Dave’s heart clenched. Christian hadn’t handed him a neat apology, something smooth and polished yet maybe too easy. Instead, he’d peeled himself open with shaking hands and laid the mess between them, hoping it would be enough. He’d offeredhimself, unreservedly. And Dave had never loved him more.
“Come here.” He tugged him, and Christian came, balancing himself on his knees either side of Dave’s outstretched legs and letting himself be pulled close. Pressed together like this, he could feel how fast and unevenly Christian’s heart was beating.
“I love you,” he murmured, hand cradling Christian’s head and his thumb gently stroking the shell of his ear. “Love you so much, and I swear from now on I’ll do better. I’ll tell you what I want, what I need.”
Because it was scary, soveryscary to think of, but if Christian had found the courage to offer himself so completely, Dave could do this.
“God, I love you,” he said again, his arms tightening around Christian and his eyes stinging as he remembered all over again just how much.
And if there was the suspicion of a hitch in Christian’s breathing as he pressed closer, Dave would never mention it to a soul.
CHRISTIAN
It felt like he was broken open, all defenses gone. Like he was that kid again, the one who couldn’t do anything to protect himself. He’d sworn never to let himself be vulnerable ever again. But it wasn’t the same this time, he realized as Dave held him, his heartbeat steady and reassuring. He wasn’t alone anymore.
He was shaking a little, an occasional tremor down his arms and through his ribs, like his body didn’t quite know how to cope with everything he’d just let out. His breath stuttered once, then again, and he pressed closer, hiding his face against Dave’s shoulder until the worst of it passed.
He had no idea how long they stayed like that. Time didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except them.
Finally, he drew back slightly to see Dave, to see his soft smile and the steadiness in his eyes as he looked back at Christian.
“I love you,” Christian said again, and somehow the words felt right this time.
When he saw the joy and warmth that dawned on Dave’s face, he didn’t know why he hadn’t said them before. But along with that look, his face also had a damn nasty bruise and painful-looking scrapes.
That was when Christian remembered, and he reluctantly drew back and climbed off his Dave-shaped cushion.
“Where are you hurt?” he asked, eyes quartering Dave suspiciously. Because now his brain was working again, he realized Dave hadn’t moved once during their whole conversation. As he looked further, there was a dark patch in his hair that was more than just the deepening shadows would account for.
“My ankle,” Dave said. “I think it’s busted.”
“What happened?” Christian knelt next to Dave’s leg and started to turn up the hem of his jeans so he could see what lay beneath.
“Missed my footing—fuck.”Dave curled almost in half, fighting for breath as Christian touched him.
Christian’s hands were better suited to fighting than gentleness, but he did the best he could. “You can feel that?” he asked as he explored Dave’s foot through his boot.
“Yeah.” Dave’s voice was tight and bitten off, his breathing uneven.
“That’s good,” Christian said. “Means the blood’s still getting around.” He carefully rolled the leg of his jeans back down. Dave was pale and hunched. “You think you can walk on it, if I help?”
Dave shook his head. “Hurts like hell,” he said. “I was hoping it’ll be better tomorrow morning if I can sleep tonight.”
“Yeah, well, with that bump on your head you probably shouldn’t sleep too much.” Christian moved to peer into his eyes, checking for equal pupil size in the little daylight that remained. “Feel sick? Dizzy?”
“No. I did earlier, but not now.”
“Maybe you already worked through a concussion with your healing,” Christian said. It was possible, but he’d rather not have to rely on his judgment, because what if he was wrong?
He settled next to Dave and leaned into him, hoping that the heat of his body would be comforting. He’d shift later, he decided, so he could lie over Dave and keep him from getting too cold.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Dave murmured.
Warmth swept over Christian that had nothing to do with the temperature of the air around them. “Me too,” he said.
And then Dave stiffened. “Aren’t you supposed to be fighting tonight?”
Christian shrugged slightly and pressed closer to Dave. He’d realized when he’d gotten to the three-mile marker that he either had to go back to the cannery if he was to make it in time, or continue on to find Dave. He hadn’t even hesitated.
