Chapter Fifty-Two
I make it to the campaign headquarters fifteen minutes before Elliot’s ready to leave. All I told him about my absence this evening was that I had errands to run. He knows not to question me beyond that. That if it’s an errand he’s required to know about for any reason, I’d tell him.
Otherwise, it’s info he doesn’t need in his brain, either because it doesn’t matter, or because I don’t want him to know to protect him.
He’s my very good boy, too. I know he won’t ask.
On the way home, he lies across the back seat with his head in my lap and his eyes closed. I’m holding his glasses for him in one hand, and massaging his scalp with the other. That he’s doing this in the car tells me he’s near the end of his rope. He doesn’t know Leo’s spending the night tonight because I wanted that to be a good surprise for him.
Also, I know better than to count on a schedule not changing at the last second. I didn’t want Elliot disappointed in case Leo had to cancel.
Yes, I absolutely manage Elliot in this way. Leo and I both do. Elliot knows we’re doing it, too. It’s easiest on all of us that way.
When we arrive at the residence, Elliot’s walking ahead of me and nearly all the way up the steps when the front door opens, and there stands Leo. He’s still dressed in his suit and looking like he’s ready for work.
Fuck, he’s a gorgeous sight.
I know Leo and I are the only ones close enough to hear Elliot’s gasp that borders on a relieved sob. Elliot rushes forward, inside, leaving the door standing open for me and I barely get it closed behind me before he’s falling into Leo’s arms.
“Please take him upstairs,” I tell Leo as I shift everything in my arms so I can lock the door and reset the alarm. “I’ll be up in a minute. He’s already had dinner.” God, it really is like Elliot’s a puppy.
I start for the kitchen when Leo clears his throat, pulling me up short. I turn, meeting his gaze.
He’s still holding Elliot and wearing a playful smirk. “I thought Elliot’s Sir was taking the night off?”
I step in for a kiss. “Sorry, Sir. Elliot’s frazzled and working on a headache, and I’m not far behind him. I want to wash our travel mugs and get stuff ready for in the morning.”
I mean, thatispart of what I want to do. Omitting something isn’t exactly a lie.
Especially if it’s an omission that will protect the men I love.
“Ah.” He holds an arm out to me and I happily lean in for a quick hug and another kiss. “I’ll get the pet upstairs while you do that.Hurry.” I’m no dummy—that last word is an order.
“Yes, please, Sir. Feel free to start without me.”
They head upstairs, Leo’s arm around Elliot’s waist. I know from the look Leo gave me that there will likely be a question about me stopping by his apartment earlier, but he also knows not to say anything in front of Elliot.
Sometimes, this is because I don’t want to rub it in that I have freedoms Elliot no longer has. It’s one of the things Leo leaves up to me.
But I can almost guarantee there will be a question later.
I already have my answer prepared. And it’s not even a huge lie. Not totally. He didn’t try calling me, and I looked at the alarm log and saw the door wasn’t opened while I was gone.
I’ll say I needed decompression time and took a nap, and that I was so frazzled and exhausted, I forgot to reset the alarm while I was there. It’ll earn me a spanking, but that’s still a win-win, in my book.
Once I finish in the kitchen, I head upstairs, muss the bed in the guest room, and grab my clothes for in the morning. When I enter the bedroom, there’s a puddle of clothes on the floor, Duck’s tipped over and lying there, along with his liners and socks and everything, and the two of them are going at it in the middle of the bed. Elliot’s truly feral, at this point. Leo has him pinned facedown, but Elliot’s fighting, throwing his head back and trying to headbutt Leo, and not giving up.
I don’t interrupt. Elliot desperately needs this, and it means he’ll sleep well tonight. We’ll put Leo between us so we can both snuggle with him.
I set my clothes out and choose Elliot’s outfit for tomorrow, including switching his flag lapel pin to the new blazer. I won’t pack for this weekend yet, because his valet will come in tomorrow morning, grab the dirty laundry, and have it back here by tomorrow afternoon. Then I can stop by, pack, and we can leave for Andrews from here.
It’ll mean a trip onMarine Two, which Elliot won’t like, but he can’t get away with a motorcade during rush hour traffic.
With that taken care of, the two of them are still wrestling as I collect Duck and everything and carry it all into the bathroom to deal with, including putting Duck back where it belongs next to the bench at the end of the bed after I finish wiping it out.
They’restillwrestling.
I strip, not interrupting, because I’m not stupid. Once it’s safe for me to enter the fray, Leo will tag me in.
