My Home Is With You [LGBT+]

Twenty Three

I MOAN TIREDLY, loving the way Max's warm hand travels up and down my back, soothing me into a light doze until all I can think of is his gentle teasing touch.

With closed eyes, I rest my head on his chest, listening to his calm heartbeat sync with mine.

I feel warm in his arms, safe and wanted.

"How do you feel?" He asks, voice thick from sleep.

"Tired, sore," I mumble honestly, a small shy smile following, "satisfied."

He chuckles, the rumbling sound coming from within his chest and jostling me just a bit. It doesn't bother me. I love the sound of his laugh, the ease of his touch and caress as he holds me flush against his body.

I nuzzle against him before stretching, arching my back and snuggling with Max like a calico cat.

My eyes flutter close as I feel him press a kiss to my forehead, my eyelids, my nose, and my lips.

I wish it didn't hurt so much.

I wish I didn't love him as much as I do now.

"Sleep baby boy, daddy needs to take care of some work," he sighs.

I watch through droopy eyes as he carefully slips out of bed and puts on some sweats and a t-shirt. I can't help but laugh when I notice that he's going commando. At my soft snort he turns his attention toward me. I peer at him through a fold of the blankets drowning me, only to see him wink.

When he's gone, I curl up and grab his pillow to bury my flushed face in the warm fabric.

The room smells of sex, of us.

And as much as I want to sleep, within an hour of dozing in and out of consciousness, my tummy decides to grumble.

"Hungry?" Max asks from the doorway with this look I can't quite name.

I blush in slight mortification, but nod nonetheless as I sit up.

His smile grows when he sees me wince at the slightest of motion, my cheeks burning.

"Let's take that bath I promised you," he says, "then we'll order some food, I'm thinking pancakes? How does that sound?"

"Sounds amaze-balls," I answer honestly.

Another snort.

He approaches the bed and leans down to press a kiss to my cheek, "Stay here while I get the water running."

I wait obediently on the bed with the sheets wrapped around my shoulders as he strides toward the bathroom.

I shift uncomfortably once or twice, but my attention shifts to Max's phone on the nightstand which begins vibrating incessantly until it cuts off only to start again.

It stops and starts without pause.

I look toward the bathroom before making up my mind and reach for it.

It must be important if they won't stop calling. I can at least answer it and pass it to Max once he comes out of the bathroom.

So, without a second's hesitation I hit the bright green button, "Hel-"

I don't manage to get a word in when a woman immediately answers before I can even articulate a greeting, "Max, when are you coming back? It's almost as if you've forgotten I exist, like I'm not your wife-"

I stare in surprise when the phone is slipped from my hand in a single swoop, Max taking over in an instant.

But it's not my imagination.

What she said...

Wife.

Did I hear wrong?

I look at the man, at the ring in his left hand where the phone is precariously held.

Max... has a wife?

I tune in just before he hangs up with a scowl marring his handsome face.

"I told you to stop calling, whatever we have we'll settle when I go back," he hisses.

I've never seen him so... angry.

I flinch when he tosses the phone with a huff and I'm a bit terrified.

"Oseias," he calls.

I don't, can't, look at him.

"Look at me please," he begs.

My heart is hammering loud inside my chest, blood is rushing to my head, and I'm left cold.

The warmth of the past two days of sex and love and care gone.

In its place there is something akin to repulsion on my behalf.

What the fuck did I just do?

Did I... Did I just ruin a marriage? Was I just a paramour? A fling? A homewrecker.

"Oseias-"

"You lied," I whisper in horror, "you said, and I believed you, and you lied!"

"No," he grits, grabbing my chin in a gentle hold and forcing me to look at him, "I told you that you are not a homewrecker, and you are not. Oseias, please look at me."

Tears blur my vision, I can't.

I can't look at him when I feel disgust at my own actions.

I let myself be swept away.

A heavy put-upon sigh, "Oseias, you are not a homewrecker, I did not lie about that. And this, this is not an affair. This, between us, is something more. You mean so much to me, so much more than I can ever manage to explain."

My heart stutters at his words, but doubt takes ahold of it, "Bu-"

"Please, Oseias," he pleads, "just a bit more. When I come back from CA, I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything, everything you want to know, so please be patient. Please believe me."

I bite my lip and reach out to cup his stubbled cheek.

My instincts shout at me no, but the word is out before I can stop it, "Okay."

Because I want to believe him, I want to trust him.

I just don't know if I can, not anymore.

He pulls me up with him as he stands, holding me flush against his body in a warm embrace. I close my eyes, hoping I made the right decision.

Knowing that perhaps I did not.