Page 130 of Resilience on Canvas

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As soon as Robert and Henry were back home, the door shut behind them, Robert captured Henry’s mouth in a passionate kiss, putting so muchoomphbehind it that Henry stumbled backward and crashed into the nearest wall. Robert continued kissing him, his hands finding the buttons on Henry’s shirt as Henry’s hands found his. They undressed right there in the front room, flinging their clothes over random pieces of furniture, like they both wanted to leave evidence of their upcoming bedroom escapades for everyone to see. Naked, they made their way to the bedroom, pausing several times to kiss on the way, laughing to themselves whenever they did. Once in the bedroom, Robert shoved Henry onto the mattress and wasted no time taking the cooking oil from the nightstand. He kissed Henry sensually, hungrily, as he prepped his husband for what he hoped would be the lovemaking of his life. Robert fingered Henry for a few minutes, his rough movements eliciting the loveliest moans and whimpers and whines, and then, once he himself could no longer stand the wait, coated his shaft with the lubricant. Excitedly, Robert lifted Henry’s legs to rest them on his shoulders and slowly pushed himself in. He paused when the entirety of his cock was inside, intending to provide Henry with some time to adjust, but as soon as their eyes locked, as soon as Robert had enough time to think, the image of Henry’s painting burst into Robert’s mind with wonderful clarity, and his eyes filled with tears.

Resilience.

Christ Almighty, they hadmadeit. After years and years of hardship, Robert was finally free from the shackles of poverty. All thanks to Henry, the love of his life.

“Dammit,” Robert cursed as he started to cry. “Sorry, Hen, I still can’t believe that we made it. I mean that painting, it... Henry, wemade it. We’re here in California together and... and wemade it.”

“Oh, Robert,” Henry cooed. “Come here.”

Robert lowered himself to nuzzle Henry’s nose, and Henry then pressed their lips together, kissing Robert with a tenderness and softness unlike any he had ever known. Robert continued to cry, his tears wetting Henry’s cheeks as their lips moved together.

“I’m sorry, Hen,” he said when they parted. “I’m supposed to be takin’ care of you.”

“You are, Robert,” Henry said. “You are.”

“I’m sorry that I still can’t find no work for myself. Nothin’ other than the fuckin’ fruit pickin’.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Henry said, touching his cheek. “Ever.”

“And now I’m supposed to be pleasurin’ you the way you like most, and yet I’m cryin’ like a Goddamn fool instead. Damn these son-of-a-bitch emotions for ruinin’ everything.”

Henry let out a soft chuckle. “I’m happy no matter how it is that we’re makin’ love. Or even when we’re not makin’ love.” He reached up to wipe Robert’s tears with one of his thumbs. “Goodness, Robert, you know that.”

“I’m tryin’ to know it, Hen. But I want to take care of you. I want that so much.”

“We’re takin’ care ofeach other. We’re in this together now. We belong to each other, remember? Yer mine and I’m yers.” He lifted his head and kissed Robert once more. “Sometimes I’ll make more money than you, and sometimes you’ll make more than me, and that’s how life will be for us. And sometimes we’ll make love fastand rough and probably we’ll even break our bedframe once or twice.” Robert laughed and Henry laughed too. “But other times we’ll make love like this—nice and slow.”

“‘Slow’ is bein’ generous. I haven’t even moved yet. Just cried on you a bunch.”

Henry moved a hand through Robert’s curls. “I know. But it’s what you need.”

“And what about whatyouneed, Henry Davis?”

“What I need is you. Just you, Robert Davis. Now and forever.”

Robert sniffled once more. He let Henry’s words settle in his heart.

“Alright,” he said finally. “Well, you have me. I’m yers.” He pressed a kiss to his husband’s lips. “Always.”

“Mine,” Henry said with a big smile, his eyes now tearing up too. “Always.”

Robert began to rock his hips, feeling a transformation within himself—from the stubborn, tenacious caretaker he had always been to the man he now needed to be. Over the next however long it was, Robert and Henry made love. Slowly. Sensually. And witha lotof tears.

Finally, Robert had found the courage to let his little wolf take care of him.

Epilogue

Robert

Oneyearlater.. .

Lying on the sofa in the front room, Robert waited while Henry finished packing up his painting supplies so that the two of them could head to the beach for a while. After completing a series of posters for the WPA over the last few weeks, Henry was now free to paint whatever he chose for the next month (as long as it wasn’t lewd or political in nature), and his creations would then be hung up in a few of the federal buildings across the city. Earlier that morning, Henry had said he wanted to paint the ocean. So, Robert and Henry would be walking there together soon. Even though it was a Monday. Because Robert wasn’t working no more. At all.

After Henry had brought home those first few paychecks from Uncle Sam, Robert and Henry had taken a look at both Henry’s salary and at Robert’s and had come to the conclusion that the extra bit of money Robert was bringing home wasn’t worth him breaking his back in the fields. And so, Robert had become a househusband of sorts, tasked with cooking meals and washing clothes and cleaning the house. Typically, though, Robert spent the bulk of his time either with Henry—mostly watching him work—or relaxing by himself, oftentimes on the beach with abook but sometimes elsewhere in the city, trying out new eateries or shopping for his family. Even though Robert still hoped to find work for himself, he tried not to focus on that so much and instead kept in mind how Goddamn lucky he was—lucky to have a wonderful husband like Henry, who took care of him in every way possible; lucky to have such a beautiful family, one whose bond had been forged by overcoming hardship and caring for each other, not by blood alone; and lucky to have made it out to California, where there weren’t no black blizzards wrecking his lungs. Every day, Robert counted his blessings, of which there were many. Someday he would find work. Until then, he would be happy letting the people he loved take care of him, and in return, he would give them what he could—his love.

“Ready!” Henry called out from the upper floor.

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