Brantley exhaled heavily, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Reese. I’m not willin’ to share. You wanna date women, feel free. But leave me out if it, would you?”
“That wasn’t a date. What you saw last night. That was me havin’ a beer with Autumn. We talked about her old job, some of the pain-in-the-ass customers we’ve both dealt with. It never got personal. I swear to God, it wasn’t a date, Brantley. Yes, I ignored your call because I panicked. But I wasn’t with her in that way. I don’t want her that way.”
Brantley remained silent.
Reese reached for him then, sliding his hand behind Brantley’s neck, pulling him closer. Despite the fact he’d never touched a man like this, in such an intimate, emotionally charged way, it felt right with Brantley. “I’m sorry. I just… I need you to help me here.”
He hadn’t meant for so much emotion to escape, but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t understand any of this. How he could’ve gone his entire life without wanting a man and now feeling like this. When Brantley had told him to leave last night, the words had pierced him. A stab right in the heart. The thought of not seeing Brantley again … it was more terrifying than the realization he was falling for a man.
“I can’t make you want me, Reese.”
“Trust me, I don’t need help in that regard.” Reese leaned in, let his lips hover near Brantley’s. “I’ve got that covered. I want you more than my next fuckin’ breath. I think about you day and night. When I’m not here, I want to be here. And when I’m here, I don’t want to leave.”
He pulled back, met Brantley’s gaze. “I’m not askin’ you for anything. That’s not where I’m goin’ with this. I just need you to be patient with me.”
“I’m not sure how much more patient I can be, Reese.”
Okay, he had him there. Reese couldn’t deny the man seemed to have an endless supply where he was concerned.
Before Brantley pulled away, Reese grabbed for him. He brought his forehead to Brantley’s, keeping him close. “Please. Give me another chance.”
“Fine.”
Reese forced himself to let Brantley go. He knew the man was merely agreeing because Reese needed to hear it. But it was a start. He’d said what he had to say.
For now.
Chapter Four
When Reese stepped back, staring at him as though he’d just shot his dog, it was more than Brantley could take.
“Goddammit, Reese,” Brantley bit out, grabbing Reese’s arm and yanking him closer.
Cupping both sides of his face, he drew him in, crushed their lips together. The kiss exploded when Reese’s arms wrapped around him, holding him securely as though he didn’t want Brantley to pull away.
He absolutely detested how he felt in that moment. So fucking helpless, completely out of sorts. All thanks to Reese.
Brantley was a man who valued his control, had honed it over the years. It was what made him a phenomenal leader. He had led his SEAL team into dangerous situations time and time again, always managing to stay calm and cool under pressure. Then this man came along and rattled the very foundation of his being.
All because he was scared of what was happening between them.
In a sense, Brantley understood where Reese was coming from. Despite what he’d told Reese earlier, this wasn’t just sex between them. It would’ve been a hell of a lot easier if that were the case. For both of them.
No, they were both dealing with heightened emotions brought on by uncertainty. Brantley didn’t know which direction Reese was headed, and he suspected Reese didn’t know, either. Leaving them in this perpetual state of question.
“I’m sorry,” Reese mumbled against his lips.
“Don’t say it again.” Brantley pulled back, still holding Reese’s head. “It’s done. We’re movin’ on.”
“Are we?”
He came to a decision immediately. “Yes.”
Some people wouldn’t understand his need to move forward, to leave shit in the past, but Brantley knew it was more about self-preservation than skill. He was not the sort to bring old shit up, to throw it in anyone’s face. He would give Reese the benefit of the doubt because he wanted to, because he knew that throwing this away would only lead to a whole lot of what-ifs, and Brantley was opposed to those, too.
The door lock disengaged and Brantley instantly released Reese, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable when JJ returned. To his surprise, Reese didn’t move away. The opposite, actually. He stepped forward, drew Brantley’s mouth back to his, and kissed him softly, letting his lips linger for a few seconds. The hand that gently squeezed the back of his neck had a strange warmth swirling in his chest cavity.
When Reese pulled back, their eyes met, held.
JJ cleared her throat. “Should I leave and come back later?”
“No,” Reese replied. “We’re good.”
