Page 44 of Fresh Start
Dawson pursed his lips. "They were beards. My publicist arranged for them so it'd look like I have a life outside of my acting. To put out any rumors going around. Especially after I got cast as Detective Strong and the films took off, it was deemed necessary."
"I always assumed you were bisexual. I mean, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was rooting for you and Helen to get together," Leo admitted.
Dawson laughed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"If it was up to her, we'd be an item. But I couldn't do that to her. Lead her on," Dawson said.
"Well…" I started. "I'm obviously not rooting for you and her anymore."
"Oh yeah?" Dawson drawled. "Whoare yourooting for?"
I put my hands on Dawson's shoulders and massaged his nape.
"Now that you're mine? I'm rooting for you and me, of course."
"I like that," Dawson grunted. "Say that again."
"Say what again?"
"The mine bit," Dawson said.
A tingling sensation crawled under my skin. The two of us, right there, under the hot water, felt like fate. As if we were meant to be.
"Dawson Eldred, you are mine. And only mine," I whispered in his ear and teased his lobe with my tongue.
Dawson growled and wrapped his hands around my thighs, lifting me in his arms. I pulled him in for a kiss as Dawson backed up against the wall and showed me his appreciation.
Again.
Thirteen
Dawson
After the shower, Leo and I went down for breakfast together. I wanted so desperately to hold his hand, and I had to fight with reason.
Not holding him, touching him after yesterday’s events made me feel... incomplete. And I knew it was stupid thinking and feeling that way after being together for only twenty-four hours, but I couldn’t help myself.
Yes, we’d been in a relationship before, but between the last time and the present, there was a seventeen-year gap. Seventeen years we could have spent together exploring what that thing was between us. Finding out if we were meant to be had, instead, been spent on different continents without a hint of contact between us and a bunch of mixed-up feelings about one another.
But now, fate, God, whatever it was, had brought us back together, and I couldn't be more grateful about it. Being next to Leo and sharing my experience with him was what my soul needed. I just didn't know it until I had it again.
When we entered the restaurant, Melody was standing by the doorway with a big smile on her face.
"Good morning, James,” she said, and then her eyes creased when she saw Leo standing next to me. “I didn’t see you at breakfast yesterday,” she said obviously trying to ignore the questions she had for her brother.
Despite how much it scared me coming out and people knowing who I was, I found myself quite at peace with Melody knowing. After all, she was Leo’s sister. And she was a lovely human being.
“Yeah, we—I ran out of time,” I said, and her lips quirked to the side in a mischievous grin. “But I’m starving for some breakfast now.”
“Let me get your tables then. Wouldn’t want to keep you... hungry,” she said and headed off for a table by the window.
We followed her, and as I took a seat, Melody walked off to another table staring at Leo.
“Actually,” Leo said. “We are sharing. If you don’t mind.”
Melody’s brow perked up, and she nodded.
