Free I Survived Seattle by J.K. Hogan Page B

Was it recent?”
    Nic cleared his throat and waited until he felt like he could speak without breaking down. He so didn’t want to talk about his dad. “Yeah, it was. That’s why I was on that plane. I’d gone to the funeral.”
    “Christ,” Justice hissed. “And here I am, dredging up all the memories. I’m so sorry.”
    Nic reached out and captured Justice’s hand, twining their fingers together. Something about the contact just felt right. “It’s really all right. All of the memories are good ones. But I want to know more about you.”
    Justice yawned so wide that his jaw cracked audibly, and then he stretched his arms above his head, arching his back. Nic’s mouth watered. There had to be some law against lusting after a man afflicted with a panic attack, but he couldn’t help it, any more than he could help the rising hardness behind his zipper.
    “Sorry,” Justice said, his voice slurring slightly. “The attacks plus the medication usually wipe me out. What do you want to know?”
    “Are you really not out?”
    “Yeah, I’m really not. I tried to come out once. It didn’t go well.” Justice’s voice was flat, emotionless.
    “So no one knows?”
    White hot anger flashed in Justice’s eyes for a brief moment before his face cleared. “No one who matters anymore. Except you.”
    “So I take it you’re not close to your family.”
    Something akin to revulsion crossed his face. Justice leaned forward and grabbed the back of Nic’s neck. “Enough talk.” He yanked hard, pulling Nic toward him until they were flush. He took Nic’s mouth in a heated, almost frantic kiss. It was a kiss designed to distract, to deflect. To hide.
    Nic wasn’t having it. He gripped Justice’s jaw in his hand, easing him back until their lips were barely connected. He licked Justice’s silky lips before nipping first the upper then the lower lip.
    He smiled to himself when he felt a shudder ripple through Justice. Kisses were for passion, for lust, not manipulation. Finally he felt Justice acquiesce, opening to him, letting him in. Nic lazily explored Justice’s mouth for what could have been hours, stroking his hands up and down his back, mapping his musculature and committing it to memory.
    Abruptly, Justice broke the kiss and turned his head to yawn. “Sorry,” he said with a sheepish blush.
    Nic traced Justice’s eyebrows with his thumb, and those incredible green eyes fluttered closed.
    “Why don’t you get some sleep? We got all the time in the world. You’re on vacation, and I’m the boss, so it’s not like we have anywhere to be.”
    “If you don’t mind…”
    “I don’t. Not at all,” Nic said gently.
    He started to get up when Justice grabbed his wrist. “Stay. Please.”
    “I’m not going anywhere, darlin.’ Just going to get the light.” Nic crossed the room and flipped the lights off. Coming back to the bed, he pulled his shirt off over his head, but left his jeans on. He didn’t want Justice to feel pressured.
    Nic lay down beside Justice, unsure of what was expected of him. He was surprised when he felt hands close around his waist, pulling him closer. He took the hint and snuggled up, tucking Justice’s head under his chin. He hadn’t known he was so tired, but as soon as he heard Justice’s breath even out, Nic let sleep take him under.

Chapter Eleven
    Darkness. Justice awoke to a pitch black, swaying world and for a moment, he had no idea where he was. And then he felt the warmth radiating beside him. He reached out a hand and it came in contact with a smooth, solid wall of man.
    Nic. In bed. Or rather, he was in Nic’s bed. Justice rolled over onto his back with a soft groan. He’d had a complete and total meltdown, in front of the hottest guy he’d ever been with…one with whom he was supposed to have been on a date. How fucking embarrassing. The worst part was that he felt fine now —now that it was too late. He always did. After the attack, after the meds, after