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Zane stopped their forward progress toward the curb after Ty almost ran down a couple of nuns dragging neon paisley rolling cases. “What are you looking for?”
“I got you something,” Ty said as he lifted one side of his trench coat and peered under it. “This damn thing has so many hidey holes I can’t remember which one I put it in. ”
Zane couldn’t help but laugh again. “You got me something?”
Ty looked up, his eyes wide and sincere as he nodded. God, he was handsome. Zane had to shake the urge to kiss him again, and he let the warmth in his chest spread through him as he met Ty’s eyes. Ty, as always, remained outwardly oblivious to the effect he often had on Zane.
“I’ve been here an hour or so. Walked through the gift shop. ” He flopped his hands and gave up the search. “It’ll fall out eventually,” he muttered as he smoothed his hands down the front of his coat. He’d definitely bought it for the exact reason Zane had thought.
“You didn’t need to bring anything home but yourself,” Zane said, sighing as he took Ty’s arm and got him moving again, following the ground transportation signs toward the taxi queue. It was the same Ty Grady he knew and loved. Really loved. And wasn’t that still an odd thought?
“I didn’t know when I’d get home after this,” Ty said with a wave of his hand. “I couldn’t call you. I was pretty sure you were going to be frothing at the mouth by now, so I had to have a plan B in case a sincere apology and groveling didn’t work. ”
“I wasn’t frothing at the mouth. ”
Ty cleared his throat and glanced at Zane with a knowing look.
Zane shoved his hands in the pockets of his long overcoat and tried to ignore him, but he could just feel Ty watching and waiting. “Okay, so I was a little put out. ” He shrugged as he glanced over at his partner.
Ty nodded as they came up on the cab in the front of the line waiting for passengers. He opened the door and they both climbed into the back of the car, and Zane stashed the duffel between his feet. Ty said something to the cabbie Zane couldn’t make out over the traffic noise, and the car was moving a few moments later.
“I am sorry I left like that,” Ty said as soon as they were sitting next to each other, a careful two feet of empty seat between them.
The structures whizzing by outside cast weird shadows into the cab, but Zane knew the features of Ty’s face without having to see them, and a short glimpse in the sunlight showed him that Ty was watching him, eyes intent.
“I’m sorry you felt you had to. ”
Ty gave an elegant shrug and smiled. “Shit happens,” he said as he looked away.
“Usually because you’re full of it,” Zane muttered, leaning back in the seat to take the first easy breath he’d been able to draw in days. He glanced at Ty and felt more of the pressure in his chest ease away.
Ty rested his head against the seat and turned to look at Zane. “Nice suit. ”
Zane looked down at himself. It was a deep black suit with sharp lines and tiny charcoal pinstripes, bought to replace the suit ruined last week at Lydia Reeves’ funeral and picked up from the tailor’s just yesterday. The jacket had been cut a little fuller to allow for his gun holster, and the sleeves a little longer to cover his knives. “Burns caught me in the gym. This was what I had for work, since I didn’t have time to run home. ”
Ty was still watching him, his head lowered, his lips twitching as he fought a smile. “No, Zane,” he said in a low voice, an entirely different tone to the words. “I meant nice suit. ”
Zane’s mouth went dry as the honey-smooth tone of Ty’s seductive voice seeped into him. A slash of light caught in Ty’s eyes, and they glittered green with flecks of gold, focused on him. Zane felt his cheeks flush. “Well. I… uh. ”
Ty didn’t respond. He continued to watch Zane as the city passed by the cab’s windows. Zane raised an eyebrow, and Ty smirked. Zane knew that look. He knew it very well, and the cab could not get to the hotel fast enough.
TY LED Zane through the lobby of the hotel Dick had put them up in, bypassing the front desk in favor of the elevators. Technically, they had two rooms for the day. They wouldn’t need both.
Ty had to admit that he was nervous. He’d been nervous ever since the morning Richard Burns had called him and he’d realized he wouldn’t be able to get back to Zane before Zane completely flipped out. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Ty glanced at Zane and breathed in deeply to calm himself.
Zane turned to lean against the side wall, facing Ty, watching him. His dark eyes didn’t stray, not that Ty had anywhere to hide.
“You mad?” Ty asked, lips twitching as he fought a smile.
Zane’s eyes narrowed, and the calm façade melted into something that looked a little more dangerous. A thrill ran through Ty’s body, and he could not suppress the shiver.
“You want to talk?”
“Is there more to say?” Zane asked. His voice carried a cautious undertone. “I’m angry, you’re sorry. ”
“Honestly?” Ty said, losing the teasing note. “I think we have shit tons of things to talk about. ”
Zane frowned, looking pained. But he nodded in agreement.
The elevator lurched as they reached their floor. Ty waited for the doors to open before he stepped closer and took Zane’s hand in his.
Zane laced his fingers with Ty’s, and the frown faded, replaced by an unusual vulnerability. “This isn’t going to keep me angry. ”
“Yeah, that’s not exactly my plan,” Ty whispered as he led Zane down the hallway. They passed a few people on their way to their door, but he never let go of Zane’s hand. He didn’t let go of it as he fished his key out of one of his many pockets and unlocked the door, and once they were inside, he didn’t let go of it after he let Zane drop his bag. Instead, he pulled Zane closer to kiss him.
Zane’s free hand dug under Ty’s trench coat to slide around his waist, pulling Ty to him as their lips met.
Ty’s eyes fell shut and all the tension drained out of him as he wrapped around his lover. Zane was so warm, and his familiar scent seeped into Ty, pushing away all the worries he’d been harboring. He reached out and slid his hand along Zane’s waist, pulling at his shirt. “I love you, Zane. ”
Zane sighed, leaning to place a soft kiss at Ty’s temple. “I know. ”
Ty turned his head to instigate another kiss, delving into it with more heat. “I’ve been looking forward to this for days. ”
Zane clutched him close, heat and anticipation building between them, and Ty heard a soft groan escape Zane as the kiss continued. The sound went straight through Ty, and his hands began tugging at Zane’s dress shirt, undoing buttons, pulling at his belt as they shuffled further into the room. Ty was forced to take a step back to keep his balance. He found himself against the side of the wet bar, and he just had to laugh and lean against the edge of the counter. Zane shoved Ty’s coat off his shoulders and pulled at his T-shirt.
“Been too long,” Zane said before claiming another kiss.
Ty nodded, not able to say anything in reply. He pushed onto his toes and sat on the marble counter so he could slide his knees against Zane’s hips and pull him closer. Zane wedged in, obviously determined to have skin on skin contact sooner rather than later.
Ty began to laugh again, pushing off Zane’s shirt and dragging his hands against his shoulders. He leaned in to get another kiss, but just as their lips touched, Ty opened his mouth to say one last thing before he forgot and let it slide too long. Zane spoke first.
“Ty,” Zane said between kisses, his hands firm on Ty’s body. “Be mine, just for now. There’s time. ”
Ty reached for Zane’s face, meeting his eyes. “I was always yours,” he said with difficulty.
Zane pressed his fingertips to Ty’s lips. “Why?”
Ty shook his head, searching for the answer. His chest tightened and breathing became difficu
lt, but he landed on the words he needed. He met Zane’s dark eyes and realized he was feeling light-headed as he answered. “Because… you make me the kind of person I’ve always wished I was. ”
Zane was silent, his gaze tracing over Ty’s face. Ty held his breath until Zane spoke. “I’ve always wanted you just like you are. As much as you infuriate me, you’re who I want. ”
Ty couldn’t put his finger on what those words felt like. It was somewhere between relief and elation. He didn’t have any more he could say, so he just leaned forward and kissed Zane again, hooking his feet behind Zane’s thighs so he couldn’t get away.
With a groan, Zane started pulling at Ty’s T-shirt to get it over his head.
“Don’t hurt it! It’s new,” Ty said with a grin as he lifted his arms for Zane to pull the shirt off. It hit the floor, and Zane’s hands splayed over Ty’s chest and ribs while he latched on to Ty’s neck. Ty moaned and let his head fall back, cursing when he banged it against the mirrored cabinet above the wet bar.
Zane sank to his knees, tugging Ty off the counter, mouth still on Ty’s body, his beard leaving a trail of prickles. His hands slid into Ty’s jeans, and he pulled them down as he moved.
“Zane,” Ty said, breathless as he looked down at Zane on his knees. He put his hand on Zane’s head and pulled at his overgrown curly hair.
Zane dragged his tongue down the dark trail of hair along Ty’s abdomen before he tipped his head back to look up at Ty.
“Is this a bad time to tell you that I hate that beard?” Ty asked.
“You’ll deal with it,” Zane said, that spark returning to his almost-black eyes.
Ty laughed, his hand tightening in Zane’s hair. Zane retaliated by dragging his cheek down Ty’s hip. Ty tugged at his hair harder. “Come back up here. ”
Zane stood in one fluid motion, reaching out to cup one hand over the back of Ty’s neck as he pulled him into a voracious kiss.
Something inside Ty flipped over, and he dug his fingers into Zane with a grateful moan. Something about Zane’s touch felt different. There was more confidence in him, something more firm than just the muscles of his back that Ty was digging his fingers into. Something more certain.
Zane pulled him closer and squeezed him tight, then reached down to slide his hands under Ty’s ass and lift him with a grunt. Ty wrapped around him so he wouldn’t fall, and Zane swung around and took the three steps to the bed before tossing Ty down to the mattress.
Ty was still bouncing when Zane crawled over him to kiss him again. He remembered the first time they’d ever tried this: Zane had picked him up like that, in the bathroom of that damn Holiday Inn in New York City. If Ty told Zane that he enjoyed it, he’d be getting tossed around all the time. He’d probably end up with a broken arm or something. Or Zane would ruin his back.
He let Zane take over, letting his lover’s touch brush away all the stress and worry of the last few months, letting himself forget everything he’d been holding onto, letting Zane wipe the slate clean for him. He tangled his hands in Zane’s hair and kissed him like it was their first time.
When their mouths parted, both of them gasping for breath, Zane set his forehead against Ty’s and slid his hand through Ty’s mussed hair. His body was heavy against Ty’s, his heart racing, warmth and anticipation flowing between them.
“This feels different,” Ty said, breathless.
“Yes. ” Zane shifted down to one elbow, laying all of his weight on Ty and pressing closer, nosing against Ty’s chin and cheek.
Ty spread his legs wider, letting Zane settle between them. It had taken a few months, but he’d finally gotten comfortable with just how much he enjoyed having Zane top him. He’d taught himself quite a lot on that cruise ship job over Christmas.
He reached up to slide his fingers into Zane’s hair, meeting Zane’s eyes and lifting his hips, making Zane’s breath catch.
“Ty,” Zane drew out, a shudder coursing through him and into Ty. “You make me crazy wanting you. ”
“That’s the way I like you,” Ty said as he dragged his fingers up Zane’s back. “Come on, we have time. ”
Zane shifted and ground down against Ty’s thigh. “Good. I intend to make you as crazy as I am,” he said against Ty’s ear before pushing himself up and to his knees. “And I believe you invited me to work off a little aggravation. ”
“Less talky, Zane,” Ty said with a smirk he knew would get Zane even more riled.
Zane gave him that narrow-eyed glare again and scooted back and off the bed. “Get those jeans off now if you want them to be wearable later,” he said as he stripped off the rest of his clothes.
Ty did so without ever letting his gaze leave Zane, watching his lover disrobe with a shiver of anticipation. Then he spread himself out flat and stretched his arms above his head. He met Zane’s eyes, laying his body out to offer up control. If Zane deserved anything from him, it was enough trust to give him that.
Zane growled low in his throat and again crawled up Ty’s body, rubbing his chest and cock against all the skin he could as he worked his way up, leading with his tongue… and that damn beard. Ty dismissed that obscenity to fuss about later, pushing his body up against Zane’s, forcing his hands to remain above his head instead of touching Zane like he so wanted to do.
“How do you want me to touch you?” Zane asked in a voice that rasped against Ty’s skin.
“I just want you. ”
Zane rubbed against him more insistently as they kissed, hard and long and wet. His hands squeezed and petted until one followed the lines of Ty’s muscled arm to close over his crossed wrists, holding them fast. “I thought you weren’t kinky. ”