Page 34 of The Broker

“The first time I snuck into your room, I tried to wake you up, but you decked me in the face,” Isaac recounted.

Jared’s eyes went wide. “What?” Jared exclaimed in shock. “Was that the time you said you accidentally dropped your phone on your face while lying in bed?”

Isaac nodded, giving him a guilty smile.

“Holy shit. I’m so sorry, dude.” Jared felt horrible. He couldn’t imagine hurting the sweet boy lying next to him.

“No worries. You hit like a two-year-old.” They both laughed. “Yeah, the next time I heard you having a nightmare, I decided not to try and wake you. I had heard once that human touch could calm an agitated patient, so I thought I’d try gently holding you while you slept, and funny enough, it calmed you right down. The second I wrapped my arm around you, you stopped shaking and fighting in your sleep.”

“Wow, that’s insane.” Jared couldn’t believe that had actually worked. Then, another thought crossed his mind. “So, why did you insist on sneaking out of my room before I woke up?”

Isaac stared at him for a moment as if grappling with the decision to tell him the truth.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be embarrassed knowing that I saw you having an… episode.”

Sweet and considerate.What the fuck?The more he got to know Isaac, the more he wanted to hold him in his arms and never let him go.

“So, can I ask what the nightmares are about?” Isaac asked, gently caressing the skin on Jared’s chest.

Jared reached around and slid his arm under the back of Isaac’s neck, pulling Isaac close into his chest. He wanted to be near him and listen to his heartbeat once again.

“The doc says I’ve got a case of PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. When I was in the army, I witnessed some really fucked up shit. Men being blown apart, and women being mutilated because they dared to question their husbands. Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I can still hear their screams, begging me to save them.”

Jared held Isaac close. He hated remembering all the horrors he had witnessed.

“Matteo found me in a bar one night drinking myself stupid. He sat down next to me and said that I had the saddest eyes he had ever seen.”

Isaac caressed Jared’s chest as if trying to calm his angry soul.

“Over the course of the next three nights, I kept running into Matteo at that same bar, and each night, we continued talking. By the fourth night, I barely touched my second drink and found myself agreeing to come back to the château with him so that I could meet with one of his doctor friends. I didn’t realize it atthe time, but his ‘friend’ was actually a psychologist who M had brought in to talk with me, while he secretly paid for the whole thing himself. I only found out later when I started meeting with the doc on a regular basis.”

Jared lay there for a moment, enjoying the warmth of Isaac’s body pressed up against his. He felt calm and connected like he could say anything to this man and wouldn’t be judged.

“Ever since I’ve been working with the doc, my episodes have been less frequent. I really owe a lot to M and all of you atLa Maison. Having you all around and feeling like a real family has given me something to hold on to.”

Isaac squeezed his body.

It was such a relief sharing this all with Isaac. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest, and he could finally be open and honest about who he was.

“Thank you for sharing with me,” Isaac whispered, resting his cheek on Jared’s chest.

“Thank you for being there for me.” Jared leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on Isaac’s head.

Slowly, he felt Isaac's hand slide down his chest and land on his package.

12

ISAAC

Hearing a tough-ass man like Jared open up about his pain and suffering made Isaac feel all sorts of things. Seeing the vulnerability in Jared’s eyes and knowing how hard it was to admit weakness, especially in a society that demanded strength and toughness, made what Jared was doing even more inspiring.

Why was it that society insisted on placing a stigma on talking about mental health issues? People should be encouraged to reach out and speak to one another, especially when coping with mental or emotional struggles. Having someone to talk to can make all the difference in a struggling person’s life.

Lord knows that Isaac had his own emotional issues to deal with. Between his uncle and his brother and the loss of his parents, it had all been too much for a young teen to cope with on his own. Thankfully, Matteo had found him and got him the professional help that he needed to cope with his anxieties and mental health issues.

The softness with which Jared had pulled his body into his and then placed a gentle kiss upon his head was making him feelall sorts of confusing feelings—the strongest of which was the desire to get naked and sweaty with this solid piece of man.

Feeling his cock begin to thicken, his eyes lowered, landing on the thin red material that barely covered Jared’s manhood.

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