Page 42 of Finley

Daniel reached behind him for the door handle, but before he left, he grinned at Brantley in a way that made his heart melt. “Okay. I better hurry now. I have a class in”—Daniel paused and made a show of looking at the clock hanging on his office wall—“eight minutes. I’ll see you there, professor. Don’t miss me too much.”

As Daniel left his office, Brantley finally let out the breath he’d been holding. Then he sat down in his chair and tugged at the collar of his shirt, trying to calm his nerves before he had to face his class—and the student he’d just invited to his house later that evening.

Chapter 12

AFTER HIS SHOWER, Daniel wrapped a towel around his waist and made his way through to Brantley’s room, where he’d unpacked and put his clothes away earlier. He pulled some briefs on and was about to get into bed when he stopped short of slipping between the covers.

Just like the rest of his house, Brantley’s bedroom was pristine. The distressed bamboo hardwood extended into the room, and in the center was a king-sized platform bed that was pushed up against the back wall. The white duvet that lay atop the mattress always made the bed inviting. Daniel could literally step up into the low-to-the-ground, wooden-lipped-framed bed, and right then, he wondered whoelsehad stepped up into that bed and lain down in it with Brantley. And that had him backing up.

The silence throughout the house let him know that Brantley still hadn’t come inside, and he thought that maybe, like himself, he’d needed some time. Some space to think about everything that had happened today and what was about to happen from there on out.

Deciding he’d feel more comfortable sitting in the cushioned wicker chair by the window, Daniel stared out at the pinkish-blue sky and willed himself to be forgiving.

Two weeks.He had two weeks to work his shit out…and then move on. He’d originally gone back there with the intention of getting Brantley out of his system. But he was starting to realize that while he’d spent years stewing over his anger, Brantley had believed he had done him a favor and truly wished him happiness and success—and how could he stay mad at that? Even if the man had gone about it the wrong way.

“Finn?”

Daniel looked toward the bedroom door—Brantley was standing there with wet, disheveled hair, and his shirt looked stuck to him. Daniel knew exactly where he’d been and what he’d been doing.

His afternoon swim.

The glow of dusk was still enough to light the room, and when Daniel stood, Brantley saw how little he was wearing and unconsciously licked his lips.

“You didn’t have to stay awake. I know the last couple of days have to have been exhausting,” he said, tossing his flip-flops on the floor just inside the door.

Daniel walked toward him, and Brantley stepped farther into the room, letting his eyes sweep down his body before they locked and held on the ink trailing the lower right side of Daniel’s torso.

“I was planning to take a power nap. But I couldn’t bring myself to get into bed. I kept thinking about who might’ve been in it since I left.”

Brantley’s gaze flew up to his, and he closed the distance between them until he was standing on the plush white rug. “No one.”

“Come on, Brantley.” Daniel reached for his face and lowered his head to whisper against his lips. “Don’t lie to me.”

Brantley circled Daniel’s wrists and tugged his hands away, narrowing his eyes. “I’m not lying. I didn’t say there hasn’tbeenanyone. But no one’s been in that bed. That’s our bed, Finn.”

Daniel looked over his shoulder at the place he’d spent so many nights,and days.Then he turned back to the one he wanted to lie down on it with now and said softly, “You went for a swim.”

When Brantley nodded, Daniel fingered the top button of his wet shirt.

“Yes. I did.”

“This shirt must be really uncomfortable, then,” he said as he pushed the button free.

As Brantley brought his hands up to place them on his hips, Daniel took another step toward him. He bit back the groan that wanted to slip free when those cool fingers traced the elastic of his briefs to the center of his back. Then he nuzzled his nose into the damp hair just under Brantley’s ear and kissed him there.

“You smell like the ocean.”

Brantley angled his head to the side to give him better access, and there was no way Daniel wasn’t going to take it. He couldn’t resist drawing his tongue down Brantley’s neck before nipping at his shoulder. “You taste like it too.”

The fingers on his lower back trailed up his spine, then Brantley whispered his name like a prayer, and Daniel finally lost the battle to resist him. Taking each side of Brantley’s shirt, he pushed one and then the other down his arms until he had them pinned by his sides. Brantley tilted his face up toward his, and Daniel lowered his head to run his tongue along the seam of his lips.

The salty taste of the sea seemed to trigger an explosion of lust. Then Brantley moaned against his lips, and Daniel couldn’t stop himself from thrusting his tongue deep to continue his assault.

God,this was the sweetest torture there could be. So was it heaven or hell?Most likely hell,he thought, because the flames licking their way up through his body could have only been a result of something sinful. Brantley was pushing forward to get closer to him, and Daniel released the shirt, letting it fall to the floor so he could finally touch that handsome face.

He bit and nipped at Brantley’s lower lip as his hands came back to his hips, and this time, when he traced his fingers around to his back, Brantley slid them down to cup a handful of his ass.

As their bodies came into full contact, Daniel finally let free the groan that had been building in him, and he thrust his barely confined erection against the wet material of Brantley’s shorts. The fingers on his ass flexed and urged him closer, and his mouth curved at the familiar move.