Blake is snoring quietly by the time we make it home, and I raise my eyebrows at Brady in question. He shakes his head then nods towards his little brother still passed out in my lap. Our silent conversations are some of my favorites. He rounds the car and gathers her up in his arms, and I do the same to gently coax Easton upright enough to pick him up. He murmurs something to me, entirely ineligible, but I can take a guess. “It’s all right, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
Even as I strip him down so we can shower, he’s still out of it. He’d be grossed out if I let him crawl into bed without washing this day away, though, so it’s gotta happen. The warm water is pure luxury after the long day we’ve had. Just the smallest sliver of ocean blue peaks out from between Easton’s eyelids as he lets out a soft groan. “Feels good, huh?” I ask lathering the shampoo into his hair.
When we’re clean, dry, and in bed with my fingers trailing all over Easton’s back. I’m sure he’s back to sound asleep, but my mind is still wandering. “Love?” he mumbles, voice thick with sleep.
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
Guess he’s not as out as I thought. “It’s a lot for one day. You okay?”
My heart clenches. “I’m trying to be. How about you?”
A kiss is pressed into my collarbone. “I wasn’t the one awake after the longest day known to man.” I’m not quite sure what to say to that because he’s right, of course, but there’s no need for him to worry. “Where’d you put that book?”
It takes me a second to realize what he’s talking about. “The one I was reading to you? On the nightstand.”
“I’m buying a fucking dimmable lamp for this room,” he grouses when he turns the light on. “Ridiculous amount of brightness. I hate it.” He’s so adorable when he’s grumpy. Like a little bunny.
After settling back down, he examines the book closely. “I don’t remember a damn bit of what has happened in our brief introduction here, but I’m assuming you do so I’m just gonna go with it.”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” I say easily. I’m touched enough by the gesture, I wouldn’t mind listening to the pages I’ve already read just to hear the soft timber of his voice.
I’ll have to thank Blake later for the idea. It’s not an overly complicated one, but it’s certainly effective. I’d spend my last dime on keeping Easton well stocked in books for this simple pleasure. The cadence of his soft reading lulls me into a state of peace that has eluded me for months. We’re alive. We’re together. Everything is going to be okay. For the first time in months, there’s nothing to dread. There’s not a doubt in my mind that Easton will do amazing at his show. The ever-present worry that his mental health takes a nosedive straight off a cliff if I don’t pay close attention is nonexistent. He’ll have ups and downs like anyone, but knowing that he’s taking massive steps to keep the lows from being too low is everything to me.
Easton wants this life with me, and he’ll do anything to keep it. I’d happily spend the rest of my days showing him that the feeling is mutual. Nothing and no one can take this from meanymore. He’s all mine and I’m entirely his. A more comforting thought to carry me to sleep doesn’t exist.
CHAPTER 33
EASTON
The morning sunlight streaming through the curtains eventually becomes too bright to ignore, and I give up trying, rubbing my eyes and trying to orient myself with reality. It’s been a long fucking time since I slept that hard. Anything after leaving the hospital is a warm, fuzzy blur in my brain that could only come from a complete lack of awareness that I haven’t had the luxury of in recent memory, and full faith that Chase would take care of me.
And he did, considering I found myself smelling like his shower gel and safely tucked into bed. All I know is I rallied for a solid ten minutes to read to him when I felt him overthinking. Other than that, he had everything well in hand. No surprise there, but I love it all the same. Rolling over, I’m surprised to find him still sound asleep beside me, bare chest on full display and an arm behind his head to make up for the fact that he doesn’t have a pillow.
Poor thing, having to sleep next to me night after night. Even without memory of doing it, I know that I stole it from him. Knowing Chase, I’ve got about ten minutes before he notices I’m awake so it would be a crime to not make the most of it.
Tentatively, I press a kiss to his chest, carefully scanning him for any indication that this attention is unwarranted. It’s not like the topic hasn’t come up in late-night conversations, and Chase was very clear that there could not be a better reason to wake him up. But theory is one thing and practice is another entirely.
When his lips twitch up in a slight smile, still sound asleep, relief floods my veins and makes me feel braver. I attempt another kiss a little lower above his ribs. This time, I’m rewarded with a sweet sigh. This game isfun.
Carefully, I rise to my knees and straddle Chase’s legs. Still, he shows no signs of waking up, and I am thrilled.
My lips travel across the expanse of his chest and stomach, and there isn’t a tattoo that they haven’t traced—emboldened by Chase’s deep breaths and all this warm skin to map out. By the time nothing is left undiscovered, and I arrive at the thin trail of hair leading down from his bellybutton, his dick is straining against his black briefs. My mouth waters at the sight.
His dark eyelashes are still fanned out against his cheeks. I run my hands along his strong thighs. My want for this boy borders on obscene. This brilliant, kind-hearted, unreal love of mine that doesn’t ever tire of my eccentricities. I’d give him the world if I could, but he’ll have to settle for everything I have, heart and soul.
“You’re killing me here, Chaos,” he mumbles, rolling his hips needily.
I hum sympathetically. “Sorry, baby. I’ll try to spend less time appreciating your gorgeous body and get to sucking your dick sooner next time.”
When my fingers find their way under the elastic of his briefs, he groans and lifts his hips. I don’t need any further encouragement to rid him of his clothes, leaving him completely naked before me. His rock-hard dick is eager and leaking for me.I don’t hesitate swiping my tongue against his tip for a taste. “Fuck. Just like that.”
I smile as I continue to tease him with kitten licks up and down his length. One of his hands finds its way into my hair, just to find a way to touch me. When I look up, those glacier eyes are molten with want. Wanting to play with fire, I finally take him into my mouth. Just the first inch or so and give it a good, hard suck.
“That’s it, baby,” he mutters. “Good boy. You look so fucking good with my cock in your mouth.”
The rambling praise goes straight to my throbbing dick. I love that I can do this to him; reduce him to nothing but need. I sink down slowly, straight to the base. Chase has to bite his fist to keep his noises at bay. It’s not long before he’s pulling me up and off him so he can kiss me. His tongue wars with mine, teeth clashing against teeth.
I’m suddenly tossed on my back so Chase can give me the same torturous attention I gave him as he worships his way down my chest. “This is mean,” I whine.
