Chapter 27 #2
“Probably. I can’t read the future. It may not work out, but I do think they’re a good fit. It can’t hurt to try, right?”
“No, I suppose not.”
“And it’s hard to beat the commute. Driving Wyatt to Collingwood for his job at the Y and Alison to her therapy, and school, and visits with her mom, it all takes some coordinating.”
“Well, I’m here now, so I can do that. Or some of it, anyway.”
Lucky grinned. “Good. Thank you. Maybe once you’re settled, we can talk about tutoring? You have some kind of degree in smart-people stuff, don’t you?”
“I have an English diploma. It isn’t much.”
Lucky cocked his head. “Maybe Jet’s not the only one who can do some online schooling.”
“Maybe.” In truth, Myles had already thought about that very thing.
He wasn’t sure what he might want to take, but he’d already looked at what he could do remotely from Griffon’s Elbow to earn some credentials in education or counselling.
He didn’t know what direction he wanted to go in, but he knew he wanted to do something while he helped Steven run the shop and count his books.
And that fast, his mind was back on Steven. He glanced out the window to see the house across the street lit up in every window. The lights, all but one, abruptly went out, then came back on. A pattern started to form as lights in various windows lit and dimmed.
“What is going on?” Lucky asked.
“You think the house knows we’re here?”
“Emma does, so yeah. I’d guess so.”
“Your cat is scary.”
“Not my cat, but also, that’s why we feed her the real salmon. Keep on her good side. What do you think the house wants?”
Myles grinned. “Same thing it wanted the first time it did this. The first time I met him.”
“He specifically told me to keep you here until he texted me.”
“Too bad.” Myles thumped him on the back. “Nothing is perfect. I don’t need perfect. I just need him.”
Lucky nodded. “Ozzy owes me ten bucks.”
“Why?”
“He said you’d go there before you even came here. Kreed said you’d wait until he called. Tris said tomorrow, at least. I reminded them you had the kids and that you’d make sure they were all settled before you lost patience.”
“Good call.”
Lucky shrugged. “What can I say? I know people.”
“So you basically just made thirty bucks.”
“Basically.”
“Buy yourself something nice. I’ll be back—”
“The kids are fine. We’ll make sure Shelly gets some supper and some exercise. Come back for breakfast.”
“You really are my favourite friend.”
“I know.”
Steven’s bookshop wasn’t panicking like it had that first time. It was only getting Myles’s attention. At least, he assumed the flashing lights were for him, which assumption was borne out when he walked up the steps and the door opened, wide and inviting, all by itself.
A soft hum of music greeted him, emanating from those mysterious and unseen speakers somewhere in the shop proper. A light popped on in the foyer, and another leading through the shop towards the back of the building.
Taking the hint, Myles followed. The light behind blinked out.
“Steven?”
A shuffle slithered across the floor above him; then a thump reverberated down through the floorboards to make one of the stacks to his left shudder.
“Steven?” he called a little louder, but still got no response.
Another light came on in the kitchen. and the one in the room where he stood slowly began to fade.
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” He made his way towards the brighter room.
Above him there was another sound, like a piece of heavy furniture being dragged across the floor, and again, a heavy thud, more shelves shaking as he passed, but this time, a grunt and soft swear.
“Steven!” Myles hurried through to the kitchen. A light came on at the top of the stairs, and the kitchen light dimmed.
Myles pulled out his phone and texted.
MYLES: Are you upstairs? He stared at his phone for a few seconds before the response came.
STEVEN: What?
MYLES: In your kitchen. What’s happening up there?
STEVEN: You’re supposed to wait for me to call you.
MYLES: Did my best. I’m coming up.
His phone began to ring as he mounted the stairs. It was Steven, so he ignored it and took the steps two at a time despite the riot his hip made at the sudden enthusiastic motion.
Steven appeared at the top. “Why didn’t you wait?”
“Couldn’t.” Myles swept him into a hug the minute he made the landing.
“Hey!” But Steven laughed and snuggled his face into the crook of Myles’s neck. “I wasn’t finished getting it all set up.”
“You didn’t have to do that all on your own.”
Steven pushed free of his grip and scooted into the room where he’d been moving furniture.
It was painted the colour of midnight-blue—not quite black—on three walls.
The fourth and biggest, opposite the windows that faced the front yard, was wallpapered in a stunning borealis array of colour.
The dark wood furniture blended nicely into the background, and the bedding matched the wall colour.
“You think Jet will like this? I mean, we talked about it. Facetimed, even, but he hasn’t seen it in person yet.
And now I can’t decide where to put the bed.
Under the window? Because that faces the door and that might be good.
But he might also like it over there. Out of eye-line from the door, right?
For privacy? He’s… well, we were that age once.
I’ve moved it back and forth twice now and—”
“Steven.” Myles cupped his face.
“What?”
Instead of speaking, Myles kissed him. Hard.
Steven sighed and melted a bit.
Unsure he could support more than his own weight, should Steven sag any more, Myles pushed him against the wall.
That made Steven grunt.
Myles took advantage of his parted lips and slid his tongue inside.
“Mmmm.” Steven gripped his sweater in both hands, surrendering to the kiss so completely Myles’s head spun.
He didn’t back down, though. Unlike nearly every other time they’d come together, Steven didn’t try to take over. Myles wasn’t about to complain. He pressed the kiss deeper, both hands now holding Steven’s head still so he could plunder freely.
Steven plastered himself against Myles, hips to chest.
Myles ground his hardening cock against Steven’s body, eliciting a chest-deep moan and shivers that overtook Steven’s entire body.
Myles backed off. “You okay?”
“Need this,” Steven panted. “Don’t stop. Please.”
Myles cupped Steven’s ass to pull him in tighter and kissed him again, tipping his chin up with a thumb to trail his mouth over Steven’s throat. The feel of his Adam’s apple and stubble and sweat heated Myles’s blood. His heart pounded at the chance to be the one in charge for a change.
“Can’t move,” Steven whined.
“That’s the idea.” Myles rocked against him. “Just relax.”
“Mmmf.” Steven dropped his head back against the wall.
“That’s it.” Sucking up a bit of skin between his teeth, Myles worried at it until Steven was panting and trying to rut against him.
“You want to get off?” Myles asked.
Steven grunted, no words, but clearly an affirmative.
“Don’t move.” Myles released him only long enough to drop to his knees, yanking the thankfully loose track pants Steven was wearing down with him. Before Steven could make a suggestion, Myles licked up his cock and took it into his mouth.
“Ohmygod.” Steven thrust his hips forwards, and Myles swallowed. “Shit. I’m gonna… Myles.” He dug fingers into Myles’s hair to hold him still, and there went the control Myles had taken of the situation.
It was fine. He’d gotten what he wanted, which was for Stevn to forget about perfect and take what Myles had. He opened his throat and moaned around Steven’s thrusting cock.
“This is going to be fast,” Steven said, breathy and indistinct.
Myles nodded, gazing up at him, and for that moment, lost in the brilliant blue of Steven’s gaze.
“You’re fucking beautiful, you know?” Steven said.
Myles wasn’t sure he agreed, but his mouth was full, so he didn’t have to find an appropriate response. Instead, he pressed his tongue to the base of Steven’s cock and watched his lover’s reaction.
He was not disappointed.
Steven widened his eyes, then dropped them closed with a soft moan. “Again,” he demanded.
Myles obliged, adding just a bit of suction this time, and Steven’s shout gratified him to his bones. It took only anther erratic, fitful thrust or two for Steven to reach his limit.
Myles swallowed his offering enthusiastically, then gently let him go. He stayed where he was, head resting against Steven’s thigh while he waited for Steven to get his brain back online and enjoyed the attention.
“You stuck down there?” Steven finally asked, a smile turning the words soft and curious.
Myles rubbed his cheek against Steven’s hairy thigh. “Maye I just like the smell of you.”
“Gimme your hand.”
He did, and allowed Steven to bear a lot of his weight as he got up.
“We’ll find a more comfortable way to do that,” Steven promised.
“The only uncomfortable part is getting back up.” He kissed Steven’s reply away and caressed his cheek. “But I do look forward to experimenting.”
Steven rested his head against the wall again and peered at him. “You were supposed to wait, you know.”
“I like my idea better.”
“Me too.”
For another heartbeat or two, they stared at each other.
“Can I pull my pants up now?”
Myles grinned. “If you must.”
“I must. I want to show you around.”
“I know your house. Been here before.”
“Before when it was my house. Now it’s ours, and I want to show you things.”
Myles stepped back, allowing enough room for Steven to pull up his sweats. “Show away.” He waved a hand towards the door.
Steven took it. “Shelly’s room next.”
“Okay.”
They crossed the hall to the smaller room Steven had prepared for her. It was adorable. Steven had clearly been paying attention, because the room was a mix of soft ballet pinks and clear spring green that should not have looked so good together, but in this room, worked perfectly.