“Her depression and cruelty reached an all-time high. After that, I refused to try again. Besides the fact she was treating me like a stud she’d purchased, I had a feeling she’d never let me be a father anyway, if we were successful. It was for the best. She left me.” Hart looked down at the table. This part always made guilt flare up from deep within. “I was so damn relieved when she did. But, I swore to her daddy, before the grumpy bastard died, that I’d never walk out on his little girl, that I’d never abandon her…and I didn’t.”
Free
Free’s mother always told him that he was a great judge of character. And although he attracted negative people into his life, he also attracted some pretty great ones. Like Techy and now, like Ivan Hart. The moment he’d met him he’d known he was special. There was something in those sweet, blue eyes—longing, compassion, honesty…and want. Hart’s size and appearance were only the icing on the cake. There were so many wonderful layers to him—his protective nature being Free’s favorite.
He’d made sure not to well up with emotion and to keep his temper in check while Hart told his story. He'd trusted Free to behave maturely with the bomb he’d just dropped on him, the same as he’d done last night. Hart didn’t need him to gasp and gawk at him. He didn’t need a display of theatrics. Just someone to finally listen to his side and be there for him.
To hear Hart had been in an abusive relationship was gut-wrenching. He’d tried so hard to do right by his wife, only for her to beat him down and blame him for something beyond his control. Had anyone bothered to see how Hart was doing after losing four children while everyone was primarily concerned for his wife? Had anyone consoled him? Hearing Hart’s story made Free’s chest ache.
“I’m so, so sorry.” He leaned in and brought Hart’s hand to his lips, and kissed his knuckles. “You lost your babies too.”
Hart seemed genuinely thankful for what he’d said but he didn’t open his mouth and speak the words. Free didn’t need him to. Damn, just when he thought Hart couldn’t be any more amazing, he goes and tells him that. Now he was able to connect the remaining puzzle pieces.
Free vowed right then that he’d show Hart what it meant to be cared for, in whatever capacity he allowed him. If Hart wasn’t ready for anything serious, then Free would be his dearest friend until he was. Hart signaled for Margery to bring their check as if he was finished with this conversation. Free was fine with that.
“Sounds like you have a busy day,” Free said from the passenger seat of Hart’s nice truck. Most of the time, he rode his bike but he’d wanted them to commute together to breakfast and work.
“Yeah, it will be. I was glad I got to sleep in.” Hart glanced at him, looking sexy as fuck in his gold-rimmed aviator shades. Free wasn’t used to the suit jacket and crisp white dress shirt, but damn if he couldn’t get used to it pretty damn quick. Hart had chosen not to wear a tie, and he still had the top two buttons of his dress shirt undone. Almost enough for Free to see a few tufts of hair below his collarbone. Just enough to tease the hell out of him. Hart’s mouth moved but Free didn’t hear the words.
His eyes were drawn to Hart’s chest because he knew all that awaited his tongue under that fine attire. He swallowed roughly as his cock swelled the more he stared at Hart’s gorgeous profile. The burly man wasn’t a GQ model by any means, but Free knew of the generous heart that beat beneath that hot, furry ches—
“Lennox,” Hart growled.
Free snapped his head up, heat flooding his cheeks. He faced the road, pulling his messenger bag over his lap.
“Yeah. You better stop looking at me like that,” Hart warned, huskily.
Free’s cock took notice of the authority in Hart’s voice. Shiiiit.
Hart made a sharp turn into the precinct’s lot and pulled into a parking space toward the rear. He killed the engine and released his seat belt, then turned slowly, watching Free behind those mirrored lenses.
Free’s cock was so hard he thought it’d punch through the leather of his bag. Hart’s voice, his dominance, was all an aphrodisiac to him.
“Did you even hear my question?”
Free didn’t answer. Because he hadn’t. He breathed through his nose and out through his mouth attempting to quell his erection. Hart reached over and gripped his chin, then turned his head toward him. “Answer me.”
Mmmmm. “I heard most of it.” Free licked his lips. He wanted Hart to yank him across the large console and kiss him crazy. The way he was holding him and staring him down, panting, Hart had to be feeling the same yearning he was.