Page 8 of The Barn: Frost and Q
Then he spoke again. “You ever sleepwalk in your life, Frost?”
“Nope. You?”
“No. Just insomnia.”
“Yeah. That I’ve experienced.” After Q had been shot, he hadn’t slept for more than a year. He’d finally gone to therapy, which was kinda tough for a bush pilot and smoke jumper from Alaska, but it had been totally worth the coping mechanisms that didn’t involve whiskey.
Now, he only indulged in that once in a great while.
“You going back to bed?” Q asked.
He paused, finger on the elevator button. He’d been about to hit lower level to go to the pool, but he could do four. “You want a nightcap?”
“No.” Quentin sighed. “I just want you to sit with me until I fall asleep.”
His heart clenched at the forlorn tone of Quentin’s voice. “Anytime, baby boy. Anytime.”
“Well, now then.”
“Sure. But you pour me a whiskey, okay? I will have a nightcap after this whole mess. I’ve seen things. Not that Nathan is ugly, or anything, but that was some shrinkage.”
Quentin hooted, and he hit the button to take him to the fourth floor, nodding on the way into the elevator at the sub who was picking up Carson’s room service tray.
Quentin didn’t make him knock, both doors opening for him without a sound. The whiskey bottle was standing tall on the table, the glass right beside it.
Q’s chair was empty, so he headed toward the little bedroom. Q’s bedroom had been formed out of a closet, a tiny twin bed tucked in there. His first thought was that it made Quentin feelsafe, made him feel warm and cozy and protected by the walls. Made it so no one could come snatch him away and hurt him.
Quentin sat there, watching him, icy blue eyes piercing him. “You came.”
“I’ll always come when you call, baby boy.”
“I—Did you get your whiskey?”
“Not yet. I wanted to check on you first.” He’d wanted to put eyes on Q. Just because. “Good call on the naked guy.”
“Thank you for coming up. I couldn’t sleep last night.”
“What’s going on, baby boy?” He went to get his whiskey, then came back to sit on the bed, back against the wall, toeing off his boots before sitting cross-legged.
“Nothing.” Q sighed softly. “You looked good, chopping logs out there.”
“Yeah?” He gave Q a sideways glance. “Still got it, do I?”
“You know you do. You’re beautiful.” Q winked at him. “That’s not a thing.”
His cheeks heated with pleasure, and his cock rose right up, giving him a hello and howdy. “Well, that’s mutual then.”
“You still think so? Are you sure?” Q rolled his eyes. “Don’t answer that. I don’t want to know if you don’t.”
“Baby boy, look at me.” When Q met his gaze, he stared right into those light blue eyes, which he could see clearly even in the gloom. “You are the hottest thing I have ever seen in my entire fucking life. Never doubt that.” He hadn’t told Quentin that enough. He knew it. But things had been so scary, and now they were damn complicated.
“Thank you.” Q squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry to ask you up. I’m just so tired.”
“Then you need to sleep. Get over here by the wall.” He scooted around so Quentin could stretch out. Then he wrapped his big ass around the man, keeping him safe. Warm.
Q cried for a few minutes, he thought, but neither of them commented on it. And then Q went boneless on him, light snores starting up moments later.
Yeah, his back would pay for this, but it was worth it. Frost was staying the rest of the night.
