Page 78 of Sass in the Grass

He did. “You’re fucking hot, yeah.”

“Thanks! I feel like I’ve got muscles now.”

“You do.”

Preening, Jovian whispered, “I’m glad you think I’m hot.”

Cherokee scooped him into his arms and carried him. “Can’t have you too in shape. I would miss carrying you around.”

“Oh, I’d never be in that kind of shape. And I’m still terrified of snakes.”

Cherokee stopped on the trail and kissed him tenderly. “I’ll always carry my baby boy.”

Jovian’s tears sprang into his eyes, and he held Cherokee tightly. “Daddy?”

“What, baby?”

“I don’t want to ever leave.”

“We’ll talk about that later. For the record…I’m glad of that.”

Jovian smiled against his neck and Cherokee began walking again but abruptly stopped again when they were close to the cabin. “Shhh, don’t make a sound, but look, baby.”

Scared, Jovian didn’t want to, but when he did, he found there was nothing to be afraid of. About twenty feet in front of them, walking slowly across the trail, were a mother doe and her baby. The spotted baby deer was grazing along behind her mother, who was sniffing the air, careful of predators while her daughter ate.

“They’re so pretty,” Jovian whispered.

“Very pretty. I always throw lettuce and cabbage seeds around in the grass over near the trees. They grow well there.”

“For the animals?”

He nodded while smiling at the deer. “It’s good to give back.”

Jovian forgot all about the deer, as he saw Cherokee in yet another wonderful light. There, in the darkness of the woods, Cherokee glowed with his goodness. Amazed that he could attract a guy like Cherokee, he was glad for whatever good thing he’d ever done, not that he remembered one that gave him the best guy in the entire world.

Cherokee looked over to see him staring. “What?”

“You’re so…good. I really don’t deserve you.”

“Maybe let me be the judge of that, baby boy.”

Jovian nodded a little, but when the deer were gone, Cherokee held his hands and kissed him right there on the trail. “You’re not as terrible as you think you are, Jovian.”

“I hope not.”

“I think you’re about to get in trouble, talking about my baby like that.”

Jovian’s head lifted to look into his eyes, feeling that very familiar and comfortable chill down his back. “I’m your baby?”

“Yeah, Jovian. You’re my baby. I thought we covered this.”

His insides were churning with worry. “I know.”

“Then what’s up?”

“Let’s just go to the cabin. I’m just being stupid.”

“Jovian,” he said in a strict voice. Jovian immediately looked back into his eyes. “Stop it. I get it, I’m scared too, but you know I care about you. You know that…we’re together.”

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