All of the Voices, Bailey Bradford [e novels to read .TXT] 📗

Matt smelled when he came home. There was something about an honest day’s work mingling with the faded scent of aftershave and some aroma that was strictly Matt’s. It fired up Carlin’s lust like nothing else. “Mmm. Could lick you all over, honey.”

Matt rumbled and maneuvered them around so that Carlin was pinned against the driver’s door. “I’d sure enough let you.” He nipped at Carlin’s lips then licked them before pushing his tongue into Carlin’s mouth.

Carlin melted inside. He had no other words for it. Every worry and fear he’d held tight dissolved when he was in Matt’s arms.

Carlin tilted his head to the left for a better kissing angle, and he curled his fingers to give Matt’s hair a little tug.

The night breeze picked up and blew cool on Carlin’s heated skin. Matt moaned into the kiss then sucked on Carlin’s bottom lip.

Carlin wanted them naked, yet he wanted to take his time loving on Matt, and he wanted to talk to him, too, see how Matt’s day had been in detail. Watch his eyes light up with amusement or anger, depending on what story he shared. Listen to the deepening timbre of his voice.

Matt nuzzled his jaw then blew gently in his ear.

Carlin squeaked a little then. “You know that tickles,” he accused.

“Sure do.” Matt pulled back enough to look him in the eyes. “So does this.”

Carlin squealed when Matt went for his ribs. He squirmed and managed to poke Matt in the belly a few times, then they were laughing, just having fun. Then Carlin linked his fingers with Matt’s and pressed his head to Matt’s shoulder. “I love you, so much.”

Matt freed his hands and was holding him in seconds. “And to think, I used to want to punch you. Now…now I wish I could marry you and have the whole happy ever after ending.”

Carlin didn’t take offense. He hadn’t been as good a nephew to his aunt as he wished he’d been. If he’d been in Matt’s shoes, he probably would have punched Carlin.

As for the happy ever after, Carlin wanted it, too. “We could get married, somewhere else. The state of Texas won’t recognize it, probably, but we’d know, and our friends, our families would honor it. I’d like to wear your ring, and see mine on your finger.”

“We’re turning into romantic fools,” Matt groused, though the happy tone in his voice was unmistakable. “Maybe we could do it, sooner than later.”

While my dad’s still with us. Carlin knew that was what Matt meant. “That’d be perfect. Now come inside and tell me about who you ticketed and how much Conner irritated Laine today while I’m putting dinner together. Then we can decide on rings and dates before I drag you into the shower and take advantage of your wet, soapy body.”

“It ain’t taking advantage if I’m offering,” Matt said. “Probably even do some begging.”

Carlin winked at him. “Well, begging is always good when it comes to sex. Good for my ego, anyway.”

Matt chuckled. “Like your ego needs any stroking.”

“Not my ego, no,” Carlin teased.

“Inside,” Matt ordered. “Feed me and I’ll tell you about Aubrey Maynard and the turtle. My first emergency call for someone being attacked by a critter like that. She was fishing and caught a snapping turtle, thought she’d cut its head off to get rid of a pest, as she called it. That turtle had other ideas.”

“Who won the battle?” Carlin asked as they walked up the steps.

“I’m thinking the turtle did, if the vet can get the hook out of its mouth.” Matt held the front door open for him. “Not sure if Aubrey will have a thumb tip though. I should probably check on her tomorrow.”

“Ew.” Carlin grimaced. “I didn’t know snapping turtles could bite off fingers.”

“Not your common snapping turtle, no, but an alligator snapping turtle can. But,” Matt stressed. “Aubrey didn’t catch an alligator snapping turtle. She caught a regular one, and it just happened to bite the fleshy part of her thumb. Then the hook got caught up in it somehow, and—well, it was a damned bloody mess, let me tell you.”

Carlin’s stomach wasn’t going to let him eat what he’d planned to warm up for dinner. “So, um. Spaghetti’s off the menu tonight. Sorry.”

Matt laughed and guided Carlin to the small kitchen table. “Sit down and I’ll take care of dinner. It won’t be fancy, but I think there’s sandwich stuff, isn’t there?”

“In the meat and cheese drawer, yes,” Carlin answered. He felt guilty letting Matt make the sandwiches since Matt had worked longer. “I should—”

Matt didn’t even let him finish. “Nah, you just sit there, and maybe look on your phone and see what we can do about getting married. And the rings, do you want gold, silver, white gold, platinum—I don’t have a preference, so if you do, we’ll go with that.”

Carlin fetched his iPad because he could see better on it. Matt’s skin was what Carlin had come to think of as Texas Tan—his chest and legs were pale in comparison to his hands, forearms, and face. Platinum or gold, either would look stunning on Matt’s finger.

“You’re looking serious as all get-out,” Matt said as he put a plate with a sandwich and chips down beside Carlin’s tablet.

“I’m mentally debating the merits of twenty-four karat cold versus platinum. Either would look lovely against your skin,” Carlin murmured.

“What about your skin?” Matt asked. He set his own plate down. “Do you have a glass of tea somewhere? Out on the porch, maybe?”

“I wasn’t drinking any, so no,” Carlin answered. “And I think either option would work on me. Let me see your hand.”

Matt came back to Carlin and held out his left hand. He wiggled his ring finger. “I’m getting all excited about this already, you know.”

“Me, too.” Carlin stroked Matt’s rough palm, then the top of his hand. “Platinum,” he decided. “With blue diamonds, or maybe green and white ones. Yeah, I like that idea. A dark green, hm. I