Page 37 of Foxed Up

He looked up and thought about it for a second. Using his finger as a marker on his book he raised his voice, "Eli?"

My kid skidded to a halt on his next run into the room.

"You mind if I stay here tonight?" asked Wallace, calm and clear-eyed, trusting him to decide.

He looked thoughtful, then cunning. "Can I see your fox form?"

Wallace laughed, totally at ease in that moment. "Not quite yet."

"Oh. Well. You can stay anyway. We have enough food."

I didn't get the way his mind was working, but fortunately I didn't interrupt. Wallace nodded along. "For breakfast." Somehow, he understood my kid. In that moment, I was very proud of them both.

Eli gave us a cheerful little grin. "But Daddy still has to tuckmein first!" He giggled at his own joke, and ran off again to play.

Wallace and I looked at each other. His eyes were round; then he laughed, too. I reached over and ruffled his soft curls, grinning to beat the band.

#

Wallace stayed comfortably curled up with his book and chocolate while I got Eli to bed. Eli was fairly well-behaved, and seemed happy, almost smug, that Wallace was staying over. He'd gotten what he wanted. It still surprised me that day had ever come — when he'd have something to do with Wallace willingly, much less actually like him.

I finally had the kid tucked in and was getting ready to turn out the light, when he said in a small voice, "Daddy?"

I stopped, holding in my sigh. Did he want one more glass of water? Was he trying foranotherbedtime story, more monster spray, or something else?

"You still like me best, right?"

"Of course I do, Eli. I'll always like you best. You're my son. Nothing will ever change that." I returned to his side, smoothed his hair back off his forehead, and planted a dad kiss there.

He seemed reassured, and didn't even ask for more water or a snack. I went back to the couch. Wallace had filled it up, stretching out his long, lean legs. He'd finished eating chocolate, aside from absently licking a finger or thumb once in a while, but he was still reading, deeply engrossed in his book. He seemed to be almost done with it.

Was this what it was like dating a clever fox? He'd always have his nose in a book, ignoring the real world? Well, it was kind of peaceful, just standing here watching him, knowing I got to keep him here in my home all night. It felt like a gift from the universe when I'd been expecting only punches and kicks for a while now.

After a few moments staring at my picturesque bookworm, I walked over and moved his legs so I could sit down, then pulled them back up onto my lap and gave them a pat. He eased the book down a few inches and stared at me over the top with his blazingly green eyes. Sometimes they looked so surprised…as if he couldn't quite believe all of this either. "Hi," he said, sounding as surprised as he looked.

"Hi. Welcome back." I massaged his calves. I wondered if he'd be in the mood again. It had been nice having sex before I went to pick up my kid. More than nice — such a relief, actually, that he was still willing to sleep with me at all — but it would be nice to have more time.

I stared into his eyes, trying to guess. There would be no more assuming from me that, because he was a fox, he always wanted sex. I'd learned that the hard way, hadn't I? There had been a point when I wondered if he'd ever want sex with me again. I still wasn't sure we were out of the woods, relationship-wise.

He stared at me with those unfathomable eyes. "We should get to bed," he said softly. "I have a big day tomorrow."

I sighed and moved my hands reluctantly. "I wish you didn't."

"I know." He put his book down, looking philosophical.

"You could turn the job down." I put my laptop away. He trashed his chocolate bar wrapper and set his book very carefully on the coffee table, as if saying a temporary goodbye to a very dear friend he didn't want to part with.

"I could," he acknowledged. "But the shifters there, the ones I saw, and some of those I probably didn't...they don't have that option. They can't go home to a nice boyfriend and a good job and get away from that creep. Not everybody has the options I have, Jon. That's why I have to do it."

He was being noble. I hated that. Couldn't he be selfish for once and take care of himself, not heap the world's troubles on his back and try to fix them all? Couldn't he just be happy with me, and… Wait, he'd called me his boyfriend.We're back, baby.

I smiled at him, touched despite myself, not sure what to say, not wanting to ruin the moment.

He smiled back, something gentle and kind in his face, but also deeply tired. He held a hand out to me, to help me up off the couch. I accepted it, just to be polite. I wasn't that tired.

We walked to my room.

"We probably have time," he said, fitting himself deftly against my side as we moved, so that my arm sort of automatically eased around him. It was a soft, sweet surprise cuddle. My fox that had been all sharp edges and big, wounded eyes trusted me again...maybe.