Chapter 33 Darío #2
A startled laugh bubbles from me. “Yeah, baby. I think it does.” Without looking back or answering any more questions, we make our way into the building.
The lobby is all exposed brick, with cast iron chandeliers that emit a warm, flickering glow.
I lead us over to the coat check and help Harlan out of his, revealing the entirety of his outfit.
I’m stunned speechless. He’s wearing a flowy pair of black silk pants that tie in the front, with a long-sleeved, see-through black mesh top decorated with black and silver rhinestones.
The neckline is high and reminds me a bit of a jeweled collar, which has my dick perking up in my tux pants.
“Are you going to stare at me all night, or can we go inside?” Once again, a blush is creeping into his cheeks, and it has me pulling him in for another kiss. Christ, this boy is going to be the death of me.
“I’d rather take you home and strip you out of everything.
It’s a shame that’s part of the top instead of a necklace,” I rumble into his ear, hooking my finger into his neckline.
He moans quietly into my neck. “It’s ok.
I have all night to enjoy you. Let’s go find our table.
” I lead Harlan into the main room, which is also made of exposed brick, with high ceilings, and dark wooden beams throughout the space.
The tables are a matching wood, with tall candelabras that match the chandeliers at the center of each.
The DJ is playing soft music as guests arrive, but as with any Lust & Lace event, the dance floor will be packed before dinner.
Servers are making their way through the crowd, passing dozens of appetizers, glasses of champagne, wine, and some kind of electric blue mixed drink that almost glows in the dimly lit space.
Harlan opts for a glass of white wine, but I decline in favor of ordering a beer at the bar once we’ve found our table.
The seating chart has us with Penny, AJ, Wes, Layton, and another model with his date.
I briefly lose track of Harlan as I head to the bar with Layton and AJ.
Wes’s boyfriend and I usually find a quiet corner with our drinks, while the two boys mingle and network.
I’m content to do that tonight, but it appears that Harlan has other plans as he makes his way over to me.
“Would you care to dance with me?” Harlan practically purrs as he leans in to brush his lips across my cheek.
He takes my hand without waiting for my response—it would have been a yes, for the record—and leads me to the dance floor.
There are already couples grinding on each other as more join the party.
Just as we find our rhythm, with Harlan’s ass pressed into my groin, the DJ slows it down.
Harlan doesn’t miss a beat, turning to wrap his arms around my neck.
I pull him closer and place my hands on his hips, teasing the spot just above his waistline.
“I’m really glad you invited me tonight,” I murmur in his ear. “I don’t ever want to miss another event with you.” He glances up at me, love and affection written all over his face, before he kisses me gently.
“I’ll hold you to that,” he laughs. “Truly, though, thank you for coming. And for giving this another chance. I know you’re sick of hearing it, but…” I place my index finger on his lips to stop him from apologizing again.
“Harlan, you don’t have to keep apologizing. I know you’re sorry. We don’t have to live with that weight anymore, baby,” I remind him. He kisses my finger softly before giving me a rueful smile.
“I know. It’s just that some days this doesn’t feel real, you know?
On good days, I would hang on to hope that we’d find our way back to each other.
But on the really dark days, the memories of us hurt so badly, because I couldn’t imagine finding someone who loved me the way you did.
For me to love someone else the way that I love you.
It felt like a physical loss without you, which I know sounds ridiculous.
” Harlan inhales deeply before continuing.
“You loved me so perfectly, and I want to be worthy of that—of you—now that I have you back.”
“Harlan, you know that I am still deeply, completely, and perfectly in love with you, right? Surely you know that,” I implore.
He can’t possibly believe he has to earn my love back.
“Let me be very clear. I love you. I have never stopped loving you.” Tears are falling down his cheeks as he takes in my words.
I gently wipe at them with the pad of my thumb, and he leans into my touch.
“I love you, too. I have always loved you. You were made for me to love, long before I knew you existed.” With that, he kisses me again. We continue to sway to the music long after the song ends.
We take our leave before the gala is over, desperate to be alone with each other.
I wonder if that fierce desire will ever fade.
The one that demands that I keep him close, to have my hands on him in some way, at all times.
It feels too intense, too overwhelming, like I can’t possibly breathe if he’s not within arm’s reach of me.
In the car, I pull him in my lap and spend the ride kissing him as snow begins to fall in thick flakes.
“I feel like we’re in a snow globe,” he muses, watching the world go by. The streetlights reflect off the snow, and it does indeed look like a snow globe. Our own perfect place in the world. “It’s beautiful.” I stop staring outside, instead taking in the wonder on his face.
“You’re beautiful, Harlan,” I tell him. He doesn’t take his eyes off the weather outside, but he shifts, snuggling in closer to my chest. The driver pulls up in front of the brownstone, and it feels like we’re the only ones in the universe.
It’s easy to pretend when there are no other cars on the road.
Exiting the car, I know there’s one more thing I need to do before I bring him inside. Under the streetlights, as the snow picks up, I pull him into my arms for another kiss. “I don’t want you to go back to your apartment,” I mumble against his lips. He smiles but doesn’t move away from me.
“That’s good, because you’ve already invited me to spend the night,” he giggles.
“I was promised that you would strip me out of this outfit, and that you’d enjoy me all night.
” He nips playfully at my lips before slipping his tongue into my mouth.
The faint taste of wine, mixed with the taste of Harlan has me instantly hard.
Before it goes any further, I pull away, causing him to protest.
I laugh before reassuring him. “Shh, I intend to follow through with that promise, sweetness. I meant I don’t want you going back there, period.
I want you to move back home. I want to wake up next to you when I’m home, and when I’m away, I want to know you’re safe in our bed until I get back.
This is your home. It’s where you belong. ”
“Darío, you are my home. There are a lot of things I may be unsure about, but you are not one of them. My heart is whole when I’m with you.
I’d love to come home.” My heart knew he’d say yes, but the relief of hearing his words is healing in a way that I can't explain. There is a sense of rightness when we exist in the same space, and we’ve both lived for far too long without it.
We can finally let go of the past and move toward the future that was always meant to be ours.
With snow falling around us, painting everything in white, I take him by the hand and lead him into our home.