by AJ Sherwood
“Good decision. We’ll watch the place and put out our own feelers while you do that.” Carter gave him a nudge, urging him silently out of the chair. “I promise, no one will get past us.”
Reassured, Kyou let out a breath and finally moved. He was to the garage door before he thought to warn, “Ivan, you’re not allowed to touch my baby!”
Carter shooed him along. “I’m calling Remi over here, she’ll fill in for you. Go to your man.”
He’d take that compromise. Kyou nodded and walked out.
Although god knew, he wasn’t looking forward to the upcoming conversation. Not one iota. He went through the connecting garage like a man marching for his own execution.
Brannigan looked up as Kyou entered the living room. He had a guarded look on his face, but a little hope peeked through the mask.
Kyou ignored him for a moment and bent to address Remi first, as she was already skipping past him and toward the door. “Rems, everyone over there will give you instructions. But the search parameters are up and running; you should be able to figure out what I’ve been doing the past two days. I’ve logged all the search variations under K-B, the file’s on the desktop.”
Nodding, she said, “Okay.”
“And I’m not getting anywhere, so reach out to Tricksy, ask what she knows. Or if she can get her ear to the ground for me.”
Since Remi would take any excuse to talk to Tricksy, she lit up with a smile. “I’m on it.”
“Thanks, princess.” Kyou let her go then, and she was running by the time she hit the garage door. Trusting that things were in hand for now, he turned to face his lover. Brannigan was standing now, waiting on him. Kyou forced himself to breath slowly, steadily. Swallowing around the lump in his throat was hard.
“I’m not angry with you, Kyou.”
“Thank Christ,” Kyou blurted out. No, wait, Brannigan had every right to be upset, didn’t he? Previous boyfriends always had. “Uh, why not?”
“Because the only reason why we were arguing in the first place is that I’m your priority. And I can’t be mad about that.” Brannigan approached him on a soft tread, like he would a startled animal that he didn’t want to frighten. “But I think we’ve got our wires crossed, and I don’t want to repeat that scene again.”
“No. I really don’t either.” So Brannigan was (yay!) no t mad at him and willing to talk things through. This situation was really looking up. “So, um, the guys kind of talked sense into me. It’s funny, I think we’ve all hit this panic moment before with our guys—not sure why that’s the case, it just seems to happen. Anyway, they said I was taking too much on. That I should be delegating. I might have been called an idiot a few times.”
Brannigan’s hands slid around his waist, holding them loosely together, and Kyou melted a little. He couldn’t explain why being in contact with the other man like this made things better. It was some combination of being soothing and grounding. Or maybe it was because it gave him a better connection to his lover. Or maybe it was the silent reassurance that no matter what insanity Kyou threw at him, Brannigan was willing to work through it.
“You can delegate some of what you’re doing?” Brannigan sounded intrigued by this.
“Well, yeah. I mean, it’s pretty par for the course, really. Before they joined up with me as a team, they all used different information brokers.”
“So why don’t you? Outsource like that.”
“Because I’m a control freak with anxiety problems.” Kyou sighed. “Especially where you’re concerned. I didn’t want anyone else to make the connection that you were important to me. I didn’t like the idea of anyone knowing that. You’ve always sort of been mine. You’ve been my focus my entire adult life. I’ve invented multiple programs just for you.”
Brannigan startled, looking down at him with wide green eyes. “That is an incredible gift of devotion, caro. You spent that much time and thought on my welfare that you developed programs just for me?”
Kyou shifted a little under his regard. He found himself blushing. “It wasn’t that big of a thing.”
“It’s an incredible thing. You’re like that man who invented Band-aids for his wife’s sake. Or the man who invented rubber gloves for his nurse wife. It’s an amazing sign of love that you think that much of me.”
“Well. Um. I guess that says it all, then.” Kyou peeked up at him under his lashes. “You’re the world to me, Bran. I might have traded the world for you.”
“And that’s my issue. I wish I could hack that brain of yours. Maybe I could figure out how to say this right.”
Kyou snorted. “You want to hack the hacker?”
“I do. I don’t want to undermine or dismiss everything you’ve done for me. Far from it. I’m awed by your devotion. But at the same time, I don’t like what it’s cost you. I want you to live, Kyou. I don’t want you chained to that computer and watching the world go by. I want you to live a full and free life.” Brannigan framed his face with one hand. “Tell me how to help you manage that. Let me move the world for you, for once.”
Kyou’s eyes burned. Really, what kind of karma had he collected in a previous life to deserve this man? Had he saved a nation? “I have a plan. I’ll tell you all about it, I swear. But that’s going to take a full conversation with the guys, too.”
“Ah. Then let’s not repeat it. We’ll pull them back in. First, though—” Brannigan leaned in and kissed him, a wicked smile on his face. “I think makeup sex is in order.”
Kyou might have melted a little further under that smile. “I like makeup sex.”
“Just make me one promise first? Promise me to live and love first. To always put that as your priority.”
It was an easy promise to make, as Kyou really wanted that above all else. “I promise.”
16
Kyou
Everyone decided to return to their own houses the next morning. Hiding in the safe house didn’t make sense at this juncture, and everyone was craving the chance to sleep in their own beds. Brannigan, naturally, chose to help Kyou carry all of his computer equipment back up to his apartment.
Kyou recognized the excuse for what it was, but if he was going to let this man properly in, it had to start somewhere. Letting Brannigan into his apartment seemed as good of a place to start as any.
Brannigan entered his apartment with a monitor under each arm, looking a little wide around the eyes. “Holy hell, you really do live in one of my apartment buildings.”
Casting an amused glance over his shoulder, Kyou admitted, “I liked the irony of living right under your nose. And it’s a nice apartment.”
Brannigan looked around curiously, brows drawing together a little as his head panned the open room. “But it doesn’t look like you’ve lived here long?”
“About…eight months. I think?” Kyou wasn’t sure of that himself, as he lost track of time rather easily. Not difficult to do when all of the days blended together. “I’m not one for decorating, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“In part. It looks sort of empty in here.”
Kyou put the computer tower back down on his desk, avoiding looking at Brannigan as he answered. “We all have multiple houses. We don’t spend a lot of time in any of them. So, collecting stuff and decorating isn’t exactly high up on the to-do list.”
Setting the monitors down, Brannigan freed up his hands so that he could reach out and run a hand down Kyou’s spine in a warm caress. “Will that change now?”
“It already has, really. Partially for Remi’s sake—we want her to be in a school system for a full year. And Aiden’s, as he’s locked into that hospital another two years.” Kyou shot him a shy smile. “I guess it’s a sign we’re growing up. Or something.”
“I think it’s more a sign that your hearts have finally found a home.” With a gentle touch, he drew Kyou into an embrace, leaning down to touch their foreheads together. “I know it unsettled you a little to have me come in here.”
“Unset
tled isn’t…the right word. I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience. Or déjà vu. I’ve dreamed of this happening so many times, but didn’t have any expectation that it really would.” Kyou closed in, wrapping both arms around Brannigan’s waist and settling his head against that firm shoulder with a sigh. The man was warm and smelled good. For once, Kyou wasn’t in a hurry to set up his computer. He liked it right where he was. “I like having you here. My brain’s just not sure how to process it yet.”
Brannigan kissed the top of his head. “I’m relieved to be here. I was afraid it wouldn’t ever happen.”
“Fortunately, Remi betrayed me.”
Brannigan snorted a laugh. “I knew I liked her for a reason. She was the one who texted me, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah. Then she blabbed your name and number to Ari. I’d spank her for it, but I want to hug her at the same time, so I’m rather conflicted.”
“I’m rewarding her. She did us both a favor.” Brannigan drew his head up and kissed him lightly, teasingly. “I want today with you. With nothing hanging over our heads. I want good Chinese and bad TV and way too much sex.”
That sounded like the best offer of Kyou’s life. “We can always unload the car later, I guess….”
“Much later,” Brannigan purred. He kept one hand planted on the small of Kyou’s back even as the other came up to card his fingers through Kyou’s thick hair. He kissed Kyou with promise and heat, and it sent tingles of pleasure dancing lightly under Kyou’s skin.
Kyou urgently kissed him back, pulling their hips together so he could grind into the man. They’d now had sex precisely thrice, and that seemed such a sacrilege right now. Why hadn’t they been fucking like bunnies? He was half-hard from the kiss alone, and he could feel Brannigan steadily hardening even as he ground into the man. It felt good but unsatisfying. This contact through two layers of clothes wasn’t what either of them really wanted.
Tearing his mouth away, Brannigan asked desperately, “Bed?”
“Too far,” Kyou growled, already impatient at the idea of going all the way to the other end of the apartment. Never mind that was only twelve or so steps away, it was far too much distance to cross. He turned and shoved the monitors to the far side, giving him enough room on the surface of the desk.
Brannigan stayed planted, watching him, those clear green eyes slowly widening. “You’re not suggesting…”
“You seem to have this opinion about me”—Kyou stripped his shirt off without fanfare, tossing it carelessly to the floor. He liked the look on his lover’s face, and it brought out his own sense of mischief—“that I’m shy about sex. Not the case. I’m bad at flirting, so I don’t normally have sex. There’s a difference, Bran. And right now, I really want you to bend me over this desk and fuck me.”
Brannigan’s mouth moved, but no words emerged. He gave up trying to speak and wordlessly dug his wallet out, including the packet of lube and a condom, slapping them on the desk next to Kyou’s hip. Then he tackled Kyou’s jeans.
Kyou enjoyed immensely that he’d turned the man’s brain off so thoroughly with lust he couldn’t even form words. He tugged and pulled at Brannigan’s clothes too, until they were both naked. Kyou thoroughly appreciated getting his hands all over that warm, taut skin, stroking Brannigan up to full hardness. He leaned in to bite at a nipple, gently, and Brannigan huffed out a sound of pleasure. He was still learning how Brannigan liked to be touched, and where, but he’d discovered Brannigan was a bit more sensitive there than Kyou himself was. Brannigan made the best sounds, earthy and guttural with his pleasure, and his eyes turned stormy green, like an ocean during a storm.
They were that color now, filled with lust and need as they looked down at Kyou. With both hands spanning Kyou’s waist, Brannigan lifted him up onto the desk, planting his ass on the edge. Kyou went without protest, happy with this position too even though it wasn’t what he had in mind.
Brannigan slid both hands underneath his thighs and pushed, shifting Kyou fully onto his back. He went easily, pillowing his head on both hands, fully on display for his lover and not at all shy about it. Well, maybe a touch. His head turned, and he looked at Brannigan under his lashes, a trace of heat in his cheeks. He’d shortly find the little surprise Kyou had slipped in after his shower this morning.
Lowering his head, Brannigan licked him from root to tip. The wet heat of that tongue felt delicious. Kyou shivered a little under it, eyes falling completely shut so he could focus on the sensation. Brannigan had such a sinful tongue, and he knew precisely what to do with it. As he moved lower, Kyou wanted to spread his legs a little further, give the man more room to work with. He definitely wanted Brannigan to linger there for a few minutes as he enjoyed the attention far too much.
However, Brannigan had a firm grip on both of his legs, and he wasn’t budging. Kyou liked his dominance and chose not to argue, just lying back and enjoying for now. He’d pay back the attention later. At length.
Then those hands pushed his thighs up, shifting him, and Kyou’s eyes popped open. Oh. Was he planning to…?
A deep, delighted chuckle poured from Brannigan’s mouth. “Oh-ho. What have we here?”
“A little gift for you,” Kyou panted, lifting his head so he could see Brannigan’s expression. His lover was entirely too pleased, his expression naughty. The embarrassment of discovering Ivan had put Kyou’s butt plug in his evac bag had just become totally worth it. “I wanted you to just bend me over and fuck me without the prep.”
Shifting one of Kyou’s legs over his shoulder, he freed up a hand so that he could trace around the rim of the butt plug. The soft touch made pleasurable tingles dance up and down Kyou’s spine, a whisper of promise of what was to come. “I like my present very much. Definitely feel free to wear it more often.”
Kyou had some witty response flirting on the tip of his tongue when Brannigan pulled the butt plug free with a soft pop. He lost it entirely when the man lowered his head and gave a lingering swipe over the hole he’d just emptied. Kyou flopped back down, neck arching at the sensation. He’d never, ever been rimmed before. Ivan had talked about it, Ari had admitted he loved it when Carter did it, but the secondhand accounts were as much as Kyou really knew.
Now he understood precisely why both men spoke of it with such lecherous smiles. This was fabulous, truly amazing. Kyou’s hands clenched and unclenched in his hair under the force of pleasure singing along his nerves. Then Brannigan slid his tongue in and started fucking him with it, a hot, wet glide in and out, and Kyou about lost his mind. His hand found the edge of the desk and latched on there with a white-knuckled grip. He had to hold onto something. He felt like he was flying.
Some part of his brain heard and catalogued the sound of wrappers being opened proceeding the removal of Brannigan’s mouth. He whined in the back of his throat, not willing for it to end yet. Two fingers slid into him—a sharp, prodding motion—spreading lube. Kyou understood then that his lover was on the edge as well, that he needed to connect them. His mouth worked for a second before he could articulate words. “Bran—Bran, come on.”
Brannigan was on his feet in a second, pressing in, steady and without resistance. Kyou’s legs were over his shoulders, both of Brannigan’s hands wrapped around his knees as he drew back and thrust in again, hard. He was a little wild, breath coming in pants. Kyou locked eyes with him as the man snapped in and out of his body. Stormy green eyes stared back at him; lust shone there, but shining even more brightly? Overwhelming affection. Kyou had to close his eyes to keep from being swept away by it all.
Feeling that hard, firm length thrusting into him was blissful. Kyou’s own cock was demanding attention, but he didn’t drop a hand to it, yet. He was far too heated up as it was. Even a touch might send him over the edge.
He wasn’t ready for that yet. He wanted to prolong this, enjoy it. The delight was so intense, nearly overwhelming, and his rational mind couldn’t get any distance from it. All he could do was feel and moan.
/>
Shifting his hips up a bit higher, Brannigan changed their angle, and the next thrust in nailed Kyou’s prostate sharply. With a shocked gasp, Kyou came, splattering semen all over his belly and chest. Stars danced behind his eyes before his vision went white for a second. Oh god. That was…that was…
Brannigan’s head touched his shoulder, and he gave a hoarse cry before slamming once more into Kyou and coming hard. He shuddered under the force of it, panting in hot breaths against Kyou’s bare skin. Then he sighed as he relaxed and lay on top of him for a long minute.
With idle hands, Kyou sketched meaningless patterns along the man’s back, tracing down to Brannigan’s truly incredible ass. He was still deep in Kyou, which was nice. It was incredibly warm and satisfying to have his lover close like this. Turning his head, he kissed the man’s ear.
Brannigan sighed again, this time with immense satisfaction. “You’re so incredibly sweet to take. You really prefer to bottom, don’t you?”
“I do,” Kyou admitted easily. “I’ve topped on occasion, but it’s not really my preference. So feel free to take me anytime.”
“Oh, I plan to. For now, let’s clean up a little bit and snuggle on the couch.”
After that incredible round of sex, Kyou needed a few minutes to get his breath back properly. Not to mention full function in his legs.
They unwound from each other, using Kyou’s discarded shirt to wipe off with, then found their way to the couch. When Kyou had gone shopping for furniture, he’d tested the couch for naps as he often ended up crashing there instead of his bed. It held both men comfortably, and Brannigan drew the throw over both of them as Kyou settled into his arms.
Or tried to settle. He felt a touch empty, and antsy, and he kept micro-squirming because of it.
“What?” Brannigan prompted, sliding a hand over Kyou’s waist.
