Page 44 of Color Chameleon
Darcy answered without hesitation.“Bed.”
“You got it.”Charma double checked that the door was locked, then led Darcy to the bedroom.He closed that door, too, and then pulled the blinds.They didn’t cut the light out completely, but it still made it feel cozy, and like they were shutting out the world.
Darcy just stood by the bed, looking frozen.Charma would bet that now he was safe and home, his coping skills were about worn to the bone.He stripped Darcy and helped him into bed before pulling off his own clothes and joining his lover.
Darcy immediately rolled into his arms and Charma held on.“I’ve got you,” he said firmly.
Darcy gave a soft sob and buried his face in Charma’s neck, shaking.
Pulling the covers up, Charma then held Darcy closer, slowly stroking his back.
“I’m sorry,” Darcy said after a few minutes, shaking unabated.“I can’t stop.”
Charma nodded.“You’re safe and you know it.Your brain knows it and your body knows it.And it’s just doing all that freaking out you didn’t do while you were kidnapped.”
“I don’t know, I think maybe there was more than a little freaking out on my part.”
“No way.You were brave and amazing.You escaped!That’s not freaking out.That’s being proactive and helping yourself.I am so proud of you.”
“Well, once I heard Paster Peter and Camp Good Hope, I knew I had to get out of there before it was too late.”Darcy shuddered.“I just don’t know why they suddenly tried to get me there again.It’s been years.I didn’t even think they knew where I was.”
Darcy’s words reminded him that it had been his parents who’d had him kidnapped.Charma hated them.Like truly.
“Yeah, it’s weird.You said you’d tried to call them a couple times after you’d left?”
“And they wanted nothing to do with me.Unless I was willing to ‘renounce my ungodly ways’ and that wasn’t happening.”Darcy was still shaking, and Charma just kept holding on.He figured eventually Darcy would stop when he’d let off enough tension and upset.
“Who knows, maybe that Pastor Peter guy got up in their business and encouraged them.It’s all about the numbers with churches, right?”
“Pastor Peter was always up in their business.He was up in everyone’s business.I guess I’ll never know unless I ask them and I don’t want to talk to them.Not ever again.”
“I am totally behind that sentiment, lover.”
“So this didn’t scare you off me?”Darcy asked.
“Nope.You’re stuck with me, no matter who tries to take you away from me.”
“Good.”
“Uh-huh.”Charma kissed the top of Darcy’s head and kept patting him.
Eventually the shaking subsided and Charma was pretty sure Darcy was asleep, his breathing even, his body heavy.
It was only then that Charma let himself drift off, too.
Banging woke Charma up and he frowned.It had clearly woken Darcy too, because he sat up straight like a shot.
“What the hell is that?”Darcy asked, looking around a little wildly, eyes huge.
“I don’t know.”Charma shook himself more awake, trying not to growl at Darcy because it wasn’t his fault he’d been woken up.He didn’t feel like he’d gotten nearly enough sleep, although there wasn’t much light coming in from around the blinds and the little clock on the bedside table said it was just after 7 pm.
The banging started again, and Darcy frowned.“I think it’s the front door.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”Charma growled and got up, throwing on a T-shirt and the jeans he’d been wearing earlier.
Darcy gave him a look.And yeah, that had been a strong reaction, but he was pretty sure he knew who was at the front door.
“It’s going to be someone my mom sent even though Itoldher I was turning off my phone.”
