Page 4 of Once Upon A Valentine
Julian tried and failed not to roll his eyes, “Sure you’re not.”
“I’ve been drinking. That doesn’t mean I’m drunk.” Bran continued to argue.
“I’m sure your alcohol tolerance is one of your greatest assets. Truly, Bran. But I don’t give a damn. Not tonight. You’ve been drinking and I’m not letting you get behind the wheel of a car where you could kill yourself or some other innocent person. You can either stay here and freeze to death as some sort of protest to the party going on inside or you can get in my fucking car and let me take you home.” Julian met his gaze with a stern, serious glance. “Your choice.”
Bran studied his face for a moment but Julian didn’t flinch. He didn’t look away. Not even when Bran licked his full bottom lip and swallowed hard, causing his Adam’s apple to bob. The action was damn near lewd on that beautiful mouth but Julian managed to control himself. He reminded himself that Bran likely had no idea what he’d even done since he was drunk. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Bran nodded.
“Fine.”
“Good. Now come on. I’m cold and I don’t have nearly enough alcohol in my system to keep me warm like you do.”
“I could keep you warm.” Bran teased but Julian ignored him and turned to walk away.
Bran snorted but dutifully fell into step beside him as Julian headed around the side of the house towards the front yard. He felt in his pocket for his keys and was thankful when they jangled, happy he wouldn’t have to go back inside and face the others. Grateful that he wouldn’t have to let Bran out of his sight and risk losing him in the process. He pulled the keys from his pocket and motioned to the passenger side door.
“Get in.”
Bran pulled open the door and a sly smirk tilted up one side of his mouth, “You’re kind of bossy, you know that?”
“Oh, you have no idea.” Julian snorted as he crossed to the other side of the car and sild behind the wheel. Bran was grinning again when he glanced at him. “What?”
“I do have a little bit of an idea, actually. And I’d be open to getting a better idea… if that’s on the table.”
Julian bit his tongue and ignored the way his cock responded to that leering, suggestive smirk. This wasn’t new, he reminded himself. All of Bran’s teasing over the years had suggested that he knew exactly how bossy Julian could be when pushed and implied he’d like to get a taste for himself, but they were not talking about that. Not tonight. Not ever. Not when Bran had no idea what he would actually be signing up for by going to bed with Julian.
“Shut up and put your seatbelt on.” He ignored Bran’s laughter and started the engine of the car.
“Yes sir.” Bran locked the belt into place and then turned that knowing smile back on him. “Anything else you want to order me to do?”
Julian’s cock took note of that flirtatious, dangerous tone again but he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying something stupid. Like how he had numerous orders Bran should be following. To keep fromdoingsomething idiotic, like reaching across the car and taking Bran’s mouth with his own just to shut him up and to finally, blessedly, know the taste of the other man’s tongue. Instead, he slid the car into drive and checked the mirrors as he pulled out onto the road.
Bran’s low chuckle seemed to fill up every inch of space in the small car, “Jules?”
“What?” He snapped, harsher than he’d meant to as he switched lanes and got them on the highway, but Bran didn’t seem even remotely contrite.
“Will you tuck me into bed if I ask really nicely?”
Julian groaned at the low, seductive question and Bran laughed louder this time. Julian ignored him and focused on the road. Bran was drunk. He more than likely wouldn’t even remember this conversation tomorrow. He shouldn’t let the man get to him like this but for all his flirting, banter and prodding over the years, Bran had never outright hit on him like this and Julian knew that he was trudging far too close to the edge of a dangerous cliff to let it continue.
Still, he said nothing. He had known that tonight was going to end badly. He’d known it from the moment he walked into Gibson’s house and put two and two together. He just hadn’t thought that it would end with Branson Frost curled up on his passenger seat, shooting him big, blue, heart-eyes and all but beginning Julian to take him to bed.
He ignored the way his cock responded with blatant want when he thought of doing just that and focused on the road in front of him. He just had to get Bran back into the city, to his apartment, and into bed, and then he could go home and take a cold shower.
That old familiar feeling slid through him and once again he had no idea what to do with Branson Frost. Kiss him? Strangle him? Both? The only answer was that he could no neither and God, if that didn’t rankle.
This night was turning out worse than he’d even imagined.
Chapter Two
Branson Frost leaned back against the cool leather seat and turned his head until he could watch Julian from beneath his lashes. On the surface, the man didn’t appear to be anything special. Brown hair cut short, a round found and full lips that made him seem younger than his age, with hazel eyes that were rimmed in gold, he was a good-looking man but not a stunner. At least that had been Bran’s first impression of him. It was an impression that had fallen by the wayside over the last two years as he got to know his brother’s confident, productive, always in control assistant.
Now, Bran could only look at him and see the possibility of salvation. Redemption. Acceptance, understanding and maybe even more.
He saw dark hair that his fingers itched to run through. He saw lush lips that begged to be kissed, tasted and teased. When he looked into those hazel gold-flecked eyes, he knew they could see right through him and he wanted to lay himself bare for this man. Now, whenever he looked at Julian Holland, he saw only the one man that he wanted more than any other, the one man that, if his instincts were right, might be able to give him everything he longed for, if only he had the courage to ask for it.
Only of course he wasn’t brave. That was one of his many, many flaws. He wasn’t brave enough to face his demons so he drowned his feelings in booze and meaningless sex. He wasn’t brave enough to confront his past and he definitely wasn’t brave enough to confront his future.
And he knew that’s what Julian could be… if only he could get out of his own way.
