“Jesus, Scott…”
He raised his hands in surrender. “I know, I know. But I’d rather get it all out there now, while I’m bruised and battered, than wait and have my heart broken later down the line.”
“I’ve also loved two people in my life. My mum and my dad. They exploited me, wouldn’t listen, and only saw me as a means to make money. My love wasn’t worth anything to them. It still feels like that, like any love from a monster like me is nothing, but you sit there and say you want it.”
“I do.”
“And even weirder, I want to give it to you. A part of me wants to lock it away somewhere so you’ll never find it, but the other part wants to hand it over right now. It would be so easy, but the sceptic in me says you want what I have not who I am.”
“You know me,” Scott whispered, leaning forward. “You know that’s not true.”
“I do,” Thomas admitted. “I won’t ever break your heart, Scott.”
“And I’m never going to break yours either.”
“It’s going to be a…challenge. Neither of us has been in a relationship before.”
“What about Russell?”
Thomas glared. “It was a booty call, and nothing else.”
“You still wanted him when you got out.”
“The same way you wanted to book your regulars. It’s like picking up where you left off without acknowledging you and everyone else has changed. I want the change. I want what I have with you, butmore.”
Scott’s smile made his lip sting. He winced, and Thomas pulled him out of his chair and onto his lap. “Careful,” Thomas told him, cupping Scott’s cheek.
“I can’t help it, I’m happy.”
“Well stop being happy.”
Scott laughed, and his lip hurt worse. Thomas pressed his thumb over the stitches. “You need rest.”
“Where am I going for this rest?”
“Preferably a bed.”
“My bed?” Scott murmured. “Or yours?”
Thomas looked away. “Mine. I need to keep an eye on you, and we need to get you up to speed with mine and Tim’s version of events when the police finally come knocking.”
“Oh…”
“And I want you there.”
“I like that answer better,” Scott said softly.
Thomas sucked in a breath when Scott leaned in to kiss him. It was small, a gentle peck, but Thomas exhaled afterwards like it was momentous. He smiled, but it faded when Scott smiled back.
“Your lip is bleeding.”
Scott sighed dreamily. “I’m too happy to care.”
“I think those drugs are finally starting to kick in.”
Scott hooked his hands behind Thomas’s neck. “More like the love drug.”
“Urgh, don’t make me take back everything I just said.”
