Brodie

Alec gave in with a sigh and sat up, facing Brodie across the small space between their cots. “I’ve never kissed a woman before,” he admitted grudgingly. Best to just get it over with. Brodie would wheedle it out of him anyway. When Brodie didn’t say anything, Alec tried to peer through the darkness to see his face. “Well?” he finally asked. “Haven’t you anything to say about that?”

In response, Brodie dragged his cot closer to Alec’s. “Well, why didn’t you just say so?” he said gruffly. “Everyone has a first time. That kiss I just gave Tory? That was her first one, she told me so as she was leaving. So, it’s not like she’s one to be judging you.” He sat back down on his cot, so close his knees were pressed against Alec’s, and Alec slid his legs wider, so one of Brodies was tucked up between his. “Now,” Brodie said matter-of-factly, putting his hands on Alec’s knees, “I’m going to teach you how to kiss so you won’t be such a namby pamby about it.”

“What?” Alec asked, rearing back. His heart started hammering in his chest. This was such a bad idea for so many reasons, but he could hardly tell Brodie that. Sorry I can’t kiss you because I’m afraid you’ll figure out that I’m in love with you. Yes, that would go over well.

“Well, have you got anyone else to teach you?” Brodie asked, clearly getting impatient. “Don’t make a fuss over it. It’s like teaching a man to load his weapon so he’s prepared to go into battle, isn’t it?”

Alec almost laughed at the comparison. His weapon was half-loaded right now just thinking about Brodie kissing him the way he’d kissed Tory earlier. “I don’t think it’s the same thing” was all he said.