it wasn’t possible, that Xan would never, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t, because he had gone back. More than once. More than twice. But he wanted to believe that if he hadn’t been on his own—that if even one person had offered him a hand—he would have taken that instead of continuing on the cycle.
“Do you think I should go talk to him?” Sebastion asked after a beat.
Luca pulled away, and Sebastion was surprised to see how much hope simmered in his eyes. “Yes. If he’ll let you. He hasn’t said a word since we left the police station, and I just…I have to know he’s okay.”
Taking Luca by the face, he kissed him—deep, slow, gentle, pouring everything he felt into that gesture. It was love beyond words and measure, and he felt the way Luca leaned into it like he had been waiting his entire life for that kiss.
“Try and relax for a bit,” Sebastion told him, pulling away. “I want to look at your arm later.”
Luca pulled a face, but he didn’t argue, and he didn’t call Sebastion back as he made his way toward the hall.
Anxiety settled in the pit of his gut as he approached the guest room, and he stood there, poised with his hand up to knock for longer than was necessary before he did. It echoed in the room, then he heard a quiet bark before Xan’s voice rose above it.
“Come in.”
Sebastion took a breath, then pushed the door open and couldn’t help his smile when he saw Ivy sprawled out with her head on Xan’s chest. He looked better than Luca had described, but still rough. The shiner wasn’t swollen, but it would be black and green by morning, and the side of his lip was fat and scabbed.
Still, he managed something like a smile when he locked eyes on Sebastion. “You look different than your wedding pictures.”
Sebastion blinked, then laughed as he closed the door behind him. “I imagine so. I was young and spry then.”
“Trust me, you aged like a fine wine,” Xan said. He grunted as he shifted up, and Ivy let out a noise of irritation as she climbed off the bed and went to greet her owner with far less enthusiasm than he was used to.
“I guess someone found a new favorite,” Sebastion cooed, rubbing her ears.
Xan sighed. “I think she could tell things were…you know. Pretty fucked up.”
Sebastion glanced up but said nothing as he opened the door and let Ivy out. When he closed it behind her, Xan looked a little bit startled, and then even a little alarmed when Sebastion crossed the room and perched at the edge of the bed.
“I can leave you be if you want,” he offered.
Xan hesitated, then shook his head. “It’s fine. I mean, I’m in your home.”
“That doesn’t mean you owe either of us your time. Especially not right now. I just wanted to check on you.” He bit his lip gently, then sighed. “Luca thinks you hate him.”
Xan glanced away, and his shoulders hunched up near his ears. “I know why he made me go to the cops, but he wouldn’t fucking listen to me. I was scared.”
Sebastion glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, then offered out a hand. It sat there in the space between them for long enough that he didn’t think Xan was going to take it, and then he felt the soft brush of fingers.
His palm was so much softer and smaller than his husband’s, and he took a second to let himself feel it. He understood why Luca was falling hard and fast—and he also understood why it was dangerous. But he wasn’t going to hold back affection when Xan was nursing a bruised face and a broken heart.
“Can I get that hug now?” he asked.
Xan laughed, the sound tense and thick with tears, but he nodded and stood up, letting Sebastion drag him into his arms. He knew his hugs paled in comparison to his husband who was larger and all-encompassing in both body and heart, but the way Xan melted against him said he was willing to take second best.
“Thanks,” Xan said after a long beat. He sniffed, then gingerly wiped at his face with the edge of his sleeve. He wasn’t openly crying, but a few tears had escaped. “I don’t know what to do.”
Sebastion took him by the hand again and eased him down onto the bed. “Do you want to tell me what