?” Titus squeaked. “He’s already here?”

  Is that okay?

  Draven texted.

  Titus nodded then groaned because Draven couldn’t see him bobbing his head. He answered just as quickly with,

  More than okay.

  Now all Titus needed to do was to decide on whether to open the door while wearing the towel, or while wearing nothing at all.

  Because he wanted Draven, and yes, he wanted to talk to him, but first…

  Yeah, but first—

  Chapter Sixteen

  It was hard to breathe so far away from the ocean. Draven splashed water on his face then looked at his reflection in the mirror. The hotel’s lighting made his skin look pasty—at least, he hoped it was the lighting. The water didn’t refresh him as much as the ocean would have, but it helped some. If he was going to be spending weekends or whatever there, he might start bringing a few gallons of saltwater with him.

  Draven toweled off his face then ran his fingers through his hair. He was damned nervous, though judging by Titus’ speedy reply, he wanted to see Draven. Surely that meant Titus would be open to a relationship.

  Draven only shivered a little as he turned away from the mirror. He left the hotel room then had to go back in to get the condoms and packets of lube. He was being optimistic, true, but he and Titus had burned up the sheets most of the times they were together, barring when they were in public places.

  And the pier…

  Draven’s cock began to harden. He ignored that horny beast and drove to Titus’ house. Draven had scoped it out earlier. Small, brick, clean yard—and Titus inside, that was all Draven cared to notice.

  He parked then unbuckled and got out. The heat made his skin burn and sweat break out on his brow. Draven decided not to worry about it. He and Titus had been sweaty together much of the time back at home.

  Draven patted his shirt pocket, where the condoms and lube were weighing it down. He removed them and put them in the back pocket of his jeans.

  He closed the distance between him and Titus’ front door. Anxiety and anticipation were battling for dominance in him. Draven knocked and hoped it was okay to be optimistic. He might end up being rejected—

  The door opened then Titus was right there, and one of them moved, or both of them, Draven couldn’t have said, and it didn’t matter. He had Titus in his arms, was crushing his mouth to Titus’ and backing him inside. Draven kicked the door shut and spun Titus, pressing him against it so he could better ravage Titus’ mouth.

  The ravaging went both ways. Titus wasn’t a passive kisser. He bit and battled for dominance as he kissed. It turned Draven on something fierce.

  Draven’s cock was going to burst through his jeans if he got any harder. He reached around and gripped Titus’ ass.

  Titus moaned and turned his head aside enough to speak. “Fuck me, Draven. Please, fuck me!”

  Draven wasn’t an idiot. He wouldn’t say no to that request. “Missed you,” his traitorous mouth said, which wasn’t what Draven was supposed to say. He’d meant to agree, and that confession had just…slipped out.

  “Oh, god, me too. Missed you so much.” Titus peppered his face with kisses. “So glad you’re here.”

  Draven kissed him again, then he pulled, and Titus got the message. He hoisted his legs up, locking them around Draven’s hips.

  “Bedroom’s to the left,” Titus murmured before he began licking Draven’s neck.

  “We should talk—” Draven shut up at the look Titus gave him. “Later.”

  “Later,” Titus agreed, then they were stumbling as they groped and kissed their way into Titus’ bedroom.

  Draven was surprised when Titus spun him around and pushed him down onto the bed. His dick grew harder and his breaths shorter at Titus’ forcefulness. He didn’t get a chance to do more than bounce once before Titus was on him, straddling Draven’s thighs, shoving his sh
irt up to his pits, then kissing Draven with a dominance that had Draven crying out in need. He grabbed at Titus, gripping his ass as Titus began rutting against him.

  Titus pinched Draven’s nipples and bit his bottom lip. Draven jolted and arched, unable to be still or silent as he called out Titus’ name.

  Another pinch, a twist, and Titus began sucking up a mark on Draven’s neck.

  Draven’s body seemed to be functioning in lust-mode. He wasn’t capable of doing anything but letting his baser needs rule. He found the button and zip on Titus’ jeans and quickly worked them open. Titus’ thick cock bobbed out.

  No underwear—fuck!

  “Yeah,” Titus murmured before nipping Draven’s neck.

  Draven slid his hands around to Titus’ bare ass. He tracked Titus’ crease with his fingertips, and Titus moaned, then he was moving again, up on his haunches, whipping his shirt off and tossing it aside, rising on one knee, pulling at his pants.

  Draven helped, sitting up and nearly toppling Titus over at first, then he helped him balance and as soon as Titus was naked, Titus attacked Draven’s belt and pants, his fingers a blur as he got to Draven’s cock.

  Draven started to mention the condoms, but Titus bolted off the bed and bent over, giving Draven a glorious view of his ass and pucker. Titus stood and had a condom and lube packet in hand.

  “Prepared,” Titus said, reduced to one-word sentences, which was more than Draven could manage.

  Titus opened the first package then rolled the condom down Draven’s cock. He jacked it a couple of times, and Draven hissed. “Close!” He could get a word out, when necessary, after all.

  Titus opened the lube, reached behind himself then was climbing onto the bed, straddling Draven again.

  Without a word said between them, their gazes locked together, and Draven knew. He knew this man was it for him, was the one who would take his heart and cradle it or break it.

  He was utterly terrified and excited at the same time. He didn’t get to examine either emotion long because Titus fisted his cock, holding it up, then began to press his hole against it.