A Bid For Love

tongue teased across Scott's lips, pulling back when Scott tried to respond. A killer smirk curved full lips. "Uh-uh. You don't deserve a taste in return."
    "You're just being evil." Scott answered with a grin and a hand sliding firmly over Asher's fly. "And adorable."
    "Now that's more like it." Agile fingers worked the buttons on Scott's shirt, pulling it from his waistband, smoothing the cotton of his tank shirt. "Do redeem yourself, sweetheart. I find the thought of loving you upstairs so tempting, but the notion of just cuddling with you on the sofa for a while appeals, too. We have all evening."
    Scott felt something deep in the middle of his chest melt. "Oh, darlin', I may give up going out altogether. What's the point, when I have this much at home?" He tilted his head back so perfect lips could press a lingering kiss to the hollow of his throat. "God, babe!"
    "Oh, I could never deprive the world of your handsome form. We'll black-tie for the symphony and go casual for the Wizards. All the DC movers and shakers will wonder who the two magnificent men are who've graced their presence." Asher gasped and his hands caressed over Scott's ass again. "Or we can just stay home where I can strip you naked and kiss every millimeter of you until you sob."
    Scott's breath caught and he pressed need gone rock-hard and hungry against Asher's hip. "Oh, God, darlin', keep me home. Every night. And every blessed other minute you can think of. You, naked in that big bed of yours, sends me straight to heaven. Nothing's better than making love with you, I swear." He moaned and ground his pelvis against his lover.
    "I see Europe hasn't lost its touch." A voice from behind them startled him, and Asher's hands froze on his back. "I'd be eeked, if the two of you didn't look so damn cute together."
    Scott's mind went blank for an instant, then settled into numbing terror. He couldn't turn, didn't dare. Asher's shocked face told him everything. So did the tremor beginning to shiver through his lover. A vile curse shot through his head. Just when his life attained the completion he'd dreamed of, something had to happen to destroy it. He swallowed and managed to get his vocal chords to work. "Holly. Didn't expect you to just walk in."
    "I know. I'm sorry." Her musical voice shook with apology. "Asher asked me to water the plants while he was gone, and I forgot you were back because you were out of the office again by the time I got done with Calderon. I just didn't think..." She trailed off and he could almost picture her fidgeting her feet, her gaze down for a moment. "Guys, please, I'm sorry. Don't look like the world just exploded. It's okay."
    Scott seriously doubted that, especially when Asher shook like a storm-lashed leaf in his arms. All right then, he'd manage it and do whatever he could to keep this at some level his love could handle. He turned, dislodging Asher's hold on his ass, one hand seeking Asher's cold fingers before facing Holly. "A lot of people won't feel that way."
    "Not one of them. And I didn't plan on calling the Examiner when I get home." Her pretty mouth curved just a little. "Have to admit, this explains a few things. So you were the mysterious Italian Anonymous, huh? And no black eye. I'm impressed." The smile faded at the same time Asher's fingers twitched around Scott's. "Asher, it's really okay. You don't want it to get around at the moment, I get that. Please draw a real breath."
    The gasped half-breath from Asher shivered with a dread. "It's..." His free hand fluttered, circling in empty air before settling over his heart. Scott gave a reassuring squeeze to the one he held. "I'm sure you... That is, this has to be..." He paused to take the other half of the breath. "This must be a shock for you."
    "Walking in on you? Yeah, a little." Her cheeks colored. "Embarrassing that I wasn't paying attention. But overall...it really isn't. Not really."
    Scott's mind went at tad dim again before flashing back on. But Asher managed to comment before Scott could. "What? How could you possibly... I didn't even suspect I could feel this way until this weekend!"
    "I don't know. I mean, it just all sort of came together when I...interrupted." She tried a smile again, soft and apologetic. "Would it be okay if we sat down for a minute? You look ready to keel over. And Scott might be deciding whether to shoot me. He's a little harder to read."
    "Sort of depends on how Asher is doing." Scott might not shoot her, but he