Page 32 of Treasure and Tarot

“They do if they’re silly tarot-reading professionals with a terrible classics addiction, I guess.”

“Well, you might be that, but you’re not a rube.” He reached across the table and took one of Bastian’s hands off his wineglass, holding it. “You’re amazing. And I am beyond angry with my parents. I never thought they were this…” Colton hunted for the words. “I never knew they hated me this much for being who I am, baby. They let me sit there in that hospital, the doctors doing all they could to bring me back to being a real boy, and they took you away from me. And took my chance to watch Abby be a baby. All her firsts.”

Sebastian sniffed a little. “That’s just so awful.”

“Yes. And I may never speak to them again.”

“I’m—”

“Don’t you dare apologize.” He squeezed that hand he held. “They did this. Not you. And I’m sorry I didn’t just come here. As soon as I was up and around, Gent approached me about doing the show. He said he knew I wouldn’t be doing the big Indiana Jones stuff anymore, so this could be a good gig.”

Sebastian nodded. “So, then you were building a crew and getting the show off the ground…”

“Yeah. And I was learning to be something new. This—” He motioned to his leg with his free hand. “I never expected. I always felt bulletproof.”

“Will you tell me?”

Colton gathered his thoughts, not wanting to relive it, but he knew he owed Sebastian that. “I was on that trip. The one I got called away from you for. I thought it would be my last big hurrah of dangerous stuff.” He scoffed. “I guess it was. Anyway, it was supposed to be too good to pass up. A cache of artifacts that hadn’t seen the light of day for five centuries. Spanish gold. But we had to do a controlled charge on a small cave-in inside the cavern to open it up. Except it fell in on me instead.”

Sebastian’s eyes went wide, his lips parting. Colton wanted to kiss them. So badly. “Colton!”

“Yeah. I was trapped for three hours. Luckily, my leg didn’t start to bleed me out until they got the one big chunk of rock off it. Thankfully, one of my crew knew how to tie a tourniquet.”

“How awful! And your parents?”

“They didn’t even bother to move me to a hospital in the States. Gent did that. We were already business partners. He thought I would die or lose my leg if he left me in the Caribbean any longer. He didn’t know we were—” He sucked in a deep breath. “I hadn’t told Gent I was going to settle down with you if I could.”

Sebastian stood and rushed around the table, grabbing him in a bear hug. “That’s so terrible. And terrifying. How could they?”

“I don’t know.” He grabbed Sebastian, holding on tight, burying his face against Bastian’s lean chest. “They told me I would never walk again. Then that I would have to always wear a brace. I was determined to prove them wrong.”

“And you did.”

“Kinda.” He laughed, his throat all clogged. “It hurts a lot most days.”

“I can tell.” Sebastian looked down at him. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that.”

“And I’m sorry I left you alone to go through what you did.” He pulled Sebastian down on his lap, giving up on trying to act like he was okay with them not touching or loving on each other.

“Is this okay? I don’t want to hurt your leg.”

Sebastian was warm on his thighs, and everything in his body fought to pay attention. “It’s okay. Trust me, it’s more than okay.”

“All right.” Sebastian breathed in deep. “You still smell good to me.”

“Well, I’m glad that that hasn’t changed.” So much had, but that hadn’t. The way that he wanted Sebastian.

“Yeah, but you haven’t missed all of Abby’s firsts, you know. She’s never been trick-or-treating. She’s never had a sleepover. She’s never been to kindergarten. There’s lots of firsts left, I mean… I can share them with you.”

He wasn’t sure what exactly Sebastian was offering, but he’d take whatever it was. “That’s sweet, honey. Honest. And yeah. I’d love that. I’ve missed a lot.”

Sebastian nodded and offered him a bittersweet smile. “It’s amazing. I don’t know. I just don’t—I don’t understand. But I guess that’s okay. I guess I don’t have to.”

“No. I do need you to know I’m here for it, though. The whole shebang. No one is going to keep me from helping you however I need, from being there for you.” He stroked Sebastian’s back, feeling the warmth of him through their clothes. It made his cock rise right up, but he wasn’t pushing that right now.

This was about them coming to terms with what had happened.

“So… I suppose it’s a bad idea to kiss you, huh? Like, super stupid.”

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