As Finley watched Grayson walk back through the door of his home, Finley’s heart twisted. Without thinking, he immediately swept Grayson from his feet and carried him the rest of the way inside while being careful of his healing ribs. He was ridiculously in love and wanted to care for Grayson, as he should have done from day one. Finley had missed his chance to take care of Grayson in the hospital. He had thrown away the opportunity to dote upon him when he came home. Finley needed to do those things now.
“How do you feel about having that bubble bath? I can keep your arm dry.”
Grayson visibly tried to hide his excitement. “Will you take one with me?”
“Of course.” Finley carried Grayson to the couch. “Sit here and I’ll get it started.” He rushed to the bathroom inside his bedroom. That was the only bathroom with a tub big enough for two. Even though he recognized he had driven, and Grayson wouldn’t likely leave while his back was turned, Finley still hurried through starting the water and finding Grayson’s bubbles where he had stashed them out of sight. It was almost funny when he thought about it now. He could have thrown the bubble bath away, but he had stashed it deep under the sink, as if he had known he would eventually cave and beg Grayson to come back.
With the tub full, he made his way back to the living room. He found Grayson at the mantel, eyeing Coby’s urn. Finley hovered in the doorway. Grayson opened and closed the box he had carved for Finley, as if needing a reason to linger at Coby’s side.
“Hi, Coby.”
Finley covered his mouth. Grayson sounded so sweet and shy. It hit Finley all over again how much he had nearly lost. He fully understood how dumb his reaction to Grayson getting hurt seemed to everyone else. But people wouldn’t understand unless they had been there. Finley couldn’t put two urns on his mantel. Loving someone was hard when you knew how much living without them cost.
While Finley looked on, Grayson leaned closer to the urn and lowered his voice. “Is it okay if I keep your daddy? I promise I’ll take good care of him.”
Finley’s throat swelled. He stepped out of sight and made his footsteps known, so Grayson wouldn’t be startled or embarrassed by his return. This time, when he stepped back into view, Grayson stood in the center of the living room, looking innocent.
“Are you ready for your bath?”
With a nod, Grayson crossed the room. Hand in hand, they headed down the hall. Inside the bathroom, Finley undressed Grayson. He did his best to hide his rage as he caught sight of Grayson’s injuries again. The fury never left him. Even though it had been nearly a month, the marks weren’t all gone. He would have a scar forever where they had re-inflated his lung. Finley ground his back teeth so hard, his jaw popped.
“Are you ever going to tell me about your busted knuckles?”
Finley really didn’t want to do that. He wasn’t sure how angry Grayson would be. Finley helped Grayson into the tub before stripping and joining him. He slipped in behind Grayson so Grayson could relax against his chest.
A contented-sounding sigh caressed Finley’s ears as Grayson settled against his chest. A few minutes of silence passed where they simply snuggled in the tub. Finley kept Grayson’s arm draped over the edge of the tub so it would stay dry.
“It’s okay.”
Confusion had Finley’s brow furrowing. “What’s okay?”
“Benji says the jail guards claimed Jacob was attacked by unknown jail mates. With his jaw wired shut, Jacob can’t claim otherwise. Not that anyone would believe him anyhow.”
Finley struggled for something to say. He hadn’t wanted Grayson to know about his little visit to the jail where Jacob had been held since his attack on Grayson. Without Silas’ connections, Finley never would have gotten to the bastard. Likely, Jacob would do some prison time. Unfortunately, in the state of Louisiana, who knew if he would face any substantial consequences. An attack on his brother for being gay just might get some sympathy from backwoods judges. It took Finley a few minutes to find the words to express his side of things.
“I needed him to know what waits for him if he ever comes near you again.”
Grayson didn’t respond.
Finley couldn’t stay quiet. “I know he’s your brother, but you have to let him go.”
When Grayson still didn’t respond, Finley wanted to scream. Finley was overjoyed Grayson possessed a forgiving heart. Otherwise, he never would have won Grayson back, but fuck. He couldn’t risk Jacob weaseling his way back in. Finley’s heart couldn’t take knowing Grayson might forgive him. Before he could figure out how to word his argument, Grayson made a soft grunting sound, the one he always made in his sleep. Laughter gathered in Finley’s throat. He swallowed it down. Grayson hadn’t been staying stubbornly silent. He was sound asleep.
With a huge smile stretching his lips, Finley used his foot to release the water. When it was low enough that he knew Grayson wouldn’t drown, he heaved himself out of the tub and found a huge fluffy towel for Grayson. It took some doing, but he managed to carry a half-asleep Grayson to bed. He tucked Grayson in and then plodded around the house nude, making sure the doors were locked, the alarm was set, and all the lights were turned out.
When he crawled into bed beside Grayson, Grayson rolled into his arms. His hand immediately found Finley’s cock. Finley tried to ignore it. Grayson wasn’t really awake. The last thing he wanted was to get turned on with no outlet right at bedtime.
Grayson didn’t stop. His arm being in a cast didn’t hinder the use of his hand at all. Finley took slow breaths, trying to calm his quickly heating blood. When he realized there was no going back, he tried to hyper-focus on each brush of Grayson’s fingers, hoping to come quick before Grayson stopped. Then Grayson dipped beneath the covers. His hot mouth sucked Finley’s crown. Finley thought his eyes would roll back in his head. He couldn’t believe Grayson had worried he didn’t please Finley. He drove Finley fucking wild. Finley didn’t need some guy who got into things, deep throating and gagging. Grayson had this light suckle and lick that had Finley moaning in no time. It was maddening and sexy. He had to struggle toward orgasm, but when it hit… goddamn. It punched so hard, his entire body shook and cries bounced from the walls. Then Grayson always kept going, like he had only sucked Finley off to drink his cum. Grayson was irreplaceable. There was no one hotter.
The moment Finley regained his senses, he had Grayson on his back. Grayson’s dick sawed in and out of Finley’s mouth. He needed Grayson to fly. Grayson made adorable mewling sounds while his feet moved restlessly against the mattress. Finley didn’t hold back. He sucked Grayson’s balls and swallowed his cock. He went wild on Grayson’s dick. Grayson’s muscles tensed. Finley held Grayson in place so he wouldn’t hurt himself when he came. A sexy whimper burst from Grayson as cum flooded Finley’s mouth.
Tears hit from nowhere. Finley pressed his face against Grayson’s stomach while sobs rocked his body. He had almost lost his wee one. The terror had crippled him. He hadn’t been the man he always wanted to be when the chips were down.
Grayson stroked Finley’s hair and shushed him. Finley climbed up his body and buried his face in the crook of Grayson’s neck. He did his best not to press any weight on Grayson, but he had to hold his precious baby. Finley would never forget or forgive his failures.