Rusty dropped to one knee beside Cross’s feet, the angle awkward, and reached up. Their mouths met, arms wrapping around each other, and the kiss outshone any awkwardness.
This is perfect.Cross’s mouth opened under Rusty’s as they clinched each other close in the hug. The bulk of Cross’s muscular arms around Rusty’s back felt safe and solid, and the kiss full of hot tongues and fast breaths said Rusty was wanted, desired, no matter what limits Cross put on that.
My guy.Rusty hugged back, ignoring the press of the chair against his arms, pinning Cross tightly to him. “Fuck, I missed you,” he breathed against Cross’s cheek.
“Yeah. Same.” Cross kissed him again, all nipping teeth and eager tongue, then ran his kisses down Rusty’s jaw and neck and buried his face against Rusty’s shoulder. Cross’s powerful arms still clamped them together, so Rusty held on tight in return.
“You okay?” he murmured.
“Better now. Did I say the last twenty-four hours sucked?”
“You mentioned.” Rusty wanted to know if there was more to the suckage than the end of the season in a heartbreaking loss Cross had been forced to watch across the miles. His job wasn’t to pry, though, just to be there. He kissed Cross’s temple. “So you figured you’d hop on a jet and come see me?”
“Impulse.”
“I’m glad you did.” Rusty leaned back enough to be able to see Cross’s face. Reluctantly, they let go of each other but he stayed kneeling at Cross’s feet. “Last night, I wanted a fucking transporter or a Tardis or something, to go be with you.”
“I settled for a Learjet.” Cross ran a hand over his short hair. Rusty saw his fingers weren’t completely steady. “Ridiculous extravagance, I know.”
It really was. Rusty felt odd, imagining a mostly empty jet winging through the skies just to bring his boyfriend to him.Normal people didn’t do that stuff. But Cross looked both worried and exhausted, and Rusty realized,he didn’t come here just for my sake.With Cross looking like he hadn’t slept in a week, Rusty couldn’t give him a hard time. “I guess, if you can hop a plane to come to Kansas when Scotty needed you last summer, you can hop the plane and come when you need me.” He caught Cross’s hands and squeezed them.
“Right.” Cross clutched his fingers back.
Rusty leaned in for a fast kiss. “How long can you stay?”
“Uh, I have to go back tomorrow night. I have an ortho appointment Monday morning.”
“Well, that sucks. But I’ll take whatever days we can get. Or nights, because I’m supposed to work tomorrow. I’d bet the docs wouldn’t like it if I put you on a horse and brought you along.”
“I think my surgeon would have a heart attack.”
“Maybe we could hitch the donkey to your chair like a cart.”
“Or maybe not.”
“You’re no fun.” Rusty was teasing, but Cross’s face fell and he looked away. Rusty reached out and laid his palm on Cross’s cheek. “You know that was a joke, right? Come on, you have to know that.”
“I’m not good for much right now.”
“You’re good for making me feel like I won the lottery.”
“Seriously?”
“Hand to God.” Rusty screwed up his nose at his mother’s phrase falling from his lips. “Hand to Satan, whatever. I saw you waiting for me and I could’ve flown down that hill.”
Cross turned a kiss onto Rusty’s wrist.
“Sorry,” Rusty said. “I probably smell like horses and cows.”
“A bit. I don’t mind.”
“Still, I should shower. Will you wait for me?”
“You could shower at the hotel. I reserved a suite.”
Rusty frowned. “You could’ve stayed here. The guys have spare rooms.”
“Accessibility.” Cross gestured at the chair. “I’m not good with stairs right now. Plus Arthur deserves entertainment if he wants it.”
