Page 43 of Stay A Little Longer
“Yes. You do. I know, because it’s pretty much always there unless I’m touching you.”
Lance dropped his gaze at the knowing look. At the words that meant so much to him. Trent paid attention. Trent knew him. Even in such a short amount of time, Trent knew he was a worrier. Knew that the only time Lance’s brain shut off and he let himself go was when he was in Trent’s arms.
“Stop overthinking it.” Trent nudged his chin back up until their eyes met in the mirror again, “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be here when you get home from work and we’ll figure it all out as we go okay?”
“Okay.” Lance said reflexively.
Trent turned him around with a quick tug on his shoulders so they were eye-to-eye, “You promised me, Lance. Remember? You promised you’d give this a chance. Just because we’re not spending the whole day in bed together naked, don’t you forget that you agreed to be mine.”
Lance melted into him as Trent pulled him into his arms and kissed him deeply. Passionately. But also so sweetly. As if he was trying to convey everything he’d said in this one kiss. Trent pulled him closer by the hips, backing him against the dresser, and only when he felt his utility belt shift did Lance pull back with a gasp.
“Trent. No. My sidearm…”
Trent paused and glanced down at where the weapon was holstered. His brows furrowed slightly and then he glanced back up and Lance was shocked to see a twinkle in his blue eyes. Then he grinned. He grinned that beautiful, wide, white dazzling grin and Lance’s poor bruised and swollen heart thumped too hard again.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s okay?” Lance felt his eyebrows go into his hairline.
“It’s okay.” Trent cautiously slipped his arms back around Lance’s hips and stepped closer, avoiding the utility belt but not backpedaling in the other direction the way Lance had thought he would. He surprised Lance again when he pressed a soft kiss to his lips and smiled, “The only part of me in danger when you’re around is my heart. I trust you too.”
Lance’s own heart gave a dangerous kick in his chest and he stared at the beautiful man holding him in his arms. Holding him despite the fact he was carrying a firearm, and firearms scared the hell out of him. Trent had said he trusted Lance but not just about the gun. He’d said he trusted him with his heart too.
Did that mean…
“You’re doing it again.” Trent pressed their foreheads together, “Worrying. Stop it.”
“Trent…”
“No.” Trent shook his head, their noses rubbing they were so close, “No worrying about this or us right now. Because when you look at me like that, it makes me want to strip you naked and show you just how much I want you all over again and…”
“I have to go to work.” Lance’s voice sounded unsure even to his own ears and Trent chuckled.
“And you have to go to work.” He agreed with another twinkling smile, “So stop worrying before I fuck you into contentedness again and then we’ll both be out of a job.”
Lance snorted, “You’re not out of a job. You’re the highest selling male artist in Nashville. If your label drops you because of your sexuality you can sue them or…”
“There you go again. Worrying about me.” Trent kissed him to shut him up, “Nashville is the least of my concerns right now. Right now, the only thing I’m worried about is my super sexy man in his super sexy uniform convincing himself that I won’t be here when he gets back from work today. So you’re going to promise that you believe me before you leave. Say you believe me, Lance. I’ll be here.”
Everything inside of him melted and he nodded shyly. He wasn’t the only one worried. Trent was worried too. About him. About him convincing himself that this wasn’t real, that it had all been some kind of dream or something, while he was gone to work today. Eight hours alone in his patrol car was guaranteed to have him overthinking it too which Trent obviously knew. Because he knew him. Better than some people Lance had known his whole life.
“Say it.” Trent tilted his chin back up.
“I believe you’ll be here when I come home from work.”
“Good.” Trent kissed him swiftly, far too fast and far too easily, before pushing away from him, “Now get your fine ass out of here before I start undressing you again, Deputy.”
Lance chuckled and gave a mock salute that earned him the bird. He gathered up his cell phone and keys and shot Trent one last longing look before leaving the room and the man behind. He actually liked the idea of leaving Trent alone here in his trailer, as if he belonged here whether Lance was with him or not. The thought of Trent lounging in his bed, showering in his shower, even just relaxing on his couch watching television made him smile.
And he was still smiling when he walked out of the trailer and smack dab into the middle of the real world.
“Good morning, Deputy Nichols.” The gorgeous blonde sitting at his patio table raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow when he came to an abrupt halt. “Running late for work?”
“I uh…” His chest felt tight and his eyes darted around, checking to see who else might be lurking in his yard but when he didn’t see his boss he focused back in on the woman at the table, “Morning Lemon. Something I can help you with?”
“Maybe.” She smiled easily, “I’m just waiting for my friend. You remember him right? Shane and I introduced you to him. He’s supposed to be staying next door and you’re supposed to be keeping an eye on him?”
A cold sweat popped up on Lance’s skin and he swallowed hard, “Um, uh, yeah. Trent. Yeah. I remember him.”
