by CJ Bishop
“Yeah,” Clint said. “He got scared when he woke up and everyone else was asleep.” He nodded at Axel. “You should put something on.”
“Oh…right.” Axel glanced at the child, but he was already drifting back to sleep against Clint’s shoulder. Axel left the bed and pulled on a pair of his own pajama pants and a thin t-shirt.
They put Reuben between them and covered him up. His quiet breath hitched now and then, and he occasionally rubbed his eyes, letting them know he wasn’t fully asleep yet.
Axel gently rubbed his back until the boy’s breathing evened out with sleep. Clint stared at him as his love for the young man grew a little stronger, a little deeper.
“What?” Axel whispered with a smile.
Clint shook his head. “Nothing,” he murmured. “You’re good at this.”
Axel reached over and drew Clint’s face closer then kissed his mouth. “So are you, cowboy.”
They went still when the bedroom door creaked slowly open. Clint suppressed a smile as Jules appeared, hair mussed and eyes heavy with sleep.
“Hey, bud,” Axel smiled. “You okay?”
His eyes went to the bed where Reuben lay sleeping. “I couldn’t find Reuben. He was gone.” The genuine concern in the little boy’s voice and on his face played havoc with Clint’s heart.
“He woke up and got scared,” Clint told him. “He wanted to sleep in here with us.”
“Oh.” Jules rubbed his eyes. “Can I, too?”
The two men looked at each and before they could answer, Jules was crawling onto the bed and snuggling under the blankets next to Reuben. He wrapped his arms around the other little boy and kissed his forehead. “You don’t have to be scared,” he whispered to the sleeping boy. “I’ll protect you.”
Clint blinked and kissed Jules on the head. “He’s lucky to have a tough cowboy like you looking out for him.”
Axel smiled at Clint, his eyes slightly damp and aglow with love for his cowboy. “So am I.”
Chapter Nine
“Cole!” Angel burst across the large lobby when the elevator doors opened, and Cole and Gabe emerged.
Cole looked around, searching, and hardly spotted Angel before the young man leaped into his arms. Cole laughed and hugged him hard, then scooped him up over his shoulder like a bag of grain. “What’re you doing here, you sexy little cherub? Where’s your hubby?”
“Over there.” Angel point across the lobby to where Dane was headed their way, a grin on his handsome face.
“Did you guys get a room here, too, last night?” Gabe asked.
“Yes,” Angel nodded. “It was great. We had loads of fun.”
Cole patted his butt. “I bet you did.”
Angel laughed and agreed.
“Hey, now,” Dane warned as he approached. “Watch your hands there; that’s my husband’s ass you’re playing with.”
Cole began massaging Angel’s rump, making him laugh harder. “But it’s so soft and little, how can I resist?”
Dropping back behind Cole, Gabe cupped Angel’s face and kissed his nose. “Shit, why didn’t you two join us? We could’ve shared a room.” He waggled his eyebrows and grinned mischievously. “I’ve always wanted a go at that hot, sexy man of yours.”
Angel frowned. “Just him?” He pouted. “What about me?”
The two men burst out laughing. “Baby, that goes without saying.” Cole hugged his thighs hard and bit his butt.
Angel yelped and laughed.
“I could’ve used your help last night,” Gabe snorted. “He tied me down and spanked my ass.”
“What?” Dane cocked an eyebrow, a short laugh escaping him.
“It’s true,” Gabe said. “My ass is still sore.”
Dane chuckled and leaned close to Angel. “I could go for that. You want to tie me down and spank my ass?”
Angel twisted in Cole’s arms and flopped his head back so he was staring up at Dane, nearly upside down, a huge grin on his face. “Oh, hell yeah, baby.”
“Shit,” Dane laughed and kissed him as Gabe fell in beside Cole again.
Angel righted himself, his elbows pressed into Cole’s upper back as the man packed him across the lobby. Angel brightened, a dark smile curving his lips when he spotted the choir boys emerging from the elevator and headed in their direction.
“Good morning,” he smiled pleasantly. “Hope you had as a good a night as we did.”
Cole, Gabe, and Dane glanced around to see who he was talking to, then faced forward again, chuckling.
“Hope we weren’t too loud,” Angel quipped. “But, you know, it was our wedding night.”
“And, man, what a night,” Cole added without turning around. “They should be glad they weren’t rooming next to us.”
Angel laughed and nodded at the men. “That’s probably true. These two can get pretty wild and crazy.”
The men made a show of ignoring him until they couldn’t anymore. The one in the front spoke up. “Laugh while you can,” he muttered. “Because you won’t be laughing later when your depravity lands you in hell and the lake of fire.”
Dane spun around lightning quick and stabbed a finger in the man’s face, startling them all. “Do not speak to my husband that way, do you fucking hear me?”
Cole and Gabe halted, and Angel reached for Dane. “Babe, it’s okay. I don’t care what they think.”
“No.” Dane pulled away and loomed over the men dangerously. “Who the fuckdo you think you are walking around with your bullshit pious attitudes, thinking you have some special permission from God to judge and condemn people according to your prejudices?” His face twitched and he snatched the Bible from the man’s hand and shoved it in his face. “Have you even read it? Or do you just rip out the verses you think gives you the right to beat others with, and discard the rest?” He slammed the book against the man’s chest. “Cleanse your own fucking soul before you tell anyone else they’re going to hell.”
He spun back around and strode toward the hotel entrance.
Angel smiled at the men. “Now you see why I married him?”
The disgruntled and somewhat shaken men veered off in another direction.
“Hold up, baby,” Cole grinned as he quickened his step and caught up with Dane.
Angel slid off Cole’s shoulder and grabbed Dane’s hand. “That got me hot.”
Dane looked at him, then his face softened and he laughed.
“Me, too,” Gabe nodded. “Damn hot.”
“Fuck,” Cole breathed and wiped his brow. “You are sexy when you’re pissed.” He winked at Gabe. “Maybe we should get him pissed just before go out on stage together.”
“Hell yeah,” Gabe agreed. “Get him all fired up.”
“Oh, yeah,” Angel hugged Dane’s arm and grinned. “The threesome. Can’t wait for that.”
“How about we throw you in the mix and make it a foursome?” Gabe suggested. “Mm!”
Dane shook his head and shifted Angel to the other side of him away from the two men. “How about wenot.”
“Party pooper,” Cole scowled. “Didn’t anyone teach you to play well with others and share your toys?”
Dane smiled wryly and hugged Angel. “Nope.”
♦
“Good morning.” Axel went about preparing a pot of coffee as a tired Noah sat down at the table and rubbed his eyes. “How’s your leg this morning?”
“Better. Doesn’t hurt so much.”
“Good.” Axel glanced at him. “Is Noel awake?”
“No.” Noah yawned, his chin sinking into his hand. “He didn’t sleep very good last night.”
Axel turned on the coffee maker and came to the table. “Why not?” he frowned.
Noah lowered his eyes. “He had another nightmare.”
“Another nightmare?” Axel took a seat across from the boy. “Does he have them a lot?”
“Not as much as when we first came here,” Noah said. “He used to have them every night. Now, he has them every few days or
so.”
Axel knew about nightmares; he still had his fair share, though he rarely told Clint about them. “Nightmares about your stepdad?”
Noah nodded. “Sometimes I do, too.” He blinked and looked away. “In mine,” he whispered, “I’m locked outside the bedroom and…and I can hear Noel…screaming…begging me to help him, but I-I can’t get through the door.” Tears formed and one escaped. “I wish…I wish it was just a nightmare, but it isn’t. It really happened…over and over.”
“Hey,” Axel said softly and came around the table. He hugged Noah. “I know these things really happened to you and Noel, but now—now—they are just nightmares. Nothing like that is ever going to happen to either of you again. I promise.”
Noah nodded as tears rolled down his face. “I know.”
Axel took the chair right next to him and gripped his hands. “Why didn’t Noel come wake us up when he had the nightmare?”
“I don’t know,” Noah whispered. “I think he feels like he’s too old to have nightmares.” He looked at Axel through tear-filled eyes. “Maybe he doesn’t want to look like a sissy to you and Clint. I think because he’s transgender, he feels like he has to be twice the boy the rest of us are to convince everyone…and himself…that he really is a boy.”
Poor kid, Axel thought sadly. “Well, first of all, no one is too old to have nightmares. I still have them. So does Clint. And I’m sure Abel does, too, and Angel and Maddy. A lot of the ones in this family went through some really horrible stuff, and it doesn’t just erase from your mind when your life gets better. Having nightmares doesn’t make him a sissy or less of a boy.”
“I know,” Noah murmured. “I told him that.”
“And he doesn’t have to convince anyone that he’s a boy,” Axel said gently. “We all know he is.”
Noah nodded. “I told him that, too.”
“Good,” Axel smiled. “He’s lucky to have a brother like you.” He leaned over kissed his head. “And you’re lucky to have him, too. He loves you very much.”
“I know.”
Axel stood up and walked over to the counter and took down a coffee cup. “Any time you boys are here, if either of you has a nightmare, you can come wake us up, okay?”
“Okay.” Noah left the table. “Jules and Reuben slept with you guys last night?”
“Yeah,” Axel chuckled.
“When Noel woke me up, I didn’t see them in the living room,” Noah said. “I was worried and went to your room, then I saw them asleep in your bed.”
Axel smiled. “Reuben woke up and got scared. Clint brought him in, then Jules woke up and came in, too.”
Concern filled Noah’s eyes. “Reuben doesn’t have to go back to his mom, does he? She abuses him, so she can’t take him back, right?”
“Horatio’s attorneys will do everything in their power to see that he doesn’t go back to her,” Axel said. “And they’re really good attorneys, so I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
“I hope he doesn’t go back,” Noah murmured. “Living in an abusive home can mess you up.”
“Yes, it can.” Axel filled a cup. “But I think everything will be okay. The attorney, Jensen, got a court order yesterday that will prevent Reuben’s mom from taking him until a child psychologist speaks with Reuben and analyzes his behavior.”
“But what if they decide he isn’t being abused?” Noah asked worriedly. “Then what?”
“Then…” Axel returned to the table with his coffee. “The attorneys will just fight harder. Reuben is not going back into that unhealthy home. And if they try to make him…” Axel smiled and sipped his coffee. “…Clint might just run away with him.”
A grin spread across Noah’s face. “Clint’s so cool.”
Axel laughed softly. “Yeah, he is.”
♦
Nolan woke up at six in the morning and hadn’t been able to get back to sleep. For half an hour he’d lain quietly beside Grid as the young man slept soundly, exhausted from the night before. Nolan’s body was tired as well, but his mind wouldn’t allow him to rest. Despite all the assurances, he remained worried about Patrice and what she would do when she was served with the court papers.
At six-thirty, Nolan left the bedroom and went to the kitchen. He prepared the coffee maker then sat at the kitchen table. He didn’t know if the papers had been served last night, or if it would happen this morning. He suspected this morning since he hadn’t gotten an enraged call from Patrice last night.
Grid emerged from the bedroom at a little after seven and coaxed Nolan back to bed. Their lovemaking was intense and uninhibited as Nolan topped and worked out his fears and anxieties, leaving them both breathless and exhausted once again.
They showered and dressed…and waited for Patrice to arrive and bring her shitstorm with her.
While they waited, Nolan called out to Clint and Axel’s place. When Axel answered, he asked, “How is Reuben? Did everything go all right last night?”
Axel told him about Reuben waking up and getting scared and him and Jules spending the rest of the night in his and Clint’s bed.
“Thank you,” Nolan said. “I forgot to tell you that he sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to sleep with me.”
“Not a problem,” Axel chuckled. “Like Jules, that little boy of yours has the cowboy wrapped around his little finger.”
Nolan heard Clint mutter something in the background, and laughed lightly. “Those little ones are hard to resist,” Nolan admitted.
“For sure,” Axel agreed, then went quiet a moment before asking, “Reuben’s mom hasn’t come by yet?”
“Not yet.” Nolan heard the anxiety in his own voice.
“I’m sure everything will be all right,” Axel said.
“I hope so,” Nolan sighed. “I can’t take the thought of Reuben returning to her care…or lack thereof.”
“Jensen seemed confident that that wouldn’t happen,” Axel pointed out.
The doorbell rang. Then again. And again. Insistent.
Nolan went still, his stomach tying into knots. “She’s here,” he murmured into the phone, then ended the call and looked at Grid.
“Do you want me to stay out of sight?” Grid asked.
Nolan stood up slowly. “No,” he said. “I’m not going to hide you away like some dirty little secret.” He kissed the young man. “I’m not ashamed of any of this and I really don’t give a shit what she thinks about it.”
Grid nodded. “I’m with you, all the way,” he said quietly. “Whatever storm she tries to bring down on you, we’ll weather it together.” He kissed Nolan. “Answer the door.”
Chapter Ten
Horatio woke up wrapped in Max’s arms. It was nothing “new”; he’d been waking up in Max’s arms for the last few months. But this morning was different. This morning…it was his husband holding him, and Max’s embrace felt stronger, tighter, safer than ever before.
Max was cuddled up snug against his back, his hips curved around Horatio’s ass, as he breathed the even rhythm of sleep.
Drawing Max’s arms a little tighter around him, Horatio closed his eyes again, in no hurry to move away from Max’s warm, secure presence. He felt like a teenager again, consumed and drowning in his love for Max. How was it that after two decades, the love in his heart for this man continued to grow stronger and deeper?
He laced his fingers through Max’s. “I love you, Max,” he whispered and caressed the wedding band on Max’s finger. He opened his eyes looked at his own ring…the one Max had intended to give him all those years ago and had kept all this time as if some part of him had understood they were destined to be together.
Max shifted and his arousal became evident. “I love you, too,” he murmured against Horatio’s ear.
“Were you pretending to be asleep?”
“No,” Max smiled.
Horatio snuggled deeper into Max’s embrace. “I feel like all those years we spent apart,” he said quietly, emot
ion straining his voice, “was someone else’s life. I think back on it and…it doesn’t even feel like me. Most of the time, it wasn’t me. Not the me I am when I’m with you. For most of the last twenty years…I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror. I didn’t know how to be the real me…without you.”
Max kissed his shoulder. “I didn’t, either. Whenever you would come around…” He trembled and went quiet, then hugged Horatio tighter and swallowed thickly. “I couldn’t let myself admit how much I loved you…and needed you.”
Horatio turned over and kissed Max on the lips. “Admit it to me now,” he whispered softly against Max’s mouth. “Show me.” He kissed him tenderly. “Make love to me.”
♦
Grid stood back by the kitchen as Nolan crossed the living room, then paused a moment at the door before opening it. Patrice swept in without invitation, followed by a man in a suit who looked to be a few years older than Nolan.
“How dare you?” Patrice hissed at Nolan and thrust a piece of paper at him. “How dare you accuse me of child abuse?”
Nolan remained calm and closed the door. “There is evidence to suggest it.”
“Evidence?” Patrice fumed. “What evidence?”
“Reuben told us how he was treated at home.”
“Reuben?” Patrice huffed. “He’s only four-years-old. Children make up stories. You brought these heinous accusations against me on the word of a child? If this becomes public, it could ruin my life.”
Nolan stared at her. “I believe my son. Attorney Jensen believes him. And Reuben’s behavior supports the allegations.”
The previously silent man with Patrice spoke up. “You would be wise, Mr. Emery, to consider the legal battle you will be taking on if you insist on going forth with these accusations. You may find yourself in a fight you cannot win.”
Grid held his peace and stayed out of it, though it pissed him off that this person was suggesting that Nolan disregard his son’s abuse to avoid a court battle.
“My one and only consideration,” Nolan replied stiffly. “Is my son’s welfare. I don’t care how long or how hard I have to fight, I will do so to make sure my son is safe and in a healthy home.”
