CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The next couple of days were so good and so domestic Ian had to keep himself from grinning the entire time they were sequestered together.
There were short breaks that brought him out of it, like whenever Alex had to leave for a while and Ian accompanied Edina and Boo on a walk to get some fresh air.
Nothing obvious happened, no one approached them, and yet Ian couldn't shake the feeling of being watched a couple of times, which was enough for him to agree with Alex's suspicion that something was going on.
But no photos had leaked and the public seemed to be in the dark about Alex even being in DC, so aside from Ian having memorized every regular patron of the businesses within sight and consulting Kalei about a possible relocation, for now they were left waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And Ian and Alex did a pretty good job distracting themselves in the meantime, that was for sure. Like spending a lot of time kissing, for example.
They weren't obvious about it, and they definitely didn't do anything in front of Alex's mom, but from the looks she was giving them, she probably had an idea what was up, even though Ian chose to live in denial about it for now.
All of them quickly developed something of a routine.
They ate all their meals together and hung out in the kitchen for a long time, just talking.
After breakfast, if Alex didn't have anything scheduled, he would entertain Boo while Ian watched them as he prepped food for later.
Once Edina went upstairs to enjoy some peace and quiet in her room, Alex would come to him for a quick kiss that turned into a long one if Boo was focused on something else for the moment.
Then, while Boo was asleep, Alex and Ian would talk in hushed voices, snuggled together on the couch or getting handsy in the kitchen where Alex was supposedly "helping" Ian with anything that needed doing.
After lunch, things more or less worked the same, although if Edina stayed downstairs for longer, Ian brought up his laptop and worked on the plans for the new branch from the kitchen table.
While Alex had never been in the private security business, he had some interesting insights as someone from the other side of things.
He was also a great sounding board, so by the time Ian sat down to work, he'd usually be brimming with new ideas from their earlier conversations.
And when Edina excused herself and went upstairs, Ian would join Alex and Boo sometimes, sitting on the floor next to Alex and smiling back at the little boy who beamed at him without care in the world.
The little guy had somehow managed to steal Ian's heart even faster than his father had, but it was way too late to worry about it now, so Ian figured he might as well enjoy it, instead.
And then came evenings, after dinner, and the nighttime routine for Boo, and Ian's quick report to Kalei.
This was a time just for the two of them, in a half-lit living room, when they could do as they pleased—within reason, of course, although Ian could feel himself slipping.
It was getting harder and harder to pull himself away from Alex when things got hot and heavy, but neither of them wanted to get too far in case Boo woke up and needed Alex right away.
So they talked even more between the make-out sessions, about their lives, their careers, their dreams for the future.
For all that Ian's entire being had been rattled when Alex told him he was in love with him, it had become even more real in the following days through the way Alex looked at him, or touched him, or invited him more and more into his life.
Ian no longer worried that it was something fleeting, sparks that burned bright but didn't last. Now, during those conversations, things had started to take more concrete shape—a vision of a shared life.
A vision that was more exciting than anything Ian could have come up with on his own.
"Hey, you." Alex appeared in his line of sight a moment before he stretched next to Ian on the couch, pressing close. He smelled of baby lotion and formula. "What are you thinking about?"
"The future."
Alex smiled. "Anything interesting over there?"
"That's the thing." Ian ran a hand over Alex's hair, still marveling over the fact that he could, now.
"It's all interesting. A few weeks ago, I couldn't decide whether I was in a rut or not.
I was living day by day, which isn't bad in itself if you enjoy what you're doing, but lately I felt like it wasn't enough anymore.
Like I needed a change and yet couldn't figure out what it meant.
And now here I am, with you, and we have plans together.
I also have new professional plans and I need to organize a move—and it's all good. I'm excited again."
Beaming at him, Alex shifted until he was lying more or less on top of Ian.
"I'm excited, too. Calm and excited, which sounds like a pretty weird combination, but I guess it's the best there is."
Ian nodded. "Calm and excited, that works. The clarity helps a ton."
"Exactly." Alex pressed a soft kiss against Ian's mouth. "I can't tell you how happy I am that you chose me—us."
"I have a pretty good idea, actually, seeing how happy I am about you doing the same."
That earned him another kiss.
"I'm also very happy to tell you," Alex offered in a voice that immediately stirred heat low in Ian's stomach, "that my mom insisted she would give me a break tonight. She even took the baby monitor with her and sent me on my way to, and I quote, 'woo you without interruptions'."
Any other time, Ian might have laughed or maybe felt embarrassed, but after a few days of kissing and some groping, usually interrupted by Boo, one way or another, an evening without the risk of that sounded amazing.
His body was in agreement, too. His cock was already getting interested and his heartbeat sped up as Ian pulled Alex in for a heated kiss, no longer holding back his hunger. His need.
Alex's moan was muffled, but he pressed Ian more firmly against the couch and shifted so that—
Yes, right there.
They were rutting against each other now, fast and wild, nearly painful, all the pent-up energy seemingly at the breaking point.
"Fuck." Ian tightened his grip on Alex's hips, keeping them still when they paused for breath.
"Not that I wouldn't love to see you come like this, desperate enough to spill into your underwear…
" He clenched his hands even tighter, overwhelmed by the picture he'd just painted.
"But there's a big bed in my room down the corridor, and I'd love to—"
Alex kissed him, sloppy and desperate, before pulling back.
"Let me go, then, and show me that bed of yours."
It took some real effort to release Alex until they could both stand up—touching constantly and kissing along the way—but finally, they separated enough to head towards his room.
There was some stumbling and some snorting with laughter along the way, as if they were two drunk guys coming back from a bar.
Two drunk guys who were really, really into each other, but trying not to get arrested for public indecency.
Once finally inside, Ian closed the door firmly, then pressed Alex against it, no longer caring about keeping any kind of distance.
"Can I?" he whispered against the skin of Alex's neck, his fingers on the hem of Alex's t-shirt, waiting.
Damn, he'd been waiting for so long now.
"Yes." Alex tilted his head back and blinked at the ceiling. "Anything. Yes."
Ian almost tore that t-shirt off of him.
"I got you."