“You’renotfeeding me,” Xavi growled. “I’m not a fucking baby.” But again Xavi’s eyes betrayed him, that flicker of heat back full force, his cheeks pinking slightly.
“Open up,baby,” Lulu cooed. “You know you wanna.”
Xavi glared at him, then his tongue dipped out treacherously, licking along his bottom lip. Oh, he wanted it so badly, didn’t he? To just give in and let go. If only he would. What a sight it would be when Xavi finally surrendered.Surrender to me,oso, Lulu tried to communicate with his eyes, with his heart, with his entire being.Just surrender to me. And for one terrifying second, Lulu feared it was never going to happen, but then something shifted in Xavi’s eyes. Not resignation exactly, but insecurity giving way to longing, perhaps. Whatever it was, it was fucking beautiful. Xavi was beautiful. Opening his full pink lips ever so slowly, he leaned in and wrapped them around the piece of pancake, pulling it into his mouth.
Everything else faded into the background, and it was just the two of them existing in some alternate universe where they truly were boyfriends, lovers, even. A universe where this wasn’t the first time Xavi had let Lulu feed him, but where it was a regular occurrence that Lulu got to do it, got to spoil his man. A universe where Xavi would murmur afterwards,“Thank you, baby,”or“Gracias, cisne,”then lean in for a sloppy, messy kiss, tasting of sugar, berries, and all things sinful. A universe where they were headed for one place and one place only. A place that was safe and happy and forever theirs, together like they were always meant to be.
Then there was a loud clang from the counter, and when Lulu turned, he saw a red-faced Shawn shooting daggers at him.He’s mine, he narrowed his eyes, glaring back, hoping the message got through to the waiter, loud and clear. Then, turning back toward Xavi with a soft smile, he asked, “More?”
Xavi licked his lips, a drop of excess syrup disappearing into his mouth, the pink blush on his cheeks deepening. Then he nodded slowly and blew Lulu’s mind to smithereens with just one word, “More.”
Chapter Fifteen
Xavi
More. Fuck, he wanted more. So much more. If he ever confessed to Lulu how much he wanted him, craved him, Lulu would probably run screaming for the hills. Because Xavi didn’t just want Lulu. He wanted to own him, body and soul, in a way that terrified him and would probably terrify Lulu, too.
Xavi focused back on the road, while Lulu scrolled on his phone. The weather had taken a turn for the worse in Nebraska, according to the weatherperson on the radio, so they’d probably stop in Des Moines tonight and see how it played out. Good thing there was plenty of time until the wedding. If they ran into a snowstorm in Nebraska, they’d perhaps be delayed by a day or two, but Xavi had planned for that. Of course, he had. He always had at least plans B and C lined up. Well, that was true for the most part, at least, because he hadn’t seen it coming that Lulu would turn their relationship upside down like this. And he wasn’t only planless but clueless, too, it seemed. Every step he took was into the unknown. It scared him shitless, but he also knew deep within that if he didn’t see this thing through, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
“Oh my God!” Lulu suddenly jumped forward in his seat, squealing.
“What?”
“You never mentioned that we’d be passing Madison County.” Turning his head, Xavi found Lulu’s eyes wide and glowing with excitement.
“No? Something particular there?” Xavi feigned ignorance.
“Are you shitting me,oso?” Lulu fanned himself, gasping in horror. Then, whispering with awe, he continued, “It’s Meryl-land.”
“Meryl-land?” Xavi snorted. He knew how much Lulu loved Meryl Streep, as in worshipped her. Lulu basically knew all her movies by heart, and they’d spent countless nights over the years watchingDeer Hunter, Kramer vs. Kramer, and obviouslyThe Bridges of Madison County,with Lulu always ending up sobbing against Xavi’s shoulder.
“You know how I feel about Meryl.”
“I do.” Xavi chuckled, fighting hard to focus on the road instead of losing himself in Lulu’s beautiful eyes.
“Did you know we’d be passing?”
“Yeah,” Xavi admitted. He’d been planning on surprising Lulu if they’d made it past Des Moines today, but with the way the weather was acting…
“Were you gonna tell me?” Lulu’s voice came out unsure, suddenly vulnerable.
“Of course I was.” Lulu brightened instantly. “It’s just… With the way the weather’s acting, it might be better to just spend the night in Des Moines and then head straight for Nebraska in the morning. Snow’s coming, and in this car…” Xavi trailed off, shrugging. No way he was going to get caught with Lulu in a snowstorm in a fucking FIAT 500, whichAtención Aliohad deemed fit for a cross-country road trip.
“I know, but what if I can find a hotel in Winterset?”
“Winterset?”
“Yeah.” Lulu frowned, glaring at his phone. “That’s where the Madison County Welcome Center is. They say they have guided tours, but we can just go by ourselves if you wanna. The bridges are open during the nighttime, too. Wouldn’t it just be…” He felt Lulu’s eyes on him, burning into his skin. A tender kind of burn, though, allowing a comfortable warmth to spread throughout his body, so unlike those devastating flames which had once destroyed his body.
“Romantic?”
A small gasp spilled from Lulu’s lips, and it was only then that Xavi realized he’d spoken the word.
“Yes.” Lulu nodded slowly. “Romantic. Something boyfriends would do.”
Silence stretched out between them. Was he ready for this? Was Lulu? If they went to see the bridges tonight, it would be the equivalent of a date, wouldn’t it? There was no way around it. It would be fucking romantic. Lulu was right. It was something couples did. Lovers. Xavi bet it was even a place people went to propose. It might end up being an epic mistake. Still, deep down, Xavi knew he couldn’t deny Lulu this, just like he hadn’t denied him when he’d come up with that ridiculous idea of being trial boyfriends.
“If you find us a place to sleep, we can go.”
