Page 34 of Gideon’s Gratitude (Love in Mission City #5)

Chapter Seventeen

Gideon

“ K ennedy is the eldest of eight sisters?” I tried to envision that in my mind.

“Right? Mind blown.” Archer chuckled as he turned the SUV right from the driveway and pointed us home.

“Okay, but you’re the eldest of eight kids…”

“True. But not all boys. I mean, as precocious as my brothers are, my sisters had at least a mild moderating effect.” He paused. “Except Chelsea—she brings chaos upon everything and everyone.”

“I was an only child. Leo was an only child. We wanted our children to have siblings. Not because being an only child was horrible—it wasn’t. We both had decent parents. His were nicer, but…” I sighed. “The whole gay thing upended all of that.”

He pressed a hand to my thigh before returning it to the steering wheel. “It’s great that Melodie and Trevor have each other. ”

I fought the ache in my chest. “Yeah, it really is. Melodie never tires of him. Or at least she didn’t when I…” I swallowed. “Leo would tell me if there were problems, right?”

“I’ll say that I hope so. Parental alienation is a hard no for me.

I make it clear to my clients that’s not right.

Now, as I always say, abuse and neglect negate that warning.

But bad-mouthing the other parent just because one can doesn’t work for me.

And kids remember that shit. I’ve seen more than one adolescent turn on the parent doing the alienation. ”

“They’re so young, though, Archer. If he makes little comments about me, they don’t have the ability to call bullshit.”

He sighed. “I know.” He turned us onto the main road. “Do you want to go out for dinner?”

“I have a rotisserie chicken in the fridge.”

“Then we’ll go home.”

“It can keep until tomorrow.” He wouldn’t have suggested if he hadn’t wanted to. Right? And aside from shopping, I hadn’t left the house this week. Well, that and Lucky walks. “Oh shit. We’ll have to run Lucky home. He’s probably be okay in the car, but it’s a little—”

“I’d never leave him in the car. We can go home. I just thought you might want to go out.”

“Maybe…” I squinted as a set of headlights filled the windshield.

“Close your eyes. Shit, he’s got his brights on.” Archer flicked his lights.

The oncoming beam dimmed.

“Damnit.”

“It’s okay.” I rubbed my forehead as the pickup truck passed. “Nothing to be done about it.”

“People are so rude.”

“He probably forgot. It’s dark tonight without a moon. ”

Archer squinted. “I guess.” He signaled to take the turn onto our street. “Let’s go home.”

“Are you sure?”

“I just want to be wherever you are. I missed you this week.” As he accelerated out of the turn, he again placed his hand on my thigh.

And warmed me from the inside.

Soon we were in the house and getting everything organized for dinner.

Kennedy agreed with my plan to test the waters with Archer. To take things slow, with the understanding I was attracted to him.

As I put slices of the chicken into the microwave, I considered my options. Archer’s comment about seeing his doctor, and the subsequent dismissal of the topic, still rankled.

For me, aside from my sensory-overload issues, my back problem, and my muscle atrophy, I was a pretty healthy guy. More exercise might return some of my stamina, so that was something to strive for.

I also needed to find a family doctor in Mission City.

I’d gone to the clinic for a rash earlier in the year and had fortunately gotten my yearly vaccines from the local pharmacy.

But now I’d walked away from the pain clinic, I didn’t have regular medical attention.

I hadn’t seen the need, but I realized now that neglect wasn’t good.

You need to take better care of yourself.

Yeah, I did. I really did.

“You okay?”

Archer’s question pulled me back into the present. “Yeah, I am.”

“Okay. I thought I lost you there.”

“Well, yeah, you kind of did. What were you talking about?” I pointed to the salad. “Enough dressing?”

“You can never have too much dressing, and I was talking about all the ways I’m going to use you sexually tonight. ”

I sputtered.

He laughed.

“Truly, I was asking if we needed to run into town to get anything.” He gestured to my pantry.

“No, I did a shop earlier in the week. We’ve got everything we could need.”

He shot me a quick glance before returning his attention to the salad. “That sounds promising.”

I grinned. “Oh, it is.”

When I turned my attention back to the microwave, Archer slipped Lucky a piece of lettuce.

My grin didn’t falter. Softie .

The dog had been very inattentive during my counseling session. He’d retrieved a chew bone and had gnawed on it for the first half of the appointment, then he dozed during the second half.

Kennedy remarked that was a good thing. If I was relaxed, obviously Lucky didn’t feel the need for vigilance.

“There’re bacon bits in the dressing.” I winced. “Your doctor said to cut down on the red meat?”

In return, he cringed. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

I stepped into his space and then grasped his cheeks. “You promised me honesty. I’m still not clear what drove you out here on a stormy day, but I’m glad you came. If I need to make a couple of dietary adjustments, that’s hardly a big deal.”

Archer pressed our lips together for a short kiss. He pulled back, but only so he could lean in and press our foreheads together. “I thought I had a heart attack and…I just needed to get away from the city. I don’t know why I came here. Was a reckless thing to do. But I can’t regret it.”

I pulled back. “A heart attack? That’s really serious. ”

“Which is why I’m embarrassed to say it wound up being diagnosed as a panic attack. But my doctor has read me the riot act about watching my diet. Red meat in particular, but I did some reading, and saturated fat isn’t great either.”

“Well, we’ll just study labels. And stick to healthy vegetables and fruit.”

Archer tried to pull away.

I held tight. “I only just found you. I don’t want to lose you. Not for anything.”

Our gazes clashed.

“Fair enough.” Archer placed a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll set the table while you sort the food.”

“I polished the silver, so we can use that.”

“You did that for me?”

Lie and say I did it for myself? Fuck no. Honesty from now on . “For both of us.” I swept my hand. “I tackled a bunch of the minor jobs that accumulated while I was busy feeling sorry for myself. Now they’re done.”

“I bet you feel a sense of accomplishment.”

“I do.” I ducked my head for a moment before looking back up and meeting Archer’s gaze. “I really do.”

I organized the food onto plates, and by the time I served, he’d set the table.

We ate first in silence, but then interspersed conversation as the meal wound down.

The discussion was again inconsequential, but the underlying tension permeated the room.

I wanted this to happen. Whatever this was.

But nerves were taking hold. I’d never been with anyone except Leo.

And although the hand job last weekend had been amazing, I was ready for more.

Or I thought I was .

Archer snagged my chin. “We don’t have to do this. We can watch a movie and then snuggle in bed. I can hold you until morning. That works for me.”

“Or we can have sex.” I pressed a hand to his chest. “I want you. And I want this. I thought I was broken. I might still be. But this is a chance for me to be whole again.”

The grip on my chin tightened.

“Sex is not the be all and end all, Gideon.” His scowl eased, but his hold remained strong. “I love sex. But sex isn’t just intercourse. Plenty of ways exist to make each other feel good.” He winked. “And I intend to make you feel good tonight.”

Little butterflies exploded in my belly. Oh, the promise from those sexy dark-gray eyes. Nothing in life was a guarantee, but I was pretty certain there’d be multiple orgasms tonight.

“Look, why don’t you head upstairs? I’ll clean up the kitchen and take Lucky out for a final stroll. I also have to grab my bag from the car. I presume I’m welcome to stay…?”

Had I not explicitly offered the invitation during the past week? “Of course I want you to stay. Stay as long as you want.”

Talk about putting everything on the line.

He leaned in for a quick kiss. “I have to be back in the office on Monday, but I plan to come back. Again and again.”

Music to my ears. I rose, and he followed suit.

Lucky also poked his head up. He’d been well-behaved during the meal, apparently understanding he wasn’t getting table scraps tonight.

I held out my hand, and the dog stretched, then nuzzled the hand. “I’ll get you food.”

Those ears perked.

Archer and I laughed .

Within a few minutes, all the plates were in the kitchen and Lucky was plowing through his food.

Uncertainty was setting into me until Archer squeezed my ass.

“Leave this to me. I’ve got it.”

“Okay.” I leaned up to brush our cheeks together. “Don’t take too long.”

“Oh, I don’t intend to.” He gave me a light smack as I left the kitchen, and I headed upstairs.

A quick shower was a good idea. Something to ease the tension.

I stripped in the bedroom and donned my robe to walk to the bathroom.

Ridiculous, on its face, but I clung to propriety.

The shower was lightning fast, and as I examined myself in the mirror, I hesitated.

I’d shaved a few hours ago, so that wasn’t necessary.

I couldn’t use aftershave because it’d give me a headache.

Archer doesn’t need you fancy. He wants you just the way you are.

That thought should reassure. And it did…to a certain extent. As I stared at my scrawny frame, I wondered, though.