Dare: A M/M Sci-Fi Romance (Mindset Duet Book 1)

19. Chapter 19

Dare dutifully cleared the table, feeling marginally better after eating again. It was late enough now to check on Jason as he”d promised. As he left the mess, he considered going to his room to make sure he was presentable, but nixed the idea with an internal snort. His mind had touched Jason, so the older man had seen him as most never did. External appearance after that was, literally, an afterthought. Anticipation welling up despite his weariness, he walked as quickly as he could to Stravetta”s berth, reminding himself to present as a professional no matter what he felt.

Dare softly knocked on the door after taking a cleansing breath. The door slid open, revealing a smiling Lewis. The big man took in his reduced energy at a glance.

”Dare, it”s good to see you, but, boy, you look beat. Crap, you didn”t go back to sleep, did you?” Lewis”s expression creased with concern as the empath put up a hand to stop him from saying more.

”It”s alright. Just a hazard of my job, like protecting is one of yours. How is Mr. Stravetta?” Lewis grinned.

”See for yourself. He”s been up for a couple of hours, and I”ve never seen him so relaxed.” He turned away from Dare. ”Mr. Stravetta, Dare is here to see you.”

”Well, don”t keep him standing in the corridor, you lummox. Let him in.”

Lewis turned back to the young man and grinned. ”My lord and master will see you now.” Dare heard Jason call out, ”smart ass,” as he came into the room.

Jason was sitting on the couch, the bed folded up into the bulkhead. His feet were up, pillows piled behind him, a pad in his hands. His smile was radiant and directed only at Dare. Then he glanced over at Lewis affectionately. ”Take a break, Lewis. Dare and I have things to talk about and you”ve been babysitting me long enough. Mr. Munro will let you know when he leaves.” Lewis murmured, ”Yes, boss,” gave Dare a nod, and promptly left.

Dare stood just inside the doorway, giving Stravetta an uncertain smile. Jason”s regard softened, and he beckoned the empath closer.

”Come in and have a seat. I won’t bite, unless you ask nicely.” Dare gave him a faint smile and sat down in the armchair across from him.

”I wanted to make sure you were doing well after last night. I know it was difficult for you, and sometimes, people feel worse instead of better afterward, at least for a while. You seem…fine, though. Are you having any problems?”

The older man met the Mindset”s eyes gently, putting his pad down by his side. ”No, I feel better than I have for a very long time. It was painful to essentially relive what I went through, but now I feel as though I”ve been reborn. Your skill…your compassion has lessened the trauma so much that I actually feel lighter. I know we have more work to do, but I don”t know how to tell you that what you”ve done for me…I don”t know how to properly thank you.”

The empath blinked his gritty eyes, giving the other man a more relaxed smile. ”Mr. Stravetta…Jason, you gave me your trust and yourself, after what I did to you when you came to my room. That means more to me than I can say. No matter how we began, I want to help you–actually, I feel as though I must.”

Jason leaned back against his pillows, sighing. He stared at the empath for a moment, then pulled in a deep breath. ”You feel it, too, don”t you? The connection we have. I tried to deny it, but then you joined with me, and I can”t–I won”t pretend it isn”t there anymore. I don”t know what it means, but I don”t want to let it go.”

Dare, his eyes wide, raised a shaking hand to rub his face. ”Jason, after what we shared, I will not deny it either. I felt it when I first met you and knew you needed me. I wanted that, despite the anger, the hurt, you broadcasted. I meant it when I told you I will not see you as your therapist, for that would rule out any chance that we can have more of whatever this is.”

Jason considered him for a minute, then abruptly moved his feet off the couch. ”Please come sit by me. I won”t touch you if you don”t want that, but I feel…I want you closer, if that”s alright with you.”

The empath stood up so quickly that he became lightheaded and had to grab the chair to keep himself upright. Jason was at his side in an instant, putting his arm around the younger man to steady him. The contact felt like a slight static discharge, causing both to pause for a moment.

Jason gazed down at Dare; his eyes wide with surprise. ”Did you feel that?” His glance took in Dare”s exhaustion, and not waiting for an answer, he helped him over to the couch to sit down, taking his place next to him.

The Mindset leaned into him, unwittingly drawn in by his strong arm. ”I felt it. I don”t know what it means since I”ve never felt that before. I didn”t mean to…I mean, I”m just so tired and I should have gotten up more slowly, but your touch…helps in some way I can”t define. Maybe it”s a residual of our joining last night, although that hasn”t happened to me before.” He yawned involuntarily. ”Sorry, I should get back to my room since I can”t sleep without my dampers.”

Jason nodded in understanding before speaking. ”Is it okay if I touch you? I”d like to put my arm around you for just a bit. You need to be steady to walk back to your room, even though it”s not far from here. I suppose Lewis could carry you.”

Dare made a derisive noise. ”I”d never live it down and would hear about it forever at the poker game. Yes, you can touch me–I think I need that comfort right now since I”m feeling a little wobbly.”

Jason gently placed his right arm over the empath”s shoulders, pulling him close. The feeling of connection grew, and their minds drifted together. Dare stiffened, tugging away a little. ”I don”t know what”s happening. I shouldn”t be able to access your mind without you letting go of your natural shields, yet I can feel you. You haven”t done that, have you?”

The older man looked at Dare”s alarmed expression, shaking his head ”no”. ”I can feel you a little, too. Just feelings, and I can tell how tired you are–that”s it.”

The spike of adrenaline woke the empath up enough to know he needed to leave.

”Jason, I don”t want to, but I need to go. I don”t know what”s happening between us. I don”t want to have my abilities do something when I”m too tired to stop or control it. If you”re willing, I”ll come back tomorrow when I”m completely awake, and we can talk more about whatever this is.”

The older man reluctantly moved his arm away from the Mindset. ”Yes, please do that. Will lunchtime work for you? I”ll have Lewis or Derek get us trays from the mess so we can eat and talk. I don”t want to lose whatever we”re sharing right now.”

Dare took the older man”s hand in his, holding it carefully. ”That will work for me, and I want to keep this, too.” He let go of Jason”s hand, then slowly stood. Jason rose a beat behind him, before walking the Mindset to the door. Jason smiled down at the younger man.

”Sleep well, Dare, and don”t worry. We”ll figure this out together, and it will be good for both of us.”

”You are so optimistic for a robber baron, Mr. Stravetta.”

”I have hidden depths, Mindset Munro, though not as hidden as they used to be.”

”They”re safe with me, no matter how deeply held, Mr. Stravetta. I”ll see you tomorrow.”

Jason nodded, opening the door. He watched the Mindset alert Lewis that he was leaving, then headed towards his room. The older man felt a sense of joy he hadn”t had for a very long time and, if he had any say in it, he was never letting that go.