Don't Touch Me! - 51

"Of course I did. If it wasn't for you…" He took the page, reading aloud. "Dedication… To the man who saved me. The man I love, heart and soul. My one and only Brent." He looked at Brent. "It's not too gushy is it?"

"No, my dear man, it's perfect." Brent wrapped him it tight embrace. "I love you so much—heart and soul." He grinned. "And body of course. That does play into it."

"Now who's being silly?" Cody said, his face alight with happiness.

"Me? Never." Brent kissed Cody deeply. "Thank you."

"Thank you! Without you—"

"If I have my way, you'll never be without me. Now"—Brent glanced at the oven—"what about we eat then celebrate in the best way I know how…in bed."

"I think that's a perfect idea."

When they'd finished dinner and had cleaned up, Brent suggested they take their coffee into the living room so he could start reading Cody's manuscript. Cody nodded, although he didn't look all that happy about the idea.

Brent grinned. "You had something else in mind?"

"You know I did," Cody retorted.

"Like..." Laughing, Brent picked Cody up, tossing him over his shoulder, and headed upstairs.

"Damn," Cody muttered when Brent deposited him on the bed. "Is this going to be our foreplay every time we make love? Not, you understand, that I'm complaining. It does add a certain extra to the proceedings."

Rather than replying, Brent grabbed the hem of Cody's T-shirt, pulling it up and off the younger man with a flourish. Then he stripped off his own shirt, tossing both of them on the chair by the dresser.

Cody laughed, commenting, "You aren't in a hurry, are you?"

"Let's just say, if we're not both completely naked, in ten seconds or less…"

It took a bit longer, since they had shoes, socks and jeans to deal with, but soon enough they were. Brent looked at Cody, who was now sprawled wantonly in the center of the bed. He wanted nothing more than to pounce but first…

Sitting next to Cody, Brent idly traced a finger along the fine line of Cody's jaw. "I need to ask you something, and I want an honest answer, not what you think I want to hear."

Cody seemed surprised, saying quietly, "All right. Ask away."

"I'd like to… Okay, not the best way to preface this. Would you be willing for us to do more than just give each other…? Damn, this isn't easy."

Cody broke into laughter. "Do I want us to go all the way? Hell, yes."

He tapped Brent's nose, grinning when Brent muttered, "That's my thing."

"I case you haven't noticed, I won't break. Not anymore. Yeah, I'm not stupid, or a total innocent, as you should know by now. I know what's involved," Cody said assuredly.

"But it's been a long time."

"So we take it slow. I have a feeling you're good at it, as patient as you've been with me about everything else." Wrapping his arms around Brent's neck, Cody concluded by saying, "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes," Brent replied softly. Then they kissed and everything progressed from there as they knew it would, until they reached shattering climaxes that left them limp, breathless and totally sated.