22. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sel woke up with Indio beside him, snoring softly. It was almost dawn, and as much as he hated to do it, he woke Indio. "Hey. Hey, you said you have to head down to the basement."

"Fuck. What time is it?"

"Almost five. The sun's gonna be up soon."

Indio grabbed the back of his head and kissed him. "Last night…that was great."

"It was."

"You gonna be a kid and run and tell your friends about it?"

In fact, he'd planned to do just that. "I guess not, if you don't want me to."

"They're gonna figure it out sooner or later. Mal can keep his mouth shut, but I don't know about the rest of them."

"I won't say anything unless they ask. Then I'll tell them to keep it quiet. Deal?"

"Deal. Listen…I'll come up tonight, after, you know, no one's looking or whatever."

"Good. See you then."

Indio got up and pulled his pants over his hips and as he was buttoning them, he said, "I'm going to see that other club today with Kirk and Mal. I might be late getting back. I almost forgot."

"Club stuff. I get it. I'll wait up for you. Text me if you're gonna be too late. After all this…you know."

Indio snatched his shirt off the floor. "I get that you'll be worried because of that prick, Brooks, but I ain't accountable to you."

"Never said you were."

"Good," he said, then bent over the bed and kissed him quickly. "Get some more sleep and go shower. You smell like you were fucking half the night."

"I wonder why."

Sel watched him go, and it hurt him somewhere inside his chest. It left an ache that he was sure would make Indio laugh at him relentlessly.

The casual way he was handling things was not how he felt. Knowing Indio was being kidnapped that night, following him, it made Sel realize he felt more for the guy than the aggressive, malicious flirtation they'd been doing showed.

In the bunker, that kiss, he felt Indio cared for him too, but to get him to realize it, and admit to it, seemed an impossible task. Sel turned and grabbed the pillow that had supported Indio's beautiful head and he brought it close, smelling Indio's scent still on it.

When he woke the second time, it was to a knock on his door. He rubbed his eyes as he called weakly, "Come in!"

Prince opened his door and came into the room with a tray of food and coffee. "Hey. We figured you'd sleep in a little and probably wake up starving."

Sel sat up, worried they already knew about him and Indio, but Prince went on with his explanation and calmed his mind.

"You, being the hero, it's probably draining."

Sel sat up and took the tray from Prince, setting it on his lap. "Stay with me a minute, will you?"

"Sure."

Prince sat gently on the edge of the bed and Sel sought a way to ask without immediately revealing what had happened the previous night. "Prince…you and Dex…"

"What?"

"Did you guys, like, I don't know, did he care you were rich and stuff?"

With a brief shrug, he answered, "No. Not really. I mean, he knew what an asshole my dad was, and…I don't know. Why?"

"Well, you, me, Binx, we grew up differently than the other guys, even the guys we're with, mostly. Dex wasn't poor. I know his family had some money from their organization, but nothing like us."

"I guess not."

Prince waited patiently while Sel sorted through his words, but nothing came to him that could explain what he felt. It wasn't needed. It seemed Prince already knew where he was going.

"It's different, growing up with everything, Sel. You more than me, I'm guessing, because your family showed you a lot of love. I've seen you with Dante. He shines when he looks at you. You're not just some…heir to everything, you're special to him, and I'm guessing to your parents, too.

"When Dex saw me, I needed a…I needed someone to love me. He's been that. Indio didn't come from a family like Dex's or ours. He was hurt badly right from the start. Mal told us…those burns on his arms? His dad put out cigarettes on him. His mom was too drunk to care."

Sel lost any appetite he could have had. "God…no."

"So, with him, Sel, be patient. He will not trust anyone easily. Even in his club, it took him a long time to trust his brothers, but now that he does, he's the most loyal member. Eight told Kirk and Mal all this because they needed to know about the guy helping to represent them too. They trust him. Mal loves him, Sel."

"I'd never hurt him, Prince!"

"Oh, I know that. I see the way you look at him. Mal knows that too. We all see, we've seen since we all met and got to know you. Maybe talk to Mal about some of this. But…if you care about him, Sel, don't give up on him."

"I didn't plan to. We…we were together last night."

Prince turned his head, but not in time to hide his smile.

"You guys already knew."

He faced Sel again and said, "The bed was…banging on the floor and the walls, and you were kinda loud, and…"

"Okay, I get it," he said as his face was as hot as an iron. "Don't let him know. He thinks we're being so sneaky."

"Oh, no. We won't. Just…don't give up on him. Our guys have lived in danger, surrounded by it most of their lives. It might not be easy for them to admit they love someone, it may be harder to reach out, but they always do."

Sel held out his hand and Prince took it, and they squeezed their hands together while a tear escaped Sel's eye. "I'm not expecting anything. I might hope, but I won't expect."

"Good. Now, eat, and then come down. Binx has a plan."

"Oh god," he said as he released Prince's hand. "Not the jealousy thing."

"No! Marius told us about how Indio was with Bennie for touching you. We're not trying to get anyone killed!"

Sel was left alone to pick at his breakfast. His hunger hadn't returned after learning of the abuse Indio had endured.

It was little wonder why he hated Sel's situation, how he was raised. Not only was he rich, but he was loved and protected.

Sel's head fell back on the headboard, his heart hurting so badly, he felt like it would explode in his chest.

That was the moment he knew he was definitely falling in love with the man. "God, I'm an idiot."

After he took his tray down, kissing Binx's cheek in thanks, he and the others convened in the kitchen, Mal pacing to assure they wouldn't be overheard.

Binx was all about getting them together. It was sweet, and he couldn't have hidden his feelings if he tried. "You want the guy. You had sex with him, so now what?"

"I can't believe you all know. God."

Binx rolled his eyes. "Believe me, if my Sirs and I were to get busy, the whole ranch would hear."

Prince laughed and agreed, "We've been…less active, too."

"Okay, okay, well, now that the construction has started again, you all will have your own places soon. You can be as loud as can be and ignore Indio and me."

"So, that tells me you're planning to be with him that long," Binx said with a knowing grin.

"Binx! Behave."

His eyes moved upward as he sighed, "If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that…"

Mal laughed and waved them on. "Come on. The guys are packing the bikes, the others are outside. Get going!"

Binx leaned in and said, "Keep at him. Not like pushing him. That doesn't work with guys like that, but just don't let him pull away. If he tries, then you'll be wherever he is. If he shows one bit of cracking, comfort him. Let him know it's okay to let his guard down with you."

Surprised, Sel asked, "Really? That's…rational."

"Well, it's a start. Once we get a little closer, we'll help you seal the deal."

"There it is," Mal said, laughing.

Sel agreed with laughter. "I didn't plan on letting up on him, just FYI."

"Good. Because Mal thinks he's falling hard for you."

Sel turned his head to Mal, who looked murderous. "Binx, have I told you that you have a big mouth?"

"Oh, I know that. It's a good thing, too, because both my Sirs are…generously endowed."

All eyes rolled while Binx was staring dreamily, thinking about his partners' dicks.

Mal kneeled near Sel's chair, and said, "Prince told you, right?"

"Yeah. I didn't know. Don't, uh…say anything to him. He'd be embarrassed and pissed. Just know that all of this is hard for him. He'll try to push you away. I know he will, but it just means he's realizing how he feels. Kirk did the same to me. They're proud, they're gruff, they hate falling in love, especially with a man. They can be out and proud, but still, you know…and with them, love is a weakness."

"So," Binx said, snapping his fingers, "Make him feel like his love for you is strengthening him."

"I have a feeling Binxie is going to have three more ideas before tomorrow," Mal whispered.

"Oh, it won't take that long," Binx assured him.

Sel excused himself to walk with Mal into the living room. While they were alone, he asked Mal, "How dangerous is it for him today?"

"We'll be there to back him up. He's taking the lead because he will be the president of the Aztecas up here and Doggy will be for the Devils, if all this goes together. The Kinsmen are tough, but they're not our enemies or anything. Dante is going to back us up, too."

"He's going?"

"Yes. He thought it wise, being he's backing the move for us. He can give them perks, like you were saying."

"Shouldn't I be there, then?"

"No. Not this time, Sel. Let us handle this. Dante knows bikers. You're just starting. It's not a learning curve."

He nodded and said, "Got it. The Bloods are going to be there too, right?"

"Blood Nations. Don't call them Bloods," Mal said. "It gets them mixed up with the gang from LA."

Sel laughed a little as the embarrassment overcame him. "I guess it's good I hang back."

"Don't worry. I'll make sure he's okay. I promise."

"I trust you."

Walking back into the kitchen, Sel told the smaller group, "I may need to figure out how to listen in or go with them. Mal didn't want to say it, but Indio and my uncle could be in danger."