Page 132 of Men of Fort Dale: The Complete Series

Matt sighed heavily, knowing he could do nothing to help Nick.

The man slept when his body allowed him to, with no exceptions.

Sometimes, it didn’t matter if Nick was positively exhausted, his mind simply wouldn’t shut down and slumber.

Matt never knew how he’d managed it in the field, and he suspected Nick didn’t either.

Nick closed his eyes. “Don’t get that look on your face. I’ll sleep.”

Matt scowled and made up his mind a split second later.

With a low cry, the only warning he would give, he leaped directly onto Nick’s midsection.

His friend had enough time to open his eyes wide and flail to cushion the blow.

It wasn’t enough, though, and Matt grinned as he heard the breath whoof out of Nick’s lungs.

“Ass,” Nick wheezed.

“You used to be quicker than that. You’re slowing down in your old age,” Matt told him, voice muffled by his stomach.

“And you used to be lighter. I think you’re putting on weight in your cushy desk job.”

Matt growled, picking himself up enough to smack Nick’s chest. His thin shirt wasn’t enough to cushion the blow, earning another grunt from Nick.

“God, you’re so abusive,” Nick muttered, wrapping an arm around Matt’s neck and pulling tight.

Flailing, Matt felt himself pinned against Nick’s stomach. He’d been trained well enough that if he really wanted to, he could have broken Nick’s hold. But the guy was bigger than him and stronger, so it would probably require some moves that ended up with one or both of them injured.

“Can I breathe, please?” Matt grunted.

“Are you going to behave?”

Matt rolled his eyes. “Yes, sir.”

He’d barely got the words out before Nick’s stranglehold around his neck eased.

Matt was free to get up, but he was content to settle against Nick’s stomach instead.

He would have settled against Nick’s chest, as the thump of his heart was soothing, but the man was built like he was cut out of a mountainside.

There wasn’t a whole lot of comfortable things to lay on.

Admittedly, his stomach was flat and firm, but at least its slope didn’t hurt Matt’s neck.

Nick looked down at him, and for a moment, Matt was reminded of William.

There was that same tightening of the skin around Nick’s mouth and the strange light in his eyes.

It wasn’t the first time Matt would swear Nick wanted to ask or say something, but he never would.

Didn’t matter if Matt asked either, Nick would shake his head and assure him it was nothing.

The look disappeared, and Nick’s fingers were in his hair again. Matt was sure he would have started purring if he was a cat. Instead, he gave a contented hum and closed his eyes, curling up on his side and staying against Nick.

“Tomorrow night shouldn’t be too bad,” Nick told him softly.

Matt chuckled. “It’s okay. I’m not having nightmares about being around the whole family, you know.”

“I know. But I just wanted you to know. And I’m pretty sure Mom’s gonna have a talk with a couple of people too.”

Matt frowned. “I don’t need her...protecting me or whatever.”

Nick snorted, gripping Matt’s hair tighter. “Don’t be like that. I think she’s worried about another Great Aunt Lily moment more than anything.”

Matt felt his stomach clench at the sudden hold on his hair. He waited to continue the conversation until Nick’s grip loosened, and he could breathe again.

“Ugh, shit. She’s going to be there, isn’t she?”

“Supposed to be arriving sometime tomorrow afternoon. Apparently, Mom put her on the other side of the property and she’ll probably end up on the far end of a table too.”

“Can’t argue with that logic.”

“I figured. You weren’t exactly happy with what was coming from her mouth.”

Matt sneered. “I didn’t like that she was being a bitch about the entire thing.

I don’t care if she or your whole family thinks we’re secretly dating.

Just pissed me off that she was trying to make us, make you feel bad about the whole thing.

She can shove her stupid opinions up her ass and leave them there for all I care. ”

Stupid old bat, she should have just been happy that Nick might have found someone who would appreciate and love him like he deserved. Matt had been front row and center for Nick’s few relationships, and he’d never gotten the impression that any of those women had fulfilled his criteria.

“Matt,” Nick began softly.

“You ever considered, like, saying screw it and trying to date a guy for a change? Not like you’ve had much luck with women,” Matt said.

Nick’s stroking fingers stilled. “Uh...gave it a thought a time or two, yeah.”

Matt closed his eyes, letting himself relax. “Maybe you should do it. Might have better luck, who knows.”

“Yeah,” Nick whispered. “Who knows.”

“And it might stick in your great aunt’s throat, which would be a bonus.”

“You telling me I should date a guy just to piss off my great aunt?”

“No, I’m telling you to date a guy because you haven’t tried yet, and I think that’s stupid. Date a guy if you want to date a guy. Maybe there’s one out there who will make you happy.”

Nick went silent, but that was okay with Matt. He was content to soak up the warmth of Nick’s body and the sound of his breathing. Once more, he drifted off into sleep, far more comfortable than on the couch.

Just as he was about to tip into the abyss of sleep, he heard Nick murmur softly, “Yeah, I know there’s one.”

And then he knew only darkness and dreams.