Chapter Nine

Lynton

Austin was wrapped around him when Lynton awoke, one hand splayed across his chest, breathing softly against his skin.

For a moment he looked anxiously towards the bedside clock—shit, eleven o'clock—before he remembered it was Saturday and he had a rare weekend off. He sank back against the pillow and looked down at his lover again.

Beautiful, just beautiful. Lynton had hoped for more after he'd jerked them both off. He'd hoped to slide once more into Austin's tight heat, but Austin had been dead to the world and Lynton had no intention of waking him. Not after his meltdown when Lynton's heart had just about broken.

He wasn't going anywhere.

He smoothed Austin's tousled hair. Even in sleep he carried that frown, that weight of the world on his shoulders. How would he ever forgive Lynton for taking advantage of him in his hour of need? How could he ever set about making that up to him?

He moved his legs and felt a heavy weight at the end of the bed. Sometime during the night, Rupert had commandeered the space, regardless of Lynton's instructions about not jumping. His patients were their own worst enemies. The dog lifted his head and blinked sleepily at Lynton, making him smile.

Austin stirred. Thick lashes lifted, revealing those sultry grey eyes and Lynton's heart leapt. Christ, he had it bad. Sometime between the second night in his bed and now, he had fallen for Austin. And hard. There was no going back now.

"Morning."

"Morning." Austin was hoarse, probably a remnant of all that crying.

"You don't work on weekends?"

"No."

"That's good."

The slightest hint of stubble darkened Austin's jaw. Lynton stroked one finger across the bristles. He pressed his lips to Austin's temple.

Austin lifted his face, presenting his mouth. They kissed. Austin's lips were just as sweet in the morning.

A heavy paw thumped on Lynton's body. A moment later, a wet snout poked between their faces.

Austin drew back, laughing. "Hey, you."

Rupert's tongue lolled from his mouth. He butted Austin's hand with his head, then licked Lynton on the nose. Lynton flinched away. "Your morning doggie breath is something I'm not ready for, Rupert." He glanced at Austin. "He your chastity belt, or what?"

Austin hugged his dog. "Yeah," he said dryly. "I haven't gotten laid since I got him."

Lynton regarded him a moment, trying to do the math. Rupert was what, five years old? Had Austin been celibate all the time or was he kidding?

"Well, he's the love of your life. No man would ever dare try to replace him."

Austin's grey eyes turned to his. They sparked with pale blue highlights. "No," he said. He slid from Lynton's arms and Lynton admired his slender, naked form before he shrugged on a robe and left the room.

A door closed in the hallway and the apartment fell silent. Rupert lay on his back by Lynton's side and looked at him upside down with those adorable eyes.

"Come on then, belly tickle."

Rupert was putty in his hands, much the way his owner had been, rolling around on the bed with something that looked an awful lot like a grin on his canine face.

Austin reappeared from the bathroom. He hovered a moment as though he were unsure whether he wanted to get back in bed with Lynton. Lynton guessed he was embarrassed about last night, about his emotional breakdown. Or maybe it was his accepting Lynton back into his bed once again and remembering the agreement they had made. Perhaps he hated Lynton. It had certainly seemed so before that first time.

He sighed inwardly. How could Austin begin to trust the man who had forced him into his bed? "Can I take you out to breakfast?" Where did that come from?

Austin looked startled. "I-I have to walk Rupert."

Lynton wriggled out from under the dog and slid from the bed. "I'll walk him while you get ready to go out."

He saw Austin's heated gaze drop down his body, lingering on his morning wood. Lynton worked out, and while he didn't have a bodybuilder's shape, he was toned and muscular in all the right places. Never had he felt as desirable as now, with Austin's eyes on him.

Austin swallowed as Lynton pulled on his boxer briefs. It was all Lynton could do not to ravage him then and there, but what with Rupert sprawled across most of the bed and his determination not to be that man who had used Austin for sex, he knew it was better to resist his base urges. Better to let Austin come to him.

"All right." Austin still looked unsure. "I'll go get his leash." He clicked his tongue. "Come on, boy."

Rupert leapt off the bed with a loud bound and pounded down the hall, no doubt doing his broken bone a world of hurt. Lynton winced. As he got dressed, he thought of taking Austin out.

He peeked around the curtain and saw blue sky and sunshine. He could take Austin somewhere they could sit outside. Somewhere that Austin couldn't usually afford to frequent, somewhere to treat him as he should be treated. What a thrill it would be to be out with someone as beautiful as Austin, to fantasize for just a while that they were an item. God, what a mess all this was. An arrangement born from sex and desperation now had Lynton feeling soft inside and more than a little in love. He scowled.

Warm spring air blew over the city and people walked around in summer jackets and T-shirts. Lynton sat on a park bench, waiting for Rupert to finish nosing in the bushes and then he got up and put the dog's leash back on to ensure he didn't go running off madly and undo all the hard work on his leg.

Lynton had kissed Austin goodbye as though he were going on a long journey. He looked down at Rupert still limping on the cast. He felt as though an invisible string had unwound behind him, that if he turned around and gathered it in with his hands, it would bring Austin to him, binding them together forever, despite all that had happened.

His thoughts frightened him. Taking on a man with no money, a desperate man with signs of depression. Was Lynton up to the challenge? He looked down into Rupert's shiny, happy eyes and straightened his shoulders. Damn right he was.

He wouldn't let Austin down. Providing Austin wanted him, that was.

Austin opened the door dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, shaved and smelling fresh from the shower, his hair wet. Presumably a cold shower.

Rupert charged into the house and Lynton followed, watching as Austin opened a can of dog meat and scooped some into a bowl. Lynton noticed it was the expensive kind. He guessed nothing was too good for the dog and Austin just made do on whatever money was left. His heart gave a little twinge and he glanced towards the cupboards, wondering just how empty they were.

Rupert fell on the food like a starving beast and Lynton moved up behind Austin while he washed the fork at the sink. He put an arm around Austin's middle, nuzzling his neck. "You smell so good."

He felt Austin's body tense before his limbs loosened and he put his hand over Lynton's. "I'm sorry about last night."

Lynton frowned. "Sorry for what?"

"For…being a baby."

"Hey, come on." Lynton tightened his arm. "Don't be afraid of holding out a hand for help, Austin. Everyone needs it."

Austin dried his hands on a towel. He stood motionless, head hanging down.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm good."

Austin was obviously as far from good as it was possible to get, but Lynton let it slide. "Then let's go."

"Can I bring Rupert?"

"Sure you can." Lynton knew better than to try and exclude the love of Austin's life from their fun. That wasn't the way to Austin's heart. Not that Rupert was any trouble anyway.

Lynton led the way to his BMW. Frankly, in this neighborhood he was surprised it was still there and intact. The car was a startling contrast to the heap of junk it was parked behind, but Austin said nothing. He opened the door of his rust bucket. "Let me get his blanket or there'll be hair all over your seats."

Lynton unlocked his car and opened the back door for Austin to spread out a hairy, pale blue blanket. He gestured to Rupert and the dog bounded eagerly inside, stretching out on the blanket. Lynton shut the door and smiled at Austin. He snaked an arm around his waist and pulled him in for a kiss.

Austin shrugged away. "Don't."

Lynton glanced around. "Why not?" While he wasn't wildly out, he wasn't closeted either. If he wanted to kiss another man in public, he would do so. This was the twenty-first century and they lived in a state that had first legalized gay marriage in 2009, way ahead of anyone else.

Austin didn't say anything. He climbed into the car and closed his door. Lynton sighed and slid into the driver's seat. He started the engine and turned the stereo down when it came on, blaring his usual ear-blasting level of rock music.

He pulled away from Austin's house. "I thought we could go to The Skinny Pancake on Main? Then we can sit outside with Rupert."

Austin glanced at him. Was he going to say something about the expense? Instead he merely shrugged. "Sure."

He was silent for the entire drive, the atmosphere uncomfortable. Sometimes Lynton thought the only time the real Austin came out was in the height of passion, when he was begging Lynton for more.

They parked on Main Street and Austin let Rupert out. The dog was excited by the fresh air, birds, and the other dogs. He strained on his leash as Lynton led the way to a table outside. The café was bustling as it usually was during weekends. Bicycles were parked outside, patrons sat eating, the chat a noisy hum. They managed to find a table for two near the door.

"Sit down now, and be good," Austin told Rupert as he took his seat and accepted a menu from Lynton.

Rupert lay down and put his head on his paws.

Austin perused the menu. Lynton watched him covertly. Austin only took a few moments before he closed his menu. "I'll have the early riser and a hot chocolate."

Lynton glanced at the description. A Shadow Cross Farm egg and shredded Cabot cheddar. Probably the cheapest thing the café had to offer. "That it? Don't you want a full breakfast?"

"No. I don't eat much." Austin looked away. His misery seemed palpable.

Lynton reached over. Under the table, he put his hand on Austin's. "Hey."

Austin's gaze swung to his.

"Didn't I tell you last night it was going to be okay?"

Austin lowered his head. He made no response.

"I meant it. Order a big meal. For me." Lynton smiled. "I'll finish it if you can't manage it. Or Rupert will."

Austin regarded him for a moment. Then he curled his fingers around Lynton's and bowed his head to the menu once more. "Fine, I'll have the breakfast monster."

"That's more like it."

The waitress, a young blonde, broke the silence. "What can I get you guys?" She stooped to pet Rupert. "What a lovely dog."

"The breakfast monster, the eggs fetatastic, two hot chocolates, two cranberry juices and some water please," Lynton answered. "And a bowl of water and three hot dog sausages for the dog."

The waitress smiled. "Coming right up."

Austin stared at him. "How did you know Rupert likes those?"

"I bought him some from the deli when he stayed with us," Lynton said.

"You went specially to get him hot dogs?"

"Sure."

Austin looked away a moment. He swallowed then turned to Lynton. In full view of the other café patrons, he put an arm around his neck. "You're a wonderful man."

Lynton held him close. "No, I'm not. But thank you."

Austin's hold on him tightened. "Yes, you are. I knew Rupert was in the safest of hands the first time I met you."

Lynton drew back. He cupped Austin's cheek. "So are you," he said, "if you can forget my appalling behavior and trust me."

He'd said too much. Austin drew back and sat looking anxiously out over Main Street. Rupert sat up on his haunches and put his head on his owner's lap, each of them looking as pensive as the other.