Chapter 11
11
“ M an, Gregori is hitting hard today.” Brielle, one of his favorite trainers and a great friend, was filthy as hell, just like he was.
“Right? He’s going to be one of those that takes some asshole’s arm off.” There was a mix of worry and pride about that. Thank God Gregori’s recall was his second-best skill.
“I hear you. You want to go get a drink, man? I haven’t seen your happy ass in forever.”
“Tempting, but I told Leo I’d deal with supper.” He was bringing home burgers and fries.
“Leo? New roommate?”
“Yeah.” It was something like that, but totally not that at all.
“Is he a lion?” Brielle joked, stomping the crud off her boots. “Rar!”
“You know, I should ask when his birthday is? Maybe?” He cleaned up, ready to go home, eat, breathe.
See Leo.
Maybe get a bath and a hug.
“It’s good to have you back, you know. You look great. You must have used your time off wisely.”
“I moved. I hung out with Leo. I volunteered at the vet’s office. I visited my kittens.” Normal shit.
“Oh my God. Your new place allows pets? That’s so cool. Can I see them sometime? You know me and kittens.”
“Want to see the pictures?” He was as proud as punch. Dot and Spot growing like weeds.
“Duh. Yes.” Brielle leaned over to see.
The babies were close to coming home, and he loved the way they were starting to play, to hunt.
“Aww. Look at how fuzzy they are! And they’re still with momma cat?”
“No. They’ve been bottle-fed, though they had a nursing sub. The litter is with other kittens now, so they can learn.” Just a few more days. He needed to get toys, bowls, a cat tree, beds, treats…
She elbowed him playfully. “You sound like a proud papa. And your roommate is into cats, I guess?”
“He is. I mean, he’s a vet, so…” Leo was good to him.
“Oh, so you volunteered at Leo’s office?” She squinted at him. “Hung out with him, volunteered with him, bringing home cats with him… Is he just a roommate?”
“Nope.” And that was enough info. He wanted to keep this close, wrapped near his heart.
Brielle gave him a slowly growing smile and, to her credit, didn’t ask deeper questions. “Good for you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” He nodded and waved. “I’m going to pick up supper and head home. Have a good one.”
She waved, and he jogged out, giving Leo a text.
Chris
You need anything? OMW home
Leo’s text came back quickly. Leo always replied quickly, even if it was just to say he got the text.
Leo
Dinner. A hug. Are you tired?
Chris
Burgers they live in the kitchen.” Leo sighed again, then glanced up at him. There was a little bit of tension around those blue eyes. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“I’m glad I’m home too. What’s wrong?” Chris didn’t see any reason to beat around the bush.
“I don’t know.” Leo shrugged those big shoulders. “I missed you today. I’m feeling a little disconnected. Maybe I’m hangry.”
He handed Leo’s bag of food to him, nodding in understanding. “I missed you too, and I was fantasizing about sitting in your lap on my way to supper.”
“That will be a good place to start.” Leo set the bag down and reached for him, pulling him in. “I need your weekend. Don’t make plans.”
“No, Sir. I won’t. You have my word.” He pushed right in, plastering himself against Leo’s body and drinking in that warmth. He’d been cold all day.
“Mm. God, that’s so much better already.” Leo kissed the top of his head. “I think I was a little off at work today. Lexie told me to get laid. Is that workplace harassment? I think it might be.” Leo chuckled, and Chris felt those big arms relaxing around him. Because of him. And all he’d done was walk in the front door.
“It probably is, but we’ll forgive her because she loves you.” He lifted his face, begging a kiss.
He didn’t need to beg as it turned out. Leo met him halfway, lips covering his, taking more than a taste. His feet left the floor, and Leo sat him on the kitchen counter, where he could actually look Leo right in the eye.
“Hey. Missed the hell out of you. I’m spoiled now.” He leaned in and took another kiss, needing this connection to go on and on.
“I didn’t like coming home to an empty apartment,” Leo whispered between kisses. “I’ll get over it, but I didn’t like it.”
“No. And I didn’t want to go have a beer or work overtime. I wanted you.”
Leo’s eyes grew brighter, and he got a gentle smile. “It’s nice to be on the same page, isn’t it? But I think we’re feeling this way because we need some really immersive time together. I need some Dom time, and I think you need some—uh.” Leo stopped, and he knew why. Leo understood labels and commitment were still complicated for him. “Well, I think you’d benefit from some concentrated time in-service. To me.”
He found himself reaching up and cupping Leo’s face, stroking that stubbly cheek. “Thank you. For listening and shit. For hearing me and being fucking patient with me.” He brushed his thumb over Leo’s lips. “And yeah, I think so too.”
Leo’s eyes crinkled with a sly grin. “I know what I want, and I’m going to do whatever I need to so I can have it. Words matter much less right now than actions.”
“Yes, Sir.” He took another kiss, then another, forgetting for a minute how tired he was, how hungry.
Leo cupped his face and put a couple of inches between them. “You’re making me think very hard about how I say things. Making me work could be considered naughty. And hiding my scissors. Hm. Yes, I think you’re on the naughty list.” Leo winked at him. “And you’re sitting on my kitchen counter.”
He wiggled, pushing a bit. “I’m rubbing my butt on it, in fact.”
“Very naughty butt.” Leo’s big hands nearly covered the whole thing, sliding him off the counter and onto the floor. “Soon. First, dinner. And I want to hear all about your day.”
“It wasn’t bad. The dogs were acting out a little because I hadn’t been there, you know? Little buttheads.” He went over to grab their burgers. “You want to sit on the sofa? You want a beer?”
“Burgers at the table, I think. A beer sounds great.” Leo headed right for the table and pulled out a chair, but he could feel those eyes on him as he got their dinner together.
He buzzed—there wasn’t a better term for it. His skin tingled, and he felt awake and focused, hyper-aware of Leo.
“Sounds like they’ll be glad you’re back too. I’m sure it felt good to be back doing what you love.”
“It was. You know how I feel about the dogs. It’s a calling.” Sort of like what Leo felt, but without so much school.
“I do understand a calling. I have a couple. You have a couple…”
“Yeah.” And the more he was with Leo, the more he believed that he was safe.
Not in a physical way. He wasn’t worried about his body.
He was terrified for his heart.
Leo opened up his burger, and his eyes lit up. “Oh, yum. What did you get on your burger?” Leo was so good at that, reminding him they always had work to do, but staying in the moment. This was a pretty good moment.
“Tomatoes, bacon, and cheddar—it’s my go-to.” Although he did love a chili size…
“Nice. Medium? Well-done? Mm.” Leo’s yummy food face and orgasm face were surprisingly similar.
“Medium works, but I want my bacon crispy. Limp bacon is no one’s friend.”
“You make the best bacon.” Leo grinned at him. “You do a lot of things well, but bacon is pretty high up on the list.”
“Bacon is proof that someone loves us.” He winked over. “So, how was your day? All right?”
“A mix of things. Someone brought us a stray cat—skinny, fleas, who knows what else. But we’re fixing him up, and we’ll see what happens. I saw my Newfoundland patient. He’s drooly and takes up the whole exam room, but he’s sweet, and I understand big. I have a soft spot for him.” Leo sipped his beer.
“I also like big. I find big intriguing. Hot.” Chris let himself look at Leo. Admire. “You make me feel secure.”
Leo smiled, a look of wonder in his eyes. “You make me feel… valued.”
“Good. You’re important.” He knew it, and he wanted to make sure that Leo did too.
He got a nod. “Thank you, boy.” Leo took another bite of his burger, and the playful smile was back. “Mmm. Pickles.”
“Do they have the sour ones or the bread-and-butter ones?” He loved pickles, but not on a hamburger. He wanted them on their own.
“These are very sharp dill. Totally perfect. You’re learning the neighborhood, hm? I love Blue Collar burgers.”
“I am. I feel like this is my speed, like it’s a neighborhood I can live in.” He had felt as if he was wearing someone else’s clothes before.
“That’s good to hear because I’ve been in this area a long time. It’s home for me now.”
Leo walked around the neighborhood like he owned it, and he knew all kinds of people. He’d chat with the dry cleaner, the guy that ran the bodega on the corner, the beat cops.
“I can see that. You wear it well.” He was still getting there, but it wasn’t impossible.
Hell, him fitting in here wasn’t even improbable.
“You will too. People like you. They ask about you at work even. You did a great job there, and the techs especially miss the help. You spoiled them.”
“I enjoyed it. I’m ready for the kittens to come home, too, you know?” He wanted to see their little faces every day.
Leo nodded. “Me too. Soon, right? Next week? Maybe we can sneak them out this weekend. I’m a vet after all.”
He nodded, but Leo had already said to keep his weekend free. He figured they both needed more than settling kittens. “It’s up to you, Doc. If you want to wait until Monday, that works too.”
“Hm. Let’s see how our weekend goes.”
“Fair enough.” He stole one of Leo’s French fries, exchanging it with an onion ring.
“I think I got the better end of this deal.” Leo picked up the onion ring and popped the whole thing in his mouth. “You know, I didn’t even ask what your work schedule is? Some Dom I am. Are you a regular nine-to-five?”
“More seven-thirty to five-thirty, but yes. I’m a Monday through Friday type. If the dogs get hurt… Well, you know about that.”
“I’d complain about the hours, but they’re basically mine as well. And if I have an emergency…” Leo winked at him. “Well, you know about that.”
He chuckled softly, tickled as hell, and he found himself moving, sliding into Leo’s lap. He’d wanted that all day.
“All done with the burger?” Leo gave him plenty of room and tucked one solid arm around him. “Hi. Thank you for bringing dinner home.”
“You’re welcome.” He leaned hard, and the weird band of tension around his chest that he hadn’t noticed all day released, allowing him to breathe more freely.
“Mmm. Better. The first day back can be a tough day. I bet you’re tired.”
“Yes. The dogs were pushing. They were mad, I think, because I left them for so long.” They were so smart, but that made them a little wicked too.
Leo nodded, the short beard ruffling his hair. “Animals don’t understand too much overtime. All they know is that you left them.”
“You know it.” I think I might be falling in love with you, Doc, and that scares the fuck out of me.
“How about… you clean up, and we hit the shower?”
“Sounds perfect to me. Meet you in there with another beer?”
“I’m good with the one I have; I’ll take it with me. Beers in the shower are the best.” Leo stood and set him on his feet like he weighed nothing. “I’ll go steam the place up.”
“I’ll toss the trash.” It worked out okay, really. Chris checked the doors, turned out the lights too.
If Leo wanted to watch TV after the shower, then they could just do it snuggled together in bed.