An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2)(108)

The words danced in Rob’s brain. He had a new job he loved. Alex said he was willing to try. Vic believed in him. Jarod and Ellis were on the road to becoming his friends. He’d begun to build a new life, one where he wasn’t the villain of the piece.

“Will we do this again?” he asked.

“That depends on you. I can tell how much it affected you, so it’s up to you whether we do it again or not.”

Rob closed his eyes. True, the experience had started out terrifying and had opened his mind to some uncomfortable truths, but it had quickly become something else. It had given Rob a deeper clarity than he’d ever known before. For something that took away his senses, it seemed to open them fully at the same time.

“I think I’d like to,” he admitted, wondering what else he could learn about himself.

“Then we’ll do it.” Vic rubbed a hand over Rob’s chest. “This can be done at home with a specially made bodysuit. If it’s something you’re interested in, we can look into buying one.”

“Okay, sure.” Then Rob breathed deep, filling his lungs with Vic’s scent. “Can we go home?”

“If you’re ready. We can lay here as long as you like.”

The bed was comfortable, but it wasn’t his. He wanted the bed he shared with Vic. The one that smelled of the two of them. The one where Vic held him. Rob needed to be close to him. He needed….

“I need you to bend me over and remind me why I belong to you.”

The words made Rob shiver. He wanted Vic buried balls-deep in him, because that was the time when he felt most connected to him. It was then that they were as close to being one as they could possibly get.

“No bending you over,” Vic said, stroking his fingers over Rob’s neck. “I want to be in you, too, but I want it while I can look in your eyes. That’s where I see the love you have for me, and right now, I need that from you.”

Rob slid off the bed and held his hand out to Vic. “Let’s go, then.”

Vic shook his head but reached out. “Cheeky bastard. It’s a good thing I love you.”

They stood staring for a moment more, and then Rob grabbed Vic’s beard and pulled him close. “Love you too.”

One quick kiss, and then Vic shoved Rob out the door as they made their way home.





Chapter Thirty


Two months later



VIC PUT his napkin down and groaned. “Okay, that was delicious.” He had to hand it to Leo—the man knew some excellent restaurants. He raised his glass to him. “Thank you for bringing us here.”

Leo copied his action. “You’re welcome. This is one of our favorites.”

Vic glanced around the table. Leo and Alex had finished. Doug sipped from his glass of wine, then placed it back on the table, smiling as he gazed at his two sons. Rob glanced up and obviously noted his father’s content expression.

“You’re looking good, Dad,” Rob said, stacking their plates in the center of the table.

Doug’s sigh matched his expression. “I feel good. I think I needed a change.”

It had been a bit of a shock when he’d announced to them all that he’d moved into a flat on his own, just for a trial period. He and Rob’s mother had been on several visits to a marriage counselor, but their efforts had met with minimal success thus far. Her attitude toward her sons had been the breaking point. Doug had told Vic that he’d spent too long being a shadow of a father, and if she wanted to alienate them both, fine, but he’d had enough.

“How’s Mum?” Vic couldn’t help but notice the hesitancy in Rob’s voice.

Doug shrugged. “She’s doing okay, I suppose. She denies we need to talk to someone, but she’s still willing to go. I take that as a good sign. Maybe one day we’ll be able to sit down to dinner together, the six of us.” His expression was less hopeful, however.

“That would be good,” Alex said. “At least if she’s genuinely interested in getting to know her kids.” He set his jaw. “I’m not going to let her put Leo down again.”

Leo rubbed a hand over Alex’s back. “I’m a big boy, Alex. I can deal with it. What’s important is you.”

Alex glared at Leo. “I’m not going to excuse her behavior if she pulls that crap again. If she can’t treat you—or Vic—with courtesy, then we won’t be getting together.”

Doug sighed again. “We’ve not reached that point yet, Alex, so don’t get worked up over it. I won’t get you all together if she won’t promise to be good to you all.”

“Is it awful of me that I’m not missing her all that much?” Rob asked quietly.

“Not really.” His dad gave him an understanding glance. “You have a new life now, and she doesn’t want any part of it.”

“I know, I know. But she’s our mum. Regardless of how she acts, nothing can change that.”

“I wish she was interested in us being happy,” Alex admitted.

“I still think she’ll come around,” Vic said. “She has a great family, and only a fool would let that slip away.”

Rob leaned closer and put his head on Vic’s shoulder. “You don’t have to butter me up, you know. I’m a sure thing.”