Dmitri looked at him pensively, then stepped closer, laying a warm hand on Andre’s arm. “It’s okay. It’s adrenaline, likecoming down off a performance high, but not nearly as pleasant. That’s why I’m not freaking out, because Iknowwhy I feel like punching something.”
Looking at Dmitri, at his warm eyes, at the boyish features Andre had long ago committed to memory, he suddenly didn’t feel like punching something. Life was precious, and seeing Dmitri’s life at risk had made him realize that putting off any potential relationship until some mythical “right time” was stupid. They weren’t guaranteed a tomorrow, and he’d realized that he’d definitely let fear of losing Miguel control his life for far too long. If he’d stood up before now and stopped letting Sibila’s threats get to him, he would have reported Ray’s initial letter to the cops, preventing what had just happened. More importantly, he and Dmitri would be together, probably would havebeentogether for a long time.
“I don’t want to punch anything,” he said, reaching out to lay one hand against Dmitri’s cheek. “What I’d like very much is to go back in time and change a lot of things. But since I can’t, maybe I can change the future from this point.”
Dmitri smiled, rubbing his cheek against Andre’s palm. The smile was back on his face, and this time it was sensual. “Oh? Dare I ask what you might change?”
Andre stepped closer. “I’d very much like to change our sleeping arrangements. Well, not so much on the bus, I guess, but next time we are in a hotel, I’d like to share a bed.”
Laughing, Dmitri slid his arms around Andre’s waist. “Are you sure? Because I definitely think that can be arranged.”
“I’m sure.” Now Andre’s heart was beating fast again, but not in fear. “I haven’t been able to say it, Dmitri, but I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time.”
“I love you, too,” Dmitri replied, and his blue eyes were luminous with joy. “You’re sure about this? You want to be open, even if it means potentially giving Sibila ammunition?”
“Fuck Sibila,” Andre growled. “We belong together. I won’t deny it any longer.”
With that, he lowered his head and captured Dmitri’s lips. Dmitri responded eagerly, the heat between them flaring high and hot.
Lost in the kiss, neither of them heard the door of the bus open, or the quiet footsteps mounting the stairs. Luka stopped, smiling as he watched them for a moment, before he turned and left as silently as he had come.
EPILOGUE
Four Weeks Later
Dmitri waited anxiously,checking his phone every thirty seconds. It was stupid; he knew Andre had probably just gotten delayed by traffic. San Diego wasn’t the madhouse that LA was, but the city’s famous zoo was popular, and no doubt he was having as hard a time finding parking as he had.
So much had happened in the last month that he could barely wrap his mind around it. After years of hoping to have a relationship with Andre, suddenly he had one, and it was even better than he’d dreamed possible.
After the events at Rocktoberfest on Friday night, they’d had little time to be alone. They’d missed out on part of Saturday’s shows due to police interviews, which required them to be transported from Black Rock City, over a hundred miles away, to the closest police station. They’d been aided in this once again by Able and Pita, who, it turned out, had access to a helicopter that Queen Anne’s Revenge kept on call for emergencies. Since the bodyguards also had to give statements to the authorities, they’d willingly allowed Dmitri and Andre to ride along.
Not as helpful had been the reporters who had heard about the story, and were waiting in ambush on their return. Devon Bailey had advised them to refuse to give any interviews, with which they’d both agreed. Dmitri was both grateful and a little amused that QAR’s security staff had broadened their perimeter to include the F-Holes’ bus. While it definitely kept the press at bay, it was a bit surreal to watch all the burly, intense men patrolling the area and rebuffing every attempt to get anywhere near them.
They’d left the venue on Sunday, headed to Sacramento. They’d had two blissful days off from performing, and also had the luxury of exchanging their bus bunks for a hotel room.
Dmitri wasn’t certain what the rest of the band did during their break, but he and Andre had spent almost the entire time in bed. The heat between them had been as intense as he’d always imagined it could be, an incredible exploration of pleasure as they’d learned what each of them enjoyed most. Dmitri had delighted at Andre’s intensity, surprised that his lover could be both heartbreakingly tender as well as arousingly dominating. Being very flexible in his own preferences, he’d been more than happy to indulge Andre’s every fantasy.
Even after a month, they were still ravenous for one another, though the lack of privacy and physical demands of performing didn’t allow time for them to indulge as much as they’d have liked.
Then they’d finally arrived back in LA for an extended break, and Andre had gone down to San Diego at once to see his son.
After many discussions with both Dmitri and Derek, Andre had decided to spend a week with Miguel, just the two of them, before Dmitri came down to be introduced. Though Dmitri missed the hell out of Andre, he knew it was important for Miguel to have his father’s undivided attention after such an extended absence. It had also given Andre the opportunity tolet Sibila know of his change in relationship status -- and, to everyone’s shock, she’d been surprisingly accepting. It may have had something to do with the fact that she’d finally gotten pregnant, and both she and Derek were over the moon. Dmitri was just grateful for Andre’s sake that she had backed down over the adoption issue, and he didn’t have to feel guilty that their relationship might lead to a custody battle.
Andre had videocalled every night, and had definitely been naughty during them, but Dmitri was aching to wrap his arms around Andre and hold him close. So he waited with both anticipation and apprehension, hoping that Miguel wouldn’t hate him on sight.
Finally, he caught sight of Andre coming towards him. The small boy holding onto Andre’s hand with one of his and with a garishly bright stuffed parrot with the other was the spitting image of his father. Dmitri’s heart melted.
Andre spotted him, and his smile was both wide and welcoming. Dmitri waited, and when they reached him, he winked at Andre before crouching down to be on Miguel’s level. “It’s good to finally meet you in person, Miguel.”
“Meech!” Miguel grinned, displaying the gap where he’d lost a front tooth, before Dmitri found himself being strangled by a hug that included the stuffed parrot. After a minute, Miguel pulled back and looked at him with wide eyes. “Daddy told me you’re his boyfriend! I have a boyfriend, too. His name is Garrett and he’s almost six!”
“Is that so?” Dmitri looked up at Andre, seeing the happiness in his gaze. Apparently, the talk Andre had planned to have with Miguel prior to this meeting had gone well. “I hope he’s nice to you.”
“Garrett isreallynice, he shared his cupcake with me on Friday,” Dmitri was informed.
“That was definitely a nice thing to do. So, do I have your permission to be your Daddy’s boyfriend? If I promise I’ll always be nice to him, and to you, too?”
It was a deceptively simple question, but so much rode on it that Dmitri found himself holding his breath as he waited for the answer.
