When to Hold Them by G.B. Gordon

Author:G.B. Gordon [Gordon, G.B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: 2015-04-26T04:00:00+00:00

It was still dark outside when he woke up, in the dim light of the bedside lamp, a little sore, but perfectly content and snug against Xavier’s body.

Xavier’s fingers brushed against his cheekbone. “How’re you feeling?”

“My bones have disappeared, but I’ve never felt better in my life.” He turned his face into Xavier’s palm and kissed it, unexpectedly overwhelmed by gratitude.

Xavier half turned and reached for something on the nightstand, then pressed a glass into Doran’s hand. “Here. Drink.”

“What is it?”

“Just water.”

It took the water hitting his tongue for him to realize how thirsty he was. He didn’t stop until the glass was empty. “Good.”

Xavier winked at him. “Most amazing water you’ve ever had?”

“Something like that.” He lay back, hoping he could just drift back off to sleep, but his stomach gave a long, low rumble.

“Let me guess,” Xavier said. “Despite having devoured a gigantic pizza only two hours ago, you’re starving.”

“Sorry.”

“Uh-huh. Let me see what I can scrounge up.” He brushed the hair out of Doran’s eyes, then rolled out of bed and went to the little fridge. “I hope sandwiches are okay, because, if you want breakfast in the morning, there’s not much else here.”

“Sure.”

Xavier set out bread, cheese, lettuce, and mayo, and they made their sandwiches and chewed in silence.

Doran was glad of it. His brain hadn’t engaged again yet, was still stumbling around somewhere in the echoes of that “Strip” and the way Xavier had looked him over as if Doran belonged only to him. He could get lost in that memory and in wishing he could always be that desired and confident. And, oh my god, it had been so hot.

Xavier got up to clear the dishes, and Doran scrambled to help. The little plastic clip that closed up the bread bag had turned into a complicated puzzle, as had the screw-on lid for the mayonnaise jar. That or his fingers had ceased to be connected to his brain somehow.

He was still fighting the latter when Xavier turned and took both of Doran’s hands in his. Warm and gentle, despite the hard calluses that had felt so incredible on Doran’s skin earlier.

“Feeling a little more yourself again?”

“Yes,” Doran breathed. It wasn’t a lie, though it wasn’t the whole truth either. With Xavier he’d never be his old self again, and he didn’t want to be. He—

“Did you get a chance to complete your sheet?”

Sheet? What sheet? Oh, that sheet. “Yeah, all ready for the next step.” Tuesday seemed such a long way off.

“Show me?”

Wait. What? “Y-you want to see it?”

“I’d like to, yes.”

No! Nonono. That had been an exercise for himself only. Dr. Jenkins had said so. He’d dug deep, like he was supposed to, had thought about all the garbage he’d put himself and others through, and written it down. All the crap about the lost money, and Lionel Turner and his goon, and skimming, and jail. If Xavier read all that, his face would change, and he would get rid of Doran as fast as he could.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.