Page 21 of Shock & Awe

Nick took a hit and pondered Kelly’s words. They passed it between them several more times, watching the sun set against the mountain peaks.

“We’ll never be the same,” Nick finally said. He needed to know that Kelly had thought this through, that he was aware of what the morning light would reveal.

Kelly barked a laugh. “We pole-vaulted over that last night.”

Nick leaned closer, curling his arm around Kelly’s shoulders. He brushed his nose along Kelly’s neck, just behind his ear. Kelly inhaled sharply. The goose bumps rose on his arms and he turned his head into the contact.

Nick brushed his lips against Kelly’s cheek.

“You really think this can go bad?” Kelly whispered. “When everything about it feels so fucking good?”

Nick breathed in deeply, truly giving the question thought rather than letting his gut reaction take over. “Only if we let it, I guess,” he finally decided, his lips moving against Kelly’s cheek.

“Do you trust me?” Kelly asked.

“You know I do.” Nick gripped Kelly’s chin, pulling his face until their lips met. Kelly immediately leaned into him, groaning as Nick’s teeth scraped over his lip, as their tongues met and teased. The kiss was so consuming that Nick got lost in it, all his senses absorbed by it. It was still crazy to think this was the Doc he was kissing, to think he was getting turned on just sitting here and kissing Kelly. He would have to pole-vault over that hurdle too, because this was too damn good to pass up just because it was weird.

He sucked Kelly’s bottom lip between his one last time before ending the kiss and pulling back with a gasp for air.

Kelly licked at his lips, forcing his eyes open to meet Nick’s. “Okay, see that? That’s good stuff. I think we should do more of that.”

“Remember what I told you about thinking?” Nick asked, voice lowered.

Kelly’s breath hitched. “How could I forget?”

Nick released his hold on Kelly’s chin, running his fingers up to brush along his cheekbone. Kelly’s eyes were a shade close to blue, with hints of green and gray depending on what reflected in them. Nick had always been fascinated by Kelly’s eyes. He’d maybe even fantasized about kissing him a few times, but he’d never lusted after him.

Not until now.

“I’m going to be honest with you right now,” he said, voice gruff. “I’m hard in my fucking jeans just thinking about what I could do to you.”

Kelly chuckled, his eyes growing darker as they dilated. Nick couldn’t stop looking into them.

“But we’re going to have to be high or drunk or both the first few times we do this, because it’s too fucking weird to kiss you otherwise.”

Kelly nodded. “I agree to those terms.”

“Good. You want to go upstairs and get fucked?”

Kelly stuffed the blunt back into his pocket and grabbed Nick’s shoulder, using him to push himself off the swing. “Come on.”

Nick began to laugh, moving slowly as Kelly tried to rush him. “How’s your chest?”

“It pulls. But it doesn’t hurt enough to refuse a second helping of last night, so come on.”

Nick stared at him, letting the nerves settle a little more before Kelly pulled him to his feet. He took hold of Kelly’s hips and stopped him before he could turn away, pulling their bodies together. Kelly had to tip his head back to meet Nick’s eyes.

“It’s just sex, right?” Nick whispered.

Kelly narrowed his eyes, then began to grin. “Don’t punk out on me now, O’Flaherty.”

Nick grunted as Kelly pushed away from him. “Those are my terms,” he called after him.

“Come on,” Kelly said, disappearing inside. “Let’s go get stoned and fuck.”

Nick watched him for a moment before shrugging and following. He trailed behind Kelly as he made his way up the stairs. Kelly had been right: he was much steadier without the painkillers. But he also moved slower and more gingerly. Nick was having second thoughts about this by the time he was halfway up the stairs. Kelly was obviously still in pain, and Nick knew exactly what kind of damage he could when he got worked up.

When he reached the head of the stairs, Kelly stood near the end of the bed, waiting with a tentative half smile on his face. “This feels like a prom date or something,” he said.