“You’re telling me you want out? Already?” Harold sounded astonished.

Roman couldn’t blame him. He’d probably react the same way, in Harold’s shoes. “I know, I know. I got lucky even getting that route. But the long-hauls are… I don’t know, man. They’re messing with things.”

As always, Harold cut to the chase. “Things. I hate that word, kid. Your sleep schedule, or your sleep with schedule?”

“Uh. A bit of both.” Roman glanced toward the guest room door again, then sighed and paced the living room into the kitchen, leaning on the island. Anything to stop himself getting neck strain staring at the door.

Oscar had to think about it. Roman had to give him space, especially with all the other big life events going on for him. He wasn’t going to use that place of insecurity to pressure him.

Even if he did desperately want answers on how much Oscar was prepared to give him.

“So you want, what, back to short-hauls? Hopping around America all day long?”

“Yeah, if I can get switched back to short-hauls… I mean, I was talking to people who said it should be easy. We both know how much demand there is on the long-haul routes.” Roman had had to wait over a year to get his position on the roster.

“Well, I won’t say you’re crazy, but it all depends what you’ve got lined up, kid. If it’s what you want, they can’t stop you. You’re good enough you can walk to another airline—though you won’t find another one based outta Knoxville. Nashville, you’ve got a swinging chance.”

“I don’t know. It can’t hurt to ask, right?”

“Right.”

“Thanks, Harold. I’d better let you get back to watercolor painting, or whatever it is you do these days,” Roman teased.

“Painting my new girlfriend, more like.”

“Oh, God.” Roman didn’t want that mental image, but now he had it. “Thanks, man.”

“Anytime.”

When he turned around, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Oscar was silently leaning in the doorway, having moved with surprising speed. How long had he been there? “Jesus, man. Make a guy have a heart attack.”

Oscar half-smiled, but he was already clearly fixated on something. His gaze never left Roman’s face, the adorable wrinkle between his brows creasing like it did when he was deep in thought. Or about to be dramatic. Roman knew which one he was hoping for. “Switching to short-haul routes?”

Roman swallowed hard, then nodded at the couch. “We should talk?” he offered.

“Yeah, I think so.” Oscar refused Roman’s offer of an arm and limped heavily over to the couch, settling himself carefully. It was always awkward and painful to watch the last few seconds of him trying to sit without moving one leg too much.

Roman settled next to him, keeping a safe “friend” distance between them. “So you had a chance to think about things?”

Oscar’s mouth twisted into a quick smile. “Yeah. And then I heard that. What the fuck’s that about?”

“Me… switching routes?”

“Yeah. You told me long-hauls were your dream.” Oscar watched him intently, his expression hard to read.

Roman suddenly felt like he was being interrogated, and he folded his hands carefully. “Um. It’s not the easiest schedule to manage sometimes. And if you and me… I mean, I’m not assuming anything… but it’s hard to spend days apart, or even a week sometimes. If I fly short-hauls, I’m home nearly every evening.”

“Don’t you fucking dare give up your dreams so easily. Especially not if it’s for me.” Oscar folded his arms.

Roman let out his breath slowly. It was suddenly clear where this was coming from. He should probably tread lightly. He couldn’t think of any way to bring it up delicately, though, so he plunged in. “Do you feel like you have?”

Oscar flinched, then nodded, his expression guarded. “You know that.”

“Today of all days, yeah. But it’s not about that at all,” Roman told him firmly, sliding closer to him on the couch to touch his shoulder. “I’m sorry it’s been such a shitty day. I shouldn’t have brought us up now.”

“No,” Oscar mumbled, his face finally losing the guarded quality as he relaxed into the touch. He scooted slightly closer and Roman took that as his cue to wrap his arm around Oscar’s shoulders, pulling him in. “It’s fine,” Oscar insisted, even as his voice went thick.

Roman rubbed his back again, pressing his nose into his hair. I really will have to figure out what his shampoo is that smells so great. Not the right moment, though, dude. “Still. I’m sorry about all of it. It sucks, man.”

“It does,” Oscar agreed, clearing his throat a few times. He tried pulling away. “Sorry. I don’t wanna get all…”

“Baby,” Roman murmured, the name slipping out before he could even think about it. “It’s okay. You need someone to listen and be here. If that’s all you want, that’s okay.”

Oscar pulled away and shook his head, his lips set in that stubborn line that meant he knew he was fighting a losing battle but was damn well going to try anyway. He was so easy to read, it was utterly charming.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t want to use you.”

Roman paused and stared at Oscar, his arm still loosely around his shoulders. “What?”

“While I’m this…” Oscar gestured around, searching for words, his gaze sliding from Roman’s face to the floor. “This much of a mess.”

Roman felt like he was missing half the conversation. “But that’s when I want to be here for you.”

“But that’s just using you for… feeling better, and…” Oscar trailed off. He rubbed his face and sighed, then slid his hand into Roman’s, linking their fingers. He reached up with his left hand to touch the one on his shoulder. “I’m not great at this relationship stuff. Obviously. My parents splitting and all, and I never had time for one…”

Roman squeezed Oscar’s hand and pulled him against him again. “It’s fine, hon. But that’s not how relationships work. You love someone at their lowest just as fiercely, if not more.” He straightened up, his belly burning with the truth he was speaking. “You stand up for them when everyone else is being a dick. You give them a shoulder to cry on. You’re there when they come home, you know? You’re there, safe and warm and cozy, for them. Love is a haven.”

Oscar was watching him, his expression soft and… hopeful? “That all… I mean, that all sounds too good to be true.”

“How do you mean? Just because you haven’t had it before?” Roman asked, then interjected, “I’m assuming here.”

“I haven’t. I can’t figure out why…” Oscar’s voice tightened and cracked, but though Roman tried to brush it off, he wouldn’t let it go. “Why you’d want me like this.”

“I want you to let me take care of you when you need it,” Roman murmured. “And it’s not one-sided. I promise I have my bad days, too. But you can’t decide for me what I can handle.”

Oscar’s lips parted slightly as he stared at Roman, like he hadn’t considered it.

“And,” Roman added ruefully, “I know that yeah, I was kind of doing that for you. By running away from talking about all of this.” He squirmed slightly, the guilt pooling in his stomach. “I’m trying to do better now.”

“Talk?” Oscar scoffed. “I don’t like talking it out. Not when we could be doing much better things with our mouths. That’s the kind of relationship I like.” His eyes glinted in a challenge.

Roman grinned back at him. “That could be arranged.”

“Yeah? Then…” Oscar raised his shoulders in a slight shrug. “We’ll take it slow. Try it out.” Despite his attempt to be subtle, Roman’s delight must have been obvious. Oscar laughed and added, “Well, if I’d known that was all it took to make you grin like a loon. Happy?”

Roman’s cheeks burned. “Uh. Yeah. I’m happy. I like this. This dating thing. I think.” Dating. Saying it out loud is weird. Wow.

“Dating,” Oscar repeated, rolling it off his tongue. Then he turned toward Roman on the couch, his eyes glinting. “That means more sex? And sleeping together? For convenient middle-of-the-night sex?”

“That definitely means more sex, if you want more sex,” Roman laughed. “If I’d known that was all it took to get you to say yes…”

“I want a lot of sex, if you hadn’t already noticed.” Oscar laughed. “Does that make me sound shallow?”

Roman shook his head and growled, “If you are, so am I.” He nipped Oscar’s ear and wriggled his fingers out from Oscar’s to squeeze his thigh.

“We speak the same language,” Oscar breathed, his eyes glinting with amusement. “We can make this work.”

That sounded promising. Roman tried not to get his hopes up, but it was impossible after this conversation. Taking it slow with anyone was the ultimate challenge, but if that was what it took to make Oscar see he really did want him, he had no choice.

He swooped in to kiss Oscar hard, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and sliding his hands along Oscar’s back.

Oscar moaned and went limp in his arms the moment Roman bit his lower lip. He was already working his hands under Roman’s shirt, running his nails up his back.

“Lie back,” Roman told Oscar, grinning as he slid off the couch onto his knees. He carefully slid his hand under Oscar’s bad leg, glancing up at him to make sure he was fine as he lifted, helping him lie flat on the couch.

“I can do that myself,” Oscar mumbled, but half-heartedly. His eyes were wide with desire.

“But then I can do this,” Roman murmured, running his hands slowly up Oscar’s inner thighs as he watched his face.

“Fuck,” Oscar hissed, spreading his legs as one foot slipped off the couch. “Get up here.”

“I love it when you try to get bossy,” Roman teased. He stayed on his knees next to the couch, leaning down to bite Oscar’s lip slowly and deliberately. He whispered, “I have other ideas.”

He rubbed the hard shaft with his palm as he spoke, letting his thumb press around the ridge of the head of Oscar’s cock. His other hand popped open the button on Oscar’s jeans.

“D-Do you?” Oscar’s voice was weak. He gripped Roman’s shoulder so hard his nails dug in again. “Hurry up with them, ’cause I’m gonna embarrass myself soon.”

Roman smirked and ducked his head to kiss Oscar again, then grabbed his shirt and pulled it off. As much as Oscar worried about his body, his desirability at work and in love, Roman found him fucking hot.

Maybe more so now that he’d lost the edge of almost inhuman perfection. Rippling abs, thighs of steel, and biceps that could stifle a stray toddler looked wrong when he was actually trying to picture himself with Oscar… like something statuesque. Now, Oscar looked better: he had that healthy glow.

He realized he was staring at Oscar’s body and, with difficulty, pulled his gaze up to his face again.

“Inspecting the goods?” Oscar smirked at him.

“You bet.” Roman took Oscar’s hand and guided it to his hard shaft, letting him go as Oscar rubbed lightly. That sent prickling, tingling pleasure through his body, his sight hazy for a moment. “Now do you believe I want you just like you are? No matter what?”

Oscar swallowed hard. “I don’t know why, but I’m starting to believe it.” His voice wavered.

“Let me show you.” Roman pinched Oscar’s zipper between two fingers and dragged it down, then helped him shift so his jeans pulled tight around his thighs, leaving his hard cock poking up into the air. He pointedly licked his lips.

Oscar gasped. “Oh, fuck! Yes!” he mumbled, his thighs twitching in anticipation. He squeezed Roman’s shaft through his jeans and rubbed a little harder.

Spurred on, Roman kissed the outside of Oscar’s thigh, then licked from the base to tip a few times, enjoying every vocal reaction he wrung out of Oscar.

“Let me,” Roman murmured, pushing Oscar’s hand away from himself. He could take care of that later. “Just relax.”

“Are you sure?” Oscar murmured, his eyes flickering open to stare at Roman.

“Relax, baby.” Roman ran his hand up Oscar’s chest to play with a nipple. “This is all for you.” Oscar’s full-body twitch and moan was delightful to the ear, and Roman carefully ran his thumb around the nub a few more times before he flicked it again.

“Fuck,” Oscar moaned, trying to grind against Roman’s lips. “Suck me. Please.”

Roman gently pinched the sensitive skin along Oscar’s shaft between his lips while being careful not to nip. When he reached the head again, he swirled his tongue around it and slowly sucked the shaft into his mouth.

The series of small noises that tumbled from Oscar’s lips were deliciously addictive. Roman shivered and sucked harder as he ran his fingers around Oscar’s nipples in gentle, teasing circles.

“Fuck,” Oscar repeated himself, his hips shivering, probably with the effort not to thrust up. Roman helped him out by sliding his other hand down to hold his hip to the sofa, slowly sliding the shaft further into his mouth.

When Oscar bumped the back of his throat, Roman moaned gently and pulled his head back up, setting an excruciatingly slow pace to tease Oscar for as long as he could. Plus, there was a selfish reason. He tasted divine and the heavy, silken weight of him on Roman’s tongue felt right. Roman wanted this to last forever.

Oscar’s breath came in quick hisses and pants. “You feel amazing,” he groaned, his skin shivering and rippling. It felt intoxicating to be in charge, making Roman lose his mind with pleasure. He was throbbing with pleasure, his pants way too tight.

Roman spared himself a hand to free and stroke himself a few times to try to calm down, then returned his finger to tweaking Oscar’s nipple. He sucked his cheeks in, lapping the sensitive frenulum.

God, his dick is gorgeous. If Roman’s mouth weren’t so full, he’d tell him as much. He settled for glancing up toward Oscar’s face as he kissed the shaft again, then gazing at the pink, stiff skin under his lips with an appreciative look.

Oscar turned red but smiled, too, looking suddenly shy as he closed his eyes. “You’re too good. I’m so close…”

Roman didn’t answer, just kept bobbing his head. He freed Oscar’s hips from his tight grip, instead gently squeezing his balls and running his hand along his thigh. Every single sensation he could think of giving Oscar at once, he did.

The last traces of Oscar’s self-restraint came undone as his lover grabbed the back of his head and moaned. “I’m so… fuck… can I?”

Roman answered in a moan around Oscar’s shaft and freed up his hand to press over Oscar’s, making it clear he could thrust up as he needed.

“Yes! Oh my God, Roman. You’re so hot. Needed this so much,” Oscar panted, his voice faint. “Needed you. F-Fuck… yes!”

Roman swallowed as warm, thick passion coated his tongue, making sure Oscar had a good view. Oscar actually tasted good, too. When Oscar collapsed on the sofa, Roman licked the shaft a few more times and stroked gently, then leaned against the sofa and grinned up at him. “So?”

Oscar’s eyes were half-closed, his cheeks flushed red. “I… my… that… yeah.” He tangled his hand more gently in Roman’s hair this time, pulling him towards him. “Kiss me?”

How could Roman resist that soft plea? He shifted on hands and knees until he could lean in and kiss Oscar.

“Come on. Your turn,” Oscar encouraged. When Roman tried to protest, he grinned. “You turning down a blank canvas?”

Even thinking of Harold’s words half an hour ago couldn’t dampen Roman’s spirits at the invitation. His heart pounded as he pushed himself to his feet slowly. “Really?”

Oscar’s eyes were already hungrily fixed on his cock. “Please. I wanna feel that hot load you’ve got waiting for me. Let me taste it. Come on,” he wheedled.

Roman’s cock twitched as the muscles in his body went tight, the blood rushing south. Oh, fuck. He’s got a dirty mouth. “I… fuck. Oscar.”

“You wanna be in charge? We’re dating now, huh? Mark me. Show me I’m yours.” Oscar wasn’t stopping, his eyes glinting with mischievous pleasure. “That turns you on, huh?”

“Fucking right it does.” Roman didn’t waste a moment bracing himself on the back of the couch, his hand tight around his shaft. He stroked hard and fast, unable to tear his gaze away from that beautiful face he’d utterly fallen for without quite realizing it.

But those morose few weeks of back-and-forth were over. Oscar was here, with him, giving him a chance. Not just at sex, but at a life together.

He groaned and gasped as he came, and Oscar pushed himself up on his elbows to make sure he coated his chest, chin, tongue…

“Yes!” Roman whimpered and just about lost his balance as Oscar deftly closed his lips around the head of his cock and licked away the last few drops, then flopped back on the couch again, covered in Roman’s mess.

The sight blew most of the circuits in his brain. He simultaneously blushed and stared, his nails still digging into the couch as he tried to catch his breath. “Oh my God. You’re so fucking good.”

Oscar smirked. “Weren’t expecting my filthy mouth?” He wiped a finger along his jaw pointedly and sucked it clean.

It was pretty fucking hard to embarrass Roman, but he knew he was blushing. “I should’ve known by now.” When his knees were solid again, he grabbed tissues and cupped Oscar’s cheek, wiping him clean.

Oscar lay still and let him clean up, his smile warm and affectionate. It made Roman just about shake with nerves.

This was the part he wasn’t sure about. They’d managed that one night to sleep together, but it wasn’t bedtime. He couldn’t really tell him he loved him—it felt too soon, too likely to scare him off—but if anything, he was dead certain now. If this wasn’t mature, whole-hearted love, the seed was there with Oscar, where he’d only felt desperately hopeful before now.

Seed. So to speak. Roman was still blushing, laughing under his breath as he thought that.

“What?” Oscar murmured, smiling.

“Nothing,” Roman mumbled, awkwardly clearing his throat.

Oscar scooted backward and sat up, then turned to lower his feet to the floor carefully. “Come here,” he murmured. “If we’re dating, I’m going to be obnoxiously snuggly.”

Roman beamed as he sat, wrapping his arm around Oscar again and leaning back. “Cool. You do you, and I’ll like it.”

“I think I could live with that,” Oscar murmured. He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against Roman’s shoulder.

Roman settled back to enjoy the thrum of pleasure still vibrating through his body. “I think so, too.”