Epilogue
James finished the mashed potato just as the doorbell rang. He glanced at the clock and groaned. It was already time for people to begin arriving for dinner and he hadn’t showered yet. Jordan had been helping him but Tony the sheriff had called to check in so the teenager ran off. Still, James managed to gather everything he needed.
He exhaled.
“Jordan!” he hollered, while turning down the stove and darting for the stairs. “Can you get the door? I need to shower.”
“Um—sure, dad.”
He was at the top of the stairs when laughter filled the interior of the house. He dipped into the master bedroom but stopped for a second to listen to Ellie’s happy squeal when she saw her cousin. That was quickly followed by Tanjay asking for James. He didn’t wait to hear the answer. Instead, he stripped on his way to the shower. After a quick glance at his face in the mirror, and musing briefly over the fact he might want to get shaved, he turned on the water.
“Mac?”
James trembled at the sound of his nickname leaving Quentin’s lips. He quickly wrapped a towel around his hips and stuck his head out. Quentin kissed him.
“Hey, Professor—Jordan said you’re running behind.”
“A little.” James drew Quentin into his chest for another kiss. “Let me shower quickly then I’ll join you guys downstairs.”
“Do you mind if I just lay down on your bed until you’re ready? I’m exhausted.”
“Of course.” James arched a brow. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just tired.” Quentin kissed James’ nose. “My flight landed and it was one thing after another to get mami and Tanjay ready and out the door.”
“Okay.”
James went for his shower then but not before accepting Quentin’s mouth again. It had been a week since they’d seen each other. During the day, it wasn’t an issue because with Jordan gone off to what the school was calling Welcome Week, James would use those hours alone writing. Then at nights after dinner with his son, he’d climb into bed and thoughts of Quentin would fill his mind. It shouldn’t have been that hard. Their relationship was only a few months old, but Quentin was precisely what James’ had searched for all his life.
Once he was dressed, he climbed into the bed behind Quentin and wrapped his arms around him. James kissed the back of Quentin’s neck, his shoulder, his head. “Sweetheart?”
“Mmm.”
“Baby, it’s time to wake up.”
Quentin moaned. “Five more minutes.”
“Okay. We’ll have dinner without you.”
That seemed to do the trick. Quentin snapped to and smacked James with a pillow that made him laugh.
Together, they ventured into the chaos of their first family meal. Ellie, Beth, Quentin’s mother and Tanjay were all there along with Jordan. James couldn’t remember another time he’d felt so whole. There was laughter, good conversation and enough food to feed a small army. Still, James watched Jordan through it all. His son seemed to be flourishing. He’d already met friends at school and the fear of starting wasn’t at all what he had been the first time James had mentioned school.
When dinner was over, all the adults had been drinking. James insisted on them all staying over instead of driving. With their cars parked in the nearby paid parking lot, Ellie shared the guestroom with Beth. Tanjay and his mother shared James’ master bedroom and James pulled Quentin into his chest as they slept on the pull out sofa bed in the den. In the darkness, James kissed the top of Quentin’s head and eased in closer.
“Thanks for tonight,” Quentin said. “Mami really likes you and she enjoyed herself, I could tell.”
“I’m glad. You and I are making a go at this and if it’s going to work, we need everyone on board.”
“It certainly makes things a lot easier.”
“True. How was L.A? Did they like the new music?”
“Yeah—especially Bondage. They want it on the next album.”
“That’s great news. Jordan will be happy to hear.”
“And you’re okay with this?”
James shrugged. “As long as it doesn’t affect his school work and he doesn’t become some kind of a drama king.”
“No drama-king and he won’t go on tour or anything. His name will appear in the credits for the song.”
“Well, talk to him and see what he thinks.”
“We’ll talk about that later—right now, I’m just happy to be back here.” Quentin placed a tender kiss to James’ forehead. “I’m happy to be in your arms, to come home to you. All I kept thinking of was getting here and hopefully being early so I could walk through that door and have you make love to me.”
James moaned. There was no hiding the fact he loved the sound of that.
“But, I couldn’t get here any faster…”
“Aww, baby.” James caressed his arm. “Us making love will never be a missed chance. Any time you want it…”
Quentin laughed softly. “We both know we can’t do anything tonight—I can never remain quiet when you touch me.”
“That is true. Well, once the nest empties tomorrow—you’re all mine.”
Quentin sighed. “Strange—the execs were less interested in the new tracks and more into my personal life. They kept hounding me about my relationship with you—asking if it’s going to affect me professionally. And you know something?”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t care.” Quentin smiled but it soon turned to a soft laughter. “I don’t care. You see, as long as you hold me like this—and look at me the way you did when I stepped into the room. As long as I can come home to you. As long as you touch me like you do—I’ll be perfect.”
“Really?”
“Really. But one day, I’m going to need to hear you say the words.”
“What words?”
Quentin crinkled his brows. “That you love me.”
“One day?” James caressed Quentin’s cheeks while cradling his face. “What about today—right now?”
“I know how you feel for me, Professor.” Quentin tried inching in for the kiss but James held him back. “Love is just a word. Some people can say I love you every minute of every day, doesn’t make it true. With you, Mac, your actions will always speak louder than words.”
James’ cheeks heated.
“You speak to me a certain way. You touch me a certain way. You look at me—.” Quentin met James’ eyes. “Yes, there it is—that soft yet smoldering way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention. That, James McLaren, is love.”
“And what about you?”
“Me?” Quentin pulled his face from James’ hands and kissed him roughly. “I’ve loved you since Boise.”
The End