Chapter 34

“That’s one heck of a backstory you got there, Bryson. And one hell of a set of hardware.”

Bryson swallowed. He nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, it is.” He rolled his left leg, exposing his inner ankle. “Have you seen this one?”

“I did.” Duke moved his hand to the other ankle and drew circles around the set of circular pockmarks there. “And what do you got in there?”

“A screw and four pins.”

Bryson braced for the kiss, catching his breath when it happened. Duke’s lips lingered this time, the heat of his mouth doing more to warm Bryson than a shower ever could.

“Did you see this one?” Bryson asked, pointing to his shin. “Another screw.”

“Airport security must love you,” Duke said before dropping a kiss on top of it. He slid his hand up Bryson’s thigh, moving to the next set of scars, but Bryson stopped him at the knee.

“No scar here, but I mean…it was dislocated. So…”