Breck’s lips curved higher, even as his lids sank lower, those gorgeous, sated eyes tracking Kai’s path to the master bath. Kai made quick work of washing off his torso, but when he returned, the proud king was out for the count. He gazed down at him, loving the sight of him in his bed, the way the candlelight danced over the planes of his smooth brown skin.
This young, electrifying man wanted to be only his.
And God help him, Kai wanted to be only Breck’s as well.
Easing onto the bed, he gently wiped Breck off, then made his way through the apartment, snuffing out candles and shutting off the tunes. When he finally rejoined Breck in bed, he nestled in close, molding his chest against Breck’s back. Inhaling deeply, he took in Breck’s scent, then smiled a soul-deep smile and drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Kai awoke in a new position, flat on his stomach, arms under his pillow, head turned toward the window. Behind his eyelids, he discerned morning sunlight. Birds cheerfully chirped outside, in the oaks flanking the sides of his home.
Neither the brightness nor the sounds were what roused him, though. Rather, the feel of Breck’s roaming touch along his upper back. He’d discovered Kai’s other tattoo and had moved his hair aside to lightly trace it with the tip of his finger.
Eyes still closed, Kai tracked Breck’s path in his mind. Down between his shoulders, following the sword’s slender blade, then slowly back up again and along the rendition of a fabric-wound grip. Majestic wings spanned out from either side; he traced every feather. Then, finally, he followed the rays of each sunbeam emitting from behind the hilt.
His touch felt sublime, raising goosebumps over Kai’s body. He all but purred on a drowsy sigh. “Mmm… You like my sword.”
Breck chuckled softly. “I do.Bothof your swords, if I’m being honest.”
Ah, God. His voice, all low and husky. As if he’d only woken up moments ago himself. Kai’s morning wood firmed even harder. Just the sound of Breck’s sultry morning timbre and he was ready for more.
Breck cleared his throat and kept on with the tracing. “Seriously, though. This is the same kind of sword that you’ve got mounted above your bed… which is making me think this particular sword has got special meaning.”
His touch disappeared, replaced by his mouth, his warm lips brushing Kai’s nape before trailing back down between his shoulder blades.
Kai shivered in drowsy bliss, his eyes still yet to open. “And you’d be right. It’s called a katana—an ancestral Samurai sword and a family heirloom.”
Breck paused, then murmured wryly, “Wow, so you’ve had badasses in your family tree for generations.”
Kai’s lips twitched. “It seems we have.”
But then the playfulness in Breck’s tone turned quietly thoughtful. “I’ve never seen a tattoo so fitting… A warrior with angel wings, casting his light out into the world.”
Kai’s smile ebbed, his eyes finally opening. Was that genuinely how Breck saw him? His heart thumped at the notion that Breck would view him as such. And didn’t that suddenly make him want to kiss Breck really bad.
But just as he readied to roll over and face him, Breck resumed with his drugging kisses back to Kai’s nape. He sighed. He knew bliss, found it frequently in meditation, but this felt more akin to how he imagined heaven.
Again, he was tempted to turn and kiss him—until Breck’s hand slid down and palmed his ass. Slowly, sensuously, his fingers caressed. Kai’s heart thumped faster, his body humming. He coveted Breck’s touch entirely too much to cut this experience short. Closing his eyes again, he allowed himself to relish the moment, a part of him still grappling to believe that Breck was actually there. Lying with him beneath the covers after sleeping in his bed.
Breck’s lips drew to a stop, his caresses pausing. “Speaking of families… I’m going to my parents’. When I leave here, I’m going to their house tospill the beans.”
Kai stilled, his eyes cracking open again. In truth, he’d been somewhat skeptical regarding how long it’d take Breck to tell the world. But more specifically, his family and friends. After all, he had a trip coming up. A fancy vacation with his tight-knit bros. He’d literally be holed up on an island with them twenty-four-seven. Would he really put himself in that position, stuck in such close quarters with his shamelessly immodest friends?
But Breck’s parents especially… Kai had gotten the impression that Breck’s dad wouldn’t be pleased with this kind of revelation. No doubt, in his eyes, it’d throw a wrench in all their hard-earned NBA aspirations.
What’s more, the Draft wasn’t even for another month or so. Surely, Breck would find a way to hold out as long as possible while still honoring his promise to go public before the event. Yet, here he was, gearing up to reveal everything to the two people on the planet whose opinion of him mattered the most.
The underlying meaning to that hit Kai square in the chest. Breck was ready to face all of the consequences. Had made a firm decision about what he wanted in life. Was willing to upend absolutely everything for a future with Kai.
Optimism overflowed his cup. His heart welled with emotion. “Wow,” he rasped. “Today? You sure you’re ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Breck sighed, easing back.
Kai rolled over and met his gaze. Trepidation stared back at him, but so did conviction. A combination that deeply moved him—and made him so fucking proud. “They’ll understand,” he smiled warmly. “They love you.”
Breck nodded, still lying on his side. “I know...” His lips quirked. “Just gotta do it in a way that doesn’t give my dad a heart attack.”
Kai grinned, his gaze dropping to Breck’s wry little smile. “Perhaps bring a defibrillator just in case.”