Free After the Scrum by Dahlia Donovan Page A

himself naked on the bed, with Caddock using a wet flannel to wipe him clean. Words didn't come to him until after they were cuddled under the comforter with Sherlock hopping up to curl at their feet. Even then, he didn't quite know how to verbally express how good it had been for him, not without over-inflating Caddock's ego. It was something the man certainly didn't need any help with. The smug grin on his face was bright enough to be blinding.
    I have to say something.
    "Nice."
    Smooth, Francis, real smooth. Apples are nice. Beans on toast are nice. Incredibly hot, sweaty sex?
    "More than fucking nice." Caddock started to roll over just as Francis lifted up. Their heads connected with an impressively painful thud. Caddock flopped down on the mattress, clutching his face. "Somewhat less fucking nice now."
    Francis collapsed on his back, gently prodding the already growing goose egg on his forehead. "You've concussed me."
    Caddock snorted in amusement while leaning over to tenderly check out the injury. "I'm sure I can find inventive ways to wake you up to ensure you aren't going to die in your sleep."
    "How kind."
     

Chapter Fourteen
     
    Caddock
     
     
    Three in the morning was way too damn early to be awake. Caddock couldn't seem to drift back off though with so many thoughts filling his mind. He had so many questions that had yet to be answered.
    Francis had seemed receptive to his particular brand of pleasure. People often tended to say all sorts of things in the heat of the moment. Better to confirm it when they weren't drunk on pleasure.
    It had been a long time since he had been able to let go with another man. His own enjoyment in many ways had derived directly from causing his partner to lose control in such a powerful manner. It was intoxicating.
    Thinking about their earlier pleasure drew his attention back to the naked body flush against his own. Shaking his head, he used the breathing exercises from his rugby training to focus his mind elsewhere. It wouldn't do for Francis to believe he had sex permanently on the brain—even if it was the truth.
    Flexing his arms, Caddock shifted the man in his arms slightly. Brown hair brushed against his nose, tickling his nostrils. He tried valiantly not to sneeze.
    He really did.
    Pinching the bridges of his nose, Caddock tried to will it away. Nothing worked. He finally twisted his head around sharply to sneeze loudly, the sound barely muffled by his pillow.
    The sound reverberated around the quiet room like a blast from a canon. Sherlock shot to his paws, barking wildly and searching for the intruder. Francis also sat up, though a little more slowly, looking adorably befuddled.
    "Arm the battlements." Francis blinked owlishly in the dimly lit room, the bump on his forehead standing out more than it had earlier. "Arm the… what?"
    "Arm the battlements?" Caddock stared at his young lover, confused and amused. "You been watching period war movies or something?"
    Francis yawned, stretched, and then finally turned half-open blue eyes towards him. "My granddad's favourite exclamation, left over from his days in the military no doubt. It stuck in my mind. So why did the Brute roar in the night?"
    Ignoring the now quietly growling Sherlock, Caddock seized Francis by the leg to shift him once again into his arms. He then rolled them so they were side by side. Not being alone in bed was something he could definitely get used to enjoying.
    "Sleep, cub." Caddock began to run his fingers through Francis's chaotic mess of brown hair. He tugged lightly on the strands before stroking. "Sleep."
    "Cub?" Francis tried to sit up, sounding mildly indignant. He stopped, and then glanced over his shoulder. "I think I gave you two black eyes."
    "Me. Brute." Caddock smirked at Francis who was clearly struggling to stay awake even though he continued to glare at him. "You. Cub. And yes, you did catch me right between the eyes with your pointy head."
    "We'll discuss your inventive ideas of