Page 109 of Peach Tree Family

"And how would Ace feel?" Leo asked.

"Maybe we can keep it from him," Seth told him, feeling dumb for even saying it.

"I doubt it," Leo said. "And for how long do you think this guy would land in jail after beating on you? You look more than capable of defending yourself."

Seth saw his point. "I'd have to have witnesses, or he would say he was the one defending himself." As Seth was talking, trying to figure out some way to make this work out, Leo gave him a quick shake of the head. "There must be a way. I don't care how bad I get hurt. I don't want Theo to worry or Ace to be scared."

"Seth," Theo said from behind him, and Seth realized that Leo had tried to warn him he was there.

"I guess I got a big mouth," Seth said turning to Theo. As expected, he looked mad.

"I'll leave you to it," Leo said and went to join Andy.

"What the hell was that?" Theo wanted to know.

He got kind of loud, so Seth told him, "If you're going to yell, let's take this over that way." He pointed to the woods on the south side of the house where they didn't have any eggs hidden.

From the way that he stalked ahead of him, Seth could tell that Theo couldn't wait to lay into him. When they were far enough away, he wheeled on Seth. "Why were you talking about getting hurt? What the hell, Seth?"

"Sorry, but I wanted to do something that would get that Jerry put away. I thought if I let him beat on me..."

"You're unbelievable," Theo said between gritted teeth. "We already have a way to get rid of him – selling the house."

"I don't want that. The house belongs to you and Ace. It's your home," Seth told him.

"You think I want you to get hurt so I don't lose the house? What the hell!"

"I know you wouldn't want it, but I just want to do something."

"You're not a punching bag. Why was your first instinct to sacrifice yourself?" Theo said.

"It was all I could think of," Seth told him.

"Well think again. I'm not letting you do anything stupid." Theo grabbed his arms hard. "No one gets to hurt you," he said even as his grip on Seth was almost bruising.

Just as suddenly as he grabbed him, Theo let go. He took a few aimless steps then came to face Seth again. "You said you wanted to do something for us? Don't you know you already are? I'm depending on you more all the time."

"I want to be here for you."

"Then be here, not in a hospital bed." Theo became stern and deadly serious again. "Tell me you're dropping this idea."

After a moment, Seth nodded. "I don't have much choice," he told Theo honestly. "Not if it would cause more pain for you and Ace, and in the end, it might not even work."

His answer was enough to satisfy Theo. "Good," Theo said and he let out a relieved breath.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to add to your troubles," Seth said and took Theo's hand and kissed the palm then each of his fingers.

Theo slumped forward and leaned his head on Seth's shoulder. "This is why I can't let anything happen to you. So I can do this." Theo moved closer and wrapped his arms around him. "And this." Theo kissed his cheek then his mouth, then he pushed his tongue inside.

Taking a breath, their mouths only inches apart, Seth gazed into Theo's eyes. "I want to be here for this too," Seth said before getting back to kissing him.

That night while the Easter party at Mrs. Del Rio's was still going on, Theo texted that he was leaving Ace there and coming to the inn to pick him up. When Seth went over to the truck, Theo moved over to the passenger side.

Seth thought that maybe he wanted to talk, but he had something else in mind. As soon as Seth got them on the road, Theo leaned over to his side of the car and nuzzled his ear. His hand slid under Seth's clothes and over his chest. As Theo's fingers brushed over his nipples, his teeth nibble on his earlobe, and Seth shivered.

"So this is why you had me drive," Seth said, his voice rough, his dick hard.

"I wanted my hands free," Theo said. He pulled even closer and his lips fluttered against the side of Seth's neck.

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