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F ox lay on his side of the bed, staring up at the stripes on the ceiling where the streetlights seeped through the closed blinds. He was tired, but he couldn’t sleep. Maybe it was the streetlights; it was dark in his room on Trent’s ranch. Maybe it was because that place was home now, and he liked it that way. Maybe it was because Amelia wasn’t here.

Maybe. But it wasn’t any of those things. He was restless because he was lying in the bed that he used to share with Xan, and he wasn’t thinking about Xan anymore. He had Trent on his mind.

Awkward.

He sat up and slid out of bed. He’d get some water and try to sleep on the couch.

Trent’s door was open, the bedside light on. The man had on the cutest little pair of reading glasses, a book in his hand, propped up on the bed husband he’d had sent here.

He hesitated to knock, but if they both weren’t sleeping, why not? He tapped lightly on the door. “Hey. Shoulder ache?”

“Little bit. You okay?” Trent smiled at him, the look so warm, so fond. “Can’t sleep?”

“Nope. Not a bit.” He shrugged. “Not my bed.”

Trent pulled the covers back and patted the mattress, the offer clear as crystal. He went into the room and climbed right in beside Trent like it was the most natural thing in the world. As if they’d done this a million times instead of—well, never.

That awkward feeling dissolved just that easily.

“Thank you.” Fox leaned back against the headboard. “Love the glasses. What are you reading?”

“It’s about a thief named Gideon Crew. It’s the third one in the series. Good old mind candy. I got all of them.”

“Cool. I haven’t read a book in years. I used to read a lot. I loved mysteries, forensic thrillers, things like that. And biographies.” He decided he’d pick up a book while they were out tomorrow.

“Yeah? I always have a book in my bag, my truck, and my bedside table.”

He was surprised, and he was a little embarrassed that he was, to be honest.

“I love learning new things about you.” Like the reading glasses. He grinned over. “You know, I might be more comfortable than that backrest.”

“You think? Can I try?” Trent leaned hard, snuggling in close.

“Mhm.” He nuzzled Trent’s temple. The man smelled like a cowboy, even in New York. “What do you think?”

“I think you smell like heaven.” Trent sighed softly, fingers randomly stroking his belly.

“I think you’re hitting on me.” He tucked his arm tighter around Trent, being careful of that shoulder. It was an easy habit now.

“Would I do that, darlin’?”

Wicked man. It was true though. Trent never made him feel unwanted.

The feeling was mutual. He had to wonder why they hadn’t done this sooner—ended up in the same bed. It’s not like they were teenagers. “I hope so.”

“Oh, good. Can I kiss you? Make you feel good?” Trent waited for his nod before kissing him, nice and slow.

Fucking hell, when Trent kissed him like that it set him right on fire. That slow burn could have him buzzing for hours. He returned the kiss, making sure Trent felt his heat, which was laser focused on Trent’s scent, his tight abs, his strength.

His body knew what it wanted, what he needed, and he intended to take it.

Assuming Trent was into it.

He really hoped Trent was into it.

Trent hummed, cock hard as a rock, pushing at the soft shorts he was wearing.

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. Trent was into it. He reached up and pulled his shirt off, suddenly very happy that he hadn’t been able to sleep. “I wasn’t expecting—I mean, I didn’t plan—fuck, never mind, who cares?” He helped Trent with his shorts and tossed them away.

“You don’t have to plan. I need you.” Trent grabbed him, kissing him like he was suddenly on fire for it.

He grunted as he tossed the backrest away and pushed Trent down into the pillows. “Don’t let me hurt that shoulder,” he growled before moving the kiss to Trent’s neck.

“Bring it on. I been aching for you.”

He did like to hear that, in that hungry, gravelly tone.

“Fuck, me too.” He rocked against Trent, grinding their hips together. God, that felt so good. It had been too fucking long.

They were cooking with fire, the bedsprings singing—in harmony. Trent grinned against his mouth, and they both chuckled.

He nipped at Trent’s chin, enjoying the tight body under him. Something about being so much larger than Trent made him feel powerful. It made him ache.

Trent hooked one leg around him, holding them close together, adding to the friction.

“Close… already, damn.” Fox sucked in a breath and shivered. He couldn’t remember the last time he needed more than he did right now.

“Mmhmm… gonna smell like you.” Trent nipped at his ear, causing a jolt, a tiny pain.

He hissed, and that sting went right to his balls, making him groan. His hips jerked hard, and a second later, it was over, heat spraying between them. He was sure he’d made some wild sound, but all he could hear was the blood rushing and the sound of his heart pounding in his ears.

Trent was still moving underneath him, hips rocking furiously, cock sliding against his now-slick skin. “Fixin’ to…”

“Uh-huh,” he managed to reply between gulps of air. He leaned a little harder, giving Trent more to feel. “Gimme, babe.”

Trent arched, his mouth open, eyes rolling back. Fuck, that was pretty, and Fox wanted to see it—again and again.

“Yeah. So good.” He hung there, just watching, taking in the crease in Trent’s brow and the flush that rose up from Trent’s chest, and he wondered how anyone ever let the cowboy believe he wasn’t beautiful. “Look at you.”

Trent shuddered and shook, coming down for him, expression one of pure bliss. “Mmm… stay? Please?”

“Yes, please.” He slid to Trent’s good side, shivering again as the air hit his damp belly. “Are you zonk-out man or a pillow-talk man?”

“I’m a pillow-talk man, I think. It’s been a damn long time since I had someone stay.”

“Come here.” He slipped an arm under Trent so they could snuggle, finally feeling like he was catching his breath. “Definitely been a long time for me too. And it’s not why I poked my head in your room, but I’m glad I did. Although this bed…” He chuckled softly.

“It’s a sight smaller than mine at home.” Trent kissed his chest. “And… you’re welcome there, you know? In my bed. At our home.”

“I’d like that. Is it weird that invitation gives me goosebumps?”

“No. No, it’s not weird. It’s big. It’s a real thing, a good thing.”

He nodded. It was real and good. “I’m getting used to being half of a whole again and I really like it.” He pressed his lips to Trent’s forehead. “I really like you.” It was more than that, but a lot of other big things were happening all at once and he felt like if he said out loud what he was really feeling—as much as he understood it—it might be too much.

“Ditto. Just remember, I got your back. I ain’t in for a good time. I’m all in.”

“I know. I remember.” Trent was so good about making sure of that. “I’m not doing any of this lightly either.” Not with Amelia’s future at stake.

“No. You’re a good daddy, no question, and I wouldn’t hurt that little girl for anything. She’s a great light in this dark world.”

“I love how you are with her, you know that? I don’t think I’ve said that before, but I do. You’re so good to her, and she loves you.” Trent was totally hers now.

“I’m glad for that. She is building herself a little web of folks who love her dearly. It’s good for her.” Trent chuckled softly. “It’s good for me too.”

He thought so too. “You really like kids, huh?”

Trent wore a goofy grin. “I’m a cowboy. We love kids.”

He chuckled. That did seem to be a thing—cowboys and kids. In fact, he thought Trent had mentioned that before. “We need to tell her. About us.”

“Okay. You tell me what you think is best, and I’ll do it. I’m proud of you, and her, both.” No hesitation at all. Just ‘okay’.

“I don’t know. Let’s keep taking about it.” It wasn’t just about him, but if he was going to share a bed with Trent, Amelia needed to know why.

“Mmhmm. We got a few days to discuss whatever we need to. Right now, we can just talk about normal shit. How much moving sucks. How good supper was.”

“It’s fancy steak, but it’s good. I figured you’d like it, since you can cut your own meat now…” He grinned and waggled his eyebrows.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s handy—I can do all sorts of things with that arm now.” Trent flicked his hip with one index finger.

He hummed. “Mhm. It was in my best interest to make sure you stay healthy.” He shifted a little so he could look into Trent’s green eyes. “Which reminds me, no lifting boxes. Zero. None. I don’t care if it’s a shoe box. I paid people. Let them do it.”

Trent blinked at him, then a dull flush crossed his cheeks. “Right. No reinjuring it, huh?”

“No. You’re what, eighty percent? Let’s keep it that way.” He smiled and smoothed his fingers over that pretty blush. “And don’t blink at me; even Rope said I should keep an eye on you.”

“Rope is a turd, but… man, I hate having to be careful.”

For someone like Trent who was tough and liked to work, he’d bet that really was hard. “One day, it’ll be better as it’s going to get and then you can do what you can do. But until then, I don’t want you back in that arm contraption for love or money.”

“No, that thing was hellish.” Trent still had fading bruises on his ribs from where it dug in. “I’m voting I don’t wear it anymore.”

They lay there quietly for a bit, listening to each other breathe. Trent shifted, probably because he needed to move that arm fairly often, and Fox took that as an okay to break the silence. “This was a good idea. I should have done this on purpose sooner, I guess, but how do you know when it’s time? I don’t trust my judgment like I used to. Not with things like this. I’m rusty.”

“No darlin’, you’re Fox.” Trent smiled for him. “It’s a great idea because you were ready.”

“Ha. And you? How long have you been ready?”

“I think I was ready from the first time I saw you, but I’m weird that way.”

Oh… that was… “That’s not weird. That’s really sweet. And very…” Self-aware. Steady. Patient. “You.”

“I guess it is. I’m glad you didn’t mind it. I tried not to push.”

“You didn’t push. You pulled.” He hummed, enjoying Trent’s gravity. “You were just what I needed—are just what I need.”

“Ditto. You make me happy—you and Ames. Y’all give me a reason.”

“I like that. We need reasons.” He was going to make sure he was always a good reason. “I was at a loss after my retirement, and I chose to leave. I can’t imagine being forced to leave something I love.”

Trent smiled, and Fox thought it was a little bittersweet. “You know, from the start, that was the only possible end. Bodies aren’t meant to ride bulls.”

He didn’t think brains were meant to work the way his had been either. “No, I guess not. Is there any video of you riding? If I look you up on YouTube, am I going to find you? I don’t know why I never thought to do that before now.”

“Sure you will. I had a couple-three ninety pointers, and more than one wreck. The last wreck is up on the web, I know.”

“Yikes. Well, I’ll be watching that tomorrow.” He yawned and hunkered down a little lower, then tugged the blankets up. “Mmm. I think it’s bedtime, and I don’t even care that I haven’t showered. We can take one in the morning.”

“Mmhmm. Sleep, darlin’. I got you.” A soft kiss brushed his jaw. “Good night.”

“Goodnight, babe.” He tucked Trent close and kissed his forehead. “Close your eyes. I got you too.”