EMS Heat 10 - In His Hero's Shadow (8 page)

Brody let out a wail of pleasure, letting Chauncey know that it was indeed hard enough. “I better never see you flirting with another guy. You belong to me now,” Brody panted.

 

“I only flirted with them to get a rise from you,”

Chauncey confessed.
“Jerk.”
“Brat.”
“I really do like it when you call me that.”

Chauncey started to laugh, only to have it cut short as pleasure snapped over his body. At the same time, Brody screamed out Chauncey’s name one more time. Chauncey gave two more hard thrusts, before his pleasure crested, his cock filling up the condom.

Brody shivered as he found his own release, hot seed splashing between them. He continued to cling to Chauncey the entire time, almost as if he were afraid to let go.

“I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me forever,” Chauncey assured him.

 

“Good, because I don’t think I’m capable of letting you go,” Brody replied.

Those words had to be the sweetest thing Chauncey ever heard. As he pressed a kiss to Brody’s sweaty brow, he allowed himself, finally, to believe that things would work out.
Chapter Eight

They quickly cleaned up and got dressed again. Brody took the time to strip the bed so he could put the dirty sheets in the washer. While his mother may have her moments, she had taught him some manners. On occasion, Brody even made a point of using them.

Chauncey waited while he completed his task before he took Brody’s hand and led him back out to the living room so they could face their friends. As they walked out, every gaze fell on them.

A nervous feeling settled in Brody’s stomach as he studied all the shocked expressions in front of him. He slowly concluded that they’d probably heard every detail of his and Chauncey’s encounter.

Then Matt smirked and asked, “So, Brody, did Chauncey give it to you hard like you wanted?” A heat spread over Brody’s face. “You heard that?”

 

“You were screaming so loud the entire neighborhood probably got an earful.”

Then the room came to life as everybody took out their wallets and began to pass around money.

“Damn it, I was hoping they’d hold out for at least another week.”

 

“Are you kidding? I was lucky they made it this long. I nearly lost twenty bucks.”

“What are you whining about? I lost my money two months ago when these two wouldn’t get off their asses and get together.”

“I tried to warn you that they could be stubborn.”

Brody exchanged looks of horror with Chauncey as the truth suddenly dawned on him. “You guys bet on our love life.”

Matt cocked a brow. “Well, technically it was yourlackof a love life.”

 

“What made you guys so sure that we’d end up together?”

Kiefer rolled his eyes. “Please, we all knew how you two really felt about each other. The only ones who were ignorant to the fact were you and Chauncey.”

Brody glanced back up at Chauncey. “Can you believe these guys? And here I thought they were our friends.”

Chauncey laughed as he pulled Brody into his arms. “Had I’d known there was a betting pool going on, I would have put twenty on next week.”

“You really are a jerk,” Brody replied, even as he snuggled his cheek against Chauncey’s chest.

“Ah, but I’m yourjerk.”
“Yes, you are.”

They moved to the couch and sat there, cuddling like a pair of teenagers while they watched their friends play cards. Brody realized that they should get up and be more social, but he didn’t want to leave the comfort of Chauncey’s arms.

Just as Brody allowed himself to believe that the night would be perfect, his cell phone went off. Pulling it out of his pocket, his heart sank when he saw the incoming number.

“What is it?” Chauncey asked, his brow furrowing in concern.

“My mom. She’s calling me.”
“Are you going to answer it?”

Brody shook his head, his gaze still fixated on the readout. “I don’t need to, there’s…there’s only one reason why she ever calls me. She’s drunk and needs me to come home and clean her up.”

Damn it, why did this have to happen? Just when everything had been going perfectly, too. Chauncey gave him a comforting squeeze. “Okay, I’ll go get the car.”

 

Shocked, Brody finally looked up. “You’re going to drive me there?”

 

“Of course I am. It sounds like you’re going to need my help.”

Brody hesitated. While he really was tired of having to deal with his mother on his own, at the same time, he felt a bit of shame, too. He didn’t want Chauncey to have to see just how bad things were.

“Are you sure? It’s not exactly pretty when she gets like this.”

Chauncey pressed a kiss to Brody’s cheek. “That’s all the more reason for me to be there for you. Now tell everyone goodbye while I get the car.”

Numb, Brody nodded and did as ordered.

The entire drive there, Brody said a silent prayer that maybe this time it wouldn’t be so bad. That maybe he’d walk into the house and his mother would be all happy, alert and smiling, just like she used to be ten years ago before his father died.

Even as Chauncey pulled into the drive leading to Brody’s mother’s tiny ranch home, Brody knew that prayer would go unanswered. While he’d yet to see what condition his mother was in, Brody knew what he’d find inside.

After Chauncey turned off the car, Brody hesitated, hand on the door handle. “I should warn you. She can be mean sometimes.”

Chauncey cupped Brody’s cheek. “That’s okay. I know how it can be when dealing with an alcoholic. Just because we had money doesn’t mean that my own family didn’t have their issues. Not a holiday goes by that myAunt Susan doesn’t get drunk and make a scene.”

God, how could Brody have ever thought that Chauncey was a self-centered jerk? The man had a heart so pure and kind that Brody felt damn lucky to have him in his life. It made Brody wonder how anybody could ever think ill of the man.

“Kiefer told me that your family disowned you for standing up for him. I’m so sorry,” Brody said. “It’s okay.”

 

“I know what it’s like to be alone. It must hurt you so much.”

Chauncey fanned his thumb over Brody’s cheek. “But I’m not alone any more. Neither are you. We have each other now.”

Those words lifted a huge weight off Brody’s shoulder and it suddenly felt as if he could breathe again. He nodded, “Yes, we do.”

“Now, let’s go in and help your Mom out.”

Brody nodded as he finally allowed himself to feel hope. What’s more, he allowed himself to feel worthy. If Chauncey still found him desirable, even after knowing all his worst fears and secrets, then maybe Brody wasn’t such a loser after all.

September 11th, 2011

Brody sat in the comfort of Chauncey’s arms as they snuggled together on the couch in Chauncey’s living room. The place was more cramped than usual since all of their friends were there as well. They’d arrived early that morning so they could show their support to Brody.

For the first time ever, Brody was watching the news as they covered the anniversary. It was tough having to see the continuous footage of them replaying the videos of the attacks, but at the same time, it felt cathartic, too.
“Are you doing okay?” Chauncey asked.

“Yeah, thanks to you.” Brody stared at the screen, his chest growing tight as they showed the first Tower collapsing.

That was the exact moment my dad died and my life changed forever.

“Did you know that I wanted to be a fireman, like my dad? I was too small though,” Brody confessed.

“Instead you became a damn great medic and the world is better because of it. I may not have ever met your father, but I know he’d be damn proud of you. God knows I am.”

Brody craned his head so he could gaze up at Chauncey. “I’m so lucky to have you.”

He was, too. Not only had Chauncey helped him through the past few difficult weeks, but he’d managed to find a rehab center for Brody’s mother. While Brody knew his mother had a difficult road ahead of her, he finally had hope that she’d overcome her problems.

Brody looked back at the TV. On the bottom of the screen the station ran a ticker that displayed the names of those who died that day. Brody’s heart leaped as one stood out to him, “Hey, look there’s my dad’s name, Barney Wiseman.”

“I see it.” Chauncey kissed the top of Brody’s head.

 

“I want to go there next year,” Brody suddenly decided.

 

“You mean to Ground Zero?”

 

Brody nodded. “I think I’m finally ready to face it.”

 

“Are you sure?”

Brody looked back up at Chauncey. “Yes. I wasn’t before because I wasn’t strong enough, but now that I have you, I know I can face anything.”

Brody paused, as he nervously nibbled on his bottom lip. “That is, if you promise you’ll go with me.”

Chauncey gave Brody another kiss, this one landing on his cheek. “Brat, I’m always going to be by your side. Nothing could ever pull me apart from you.”

Happy, Brody snuggled back into position. As he continued to watch the television, he realized that for the first time in ten years, he felt whole again.

Of course that still didn’t mean he wasn’t going to use every opportunity he had to drive Chauncey crazy. Just because he was madly in love with the guy, didn’t mean he got off easy. Some things just should never change.

“I love you,” Brody whispered, fully aware that it was the first time he’d spoken the words aloud. Chauncey gave him a tight squeeze. “I love you, too. Even if you are a brat.”

Brody smiled, yeah. Yeah, some things were definitely going to stay the same and that made him all the happier.

About the Author

Stephani Hecht is a happily married mother of two. Born and raised in Michigan, she loves all things about the state, from the frigid winters to the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Go Wings! You can usually find her snuggled up to her laptop, creating her next book or gorging on caffeine at her favorite coffee shop.