“Come on, Jesse,” I say, rolling him beside me so we’re lying facing oneanother.
I look him over, take in this beautiful man, stunned at how I ended up with someone not only this beautiful on the outside, but even more beautiful on theinside.
“Let’s go to bed. I promise I will more than satisfy this ass tomorrow, all right?” I slide my hand down and offer a light pat, and he chuckles. It reminds me of his birthdayfuck.
“Maybe a little harder, Mr.Westright.”
I offer a playful slap, which echoes a little louder than I’d figured itwould.
“Oh,” he says, his eyes widening. “We need to try a little more of that.” He winks, then kisses meagain.
I enjoy the sensation of lips, wet from the water he drank, as well as his damp locks against my forehead. I breathe himin.
Feeling his energy waning, I pull him close to me and lie back, him falling to rest on my chest, putting his arm around me and cuddling close to me, the way he does now. The way I preferit.
I reach over carefully to the bedside lamp and flick it off, pleased to know I haven’t disturbed Jesse atall.
“Did you tell Ty you love him?” Jesseasks.
I wonder why he’s so fixated on that. Maybe it’s some stray, drunken thought. At least he isn’t an apologeticdrunk.
“Yeah, Idid.”
But that doesn’t appear to soothe hisuneasiness.
“Is everything okay?” I press. “Did Ty say something to you about me? I figure that’s why you wanted me to tell him I lovehim.”
His mouth quivers, like he wants to say something but can’t get the wordsout.
“Sorry,” I say. “That wasn’t right of me. If Ty tells you something in confidence, especially if it has to do with me, it’s yours to keep. You can’t be with me and be his friend if you guys can’t at least have some things between the two ofyou.”
His eyes water. “Thank you for sayingthat.”
Now I’m certain Ty said something to Jesse that led to Jesse’s request. Maybe he mentioned how I don’t tell him enough that I love him. Or how I don’tshowhim enough that I love him. Whatever the reason, it reminds me there’s still work to be done in that department. I have to keep pushing…fighting.
Jesse and I lie together in bed, and he driftsoff.
It’s as though I’m staying up to keep guard, protect him. Yeah, it might have been stupid to carry him around, and I know Liam and Ty thought it was a riot, but considering how protective Jesse is of me when I’m vulnerable, I don’t feel ashamed forreciprocating.
That’s what a relationship is. Taking care of one another, watching over eachother.
And that he doesn’t just care about my happiness, but my son’s too, means the world tome.
“I love you, Jesse Morgan,” I whisper, “and I promise to love you for the rest of mylife.”
Judging by the silence, I think he’s passed out, but he mutters, “Love you too, Eric Westright. And I’ll love you even longer thanthat.”
His words fill my heart, and with his reassurance in mind, I close my eyes and drift offeffortlessly.
29
Jesse
Groggy-eyed and weary,with a throbbing headache, I mosey out of Eric’s bedroom, the smell of freshly brewed coffee in theair.
Ty’s sitting on a stool at the kitchen island, drinking from a mug as he turns to me. I imagine because he heard the door when I opened it. In the way he bites his bottom lip and his brows are narrowed, I detect his concern about what I discovered lastnight.
We have so much todiscuss.
