Trouble & the Wallflower (19 page)

Stop being so dramatic
,
he scolded himself.

“Okay, Carmen. I’m waiting,” Gavin said, watching her help Ray ease into his chair at the breakfast table.

She looked around the room for a moment. “Wow, the memories in this old house….” She looked as though she was reflecting on the room fondly, though she’d done nothing but trash her memories of the place she’d grown up and her childhood for as long as Gavin could remember.

“I’m not here for you to reminisce about your past, which last time I checked you weren’t so fond of.” Gavin saw that Ray was not pleased with his bitchy tone. He couldn’t help himself, though. He didn’t trust the woman as far as he could throw her. “Why. Are. You. Here?” He bit each word off, looking at Carmen pointedly.

She stood, squaring her shoulders. “I wanted you to meet your brother and for your grandfather to have a chance to know Oliver before he died.”

“But why now, Carmen?” Ray asked. “Not that I’m not grateful to see the boy, I just don’t understand the timing. I’ve been sick a long time.”

Carmen went to speak, but Gavin cut her off. “Or you could have brought him years ago when Ray wasn’t sick. I mean, how old is the kid anyways? Three? Four?”

“He just turned three in March.”

Carmen was a bit shamefaced at the answer. Gavin wondered why, and then he stopped himself from reeling back when he did the math on some things.

“
Why
are you here?
”
Gavin snarled.

“I just finished rehab. Six months sober.” She was looking at Ray now. “I heard how sick you were and knew it was time to see you.” She looked at Gavin straight on. “Time to come home.”

“This is—” Gavin started, but Ray quieted him with a stony gaze.

“This is always your home, Carmen,” Ray said calmly.

“What?” Gavin asked incredulously.

“Gavin. I’m disappointed. She’s come to make amends. Now, I don’t know the whole story of what’s gone on between the two of you, and I’m afraid I don’t want to know.” Ray turned that stony gaze to his daughter. “Carmen, of course you and that boy are welcome here as long as you need. But make no mistake—I don’t trust you yet. God knows I love you. You’re my baby girl, and I’ve wanted nothing but to see you standing here in front of me, sober and healthy, for a long time. I feel blessed to have seen it before I die. But this is more for Oliver than for you. He has a right to know his brother.”

“Yes, sir.” Carmen actually sounded contrite.

“Ray?” Gavin heard the desperation in his own voice.

Carmen walked over to him. “Gavin, I know I did horrible things to you. I do. I’ll regret them until the day I die, but I do want to try to make up for it. I want to be here for you so you’re not doing this all alone.”

Gavin’s chin jutted out stubbornly. “I’m not alone. I have Davy.”

“Yes. Davy. He seems like a sweet kid.”

Gavin could tell Carmen’s smile was fake. Or it could be he was just that distrustful of her. And why shouldn’t he be?

“Carmen, you’ll remember that Davy has been a big help. He’s welcome whenever he likes,” Ray said, and with that, the subject was closed.

Carmen nodded at her father. “As it should be.” She looked back at Gavin. “You obviously care for him.” Another fake smile. Or maybe that was her genuine smile. Her face had become tired over the years. Maybe it wasn’t capable of a genuinely happy expression.

“Can we at least try? If for nothing else, then for your grandfather and for Oliver? Maybe along the way you can learn to trust me again. I’d love to earn your trust again.”

Gavin saw some sincerity in her eyes. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. He looked between Carmen and Ray briefly, then remembered the smiling face of the little brother he’d not known until today. He also imagined what Davy’s advice would be.
Davy.
He had Davy. He supposed even if things turned out bad, as he suspected they would, he at least had Davy. And Ray. And he’d always wanted a brother.

“Okay. For Ray. And for Oliver. But”—he kept his arms crossed over his chest and laid his most threatening glare on Carmen—“you will be kind to Davy. I love him.” Her eyes widened a fraction, but she didn’t respond otherwise.

“Carmen?” Ray nudged.

“Of course, of course.” Carmen waved it off as though they were being silly. “My baby’s in love. Every mother dreams to hear that.”

“Yeah, well, this one won’t turn out like the last one I loved. I can promise you that.” Gavin watched as the color drained from Carmen’s face. “I’m going to find Davy and Oliver.” He looked at Ray and got a nod of acknowledgment, then turned on his heel.

“Oh,” he said over his shoulder, “I’ll stay at Davy’s. You and Oliver can have my suite.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to put you out,” Carmen said, nose turned up a bit in distaste.

He laughed. “Don’t worry. The sheets are clean.” He sauntered out of the kitchen, letting the swinging door fly shut behind him.

D
AVY
WAS
in awe as he watched Oliver play with the cars. Davy had given him a couple of the ones Gavin would roll around when he didn’t realize Davy could see him playing like a child. Oliver was unusually careful for such a young child. He treated the cars with such reverence, you’d imagine he understood just how much they meant to his brother—or that he’d been sent to obedience school.

Davy tried not to think the worst of Carmen Walker. For Oliver to be as open with Davy as he had been once he’d gotten used to him, Davy couldn’t imagine she’d treated him unkindly. He seemed well adjusted. But Davy had never been around kids other than the ones he’d waited on at Bart’s, so he could be way off base.

In fact, Davy was probably way more uncomfortable with Ollie than the other way around. He was really out of his element. He may have issues with being around people his own age, but at least he had some experience with them. Children…. He’d never even considered having kids because for one, he didn’t figure it’d be something he could do being gay and all, and quite frankly they made him nervous as hell.

He hadn’t wanted to disappoint Ray after Ray said such a kind thing, including him as family. He’d gotten choked up when Ray said that. He knew it was too soon. He and Gavin hadn’t been together that long. But Davy hadn’t had any family other than his uncle for so long that hearing someone considered him as such made him feel like a needy child who wanted to cling to Ray’s side and stay there. He wanted to soak in Ray’s affection as long as he could. But Davy knew Ray was right. Gavin and his mother needed to sort this out away from Ollie.

“Davy, you like car?” Ollie held out one of the model cars.

Davy smiled at him and moved over to where Ollie played on the bed. “I love them. Not as much as your brother, though. He built these.”

Oliver’s guileless eyes were full of awe as he said, “Wow,” and patted the car as though it was a favorite pet. “Gavvy build the car?” Davy watched Ollie unblinkingly for a moment, the child looking freakishly like a miniature version of Gavin, regardless of whether they had different fathers or not.

Davy shook out of his thoughts as he realized Ollie was looking at him expectantly. “Yep, Ollie. Gavin built this.”

“Mommy said Gavvy smart,” Ollie said proudly.

“He is. Very smart.” Davy watched Ollie warmly. He was so full of love for this kid. How had it happened so quickly? Even with the awkwardness in the beginning, he couldn’t help but fall for the kid’s charms.
Just like your brother.
Davy mussed Ollie’s hair. Ollie surprised him thoroughly by doing something so much like his brother that it hurt.

“Don’t do that, Davy!” Ollie fixed his hair, rubbing down the tufts Davy had misplaced.

Davy had watched Gavin do the same thing many times before, been fussed at several times for the same reason. He was so surprised at the mini-Gavin that he started laughing. Ollie looked at him as though he was completely insane. Maybe he was.

Ollie’s face became very solemn. “Was Gavvy mad at me?”

Davy was so surprised by the non sequitur that he almost didn’t know how to respond for a second. “What? Why?”

Ollie rolled the wheels on a model classic Mustang, sadly watching the turning tires. “Mommy said Gavvy isn’t happy with her. Is he mad at me? He was yelling lots.”

Davy’s chest swelled. “Oh, no. No, no, Ollie. Gavin was just stressed. He was surprised to see your mom. But he loves you, a lot.”

Ollie looked up at Davy, still seemingly unconvinced.

Davy smiled reassuringly. “In fact, I bet he’s got all kinds of fun stuff he’s going to do with you. I’m sure you could even talk him into letting you help build one of these cars.”

Oliver’s eyes gleamed. “Really?”

“I’m positive. Your brother is the best.”

Ollie nodded.

“What are you two doing down here?” Gavin asked, coming up behind Davy and wrapping an arm around his waist, squeezing tight, and placing his chin on Davy’s shoulder.

Ollie studied them curiously, enough to make Davy want to pull away from the embrace. Then Ollie did what children often do. He turned his attention to something else. Davy laughed at himself.

Gavin kissed behind Davy’s ear and Davy squeezed Gavin’s hand that was on his hip.

“Davy said we can build a car!”

Gavin huffed in Davy’s ear. “He did, did he?”

“Hey, I’d do anything to keep that kid off my back,” Davy mumbled.

“I think, between the two of you, I’m screwed,” Gavin said with a put-upon sigh.

“My thoughts exactly,” Davy said solemnly, receiving a playful bite on the shoulder in response.

G
AVIN
ROSE
above Davy. Sweat dripped from his brow as their limbs tangled together. They’d gone back to Davy’s apartment for the night so Gavin could clear his head, and he’d also given up his suite to his mother and little brother. As soon as they’d gotten in the door, Gavin had clung to Davy and begged Davy to help him think about anything other than their day.

Davy couldn’t imagine what Gavin must be feeling. His mom back, a new brother out of thin air. Even Davy was overwhelmed with all of the emotion. Aside from getting angry, Gavin had been so composed once he’d had his talk with Carmen. He’d eventually made nervous attempts to bond with Oliver. Davy had been worried about Gavin, though, as he’d retreated within himself on the drive to Davy’s apartment.

But that ended as soon as the lock slid into place on Davy’s apartment door. Gavin was feral, searching, desperate as they stripped off their clothes. Davy had been more than happy to oblige as Gavin took his lips with his own. The kiss had been full of need. Gavin, again, felt as though he was holding on to Davy to keep from drifting out to sea and being taken under the rip currents.

Davy rolled on top of him. “Let me take care of you,” he said roughly.

Gavin’s lust-filled eyes bored into his. He responded with a thrust of his hips into Davy’s and a nod. “Please, Davy. Please, please.”

Davy couldn’t remember him ever having pleaded. Gavin was usually well in control of himself, even on the brink of release. Not tonight, though. Gavin was wild, squirming, and full of pent-up need and energy. Davy moved in for a kiss, and Gavin slithered his tongue into Davy’s mouth, forcing his tongue as far in as he could go. Davy ground his cock into Gavin’s. Gavin was weeping with need. As Davy pulled from the kiss, Gavin clamped his teeth, verging on painful, on Davy’s bottom lip. One of his rare growls escaped. He saw light behind his eyes as he grabbed Gavin’s wrists and pinned them above his head.

Davy had never felt such a strong need to dominate, to care for another person. He wanted to take away whatever pain Gavin was feeling. He made his way down Gavin’s body, stopping to bite and lick along the way. He drew hickeys to the surface on Gavin’s chest, unable to stop himself.

“So fucking sexy, Davy,” Gavin said breathlessly.

Davy finally made it to his prize, taking Gavin’s cock deep into his mouth. He gave no quarter as he sucked and stroked Gavin’s balls and belly. Gavin started a brutal fucking of Davy’s mouth, and Davy held on for every thrust.

“So good, Davy.”

Gavin was like a man possessed. The head of his cock popped in and out of Davy’s throat to the point his throat was almost raw. Davy’s cock was so hard, and he was turned on so much by his ability to make Gavin let loose and feel things so deeply. Gavin was grunting and moaning shamelessly as the salty flavor of his precum flowed over Davy’s tongue, lubing his throat along with the spit to make for one amazing taste. Davy was as lost in the act as Gavin.

But when Davy had said he intended to take care of Gavin, he meant it. He grabbed Gavin’s thighs with both hands and pulled them apart, lifting them. He pulled off Gavin’s cock and dove into the cleft of Gavin’s ass, tasting the salty-sweetness of his hole. Davy had yet to find a part of Gavin’s body that didn’t taste fucking amazing.

Davy moaned into Gavin’s ass as Gavin’s hole yielded to the onslaught of his rimming. Davy employed the use of his finger, then two fingers, rough and hard. Gavin let out the most guttural moan Davy had ever heard him make.