“Help me sit up?”
With a bit of maneuvering Seamus eventually rested against a nearby wall, the stone cold compared to the ball of fur that was Atlas, who now lay at his side. Seamus rested against Tibbit, the two of them sitting side by side, Tibbit’s arm over his shoulders, Seamus nestled alongside him, head resting on Tibbit’s chest.
Listening to the rhythmic beat of Tibbit’s heart.
Only when you find what is true will you be set free. Hettie’s words ping-ponged around in his skull.
“Seamus?” Tibbit’s voice rumbled in his chest.
“Hm?”
“What just happened?”
The episode played out in his mind in excruciating detail, all triggered by Tibbit’s touch. Find what is true. Could it be that she meant for him to find true love, that it was the only way to set him free of the curse? And once he was free would he…perish? A most troubling thought, one quickly abolished by the simple fact he felt oxygen spread through his lungs, felt his heart pulse. Alive. For a few brief moments he had been alive. And it was glorious, especially to know that it had been triggered by Tibbit.
“I think…” He raised his head, locking eyes with Tibbit, gleefully falling into the swirling mess of them. “Tibbit Shanks, I do believe you’re the one I’ve been seeking all these long years.”
“What?”
He sought out Tibbit’s hand, clasping hold of it, palm to palm. “I believe you are the one I’ve been waiting for, the missing piece of my heart. And I couldn’t imagine finding it in a better place.”
Tibbit licked his lips, then cleared his throat. “What are you saying?”
“That if you hadn’t run off the other night and stayed behind instead I would have been able to say, I love you, Tibs.”
Tibbit’s face lit up, the smile that spread across his lips was like having the sun come out after too many dreary days. “Really? You mean I spent my day pining in bed thinking I screwed things up just to have…”
Seamus actually chuckled, a momentary ache in his chest. “Yes.” Then to be bold. “You could have spent the day pining in my bed right beside me.”
“Oh.” Tibbit blushed.
Seamus saw it as the perfect moment for a quick kiss, a teaser, then he lay his head back on Tibbit’s chest. “Tibbit?”
“Hm?”
“Will you just sit here with me for a while?”
“For you I would do anything,” Tibbit whispered.
THE END
ABOUT KASSANDRA LEA
Kassandra Lea lives in WI where she enjoys the bitter winters with long hours of writing. She shares her living space with a cast of four-legged critters, her mom, and a friendly ghost.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!
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