Stephen’s.
“They weren’t my daddies. Not at all.” The fury in the words was pure pain.
He met that pain with his certainty. “No, but I am.”
“Maybe.” God, I hope so.
That hope was enough to help him maintain his patience. His boy wanted this; the experiences of his past made it impossible for him to jump in with both feet. “I have faith.”
Stephen stepped close, pushing into his arms. “Just a quick hug, please.”
He wrapped his arms around his boy and squeezed. Closing his eyes, he simply sank into the connection. Stephen relaxed, a sweet sound filling the air between them.
He purred, echoing the song that Stephen put into his heart. This was pure peace, and he reveled in sharing it with Stephen.
“We’re going to have to go back to the real world soon, aren’t we?”
“We need to take the guys to Marc, yes. But we’ll be together and I’ll happily hold your hand the entire time. Then we can come back here and make love or shower together or eat some more or do anything you want to do.”
“You have the time for that? I’d like to get to know you better.”
“I have the time to be entirely at your disposal. Independently wealthy.” He gave Stephen a wink as he said it, trying not to sound too arrogant.
Stephen grinned at him. “I live on my fellowship. I am not wealthy, but I am independent.”
He grinned right back, utterly delighted. “Excellent. Then we can take as much time as we need.”
“I don’t have to be back at the studio until Tuesday. I can’t miss that.” When Stephen spoke about his work, the expression was relaxed, happy, easy.
“You enjoy your work. What are you doing at the studio?” He turned off the water and grabbed them some towels, then wrapped one around his boy’s shoulders to keep Stephen from getting cold.
“This semester, I’m experimenting with silk screening and hand dyeing.”
“You’ll have to show me your work. But not tonight.” He rubbed carefully, making sure to dry his boy without pressing too hard. He didn’t want to irritate the lovely skin by grating it with the towel.
“I’d love to. And if you’re not interested, I understand. It’s an odd passion.”
“I’m all about odd passions. They keep life interesting. Although I have a hunch it’ll always be interesting with you.” He dried himself off far more perfunctorily.
“You make me feel…special.” Stephen dried his hair and braided the heavy mass.
“Good. You are.” He padded into the bedroom and dug through his drawers to find the sweats he’d been thinking would if not fit at least be wearable. He gave them along with a red T-shirt to his boy.
“Thank you, Sir.” Stephen got dressed, looking adorable in his clothes.
“You’re more than welcome.” He pulled on a pair of jeans and a matching T-shirt, grinning at them both dressed in red.
“Are we too matchy-matchy?” Stephen winked at him, the gentle laughter playing with him.
“We might just be and I’m not sure I care what other people think, so it doesn’t matter.” He held his hand out to Stephen, pleased when his boy took it right away, perhaps even without thinking twice about it.
His phone beeped, the guys eager to go, to find their boy.
He texted back that they were on their way down. He’d drive to the place where Marc worked and the guys could Uber after that. He needed the car to carry Stephen’s stuff home.
“Should I get us a taxi? I should pay this time around.”
“I’ll drive. I tend not to in the city, but we’ve got to pick up your stuff.” He let them into the elevator and pressed the button for twelve—where France and Berny lived.
“Oh. I didn’t even think…” Stephen blushed dark.
“What? You had no idea—after all, I used an Uber to get your place and we took a taxi back here. How were you to know?” Stephen had to stop taking the weight of the world on his shoulders. Everything was not his boy’s fault.
Hell, most things were not his fault. Champ was pretty sure that convincing his boy of this was going to be the trick. He was the man for the job though.
He was more than that even.
Chapter Six
Stephen felt like the whole world had changed since he answered the knock on his door this morning.
Champ had a huge black SUV, and they had picked up the others and gone down to the garage level. Wow.
He had to climb up into it, and as they pulled out into the street,