by Rae Marks
“I feel responsible,” he murmured as he returned to sit on the toilet lid.
“You couldn’t have stopped me. I did my best to hide the fact I was following you.”
“Next time I’ll remember to have one of my men sit on you.”
Bray’s eyes went wide.
“Not like that. Don’t get all offended. I meant trail you, make sure you don’t leave the States.”
“I want to apologize,” Bray said. “I’ve caused you a lot of trouble today with your…associates and I didn’t mean to. You don’t know how relieved I was to see you walk into that room. I knew you’d come for me.”
Sam wasn’t sure how true that last sentence was, but he was sure the rest was true. The look in Bray’s eyes made Sam uncomfortable.
“Don’t look at me like I’m some hero, Bray.”
“You’re a good man, Sam Wheeler. I knew it right away, and today, you proved it.”
“I didn’t prove anything. My business is about as dark as you can get. I’m not a good man.”
“You are to me. I might be naïve, but I think that counts for something.”
“Don’t see pixie dust where there is none. It wouldn’t behoove me to have left you there at their mercy. I had selfish reasons for getting you out of there.”
“I’m sure you did.” Bray smiled.
Maybe he was getting too into his role, but that smile was one of both indulgent patience and dirty little nymph. It was a smile one boyfriend would give another and Sam hated how much he loved looking at it.
Chapter Fifteen
Brayden
They talked about nothing in particular for twenty minutes while Bray let the heat of the water leach some of the pain out of his muscles. When he said he was done, Sam was right there helping him slowly stand and wrapping him in a towel. At least the relaxing bath had allowed him to get control over his unruly body.
When Sam had untied his pants, Bray’s mind had drifted off into a fantasyland where Sam was undressing him for an altogether different reason. Bray walked back over to Sam’s sweats since he didn’t have any clean underwear.
Before he could even attempt to get the pants on, Sam was there. He knelt down in front of Bray with a clean pair of boxer briefs. Worried about his wayward body’s reaction, Bray twisted just enough to have a little pain shooting up his side. It was the best way to guarantee he didn’t get a boner with Sam kneeling before him.
Bray stepped into the boxers and Sam pulled them up high enough that Bray could reach the waistband without bending. With a nod of thanks, Bray pushed them up under his towel as Sam left the bathroom.
By the time Bray stepped into the bedroom, the covers of the king-size bed had been pulled down. Sam had taken his suit jacket off but was still in his pants and button-down shirt. The sleeves had probably been crisp that morning, but now they were wrinkled, rolled up to his elbows and wet from lowering Bray into the bath. It was a sexy look. Sam’s hair was also a bit disheveled. Bray’s fingers itched to smooth it back into place.
As he moved toward the bed, Bray tried to thank Sam for being so accommodating, but the words stuck in his throat when he saw the bulge in Sam’s slacks just before he turned away.
Was Sam as turned on as he was? Bray didn’t picture himself as Sam’s type. He imagined Sam would go for someone more like Ax, with his dark, tanned skin, light eyes and teasing sense of humor.
“Get settled in. I’ll be right back after I take a quick shower and brush my teeth.”
Bray nodded and took his time to slowly sit on the bed and slide under the covers. He was just starting to nod off when Sam walked back into the bedroom. Bray tried to soak in the sight of Sam’s bare chest as he walked around the bed got in on the other side.
Sam had tattoos, a lot of them. There were a few on his chest and arms. Bray thought he even saw one on the inside of his bicep. He was curious as hell about the but couldn’t exactly ask what they all were.
“I can hear the wheels turning over there. Go to sleep, Bray, or the jet lag’s going to kick your ass.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Wheeler, sir.”
Sam smiled and shook his head as he reached over and turned out the light.
“Get some sleep, Bray,” he said in a gentler tone.
“Night, Sam.”
Sam grunted in return as he settled into his side of the bed. Bray was sure it was going to take him hours to fall asleep, knowing Sam was barely dressed and inches away. But that was the last thought he remembered having.
* * * *
Bray’s pillow was too hot. Was he back in the desert? Had the whole incident with his family been a dream? Had searching for Mase been a dream? Had Sam been a dream?
Sam. Talk about wet-dream material. Bray pressed his morning erection into the bed. He groaned at the feel of heat and pressure on his aching dick. He hadn’t had a wet dream since high school.
Bray rubbed his face against the pillow. When he felt soft hair brush his cheek, his eyes popped open. Without moving a muscle, Bray took in his surroundings. All the events of the previous day came flooding back as he realized he was asleep in Sam’s arms, on Sam’s side of the bed.
Pulling in a deep breath, Bray smelled Sam’s warm, musky scent. He wondered how Sam had been able to sleep with Bray’s weight pressing down on his chest. Sam radiated heat, so Bray took a few moments to soak it up before he moved and woke the man beneath him.
“Morning,” Sam said.
Bray gasped. He pulled back, turned his head and saw that Sam was fully awake. And boy, was Sam adorable in the morning. His hair was sticking up all over the place, his eyes were heavy-lidded from sleep and he was smiling.
“How did you know I was awake?”
“Your breathing changed.”
Bray opened his mouth to apologize for climbing on top of Sam during the night. Sam stopped him with a finger to the lips and the shake of his head. Bray nodded as he remembered they were being monitored.
“I’ve been up for a little while, but I didn’t want to move you off me and risk you jolting and causing yourself pain. But now that you’re up, I really need to use the head. Can you scoot over a little? I guess it doesn’t matter how big the bed is. You hog it.”
Bray laughed and reluctantly rolled off Sam. He was pleasantly surprised there was only a dull pain in his movements. Sam rolled to the edge of the bed before standing. He stretched his arms overhead as he made his way to the bathroom. His sleep pants were all rumpled but still seemed to do an amazing job framing his perfect ass.
“At least I don’t hog the covers,” Bray said as he pushed up onto his elbows.
His abs were still sore, but nothing like they’d been the previous day. The bath and sleep had helped.
“No need to. When you’re right on top of me, it’s easy to share covers.”
With a sigh, Bray fell back onto his pillow. It was going to be hell pretending to be with Sam when he wished there were a chance he could really be with Sam. Especially this teasing, sleepy, rumpled Sam.
After Sam came out of the bathroom, Bray rushed in to take care of his bladder. He also brushed his teeth. There was no chance of kissing, but he also didn’t want to blow Sam away with morning dragon breath.
Since he didn’t have a change of clothes and all he’d worn into the bathroom were the boxers Sam had lent him, that was all he walked out in. Sam was on the bed, his back pressed against the headboard and a laptop on his thighs. He didn’t look up when Bray approached the bed and slid back under the covers.
Bray wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do in his role of arm candy. Was he supposed to try to pull Sam away from his work? That was not something Bray would naturally do. He stared at the ceiling as he wondered if Sam would let him borrow more clothes.
“I can hear the gears clicking over there,” Sam said still without looking away from his computer.
“I don’t want to pull you away from your work.”
“I’m just answering emails. What do you need
, baby?”
Bray’s gaze shot to Sam, who was smirking at him. Then Sam gave him a wink. Bray popped his knees up so his feet were flat on the mattress. No need for Sam to see what that wink had done to him.
It’s just an act, Bray repeated to himself as he willed his dick to calm down.
When he looked up, Sam’s eyebrows were raised in expectation. He had to think back to the last thing Sam had said and realized it was a question.
“I need some clothes. Yours are too big. Do you think Ax could run me to a store real quick while you work?”
“I have it all covered.”
“What does that mean?”
Just then, there was a knock on the bedroom door.
“Come on in,” Sam said.
The door opened and Ax peeked his head in.
“Just wanted to make sure the sex ban hadn’t been lifted. Didn’t want to interrupt anything.”
“I bet the opposite is true,” Sam grumbled.
Bray’s cheeks heated as he pulled the duvet up to his chest. Ax was enjoying this act a little too much. Dragging the pillow from under his head, Bray flung it at Ax as he made his way toward the bed. His hands were full of bags, so even though his reflexes were fast, Ax was only able to slightly divert the projectile. It still ricocheted off his head and landed on the floor. Ax’s mouth hung open as he stared at Bray for a second before he threw his head back and laughed.
“I so did not expect that from you, Bray. Teasing, yes. Physical violence, no.”
“A pillow fight does not qualify as physical violence,” Bray said.
His response just had Ax laughing harder.
“I don’t think Sam would be okay with us having a pillow fight, but I sure can see why he’s so tied up in knots over you.” Ax winked.
“Stop flirting with my boyfriend.” Sam closed his laptop with a snap. “Thanks for running out this morning.”
As he reached them, Ax dropped the bags he was holding on the foot of the bed. With a smirk and a nod, he turned to leave. As he reached the door, he threw a comment over his shoulder.
“You two want me to add your breakfast to my order, or are you guys gonna get busy…I mean ‘be’ busy?”
“Ax, you’re asking for an ass kicking. Don’t embarrass Bray. Get me the egg white omelet I had yesterday after we checked in. Also, fruit and yogurt.”
“Do they have pancakes?” Bray asked.
Both men looked at him.
“What? I like pancakes.”
Ax shook his head and walked over to the desk along the wall opposite the bed. He picked up a folder and tossed it on the bed next to the bags he’d set there.
“You’re gonna have to look for yourself, Hot Cakes. I haven’t eaten pancakes since I was probably nine years old.”
Bray opened the menu and found they did have pancakes, but decided he didn’t want to be teased while he tried to enjoy them. So he searched for something else, something more grown-up. He liked bread at breakfast, so he found a compromise.
“I’ll have a Croque Madame.”
Ax snorted. He was shaking his head as he walked toward the door. Bray didn’t know why that was funny too.
“And a fruit plate,” he called as Ax rounded the corner.
Ax shot a thumbs up back into the doorway, then he was gone. Bray huffed out a breath and turned to see Sam watching him. There was something in his eyes that made Bray feel like he needed to apologize, but he kept his mouth shut.
Sam set his laptop on the nightstand and stood from the bed. He walked around the corner of the mattress, started digging through the bags Ax had dumped and pulled out some clothes.
“This should be fine for today,” Sam said as he took out two pairs of jeans and two shirts, along with underwear and some socks.
“You didn’t have to buy me clothes, Sam. I didn’t get my money taken.”
Bray reached for the money belt he’d set on his nightstand. He pulled out some cash and traveler’s cheques before getting up and searching out his wallet in the pocket of his dirty jeans. Even if this was all an act, he wanted Sam to see that he didn’t need his money.
Chapter Sixteen
Sam
Sam kept his eyes on the clothes in front of him and away from the sight of Bray in his underwear. Bray started throwing money on the bed. He needed clothes because he’d gotten roped into their op, so Sam would expense them. He’d tell Bray as much when they could talk freely.
“Were you going to wear the clothes from yesterday? The dirty, blood-spattered clothes?”
When Bray didn’t answer, Sam looked up at him. Bray was twirling that large silver coin through his fingers as he stared at the money on the bed. Sam liked watching those slender fingers as the coin weaved in and out of them.
He’d felt those same fingers caressing his chest early this morning. Sam had still been awake and working on his laptop when Bray had started his migration across the bed. Part of it had been a nightmare. He was familiar with those same dreams, the ones that sucked him back into the heat of battle, that seemed so real he could feel the blood spatter.
Sam had thankfully been able to calm Bray with a few gentle words, since he’d been afraid the kid would hurt himself further as he tossed and turned.
When he’d set his computer aside and tried to go to sleep, Sam had ended up staring at the ceiling, listening to make sure Bray didn’t have any more nightmares. He’d jolted awake at Bray’s first touch. He probably hadn’t been asleep more than a few minutes when Bray had snuggled up to him.
He told himself he’d remained still and quiet so he didn’t jostle Bray’s injuries. The truth was that it felt good—damn good—to have that tight little body pressed against his. He’d ignored the erection that had slowly grown as Bray had pressed more and more of his bare skin against Sam’s.
The little groans that had escaped Bray’s throat had nearly done him in. He’d given in a little when he’d rearranged his cock to be more comfortable, but he hadn’t jacked himself. He wasn’t that creepy guy who took advantage of someone’s vulnerability.
When he’d woken up with Bray spread out on top of him, he’d smiled. Fucking smiled. He couldn’t remember ever waking up in a better mood. That had ended up pissing him off. No way was he going all soft for his best friend’s little brother—yet he hadn’t moved one muscle.
In fact, he’d lain there for over an hour before Bray had finally woken up. He’d felt Bray’s warm breath on his arm. He’d watched his hair catch the reflection of the slivers of light beaming in from the window. He’d berated himself for wanting to test the silky texture of those blond locks.
And finally, he’d felt Bray’s morning wood pressing into his hip. That had been his undoing. He’d groaned as quietly as he could, but he’d still felt the exact moment Bray had woken up.
“No, but at least let me pay you back. I don’t need a sugar daddy. I want to be equal partners in this relationship.”
Sam had to think about what they were talking about. The clothes. Paying for the clothes. He respected Bray wanting to pay his own portion. He couldn’t see himself dating someone looking to be supported financially.
If he were into relationships, Sam would want someone he could talk to about his job, someone he could trust with his life. There weren’t many men who could qualify for that and the ones that did he thought of as brothers—all except his best friend’s actual brother.
“Bray, I don’t even know how much Ax spent. If you’re so intent on paying, we’ll work something out. But I will be paying for some of your clothes.”
“But—”
“No buts. I want you to look a certain way when I take you to one of my business meetings, so I’ll pay for that.”
“All right.” Bray nodded.
“Good. Now get dressed. We’ll have breakfast then do some shopping. Once that’s done, we can fit in a little sightseeing if you like. I’m expecting to hear back from Mr. Kozak, but I think we’ll have a few days to ourselves before my
next meeting.”
“All right,” he said again.
Bray looked at the clothes then back at Sam. It would probably seem weird for Sam to take his clothes into the bathroom to dress. As a compromise, Sam tried to give Bray a sign that he’d turn around to change.
It was apparent Bray hadn’t caught on when he gasped as Sam dropped his sleep pants. A quick look over his shoulder confirmed it. Bray was looking right at his bare ass. He seemed to like what he saw, because he didn’t look away, and Sam’s dick was really happy about that.
Sam opened the drawer where he’d put his underwear, yanked out the first pair he touched and pulled them on. He still didn’t want to turn around, so he talked over his shoulder to Bray.
“Are you okay? Was that pain from your ribs?”
When there was no answer, he chanced a look behind him. Bray’s mouth silently opened and closed. His eyes pinged back and forth between Sam’s eyes and his now-covered ass. Sam hadn’t meant to shock him.
“Just a twinge,” Bray finally said.
Sam nodded at him before going to the closet to pull out a pair of dark slacks and a charcoal sweater. He kept his back toward Bray, especially after he heard the quiet thunk of clothes, namely his boxers, hitting the floor. They’d have to figure out some sort of code for ‘you can turn around now’.
When Sam finally did turn, Bray was pulling the blue Henley Ax had purchased over his head.
All through breakfast, Ax teased Bray about eating pancakes for the first meal of the day. Bray teased right back and Sam found himself annoyed by the banter.
Ax only teased the guys he was close to, guys on the team. Sam had never seen Ax date someone, but he imagined this was exactly how he flirted, and it was happening right in front of his face. With a shake of his head, Sam once again had to remind himself that Bray wasn’t really his in the first place.
Ax gave them the all-clear when they got into the car. Sam explained to Bray that the only place they knew for sure was safe to talk was the car, because Ax checked it multiple times a day for listening or tracking devices.