Christian finally gave into his urge and smoothed his hand over Shea’s dark hair. Shea hummed softly and dragged his eyes open, looking up at Christian; he gave him a slow smile.
“Hey pumpkin, did you have a nice night?” he drawled.
Christian snorted at the ridiculous endearment. “Yes, although Henry stopped by and saw that painting I did of you in bed.” He sighed and sat down on the arm of the couch next to Shea.
Shea’s expression remained neutral. “And? What did he say?” he asked evenly.
“He wanted to know why I would paint you in bed naked. I told him that I like the way the sheets were rumpled,” Christian mumbled, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
Shea sighed heavily. “I don’t understand why you don’t just tell them that you’re gay.”
“Because, Shea, I don’t know how they are going to feel about it. I couldn’t handle it if they decide that they can’t accept my being gay,” he said tightly, feeling a dull ache take hold in his chest.
“Come on, Chris. You know that your brothers love you and only want you to be happy,” Shea replied wearily.
“I just...I’m not ready, okay? Let’s not argue about it. I’m tired and want to go to bed.”
“Fine,” Shea huffed. “Help me up, will ya?”
Christian stood and helped Shea up off the couch. Shea grunted and winced as he straightened. He then slipped his good arm around Christian’s waist, tilted his head back and puckered up. Christian smirked and leaned down, giving Shea a soft kiss on the lips. He then gave Christian’s ass a squeeze before moving out of the embrace and starting for the stairs. Christian watched him go. Fuck, he hoped this relationship worked out; he didn’t think he could live with not being friends with Shea anymore - not seeing his face just about every day, not hearing his voice, or having him play jokes on him. He wouldn’t be able to take it; he’d rather die than not have Shea in his life.
~Chapter 4~
Sebastian pulled up to Christian’s house. He was just stopping over on his way to work because he is missing a box of gun parts, and he thought that maybe he left them in Christian’s garage, possibly forgetting to grab it when he moved his shit out. Sebastian walked up the walkway to the front door, where he knocked twice then used his key.
Sebastian opened the door just as Shea was coming down the steps. Shea saw him and froze, his eyes widening slightly.
“You...you stay the fuck away from me,” Shea hissed, his arm just in a sling now.
It’s been a little over a week since Shea got hurt and he seemed to be healing fairly quickly. Christian had said that he wasn’t even taking his pain meds anymore. Sebastian grinned and shut the door behind him.
“Hey, Shea, I won’t touch you, I swear.” Sebastian chuckled, holding his hands up as if showing he was unarmed. “I just need to see if I left a box of gun parts in the garage.”
Shea relaxed slightly and nodded. “Christian’s out there right now actually.”
“Oh cool, alright, I’ll just go out the back door,” Sebastian said and started through the house.
Sebastian hopped down the two steps that led out the back door then strolled along the brick paver walkway that led to the door on the side of the garage. Sebastian glanced through the window to see Christian sitting in a chair, his back to the door, his guitar in his lap. He was swaying slightly and his bare foot was tapping out a steady beat. Sebastian opened the garage door slowly so that Christian didn’t hear him enter. He hasn’t heard his little brother play the guitar since he moved out of their parents’ house. He kind of missed it.
What Sebastian didn’t expect was the incredible singing that went along with the strumming of the guitar chords. Sebastian immediately recognized the song even though Christian was singing it a bit slower and playing a guitar instead of a piano. It was No One by Alicia Keys. Sebastian was in complete awe of his brother’s voice. He had no idea Christian had a voice like that. Christian sang, not knowing Sebastian was standing behind him.
...You and me together, through the days and nights, I don’t worry cause, everything’s gonna be alright, people keep talkin’, they can say what they like, but all I know is everything’s gonna be alright, no one, no one, no oooone can get in the way of what I’m feelin’...
Un-fucking-believable! How could Christian not tell them that he could sing like that? Christian sang the whole song and it was freaking beautiful. When he finished, he let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging. Sebastian wondered what has his little brother looking like he has the weight of the world on his back.