Page 29 of Reflex

“Fuck, you’re not supposed to remember that.”

A dry laugh tickled Xane’s vocal chords.“Oh, I remember it.”He tapped a finger to the flat of Spook’s stomach just below his navel, then drew the finger down his happy trail.Spook automatically tensed, but Xane just laughed and relieved him of his belt.

“You think teasing is funny right now?After the night I’ve had.”

“Teasing you is always fun.Besides, I’m here and horny, and because of you I’m not getting any.”His dark hair surrounded them like drapes.

“I didn’t make you come.”

“You haven’t made me come,” Xane corrected him.“That’s exactly the point.If you’d like to rectify that?”

“Get off me.”He batted at Xane’s forearm.

“Sure?”

“Xane, I don’t—”

“Want me?”That earned him another chuckle.“Yeah, you do.A not insignificant part of you would like to ram your cock down my throat until I gag and plead for mercy.Pretty much the only reason we’re not doing that is because you’re too drunk to stand upright long enough.”

“It’s not the only reason,” he said.Their gazes locked, and Xane bowed down so that their brows pressed to one another.

“Alcohol isn’t the answer, Spook.”

“Shagging me isn’t the answer, Xane.”

“It’d be fun though.”

“The aftermath wouldn’t be.”

“No,” his friend sighed.“You’re right on that one.”He lifted his head, and gently stroked his fingertips over the cuts and bruises on Spook’s face.

“You love them, Xane.Just because this place is full of shadows…” Spook raised his hand and placed his palm flat against the centre of his friend’s bare chest.“I’m sorry.”

“About what?”

“Being a burden.”

Xane flashed him a disingenuous smile.“You’re not.You never have been.”

“I am, and you have enough of your own demons to wrangle without having to cattle prod mine.Do you think because I’ve had a few I can’t see how tetchy you are?I know you well enough to realise when you’re only half joking about shagging me.”

Xane’s next breath was sucked through his teeth.He curled his hand over the top of Spook’s and pried Spook’s fingers away from his body.“You’re wasted.You need to sleep.”He stood.“Do I need to strategically position the waste bin?”

“Think I’m all puked out.”

“Good.Okay, lift your arse.”

Spook performed a perfectly presented half bridge.

“Show off.”Xane peeled his jeans from him, and tossed them on the floor.He leaned over from the side of the bed to work on opening Spook’s shirt buttons.Well, they were really Xane’s buttons, but as he’d offered the shirt…

Spook watched his long nimble fingers work on peeling the edges of the fabric apart.His little finger traced the black halo inked above Spook’s left nipple before sliding the sleeves down Spook’s arms.He seemed right on the verge of saying something else.

“Xane?”

“You need to sleep.”He held Spook’s gaze a moment, then turned away.

Spook pulled the duvet up to his chin.