Deuce Does Boston Day Three

***THIS STORY WILL EVENTUALLY CONTAIN SEXUALLY EXPICIT CONTENT***

SUNDAY

A long suffering sigh left Deuce’s lips as he walked up the ramp to Nick’s boat, his mind a million miles away as he tried to decompress after what had been a very long and tiring conference. He didn’t understand, being around other professionals and talking with them usually made him more energized, but there was something different about this trip that he just couldn’t put his finger on. No, if he was admitting things to himself he knew exactly why this conference had been different: it was the person he’d been staying with for the past few days. The same reason he hadn’t got any proper sleep. Nick. Why was this man affecting him like this? Deuce had known him for years and there hadn’t been so much as a bleep on his radar where he was concerned, but now that he’d gotten to know him as someone besides his big brothers best friend, there was something special about him that he had never realized before and he was torn between kicking himself for not getting to know him earlier and kicking himself for letting Nick completely take over his brain like this. He had zoned out several times during the day, just thinking about last nights many close calls with kissing him and he just kept imagining what it would be like.

He shook his head slightly as he walked inside, the quiet of the boats interior leading him to believe that he was alone as he kicked his shoes off and dropped his jacket and bag on the couch, undoing his tie and the first few buttons of his dress shirt as he turned and went right back out the doors and onto the deck. He leaned against the railing with a soft sigh as he looked out at the darkening sky. Deuce chewed on his lower lip as he gazed over at the water, loving the feel of the cool breeze blowing over him and the smell of the harbor assaulting his nose just added to the experience as he leaned heavily against the rail, his eyes closing for a moment or two, an unconscious smile crossing his face as Nick popped into his head yet again. That man was going to be the death of him, he could feel it.

The brunet visibly jumped at the feel of a hand on his shoulder as a cold glass was pressed into his hand. He opened his eyes, laughing softly at the sight of the expensive scotch in his hand and the cigar that Nick was handing to him.

“I swear that your Marine training has a special section on sneaking up on and scaring the shit out of civilians,” he laughed as he took the cigar from the other man, immediately recognizing it as one of Ty’s precious Cubans. “As many years as I’ve been around Marines, you’d think that I’d be able to see them coming a mile away.” He smiled over at Nick as he took a drink out of the glass.

“You’re the one that was so deep in your own little world that you didn’t even notice me saying hi from the galley as you threw your shit down on my couch and then walked outside like I was fucking invisible.” Nick had a smile on his face as he leaned against the railing next to Deuce, turning his head slightly to study the younger man.

“You hungry?”

Deuce shook his head slightly as he pushed away from the railing, making his way over to the couch, sitting down heavily and resting his sore leg on the small table that was in front of them. “Thanks but I had dinner with a few friends that I only get to see a couple times a year. One’s getting married in a couple of months, means a trip to California for me and someone else is having another baby. Fuck, I remember when we were just kids huddled together after our graduation ceremony, diplomas in our hands and completely terrified of what was to come. God, I feel so fucking old sometimes.”

Nick snorted softly as he sat down on the couch near Deuce. “Don’t fucking talk to me about feeling old. Remember who the old man is here.”

“Oh yeah, a whole two years older than me, that’s old.” He laughed softly as he glanced over at Nick, a hint of worry crossing his face as he studied him carefully. Those dark circles under Nick’s eyes were far from a comfort, especially with how little he knew that Nick had been sleeping lately. He knew he wasn’t his doctor, just a friend, but he was worried about his safety on the job. Nick’s job required him to be on constant alert at all times and with him only getting the three hours of sleep at night that he had told Deuce about, it was only a matter of time before something happened. And if it happened and Deuce hadn’t said anything about it, he’d never forgive himself.

It seemed like tonight was as good a time as any to see if he could get anything out of Nick.

“So, why don’t you tell me why you don’t sleep Nick?” Deuce said casually, as if he’d just asked about the weather or how Nick’s day at work had been, “What do you see when you close your eyes that you’re trying to avoid?”

“I’m not…” Nick shook his head and took a swallow of scotch.

“You can talk to me Nick. Not as a doctor, as a friend.” Deuce turned on the couch, laid one knee on the cushion and draped an arm over the back, “I’m a good listener you know. That does come with the job.” He gave Nick a slight smile, “Seriously though. Sometimes just talking shit out, no advice, no therapy tricks, just getting it off your chest to someone can really help. Take a load off so to speak.”

Nick nodded, took a final swallow and set the tumbler on the end table, the ice clinking against the empty glass. He actually found himself wanting to talk to Deuce about it. It’d be nice to ‘take the load off’ as D had said. Maybe it would clear his head a bit. Expose the monster under the bed to find it was only a dust bunny after all, nothing to get so worked up about and lose sleep over. He wandered if it was a good idea though. If he talked about what had happened, what caused his restlessness, he’d be exposing some truths about what Ty had gone through as well. Did Ty want his little brother knowing what he’d experienced, about the evils that lurk in the world? Not that Deuce was some naïve little kid, but still. Nick knew about wanting to shield loved ones from the boogie man if you could. He also knew about not wanting people to pity you, to look at you with that fucking look in their eye like he was damaged goods, or somehow weak for letting it happen in the first place.

“Stop thinking so much Nick. Just…talk. Whatever comes out comes out.” Deuce shrugged,” Or tell me to mind my own fucking business. Either way I’m just going to sit here and enjoy the beautiful night. Your call.” Deuce raised an eyebrow, “Though you know what I’d prefer you do.”

Nick ran his hand through his hair and then scrubbed his face with it. Was he really going to talk about this? He hadn’t actually talked about what happened since he’d been debriefed ten years ago. He and Ty talked about it occasionally, but not in any detailed fashion, more like vague references here and there. Of course they didn’t need to detail everything; they’d both been there and had experienced that same shit. But Ty…it didn’t seem to affect him in the same way as it did Nick. Ty had that uncanny ability to live in the now without dwelling on the past and all of the ‘what if’s’ and Nick truly envied that about his best friend.

“When I dream it’s…so vivid,” he finally began, giving in to the temptation to finally open up. “It’s like, it’s like…like I’m still there ya know? I…I wake up sometimes still hearing the buzz of electricity and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth like I’d just been electrocuted. They used to stick these…”Nick vaguely gestured to his chest area, “electrode things, more like jumper cable clips really and…”he shook his head, “anyway yeah. But you know it isn’t even so much the torture, the shocks, being strapped to that table…those fucking blunt instruments…being made to…,” he shook his head again, “being tipped back in a chair with that filthy fucking rag over my face and pouring water over me until I felt like I would drown.” Nick paused to take a breath, feeling his lungs burn with the memory. He could still smell that fucking disgusting burlap cloth, a mixture of mildew, body odor and vomit. Some of those odors probably resulting from Nick’s own body’s reaction, and Ty’s, and who knew how many others those bastards waterboarded in that fucking prison.  “It wasn’t even being locked in that tiny cell, the ceiling so fucking low we couldn’t even stand,” a shiver passed through his body. God he still hated enclosed spaces. He fought it though, forcing himself to squeeze into the tightest crevices when he went rock climbing, making himself board an elevator that was full to the brim. Yet it still hit him at odd times, like when he’d had that MRI of his shoulder a few months ago. How embarrassing it was to have to squeeze that little red ball and admit he couldn’t stay in that coffin like tube for twenty damn minutes without shaking and hyperventilating like a fucking pussy.

Nick leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and turned his head to look out over the dark water that he wasn’t really seeing anyway. No, it wasn’t really the cell, or the torture, or the other God forsaken things they made them do, or tried to make them do, to each other. Things Nick wouldn’t be sharing with Deuce, things that were better off left dead in that desert just like the men that inflicted those horrors. “It was…knowing that…what they were doing to me they were doing to Ty as well. I knew…I knew what kind of pain and fear he was going through and I…it fucking killed me.” Nick glanced at Deuce, who was looking at him so intently Nick had to look away again. “They were doing that to Ty. My…and I couldn’t do anything about it.” Nick sighed, “It kept me alive though; that anger, the need to see him again…see that he was ok. I needed to…to just see him…alive and well. I needed to make sure he got out of there in one piece and we…we had more time together. I…” Nick shook his head and hung it down, rubbing his palms together, “so yeah, the anger kept me going even when my body told me that it’d had enough, yeah?”

He glanced at Deuce and D gave him a small nod but did nothing else to interrupt. “And we did. We got out of that fucking place. But in my dreams…in my nightmares…no. No Ty doesn’t get out. He’s…just…gone. I look for him, I…I look everywhere, and I’m being forced to leave without him, but…but I don’t want to…I. God. I wake up screaming his fucking name.” Nick took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I let him down, man. I fucking let my best friend down, the…” Nick couldn’t bring himself to say the man he’d loved because it felt like a betrayal to Deuce somehow. “…the most important person in my life at the time. Just like I always let my pop down…and Jenna, and…” Nick’s voice cracked because his throat felt tight, and damn that burning behind his eyes. He scrubbed at his face again. He wasn’t going to cry. He wasn’t going to fucking cry in front of Deuce no matter how many patients had broken down in front of the doctor. Nick wasn’t going to be one of them. Jesus, he couldn’t let Deuce see him as anything less than…strong. Capable.  Nick shook his head and lowered it again, concentrating on a black smudge on the white deck.

Shit. Deuce had known that things were bad with Nick; he just didn’t imagine that it was this bad. But he knew that it shouldn’t surprise him. He’d been there when Ty had come home from overseas, had seen the change in his brother. He had been there through the flashbacks and the dreams, holding Ty as tightly as he dared as his older brother struggled with what had happened to him and his team member. He’d heard him talking in his sleep and while Ty had never told him what happened, he was able to piece together enough to figure it out himself. He kept his eyes on Nick as he told the story, nodding slightly from time to time, knowing that if he interrupted to say anything that the other man would find an excuse to change the subject and he’d never get it all out the way he needed to.

“You haven’t let anyone down, Nick. You’ve been through hell and look at yourself now. You walked through the fucking fires of hell, and here you are sitting beside me. Nightmares… they’re caused by lots of things, but yours, and Ty’s… they’re recurring dreams and are most likely caused by PTSD.” He hesitated for a moment, knowing that it was a delicate subject. “Nightmares aren’t weaknesses, Nick. It’s your body’s way of processing what happened, what you’re afraid could have happened. He’s alive, Nick. I know when you wake up and are confused as fuck about what’s real or not that it’s not easy to figure out what’s going on, but he’s alive. You both made it out of that fucking hellhole in one piece and together.” He slid a little closer to the other man, squeezing his knee gently.

“I know it’s nothing compared to what you’ve been through, but I still have nightmares about that damn motorcycle accident. Only in my dreams, it’s not my leg. It’s my back and I’m paralyzed, or I’m just watching my parents and Ty at my fucking funeral because I didn’t make it…” He risked another look at Nick, his heart breaking at the look on the other man’s face, feeling himself shifting closer on the couch.

“Nick?”

When the other man turned his head to look over at Deuce, and green eyes met hazel yet again, there was no hesitation for either of them. As if they were drawn to one another, the space between them disappeared and their lips finally connected in a hesitant kiss. Deuce brought his hand up to cup Nick’s neck, the butterflies in his stomach pounding away as his confidence grew, his tongue moving out to lick across Nick’s lower lip as he slid closer, his nerves fading as he continued to kiss him, his entire body feeling like it was on edge as an electric tingle spread down his spine. A soft moan left his lips at the feel of Nick’s arms wrapping around him, pulling him closer as their lips parted, both of them breathing a little unsteadily.

“Never done that sober before…” Deuce murmured softly as he met Nick’s eyes with his own. “Kissed a guy, I mean. I’ve kissed women sober before, and I kissed a few guys when I got drunk back in college. Don’t remember it being that fucking good…” The fact that he had kissed Nick was starting to sink in and his mind was racing, trying to decide if things were going to get awkward and how fast it was going to take.

“Nick, I…” when he was cut off by Nick’s lips covering his own again, he relaxed against the older man, his fingers digging into the shoulders of Nick’s shirt, another moan leaving his lips. Oh fuck yes.

Jesus Christ Nick’s body was on fire. He was smoldering from the inside. Every nerve felt like a live wire from the instant his lips had met Deuce’s.  Nick had always enjoyed kissing, but this was…this was incandescent.

The kiss quickly turned from tentative and exploratory to full on animalistic need. Nick sucked Deuce’s lower lip into his mouth, gave it a nibble then released it to delve his tongue in deep. Deuce let out another of those delicious moans and it threw Nick right over the edge. He started to pull his own tee shirt up but Deuce took over, grabbing at the hem, their mouths only parting long enough for D to yank it over Nick’s head and toss it to the side before coming back together in a clattering of teeth.

Nick fumbled with Deuce’s tie as they kissed, pulling the knot free and then scrabbling with the buttons down the front of his dress shirt. His fingers were shaking so badly he couldn’t maneuver the damn little things, and Deuce wasn’t helping with his exploration of Nick’s overheated skin along with those damn sexy noises he was making.

Fuck it. Nick needed to do some skin exploration of his own. He growled and ripped the front of Deuce’s shirt open, those fucking buttons breaking free and clattering against the fiberglass deck.

“Good shirt,” D breathed against Nick’s lips, than added, “Fuck it.” And pulled Nick back into the kiss with a grip to the hair at the back of Nick’s head. Deuce wiggled in his arms as he reached behind his back to undo the wrist cuffs. After Deuce struggled out of his dress shirt, Nick pulled D’s undershirt up and over his head, touching as much skin as possible in the process. Nick took a moment to look over and appreciate the sculpted planes of Deuce’s chest and abdomen before delving back in to that delectable mouth. Deuce tasted just as sweet as Nick had thought he would, his lips and tongue felt just as luscious, maybe even more so.

Nick clutched Deuce’s hips and shifted him into a supine position as he climbed on top and they slowly reclined.  Their nearly two inch height difference was mostly due to Deuce’s long legs, so they lined up nearly perfectly hip to shoulder as their legs landed in a scissor position. Nick braced some of his weight on one elbow and touched as much of Deuce as he could with his other hand. Hair, face, neck, shoulder, a thumb grazing a nipple as it passed by to slide down D’s flank. Deuce arched up at the brief contact and Nick felt D’s cock jump against his hip. Sensitive nipples? Nick slid his hand back up and teased the bud with the pad of his thumb and Deuce made a little noise at the back of his throat as he flexed his hips up and ground his hard dick against Nick. Oh yeah. Fuck yeah. Nick shifted; lining his aching cock up with D’s and undulated against him. They both moaned with the needed friction.  Deuce clutched at Nick’s ass, hips and back as they continued to kiss and roll their pelvises together. Jesus Nick hadn’t made out and dry humped like this since he was a teenager but there was no way it had ever felt this fantastic.

It seemed like they went at it for hours, lips only parting occasionally to trail a kiss or tongue down a throat before meeting up again. Nick could have gone on like this all night if it wasn’t for the growing discomforts of the outdoor couch that wasn’t meant for two men of their size to get busy on. Besides, his dick was starting to scream at him that it needed more; more skin on skin contact, more friction and attention, crying with the need to come soon before it turned painful.

Nick pulled his mouth from Deuce’s and looked down at the flushed handsome man. D’s already full lips were swollen and wet from the kisses and God damn he was gorgeous.  Nick took a moment to catch his breath as he appreciated that face before he said, “Bedroom.”

Deuce gave a small nod and immediately started to sit up. Nick pushed off of the couch and stood, holding a hand out to help Deuce. He tried to make it look nonchalant as to not offend D, but he knew that position couldn’t have been comfortable on his bad limb. As Deuce got to his feet Nick pulled him into a lingering kiss before turning and leading D inside without letting his hand go until they reached the head of the stairs. As they made their way down Deuce rested one hand on Nick’s shoulder seemingly not wanting to break contact.

When they reached the bottom Nick turned and pulled Deuce into another kiss, backing him up until his back hit the hall wall, causing the pictures to clatter their protest at the disturbance. 

“Bedroom,” Deuce repeated Nick’s suggestion after a moment as Nick sucked on Deuce’s collarbone.

“Yeah, bedroom, “ Nick agreed, hooking his fingers through the belt loops of D’s dress pants and pulling him along as Nick walked backwards, continuing the neck and shoulder sucking. Deuce turned his head this way and that to give Nick full access, trusting Nick was leading him in the right direction and they wouldn’t end up running into anything.

As the back of Nick’s knees hit the mattress he stopped and snaked his hands between their bodies to undo Deuce’s pants. D mimicked the actions on Nick’s jeans as they simultaneously slipped out of their shoes and kicked them aside, the kissing and sucking rarely stopping. Fuck, Nick couldn’t get enough of Deuce. Couldn’t get enough of the taste of him, the feel of his warm silky skin, and holy hell, those fucking sounds that Deuce was making, Jesus Nick could come just by listening to him.

Nick’s jeans hit the floor, and being as he always rocked commando, he just kicked them to the side ready to go. He watched as Deuce slid down his boxer briefs and had to swallow hard as his pulse pounded in his throat. Deuce was all shadows in the dark of the room, but Nick’s eyes had adjusted enough that he again was taken aback by Deuce. Dear God just when he thought the man couldn’t get any more perfect that long thick cock was presented to him. Nick reached forward and touched it from base to head briefly before uttering, “Lie down.”

Deuce complied and Nick once again climbed on top, this time settling between D’s legs as D spread them to accommodate. The feeling of complete skin to skin contact without any barrier was mind blowing. Nick was far from a virgin, he’d gotten around quite a bit in fact, yet the way this felt he could’ve sworn he’d never had sex before. Fuck, what was it about this man underneath of him that threw him for such a loop; that made him feel and say things he never did before. And all of this time, all of these years, Deuce had been hiding in plain sight right before Nick’s eyes. How did he never notice him until recently?

They kissed for a few minutes, slightly grinding, until Nick rolled them onto their sides and reached between them to take both of their cocks into his left hand. He used his palm to first capture the wetness that was leaking from both of their tips and smoothed the moisture down to give them some natural lubrication. Deuce trembled and clutched at Nick’s back, deepening the kiss as Nick began to stroke them together. Fuck, Nick wasn’t going to last long, especially as the sound of Deuce’s moans grew louder and more urgent as his hips pumped with the rhythm of Nick’s caress.

The tingling began at the base of Nick’s spine and he felt his balls drawl up just as Deuce cried out and his cock jumped in Nick’s hand. A powerful orgasm rocked through Nick as he let out his own howl of pleasure and they came together. Hot come shot up between them, hitting chest then abdomen before spilling over Nick’s hand as he continued to milk out every last drop.

Finally Nick slowed his hand to a stop, letting go of their oversensitive cocks and wrapped Deuce into his arms while kissing him. Still kissing him. Always kissing him. Nick knew already he would never get enough of that mouth. Ever.  

Deuce fought to catch his breath as he trembled from the intensity of his orgasm, his entire body still on edge as he pressed himself closer to Nick, moaning into the kisses, his hips instinctively arching against Nick’s, his body still craving the contact. His brain was spinning in circles as his body recovered from the onslaught of new sensations. He wasn’t new to sex, but this kind of sex? It might have been new, but he fucking loved every moment of it.

“God, Nicky,” he moaned softly as they finally broke the kisses, leaning his head back a bit to look at the man that was laying beside him, the others body still trembling in pleasure along-side Deuces.

“That was…” Deuce was having trouble finishing his thoughts as he looked down at their entwined bodies, a fleeting thought of thankfulness running through his head at the fact that his bad leg was hidden from sight by the shadows. But in the same thought process, he hated the fact that they were in darkness because he couldn’t see Nick’s body.

Nick chuckled softly as he kissed Deuce, the simple act sending a fire through his body as he moaned and moved closer to him, unable to get enough of Nick. “I know, D, I know…”

“No nightmares tonight, kay…?” Hazel eyes met green ones as Deuce planted a trail of kisses across Nick’s chest, not satisfied with giving up the intimate contact just yet. His hands itched to explore as he shifted and pressed Nick back against the pillows, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss as Deuce propped himself up on his arms, his hips grinding against Nicks, both of their cocks starting to come to attention at the sensations.

“Gonna wear you out so that you actually sleep tonight,” he threatened with a slight smirk, his orgasm giving him the confidence to push Nick down and explore the body he’d been thinking about for weeks. He reached up, turning on the light by the bed, bathing them in a soft glow as he smiled down at Nick. Okay, the butterflies were back again, but this time they just urged him on as he kissed his way down Nick’s neck, pausing to lick and nip where neck met shoulder, unable to get enough of the taste of Nick’s skin.

“Marking your territory?” Nick asked with a smirk, his own tongue flicking over the dark red mark on Deuce’s collar bone. “Already got you beat there.”

“What?!” Deuce’s fingers went to the spot that Nick was kissing, playfully smacking him on the shoulder. “I’m going to kill you!”

The two men burst into laughter, the mood in the room more calm than when they first fell onto the bed. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” Deuce murmured softly as he kissed Nick again, his hips grinding against his partners as Nick arched up against him. Despite Deuce’s plan to take things slow this time around, his body had the exact opposite plan as he felt Nick’s hands running up and down his back, one of his hands moving to Deuce’s ass, squeezing it as he arched up, causing them both to moan at the friction between their hardened cocks.

“Thought you were going to wear me out…” Nick teased as his hand slid off of Deuce’s ass and down to his hip, his fingers lightly wrapping around their cocks, stroking them teasingly slow.

A low moan left Deuce’s throat as he arched up toward Nick’s hand. He hadn’t been a virgin in years, but the way Nick’s hands felt on his body made him feel seventeen again, only this time he wasn’t fumbling around like an idiot in the back of his dad’s old pick up. A sharp nip to the side of his neck brought the younger man back to the present, unable to resist a smile when Nick’s face came into view.

“No letting your mind slip away when my hand is on your cock.” His voice may have sounded serious, but Deuce could tell that he was just being teased as he lowered his head to kiss Nick, his tongue delving into that sweet mouth once again, finding himself unable to get enough of the man that arching and moaning against his lips.

Deuce let his hand trail over Nick’s chest, never breaking the kiss as it moved down their bodies, his fingers wrapping around Nick’s as they both stroked their cocks together, the teasing touches and kisses turning into something more demanding as the room filled with moans and gasps of pleasure.

Fuck… Deuce moaned as their hands tightened around their cocks, both of them so close and just needed that last little push over the edge. The feel of their cocks rubbing together was one of the most amazing things he’d ever felt. 

“D…” the sound of need in Nick’s voice was the only warning Deuce got before he felt his lovers cock pulsating in his hand, Nicks moans of pleasure reaching his ears and sending him completely over the edge, his own moans joining Nick’s, his body trembling with his orgasm. “Fuck, D…”

Nick kept a hold of Deuce’s hand as he laced their sticky fingers together, lifting his head to kiss him as they both fought to catch their breath, their bodies still pressed together in the afterglow. “Mmm…” Deuce hummed softly against Nick’s lips as he rolled them over so that they were laying on their sides, Nick reaching down to pull a sheet over their heated skin from the cool of the night air.

No words were spoken between the two of them for a long while as gentle kisses were exchanged, hands exploring bodies that they’d wanted to touch for weeks. Nick smiled as he caught Deuce’s lower lip between his teeth, tugging on it gently before kissing him. “We should get cleaned up…”

“Requires too much moving… I vote for staying here.” He pulled Nick closer to him, his fingers running through the reddish blond curls as he kissed him softly.

“Mmm, you’ve convinced me,” Nick grinned as he wrapped the sheets around them tightly, wanting them to be as close as possible.

“Good…” Deuce studied Nick for a moment or two, a thumb gently brushing over the dark circles under Nick’s eyes. “You miss it, don’t you? The Marines…” Sure, it wasn’t the most conventional subject for pillow talk, but Deuce always found that there were certain things that were easier to talk about when you were boneless and post-orgasm.

Nick was quiet for a few moments as Deuce studied him, quietly waiting for an answer that he wasn’t sure if he would actually get. “Yeah…” Deuce was beginning to think that he was just going to get a one world answer, but he felt Nick’s hand move down to his hip, stroking the skin there as he began to speak. “I thought I’d still be enlisted. Planned on being a lifer… when they discharged us like that” Nick looked down as he traced small circles on Deuce’s skin, “it was like a part of me…died. I was so disillusioned about it all.” He sighed and looked at Deuce’s face, “You know what the first thing my dad said to me when I got home?” Deuce shook his head, “He said, ‘knew you’d fuck it up somehow’.” Nick flipped his hand in the air as if to brush away that statement, “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about him right now… But yeah, I loved being a Marine, man, I really did. I never felt more alive.”

Deuce nodded slightly, lifting his lips up to kiss him softly. “You’re always going to be a Marine Nick, its part of who you are.”

Nick nodded slightly. “What about you? You had your career planned from what Ty’s told me, and then…”

Deuce shrugged slightly. “That was a long time ago… my entire life changed in the blink of an eye. I was sixteen, a star quarterback, had plans of going into the Marines when I graduated from high school… but fate had other plans for me. It took a while for me to accept it. And even after I did accept that things happen for a reason, when I found out about Ty and you … I just kept thinking that I should have been there with you, been there with him…” he trailed off for a moment, pausing to kiss Nick’s shoulder softly.

“It’s stupid, I know. I wouldn’t have done anyone any good, but there was still that seed of doubt… but I do love my career. I have quite a few patients that are ex-military… it’s weird, when they find out my brother was Recon, it doesn’t take long. I have pictures of me and Ty in my office, it seems like when they notice them they open up easier. Maybe it’s because they know they won’t be judged… I don’t know. But, whatever their reasoning, I’m glad they’ll open up and talk to me. Sure, I do wonder what if. What if I hadn’t been a stupid sixteen year old on that bike… but you can’t change the past, yeah? Just have to accept what happens, find a way to cope with it, and then move on.”

They fell into a comfortable silence as Deuce snuggled closer to Nick, his hand moving back to Nick’s hair as if it was moving on its own accord.

“You know, I was thinking…it’s Memorial Day tomorrow…I have off until Wednesday. Stay a few more days…” Nick broke the silence with a question that Deuce hadn’t seen coming.

“Nick, I…” the regret was obvious in his voice as he shook his head slightly. “I can’t. I have patients on Tuesday and I’m busy as hell this week…” Deuce hated being the cause of the look of disappointment in Nick’s eyes.

“It’s okay; I know you’re busy…” Nick trailed off, squeezing Deuce’s hand tightly. “I just thought...”

Deuce chewed on his lower lip for a moment or two as he mentally went over his patient schedule. He did have off tomorrow, he’d planned on that being a recovery day from the conference, so if he moved some of his Tuesday patients around for later in the week, and scheduled a few of his more flexible ones for Saturday morning…

Deuce finally sighed, giving in to the temptation, “Let me make some calls. I can probably stay until Wednesday…I’d have to leave early though.” the bright and happy smile on Nick’s face instantly made up for the fact that the last half of Deuce’s week was going to be hell.

“Yeah? You sure..?”

Deuce smiled as he kissed him. “Just have to make a couple of calls and change my flight.” He glanced over at the clock. “And I should probably make those calls now before it gets any later and I get murdered for calling, and I need to change the flight before the airline takes even more of my money.” he laughed softly as he pushed himself up onto his elbows.

“I can handle the flight while you make the calls,” Nick offered, unable to stop smiling as he gave Deuce a kiss and jumped out of bed.

“Perfect!” Deuce reached over the side of the bed and managed to grab his pants and pull them over before tossing Nick his wallet as he dropped his phone on the bed. “Just pick a credit card and if you can get a first class seat, I’ll love you forever. One coach seat per trip is enough for me.” He laughed as he leaned back against the pillows, unable to stop himself from watching a naked Nick as he disappeared out of the room, going upstairs to the computer.

Deuce was glad that his goofy grin couldn’t be seen through the phone as he called his secretary, apologizing to her a few times as he asked her to call all of his scheduled appointments for the next few days and reschedule them with his apologies. He knew that he was lucky that his secretary didn’t ask any questions when he told her he was taking a small vacation. She was always telling him that he worked too much and that he needed to take a little more time off every now and then that didn’t just consist of a weekend trip to visit his brother. They spoke for a few more moments before hanging up, leaving Deuce staring at his phone like it was going to grow antenna. He had one more call to make; one that he knew wasn’t going to go as well as the one he’d just made.

“Man up, Grady,” he told himself sternly as he went into his favorites and hit the number. “Liv? Hey…” He closed his eyes at the sound of his girlfriend’s voice, the first trickles of guilt moving down his spine.  “Can you watch Winchester for a few more days? A few things came up and I’m going to be staying in Boston until Wednesday.”

He winced slightly as she raised her voice in anger, knowing that it was coming. “Livi, I’m not changing my mind. A friend of mine from college just moved to Boston. I haven’t seen him in years, so I’m going to crash on his couch and we’re going to catch up. I’ll be home on Wednesday and I’ll get the cat then, okay…?”

Deuce went quiet for a few moments as he rubbed his eyes, feeing a headache begin to form, breathing a sigh of relief when she gave in and agreed to cat-sit for a few more days. “Thanks, hon… yeah, I’ll see you in a few days. You too, good night…” he ended the call, laying his phone on the table by the bed, relaxing back against the pillows, a smile on his face as he waited for Nick to come back.

Nick stayed upstairs a little longer than it took to switch Deuce’s ticket to give D some time to make his calls. He figured one of them was going to be of the personal variety and didn’t want to disturb him. The entire time, while Nick went to the guest bath to clean up, went upstairs and did the ticket switch then went to the galley to lean on the counter and drink some water, he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. He and Deuce had just…holy shit. Twice! Nick had always been rather proud of his stamina, but damn he’d never been able to get it up again that quickly before.

After the first round he’d been afraid that D was going to be freaked when he came down from the peak of his orgasm, but no. Jesus, Deuce had actually wanted more. The way it felt when they were kissing, touching, stroking and moving. The way they came together both times, it all almost felt familiar, like they’d been doing it for a lifetime. Yet it was so exciting and new. Nick rubbed his stomach as that damn fluttering started again, but this time he kind of liked the feeling.

He ran his fingers through his hair, his body still buzzing, and tried to tell himself that this was no big deal; not too get too goofy about the whole situation. It was just sex, no big, something Nick had done many times. Yet this felt so…fuck he needed to get a grip. Deuce didn’t seem like the kind of guy that slept around, not that Nick really knew for sure, so it probably meant something to D too, right? He had seemed really happy and into it, but who knew?

The sexual chemistry had been building between them for weeks from a distance, and the last few days being face to face had seemed to bring it to a head, no pun intended. Nick had thought he’d been reading it wrong, that it was just wishful thinking, but apparently not. Nick had never been more thankful about being wrong in his life. Still, just because Deuce wanted to get it on, was their encounter having the same effect on him? Jesus, is this how women felt after having a one night stand? Is this what this was going to be, just a one nighter? Yeah, Nick needed to get a grip and stop over thinking shit.

He took a deep breath and released it before rinsing out his glass and setting in the sink. He figured he’d probably been gone long enough so he grabbed two bottles of water out of the fridge and turned to snag a bag of Cheetos for him and Ruffles for Deuce because he knew they were his favorite, before heading back down.

He slowed as he reached his cabin and tentatively poked his head in. Deuce was sitting with his back against the headboard and his chest exposed, the ivory sheets pooled at his waist and covering the rest of him. His hair was sex rumpled and a small smile played on his lips as he studied his hands.

“Hey, all good?” Nick asked as he entered.

“Yup, all squared away.” Deuce looked up at him and his smile grew.

“I got you first class for nine am Wednesday morning; it was the earliest they had.”

“Thanks,” Deuce smiled. “That’s good.”

Nick jumped up on the bed next to D, feeling way happier then he probably should, and slid under the sheet after dropping his bounty between them. “I also brought sustenance.”

Deuce picked up the bag of chips, “You’re going to make me fat.” He teased as he ripped open the bag.

“I’ll just have to make sure you burn more calories than you take in,” Nick wiggled his eyebrows as he opened his Cheetos while simultaneously sliding closer to D until their hips touched.

Deuce ate a few chips then cracked open the water and downed half the bottle, “Fair enough, as long as you keep me well hydrated.”

“I’ll make sure you get lots of protein too.”

Deuce let out a burst of laughter, “That was bad. Even for you.”

Nick chewed happily with a smile on his face as he brushed his toes over the top of Deuce’s foot. “Couldn’t help myself.”

“I don’t think you ever can,” Deuce smiled as he jiggled his snack bag while looking inside, searching for the perfect chip. He rocked his foot back and forth maintaining the connection against the bottom of Nick’s as they playing footsies while they munched.

Nick wanted to ask him if he was okay. Deuce seemed okay. Really okay actually and Nick was beginning to realize that this must be part of D’s personality. He just seemed to take everything in stride as it came at him; Nick’s bad jokes and sexual innuendoes, his motorcycle accident that changed his career path, and God, even having sex with a man for the first time. Nick decided he needed to take a lesson from the doctor and just enjoy whatever time they were going to have together without giving it too much thought.

Nick finished the crunchy cheese puffs then looked at his orange fingers and at the light sheets, “I didn’t give my snack choice enough thought.”

Deuce smirked, “Go wash your hands I don’t want to wake up looking like a reverse tiger.”

Nick slid off the bed, holding the offending appendage up in the air. D didn’t have to tell him twice if it meant Nick got to do more touching throughout the night.

“And here,” Deuce held out his empty chip bag with a twitch of his lips, “Throw this out while you’re up.”

“Damn, someone becomes bossy after sex” Nick said as he took the offering.

Deuce leaned up searching for a kiss and Nick happily complied. Their lips lingered a moment before D pulled back and gave Nick a slap on the ass, “Now, do as I say and get your sweet ass back in here to keep me warm.”

“Well, if you put it that way, I could live with bossy.” Nick laughed as he headed for the bathroom to wash up, “I was in the service, I can follow orders; never got a kiss from any of the officers for my efforts though.”

After discarding the garbage Nick looked at his reflection in the mirror as he washed his hands. His lips were swollen and red, his hair was crazy, he had love bites on his neck and chest and he was wearing a goofy ass grin. Shit, he would do anything Deuce asked him to at this moment, maybe even for the rest of his…no, he wasn’t going there. This was crazy, why did his mind keep doing that? It was way too soon to start thinking they’d have a future. It was entirely insane to think half of the thoughts he’d had over the past few days. Weeks even. But damn this felt right.

He turned off the faucet and dried his hands. Just because Deuce apparently wasn’t as straight as Nick had thought, didn’t mean he shouldn’t still be off limits. He was still his best friend’s brother and Ty would fucking kill Nick if he found out. A little late for that train of thought O’Flaherty.

As Nick came back into the bedroom Deuce had turned off the light and was lying on his side. He lifted the sheet as Nick got close, “Get in here,” he said, “I miss Winchester and I need another ginger to snuggle.”

Nick chuckled as he crawled in and settled down beside D facing him. As the sheet settled around them Nick reached up and stroked Deuce’s sweat damp hair from his forehead. You’re amazing D.

“Mmm,” Deuce mumbled, leaning forward to give Nick a quick kiss before turning over, “You’re pretty amazing yourself.”

Nick swallowed; he hadn’t realized he’d spoken out loud. Deuce wiggled back until they were cupped together like spoons and pulled Nick’s arm around his waist.

“Now shut up and sleep for once,” Deuce chuckled.

Nick laughed as he looked down at D’s dark hair. He gave the locks a quick kiss before resting his head down on the pillow. He tightened his grip on Deuce, giving him a quick squeeze. Nick closed his eyes intending to just rest them until D fell asleep and he could slip upstairs to watch TV for a few hours like he always did. That was his intention anyway. The last thought he had before drifting off was of how fucking good it felt to have D in his arms.