by CJ Bishop
“Really?”
“All he would say was that it had nothing to do with the job.”
Axel smiled. “So, it’s something… personal?”
“That would be my guess.”
“I wonder what he has planned.”
“I have no idea.”
Axel stood at the stove, manning the pan-fried steaks, his mind drifting. “Something with Kane, probably.” He laughed shortly. “He never ceases to amaze me. The first time I saw him, I never would’ve imagined him falling in love or having a family. He was fucking scary.”
Approaching from behind, Clint nuzzled the back of his neck. “I don’t amaze you anymore?”
Grinning big, Axel shivered. “You amaze me every fucking second of every day.”
“Good answer,” Clint growled and nipped his sensitive neck skin.
Axel shivered harder—inspiring some hardness down below as well. “Better be careful or I’ll burn the meat.”
Clint started to reply, then thought better of it and chuckled instead, wrapping his arms around Axel’s midsection, pushing against him.
“Quit trying to sneak some dessert before dinner.” Had they been alone, Axel would’ve eagerly served up a “sweet treat” before their meal, but Luke was in the living room watching TV and Hope was in her baby seat on the kitchen table, wide awake.
“I have a massive sweet tooth,” Clint groaned into his ear.
He had a massive something. Axel began to sweat, and it had nothing to do with the hot stove. “Cool it,” he whimpered. “Our baby daughter is watching.”
Clint chuckled and backed off. He went to the table and lifted Hope from the seat. “You didn’t see anything, did you, angel?” He grinned and kissed her cheek. “Your daddy is a perfect gentleman.”
Casting the cowboy a skeptical look, he clarified to Hope, “He’s talking about this daddy over here, sweetheart. Cowboy daddy is a beast.”
Coming closer, Clint dipped his head and kissed Axel’s ear. “Was that an insult?”
Axel smiled. “Not at all.”
• • •
The day was almost over, and Kane felt a little sicker inside. He hadn’t spoken to Cochise since that morning; therefore, he didn’t know if the men had chosen a departure date. As soon as tomorrow? Would they be ready by then? Time was slipping away, that’s all he was truly aware of. Too soon—Cochise would be gone again. His side of the bed empty. His presence absent.
Talk to him, tell him the truth of how you feel.
Kane couldn’t shake the sense of guilt at the thought. Cochise needed—and deserved—his support, one hundred percent. And he had it. But saying what he felt deep down inside might make it seem that he didn’t.
When he pulled up out front of his house, Cochise’s car was gone. But the last time he came home to an empty parking spot, the Egyptian was home and the boys had taken his car. He suspected that might be the case today as well. John had mentioned checking on a job today.
“Did Cochise come home?” he asked Zoe when he found her alone in the kitchen.
“Yeah, he’s in the bedroom. John and Donald took the car.”
“Okay.”
“Are you all right, Uncle Kane?”
He sighed. “As all right as I can be right now.”
She smiled warmly. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“I know,” he whispered. “I think I’ll take a shower and rest a bit before dinner.”
Her smile held. “Okay.”
Weariness came over Kane as he walked down the hall. He wanted to fall into bed and sleep away the unsettling feeling inside, but sleep would only take him closer to the Egyptian’s moment of departure.
Upon entering the bedroom, he was greeted by a freshly washed Egyptian wearing only a towel and lying on the bed—arms tucked beneath his head and ankles crossed.
“This is inviting.” Kane smiled and closed the bedroom door.
Cochise untucked his arms and propped on his elbows, halting Kane when he started for the bed. “Shower first.”
Kane frowned. “You can smell me from there? I didn’t think I was that potent.”
A faint smile twitched the man’s lips. “Get in the shower.”
“As you wish.” Kane started to undress.
“Don’t strip out here.” Cochise pointed to the adjoining bathroom.
“Why can’t I take my clothes off out here?”
The Egyptian sat forward, bunching the towel between his legs. “If you get naked, I’ll want to fuck you.”
“And that’s… a bad thing?”
Cochise again pointed at the bathroom. “Go.”
More than a little baffled, Kane went into the bathroom, closed the door, and commenced to undress.
When he emerged from the shower fifteen minutes later and returned to the bedroom in a towel, Cochise was absent and a new, pinstripe suit he’d never seen before was laid out on his side of the bed. An expensive suit.
“Don’t ask questions, just put it on.”
Kane flinched and turned around. Zoe stood in the bedroom doorway, a pursed smile on her face. He frowned. “What’s going on? Where did this suit come from?”
“Didn’t I just tell you not to ask questions?”
“Okay…”
“Get dressed.” Zoe waved at him and retreated, pulling the door closed with her—then poked her head back in real quick. “And splash on some of your man-gettin’ juice.” She winked and disappeared again.
Man-gettin’ juice? He shook his head and returned to the bathroom, found his cologne, and “scented” himself.
Ten minutes later, he left the bedroom and walked to the living room. “Where is Cochise? And why am I dressed up?”
Zoe wagged her finger. “Ah-ah-ah, no questions.”
Tae sat on the sofa, smiling up at him. “You look so handsome.”
“Doesn’t he?” Zoe squinted. “Just one final touch,” she murmured as she pinned a red rose to the breast pocket of his jacket. “There we go. Now, you’re ready.”
“Ready for what—”
“Uh.” She touched a fingertip to his lips and grinned. “This way.” She took his arm and walked him toward the front door. “Your chariot awaits.” She opened the door. “As does your prince.”
Kane went still when he saw Cochise standing at the edge of the porch—in a brand-new suit of his own. The Egyptian turned around and the look in his eyes laid waste to Kane’s heart.
The big man held out his hand.
“Go,” Zoe whispered, choking up.
His legs suddenly shaky, Kane stepped forward and grasped Cochise’s hand. The Egyptian drew him forward and walked him down the steps to the SUV and opened the passenger door. When Kane started to climb in, Cochise paused him and kissed his lips, stroking his thumb softly over his cheek. “Tonight… is all about you.”
CHAPTER 13
“What’re you looking at?” Axel joined Clint at the living room window.
Clint nodded toward the curb where Kane and Cochise were climbing into the SUV.
“Whoa.” Axel smiled. “Check them out. What’re they all dressed up for?”
“Don’t know. I’m guessing whatever it was Cochise didn’t want to tell me.”
When the vehicle drove away, Axel grinned. “Are they going out on a date?”
“Appears so.”
Axel eyed the cowboy. “When do I get a fancy date?”
Clint mumbled incoherently as he walked back to the kitchen.
“What was that?” Axel followed him. “I didn’t hear.”
“Nothing.” Clint chuckled.
Hope giggled at them from her baby seat.
“You believe your daddy?” Axel picked her up. “He won’t even take me out on a fancy date.” He tickled her belly. “What a meanie, huh?” Hope gurgled and squealed, kicking her tiny feet. “Yeah, I knew you’d agree with me.”
Clint grumbled and took Hope from Axel.
“Hey, we were talking.”
; “Conspiring against me.” Clint cuddled the baby to his shoulder.
“We weren’t conspiring.” Axel laughed.
“Yeah. Sure.”
Axel wrapped his arms around Clint and kissed him between the shoulder blades. “Never. That isn’t what I want to do against you.” He grinned and pushed closer.
“Just a little while ago, you scolded me for getting frisky while our baby daughter watched.” He twisted his head and arched his brow.
“Touché.” Axel sighed, laughing softly as he backed off.
• • •
“This was your idea?”
“Yes.” Cochise shifted behind the wheel. “With a little help from Zoe.”
Kane smiled. “Of course. She lives for this.”
The Egyptian remained quiet for most of the drive to the city, appearing to be deep in thought. Kane couldn’t keep his eyes off him—not only for how handsome he looked tonight but for the fact that they were here, entering an evening that he had planned… for Kane.
A gift of love and romance that Kane could hold in his heart while Cochise was away.
“Am I allowed to ask where we’re going?”
“You can ask,” Cochise murmured with a heavy connotation that he wouldn’t answer.
Kane nodded. “I’ll wait and see.”
A hint of a smile curved the corner of Cochise’s mouth. His right hand slid away from the steering wheel and drifted over to lightly grasp Kane’s left hand. Their fingers threaded and warmth spilled through Kane. Plenty of touching went on in their relationship, but this moment, this simple “holding of hands” possessed an intimacy that only surfaced from time to time between them.
Kane found himself wishing the Egyptian would drive him straight to a hotel and make love to him all night long. He didn’t need any other “bells and whistles” to make this night perfect, romantic—just the feel of his lover’s hands on his body.
They made love so often, it startled him how tingly he felt at the prospect of making love tonight… as if this were their first time together. He smiled and glanced into the backseat of the SUV; their “first time” hadn’t been nearly this romantic, though he remembered it fondly.
That night, he would have never imagined their intense, sexually charged encounter would lead to this. He wouldn’t have believed that this man holding his hand now was capable of such intimacy and romance.
Kane had never been so happy to be wrong.
• • •
The animated look on Kane’s face began to unsettle the Egyptian; was he expecting more than what was actually planned for the evening? Would he be disappointed if it turned out to be less?
Maybe he’d made a mistake by venturing outside his comfort zone. Zoe believed her uncle would be thrilled with his plans for the evening, but Cochise experienced doubt as they entered the city.
He could have generated this “date” at home—why hadn’t he?
Because he deserves more—a hell of a lot more.
Since learning they had to leave again, Cochise had noticed doubts fading in and out of Kane’s eyes. And fears. He couldn’t go away without first dealing with those doubts and fears. And he planned to take care of them tonight—once and for all.
• • •
Through their clasped hands, Kane sensed the tension seeping into the Egyptian. It began tightening his face as they drove along the city streets.
“Is something wrong?” Kane asked.
Cochise immediately forced the tension from his features and glanced at Kane. “No. Why?”
“I don’t know. You just seem kind of tense or something.”
Clearing his throat as the SUV rolled to a stop at an intersection, Cochise squeezed Kane’s hand but kept his eyes forward. “I, uh…” He cleared his throat again and shifted in his seat. “I want you to enjoy tonight.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Kane smiled.
The tension returned to the Egyptian’s face and he turned his head away from Kane, staring out the side window. “You might be disappointed,” he mumbled.
Real dread weighed heavy in the man’s voice as if he sincerely believed that was a possibility.
It wasn’t.
Cochise’s “fear” of disappointing Kane had a bittersweet texture of heartbreak and endearing. A lump formed in Kane’s throat, causing his eyes to sting. He brought the Egyptian’s hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles—rough and scarred from a lifetime of combat. “I won’t be disappointed,” he whispered. “I’m with you, and that’s all I need to be happy and fulfilled.” He pressed his lips to his hand in another kiss. “Everything else is just icing.”
Turning his way, Cochise stared into his eyes, a storm of emotions churning through his gray depths. Rather than speak, he leaned over and kissed Kane on the mouth. Then the light changed, and he drove through the intersection.
Less than twenty minutes later, they drove down Fifth Avenue and pulled up to the Plaza. Cochise retrieved a suitcase from the back of the SUV that he must have placed in the vehicle while Kane was in the shower.
Kane had driven past the Plaza many times, but never, in all the years he’d lived in New York, had he set foot inside the posh hotel. By the veiled “awe” on the Egyptian’s face as they walked up the red-carpeted steps out front and passed through the doors into another world, he suspected this was Cochise’s first time as well.
For a moment, they stood motionless, overwhelmed by the glory of the hotel. Kane’s gaze drifted upward to the chandeliers and further to the enchanting ceiling. Cochise fidgeted inside his suit, more out of his element than ever. Kane understood—the hotel had a royal intimidation about it. And as Cochise could surely relate, he felt like an out-of-place peasant.
Cochise picked up their room key at the front desk while a bellhop took their luggage.
They rode the elevator to the ninth floor and were shown to their room.
Kane walked down the short entry hall and into a luxurious room with a king bed. He looked at Cochise. “How much…?”
The Egyptian shook his head. “Not important. You deserve the best.”
“I have the best.” He slid his arms around Cochise and kissed him. “Now, pray tell, why would you think I would be disappointed by this?”
Cochise sighed. “Because I don’t want to take you out on the town. Not tonight. I want to stay right here, in this room, with you… all night.” He swallowed. “Not think about anything else, or anyone else.”
Flattening his palms on the man’s thick chest, Kane whispered, “And that would disappoint me because…?” He kissed his throat. “All the way here,” he murmured, “I was wishing you would take me to a hotel and make love to me all night long.” He raised his head. “I just had no idea it would be this hotel.”
Cochise stroked his face, his fingertips playing tenderly over Kane’s cheeks. His throat worked as he struggled with his words. “I wish I could give you the world.”
His eyes filling, Kane smiled. “You did… when you gave me your heart… your love. That is the world to me. Us, our family… that’s my world and it’s more than I ever hoped to have in this life.”
Cochise rested his head against Kane’s brow and closed his eyes. “I’ll never deserve you.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong,” Kane whispered and cupped his face. “You have more than earned your place in my life, in our family. You love us… and that makes you deserving and worthy.”
• • •
Room service delivered the meal that Cochise had pre-ordered. When he removed the lid from the main dish, Kane smiled. “Beef Wellington.” He looked at the Egyptian. “That was the dish I made for you the first time we had dinner together.”
Cochise nodded. “I know.”
“That night started so perfectly,” Kane whispered. “I think it would have ended as perfectly if not for…” His words slipped away and face strained as he recalled the terror that followed them through the remainder of that night.
“Consider this a
do-over.” Cochise smiled small. “Before everything went to hell that evening, I’d had all kinds of plans for us.”
“So did I,” Kane admitted.
“What were your plans?” Cochise directed him to a table near the window and held his chair for him.
“Same as yours, I’m fairly certain.” Kane sat.
“Good to know.” Cochise wheeled the dinner cart to the table and dished out their plates, then poured the wine. Before sitting, Cochise leaned over and kissed Kane. “I guess we’ll find out after dinner.”
“What?”
“If we had the same plans.”
Kane laughed softly. “I guess we will.”
The food was delicious, but the Egyptian wasn’t focused on the expensive cuisine. He couldn’t take his eyes off Kane—as if he were seeing him for the first time. It wasn’t the suit—though he looked incredible—but something more than that.
“You look… amazing tonight,” Cochise murmured.
“And you.”
Cochise gazed at him, neglecting his meal.
Kane smiled and indicated his plate. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“Starving,” Cochise whispered, feeling the heat rise inside him.
Lowering his fork to the plate, Kane held his stare. “Starving for… food?”
“No.”
A visible tremor rippled through Kane. “There’s… there’s no rule that says we have to finish the meal right now.”
Cochise rose from the chair, his loins on fire. He’d intended a gradual build-up to sex but the flames were already lit—in them both. There would be time for the other, later. They had all night to work everything out.
He took Kane’s hand and pulled him to his feet. Little was spoken after that as they undressed one another and fell onto the soft king bed. Cochise hovered above Kane, their eyes locked and hard members grazing. Shivers quivered through the Egyptian as Kane’s fingertips played along his ribs, caressing lower across his flanks.
Lust born of love consumed Cochise. He sank against Kane, merging into a warm kiss that swiftly turned hot. He shuddered and groaned as Kane rubbed his palms up his back… then down again… further down, curling his hands over the Egyptian’s firm, tense ass cheeks.
