Part 20 (1/2)

”Hey.”

The sound of Sloane's soft husky voice sent Dex's pulse racing, and a wave of intense need washed over Dex. Sloane stood at the bottom of the stairs in faded dark jeans and a white long-sleeved T-s.h.i.+rt that hugged his muscular chest and arms. His feet were bare, and in his hand he held a rose. His hair was wet, so he'd just gotten out of the shower. Dex could smell the shower gel from where he stood. G.o.d, he smelled so good.

Sloane made his way over and held out the rose. ”I know it doesn't make up for what I did, but I'm going to spend however long it takes to show you how sorry I am.”

Dex looked from the rose to Sloane's face, taken aback by what he saw in Sloane's amber eyes. Sloane had never look so scared; it almost mirrored Dex's own fears.

”I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm such an idiot.”

”You're not an idiot,” Dex a.s.sured him. His insides were in turmoil. A mixture of violent heat and desire. Yet at the same time, he wanted to comfort Sloane, hold him, and make love to him.

”I am. Why else would I do something so stupid?” Sloane cupped Dex's face, his amber eyes filled with remorse. ”I've waited my whole life for this. For someone to love me the way you do. For a home. It's like every time we get settled, I can't stop myself from messing up. The last thing I want is to drive you away.” Sloane stroked Dex's cheek with his thumb, his warm breath on Dex's face, his words quiet. ”You are so beautiful. You're the most amazing thing to happen to me. You always believe in me. Please don't let that ever change. I can't keep walking away. I can't risk you one day not loving me. Not being here. That would kill me. Don't leave me, Dex. Ever. I... I don't know what I would do without you.”

Dex slipped his arms around Sloane's waist and smiled up at him. ”That's never going to happen. Not while I can help it.” Before Sloane, Dex would have never made promises of forever, and maybe they didn't have forever-life was unpredictable that way-but as long as Dex had a say in it, he'd be at Sloane's side.

”Promise?”

”I promise. I know when you walk away, it's just you needing s.p.a.ce. I told you I'd understand, and the first time you take me up on my promise, I back out. I'm sorry. I'll try harder to give you your s.p.a.ce when you need it, no matter where it is or how long you need.”

”That's the thing. I thought it's what I needed, but I was wrong.”

”Sloane....”

Dex had never heard Sloane talk like this. He had no idea Sloane was beating himself up this badly. Sloane took Dex's hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss.

”I love you. I love how you drive me crazy, how you make me laugh, the way you touch me, kiss me, the way you make me a better person.”

”We drive each other crazy in good ways and not so good, but what I feel for you”-Dex looked down at his arm, scarred by Sloane's claws-”will never change. What I said about not being here one day when you got back, I said out of anger.” He looked up at Sloane with a smile, his heart pounding. ”I'll always be here, because with every day that pa.s.ses, I find new ways to love you.”

Sloane drew in a sharp breath before wrapping his arms around Dex and burying his face against Dex's hair, murmuring softly, ”I know I lose my way sometimes, but if you're here, I'll always find my way back.”

Sloane gently swayed with the romantic ballad, and Dex moved with him, holding on tight. Dex closed his eyes, his body relaxing, and the twisted knot he'd had in his stomach since Sloane walked out unraveled. The two of them stayed in each other's arms, enjoying their embrace, the warmth, the love as several of Dex's favorite romantic ballads floated through the house, their house.

”I just... I need to know you're going to be here for me,” Dex said quietly. ”I need to know we're in this together. I know saying that might scare you, and we haven't been living together very long, but I know my heart. I know that I want you to always be a part of my life.”

Sloane pulled back and met his gaze, his shy smile sending Dex's pulse racing. ”As hard as it may be to believe, that's what I want. I might not know how to express it at times, but Dex, being here with you, I've never been happier. This is it for me. You're it for me. I can feel it deep down inside. Ash was right.”

”About what?”

”He said I was sabotaging myself, my relations.h.i.+p with you, and he's right.”

”I don't understand. Why?”

Sloane took Dex's hand and led him over to the couch. He took the rose from Dex and carefully laid it on the coffee table before turning to him. ”I've been thinking about that a lot. I think I'm just scared this is all an illusion. That any day I might wake up and find myself alone and empty inside, without you. That scares the h.e.l.l out of me. I've never been as happy as I am when I'm with you. I've never had a home, a family, the possibility of maybe one day... starting my own family.”

Dex swallowed hard. ”I had no idea you'd been thinking about all that.”

”I have. I thought maybe we were moving too fast, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized, this is what I want. You're what I want.”

Dex couldn't help his dopey smile. His expression softened, and he ran a hand up Sloane's arm. ”Maybe next time, when you start feeling unsure or scared, you can talk to me about it.”

”I can do that. I know I've broken a lot of promises, and I don't deserve all the chances you've given me, but I understand now.” Sloane put his hand to Dex's cheek, his amber eyes filled with so much love. ”I don't ever want to be where you're not.”

”I'd like you to do something for us,” Dex said, trying not to sound as nervous as he felt.

”Anything.”

”I want to put the house in both our names.”

Sloane's beautiful smile squeezed at Dex's heart and took his breath away.

”Okay.”

”Really?”

”Yes. If it's important to you, it's important to me. I'm serious about our life together.”

Dex couldn't help how ridiculously happy he felt. He didn't want them to be two people who lived together, whose lives happened to be heading in the same direction. He wanted them to be a family, for this to be their lives together, moving toward a future together. ”I want this to be our home.”

”It already is.” Sloane kissed his cheek, and Dex's heart almost burst. ”Come on. I made you dinner. One of your favorites. Homemade fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and biscuits.”

Dex all but melted against Sloane. ”You're amazing.”

”I asked Darla for her recipe.”

Dex gasped. ”Wait, you made Darla Summers's homemade Southern fried chicken?”

Sloane nodded. ”And gravy, and biscuits, and fried green tomatoes.”

Dex launched himself at Sloane, knocking them both back onto the couch. Sloane laughed as Dex planted kisses all over his face.

”Maybe I should have just started my apology with the fried chicken,” Sloane said with a laugh.

”If I didn't love Darla's fried chicken so much I would totally s.e.x you up right now. I really want to s.e.x you up.” Dex was torn. He wanted to jump Sloane's bones. Not only had he made Dex one of his favorite meals, but Sloane had used a recipe from Calvin's mom, who was the queen of Southern cooking. The woman needed to have her own supermarket brand or a cooking show.

”I couldn't be so cruel as to make you choose.” Sloane got up, Dex straddling his leg. He gave Dex's b.u.t.tcheek a squeeze through his jeans. ”Also, I know the second I tell you my next surprise, I don't stand a chance.”

Dex's mouth watered. Could it be? ”You mean....”

”I called her up, told her what a bad boy I've been, and could she pretty please help me make my boyfriend love me again. So she made her famous pecan pie.”

Dex threw his arms around Sloane and placed a sloppy wet kiss on Sloane's cheek before purring, making him chuckle. ”You're my favorite.”

Sloane got up, carrying Dex in his arms. ”I like being your favorite.” He carried Dex into the dining room. The table had been set up beautifully. ”Everything's keeping warm in the oven.” He placed Dex on his feet and kissed the tip of his nose. ”I love you, Batman.”

Dex threw his head back and laughed. His heart swelled with how much he loved this man. Sloane pulled Dex's chair out for him, and Dex couldn't help his blush. He chuckled when Sloane tipped Dex's chair back so he could bend his head down and kiss Dex. Returning the chair to the floor, Sloane left to get dinner while Dex sat admiring him, taking in the strong set of his shoulders, his muscular arms and legs, the tapered waist. There was a little more silver in his beard and hair since they'd met, but Dex found it s.e.xy. His movements were sleek, catlike, and when he walked toward Dex as if he were stalking him, his amber eyes glowing, Dex all but melted in his chair.

After Sloane brought the food, Dex ate his weight in fried chicken. By the end of the meal, there was nothing left except the pecan pie. They both eyed it.

”What do you think?” Sloane asked, patting his full belly.