Page 45 of From the Flames
THE KIDSwere in bed, and Willy sat in the living room with a single light on, thinking. Since he’d gotten home from dinner with Kevin, he’d gotten the kids ready for bed. Then, in the quiet, his mind began to race. He knew he had a tendency to spiral out of control at times like this, so he called Evelyn.
“Tell me I’m not going crazy,” he said as soon as she answered. He could almost see her rolling her eyes in the silence that followed.
“You aren’t going crazy, but you are nuts,” she said flatly. “Now what is all this about?”
“Kevin,” he said softly. “I can’t really talk about the details, but he’s doing something that could put him in danger, and I’m worried. It’s stupid, I know that.”
“That you’re worried about him?” she asked. “I don’t think so. We always worry about those we love. It’s just human nature. The thing is, can you live with the worry in order to have him around? That’s what you have to think about. I mean, the choice is simple.”
“No, it’s not.”
Evelyn cleared her throat. “Yes, it is, and I’m starting to feel like I’m talking to my sister when we were six and she’d just taken my cookie.” Willy chuckled a little and quieted. It was her turn to talk. “The choice is, do you want Kevin in your life, and all the things that go with it? The amazing man he is, his strength, the way he makes you smile, how good he is with the kids, and how he looks at you? Just thinking about the way, even across the table at dinner with the kids, a single smile in a room full of people could feel as private and heat inducing… as an intimate caress. Put all that against whatever he feels he has to do. Yes, it might be dangerous, but….”
Willy sighed. “He’s worth every second of worry.”
“Then there. You have your answer.” Evelyn sounded satisfied with herself.
“Yeah, I guess I do.” So he needed to stop moping and worrying… and he needed to figure out how he was going to help. “Like it was a really tough decision.”
“Where is the man of the hour?” Evelyn asked.
“We had dinner with the kids, and then he had some things to do in order to prepare for this setup that he’s part of. I don’t like it, but I know why he’s doing it, and in part it’s to keep me and the kids safe. But I… I wish he were here with me now. Not because I want to change him, but just because he makes me feel better just being here, you know?”
“I get it. My nephew melts your butter, and yours needs a really good application of heat.” She snickered.
“There’s someone at the back door.” Willy got up and headed through the house. “It’s Kevin,” he said when he saw him through the window.
“Then I’ll let you go. And don’t be scared to turn that heat way up. Call if you need me, but somehow I doubt you’ll need me.” She ended the call, and Willy unlocked the door and let Kevin and the dogs inside. The pups checked out the bowls on the mat in the corner of the kitchen before spreading out, looking through the house. Willy had little doubt that April and Grant were going to get visitors soon. And Thumper was going to claim his favorite chair.
“Are you all set?”
“Yeah. I made sure no one saw us leave, and I put my car in your garage and came through the yard.” He tugged Willy to him. “I appreciate you looking after them and keeping them safe. Nothing has been announced yet, but as soon as it is, I want to have everything in place. I don’t know when we can expect them to make a move, but Red and Carter don’t think it will take long.”
“And the announcement…?”
“Is tomorrow. The chief of police and the fire chief both want to see what we can stir up, so the announcement will be tomorrow afternoon.” Kevin held him closer.
“I feel like you’re going into battle or something,” Willy told him. “I know you need to do this, but I was just on the phone to your aunt, and she explained things pretty well.”
“She did?”
“Yeah. I don’t need to go into the details, but I need to make a choice….” He looked into Kevin’s eyes. “And I choose you over the worry. It’s that simple. You make me happy, and I hate it when you’re not here and I love it when you are.” He wound hisarms around Kevin’s neck. “And I especially love it when it’s just the two of us alone and—”
Kevin growled softly. “I know what you’re trying to say, and I love you for it.”
Willy stilled. “Did you just say that you loved me?” He had never expected to hear those words again, not after Mark died.
Kevin grinned. “Yes, I did. Nothing gets past you economists.” He winked, and Willy kissed away that grin until Kevin moaned softly in his arms.
“I love you too,” Willy whispered between kisses. “There’s just one issue. We’re in the laundry room. I could turn on the washing machine and we could take that for a spin. Or you and I could go somewhere else much more private.”
“I’m all for that,” Kevin whispered, and quietly they made sure all the doors were locked before silently slipping past the kids’ rooms to his own and closing the door behind them. Willy sat on the edge of the bed, with Kevin parting his legs. The held each other, the kisses growing more intense by the second, until Kevin stopped. “Thumper, this is our bed for now.” He pulled away and opened the door. Thumper jumped down from the bed and gave them both a doleful look. Kevin closed the door again after the dog padded out, and they were alone.
Kevin approached him slowly, looming over Willy before pressing him back onto the bed with a kiss that touched his soul.
Willy tugged off his shirt and then pulled at Kevin’s, which set off a tangle of limbs to get the rest of their clothes off.
“I have thought about you all day.” Kevin ran his hands down Willy’s belly and along his hip before cupping Willy’s balls in his big hand. Willy held Kevin close, groaning through the kiss that sent electric shocks racing through him. “And I want you.”
