Page 22 of Heat Haze
The air is so tense that you’d need more than a knife to cut it. Mr. Tavera sighs, looking down at the ground. “You always were like yer’ mother. Big heart and all. Maybe I just don’t get it.”
“I get it,” Damien chimes in. “Toro’s a fag and this little twink is takin’ advantage of him.”
It really pisses me off to hear him not only imply that I have the upper hand in this situation but to also hear him call his own brother that. Alma’s expression sours even further before she just stomps out of the room altogether.
“I’m not taking advantage of him,” my voice comes out as a low growl. “I like him. Ireallylike him.”
Damien rolls his eyes. “I’m sure. Did you start likin’ him before or after you realized he wasn’t gonna kill ya if you gave him a lil’ kiss every now and then?”
“For fuck’s sake Damien, enough!” Mr. Tavera raises his voice in warning. “It is what it is. Nico’s here, and we gotta accept that. I don’t wanna piss off yer’ brother and have him try somethin’ stupid.”
“He’s been doin’ pretty good lately.” Lucio adds, although he doesn’t seem that interested in the conversation overall. “He works a helluva lot faster. Probably excited to get back and see his… whatever y’all are.”
Mr. Tavera just tilts his head a little, looking past me. We hear Toro before we see him, but when he comes down he gives me the tiniest little smile and scurries over to my side. He takes my hand, and when it seems like he’s gonna take me back to the bedroom a voice stops us.
“Toro, why don’t y’all eat dinner with us tonight?” Mr. Tavera calls. Both of us go still, exchanging nervous looks. We both turn, but my eyes are glued to the floor. “If Nico is going to be staying… he should get used to how we do things, huh?”
Toro’s grip tightens on my hand, the fabric of his shirt rustling when he nods. It’s not hard to see the way he shrinks whenever his dad is around. Makes me sick, to be honest.
“Attaboy,” Mr. Tavera puts a hand on his shoulder. “Why don’t y’all go set the table? I’m sure dinner’ll be ready soon enough.”
There’s no response. I’m almost too afraid to look up at him, but when he addresses me directly I don’t really have a choice. “Huh? Nico? That sound good?”
With a gulp I force myself to look up at him, smiling nervously. “Y-Yes. That sounds fine, thank you.”
“Perfect,” the smile he gives me is far from genuine. It reminds me of the one he gave us all when we first got here. “Don’t forget to wash up.”
He turns and leaves, Damien and Lucio following behind him. The worry on my face must’ve been evident because the second Toro catches wind of it he pulls me intoa hug. I instantly melt into him, letting my face rest against his chest.
His fingers find their way to my hair, playing with my locks gently. Toro’s free hand pushes me back, looking down at me warmly. His expression seems calmer than usual, his honey eyes studying me.
They linger on my lips, before trailing up to meet my chocolate ones. His laughter is hoarse, and doesn’t last long. He purses his lips for a moment, before his mouth opens slowly. At first nothing comes out. It’s almost as though ithurtshim to try.
“Nic…” Toro’s deep voice is like the creak of the front door. He swallows hard after it comes out, lower lip quivering. I wonder how long it’s been since he’s tried to speak? How long since an actual word has left his mouth? He hesitates, but keeps going. He brings his hand to my chest, “...Nico.”
It’s almost hard to process at first. He’s speaking—tome. I’ve been here for a while and this is the first time he’s actually said anything for who knowshowlong? My lips part slightly, just staring at him. The lack of response makes him whine, and he seems uncertain.
“Yeah…!” I exhale, raising my hand to rest flat on where his heart would be, smiling ear to ear. “Y-Yeah, Tor!” I should say more. I shoulddomore. But I’m just so shocked in the best way possible. My head moves on its own, heels leaving the ground as I plant a kiss under his chin.
“Nico…” My name leaves his mouth again, like he’s testing out the word. It sends an exciting jolt down my spine to hear himsaysomething. His grin is massive, eyes glimmering with a newfound spark. He moves to wrap his arms around me properly, pulling my body nice and close tohis. One kiss on my forehead. Two kisses on my forehead. A lot of kisses on my forehead.
I giggle, nose crinkling while my hands weakly try to push him away. He exhales at me, letting his nose rub across my cheek. Part of me wants to ask him to say it again, just so I get to hear it once more. The quiet little bellow of my name made my heart flutter. It’s dangerous.
He’sdangerous, and not in the way everyone keeps telling me he is. Not when he’s wearing that stupid smile, fingers digging into my flesh subtly. Toro always holds me like he doesn’t want to ever let go, but this time I think I share the sentiment. He clears his throat, bringing a hand up to rub at it tenderly.
“Hey,” I whisper. “Don’t try to talk more if it hurts. I… I don’t know how long it’s been, but… I’m really proud of you, Toro.”
Maybe it’s cheesy, or maybe it’s lame. But I am proud of him. I would’ve been fine if he never spoke to me, but the fact he’stryingsays more than any words ever could anyway.
He doesn’t say anything at first, looking at me with big eyes. Suddenly he pulls me into a proper kiss. His mouth crashes against mine, one big hand bringing itself to gently grab at my cheek… and then the other hand holding on to the other side of my face. With both hands keeping my head in place, he kisses me with all the grace and poise of a bull in a china shop.
Toro’s excitement quickly gets the better of him, and he acts like he’s trying to suck my tongue out of my mouth. I laugh a little, pulling back just a bit while ignoring the fact he was two seconds away from drooling all over my face. His thick muscle tries to shove itself down my throat, so Ihave no choice but to pull away and gasp for air. “T-Toro,” I groan. “You’re… Let me show you, okay?”
He smiles at me, head shaking up and down eagerly. My attention is on his hands, which are still firmly planted on my face. He gets the hint and lets them drop to his sides, although it’s clear he doesn’t know where to put them now. I chuckle and guide them to my shoulders, leaning in to peck his forehead.
“Just follow my lead.” With that I bring my face close, lips ghosting his before I internally say ‘fuck it’ and kiss him again. This is my first time kissing anyone, but he doesn’t know that. He goes limp when we connect again, but immediately tightens when I snake my tongue into his mouth.
Toro lets out a thin breath, letting me take the lead. It’s weird, since I usually hate being the one in charge, but I’m into it right now. With my arms around his neck I push against him. His hands swiftly jump from my shoulders to my butt, hoisting me up onto his lap while we kiss. The way his tongue tries to battle against mine is so adorably clumsy.
