Revived (The Dungeon Black Duology 2)

Scott laughed, shaking his head. “You are an idiot. But to answer your question, yes, I have looked in the mirror. At great length, in fact, just last weekend in my gym.” His voice dipped to husky. “When you took me to Hot Scott Alley. Remember? You made me watch everything in that mirror. Every fucking thing that you did to me.”

Scorching memories exploded to the forefront of Tad’s mind. He shifted in his seat. Cleared his throat. Squeezed the steering wheel. “Fuck, yeah. That’s right.” He eyed his crotch. “Shit, dude. Now I’m fucking hard.”

Scott grinned. “Me, too. Good times, babe. Good times.”

Tad adjusted his junk and took the next right. “Almost there. Three more turns.”

“Shit… Okay.” Scott fiddled with the radio. Ed Sheeran’s “Sing,” flooded Tad’s Jeep. Scott eased, the happy groove working its magic.

A magic Tad definitely needed, too. After all, they were less than a minute away, and while he tried not to act nervous, he totally was. He could admit that now. He was nervous as fuck. But in fairness, he was also pretty excited. He didn’t want Scott to be some abstract person he talked to his parents about. He wanted them to see Scott. To really get to know him. Because the man was awesome. Inside and out. And if his parents really wanted him happy like he thought they did, then one look at Tad’s face should close the deal.

They arrived a second later. Tad shut off the engine. Scott peered at the house but didn’t move. Which actually worked out fine, for the time being, anyway, since no one was presently home.

“Hmm.” Tad glanced at the time on his phone. “Guess we’re a little bit early.”

Scott looked at him curiously.

Tad shrugged. “We must’ve beat them.”

“Beat them?”

“Yeah. To the house. It’s Sunday so they’re probably still on their way home from church.”

Scott stilled, ever so subtly. “Church? They go to church?”

Shit. Tad probably should’ve mentioned that about them. But his parents were different. Didn’t fit the stereotype, so the whole concept just kind of slipped Tad’s secretly stressed-out brain.

“Yeah. But don’t worry. They’re what I like to call real Christians.”

“Oh.” Scott looked skeptical.

“Seriously. It’s not an issue. I got lucky. They’re good peeps.” Right on cue, Tad’s parents pulled into their driveway. “Speak of the devil.” Tad made a face. “Pun not intended.”

Scott managed a tiny smile, anxiously palming his thighs, his big brown eyes locked on their car. “You sure that they’re ready for this? That they’re ready… for me?”

“Yeah. I’m sure.” But Scott just kept on watching them. “Hey,” Tad murmured, resting his hand on top of Scott’s. “They’re gonna fucking love you. I promise.”

Tad’s mom climbed out, then so did his dad.

Scott chewed on his cheek. “Even your old man?”

“Even my old man.”

Scott finally turned to look at him. “But what about his reaction? When you told them you were gay?”

Tad chuckled and shook his head. “Mom said that once he got rid of the initial visual—you know, of another guy’s dick in his son’s ass—then he was cool. Good to go.”

Scott’s jaw went slack. “Your mom said that?”

Tad laughed. “Not verbatim. She used slightly different words. And yeah… a bit different context.”

A grin tugged at Scott’s lips.

Tad’s parents headed inside, but not before Tad’s mom gave a wave.

Tad grinned and waved, too, then turned back to Scott. “Seriously, though. With my dad? I think more than anything, he’s just bummed about not having grandkids.”

Scott cocked his head and eyed him. “You don’t want kids?”

Tad chuckled. Shook his head again. “I never said that.”

Scott’s gaze warmed. “Then who says he can’t have grandkids?”

Tad smiled. “Not me.”

Scott smiled, too.

“Come on,” Tad murmured. “Let’s go eat. I’m fucking starving.”

Scott nodded and climbed out, with Tad right behind him. They met on the sidewalk, linked their pinkies, then made their way up to the door. Tad gave it a knock and turned the knob, but his mom was there before they even breached the threshold.

“Tad. My baby.” She gave him a hug. “I’ve missed you. So glad you guys came.”

Tad squeezed her tight. “If you cook food, we will come.”

She laughed and stepped back. “Okay, Mr. Field of Dreams. I’ll remind you next weekend that you said that.”

“Yeah, right. Like you’ll remember. You’ve got the memory of a fish.”

She sighed. “No denying that one.”

“Nope,” he chuckled, turning to Scott. “Mom, this is Scott. Scott, this is Mom.”

Scott offered a friendly smile. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Mitchel.”

“Please. Call me Lori.” She took him in. “Wow. You’re handsome.” Her gaze dipped lower. “And goodness, really big.”

Scott’s smile turned boyish, something Tad rarely got to see. He tried not to stare as he saved that shit to memory.

“Come here,” she beamed. “Lemme give you a hug, too.”

Scott didn’t object, but when she wrapped him in her arms, his expression turned… well, kind of melancholy. He missed his own mom. Tad could see it in his eyes. Emotion welled. Tad didn’t like Scott sad.