“I’d be a terrible agent,” he said as Royce released the clip and quickly pushed out the bullets and tossed them into the trees. The clip followed along with several other pieces before Royce hurled the pistol deep into the woods.
“Nonsense. You were brilliant. You have incredible instincts and that was an excellent plan!”
“I wasn’t brilliant and I’m always worried someone might jump me when I’m out with another man. I’m gay,” Grant stated and Royce stopped him.
“I am certain he was just meant to follow us. Nothing more,” Royce insisted as he captured Grant’s cheek and found his eyes. “A Chinese agent isn’t going to cause an international incident by murdering an innocent civilian and a CIA agent. Even if he was insane enough to try, I would have been able to handle it.”
“You weren’t even worried,” Grant realized.
“You were and I didn’t want to argue with you about it and risk scaring him away. It was faster to go along with it and I thought it might help you feel better,” Royce stated and Grant frowned.
“We ambushed that man so I could feel better?” He asked in horror. Royce shrugged then gave Edgar a pat when they joined him at the end of the trail.
“They’ll think twice or send someone better next time. I would have found a way to corner him on my own but I doubt he’d tell me anything. I wanted you to run ahead so you wouldn’t lecture me about assault or The Geneva Conventions,” Royce explained as they headed for Grant’s car.
“Nice,” Grant muttered as he unlocked the doors. They got into the car and Royce winced as he looked back at Edgar.
“I take it back. He might have the instincts and reflexes to be a good agent but he lacks the moral flexibility,” Royce told him and Edgar woofed in agreement.
“Hey,” Grant complained but he felt a tickle in his chest and his shoulders pulled back a touch more as he steered out of the parking lot.
Chapter 21
I gave him my gun. If Royce needed a sign that he was done, giving Grant his gun was unequivocal proof. He would have been happier to remove his cock and hand it to Grant and Waites would never let Royce live it down, if he knew. Royce would be laughed out of the agency if anyone found out and he shuddered as he remembered how vulnerable he felt as he sat on that bench with his back turned to Grant and an unidentified foreign agent. And Royce’s gun was... He loved his gun. He made sure she was immaculate and safely tucked into her case every night because she was the only one Royce could truly count on and she never let him down when he found himself in one of Waites’ well-engineered messes.
“Why did you pick this if you weren’t in the mood for pasta?” Royce asked as he watched Grant over his menu. Grant’s nose scrunched as their eyes touched and Royce couldn’t stop himself from leaning and pulling him closer.
“I really like their tiramisu,” Grant confessed as he allowed Royce to peck at his lips. It was so easy and natural and Royce made a shredded, suffering sound as Grant blushed and bit into his lip.
“I just figured it out,” Royce murmured as his hand spread up Grant’s thigh, under the table.
“What?” Grant asked and Royce sat back as their server arrived with their drinks.
“You choose restaurants based on which dessert you’re in the mood for,” he said. Grant started to shake his head and Royce gave his thigh a warning tickle. Grant’s blush deepened as he laughed and it gave Royce goosebumps.
“I do have a sweet tooth,” he admitted and Royce hummed knowingly as he stole another kiss. Grant was pliant and there was a seductive tilt to his lips every time he licked them and Royce knew it wasn’t just the wine. Every now and then, Grant’s hand would settle on Royce’s thigh and it would tremble as it crept higher before it pulled away and he snatched his wine glass for a desperate sip. He got a little bolder every time and it was killing Royce. Grant’s fingers brushed against his hard-on and Royce’s hand covered it.
“What else do you like?” Royce rumbled as his thumb lazily stroked over the back of Grant’s hand. It squeezed and Royce’s body pulsed with desire as Grant’s fingers dug into his thigh.
“What do I like?” Grant asked. He cut into his tiramisu with his fork and Royce was mesmerized as Grant raised it to his mouth. His tongue slipped from between his lips and lashed at his fork and Royce felt it in his sack and heat pooled in his groin. Royce nodded drunkenly then let Grant feed him a bite. It was fine and Royce hummed as he swallowed but he wanted to taste Grant.
“You did something...absolutely amazing for me the other day but you ran away before I could do something for you and I’d like to know what you like. In case you decide you’d like me to...return the favor,” he babbled then swore as he reached for his water. Grant shook his head and his gaze lingered on his plate but Royce needed to see his eyes so he could track his thoughts. “Grant?” He urged gently. Grant raised a shoulder and there was a sly tilt to his lips as they wrapped around his fork. He swallowed then tortured Royce by slowly licking his lips before he leaned forward.
“I told you, I like using my mouth,” Grant whispered very quietly. Royce was perched on the edge of his seat and his collar was choking him. He nodded and swore under his breath as Grant licked his fork again.
“Right. I do too but what are you into, after that?” He asked. Grant shook his head again and nearly destroyed Royce when a trembling hand slid over his hard-on.
“I like…both…but I really like using my mouth. That’s all I need. Even though I do like the rest,” Grant added quickly. Royce nodded slowly and did his best to appear cool.
“You prefer giving head?” He murmured softly and Grant turned the most alluring shade of pink as he wiped his lips and looked around.
“And rimming,” he whispered as he leaned in.
“Oh,” Royce blurted and they jumped when he knocked over his water. Royce waved it off as he flipped up the table cloth to keep it from spilling over the side. He cleared his throat and attempted a relaxed smile but it was wide and strained. “But what if I wanted to help you get off?” He asked quietly but pointedly. Grant shook his head and Royce bit down on his tongue as the hand around his cock tightened.
“You did, in the pool. I like using my mouth and I usually do… That usually works for me,” he mumbled to his plate before he risked a quick glance. Royce heard the love theme from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet as Grant’s mouth became the very center of the universe.
“I… I love you,” Royce breathed as he stared at Grant’s lips and they curved as he chuckled dismissively and poked at his dessert. Royce’s eyes widened in shock. Dear God, I meant it. I love him. It wouldn’t have been a shock, if he was paying attention. Royce didn’t trust anyone. Royce wouldn’t dream of giving his own brother his gun but he handed it over to Grant with almost no hesitation. He spent most of the day baffled but it suddenly made sense. Royce didn’t notice he was being tailed and he blithely handed over his gun like a besotted idiot because he was. He’d fallen in love with Grant and allowed himself to be lulled by the peaceful charm of Hopkins Creek.
“Let me get this table cloth out of the way and I’ll bring you another glass of water,” their server murmured as she began rearranging the table. Royce held up a hand and shook his head.