Maleficent and Ursula puffed up like attack cats the minute I set Indy down on the foyer floor. They stared each other down for half a minute before the cats scrambled, knowing full well that Indy would pursue them. It was the game they played every time they were together. I never took the cats to Miller’s house on the nights I stayed over. Miller offered to put litter boxes in the utility room for them, but I explained that the cats didn’t like to travel. I’d learned that the hard way when I took them to the vet for their shots. I laughed at Indy’s playful bark as he chased Mal and Urs through every room in the house.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I knew he was referring to my conversation with Chase. I would gladly tell him every detail but not right then.
“Can we talk tomorrow? Right now, I just want to curl up on the couch and watch a movie or something.”
Miller smiled with understanding and reached for my hand, tugging on it so I’d follow. I expected him to head into the living room, but instead, he headed toward the stairs. “Let’s take a long, hot soak in your tub, then we’ll climb into bed and watch a movie.”
“Mmmm. That sounds perfect, Bones.” Hot water and a naked Miller in my arms was just what I needed.
“The doctor knows best,” Miller said playfully.
“I thought you weren’t that kind of doctor.” I used his own words against him.
Miller whipped around on the step and cupped my dick through my pants again. “I specialize in bones and boners, but they don’t give doctorates for the latter.”
My cock was already at half-mast, and he had barely begun to touch me. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him I was in love with him. He had brought so much light and happiness to my life, and I wanted him to know how much he meant to me. I opened my mouth to speak the words, but they were cut off by a passionate kiss.
It was how we communicated. Some couples, like the Wrights, spoke freely and openly about their feelings. That worked really well for Gray and Chase, but Miller and I weren’t like that. We used our mouths in a completely different way to express our feelings for one another, yet it was just as poignant. I didn’t need Miller to yell out how much he loved me because I felt it in his touch, saw it in his eyes, and tasted it in his kisses. It might not work for some, but it worked for us.
That night, I showed Miller how he made me feel. I lovingly touched every wet, slick part of his body while he straddled my hips in the generous tub. I pressed worshipful kisses to his naked chest as he raised and lowered himself on my dick. Miller tangled his fingers in my hair and tilted my head back so he could ravish my mouth as he rode me. His kiss told me so much more than simple words ever could, and if given the choice, I’d choose his physical demonstrations over verbal ones every time.
Miller was so sexy when he came undone in the circle of my arms with his head thrown back and incoherent words tumbling from his lips. His orgasm triggered mine, and I refused to close my eyes so he could see how he made me feel. No words were needed.
I stayed awake for quite some time after Miller fell asleep. I held him in my arms and let the comfort he gave me be the catalyst I needed to forgive and heal. I forgave my mother for her weaknesses and remembered the good times I’d shared with her. I let myself remember Will and the joy he brought into my life. I hoped I was a man he could be proud of. I finally forgave myself for wanting to be loved, and I accepted that the circumstances I was born into didn’t have to dictate the rest of my life.
I was free from burden and guilt, and I owed it all to the beautiful man who lay beside me. The man who had accepted my flaws and loved me anyway. I placed a kiss on the back of his neck and snuggled tighter against him. I fought off sleep so I could enjoy my newfound feelings for just a little longer.
“Go to sleep, already,” Miller muttered. “Indy can’t sleep with you thinking so loudly.” The pug let out a loud snore at the foot of the bed. “He’s just faking so you won’t feel bad.”
“Well, he does need his rest so he can chase his mortal enemies tomorrow.” I glanced down at the foot of the bed and could just make out the silhouettes of my cats where they curled together beside Indy.
“You need your sleep so you can put up with my family at brunch.”
I groaned like I was miserable, but in reality, I loved being included in the Brexlers’ brunches and outings. “Yes, dear.” They were the last words I spoke before I gave in to my exhaustion.
Miller
Halloween rolled around, and instead of Jag being with me at Bottoms Up to watch our friends perform in the costume karaoke competition, he was at a business dinner with Senator Baxter Thompson. Our various individual professional projects had kept us apart the past few weeks and it was wearing me down. Jag was working with Baxter on a national workplace equality campaign, and I was heading up another joint project with the Smithsonian. Jag was every bit as jealous of the time I spent closed up with Gavin in my office as I was over the time he was spending with the senator, and I took his chest thumping as a good sign he still cared. It was hard to know how he felt because neither one of us talked about feelings and emotions. We just took it one day at a time and got together whenever we could, which lately had been only a few times a week. God, I missed him.
“Where’s your boyfriend again?” Gray asked me, already knowing the answer to his question.
“For the hundredth time, we’re not dating. He’s not my boyfriend. We don’t do labels, Gray. I wish you could respect how I feel and let things go.” My outburst earned me a smug smile from my asshole of a best friend. Going to the Halloween party was probably a mistake, but I was already there, and I planned to make the best of it. Gray threw up his hands in surrender about the same time the bar owner, Jack, stopped by our table for a brief visit.
“I’m sorry, Miller,” Gray said once Jack moved on. I looked at my friend and saw the sincerity in his expression. “I don’t understand what you two have going on, but then again, it’s not my life. You’ve been so happy lately, but tonight you look miserable. If he’s hurt you…”
“He hasn’t,” I said, not allowing Gray to finish. “Look, Gray, I appreciate your concern. I really do. Let’s just keep in mind that you didn’t listen to a word I said during the disastrous relationship you had with Devon. Jag and I are still figuring this relationship stuff out as we go, and what we really need is support from our friends.”
“Ha! You just admitted you’re in a relationship. I’ll take that as a step in the right direction.” Gray’s smile was the goofiest damn thing I had ever seen, and I couldn’t help but respond in kind. “It’s only a matter of time before you’re swapping keys to each other’s houses and planning weekend getaways.” The grin on my face stretched until it was nearly painful. “You’ve already done those things, haven’t you?”
“You’re a few months behind, buddy.”
“Fine then,” Gray said in an exaggerated huff, which earned him another smile. “Soon you’ll be picking out rings and china patterns.” I wasn’t sure those things would ever happen with Jag, but it was fun to mislead Gray with another goofy grin. “Now I know you’re playing with me.” Gray narrowed his eyes and pointed his finger at me. “I can’t wait for my ‘I told you so’ moment.”
The karaoke competition started, and we watched the performers take turns on the stage. I found myself enjoying the show so much I forgot about my jealousy and insecurity over the time Jag had been spending with Bax. Gray cheered loudly when his husband and brother-in-law, Liam, took the stage. It was no wonder Jag had thought Liam was familiar. Chase had only just learned the truth of why Liam had moved to town a year and a half ago. Gray told me Chase had been shocked and hurt that Liam hadn’t told him sooner, but it didn’t take him long to forgive Liam and work on building a relationship together.
They performed Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” with Liam dressed as Katy and Chase dressed as the rapper Juicy J. They did a great job and were the frontrunners to win until Xavier and Ben took the stage. They performed “You’re the One That I Want” fromGreasewith Ben dressed up like Sandy and Xavier as Danny.
“I didn’t know your husband had those kinds of moves,” I said to Gray, referring to Chase’s dirty dancing.
