Chapter Eight
Court’s stomach was in knots. The attack from Heath’s father had come so swiftly, catching him completely off guard. The night had taken so many twists and turns. Court might have felt totally off balance if it wasn’t for that goddamn I love you. The intensity that bled from Heath as he had made that confession still warmed Court’s skin. Until he heard the words and said them back, Court hadn’t realized how true they were. The peace and happiness Heath had brought into his life had a name. They would be okay.
As Heath’s gorgeous house came into view, Court immediately felt like coming home. He was deep. This was real. He had never stood a chance of things being any other way. Heath did something he never did as he turned into the driveway. He hit the button to close the metal gate at the end of the driveway. It was obvious he expected his parents would follow.
He flashed Court an apologetic smile. “I’ll need to find the other remote so you can freely come and go, but for tonight…”
Court brought Heath’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I know. It’s fine.”
After pulling into the garage, Heath dug out his phone and started blocking numbers. He didn’t even wait until they were inside. Court hated that things had come to this. It was one hundred percent his fault. Heath’s parents weren’t wrong. Court was an embarrassment. He had tried warning Heath he would be. It didn’t matter Court had never had sex for money. His business was perceived that way. He honestly didn’t want this for Heath, but he wouldn’t be the one who ended things. Court was selfish. He wanted Heath too badly and he would never hurt him like that.
With his blocking spree out of the way, they headed inside, hand in hand. They had left the kitchen light on. The place smelled like apple pie. He didn’t know why. Court assumed it was something the cleaning crew did, but it smelled like home. He didn’t know what was going on with him, but he felt too much tonight. Something about them felt unsettled. He kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Apparently, being overly sentimental was how he coped. He couldn’t stop staring at Heath with all the love in his heart.
Heath dug through a drawer in the kitchen.
Court watched, hating the silence. Everything inside the kitchen was blue. A gorgeous, perfect for him blue. This was his home. His chest hurt. That other place with his name on the deed was like a distant memory. Tom weaved through his legs before moving to scratch at Heath’s jeans. Absently, Heath picked him up, kissed his head, and then set him on the counter.
Court smiled. This was a family. The first real one he’d had in a long time. “Cats shouldn’t be on the counter.”
Tom flicked his tail at him.
Heath set him back on the floor. “Daddy said no counter time. He doesn’t want your fur all over his kitchen. He’s right. That’s why you can’t eat at everybody’s house.”
Court’s throat swelled. Heath called it his kitchen. Court was all the way in his feelings, and it wasn’t necessarily a good thing. He desperately wanted the home Heath offered. Court wanted the family. He fucking hated feeling alone in the world. Something felt unsettled.
Heath turned with his head down, eyeing the items in his hand. “You already have a key to this door, but you need one for the front, just in case. So, here’s that one. You already have the garage remote, but here’s the one for the gate. We should probably start using it. Between your parents and mine, we’ll be lucky if they don’t rob our house every day.” He lifted his chin and met Court’s stare when Court didn’t immediately take the items. A line appeared between his eyebrows. “Are you okay?”
Court swallowed. “You called it our house.”
Heath’s expression cleared. “Oh. Is it not?”
He could barely breathe. “I’d like it to be.” The pride he swallowed to utter that sentence nearly choked him.
Heath set the key and remote on the counter and pulled Court into his arms. “I know, baby. It’s been a hell of a night.” He kissed Court’s temple. “This is your home. Come here.” He turned Court in his arms, facing him toward the wall. “Does anything look familiar?”
Court started to scoff at the asinine question until he realized he stared at a wooden sideboard that had been his kitchen. “What the hell?”
Heath laughed against his ear. “More than half your furniture is here and you haven’t even noticed.” He gently turned Court to face him again. His eyes looked soft but worried. “I haven’t wanted to pressure you, but this is your home. Not only do you belong here, but I’d feel safer if you stayed here. Your dad is unpredictable. Plus, I love you and I just want you here.”
“I love you.” Court honestly thought he might cry.
A smile snapped to Heath’s lips. “Was that an agreement?”
Court nodded.
Heath drew him closer. “Then you should definitely kiss me to seal the deal. Don’t you think?”
Court touched his lips to Heath’s. That was all it took for his love to turn them into an inferno. Their tongues played while they fought to get closer. Heath stole his shirt before lifting him onto the counter. He kissed a path down Court’s body as he tore open Court’s jeans, setting his cock free. Court fought for air as Heath swallowed his erection. While leaned back on his hands, he stared down at Heath, watching every second. Heath looked like he was in heaven and that fucked hard with Court’s head. He had felt desired many times in his life, but never to the extent Heath showed.
Heath sucked and used his hands to pleasure Court. Court moaned as he fought to reach the explosion Heath’s mouth promised. Before he got there, he found himself on his feet, face pressed to the counter with nothing but coconut oil for lube. A loud moan burst from Court as Heath impaled him. He clung to the counter for dear life.
“That’s it. Oh, my god. Fuck me.” They were both vers and Heath was unpredictable. It was sexy as hell, never knowing if he would beg for Court’s cock or take him hard. They were perfect.
“Paint this kitchen floor with your cum.” Heath bit his shoulder. “It’s yours. You can treat it however you want.”
Fuck. Every word he said added to Court’s insanity. He wanted to jack off and take his pleasure, but he wanted Heath to make him come even more. Court focused on Heath’s perfect angle and the pressure climbing his shaft. When he blew, cries tore from him like stuck on repeat. There wasn’t a single thought left in his head. He was all love and nothing more. Then flashes of them flowed through his mind like watching their life together on film. Heath cried out his name against Court’s shoulder. All Court could do was cling to the counter and try not to bawl like a baby. He had known this man almost his entire life. Court felt closer to him than anyone in the world. For the first time in years, Court believed he could have a beautiful life. He had never felt more humbled by fate.
Heath couldn’t stop touching Court. He didn’t think he could be blamed. The night had been a huge emotional rollercoaster. But in their bed with Court in his arms, everything felt perfect. He wasn’t upset about his parents. All he felt was relief, honestly. He didn’t have to fake it anymore. A small part of him wanted to scream and rage each time he thought about the things his dad had said, but Court had turned him down. Not only that, he had been outraged at the idea of being paid to dump Heath. Not once had he doubted Court’s reasons to be with him, but it still felt good. Then Court had finally recognized he lived here. Heath genuinely felt over the moon. He couldn’t sleep. Heath wanted to feel every inch of Court and memorize every detail. He felt half insane with obsession. No one could truly understand, though. His life had been totally empty before Court filled him with happiness and love. Heath was addicted.
“I’m a little worried about what my dad will do when my house goes on the market. No doubt he’ll see dollar signs and lose his mind.”
Heath kissed his forehead, trying to reassure him. “I’ll contact a real estate friend of mine. He can do a private sale. Hell, he might be interested in buying it. He’s been buying up a lot of property around here lately.”
“Sounds good.” Court kissed his chest. He sounded completely at peace with no longer having his old house. “When I have all that extra money, I can take you on a special trip. The way you did for me when my parents were the problem.”
Heath knew Court was trying to be sweet, but his claim bugged Heath. “I’m sorry. We’ve been so whirlwind, I haven’t thought to make sure your bank account is good.”
Court went up onto one elbow. He looked aggravated. “I wasn’t trying to get money out of you. In fact, I was trying to do something for you. You take care of me just fine.”
Heath used his thumb to soothe away the line between Court’s eyebrows. “Stop. I know you. You don’t have a greedy bone in your body.”
Court snorted. “Well, I might have one.”
Heath accepted Court’s joke for the olive branch it was. “It’s okay. I like that one, but don’t try to change the subject. You’ll have a long, frustrating life if you worry over every dollar I spend on you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Do you want one of those ridiculous marriages where we keep our finances separate and bicker over how we split each bill? That’s crazy.”
He felt Court relax. “Honestly? As long as I get to have you, I don’t care. If I have to go flip burgers so I can split the electric bill, that’s what I’ll do.”
Heath rolled, pinning Court beneath him. “No.” Even he felt how intense he became. He tried toning it down. “No flipping burgers. No dragging yourself to work. Your job is to be mine. I didn’t mean to sound like I think of you as an object. You know what I mean.” He hoped Court understood, anyhow.
“I get it.” Court tucked a hair behind Heath’s ear. The love in his expression was nearly Heath’s undoing. “You’re mine. I’m not all athletic like you, but I’ll still bite a bitch if they try to take you.”
A bark of laughter burst from Heath. “That’s a real threat. Your dad is a dentist. You’ve got good teeth.”
The way Court shook with laughter had Heath smiling so hard, his face hurt. “That was hard work for him too. I have fat kid tendencies and love candy.”
Heath shrugged. He kissed Court’s neck, nibbling his skin. “I don’t care if you get fat. There’ll just be more of you to love.”
Court chuckled. “You go too much. I could never get fat just trying to keep up with you. Oh, god. Don’t stop that.”
Heath sucked Court’s neck, doing exactly as told. He never got enough. As long as Court would let him enjoy his body, Heath was there.
Court’s cellphone rang.
Heath groaned. “Dad probably called around and got your number. Fuck. I didn’t think about that.” He grabbed Court’s phone, determined to block his parents there too. He didn’t recognize the number. “Yeah. I don’t know who this is.” He passed the phone to Court.
Court looked confused. He answered and immediately switched the call to speakerphone. “Hello?”
“It’s Mom. I’m at the hospital with your dad.” Court sat straight up, nearly head-butting Heath in the process. “What? What happened?”
She sniffed. It was obvious she was crying. “It’s really bad. Can you please come? He’s in room four in the trauma center.”
Court scrambled from the bed. “Yeah. Give me a minute. I’m on my way.” He didn’t even say goodbye.
Heath was right behind him. They dressed side by side. Court looked pale. Heath had a bad feeling in his gut. No matter how terrible Court’s parents were, he loved them and he couldn’t save them from themselves. Heath prayed they hadn’t found a new way to wreck Court. Heath had just put him back together.