9. Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

E nzo stood outside Landry’s room and listened to the rest of his conversation. He couldn’t hear Daruss from where he stood, but it was clear Landry wanted revenge, and not just for getting shot. He wanted revenge on the man who had hurt him as a child.

Justice was in order. Landry deserved that much, and it was clear he hadn’t gotten it the first time around. If anything, getting shot victimized him all over again.

Vigilante justice wasn’t right, though. Never once did Landry think about going to the authorities. It created a divide between them. It was a wall so large Enzo wasn’t sure he could climb over it.

“Ellis won’t quit until he gets what he wants.” Landry’s voice shook as he said the words, as if the truth behind them scared him. Enzo wondered if Daruss heard it.

Did anyone realize how scared Landry was?

Enzo didn’t think so. The kid put up such a good front, acting all tough. But he’d wrapped himself around Enzo and cried. It had been an honest response to the situation. Acting all tough was the lie.

And then there was his trauma response. The lack of touch and not responding to Enzo the way a mate would.

Enzo’s chest hurt thinking about what that poor boy had gone through. All he wanted to do was hold him close. Except he’d trigger Landry if he touched him.

Enzo sighed and went to his hall closet. He had a pair of crutches inside. He should have given them to Landry days ago, but it hadn’t occurred to him until he’d seen Landry try to walk. The boy didn’t ask for help for any reason, which was annoying. It being distressing was the worst part. Landry could hurt himself.

By the time Enzo brought them back into the room, Landry was off the phone.

The corner of his mouth turned up as he eyed the crutches. “Holy shit, freedom.”

Enzo growled at the use of the curse word but said nothing. Landry had made it clear he didn’t like being corrected.

Landry bit his bottom lip and frowned right before he sighed and mumbled, “Sorry.”

Now it was Enzo’s turn to smile. It was cute the way Landry went through about three different emotions before he reached the apology. And despite how he hadn’t realized he’d cursed. When it finally occurred to him, he hadn’t wanted to correct himself, but still did.

Enzo’s instinct was to kiss Landry’s forehead, but he stopped himself right before he leaned down. The gesture came so naturally he didn’t even realize he was going in for the kiss until Landry backed away.

Enzo just stood there, staring for a full minute, recovering from almost screwing up.

Landry bit his lip again. “What were you going to do?”

Enzo shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry if I triggered you.”

“You didn’t.” There went the corner of Landry’s mouth again. That upturn appeared playful, but Enzo wondered if he’d meant it that way. “What were you going to do?”

“Kiss you.” Enzo leaned the crutch against the bed. “You can’t hide much of what you feel. It’s cute.”

Landry snorted. “I haven’t ever been called that before.”

“Then people haven’t been paying close enough attention.” Enzo needed to adjust the crutches to fit Landry. But he needed to get some measure of Landry’s height. “You’re good at hiding behind indifference.”

Landry scowled. “Did you just call me out?”

“I have no idea what that means. I’m telling it like I see it. That’s all.” Enzo eyed him, trying to figure out what he could tell from observation alone, but with Landry sitting, it was difficult. “I may have to lengthen the handles.”

“Did you use them last?”

“Raylee’s mother. I think you’re taller. More my height.”

And there it was. Landry’s eyes shifted into his dragon’s. His fangs didn’t drop, though.

Enzo was almost sure Landry wasn’t aware of the partial shift.

Landry lifted his arms, waving him over. “Let’s find out.”

Enzo put his arms around Landry’s waist but didn’t lift right away. He waited for Landry to support himself by wrapping his arms around Enzo’s waist. “How are you doing, baby? Are you okay?”

Landry lay his head on Enzo’s shoulder. His arms tightened around Enzo. “I think I’m good.”

Enzo stilled. “You let me know when you’re ready to move.”

Landry sniffled. “Feels good. But it’s hard to take. Do you know what I mean?”

“You don’t have to push yourself, baby.” The last thing Enzo wanted was for Landry to think he owed Enzo something. As though he had to accept Enzo’s touch.

“I don’t let people touch me. Ever. I’m not used to it. But I…I think I need it. Like my body craves yours.” Landry cleared his throat. “Maybe my soul too.”

Enzo forced himself not to tighten his hold. “Anytime you need me, I’ll be here. I promise.”

“Even though you think I’m a criminal?”

Enzo smiled. “Even though you’re a criminal.”

The hug lasted for a few minutes. Enzo’s thighs burned from squatting for so long, but he still didn’t move.

“I’m not,” Landry mumbled.

“What did you say, baby?” Enzo wasn’t sure he heard him right.

Landry met his gaze. “I’ve never been arrested and beyond speeding occasional and some of the rescue missions where I have to do things that aren’t lawful in order to save the victims, I’ve never committed a crime.”

“‘Rescue missions’?”

“I help Daruss and Izzy. All the Dragon Skulls do.” Landry averted his gaze. “The people we rescue are victims like I was.”

Enzo’s chest tightened. “Raylee mentioned something about that once, but I think I…I think I’m a judgmental prick. That’s why I didn’t listen to him. I’m sorry, baby.”

“For…”

“Calling you a criminal. Judging you before I got to know you.”

Landry smiled. “I’m still going after Ellis. That’s criminal, so you aren’t entirely wrong. And you’re not wrong about a lot of the guys. Raylee has rose-colored glasses on where Daruss and Jude are concerned. And probably the rest of them, too.”

“I really wish you would call the authorities.”

Landry snorted. “Like the cops will do anything. Ellis pays a lot of them off. That’s why he only got four years. Those fu…idiots are just as dangerous as he is.”

Enzo sighed. “Why don’t we shelve the conversation for now? We’ll end up arguing. Again. I’m rather fond of the truce we’ve come to.”

Landry smiled his crooked smile. “You can kiss me.”

“How about you kiss me? That way, you have control.” If it triggered him, he could pull away. “I won’t move. I promise.”

“Good idea.” Landry’s gaze went to Enzo’s mouth. “You have a nice mouth.”

Enzo smiled. “So do you.”

“You like men, right?” Landry’s fangs dropped.

“I like you.” That was an understatement. Enzo had never met someone more beautiful than Landry.

“But you’ve had sex with women.”

“And men. I’m bisexual.”

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been attracted to anyone before you. It all disappeared after a while, if it was even there at all.” Did Landry tell other people the intimate and painful things he’d told Enzo? Enzo had his doubts.

“Did you love Raylee and Jazlyn’s mom?”

“I love her. I was never in love with her. She wasn’t with me either. We had Jazlyn, but by then we figured out we were better off as friends. Then Raylee came along. I didn’t want my friend’s son to be without a father, so I adopted him.” Enzo didn’t need to ask if Landry had ever been in love with anyone before. He doubted the boy had ever had a relationship. “You don’t need to be nervous, baby.”

Landry’s cheeks turned a pretty pink, and he averted his gaze. “I’ve never kissed anyone before. Not willingly, anyway.”

“You can’t mess up. Not with me. And you don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”

Landry met his gaze. And then he nodded. When he pressed their mouths together, at first that was all it was. Enzo didn’t move or deepen it. He let Landry lead. It came as a surprise when Landry’s tongue brushed against the seam of Enzo’s lips.

Enzo opened for him, letting him in.

Something about that made Landry stiffen. He pulled away and sucked in a breath. His tongue went to the tips of his fangs, as if he were just realizing they had dropped.

Landry growled. “I can smell your arousal.”

“I won’t ever take more than you’re willing to give. And I’ll always ask before touching you.”

Landry nodded. “Can we kiss more later?”

Enzo wanted that more than he wanted his next breath. “Absolutely.”

“Will you hold me?”

Enzo went slowly when he tightened his hold on Landry. “If you tell me to stop, I always will. You just say the word.”

“Some boys have safe words.” Landry laid his head on Enzo’s chest. “Some boys need them.”

Enzo had a couple of questions about Landry’s statement. “Do you want to be my boy?”

He knew the concept of what being a boy meant, and he thought he knew what Landry needed, but he’d never had that type of relationship before. He supposed he was always a caregiver. It was in his nature. That seemed to be the basics, at least for them.

“I…I need you. I’m sure of that. But I don’t know anything else.” Landry met his gaze again. “You won’t flake on me. I know you won’t.”

“Never, baby.” Enzo rubbed Landry’s back. “Do you want a safe word? You can use it whenever it becomes too much. Whenever you need it.”

Landry lay his head on Enzo’s chest again. “Pineapple.”

“It’s pineapple. Got it.” Enzo could hold Landry all day except his thighs were protesting in a massive way. “Do you want to watch television in the living room?”

Landry nodded. “Crutches first, though, right?”

So Enzo lifted Landry to his feet. It turned out Landry was a few inches shorter than him. He needed the handles adjusted, but it was only by one peg and then he was mobile.

Enzo was almost sad to release him.

“Can you grab my backpack? It has my sketching stuff inside.”

Enzo did as Landry asked, and they headed out together.

“You have no idea how great it feels to be out of that bed. It’s comfortable and all, but I’m going crazy with boredom.”

“I’m sorry about that, baby. I didn’t realize.”

Landry tried to shrug, but it was awkward with the crutches under his arms. “That’s okay.”

“It’s not. But you don’t have to stay in that room. I want you to feel at home here.” Speaking of Landry feeling at home in Enzo’s house. “Are you hungry or thirsty?”

“A little of both.”

“We’ll get you settled, and I’ll bring you something.”

“You’ll stay with me, right?”

“Of course, baby.”

Landry stopped at a picture of Raylee and Jazlyn when they were kids. “He’s a cute little shit, isn’t he?”

“Mouth, boy.”

“Sorry. Habit.” Landry nodded to Jazlyn. “She looks like you a lot. Has your features. Yet you can tell her and Raylee are siblings.”

“That’s true.”

“You don’t look any younger in that photo.”

“I’m twenty years younger.” Enzo smiled. “Not much time for a dragon shifter.”

Landry met his gaze. “How old are you?”

“Older than I was then.”

Landry narrowed his eyes. “No sh— crap. How old?”

“We have a significant age gap. Let’s leave it at that.”

Landry chuckled. It was the first time he sounded carefree. “Okay. Daddy.”

“Turn right, boy.” Enzo fought the urge to swat Landry on the ass.

They came to the kitchen first. The living room was just beyond that on the right.

“You have a nice house.”

“Thank you.”

Landry stood at the picture window. He leaned his crutches against the table and sat in the chair. “Mind if I sit here?”

“Not at all.” Enzo didn’t want to be away from Landry either. Instinct had kicked in on day one and he’d been fighting to give Landry space since. But it seemed the mating pull was kicking in for Landry too. It was good to agree with his mate on something finally.

“You can see the neighbor’s Christmas lights through the trees.” The neighbors were about a quarter of a mile away. Still, the lights illuminated the forest between his house and theirs.

“Do you have a Christmas tree up?”

“Not yet. I usually put it up in the living room. You haven’t been in there yet.” Enzo smiled because it seemed like Landry wanted to get into the Christmas spirit. “We can put it up together. But after you heal.”

“I haven’t done that since I was a kid.”

“Good. It’ll be a unique date, then.” Enzo hadn’t dated anyone in a long time. He’d focused on raising his kids in recent years and hadn’t gotten back into the practice of dating. The thought of dating his mate sounded exactly like what they needed.