Page 50 of Refraction

Tucker began to rock, and then he managed to move them to the bed with a few strong motions, settling them in the nest of blankets and pillows and sheets.

Calvin had just begun to shiver and had been about to suggest they get under the blankets himself. He wasn’t at all surprised Tucker beat him to it. He didn’t even care that he was covered in paint; it seemed perfectly right that he should be. Everything else was.

“Better. My heinie was froze.” Tucker chuckled softly, nuzzling his throat. “You smell good.”

“I smell like you, baby. You’re all over me.” Something about saying that out loud made him tingle. “You’re pretty hot when you’re painting. Your intensity, the way all that tension sits in your shoulders, your stance is so aggressive and your hands are so deliberate. I mean, it made me anxious, but it’s something to see.”

“It’s hard work. I always feel bad about saying that, but I feel like it is. Like at the end I’m worn.”

Calvin smiled, making sure Tucker saw it. “If it was easy, tiger, everyone would do it. There’s a price for talent. It’s worth paying, but it’s costly. People wonder how I can be so wiped out after getting my picture taken all day. Don’t feel bad about it. Just know not everyone gets it.”

“Oh, you have to pose. That can be agonizing. I got nothing but respect.”

Calvin loved that. The way Tucker could give praise and mean it.

“And you’re at the mercy of something completely intangible and irrational. I couldn’t do it.” Honestly. He was way too much of a control freak. Things he had no control over made him nervous, put him at loose ends. Made him fluttery. God, he hated that.

“Sometimes I don’t think I can either, but I do. I guess that’s why it’s work.”

It was his calling. Whether it was work or fun or both…. Calvin figured it didn’t really matter. “I know you’re right in the middle of this, but let’s get out for a couple of hours tomorrow anyway. Have you been to any of the museums?”

“I haven’t. I’d love to. There’s so much to look at.” Tucker’s eyes looked so young, even though they were exhausted around the edges.

“Okay, I’m on it. That’s for tomorrow. You’re going to get up again in a bit I bet. Close your eyes while you can, tiger. I’m not going anywhere.” He coaxed Tucker over to lie on his chest. “There, that’s good, right?”

“Perfect. I can hear your heart.” Tucker sounded so pleased.

“It’s remarkably settled, considering you just gave me a good dose of those baby blues. It must be happy. Hopefully it’ll make a good lullaby.” He combed his fingers through Tucker’s hair, pulling it off his face. “Sleep.”

“Sleep.” The easy agreement made him smile, as did the huge, lazy yawn and the way Tucker’s face relaxed, lines disappearing.

He wasn’t ready to doze off again yet. He was still processing the images of Tucker working, and he wanted to stare at the red paint drying on that huge canvas a little more. It was all good. He wanted to stay up and watch over Tucker a little anyway—make sure his dreams were sweet.

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