A Subtle Breeze, Bailey Bradford [year 2 reading books .txt] 📗

man into his arms and took Brendon’s mouth, kissing him with enough force their teeth clacked together. The kiss started off full throttle and only burned hotter, tongues thrusting and twisting as each man nipped and ate at the other’s mouth.

Moaning as he pulled away, Zeke rested his forehead against Brendon’s. A thought that had been buzzing around in his mind finally stilled. “Brendon, is Nessa…”

Brendon nodded. “Yeah, she’s staying with Gloria, I’m sure.”

Zeke grunted, slitting his eyes at the man. “Just how much of this did y’all plan out? Seems like you went through a lot for one night.” Zeke didn’t know whether to be relieved or irritated that the three had been discussing his sex life, plotting for him to get laid. Although he couldn’t be too irritated. Maybe he should actually send the girls flowers. Or chocolate. Or both. He smiled, trying to assure Brendon he wasn’t angry about the whole deal.

“Uh. Well. We didn’t really get into specifics. I mean, that would just be too weird with my cousin and your sister.” Brendon squirmed a little as Zeke continued to stare at him. “I just, um… One night?”

Zeke laughed at the man’s discomfort, finding it oddly endearing. “You just, um, what?” He started to squeeze Brendon a little tighter, then froze when it dawned on him that ‘one night’ had come back doubtfully. He loosened his hold and leaned back to look at the man.

“Yeah, one night, or were you…” Zeke didn’t know if he should be hopeful or worried if Brendon was going to be spending a few days in McKinton. If the man stayed here that long, there was no way they would be able to stay away from each other. If he left in the morning… That didn’t make him feel any better, either.

“Or were you staying a few days?” Zeke tried to keep his tone neutral, because he honestly couldn’t say what he would prefer. Well, he could, but he knew it would be best if this were a one-night thing. Safer for all of them, even if it meant going right back to his lonely existence. The fact that Brendon didn’t answer him immediately, instead averted his eyes, had Zeke dropping his arms and stepping away.

“What aren’t you telling me, Brendon?” he asked in a soft voice that belied the anger and fear beginning to stir in him.

Brendon heard the warning in Zeke’s voice and knew he had a couple of choices. He could play along, tell the man he was only going to be here a few days at the most. That would, possibly, result in a continuation of tonight’s fuckfest. Or, he could tell the truth, let Zeke know he wasn’t going to be leaving any time soon, and risk alienating him as well as almost certainly bringing the evening to a close.

The fact that he didn’t have to debate with himself for long should have frightened him, but the truth of the matter was, he wanted more than tonight, more than a few nights. Brendon wanted a relationship with the magnificent man standing before him. For that reason alone, there would be no lies. He didn’t deceive himself into thinking it would be easy. He would have to fight Zeke and possibly a good number of the townspeople, but he was willing to do it. For whatever reason, he couldn’t let Zeke walk away, couldn’t walk away himself.

Brendon had never considered himself a coward and wouldn’t let the fear of rejection make him one now. Shoulders squared, he stared Zeke straight in the eyes, letting the man see his determination. When he spoke, he made sure to keep his voice equally soft as Zeke had.

“Actually, Zeke, I’m not going to be here for a night, a few days, or even a week.” Brendon paused, watching the man pale as he realized what was being said. Showing no mercy, he plowed on. “Not even for just a month. I’ll be here all summer. Possibly longer, if I decide it’s worth it.”

Zeke shook his head, anger apparent in the gesture as well as in the way his hands clenched into fists. “No, no! You need to leave! There’s nothing worth staying here for. Nothing.”

Brendon shrugged, unwilling to be intimidated. “I think there is, and I won’t let your fear push me away.”

“It’s not my fear pushing you away, Brendon, it’s me. This…what happened between us, it’s just fucking,” Zeke snarled, flinging a hand through the air. “You’re just a body, don’t you get it? Any man would have done.” He turned and walked to his room, leaving Brendon standing naked and alone.

Chapter Three

Brendon stood in the hallway, trying not to let Zeke’s words hurt him. He was pretty sure that Zeke’d said what he did to try to scare him off, but still, shit, that was harsh! No, he couldn’t allow himself to be hurt this easily, not if he intended to prove to Zeke that he was serious. Hadn’t he just acknowledged that he would have to fight Zeke’s fears to build a relationship? If he ran off the first time he got his feelings hurt, then that didn’t speak well for his integrity or the feelings he professed, if only to himself, for Zeke.

While Brendon knew he was more emotionally involved than Zeke, he fully believed they had a connection between them that could grow into something exceptional. But what should he do, right now? That was the question. He didn’t want to be too forceful and freak Zeke out, but something told Brendon he would have to be a bit more forward than he was comfortable with, much as he had ever since he’d learned of the man.

A sweet scent permeated the air—right before Brendon felt a faint nudge on his shoulder blade. He jumped, glancing behind him, but nothing was there. Feeling a little silly and a lot creeped out, Brendon walked quickly to Zeke’s door. The idea of knocking entered his mind, but