Page 48 of Soul of Discretion

Simon set the file down, walked in front of Nick, and held his hand out. Nick set his drink down on the coffee table and took Simon’s outstretched palm. He was pulled up until he was standing in his lover’s arms. For a man who always prided himself on his strength and ability to protect others, he felt pretty damn useless.

“Come with me,” Simon insisted as he led Nick toward their bedroom.

Nick wasn’t quite sure when he started thinking of this place as theirs, but if this was the only part of Simon’s life he was allowed to share, he’d take it. They walked into the room hand in hand until they reached the end of the king-size bed.

“Now let’s get you naked.” Simon smiled and began unbuttoning Nick’s shirt.

“Sounds good to me,” Nick was quick to say before he reached for the hem of Simon’s shirt. He was all for working off his anger and frustration in a pleasure-filled way.

Eagerly, he removed Simon’s shirt and ran his hands over his muscles. Most of the cuts and abrasions had healed, but there were a few areas where his skin was still a bit discoloured. Even now, seeing the evidence of what Anthony had done to Simon still sent Nick into a rage.

Nothing should ever mar his beautiful skin.

Nick almost purred when he felt Simon’s nails rake over his sensitive nipples. Those same fingers made quick work of Nick’s belt, button, and zipper before his pants were pulled down, and slid to the floor. With his monster hard-on between them, Nick reached for Simon’s pants, but his lover stopped him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing. I want this to be about you, so go get into bed and lie on your stomach,” Simon ordered before slapping Nick’s ass.

His day was finally looking up.

****

Simon was furious. Heads would roll if he were given the chance. Right now though, he wanted to concentrate on Nick. Damn them to hell. The bloody tossers, the Mountie deserved a commendation, not a suspension. Simon already had a course of action plotted, but first he needed to comfort his lover and get him to relax. Nick had been up long before dawn, had participated in the raids and had shut down a crime syndicate. Then the idiots in the RCMP had threatened his career. The man needed to let off some steam.

“Don’t move,” Simon ordered, then went into the bathroom for a small bottle of Kukui Nut Oil. Native to Hawaii, it smelled earthy and wasn’t greasy. He couldn’t wait to get Nick oiled up and under him in a completely new way.

When he walked back into the bedroom, Nick was laid out in the centre of the bed on his stomach. The sight of his tanned, muscled lover lying spread out like a buffet almost threw Simon off track as his cock hardened even further. He had to stop and take a deep breath before continuing to the side of the bed.

With his jeans still on Simon straddled Nick’s waist. “You should really take those off I’ll be good…promise.”

“No hurry. I can always take them off after I’m done massaging those sore muscles.” Simon doubted they would get to the point where he’d be taking his pants off considering how drowsy Nick already sounded.

He opened the bottle of oil and sprinkled some over Nick’s back then resealed the bottle and threw it to the floor. The first glide of his hands over Nick’s skin made both of them moan. Simon squeezed and moulded Nick’s hard muscles on his neck and slowly worked his way down to his broad shoulders and back.

Carefully avoiding the healing scar on Nick’s arm, the wound stood as a reminder of how easily this man could have been killed trying to save him. Simon brushed that thought away—buzzkill for sure—and continued his massage. Nick’s breathing had evened out several minutes ago and he was beginning to softly snore. Quietly, Simon lifted himself off Nick and onto the carpeted floor. He couldn’t resist and ran his hand down his lover’s body before covering him with a light blanket.

I don’t know how I got so attached to this man so soon. God, I wish it didn’t have to end.

Simon knew that was a wish unlikely to come true. They both led different lives, resided on different continents, and Simon’s place was in England. He didn’t think Nick would consider leaving Canada for him, even with the threat of not being able to go back to his old job.

He bent down and laid a soft kiss on Nick’s cheek. “What have you done to me, Nick Cooper? I’m going to miss you.”

With one final look, Simon turned away and shut the door.

As much as he didn’t fancy making plans to go home, he had a company to run and he’d been away long enough.