Chapter Thirteen

Austin

Austin bought a cheap bottle of wine on the way home. It tasted like piss but he drank two glasses, then went for a walk in Hubbard Park. He sat on a bench, watching the joggers and the dog walkers and turned his face up to the spring sunshine, letting it kiss his pasty skin.

He felt curiously ambivalent about going out to seek another job straight away. He didn't have the energy. Austin just wanted to sit there in the sun until it went dark, then maybe go home and finish the bottle of wine.

What about Lynton? Clearly he was going to pay for Rupert's treatment and it seemed he didn't hold a grudge that Austin had crept out on him on Saturday night. He should have held a grudge. He was altogether too forgiving, too tender and too goddamn caring. He was no longer that man who had forced Austin to sleep with him.

Hell, hardly forced.Austin had wanted it, wasn't that the truth? Wanted it still. Got hard as diamonds when he thought of Lynton's cock in his ass. Got dreamy and misty-eyed when he thought of playing happy families with Lynton, Lucky, and Rupert.

Ridiculous.

Was he going to allow Lynton to support him? Live in his house and eat his food and be driven around in his BMW? And besides, had Lynton even given any indication that their…relationship—or whatever this bizarre situation was—was heading that far?

Well yeah, he had. He had told Austin he loved him, and although Austin wasn't a man of the world by any stretch of the imagination, he guessed people who loved each other usually lived together.

That didn't mean he loved Lynton back, though. Lynton's strange feelings were his own problem. How exactly could he love Austin? Austin liked him for his prowess in bed, that was all. And his kisses. And the way he made Austin feel when he held him, as though Lynton was there to save him and it was going to be all right. He hated that feeling. He had always stood on his own two feet and he didn't need a knight in shining armor.

His cell vibrated suddenly against his leg and he pulled it free to see the animal hospital's number displayed.

"Hey."

The voice was like molten heat against his ear. Austin closed his eyes and found the anxious racing of his heart starting to slow. "Hi."

"Rupert's been asleep most of the day. He vomited a few more times so we gave him an anti-emetic and started him on some IV fluids because he was a bit dehydrated. He's had his antibiotics. His condition is stable. He's going to be okay."

Austin leaned back against the bench with closed eyes. "Thank you, Lynton."

"No problem." Lynton hesitated. "Can I come over to see you this evening? Just to talk."

After everything, Austin guessed he owed Lynton at least that. "Yeah."

"All right. I'll see you some time after eight. I'll try my best to get off work on time."

"Okay." Austin hung up. He stood and walked towards the park exit.

Austin cleaned the apartment like a demon and changed the covers on his bed. He showered and shaved before he sat down and drank another glass of wine. The bottle was almost empty. He'd had nothing to eat all day and the alcohol gave him a pleasant buzz. Maybe he could handle anything Lynton had to say when he was inebriated this way.

A knock came at the door. Austin put his glass down and stood, wiping his damp palms on his pants as he walked to the door.

Lynton stood there holding a paper bag and a bottle of wine. "Hi," he said. "I brought takeout."

The enticing smell from the bag made Austin's stomach start to rumble. He smiled shyly. "Come in." Lynton followed him into the living room. "Have a seat. I'll get cutlery and plates."

Austin went to the kitchen and collected the items along with a glass for Lynton's wine. He stood leaning against the work surface for a moment, taking some deep breaths and trying to decide where he wanted this evening to go. He didn't know. He didn't see how he could open up and dare to hope that Lynton would lead him out of the darkness.

He took a seat on the couch opposite Lynton. Lynton had unpacked boxes and cartons from the bag and removed lids, releasing tantalizing aromas. For the first time in days, Austin was reminded he was hungry.

Lynton started to pile food onto his plate. Following his cue, Austin did the same, taking noodles and rice and stir-fried vegetables. Lynton poured himself a glass of wine and topped up Austin's. He lifted his glass. "Cheers."

Austin clinked his glass against Lynton's. "Cheers." He should have poured away the gnat's piss he'd had in the glass before Lynton poured good stuff on top of it.

Their eyes met and held as they drank. Suddenly Austin wanted to fast-forward to rolling around on his bed with their bellies full and their blood swarming with lust and alcohol. He flushed at his thoughts and lowered his head, eating a forkful of food.

"Has Rupert been okay since you called me?" he asked when he'd swallowed.

"Just fine," Lynton said and took a drink of wine. "He knows me now. We're old friends." He smiled.

"Can he come home tomorrow?"

"I'm sure he'll be ready to, yes."

Austin bit his lip. "Look, I'm sorry I walked out. It was wrong of me."

Lynton shrugged. "You needed your space. I know I've come on too heavy."

Austin was silent, poking his food with his fork, trying to think of something else to say. It wasn't that he hadn't liked Lynton coming on so heavy it was just…he was afraid. He wasn't about to put that into words, even though Lynton already knew it. Hadn't he told Austin on Saturday night not to be scared? It seemed Lynton saw inside Austin well enough, saw all his insecurities and petty anxieties. In which case, he should have seen that Austin wasn't a worthwhile person either and that he would never be able to pay his way.

He swallowed some wine. "I lost my job today."

"What?" Lynton put his fork down. "Why?"

"Because I was late and I didn't call first. And I was late last week."

"With good reason! Did you tell them that?"

"Sure. Your dog being ill isn't a valid reason. My foreman's kind of an asshole."

"You don't say," Lynton growled. "Fucking prick." He seemed to be taking it as personally as if he was the one who'd been fired. Austin couldn't help but smile. "What?" Lynton said, leaning back in his seat and drinking some more wine.

Austin took a moment before he let it spill. "I know I've said it before, but you're a wonderful man. I feel lucky to have met you. I don't deserve everything you've done for me and Rupert."

Lynton flushed. He shook his head. "Fair's fair, you've done plenty for me, too."

Austin regarded him, baffled. "What exactly have I given you in return for your time and your money?"

"You," Lynton said. "Your body and your mind, to make me feel just a little less lonely even for a brief time. The illusion that you care."

Austin frowned. "I care. That was never make believe."

Lynton seemed to lose his poise. He looked down at his food, hands twitching in his lap. For a moment it seemed like he might cry.

Austin wondered then who was lonelier—Lynton or himself. "So you meant it when you said you loved me?"

Lynton lifted his head, looking surprised. He swallowed. "I think so, yes."

Warmth enveloped Austin. For the first time, he actually dared to hope. "Then we should go celebrate." He took a fortifying swallow of wine and stood, holding his hand out to Lynton.

Lynton didn't hesitate. He climbed to his feet and took Austin's hand, allowing himself to be led out of the room.

In the bedroom, Austin flicked on the bedside lamp. He undressed while watching Lynton do the same. He found a condom and some lube and tossed them onto the pillow before they moved naked into each other's arms, kissing as they fell onto the bed.

Lynton's strong limbs entwined with his. Austin felt possessed with need. He pushed Lynton down onto his back and snatched the condom away just as his lover reached for it. Lynton's eyes widened but he said nothing.

He lay still as Austin lubed up two fingers and probed between his legs. Austin watched Lynton's face as he smeared lube over his entrance. How used to this was he? Was he going to stop him? Lynton arched with a low moan as Austin slid a finger inside. When he made it two, Lynton clutched at his shoulders and kissed him hard.

Encouraged, Austin curled his fingers and pressed against Lynton's prostate. Lynton jolted, hissing between his teeth. Austin kissed him and stroked that sweet spot.

"Fuck," Lynton panted out, writhing beneath him. Austin smiled down at him. He tore the rubber open with his teeth and managed to get it on one-handed without stopping the delicious torture to Lynton's prostate.

Lynton squirmed, gripping Austin's wrist, forcing him to go harder and faster. Who knew he would be so sensual and so receptive? Austin eased free and Lynton stared up at him as Austin lined up his cock.

Lynton gave a single gasp, his back arching off the bed, then a groan, which made Austin shudder in delight. Goose-pimples lifted over his entire body. He felt curiously as if he had Lynton's pleasure at his mercy and he reveled in it.

Austin watched his lover's face as he held himself on his arms and moved slowly and deeply into Lynton.

Lynton's face and the top of his chest were flushed. Small pants spilled from his mouth with every thrust. His legs clung around Austin's back, hands hard on his shoulders.

It felt so good to see Lynton like this. So…vulnerable in a way, and yet so uninhibited. Austin kissed Lynton's throat, then his lips. Tremors shook his lover's body. He bucked beneath Austin and thrust his tongue into his mouth, making Austin groan.

Austin reached between their bodies and found Lynton's cock. He smeared leaking fluid over the head with his thumb, teasing the slit until Lynton hissed with pleasure.

Austin jerked him off, kissing Lynton, swallowing his sounds. Lynton bucked; his fingernails dug into Austin's back. Austin pushed deeper, harder, giving Lynton everything, letting the ecstasy swallow him whole.

Lynton cried out. He threw his head back and held Austin hard against him as he came explosively. Semen soaked Austin's fingers, spurting up Lynton's chest.

Austin opened his mouth over Lynton's neck, clinging to the tender skin with his teeth as his orgasm rolled over him, causing him to gasp aloud. He shook, riding through the climax as though it would never end, feeling Lynton shifting and groaning under him as he bit down.

He slumped down onto Lynton, tonguing the wound he'd left, trailing fingers through his lover's hair.

Lynton breathed hard beneath him. He wrapped his arms around Austin's back. "You bit me, vampire."

Austin eased free and tumbled onto his back beside Lynton, looking over at the indentations of incisors and canines left on Lynton's throat. "Shit. I'm sorry. I lost it. I've never done that to anyone before." At least he hadn't broken the skin, just left a nasty bruise.

Lynton shrugged. "I kind of liked it."

Austin laughed. "Pervert."

"Takes one to know one. Next time, I bite you."

Austin smiled. He shifted to lean his head against Lynton's chest as his partner draped an arm around his shoulders. Austin sighed as Lynton kissed his head and stroked a hand down his back, making him shiver.

Right then, things felt pretty perfect. The raging in Austin's breast seemed to have subsided. He felt peaceful and resolved. Either he took a chance or he didn't. Either he let Lynton in and let him help bring Austin back from the edge of despair, or he pushed him away and stayed alone for the rest of his life.

It wasn't much of a choice.

"You know," Lynton said, "there's an animal tech job going at the hospital. You'd love it. It doesn't pay much, but that doesn't matter. I earn enough for the both of us."

Austin lifted his head, looking into violet eyes. For the both of us, Lynton had said, like they were now a pair and what was Lynton's was Austin's, too. He had decided for Austin and Austin only had to follow and allow himself to be led from the darkness and into the light.

He nuzzled the bruise on Lynton's throat. "Are you sure?" It was only fair to give Lynton the opportunity to back out.

"Sure I'm sure. I've been sure since the moment I met you. Come live with me."

Austin drew in his breath. His heart beat with glorious excitement as he traced the curve of Lynton's cheek and jaw with hesitant fingertips.

Lynton looked earnest. "We started out wrong. I gave you a bad impression of me and I can make it up to you, I promise. I'll never let you down. I swear on my life."

Austin trembled as Lynton kissed him. He laid his head on Lynton's shoulder, stroking his chest lightly, and felt Lynton drifting to sleep beside him.

He inhaled the scent of Lynton's skin and his senses flooded with feelings he had once thought were beyond him.

He could do this.

Him and Rupert, Lynton and Lucky. A family of four.

All his loneliness gone forever.

He kissed Lynton's shoulder. Lynton stirred in his sleep. He tightened his arm around Austin's back and pursed his lips for a kiss, not opening his eyes.

Austin delivered it and with the kiss, he delivered his heart and soul.