Chapter 6 #2
The professionals took over from there. Hailey’s mom clocked out for the night so she could stay with Hailey and Trina.
The other ER doctor did a quick assessment of them both and determined that Hailey did have a concussion, as well as a nasty cut above her eye.
Apparently, the reason she hadn’t been able to “open her eyes,” as Trina had put it, was because of the blood running down her face.
She hadn’t actually lost consciousness, which sounded like good news to Leon.
Trina was completely fine, except for a wicked bruise from the seatbelt and another one beginning to form along her neck from the airbag.
“You’re both so incredible,” Hailey’s mom said, hugging Leon, then James, and then Leon again. “I think I’ve got the rest from here. Trina’s going to stay with us tonight because their parents are out of town–something that apparently happens quite often, which I was unaware of.”
Leon grimaced, imagining that had probably not been a fun conversation with Hailey and Trina. He and James had spent the past two hours fetching water, ice, and snacks for the two patients and Hailey’s mom, and they must have missed this revelation.
At least there were small mercies.
“We’re just really glad we could be there for Hailey and Trina tonight,” James said before they wished them all goodnight and trudged their way out to James’ car.
Leon was glad for a lot of things, the first of which was the man who hadn’t left his side for even an instant all night.
He’d barely flinched when Leon had called him his husband.
He’d let Leon bluster and get answers from the paramedic, but had taken charge in the ER waiting room.
Anytime they were within arm’s reach of each other, James had his hand, an arm, or his knee pressed up against Leon’s.
Leon appreciated that more than he knew how to express.
As they made their way home, he realized that he was having a lot of feelings he couldn’t express.
Part of him wanted to cry, first with relief, but as they entered his apartment and he saw all the decorations James had worked so hard on, he also wanted to cry with grief.
Poor James had done so much tonight, and it had all been ruined by a fucking February ice storm.
What had he been saying right before they got the call? He’d been looking forward to talking?
Leon had been looking forward to that, too.
He’d given a lot of thought and even spoken with Caden about his need for control.
His whole childhood had felt so utterly out of his control that he’d spent the next twenty years of his life carving out space where he was the only one who could decide who came and went, how he was treated, and how love was shared–and it sure as hell wouldn’t look like anything he’d grown up with.
He had tried so hard to make sure his house was a safe space for Hailey, and now for James, Noah, and Aspen.
Even with his new ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses, he felt like he was getting a handle on his life, and having James be a part of it was all he wanted… quite possibly, forever.
According to Caden, that was why Leon felt so safe giving up control in certain instances in the bedroom. James made him feel safe enough to ask to be taken care of and to know he wouldn’t be met with ridicule or neglect.
As Leon mulled this all over, James took his coat from him again, hanging it up in the closet before walking over to Leon’s fridge. “We both need to eat something, probably with some sugar and protein. I could make dinner or–”
“James,” Leon whispered.
James looked over at him, and whatever he saw made him close the fridge so fast, all the condiments rattled in the door. He hurried over and wrapped an arm around Leon’s shoulders, guiding him to a kitchen chair.
“Okay, give me like…two minutes. I’ll get you some water and food.”
James rushed around gathering water, Gatorade, almonds, and chocolate cake, of all things. Leon obediently accepted each item and ate and drank, finding that the hit of sugar and protein helped a little–but not much.
“James,” he said again, and James reached across the table and took his hand.
James looked haggard, his eyes sunken and face ashy, and Leon didn’t know what to do about that, since he didn’t even know what to do for himself. He needed…something. He needed to forget the past four hours, and the way Trina’s voice had broken when they’d said “she’s not opening her eyes.”
Leon could barely feel James’ hand in his, and tears were forming at the corners of his eyes. He had no idea what to do. He felt scared, and lost, and lonely, and–
“I need you,” Leon whispered.
“I’m right here,” James whispered back.
“I need…”
“A distraction?” James offered, and Leon nodded, even though that wasn’t really it. He needed to be consumed. He needed to stop existing for just a little while. To get so far out of his head that maybe he could catch his breath again.
James stood up and led Leon towards the couch, but Leon shook his head.
With his lip pulled between his teeth, James led him instead into the bedroom.
The room was decked out in Valentine’s Day decor, and there were two large baskets in the corner that looked like Easter and Valentine’s Day had had a baby.
Neither of the men addressed any of this.
Instead, James guided Leon to the bathroom.
“How about a nice, warm shower?” James asked.
Leon tried, and failed, to grip the bottom of his shirt.
His fingers were tingling and itching so badly James ended up having to undress him.
The warm water in the shower helped a little.
As blood returned to his extremities, it brought with it a tangle of emotions.
Panic, grief, longing, and love pulsed through his veins, clawing to get out.
“James,” Leon whispered into the steam, like it was one of the only words he knew. “Please.”
At least he could still be polite as he fell to pieces.
Clearly doing his best to interpret Leon’s broken pleas, James washed Leon tenderly, stroking trembling hands through his hair and down his back. Each stroke of his fingers burned across Leon’s skin like the salt water in his eyes.
“I need you,” Leon managed to say, as James got them out of the shower and toweled off.
“I need…” Leon whispered as James led them back into the bedroom and pulled Leon, still completely naked, into bed. “I…” Leon gasped, right before James pressed their mouths together.
It was less a kiss and more a lifeline. James’ hands gripped his shoulders and back, almost painfully tight. His lips were firm as he dragged them along Leon’s cheek and temple, until he could whisper right in Leon’s ear.
“What do you need, baby? I promise, I’ll give it to you.”
He could barely form coherent sentences. He didn’t want to be harsh or crass, he just didn’t know how else to ask for what he needed. “Fuck me,” he begged. “I…I need to get out of my head.”
James slid his hand between them to cup Leon’s soft dick. Leon grabbed his wrist and guided him down and back, until his fingers brushed along Leon’s crease.
“Oh,” James breathed, tipping his head up so he could meet Leon’s eyes.
He didn’t ask if Leon was sure or if now was the right time. He studied Leon’s face before kissing his forehead and pushing up off the bed. “Let me get my things.”
Leon closed his eyes and listened to the familiar sound of James padding around the bedroom.
A zipper was pulled open, and there was a lot of rustling, a bit of grunting, the soft creak of his bedside drawer opening, and then the bed dipped down.
Leon pried his eyes open and found James kneeling with one leg on the bed, black straps around his hips and thighs, and a decent-sized blue dildo secured against his groin.
“I assumed this is what you would want, but if it’s not—“
“Thank you,” Leon interrupted.
James stroked a hand back through Leon’s hair. “Do you want to be on your back or stomach?”
Leon flopped onto his back, appreciating the small smile that brought to James’ lips.
He settled easily between Leon’s spread legs.
They’d been in this position many times for blow jobs and long, snuggly make-out sessions.
What was new was the sound of James opening the lube bottle and spreading it on his fingers.
The feeling of a slick finger stroking over Leon’s hole wasn’t new, per se.
It had been over a year since it was someone else’s finger, but what really mattered was that it had never been James.
Leon grunted as the tip of James’ finger breached his hole. He closed his eyes and forced himself to take a deep breath, and as he let it out, James slid his finger in up to the knuckle.
“That’s it,” James said. He splayed his other hand out across the bottom of Leon’s rib cage. As Leon took another breath, James’ hand rose, and as he breathed out, James pressed down with his palm and in with his finger.
“Oh—fuck,” Leon groaned.
James pulled his finger out and pressed back in, this time with a twisting motion.
It only took a few more thrusts before he was using two fingers. Every time he pressed down with his hand, Leon was forced to exhale all his breath. The result of this was that each inhale was much deeper than it otherwise would have been.
It was almost like James was breathing for him.
When James curled his fingers, striking Leon’s prostate, tears filled his eyes, and his cock spurted on his stomach.
James froze, and Leon locked gazes with blue fire.
“More,” Leon rasped.
James curled his fingers, pressing up and down with his hands, and Leon roared. His mind had gone blissfully blank, and he sank into the mattress as James kept milking his prostate. His cock dribbled feebly until, finally, with a perfectly aimed thrust, Leon came with a broken sob.