“Okay, I will, Tweets,” Sway grumbled under his breath and rolled his eyes as he listened to what his mom’s nurse was advising him on this time. More sex of course.

Sway huffed and rubbed his forehead, stifling a laugh. “I said I will tell him. He’s just busy and—”

“Oh come on. Ya’ll got time to swing by and see us. There’s a lot of hours in a day, shuga’.”

“Sunday… tomorrow maybe, Tweetie.”

“In the meantime, what are you doing to hammer the final nail in the coffin? Secure this man for yourself,” Tweetie said, then gulped some beverage in his ear.

“I’m not discussing that with you.”

“Why?” Tweetie yelled.

“Because.”

“Please.”

“No. It’s too weird. I don’t talk about sex with my mom either.”

“I’m not Steph… I’m your friend.”

“I know. You’re my best friend.” Sway groaned. “And, you’re like my mom.”

“Honey, what I am is experienced. I can have you with your first husband by spring if you just listen.” Tweetie lowered her voice. “Did you get any last night? I put a bottle of that shiny stuff in your bag. Did you find it? I got the one that’s tingly. Did it work? The pharmacist said you can return it if it’s not strong enough.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. Horrified, Sway peeked to see if Brian heard that before he turned towards the passenger window and cupped his hand over the phone, whispering hurriedly. “Nothing happened… yet. Yes, I found the lube you hid in there, but no, I don’t know if it tingles. Now, bye Tweets.”

Brian pulled into his driveway and parked. It’d been a long and enjoyable day. Now they were back at his place with Chinese takeout and plans to rent a movie on demand, snuggled up on that massive sectional in his den. Sounded cheesy but it also sounded absolutely perfect.

When he tucked away his phone, Brian was smiling widely. Sway was beginning to really enjoy that look. Too much.

“What the hell are you laughing at?” Sway tried to scowl, but he knew it fell short because Brian’s husky laughs continued. “I’m gonna see if you’re smiling when you meet her and my mom tomorrow.”

Brian’s smile fell slowly, and Sway’s picked up. “Un-huh. Not laughing anymore are you.” Sway kept up the teasing while they got their bags from the day’s ventures out of the trunk and Brian grabbed their dinner from the backseat. “I hope she asks you if you’re a top or an underneath. She still hasn’t figured out it’s ‘bottom’, and I’m damn sure not telling her.”

“That was pretty good.” Sway said, sitting up so he could stretch. “I don’t know why I put off seeing that movie. I liked it. Dylan O’Brien is going to be the next big action star. Jason Statham can’t do it forever.”

“You want dessert?” Brian asked, standing and cracking his neck.

“No. Damn, I’m still full from dinner.”

“I’m not. I’m getting the cheesecake.”

“Leave mine in the fridge, babe,” Sway called to him. “Bring me some water and those ginger snaps in the pantry, please.”

Sway checked his cell. It was almost eleven, but he wasn’t tired, and he wasn’t ready for bed. He’d enjoyed his day so much, he was still wired and full of energy. Brian had taken him to lunch after noon, then they started their day date with a trip to the aquarium. He’d learned that Brian loved the ocean and marine biology. It made sense. He’d been a sailor for most of his life. Something had to have called him to the sea. Sway was baffled by how knowledgeable he was on so many subjects, but Brian read constantly and not science fiction like Sway. He read about history, science, and politics—things that mattered. There had been more than one occasion where Sway had felt out of his league again, as if he couldn’t keep up with Brian’s mature conversation. Sway wasn’t into frivolous pop culture, but he didn’t keep his television on CNN constantly either. All he did know was that he felt right in Brian’s arms. When he stared at him, when Brian communicated with him in that silent, special way, he felt like he was cherished. And all negative thoughts would vanish.

“Wanna watch the other movie? Or are you tired?” Brian placed the cookies on his lap and set the water on the ottoman in front of him.

Sway shook his head, looking up at Brian. Out of the blue he asked, “Have you always been big?”

Brian gave Sway a questioning brow.

Sway scoffed and rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. I’ve always been Squirt. You’ve probably always been bigger than everyone else, huh?” Sway glanced at Brian again, appreciatively. Touched his thick biceps and firm chest with his eyes. “I bet you were never picked on in school.”

Brian gazed off as if he was thinking about something, then walked over to the dimly lit shelves. He picked up a picture of himself and Ford in his military uniform, and brought it over to the couch. Sway noticed that the picture was well-worn. “How old are you here?”

“Eighteen.” It appeared as if a fond memory crossed Brian’s face before he continued. “I was already enlisted. This was the day Ford came home to pick me up to take me to boot camp. I was so damn happy, baby. Happy to leave that farm. If I never saw another goddamn chicken again, it’d be too fuckin soon.”

Sway laughed and took the picture. He snuggled in closer to Brian’s side, yep snuggled, and stretched his legs out on the rest of the couch. “Damn, that’s Ford in the uniform. You’re bigger than him!”

“I was back then. We were always about the same height. He was the big brother, but I was bulkier. Farm life does that to you. Ten hours a day of straight labor, what hours were left were balanced between school and sleep. My father could care less if we got the schooling in or not, as long as the work was done.” Brian looked over at the picture too, those dark brows furrowing again. “I used to be even bigger than I am now. Over the years I’ve regained a lot of the muscle and weight that I’d lost while in captivity… but…” Brian paused. “Not all of it though. There was lots of PT, then Ford pushed me hard in the gym when I got back home. But… I… now Ford really is the bigger brother.” Brian tried to shrug it off, possibly put up a front but Sway still saw the hurt.

Sway honed in on Brian’s feelings immediately. He could see that brilliant mind of his trying to read—and most likely—overthink the situation. Sway understood stress, trauma, and what it did to the mind. He also knew that time, love and compassion healed all wounds. He believed in modern medicine, but he also believed in the medicine of his ancestors too. Sway felt he could give Brian that if he could drop his guard and let him. Trust him. Brian thought he wore his heart on his sleeve, but he didn’t. He was more guarded than he knew. A man who could enter a room and demand all eyes on him without uttering a single word, then strut as if he owned the world; but when faced with a real chance at love, he lost all confidence. The panic attacks and maybe even some of the flashbacks were a result of Brian’s fear of Sway flaking out on him… for no good reason. How the hell did he convince his boyfriend that he wasn’t a damn pussy?

“He may be the bigger one, but you’re way sexier,” Sway said huskily, meaning every word. Sway suddenly perked up as if a lightbulb turned on over his head. “Oh, I never had anything good on Dana. I can definitely brag about having the hotter brother.”

Brian laughed, all dark and throaty. That downhearted frown he’d been wearing had been replaced with a humorous one. “I could only imagine Ford’s face. Even though I know he’d care less.”

Sway was glad the palpable cloud of uncertainty had lifted again. Brian got up and put the picture back. “I can tell he’s a good brother.”

“He’s the best. Interfering as fuck. But… I wouldn’t be here without him.”

Sway knew Ford was the one who’d disobeyed direct orders and put together a search and rescue team to save him—Dana had told him that much—but Sway didn’t even want to know the details anymore. Not after seeing Brian’s back. That was enough. God, what Ford must’ve experienced, finding his baby brother like that. It was all probably classified information anyway and he could respect that. Sway swallowed hard and fought to take his own mind to a different place. To where they’d been that afternoon.

“You like working with your brother and D? Bounty hunting,” Sway said, smiling seductively. He hoped Brian could hear the desire in his voice. He had to know by now that his job turned Sway on to no end, even if it terrified him sometimes. But, Brian had already confessed that he sat and watched people, more than anything. Rarely did things turn dangerous.

Brian dropped beside him and picked up his still waiting cheesecake turning slightly towards Sway. He took a heaping forkful and began to chew, before setting the plate down between them. “It’s cool. I get to do what I’m good at. Find people. I owe Duke and Quick for taking both us on. Ford was adamant about us working together when I decided to head into the workforce. Needless to say, we got tons of rejections and the job search got narrower as time went on. We did good financially after leaving the military… our pay and retirement, I mean, so we were surviving. It’s complicated how Ford still got his, but anyway, he felt we had to work together, live together, everything when we first got home. He had to be close to me.”

He’d almost lost his brother… his other half. Sway knew what he meant.

“Some of the shit we get to do is fun.” Brian smirked, that hint of danger glinting behind his dark eyes.

“Oh yeah?” Sway licked his lips staring at Brian like the horny-gun-lusting-man he was becoming. “Like what? Tell me.” Sway tossed the heavy throw off his legs and stood, putting his arms out to his side. “Or better yet. Show me.”

Brian slouched down into the soft leather, spreading his thighs wide and cockily glared at him while he ate his cake.

“You think I’m joking?”

Brian shook his head, slowly.

“Good. Because I’m not. I really wanna know what you do. Like, when you have to catch someone. How do you do that? How do they know you’re you?” Sway hoped he was making sense. Shit, he barely understood what he was asking.

“Say what you really want to know.” Brian glared.

Sway watched Brian a second to see if this was offending him, but the look he was getting was more challenging than anything. Sway wasn’t afraid of him. “How do you let someone know you’re there for them if you don’t speak?”

Brian smiled then nodded as if he was convincing himself of something. Then he slowly rose to his full six foot three inches, towering over Sway and everything else in that room. Sway gulped down his bravado and shrank back a bit as Brian advanced. It was a natural reaction for him. When fight or flight kicked in… it was a no brainer which one Sway chose. But, fear wasn’t swarming through him, more like fire. Heat. Brian was so sexy. Still in his dark jeans, and tight black wife beater, Brian walked up, his signing appearing so much more dramatic this time, possibly because his firm lips were mouthing the same, “You sure you want to know this? It’s not about what I can or can’t say. My mutism has changed the way I hunt. But, I’ve been trained to adapt. Now it’s about my actions. When I come for someone… they know it… and it’s frightening. So, are you sure?”

Brian moved in so close until he was damn near standing on top of him, staring down at Sway’s excited body. His big feet interwoven with Sways’. Brian’s dominating presence swelled like a hot air balloon, leaving little room for Sway’s tiny existence. He felt so helpless and at this huge man’s mercy. At his huge boyfriend’s mercy. He was sure as hell frightened but not for the same reasons criminals were. If they were caught they were going to jail. When Sway got caught—and he had no doubt that he would—hopefully Brian would take him straight to bed.

Brian leaned down and grazed Sway’s temple with his stubble, then tenderly wrapped his arms around his waist and yanked him against his chest. Sway grunted in surprise and lust, then looked up at Brian’s face. There was something naughty and devious in his eyes when he mouthed, ‘So, what will it be?’

Sway blinked the fog away, the haze, from staring at Brian’s mouth. “Hunt me, Brian,” Sway whispered, not sure what he was demanding. Regardless, he saw the immediate flicker of blazing passion in Brian’s obsidian eyes, then… predatory hunger. He’d unleashed the animal in Brian, had asked for it, begged with his eyes and his body. His dick was harder than a diamond.

Brian inched away, his body coiled tight. Sway gave him his own challenging glare and Brian seemed to eat it up.

“You got fifteen minutes before I start. Inside only. It’ll be dark. Hide anywhere you want. When I find you,” Brian said, in all confidence. “I’ll show you what it’s like to be captured by me.”

Sway groaned and palmed his dick without thought. He couldn’t stop the throbbing. Brian growled low and starved, the sound a vibration that Sway felt to his core. How could he do this when he was in this state? In need. Sway watched Brian’s calculating eyes. He appeared as if he already knew what direction Sway would go. He noted Brian’s composure, his calm demeanor like a psycho before he snaps. It was quite intimidating, and his boyfriend knew it. Brian opened his mouth, grazed his thick tongue over his bottom lip and mouthed… ‘Run.’

Sway grunted and took off.