27. Felix

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

felix

“There. Yes. There.” Holy fuck, his cock feels good inside me. And I know I need to lower my voice, but holy shit.

Henry’s hand covers my mouth as he thrusts into me again, filling me and dragging over my prostate. We’re on the couch again in the studio apartment above the gym, and I want to ask him so damn badly to move in with me and my cat, but I haven’t found the courage yet.

We’re doing well. There’s more and more trust every day, but moving in is a big step. One I know he’s only ever shared with Maggie, and that didn’t go well.

“Stop,” he breathes into my ear, nibbling on the lobe and making me groan. “Stop thinking about whatever you’re thinking about and come back to me.”

God, I love his voice. Deep and soulful. I nod and kiss him, bringing my hands to his firm ass and pulling him deeper inside me. “I’m close,” I pant.

“You’d be closer if you weren’t thinking.” I grin and kiss him hard because he totally knows me.

I reach one hand between us, stroking my cock in sync with each thrust he makes inside me. I cry out and spill over my hand moments later after clearing my mind.

“Thank. Fuck.” He leans up, pounding into me and pushing on my sensitive prostate while milking my cock.

When we finish, he lies on top of me, stroking my hair, and he looks so damn happy. Free almost.

“I’ll be right back.” He pulls out of me, his cum dripping on the couch, and we both laugh, happy and content. He returns a moment later with a washcloth and cleans me, then himself, and tosses it into the pile of laundry.

“Her birthday is soon,” I say as I pull him down to lie with me on the couch we barely fit on.

“Yeah, it is. First birthday. I can’t believe it.”

I hold him tighter to me and think about the past few months. How they came crashing into my life and mixing everything up in the best possible way. “What kind of theme are you thinking?”

“Theme?”

I chuckle and kiss his neck. “Yes. Theme. She doesn’t really have a favorite cartoon yet, but she likes her Elmo the most. We can totally do Sesame Street.”

“Sounds good to me,” he says as he strokes his fingers over my hand. “So, like a cake?”

I laugh at that, already thinking about decorations and the cake. Matching plates and tablecloth. I wonder if Etsy has a banner I can have custom-made. And we all need matching t-shirts, for sure. “Yeah. Like a cake.”

“We should really get her up and ready, so we can go work,” he groans, but neither of us make a move to get off the couch.

Finally, we move our asses, getting Hazel ready, and then head downstairs to work. Hazel has been pulling herself up a lot more lately, wanting to walk, but she hasn’t quite gotten it.

Still, we’ve all been keeping an extra careful eye on her, and the kid can fucking crawl, let me tell you. She’s across the room in seconds, but Ben assures us it’s still fine to have her here.

I’m glad because, while Henry may trust me with her, I don’t think he’s ready to leave her with anyone else.

“There’s my girl,” Colby says as he picks her up, and she giggles while Henry looks on with a smile on his face. It seems he’s really starting to trust Colby too.

Colby’s son is with him today, still getting used to the place and his new surroundings, but according to Ben and Colby, he’s doing well. And man, is that kid loved. He seems enamored with Hazel too, but maybe a little jealous as his dad holds her.

“I may have gotten her a new outfit,” Colby says to Henry, kissing the top of her head, then lowering her back down to her spot on the floor and scooping his son back up.

Hazel reaches her arms up for me, and I pick her up, laughing at Henry’s unamused face. “She has so many clothes. We’re running out of room.” He’s still smiling though.

Move in with me. I have room.

The thought burns inside me, but now is not the time. “We’re throwing her a first-birthday party next month,” I say to change the subject, and Colby lights up at that, quickly going over things we need to get.

Henry just shakes his head at us, but we’re having a great time fucking with him and talking about an inflatable Elmo when Andrew walks into the gym.

His grim expression sours the mood instantly as he makes his way over to us. “What’s wrong?” I ask, my fear soaring.

“It’s Evan.” Shit.

“What happened?” I ask but barely manage to get the words out because I’m too worried.

“His father,” Andrew says, and I feel Henry’s hand go to mine, threading our fingers together. “He went into a drunken rage and went after Evan and his mother.”

“Goddammit. I knew that was going to happen,” I say quietly, my voice shaking. I should have pushed harder. Gone after him.

“He killed him.”

I stare at him, stunned. “No. Evan’s dead?”

Andrew shakes his head, and I look at him in confusion. “Evan killed his father. He’s in police custody.”

“What?” I stand there, frozen, my blood running cold. “Why? It was self-defense, right?”

“It was. I know it was, but his mom isn’t taking his side. She’s barely talking.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Grief does horrible things to people,” Andrew says, and I shake my head.

“We have to help him,” I say helplessly. But I don’t know what the hell to do.

“We will,” Andrew says easily, but I’m not so sure. Evan killed his dad. He’s been arrested.

How did we get here? Talking about an Elmo birthday party, and then everything turns dark and grim.

Why does it always have to be this way?

“Felix.” I hear Henry’s voice and turn to look at him. “It’ll be okay. Andrew has a friend. A lawyer.”

I turn to Andrew, having missed what he said and give him a quick, unsure nod, feeling like a failure. “He has to help him.”

“Yeah . . .” Andrew doesn’t look certain, but I can tell he’s forcing himself to appear sure. “He will. I’ll make sure Evan is taken care of.”

We talk a little longer before he excuses himself, and it’s just Henry and me working. Hazel is trying to pull herself up to the desk, but she keeps falling, getting frustrated each time.

I scoop her up and sit her on my lap, next to Henry at the desk. “It’s going to be okay,” he assures me.

“I should have gone after him.”

“You can’t blame yourself for this, Felix. You won’t let me blame myself for so many things. Don’t take this on yourself.”

I don’t have to force my smile because I feel it when I look at him. Despite worrying about Evan, Henry makes me so damn happy.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” His hand moves to my heart, resting it there. “And I love your great big heart.”

I’ve always wanted to be as good as my parents and my brother. Wanted so desperately to be a helper, too, but never really felt like I was good enough until now, when he does this.

When he talks about my heart and how good I am, I believe him.