Page 62 of Loving You

He made a mental note to do something about it if Monty was swamped again. Maybe he was overstepping, but he was ready to take risks. He wasn’t going to live Monty’s life for him or fight his battles, but he would be there to hold him up the moment he got tired.

Bronx had the tea tray in his hands when he started for the bedroom, and halfway there, he heard a loud thud. By now, he knew what it was. He hurried through the door, sloshing hot water all over the little plates, and he all but threw the tray on the bed before dropping to his knees.

Monty was on his back, eyes closed, one hand in the middle drawer of his dresser. His breathing was even, and he was a little pale, but Bronx reminded himself this was normal for him. He was okay.

He picked up his limp hand and held it. “Come back to me, sparky. Please. I need to finish spoiling you.”

It took less than a minute before Monty began to twitch. He grimaced, then took in a deep breath, and it looked like he was forcing his eyelids open. Bronx held his breath until Monty met his gaze, and while he still looked a little confused, he was coming around.

“Faint?”

Monty shook his head and slowly licked his lips. “I heard you. I’m here.” His voice was raspy and small. Hecleared his throat, then pulled his hand away and used it to sit up. “You don’t need to do this for me.”

“I know.” Bronx stood up and held his hands down, hauling Monty to his feet. “But you were amazing tonight. I don’t even have the words.”

“And it cost me,” Monty said, gesturing at himself. “I didn’t think I could ever be so brave. I’m just glad this didn’t happen in front of him.”

Bronx sighed and reached past Monty, grabbing the pajama pants he’d had in his hands and pressing them against Monty’s chest. “I made tea. Go change. Take your meds. Do what you need to do. Then come to bed.”

Monty smiled at him. “Merci, mon chéri. I don’t want tea though. I just want to be held.”

“That I can do.” Bronx waited for him to go into the bathroom before he stripped to his boxers and borrowed a pair of Monty’s sweats. He set his phone on the nightstand, moved the tea to the dresser, then pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. He listened for another thud, but all he heard was the toilet flushing, then the water running, and eventually, Monty appeared.

He stared at Bronx for a long moment, then walked over and turned the lights off. The darkness falling felt almost physical—cold at first, then warm as Monty slid into his arms. He rested his ear against Bronx’s chest and yawned.

“Tonight doesn’t feel real.”

“I know.” Bronx kissed the top of his head before settling against the pillows. It was earlier than he liked to go to bed, but he’d been wound up after the long day and stressful night. Sleep was tugging at his edges. “But it was real. You were fantastic.”

“You helped me feel like I could be brave and still be protected if something happened.”

“You will always be protected while I’m around. For as long as you want me.”

“I’m starting to realize that,” Monty murmured. His voice was heavy. “Can we stay like this?”

Bronx squeezed tight. “For as long as you want.”

Chapter Sixteen

MONTY

“Uh…there’ssome kid here to see you.”

Monty looked up from his computer, frowning. “A child? A client’s child?”

“I’m gonna say no,” Matthew chanced. “But maybe yes? I don’t know. He’s, um…uh.” He leaned into the office further. “I don’t know how to say it without sounding rude.”

Monty raised his brow. “Better say it rude, then. I’ve only got thirty minutes for lunch.”

Matthew slapped a hand over his face. “He can probably hear me. He’s—” Matthew gestured to his eyes. ‘Blind,’ he mouthed.

For fuck’s sake. Why did everyone who worked for him turn into an awkward mess whenever they didn’t understand something? “Show him in.”

“Oh. I don’t…how do I do that?”

“By stepping aside,” came Lucas’s voice. There was sharp ting sound, like hard aluminum hitting the doorframe, and then Monty saw his cane tip sweep from side to side in the doorway as though testing the distance.

Matthew all but leapt out of the way, and Monty heard him stumble, then curse. Lucas was holding back a laugh as he took a few steps into the room. “They always do that.”

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