Page 67 of Sin Deep
“We’ll try. I’ll put some pressure on it.” He got a washcloth and soaked it in some warm water to clean Harley up. He was going to have to put his foot down if it didn’t seem to want to stop. He knew that. He just…he knew how stubborn his boy was, and he really didn’t want to argue.
“It’s just a thing. I’m cleared to go back to work Monday.” Harley kissed his temple. “Hey. It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too.” He sighed. “Though you should have been more forthcoming with what happened to you today at work. I ought to have known about this before it got to this point.”
“I didn’t think it would be so gross.”
“So what? Something happened at work, and I should know about it. I need to know everything.” That was how this worked. He took care of Harley; how could he do that if he didn’t know everything?
“It really hurt.” Harley seemed so embarrassed.
“Of course it did. It still does, I assume. My poor petit.” He combed his fingers through Harley’s hair and kissed him. “You can tell me, it’s all right.”
“Fifteen stitches to the inside, seven on the outside. I didn’t pass out, but I wanted to puke.”
That seemed rather significant, but he tried not to make a big deal of it and worry his boy more. “So brave, my boy. I’m proud of you.” He spread some ointment thickly over the stitches before putting on new gauze.
“Thanks. I didn’t want to just not be here with you. Especially not after my day.”
“I understand. And while I appreciate that, please don’t keep something like this from me again.” He tried to be careful as he taped down the gauze. “Tomorrow I will run out and get some more of this.”
Harley touched his cheek with trembling fingers. “Can we sit together for a bit? Then I’ll make us a sandwich or something.”
He took Harley’s fingers and kissed them. “I’d like to hold you for a while. And if you’re hungry, I will make sandwiches and you will stay off your feet. Hm? Let me get you something to wear.”
“Thank you. For everything.” Harley sighed for him but smiled.
He cleaned up, then brought Harley into the bedroom. “Pajama pants, do you think? Or shorts?”
“Either works. I’ll try to not bleed on anything.” Harley winked at him, obviously trying to lighten things up.
“Mm. Thank you. My living room already looks like something from a murder mystery, so we don’t need to add to the aesthetic.” He handed Harley his pajamas and once the boy was dressed they moved to the couch. Harley cuddled right in as if he was drinking in comfort.
Winter gave it to him, holding him close, smoothing fingers over his boy’s skin. “I can help you, Harley. I can always help. I want to, in fact, because I care about you and the things you need are important to me. But you can’t keep things from me. You can’t pretend you’re fine when you’re not. You have to let yourself be vulnerable with me, so that I can see you. Really see you. And so that I can let you see me too.” He didn’t know a better way to say it, what he needed from his boy was…everything. He needed everything.
“I’m sorry, lover. I just… I wanted to have a fun night. I’d been looking forward to it. I—I know it sounds silly, but I miss you.” Harley’s cheeks were red as beets and hot.
“No, petit. That isn’t silly at all. I missed you too. I didn’t get nearly enough kisses from you this week and, although I’ve been alone in my bed for quite some time, it feels lonely without you next to me now. It’s not silly. Unless we’re both silly, in which case, it hardly matters.” He smiled at his boy, trying to help them both relax.
“Right. I’m totally willing to be silly together.” Harley chuckled softly. “I was scared. I’d never been in an ambulance, and that emergency room?” His eyes went wide. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I felt totally overwhelmed.”
“They can be overwhelming, because they tend to be very busy in this city. But you’ve learned your lesson and you will call me next time, like a good boy, yes?”
“Even if you’re at work? I mean, wouldn’t that bother you?” Harley stroked his jaw. “I would have loved to have you there. I felt…like a yokel. Like a stupid redneck.”
He loved the affection in that soft touch. It was new to him, sweet, kind, and also exciting. “You are neither, though I understand what you mean. I don’t know that I would have felt less uncomfortable, but at least we’d have been together. So yes, at work. In the middle of the night. In the middle of anything.”
“You can call me too. I know how to get around town. I will come help you whenever I can.”
“Such a good boy. I will. If I need you, I will call you, I promise.” He nuzzled noses with Harley. “Or, if I just need tacos.”
“Mmhmm. Or if you’re lonely in bed. I would be here, every day, for that.”
He had to take advantage of that. “Then move in with me.” He said it like he meant it this time. Like it wasn’t a question as much as a decision made. “Move in with me now. Tomorrow.”
“Okay. I have to keep paying rent for two more months. Is that cool with you? I gave my word that I’d do that.”
“Of course. Pay rent. Spend the night with Oliver sometimes if you like. Just…live here with me.” Now they were getting somewhere.
