Author: Kristbethke

** The Admiral commanded a family dinner and a fight this week.  Brandon and Jared had a story to tell.  If you haven’t read it yet, buy links are in the books tab at the top.  I really do love these guys, and I hope you’re entertained as they continue their story.  Enjoy!**

The one and only time we’d all been together had been the weekend Jared and I admitted our feelings.  Because it was so new, everyone had been on their best behavior.  Brian had barely teased, Zane had cooked up a storm, and Audra had been the consummate hostess.  It had been pleasant if reserved and not exactly natural.

But apparently that had been a onetime deal.

Brian and Zane had been snarking at each other practically since the moment Brian and Cas got off the plane.  Zane had been the one to pick them up so that I didn’t have to go out.  Ever since the first episode of Robber Barons aired, the paparazzi spotted me whenever I was in public.  It was a wonder they didn’t invade the house, but so far they hadn’t found me.  Jared was really good at losing any tails we picked up.

But Zane had left me in charge of the bubbling lasagna while he ran out to get them, and Casper had informed me when they walked in the house that the two of them had been sniping at each other the whole time.  It didn’t stop when Jared made it home and greeted everyone. Even as Zane set the table and called us all in to eat, it continued.

I didn’t know what had gotten into my brother, but I didn’t like it.  I tried to catch his attention and beg him to stop with my eyes.  We’d always been close, and B could usually read me with just a glance.  But he was purposely ignoring me and avoiding my gaze.  I was going to have to talk to him about it if he didn’t get his act together.  A kernel of dread formed in the pit of my stomach at the thought.

“Lasagna is an interesting choice,” Brain said after we all sat at the table. His tone held an edge of derision.  “Given how hot the weather is, I would have thought you’d go for something lighter.”

Zane’s smile was all teeth.  “It’s one of Brandon’s favorite meals.  I make it whenever he needs a little comfort.  Which I know he could use right now.  Things have been stressful.”

“Isn’t that sweet?” Brian’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.  Hearing it made my stomach clench.  I set down my fork.  “It’s a crock of shit, but it’s really nice, just the same.”

“Brian,” Casper chastised, but the words were already out there.  I sent up a silent prayer that Zane would let it lie.

No such luck.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Enough, Zane,” Jared ordered.  But Zane was exactly like his brother, and there is no way he’d let that go.

“That Brandon would lie and tell you it’s his favorite, just to make you feel better,” Brian said, heedless of his husband’s chastisement or Jared’s  censure.

“N-n-not true,” I said quietly, hating the arguing and the attitude, but not able to let it lie there.  “I l-love l-lasagna.”

The entire room went silent at hearing me stutter and I felt the blush burning as it crept up my neck and inflamed my face.  I hated that I couldn’t control it.  That when I was nervous or uncomfortable, my words stumbled over themselves trying to get out of my mouth.  I hated even more that everyone knew what it meant.

“Now, look what you did,” Brian hissed venomously.

“Me?” Zane was incredulous, and his eyebrows lifted.  “It’s your fucking fault, baiting me and being rude.  Who in the hell do you think you are?”

“I’m his brother, you little shit. Which is more than you can say–”

“Enough.” Jared stood, his voice deep and commanding.  He didn’t yell.  He didn’t need to.  His bearing, his face, everything screamed that he was not to be argued with.  His word was law and everyone at the table needed to heed it.  Hearing it gave me comfort, and usually turned me on.  Any other time, and I would have been on my knees and sucking him off.

The thought was inappropriate for the situation, and that made me blush even harder.  When Jared’s hand came down on the back of my neck to lightly squeeze, I relaxed and let the tension go.  He had a way of calming me no one else did.  Not even Brian, who was only three hundred and sixty days older than I was, could manage what Jared could with a look and a touch.

Jared had control, and his brown gaze was assessing as he stared down first his own brother, and then mine.  Audra sat back, her face slowly relaxing now that Jared was taking care of things.  Casper was staring at Brian, disbelief all over his face.  I could practically tell what he was thinking, because I was wondering the same thing.  How could Brian act like this?  It was out of character for him.  Zane too, for that matter.

Jared sat, pulling my chair closer to his with a strong hand.  Then he dropped an arm across my shoulders.  I snuggled into his warmth, and barely restrained myself from turning my face into his neck and inhaling deeply.  I loved his smell, and it never failed to calm me.  But we were still at the dinner table so I didn’t.

“Would you care to explain yourselves?” Jared asked, but it was barely a question.  Both Zane and Brian looked up in disbelief.

“J-Jared, m-maybe we d-don’t–”

“No,” he interrupted gently, pulling me in tighter.  “They want to bicker like children, then they can be treated like children.”

Silence stretched on, neither Brian nor Zane saying a word.  Neither man looked anywhere but at their plates.  Audra started to fidget with a lock of her hair, and Cas sat back and crossed his big arms over his chest.  I grew more uncomfortable as the minutes ticked by.  How long was Jared going to let this go on?

Finally, I couldn’t take the tension anymore.  I turned into Jared’s body, tucking myself tightly up against his side and burying my face in his neck.  He would do what he wanted, what he felt was right, but I couldn’t handle it.  I took a deep breath, and started to get up, to flee the kitchen and the tension until it was resolved, but Jared knew I was ready to bolt. He wrapped his arms around me to comfort me.

“You are both grown ass men,” Jared began, his voice steady. “I know you both love Brandon.  But you don’t have to compete as to who takes better care of him.”

I startled.  Was that what they’d been doing?  Cas’s soft, warm chuckle and B’s indignant sputter confirmed Jared’s assessment.

“It’s a moot point anyway,” Jared said with a hint of finality.  “I take care of him.  The rest of you are on the periphery.”

There was another silent moment, and then Cas and Audra burst into laughter.  It broke the tension, and the mood in the room eased immediately.  I took a deep Jared-scented breath and let it out slowly, finally feeling like I could breathe.

Jared’s hand cupped the back of my head, and then slid around until he could take hold of my chin and lift my face to his.  His smile was bright, the kiss he gave me sweet but chaste, and when he pulled back I could see love and affection in his eyes.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too,” I answered immediately.

His gaze slid sideways, and I followed with my own, taking in the scene.  Brian and Zane were still a little grumpy, but it was easing with every second that passed, and regular dinner actions were taking place.  Audra was pouring dressing on her salad with one hand and passing the basket of garlic bread to Cas with the other.  Zane was serving perfect squares of lasagna.  And Brian was pouring the iced tea.  It was all so normal.  I almost couldn’t believe that just a few minutes ago, Brian and Zane had been at each other’s throats.  I looked back at Jared.  He was grinning.

“It’s family.  What are you going to do?”

My grin couldn’t be contained.  Family indeed.

**Brandon and Jared return again, this time trapped by snow in a mountain cabin.  Enjoy!**

I woke up sticky, sore, and smiling.  Last night had been so good, exactly what we needed and wanted.  I was sure Jared left bruises on my hips and hickeys on my throat.  We’d been apart for weeks, and he’d been particularly aggressive.  I was surprised he hadn’t attacked in the airport or the car, managed to keep it to just a passionate kiss or four, and was able to restrain himself until we got all the way to the mountain cabin I’d rented for us.  I’d finally finished filming Robber Barons and I was desperate to spend some quality time with Jared.  I needed it.

So I rented the seclude cabin on the mountain.  It wasn’t far from the resort but the eight rental cabins all afforded a great deal of privacy.  When I had perused the website, it hadn’t taken me long to make up my mind.  I had my finger hovering over the book button the entire time I talked to Jared.  I clicked it as soon as he’d given permission.  But last night had been worth it all, to have him own me so thoroughly and completely.

Tucked against his big body, I was overly warm, but I snuggled even closer.  It was the only place I truly wanted to be, and even though he was still sound asleep, I was more than happy to stay right there and enjoy the quiet.

Which, now that I thought about it, was a little too quiet.

Unease started curling in my gut.  I listened hard, trying to figure out what was wrong.  And then I realized it.  There was no hum of the heater, no faint electrical buzz from the clock on the bedside table.  In fact, it sounded like a blanket had been thrown over everything.  I sat up, pushing the quilts down, and was attacked by a frigid cold that had me shivering.  But I still got out of bed, despite turning into one big goosebump, and made my way to the window.  Last night, before we’d closed the curtain, we were able to see the glow from the resort down the road.  When I pulled the curtain aside, I saw nothing but white.

I made my way, quickly and quietly, out of the bedroom and into the front room.  The huge picture window along the front of the cabin confirmed my worst fears.  There was nothing but snow, feet of it, piled up in all directions.  And it was still coming down.  I swallowed hard, shivering in the freezing air, and willed myself not to panic.

“Brandon?” Jared’s voice sounded a bit muffled, like he was just emerging from our blanket cocoon.

“O-out h-h-here,” I stammered.

He was at my side in an instant, his dark brown eyes assessing.  He grabbed the afghan from the back of the couch and wrapped it around my shoulders before he hugged me tightly to him.

“We’re s-s-snowed in,” I said, hating that my words were fighting me.  It had been so long since I’d stuttered in front of Jared, and it was making me angry that the situation was getting to me.  I was with Jared.  There was nothing to worry about.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. You know I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” Jared said as if he’d read my thoughts.  He kissed my forehead, then my eyes and nose, before giving me a quick but passionate kiss. Then he led me toward the couch and urged me to sit.

He didn’t seem to be fazed by the cold, or at least, he wasn’t physically reacting to it.  And I couldn’t tear my eyes off his ass as he knelt in front of the fireplace, and set to work lightly the wood already inside.  It only took him a few minutes before he straightened and then pulled the screen in front of the flames.

“It’ll be warmed up in here in no time,” he said confidently.  Then he leaned over me to drop a kiss on my head.  “Stay here for a bit, all right?  I’m going to check things out.”

I nodded, even as I smiled.  “Yes, sir.”

His grin was gorgeous, and I was rewarded with another kiss, before he strode into the bedroom.  I noticed a book of amenities and services the resort offer, and picked it up.  A moment later he reappeared in sweatpants and a long sleeved shirt, and then he started poking around the cabin; first in the kitchen, then in the back storage closet.

“There’s a generator in the closet, and gasoline,” Jared said with a smile, as if that made everything better.  I had to grin in response, and I held up the binder I’d been leafing through while he searched.

“It r-runs the fridge and the hot w-water heater.”  I opened the book to the page and then handed it over.  “Emergency protocol.”

Jared was instantly absorbed, reading.  I slid across the cushions until I could snuggle up beside him.  The fire hadn’t made things warm enough yet, and Jared was always the best source of heat.  The man was like a furnace.  He didn’t say anything as he memorized the protocol.  My man was a Marine, and he’d make do, but he liked it better when he was prepared. When he was done, he snapped the book shut and laid it aside.

“We’re going to be fine,” he assured me.  I loved his confidence.  I always had.  It was one of the first things that drew me to him.  His confidence was because he was solid, and solid was what I needed desperately.  I nodded fast, and pushed in closer.

“There’s no reason to worry,” he said quietly, pulling me in tight.  “It said this happens from time to time, but they have procedures in place.  We’ll be fine for at least a week, but the resort staff will get to us before that time elapses, even if the snow doesn’t clear.”

I nodded again even as I crawled into his lap.  Jared didn’t hesitate to wrap me in his arms, and position us so I could push my face into his neck.  I inhaled deeply, taking in his earthy, musky scent and letting it calm me.  I loved the way he smelled, and it triggered me to feel safe.  Every dang time.  Also horny, because Jared was incredibly sexy, but that could wait.

“Brandon,” he said, his voice dropping to a lower register.  The things that voice did, the way it flipped my switch, was a marvel to me.  I took a deep breath and let it out, and with it the anxiety and tension left too.  He gave a hum approval, and his big hands cradled my head. “There you go.”

I gave him a small and shaky smile.  “Sorry, sir.  I’m sorry our vacation got ruined.”

Jared started, and then his eyebrows scrunched together like he was confused. “Ruined?”

I blinked.  “Because of the snowstorm?”

Jared’s expression cleared, and then his eyes filled with lust. In a lightning fast move, he had me pinned beneath him.  The growl he let out made me shiver and arch against his body.  “We’re stuck together, unable to leave, unable to see anyone else, with nothing to do but eat, fuck and talk.  And not necessarily in that order.  By what definition of the word is that ‘ruined’?”

Well, when he put it that way….

I spread my thighs so he could fit between them, pulling my knees up to bracket his hips.  “I love you, Jared.”

Jared was too busy sucking up another mark on my neck to answer, but I didn’t need the words.  I trusted him completely, and I knew how he felt.  I tilted my head back so he had better access to my neck, and didn’t even try to stop the whine that escaped.  His answer was a growl that vibrated my skin, but he didn’t seem in any hurry to move things along.  Jared was in the mood to take this slowly.  I clung to him, watching the snow fall, and grinding my hips against him.

How could I have ever thought our vacation was ruined?  It was perfect.

**Something like Trust released on Sunday! Join Jared and Brandon as they tell us some more of their story….with dinner on a balcony and a slow dance. Enjoy!**

I knew what Brandon sounded like in all his moods.  And it was my job to give him what he needed.  So when I distinctly heard the strain in his voice—he was trying very hard to hide it—I suggested rather forcefully that he come home for a visit.  Three months was a long time to be away, especially for Brandon.  He’d managed two trips home in that time, and we talked every night, but it wasn’t enough.  My boy needed grounding, needed quiet and stillness, or else his anxiety spiked to dangerous levels.

It was hard for him to live such a public, chaotic life when at his core, he was a consummate introvert.

Brandon couldn’t come home, though, no matter how much we both wanted that.  There was only two weeks of filming left, and despite how much it had been wearing on him, Brandon was actually enjoying himself.  There were rumors that what started out as a one shot miniseries would be given a second miniseries as well, a second season.  Brandon was over the moon, thrilled to be able to portray his character a second time. Even though neither of us wanted to be separated for another six months while he filmed in Vancouver, it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

But that was still up in the air, and we would deal with that if it happened.  For right this moment, I was more concerned with my man on the edge of breaking when he still had two weeks left of work.  He couldn’t come to me, so I went to him.

He’d given me his spare key on his first trip home, just in case of emergency, and I used it to let myself into his nice, if not overly fancy, hotel suite.  It smelled like Brandon and I inhaled deeply, taking it in and relishing it.  It had been too long since I had smelled him.

I didn’t linger overlong.  The night before he’d told me it was his early day today, and that meant he’d be home by five.  That didn’t leave me much time.

By the time I heard him fighting with card reader, I was ready.  I pushed open the French doors that lead from his tiny living room out onto an awesome balcony.  I’d set the table with candles, though the wind was trying to blow them out, the music was playing softly, and I had already laid out the meal.  It was his favorite, Zane’s lasagna.  My brother had taken it straight from the oven and packed it up in such a way that after the three hour drive and the forty-five minute wait, it was still warm, but now the perfect temperature to eat.

I was waiting in the living room when Brandon came in, grumbling.  He saw me, and his entire body went stock still.  He didn’t even breathe.  I didn’t say anything.  I didn’t have to.  I just opened my arms and he came running, burying his face in my neck.  I held him to me, squeezing almost too tightly, and he just trembled and sighed, the relief pouring off him in waves.

“N-n-needed this,” he muttered into my skin.  I dropped a kiss on his head, then pulled back far enough to look into his eyes.

“I know,” I said with a smile, and then I leaned down to kiss him properly.  When we finally broke apart, we were both panting.  I tilted my head toward the balcony.  “Come eat.”

Brandon’s smile grew huge.  “Zane cooked for me?”

“Of course he did.  He knew what you needed.”  I gave him a pointed look.  “And so do I.  Which is why I’m here with your favorite meal.” I paused as familiar notes caught my attention.  The British redhead singing about waiting for someone to come home.  “And your favorite song.”

Brandon’s sigh was deep and content.  “And my favorite person.  Dance with me?”

It wasn’t exactly easy to dance to this song, and he looked and sounded relaxed.  Which he hadn’t been in weeks.  I pulled him in close, fitting his body to mine as we began to sway to the beat.  I could do nothing else because I loved him so much.

**I’m going to preface this one with the disclaimer: the Admiral said I could!  Enjoy an end of summer barbeque and an unexpected but welcome kiss.  Also, you can find the Admiral’s version of the story here.**

The barbeque was Katie’s idea.

I wasn’t exactly up to a party, but she deserved to relax and have a good time with family and friends.  My sister was rock star awesome, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better.  So if she wanted to take Labor Day off, and just party all day, then I was not going to stop her.  Everyone else seemed to think it was a good idea, swarming in and bringing so much food I wasn’t sure that it would all get eaten.  Uncle Jimmy was manning the grill, with Uncle Tommy standing close by and assisting.  Katie’s best friend Cindy was flitting around, making sure every dish was full and that everyone had what they needed.  Katie herself was standing in a group of friends and family, laughing her head off at something, and looking radiant in the sunshine.  My sister deserved this, and it made me happy to see her so carefree.

I pulled the afghan a little tighter around me and leaned back deeper into the Adirondack chair.  It was comfortable, much more so than any of the other deck chairs, and I was happy to be sitting in the fresh air.  It had to be at least eighty degrees out here, though it was cooler where I was sitting in the shade of the awning, but I was still cold.  Losing thirty pounds over the course of a couple of months would do that to a person.

Chemo was the devil and radiation was its evil twin.

Being sick sucked so badly I didn’t even have words.  But I was fighting the cancer trying to eat my body.  And my beloved sister was the one to drag my ass to appointments, clean me up when I was too sick and weak to move, soothe me when the pain was too great, take care of me in all the ways I needed.  She was the best, and if she wanted this barbeque then that’s what she got.  Even if all I wanted to do was curl up and take a nap.

“Kate says this round worked.” Trent’s voice startled me, making me jerk, but I found a smile for my friend.  He’d been there, helping us both out, since my diagnosis.  I was lucky to have him, I knew it.  But I was also glad I’d never made my move when I was healthy.  He’d have been stuck with a sick boyfriend, and that just wasn’t fair.  At least now I got the pleasure of his company, and when he helped out, I knew it was because he wanted to instead of because he felt he had to.

“Cam?”

I glanced up at him with a sheepish smile.  He grinned back and perched on the arm of the chair.  He radiated heat, and I couldn’t help but cuddle in.  “Yeah, we’ll see.”

“You don’t sound hopeful,” Trent said, his voice ever so slightly disapproving.

I sighed, and then snuggled in a little more.  “They said it worked last time and I had to have another round so…”

“Yeah, I hear ya,” Trent agreed.  One big hand started rubbing up and down my arm.  “You look better than you did last week though.”

I smiled for him.  “Yeah, I feel better.  Not great, mind you.  Not yet.  But a little better.”

“Good,” Trent said.  Then he cupped my chin in one hand, tipped my face up, and kissed me.

For a second I was so surprised, I didn’t even react.  Trent’s patient exploration didn’t cease though, and a moment later, I made a hungry noise and pushed into the kiss.  He felt so warm, so alive, his lips soft and coaxing, his tongue a wet, hot heat filling my mouth.  I reveled in it, whining just a little as I tried to get closer.  And then I realized I was kissing Trent, and I pulled back with a gasp.

“What?” The kiss was unexpected, but I was definitely all for it.

Trent’s smile was serene, and he was stroking his thumb along my cheek.  His eyes were filled with affection and something more that I didn’t dare put a name too. I wanted it, but I was scared to believe it.

“I’m tired of waiting for you to get better.  I should have done this a year ago, before you got sick.”

Oh, that was a harsh reminder.  I pulled back a little further, but Trent wouldn’t let me go.  I scowled at him.  “T, you can’t—” I made a frustrated sound.  “I’m sick and I might not get better.  I might have months, maybe a year more.  If this didn’t work, then there’s a time limit on—”

He cut me off with another quick kiss.

“Days, months, years–and I’m hoping for a whole shit ton of years–whatever time you have left, I want to be with you.”

For a long moment, I didn’t say anything at all.  I felt like I should be noble, to push him away and save us both from heartbreak.  But he was so warm and alive.  Someday my dick would work again, and I’d be able to enjoy that a hell of a lot more with Trent than by myself.  But even more than that, his smile eased my soul.  It always had.  It was selfish to say yes, to tie him to me that much.  But I’d wanted him for a long time, and he was now telling me he wanted me too.  Sickness and all.

“Yeah,” I said softly and something settled in my soul.  “Okay.  Yes, please.”