Secret Love Song
The moment you stepped into your home, you felt at ease. Not because it had been a trying day, or because the cold was left on the other side of the foyer. You relaxed because you could smell the subtle traces of Bryce’s aftershave in the room.
Smiling, you locked your door and headed to your sofa, where you dropped your bag and toed off your shoes. Behind you, a pair of slow and quiet footsteps followed you to the couch, and strong arms wrapped around your stomach from behind. His warmth soaked through your shirt and into your back, and you leaned against his chest, letting your head drop onto his shoulder.
“You should be more careful,” he murmured, moving his lips across your temple in a gentle kiss hello. “You never know who might break in.”
“I knew it was you,” you replied confidently, reaching down to his hands and threading your fingers through his, holding his arms around you. “And you don’t scare me, Agent Larkin.”
“I would never want to.” Bryce loosened his arms and spun you around with swift touches to your shoulder and opposite hip. One of his hands slid down your sleeve to hold your elbow and you locked eyes with his gorgeous blues. “I missed you.”
“I missed you more,” you said, only partly teasing. Bryce’s eyes were tired, his face a little pale, a couple days’ worth of scruff on his jaw and upper lip. “Did you only just get back?”
“Forty minutes ago, through LAX.” He leaned forward again, closing the small distance between you to press his dry lips fondly to your forehead. “I came right here.”
“Does anyone else know you’re back?”
“Nope.” He found the energy to smile mischievously with a flash of teeth. “I’m all yours until tomorrow night.”
“A whole day,” you mused. “That’s awfully convenient. You know, I’ve been feeling a little iffy. I was going to call in sick tomorrow anyway.” You made an unconvincing fake cough into your elbow.
Bryce caught your lips in a kiss when you moved your arm out of the way. His mouth moved on yours with skill and familiarity. You had done this countless times before, stealing a few precious hours here and there between missions and trips, sometimes when Bryce wasn’t supposed to be in Los Angeles at all but made an unofficial detour. You moaned softly and wrapped your arm around his shoulders to keep him close. The spy responded with a softer groan and pressed his hand into your hair, stroking his thumb over your neck.
After a couple minutes of feverishly making out, you pulled away from his lips to breathe. Bryce tilted his head so his forehead pressed to yours, and he looked at your glossy lips through half-lidded eyes while you held each other. Bryce had very little downtime, so you were very privileged that he relaxed in your company.
You gently swatted his arm when you were ready to be let go. Bryce removed himself from you, though he was reluctant to do so. “Go shower,” you instructed kindly. “Men’s shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream are all under the sink.” They had to be hidden in case Casey or Sarah visited. They didn’t need to know that Bryce stayed with you whenever he visited. They thought you were friendly colleagues, and that was it. Bryce’s relations with Sarah and Chuck were both a little too messy for you to want to be in the middle. That was his business to resolve, and with his traveling assignments, he hadn’t had the opportunity. “I’ll heat up some food and we’ll see what happens after.”
Bryce grinned thankfully and rubbed his hand over his prickly jaw. “It is a little itchy.”
“Try kissing it,” you retorted playfully.
Bryce took off his shoes and kicked them behind the couch, out of view of the door or windows. “Watch the attitude or I’ll kiss you again,” he jokingly threatened, tousling his hand through his messy hair and rolling his shoulders to stretch.
“Oh no, not that.”
In spite of what you told him, you pressed a finger to your lips and leaned forward, and Bryce obediently gave you another kiss, this one sweeter than the last. He stood up straight, scanned his eyes over your face affectionately, and walked around you to head towards the bathroom.
You watched your spy head off to shower with an excited smile. A whole day was plenty of time to catch up, relax, and enjoy each other’s company, which you were acutely aware you didn’t get to have much of. When he wasn’t on the clock, Bryce was a great partner to you. One day the CIA wouldn’t keep him away so much, and you were looking forward to it. It would be nice to openly be in love, but for now, there was too much at risk if Fulcrum knew about you.
~~~
A/N: I’m really happy to post this because I love Bryce. Title from Little Mix’s song, “Secret Love Song.”