14. Fix
Chapter 14
Fix
W as this what it felt like to hit the jackpot? Because if it came even close to this feeling it was no wonder people got addicted to gambling.
Fix felt like he could conquer the world, holding Liam in his arms, knowing he finally had the right to do it because Liam was his. He hadn’t known his heart could beat that fast without it being a certified medical problem.
“A date?” Liam asked, looking so deliciously unkempt and gorgeous Fix had to stop himself from tumbling him back into bed.
He was still sitting in his lap, slivers of naked skin brushing against his chest through the smooth sheet. It felt right the way few things in his life ever did. His team. Their home. And now his boy.
“There’s a perfect little diner not too far from here. We can grab something to eat,” he said. “Will King be okay for a couple of hours?”
“Yes, but I promised to make you food,” Liam said, his gaze darting between Fix and his kitchen.
“Do you want to cook for me?” Fix asked. “Like, really really?”
“I mean…” Liam pulled a face. “If you’re okay with very mediocre cooking.”
“I am, but it’s late. And I just wanna spend some time with you.”
Liam flushed prettily. “Okay.”
“Perfect,” he said, hooking Liam’s hair over his ear. “Go bundle up. It’s chilly outside.”
“Hard to look hot while bundled up,” Liam said, wiggling to stand up from Fix’s lap with the sheet around his shoulders like a cape. He wobbled like a newborn calf and Fix determinedly didn’t think about the reason why.
“I want you warm,” Fix said. “I don’t think I can handle any more heat after tonight.”
Liam stared for a few seconds, the blush deepening on his cheeks as if he hadn’t been naked and writhing in front of Fix just moments ago, before he disappeared into his bathroom.
Fix was left to stretch out his neck and will his cock to settle down while he pulled his shirt back on. He wasn’t getting any attention just yet and he needed to get with the program. They were wooing now.
He headed into the living room to wait, King glaring at him from his spot on the couch and refusing to make room for him.
“We’re going to have to make this work now, buddy,” Fix told him. “We’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
King whined and hid his face like the suffering of the world had been placed upon him, and Fix laughed quietly.
Liam emerged from his room shortly after wearing loose-fitting jeans, a thick oversized maroon sweater, and a pair of fluffy beige boots. He’d pulled his hair up in a messy bun and wrapped a scarf around his neck.
He fidgeted under Fix’s appreciative inspection. “Ready, I guess.”
Fix gave him a smile. He looked so damn cute, drowning in his own clothes. “You look adorable.”
“You don’t have to flatter me, I already said yes,” Liam said as he turned around to hide the smile that ghosted along his lips.
“It’s not flattery if it’s true.” Fix followed behind him as he walked into the kitchen to leave King some food and water.
Fix guided him out of the apartment and toward his truck with a hand on his lower back, protective and reassuring, basking in the knowledge that he could now do that. He could place himself between Liam and the world and be his shield.
After checking around, he unlocked the truck and opened the door for Liam, giving him his hand to help him climb inside. Fix rushed around and hopped into the driver’s seat, turning the heat on and aiming the blasts of warm air toward Liam’s feet and hands.
“Warm?”
“I’m good,” Liam replied quickly. He tried to surreptitiously tuck his hands under the edges of his scarf.
“The truth, honey,” Fix said. “You’re not an inconvenience and it won’t bother me.”
Liam gulped before shaking his head. “It’s a little chilly.”
Fix smiled and reached for the back seat, feeling along it until he made contact with his sherpa-lined jean jacket. He pulled it forward and draped it over Liam’s lap, tucking it around him and pulling it almost all the way up to his chin.
“There,” Fix said, pleased with how snug Liam looked. “Now you’re warm.”
“What about you?” Liam murmured, grasping the fabric.
Fix winked at him. “I run hot.”
Liam stared for a second before mumbling something that sounded strangely like ‘I’m aware’ before he glued his nose to the window and refused to look at Fix.
Fix smothered his laugh and started the truck, pulling out onto the empty streets. “So, do you have any allergies or foods you don’t like?”
“No,” Liam said. “I like most foods.”
“Most,” Fix repeated. “But not all?”
“I don’t like overly spicy things. Or eggs.”
“Eggs? What’s wrong with eggs?”
“They taste of…eggs.” Liam frowned when he couldn’t find a way to explain it. “But only sometimes. And it’s hard to guess when it’ll happen so I just don’t eat them.”
Fix took a right turn and chuckled. “I have no idea what that means. But no eggs is easy enough.”
“I’m good with eggs in cake,” Liam said quickly, turning to look at him again.
“Hmm. That works out perfectly then.”
He almost felt Liam’s frown. “Why?”
“Because I'm great at baking.”
“You are?” Liam asked in shock.
“Does it not look that way? Do I not give off master baker vibes?” Fix teased, glancing over to him.
Liam huffed over a small laugh, clearly trying to cover it and turned his gaze forward. “No comment.”
It was bratty again, a hint of Liam’s personality peeking through and showing he was comfortable. It was all Fix wanted. For Liam to be himself and enjoy his time with Fix unbothered by anything else.
“Here we are,” he said, pulling into a spot and killing the engine. He hopped out, the ground slick from rain under his boots. He glanced up at the night sky and hoped that was the last of it.
When he looked back down he saw Liam reaching for the door handle on his side and ran to open it for him. Liam gave him a surprised but pleased look as he held it open, took his jacket off Liam’s lap, and offered his hand to help him out.
Liam took it daintily, hopping out only to slip. He went careening into Fix, wrapping his arms around his shoulders to keep himself steady.
Fix helped him regain his balance with a sure arm around his waist, hoisting him up and holding him against his body. He looked down to see if Liam was okay and found their faces were only inches apart, fogged breaths mingling between their lips, a few strands of Liam’s hair tickling Fix’s face.
Liam was berry colored, staring at a spot on Fix’s nose as his feet dangled off the ground. Fix allowed himself to lean in and kiss his forehead, before he set him firmly on his feet, wrapping his jacket around his shoulders. Liam bloomed beautifully under the attention, lowering his head to the collar and inhaling deeply.
“It smells nice,” he murmured.
Fix smiled as he locked the truck. “I like seeing it on you.” He kept the fact that he couldn’t wait to smell Liam’s scent mixed with his own on the jacket after he returned it to himself. “Ready?”
“Mm-hmm,” Liam hummed, a little coy, letting Fix take his soft hand and lead him inside.
The place was relatively empty since it was so late, but there were some stragglers occupying a few booths. It was tiny and worn down, but still clean and comfortable. Warm, with dark wooden tables and chairs, dark green tablecloths and upholstery, and a small staff wearing matching red uniforms. A jukebox powered by a simple spell shuffled through music at random.
It was adorably vintage. Fix loved it.
He led Liam to one of the open booths and directed him to sit on the inside, taking the edge to keep him safe from potential weird guests this late at night. He knew Liam noticed, but he didn’t say anything. Fix pulled one of the menus already on the table closer and slid it over to Liam.
“Take a look,” he said.
Liam opened it, scanning it with a furrowed brow before pushing it toward Fix with a hopeful spark he couldn’t conceal. “You said you come here often. Maybe you can suggest something for me?”
“I’d love to.” Fix tried hard to stop himself from beating his chest like a caveman.
Liam trusted him. He wanted him to make a decision for him. Fix wanted to jump right out of his skin but he was finally feeling like he fit inside it just right. With the right boy by his side he could finally be the daddy he’d always wanted to be for someone.
He flagged down one of the waiters and gave their drink order first before picking his usual steak and side vegetables for himself, opting for beer-marinated chicken skewers, sweet potato fries, and a side salad for Liam.
The waiter was a young-looking thing, waifish and pretty in a way Fix usually appreciated. But he didn’t hold a candle to Liam. He didn’t know if anyone ever would again.
“I think he’s into you,” Liam told him when the waiter left with their order, swaying his hips and eyeing Fix over his shoulder.
“And I think I’m here with you,” Fix said, keeping all his attention on Liam and his back to the waiter. “And I’m beyond happy about it.”
Liam flushed prettily and snorted not so prettily, and Fix was pretty sure he was deliriously in love with him.
“So…tell me a bit about yourself,” Fix said when their drinks arrived, expertly ignoring their waiter while still being perfectly polite.
“Not much to tell, honestly.” Liam shrugged, his hair falling forward to veil his face again. “I’m not particularly interesting…outside of the mess of my life.”
“Another disagree there,” Fix said. Tucking the locks of hair behind Liam’s ear was so natural now that he didn’t even seem to notice. “How about this…tell me something random.”
Light brows flew up and green eyes glinted with interest. “Random?”
Fix nodded and laid his cheek on his knuckles, elbow propped next to his drink. “Yeah, tell me a completely random, inconsequential thing about you.”
Liam pursed his lips for a moment as he thought, and it was beyond cute. “My favorite sewing stitch is a buttonhole stitch.”
Fix couldn’t help but laugh. He’d asked for random, after all. “Why that one?”
Liam shrugged, swirling his straw through his drink with a small smile. “I don’t know, it just looks the best. It’s like…”
He drew a pattern with his straw in the air and Fix focused hard to try and make it out.
“Ah,” Fix said. He saw literally nothing. “That really does look…special.”
“Shut up.” Liam smacked his upper arm. “What about you then? What’s a random thing about you?”
“I have a collection of aprons with dumb cooking puns on them,” Fix said easily.
“Define dumb.”
“I got one that says ‘She believed she could, sushi did,’” Fix said, and Liam stared at him for a moment before barking out a fully uncensored laugh for the first time. It startled Fix, because for someone so pretty and dainty, Liam laughed like a deranged hyena.
He must have realized because he rushed to cover his mouth with his fingers, swallowing down bubbles of laughter. “Sorry.”
Fix shook his head, a stupid, lovesick smile on his face. “Never apologize for laughing. Your laugh is contagious.”
“It sounds like a dying walrus,” Liam corrected, knee brushing his under the table.
Fix laid a hand on it, relaxed and easy, while he snorted at the imagery. “I guess I like dying walruses then.”
Liam bit the end of his straw, mumbling around the tip, “Is that so?”
“Must be,” Fix murmured back, giving his knee a squeeze.
In a burst of confidence, Liam scooted a little closer, hooking his leg over Fix’s. He stared at his drink, schooling his expression, but Fix could tell it was a big deal for him to reach out this way.
Fix slid his hand from his knee to rest more comfortably on his inner thigh, a warm brand that made Liam shiver just as the waiter returned with their food, placing it in front of Liam with a bit more force than necessary while sliding Fix’s plate onto the table gently.
“Enjoy your meal,” he purred.
Liam scowled and Fix made a point to wrap his arm around Liam’s waist and pull him closer still.
“I’m sure we will,” he said, dismissing the waiter completely, reveling in the way Liam melted against his side. The waiter left with a huff, but Fix was all about Liam, leaning down to murmur into his ear, “Dig in.”
Liam scooted toward his plate obediently, keeping their legs attached. He picked up a fry first, popping it in his mouth and licking the salt off the tips of his fingers. It sent Fix spiraling, of course. It was somewhat sad how easy he was to unravel because of this boy. How much power Liam had over him just by existing.
He went to tuck into his own food to distract himself when he noticed Liam’s eyes on his plate. He cut a bite of his steak and offered the fork to Liam.
“Wanna try?” he asked.
Liam snapped his eyes up before shaking his head and pointing to the other side of his plate where the brown sugar-glazed carrots were.
“Can I have one of those?” he asked cautiously, like he was testing the waters.
“You like carrots?”
Liam nodded. “Favorite vegetable. And those look really good.”
“You can have all of them,” Fix said, about ready to tip the entire contents of his plate onto Liam’s when Liam shook his head.
“No, that’s your meal,” he said, looking at his own plate. “We can trade?”
“Sure. One fry for a carrot?”
“That’s hardly fair,” Liam said, already sneaking a carrot off Fix’s plate. Fix pretended not to notice. “You have whole carrots and these are just potato bits.”
“How about this,” Fix said, an opportunity presenting itself perfectly. “You feed them to me, and then that’s fair.”
Liam’s eyes went wide and his pupils dilated. That pink tongue darted out to wet his lips as he whispered, “I can do that.”
Fix resisted more of those caveman urges to pull Liam fully into his lap and whisper what a good boy he was. Instead he held on to the edges of his composure and control, trying to keep it light.
“You got one.” Fix winked at the carrot on Liam’s plate. “So, my turn?”
Liam nodded, picking up a fry delicately and bringing it to Fix’s lips. It shook slightly, but Liam was clearly determined. He put the tip of it against Fix’s bottom lip and he opened his mouth, leaning in to take the fry. Liam went to snatch his hand away in reflex, but Fix circled his wrist with his fingers and kept it there, closing his lips around the tips of Liam’s fingers. He licked the salt away slowly, catching every granule, while he stared at Liam, who was sitting ramrod straight, lips parted and desire painting his face rosy.
Fix released his hand and chewed slowly, smiling both at the flavor and the fact that Liam was squirming in his seat, thigh rubbing against Fix’s in a maddening way. He slid his hand back around it, higher this time, and felt his muscles tense.
“Like I said,” Fix said in a throaty drawl. “Feel free to take all of them.”
Liam’s expression went from dazed and aroused to mildly annoyed and perturbed when he snorted and turned back to his plate, muttering something about falling for the oldest tricks in the book.
“What was that, honey?” Fix asked.
“I’m fine with this one,” Liam said, but the red stayed on his cheeks and he was rubbing his finger and thumb together almost obsessively.
Fix bit back his smile and turned to his own meal, sneaking carrots onto Liam’s plate when he wasn’t looking and dumbly pretending it wasn’t him when Liam questioned how they got there.
Fix didn’t eat a single one. And he didn’t care one bit.
The date lasted for hours, with Fix doting on Liam and showering him with attention. He was fascinated by every new detail, every micro-expression that flitted across his beautiful face. His phone stayed blessedly silent, allowing him to submerge himself in another person for the first time in years.
By the time they were done, the sky was turning a lighter shade of blue on the horizon.
They huddled back into his truck with the heat cranked up as high as it would go. Fix put some soft music on and Liam wrapped himself back up in his jacket and reclined the seat a little bit.
His eyelids fluttered and his blinks got slower and longer. Fix smiled at the sight of him curled up next to him, and reached a hand out to hold Liam’s. Thin fingers wrapped around his and squeezed, and Fix focused on driving while feeling like everything had finally slotted into place. A puzzle completing itself.
He wished they lived on the other side of the world. He wished he could just keep driving, out of Slatehollow into Arcstead and beyond, Liam’s hand in his and a soft melody playing in the background as the sun slowly rose.
He wished he could keep this forever.
All too soon they reached Liam’s building and Fix killed his truck’s engine, turning to find Liam fast asleep. He smiled, brushing his fingers over Liam’s warm cheek.
“Honey?”
Liam stirred. “Hm?”
“We’re here.”
Liam’s brow creased. “Comfy.”
Fix chuckled, running his knuckle over Liam’s pretty nose. “You’ll be comfier in bed.”
Liam sighed, peeling one eye half open and looking at Fix. “Carry me?”
Fix allowed himself to laugh louder now that Liam was awake. “You’re going to be a handful, aren’t you?”
“If you carry me it’s reasonable to assume your hands will be full, yes,” Liam quipped in a lazy, precocious way, and Fix continued laughing as he exited the car. He scooped Liam out, jacket and all, carrying him up his rickety stairs to his door.
He set him down gently and Liam smiled up at him. An honest, open, mesmerizing smile Fix wanted carved on his soul.
“I had fun,” he said.
“Me too,” Fix replied, holding his jacket and Liam’s hips before making himself let go of the latter. “I’ll let you get some sleep. We can—”
“Will you kiss me?” Liam interrupted him, a hand on his stomach stilling him while his eyes beckoned.
Fix dropped the jacket and went to him like a wave to the shore. He tipped his gorgeous face up and leaned in closer, brushing their noses together. He caught the moment Liam stopped breathing and let his eyes slide shut. Their lips were a fraction of an inch apart and Fix could almost taste him.
And then he allowed himself to erase the almost.
He closed the gap between them softly. Slowly. Gentler than anything he’d ever done before. If this was to be the start of them, Fix wanted it to be perfect.
He brushed his lips against Liam’s, one hand holding his cheek and the other inching around his waist until he had him in his arms. Liam whimpered softly before lifting his hands to clutch at Fix’s collar, pressing himself as close as he could go.
Liam was pliant and trembling in his arms. Fix deepened the kiss, brushing the insides of Liam’s mouth with his tongue, nipping at his plush lips, and swallowing the soft moans he was pulling out of him. He felt like he was being rewarded for everything he had ever done right. Liam felt like he was tailor-made for him, and Fix would make sure he was exactly what Liam wanted too.
“Daddy,” Liam whispered against his lips, and Fix knew, without a shadow of doubt, there would never be anyone but him.