“You’re nervous.” Thank God it’s not just me.
“Excuse me for wanting to get this right,” Maddox snapped, and fuck the big guy was adorable flustered. Why had Ben never noticed before?
“Look at it this way. It’s part of the experiment. We could have zero chemistry, and then we’ll know and we can laugh and go have a beer.”
“Okay,” Maddox whispered, lowering his hand. “In the name of science then.”
“To science.” Ben chuckled and closed the distance between them, brushing his lips across Maddox’s for the first time. As per his usual, Maddox was several days past needing a shave, and his cheek was bristly against Ben’s hand and his upper lip tickled Ben’s.
Maddox smelled nice—like sugar and citrus and something warmer, richer, an earthier scent that took him straight back to that night, his lips against Maddox’s neck. Repeating the brush of their lips, he traced the seam of Maddox’s mouth with the tip of his tongue. Maddox gasped, and in that instant, Ben knew why he hadn’t done this that night, hadn’t wanted Canaan to see this, had wanted to save this moment for right here, right now.
He hadn’t wanted to share this moment, but there was more to it than that. He’d been more scared than a new recruit, looking out that plane door before the first jump, knowing nothing was ever to going to be the same, even if all went well. And all was going well, just as he’d known it would. Hadn’t expected either of them to run for the beach, not really. Had expected this freefall of sensation, even as he’d dreaded and craved it. Same as a jump, it was the rush before pulling the chute that almost did him in—the feeling of being out of control, the whisper-thin line between falling and flying.
And so no, he hadn’t wanted to share that terror with an audience. Just with Maddox, who same as with anything new was solidly reassuring, a warm presence ensuring that Ben wasn’t about to take a hard fall. Maddox hummed in the back of his throat, a happy noise that Ben felt all the way to his balls. Licking until Maddox opened his mouth, Ben made an approving noise before deepening the kiss.
God, this was heady stuff, more pure than ninety-proof liquor. Maddox’s hands fisted in Ben’s shirt, pulling on his bad shoulder, but Ben could give a fuck about the ache. He wasn’t stopping, not now. Not when he was learning that Maddox tasted like soda and surprise and happiness. So much happy. That Ben hadn’t expected, but Maddox smiled even while kissing. And every so often he’d make a little noise halfway between a chuckle and a gasp, and it was the sexiest fucking thing Ben had ever heard.
Maddox’s grip on Ben tightened and okay, that hurt.
“Ooof.” The moan escaped before he knew how to stop it.
“Oh crap. Your shoulder.” Maddox released him like he was a live grenade. “Sorry. My bad. My stupid leg keeps slipping.”
“But no chemistry issues, right?” Ben managed a grin.
“It was an okay first effort.” Maddox’s laugh was the best painkiller on the planet. “Might need to repeat the experiment to be certain.”
“Any chance I could convince you to repeat it horizontally with me so we can get you off that leg?” Ben tried for his most convincing look. “Or is that more of a third date thing for you? I’m trying to follow your lead here.”
Maddox snorted. “That would be a first. But yeah, let me grab some ice packs for your shoulder and we can go stretch out on my bed. You know, for science, and all that.”
“God, I love science.” Ben stepped back so that Maddox could turn and open the freezer door. He should protest about not needing the ice, but the shoulder really was aching now and this plus more of those Maddox kisses would be better than the meds. Or maybe about the same really, because Maddox made him pretty damn loopy all on his own. “Lead the way.”
“I...uh...” Maddox’s neck was flushing pink again. “I mean—”
For once, Ben could read his mind. “Slow. I get it. Not trying to rush all around the bases here. I’m up for whatever you are, including just lying there like old men with our ice packs and watching a movie or something.”
“Not up for a movie.” Maddox’s laugh was as full of promise as his smiling eyes as he handed the ice to Ben. “Let’s see what other big ideas you have.”
Chapter Fourteen
“No, this isn’t weird at all,” Maddox muttered as he held the door to his room open for Ben, who’d stopped off in his room for the extra firm pillows he used to support his arm and shoulder. That kind of premeditation told Maddox both that Ben really was hurting and that he was planning on staying awhile.