by Ana Night
“Hey, Toby,” Sean called out.
The shortest of the boys stood, giving Sean a nod.
“Sean. What’s up, man?”
Sean dangled the keys in front of him. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”
Toby walked closer and said, “I’m listening.”
“You see that car over there,” Sean said, pointing over his shoulder. Toby took a quick glance and then nodded at Sean. “You can have it for the day if you make sure to get rid of it.”
Toby looked thoughtful for a second, then said, “Deal.”
Sean held the keys out for Toby but before giving them to him he said, “And get rid of it, Toby.”
“Yeah, man. Whatever.”
Sean refrained from rolling his eyes and gave Toby the keys. Toby wasn’t stupid but he was young and could get cocky sometimes. But if he got caught with a stolen car, it was on him and at least he knew that.
Sean walked back to Mal who was watching him with an arched brow. He motioned for Mal to follow and headed towards his own car. Before they got inside, Toby and his buddies drove by, windows down and some loud ass music playing.
They drove in silence. Mal was half asleep and Sean was too focused, too busy squeezing the damned wheel, to say anything. He parked the car in his driveway and got out. Mal followed. Sean threw a glance at him as he walked around the car. He didn’t look too good. He needed to get Mal inside so he could feed him. He walked up to the front door and pulled out his keys. Then he froze. He stood there, staring at the door, his pulse spiking for no damned reason.
“Well?” Mal asked, impatience clear in his voice.
Sean glanced at him, then back at the door. He drew in a shaky breath and unlocked the door. He pushed it open and stepped back to let Mal walk in first. He wasn’t being a gentleman and from the dirty look Mal gave him, he knew it. He didn’t want to go in first in case someone was in there. He hadn’t been there since Wade shot it up. The memory of bullets tearing through walls, through everything, was at the forefront of his mind. He still had nightmares about it.
He followed Mal inside cautiously. His pulse was spiking, and his hands were getting clammy. He was a fucking wreck and he hated that Mal was there to see it.
Everything looked pristine. There were no signs of the damage the house had suffered. He’d had it fixed, of course, but that didn’t erase his memories. He wrapped his arms around himself and made his way into the kitchen. Mal hadn’t been wrong about the whole zombie thing. He did have the place fully stocked. Not because of zombies, though. Not unless Wade came back as an undead asshole. That’d be just his fucking luck.
Chapter Two
Mal
SEAN WAS acting off. He was walking around the house like someone could be hiding around any corner. He was on edge and Mal didn’t know why. He knew Sean had a great security system. He should’ve felt safe. But he obviously didn’t.
“What’s wrong?” Mal asked as Sean passed him on the way to the kitchen.
“Nothing,” Sean said.
“Nothing? Then why are you all jumpy?”
Sean froze, his whole body tensing. He turned towards Mal.
“What does it even matter?”
“It matters, Sean. What happened?”
Sean sighed loudly and began pacing the living room. He seemed like he was fighting a war within himself. Mal didn’t push him. Whatever it was, he was sure Sean hadn’t told anyone and it was obviously something he needed to talk about.
“I just… Fuck.” Sean made a frustrated sound. He stopped walking and turned towards Mal. “I thought I was safe, you know? I never imagined someone would do to me what Wade did. He riddled my house with bullets. If I hadn’t been in the basement, I most likely would’ve died. Of course, I’m always prepared for shit to go haywire and I got ways in and out of this house that no one else knows about, but seeing everything I’ve worked for, everything I love, getting destroyed like that? It fucking hurt. Tore me apart. Not that I let anyone see that, because, duh.”
Sean ran his hands through his hair, stress and fear clear on his face. Mal winced as he pushed himself to his feet. He’d only taken a step when Sean hurried towards him.
“What the hell are you doing? I told you that you need to stay off it,” Sean scolded.
Mal ignored him and kept walking until they were right in front of each other. He wrapped his arms around Sean and brought him against his chest. Sean protested but only for a few seconds before he relaxed into Mal’s embrace. He tried not to get affected by Sean’s proximity, but it was damned near impossible. The man smelled too fucking good. Felt too amazing against him.
Sean leaned back in Mal’s arms. “How did you know I needed that?”
A smile teased Mal’s lips. “I told you. I know you.”
Sean screwed up his face and said, “That’s not creepy at all.”
Mal chuckled and let go of Sean to make his way back to the couch. The painkillers were helping a bit, but Sean wasn’t wrong; he should definitely stay off the leg for a while.
“How about that food?” Mal asked Sean.
Sean threw him a dirty glare and said, “It would’ve been served already if you hadn’t distracted me with all this talking nonsense.”
Mal chuckled at the thought of talking being nonsense to Sean. Talking was what Sean did best. Or, at least, what he did the most. Sean flipped him off and disappeared into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Sean came back with two bowls of chicken noodle soup. He handed Mal one and sat down next to him on the couch. They ate in comfortable silence and the soup was delicious and exactly what he needed. When he was finished, he put the bowl on the coffee table and leaned back on the couch, rubbing a hand over his too-full stomach.
He glanced at Sean. The man was busy trying to find something to watch on the TV. He had a cute little frown between his brows. Sean looked like the harmless guy next door with his blond hair and sweet smile. Mal was sure none of Sean’s neighbors knew what Sean actually did for a living.
Going to Sean for help was probably the dumbest thing he could’ve done. He couldn’t even claim that it was because Sean was the only one he knew in DC who could’ve helped him. Sean was just the one he wanted to go to.
“Shit,” Sean said, bringing Mal out of his thoughts.
“What?”
Sean turned a disgruntled look on Mal and said, “You should stay in the bedroom closest to the bathroom and kitchen. That way you don’t have to walk so much on your leg.”
“Okay,” Mal said, drawing out the word.
Sean sighed. “That would be my bedroom.”
Mal opened his mouth but it’d gone dry as his imagination began to go into overdrive. Sean and bedroom were not two things he should be thinking about together.
“I’ll have to sleep in the guest room,” Sean said with a pout.
“I’m not gonna throw you out of your own bed,” Mal said.
Sean waved him off. “I’m giving it to you. I’m just being my dramatic self about it.”
Mal couldn’t help his smile at that. “Well, thanks.”
Sean nodded and walked off, leaving Mal sitting there staring after him. He shook his head, his smile growing wider. Sean was a whole lot of talk and snark, but in reality, he was one of the kindest persons Mal knew. He got why Sean tried to hide it. Showing anything resembling weakness in the world they lived in could cost you your life.
Sean came back into the room just as Mal stood to go to the bathroom.
“I put some clothes on the bed for you. I figured shorts were better than pants, at least for the first day or two,” Sean said.
“Thank you,” Mal said and made his way towards the bedroom.
Maybe staying with Sean wasn’t so bad after all.
Sean
“What the hell are these?”
Sean looked up over his shoulder at Mal and when he saw the tiny piece of clothing Mal was holding up,
he pressed his lips together to try and hide a smile. He failed spectacularly from the look on Mal’s face.
“Shorts,” Sean said.
“These are not shorts,” Mal grumbled.
“Well, they’re booty shorts.”
Mal glared at Sean and said, “Booty shorts? These won’t even cover my ass and they’re fucking leopard print.”
Sean burst into laughter. The look on Mal’s face was just too much.
“I’m not wearing these,” Mal said.
“You should’ve brought your own clothes then,” Sean said, laughter in his voice.
Mal flipped him off and then threw the shorts at Sean. He caught them and held them up. They most certainly would not have covered Mal’s ass. Which was kind of the point.
“They would’ve looked so great on you,” Sean said with a mock sniff.
“You’d better have something I can actually wear,” Mal groused.
“Aw, you think you’ll have to walk around naked? Don’t worry. I won’t mind.”
Mal rolled his eyes as Sean chuckled.
“Goodnight, Sean.”
Sean couldn’t help but smile at Mal. “Goodnight.”
Mal walked back into the bedroom, sans shorts. Sean glanced down at them. He wasn’t even sure where he’d gotten them from. He’d just found them while searching his closet for clothes to Mal. He shrugged and laid the shorts on the couch.
He cleaned up in the living room and kitchen, then made sure that everything was locked, and the alarm was armed. Then he went into his guest bedroom and got undressed. He crawled into bed and closed his eyes with a sigh.
He turned and turned, unable to fall asleep. With a groan, he pulled the blanket up higher, but he was starting to get irritated, so he threw it off and sat up instead. Grumbling curses under his breath, he made his way to his own bedroom. The one where Mal was sleeping in his bed. He walked into the room, finding Mal still awake.
“Everything okay?” Mal asked, frowning up at Sean.
“No. Fucking shit,” Sean mumbled and got onto the bed. He crawled under the blanket. His blanket. It’d been one of the only things that hadn’t been ruined by Wade. He scooted closer to the middle so he could turn his back to Mal and wrap the blanket over one leg while the other was out. “I can’t sleep in there. Hate not sleeping in my own bed.”
He’d done okay at the warehouse, but his back was starting to let him know the couch he’d been sleeping on wasn’t doing him any good. Now that he was back home, not sleeping in his own bed just made him cranky.
Mal mumbled something and then his breathing evened out. Sean turned and stared at Mal for a while. He looked peaceful. He liked that look on the man. He was always way too uptight.
Sean moved closer to Mal, unable to lie in the same bed as him and not touch him. He just hoped Mal didn’t wake up. He leaned his head against Mal’s shoulder and closed his eyes, breathing in Mal’s scent. He felt calm and safe right there with Mal.
Mal
It hadn’t been long after Sean fell asleep that he’d turned, moving close to Mal so he could lie pressed against his side. Mal had caved and wrapped an arm around Sean who’d only burrowed closer after that. Sean hadn’t had a problem sleeping, but Mal had been too acutely aware of the man and the feel of Sean’s skin against his. Sleep hadn’t come easy and when he woke up, Sean was still completely plastered to him, the heat from the man nearly suffocating him. Not that he wanted Sean to move. No, he liked having him that close way too much.
He reached up, brushing a tuft of Sean’s hair away from his forehead. Sean’s blond hair had gotten so long it was starting to fall into his eyes. Not that he could blame the man for prioritizing other things over getting a haircut. He ran his fingers carefully through Sean’s hair. He was falling for a man he couldn’t be with. Hell, if he was honest with himself, he’d been falling since the day he met Sean. When he’d saved Sean’s ass, the man had been his petulant, stubborn, and mouthy self. Apparently, Mal liked that in a man. Though it was probably more the way Sean had clung to him when he’d gotten scared and then pretended it’d been Mal who’d grabbed him to save face. Being in danger hadn’t changed the way Sean behaved. It’d only enhanced it. He got more bossy and sarcastic. He’d hated to admit it to himself back then, and still did, but he’d found Sean quite entertaining and endearing.
Sean sighed and smacked his lips. Mal froze, his fingers still in Sean’s hair. When Sean didn’t wake up, he carefully extracted himself from the man’s embrace. He looked through Sean’s closet and found a pair of shorts. They’d be a bit snug, but at least they’d cover his ass. He grabbed a tank top and walked slowly into the bathroom. It was pretty huge with a large vanity, two sinks, a bathtub, and a shower stall. He glanced into the shower, relieved to find a bench in there. He could sit down if he’d need to.
Sean had left a first-aid kit on the countertop. He took it and closed the lid on the toilet, then sat down. He pulled his boxers up so he could get to the wounds. He pulled the bandage off and threw it in the trashcan. The stitches looked good and surprisingly, he didn’t think there were any infections. All kinds of shit were seeping out of the wounds, but he knew to expect that.
He found some waterproof bandages in the kit and put them on. Then he pulled himself to his feet. He glanced out the door he’d forgotten to close. He could see Sean on the bed, his blond hair sticking up. Sean had his back turned so Mal took off his boxers and stepped into the shower. He turned on the water and waited for it to warm up. He didn’t have to wait long, though.
He lathered his hair and body, avoiding his wounds as much as possible. He tipped his head back and washed the shampoo out of his hair. When he was done, he turned and nearly jumped. Sean was standing by the sink, brushing his teeth. Mal met Sean’s gaze in the mirror and cocked a brow at him.
“Enjoying yourself?”
A wide grin spread on Sean’s face.
“Why wouldn’t I be? There’s a naked man in my shower,” Sean said.
Mal huffed, shaking his head. He turned off the water and ran his fingers through his hair. He glanced around in search of a towel but didn’t find any. He looked up, catching Sean watching him in the mirror.
“Sean? Towel?”
“Mmhmm.” Sean didn’t take his eyes off of Mal as he pointed to Mal’s left. “Right there.”
He’d have to step out of the shower in order to get a towel. Sean sure as shit wasn’t going to get it for him. He stepped out of the shower and walked to the towel rack, which turned out to be heated. He felt Sean’s eyes on him as he wrapped the towel around his hips. He made his way to the toilet where he’d left the first-aid kit and grabbed it.
“I’ll do it. Just sit down,” Sean said.
Mal grunted, swallowing back the curse threatening to escape him. He did not need Sean that close. He sat down, pulling up the towel so his left thigh was exposed. Sean opened the kit and pulled some things out and then he knelt down in front of Mal.
Sean ran a hand up Mal’s right thigh, his lip between his teeth, then he looked up at Mal through his lashes. Mal clenched his hands, reminding himself he couldn’t touch, couldn’t have Sean. The towel wouldn’t do much to hide his reaction from Sean. It was pretty clear what Sean wanted and, fuck, did Mal want him back. But he wasn’t going to give in. He knew better. If he had Sean once, then he’d want to keep him and that would never happen.
He was jerked out of his thoughts when Sean pulled off the bandages and began to clean the wounds. When Sean was done and had put the new bandages on, Mal stood. A little too fast, because Sean was still on the floor, his face now directly in front of Mal’s crotch. Mal was tempted to let Sean do whatever he was thinking of that made his eyes darken so much.
Mal cleared his throat and stepped around Sean. He grabbed his clothes from the countertop and walked into the bedroom, closing the door to the bathroom. He dried off, threw the towel on the floor and got dressed, all while trying to con
vince his cock there was no way he was going back into that bathroom.
Sean
Well, that could’ve gone better. He pushed up off the floor and glared towards the closed door. He pressed the heel of his hand against his half-hard cock. Fuck. Just being that close to Mal had gotten him turned on. The things he wanted to do to that man. The things he wanted Mal to do to him. That particular list was endless.
He turned on the shower and stepped under the spray. He tried to ignore his cock, but in the end, he figured what the hell. He grabbed the bottle of lube he had in the shower and poured something on his hand, then wrapped it around his cock. He leaned back against the shower wall and closed his eyes. He imagined that it was Mal’s hand on him. Mal’s eyes watching him. He imagined what Mal would look like without clothes.
He tightened his fingers, stroking himself hard. He wanted Mal’s big cock inside him. Wanted to be fucked within an inch of his life the way he knew Mal would do. Fuck. He just wanted Mal. Had from the moment he’d gotten over the shock of all the shit that’d gone down when they’d met. He’d freaked out, which only made him more sarcastic and talkative than usual, but as soon as he’d calmed down, all he’d been able to focus on was the sexy bastard who’d saved his life.
He pumped his cock, imagining it was Mal’s hand touching him while he pounded into Sean’s ass. He opened his eyes and grabbed for the bottle of lube, pouring some over his fingers. He slid his fingers between his cheeks and rubbed them against his hole, pressing one inside. A deep groan escaped him, but he didn’t care. He doubted Mal could hear him over the water, and even if he could, that would only turn him on more.
He pushed another finger inside, twisting them to find his prostate. A moan escaped him when he did. Pleasure burned through him and he bit down on his lip to keep from yelling Mal’s name as he came. He spurted all over his hand. He removed his fingers and leaned back against the wall.