Under My Protection

Chapter 5

For GemmaLuna

"Once upon a time-" David giggled at Mitch tickling him. I was watching them from the doorway. "There was a little boy who lived in a little house. He had two wonderful dads. One was strict, the other wasn't around very often. The little boy use to sit at the window and wait for the glimpse of his dad. Day and night he would watch. Until finally he saw his dad walking up the driveway. He ran into his arms for a big hug. And-"

"Did they live happily ever after?" David was watching Mitch with wide brown eyes. Mitch tried to answer but he couldn't.

"What do you think buddy?" I finally took a step in the room, seeing Mitch shift uncomfortably. David had a cheesy grin on his face.

"I think we'll live happy together." Mitch covered his mouth. I could see he was trying to keep himself composed.

"I think it's time for bed."

"Okay." Mitch tucked David in, giving the little boy a kiss on the forehead.

"Good night. I love you."

"I love you too Daddy." I watched Mitch get up from the bed. I was waiting in the doorway for him. "I love you Scotty." I was frozen. He hadn't said that the whole month we've been here.

"I love you too David. Lights out." I turned the lights off, making sure that his nightlight was plugged in. I shut the door quietly. I turned to look at Mitch who was staring at the doorknob.

"I hate leaving him in his room."

"He's safe. Come here." I pulled him into the room that we called my office. I took a gun out of the drawer. His eyes widened.

"Put it up."

"You have to learn how to use it."

"No. I won't. I refuse." He backed away from me.

"What if I'm not home? What if somebody comes for you and David? This will keep you safe."

"I didn't even let Chris bring his in the house. I don't like guns Scott."

"It can save David's life." He was quiet for awhile.

"I'm not going to touch it."

"Okay. You don't have to. You just have to learn." I wrapped my fingers around the butt of the gun, popping out the clip to check the bullets. I slammed the clip back in. "Make sure it's loaded, cock the gun, take off the safe, aim, and fire. You can't miss Mitch. If you miss you could be dead." I know I was putting the pressure on him but I had been pushing this back for too long.

"You're always going to be there, right?" Mitch was shaking.

"I can't always be there. Not if I'm shot. Not if I'm-"

"Please don't say it." He slipped his hand into mine. "Come to bed with me."

"Mitch-"

"Please. I need some sort of comfort." I let him led me to the bedroom. We were laying in bed together. He was curled up to my chest. He grabbed my chin, tilting my face down to kiss my lips. This felt different than comforting him. But I wasn't complaining. Until I felt him getting extremely needy.

"Mi-Stop." I pushed him back. He laughed.

"Sorry. It's been awhile."

"How long is awhile?" I asked jokingly.

"Almost two years." I felt my jaw drop. Mitch was beautiful. I haven't seen his body but I'm guessing that it was beyond normal standards.

"How did Chris get a guy like you?"

"He was screwing my sister and I was the innocent little brother. He was twenty four and I was twenty. He took me out for my first drink. We woke up married." Mitch was laying on his back to stare at the ceiling. "Of course we knew each other since I was seventeen. We were such good friends that !we didn't see a point in getting a divorce. The more time I spent with him the more my feelings grew. Married for six years."

"Wow." I was completely shocked. I would have thought the story to be more romantic.

"What about you?"

"Me? Hmm...." I had to really think about this. "I was briefly engaged after high school until I realized I was attracted to her best friend. He didn't like it." Mitch's face was tilted to the side to look at me. "Random hookups after that."

"I would have thought you more....dates."

"Never found anyone worth taking on a date." I shrugged. I didn't know what to say. I never thought someone worthy. Don't get me wrong, they were all great guys, but we all had one thing on our minds. Sex. They wanted to fuck an agent and I just wanted to get the day's work out of my mind.

"It's funny."

"What?"

"What we give up." I was staring at him. "I use to play piano. I loved it. It got me into college. It won me trophies that made my parents proud. But I gave it up because it gave Chris a headache. The thing I loved, what I built my life on. I can still remember how to play when I touch the keys. Chris wanted me to stay home. I was alone for the majority of three years until we decided to have David. I will never give up my baby."

"I know that."

"If it's your life or his, you will die." He was completely serious.

"I understand that." David was Mitch's rock. The little boy was the only thing that kept his dad from giving up on life.

"Daddy?" David was standing in the doorway with his thumb in his mouth.

"Come here sweetie." He curled up in the bed between Mitch and I. I slipped off the bed.

"I'll just go to the couch."

"Or you could stay." I couldn't tell what the tone of his voice was revealing. It sounded like hopefulness. I looked between David and Mitch.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I feel safer if I'm by the front door anyways."

"Oh...." He sounded disheartened. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Mitch." I smiled to David. "Goodnight buddy."

"Nite-Nite." He cuddled up to Mitch's chests. I made my way downstairs to make my bed. I didn't feel comfortable just yet.