“All good?”
Armando nodded. That birthing trust easing his caution.
Damian saw that light in his eyes, how they softened, hiding how stressed he was. Walking him in that late fall sunshine to the school building near a large park. Unaware of the photographers hiding in their cars. Walking him inside the building, following the signs. Large red doors on those bustling corridors filled with kids. A woman in her thirties hurrying to them from one of the classrooms with a wide smile, her brown hair in a ponytail.
She held her hand out to Armando. “You must be Armando. I’m Miss Cooper. Nice meeting you!” Shaking that timid hand. She gestured to the classroom. “You can leave your bag on the hook there, we’ll write your name up later, okay? Nice pig. Your pig? To sleep?”
Armando just nodded, his clammy hand slipping on Damian’s warm palm. Swallowing his tears because that was not allowed. To cry.Chicos no lloran. Boys don’t cry. Mamá had told him. Abuela too. Breathing fast, Papá and the teacher chatting above his head on that too loud corridor. His eyes darted to the kids rushing in and out of the rooms, some shooting a curious glance at him.
His eyes focused on Papá, who had crouched down to him. “All fine?” He nodded a small lie, hiding his fear. Focusing back on his warm voice. “Miss Cooper will take you to the classroom and you’ll have great fun. I’ll come and pick you up this afternoon.” Trying to peel that death grip off, but that tiny hand’s bone fingers dug into his skin. “Ok… I can’t stay. This is not a place for mums and dads. And you have Walter.” Poking the pig’s soft body. “He will keep you safe.”
Armando breathed in deep, softening his grip when the teacher put her hand on his shoulder.
He lifted his eyes to her wide smile. “Come. Let’s go inside. Your dad is right. We’ll have a great time.” She pulled him slightly and he let go, clutching the pig to his chest. Damian straightened, shooting a grateful look at the teacher, watching them walk in. A flash of those dark eyes as he looked back, so he waved at him, his heart tight.Stupid. It’s just a day at K…But this was different. He could not remember if he’d ever set foot in Cassie’s and Kevin’s school. Maybe once or twice when he’d arrived late to some sort of stupid show, spending it on his phone typing his emails.
He walked outside though, his eyes roaming those tall buildings lining the park, an idea creeping in, so he called his real estate agent, exchanging a few scarce words, walking through that park back to the hotel.
Gabe had been back from Qantico where he had to tie some things up, sign his leaving papers and leave his uniforms. Watching Damian walk in, grim, his shirt open at the top. It sent a warm rush down his spine, that piece of skin showing, but he waited until Damian plopped down next to him on the sofa, throwing his phone on that low black table.
“Fuck…”
“That bad?”
Damian pulled a face. “He went in but terrified. Even if he did a great game at hiding it.” Blowing a breath, his anger swaying in his chest. “He’s all fucked up…”
Gabe put his hand on his arm. “No, he’s not. And even if, nothing that can’t be solved and put right.”
Damian’s mouth twisted into a sour grin. “With my skills? Hardly… I have no clue what I’m doing…”
“You’re overthinking this. Just be like Walter and Gisele. Don’t think. Raise him as your heart says. Your instincts.”
Damian looked at him. “Your parents are real shits… I wonder how you can be so sane.”
“Your daughter is sane, too. And you were shit.”
“Hey!” Bumping him on the shoulder, but it was soft, tamed by his amusement. “But you’re right… Fuck.” Thinking of his own parents swallowed by time, by that bottomless pit of grief which had eaten their lives away. Blinking back his tears because the last thing he needed now was to break down and let his grief wash over him.
Gabe had noticed it though, his face pulling into that grim mask, his jaw clenching. He put his hand on that hard muscle, watching him shift his eyes to him. “It will be fine.”
“If you say so…” Clinging to his voice, his words when he could not even believe it himself, that nagging doubt there. That pit of shame. Looking into his hazel eyes when Gabe straddled him, his fingers unbuttoning his shirt further, sliding inside on his skin, his chest, and ribs. His lips, close. “What did you say about having the days to ourselves?”
“What indeed…” Parting his lips, breathing harder at those familiar hands roaming his body, but Gabe didn’t kiss him, just lingered his lips close, sliding on his lips, that touch barely there. Smiling when he felt him struggle, push against him. That bulge in his jeans pressing against Gabe’s ass. Damian’s voice, heavy. “Fucking tease…” Gabe kissed his words away, peeling his shirt off as he ate him up. Deep, hard, their tongues fighting a raging battle as Damian’s hands went to his back, pushing his T-shirt up, his hands roaming Gabe’s chest, his sides and back. Smiling into the kiss when Gabe moaned in his mouth. Breaking the kiss to pull that t-shirt off, tossing it on the floor. Unbuttoning Gabe’s jeans, pulling hard, letting him slide them off, his boxers too. Letting Gabe peel his jeans and boxers off too, straddle him again, grind against him. Wide, impatient kisses as they panted into each other’s mouth. Gabe pushed their cocks together, stroking, letting a stream of saliva flow from his mouth on them, rubbing, coating them, kissing him more. Panting as he pushed Damian’s cock in, deep, his trembling hands on his shoulders. Flexing his hips, letting him fuck him back, arching his neck back when Damian’s mouth found it, his hands gripping his hips tight as his teeth grazed his skin.
That mad love burning so hard in his chest, it set his skin on fire. Feeling how close he was already, a bit mortified. He whined softly, trying to prolong the moment, not lose it straight away, feeling Damian’s hands glide up to his chest, his thumbs rubbing small circles on his nipples. That touch, barely there, but it sent shock waves down his body.
Gabe’s voice quivered. “Ah… fuck…”
Damian’s deep voice, filled with mischief. “That’s right… mhm… so close…” Knowing how sensitive he was, grazing his nipples.
“Damian… ah…” Feeling his fingers tease him, relentless. “I don’t… not yet…”
“But you do… you so want to…” Flicking Gabe’s tongue on his nipples, his fingers playing on his ribs. “Lose it.” Fucking him harder. His hands went back to his chest, playing, rubbing. “Look at me.”
“Noooo…” Mewling, but he opened his eyes. Panting, lost in those steel eyes, in his smile.
“Lose it, Gabriel.” Watching his parted lips, his flushed face, his eyes filled with tears. His voice a whisper. “Lose it.” A dark edge in that voice, and Gabriel shuddered, moaning.
His eyes rolled back as Damian rocked him, clenching around him as he came, coating Damian’s abs, his chest, warm waves of cum. He held himself up on Damian’s shoulders, trembling with pleasure. Feeling Damian’s warm hand push against his mouth, so he parted his lips, letting him push two fingers in, deep. Sucking them off, his own taste invading his mouth. Moaning around him, panting when he removed his fingers just to pull him down into a deep kiss. Gabe knew what he wanted, letting his juices flow back into his mouth, almost crying at that deep intimacy he’d never shared with anyone else. In that moment, bathing in his warm taste, the world could have stopped turning. He collapsed on Damian’s chest, feeling his arms go around him, warm, strong, and he laced his arms around his back too, snuggling in his neck. He parted his lips on his skin, letting his tongue slide against it, just catching his breath there, in his scent, his taste. Floating on the aftermath, he fell asleep on that rising chest, his warmth lulling Damian to sleep, too. That silent room flooded with light, filled with their breathing.
