The words came out more pointed than I intended, and I watched his eyes widen slightly. His keen lawyer’s mind was putting pieces together, reading between the lines of what I was saying.
I cleared my throat and changed tactics. “Let’s get you inside. The storm’s supposed to hit soon, and I don’t want either of us caught out in it.”
He nodded, clutching the thermos to his chest like a treasure as we made our way out of the stables. The wind had picked up, carrying with it the sharp bite of incoming snow. The sky had darkened to that particular shade of gray that promised a heavy storm.
We hurried across the grounds toward the main house. I kept one hand on the small of Tanner’s back, guiding him, making sure he didn’t slip on the icy patches forming on the path. He leaned into my touch without seeming to realize he was doing it.
My boy was a natural submissive. He just didn’t know it yet.
Or maybe he did, and he was too scared to admit it.
When we reached the porch, I held the door open for him, then followed him inside. The warmth of the house wrapped around us immediately, and I watched Tanner’s shoulders relax as he stepped into the familiar space.
The living room was empty—most of the guys were still out finishing the day’s work before the storm hit. Harlan was in the kitchen, humming to himself as he prepped dinner.
“Go sit,” I told Tanner, nodding toward the couch. “I’ll grab you some crackers to go with that soup.”
He opened his mouth like he wanted to protest, then seemed to think better of it. “Okay,” he said softly, and shuffled toward the couch.
I watched him settle in, pulling the throw blanket over his lap with one hand while keeping the thermos secure with the other. He looked exhausted—not just physically, but emotionally wrung out.
In the kitchen, Harlan gave me a knowing look as I grabbed a sleeve of crackers from the pantry.
“He okay?” Harlan asked quietly.
“He will be,” I said. “Thanks for bringing him the soup.”
“That wasn’t for me to take credit for.” Harlan’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Though I’m glad my cooking had the desired effect.”
I shot him a look that saidnot now, and he just grinned wider.
“Your secret’s safe with me,” he said. “But Simon? Don’t wait too long. That boy needs what you’re offering.”
“I know,” I admitted. “I’m just trying to do this right.”
“Sometimes doing it right means taking the leap.”
I carried the crackers back to the living room, mulling over Harlan’s words. Tanner had managed to get the lid off the thermos and was holding a spoonful of soup halfway to his mouth, staring at it like it held the secrets of the universe.
“Here,” I said, sitting down beside him and opening the crackers. I placed a few on the lid of the thermos, creating a makeshift plate. “Eat up, bud.”
He took a bite of the soup and closed his eyes, a small sound of contentment escaping him. “It’s perfect,” he murmured.
I wanted to sayyou’re perfect, but I settled for, “Good. Make sure you finish it all.”
We sat in comfortable silence as he ate. I found myself watching him—the way his lips curved around the spoon, the way his throat worked as he swallowed, the gradual return of color to his cheeks.
This was what I wanted. Not just the quiet moments, but the privilege of taking care of him. Of making sure he was fed and warm and safe. Of being the person he turned to when everything got to be too much.
“Simon?” Tanner’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, bud?”
He set the thermos down carefully on the coffee table, then turned to face me fully. His hands twisted together in his lap—nervous energy he couldn’t quite contain.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” I said, meaning it completely.
