I smile. “The boring stuff sounds perfect.”
My heart is full and warm, and I wonder if this is the minute I should tell him that I love him. But I don’t want to rush anything, so I take the bandages instead and squeeze up close behind him. “A place together, huh?”
“Too early for that?” Joey asks.
“I don’t think so.” I glance around his apartment. What used to look bare now looks more practical, like everything that’s there has a purpose. “You won’t mind all my geeky botany stuff crowding your space?”
“I’ve been meaning to decorate anyway. Since I’m lucky enough to have a boyfriend…” He trails off and then glances at me over his shoulder, his brow furrowed. “We’re, uh, exclusive, right?”
“Definitely.”
He lets out a puff of air. “Good. I’m lucky enough to have a boyfriend with better taste than me. Decorate however the hell you want. I’m sure it will look better than this.”
I laugh and pull the bandage across the deep scarlet scratches. “Okay then, you’ll cover me with flower tattoos and I’ll decorate our apartment. It’s a deal.”
My heart is pounding in my chest. A couple of days ago, I thought I might lose Joey. He kept pulling further and further away, but now, finally, he’s here. He’s mine, just like I’m his, and a whole new future is blooming in front of us.
I kiss his shoulder gently, then the back of his neck and along the stem of his rose tattoo. Joey leans back, and I kiss him again and again. “Did you take anything for your pain?”
Joey nods. “Kicking in.”
“You’re probably exhausted.” I lean forward and kiss his cheek. I’m desperate to climb on top of him, squeeze him and ride him and kiss him hard. But I know he’s too tender for that right now, so I just keep touching him gently, humming beneath my breath with pleasure. “Should we get you to bed?”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
I take his hand and lead him to his room. The quiet feels good and right, so I don’t say anything while I prop up the pillows, fetch Joey a glass of water, and get him comfortable. Once he’s set, I strip down to my underwear and crawl under the blanket with him. Joey has to stay flat on his back, but I find a position by his side, and our legs tangle together.
“Goodnight, beautiful,” Joey tells me.
“Goodnight,” I answer softly, then fall asleep with my boyfriend by my side.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
JOEY
The next morning,I wake up to dull, aching pain. My head throbs, and my torso is sore, and the memory of my dad and his bodyguard rushes through my mind, a painful reminder of what happened yesterday.
And then Milo whimpers under his breath and pushes his feet against mine, and I remember the rest of it, too.
I lay there for a while, and Milo wakes soon after. He’s sweet, and he jumps up to get me water and some aspirin. For a couple hours, we’re lazy. We slowly dress and shower together, and Milo tends to my cuts and bruises, easing my pain. We drink coffee in bed and then eat breakfast out on the couch, with the morning sunshine streaming in on us.
Fuck, it feels good. I can’t believe how lucky I am. One eye is half-swollen shut, and I’ve just cut off contact with everyone I knew for the first three decades of my life, but I still feel like the luckiest fucker in Chicago.
And just to prove it, Milo pulls my shorts down, and he gives me a slow, luxurious blowjob right in that morning light. He tells me that he doesn’t want one back, that I need to take it easy. But he offers this distraction from my pain, and I float away on a wave of pleasure.
“Fuck,” I grunt, rubbing the back of his head after I shoot my load. Milo presses his cheek against my thigh and then crawls up for a delicate kiss. “That was amazing.”
“Yeah,” he laughs, then kisses me again. “I loved it, too.” He runs his fingers down my arm, whispering against me. I don’t know that I’ve ever been touched so carefully, like I’m delicate or something, and it surprises me how good it feels. “Will you cancel work today?”
I lift my left arm and swing it slowly. “My tattooing arm isn’t too bad, actually. I’ve just got consultations today and tomorrow. Thought I’d be picking up some walk-ins, but yeah, guess that’s out.”
“Rest,” Milo says with a nod. He takes my hand and squeezes it. “Can I come over later?”
“Fuck yeah,” I say as I sit up on the couch. “Come back over. Please.”
“I’m sorry I can’t stay and take care of you. I have class and then this reception thing.” Milo rolls his eyes as he stands and grabs the breakfast plates. His lips are puffy and red from the blowjob, and he has a dazed, happy expression. “I really would skip the reception, if I could. It happens every year. But I’m expected to be there for the research team. I hope you know I’d rather be here with you.”
I smile softly. He’s talking fast, like he does sometimes, but he’s not nervous. Milo and I are just comfortable together.
