A thought occurred to him, and while it made his stomach clench with nerves, he couldn’t help but think that it might at least serve as a distraction. “How about this, there’s some business stuff I need to take care of in Indy. Why don’t you come with me? We can train at Slater’s. Spend the week at my house and come back here next weekend?”
Harbor swiveled his head to lock eyes with Theo. “That... that’s actually a pretty great idea. Thank you.” He leaned over pressing a kiss to Theo’s mouth, licking the seam of his lips until Theo parted them and let him inside.
Theo hummed. “You’re welcome.”
It wasn’t what he expected. Harbor couldn’t say exactly what he’d had in mind. Maybe an upscale apartment or a condo with floor to ceiling windows and dark furniture. Or a brick townhouse in an upper crust neighborhood like the ones they’d passed just outside downtown, close to the hustle and bustle of city life, but just beyond its reach. An adorable hunter green sided house with two bedrooms and an attached garage on a corner lot of a quiet street in suburbia had never once crossed his mind.
When Theo suggested going to stay at his house for a week, Harbor had been torn. Part of him felt like he needed to stay right where he was, holding down the fort and waiting for Vidar and Rory to return. The rest of him wanted to escape, and he was too curious about all things Theo to let the opportunity pass him by. Harbor was under the impression that sharing himself, outside of his public persona, was something that Theo didn’t do. The way he’d fidgeted in the passenger seat the closer they got to their destination had confirmed it.
“It’s a really nice house, Theo,” Harbor said from his place in the living room, surrounded by soft-looking gray furniture covered in bright yellow throw pillows. A patchwork quilt, that Harbor was sure was handmade, was draped over the back of the couch, and the questions he’d already formed in his head kept multiplying.
“Thanks,” Theo called from wherever he’d disappeared down the hall, leaving Harbor with instructions to stay put because he needed to rearrange a couple things.
“You sure you don’t need my help?” Harbor asked again, listening to the scraping sounds of furniture moving and deciding that maybe Theo needed a little push. Walking down the hall, he inspected the framed pictures in the dim light offered from the little lamp Theo had clicked on in the living room. They were all of Theo, and from the looks of them, taken when he was a teenager.
Theo’s head popped out of one of the doors down the hall, and he startled to find Harbor so close. “Um...” he looked from Harbor to the pictures, eyes widening like he’d forgotten they were there. “Yeah, actually. I think we’ll need to switch beds around unless you think we’ll both fit on a twin or you want to sleep separately.”
Harbor’s eyebrows shot up, then lowered right back down in confusion. “Where do you normally sleep?”
Theo took a deep breath and glanced back over his shoulder before stepping into the hall. “I sleep in my old room, but it’s the one with the twin.”
Still confused, Harbor moved until Theo was in touching distance and gently took his hand. “Why do you call it your old room?”
“I used to live here when I was younger,” Theo said, eyes looking past Harbor to the pictures on the wall. “In high school, actually. And a few months ago, when the lady that lived here passed, she left the house to me, and I haven’t really been here enough to update the furniture.” The tiniest catch in Theo’s voice was the only indication at the level of pain he must be feeling at the loss of the woman who’d lived in this house and had obviously cared for him. “There’s a queen size bed in her room, but...” he trailed off with a shake of his head.
Harbor moved closer until their foreheads brushed. He wanted to ask questions, but Theo wouldn’t even meet his eyes, and somewhere in his gut he knew that if he pushed now, Theo was going to shut him out. Maybe for good. “Let’s sleep in your room. I think we’ll manage just fine in your bed.”
Letting his head rest against Harbor’s, Theo shut his eyes and blew out a breath. “I didn’t think this out very well.”
Harbor tilted his head enough to press a kiss to Theo’s lips, then another against his forehead. “We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Besides, I have a new appreciation for cuddling.”
Theo huffed a laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You’re the one dating me, so what does that say about you?”
Theo looked up and met Harbor’s eyes, his gaze soft, and closed the distance between them. “That I have a new appreciation for ridiculous.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Are you sure you really want to fight this, Theo?” Carson Markley asked, a furrow creasing his tan forehead. Carson had been Theo’s lawyer for years, and they’d built a good working relationship between Carson’s no bullshit attitude and Theo’s money.
“It’s funny,” Theo shook his head, “I wasn’t even sure I wanted the house until that asshole decided he did. Maybe it’s petty, but let’s at least move in that direction. What do I need to do?”
Carson studied his face for a moment across the expanse of the polished desk between them. It always amazed Theo that as busy as Carson was, there was never a stack of paper or bit of clutter in sight. “Honestly? Keep your nose clean. Win your fights. Keep a positive public image. These types of cases, if they make it to court, almost always end with one party dragging the other through the mud. Character can play a huge role in winning the judge’s favor. But if you want my advice—offer a settlement. Even if it’s the assessed value of the home. Dragging this out will cost you more, easily.”
Theo sat quietly for a moment, contemplating. It was easy to imagine the kinds of things that Helen’s brother, Ray Ausman, would try to throw at him: Orphan. Violent. Homo. For whatever reason, Ray had never approved of his sister’s choice to foster children. Theo could remember them arguing when Ray would come around, it almost always ended with Helen sending Ray away, then going to spend hours tending her flowers. Was it really worth fighting? Harbor’s face flashed through his mind, and that was all it took to make his decision. “All right. Let’s try to settle.”
Carson nodded. “I’ll draw up the papers and contact Mr. Ausman’s attorney.” He paused, leveling his dark gaze on Theo. “It may feel like conceding, but you’ll be saving yourself a lot of time and trouble this way, Theo.”
Rising from his chair, Theo extended his hand over the desk. “Thank you, Carson. Keep me in the loop?”
“Of course,” Carson said, shaking his hand. “And good luck in your next match. We’re all rooting for you.”
“Thanks.” Theo made his way out of the office, the mid-afternoon sun causing him to reach for his shades. Taking a deep breath, he couldn’t help the smile that pulled at his mouth. He’d get this business settled and work to make the house a little more his. There were things he had no intention of changing, but it was time he stepped up and took real ownership of the space and property. He opened the door to his car and slipped inside, ready to head to the gym and find Harbor, and see if his boyfriend was on board to help him.
“They won’t bite, you know.”
Harbor turned to find Angela Slater standing beside him. The top of her head only came up to his shoulder, and Harbor looked down to see her smirking at him. Theo had introduced them this morning when he’d brought Harbor to Slater MMA before going to a business meeting. The gym was a large metal building with a tall ceiling and nearly the same set of equipment that could be found at Rourke’s. Same lingering smell of sweat. Same skull rattling rock music coming through the speakers. The only truly noticeable difference was that their air conditioning seemed to be working just fine.
“You sure?” Harbor feigned concern, letting his eyes dart back to the training drills happening on a stretch of mats off to one side of the space. He'd made himself at home all morning, getting in some cardio and weight training. Now, he really wanted to get in the cage and spar a few rounds, but there was only one person he wanted standin
g across from him.
“Mostly.” Angie laughed. She was a lovely woman, dark hair, blue eyes, and the kind of strong physique that said she was no stranger to the weight room. It was the fierce spark of intelligence in her eyes that had cemented Harbor’s instant like of her, though. That and the way she obviously cared about Theo. It reminded him of his brothers, and he liked knowing that someone other than himself and Alex—who wasn’t always able to be there—had Theo’s back.
Harbor smiled and let a pleasant silence settle between them while the class switched from pad drills to partnering up to train different submission holds.
“I won’t threaten you.” Angie’s voice came after a moment and Harbor cocked an eyebrow, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. “I don’t think I need to, but I will say this.” She paused, and Harbor thought she’d changed her mind before she finally spoke again, “Don’t let him push you away.”
Harbor’s eyebrows furrowed, and he dropped his arms from where they’d been crossed over his chest to turn and give her his full attention.
Licking her lips, Angie cleared her throat. “I don’t know how much you know, but Theo’s had a rough go of it. He doesn’t trust anyone, not really, and even when he cares about you, he’ll keep you at arm’s length.” She dropped her eyes, chewing on her lip like she’d said more than she meant to.
Harbor considered her words, a part of him wanting to immediately deny that there was any validity to them, but he couldn’t. He could sense it sometimes, that Theo was holding his cards close to his chest. Angie’s words made him wonder if it happened more than he knew. It chafed to think that Theo was still holding part of himself back, but Harbor could wait. This thing between them was still so new, but Harbor would be lying if he said it hadn’t already sunk its claws into him, deep. He nodded.
Angie gave him a tight smile in return and started to turn away, only to stop. “What’s going to happen when you have to fight him?”
The thought of raising his hands against Theo was something he’d put firmly out of his mind since the first fight card had been announced. With the second announcement only days away, he’d done his damnedest not to let those thoughts creep back in. “I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” When she started to walk again, Harbor called, “Hey, Angie?”
She turned back to him, a questioning look on her face.
“If that happens... you’ll be in his corner, right?”
A sure smile stretched Angie’s lips, and she nodded with an approving gleam in her eye. “I’m always in his corner, Harbor.”
He gave one sharp nod and let her walk away.
“Somehow I knew you two would get along like a house on fire,” Theo’s voice called from behind Harbor, and he turned to see him walking up the aisle still in his street clothes.
“Hey,” Harbor greeted, letting his eyes roam Theo’s face as he got closer. “She’s pretty great. I think she and Kayla would rule the world if they ever met.”
“They’d probably make it that much better for all us poor saps,” Theo said, coming to stop in front of Harbor and looking like he really wanted to lean in for a kiss, but thought better of it given where they were standing.
“So, what’s going on?” Harbor asked, tamping down on his own desire to push Theo up against the nearest hard surface and maul him. “You’re not changed out to train. Your meeting go okay?”
“Oh yeah, it went great.” Theo licked his lips and shifted his weight. “I was wondering if you’d help me with something this afternoon instead.”
Harbor tilted his head, watching Theo’s eyes until they stopped flitting around and connected with his own. Angie’s words echoed in his mind he doesn’t trust anyone, not really, and Harbor decided right there in that moment to be someone Theo could trust. Whatever that took. “Of course.”
Chapter Seventeen
“No, move more to your left,” Harbor grunted, cracking his elbow on the edge of the door jamb again as he and Theo tried to maneuver the new king-sized mattress down the narrow hall into the room that had been Helen’s. This was the last piece to move after a long afternoon of furniture shopping, assembly, and finally putting all the new pieces into place.
“Got it,” Theo said, shifting until they were able to get through the door.
Harbor backed carefully around the foot of the bed, tilting the mattress horizontal, and then he and Theo laid it on top of the box springs already in place on the frame. The bedroom suite Theo had chosen was oak with a rich chocolate stain. It looked good against the cream-colored walls and tan carpet. As soon as the mattress settled in place, he caught a sparkle in Theo’s eyes, and they both flopped down onto it sideways with a laugh.
“Yes,” Theo groaned, stretching out on his back and letting his hand fall to Harbor’s thigh, fingers inching up under the leg of his shorts.
“Is that yes to resting your back or yes to feeling me up?”
Theo chuckled. “I’m gonna go with both.” His hand crept higher, sliding over the coarse hair on Harbor’s thigh until he reached the smooth skin of his upper thigh just below his hip.
Harbor sighed, letting the warmth of Theo’s touch spread over his body, too tired to do anything other than enjoy it. The day’s strains had been measured in more than hours. Harbor had been expecting Theo wanting to buy a new bed, but when he’d told Harbor he was planning to clean out Helen’s room—it had come as a surprise. Reaching over to rest his own hand on Theo’s thigh, he gave a gentle squeeze. “You doing okay?”
Letting out a breath, Theo’s fingers stopped their upward motion, and instead, traced circles on Harbor’s skin. “I think so? I mean, I never expected this. Or for her to leave me anything, let alone this house. I didn’t know what to make of it for a long time.”
Harbor licked his lips. All day and he hadn’t pushed. He said he wouldn’t even as the questions balanced on his tongue, ready to spill out.
“I know you want to ask.” Theo huffed a laugh. “I can practically hear you biting your tongue... and I’ll tell you, but I appreciate you not pushing me about it, you know?”
Harbor smiled at the spackled ceiling above them. He did know. “Whenever you’re ready, okay?”
“How about over the pizza I ordered us that should be here any minute?”
Harbor spun himself around until his face was level with Theo, then he rolled over until he was sprawled half on top of him. “Veggie?”
Theo narrowed his eyes. “Please. Do I look like a boyfriend who doesn’t pay attention? Of course, veggie.”
Harbor smirked and kissed him firmly on the mouth. “Knew there was a reason I decided to keep you.”
“Is that right?”
“Yep.” Leaning down, Harbor kissed him again, forcing his way inside until their tongues slid together, and whatever retort Theo was about to make, died on a groan. Theo’s arm slid around Harbor’s back and down, slipping right under the waistband of his shorts to grip his bare ass. Harbor moaned his approval and leveraged himself on one elbow, planting a knee between Theo’s thighs on the bed and thrusting his hardening shaft against Theo’s hip.
“Fuck, Harbor,” Theo panted, sliding his mouth down to kiss the straining tendon on the side of Harbor’s neck.
Harbor’s whole body shuddered when Theo latched on, hand still clutching his ass cheek, encouraging Harbor on.
A car honked outside causing them both to freeze.
“Shit,” Theo broke the silence, laughing. “Better let me up, Blondie, your veggie pizza is here.”
The sky was still light enough that they settled on the screened in back porch with their pizza and water. Theo would have liked to have a beer, but they were both technically in training, so some concessions needed to be made somewhere. This porch had always been a favorite place of his. It was cozy with a small round table and chairs off to one side and a white wicker outdoor couch and chairs on the other. The cushions on the furniture were fading, and he added replacing them to his growing menta
l list of things he needed to do to the house.
Today had been daunting, and somehow freeing, all at the same time. He couldn’t believe how much they’d accomplished—packing up his old room and Helen’s room, then shifting everything around until his old room was now a guest room, and the master bedroom was now his. And Harbor‘s, his mind helpfully tacked on. It was amazing how that thought didn’t have him running for the hills. How settled the notion of sharing a bed with Harbor, a house, and maybe even a life, somehow scared him less every day. He looked up from his place on one side of the table and watched Harbor pick up another slice of pizza. An image of this same man turning his back and walking out of the dressing room they’d hooked up in the first time they’d met flashed in his mind.
Why would I stay? Harbor had asked, and now here he was, anchoring Theo to earth in a way he never thought was possible.
“Helen was my foster parent.”
Harbor’s head snapped up, wide blue eyes glued to Theo’s face.
“But I’m guessing you already figured that out.” When Harbor nodded, Theo continued, “I was left as a baby in one of those Safe Haven Baby Boxes. You know Indiana is one of the only states that has those?” He chewed on the inside of his cheek. “My mom or whoever left me in one up north at a fire station with nothing but the diaper and onesie I was wearing. The doctors think I was less than a week old. The hospital staff named me Theodore James Smith and assigned me what they thought was most likely my birthday.” Reaching for his glass, Theo lifted it to his lips, only to realize his hands were shaking. He took a slow breath and finished off his water. Harbor’s eyes hadn’t moved from his face, but Theo couldn’t meet them. He didn’t want pity and he didn’t want to risk seeing it there. “I won’t go into what growing up in the foster system was like. I was never abused or anything like that... just never really felt like I belonged. Apparently, I was almost adopted while I was still a baby, but it didn’t work out. So, there were a lot of homes, a lot of moving, and then just before I turned fifteen, I ended up here.”
Open Wounds: The Boxed Set Page 21
