Forever Winter

Each time he told me he loved me. Each time he kissed me quickly after so I couldn’t respond, making me wonder why. No one has ever said those words to me before. Ever.

I’ve never in my life felt as if I was where I was truly supposed to be. Even living with Cory, that felt temporary. We might always be friends, but it was a moment in time. I had so many of those growing up in the foster system. Friends came and went. One home after another. Now I see my thinking was so wrong. Home isn’t a place. At least for me it isn’t. Him. Robert is home.

It explains how quickly I’ve fallen into him. That over the months without him, an ache formed in my chest. A missing part. I hadn’t known it had been missing until the piece slipped into place and was then snatched out again.

He plays with my hair, wrapping it around his finger over and over again. You’d think it was the most fascinating thing in the world. I’ve noticed, though, he is always touching me in some way, from playing with my hair to rubbing his hands up and down my skin, petting me.

“I should feed you,” he sighs but doesn’t move.

“I don’t wanna move. I don’t think I’ve slept this great in forever.” I let my eyes fall closed again.

“It’s because you work too much.” My eyes open at his response. “You’ll get lots of rest now that you’re here. It’s not like you can work in the city and live out here. The drive would be too long. Besides, I want you with me. We’ve already lost too much time.”

I want to be annoyed at him telling me so casually to quit my job like it’s a foregone conclusion, but he imbued his words with too much sweetness. Still, how does he know these things to begin with? “How do you know how much I work? Or even where, for that matter?”

“Don’t be mad, angel. When I finally figured out who you were, I wanted to know everything I could about you. While you slept I found out as much as I could. I couldn’t help myself.” I look up at him. He only looks a little guilty.

“How do you do that? I should be mad at you for prying and assuming that I’m going to quit my job, but you make it sound so sweet.” I lean up to look at him better.

“If you really want to wait tables that badly I’ll sit in the kitchen and you can serve me food all day,” he teases. I smack his chest playfully. This is not the Bo I heard Cory speak of. Cory never spoke poorly about his brother, but I guess I thought he’d be grumpier and more overbearing. Okay, maybe he is a little overbearing, but in the best kind of way. He’s nothing like I thought he would be.

He rolls us so he’s over me. “I want you again, but I have something I want to show you that I think will make you want to stay.” He leans in and kisses me. “I also need to feed you and our little one growing inside of you.” He slips his hand between us, rubbing my belly. His eyes soften even more as he rubs my small bump.

I know he can’t think the baby is Cory’s, not after my confession of never exploring a man’s body. He knows he was my first. Still, it was sweet that he didn’t care. He wants to claim the baby and me, no matter what. But does he still think his brother and I have a thing?

I reach up, touching his face. He leans in to my touch. “You do know that—” I’m cut off when the bedroom door flies open and slams against the wall. A very pissed off Cory stands in the doorway.

“Don’t you come in our fucking bedroom. She’s not dressed,” Robert says before Cory can get a word out. He slides from above me, making sure the blankets keep me covered.

“Two minutes,” is all Cory says before turning and stomping out of the room.

“Fuck,” Robert mutters, standing from the bed. I sit up as I watch him slide on pants and then a shirt. He runs his hand through his hair and lets out a long sigh. “I’ll deal with this. I don’t want you to worry about anything.”

“I’m coming with you.” I throw my legs over the side of the bed and cast my eyes for something to wear. I spot my leggings on the ground, so I grab them and pull them on. I really should shower. I can feel Robert’s cum coating my thighs as I pull up the pants.

“I read you should not be stressed while pregnant. I think you should stay here.” He points to the bed.