Page 26 of Bound in Blood
Mateo nodded, letting his head rest against the wall as he exhaled slowly. He could still feel Logan through the bond. His uncertainty, his exhaustion, something quiet and aching just below the surface. Mateo wondered briefly how far away he could get from Logan before he stopped feeling his emotions, but the thought made him sad in a way he wasn’t ready to unpack, so he shelved it for later.
“All right, I’ll try to stay up a little longer in case he needs anything. You get some sleep, you’re starting to look awful.” Mateo patted his brother on the shoulder as he stepped past him to his room. “And, make sure you keep your door unlocked too. He’s more likely to share his feelings with you.”
He didn’t wait for Marco’s response before crossing into his room and shutting the door behind him.
He hadn’t meant to fall asleep.
Mateo had planned to stay up at least a couple of hours, just in case Logan needed anything, but exhaustion had hit him the second his head hit the pillow. Alone, away from the chaos of the last 48 hours, he discovered that the tether between himself and Logan was incredibly calming when the boy was either sleeping or falling asleep. It thrummed quietly in his chest, and combinedwith the quiet hum of the house around him, he got a bit caught up in the relaxation.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, somewhere between awake and asleep, but he woke at least a good few hours later feeling… off. The bond buzzed with emotion that didn’t belong to him, a strong pulse of something that Mateo couldn’t name.
Mateo blinked the sleep from his eyes, rolling onto his side. His room was dim, afternoon light filtering in through the cracks in the curtains, and in the doorway, standing half in the shadows, was Logan.
Mateo sat up immediately, no time to regret that he was naked besides his boxers. Logan had come tohim?When Marco was right next door?
Logan wasn’t saying anything. Wasn’t even looking atMateodirectly, but the way he stood—shoulders tense, arms crossed like he was trying to hold himself together—sent a flicker of concern through Mateo’s body. Then the light caught Logan’s eyes, and Mateo noticed the way they shone, the dampness on his lashes. His stomach clenched.
“Oh,tesoro,”he murmured, voice still a little rough from sleep, “What’s wrong?”
Logan exhaled, short and shaky, swiping at his face like it would erase the evidence. “Nothing. It’s stupid, I shouldn’t have?—”
Mateo was already moving, crossing the space between them in a few quick strides. He reached out, but stopped himself short of touching Logan, unsure of what would make him more upset.
“Don’t do that,” Mateo said, a little softer, “Don’t brush it off. Talk to me.”
Logan let out a sharp breath, fingers curling tight around the hem of his shirt, like he needed to anchor himself. He stood stock still in the doorway, stiff as a board, like he was afraidto step inside. Like Mateo would be angry with him if he dared cross the threshold. It broke Mateo’s heart.
“I just… I don’t understand,” Logan admitted finally.
Mateo tilted his head, watching him carefully. The bond betrayed nothing of Logan’s feelings. Like he was feeling so many different things it was overloading him. “Don’t understand what,angelo?*?”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” The question came out almost like a demand, “You don’t—You don’t know me, and if this is just because you want to sleep with me or because of the stupidbondI?—”
“Logan,” Mateo’s voice was firm, cutting through Logan’s spiral before it could gain more traction. Logan flinched, eyes wide, like he was waiting for some sort of consequence. Mateo wanted to set himself on fire. He stepped closer to Logan, slow and deliberate, giving him all the chance he needed to step away. Logan didn’t move.
“It’s not because we want to fuck you, Logan,” Mateo offered, as gently as he could. “And yes, the bond does complicate things, but it’s not that either.”
Logan’s jaw tightened, like he wanted to argue, but Mateo didn’t give him the chance to speak. “Youdeservekindness. You know that, right? Youdeservefor someone to take care of you, and to make your life easier.” He lifted his hand, taking hold of Logan’s jaw as gently as he could, tilting it up to force Logan to meet his eyes. “Marco and I want to do that for you. A little because of the bond, but mostly because you’re ours now.”
“What’s the catch, then? The conditions? What doyouget out of it?” Logan asked, sniffling as his tears began to flow a little more freely.
Mateo let out a breath, thumb sweeping away a tear that had fallen to Logan’s jaw. “No catch. No conditions.” His voice softened as he took in Logan’s expression, flickers of disbeliefwarring with something fragile and longing. Who had taught this poor man that compassion came with conditions? Mateo hoped for their sake he never crossed paths with them.
The anger, the sadness, the need to fix everything pulsed madly through Mateo, and he was babbling before he could stop the words from slipping free. “Mio dolce, piccolo amore, non riesco a sopportarlo.?*” He leaned in, pressing his forehead to Logan’s, hands bracketing the other man’s face, grounding them. “Non capisci quanto sei prezioso? Quanto vali? Dio, tesoro, mi spezzi il cuore.?*”He had no idea what he was even saying, the words slipping out like flowing water. He was sure that if he was speaking English, it might be embarrassing later, but he couldn’t find it in him to care.
Logan inhaled sharply, a tiny noise escaping him. He didn’t understand what Mateo was saying, but Mateo knew he felt the sentiment. The bond thrummed with warmth, overwhelming and aching. Mateo’s babbling was working, so he continued, voice thick with emotion as he pressed a kiss to Logan’s temple, then another to the damp tear tracks on either cheek.“Per favore, non piangere, amore mio. Voglio solo che tu sia felice qui.?*”
Vaguely, Mateo was aware that he shouldn’t be using words as strong as ‘amore mio’, but it wasn’t like Logan would understand. He sank into Mateo’s touch, the tension in his body loosening as if he’d finally let go of whatever instinct was telling him to be suspicious. Mateo slid his arms around Logan, pulling him close, his hands rubbing gently over his back. “I’d give anything for you to be happy.”
Logan shuddered in his hold, clinging to Mateo like he was the only thing keeping him grounded. He didn’t sob, didn’t break down completely, but his breath came out in uneven gasps, hitched with suppressed emotions.
“Would you like to lie down in here,dolcezzo??*” Mateo asked quietly, making sure his voice was free of suggestive intent.
Logan hesitated for only a moment before nodding, a tiny, reluctant movement, like he wasn’t sure if he should. Like he had no right to impose. Mateo could feel it, though. The want. The exhaustion, the deep-seated ache of someone who had never let themselves be held without waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Mateo guided him gently, a hand at the small of Logan’s back as he led him towards the bed. “Come on, then,” he murmured, voice soft and warm and just for Logan. “You need to rest.”
Logan let himself be pulled forward, crawling onto the bed, tense like he wasn’t sure he had permission to be there. He settled on his side, body completely stiff. When Mateo slid in beside him, though, Logan relaxed… just a little bit. Mateo didn’t push, didn’t reach for him, despite every instinct in his body telling himtouch, hold, keep him safe.He settled for lying on his back, arm stretched out toward Logan in quiet invitation.
