I hadn’t always been the best at making time for people. For animals, I always had time. Day or night. Evenings. Weekends. It didn’t matter to me. Well, it mattered now. Ever since meeting Perry, I’d been sending a lot more of the emergency work to the larger clinic. Mine was still a one-man show, but unless I wanted to doom my relationships, sacrifices had to be made.
“I’d like that,” Nigel said. “Same time next month?”
“A month is a long way off.”
“That’s what texting is for, Rex. To bridge the gap.” Nigel pulled his phone out of his pocket and the expression on his facewhen he looked at the screen was soft and glowing. I’d never seen anyone else ever make him look at his phone that way.
“Go on. Go see your boyfriend, Nigel. And remember to be honest with him.”
Nigel stood so fast he bumped his hip into the edge of the table, making the dishes rattle. He started to reach for his wallet, but I waved him off.
“I’ve got it. You can get the next one.”
“You sure?” he asked even as he tucked his wallet away. “I hate to run, but…”
“Go on. Get. And say hello to him for me.”
Nigel beamed from ear to ear. “I will.” And then he was gone. He was out of there so fast it was almost like he teleported.
With Nigel gone, I paid the bill, left a generous tip, and instead of going home, I found myself at Perry’s apartment, my fist poised to knock again when he whipped the door open, a huge smile on his face.
My heart soared at the sight of him. He was in an old t-shirt and a pair of short shorts that barely peeked out the bottom, displaying his sexy as fuck legs. The collar of the shirt had been stretched out, and there were little holes in the bottom of the shirt near the hem. Whatever graphic had been on it at one time had long since faded.
“I thought you were at breakfast with Nigel.” Perry stepped aside to let me in.
“I was. And now I’m here.”
He closed the door then stepped into my personal space, winding his arms around my waist. “I’m glad you’re here. I missed you.”
“I’ve only been gone for a couple hours.” I kissed him anyway. A soft kiss. One that saidhello,andI missed you, andI can breathe again.
“A couple hours too long,” he said, looking up at me with those bedroom eyes.
“It was breakfast.”
“It was agony.”
“Maybe next time we can double date and Nigel can bring Simon and I can bring you.”
Perry smiled at me. “I was only teasing. I don’t want to intrude on your time with your brother.”
“I want him to know you. I want the two most important people in my life to know each other.”
Perry slid closer to me, pressing his body against mine. It wasn’t in a sexual way, even though my body responded that way. I ignored my burgeoning erection and just held him. He rested his head on my shoulder and let out a deep breath. “I like the sound of that.”
“You are the most important person in my life,” I repeated, sensing that it was something Perry needed to hear. He had lived a life that was full of touch and affection, but only a certain kind of touch and affection. Most of the attention he got as an adult had been sexual in nature and though there was nothing platonic about us, I still liked to just hold him with no expectations. No ulterior motives. No sexual advances. Just because our dicks were in close proximity, it didn’t mean they needed to get involved.
Perry took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Unless it was my imagination, he seemed even more relaxed afterward.
“I needed this,” he said, not moving.
“I’ll always give you what you need.” I kissed his head and ran my hand up and down his back. The other one rested comfortably just above the curve of his ass.
“That’s a big promise,” Perry said eventually.
“That’s because my feelings are big feelings. And they’re serious.” It was too early to ask him for forever, too early to movehim into my house, too early for a lot of things, but I was patient. I’d waited my whole life to meet someone who made me as happy as Perry made me. I didn’t mind taking our relationship one step at a time. Perry had never been in a serious relationship before, and I didn’t want to rush things. I wanted to take my time with him so he got to relish each and every stage of our journey.
“I’d do anything for you, you know that, right?”
