Page 95 of Rat Park
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Along with Cat’s appointment as Sheriff, autumn also brought the start of Flor’s medical degree. The course didn’t seem inclined to ease the students in, preferring the ‘Let’s see if they can swim’ method instead. Between commuting, classes, lab work, and homework, Dominic’s contact with Flor declined drastically from practically one day to another.
Dominic was too proud of Flor and too used to him not being there at all to mind beyond missing him. There was something about being the place Flor went to when he was stressed and tired, however.
He’d arrive at Dominic’s late on Fridays, his curls a mess and a crazy look in his eyes, muttering about Dr. Franz and her sadistic projects, his fingers twitching like they were still on a keyboard. Dominic would listen to Flor rant for a little while, understanding half of what was being said but not minding, before pulling Flor against him on the couch, between his legs and arms, so that Flor was sprawled over him.
Flor would keep talking, too deep in his own world to notice the change in position, and Dominic would hum in agreement or surprise. Dominic would thread his fingers through Flor’s hair or press gently on the knots at the back of his neck, and Flor’s voice would trail away. Dominic would get to feel how Flor relaxed in increments, muscle by muscle until he was putty in Dominic’s hands.
Sometimes, Flor would fall asleep right there and then. Dominic wouldn’t move for as long as he could, even if his bladder pressed at him or stomach rumbled. Other times, Flor would just doze, a hand clutched lightly in Dominic’s shirt, as if Flor were anchoring himself to the earth through him.
Others, Flor would tilt his head so that he was hot breath against Dominic’s neck and his hips would roll languidly. He’d open his legs and Dominic would press his thigh between Flor’s, increasing the friction. Flor would moan and lift his head and kiss Dominic, an open-mouthed, slow kiss meant for moments just like this.
Out of all the much more explicit things they did together, this was one of Dominic’s favourite. There was just something about Flor’s sleepy and relaxed body, about his mindless search for pleasure in Dominic, about the way the heat turned up so slowly. It was intimate in a way that was new to Dominic. Something people did in relationships, after long days at work, when they could find a moment for each other.
They lay in the aftermath of one such time, sticky and wet and panting still, when Dominic said, “Do you want to move in with me?”
It just came out, springing forth from the depth of Dominic’s wants. A moment later, all the liquid contentment seemed to disappear from Flor, his body tensing against Dominic’s.
Dominic held his breath. Flor could probably hear his heart pounding in his chest.
Flor lifted his head, looking at Dominic with wide eyes. “What?”
“I thought, now that you’re back. And—obviously, if you don’t want to, it’s fine, but I thought maybe if you wanted you could move in with me. Or, find a new place together.”
“You want to live with me,” Flor said a little incredulously. “But. I’m, like. Loud. And messy. And—”
“I want to live with you.”
Flor stared at him for a moment longer before his whole face started transforming. The corner of his eyes, his lips, the muscles high on his cheeks. He laughed incredulously and then planted an ecstatic kiss on Dominic’s lips.
“Oh my God! Oh my God!” Flor laughed.
“Is that a yes?” Dominic asked, feeling almost a dizzying rush of relief as the adrenaline that had been pumping through him calmed down.
“Yes! Yes! Oh my God!” Flor wrapped around Dominic like a limpet and squeezed him for all he was worth until Dominic choked out a laugh. “Sorry. I’m just. We’re going to live together! For real!”
Dominic pulled Flor down for a kiss, but they were smiling too hard to make it work. They pressed their foreheads together instead, and even when Dominic closed his eyes, he could see Flor’s smile glow.
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“I hear congratulations are in order,” Cat said with a sly smile and a hug. It’d been a while since Dominic had seen her at the Brown Paper Bag program due to her schedule now that she was Sheriff, but it was good to see her out.
“Thanks.” Dominic schooled his face to hide the twinge of worry biting at him. Cat looked at him knowingly.
“How ’bout we ride together today?”
“All right,” Dominic agreed, knowing he didn’t have much of an option either way.
They loaded up the car and set off into the cold December night. The radio was on quietly, the silence between them not exactly uncomfortable, but Dominic was still tense in Cat’s passenger seat.
So much had changed since the first ride he’d taken with Cat all those years ago, fresh out of prison and on the verge of going back. If the boy back then had looked at him now, he wouldn’t have believed his eyes. It made Dominic almost sick with gratitude, with a sudden, visceral fear of what could have been.
Dominic owed Cat a debt he would never be able to repay. Not just to her, but to her family. Dominic knew he had insinuated himself further into the Romeros than they had initially intended, and it made him realise Dominic had never talked with Cat about his relationship with her son. There were things about how his relationship with Flor had started that still stung with unvoiced guilt. Flor was a grown man who could make his own decisions, but perhaps Dominic could do with exorcizing some demons from his past.
“I…” Dominic started. “I never really. Thanked you properly. For, you know, everything. Since the start.”
Cat glanced at him. “Honey, thank you, but you know you don’t need to thank me. Having you in our lives is enough.”
