Brian reversed their hands and took Sway’s slim fingers in his own. The touch, the connection felt wonderful, even the minuscule amount of skin he stroked sent chills up his arm. At first, he just held him, then he rubbed his fingers delicately over Sway’s wrist, down his palm to the tips of his fingers. Sway’s long, golden-brown-colored lashes fluttered over his doe eyes. Dammit, he’s gorgeous. He’d have done anything to take Sway to his house and lay him down on his bed so he could treat him like he deserved. Like a prince.
“Ya’ know. It sounds like we both have things going on and I do think we should take things slow. It’s not your mutism Brian that—”
“Here you go. Two bowls of mini ramen. Enjoy.” The bubbly waitress placed Brian’s own black soup bowl with a matching duck spoon in front of him and neatly tucked her colorfully tatted arms behind her. “Your entrees will be up soon.”
“Thank you.” Sway smiled.
Brian nodded and picked up the short, thick-handled spoon. It got buried in his wide palm, trying to steady the tiny bit of broth it collected. He managed to get the small swallow in his mouth. It was warm and well-seasoned. He tried to get a little more on the spoon the next time, but it wasn’t cooperating. Finally, Brian put the baby spoon down and picked up his bowl with one hand and turned it up to his mouth. When he put it down, half the liquid and most of the noodles were long gone.
“I’m gonna assume you’re not a fan of chopsticks either,” Sway laughed.
Brian quirked one brow and set his thin sticks to the side in answer and used his fork to dig into his noodles. Brian ate so fast, Sway hardly had time to finish three bites when Brian was pushing his bowl away and motioning that he wanted another. Dana may have undershot when he said Brian liked to eat.
“This place is good. Nice pick, beautiful.”
Sway blushed at the compliment. Brian was done with his food as he watched Sway eat his dumplings. Watching him devour his food was weirdly erotic. He found he had to turn away more than once when Sway chased a drizzle of that sweet sauce along his bottom lip. Or the way he absently wiped at the sparse, dark blond hairs on his chin. Brian was beginning to think there was nothing Sway didn’t do that turned him on. Even the way Sway ate his dinner made Brian want to splay himself out on the table naked, dump some of that garlic ginger sauce—that Sway seemed to be enjoying so much—all over himself, so he could be devoured just as enthusiastically.
So much for going slow, King.
Brian walked Sway through the university hospital parking lot. There was no way he was going to swing into the loading lane and drop Sway off as if he was an Uber. Besides, he had thirty-two minutes left and he was taking every one of them. It was dark and the night had brought a significant drop in the temperature. But, it hadn’t slowed down the weary students. The area was still alive with activity as people hustled by them, not caring about their leisurely stroll. Sway told him the shift change was always like that but that it would die down in a few minutes.
Brian took Sway’s hand and led him to the row of benches in front of a three-tier fountain. The lights were dimmer in this area, so there was only one other person on the other side, inhaling a cup of coffee. Brian took up most of the wrought iron bench, but there was just enough space for Sway to press in close beside him.
“I really wish I hadn’t taken that shift for Maxine. Like I’m not busy enough.” Sway looked to be mumbling to himself, but Brian chimed in anyway.
“It seems like you work a lot already. Why do you pick up other shifts?”
Sway’s smile didn’t reach his big eyes. “Yes, believe me. I do have enough to do and might have even more to come, but Maxine’s brother and sister surprised her by coming into town, so I agreed to take her shift tonight when no one else offered. I can only imagine having siblings around and wanting to spend time with them.”
Brian put his arm around Sway and pulled him against his side. Sway leaned into him and tucked his other arm around Brian’s front, snaking it inside his thick coat. He didn’t mind. He wanted Sway’s hands on him.
“Can I see you tomorrow?” They’d already planned to meet later this week, but it was still too far away.
“I have to work until five.” Sway sat up taller. “Then, I go home because my mom’s nurse leaves at seven.”
“Nurse?”
“Yes. She has really bad arthritis. Rheumatoid, and sometimes it can get bad. She has a scooter, but she’s no longer confined to it. After the um, after the accident with my brother, the stress really aggravated it.”
Brian rubbed the flat of his palm up and down Sway’s shoulder when he began to shake. He didn’t know if it was from the chill in the air or from mentioning his deceased twin. Brian couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to lose Ford. He wasn’t sure he’d survive that. There’d only ever been one constant in his life, there was no way he could let it go.
“It’s okay. I understand.” Brian answered. He checked his watch again and saw it was almost time for Sway to go back inside. Brian looked down just as those innocent eyes glanced up at him. Their faces only inches apart, their hands flexing under the muscles they held. Warm brown eyes that he could lose himself in, stared up at him. He leaned down and kissed the center of Sway’s forehead, letting his lips linger there for a moment. Brian closed his eyes and tried to ingrain in his memory exactly how he felt with Sway in his arms. A feeling he’d reserve for later when he was alone, and the nightmares came for him.
“Brian,” Sway whispered, his breath ghosting a fog of condensation on his chilled face. “I think you missed your target just a bit.” Sway angled his head up higher, wanting a deeper kiss. Brian would give him anything whether he asked for it or not. He ghosted his lips over Sway’s cold, pink ones, gently blowing his warm breath on them before he sucked the thick bottom one into his mouth. Sway moaned so erotically, Brian had to pull away.
Staring up at him in a daze, his lips red and wet as he breathed against Brian’s cheek. “My mom’s nurse asked to do some respite care hours.”
Brian frowned.
Sway explained. “It’s like overtime. It’s additional hours a disabled person can receive to relieve the regular caregiver. I could ask her if she’d be willing to stay a little longer tomorrow.”