Something in the Way He Needs (Family 1)

As reunions went, it was unexpectedly low on the romance.

“Uh,” Asher said as he looked around the sparkling-clean great room.

Daniel pointed a rubber-gloved finger toward the door. Asher looked over and noticed four full trash bags.

“If you’re looking for your Chinese food, empty pizza boxes, and beer cans, they’re over there. Seemed like a better place for them than all over my living room.”

Asher snapped his head back and looked at Daniel hopefully. “Your living room?”

With his arms crossed over his chest, Daniel glared at Asher mutinously. “Yes, my living room. You told me I could live here and you don’t get to take that away.” He raised his eyebrows as if he was waiting for Asher to argue with him. When it didn’t happen, he kept talking. “And tomorrow we’re going to buy some paint and do something about these walls. I’m tired of living in a hospital. We’re painting those three a light green.” He pointed to the walls. “And the kitchen a bright yellow.”

The discussion was surreal in light of the radio silence and loneliness he’d endured the past couple of weeks.

“Okay,” Asher agreed eagerly.

“Okay?” Daniel asked.

Asher nodded and wrapped his arms around the smaller man, pulling him close and burying his face in the curve where his neck met his shoulder.

“And the bedroom’s going to be a silver gray.”

Asher nodded and squeezed tighter.

“With a blue stripe around the top as an accent,” Daniel added.

“Anything,” Asher choked out, not sure if it was through laughter or tears.

The silence stretched.

“Was it because I didn’t tell you about BWI?” Daniel said eventually. “Because I wanted to. I tried. But you were at work almost nonstop from the minute we heard about the concert and every time I tried to bring it up something got in the way and….”

It was hard to answer that question with Daniel in his arms, clinging to him like he was the second coming. How could he say he’d felt like he wasn’t needed, like there was no reason for him to be there when Daniel was surrounded by rock stars? Literally. Daniel was babbling, red-cheeked, flustered, desperate, and adorable. And Asher couldn’t stop himself from cupping his cheeks with large hands, holding him still, and kissing those plump red lips.

Daniel opened for him right away, whimpering into his mouth and licking at his tongue. Their mouths moved together, getting reacquainted, and Asher thought he’d cry from how perfect it was. Then Daniel pulled away and twitched his nose.

“Seriously, Ash, you stink.”

Asher resisted the urge to smell his pits, but it was a near thing.

Daniel climbed to his feet. “Let’s get in the shower. I just finished cleaning the bathroom.”

They walked through the bedroom, and Asher noticed that the sheets had been changed, the room aired out, and that his dirty laundry was no longer strewn about. “Thanks for cleaning,” he said quietly.

“I’ve been cleaning this apartment for half a year,” Daniel said matter-of-factly as he peeled off the yellow rubber gloves. Then he removed the rest of his clothes and put them in the laundry basket.

Asher followed his lead. “I know you have, and I’m grateful for that too,” he said as they stepped into the shower. He waited for Daniel to finish adjusting the water temperature, and then he pulled him back so he leaned on Asher’s taller frame. He kissed Daniel’s shoulder. “I’m sorry if I didn’t tell you.”

“You did,” Daniel whispered. “I’ve always been kind of messy, but I know you appreciate having our apartment look nice. That’s why I did it.” He reached for the soap and rubbed it over his golden skin, covering himself in white suds before stepping under the spray and rinsing off.

Then he dropped to a squat and started soaping Asher’s legs—thighs, knees, calves, then each foot in turn. He stood up and ran soapy hands over Asher’s stomach, up his sides to his underarms, and then nudged him to turn around and paid the same attention to his back.

“I got jealous,” Asher said after several minutes of silence. “You’re so beautiful, Daniel, and—”

“I can’t help how I look!” Daniel shouted, stopping his soapy massage. “I’m usually better about—” He took in a deep breath. “You told me to buy new clothes, went on and on about how they needed to fit, and I—” His voice broke. “I did what you said. You don’t get to be mad at me because I listened to you.”

Asher turned around and dragged Daniel into a tight hug. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He kissed Daniel’s shoulders and neck and rubbed circles on his back, thinking about what Daniel said. “Is that why you wear your clothes so loose? Are you hiding?”

Daniel shrugged. “Not hiding, just making things easier. You think I liked how people acted around me in that restaurant? Or at the concert?” He paused briefly. “You think it’s fun to make everyone nervous, have them come onto me without knowing me, make whatever guy or girl they’re with pissed?”