Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(23)
Okay, that was something Keyes wasn’t, but before he balked at the obvious dramatization, he said, “Then I’m sorry.”
Alec just lifted a hand to run through his stylish, hardly ever out of place blond hair and let out a deep sigh, shaking his head while his intense stare never wavered. Keyes finally pushed the door open all the way, remaining on the threshold, giving Alec his distance, but staying close.
“What can I do to make this better?”
“Take me riding on your bike.”
Keyes wanted nothing more than to have Alec with him on the open road, his lover’s body wrapped around him as they disappeared into the sunset, but that fell strongly in the fantasy portion of their relationship.
“You know I can’t do that,” he said, breaking through the invisible barrier, stepping closer to Alec. He counted it a win when Alec didn’t move away as Keyes reached for his arms. He wasn’t entirely sure what to do once he had Alec. He wanted to soothe away the frustration, so he caressed him, shoulder to elbow, because of Alec’s still crossed arms.
“I want a promise of someday. Someday, I’ll ride on the back of your bike. Someday, we can go to dinner together. Someday, you’ll travel with me,” Alec said, his light-colored eyes full of determined intensity.
He chose to nod, to pacify Alec for now, not ever seeing it as a real possibility for them as long as he was a member of his club. If and when it did happen, that would be years down the line. So many years Keyes couldn’t imagine Alec waiting for him.
“And do not trivialize my feelings for you. That makes me angry as hell. I see everything about us clearly, even if you don’t, but do not mistake the lengths I’ll go to keep loving you.” Alec wasn’t giving one single inch. Keyes only nodded again, wishing more than anything that he’d never opened his big mouth.
Alec nodded too. A firm single dip of his chin, driving his point home. After a second of continued staring, Alec lifted his arms, running those smooth, warm palms up Keyes’s chest and around his neck. “Are you staying tonight?”
“I thought so. Louis needs more hours. He closed for me tonight.”
“And Louis is your trusted right-hand guy. He’s been with you awhile, right?”
Keyes nodded, moving his hands to Alec’s waist, drawing him closer.
“And your father still hasn’t come around?”
It took a second for Keyes to understand. He confused the question about his father not being around with his intended plan to tell Alec about his father’s diagnosis. On the ride, he had decided to tell Alec everything, all his old man’s vengeful text messages, their heated exchange yesterday, and about his conversation with Fox this afternoon, but after the last few minutes, he felt it was wiser to hold off. Clearly, communication wasn’t his strong suit. He was shit at reading what made people angry, and he didn’t want to risk Alec growing more frustrated with him tonight—not now, maybe not ever. He’d deal with it all on his own.
=?=
Alec broke from the hold, his emotions back to a happier place again. With effort, he had quickly reconciled his time alone with his biker was too precious to waste, so he reached out and slapped Key’s bare ass with his open palm, hoping to lighten the mood. “It only took five months to get you comfortable enough to lose the clothes.”
From the corner of his eye, he caught Key’s reflection as he looked down, almost acting surprised he wasn’t wearing clothes. Alec laughed, drawing Key’s attention to him, giving him a wink. He walked through the bedroom toward his walk-in closet and pulled out two pair of athletic shorts for them to wear.
“Here,” he called out since Key had remained standing at the door of the bathroom.
Now, this felt right. When they were together, all parts of the outside world melted away. That was what he could never make Blaine understand. Hell, he had even been doubtful this kind of connection and love was possible. Politics, religion, education, or whatever else held society in a combative stranglehold no longer mattered when it came down to the way he was drawn to this man.
“You should bring some clothes over. Have them here when you need them,” Alec suggested, watching as Key stepped forward to take the shorts.
“I live light. I don’t have much that won’t fit in my duffel bag,” Key said, following Alec’s lead and putting the shorts on.
“That doesn’t surprise me. I’m pretty sure that’s the same hair tie on your wrist.” He nodded at the black band circling his lover’s wrist.
“I wish. They lose the stretchiness after a couple of months,” Key said, touching the always there hair tie.
“I have some for you in the bathroom. You know that, right?” Alec asked, leading them out of the bedroom, going to the kitchen.
“I do,” Key mumbled behind him.
Dammit, maybe his emotions weren’t solidly back to happy. More than anything, maybe even more so now after Key had doubted the validity of his feelings, Alec wished Key would use the hair ties he had purchased. The need to provide and take care of Key was growing stronger. Even the shorts his biker now wore were purchased specifically for the man. Alec just couldn’t say those words due to the I-take-care-of-myself code Key lived by.
Alec glanced over at the kitchen clock. Nearly six thirty. Time flew when Key was around. He opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a cold Bud Light, handing it back over his shoulder to Key who plucked it out of his hand in the most natural of moves. Alec opted for a glass of chilled wine then moved a step over to the wine cooler also handing the unopened bottle back to Key who took both then headed for the drawer housing the bottle opener.