“I think I’ll stay right here just in case.”

Even though Bryce couldn’t see him, Nick rolled his eyes. Yeah, Bryce was laying on him only because he thought Nick might freak out again. Horny fucking bastard. “Okay, fine, but you need to start talking.”

“There’s not a lot to say. I was feeling...I don’t know. I just didn’t feel right, but I let it all go. Finally, I went to the doctor for an exam, had scans and tests, and they found it.”

On reflex, Nick ran a hand through Bryce’s hair, needing to touch more of him.

“So yeah...it was toughest on Mom. She loves us so damn much. The thought of something happening was too much. She kept thinking of all the things I would miss—falling in love like Jamie and Mitch, getting married. She would tease me about how I needed to have the surgery, recoup and then go on with my life, so I could have a little Bryce. Apparently the world isn’t complete with just one of me.”

Nick laughed as Bryce settled more on top of him. The weight was welcoming. His body was solid, firm and comforting.

“I think it rubbed off on me. I started to freak out as well. I had this thing in my head that could fucking burst, but surgery was dangerous, too. There’s a high risk of stroke. It scared the fuck out of me. I had this crazy...I don’t know, I just clung to Christi.”

When he paused, Nick thought he was going to say something else. That he had a crazy something in specific, but he just continued. “I know she was scared to lose me. She doesn’t really have anyone. My family is hers. She’s family to me. We just sort of fell into it. I had surgery. She was there for recovery, which I obviously fucking rocked.” He chuckled. “When I got better, I kissed her one day and she kissed me back.”

A low growl formed deep inside Nick. He liked Christi, but the idea of the woman’s lips on Bryce’s made his gut ache. Bryce thought Nick still loved Jill, and maybe he did in some ways, but that was nothing compared to what Bryce and Christi had. They were close. They both loved each other.

“Anyway, my brothers suck at secrets. Everyone found out and my mom fell in love with the idea. I don’t think either of us realized what we were doing at first. We just knew we didn’t want to lose each other, so we clung the only way we knew how. Made ourselves believe we were more than friends. Finding out you have anything life-threatening makes you realize how fucking fragile life is. What if I walk down the street and get hit by a car? My house burns down? You just never know what will happen.

“I worried I would miss out on all these things that my family thinks are essential. They all loved so big, but I’d never had that, so Christi and I kept it up, kept trying.  It lasted quite a while, but after some time, I think we both realized we were staying with each other more out of fear than being in love. Still, neither of us wanted to say anything. Eventually, I had to, and realized she felt the same, so we called it off.”

But they hadn’t told Bryce’s parents. The parents who loved Christi and who thought Bryce and Christi were in love with each other. Bryce’s family would have a hard time with this just like Nick’s would, only in different ways. “What are we doing here, Bryce?” They were two straight guys, each screwing around with a man for the first time, when there were so many things standing in their way. They were a fucked up accident waiting to happen.

“I don’t know.” Bryce’s hand was in his hair then. “I just know that I can’t imagine not doing it.”

Those words were Nick’s truth as well. As much as it scared him, and even though there was a part of him that knew this would blow up in their faces, he couldn’t imagine not doing it. “Me, either.”

Bryce shifted, moved up and then covered Nick’s mouth with his. Nick let him in immediately, their tongues tangling as they fucked each other’s mouths.

Nick’s cock grew, hardened as Bryce thrust against him. “Let me jerk you off, Nick. I want to play with your balls. Get you close to coming, and then hold you off until I’m ready for you to empty your load.”

Nick shuddered. How in the fuck could he say no to that?

“Yeah...do it,” he groaned. “Touch me.”

Then the weight was gone. Bryce rolled off, shoved Nick’s underwear down and moved around on the bed as though he was taking off his clothes as well. Nick wished the lights were on. He wanted to see Bryce’s long erection, the way it slightly curved. Nick had only seen him once, but he remembered everything about him.

He cupped Bryce’s ass when he climbed back on him. He laid the length of Nick, thrust forward, and when he did, his ass-muscles tightened beneath Nick’s hands. “Oh fuck. I can’t believe how good you feel. Touch my balls.”