Chapter Eleven
An obvious shiver rolled through Rueben, and the naughty images from his slumber returned to front and center of his brain.
He’d ensure the bath from the dream would become a sexy reality, but first, Rueben wanted to show the love language he’d learned at his abuela’s side.
The tantalizing kisses Seth placed along his neck threatened to ambush his good intentions until the distant sound of an approaching vehicle penetrated Rueben’s sluggish brain.
“Let’s take this inside.” Arousal thickened his voice, so Seth’s confusion when Rueben continued toward the kitchen was understandable.
“Bedroom is this way.” Seth’s pout was adorable, but the semi erection pushing against his jeans made Rueben hunger for something more. It would be so easy to give in. “Tell me you’ve eaten lunch, and I’ll follow you into the bedroom.”
“I—” Seth’s stomach growled before he could finish the lie. “Well, fuck.”
Rueben backtracked to kiss Seth’s pouty lips but realized his mistake as soon as brawny arms banded around him.
“Gotcha.” The encroaching rainstorm produced dark clouds the same color and intensity as Seth’s eyes.
Rueben wasn’t afraid of the tempest brewing outside the cabin or inside the man he loved. “Yes, you do, but I’m going to feed my man first.” Rueben waggled his brows. “Besides, you’ll need the energy if you’re going to keep up with me.”
Seth’s eyes shimmered in a way that said he accepted the gauntlet Rueben had thrown down. “Another age crack?”
“Nope. I’d give fair warning to anyone I planned to—”
Seth kissed him hard before he could finish. “No talk about seducing other men or putting them in a sex coma.”
“There’s only you.”
Seth’s hand gripped the back of Rueben’s neck possessively but not painfully. “You better believe it.”
“Oh, I’m not the one who needed convincing,” Rueben said, leaning into Seth’s touch. “Are you ready to admit I’m the keeper now?”
Seth canted his head to the right and pursed his lips as if rolling the question around in his mind.
When their gazes met again, Rue could tell by the wicked gleam Seth wouldn’t give him what he wanted most…
yet. He’d coax the admittance from the man’s sexy mouth before the weekend was through, or he’d die trying. “Saying I love you isn’t enough?”
Rueben accepted the question as the tease Seth’s smirking mouth had intended. “For now.” He lifted the canvas bags of supplies he’d brought. “And maybe we’ll finish faster if you come help.”
Seth removed the totes from Rueben’s right hand and nodded toward the kitchen. “I’m at your mercy.”
Rueben pivoted on his heels and added extra sway in his strut.
“Baby, you don’t know the half of it.” His backside heated under the intensity of his man’s stare, and Rueben wasn’t surprised to find Seth fast on his heels.
They unloaded the contents onto the countertops, and Rueben designated items into two categories—now and later.
Seth hoisted a bottle of bubble bath and quirked a brow. “Now?”
Rueben snorted, snatched it from his hand, and returned it to the counter. “I was wrong. There are three categories, and the bubble bath falls into much later.”
“How much later?” Delayed gratification had reduced his big, tough guy into a pouting toddler, so Rueben would treat him as such.
“Clearly, someone needs to eat and take a nap.” Rueben turned back to his task. “So, I’m going to feed you and tuck you into bed.” A warm body pressed him against the counter, and greedy hands roamed over Rueben’s chest.
“I like the bed part,” Seth whispered in his ear. He tugged Rueben’s T-shirt up and slid eager fingers under the fabric to tease sensitive flesh. “We can skip to the nap.” His ploy would’ve worked if his stomach hadn’t protested loudly.
“Eat. Fuck. Nap. Then we’re coming back to the kitchen so I can make my abuela’s famous chicken enchiladas with white cheese sauce. You’ll never taste anything better.”
“Oh god,” Seth said on a whimper. “I’ll do anything you say.”
Rueben laughed maniacally. “Now, I’ve got you under my spell.”
Seth trailed kisses along the back of his neck. “Since that fateful moment on the side of the cliff.”
The memory of the night threatened to dampen Rueben’s mood, but he owned his feelings instead of burying them.
He turned in Seth’s embrace and looked up at him.
“I thought I was going to die. I was scared out of my fucking mind, but then you appeared at my truck door. You looked so confident and in control that you made me believe I was going to be okay.”
“I was the opposite of confident, and the situation was completely out of my control.”
“Isn’t that how life really goes?” Rueben tried to smile, but his mouth wouldn’t follow his brain’s commands. “I feared your gorgeous gray eyes would be the last things I saw before toppling over the edge of the cliff, but I concentrated on what I wanted after I survived.”
Seth chuckled and kissed his lips. “You made me blush more than a few times.”
Rueben smiled at the memory. “I refrained from saying my boldest thoughts, but your reactions to my flirtations spurred me on more.” He reached up and caressed Seth’s freshly shaven jaw.
“There are moments with you that feel so damn good that I’m convinced the truck went over the side, and I’ve died and gone to heaven. ”
Seth tightened his arms around Rueben. “This is real, baby. We’re real.” They shared a long, passionate kiss to prove it. Seth was the first to pull back. “What did you bring for lunch?”
Rueben had chosen cold cuts, cheese, and a variety of side dishes from the deli to make a quick meal.
He wanted to feed his man for sure but didn’t want to spend all his time in the kitchen.
Rueben bought hoagie buns and several types of condiments so they could make sandwiches.
They took their food to the living room and spread it out on the coffee table.
Rueben and Seth sat on the floor with their backs to the sofa and assembled sandwiches.
When Seth discovered Rueben didn’t plan to eat the potato salad, he ate right out of the deli container instead of spooning it onto his plate.
“How is a simple sandwich so good?” Seth asked once he finally turned his attention to his hoagie after mowing through half the potato salad. “Meat, cheese, pickles, and mayo. I eat this all the time.”
“Quality meats and cheese.” Rueben then pointed toward himself. “Assembled with love.”
Seth leaned forward and kissed him. “Hmmm. That must be the key ingredient.” They didn’t speak again until they finished eating. Seth settled a hand over his stomach. “We need to do this more often.”
“Share a meal or spend the weekend together?”
“Both,” Seth replied. “I know it’s risky and stupid now that Oliver is onto us, and Martindale will look for anything to use against me. But I need you, and I want you.” The sincerity in Seth’s eyes stole Rueben’s breath.
“I need and want you too, so we will make this work.” Rueben nodded to the other side of the house. “What about that outbuilding? It looks big enough for my old truck to squeeze in.”
Seth worked his lip between his teeth for a few seconds. “It used to house my grandpa’s boat, but now it shelters about three decades of nonsense. Your truck would fit if I cleaned it out.”
“We,” Rueben said. “Sounds like a Sunday afternoon job for us. Then we’ll draw the curtains tight and dare Oliver to become a dirty peeping Tom to get the proof he needs.”
Seth snorted. “I wouldn’t put it past him.” Then Rueben would give that fucker a show and remind him what he gave up. Seth cupped his face and stroked his cheek. “I don’t want to hide you away like a dirty secret. I’m proud to love you.”
Rueben swayed forward and crashed into his chest. “It’s only temporary.”
Seth’s eyes sparkled with an intensity that made Rueben’s pulse leap. He opened his mouth but snapped it shut. He repeated this once more, then released a frustrated sigh.
“What?”
“There’s something I want to tell you about the Carsons, but I shouldn’t.”
“Then don’t,” Rueben replied simply. He could try to convince himself he said that to preserve Seth’s professional integrity, but Rueben knew fully well he was trying to prevent himself from getting his hopes too high.
The Carsons were in town, and Lyndhurst had made it clear in his office that he hoped to make a plea bargain that could result in a speedier resolution.
Holding out hope that one of those assholes would do the right thing was more than Rueben could bear.
It was better to focus on the blessing right in front of him. “I love you.”
Seth’s eyes darkened even more. “I love you.”
Rueben leaned in for a kiss that turned from flirty to dirty in an instant when he slipped his hand between Seth’s thighs. He pulled back and smiled. “It’s okay to admit I’m the keeper.”
Seth’s tongue swiped across his lower lip as if he sought remnants of Rueben’s taste there. “It’s implied.”
Rueben tsked, leaned in closer, and called upon the bravado and swagger he’d exuded when he’d issued the stamina challenge. “You’re going to say the words before the weekend is out.”
Seth arched a brow and raised his arms. “Do your worst, baby.”
They locked eyes but didn’t move, each one sizing up the other.
Then they burst into action, shoving the coffee table out of the way and tackling each other to the rug.
Seth was bigger and stronger and landed on top, but like most people, he underestimated Rueben’s determination and wiliness.
He had to admit his prospects of winning didn’t look so good when Seth pinned both arms over Rueben’s head with one hand, then used his body to press Rueben’s slighter frame against the rug.
Rueben could either fight against the hold or reel the sexy fucker in and take him down when he least expected it.
“Surrender,” Seth said smugly.
“I already gave you my heart and body,” Rueben replied. “What more could you possibly want?”