With a soft laugh, Brannigan pressed a kiss against his temple but didn’t answer.
He really had shown his hand there. Kyou just couldn’t seem to keep himself from messing with Brannigan’s dates. But no wonder the man felt so confident that Kyou wanted him. That jealousy of his left little room for doubt.
“Caro, I firmly believe this isn’t a mistake. I think that if we sit down, and properly work this out, we can find time for both of us—time that doesn’t involve you staring at me from a screen. I know your career is important to you. I don’t want to end that. But I do want you to step away from the desk more, experience life rather than watching it through a monitor.” Putting their foreheads together, Brannigan murmured to him, “You’ve given me so much over the years. Let me give this to you. Try me. That’s all I ask.”
A protest half-formed on Kyou’s mouth tumbled free. “Brannigan, I can’t—”
“You won’t lose me, either way. I promise you that.”
Was this wise? Kyou didn’t know anymore. He couldn’t think while standing in this man’s arms. Brannigan pressed soft, chaste kisses against his forehead, cheek, down to his jaw, then right under his ear. Kyou found himself tilting his head on instinct, reveling in those soft caresses. With each kiss, his reasons fractured. Logic spun away in a freefall, and for the life of him, he couldn’t remember why he was fighting this.
Kyou had wanted this man for too long. Longer than he could recall off-hand. Now that he had him, so very close and willing, he didn’t want to turn away from him. His fragile willpower unraveled, and Kyou didn’t even try to tie his shredded reasoning back together. He turned his head, meeting Brannigan’s mouth in a sweet kiss. Brannigan might have smiled against his mouth, but he was too lost in the kiss to really focus on that. His arms came up, sliding over that bare skin, curling around the back of Brannigan’s head even as he canted his face a little more to deepen the kiss.
With a groan, Brannigan took the offer, nipping at Kyou’s bottom lip, opening it enough that he could slip his tongue inside. Kyou’s nerves sparked with pleasure as their tongues dueled, the hot glide of it entirely sensual.
By degrees, Brannigan softened the kiss, gently easing them back. He lifted his head a few inches, watching Kyou with a smug tilt of his lips. “Will you give us a chance, caro?”
Kyou let out a gusty sigh. “If this all goes wrong, I’m blaming you.”
“If it all goes wrong, I’ll be the one to blame,” Brannigan agreed, tone mild. “Because I’ll have done something stupid.”
“I really think the odds are far better that I’ll screw this up, but okay.”
“Let’s focus more on making it work, shall we? But right now, I want to cuddle with you.” Brannigan kept a hand on him as he drew him towards the couch.
Considering the kiss they’d just shared, Kyou fully expected to head toward one of the bedrooms. He balked only a little. “Why the couch?”
“We’re not ready for sex just yet.” Brannigan shot him a wry smile. “Let’s not tempt it. I can behave myself out here. Come cuddle with me.”
Kyou flushed as the full realization of that sank in. In other words, Brannigan was so attracted to him that it was hard to keep his hands off? Oh. That was…nice.
Brannigan grabbed a couch pillow and arranged it so that he could lay back while comfortably semi-propped up. Kyou felt all knees and elbows as he snuggled in, half on top of the man, but as Brannigan’s hand smoothed down his spine, he settled with a sigh, head pillowed on the man’s chest. A throw got tossed over the top of him, and he settled even further, hand curling over the top of Brannigan’s shoulder. This was nice. Kyou had never cuddled like this before. He now understood why people liked to do it.
“After this situation is dealt with, let’s go on a proper date,” Brannigan murmured to him. His hand traced an idle circle at the base of Kyou’s spine. It was all he could do to not purr and fall asleep on the spot.
“A date, huh?” Kyou tried to think of a date they could go on and immediately hit a blank wall. “Where?”
“Game arcade,” Brannigan said confidently. “Followed up by staying in one of my penthouse suites with a full five-course meal, hot tub, and even hotter sex.”
The realization hit him, and Kyou said in wonder, “You’ve really been thinking about this.”
“Thinking? I’ve been planning and scheming to make that happen. I figured you’d enjoy a game arcade. There’s one not far from my house that has everything you can possibly name, and they let you in for three hours at a time.”
“Sparky’s Stop and Game.”
“That’s the place.”
“I’ve seen you go in there several times. You really were gaming, huh?”
“Sure. What did you think I was doing?”
“Hiding from questionable life decisions?”
Brannigan’s chest jerked with silent laughter.
“Where else can we go?” Kyou was honestly curious just how far Brannigan had planned this.
“I thought maybe one of those murder mystery dinners would be fun. I’ve never been to one myself, but my sister has with her husband, and they do it yearly for their anniversary. And we can always stay in and do game nights.”
A little shyly, Kyou admitted, “I wouldn’t mind seeing a live show. I’ve never been to one before, but I know you like those.”
“Yeah? We’ll have to look at what’s playing in the next few months and get tickets.”
They fell into a back and forth, swapping ideas, learning a little more of each other’s tastes. Kyou had a better idea of what Brannigan liked than vice versa, but even he was taken by surprise at some of Brannigan’s suggestions.
Kyou had never cuddled like this with someone and spoken of the future. Actively planned it, no less. He loved every second of it, even as it scared him down to his marrow. He’d do practically anything to keep his fears from being realized.
But tonight, at least, he could set the fears aside. Tonight was about wishes, and hopes, and soft kisses. Tonight was only about the two of them.
“—don’t wake him,” Brannigan requested softly. “We were up late talking, and he needs the sleep.”
“Not even tempted,” Carter assured in an equally quiet voice. “I’m just very surprised at finding him cuddled in with you like that.”
“He agreed to date last night.” Brannigan sounded unbearably smug.
“Reaaally.”
With a grunt, Kyou forced himself to wake up enough to respond. “Too smug.”
“Shh, go back to sleep, caro,” Brannigan soothed him, trying to tuck him back in with the throw blanket.
They’d turned at some point, with Kyou the little spoon in front of Brannigan. The couch, fortunately, was wide enough to accommodate this, if only just. Kyou was comfortable, position-wise, and it was tempting to go back to sleep. But the idea of cuddling in front of other people made him strangely prickly. Besides, if everyone else was up, he should be, too. “No, I’m awake.”
Brannigan sighed in resignation, even as Kyou lifted himself free, swinging his legs to the ground. Carter had that expression on his face, as if he weren’t quite sure how to react to this situation, but he seemed pleased at the same time.