Of Love (8 page)

“Thank you.” It meant a lot to him.

“Just don’t overdo it on the sweets,” Dex teased.

“Can we still be friends? I mean, I won’t ask you to babysit or anything.”

“Friends with benefits?” Dex suggested. “We mesh so well, and I don’t want to lose that.”

“Friends with benefits.” He knew that would go away, but that was okay. He’d be busy in the spring and so would Dex with running. Kent stood up, desperate for a cup of coffee or tea or something. “Would you like something to drink?”

“I would. You have any juice?” Dex stood too, following him into the kitchen and wrapping around behind him. “I really do care about you, Kent. I like you so much, more than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“I care about you too. I never said anything about the baby because we hadn’t become friends yet, and it never works the first time. Never.”

“It’s okay, I don’t think you tried to trap me into something by getting your friend pregnant.” Dex laughed. “God, now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d ever say.”

Kent chuckled softly and poured an orange juice for Dex, a coffee for him, a nice sweet one with lots of cream.

“So, uh, when do you get the baby?” Dex asked.

“Well, she’s not very far along. She thinks June.” And really, at some point he wanted to call his folks, his sister, maybe his friends Dan and Andrew, who had a six-month-old of their own, and be excited.

He handed Dex the juice and then sipped his coffee, letting the heat soothe him.

Dex drank back the juice, put it down, and put an arm around Kent’s shoulders. “Wanna go sit again and cuddle?”

“Yeah. How was your day?” he asked, going for something not baby related.

“It was good. It was a running day, and I did thirty miles in four hours.”

“Wow. That’s impressive.” It honestly was.

“Thanks. I’m going to the Thanksgiving triathlon in California. It’s a charity run. I was actually hoping you’d come with me. Once the race is over I’ll have time to sightsee with you.”

“I’d like that. You still want a ride to the race on Wednesday?”

“I do. You can still go, right?”

“Sure. I’ve cleared my schedule.” His head was beginning to throb, pounding from throwing up.

“You’re looking a little grim, sweet. Turn around and let me at your shoulders.”

“You sure?” He felt weird. Like he’d done something wrong. He hadn’t meant to; he’d just…. He hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly, so he hadn’t mentioned it. Maybe he should have. He was going to keep on top of things from now on because he was going to be a dad.

“Of course I’m sure. Although maybe we should just have makeup sex—that’s supposed to be wild and amazing after an argument, right?”

“I…. Would you be pissed if I just asked for a back rub and to sit together for a few minutes? It’s been a crazy day.” He hated to turn Dex down, but he was whatever the polar opposite of horny was.

“No, that’s totally doable. Take your shirt off for me, though, so I can give you a proper rub down.”

He pulled his shirt off, then handed Dex the remote and stretched out on the sofa. Dex found an easy-listening station and began rubbing his shoulders, hands digging in.

“Oh….” Kent let his eyes close and prayed a little that he could just not think.

“You’re all tight.”

“Yeah.” This was a day of firsts.

“Is that my fault? Because we… well, argued?” Dex asked.

“I feel bad, like I screwed you over. I didn’t, though.”

“Sweet, we didn’t make lifelong commitments to each other or anything. And I can date a dad, right?”

“You can.” He didn’t think Dex would want to, but they had time to have fun now. “It would suck if dads couldn’t date.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess it would. There are a lot of single ones out there.” Dex found a spot of knots in his back and worked it hard.

“Oh!” Kent’s legs trembled, shaking hard as the knot let go.

“Damn. There’s another one here.”

“S-sorry.” Whoa.

“For what?” Dex asked, working that knot insistently.

He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Dex kissed the back of his neck. “Let’s watch a movie or something and order pizza.”

“I’d love that.” He grabbed Dex’s hand. “I’m sorry that I disappointed you, honey.”

“I don’t have any right to be disappointed by your life decisions, Kent. Besides, I was just surprised, you know?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know. I do.” He did.

“Cool. And good. I was just thinking you were too perfect to be true. Now you’re not perfect, so I know you’re real.”

“Yeah.” Kent nodded and finished his coffee. That was him, the fucked-up one.

Dex found a show to watch and tugged him in close. He let himself lean, let himself breathe.

As they watched the movie, laughing and holding each other close, things began to feel normal again. At least as normal as they could be.

DEX WAS
going to finish the race, but he wasn’t placing in the top ten like he’d hoped. It was his own fault too. Races were usually a meditation for him. He’d clear his mind and let his muscles take over. He’d been having trouble centering this time, his mind constantly circling back to the stunning news that Kent was going to be a dad. On purpose.

He’d been growing more and more sure they were going to be a couple; now he wasn’t so sure. Dex wasn’t exactly the paternal type.

Growling at himself as he rounded the last corner to the final straightaway, he forced his mind to calm and put on speed, determined to catch up to at least one person ahead of him. He simply breathed and pushed himself through the pain, through the fatigue, his legs pumping harder, moving him faster.

His muscles were burning, his lungs on fucking fire, but he just kept pushing and pushing. He was aware of the first person he passed, but after that, there was nothing in front of him but the finish line. Then he was crossing it, just flying by it.

He heard loud cheering, someone chanting his name and then other people joining in. He raised his arms up, pumping the air before he started going down—he’d left everything on the racetrack.

A bottle of water was pressed into his hand, a towel wrapped around his shoulders.

“I’ve got you, Dex. You did so well.”

He tried to open the bottle twice before he realized the cap was already off. Tilting the bottle, he poured the water down his throat and let Kent support him.

His legs were like jelly. “Yeah?”

“You amaze me.”

Dex tried to give Kent a smile. He didn’t feel very amazing just at the moment. Kent stroked his back, touching him, petting him. He wanted to collapse, but he knew he needed to walk it out, to cool down. For his heart, for his muscles. It felt amazing, having Kent there for him.

“How’d I place?” he asked.

“I have no idea. I didn’t see a single person that wasn’t you.”

He laughed breathlessly at that. “Hard one today.”

“You did great, though. Perfect.”

“Thanks, sweet. I’m glad you think so.” He’d worry about his time and placement later, when he had his breath back and he didn’t feel like collapsing in a heap. He knew the importance of keeping moving.

“How can I help?” Kent asked.

“This is great.” He was leaning on Kent as they walked, and for now that was keeping him upright. “Just gotta keep moving.”

“You got it. Great job, by the way. You’re totally upright and moving.”

He laughed again. “God, you make me happy, Kent.” It was the truth, the man did.

Kent kissed his cheek, the touch featherlight. He was too tired, not to mention stinky, to return the kiss or turn it into more, but it made him smile and put a little extra into his walk. He was still a little wobbly-legged, but it was getting better.

“More water, honey?” Kent asked.

“Is there Gatorade?” He’d brought some, he thought.

“Totally. You okay for me to run to the cooler?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I think I can stand on my own now.” He was still exhausted, but his legs were going to hold him.

“Cool. Give me two shakes.”

He grabbed Kent’s hand and shook twice.

“Butthead.” Kent was laughing, though, smiling at him.

He grinned back, holding the blanket closed around him as he kept slowly moving.

Kent brought him a drink, opened it for him. He took down about half of it in one go. He felt it hit his belly and knew it would help his recovery, even if he hated the flavor.

“Better?” Kent was right there, supporting his shaky ass.

“Yeah. Yeah, I think I’ll live.”

“Well, good. If you died in my car, you’d start to smell.”

Dex laughed again. “That would suck. And I’d miss out on a fancy dinner with you.”

“See? Fancy dinner, lots of candlelight and laughing.”

“Sounds perfect.” And give him an hour and a shower and he would enjoy it.

“Do you need to keep walking?”

“Yeah, and I should pick up my end-of-race packet. Then we can go back to the hotel and I’ll shower.”

“Sounds perfect. I’ll get the cooler loaded up,” Kent offered.

“You rock.” Dex headed for the participants’ desk, moving better already.

One of the young men behind the desk clapped for him. “Great job, Dex. You were looking good.”

“Thanks, Jim.”

The young volunteer was at most of the local and semilocal runs. “Do you happen to know where I placed?”

“You came in at 3:35. Not bad.”

No, but not good. Dex sighed. His head had not been where it should have been for days. Honestly, he needed to get over himself. Kent had his own life and was doing his own thing. Dex loved their friendship, loved being with the man. That was more than enough. It had to be, right?

He liked Kent too much for it not to be.

After picking up his paperwork, his finisher T-shirt, and his medal, he headed off toward where Kent had parked the car, still moving a little slowly. He needed a shower, a snack, and a predinner nap, he thought.

He looked around for Kent. They had left the car this way, hadn’t they?

Kent honked, waved. “I moved closer!”

Oh thank God, he’d thought he was losing his mind. He waved back and headed for Kent’s SUV.

He crawled in, and Kent handed him more water. “Drink up.”

“You rock.” He took a good long gulp. “I’m glad we decided on the hotel and making a trip out of it.” It was an hour and a half or so home, but it felt good knowing that he’d be shower and napbound in a matter of minutes.

“Yeah, this makes it a real celebration.” Kent was all smiles.

“It does. I can’t wait for that shower.”

Kent chuckled. “I bet. Thank goodness for valet service.”

“Yeah. You gonna join me and wash my back?”

“You know I will. You’re the king of the universe today.” Kent reached over, patted his leg.

“You’re certainly making me feel like I am.”

“I try.” Kent gave him another one of those quick, happy smiles.

“You do better than try.”

They pulled up at the hotel, and he got out, letting Kent deal with the cooler and the valet. It was damn nice not to have to worry about anything. He headed into the hotel, hit the button on the elevator, sort of moving on autopilot. Kent joined him just as the elevator arrived, and they got on together, taking it to the sixth floor.

He followed when they got out, admiring Kent’s ass.

Their room was at the end of the hall in an amazing suite with the world’s best private Jacuzzi. He couldn’t wait to have his shower, let Kent get him clean, and then melt into the hot tub.

Kent managed to get the door open to their suite, even with the cooler. Oh man. He sucked, not even helping a little bit.

“Sorry, sorry. I am just out of it.”

“Huh? For what?” Kent shooed him. “Go get in the shower, and I’ll get the hot tub started.”

“For letting you deal with everything on your own—I couldn’t even open the door for you!”

“You ran a million miles.”

“A million and one. And I swam for a million more. The biking doesn’t count, it was barely any work.” It was the easiest of the three parts of the race.

“There you go.” Kent patted his ass. “Go on, honey. I’ll be right in.”

Dex stole a kiss, then went in and started the shower, which was about twice the size of his at home. Awesome.

It felt amazing to stand under the hot water, let it beat down on his tired muscles.

The scent of soap hit his nostrils before he heard the shower door close. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He turned and leaned back against the tile, finding a warm smile for Kent.

“So proud of you.” Kent rubbed the little hotel bar of soap between his hands, making suds.

“Thanks, sweet. That means a lot.”

“It’s true.” Kent began to wash him, hands sliding over his skin.

Moaning at the touches, he simply leaned back and enjoyed it. “I’ll do you next time,” he promised.

“Shh. Just let me love on you.”

“I can do that.” His eyes fell almost closed as he watched Kent.

The touches were steady and gentle, not demanding anything but peace and ease. He let his eyes drift completely closed, letting Kent make him feel good. There was nothing sexual about the hands on him, but he found them as necessary as any touch he’d ever had. A low moan bubbled out of him as his muscles all relaxed beneath Kent’s gentle ministrations.

“Mmm. Better,” murmured Kent. “There you go.”

The water felt amazing, the heat and pressure perfect. “Yeah. Yeah, thank you. You’re hired.”

“Woo-hoo!” Kent’s little cheer cracked him up.

He took hold of Kent’s arm and tugged him close, stealing a lazy kiss. “I honestly feel better now than I ever do after a race.”

“Well, you deserve a little care, huh?”

“I’m serious. I’m going to bring you to all my races.” It was awesome, having Kent here with him.

“Sounds perfect. I can lather you up and hose you down.”

“Oh yeah, baby.” Laughing, he gave Kent a kiss. “Now somebody promised me a nap and dinner.” Although technically dinner had been his idea.

“You got it, running man.” Kent kissed him back, then turned off the water, started to dry him.

Even though he knew he should help Kent out, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to let Kent pamper him. He’d get the guy next time Kent had a bad day. Kent didn’t seem concerned at all. He honestly could get used to this. Totally.