Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

in his answer. "No. I'll take care of you." He let his eyes drift from Devon's, grabbing a rumpled blanket from the floor and settling it over top of him. He paused when he went to move the blanket over the bloody shirt. "I'm going to help you sit up so we can get your t-shirt off."
    "Gonna have your way with me?" The words were a little slurry, accompanied by a fogged twinkle in the overall fuzziness of Devon's eyes, but it was all him.
    Scott shook his head. "Behave."
    With Scott's help, Devon rose to a sitting position, enabling Scott to tug the crusty shirt over his head then toss it out into the hallway. Scott wiped the cloth over Devon's chest where the blood had soaked through, trying very hard to do so in a purely clinical way and not think about how much he wanted to yank on one of Devon's nipple rings with his teeth. He definitely missed those nipples.
    Devon let out a gurgled sigh, his eyes closing again. "I love you."
    The words were obviously the confused babblings of someone who didn't even remember why they were where they were or what had happened to put them there. Scott had to believe that for his sanity. He had to ensure his intellect took control and not that damn red, thumping lump in his chest. Ghosting his fingers over Devon's brow, he remembered how beautiful he'd been on stage, his energy pumping the whole crowd into a frenzy. He was a born entertainer, a man meant to have an audience, yet he also seemed to thrive in the company of only Scott. Was it possible the two worlds could mesh into one extraordinary life?
    Scott was still lost in his contemplations when cold fingers wrapped around his wrist. He brought his attention back to Devon's face; two shiny dimples and gentle eyes looking back at him.
    "I meant it," Devon said softly. "I know your brain is logicalizing it, or whatever you wanna call it. But logical or not, I love you."
    "You should get some rest." Scott tried unsuccessfully to loose himself from Devon.
    "Just tell me you believe me. That's all I want." Devon held tight to Scott's hand, his thumb caressing back and forth over the delicate bones of Scott's wrist. It felt wonderful.
    Scott swallowed the lump in his throat, heart pounding and bashing against his ribcage, the sound echoing so loud in his ears he thought he might go deaf. "I'm too old to date rockstars."
    Devon shook his head slightly. His eyes appeared to be focusing better, his color wasn't so ghastly pale, and the maroon-shadowing around his bloodshot eye wasn't quite so startling. "I'm not a rockstar. I'm just Devon Ducaine, Mississippi boy. I like sunsets and puppies and long walks on the beach."
    Scott snorted despite wanting to at least keep his part of the situation serious. "Oh shut up." Then he was in Devon's arms, tightly suctioned to his naked chest, Devon's nose snuffling the side of his neck. "Devon… I can't do this. Please."
    Devon released him, but Scott only straightened-up half-way. Something desperate niggled at his brain, something he wanted to follow, but wanted to ignore at the same time. His heart swelled, his nerves buzzing and writhing, his lower extremities aching. He pressed his lips to Devon's in a totally involuntary act, all the emotions he'd been suppressing breaking through his intellect and bursting from his heart.
    He swallowed thickly, searching deeply for something in Devon's eyes. "Besides running around the world making people's ears bleed, what do you have to offer me?"
    "Lazy Sundays on the porch."
    Scott smirked and kissed Devon again, tongue sweeping inside then back out to lap at Devon's cut. "I like that, but what about honesty, Devon? Can you offer me that or do you still have things that are off the table?"
    "I honestly love you."
    "That's not going to work." Scott sat up cross-legged on the bed beside Devon. Devon rolled to his side, lifting his upper body and resting his head on his hand. "How about we start with why you were fighting with Shadow? I thought he was your best friend."
    "He is… was until you came along. You were the reason for our fight actually." Devon lay his head back down on the pillow, eyes hazy with exhaustion. Scott followed him down, positioning them face-to-face.
    "I don't see how that's possible."
    "Shadow just lost his wife. They've been together since high school." Devon paused, emotion peppering his words. Scott laid a hand on the side of his face, pushing back the unruly hair and letting his fingers linger. "He was angry that I was