Page 72 of Private Exhibit
And there was Andy—still dressed in the same clothes he'd been wearing yesterday—draped over the desk, fast asleep.
Chapter 26
ANDY WOKE with a gasp when something touched his hand.
Devon jumped back. “I'm so sorry!”
Andy scrubbed a hand over his face and blinked hard. “Dev?”
“I'm so sorry,” the boy repeated. “I didn't mean to startle you.”
Andy slowly shook his head and looked around. “What are you doing here? What time is it?”
“Almost ten.”
“Shit!” Andy shot out of the chair, trying to get his bearings. He'd completely lost track of time last night, going back over all of the files. Sometime around five that morning, he'd put his head down in frustration, feeling like he was getting nowhere.
And that was the last thing he remembered.
Devon shyly stepped forward. “Here,” he murmured.
Andy blinked. The boy held a fresh mug of coffee in his hands. “What's this?” Andy asked.
Devon shrugged. “I started a pot downstairs, and then when I found you up here, I went back down and…”
Andy gratefully took the mug. “Thank you.” He took a sip and groaned with relief. It was made just the way he liked it. Andy took another sip, then pulled Devon close and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Thank you,” he repeated in a murmur.
Devon smiled and burrowed into his side.
Andy held him with one arm while he gulped down some more coffee, waiting for it to take effect, then looked down at Devon again. “Hey. You alright?”
Devon slowly nodded. “I missed you.”
Andy couldn't help smiling at that. “I missed you, too.” In the middle of the night, surrounded by memories of death, Andy had been sorely tempted to drive back to Devon's apartment. To wake him up just long enough to get inside and crawl into bed with him. “I'd actually forgotten how good it felt to share a bed with someone.”
Devon held him a little tighter. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Andy brushed another kiss on the boy's forehead.Gods. It had been years since he'd gotten to sleep beside someone. For a while there, he'd managed to forget what he was missing. But now? He couldn't imagine lying in his bed all alone ever again.
Except he knew he'd have to do so. His time with Devon was limited. One night, Devon might be lying beside him, and the next night, the boy might be lying on his slab instead.
“Shit!” Andy gasped.
Devon flinched. “What?”
“The Masons.” Andy gulped down some more coffee, then slammed down the mug. “I completely forgot. They're coming for a viewing.” He eyed the clock. “Damn it. They're probably already here.” He looked down at himself, realizing he was in yesterday's clothes and that he hadn't showered or brushed his teeth.
Devon picked up the mug and held it out to him. “Finish this. Then go downstairs and take a shower while I go see if they're even here yet.”
Andy paused, and he couldn't help chuckling a little. “You do realize I'm the daddy, right?”
Devon blushed and laughed.
Andy gave the boy a kiss, then did as he was told. Because Devon was right. They left the office and headed for the elevator, Andy finishing his coffee as they went. Down in the basement, Andy grabbed a fresh pair of underwear from the change of clothes he always kept handy, then snatched a clean set of scrubs from a cabinet before he ducked into the washroom and took a quick shower. He dried off, finger-combed his hair, brushed his teeth, and got dressed.
When he stepped back out into the office, he found Devon waiting for him with another half-full mug of coffee. “A nurse just came by,” Devon said as he handed Andy the mug. “The Masons just got here. She took them to the waiting area.”
“Thanks,” Andy said with a nod, then gulped down some coffee. He eyed Devon.Gods, he's beautiful. The more Andy looked at him, the less he saw the plain boy he'd noticed at first glance and the more he saw this stunning, lovable, precious young man.
