Chapter 18
18
Z eke slept hard, then his body woke him up, so he did his business, grabbed a couple of cups of coffee, and headed upstairs to snuggle. He’d bought another coffee warmer for Wesley’s side of the bed, so it could keep while he played on his phone.
He couldn’t quite believe it was real, that Wesley had come here for him, to hold him and love on him.
The soreness in his muscles proved he was right, though.
“Mm. Did I sleep too late?” Wesley shifted over and lay his head in Zeke’s lap, curling one arm around his thigh.
“No. No, it’s perfect. I brought you coffee, Sir.” And he was so happy, so warm, and Wesley was here.
“Oh good. Good boy, thank you.” Wesley didn’t move though. “It’s going to be a good day.”
“Yes. It’s going to be an amazing day.” He was warm and happy, and he had Wesley. It was magical, and he needed it like breathing.
Wesley kissed his thigh and sat up to reach for the coffee. “I need to understand your process and your… your other needs. Career ones, you know?”
“I write when I want to. Sometimes—like four times a year, I have a Zoom jam session with someone special. I tend to get really into it—work like a bitch for ten days, then crash for a couple months.” It wasn’t healthy, but he didn’t care.
“Hm. Okay.” Wesley sipped his coffee. “That’s… I’m a lot more structured.”
“Well, of course you are.” He was too, when he wasn’t working. But people counted on Wesley, no one gave a shit if he didn’t write. When he did, people made money. If he didn’t, his backlist was vast, and it worked for him.
Wesley sighed and shrugged. “Flying really fucks with me. I’ll do it when I have to, but I’m not the jet-around guy.”
“You’ve got a different job than I do. People depend on you. It’s amazing.” He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say. He wasn’t completely sure what he was supposed to do.
“They do, so I can’t be here all the time, but we don’t do well apart.”
“No. I need to talk to the owners. I can’t lose my home.”
“As long as we’re paying, what are they going to say? I think they’d agree this is your home.”
“I hope so. I—I know it’s silly, but—” He’d never felt home and safe anywhere else. Here was comfortable and protected.
“Zeke. Why do you think it’s silly?”
“Because this is a resort, not a house, and I know it.”
“It’s a cabin, and it’s been yours for years. It’s not silly; it’s home. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you keep it. Besides, I like it here too.”
“I’m glad. It’s… there’s magic here. You found me, after all.”
“I did. I was just thinking the other day how ironic it was that I had to come all the way to Alaska to find you. How could we give this up? But I have to be in New York sometimes, and our next event will be in the Bay Area, so we need to talk about… splitting time.”
“I’m going to try to come with you. I can. I mean, if there’s room for me.”
“I want you to come. I will always have room for you. I—” Wesley set his coffee down, then turned to face him. “I have nothing but room, Zeke. I love you.”
“I—” Whoa. “You do? Because I do too. Love you.”
He hadn’t been in a car for over a thousand days…
“I know. You told me.” Wesley smiled, then gave him a quick kiss. “You belong with me.”
“I do.” Even if it was hard.
“Okay, well, we need to start somewhere with this negotiation.” Wesley chuckled and leaned back in the pillows again. “So… my events are fall and spring, and I have to be able to plan in-person meetings and such, so what about if we did this in quarters to start? Winter here, spring in New York, summer here, fall in New York. Sometimes, New York would really mean a few weeks there and a few weeks in LA or San Francisco or whatever on the West Coast.”
He took a deep breath, nodded. He was going to try. He was. He was so damn scared. What if he got in a car and had a fit or something? What if they put him away? “Can I tell you something?”
“You can tell me anything.” Wesley took his hand and tangled their fingers.
“I haven’t even been to town in almost three years. I haven’t been in a car.”
Wesley nodded. “Okay. I’d never been on a roof, and I survived because you made sure I was comfortable.”
“You did.” And Wesley was the bravest man he knew. “So I’m going to need you a lot, Sir. In a real, practical I’m scared sort of way.”
Can you handle that?
Wesley took a breath before answering, and for a terrifying second, he worried he wasn’t going to like what his master had to say.
“Your trust in me is breathtaking. Trust that you can tell me, trust that I can help. Thank you, boy.”
Oh.
Oh, thank goodness.
He swayed, the relief physically overwhelming, leaving him covered in gooseflesh. “Master.”
Wesley slid closer, putting an arm around him. “I understand fear, boy. Especially irrational fear. It doesn’t have to make sense to be real. I’ve got you.”
“Yes, Sir.” He lifted his face for a kiss. “I love you.”
He might have to say it a lot.
“I love you.” He got his kiss. This one was slow and sweet, the way they’d made out on the roof or on that walk on the beach. Just a kiss.
He smiled. He had to. “I’m so glad we’re together. I missed you.”
Sir grinned at him. “With any luck, we’re staying together so I hope you’re ready for a permanently pink backside.”
He arched one eyebrow. “But I’m a really good boy, you know…”
“Only good boys get what they need, hm?”
He leaned in, rubbed one cheek against his lover’s arm. “Yes, Sir.”
Wesley combed fingers through his hair, then bent and whispered, “So, do you want the really good news?”
“There’s more?” Was that even possible? To have more?
“Mhm. It’s almost winter.” Wesley grinned again. “Almost.”
“Almost? I bet it’s snowing, right now.”
“I bet. And I’m thinking about hibernating right here until spring. The only thing I like less than flying is landing or taking off in winter weather.”
“Mmm… I can take care of you for months. We can have Christmas together. Thanksgiving. New Years.”
“See? That dreaded car ride is a bit farther away than you thought. Maybe by spring you’ll be excited.” Wesley nuzzled his hair. “And if not, that’s fine. We’ll do it together, and you’ll see, it’ll be okay.”
“Maybe we’ll go to town between now and spring.” Although, staying in and snuggling sounded so very good.
“That would be fun. I haven’t had a chance to get there. Is it fun? Are there restaurants? Shops?”
“I guess so? Everyone goes—they have a car that will drive you, or a little party bus if you want, or you can use one of the Jeeps.” He’d seen it all, watched people come and go to play.
“Oh, we’re going. We’ll… see a show or something. A movie. Eat local. Hold hands in public.”
“The front desk knows all the things.” Eat local. He had been trapped in a loop, and he wasn’t sure how to navigate…
“Good. We’ll wander over there… sometime.” Wesley pushed him back in the pillows. “You know, I need to have some things sent here. I don’t need to take over your place, but I do need some things.”
“Our place,” he said. If they were going to do this, they needed to do it. “I’ll need guitars in New York and San Francisco.”
Wesley nodded. “I need a desk here. Somewhere I won’t bug you if I’m on the phone. I imagine it’s a bit chilly for a conference call on the porch in February.”
“We can use the dining room, I bet. I don’t eat at the table.” This was a small space, but they could work it out.
“Or maybe I should ask if—” Wesley frowned. “Well, I don’t know.”
“What do you need?” Zeke would make it happen, dammit.
“Well, maybe there’s an office I could use?”
“Maybe. I’m sure they have meeting rooms?” He wasn’t sure, to be honest.
“Hm. Well, I still should have a spot here. Do we need a dining room? Maybe we get small table and find a desk.”
“We don’t. You and I can eat wherever we want.” He leaned into Wesley, breathing in deep. “It’s our life, right?”
“It is ours. We can do what we want.” Wesley hummed low. “Well, I can do what I want, and you get a spanking. Maybe tonight.”
He chuckled softly, feeling like he was living in a fog. “Maybe tonight. Yes, Sir.”
“How about you handle breakfast, and I tell you the very early ideas that Harper and I are playing with for the next event. I’d love to hear your thoughts.”
“I’ll order you whatever you’d like. Bacon omelet with toast?”
“Sure. And juice. What are you having? Lucky Charms?” Wesley poked him in the side.
“Pop-Tarts, obviously.” He grinned over, stealing a kiss.
“Obviously not. You’re going to eat some real food. Eggs. Or pancakes even. Something not prepackaged.”
“I’m not sure my body understands how to process anything not Pop-Tarts or granola bars, Sir.”
“It’ll remember.” Wesley’s tone slid into that confident Dom range. “You ate well when I was here before. You ate with me.”
“Yes, Sir.” He’d been happy and enjoying being Wesley’s boy. “I’ll order breakfast. How are you doing on coffee?”
“I could use a warm-up, but coffee can wait until after our shower.” Wesley winked at him.
“Oh…” He pushed into Wesley’s arms, snuggling right in and begging a kiss.
“You know, this welcome back has been wonderful, thank you. I didn’t have doubts, but you’ve made sure there’s no room for any.” Wesley kissed him heavily, tongue and lips tasting and making sure there wasn’t a thought in his head that wasn’t in this moment.
All Zeke could do was melt, holding Wesley close and adoring him with all his heart.
Please, he prayed. Let this be real. Please.