Page 19 of Not Even A Mouse
Unka Myron
Andy
He lay on his side and watched Myron sleep, grinning at how the man spread out, arms and legsangledso he took over the whole bed.Not that there’s much bed here. He considered the idiocy of sleeping in the guest room when there was a perfectly serviceable master, not for the first time. Other than marking it off the list of chores when he neededto go in and dust or vacuum, he ignored that space.I hate this house. It had been Roger’s, and in so many ways remained his dead partner’s home. Once past the furious activity following Roger’s death, Andy never cared much to make his mark on something that he’d never wanted.
It had been a home for Talya, and a safe space where she could hold onto her memories of her daddy. But these days, whenshe no longer objected to Myron sitting beside Andy at the dining room table, it made Andy think it might be time to move on. Yesterday at lunch, she’d pulled tears to Andy’s eyes by patting the seat as she walked around the table, telling Myron, “Sit here, Unka Myron.”Uncle Myron, gah. Myron had grinned broadly, playing the gentleman by helping her climb into her seat first.
We need to makea place for us.
Myron contracted his spread appendages and rolled, and Andy took the opportunity to snuggle in behind him. He wrapped his arms around Myron’s chest, resting his head against one shoulder blade.Maybe it’s time?He pressed a kiss to the back of Myron’s neck, darting his tongue out to graze a quick lick across his skin, still salty. The room smelled like them, like the hot and heavymake-out session they’d had earlier.I like that it smells like him.
Right after Roger died, Andy had managed a few nights of unsettled sleep in the master bedroom. Once the immediate exhaustion of grief wore away, however, he found the space filled with so many emotions he wanted to avoid. He’d been overwhelmed with anger andregret,because he knew he hadn’t loved Roger like he could have.Should have. They’d been a couple of friends who got along well enough, hearts tied together by their little princess. That was one of the things that kept tripping him up now, the feeling that this—what he had with Myron—was richer than anything he’d had with Roger. After these weeks building things with Myron, he couldn’t imagine going back to the poor fare his life with Roger had been.
It waslike Myron was a buffet, full of flavors and rich sauces around every corner. The way the man took care of Andy and Talya was humbling. He’d essentially moved in, not because Andy had asked him, but because he saw a need. Slept on the couch until tonight, when Andy had woken from his freak-out haze and finally asked. Myron hadn’t pushed, just made sure Andy and Talya were taken care of. Sure, Andycould have arranged care for Talya, piecing shifts-worth of coverage that would get them by until she could go back to school. That hadn’t been enough for Myron though, so he’d gone all in, even having some of his friends do basic shopping for them. Andy had come home to a truck and two bikes in the driveway that first night, rushing inside with his heart in his throat to find them packing awaythe last of the groceries. Myron had seen aneedand worked to fill it.He’s gonna keep doing that for me…for us.
Myronshifted,and Andy moved with him, loving how all of Myron’s muscles and strength were subdued bysleep,like he was recharging by resting here in bed with him. Myron was always on the move, always busy, so seeing him like this was a luxury.I can have this every night. He readjusted,draping himself all along Myron’s back, grinning to himself when Myron’s ass wiggledbackwards, seeking contact even in his sleep.
It’s time, was his last thought before sleep claimed him.
***
Myron
“Can we talk?” Andy’s words surprised Myron and he twisted to see him standing in the kitchen doorway. It was Talya’s first day back at school, and they hadn’t discussed it, but Myron knew histime here was winding down.
One week, with four glorious nights sleeping beside this man.Well, not so much sleeping. He wasn’t looking forwards to rejoining the rest of the world, and that was exactly what this talk signaled. Still, it would be good to know where things stood between them.
“Okay,” he said easily and turned, dropping the dishrag over the divider between the sinks.
Andy strolledtowards him, only stopping when he was close enough to touch. He reached out and hooked a finger in Myron’s pocket, tugging so his back arched and hips pressed into Andy’s.
“I hate this house.” Myron blinked, surprised and unable to find any words to use for a response. Andy continued, “I want to tell you why.” Okay, that made more sense.
Andy slipped his hand down to Myron’s, fingers threadingthrough as he tugged, leading Myron towards the couch in the other room. He sat and pulled Myron down beside him, waiting until everything was arranged as he wanted before he began.
“Roger was a good man.” Andy sighed. “That sounds so…trite. Like something anyone would say. ‘He’s a good man.’ But it describes him. He was. We…fell into a relationship.” He sighed again. “It wasn’t extraordinary.It wasn’t heaven on earth. It was good. Talya made us better together, and she loved us both.”
“Did he love you?”How in the hell will I ever measure up against a dead guy?Myron had been dreading having this knowledge, understanding who Andy had been attracted to before. Maybe that was why he’d been okay with not talking about it.
“I’d like to think he did, but I don’t know.” Eyes narrowed,Myron studied Andy.
He was serious. That man, the Roger who had shared a life and a daughter with Andy, may have been good, but it definitely hadn’t been good enough. Carefully Myron said, “If you love someone, you tend to let them know.”
Andy shifted beside him and Myron felt a touch on his chin, Andy’s fingers turning his face so they stared at the other. They sat like that for a moment, uncertaintystirring Myron’s insides.
“You’re right. If you love someone, your actions speak for you, even if your words don’t.” A soft touch brushed across Myron’s lips, then back again, mesmerizing in its regularity. “Like being ready to out yourself because they need you.”
“I don’t—” Andy’s thumb pressed against his lips, halting his words.I don’t love him. His insides gave that quiver again from earlier.Do I?
“There’s a lot I want to say. About Roger. This house.” Andy leaned in, fingers holding Myron’s chin steady as he placed a series of soft kisses on his lips. The rasp of scruff against his lips and chin had Myron’s cock waking up. Sitting beside him like this, so close he was nearly on Andy’s lap, it reminded him of how it felt to be wrapped up by Andy. Weight and pressure, arms and handsholding him tight, all he could do was take in air, and even that was laced with Andy’s scent. “And about us. All of it good.”
Myron let the silence build between them for a few seconds, willing his erection away as he waited. Then he took a breath, centered himself as he would when approaching a negotiation with another club, and said, “Tell me what you want me to know.” The rest could wait.
They had time.
