Chapter Twenty-One
Kason
I’ve lived outside Wisconsin for so long that even though I travel all over and occasionally experience frigid environments, I’m still shocked at how cold it is at home.
We’re all bundled up, even in the house.
The heater is on, but I also got the fireplace blazing, the sound of the wood crackling mixing in with our conversation.
Dad is the cook at home, and he’s been working on potato soup for dinner. We hang out, my family doing exactly what I knew they would and making Anthony feel welcome and like part of the family.
He seems to have gravitated to Aline, and I like watching them together—like watching him with all my family. He fits well, and the longer we’re here, the more I can see him relaxing into the Anthony he is when we’re alone, or the Anthony he is around Hayes and Donovan.
We eat an early dinner, together around the table, filled with the familiar laughter we always have when we’re together. We tease each other a lot, and Anthony falls right into place, giving as good as he gets.
“We’re still going ice-skating, right?” Court asks when the kitchen is all cleaned up.
Anthony freezes. “Excuse me, what?”
I chuckle. “It’s a tradition. We always go ice-skating together when I come home.”
“Are they aware this is what you do for a living?” he teases.
“I think they all know.”
“I’ve never ice-skated before.”
I wrap an arm around him and brush my nose against his. “I’ll teach you. I’ll hold your hand the whole time. You’ll be able to say Kason Maddox taught you how to skate. Not many people can brag about that.”
“You taught me,” Court teases.
“Me too,” Aline adds.
I pull away from him. “Gee, thanks, guys. I’m trying to score points with my man.”
“And now you look like a nice guy who spends his time teaching others your talents. That makes you look good,” Court argues.
“It is sweet,” Anthony adds. “You won’t let me fall?”
“Never.”
“You let me fall!” My sister pouts.
“That’s because you’re my bratty sister and not my boyfriend.”
Everyone laughs, and Mom adds, “He’s a very good teacher.”
“I trust him.” Anthony looks at me, his gaze holding fast on mine, telling me he’s talking about more than skating. He’s reminding me that him being here with me means he trusts me, and nothing feels as good as that. There’s nothing I won’t do to hold on to it forever.
My sister claps her hands together, breaking the moment. I wink at Anthony, who gives me a small grin.
We get ready, and then Ant and I ride with my parents, Court and Aline taking their own car, as they’ll go home afterward.
“Does your family live in California too?” Mom asks as we’re driving to the outdoor rink. I know she’s just making conversation, wanting to get to know Anthony, but I wish she’d asked a different question. Reaching over, I place my hand on his thigh.
“No, ma’am. I don’t really have any family. I never knew my father, and my mom left when I was young. I have an uncle, but we’re not close.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up something painful.”
“It’s okay. My life is now filled with the people who matter. My friends are my family…and Kason, of course. I’m lucky to have them.”
“Something tells me they’re lucky to have you too.” Mom gives him a smile over her shoulder. “And if you want, now you have us as well. We’re a loud bunch, but as loyal as they come. Once we claim you, you’re ours.”
I feel his grin from the seat beside me. “I like the sound of that,” Anthony answers.
Leaning over, mouth close to his ear, I whisper, “You’re mine, Anthony Damiani. There’s no going back now.”
And hopefully, he never wants to.
*
“You don’t have to worry about people bothering you here, do you?” Anthony asks as we sit on a bench, putting on our skates. It’s dark out, but the bright stadium lights keep the area illuminated for the evening skating.
“Once in a while, but not really. It’s one of my favorite things about being home. I don’t walk around LA worried about being accosted by people or photographers or anything, but it’s always in the back of my mind. It’s rare I get recognized, and if I do, mostly everyone just leaves me alone.”
He nods, watching me. I finish lacing my skates, then kneel in front of Anthony to lace his.
“I can do that,” he says.
“I know. I want to.” My family is already out on the ice, giving Anthony and me some time together, I think. “We need to make sure we protect these ankles. Can’t have my little dancer getting hurt.”
He smiles at me happily.
“You look cute in your huge jacket.” Before we left, we had to order warm winter gear for him online. Living in SoCal, Anthony didn’t have anything like that.
“So do you. I can’t believe I’m about to ice-skate, though. I must really like you.”
It’s my turn to grin. “That makes two of us.” I stand and hold my hand out for him. Anthony takes it, and I pull him to his feet. He holds on tightly as we work our way to the ice. I back out onto it first, facing him, both his hands in mine.
“Push off gently, one foot and then the other, just like you would if you were rollerblading.”
“Um…I’ve never done that either.”
“Roller skates?” I cock a brow.
“I didn’t have a typical childhood, Flirty Boy. This is a first for me. Remember you promised to take care of me.”
There’s not a damn thing I wouldn’t do for him. “Always.”
It’s not perfect, but Anthony catches on easily.
He’s more graceful than anyone with his limited experience should be, I assume because he dances and does yoga, so he’s very in control of his body.
It doesn’t take him long to risk letting go of my hands.
“Don’t leave me,” he says, testing out the waters on his own.
“Never.” I’m talking about more than skating, and I hope he knows it.
Anthony gives me a slow nod before starting to cautiously move around the ice, with me close. A few times he wobbles, but he’s able to regain his balance.
“You’re doing great!” Dad says, catching up with us. “Are you sure you’ve never done this before?”
Anthony beams, obviously liking the praise. “Nope. I’m just this good,” he teases, my dad chuckles.
“Showing off now, huh?” I joke, before speeding away, then sliding into a quick hockey stop in front of him.
“You’re not very nice,” he says, skating toward me.
“Just trying to impress my man.” I wink.
“Like you don’t always.” His voice is low, sultry.
“Stop trying to turn me on while we’re hanging out with my family.”
“I didn’t do anything. All I did was talk.”
“That’s enough when it comes to you.” I hold my hand out, and Anthony takes it, our fingers clasped together not because we need them to be, but because we want them to be.
Our breaths puff out in warm smoke as the evening gets colder and colder. We join my family at one point, all of us skating together, Court holding his other hand, Anthony laughing and joking, fitting in like he’s always been here.
I want him to always be here.
Eventually we make our way off the ice, have hot chocolate together, then say goodbye to Courtney and Aline by their car, my sister pulling me into the tightest of hugs.
“I love him,” she whispers, only for me.
“I do too,” I answer honestly.
“I know.” Courtney pulls away, gives Anthony a kiss on the cheek, before climbing into her car and driving away.
“You did really great out there,” Mom tells him when we’re back in the SUV.
“I had a good teacher.” Anthony gives me a quick glance.
“I had a good student.”
“You two are cute,” Mom says, and neither of us argues with her. Hopefully he knows it’s true. I definitely do.
Everyone is tired when we get back to the house, so my parents head to bed, Anthony and me going up to my room.
“Want to shower with me?” I pump my brows playfully.
“Will your parents care?” he asks in this adorably unsure way.
“I think they know we’re sleeping together.” I tackle him to the bed, straddling his hips and holding his hands above his head. “And we are grown adults.”
“Well, I don’t know. I’ve never done this whole boyfriend-meet-the-family thing.” Anthony bucks upward, trying to get me off him.
“You keep doing that, and you’ll get me hard.”
“I know! Why did I set that stupid no-sex-at-your-parents’-house rule?” he jokes.
“You can always change your mind. It’s up to you, though.”
“Don’t tempt me. I want to do this right.”
God, he’s so fucking sweet, so bighearted. I had no hope of not falling in love with him.
“Beautiful…there’s no way to get it wrong.
They adore you already. They want nothing more than for me to be happy.
You make me happy, and they like you. It’s a win for them.
” I press my lips to his, letting them linger there.
“You did so good today. My perfect boyfriend. You made my whole family fall in love with you, you’re so good.
” I kiss him again, and Anthony melts into the kiss, pushing his tongue between my lips and tasting me.
I lie on top of him. We don’t move to undress, don’t do anything other than rut together, making out like we have all the time in the world. Hopefully, we do.
He’s breathless when he pulls away. “Let’s go take that shower now,” he tells me, and I nod. We take our bags in there with us, not fooling around, simply showering together.
A few minutes later, we’re under the blankets, my arm around him, both of us on our sides, Anthony’s ass pressed against my groin.
“Thank you…for bringing me with you, for giving me this. Today was fun.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him how I feel, that I’m in love with him. I’m not afraid to tell him because I’m not ready to share my feelings. I just know I need to be careful with his heart. Rushing things for Anthony is the last thing I want to do.
“Thank you for coming with me. I hope you’re with me every time I’m here.”
Anthony doesn’t reply, but he does push back into me even closer.