Talon couldn’t have formed the words for a reply if his life depended on it. He was too busy wondering why he never noticed the dimple before. Even with the bruises, Finn was gorgeous. Talon shook his head and glanced over to the empty side of the bed. He had to admit the offer sounded tempting. Stretching his six-foot-five frame out in a chair was hell.
He glanced back at Finn, but he seemed to have gone back to sleep, so Talon stood and walked around to the other side of the bed. After a brief moment of indecision, he stripped off his T-shirt but kept his shorts on. He crawled in the bed, relieved to find his california king still left a good two feet of space between them. Talon sighed and closed his eyes.
FINN WAS toasty warm and having the best dream of his life. He was at that stage where he was just awake enough so he could appreciate his vivid dream in perfect detail. He could feel the hot puffs of breath on his neck, the heavy arm that was slung over him, trapping him down securely, and his dream boyfriend’s delicious hard-on that was currently jabbed into the crease in his ass.
Finn sighed gustily and couldn’t help the enthusiastic wiggle in his hips.
Dream boyfriend’s breath caught, and as sudden awareness flooded him, Finn knew with perfect clarity where he was and who was in bed with him. He considered feigning sleep but knew that wouldn’t work, as he had stopped breathing altogether.
He took a deep breath, gathering courage, shuffled around as the arm pinning him moved back, and winced as his bruised face scraped on the pillow. Talon’s blue eyes were fixed on his. He didn’t seem to be doing much in the way of breathing either.
“Good morning,” he said, acknowledging that, as an opening comment, it wasn’t very original.
Talon raised his eyebrows slightly, and Finn, emboldened, tried a shy smile. Talon blinked but didn’t return it. Finn sighed again and regretted turning around. They were close but no longer touching. Finn took a mental tally of how he felt as he waited for Talon to decide if he was going to speak. His face was sore, but his headache had faded to a dull ache. He wasn’t dizzy, but then, he hadn’t tried anything that didn’t involve him staying horizontal. His mind shied away from the questions he had over the events of the last few days, and he focused on how other parts of his body were recovering. In fact, if the ache in his balls was anything to go by, he was feeling much better.
He searched Talon’s face for any hint of how he was feeling. Talon still hadn’t said a word. He was just staring at Finn in rapt concentration.
“How are you feeling?” Talon seemed to bring himself out of his daze.
Finn considered the question carefully. He took a big chance. “Horny,” he whispered beseechingly and wriggled his hips, even though Talon’s big dick wasn’t pressed into his butt anymore.
Talon’s smile flashed across his face, and he chuckled. “You’re injured.”
Finn looked up. “So make me feel better?” He held his breath as Talon looked at him, astonished. To be honest Finn was shocking the hell out of himself as well. “I mean,” Finn continued, deciding to go for broke, “you’re my team leader. Don’t you have to check all my injuries?”
“You hurt your dick?” Talon drawled.
Finn swallowed, drawn to Talon’s full lips. “It’s very painful. I think you ought to check it out.”
Talon blinked, a half smile curving his lips. “Turn back around,” he urged softly.
Finn’s breath caught again at the way the blue in Talon’s eyes deepened. Arousal. He cataloged the reaction for future. He liked having that effect on Talon. Lord knew his head injury wasn’t the only thing that had him currently going weak at the knees.
Talon put an arm around Finn’s side and slid him back so he was flush with his chest. “Tell me if anything hurts.” He paused. “Anything else,” he clarified.
Finn closed his eyes in complete rapture as Talon’s dick scraped between his asscheeks. Even through the shorts, it was as hard as nails. He pushed back a little, silently asking for more.
Talon put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “No. I’m not going there. You had a head injury, for fuck’s sake. Lie still and just enjoy it,” he added, a little mellower, and Finn heaved a huge sigh and settled down to being teased a little.
Talon wrapped his huge hand over Finn’s dick, and Finn let out a strangled squeak. Talon hesitated.
“Don’t you dare stop,” Finn ordered.
Talon chuckled. “Lie still. Knew you’d be a pushy bottom.”
Finn thrust his hips a little again and got another chuckle, but Talon tightened his fingers when he brought his hand up Finn’s length and twisted his wrist a little. Finn decided Talon definitely knew what he was doing and needed no further prompting from him.
Finn gasped as Talon pressed his dick into him harder. He desperately wanted to feel Talon inside him again, but he was thankful for anything he could get. Talon leaned over Finn and dropped kisses on his neck, avoiding anywhere that was bruised. Finn melted at the gentleness from Talon’s lips, the complete opposite of his fingers. He had a moment to acknowledge that he never seemed to have any staying power where Talon was concerned as he felt the familiar heat pool in the base of his spine and spread to his groin. Talon stopped jacking him for a second and cupped his aching balls, scraping one fingernail down them as they tightened.
“Talon.” Finn was prepared to beg.
Talon dropped another gentle kiss behind his ear and wrapped his fingers around the base of Finn’s dick. Finn moaned long and low and felt Talon’s puff of hot breath on his neck at the same time incredible pressure started in his balls and rushed the length of his dick.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” Finn chanted as Talon sped up. Finn cried as ecstasy exploded in his mind and white heat blurred his vision as he came. He hissed as Talon kept pressing, and Talon eased off immediately. Finn mourned the loss of Talon’s fingers, even knowing how sensitive he was immediately after he came.
Finn was floating. He vaguely felt the bed dip and then Talon clean him with something. He heard the soft chuckle once more and briefly worried Talon might leave. He breathed out a huge contented sigh as Talon slipped back in bed behind him and pulled him close to his chest. He registered Talon’s hard-on, and the vague thought that he ought to do something about it was the last one he had for a long time.
Chapter Seventeen
FINN WAS still asleep when Talon slipped out of bed in the morning to get in the shower. He woke up with a cock as hard as granite and knew he had to remove himself from temptation. He had a very satisfying, if quick, jacking-off session in the shower to the images of Finn’s face each time an orgasm hit him. He already thought Finn was gorgeous, but at that second, with his head flung back in rapture and his lips parted, it was likely the best thing Talon had ever fucking seen.
Too soon the light of day poked into his postorgasmic bliss, though. The team was coming over, and knowing Gael and Vance, they would turn up at the ass crack of dawn just to see if they could catch him out. In fact, he briefly thought about messing the covers up in the spare room, but none of his team would believe Finn hadn’t slept under Talon’s very watchful eye all night, so it would be a complete waste of time.
Talon shrugged and turned the water off, stepped out of the shower, and briskly dried himself down. If he were honest, he had no idea what to say to Finn. Finn had to understand he couldn’t be demonstrative with him… at all. But he didn’t want it awkward either. Talon sighed. He had no clue what to make of his feelings this morning; he didn’t tend to acknowledge having any, as a rule. Maybe it was a good thing the team was coming. Distract them both.
He pulled on some shorts and a T-shirt and stepped into the bedroom to see Finn sitting up and blinking sleepily. Talon swallowed and felt his dick lengthening slightly. It was no good. Any expression on Finn was gorgeous, not just the one he jacked off to.
He walked over to the bed and put a finger under Finn’s chin to tilt his face slightly, and Finn acquiesced. “How sore are you?” Talon ask
ed. “Headache?” Without waiting for a reply, he moved to get the pill bottle. The glass of water was warm. “I’ll get you some fresh,” he murmured, painfully aware Finn hadn’t said anything. Was he regretting it? Guilt brought a flush to Talon’s face. Finn was injured.
“Stop,” Finn said, peering up at Talon. He clasped his hand and tugged to make Talon sit. “You’re gonna give me a neck ache, staring up there,” he grumbled, and Talon smiled cautiously. “I don’t want this to be weird, Talon,” Finn said urgently. “I really like you, but I know how to keep this separate. I don’t want you worried I’m getting clingy.” Finn’s laugh was a little forced.
Clingy. The word rolled around in Talon’s brain. He cupped Finn’s cheek, and Finn sighed happily and leaned into his hand. Talon couldn’t have replied if his life depended on it because he was too busy admitting to himself he wanted Finn to be clingy. In fact, a clingy Finn sounded perfect right about now.
Talon cursed as Charlie woofed from where she was curled up on the rug. She heard the door to his apartment open as soon as he did. They all had keys.
He looked at Finn. “The gang’s here.” He dropped a kiss on Finn’s lips, enjoying the startled pleasure that warmed his green eyes. “I’ll let them in and get them to start coffee. Then I’m gonna come back and see if you want a shower.”
Finn picked at his grubby T-shirt in disdain. Talon grinned and took that for his answer.
He just had time to stand up when there was a knock on the bedroom door and the whole team barreled into the room. Charlie was ecstatic and immediately made a beeline for Eli and leaned in for some very satisfying ear scratches.
“Hey, kid.” Vance sat on the bed while Talon stood to one side, and Finn clutched the sheets in alarm as it rocked violently with Vance’s weight. “How’s the head?”
Finn smiled at them. Talon watched as even Eli glanced down at him as if he wanted to know the answer. He didn’t smile, but he didn’t scowl either, which kind of amazed Talon. Finn put a hand up to his face. “The head feels okay at the moment. I just feel like someone broke my jaw.”
“Nah,” Sawyer said. “I did that once. You wouldn’t be able to talk,” he added comfortingly.
“Okay,” Talon interrupted. “Finn’s just woken up, so how about you all go make yourself useful with coffee and breakfast and let the kid shower?”
Gael turned to Finn slyly. “Need some help?”
“No.” The protest was out of Talon’s mouth before he could bite it back, stunning him along with the feeling of possessiveness that accompanied it.
Gael smirked, and Talon glowered. He knew the bastard had set him up.
“You really don’t have to fight over me, you know.”
The dry humor from Finn had Talon flushing, but even Gael took pity on him and shut up. He squeezed Finn’s hand. “Good to see you’re okay, kid.” He never looked at Talon, just followed the others out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Finn laid his head back a little, and Talon noticed the movement. “I can tell them all to get lost, you know. They won’t be offended. How’s the head?”
“Not bad,” Finn replied cautiously, and Talon sighed silently. It was okay a minute ago, so “not bad” was a deterioration.
He disappeared without a word, ignored the other guys, who were busying themselves with coffee, and walked back with a fresh glass of water. “Here,” he said, passing Finn the water while he got two tablets out. Finn made no protest, and Talon decided to keep a close eye on him. If he thought the others were being too loud, he would throw them out himself. “Do you want a shower?”
Finn made a face. “Yes.”
Talon went into the bathroom and started the spray to warm it up. He came back into the room as he pulled his T-shirt off.
Finn looked astonished. “What are you doing?”
Talon threw him an even look. “You’re not going in there on your own.”
Finn blinked, and Talon thought he was going to protest, but he sagged again a little. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to get a shower now,” Talon said, eyeing Finn. He was fading fast, and while he was bright thirty minutes ago, he looked exhausted now.
Finn screwed up his nose. “I feel dirty,” he said plaintively. “I want to wash the hospital off me.”
“Then I’m helping.” Talon walked over to the bed and got Finn upright gently. He didn’t seem dizzy, just tired, so Talon stripped him quickly and efficiently, helped him to the bathroom, and turned him around in the shower so his back was leaned against Talon’s chest.
The shower took two minutes. Finn remained silent, and Talon was starting to get a little concerned. He sat Finn down on the stool with a big towel wrapped around him. Finn looked like he was struggling to keep his eyes open. Talon briskly rubbed himself dry and dragged his shorts and T-shirt on. He toweled Finn carefully, but by this time, Finn wasn’t even pretending to stay awake. His head lolled on Talon’s shoulder as he picked him up.
“Sorry,” Finn sighed and yawned, snuggling into the crook of Talon’s neck.
Talon swallowed. Fuck. Finn felt so right there. He was in so much trouble.
He tucked Finn back into bed, let himself out of his bedroom, and quietly closed the door. He walked into the kitchen, and Vance peered behind him as if he were hiding Finn back there. “He’s asleep,” Talon said shortly. He looked at Gael. “The shower completely wiped him out. Is that normal? He was fine thirty minutes ago.”
Gael was the only one of them who had taken any sort of first-aid training. “Is he lucid?”
Talon nodded. “Yes, but his headache had started again.” He looked around. There was no sign of Eli or his dog.
Gael pushed a plate of buttered toast and crispy bacon in front of him, but Talon wasn’t very hungry. “Just keep a real close eye on him today. Any indication he doesn’t know where he is, lack of coordination, call me or get him straight to the ER.”
“Eli’s taken Charlie out,” Sawyer confirmed.
Talon sank into the chair, and Gael regarded him. “You like him,” he said.
Talon didn’t attempt to deny it. “We’re not allowed relationships on the teams.”
Gael seemed to ponder that. “Is that your only objection?”
He looked up. “What do you mean?”
Gael sighed. “I think you should give yourself a chance, Talon. If it comes looking for me, there’s no way I’m looking the other way.” Gael smiled, and the curve of his lips pulled the scarred skin out of shape.
Talon nodded in understanding. He never really noticed Gael’s scar anymore. The humor shining from his eyes took the focus off the crisscrossed and puckered tight skin stretching from his cheekbone to his lips, but he knew Gael was convinced he was ugly and that no one would ever look twice at him.
He didn’t bother offering platitudes. Gael knew Talon had his back.
The door opened, and Charlie came rushing in with Eli, delighted to have all of them here.
Vance stood. “We’re going to make ourselves scarce. Go into the office to do those interviews you asked for on the missing kids.”
Talon nodded. He knew agents were looking, but he felt guilty that other things had gotten in the way of the investigation.
“One of us will keep calling in, in case you need us for anything.” Gael nudged Talon’s shoulder, and Talon smiled. “I’m going to tell Gregory that Finn is making progress,” he added with determination.
Talon stared at Gael. The same worry he had was reflected in Gael’s eyes. They only had four weeks to prove the team was going to work. No one would take them on if Finn was laid up for at least one of the four, and from what he’d seen of him this morning, Finn didn’t have the strength to remain upright, let alone rejoin the team in a few days.
Yep. They might not have to worry about hiding their relationship because the team might not exist anyway.
THE NEXT time Finn woke up, he felt the warm weight of Talon pressed comfortingly into his back
. He blinked. The curtains were drawn; otherwise the room would be flooded with the Florida sun. His head felt a lot clearer even if his face felt just as sore. He reached out a hand for his water, and his belly grumbled at the same time.
“How are you feeling?” Talon propped himself up on one elbow and smiled lazily. He yawned.
Finn tried to cool the rush of blood to his dick by taking a few sips of water. Horny. The word echoed in his mind, but he didn’t have the courage to repeat it this morning. He really thought the next move should come from Talon. He put the glass down. “Quite a bit better,” Finn said. “A little hungry.”
He tried not to gape in astonishment when Talon leaned over to brush his lips over his.
“How about I help you to the bathroom, and then we go get you settled on the couch? The team left tons of food.”
Finn sat up slowly and peered around. “Where’s your dog? Charlie?”
“Gone to the park with the kid next door,” Talon said, smiling. Finn didn’t say a word as Talon helped him stand and guided him to the bathroom. He only left him for a few minutes, even standing behind him protectively while Finn gleefully fished out his toothbrush from his own toiletry bag.
“The guys all left?” Finn asked as he brushed his teeth, thankful he felt cleaner.
“You’ve slept through another visit from Gael and Sawyer, and a separate one from Gael on his own. Gael is the only one on the team who’s had any sort of first-aid training. I’m trying to get him more. I think it would be a good skill to have.”
Finn blinked. “What time is it?”
“Just after four.” Talon chuckled. “Gael woke you up, and you told him to fuck off, so we guessed you were feeling better.”
Finn blushed. “I’m s—”
“No,” interrupted Talon. “Don’t even go there.” He stood closer and cupped Finn’s chin until Finn raised it under the gentle pressure. “You did an amazing job in there keeping it all together. None of the hostages were harmed except the old guy, and he’s okay. All your team’s proud of you. Especially me,” he added.
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