Colin's Kryptonite

Colin had the feeling that time had stopped. Brad Lipski's dark eyes were so close that he could feel their burning magnetism even more intensely than usual. They pulled him in so strongly, so irresistibly, that the man's hot breath brushed against his lips.

Colin couldn't think. Millimeter by millimeter, his face moved closer to Lipski's… His ears suddenly filled with soft, soothing music…

"Sorry," Brad smiled awkwardly and shifted, pulling his smartphone out of the back pocket of his jeans. The music grew louder.

What the hell?

Colin blinked. Had he just almost…

He had the urge to touch his lips, where he could still feel the warmth of Brad's breath. He held back with all his willpower. The music became clearer, but he already knew this wasn't some romantic fantasy.

Ugh, it was just an incoming call ringtone!

"I have to take this," Lipski added after checking the caller ID. "You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not! I'm almost done anyway."

Brad gave him an apologetic yet slightly mischievous smile and answered before Stone could finish tending his wound.

"Hey, Aiden!"

The heat on Colin's flushed cheeks was replaced by a chill. Aiden—the young cop from yesterday? A cold sensation spread down Colin's spine. It wasn't fear. It was…

"Really?" Lipski lit up. "That's great! Thank you! I'll be right there!"

…annoyance. Annoyance that Aiden had interrupted that moment. Because if he hadn't called…

Then what? What would have happened?

Would Colin have kissed Brad? Would he have been that bold? And then what? They wouldn't have gone any further…

Logic told him he should be grateful for that call, for breaking the tension-filled moment. And yet, he was irritated. An opportunity like this might never come again, and Colin would never know the taste of those tempting, luscious lips.

"I'm done," he announced, not looking at Lipski as he packed up the first aid kit. "No signs of infection."

"Thanks," Brad retrieved his hand and flexed it a little. A faint flush was visible on his tanned face. "Aiden called to say I can pick up my car."

"Ah, so it was about the accident…"

"They haven't closed the investigation yet, but they've gathered all the evidence and taken pictures. It's just a formality. Listen, I…"

"Yes?" Colin had already risen from the bed. Brad did the same, looking uncertain.

"No, nothing," he said. "I mean, sorry, but I need to go get my car. You can have the ice cream with the girls."

Dr. Stone shook his head.

"Thanks, but I think I'll go to my room, rest a bit after dinner, and maybe explore the area later."

"Okay, if you need a ride anywhere…"

"No need," Colin smiled politely. "But thanks for the offer."

They left the house at the same time but through different doors—Brad through the front, and Colin through his small side corridor. As soon as he closed the door behind him, Stone leaned against it and let out a long, deep breath.

Then another.

His body was burning with restlessness. His legs trembled, and his knees felt weak. Even his ears buzzed like a swarm of bees flying out of their hive to pollinate spring flowers…

He pressed a hand to his wildly thundering heart.

He bit his lower lip.

Colin wasn't a virgin. He had been with men before. But no one had ever affected him this much. Brad Lipski was like… like… kryptonite?

Colin glanced down at the discomfort in his pants, where his arousal shamelessly strained against the fabric. Kryptonite made Superman weak, drained his strength, while Colin had become painfully hard.

His teeth sank harder into his lower lip. Painfully. As if trying to crush something that should have been crushed by Brad. But they didn't break. Embarrassed, Colin parted his lips, inhaling deeply.

Damn, this was even worse than yesterday!

He pushed off the wall. The ache in his groin made him regret it instantly. But he couldn't just stand there. He awkwardly trudged toward the stairs, trying to ignore his body's desperate cries. Every step was uncomfortable, and suddenly, his cotton underwear felt too stiff, too rough. As a doctor, he knew this was a normal physiological reaction to intense arousal. As a man, he was mortified.

So very mortified!

Did it even make sense?

Did it make any sense that some straight guy, with nothing but a smile and his mere presence, could reduce him to this state? They hadn't even touched—aside from the wound dressing Colin had applied after Brad got injured protecting him from a bottle strike…

He stopped halfway up the stairs. His fingers clenched tightly around the railing. He shook his head. He should think about something boring, something unexciting, like the structure of bones in the skull. Brad's skull must have been very well-formed, given how striking, how masculine his features were...

No, no, no! He shook his head again, and the intrusive image dissolved from his memory.

Damn, anatomy was out. So maybe...

But before he could find another topic, Lipski's face returned before his eyes. Too close to ignore. His dark pupils consumed Colin's heart, his hot breath burned his lips, and the tension in his groin began pulsing through his hips, lower abdomen, and back.

Colin knew it was wrong, but he had no choice. The tension was too strong. If he didn't help himself, his suffering would only grow.…