Page 40 of Caught Running

“Yeah,” Jake answered, leaving it at that. He had belatedly realized that bitching about it would imply bad things about Brandon’s dead parents, and he really didn’t want to go there. “Do I get a tour?” he asked with a smile toward Brandon.

It was obvious Jake didn’t want to elaborate, so Brandon let it go. “Sure,” he said, smiling a little as he climbed out of the car. “Inside or outside first?”

“Inside,” Jake answered mischievously as he practically crawled out of the car. “Where’s the bedroom?” he asked innocently, looking up at the house.

Brandon rolled his eyes. “One-track mind,” he muttered as he jingled the keys, walking around the house to the back door. The front walk was overgrown with a colorful mesh of early spring flowers, blocking the walkway.

“Well, yeah,” Jake responded with a huff as he followed obediently. “My brain is tuned continuously to ESPN, the Food Network, or porn. Sometimes two. Sometimes all three at the same time,” he told Brandon studiously.

Brandon stopped in his track and looked over his shoulder, eyes dancing. “The Food Network?” he asked, voice a bit strained.

“Yeah,” Jake answered defensively, pursing his lips and frowning. “Food, man.”

Biting his bottom lip, Brandon shook his head and turned around to walk to the back door. He unlocked it and pushed it open. “Entre vous,” he said with a sweep of his hand. Jake grinned and let his hand glide across Brandon’s stomach as hepassed him into the house. Brandon sucked in a breath at his body’s response, flooding him with heat. Jake’s every touch turned him on like crazy, and hereallyneeded to get a handle on it before they went back to school and baseball practice. Not that they touched much then, but the temptation would be there. Brandon had discovered that Jake was a very tactile person. And Brandon had discovered he really, really liked it.

Jake inhaled deeply when he stepped into the house, smiling as he glanced back at Brandon. “Smells like you.”

Brandon laughed. “If you say so,” he said. “So, here, obviously, we’re in the kitchen. Over there,” he pointed to the left doorway, “is the laundry room and pantry.” He walked around the small kitchen island to stand in the juncture of three rooms. “That’s the TV room,” he said, waving at the room ahead of him, “And this way two bedrooms and a bathroom.” He shrugged. “Not much, I guess. But I don’t need this much room, even.” He looked around wistfully, obviously seeing memories everywhere.

“Isn’t it hard, living here?” Jake asked after a moment of watching Brandon.

Eyes clearing, Brandon looked over at Jake as he crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. “Sometimes,” he said quietly. “I’ll look at something and just... “He looked hurt for a moment, but then the emotion was hidden away. “It’s all good memories. I just miss them.” Jake was silent, watching him expectantly. Brandon’s eyes moved through the room, but he didn’t really see it. Brandon was seeing the past. “Yeah, it’s hard,” he murmured. “But it’s all I have left.” His lips pressed together hard. “I didn’t get to say goodbye.”

“I’m sorry,” Jake offered quietly. “You’re stronger than I would be.”

Closing his arms around himself, Brandon gazed over at Jake. “You never know,” he smiled a little, shrugging off someof the seriousness. He felt a little silly now, babbling about his parents like that. “I think you’re awfully tough. You could handle it. But I hope you won’t have to, not for a long, long time.”

“Tough?” Jake echoed with a small smile, intending to veer away from an obviously painful topic.

“Tough,” Brandon repeated with a nod. “And don’t try to deny it. I’ve got some idea of the hell you go through with your shoulder, knee, and ankle. And you still go out and coach year-round.”

“You’re talkin’ ‘bout two different things,” Jake pointed out as he moved slowly closer to Brandon, stalking him.

Brandon’s brow furrowed. “I am?” He watched Jake approach, anticipation curling in his gut. He had that look in his dark eyes, the look that Brandon knew meant the other man would soon have him begging. But in an oh-so-good way.

“Oh yeah,” Jake murmured, moving closer. “Takes a lot to face your past,” he said seriously as he cornered Brandon in the kitchen and stepped up to him. Jake sounded serious, so Brandon just waited as he felt the heat of the other man’s body come into contact with him. What did he want him to say? Jake took his face in his hands and kissed him gently.

Brandon’s chest tightened, the ache of memories brought into focus by the tender kiss, but Jake’s words and having him close were a great comfort. He’d never talked to anyone about losing his parents. He relaxed against Jake, their foreheads touching as he kissed him back. To him, it was intensely emotional and painful. He couldn’t admit to Jake how he felt about him. It was just ludicrous. Although he’d known of him for almost fifteen years, they’d only become acquainted a month ago. They’d only found common ground a day ago. How was that possibly enough to fall in love? Brandon sighed.

“You wanna get your things together?” Jake asked him softly, letting his fingers slide into his hair as they remained pressed together.

Brandon nodded, rubbing their cheeks together, breathing in Jake’s scent and finding it calming. But he wasn’t ready to move. Not until Jake did.

“We could just stand here,” Jake murmured with a smile, sliding his hands down and around Brandon’s waist.

Closing his eyes, Brandon gave in, moving to wrap his arms around Jake’s neck and lay his head down on his shoulder. He didn’t know what Jake would make of it. He didn’t want to think about it. He just needed to be close.

Jake understood the urge. He lived in the house where he’d grown up, and even with his parents alive and just a state away, Jake sometimes found himself overwhelmed with melancholy. Memories of better times and crowded rooms that were now empty were just too much to bear sometimes. He held Brandon tighter and turned his head to rub his cheek against his.

Brandon drew several long, slow breaths, almost clinging, before he started loosening his hold on the other man. “Thanks,” he murmured, kissing Jake’s neck.

“Mm hmm,” Jake responded with a rumbling hum, his hands moving up and down Brandon’s back.

Brandon started smiling again as Jake didn’t release him. “So, gonna let go of me anytime soon?” As soon as the words were out, Brandon wished he hadn’t said them. Too easily misinterpreted.

“No,” Jake answered with a smirk, letting his hands drift under the loose waistband of Brandon’s borrowed pants. “Why, did you have something to do?” he asked innocently as he kissed at Brandon’s neck.

“No,” Brandon said, nuzzling Jake’s throat, his smile huge now. “Not besides you.”