“Oh…” Henry swallowed. Then he nodded as if bracing himself for the next chapter of his life. He grabbed Colton’s large, tanned hand and tangled their fingers together. Then he kissed the tip of each calloused fingertip carefully.
“Let’s go then,” Henry said, determination in his voice as he pulled his boyfriend along with him towards the diner.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Henry
IF SOMEONE WEREto ask Henry later, how he felt during the next couple of weeks, one word would come to mind immediately.Happy.In fact, Henry couldn’t recall a time in his life where he’d ever been happier. He suddenly knew what all the sappy romance books and rom coms were on about. Henry caught himself smiling goofily at the most random moments during the day. He could be looking at an x-ray of a broken hip bone at the clinic, and suddenly he’d trail off wondering what Colton was doing this very minute. Or he could be grocery shopping and he’d fall into a love induced coma in the middle of the frozen foods section, recalling the excruciatingly slow sex they’d had earlier that morning. How Colton had trailed wet kisses along his spine while whispering sweet nothings against Henry’s trembling skin.
Before he’d met Colton, the highlight of Henry’s week had been the weekend morning visits to Tilly’s or lazy Sunday afternoons watching an old Hollywood movie with Iris. But now Henry’s days were centered around looking at his watch during work, counting down the minutes until he could fuse his lips with Colton’s again. Or sending off a random, lovesick text to Colton, telling him how hot he was for him or how much he missed him.
Everything about being with Colton was different from the relationship he’d had with Chad back in Omaha. Henry had always been envious of other couples who couldn’t keep their hands of each other or wouldn’t shut up about their significant other. Being with Colton made Henry realize that he’d suppressed important parts of himself while he’d been with Chad. It hit him that he needed to be physically and emotionally connected to the person he was with. And that he was finally beginning to find that closeness being with Colton.
He loved Colton’s shyness and his eagerness to explore his newfound sexuality. One moment, he’d wait for Henry to take the lead whereas the next moment his dominant side would show its face, telling Henry to strip and lean over the windowsill.
As cool autumn days were replaced by frosty winter weeks, Colton was beginning to share even more about his lonely childhood growing up in Hayley’s Peak and about his years in the Army. There were still things that Colton wouldn’t talk about, like what the large tattoo on his right ribs meant or what had happened to Will. It concerned Henry. Of course, it did. But Henry told himself that he and Colton hopefully had an entire lifetime together to figure out this part of their relationship. Henry hoped that eventually Colton would trust him – and himself – enough to open up about the more painful aspects of his past.
The nightmares continued, though, and that worried Henry beyond anything else. At least once a week, Henry would be awakened by his lover’s restless tossing and turning, panicked outbursts and desperate yells. And he gathered that Colton probably had nightmares too on the nights they didn’t spend together. Colton wouldn’t be himself the day following a bad dream. He’d withdraw from Henry, nothing but a shadow of his usual self.
On days like these, Henry wondered if he should talk to Hank. Perhaps the older man could convince Colton that he needed help. Henry had brought up the clinic in Chadron a few additional times, but Colton would keep on ending their conversation with amaybeor aI don’t know. Once or twice he’d even walked out on Henry during a discussion. As much as he wanted to help Colton, he also feared that going to Hank asking for help could potentially push Colton away. That he’d see it as an act of betrayal on Henry’s part.
Once, after a bad night where Colton had cried out in his sleep, dread and fear painting his voice, Colton hadn’t recognized Henry when he’d woken up. Colton had kept on calling himWill, shaking him desperately, tears pooling in his beautiful, hazel eyes.Will,he’d cried.You’re hurt! Tell me where you’re hurt.It had nearly broken Henry’s heart into a million pieces to witness the man he loved being in such pain. It had probably lasted no more than a few minutes but to Henry it had felt like several excruciating hours before he’d been able to get through to Colton, who’d then collapsed in his arms, crying and shaking like a leaf.
In the morning, Colton had looked at him full of regret. A world of pain painted across his beautiful face.I’m sorry.Colton had murmured like a broken record.I’m sorry.When Henry had mentioned the clinic once again, Colton had withdrawn and spent the rest of the day at the shop even though it was a Sunday. In the evening, Colton had acted almost clingy, following Henry around the house, a lost look in his eyes, until Henry had finally taken him upstairs and covered him in a million kisses. Then Colton had pinned him to the mattress and made love to Henry the way they both loved it. Slow, hard and deep.
Henry loved that Colton didn’t shy away from being affectionate with him. It was almost as if Colton had an ever present need to touch Henry at random times when they were together. It felt like he constantly wanted to reassure himself that Henry was real and that this thing between them wasn’t just a figment of his imagination or something fleeting.
Like the other afternoon at the auto shop. Henry had closed the clinic early, impatient to see his man, knowing that his patients could reach him on his phone if something urgent came up. The urge to be with Colton had been sneaking up on him all afternoon, like a craving intensifying until he couldn’t resist it any longer. It would burn through his body like an all-consuming need to see and be with the other man. Henry couldn’t do anything to postpone that feeling when it arose. So, he’d run from the clinic in the main street down to the auto shop.
Out of breath, cheeks flushed, and a goofy smile spread across his lips, he’d found Colton leaning against the hood of a red Toyota while presenting the owner with a cost estimate. Henry had waited next to the entrance to the repair area taking in Colton as he stood there in his blue coveralls, his ball cap turned backwards and a smear of oil across his right cheek.
The car owner, a cute brunette in her thirties maybe, was looking at Colton like he was today’s special on the menu. Licking her bright red lipstick covered lips, she was pushing out her chest, while she gave Colton an obvious once over. Colton, adorably oblivious to the fact that she was shamelessly checking him out, was typing something on his calculator, a cute frown between his brown eyebrows. Colton’s voice came out velvety smooth as he listed the services and the amounts, and Henry sympathized with the brunette who looked like she was just about to climb his boyfriend like a tree. He, more than anyone, understood and appreciated the effect that Colton’s sexy voice had on people.
Grabbing a pen from the chest pocket in his coveralls, Colton saw Henry leaning against the entrance and a toothy grin spread across his face. The brunette followed Colton’s gaze in Henry’s direction, scrunching her nose. Then she looked back at Colton, confusion painted across her face until it was replaced by recognition. She must have seen the same thing in Colton’s eyes as Henry did. Complete and utter devotion. And desire. Excusing himself to the customer, Colton headed towards Henry, biting his lower lip sexily.
“Hey there, boyfriend,” Colton breathed as he stopped in front of Henry, his eyes trailing from the top of Henry’s blond head of hair to the tips of his dusty boots.
“Hey yourself,” Henry grinned, a stupid smile plastered across his face. No matter how many times the wordboyfriendcame out of Colton’s delectable mouth, he’d never grow tired of hearing it. Reaching out, Colton grabbed on to the hood of Henry’s coat, licking his lips suggestively.
“You’re early,” Colton breathed, his voice full of dirty promises. He smelled of oil, a slight scent of coffee coming from his full lips.
“Yeah…” Henry whispered. “I missed you.” He looked down at his boots briefly, suddenly aware that they weren’t alone.
Colton moved his fingers to Henry’s chin and tilted his head towards him, hazel eyes piercing through Henry, making his knees almost buckle under him.
“I missed you too,” Colton breathed. “I always miss ya when we aren’t together.” Placing a soft kiss just below Henry’s bottom lip, Colton drew him closer and hummed contentedly. Then he turned his head and yelled over his shoulder. “Hank?” Colton’s deep voice boomed through the large repair shop, and Henry felt a pleasurable chill along his spine and the familiar hardening in his pants. Popping out his head from the adjoining office, Hank looked at his nephew questioningly.
“Where’s the fire?” Hank asked until he saw Henry. Then the older man smiled knowingly.
“I’m heading out for the day,” Colton said without taking his eyes off Henry. “Can you finish up here, Hank?” Colton nodded at the dumbfounded customer. “Something came up.”
“Oh, I bet it did,” Hank teased, looking at the stunned brunette who looked like she’d just realized that she’d forgotten to turn in her winning lottery ticket. Smiling sympathetically, Hank looked at her. “Yeah, I know how you feel, sweetheart. But this one’s taken, I’m afraid. He only has eyes for young Henry there. The rest of us is just noise.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Colton
CHRISTMAS WAS ONLYa few weeks away and they were heading back to Henry’s place after picking up a Christmas tree from an old farm outside of town. It was freezing cold, a promise of snow in the air, and they decided to drop by Tilly’s for some homemade pecan pie and a mug of hot chocolate. The diner was quiet after the lunch rush hour and only a few of the regulars remained at a corner table, chatting away. As usual, they looked up from their cups of steaming coffee and greeted Henry and Colton as they hurried inside, bringing a rush of cold winter air with them.
