Crocodylus Acutus

by J Rocci

around the back of Grady's knee to hold him still.

  Electric shock. Three hundred feet of free fall. Diving to the darkest part of the river.

  Just that little touch of skin on skin had every nerve in Craig's body attuned to the man in front of him. He sucked in a sharp breath, alcohol wipe dangling useless from his fingers.

  Grady was staring at him in wide-eyed surprise.

  "What was that?" He breathed.

  Craig just shook his head slowly. "I don't know."

  "How--?" Grady mirrored his head shake. "I-- it's like-- I felt you. I still do."

  Tentatively, Craig reached out again, hand gently caressing Grady's knee. The tingle was back again, until he could feel nothing but where he was touching Grady. His entire consciousness focused down on just those little points of contact.

  Grady reached up, hand cupping Craig's jaw. Slowly, inexorably, he leaned forward until their breath mingled and his lips were scant millimeters away from Craig's.

  "Can I kiss you?" He asked on a tiny exhale.

  Craig didn't bother with words, he just pressed his mouth forward, capturing Grady's and reveling in the soft texture, the smooth slide. The smell of marshlands was sweet in his nose, still on Grady's skin from his tumble. His hand was burning where it wrapped around the tender skin of Grady's knee, and those fingers-- He focused on the heat of Grady's palm against his jaw, the light touch of a pinky on his neck and the press of a thumb on his cheek.

  Oh, this was perfect. This was what he'd been craving every time he'd seen Grady, tracked his footprints. This felt right, like a puzzle piece slotting into place.

  He couldn't hold back his moan as Grady's lips parted, inviting his tongue into the warmth of Grady's mouth. Craig licked his way in, pulling back only to nibble on Grady's luscious lower lip before exploring deeper again. From Grady's harsh pants, he didn't mind if Craig took his sweet time at all.

  A low rumble and grunt from outside the truck brought Craig back into awareness of their surroundings -- him, still naked and practically kneeling on the uncomfortable truck bed between Grady's legs; Grady sitting with his back against the cab of the truck, bloody knee forgotten as he captured Craig in place with just a gentle hand.

  Reluctantly, Craig turned his head to look out over the edge of the truck. The natural crocodiles were dispersing. Craig wondered if the distraction counted as cock-blocking, the jerks.

  Grady turned to watch them go as well, his hand slipping down to rest on Craig's shoulder. Craig grinned at him.

  "Told you we just had to wait them out."

  "I'm still not sure why they chased us this far in the first place," Grady mused.

  "I totally was not in cahoots with them, I swear," Craig said with his most earnest look. "But I can't argue with their results."

  Grady pulled back with a blush. "And I swear I don't normally make out with guys I just met."

  Craig beamed. "I'll choose to feel special, then."

  "No, really." Grady seemed shy, which Craig thought was adorable given the mess they had just been in and the fact that he still wasn't wearing any pants. "I'd like to take you out for that first date. Do you mind going into town?"

  "For you," Craig said solemnly, "I'd go to the vet."

  Grady paused, obviously unsure how to take that until Craig started grinning. They laughed, a tinge of relief to it, before Craig sat back far enough to look at Grady's knee again.

  "Let's get you cleaned up, yeah?" Craig suggested with a waggle of his eyebrows. "You can tell me all about this first date while I save your limb."

  Grady blushed the brightest red so far before he cleared his throat and started throwing out ideas.

  Best. Day. Ever.

  End

  Since 2006, J. Rocci has published romance stories ranging from contemporary to steampunk to fantasy. Rocci lives near Washington D.C. with the love of her life and their furry children, and often indulges the whims of her best friend (who is also her Muse). You can find Rocci on the web at:

  https://www.jrocci.com/

  https://j-rocci.dreamwidth.org/

  https://jrocci.blogspot.com/

  https://twitter.com/JayRocci/