“Pippin,” he said with a huge smile. “They are birds. Marcello, he bring for me.”
I frowned. “Marcello brought you birds?” He nodded. “What kind of birds?”
“The scientific name is Spinus tristis, but they called American Goldfinch in stores.”
“Huh…finches.”
“Si.”
“But you learned the scientific name because you’re gonna be a doctor.”
“Yes, Rex. I will be a doctor.” He practically bounced with happiness, and I felt my heart squeeze just a little.
I tightened my grip on his hand. “That’s wonderful, sugar. I’m so proud of you. I know you’ll be a fine doctor. You love animals so much.”
He nodded. “Si, so you understand how much I want to be doctor and now I have job in animal services.”
“Well, that makes me so happy, sugar. I can’t tell you how proud you make me.”
“Thank you, Rex.”
“For a while…I was afraid you’d never speak to me again, especially after how poorly I treated you, Cachi. I know I was a total shithead to you.”
He nodded. “Is because you are afraid because of wheelchair, Rex. I understand. I am afraid, so you even more afraid.”
He was absolutely right. I’d been terrified of giving him any encouragement after I woke up and found out I was paraplegic. It was horrifying to think that he’d give up the next six or sevendecades of his life just to care for a washed-up guy who’d be stuck in a chair for the rest of his life. “You’re right, of course.”
He nodded, and I realized just how intelligent and fearless he was. It made me love him even more. “I don’t care about wheelchair, Rex, and I am serious to say I love you. I’m sorry I say it but is true.”
I squeezed his hand again, taking note of the fact that we were approaching the freeway off-ramp we needed to take. As much as I wanted to tell him I loved him too, I was going to wait until he could look in my eyes and know what was in my heart. “You never have to apologize for your feelin’s, Cachi. Not with me. In fact, I’m the one who was horrible and you’re right, I was terrified when I woke up and couldn’t move my legs. You can ask the guys, especially Alain, because he was with me the most while I was in the hospital. I treated him terrible too.” I balled a fist, hitting my thigh with it. “I was a total motherfucker to everyone who was just tryin’ to be my friend.”
“You were afraid,” he said, changing lanes and getting off the freeway.
“Almost home,” I said, changing the subject. “I can’t wait to show you my surprise.”
He darted a glance at me. “You have surprise, Rex? What kind?”
“You have to wait until we’re in the house all by ourselves.”
He glanced over, grinning lustily. “Is sexy surprise.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Yeah, it’s a sexy surprise. You’ll see.”
He laughed as he drove out onto Santa Monica, only a mile from my house. “How is Lola? She miss you, no?”
I grinned. “Oh, yeah. That little girl was so happy when I come home. You should’ve seen her. I’ve never seen her that happy.”
He squeezed my hand, glancing fondly at me. “I so glad she has you again, Rex. She must be happy. I love Lola.”
I gazed at his profile. “I’ve never met anyone who’s heart was so full of love, Cachi.”
He nodded, obviously agreeing with that assessment. He pulled into the right lane and made the turn onto my street, smiling as he drove up and parked in front of the house. When he shut off the motor, he let go of my hand and scooted closer. He lifted both hands and framed my cheeks, looking deeply into my eyes. “I love you, Rex.” His gaze dropped to my lips. I took a breath, and then took both his hands in mine, pulling them down as I leaned in and met his lips with mine. I kissed him deeply, reveling in the touch of and taste of his mouth after so long apart.
He kissed me back, moaning into my mouth, making me instantly hard. Feeling my cock stiffen was wonderful. I’d gotten a few erections in the last twenty-four hours, so the sensation was nothing new, but having Cachi in my arms when I was hard, felt almost overwhelming.
I delighted in the sensations of having him pressed up against me, the way he moved his hips, making a desperate effort to rub his hard cock against me. The thick rod inside his jeans felt amazing as it brushed my thigh. I couldn’t wait to get him inside the house and naked against me. It’d been so damned long…too damned long. I broke the kiss with a gasp, noting the way his pupils looked blown as he gazed down at me with the sexiest bedroom eyes I’d ever seen.
“Come on, baby. Let’s get inside.” I tightened my hands on his waist.
