“I don’t need anything but you. You, right here with me.”
Chess tipped his head. “What’s wrong? Are you just tired from the flight, or did something happen?”
The last thing André wanted to do the minute he got home was talk about his mother, and he certainly had no intention of talking about Kyle. He tightened his hold on Chess and shook his head. “Nothing’s wrong. It’s all right now that I’m here with you.” God, did he sound pathetic and needy? But dammit, he didn’t care. Six months was too long, and those few weekends they’d managed to spend together early on in his traveling, as Chess couldn’t take off during finals, felt almost unreal by now, a distant memory.
Chess’s hair had grown a bit longer since the last time they’d been together, and André didn’t recognize the clothes he wore. Even his smell was different. Had he changed his cologne? Body wash? What else had changed and why? Not that beautiful, sweet smile shining from his face, thank God. He hugged Chess even tighter. “You’re everything I need. The only thing.”
“I’m so happy you came home early.”
Leaving the suitcase in the hall, Chess took his hand and led him to the wide suede couch. “Sit.” Chess crawled next to him, and they lay together, gently kissing and touching. Reclaiming each other after so many months apart. André groaned out a contented sigh. “How are you so perfect?”
Chess chuckled. “Some of my students would disagree with you.”
He nuzzled Chess’s neck, kissed his cheek. “They don’t know you like I do. At least, they better not.”
Chess shook with laughter in his arms. “You think I’d ever be interested in one of those kids when I have you? My man?”
“And now you have me for the foreseeable future. I have no set timetable for returning.”
Chess shifted away, an odd smile on his face. “You mean it?”
“Of course I do.” He smoothed Chess’s hair off his face, ran his hands down his shoulders, as if he couldn’t believe he was in his arms again. “I’ve made a decision. I’m done with staying away from you for these extended periods of time. If they need me, I’ll be available from here. With you.”
“I’m glad, but I don’t want you to jeopardize your relationship with your mother or the business. I know you’re the person everyone turns to.”
That was not the reaction he’d expected.
“Don’t you want me home?” His senses on alert, André gazed at Chess, trying to read his face.
“Of course I do. I just don’t want you to have to sacrifice your business and doing what you love.”
“I love you more than the business.” Unease washed over him, and his stomach cramped. “Every morning away from you is a sacrifice. Being together is the most important thing, not another contract signed. Deals don’t bring me happiness—you do. A few hurried nights aren’t enough, especially when we’re exhausted and running on fumes. I don’t want us to make love when I’m so tired, I’d barely remember. I need to be with you all the time. I thought you’d be glad.”
Again, no sign of the joy and pleasure he’d expected to see.
“I’m thrilled you’re here. It’s such a turnabout from the past year, you caught me by surprise, that’s all.” Chess wrapped his arms around him and held him tight. “I guess I’m still in shock to see you here.”
“Get used to it, love. I plan to be around much more. Now I’m all about taking a shower and then a nap.”
“You do look tired.” Chess touched his face.
“I’m really not. It’s just a way to get you into bed with me.” He waggled his brows, but Chess remained serious.
“I don’t need an excuse to want to be with you.”
Their lips met in a hard, hungry kiss, and André’s rattled nerves settled. Nothing had changed. Everything would be as it always was. It was going to be fine.
Chapter Three
Chess was worried. Yes, the pictures concerned him, but he believed there had to be a reasonable explanation for them, and he was damned if he’d spring that on André his first day home after a six-month absence.
Hell, no.
What worried him more was André’s appearance. Lines scored his once-smooth brow, and puffy bags resided under his eyes. Silver threads glinted in his thick, dark-brown hair, and though he tried to hide his weight loss under the bulky sweat shirt, Chess could feel how much thinner he’d gotten. He feared André teetered on the edge of complete exhaustion, confirming his thoughts when they lay in bed. The moment his head hit the pillow, André had fallen asleep and hadn’t moved in hours.
Gentle as a butterfly, Chess leaned close and pressed a kiss to André’s shoulder and then another. A sigh of contentment greeted his action.
“Don’t stop there, love. I’ve dreamed of your kisses for months now.”
