“Haven’t you ever had a boyfriend take care of you?” Kyrone asked.
“No. Too high maintenance,” Jared mumbled. His eyes drifted shut.
“You’re not,” Kyrone promised him. “I’ll check in on you before I go.”
He sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes, stroking Jared’s blond hair until he was sure he had fallen asleep. Even then, he lingered a little longer. Seeing his sister in pain had always been difficult, but for some reason, this was even worse. He didn’t care that his plans for their evening together had gone up in smoke. He just wanted to be able to take Jared’s migraine, screw it up into a ball, and throw it into the bin. He also wanted to find the guys who had been too self-obsessed to look after Jared while he was unwell, and knock some sense into them. Being with someone wasn’t just about good times and sex, even when that relationship was new. Migraines were clearly something Jared had to live with, which meant Kyrone was going to have to as well if he wanted to keep seeing him.
Which he did.
Every time he thought about Jared, his heart fluttered, and a smile sprang to his lips. Jared was easy-going and fun to be around. If losing Jared to a migraine for a couple of days every couple of weeks or so was the norm, he could handle that. It definitely wasn’t ‘too high maintenance’. His blood boiled just thinking of the guys who had said that or made Jared feel that way.
He spent the rest of the evening until it was time to go to Heaven and Hell working out to a fitness DVD, grabbing himself some food, and watching TV. He checked on Jared regularly, but he remained soundly asleep. He did get Jared out of his clothes so he’d be more comfortable, and put them into the machine to wash. He smiled during the task. Jared really did have to start bringing clothes with him. Kyrone glanced at his oversized chest of drawers, wondering if it was too early to clear a draw out so that Jared could bring a few changes of clothes over and leave them. They’d known each other for three weeks and had only been dating for two, so it probably was too soon, but he wanted to do it anyway. He’d talk to Jared about it when he was feeling better rather than making the decision alone.
Just before it was time to leave, he sat on the edge of the bed beside Jared, stroking his hair again. Even in a migraine-induced sleep, Jared was insanely pretty. Kyrone’s heart swelled as he felt incredibly lucky to have someone in his life he clicked with in every way. Maybe that was why he’d never fussed about having anything long term with a guy before. He hadn’t found the person he fitted with.
He took a deep breath, realising he had to slow his thoughts down. Three weeks was nothing in the grand scheme of things. A drop in the ocean of their lives and the time that stretched before them. It was fun and passionate because it was so new. Only time would tell if they could last as a couple or if they’d even want to.
He leant down and kissed Jared softly on the forehead. “I’m going to the club now,” he whispered. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Jared didn’t stir. Although Kyrone could easily have let Faye take Jared home so he could sleep off the migraine in his own bed, he was glad she hadn’t. This way, he’d come home to Jared and know that he was okay. When Jared woke, he would know that Kyrone hadn’t been joking when he’d said he wanted to take care of his man.
* * *
As soon as he arrived at the club, Kyrone headed into the changing room. It was his first night back on the poles after getting his tattoo, and despite his concern for Jared, he was buzzing with the excitement of being back on the stage. Logically, he knew Jared would be fine once he’d slept the migraine off and there was nothing he could have done if he’d stayed, but emotionally, it had been hard to leave him alone. Kyrone decided to at least try to leave his worry at the door so he could concentrate on having a cracking night at the club. As he went in, he checked the running order that was pinned up on the door. He, Dylan, and Jag were the third act on, which meant he had plenty of time to get ready and warm up. He was greeted warmly by all the other guys, and he took the time to check in with most of them about how their days had gone.
Eventually, he made his way to the corner of the room where Dylan and Jag were getting ready in front of one of the large mirrors.
“Hey, lover boy,” Dylan said, drawing out and rolling ‘lover’ dramatically. “Are you coming to The Vibe tomorrow?”
Kyrone hesitated. As much as he’d love to go to the club, he wasn’t sure if Jared would be well enough. Going to work was one thing, ditching him to go out dancing was another.
“Maybe,” he said noncommittally.
Dylan scowled. “You didn’t come last week either.”
Kyrone shrugged.
“Well, if you’re not coming to the club, please tell me you’ll be at the pub quiz on Sunday?” Dylan pressed. “We missed you on our team last week.Andthe week before.”
Jag laughed. “Leave him alone. He’s all wrapped up in his new boyfriend.”
“Friends should come first,” Dylan chastised. “Bring him along. We could do with someone else on the team, especially as Jag is too busy with Michael to join us.”
Jag shrugged. “Pub quiz or sex… it’s not really much of a contest.”
Dylan pouted. “Whose side are you on?”
“Mine?”
Kyrone laughed at their banter as he got changed into the red leather hot pants, cropped waistcoat, and detached collar, studded with black diamantes, that was the uniform for all the dancers. Except Jag, who danced in jeans and, of course, the silver body paint.
Although Kyrone had been happy to skip the pub quiz the last two weeks, he wanted to go along and spend time with his friends. More importantly, he wanted to take Jared along to introduce them to each other properly.
“I’ll be there,” he promised. “You should come, Jag. You can meet Jared too.”
Jag’s eyes widened a fraction. “Jared?”
“His cute guy,” Dylan said.
