Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1)(49)
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Vaughan was sprawled across the bed listening to his man’s deep voice carry up the stairs to him. He’d left the door open on purpose. He wanted to hear what was going on but he didn’t want to go down and interrupt the impromptu business meeting. He’d been more than a little pissed off when Judge put his arms around Duke, almost pushing him out of the way. He was Duke’s man. His partner. He wouldn’t be disrespected. Judge’d had his chance and been too stupid to take it.
Another man had arrived about forty minutes after Vaughan got out the shower. Although Vaughan couldn’t see him, he figured the guy was as big and burly as all the rest of the men that worked for Duke, because his voice was deep and frightening even though he wasn’t in fight mode. The visitor had started out with apologies, but Duke and his dad cut him off. It was only a few minutes before they were off the subject of fault and back to talking about business.
Vaughan wanted to throw up when he heard that Duke was going back after the man that had tried to kill him. Somehow the asshole had eluded the authorities again and was back on the loose. Why did his man have to be the one to hunt the rabid animal down? Couldn’t they send the FBI or some other team to get him? Shouldn’t the guy be on the Most Wanted list? He didn’t expect Duke to become a desk jockey but he hadn’t expected him to try to get back in the field so fast, either. He wasn’t sure what to say or do about it. His love wasn’t conditional. He had no other option regarding his heart but to love Duke in every way. He’d pray every day that his man was safe when he left his bed to go to round up bad guys. God had answered his prayer before so he’d keep doing it.
He’d been so deep in thought that he hadn’t heard Duke come up the stairs or into the bedroom until the bed was dipping down next to him.
“Hey. You feeling okay?” Duke questioned softly, climbing up next to Vaughan and dropping wearily down onto his pillow. He nuzzled in close to Vaughan’s left side, running his nose along his man’s smooth jaw. “You always smell so good.”
Vaughan brushed his fingers over Duke’s cheek, along his clammy skin. “You look so tired, sweetheart. That was an awfully long meeting. It’s almost dusk.”
“My head hurts a little,” Duke admitted, draping his arm over his eyes, blocking out the afternoon sun shining through the sheer curtains. “You should really get some darker curtains.”
“I won’t be here that long. I’ll get my own place after I’ve worked and saved a bit.” Vaughan kissed Duke’s forehead, his dark brown eyebrows rising when he pulled back.
“What?” Duke peeked from beneath his arm.
“You feel hot. Like feverish hot,” Vaughan said.
“I’m just tired. And it’s hot as hell outside.” Duke looked at him sheepishly, like he knew it was a silly excuse as soon as it left his mouth.
“Yeah. But it’s not hot in here.” Vaughan got up and went into the bathroom, emerging seconds later with the thermometer and a cool rag. “You can gripe if you want but I’m taking your temperature.”
Duke opened his mouth like a good patient. His mood looked like it was already lifting as Vaughan took care of him. His man’s temperature was ninety-nine point four, which wasn’t bad but wasn’t good. If his temperature got over one hundred, he’d have to go to the hospital.
“I think a cool shower would help,” Duke answered Vaughan’s concerned expression. “I don’t feel like I have a fever. I feel like I had a stressful meeting and I need some rest, is all. Even Charlie showed up, but at least he brought me some things from my place.”
Vaughan ignored his excuses and wiped across Duke’s forehead, and then peppered kisses down his temple to his cheeks, and finally his lips. Duke opened willingly for Vaughan’s tongue, accepting it with excitement. There were mmms and groans while they nipped and bit at each other. “I’m so fuckin’ crazy about you.” Vaughan accented each word with a kiss. He took Duke’s good arm and wrapped it around his waist, letting his casted arm rest untouched on his other side.
Duke held him tight and turned his head to the side, letting Vaughan have his way with him. Demonstrating also that Vaughan would have full control when they were in bed. Most of the time, anyway. Duke trembled when Vaughan bit his earlobe. “Fuck. I’m crazy about you too, Vaughan.”
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Really?
“More than you were…,” Vaughan hesitated and shook his head slightly. “Never mind.”
“Tell me,” Duke urged, turning Vaughan’s head back to look at him. He leaned in and captured those sexy lips, pulling the bottom one into his mouth for special treatment since it was particularly tasty. Vaughan hissed when Duke bit him, then moaned when he licked and sucked away the sting. “Tell me. Now.”
“It’s silly. And I’m starved,” Vaughan mumbled nervously. He turned, eyeing the tray of food Duke had bought up for him since he’d missed lunch. He secretly admitted he liked this side of Vaughan. It revealed his human frailty. That he wasn’t as perfect as he portrayed. He got scared, nervous, rattled and… jealous, just like any other man, and Duke wanted to rejoice. He thought he’d never be worthy of someone so composed and put together as the man beside him. But Vaughan wasn’t Superman, so Duke didn’t have to worry about playing the man in need of rescue.