Beautifully Stolen (Candied Crush Book 4)

by Charity Parkerson

  “Okay. I swear, everything you own is boujee as hell. You have next to no normal-people clothes. However, I managed to find this huge V-neck t-shirt in the back of your closet. Since you’re going back to bed, I say you should just wear this and be comfortable.”

  Brett eyed the shirt and tried not to be offended by the “normal people” comment. He knew he wasn’t like everyone else in the world. Brett didn’t need that pointed out. “That’s Wrecker’s shirt.”

  Roman’s steps faltered. He glanced down at the shirt and back Brett’s way. “Why would you…” Brett saw the moment the pieces clicked together in Roman’s mind.

  An overwhelming need to explain washed over Brett. “It was before Johnny came along. Johnny doesn’t know. I’d like to keep it that way.”

  The closed expression Roman wore gave nothing away. He turned away, tossed the shirt in the trash, and walked out. Brett blinked at the spot where Roman had been. He didn’t think Roman had any reason to be jealous. Damned if that wasn’t the vibe that he had gotten from Roman’s reaction, though. Brett bathed and tried not to overthink things. Being clean was nice. At least Roman had left him a towel, since it seemed he had been abandoned. Brett braced his one good foot against the tub and used his upper body strength to push himself from the water. It wasn’t a graceful exit. In fact, he almost fell. Somehow, he managed to end up sitting on the edge of the tub with his feet on the floor. He wrapped the towel around himself while struggling to catch his breath. Everything felt like a chore. Exhaustion sat heavy on his shoulders. He swayed.

  Roman was there. “Whoa. Why didn’t you call for me?”

  “I’m fine.” Even Brett heard the weakness in his voice. “I just need a minute.”

  Roman snorted. “You’re so stubborn.” He grabbed another towel and went to work drying Brett. Before Brett could argue, Roman stole the wet towel draped around him and tossed it aside. He looked completely detached as he helped Brett into a pair of underwear and then lifted him into his arms. Roman fascinated Brett. While he knew there was nothing sexy about being someone’s caretaker, the flirt he had come to know had vanished.

  Brett needed to know more. “You’re missing some golden opportunities here to be vulgar.”

  Roman’s mouth lifted in one corner in a sexy smirk as he set Brett on the bed. “There’s nothing sexy about exploiting an injured man.” He tucked Brett into bed before using the covers to pin Brett to the mattress. Roman’s mouth hovered an inch from Brett’s lips. If he lifted his head, their lips would touch. Brett’s cock twitched. Roman’s breath fanned Brett’s face as he spoke. “You’ll come to me when you’re feeling up to it.” Roman pushed away, leaving Brett turned on and breathless. The pure cockiness in Roman’s claim had Brett wishing he could scramble after the man. Brett had never dealt with anyone like him. And fuck if Roman wasn’t right. The moment Brett had an ounce of strength, he fully intended to rock Roman’s world. When Roman left here, he would always think of Brett with a smile. Brett would make sure of it.

  The moment Roman stepped out of sight, he bent at the waist and sucked air. Goddamn. Brett got under his skin. Roman fought the urge to turn around. He could protect those injuries and still fuck Brett senseless. While Brett might dress eccentric and hold his shoulders like a man who knew his worth, Roman didn’t think Brett truly understood his power. Since they met, Roman hadn’t pictured himself with anyone else. Helping Brett dress while he craved doing the opposite had nearly snapped his brain. It didn’t help he was still slightly angry over the idea of Brett with Wrecker. Logically, Roman understood the ridiculousness of his reaction. He was no saint. Something about knowing anyone else touched Brett made his inner caveman roar. Roman shook off his mood. He needed to prove his worth.

  First, he headed to Brett’s office and fired the computer to life. He needed to keep Brett’s social media accounts thriving. Roman gave himself thirty minutes of posting before heading toward the kitchen. Brett still needed to eat. He rummaged through the fridge, trying to force himself to keep it simple. There was a surprising amount of food in Brett’s house. Almost like a gourmet chef lived there. Roman could do anything. The possibilities were endless.

  “Are you robbing the place, then?”

  Roman froze at the sound of the slightly accented words. He peeked around the edge of the refrigerator door. A flawlessly beautiful man with chiseled abs and zero clothes stood inside the kitchen, waiting for Roman to find his tongue. Roman knew his face. Hell, everyone knew him, but Roman had never seen the man like this. Roman swallowed, searching for his voice.

  “Um. No. I’m a friend of Brett’s. I’m taking care of him.”

  The guy’s icy gray stare moved down Roman’s body before coming back to rest on his face. “Ah. You must be Roman. It’s good of you to stay. Brett isn’t one to ask for help. No matter how much he needs it.” With that pronouncement out of the way, the dude seemed done with Roman. He stepped around Roman, as if dismissing him, and leaned inside the fridge for a drink while still acting as if he wasn’t completely nude in Brett’s kitchen. With a shake of his head, Roman walked away and headed back to Brett’s bedroom. The moment he cleared the door, he lost his ability to stay calm.

  “There’s a naked dude in your kitchen.”

  Brett had a pillow covering his face. He lifted the corner to peek out at Roman. He looked half asleep and delicious. “That would be Xavier.”

  Roman blinked. “I know his name is Xavier. Everyone on the planet knows his name is Xavier, but that doesn’t explain why he’s in your kitchen... naked. Is this a common occurrence?”

  Brett dropped the pillow, covering his face once more. His voice came out muffled from underneath. “He’s my neighbor. His house is being renovated, so he’s staying with me temporarily. And yes, he’s usually naked. Feel free to ignore him or tell him to put on pants. It’ll be good for his ego.” Brett shifted positions and a gasp escaped him. “Fuck.”

  Roman shot to Brett’s side and tried making him better. “What’s wrong? How can I help?” Roman needed Brett to get better. He hated seeing him in pain.

  Brett tossed the pillow covering his face aside. “I’m tired of being on my back, but there’s no way to turn on my side that doesn’t hurt everything. I’m so sick of this.”

  Roman tried not to smile. Brett was a terrible patient and so fucking adorable. “Okay. I’ve got this.” Roman crawled onto the bed and rearranged the pillows. He knew Brett couldn’t sleep on his bruised side, but neither could he leave his injured ankle unsupported. First, he stacked the pillows where Brett could roll onto his uninjured side and keep his hurt foot elevated. Then he settled on his side, spooning Brett so he couldn’t move.

  A loud and relieved-sounding sigh caressed Roman’s ears. “Dear god. That’s good. Thank you.”

  Roman had to take a slow breath through his nose at Brett’s tone. He imagined Brett sounded exactly the same while getting fucked. Roman tried shifting positions so his growing erection didn’t poke Brett. He had no intention of molesting the man. Honestly, he only wanted to bring Brett peace. Each day he could help Brett relax, Brett got a day closer to being strong enough for independence. Roman needed Brett back on his feet so he could sweep Brett off them again. Roman couldn’t stop his lips from skimming Brett’s temple, cheek, and neck. He tried to keep the gestures loving rather than sexual. He was too turned on to know if he succeeded.

  “Why are you being so nice to me?”

  Roman froze with his lips pressed to Brett’s shoulder. He didn’t have a solid answer. To be honest, he didn’t understand this draw he felt in Brett’s company. “You’re my friend,” he said, deciding to go with the one thing he understood about them.

  Brett’s hand unexpectedly snaked between their bodies. He massaged Roman’s cock through his jeans. “Are we friends?”

  Roman drew an unsteady breath, unsure of how to respond.

  “I’m sorry, Brett. This fellow has been banging on the door for twenty minutes.”

&
nbsp; Roman’s head shot up. With all the blood currently south of his brain, he was slow to understand they weren’t alone. Two men stood in the bedroom doorway. Xavier was still nude. The other guy didn’t seem to notice. He held a motorcycle helmet underneath his arm—like he always had one with him. Everything from the man’s short cropped dark hair, wide shoulders, and wrinkle-free t-shirt screamed discipline. His cold blue gaze swept across the room as if taking in everything. Roman found himself sitting up, in case he needed to protect Brett.

  “I guess I need to sit up too.” Brett sounded adorably disgruntled. Roman went to work. He stacked pillows behind Brett so he could see his visitor. “Hey, Dean,” Brett said the moment Roman had him settled against the headboard. Brett motioned Roman’s way. “Roman.” He motioned Xavier’s way. “Xavier. This is my brother, Dean. Dean, meet Xavier and Roman.”

  Dean barely spared them a glance as he stepped farther into the room. Xavier followed him like tethered to the man. Dean’s eyes flashed with anger. “You didn’t call. I had to hear about your accident on the goddamn news.”

  “Same,” Xavier said, as if he had the same right to be angry as Brett’s brother.

  Brett blew out a sigh. “I was a little busy having surgery, sleeping, and getting pumped full of drugs. I’d planned to call you later today. I’m surprised you didn’t storm the hospital.”

  That last statement didn’t look like it made things better. A muscle in Dean’s jaw flexed like he ground his back teeth. “They wouldn’t give me any info, so I had no clue which room you were in.”

  Xavier cut in again. “Same.”

  Brett cast an exasperated look Xavier’s way. “For fuck’s sake, Xavier. Put on some pants. We have guests.”

  “I’m a guest too,” Xavier muttered under his breath.

  Brett squeezed the spot between his eyes. “You would think that would be an argument for rather than against wearing pants, but here we are.”

  Xavier’s face lit, as if an idea struck. “What are your thoughts, boys? You’re the guests he’s referring to. Do I have to get dressed?”

  Roman shrugged. “I’m a stripper. My whole existence is being around naked men.”

  Xavier looked triumphant as his gaze swung Dean’s way. “What about you?”

  Dean barely spared Xavier a glance. “You’re just another dude. Why should I care?”

  For a moment, Xavier stared at Dean expressionlessly. “I’ll go find pants.” He walked away, giving no clue to his sudden change of heart.

  The second he was gone, Brett snorted so hard that Roman’s throat hurt by proxy. “You called Xavier Nilsson just another dude.” Brett took an audible breath and snorted again. It took Roman a second to realize Brett was laughing so hard, the only sound he could make was snorts.

  Roman smiled. His cheeks hurt. He had never seen Brett genuinely laugh. He saw it now. It was hilarious. Brett couldn’t seem to catch his breath.

  Dean shrugged. “So what? He is.”

  “Google his name.” Another snort. “Google his name.”

  Roman didn’t care who Xavier was. He couldn’t take his eyes off Brett. “You’re a snorter. I never would’ve guessed.”

  Brett swiped at his eyes as he visibly fought to get his laughter under control. He lost it again the moment Dean started reading Xavier’s bio aloud.

  “Xavier Nilsson is a Swedish-born model turned actor. Dubbed Sweden’s most beautiful man, Xavier now lives in Los Angeles, California where he hosts a popular cooking show, Cuisinier Unveiled. He has also won several awards, including an Oscar for his role in the movie Moved... Wait. I’ve seen that one.” Dean looked thoughtful for a minute, as if he searched his memory. “Oh, shit. Is Xavier the guy who goes on the killing spree?”

  Brett nodded. “That’s the one.” Brett wiped his eyes again and sighed. “This was fun. You don’t come by often enough.”

  Dean scowled. In that moment, Roman saw the resemblance between the brothers. “You’re never home.”

  Brett didn’t back down. “You have my number. All you have to do is call and I’ll make time.”

  Roman felt like an intruder. “I’ll fix you something to eat.” Without waiting for a response, he practically ran for cover. He knew this wasn’t his business. Instead, Roman focused on taking care of Brett. A slight hum of lust still lingered. Roman grabbed Brett’s laptop and set it on the kitchen island while he cooked, multi-tasking. He needed to check on Brett’s medical equipment so he could get around by himself. The hospital claimed it would arrive today, but they hadn’t received a confirmation. Roman didn’t mind driving to the medical supply store and picking everything up, but someone needed to let him know what to do. Brett wasn’t the type to linger in bed for long. If this delay continued, he might be forced to find a reason for Brett to stay in bed. Otherwise, Brett would likely hurt himself trying to get back to work. He had more energy than any man Roman had ever met. Roman smiled at that thought. He could find an outlet for all that pent-up vitality. Roman still couldn’t believe how Brett had been touching him before they had been interrupted. Damn, Brett made him hot.

  “Hey.”

  Roman looked up from the laptop. Dean waited for his attention. Roman smiled. “Hey.”

  Dean returned his smile. He didn’t look as cocky with the anger missing from his features. “Brett tells me you were with him in the accident. How are you holding up?”

  No one other than Brett had asked about him. Roman appreciated the gesture. “I’m good. The airbag smacked me pretty good, but I have a thick skull, so no harm there. I’m just glad I was there for Brett.”

  Xavier appeared, wearing leggings and no shirt. Roman fought an eye roll. Xavier stirred Brett’s soup. “What is this?”

  “Homemade tomato soup. I’m just about to start on the grilled cheese.”

  Xavier tasted the soup. “It’s good, but it needs something. He started adding spices to the pot with no input from Roman.

  Roman rubbed his temples and focused on Dean.

  Inexplicably, Dean’s expression had gone back to being hard. “I’m glad you seem to genuinely care. My brother has a lot of money. It brings out a lot of leeches.” His gaze slid Xavier’s way at that last bit.

  Roman didn’t know if he should be offended or if Xavier should. Either way, Roman couldn’t fault the guy for looking out for his brother. He tried brushing off the remark. “That doesn’t surprise me. Would you like to stay for lunch? Apparently, it’s been made by a celebrity chef.”

  At his comment, Xavier’s gaze slid his way. A hint of guilt crossed his features. “Apologies. I didn’t mean to step on any toes.”

  Roman shook his head. He recognized he was being ridiculous by getting upset over Xavier helping. He wanted to be the one caring for Brett, but it would be stupid to not accept any assistance. “It’s fine. I love your show. Have at it.” He focused on Dean once more. “So, what do you say? Would you like to stick around? I’m sure Brett would love to have you here.”

  Dean’s gaze swung between Roman and Xavier.

  Xavier visibly tried looking humble. He failed on every level.

  With a shake of his head, Dean tried for a smile. “A celebrity chef, huh?”

  Xavier nodded. “I swear you’ll enjoy yourself.”

  “I guess I’ve got some time.”

  Roman tried not to show his triumph. Getting to know Brett’s brother was one more step into Brett’s inner circle. It wouldn’t be long until Brett wondered how he ever lived without Roman. His plan was coming together nicely. Roman couldn’t fail.

  Five

  For the first time since the wreck, Brett didn’t feel too bad. His left leg was still pretty much useless and sore, but his head felt clear after a full night’s sleep in his bed. Visiting with his little brother yesterday had been a huge help too. Sometimes, Brett forgot how much he needed what little family he had. Spending the day in bed with Xavier, Dean, and Roman while eating and talking nonstop lifted his spirits and made things seem not as
bad today. Another highlight was the knee scooter that waited for him by the bed with a note from Xavier saying it had been delivered early this morning. Brett was ridiculously excited to try it out. It was so easy and made his life seem like a breeze compared to the way he had been struggling. The all-terrain scooter let him move from place to place with ease. He managed to bathe, dress, and do his hair with very few adjustments.

  Once he had done as much as he could do to rescue his mangled appearance, Brett found himself still staring in the mirror. His face looked a mess. Both his eyes were black, and his left cheek still looked swollen. But oddly, he felt good. He had chosen a bright pink shirt and checkered shorts for the day. Brett loved being different. People either admired his courage or rolled their eyes at his eccentric style. Either way, he never left a neutral impression. He wanted people to see him and remember him. Right now, he needed to see Roman. It was time to get the man’s vacation back on schedule. A hint of sadness wormed its way into his happiness at that thought. Roman would go home as soon as Brett no longer needed him. Hell, he might take one look at Brett moving around and leave today. Brett’s shoulders squared. He would have to give Roman a reason to stay. At least for a couple more days. They had unfinished business. A wicked smile tugged at Brett’s lips. If Dean hadn’t shown up yesterday, Brett might have convinced Roman to finish some business yesterday. Damn. He needed to see Roman’s sexy face.

  With his knee balanced on the scooter and a smile in place, Brett rolled his way down the hall and into the bedroom he had assigned Roman. He didn’t stop to think about his welcome. Childlike glee kept him moving. “Look what I can do.” A completely nude Roman greeted him as he rounded the corner. Brett quickly turned his face away. He wished he had been quick enough to miss the sight altogether. Goddamn. So much delicious skin. “Sorry. The door was open, but I should’ve announced myself sooner or something.”

  A sexy chuckle floated through the air and washed over Brett. Roman crossed the room. Before Brett knew what would happen, Roman clutched his chin, turned Brett’s face back his way, and captured Brett’s mouth. It was carnal and heaven. Brett lost the ability to think and breathe.