Free Last Chance by Viki Lyn Page A

slayer.

    Stu's response to the knock on the door was another deep groan. His brother would not bother to knock, and Aric had fled his apartment so fast, he'd left no trace of his presence. But then he brought the sheet up to his nose and inhaled a rich cinnamon sweetness. Aric had marked it with his scent, and it made Stu feel warm inside.

    Another knock resounded throughout the room, and groggily he peeled back the covers and stumbled out of bed. He raised a pair of boxers over his hips before opening the front door.

    Nick faced him, the look in his dark, almost black eyes hard as flint. The broad-shouldered quarterback could intimidate the best of men. But Stu was used to his friend's fierce expression. He relaxed and rubbed his stubble while motioning for Nick to enter.

    Nick walked in and slung his body onto the sofa. He looped his beefy arm over the backrest and rested his ankle on his thigh. His foot jiggled, but his face remained placid.

    Nick never minced his words. “Where the hell have you been? I've been texting you, and you haven't answered your calls.”

    “Lower your voice. My head's ready to explode.”

    “Late night?”

    “Nope. Just couldn't sleep.” Stu sauntered into the bathroom and removed the bottle of aspirin from the medicine cabinet. He dry swallowed two pills and rinsed out his mouth with cold water. Next he ducked his head under the faucet, hoping the icy blast would unscramble his brain. He returned to the living room, a towel thrown over his shoulders to catch the drips from his hair.

    Nick had typical Italian good looks and a bold personality to match his broad mouth and lively dark eyes. “You look like shit. Why did you miss the party?”

    “Had to finish my report—”

    “Amy saw you Friday night with that pretty boy.”

    “Yeah, so what? I ran into Aric leaving the library. I bought him a late dinner as an apology. He had quite a knot on his forehead.”

    “So why didn't you guys come to Jason's afterward? It was an all-nighter.”

    “He doesn't go for parties.”

    Nick's eyes flashed. “He's gay, isn't he?”

    “So? I've never known you to be a homophobe.”

    “Look. You also missed our team luncheon.”

    “Fuck. Sorry.” Stu massaged his temple, but the dull pain persisted.

    “It was yesterday, retard. The coach sent me to check up on you.”

    Nick leaned forward, his feet firmly planted on the floor, his hands on his knees. Stu fidgeted, unable to meet his friend's gaze. He walked over to the window and pulled the curtain farther open. Sunlight streamed harshly through the glass pane.

    “Sorry. Cor showed up, and it threw my schedule off.”

    “It's not like you to miss out. What's going on with you?”

    The seriousness in Nick's voice fueled Stu's irritation. What could he say to get Nick off his back? They were as close as brothers and had become even more so when Stu's father had died and Corbin had left home. His friend had always been there for him, and Stu would do anything for him in return. But to tell him the truth?

    Stu ran his hand over his face before turning toward Nick. “I need coffee.”

    “Did you eat?”

    “Just got up. What time is it, anyway?”

    “Noon, you slacker. Shower, and we'll go to IHOP. You look like you need a meal.”

    “Not there.” Too many fresh memories would plague him.

    “Okay, then Starbucks.”

    * * *

    Starbucks was located on Mill Avenue, a couple of blocks from Stu's condo. The weather suited dining outside, and they headed for a shaded table situated along the side street. Stu began to feel normal again, the nightmare ebbing into a distant memory.

    Aric had gotten under his skin, and that annoyed him. His sexual frustration buried him in that senseless dream. What they had done in the shower had only whetted his appetite for more. The memory of Aric's fingers trailing down his throat, his shoulders, his chest, made his cock wake up. He looked down at his fisted hands, then picked up his