Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
T orres stared blankly at Leo. He could have sworn his heart stopped and he was dead. He cleared his throat and licked his suddenly dry lips.
Leo could see Torres was struggling to understand what he was saying, and that made him sad. This was a good man, someone who was ready to give his life for someone else. Someone who loved hard and expected nothing in return. Leo gripped the back of Torres’ neck, sliding his fingers through his hair, and pulled him close to whisper in his ear. “I love you, Vincent, in ways you couldn’t even imagine. I love the man you are, the man who is selfless and can play around with my mother, the man who will submit to me when he needs it or when I do, and the man that will stop at nothing to save the kid he didn’t even know was his. I love you Vincent, all parts of you.” He stayed quiet and didn’t say anything at the warm wetness that coated his neck.
“Fuck me.” Torres grumbled. “Stop making me cry like a bitch, Leo. Dammit, you’re supposed to make me feel invincible, not like you hold all the power.”
Leo snorted. “Nope, I own you. Get over it.” Judging by the hard dick that was pressed against his stomach, Torres didn’t mind that thought.
“Shut it.” Torres mumbled when Leo giggled. He pulled back to look at those intense blue eyes that had melted his heart. The sadness that used to cloud them was clearing and he wanted to jump for joy at the thought that he had something to do with that. “Are you sure about joining us for this?”
“Yes, I am.” Leo nodded immediately. “I have so many questions for Kade.” He giggled as he left the house to jump in the car behind Kade, who was riding shotgun. “Kade got some embarrassing stories?”
Kade laughed maniacally. “God yes I do.” He turned in the seat so he could face Leo as he spoke.
“I hate you both.” Torres said, pointing as he piled in next to Leo.
Kade and Leo chuckled as they talked, telling stories and just laughing as they got to know each other better.
Torres smiled softly, watching his man and his brother enjoying each other’s company. He was so happy Leo fit in with all his brothers. They were his found family and meant so much to him. While he would still love Leo even if he didn’t, it made things so much easier knowing his brothers adored Leo just like he did.
Once they reached the little airport, things quickly became somber as they loaded everything onto the jet and got ready to leave. Leo had to take a few deep breaths as it hit him that he was now involved and would see what Torres was capable of up close and personal.
“Leo, this is Jett and Hawk.” Torres told Leo as he introduced him to the two men who came out to meet them.
Leo grinned at Jett, a tall gorgeous man with darker skin and beautiful hazel eyes, whose smile easily put Leo at ease. Hawk was shorter but stocky, and his green eyes smiled at Leo as he waved. “It’s a pleasure to meet you guys.”
“The pleasure is ours.” Jett responded. His voice was deep and a mix of British and Iranian.
Hawk grinned. “Definitely.” he waggled his brows. “Been waiting to see you for a while. We’ve heard so much.”
Leo raised a brow at Torres who just shook his heading in exasperation
“The bird ready to go?” Kade asked as he joined them, passing off his duffel to Hawk.
“Yes, I’m in the pilot’s seat.” Jett assured him, chuckling as he shoved at Hawk’s shoulder.
“Thank god.” Kade mumbled as he moved by.
“Hey!” Hawk screeched, following Kade and telling the man just what he thought about his lack of confidence in him.
“Thank you for coming Jett. I know you were spending time with family.” Torres said as he hugged the man. Besides Kade and Saint, Torres was paired most often with Jett the man was a genius he could fly anything he could get his hands on not to mention he could take apart the plane and put it back together without a manual which basically just meant the man was an alien in a man’s body because who the fuck could do shit like that.
“Not a problem. They understood and your son is important. Congratulations, by the way, I didn’t know you had it in you.” Jett winked at Leo as he poked Torres in the chest, causing him to snicker.
“Yeah, well, I’m full of surprises, I guess.” Torres fired back. “Let’s get this bird in the air.” He whistled as he got a look at the jet. “What is that?”
“My boyfriend’s private jet. It’s a Bombardier Global 8000. It's the fastest private jet available.” Jett said, sighing happily. He loved this thing more than his boyfriend did.
“I can see why you wouldn’t let Hawk fly it.” Torres chuckled.
“Yes, well I would be sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future if I even let him touch anything, so not going to risk that.” Jett told them, chuckling as he led them to the stairs to board.
“It’s amazing what a man will do to be able to stay in his bed.” Sniper grumbled as he glared at Jett from the cockpit of the aircraft.
Jett’s brows furrowed in confusion. The man had been hostile with him since he’d been picked up at the airport earlier.
“How’s it going, Sniper?” Torres asked, hugging the man. He knew Sniper had been in love with Jett for years and watching him be happy with someone else was slowly killing the man. That’s why he never recommended working with people you wanted or loved. Nothing but hell on earth for everyone involved.
Sniper sighed.``It’s going. You must be Leo.” He waggled his eyebrows at Leo. “You are gorgeous.”
Leo laughed. “You’re not so bad yourself.” He shook the man’s hand, grinning at Torres’ growl when Sniper held onto his hand longer than necessary.
Sniper grinned. “Wanna sit by me, Leo? I’ve got stories I could tell you?” He promised, laughing hysterically when Torres flipped him off.
Leo could see the sadness and longing behind the man’s eyes every time he looked at Jett, so he readily agreed. He could sympathize with the guy’s hurt, seeing as how he’d been on one side of it with Torres and the other side with Daegan in the last years they were together. “Absolutely. The more embarrassing the better.” He rubbed his hands together with glee.
Torres groaned. “Dammit guys, you’re gonna scare him off.” He grabbed Leo around his waist and hauled him to the back of the jet as Leo laughed and tried to squirm away. He set Leo in a seat by Kade. “Stay here.”
Leo smacked at Torres’ hands, chuckling as the man strapped him into the seat. He used not one strap no he used three to hold Leo in place, but also showed him where the releases were just in case totally defeating the purpose. “Kinky darling,” Leo said through his laughter as he tried to wiggle out of the straps.
Torres snorted. “Behave.” He shook his finger at Leo.
Leo grinned widely. “Never,” he promised.
Kade chuckled. “You’ve got your hands full with this one, Torres.” He smiled widely. “Happy for you, brother.”
“Just the way I like it. Now it is your turn to find a good man.” Torres replied, winking.
“Nah, not only am I set in my ways, a workaholic, and an asshole—add blind into the mix and it scares men off. I’m happy where I’m at Vince, I promise.” Torres opened his mouth to disagree but with the look on Kade's face he dropped the subject. He grinned at his man as he left Leo with Kade to head back to the cockpit and find out all the details he needed to make a plan.
“God, he like, MacGyver'd me into this damn seat. How the fuck do I get out.” Leo grunted as he pulled on the straps to no avail.
Kade scoffed. “He’s quite protective over you. It’s good to see you’ve been good for him. Thank you.” He said gently as he easily popped the release and freed Leo.
Leo looked at the man in shock, but Kade ignored him, focusing on the file in front of him that his hands were reading. “I’m really glad I gave him a chance. He’s a good man.”
“Yes, he is. Which, let’s face it, is a fucking miracle considering his family, but Torres has always been a gentle soul.” Kade noted, smiling softly.
Leo smiled. “Yeah, he is. That’s what drew me to him, to begin with. His size intimidated me at first until I realized he was just a big teddy bear. My husband wasn’t very nice at the end and I never wanted to be in that position again, but Vince makes me feel safe.”
Kade smiled softly in Leo’s direction. “That’s the biggest compliment you could give him. Other than that he doesn't need to be insecure about his tiny dick.”
Leo snorted so hard he coughed. “It’s a good thing you’re blind he could put an eye out with that monstrosity.” He laughed at Kade’s face.
“That’s gross.” Kade made a gagging noise in the back of his throat.
Leo sighed dramatically. “It’s a gift from the gay gods above.”
Kade snorted. “Oh my god, you’re a dork.” He grunted. “That’s perfect for Torres.”
“Hey…was that a compliment or an insult?” Leo narrowed his eyes at Kade.
Kade chuckled. “Take it however you want it.” He shrugged, grinning.
“Take what?” Torres asked as he joined them, sitting next to Leo and rubbing his hand on his thigh.
“My dick,” Kade said deadpan, making Leo laugh loudly.
“You did not.” Leo wheezed through his laughter.
Kade grinned. “You know you want me, darlin’.”
Leo shook his head at the man, even though he couldn’t see him. “Now who’s the dork?”
Kade raised a brow. “Still you.”
Leo grunted, smacking Kade’s hand gently. “Rude, I’m going to tell my mom on you.”
Kade grinned devilishly. “Go ahead, she loves me now.”
Leo chuckled. It was true his mother adored Kade like he was one of her own and he was happy for the man. He deserved some good mothering.
“We should be landing in about nine and half hours so it would be best to try and get some sleep. I’ve set up some of the seats to recline with pillows and blankets for you guys.” Hawk said as he walked up. “I’ll wake you an hour before we land.”
Torres nodded. “Thank you, man.”
“Absolutely.” Hawk winked and was gone, back to the cockpit to beg Jett to just let him touch one of the buttons.
“He’s funny.” Leo said, nudging Torres’ shoulder.
Torres rolled his eyes. “Hush. Let’s go get some sleep.” He led Leo a few rows up where one row had been completely flattened into a bed big enough for Torres to stretch out, and he had to admit it looked really comfortable.
“Nice,” Leo said happily as he sat on the edge to take his shoes off, and then scooted into the middle and sighed. “God, this is heaven.”
Torres chuckled, shucking his shoes and joining his man. “Oh fuck,” Leo hadn’t been kidding. He sank into the plush mattress top, smashing his face into one of the fluffy pillows, and let it soothe some of the aches and pains he had. “Fuck me, this is amazing.”
Leo snickered. “Well, at least I know you’re easy.”
Torres pulled his face from the pillows and smirked at Leo over his shoulder. “Only for you, baby.”
Leo snorted and got comfortable on his side, facing Torres. “You gonna try to sleep?”
“I don’t think I’ll have a choice.” Torres said through a yawn.
Leo grinned. “Good.” He kissed Torres’ forehead, barely holding in his snort, when the man started snoring. He smiled gently, studying Torres’ features as he slept. His dark, expressive eyes were hidden, but his face was relaxed and his body slumped into the bed. Leo could only hope he would find some kind of relief in sleep.