Belonging

Chapter Eighteen

Omniscient POV
7:23
Jayce's home, GA
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Jayce has always had a tendency to wake up early, especially when his brain had been filled with thoughts of wanting to hold Xavier underneath him all night or never letting the other man outside of the house again. Of course, he knew that wasn't plausible at the moment, and for Xavier's sake he would settle for taking in this current moment. 

The bristling autumn wind beating against the window paired wonderfully with the heat  emitting from the sleeping man's body. 

The quiet made it easier for certain thoughts to come to light; thoughts of solitude and isolation. It would be so easy for him to keep Xavier in this bed all day. A slick smile, a saccharine compliment falling from his lips, and the deception of choice to tie it all together. 

Jayce had taken notice of the way people orbit Xavier. The way they place him on pedestals and call it admiration. Hassan had been the boldest of them --- lingering too long at work, laughing too loud, standing far too close. 

Hassan doesn't linger anymore. 

Jayce never asked Xavier if he noticed the shift. He hadn't. Of course he hadn't. 

Some people only need clarity once. 

He exhales softly. 

Xavier didn't need that kind of attention. He didn't need the pressure of being everyone's fixation. Jayce could take that burden from him. He could become the only place Xavier ever needed to breath. 

It would be so easy to make sure Xavier didn't need anyone else. 

Its funny to think about even now, Jayce has wanted him longer than Xavier realizes.  

An unspoken crush. Months of watching Xavier walk past him without so much of as a glance. And now, the star of his dreams is in house, in his bed cuddled up next to him. 

Inevitably, he knew Xavier would try to go back home the moment he woke up considering he has a tendency to run away. Jayce hated how temporary all of this felt. The morning always meant Xavier would leave. Jayce didn't do all of this for temporary. 

He gazed back over to the older man nuzzled into the plush, European linen pillows. He looked better here, in this bed, with Jayce. In this house with Jayce. He looked as though he belonged here. 

He stayed like that for a moment ---  just watching intently at his love. His eyes drifted up and down Xavier's still body until he shifted slightly. A small catch of his steady breathing and a push of hips into the bedding. Jayce slid his body back down, closer even, and wrapped his arms around the sleeping man's body. He pulled him tightly to body, not wanting let go for even a second. 

He pushed his own body closer, resting his hand at the curve of Xavier's waist as if he was anchoring him. A small breath of air came from the unconscious man. 

Xavier would arrive to the gym early, and leave even earlier--- before sunrise every time. His headphones were always in, his eyes never removed themselves from his task. He was untouchable--- well not anymore. 

He quickly pushed the thought away as Xavier began to stir. Half-asleep. Slight frown on his beautiful skin. 

For short, fraction of a second, Jayce wonders if he looks like a stranger. He reaches out to gently smooth out the frown lines of his eyebrow. 

Voice low and warm, touch gentle. 

"You're safe here."

And he believes it. 

Morning would come soon. Xavier would try to leave, like he always does.

Jayce would let him. 

For now. 

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This chapter is very short b/c I'm in the process of re-working the entire book. It was supposed to be a dark romance and instead it turned soft as hell. 

So! I'm fixing every chapter up right now. I changed the prologue if you want to see the new direction of the book.