Reservations

“I wondered. Does Logan know?”

“Logan’s always been the classic middle child. He’s the victim and the aggressor all at the same time. He’s been real steady throughout this adjustment period. Logan’s a good guy. He takes things in stride a little better than either Luke or I do, but I’m betting he doesn’t know, even though they’ve always been close,” Levi said. Dropping his gaze to Thane’s lips, he brushed his thumb across them. He loved touching this man. Levi took the feel of Thane’s skin, the texture of his lips, the coarse stubble of his beard into his mind and wanted to always remember.

“They seem like they’re close,” Thane replied. “Do you remember what we talked about at the bar before we left?”

Levi struggled on that one. They’d talked about everything tonight. They were comfortable together in conversation, nothing seemed off limits. Work, religion, politics. Goals for the future, movies, books, music… He looked up at Thane who stared at him and waited. He had to think, something needling around the edges. “The name thing?”

“Mmm,” was all he got from Thane.

Again, he had to concentrate which seemed to bring the headache back. “I remember a fantastic kiss. Did we get kicked out for being obscene?” Based on his sketchy memory, that was a viable option. He could have done Thane right there and never been the wiser. “Were the police called? If they were, they’ll notify the boys’ social worker.”

“They have a social worker?” Thane asked, his face changing into one of concern.

“Yeah, two actually, but one’s more an advocate, just making sure everything’s functional for Luke,” Levi explained, trying to make the situation seem less overwhelming. They barely ever saw her. Their protective service worker had stopped by once a week in the beginning, but she switched them to quarterly visits now. As long as they held it together, there wouldn’t be a problem.

“You have a heavy load. I admire your tenacity,” Thane said and leaned in to kiss his lips. Levi didn’t say a word. It didn’t seem so heavy, at least not any more. “We weren’t kicked out. Police weren’t called. However, we did share a naughty kiss and you told me you’ve wanted me for a while. Umm…and that I was nice to look at.”

“Mmm,” Levi repeated, making Thane laugh. “So, you were actually the one getting my paperwork pushed through at school?”

“Not really. My father’s name helped. He’s a professor—”

Levi placed two fingers on Thane’s lips, stopping him in mid-sentence.

Strangely enough he wasn’t mad or pissed off. He had needed someone on his side and that someone turned out to be the man holding him in his arms.

“Thank you for doing what you’ve done. It helped me. I was struggling with you, with money, Luke’s depression. I just had a lot coming at me and you helped me. I needed Nathaniel. I needed a friend more than anything, but don’t ever lie to me again. I get what happened, just not again,” Levi said, looking Thane straight in the eyes.

“Never again, but in my defense, technically I only omitted a part of the truth.” Thane moved Levi’s fingers from his lips, threading their fingers together. “Can I ask one thing that I shouldn’t? If I were smart, I’d just leave this alone.” He stayed absolutely silent, listening to Thane. “I expected something different when I told you. Instead, you seem almost relieved. Explain that to me. I want to be what you need, if that makes any sense.”

Thane’s declaration embraced his fragile heart. The man was coming on strong, and Levi couldn’t find it in him to resist and was even long past the point of trying.

“When I was talking to Nathaniel, we had this same weird connection that you and I have—at least that’s how it felt to me.” Levi’s anxiety rose, and he dropped his gaze to the light gray pattern on the sheets.

“Don’t do that,” Thane said. He slid his strong fingers under Levi’s chin and forced his head up. Levi met Thane’s sincere gaze. “You know I feel this connection. I’ve moved across country to be near you.”

Just hearing Thane’s words made his stomach flip, sink, and flutter all at the same time. Levi let out a quick, deep breath, and continued, “Nathaniel and I clicked. I don’t always click so well with people. So, I hoped that meant that maybe once I got through school and turned my life around, that maybe I could find someone special to share my life with. Nathaniel gave me hope. I felt accepted, but I always wished it were you. I’m really attracted to you, but felt safe talking to him.” There, he’d just laid his heart out on the line, no longer hiding. The honesty he had with Nathaniel bridged the undeniable pull he had with Thane, adding a new dimension to what they shared.