“I am. Although I would like some of those strawberries.”
“I guess I could help with that.” Brad leaned over and pulled the strawberries and chocolate out of the basket. He dipped one into the chocolate and held it to Patrick’s lips. The hand not holding the strawberry curved around Patrick’s head to rest against his jaw.
Grinning up at him, Patrick opened his mouth and took in half of the strawberry. His eyes closed in apparent pleasure as he swallowed the bite of fruit. Brad moaned softly as he watched, running his thumb along Patrick’s jaw. Patrick’s eyes opened, and he licked his lips. He tilted his head up for the rest of the fruit, letting his lips graze Brad’s fingers as he pulled it into his mouth. A jolt of pleasure shot from Brad’s fingers to his groin. He could feel his cock start to harden.
“These are good. Do you want one?”
“I think I like watching you eat them.” Brad continued to run his thumb over Patrick’s jaw, smiling at the look of pleasure on the other man’s face.
“I can’t eat all of these, Brad. I’m stuffed.” Patrick laced the fingers of his good arm through the fingers that weren’t caressing his cheek. “You pack a good picnic.”
“You didn’t have to have one of each of the sandwiches.”
“But you made them.”
Brad smiled at him. “I’m glad that you liked them.” He leaned over Patrick so he could look at his watch. “We need to get going. I’ve got to get ready for work.”
“Do you have to?”
“Yes.”
Patrick sighed. “Fine.” He released Brad’s fingers and heaved himself into a sitting position.
Brad ruffled Patrick’s hair and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
Brad climbed to his feet and reached down to help Patrick. He pulled the older man up and into his arms. A soft laugh escaped his lips as Patrick nuzzled his cheek. Brad wrapped both arms around the detective and pulled him as close as possible. Pressing a kiss to his cheek, Brad released him and packed up the picnic stuff. Taking Patrick’s hand once again, he started to lead him out of the park. It had been a wonderful day. Brad was actually sad that he had to go to work. The night would be dull without Patrick.
Patrick straightened his shirt once more as he stood in front of Brenda’s. The earlier date had been so amazing he hadn’t wanted it to end. Patrick had spent the time at home playing with Robot and thinking about Brad. After a surprisingly comfortable dinner with Jack and Julian, Patrick had decided that he wanted to go and surprise Brad. He’d quickly changed his clothes, and, after refusing the offer of transportation, walked to Brenda’s. He’d left the sling at home, since it would only get in his way at the bar. Now, standing in front of his destination, he actually felt a tad nervous.
Fuck it. I’m going in. Patrick took one last, deep breath and stepped inside.
Brenda’s was nowhere near as busy as it had been on Saturday night, but there was a good crowd. Patrick smiled and nodded at some of the people he had seen on Saturday as he made his way to the bar. Finding a space at the bar without other people around, Patrick sat down and waited for Brad to notice him.
When Brad finally turned and faced him, Patrick watched as a large smile crossed his face. “Patrick.”
“Hey.” Patrick flashed Brad his best dirty smirk. “Nice boots; wanna fuck?”
Brad blinked. “But I’m wearing sneakers.”
“I’m not picky.” Patrick laughed lightly at the confused expression on Brad’s handsome face. “I’m just teasing you.”
Brad flushed. “Sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about. I happen to think that you’re adorable when I tease you.”
“I guess it’s a good thing that one of us does.”
“If you want me to stop, Brad, I will.” Patrick dropped his teasing smirk and gave the bartender a serious look. “The last thing that I want to do is make you uncomfortable.”
“I’m not uncomfortable.” Patrick shivered as Brad ran a finger down his cheek. “So, you hungry?”
“After the lunch you made me and the dinner Julian stuffed me with, the last thing that I need is food. At this rate, I’m going to get fat.”
“You don’t strike me as the get-fat type.”
“Working out with a bullet wound is not easy.”
“I guess we’ll just have to find a way to make sure you get a good workout.” Brad turned bright red as he realized what he had said.
Patrick had to hold back a chuckle. Flustered Brad was fun. “How about you get me a beer? Will that give you enough time to stop blushing? I mean, I love the blush, but I’m not sure how you feel about it.”
“I’ll be right back with your beer,” Brad stated. He continued to blush as he walked farther down the bar. Patrick smiled as he watched the flustered young man walk away. Coming to Brenda’s had been a good idea. He was feeling better already.
Several hours and a couple of beers later, Patrick was still sitting at the bar while Brad was closing up. He watched as Brad moved around the bar with precision, putting everything where it should be before he turned to Patrick with a smile. They were the only people left in the bar.
Patrick was still sitting on the barstool when Brad walked up to him. The younger man inserted himself between Patrick’s thighs and ran his hands up Patrick’s legs. Patrick felt himself start to tremble under the younger man’s touch. When Brad’s hands skimmed his ribs before settling on his waist, Patrick actually moaned. Since the barstool made him slightly taller, Patrick had to lean down to meet Brad’s lips. The feeling of Brad urging his lips apart had Patrick moaning into the kiss. Patrick rested his forehead against the bartender’s when the kiss ended.
“Patrick?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Come home with me?”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Then take me home, Brad,” Patrick instructed. He slithered off the barstool and into Brad’s waiting arms in a motion that had them completely brushing against each other. Patrick moaned at the contact. Inside Brad’s arms was quickly becoming his favorite place to be.
Patrick smiled as Brad linked their fingers together and tugged him out of the bar. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket while he waited for Brad to lock up. The temperature had dropped while they were inside, and now there was a bite in the air. He rocked back and forth on his heels while he waited. When strong arms wrapped around his waist, he leaned back with a smile. “All done?”
“All done. Let’s go.”
Patrick leaned against Brad’s side as he was led to the car. He let Brad open the door for him, enjoying the feeling of having someone care for him. It wasn’t something that he was used to. He hated admitting when he actually needed someone to look after him, so Julian and his grandmother were the only people who had ever really taken the time to make sure that he was being cared for. It was nice to have someone else to add to the list of people who cared.
The drive from Brenda’s to Brad’s house was quiet. Patrick let his fingers dance across Brad’s thigh as the other man drove. He had never expected he would end up dating during his forced exile, but he had to admit that he was enjoying it.
Brad pulled the car to a stop in his driveway. Patrick turned slightly so that he could see Brad and took a moment to simply enjoy the sight of the other man. He ran his fingers down Brad’s cheek when he turned to face him. Using the slight grip that he had on Brad’s chin, Patrick pulled Brad into a gentle kiss. He licked at the seal of Brad’s lips until they opened for him. Patrick dipped his tongue inside for a taste.
He felt Brad’s hands come to rest in his hair. As Brad’s fingers began to massage his scalp, Patrick moved closer and deepened the kiss. He tried to wrap his arms around Brad, but within the close confines of the car, his shoulder gave a throb of protest. He hissed in pain and pulled away from the kiss.
Brad’s eyes softened with concern. “Shoulder?”
“Ye
ah.” Patrick winced slightly as he moved fully back to the passenger side of the car.
“Why don’t we go inside?”
“I think that might be a good idea,” Patrick replied. He rested his head against the cool glass of the car window as the pain slowly ebbed. Opening eyes that had fallen shut while he warded off the pain, Patrick saw that Brad was standing outside the window. Damn, I must be in pain if I didn’t hear him leave the car.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.” Brad reached inside the car and helped him to his feet. Patrick allowed the gentle pull to propel him into Brad’s arms. When those arms settled on his waist, he rested his head on Brad’s shoulder and sighed. He loved being held.
They pulled apart slowly, Brad keeping one arm around Patrick’s waist as they walked up the drive to the porch. Even though it was dark, Patrick was once again drawn to the beauty of the gardens. “Brad, the gardens are beautiful. Do you do all the planting?”
Brad laughed lightly. “No. My neighbor does all of the planting. She loves to garden. I can barely tell the difference between a flower and a weed.”
“Neither can I, but I used to love helping my grandmother in the garden. She would let me pick the flowers that she planted.” The happiness from the memory carried Patrick through the door and into Brad’s house. He was slipping off his shoes when he noticed the change in Brad.
Patrick looked up to see Brad standing by the door he had just finished locking. The way he was holding himself screamed “nervous.” He glanced from the door to Patrick with what looked like slowly rising panic in his eyes. Patrick took a slow step toward him and held out his hand. The hand that grasped his was trembling.
“Patrick?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I think I’m starting to freak out a bit.”
“I can see that. Why don’t you take your shoes off, and then we can go sit down and talk?”
“That sounds like a good plan.” Brad released his hand in order to remove his shoes. Patrick made sure to stay close enough to be supportive but far enough away that he wasn’t crowding. It wasn’t an easy thing to do.
Once Brad had his shoes off, he led Patrick through the dimly lit house to the living room. The only lights on were the ones Brad had left on before he went to work. He sat on the couch by the fireplace and looked up at Patrick, nervously biting his lip. Patrick wanted to pull him into his arms and soothe the bitten lip with his tongue. He settled for sitting on the couch within touching distance of Brad.
“I feel like an idiot.”
Patrick looked at Brad in surprise. That wasn’t what he had expected to hear. “Why?”
“Because I asked you here, and now I’m freaking out.” Brad sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“Nothing has to happen, Brad. In all honesty, I’d be thrilled to just spend the night sleeping in your arms. It may make me sound like a wuss, but I love being held.”
“I want this, Patrick, I really do. More than I thought I would, actually. I’m just not sure how to go about it.”
“It would help if you told me what you wanted.” Patrick reached across the distance between them and threaded his fingers with Brad’s. He gave the hand a squeeze and a soft tug. He smiled when Brad moved closer and rested his head on Patrick’s shoulder.
“I want you.”
“You’ve got me, Angel.” Patrick gently cupped Brad’s chin and tilted it up for a kiss.
The kiss started out soft and tender but soon filled with more passion. Patrick buried his hands in Brad’s blond hair and pulled the man closer. He opened to Brad’s questing tongue, going so far as to pull said tongue into his mouth. While one of his hands stayed in the blond hair, the other ran over the strong back. He broke the kiss with a startled yelp as Brad pushed him back against the couch.
Brad was instantly concerned. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, you just startled me.” Patrick pulled Brad back into the kiss. He shifted underneath Brad, managing to get the younger man to fall between his legs. Patrick wrapped one leg over the back of Brad’s thighs to hold him in place, and then he gave himself over to the kiss.
And could Brad ever kiss. Patrick felt like he was melting into the couch, and he didn’t want it to end. He fisted his hands into the fabric of Brad’s shirt and pulled the man closer. When Brad’s lips left his, he actually whimpered with loss. Those lips then traveled down his neck, nipping and licking at the skin. Brad made it halfway down his neck before he stopped to suck a mark into existence. Patrick moaned and clutched at the strong back beneath his hands.
Teeth bit into his neck, and Patrick cried out in pleasure. “Oh, God, Brad.”
“Like that?” Brad’s voice was downright wicked.
“God, yes. Again.”
Brad chuckled against his neck and then bit down on the skin once more. Patrick whimpered and pressed his neck closer to the mouth attached to it. He moved one hand from Brad’s back to the back of Brad’s head and pressed him more fully against his neck. From the way Brad’s teeth were worrying at his neck, Patrick knew that the mark was going to be huge and incredibly noticeable, but he just didn’t care.
Patrick gasped as he suddenly felt hands on his skin. Brad had managed to worm his hands beneath Patrick’s sweater. When one of those hands crept up and flicked his nipple ring, Patrick howled and nearly bucked Brad off the couch.
“I think we should move this to the bedroom.”
“Please.” Patrick’s voice came out in a long moan. He was whimpering and tossing his head back and forth on the couch. He felt as if his entire body was on fire.
He knew that Brad was only moving away so that they could get off the couch, but he still moaned at the loss. His fingers actually clutched at Brad’s shirt as the other man pulled away from him. The sharp tug to his hand got him moving. Once Patrick was on his feet, he moved into Brad’s arms and pulled him into a hungry kiss. His hands roamed over the toned body pressed against his, dipping to grab the rather delectable ass.
Brad moaned in his arms and thrust his hips forward. Patrick groaned as Brad’s erection brushed his own. He gripped the firm cheeks in his hands and ground himself against Brad. The smaller man pulled away from him with a gasp, and Patrick moaned as he pulled away.
“Patrick, if we don’t stop now, I’m going to come in my jeans like a teenager.”
No, not good. We need a bed. I want this to be special. Patrick forced himself to take deep, calming breaths. “Right, stopping now.”
“Come on, let’s go upstairs.”
“I’ll go wherever you want me to, Angel.”
“Follow me.” Brad grabbed Patrick’s left hand and started to tug him toward the stairs. Patrick trailed slightly behind Brad so he could get a good look at his ass. It was a very nice ass. It was a very nice ass that he wanted to see naked.
Patrick barely noticed their surroundings as Brad pulled him through the house. He was too intent on where they were going. Brad’s case of nerves was apparently catching. He was starting to think he wasn’t going to be good enough for Brad. They reached the master bedroom, and Brad pulled him inside. Patrick stopped moving and stared at the bed.
“Patrick, are you okay?”
Patrick gave a wry laugh. “I think your case of nerves is contagious.”
“What do you have to be nervous about? You’ve done this before.”
Patrick leaned into the arms that suddenly surrounded him. He pressed his face into Brad’s neck and breathed in the other man’s scent. “I’m worried that I won’t be good enough for you.”
“Hey, where is this coming from?” Patrick moved his head as he allowed Brad to force him to look up. “What would make you think that?”
Because all anyone ever wants from me is sex, and I don’t think I deserve you. “I want this to be good for you, Brad. You deserve that. Hell, you deserve so much more.” Patrick touched Brad’s face with gentle fingers. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“I don’t think that’s poss
ible.” Brad pulled him back into his arms and into a kiss so tender that Patrick thought his heart would burst. “Although you will have to tell me what to do.”
“For starters, naked is good.” Patrick pulled back far enough to grab the bottom of Brad’s shirt, drawing it up and over his head. He tossed the shirt across the room and looked at the feast before him.
Brad’s fairly loose clothing hid an impressive set of defined pecs. His shoulders were broad and built in the way that only years of playing hockey could do to a body. Patrick ran his hands down the smooth chest to roam over the sculpted abs. This was the reason he loved hockey players: the muscles. In fact, before he had started dating Julian, he had slept his way through half of the university hockey team. Hockey muscles, yum.
Patrick was so intent on his exploration of Brad’s chest he didn’t realize Brad had undone his shirt until he felt hands on his skin. He had to pull his hands away as Brad slid the shirt from his shoulders. He trembled slightly as the strong hands ran over his chest. The fingers lightly skimmed the red and slightly swollen area of his injured shoulder. From the feel of things, Brad was hunting out his tattoos.
Slipping his fingers through Brad’s belt loops, Patrick pulled him toward the bed. When he felt the back of his knees hit the mattress, Patrick fell back and pulled Brad on top of him. He used his feet to kick the covers to the bottom of the bed. Patrick was fairly certain that they only ended up in a tangle at the bottom, but he just needed them to be out of the way. He ran his fingers over the strong back as Brad’s mouth settled over the Health and Strength tattoos. As Brad began to slowly lick the tattoos, Patrick moaned softly. He’d had lovers who ignored the tattoos, but he loved it when they were given attention. He was practically purring as Brad licked them.
Wild Angels Page 13
