Diego rolled onto his side, smiling as one of Brody’s hands fingered through his long hair. “Maybe this whole Christmas visit is a bad idea.”
Brody’s eyes went wide, and his hand stopped. “Don’t say that.” Brody’s fingers resumed their exploration of his scalp. “We can’t give her that kind of power over us. You and I aren’t doing anything wrong.I deserve to be happy. Youdeserve to be happy. This is my house, and I want you here with me for as long as you’ll stay.” He pulled Diego close to him. “If I had my way, you’d never leave.”
Those words… did Brody understand what those words did to Diego? How they made his heart stop? How, for a split second, Diego imagined what it would be like to never leave this place, to have that happily ever after with this man?
Too attached. He was getting too attached to this man, those kids. Even Peach, curled up at the foot of their bed, felt like his pet now.
Their bed! Even Diego’s thoughts betrayed him.
But—there was nothing in Houston, aside from his sister, that Diego needed like he needed Brody. Not the band, not his job… not even his friends. They’d all moved on with their lives. The band was heading to Nashville with or without him.
Was it so ridiculous an idea, making a life with Brody?
Diego didn’t have an answer to Brody’s quiet admission. But maybe that was okay because Brody’s semi-hard cock pressed against his hip. “Otra vez?” Diego murmured at Brody’s sex drive. “You didn’t get enough earlier?”
“Making up for lost time,mi amor.” Brody rolled onto his side and grasping both their cocks in one of his large hands. “Fuck, isn’t that pretty?” he whispered against Diego's lips at their two cock heads peeking out from his fist as he stroked them.
Diego groaned with pleasure at the rough sensation. “You’re so bad.” Diego’s lips brushed against Brody’s as they kissed hungrily, moaning loud when Brody added a generous dab of lube to his palm and began expertly stroking them both at the same time.
It was so hot, staring at their erect cocks sliding against each other. Flaming hot pleasure coursed through him, building inside him with each touch. He bit down on Brody's shoulder as he reached that peak first, streaking Brody's hand with his cum. Brody tumbled seconds later, gasping Diego's name as they kissed, breathless from their orgasms.
Chapter Twenty-one
Brodylookeddownatthe yellow Post-It note in his hand, with a phone number scribbled in his lawyer’s sloppy script. “I strongly advise you not to use this without me around,” Holly, his lawyer, told him as she handed it to him at their last meeting.
But Brody didn’t want to wait until January to hash this out. Surely if they talked, if Aunt Kelly listened to him, saw the man he’d become—maybe she’d drop this foolish lawsuit and leave him and the boys alone.
Aunt Kelly had agreed to meet him, and now he sat at Starbucks, waiting for her to arrive. Peach lay at his side, wide awake and not bothering to sleep. Her furry head pressed against his leg, as if she felt his anxiety and worry and wanted to calm his nerves. Brody reached down and pet her soft fur. “I’m alright, girl. It’s all gonna be alright.”
Brody wasn’t prepared for the shock of seeing Aunt Kelly. He never realized how much she looked like his mother, with her long chestnut hair streaked with silver, and icy blue eyes. When the front door of Starbucks opened and Kelly strode in, his breath caught in his chest. The last time he’d seen his mom was when he was eighteen years old, her face pale and stony as his father drove him away from their farm.
Brody stood as she approached. “Hey there, Aunt Kelly.” He didn’t make any moves to close the distance with a hug. “Thank you for meeting me.”
“I must admit, I was intrigued by the invitation.” Kelly glanced down and wrinkled her nose at the dog sitting at Brody’s feet, as if surprised no one else in the establishment had complained about her presence. “You appear to be in good health, Broderick, though I see you still need assistance.”
So, this is how it was going to be. “Peach is an important part of my recovery, and she’s a good companion as well.” Peach ignored this conversation and rolled to her side. Brody smiled.
This did not amuse his aunt. She sat down across from Brody and folded her hands in her lap. “What did you want to talk to me about?” she asked crisply.
“This stupid court case, of course. I had hoped that maybe we could talk it out and come to an understanding. If you want to spend time with the boys, be a part of their life—I can understand that. We can make an arrangement.”
Aunt Kelly snorted. “The only arrangement I’m interested in is gaining custody of the children. It’s bad enough their mother is a convicted felon. How on earth anyone granted temporary custody to an invalid degenerate is beyond me, and a situation that I hope to rectify as soon as I can.”
Brody’s back straightened as she spoke, the vitriol in her voice shocking him out of his complacency. He’d grown comfortable here in Cielo Springs, almost believing that he was welcome again, that he was normal. Aunt Kelly’s words reminded him that there were people—possibly many people around him right now—who would have no problems with her taking the boys away from him for the exact reasons she just gave him.
But Brody had fought enough prejudice in his life to keep his face impassive at her damning words. “A lot has changed in the last ten years, even in a place like this.” He waved his hand around to indicate that he meant the town. “There are gay people in Cielo Springs, and some of them are parents. It’s a new world.”
“It’s wrong and we both know it. I shudder to think what indecencies you’re teaching them.”
Brody raised a finger to her, pleased to see her recoil slightly. “Don’t you even say anything like that again. I would never hurt those boys.”
Aunt Kelly regained her composure quickly. “You’re seeing that boy again. The Mexican. Everyone knows.”
Everyone knows? Brody ignored that for the moment and the comment about Diego’s heritage.Don’t let her win.“First, he’s not a boy. Neither of us are boys. Second, that’s none of your business. I am allowed to live my life the way I see fit, even in small-town Texas.”
Her mouth twisted into a smug smile. “We'll see if the judge agrees with you or not. But I think it will surprise you to find out how many people still believe in good old-fashioned morals, particularly when it comes to our children.”
Holly had been right. Meeting with Aunt Kelly was a mistake. “Then I guess we have nothing else to say.”
