Free Bonds of Denial by Lynda Aicher

pockets and stared across the walkway, his gaze landing on nothing. “I got a room at the hotel down the road.”
    There was no reason for his pulse to race like it was. It wasn’t like the man was going to say no. Yet his heart was beating with a force that mirrored the end of a ten-mile run with a fifty-pound pack on his back.
    “I parked in the lot up the street.” Carter motioned back toward the bar where they’d met earlier that night. “I can meet you there.”
    He mumbled the name of the chain hotel. “Not as fancy as last time. Room two thirty-one.”
    “Hey.” Carter stepped closer and for once Rock didn’t care what the strangers walking past them thought. He let the proximity of the man wrap around him. “The game was great. I’ve had fun tonight.” He cocked a smile. “As long as the room doesn’t have cockroaches or bedbugs, I’m good.”
    Rock stared into those amazing blue eyes and wanted to believe everything the man said. “You have a thing against bugs?”
    “A big thing,” Carter said, his smile filling out to a full grin. “And I’m not embarrassed to admit it.”
    The chuckle that flowed from Rock’s chest went a long way in loosening the agonizing unease that had descended upon him as soon as the game had finished. “I’ll protect you.”
    “Yeah.” Carter’s gaze skated down his body and up before it held on Rock’s. “I bet you can.”
    Oh, man. Rock ducked his head and shifted his feet. It was an ineffective move that did nothing to adjust his growing erection that was pinched in his jeans. He pointed toward the parking garage. “I’m parked that way too.” He glanced at Carter. “Should we go?”
    The three-block walk was made in silence. His brain refused to think of anything except what was coming, and that wasn’t something he wanted to talk about. But was he supposed to? Did Carter expect him to tell him what he wanted? What to do?
    Christ . He was lost. There was no data or intel that would help him here.
    “Stop stressing,” Carter said as they neared the parking garage.
    “Easy for you to say.” Rock’s mumbled reply was automatic and he wanted to suck itback in as soon as it was out.
    “Maybe. But you control the situation.” Carter stopped and waited for him to do the same. His eyes were dead serious when he spoke. “I’m walking blind into a room with a man who’s fifty pounds heavier than me and obviously trained in military combat. I’m just as vulnerable as you, just in a different way.”
    Rock studied him for a moment, the words slowly penetrating his thick wall of worry. “So why do you do it?” It was the same question he’d asked Tyler, but Carter’s answers seemed more important. Vital.
    Carter released a small scoff and shook his head as he pivoted away. “Does it matter? You get what you want. That’s all you need to worry about.” He started to walk away, his strides harder than before.
    “Shit.” Rock hurried to stop him. He grabbed his shoulder. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.” Carter’s muscles were tense under his hand, but he couldn’t release him. What if Carter kept on walking and didn’t come back? The real fear of that happening pushed Rock to bumble on. “You don’t have to…It doesn’t matter. I…Damn it.”
    He dropped his hand, revulsion curling in his stomach. He’d screwed up again. How messed up was he that his stupid words could run off a man who was being paid to be with him?
    The hard shell he’d lived behind forever closed around him as he waited for Carter to walk away. He drew his shoulders back, lifted his chin and prepared to meet the scorn that was sure to be in Carter’s eyes if he bothered to turn around.
    Cars passed by in a steady line of headlights from the garage entrance, the bright glare cutting over them with a harsh flash that reminded him that to Carter, he was just one of many. He kept forgetting that, and then he went and reminded Carter of exactly that.
    He wouldn’t