Elijah looks over my shoulder. “I’ll take care of it. Just like I’ll take care of you.”
Taking in a deep breath, I surrendered to him.
Trusting him to do just that.
32
Elijah
Even though the frustration of seeing Gabe kissing Tobias still simmers my blood, I focus on getting Tobias home, cared for and safe in bed, instead.
I came back tonight dedicated to being there for him. He needs me. And hell, I need him too.
We make it home in good time, and I make quick work at getting him upstairs and undressed.
I guide him to our bathroom and I stand there as he slowly undresses, placing his clothes on the countertop.
“I’m going to make you something to eat while you shower,” I say, turning the nozzle of the shower on.
He quickly reaches out, grabbing my hand. “No. Don’t leave me,” he softly pleads. His eyes desperately jump between mine. I look down at his fist wrapped around mine and feel him almost shaking. It breaks my heart seeing him like this.
I nod my head. “Okay. I’ll stay with you.” I step back, lifting my shirt over my head and throwing it aside. I see his shoulders grow slack as he watches me get naked.
Stepping into the shower with him, I pull him under the stream with me. We stand there for a few minutes hugging, just feeling each other’s heartbeats until I reach out for the body wash.
I pour some onto his blue loofah and begin moving in small, gentle circles, lathering his chest and stomach as I work downward.
“I love you so much,” he whispers. And that’s the last thing he says before closing his eyes and leaning back on the tile wall, relaxing into my touch.
Turning him around slowly, I take my time washing up and down his back, arms and down the back of his legs. Moving the sudsy loofah between his crease, I slide it up and down a few times, pulling a soft sound from his lips. Unlike the many times this move has led elsewhere, this time I focus just on getting him clean, ignoring the hard-ons we both undeniably have.
Tonight, it’s all about making sure he feels safe and cared for. I finish up washing his thighs, calves and feet, before turning him back around and rinsing him off.
After I’ve washed his hair, and then myself, I hold him for a long while under the now lukewarm water. Rubbing my hands slowly up and down his back, and letting him lean on me…like he always should’ve.
Getting us both dried off and in pajamas took some time, but finally, we made it downstairs.
Wrapping his arms around my waist, I let him lean on my back, his head resting on my shoulder as I prepare our late night meal.
Grilled cheese.
He stands there patiently behind me as we listen to music playing on my phone while we wait for the bread to golden.
My left hand gently passes back and forth over his arm as the other flips his sandwich.
Every so often, Tobias kisses me gently on my neck, making sure I know he’s still there.
Like I could ever forget.
After the sandwich is plated, I grab him a water bottle from the fridge, take his hand and guide us upstairs to the bedroom. I know crumbs in the bed are the last thing we need right now, but honestly, I think tonight we just need to be together. Just us, where we feel the closest.
Guiding him to the bed, I climb on first, motioning for him to come and lay with me. Crawling over, he lays with his back against my chest, and places his plate on his lap.
“Thank you,” he says quietly, beginning to eat.
“Of course,” I respond, threading my fingers through his damp hair.
We stay like that for a while, wrapped in each other as soft music fills the dim, warm glow of the room. I continue passing my fingers through the hair along his temples, without any rush.
