Chapter Eight

Abe

T he following Friday was Alex's fourteenth birthday, and Lio invited me over for dinner and cake. Alex had already celebrated with his mom and Russ, so it would just be the three of us. I'd loved the kid since he'd come screaming into the world and had never missed a birthday celebration, but this gathering would be different. I wasn't attending as Lio's best friend and Alex's godfather; I would be there as Lio's boyfriend. We hadn't discussed it, but I assumed we'd start letting the people closest to us know about the shift in our relationship.

On the drive over, I started questioning why I hadn't pressed Lio about the timeline. Was it because I feared his answer? Then I began to stress that the tables had turned, and Lio was the one getting cold feet. Or was he concerned Alex wouldn't approve of us dating? Oh shit. And was my gift too much? I usually went big with Alex's gifts because it was my right as his godparent, but I might've gone overboard. By the time I reached Lio's street, I'd nearly given myself a headache with my anxious thoughts. With a wry chuckle, I forced myself to calm down because worrying was Lio's job. I was the blind leap guy. I would follow Lio's lead when telling Alex about us.

I parked Betty beside Lio's truck and leaned over to get Alex's gift. My phone went off with an incoming text before I could exit, and I checked to ensure there wasn't an emergency. Ham had started sending daily countdown texts, reminding me over and over about the filing deadline for my reelection. I didn't know why I was at an impasse about whether to run again or resign, but I was in a weird place where I couldn't picture my future. I'd run for sheriff because the department had been poorly managed and I'd known the residents of Bryan County deserved better. It had been arrogant of me to think I could make a difference, but I genuinely believed I had. Was my indecisiveness due to a false perception my work was done? I started to respond to Ham's text when a shrill alarm sounded inside Lio's house.

I grabbed Alex's gift, exited the truck, and jogged around the side of the garage. A pungent, acrid smell wafted out through the open windows, and I couldn't help but laugh. Most things came naturally to Lio, but baking was his nemesis. More often than not, he failed miserably at it. I had to love him for not giving up, though.

"The smoke alarm isn't a timer, Dad!" Alex shouted over the noise. Damn, I loved that kid.

"If you want to help, wave something in front of the smoke detector to shut it up," Lio yelled back. "I'm going to open the windows in the rest of the house to create a cross breeze."

I opened the door and stepped into the living room. Alex stood between the kitchen and dining room, which Lio had painted a burnt orange, fanning a dish towel near the smoke detector and grinning from ear to ear when our eyes met. Thankfully, the shrill siren shut off, but my ears continued ringing for a few seconds.

"He's so good at everything else," Alex told me.

"Just think how insufferable he'd be if he were good at baking too."

Alex held up a fist, and I bumped it just as Lio returned to the crime scene.

"Go ahead and yuck it up, guys," Lio said. "I'll make you suffer even more when the Monopoly board comes out." He stopped before me, planted a kiss on my lips, and ruffled Alex's hair. Guess I had my answer about when we would tell Alex about us. And in case his son missed the first kiss, Lio came in for a second one that lingered longer. Lio's dark eyes were a riot of emotion when he pulled back.

I looked over at Alex and caught him smirking. "So what do I call you now?" he asked.

"I got dibs on Daddy," Lio said, waggling his brows.

"Gross," Alex said, staring daggers at Lio.

"How about we stick with Abe?" I suggested.

Alex forced his gaze away from Lio's to meet mine. "Works for me."

The doorbell rang, and Alex latched onto the excuse to exit the room. I tugged Lio around the corner and pressed him up against the wall. "Someone's feeling frisky tonight," I said.

"You have no idea," Lio said, sounding as desperate as I felt. We texted and talked daily, but this was the first chance I'd had to kiss him since we'd reluctantly parted ways on Sunday. "Christ, I need you."

I started to respond, but Alex breezed into the room carrying takeout bags from his favorite Indian restaurant.

"Should I go to my room?" he suggested.

"No," I said, ruffling his hair.

I wasn't even sure how a love I'd carried in my heart for decades could feel so new and all consuming, but it was, and I needed to rein myself in. I kissed Lio's lips briefly and retrieved silverware and napkins while Alex unpacked the bags. My favorite thing about eating with Alex and Lio was their sense of adventure. I'd never tried Indian food until they'd introduced me to it, and it had become my favorite. I wasn't as brave with the spices as they were, sticking with butter chicken, korma, or tandoori chicken while they preferred curries and dishes that made their eyes sweat and their noses run.

Alex checked the contents of a container and passed it to Lio. "Here's your butter chicken, Dad."

I arched a brow. "No pork vindaloo tonight?" I asked Lio. He smiled ruefully and shook his head. Alex handed me a container of tandoori chicken before opening the final container and inhaled deeply. "What did you get?"

"Rista," he said dreamily.

The remaining containers held naan and cumin rice, which Alex carried out onto the patio along with his meal.

"Why'd you go so light on the spices?" I asked Lio as I retrieved two beers from the refrigerator.

He quirked a brow. "Spicy food and anal sex aren't a good mix." He glanced toward the door to make sure we were still alone, then he slid his hand down to grip my dick through my jeans. "I have big plans for this later."

"Yeah? Feel like testing out the integrity of your bed?"

Lio's smile was slow and delicious. "I already double-checked the bolts and rails and scooted my headboard away from the wall a little."

"I'm that much of a sure thing, huh?" I asked. Lio's beautiful brown eyes darkened with doubt, and I wanted to kick myself. I crowded into his space, pressed him against the cabinet, and devoured his lips until the tension melted from his body. Once I rendered him breathless, I ended the kiss but kept his body pinned. "I am a sure thing. I wouldn't leave your bed until Sunday night if it was up to me."

"Are you sure you don't want me to take my food to my room?" Alex yelled from the patio. "I mean, I'm out here eating my birthday dinner all by myself while you guys have a make-out sesh in the kitchen."

I quirked a brow. "What's a sesh?"

Lio laughed and poked his head out the open patio door. "Maybe a little louder, Alex, so the people across the Wilmington River can hear you too." He ducked back in and shook his head as he met my gaze. "Sesh is short for session. I figured you stayed current with the kids' lingo since you're in charge of the state's Explorer program."

I snorted as I grabbed my food and beer. "That one hasn't come up yet."

Alex was halfway through his meal when we sat across from him at the patio table. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes were watery, and he sniffled every few seconds. "This dinner is epic."

"It's a shame Eric couldn't join us," Lio said.

Alex shrugged, but I saw the light in his eyes dim. He and Eric had been best friends and practically inseparable since kindergarten. Had they gotten into a fight, or were they starting to grow apart? I looked at Lio, whose frown indicated he noticed Alex's reaction.

"I'm happy to hang with you two," Alex said, but he punctuated his remark with a snort. "Unless you keep doing that all night."

We both turned our heads in his direction. "Doing what?" we asked at the same time.

"Gazing into each other's eyes," Alex teased.

I couldn't keep the smirk off my lips. "We'll try to behave."

We made small talk through dinner and cleanup, then Lio announced he was going to the bakery to get Alex a birthday cake since he'd nearly burned the house down with the charcoal rectangle he'd set down in the sink.

"I don't need a cake, Dad," Alex protested.

Lio hooked an arm around his neck and kissed his temple. "My boy gets a cake."

"Well, if you insist," Alex said. "Can I have cookies and cream?"

"Certainly. You guys set up the Monopoly board." When I mock groaned, Lio pointed at me and said, "And be ready to hand me your ass. Er, assets."

Alex sighed heavily on his way out of the kitchen. "Don't make it weird, Dad."

"Too late," I replied.

Lio rolled his eyes, grabbed his keys off the kitchen counter, and pecked a quick kiss against my lips before heading out.

"Is everything okay between you and Eric?" I asked when Alex returned with Monopoly. He owned about a dozen versions of the game, and he'd chosen the Scooby Doo set. "You seemed sad when your dad mentioned he couldn't make it."

I thought he was going to shrug again, but Alex surprised me. He met my gaze head on and said, "Can you keep something to yourself?"

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the counter. "That depends on if your life is in danger. If so, I'll sing like a canary to your mom, dad, and Russ."

Alex smiled. "Fair enough. But no, my life isn't in danger." He reached inside the refrigerator, pulled out a soda, and took a long drink.

"Liquid courage?" I teased.

Alex set the can down and took a deep breath. "I'm having some issues at school."

Narrowing my eyes, I said, "What kind of issues?"

"Some kids are regurgitating the crap their parents are spewing about my dad, and the attention makes Eric uncomfortable. He prefers not to be on anyone's radar, and lately, hanging out with me has put a big fat target on him."

"Are these cops' kids? Is that why they're harassing you?"

"Some of them are, but the others are just jealous about the attention I got with the ESPN footage. It's mostly dumb bullshit." Alex's eyes widened. "Crap."

I mimed zipping my lips about the curse word. The way I saw it, he was entitled to spew much worse. "Have any of them gotten physical? Do you feel unsafe?"

Alex shook his head vigorously. "No, Abe. No one has tried to hurt me, and I haven't gone to the teachers about it because I don't want to make the situation worse. They'll call Mom and Dad, who will be upset their actions have caused me issues at school. This bullsh—"

"Shit," I supplied for him.

"Yeah, it'll blow over, and they'll eat crow when my parents are proven right."

I loved Alex's faith in his parents and wondered what it must be like. It reminded me of the unopened envelope with my mother's contact information. I'd slipped it into my desk until I decided what to do about it…if anything at all.

"You won't say anything, will you?" Alex asked.

"Promise me you'll turn to your parents, the school administration, or me if this gets out of control."

"I promise, Abe."

"Okay. I won't say anything."

We worked together to set up the game until Lio returned.

"They didn't have cookies and cream in a layered cake, but they did have cupcakes," Lio said. "Who wants one?" Alex and I raised our hands. "Cupcakes and presents first, then Monopoly."

Alex opened Lio's gift first, which looked like a regular pair of headphones to me, but they must've been the latest and greatest if Alex's enthusiastic response was anything to go by. He glanced between us and started laughing. I looked at Lio and noticed a rare blush creeping up his cheeks.

"What am I missing?" I asked.

"These are the best noise-canceling headphones on the market," Alex said. "And they cost a fortune."

"You're telling me," Lio quipped. "I better not see you tossing them around."

Alex clutched the box to his chest reverently, so I didn't think Lio had a cause for concern. But then I realized what Alex meant. They weren't just any old headphones; they were the noise-canceling kind. I continued staring at Lio, making his cheeks turn redder.

"They're for gaming," he said dryly. "He and Eric are always online playing something."

Sadness flashed briefly in Alex's eyes, but orneriness quickly replaced it. "And they'll come in handy if Abe stays over."

"Brat," I said as I pushed his gift across the table. I had worried I spent too much, but I figured Lio's present was just as expensive. Alex ripped off the paper and stared in amazement before looking at me.

"Whoa! You bought me a drone? That's badass!"

"I'll let that one slide in light of the amazing gift Abe gave you," Lio said. "And you know I'm going to have strict rules about when, where, and how you use it, right? Invading people's privacy is wrong and illegal."

I grimaced because I should've gotten Lio's permission before giving Alex the drone.

"Of course," Alex said, nodding eagerly. "Could we take this to your cabin, Abe? I'd love to get aerial shots of the lake and trees."

"Sounds great to me if it's okay with your dad."

We both looked at Lio for the final say. "Sounds like an excellent use to me."

"Yes!" Alex said, pumping his fist. "Thanks for my birthday presents, Dad and Abe." We told him he was welcome and laughed when he took his gifts inside. "I'm going to charge my new headphones for later."

I leaned toward Lio and said, "I know you didn't buy them for the reason Alex is implying, but I feel better about him using them."

Lio tilted his head and smirked. "I bought them because a boy doesn't need to overhear what I do to you tonight."

"Fuck me," I whispered.

Lio grinned evilly. "Planning on it." He cupped the back of my neck and pulled me to him for a quick kiss. "That was some gift you gave Alex."

"I should've checked with you first. Sorry."

"Nah. Bet that baby set you back a little bit," Lio said.

"Probably as much as those pricey headphones."

He conceded with a head tilt. "Touché."

Neither of us regretted the extravagance. Alex was a great kid with a good head on his shoulders, which was the only reason I didn't tell Lio about his troubles at school. Alex bounded back out with a second cupcake and a glass of milk.

"Ready to trounce you both," he announced.

Lio snorted. "In your dreams, kid."

Alex was twice as competitive as Lio when it came to Monopoly, showing no mercy. We played until it got dark, then carefully moved the board inside to resume. I was the first to fall, which surprised no one. I sat back, munched on leftover Indian food and cupcakes, and enjoyed watching father and son duke it out. Alex played like a champ, but Lio still outsmarted him in the end. Alex had looked a little droopy during the last half hour but livened up when his phone chimed with an incoming text.

"Eric's back and wants to play Call of Duty . Would you be upset if—"

"Get out of here, kid," Lio replied.

"Thanks, Dad."

Alex scooted his chair back and disappeared down the hallway. Usually, Lio would've called him back to help him put the game away, but he fisted my shirt with both hands, yanked me forward, and devoured my lips.

"Want to make out with me under the stars?"

I replied by scooting my chair back from the dining room table and dragging Lio toward the back door. His chaise lounges weren't big enough for us to share one, so I pushed them together, then tugged Lio down after me. I might've teased Lio about his need for privacy, but it sure came in handy when he straddled my hips. It was too cloudy to see stars, but they wouldn't be as beautiful as the happiness shimmering in Lio's dark gaze anyway.

"I believe you promised me a make-out sesh," I teased.

Lio rolled his hips forward, grinding his crotch against mine. It wouldn't take much more friction to get me primed and ready. He leaned forward and kissed a path up my neck to my ear. "I've missed you so much. Sleeping without you sucks." He raised his head and stared into my eyes. "Does that freak you out?"

I shook my head and carded my fingers through Lio's hair. "I love it because I feel the same way. I wake up reaching for you every morning." I rested my hand against his neck and felt Lio's pulse gallop beneath my thumb. "I think we need to devise a plan for how we're going to fix that."

Lio pressed his lips against my neck and resumed kissing me. "What do you propose?" His voice was a husky whisper against my lips.

My heart thundered in my chest because this was the most critical moment in my life. If I handled it wrong, Lio would think I was resorting to old habits. If I pretended to be suddenly cured, Lio could lose faith in me. The last part scared me the most because no matter what, we always had trust between us. I couldn't lose it, or him, now.

"I propose we find ways to spend more nights together. I'll come here when Alex is home, and you can come to my place when he's with Alyssa and Russ."

Lio licked and nibbled my bottom lip. "Spend every night together?"

I waited for the fear to rush in and seize control of my mouth, but hope silenced the panic before it could settle in. "Every night." And since I'd taken one giant step, I decided to leap. "And eventually, we'll be under one roof full-time. It makes more sense for me to sell my place since we'll need to live in Alex's school district. You just need to know I come with a demanding cock."

Lio grinded against me. "Don't I know it."

I chuckled. "I'm talking about my rescue rooster, Bruiser." Lio gave me a lot of shit for doting on the bird, but he always brought treats when he visited.

"I have plenty of land for Bruiser." He tilted his head and studied me. "You seriously want to move in together?"

I liked that I could surprise him and pressed my advantage. "Among other things."

His mouth moved, repeating the words, but no sound came out. I worried I'd gone too far until a slow smile crossed his face. "Guess it's good I haven't gotten too far in renovations yet. You can help make this our home."

"The lengths you'll go to for cheap labor," I teased.

Lio slid his hand down the length of my body and stroked my burgeoning erection. "This is the only length I'm worried about right now."

I gasped and pushed against him. "We'd better take this inside in case the bottomless pit you call a son decides he needs another cupcake."

Lio's warm laughter made me tingle, and I wished I could bottle it. I helped him lock up and close the windows he'd left open after the cake incident.

"What flavor was the lump of charcoal supposed to be?" I asked as we headed toward his bedroom.

"Do you want to fight or fuck, Beecham?" Lio asked dryly as he pushed open his door.

"Definitely fuck."

The last time I'd been in his private space was right after Earl had passed away, and I hadn't paid attention to the paint color or decor. My only memories were of Lio holding me in his arms and kissing me tenderly. This time, I wanted to do much more than rest, but I studied my surroundings first. He'd painted the walls navy blue, which stood out in stark contrast to the ivory ceiling and the weathered, gray finish on the floor. Lio crossed the room and closed the ivory-and-blue chevron-patterned drapes. The bedroom furniture all matched, unlike my own. I'd grabbed random pieces here and there as needed, whereas Lio had gone to a furniture showroom and picked out a matching set. The pieces were painted ivory and had been roughed up with sandpaper or something to make them look distressed.

"Do they charge extra to make new furniture look rustic and old?" I asked.

Lio toed off his shoes and kicked them aside. "Probably, but I did this myself."

I looked around the room, counting the pieces. Lio had a long chest of drawers with a matching mirror, a headboard, a footboard, two nightstands, and one of those tall dressers. When my eyes returned to Lio, he was buck-ass naked. Either I'd counted slowly, or he was eager to have me inside him. The last thought made me forget the one before it. Something to do with furniture. I made quick work of losing my clothes as Lio tossed throw pillows to the floor, turned down the dove-gray comforter, and slid between the ivory sheets. Damn, his skin looked so bronze against the creamy shade.

Lio switched on the bedside lamp, and I turned off the overhead lights before joining him in bed. He was on me before my back touched the sheets, straddling my hips and pinning me to the mattress. Our mouths fused in a ravenous mating of swirling tongues and bumping teeth. I gripped his ass with both hands, digging my fingers into his flesh like he might disappear any minute. He aligned our cocks before rocking and rutting against me, chasing away all my fears. When we pulled back to catch our breaths, I saw the unspoken promise in his gaze. He wouldn't leave me.

We kissed again until our need was too urgent to ignore. Lio separated from me long enough to remove the lube from the bedside table and resume his position. He slicked my cock, then aligned it to his pucker.

"Wait," I said. "Let me prep—"

Lio sank onto my cock with a lusty whimper in the back of his throat that drew my balls tight. He placed his left hand in the center of my chest, fisted his right hand around his cock, and rode me like a rodeo champ while stroking himself. Lio set a ferocious pace that hurtled us toward climax. I wanted him to slow down, but his greedy little ass squeezed me so good.

"Baby, I'm going to come," I warned.

"Too many days," Lio said. "Need you." His ass squeezed my shaft, and his breath hitched in his throat. Lio rode me faster, splattering my stomach and chest with cum.

I gripped his hips and thrust deeper, bucking Lio forward so he collapsed onto my chest as my orgasm ripped through me. I dug my feet into the mattress and drove into him as his ass continued spasming around my cock, milking every last drop from me.

I rubbed my hands up and down his back before settling them on his perfect ass cheeks. "Too many days," I agreed.

We cleaned up in his bathroom, then he retrieved the duffle bag I'd packed but had left in the truck in case it was too presumptuous. He snagged a few more cupcakes on his way back to the bedroom. I tried my best not to get crumbs everywhere, but sex had left me starving.

"One thing is certain," I said once we turned off the lights and I spooned up behind Lio.

"What's that?" he asked sleepily.

"You're in charge of design and décor. I'll provide the cheap labor. Your bedroom is beautiful."

"Thank you, but I can't take credit for the design since I stole it from the internet."

"You executed it beautifully," I said, pressing a kiss to the back of his neck. "You seriously did the furniture yourself?"

"I bought it secondhand, painted it ivory, and scuffed it with sandpaper. I chose a sealant with a matte finish instead of glossy."

"It's perfect. Guess we'll finally tackle that goose wallpaper next."

Lio rolled over to face me. "Actually, I think your cabin should be next. It's time to make it your place."

"I'm not sure where to start, but I love the idea of us creating something special together."

"Why don't we all ride out there tomorrow?" he asked. "Alex can try out his drone while we take inventory and develop a game plan."

"Perfect," I said before pressing a kiss to Lio's forehead.

He smiled sleepily. "Freaking out yet?"

I brushed my fingers over his cheek. "Not even a little."