“It was good to see you,” he said quietly. “Mom and Dad enjoyed having you here.”
I wasn't sure the two of them would ever be buddies, but it warmed my heart to see Danny extending an olive branch to his ex. If the circumstances had been different, I'm not sure I would have cared so much, but the truth was Michael hadn't left because he wanted to. He'd been a Grade-A moron in how he’d done things, but he'd honestly thought he was saving everyone a potential heartache at the time.
As we drove back, the car was filled with an unusual silence. I glanced at Michael, his face illuminated by the street lights. I could see the turmoil there. He’d held it together remarkably well, even though I knew he’d been drained by trying to keep his misguided guilt at bay.
When we got back to his house, I guided him to the couch, a sleeping Henry in my arms. “Sit. I’m going to get this guy tucked in, and I’ll be right back to help you.”
“I’m fine,” Michael protested. I honestly thought he’d put up a fight about me tucking in Henry, but it wasn’t as if there would be any story time tonight. “Just tired. It’s been a long day.”
“Which is why you’re going to let me do this while you relax. Find something for us to watch while you wind down.” I wasn’t much of a TV person, but there were a few shows my brothers talked about incessantly that I’d mentioned to Michael this week in hopes we could find something other than documentaries to watch at night once we were alone.
Everything seemed good as I carried Henry upstairs, which was why I was thrown for a loop when I came back down to find Michael on the couch, staring straight ahead, barely breathing. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize he was overwhelmed by the entire situation.
“Breathe with me,” I said in a firm voice, dropping onto the couch next to him. I took his hands in mine, staring into his eyes as we breathed together. We inhaled and exhaled together, slowly. Then again, repeating the slow and steady rhythm until his body relaxed.
“What do you need?” I asked him. Not what he thought he should do, but what he needed. I’d give anything to know what got him spun up but knew he’d tell me in his own time. Understanding how his mind worked was the benefit of dating someone I’d known most of my life.
“I don’t know,” he whispered.
“That’s okay,” I said. “We’ll figure it out together. Why don’t we just sit here and veg out for a bit. Tonight was a lot to process, I know.”
We spent the rest of the night doing mundane things, watching a show about an American football coach that everyone had been raving about and drinking hot cocoa despite the unseasonably warm evening. But it wasn’t about what we were doing, it was about proving he wasn’t alone anymore.
“What happened tonight… with Danny,” he began, his voice a mere whisper as the credits rolled on the fourth episode. “I’ve been avoiding it for so long. It’s different when I see him around town. I know he’s not going to say anything in public.”
“I know. And even though she went about it the wrong way, I think part of my mom’s plan was to get you to see that you’re the one holding onto guilt when everyone else has forgiven you,” I said, reaching for his hand. “You don’t have to face the world alone anymore, and you certainly don’t need to do it as some sort of penance for what went down between the two of you.”
“I’m starting to see that.” He arched his back as he yawned. It was time to get him up to bed. He stood when I gave him a quick nudge, holding out a hand and waiting for me. “Will you stay with me tonight?”
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be,” I admitted. Most nights, I still went home after cuddling until Michael drifted off to sleep. Tonight, I sensed how raw his emotions were and knew he’d need my comfort throughout the night.
“You did good tonight,” I whispered into his ear as I wrapped my arms around him from behind.
“Thank you for encouraging me to go back to the house,” he whispered back, his voice vulnerable.
I stopped by the kitchen to get him a glass of water to keep by the nightstand while he went through his bedtime routine. I checked the doors and turned out the lights before joining him in the bedroom. My heart raced as it hit me that tonight I wouldn’t be sneaking out once he was asleep.
Michael shied away, sticking to his side of the bed as we stripped. He climbed under the covers, his cheeks blushing adorably as he watched me undress. As soon as I joined him in the bed, he curled his body close to mine. The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped me, and my breath caught in my chest. My fingers grazed his arm, and I felt his shiver under my touch.
“How about a short back rub to help you relax before bed?” I suggested, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes widened a little, but he nodded.
We rearranged ourselves so that he was sitting between my legs with his back to me. His body stiff and unyielding, begging for my gentle touch. I obliged, working my hands in deep circles into the tightness of his muscles. With each stroke, I felt him loosen and relax beneath me.
“Billy…” he murmured, his voice husky. “That feels so good.”
My hands lingered on his warm skin, causing Michael to writhe under my touch. The scent of musky cologne mixing with sweat filled the air, heightening my senses. My desire grew stronger with each passing moment, tempting me to ravish him right there and then. But I knew patience was key. I didn't want to disturb the delicate connection strengthening between us.
Instead of shoving a hand beneath the waistband of his briefs like I wanted, I held him tightly and pressed a gentle kiss to the side of his neck. He shuddered and leaned back into me. We stayed like that for what felt like eternity, his body against mine, breathing in unison.
“I… I can’t remember the last time I felt this peaceful,” he whispered. “What can I do for you?”
He brazenly stroked my inner thigh before flipping around, locking his eyes with mine. His seductive gaze sent a spark of electricity up my spine, and when his hand moved higher, slipping between my legs, I could barely contain a gasp.
He cupped my sack in his strong hand, kneading and squeezing so gently that every nerve ending in my body seemed to alight with pleasure. His touches were light yet purposeful, each feathery stroke coaxing me closer and closer to the edge.
My breath quickened at his deliberate exploration, sending sparks of electricity all over my body. He tugged lightly on my shaft, driving me wild with need. I lifted my hips off the bed when he gripped my waistband, allowing him to pull my boxer briefs below my nuts.
I felt heat between us and I knew we were nearing a pivotal moment neither of us could have imagined. Every time we were together, we inched closer to the edge of a cliff. Once we fell, there would be no turning back.
