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“That’s it,” Abe said as he held him tight, bracing strong legs on the slick tile. “Lean on me. I can hold you up.”
Dom would normally have too much pride to show this kind of weakness but for some reason, it didn’t feel that way with Abe. It felt like he could be himself, could lean and be leaned on—that they could hold each other up and stand strong together no matter what came.
When Abe turned him and started gently shampooing his hair, feelings raced through him so hard, they swelled in his chest and he couldn’t hold them in any longer. “I’m in love with you.” His voice was low and soft, and for a moment Dom wasn’t sure if Abe heard him over the pounding water.
The fingers in his hair paused, then lightly tugged his head back and to the side. Abe stared at him, a small smile pulling up one corner of his mouth.
“What?” Dom asked, shampoo dripping down his forehead. “Like it’s a surprise?”
“I thought we were just going to try the dating thing?” Abe asked, something cautious in his expression—although the smile remained.
His heart started beating hard, and he worked to keep disappointment off his face. “We are. There’s just an extra layer of feelings involved.”
“Love isn’t just an extra layer of feelings. Love is the feeling.”
He searched those brown eyes, and what he saw in response chased away the disappointment instantly. That swell in his chest turned warm and welcoming, and he was glad for the water on his face, because his eyes teared up. “The feeling, huh? Like the big kahuna?”
Abe smirked. “That and the whole shebang.”
“The grand poobah?”
“And the top banana.”
Dom grinned and blinked as water got in his eye as he turned toward Abe.
“Love encompasses all those layers, Dom. Friendship, affection, desire…fear.” Abe swiped his thumb over the shampoo right before it followed the water into Dom’s eye. He touched the waterproof bandage the doctor had placed over his cheek. “Today, when I knew you were in danger, the fear that swept through me was overwhelming. Fear of losing you.”
“So you’re close to the whole shebang?”
“Close?” Abe chuckled and smoothed his fingers through Dom’s soapy hair, pulling it back from his face. “I’m right there with you, Dom. But that fear is about more than just losing you. It’s about loving you, giving you my heart when—”
“When what?” Dom broke in. “I get bored and move along? That’s not going to happen. I’m in this for good. Hell, Abe, I knew I was in love with you before we even kissed. And I’m not trying to pressure you into saying something you don’t fee—”
This time Abe broke him off. With movement. He backed him into the spray and tilted his head back into it, careful to keep the water off the bandage. He stroked his fingers through Dom’s hair until all the shampoo was gone, then he smiled and shook his head. “Silly man. I’m already in love with you and probably have been since before we kissed.”
The joy that shot through him threatened to send him to his knees. He gave Abe a half-watery grin, grabbed his head, and kissed him. Again. And again. He whispered against his lips. “We’re so doing this.”
“Yeah, I suppose we are,” Abe whispered back. “Come on, let’s dry off and get some food in you.”
They stepped out of the large shower. Dom hurriedly dried off and slung the towel around his waist. He looked in the mirror, frowned at the bandage, then grabbed his toothbrush out of his travel kit. As he brushed, Abe walked behind him and it felt so domestic, warmth filled his chest. This was what he had to look forward to. Abe paused and watched Dom in the mirror and Dom watched him right back because damn, the man was fine naked. The wide shoulders and chest with its curly brown and gray hair, the muscular arms and thighs. And when Abe turned to drape his wet towel on the rack, his round, meaty bubble butt made Dom’s hands itch to grab. He knew Abe worried about his body because of his age, but Dom loved it exactly as it was.
Love. The big guy loved him.
Abe came up behind Dom and brushed his fingers in the hair on either side of the sore spot on Dom’s skull. “Have I ever told you I love your hair?” He wrapped his arms around Dom gently and plopped his chin on his shoulder. “How’re your ribs?”
Dom quickly bent over the sink and rinsed out his mouth. “If you’re again asking if I’m up for some kind of sex, yes.”
Abe snorted, then nuzzled into Dom’s neck when he straightened again.
Dom wondered if the man realized how gorgeous he was, how affectionate. That warmth spread through Dom’s chest, and he set down the toothbrush and hugged his arms against Abe’s, ignoring the twinge in his ribs. Lips kissed his neck and he tilted his head and closed his eyes. Abe took the lobe of his ear into his mouth and sucked on it before letting go and stepping back. “Turn around.”
