Asylum (Pride and Joy Book 2) by Robert Winter

Author:Robert Winter [Winter, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, M/M
ISBN: 9781948883009
Publisher: Robert Winter Books
Published: 2018-04-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Hernán woke abruptly in his darkened room with the sense he’d shouted. Sheets twisted around his waist, the Henley and flannel pants he slept in were soaked with sweat, and his skin was clammy and cold. He didn’t know why.

A dream. It had to have been.

Vague recollection settled in. Lonnie again, like always, coming closer and closer. There had been a locked door, right? He had been very afraid, and terribly alone.

He closed his eyes and tried to recall the rest. Like pressing his tongue against a sore tooth, he didn’t want to remember but couldn’t help trying.

A gentle rap on the open door to his room startled him. Colin stood in the hallway, respectfully keeping his distance. “Hernán? Are you all right? I heard you shout something.” The concern in his voice reached into Hernán’s quivering heart, and brought with it calm.

“You can come in,” he said softly. Both had spoken in low tones, even with no one else in the apartment to disturb.

Colin padded toward the bed, his bare feet rasping quietly on the carpet. Even two weeks before, Hernán had lain sleepless for fear he would hear that sound, but tonight it meant someone cared.

In the dim light Hernán could tell Colin wore sleep pants and a T-shirt. He shifted up in the bed until he was propped by the pillows, and he untangled the sheets and blanket as best he could. Colin sank cautiously onto the edge of the bed, as if afraid to get too close. One hand began to reach for Hernán but then pulled back abruptly.

Hernán took the wandering hand and twined his fingers through it. Colin squeezed back.

“I’m fine. Just a bad dream,” Hernán said.

“Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes that helps.”

“I really don’t even remember what it was about. It was probably nothing.”

Colin let it go, but he raised Hernán’s hand and kissed his knuckles. It was such a casual gesture that Colin no doubt thought nothing of it. Hernán, though… He recalled his grandmother rapping his hand over and over with a hot spoon. The brush of Colin’s lips against his knuckles suddenly felt more real to him than the remembered cruelty. Softer, kinder, more…

Colin said, “Okay. Let me know if you need anything.” He began to rise but Hernán held onto his hand tightly. His heart fluttered again, but for a different reason than his fading nightmare. It wasn’t fear, but anticipation.

“Stay,” he said softly. When Colin hesitated, Hernán moved over on the bed to make room. With his free hand, he threw back the blanket and sheet. Colin made a pleased little sound that brought a smile to Hernán’s face. He hesitated for a moment longer, and then climbed into the bed.

They lay facing each other in the darkened room, still joined by one hand. “I’m sorry I woke you up,” Hernán whispered.

“Don’t be sorry,” Colin answered. Cautiously he leaned forward to give Hernán a chaste kiss on the lips.

The kind warmth Colin offered was exactly what he’d craved.

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