Sidewinder 01 Shock & Awe Read Free Page A

his smile. He came around the end of the bed and sat next to Kelly’s hip, turning to hover over him. “Okay.”
    Kelly was surprised when his stomach flipped, but he liked the feeling. “Okay what?”
    “Okay. If you want me to kiss you, I will.”
    “Really?”
    Nick nodded. “But only if you can sit up on your own, and then pass a field sobriety test.”
    Kelly rolled his eyes and snorted. “You’re such a dick.”
    “I’ll give you that too if you want it,” Nick said, laughing as he pushed off the bed and headed for the loft steps.
    Kelly watched him, trying to decide if the flip in his stomach was excitement or nerves. “Hey!”
    Nick stopped at the head of the staircase and turned again, ever patient.
    “I’m serious,” Kelly said.
    Nick’s eyes narrowed, and he remained there for a few moments before he moved slowly back to the bed. “You really want me to kiss you?”
    “Yes.”
    “So you’ll know what it feels like to kiss a guy.”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “Well you and Ty both seem to enjoy it. What’s good for you is good for me, right?”
    “That’s a horrible reason.”
    “Really?”
    Nick sat down again, close enough that the mattress dipped and Kelly slid toward him. They stared at each other for a few seconds, Kelly holding his breath as Nick thought it through. He was curious, because he knew locking lips with another dude had to be different from kissing a woman, and he was by nature an inquisitive person. He was open to trying just about anything once, and he’d always kind of been on the fence about it. But he was also wondering what it would be like to kiss Nick, and that had nothing to do with the painkillers or his innate desire to try new things.
    “Okay,” Nick said quietly. He adjusted the way he was sitting, propping one hand on Kelly’s other side as he leaned over him.
    Kelly held up a finger. “No half-assed middle school kissing, either.”
    “Okay.”
    “I want the whole deal.”
    “This is starting to feel like I’m leasing a car or something.”
    “I’m serious, I want the Irish special.”
    Nick rolled his eyes and glanced up at the ceiling. “Fine. Jesus.”
    Kelly nodded, his lips twitching on a smile and his chest fluttering. They stared at each other as Nick leaned over him, and it was harder for Kelly to catch his breath as he waited for Nick to make his move. He licked his lips.
    Nick finally laughed. “Close your eyes.”
    “Why?”
    “’Cause I can’t do this with you looking at me.”
    Kelly gave a long-suffering sigh, but he closed his eyes anyway, still fighting a smile. He felt Nick lean closer, and he inhaled sharply, holding his breath as Nick’s lips brushed the corner of his mouth.
    He parted his lips and tilted his head, their noses bumping as Nick moved the same way. They both laughed and Kelly cocked his head the other way, dragging his lower lip across Nick’s as they adjusted. Then Nick was kissing him. Really kissing him. His lips parted, tongue darting between them to lick at Kelly’s lips. His teeth closed over Kelly’s lower lip and dragged before his tongue slipped inside Kelly’s mouth.
    They both moaned.
    Kelly reached up and grabbed a handful of Nick’s shirt, barely realizing he’d done it. His knuckles knocked against hard muscles. Nick’s hand came up to Kelly’s face, brushing his cheek tentatively as if he wasn’t sure he was allowed to touch. Kelly nipped at his lip, and Nick groaned again. He pushed his hand under Kelly’s head and clutched at his hair.
    The stubble on Nick’s chin scratched against Kelly’s cheek. Nick leaned more on top of him, his hands clamping down in the kind of grip Kelly had never felt from a lover. The kiss was more forceful and demanding than any he’d ever experienced, and he found himself using his tongue and his teeth to fight back, even as he pulled Nick closer to urge him on.
    Kelly’s hand pressed against Nick’s chest, and it wasn’t even odd that there was