he offered me a puzzled look. “I… wanted to ask you about that.”
“Ask me about what?”
“When you…” Austin stopped. “When you were pulling me out of the car… I thought I heard you say something—”
“Are you talking about when I said that I love you?”
“Oh.” Austin’s mouth fell open in surprise. “I… yeah. I am. I just… I didn’t know if that part really happened or not.”
“Why would you think it didn’t happen?”
“Well, for starters, I was drifting in and out of consciousness.” Austin lightly chuckled. “And because the last time you told me that you loved me, you didn’t even remember it.”
“What are you talking about?” I shook my head. “The last time I told you that I love you? Today was the first time.”
“No. It wasn’t,” Austin replied. “The first time was when I stayed over at your cabin, the same night we caught those kids breaking your windows? I told you that I was about to leave for the night, and you told me that I had to stay with you because you… loved me.”
“I… said that?”
“In your sleep.” Austin smiled. “But honestly, hearing you say it when you’re not passed out on the couch is so much better.”
“I’m sorry, Austin.”
“For what?”
“For everything,” I admitted. “I’m sorry that I screwed up everything between us. I’m sorry that I pushed you away so much. And I’m sorry if I’ve fucked things up to the point that you don’t want anything to do with me anymore—”
“Can we go to bed?”
“What?” I was a little taken aback by Austin’s request before I let out an understanding hum. “Oh. Right. You probably mean get some actual sleep. I’m sure you’re tired from the hospital and all—”
“Who said anything about getting any sleep?” Austin whispered, his eyes locking on my own.
“Okay. Yeah.” I nodded as a grin spread across my face. “Let’s just go to bed.”
“How is it that you don’t even have a scratch on you, Austin Williams?” I murmured as I lay beside him in bed, looking his face up and down. “With an accident like that… you’d think there’d at least be some bruising.”
“Why do you sound like you’re pro-bruise?” Austin joked, his gaze falling squarely on mine. “I thought you would’ve been happy that there are no scratches on me.”
“Of course, I’m happy you don’t have any injuries,” I replied. “I’m just… well, maybe I’m just a little jealous. Who knows how long I’m going to have to keep my hand bandaged up like this?”
Austin reached a palm over toward my hand, his fingertips lightly tracing over the bandage. “I’m sorry, Jack. Is it… do you think it’s going to mess with your photography? Please don’t tell me I’ve damaged you for life.”
“I think I’ll be fine,” I answered. “Although, it does give me a good excuse to take a break from it, you know? Maybe I’ll take some time to find something else to do with my life, or at least pick up a few new hobbies.”
“Yeah?” Austin smiled, shifting closer to me on the mattress. “Well, if you’re going to have some free time… I think I know something you could do to kill an hour or two.”
“Oh, really?” I smiled back at him. “And what are you suggesting, Austin Williams?”
“I’m suggesting that you fuck me, Jack,” Austin murmured before placing soft kisses all along my bandaged hand. “Please? Please fuck me.”
“No.”
“No?” Austin’s face fell. “Oh. You don’t want to? But I thought… earlier when I asked you about going to bed—”
“I don’t want to fuck you, Austin,” I started to clarify, my hands pulling his waist closer to my own. “Because I want to make love to you. I want this to mean something. Is that all right with you?”
“Yes.” Austin’s answer came out breathless. “I want… I want you to make love to me, Jack.”
“Okay, then.” I smiled over at him as I started to gently trace my fingertips up the side of his hips. I then brought my hand back down toward the bottom of his t-shirt before I repeated the same motion with my digits, slowly dragging them up his skin.
Austin shivered in response. “Jack…”
“Baby.” I let out a gentle laugh, my fingertips sliding along Austin’s chest. “I’m barely getting started.”
“I know,” Austin whispered. “I’m just too excited… I’ve wanted this for a long time, Jack. For you to touch me like this. For you to… make love to me like this. I’ve… wanted to be something special to you, for a