Page 63 of Need Him
Gareth encircled his arms around his waist and kissed him chastely. “Thank you for not hating me when I go all controlling on you.”
“Never.”
They wandered down to where Gareth had parked the car and headed home. Ben needed to stop thinking about it being home, though, because he had the apartment he’d be moving into in a couple of days.
“Victor called me earlier. He wanted to know if you wanted some company tonight?”
Ben smiled. “Sure. That’d be nice.”
“Can you do me a favour?”
“Of course.”
Gareth sighed. “I think he’s feeling lonely and fed up. He’s not been able to find a Daddy who wants more than one night, and it’s grating on him. I had hoped you wouldn’t mind keeping him company because I don’t want him to withdraw into his shell. He’s such a good man.” Gareth shook his head with a sad smile. “It’s not fair on him.”
“I’ll try to cheer him up. I don’t mind spending time with either of your friends.”
“They’re your friends, too, you know.”
Ben scrunched his nose. “I wouldn’t say that. I’d like them to be, but we don’t really know each other yet.”
Gareth chuckled. “I think the amount of time you spent together at the club would be enough to make you friends. You and Victor are two peas in a pod.” Gareth frowned. “Hmm, maybe I should get Preston to come round, too. He might be able to keep you two out of trouble.”
“Hey!” Ben pouted, fake though it was. “I can be responsible.”
Gareth raised his eyebrows at him. “While you’re on your own? Yes. While Victor is with you? I don’t have as much faith.”
Ben backhanded his shoulder and laughed. “I can’t disagree with you. There’s no telling what Victor might make me do.”
By the time they arrived home, Victor was already waiting on the sofa with the TV on and a bowl of popcorn at the ready.
“Are you psychic?” Ben asked, not sure if he was serious or not.
Victor grinned. “Nope. I just didn’t want to be alone.”
Ben sighed and joined him on the sofa. “I know.”
Victor snuggled into Ben’s side, surprising him, but he held him tightly, rubbing his back until Gareth entered with two big plates of food.
“Decent food before crappy food, please, boys,” he said, placing the tray on the coffee table and holding out the plates of spaghetti bolognese.
Gareth rounded the table and leaned down to Ben. “I have to go. Make sure you rest, and I’ll see you for breakfast.” He kissed him, and Ben wanted more than what Gareth gave him, holding onto his polo shirt and holding him still. After a few minutes, they parted, and Gareth smiled. “I love you.”
“Love you.”
When the door closed behind his Daddy, Ben snapped his head around at a loud sob. He grabbed Victor’s plate and put both of them on the table before wrapping Victor in his arms.
“Oh, Victor. We’ll find you someone. I promise. There is someone out there for you. I promise we will find him.”
A knock sounded, but Ben couldn’t get up to answer. After a second, the front door opened, and a voice shouted, “It’s Preston! Can I come in?”
“We’re in the living room!” Ben called back and continued rocking Victor in his arms.
When Preston saw Victor, he dropped to his knees in front of him. “Oh, little one. We need to find you your Daddy.”
Ben and Preston stared at one another, unable to do more than they were already doing to comfort the distraught little. It reminded him of the commenter on Gareth’s blog, Oh2Bs3xy. Once they had all calmed down, he would talk everything through with them and figure out a game plan. There had to be a way to help all these people.
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