Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

twitching a little where Scott was touching. "Not even close and for the record, never had one of those."
    Scott leaned over and licked at the spot he'd been tracing. Another amazing thing about Devon; he was ticklish as all hell. Scott had no idea how he'd managed to get so many tattoos, except of course that would have been more pain than tickling.
    "You didn't even let one girl get into your pants? I find that hard to believe."
    Devon's head moved from side to side against the back of the settee. "I was a very good boy when I was young. Always knew I was gay, too."
    "Poor deprived girls." Scott traced over the woman's face again. "Kind of looks like 80's Madonna."
    Devon laughed, his voice filling the quiet day with nothing but happy.
    "Okay, another swing and a miss. I was going to say she looks like the Virgin Mary but you don't seem the type."
    "Bingo."
    Scott reached out, cradling one side of Devon's face, turning it toward him until those chocolate brown eyes opened. "Bingo you're not the type or..."
    "It's the Virgin Mary," Devon said, his sweet smile aimed directly at Scott's heart.
    "Was it a dare or something?"
    Devon kept on grinning but something changed in his eyes, a far-off look settling there. "My mom was very religious. It's sort of a tribute to her."
    Devon closed his eyes again while Scott ghosted his fingers over the plains of his face, mapping the strong cheekbones, the soft cheeks with just the hint of dimples, the stubbly, masculine jawline. "Seems like a strange thing to ask of a son."
    "I did it after she died."
    Letting his fingers fall from Devon's face, Scott shifted his body away. "Oh crap. I'm sorry."
    Devon shrugged off the apology. "How could you have known?"
    "What did she... how did she—"
    "Cancer."
    "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. How long's it been?" Scott hadn't meant for the endearment to slip out, but it felt so natural in the situation. Luckily, Devon didn't seem to notice.
    "About eight months ago." Scott felt Devon's fingers slip into his. "She would have liked you."
    Scott ignored the comment, not relishing the thought his blandness would be high on any parents' list of positive attributes for a partner for their adorable son. "She supported your lifestyle despite her religion?"
    Devon cracked open one eye, the hint of a smile gracing his lips. "Oh yeah. She was my biggest fan. I could tell her anything and I did. Not sure she would have liked you thinking the Virgin Mary was Madonna though."
    "Fuck me. I don't think I could come off as more of a weenie." He tried to untangle his fingers from Devon's, but was tugged and dragged until he ended up sprawled backwards over Devon's lap.
    "I don't date weenies so I think you're okay." Devon smirked and leaned over to kiss Scott. It was sweet, tender, but as had been the case lately, such teasing from Devon only brought out questions and concerns for Scott.
    "Is that what we're doing, Devon?"
    Devon's fingers rubbed over the tight muscles at Scott's nape. "Can you be more specific?"
    Scott cringed. "You said you don't date weenies. Are we dating then?"
    "Well, we've been getting together for a few months now. Not every day but a lot—"
    "Thirty-one times." Oh, holy hell. Why did he have to say that?
    "Huh? Is that how many days we were together or how many times we had sex?"
    Devon's sexy smirk might have been contagious had Scott not been positively mortified. He tried to move but Devon's strong arms held him hostage. "I can't believe I said that. Here I am trying to have a serious conversation and I end up sounding like Rainman."
    "I liked Rainman if that makes a difference."
    "It doesn't and I'm sorry. I honestly didn't sit down and mark off on my calendar how many times we were together."
    "It's okay as long as you used little red hearts to do it." Damn Devon and his cute.
    "I'm serious, Devon. All my life my big brain has gotten me ridiculed or made fun of and now, when I want exactly the opposite, I just act like a… a—"
    "Weenie?" Devon snorted.
    "Thanks."
    "I don't think it's a big deal. I like your big brain and all the other big things you've got… a lot." Devon waggled his thick eyebrows and if Scott had been standing, his knees would have weakened yet again. All his swooning and knee-weakening was beginning to make him feel like his favorite heroine, Scarlet O'Hara. Instead, he needed to channel Cher and snap the fuck out of it.
    "Really? But we're so different." It was hard to believe Devon was being serious, and