Page 17 of Just a Little in Love

“I got the money,” she almost squealed.

Gabriel’s smile was huge. “Congratulations.” She’d applied for help with her living arrangements.

“So, you know what this means,” she added sternly, and Gabe sighed. They’d had this argument over him helping her financially so many times. “I love you brother, but if you don’t quit I’m never going to forgive you. You have to let me do this on my own. If you love me you will.”

“Only if you promise, absolutely promise, that if you get into difficulty you tell me.”

Clare scoffed. “Only if you promise you’re finally going to follow your dream.” Clare was the only person he’d ever shared his writing with, and she wasn’t stupid. He’d never said, obviously, but she knew why he couldn’t take time off work.

“Love you,” Gabriel said.

“Love you more, baby brother.”

Gabriel stared at his phone for a while after she hung up. The word baby reminded him so much of a certain young submissive that his chest ached. Rowan had seemed to like the new apartments he’d shown him last weekend, but then, in view of what Patrick had said, would Rowan dare tell him if he didn’t?

Gabe got out and glanced at the street. There were a lot of cars parked in the far corner. The two guys that lived there had a lot of friends every weekend, so he wasn’t surprised. He shivered. March was still really cold at night, and he wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t snow again. He turned and jogged up his steps, hearing laughter as his neighbor's door opened, and he glanced over just as he put his key in the lock.

Gabriel stilled, his eyes narrowing as he took in the small blue Chevrolet Bolt he’d seen Rowan drive occasionally. No. That wasn’t… But the longer he stared, the more suspicious he got. It had to be a coincidence. One of the partygoers. There was no way Rowan would drive over here and just sit in his car. The car in front of the Bolt drove off, and the street grew quieter. No engine sounds, so the car wasn’t on. Gabe pulled out his phone and read the confirmation and okay that Rowan had sent earlier when he’d asked him to say what day he wanted to come over. They were meeting in the morning.

Gabe rubbed his head, knowing damn well there was no way he could go in without checking that Rowan wasn’t sitting in the car on his way to hypothermia. He turned and jogged back down the steps and crossed the street, heading for the blue car parked at the end a little apart from the others, and as he got nearer saw the huddled shape in front.

He swore. The door was at least locked when he tried the handle, and Gabe rapped on the door until he heard the locks disengage. He didn’t even wait for Rowan to open the door himself before he yanked it open.

“What the hell are you doing?” He took in the wide blue eyes, the pale skin, and the visible trembling because Rowan was clearly about to freeze to death. He didn’t wait for a reply, just stepped back and opened the back door, grabbing the suitcase he saw there. “Come with me,” he ordered, and Rowan moved. He had a blanket wrapped around him, but there was no way that would be enough. Gabe grunted and marched back to his apartment, hearing the car lock behind him, then cautious footsteps.

He took a breath, and just as he’d been taught by another dominant, let all his anger drain away. The last thing he wanted was to frighten Rowan. He turned and saw Rowan struggling with the blanket. He was going to trip if he wasn’t careful, so with his free hand he took Rowan’s arm, ignoring the startled squeak.

“Come on, let’s get you inside and warmed up, then you can tell me if I’m going to have angry parents sending the cops here.” He would make him some hot chocolate and grab the soft fleeces he’d bought this week.

And if one of them happened to have a picture of a toy space ranger on it, no one had been around to call him out on it.

Chapter nine

Rowan didn’t seem to be able to stop shivering, much as he tried. Daddy Gabriel had wrapped him up in the softest fleece and given him hot chocolate, but he could barely hold it for shaking.

“I’m going to run you a bath,” Daddy Gabriel said decisively and stood. Rowan didn’t seem to be able to articulate the words to stop him. But did he want to? A bath sounded kind of nice. Mother only had showers, and while Father had bathtubs, Rowan could never seem to dare on a weekend to just soak. Daddy Gabriel came back after a moment and held the mug steady so Rowan could sip it.

“Does your mom know where you are?”

Rowan froze, and if Daddy hadn’t used his thumb to encourage Rowan to tilt his head up, he would have kept his gaze firmly on the floor. “She’s away,” he whispered. “They both are.”

Daddy Gabriel sat on the couch next to him. “Is it that you don’t like staying there on your own, or is it that you aren’t able to?”

Rowan tried not to squirm. He sounded so pathetic. “Father is having the carpets cleaned.”

“And your mom?” Daddy Gabriel asked.

“She’s away, but she worries.” Rowan chewed his lip.

“You mean if she knew you weren’t going to your dad’s, she would have insisted you stay with her? Possibly cancel her trip?”

Rowan nodded. He knew he should say more, but the tight ball of anxiety in his chest seemed to be getting bigger. Daddy Gabriel stood and put the mug down, then went into the bathroom. Rowan could hear him move around, then after a couple of minutes he turned the water off and came back out. Rowan hadn’t moved. He barely breathed.

Daddy Gabriel came over to him and took both his hands that were clutching the blanket. “This is what we’re going to do. I’m going to help you get in the bath and get warm. Then you’re going to get a good night’s sleep in the spare bedroom. Then tomorrow, we’re going to talk all this out. So, you need to stop worrying, okay?”

That was easier said than done, but Rowan agreed. He let Daddy Gabriel lead him into the bathroom, then before Rowan could make a move, Daddy was sliding the blanket off him and started unbuttoning Rowan’s chunky cardigan. Then he hesitated. “Sorry, I forgot. It’s automatic.”

Rowan didn’t move. He wanted Daddy Gabriel to continue. Daddy met his gaze. “Rowan, we don’t have a contract or a relationship except one where I hope we can be good friends, but that definitely doesn’t mean I have the right to invade your privacy. I want you to feel safe here. You staying here tonight doesn’t come with any strings.” Daddy Gabriel smiled gently. “Shout out when you’re in the tub and I’ll go grab your pajamas.” Then he left. He’d brought his best pajamas with him. They were plain blue, but soft and the top was almost like a long-sleeved tee, so they weren’t babyish but also didn’t make him look like an old man.

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