Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

for sparring practice."
    "Ah, poor baby. Want me to cook up some greasy eggs and bacon? I hear that's like the hair of the dog for badly beaten skulls."
    "I never knew you were such a vindictive bitch." Scott's laughter filled the room while Devon grunted and groaned himself into a sitting position. "Wasn't on my best behavior, huh?"
    Devon's little boy smirk rocked Scott from the inside out. "You were fine. Looked like you'd been having some fun."
    "Did you take advantage of me in my fragile condition? I mean besides trying to tie my hands and sentence me to death by rubbing." Devon grinned more before reaching out and pulling Scott to him, his strong arms wrapping Scott in a warm, fuzzy embrace. Scott swooned when Devon tucked his nose into the nape of his neck, sniffing and pressing gentle kisses against his skin. If Scott had been a cat he would have surely purred.
    "I did! You're gonna be walking funny all day and I think you enjoyed the torture as much as I did."
    Devon snickered, warm breath skittering across Scott's skin, traveling full force to all the nerves in his body. "Oh yeah. The sticky come pulling my belly hairs tells me so. Does that mean you don't want me to jump you?"
    "I doubt you even have the energy for that."
    Devon sighed while Scott's skin rippled with goosebumps again. "You're probably right. How about a little groping in the shower?"
    There was groping—more than a little—and kissing and holding. As far as Scott was concerned, the shower had only added extra perfection to an already perfect start to the day. He liked to think dual showering had one of two purposes; wild, sweaty, wet, face-smashed-against-the-tiles sex or calm, just-wanna-touch-and-hold-you intimacy. That morning was the latter, and after Scott's revelation of the night before, it was exactly what he needed to reaffirm his feelings. He was in love with Devon. He loved Devon. Wow.
    ****
    "Oh fuck! My clothes smell like ass," Devon called out from the bedroom.
    Scott paused in his coffee-making-tea-brewing ritual. "In a good or bad way?"
    "Is there a good way? I'm gonna throw them in the wash. You got something I can wear, babe?"
    Goosebumps scurried over Scott's skin. Babe. "Try the back of my closet, and just for the record, I like the smell of your butt."
    Scott hid his grin behind his hand when Devon entered the kitchen. He'd found an ancient pair of Scott's sweats and a threadbare hoodie which couldn't be done up over Devon's sexy chest. Scott had been thirty-five pounds heavier back then, but hadn't thrown out the reminders of his chubbiness. The pants were too short on Devon, and the hoodie barely held together over the bulging mass of his arms. Devon himself was a little less swaggery and a lot more subdued, but gorgeous nonetheless.
    "That's good to know, but I'm thinking you don't want me spreading my assy goodness around town?"
    It was a loaded question to Scott, sounding simple but oh so not the case. It brought images of a wolf staking its claim by covering its mate in its scent, except that was a little off from the true analogy. And, fuck no, he didn't want anyone else sniffing around his man. His man. Holy crap. Was it time to panic?
    "Are you actually making a fruit salad?"
    "Would you rather have greasy eggs and bacon?" Devon slipped behind Scott, pressing him against the counter. "Watch yourself. I'm wielding a very sharp knife."
    Devon's purr vibrated over the bare skin of Scott's neck. Damn, Scott loved it when he made that noise. "And you wield it very well, especially how perfectly identical you make each piece."
    "Don't go there. I saved your drunk ass last night and now you're making fun of me? I'm still holding the knife, you know."
    Soft kisses at the base of his skull forced Scott to stand up a little straighter, tilt his head a little to the left in silent encouragement.
    "I'm not making fun. I think it's cute—"
    "It's anything but cute," Scott said, suppressing the sigh of utter contentment so close to the tip of his tongue it burned. "I'm assuming you didn't ride your bike here last night?"
    Devon stole a piece of melon from the cutting board, his mouth full when he replied, "Nope. I was a responsible drunk."
    "And a very sappy one." Scott slapped Devon's fingers, shoving him back a bit while he reached for the big blue bowl in the cupboard. "Any particular reason for the alcohol indulgence?"
    Scott cringed and his body cooled when Devon stepped away, moving to the table and straddling one