A Bid For Love

thinking how very easily I'm falling into this. How very little I seem to care about all the...all the crap we're going to have to navigate." The thought sent a new tremble through the lean form in Scott's arms.
    "But that's good. You see, I want you to feel being with me is worth the pain and aggravation we're going to have to put up with. At least Noah knows to keep his comments to a minimum. He knows I won't put up with too much about my sexuality." He pressed a kiss between Asher's broad shoulders, realizing just what a nice position this was.
    "Noah knows? And he still..." A far more healthy-sounding chuckle rippled his lover's lean torso. "I'd have thought our unit leader, who twitches at the sight of a pink shirt, would be too eeked out to have a best friend who's bi."
    "He's fairly eeked out. We were friends for a long time before I told him. And it's a subject we don't discuss. It's amusing when he twitches. For about ten minutes, then it's just annoying. So I don't ever mention a man I might find attractive if we're out. I stick with the ladies when I'm with him." Scott sighed and let his arms slip away from Asher. "Let's not talk about Noah. He's not going to be happy, and I don't really care."
    "I'm sorry." Asher turned and caught Scott's hand. "I'm not used to being...the one pursued, I suppose. And just to get it out of the way, it's not the fact you're seeing a man we're going to get crap about. From Noah or anyone else. And you know it. It will be the fact you're seeing me."
    Scott sighed and put his romantic preparations on hold so he could settle beside Asher for this talk. With his feet firm on the floor, they could face each other easily. "Ash, I know. And I'm ready to ignore them for the most part. If they cross the line, well, I'm ready to deal with that, too. I can be forceful when I want to exert myself, you know." He squeezed the hand still holding tight to his. "I love you. And nothing they say or do is going to change it."
    "As long as you know going in." A warm hand guided Scott's fingers against Asher's cheek, gorgeous changeling eyes drifting closed in more bliss than Scott had ever seen on those aristocratic features. "I have to admit, being pursued has an appeal all its own." Full lips curved and pure imp peeked out from under those long lashes. "Do forgive me for temporarily stopping your momentum."
    "No problem, baby. Gives me a chance to do this." Scott leaned in for a slow kiss, wanting to feel Asher go breathless again.
    Maybe not completely breathless this time, but the way Asher's solid body melted against his sure was nice. Fingers twined into his hair without hesitation, gentle and searching, pulling him closer to that talented mouth. Lord, Asher hadn't exaggerated at all, some years back, when he reported some woman told him his tongue wasn't silver just for his flattery skills.
    "I think we need to plan to spend lots of evenings home. I can see a real advantage to it." Yeah, Scott could definitely envision nights curled up watching TV and exchanging kisses. He couldn't think of a better way to decompress at the end of a long case, either. "I'll have to remember to do little things to keep you from thinking I'm boring."
    "Boring?" Oh, Scott knew that flash of imp in those blue eyes all too well. "Why on earth would you think I consider you boring? Keeping up with your cowboy lingo is more challenging than the Times crossword."
    "I see I'll have to beat you regularly, darlin'." God, Asher's smile held such warmth Scott could feel it on his skin. "So, let me feed you supper to build up your strength for that beating." He let his own imp free. "And a few other things I think you might need some energy for."
    Asher's grin nearly lit the candles all by itself, rich British tones suddenly rolling off his lips. "I say, old chap, that's a bloody brilliant idea. By all means, have at it." He laughed at Scott's expression. "Oxford, son. I can accent you right back."
    Damn. Visions of role-playing nearly left Scott a puddle on the marble floor. "Darlin', I can see boredom isn't going to be an issue at all." He managed to pull away. Barely. Only the idea of the crusty rolls he'd insisted be sent up piping hot kept him from taking Asher back to bed on the instant.
    "Not at all." That smug little smirk generated as much lust as it did the desire to swat his lover upside the head. "I'll warm the bath back up while you finish what you need to."
    "I'll just be a sec." More than that and Scott