“So you’ll be gone five days?” Was that a whine in Isaac’s voice?
He leaned in and kissed Isaac. “Ask me to stay.”
“Stay.”
Slapping around for his phone. he typed up a text. Isaac leaned over his shoulder to watch.
Something important came up, I’ll be delayed. I’ll call you later.
He hit send and tossed the phone.
“Oh, important, I like that.”
He grabbed Isaac and manhandled the laughing man back on the bed.
“You are very important,” he said gruffly.
Isaac’s expression softened and he found himself pulled to sit up against the headboard, their messing around put on hold. He didn’t mind as long as they were together.
“I want to know you.”
“You know me.” He frowned. Pieces of hair stuck out on Isaac’s head and he lifted a hand to finger the blond strands.
“Well yeah, but there’s things I don’t know.”
“Ask. I’m an open book.” He ran his hand down Isaac’s arm and linked their fingers.
“Why’d you have so many girlfriends?”
“Not so many over the years.” He shifted and glanced around. Isaac’s silence drew his gaze.
“Okay, sheesh, I did,” he admitted.
“So why didn’t you settle down and get married with one of them?”
That was a fair question, so he thought about it and answered honestly, “I didn’t love any of them.”
“That makes sense.” Something warm swirled in Isaac’s eyes.
“My turn. You’ve had a lot of boyfriends.”
“None that lasted, though,” Isaac acknowledged.
“Why?”
Isaac drew his hand from his, bent one leg, and rested his arm on the top of his knee.
“I picked men who aren’t interested in commitment.”
“Because of your dad?”
He could see he’d surprised Isaac. That the man thought he wouldn’t get it, but he did get it. Isaac had been wounded in body and spirit from the abuse. And he’d move heaven and earth to help him through whatever he needed.
“Yeah.”
“Tell me.”
And finally, Isaac turned to him and there in the quiet of the bedroom, Isaac told him a little bit more about his childhood.
“I’ll end anyone who hurts you.” He gripped Isaac close.
“I still haven’t forgiven my mother,” Isaac whispered.
“Give it time, baby,” he whispered.
Isaac hugged him tightly and then pulled back.
“So, that’s pretty much why I avoided guys who want a relationship.”
“I’m interested in a relationship with you,” he warned, making sure to be crystal clear about what he wanted.
“It’s different with you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, I trust you.”
It was easy to picture Isaac with a family one day.
“You want kids someday?”
Isaac blinked, eyes wide. “What kind of question is that?”
He cupped Isaac’s cheek. “A good one considering what you went through as a kid.”
Isaac’s head tipped in thought. “I don’t know, I never thought about it. Is that a game changer?”
“No,” he whispered, trying to ease the stress in Isaac’s gaze. “I’m still here and if you think you’re getting rid of me, you’re not.”
“Is that a threat?” Amusement sparked in those blue eyes.
“A promise.”
“I can live with that.”
They talked for hours until it grew light and then they made their way to the kitchen to get food and then back to the bedroom. They talked, made love, laughed, and talked some more. Zane couldn’t remember a time when he’d felt so content. The only bummer was time.
Two mornings later found him sitting up in the bed and punching the pillows behind him. He reached for yesterday’s newspaper and snapped it open. Not trying to be quiet because he wanted Isaac awake.
“I supposed that’s my cue to get up.”
“Oh, you’re awake,” he said, not trying to hide the laughter in his voice.
“How about we get outside today.” Isaac rolled over and blinked sleepy eyes up at him.
“That sounds per-”
His words were cut off by the ping of Isaac’s cell phone. Isaac reached across his chest to grab it. Zane tossed the paper aside and took advantage. He ran his hands all over Isaac. He’d never get enough of him.
“Damn it, Fury calls.” Isaac grimaced at the text and dropped the cell with a thud back on the side table.
Zane pulled his mouth down into a sad pout.
“Wonder how long our hellish fight will haunt us?”
“I screwed up,” Isaac sighed. “I’m sorry I flew off the handle. Now we’re separated. It’s so fucked up.”
“I’m just as much to blame.” That whole day had been a clusterfuck. Well, except for the kiss that had landed him here, so maybe not all a fuck up.
“I need the shower first,” Isaac said and rose to his hands and knees to kiss him.
“I’ll shower on base. If I come in there…” Zane warned.
They’d made good use of the shower over the past few days, but he did live on base so all his stuff was there.
“Good idea, if you came in with me, I’d be late,” Isaac teased.
“You know, maybe you should be late.” He swiped out a hand to grab one arm, but Isaac slapped his chest and leaped out of reach with a laugh.
“Down big boy. Next time, though.”
“I’m holding you to that,” he said and lay back, satisfied with those words. Isaac disappeared into the bathroom.
He’d finally made love with a man, and not once but numerous times. Not just any man, Isaac. All the wasted time he’d spent and there was no way to get that back, but he planned to make up for it.
Rolling from the bed, he tugged on his jeans and socks and shoes. The shower was still running when he poked his head into the room.
“I’m heading out.”
Isaac pulled back the shower curtain and puckered his lips.
In two seconds flat, he was across the room planting a kiss on those pretty lips. He hated leaving, but he promised Diesel he’d be there.
“Call me later?”
“Why don’t you call me when you get through with Fury,” he said. “I won’t know if you’re in the middle of a mission.”
Isaac grinned. “I keep my phone in the vehicle. Call me, leave me a message so I can listen to it over and over.”
“You’re strange, Thorne.”
“You like strange.”
“That I do,” he husked and ran his thumb over Isaac’s wet bottom
