Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Michelle
Corvus was a mess, and it broke my heart to see him falling apart like this.
Judging by Hudson’s reaction to Corvus’s explosion, this wasn’t Corvus’s usual behavior.
I was sure he was expecting Corvus to lash out, say something hurtful, maybe even try to get in a swing or two on his best friend.
But blurting what he’d been going through and spilling all his problems like that…
I had a feeling that wasn’t our boy at all.
Clearly, Corvus had reached his breaking point.
“Come here, bub,” I gently urged as I headed for the bathroom sink. He followed wordlessly, still crying and hiccupping. I wet a washcloth with cool water, wrung it out, then turned so I could press the cool cloth to his heated, red skin. He sniffled, but his crying finally seemed to be slowing.
“I’m sorry I’m such a fucking mess,” he rasped, his throat raw.
He rubbed at his eyes and sank back against the bathroom counter.
I draped the washcloth over the faucet, then gave him my undivided attention.
“I won’t blame you or Kip if you two decide I’m too much.
But I promise I’m not usually like this.
I’m usually chill. Just the past few months have been too goddamn much, and my parents were my breaking point. ”
“First, let’s get rid of those insane thoughts that Kip and I might ever think you’re too much.
You’re traumatized and bottling everything up inside of you, only talking to your therapist because you feel like you’ll somehow burden Hudson and Kreed with what’s going on inside your head.
” I cupped his cheek and stroked my thumb over his stubble.
He stared at me with sad blue eyes that made my entire body ache for him.
“This is all happening insanely fast. I know that, but I also know Kip and I are both falling for you, bub. We want you. We will always want you, okay? Nothing will ever change that.”
I knew it with certainty. This sweet, hurting boy was made for us.
He nodded, his shoulders drooping.
“I’m so tired, Mommy,” he whispered.
And I knew it was the kind of tired that sleep couldn’t fix.
“I know, bub.” I drew him into my arms, and he leaned down, tucking his face into the curve of my neck. I cradled the back of his head, my fingers massaging at his scalp. He sank even deeper into my hold. “We’re going to sort out all of this today, and then, maybe, you can finally rest properly.”
“Can we stay like this for a minute more?” he asked, his voice muffled by my neck.
I nodded, though he couldn’t see me. “We can stay like this for as long as you want, bub. Trust Kip to handle everything else, okay?”
He nodded. I had no idea how long we stood like that for, but eventually, he lifted his head and stepped back, looking a little better. He no longer looked on the verge of tears, and his face was back to his usual paleness, no longer splotchy and red from crying.
I smiled at him. “Better?”
“Yeah, a bit,” he answered. He roughly cleared his throat. “I need water or something.”
I grabbed his hand. “Come on. We’ll go get some water and snacks from the kitchen.”
When we emerged from the room, Hudson was missing, but Kreed was still on the loveseat.
Kip, who was still on the couch where we’d left him, looked up at our entrance.
He ran his eyes over me for a moment before looking at our boy.
Wordlessly, he stood and followed us into the kitchen.
I released Corvus’s hand to go into the pantry.
“Come here, chibi,” Kip murmured, pulling our boy into his arms. He cradled the back of Corvus’s head and pressed a kiss to his temple.
“I explained to them what’s going on and what you’ve been going through.
Kreed is in the process of shooting off emails and making phone calls.
Hudson went outside for a breather. I’m pretty sure he’s smoking.
Kreed said he’d be fine and to let him be. ”
Corvus nodded. “He’s definitely smoking, and honestly, I could use a smoke, too.” He peered up at Kip just as I came out of the pantry with a bottle of water for him and some animal crackers. “Can I, Daddy?”
Kip nodded. “Of course, chibi.”
“Here.” I held out the water and small bag of animal crackers to him. “Drink that and eat those. You’ll feel a little better.”
“Thanks.” He looked between the two of us. “I’m sorry for lashing out earlier.”
Kip gripped the side of Corvus’s neck and tipped up his chin with his thumb so Corvus was forced to look up at him. “You do know that there will be a punishment for it, yes?”
Corvus sighed and nodded.
“But your apology is accepted, chibi. The punishment is for your benefit. You’ve had a long day already, and it’ll provide a release. I promise.”
Leaning down, he softly kissed Corvus, and my belly clenched at the sight of the two of them together.
Corvus moaned softly and stepped closer to him, opening his lips beneath Kip’s.
Kip groaned, tightening his hand around Corvus’s throat before he forced the two of them to part.
Rubbing the pad of his thumb over Corvus’s kiss-swollen bottom lip, he rasped, “That’ll hold until later, chibi. ”
“You mean I’m getting laid finally?” Corvus teased.
I laughed and swatted his ass. “Go outside and smoke, bub, before I bend you over this kitchen counter for your brattiness.”
“Don’t tease me with a good time—okay!” he yelped when I reached for the dish towel, my brow arched. But a smile played at my lips. I was glad to see he was cheering up a little. And maybe, smoking and talking with Hudson would put him in an even better mood.
He’d been holding in way too much and trying to deal with it all on his own. Now, he wouldn’t have to.
When he disappeared from the kitchen and the backdoor clicked shut behind him, Kip leaned back against the kitchen counter, reaching for me as he did so. I walked into his embrace, resting my head on his chest.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, tsuma,” he said softly. “He’ll be okay.
We’re on the other side of the worst of it.
Kreed is using his money and influence in certain circles to take care of Corvus’s parents, and I believe Hudson has plans to talk to him about the day he nearly died.
They had no idea how bad everything was for Corvus. ”
I sighed. “He hid it well.”
Kip nodded in agreement, tightening his arms around me. “He won’t be hiding anything any longer,” he promised. “We’ll make sure of it.”