Page 45 of Caged
"No, but I feel bad I sorta forced you into it."
Marshall laughed. "You didn't force me into anything. I was a very willing participant." He reached out and took Danny's hand. "I loved every minute of it. I wouldn't mind doing it again sometime if you're in the mood, and I definitely want to keep kissing you."
"You're not doing this because you feel sorry for me? Feel like you have to make up for what I missed all those years?"
"Not at all. In fact, I keep telling myself I shouldn't feel this way about you because you deserve so much better than me. I'm afraid I rushed you into things you weren't ready for."
"When would I be ready? How long would it take before it was the right time?" Danny sighed and shook his head. "I'm glad we did what we did and I liked it too. I just don't want you to feel trapped. You've already done so much for me. I know I'm like a child at times, trying to learn how to live. I don't want you to feel you have to be the one to show me everything if you don't want to. If you don't like it."
"I love it." Marshall stared at him. "That's what scares me. I like it so much that I'm scared I'm pushing you into stuff you don't want to do."
"You didn't push me into anything. I asked you to kiss me. I'm nervous, but never was I scared or felt forced. It's just hard sometimes to forget what Larry was like and find out that it's not like that at all really. Does that make sense? When you took me in your mouth, I thought you wanted me to hold your hair, force you, but then you said just lay back, so I did. It was nice, different. I didn't come to bed because I needed time to think. It wasn't because I was scared. I don't want you to think that. I don't think I could ever be scared with you." Danny took a deep breath. "I just don't want you to think you have to do things."
"But what if I want to? Does that mean we still can?" Marshall asked. "If I want to kiss you right now, can I?"
Danny's pulse raced as he remembered the way Marshall's kisses had made him feel. He'd never known anything like it. He felt special in Marshall's arms, protected, and when they kissed, he felt wanted. "What was it you said last night? You can kiss me anytime you want? Well, it's the same for me. You can kiss me anytime."
"Then we'll be doing a lot of kissing." Marshall leaned in close. "Because I like kissing you." He pressed his mouth to Danny's, kissing him gently.
Danny kissed him back, wondering if Marshall got the same rush of pleasure through his body that he did. Did Marshall think about the kisses at night in bed, craving more? He pulled back and smiled. "Kissing you is nice."
"It is." Marshall smiled, then took a deep breath. "Is this just between us or can I kiss you in front of others?"
"Others?"
"Like when Jessica comes over and I have to leave. Can I kiss you goodbye in front of her or is this something you'd like to keep just for us?"
Danny thought about it. Did he mind others knowing? What would they think? They couldn't think worse of him than they probably already did for being dumb enough to be kidnapped. "I don't mind if others see as long as you are okay with it."
Marshall nodded. "I'm just fine with it." He kissed Danny again, this time gently pulling him onto his lap and cuddling him up against his chest. "This is something I never want to have to hide."
Danny wasn't used to being held. Other than Larry holding him down, he hadn't had anyone's arms around him in years. Even with his mother, he hadn't been held much. She loved him, but she hadn't been very affectionate. He liked the way it felt to be held in someone's arms. He felt Marshall's heartbeat, felt his breath against his skin. "Maybe tonight I'll come to your room."
"Any time you want to." Marshall smiled.
"What are you working on?" Danny glanced at the computer, then froze as he saw Larry's name at the top of the page and a bunch of information after it. "You're searching for Larry?"
"I am. This is just your basic background check. Anyone can run one of these. It gives basic information and you can't trust that all of it is right. It shows things like other names he might use, places he's lived in the past. Stuff that might show up on his credit report. It doesn't give me much to go on."
"What would you do if you found him?" Danny asked.
"What would Iwantto do or whatwouldI do?" Marshall asked as if the two things were very different.
"Both."
"I'd want to go kill him, but what I would do is give what I know to the police and let them go after him. As much as I would enjoy killing him for what he did to you and the other boys, I'm not a murderer. I'd rather let the law lock him up and hope they lose the key."
"Do you think they will find him?"
"I'm betting on it."
"Then I'll have to testify."
"You don't have to, but you probably should. You can tell more than the boys could. You were there longer, saw more. But if and when the time comes, it's your choice. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. But if you do, know that I will be there with you and so many of the others you've met will too."
"Why would they care?" Danny liked the people enough, but he didn't mean anything to them.
"Why wouldn't they care? They want justice done. They like you, consider you a friend. Friends support friends. Do you think Jessica would come over today if you weren't building a friendship?"
