Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

Michael trialed off and looked at his sleeping son, thinking back to those few days ago when he came so close to losing him. "He's my world and I came so close…I don't know what I'd do without him."
    No words were spoken for a few moments as both men looked at the sleeping child. Jace wondered what it would be like to love someone so strongly and unconditionally. He had never had that feeling before, at least, not without the pain of being used and thrown away like trash. But when he first walked into the room, he hadn't expected to be so overwhelmed with relief that not only was the boy going to all right, but the man as well. His brief encounter with the man that night was just enough to spark (pun intended) an attraction that he never experienced with any other man. Jace had the sudden urge to make sure they were both okay, to comfort the man, to…well…fuck that man six ways to Sunday. Jace had to adjust himself quickly before he first walked into the room. All that muscle and body, brown hair and grey eyes made Jace want to strip him naked and fuck right in that chair. But alas, he could not. So he settled for introducing himself. He did not expect to be hugged and pressed up against the hottest, hardest body he had felt in a long time. Jace did not even want to think about the repercussions of coming on to that man. He was probably married. He wondered where the boy's mother was. Why wasn't she here?
    Just then, the boy, Joshua, moaned and opened his eyes. Grey, just like his father's.
    "Blue eyes!" Joshua yelled, looking at Jace.
    So that's whom he was talking about, Michael thought.
    "Blue eyes, Joshua?" Michael said as he walked to the side of the bed and laid his hand on his son's head. He needed a haircut but Michael knew it would be awhile before he got one. Josh could never sit still long enough to get one done.
    "The color of his eyes. He's the one who saved me, Daddy." Joshua reached out to Jace and as he got closer, Josh climbed up on his knees and hugged him. Michael was shocked. Joshua always shied away from strangers. Jace looked almost as surprised, as if he had never received a hug before. He slowly wrapped his arms around the little boy.
    "It was no problem, Joshua. And you can call me Jace."
    "Okay, Jace."
    Jace chuckled, as did Michael.
    "How are you feeling, Josh?" Michael asked as Josh leaned back on the bed.
    "I'm hungry. When can we leave? This bed is itchy." Joshua complained. Michael smiled.
    "I'll see about getting you some food. We'll be leaving in a few hours. We're going to be going to a hotel."
    "Because we lost our house?"
    "That's right. We'll get a new place though. Don't worry."
    "I really liked that house, Daddy."
    "I know. Me, too." Michael sighed. It was a great house; floor to ceiling windows, a pool. Man, he would miss it.
    "Well, I'm glad you are doing better, kid. You were real lucky." Jace smiled and Michael felt like he needed to shade his eyes.
    Josh looked up at Jace, then at his father.
    "Daddy, can we keep him?" Both men's eyes went wide and then came a bunch of stuttering before Michael recovered enough to explain that no, they could not keep him, but maybe he could visit. Josh liked that idea and then promptly set about coloring in a Toy Story 3 book that Michael had bought from the small gift shop on the first floor of the hospital.
    The men stepped out of the room for a word, leaving the door open.
    "I want to thank you again. For saving Joshua. You can't know how much that means to me." Michael said.
    "It really wasn't a problem. Seems like you have a great kid there. May I ask where his mother is? It is odd that she is not here."
    Michael rubbed his neck.
    "She, uh, she…"
    "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. It's not my business." Jace mentally slapped himself. What a way to ruin the mood. As if there was one. Jace shook his head and Michael looked grateful.
    "Anyways, I just wanted to check on you."
    Michael couldn't stop the burning question he had in the back of his mind from spilling out of his mouth.
    "I'm sure you don't visit everyone you save when you get called out. Why us?" That sounded a bit harsh to his ears but he could not help it. It seemed quite odd; no matter how attractive the guy was even though it distracted him and almost made him forget his question. He just did not want to do it in front of Joshua.
    Jace looked a bit sheepish and nervous. He raised a hand to run his fingers through his hair. Michael wanted to replace that hand with