*
THE NEXT DAYthey spent a wonderful afternoon in the park. Rory went home to get his evening supplies and check on Mina. Bernard went home to start dinner.
“Sweetie, I’m home,” Rory called from the living room. Bernard smiled. “I hope it’s okay that I let myself in.”
“Sweetheart, don’t be silly. That’s why I gave you a key.”
He met Rory in the living room and kissed him.
“What’s for dinner?”
“I’ve made baked barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies.”
“Sounds good.”
They ate in the living room and watched a recorded episode ofThree’s Company.
“I can’t believe you still have these old shows recorded.”
“Oh, yeah, I have this,Dear John,I Love Lucy, Laverne and Shirley, Gilligan’s Island.All the old classics.”
After dinner, they snuggled up in bed. Bernard held on to Rory, keeping him close. He hadn’t tried anything since Rory panicked. He didn’t want to make Rory uncomfortable. He still wasn’t ready, and Bernard didn’t want to push him into something he didn’t want to do. Rory would know when he was ready.
“I love you,” Rory said.
Rory turned over to face Bernard. Bernard looked at him. This was the first time Rory said he loved him.
“I love you too.” Bernard kissed him. Deep. Passionate. Their tongues tangled together in their mouths. He wanted his naked body against Rory’s. His cock stiffened.
He felt Rory’s hand on it.
“Do you want to?” Bernard asked.
“I…I don’t know,” Rory said.
“That means no, and I’ll respect that.”
“Why are you so patient with me?” Rory sat up. “You have done nothing but be patient with me, and I can’t even be intimate with you.”
“Because I love you and I know what it’s like to be pushed into something you’re not ready for.”
Rory looked stricken. “What happened?”
“Jason talked me into a threesome a year into our relationship. I should have said no, but I wanted to hold on to him. It turned out he was interested in a guy and did a threesome with me to get him into bed. A month later, I found them in bed together. We never discussed an open relationship. I was mad and hurt. It took me another year before I left him.”
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.”
“No one knew. I kept it a secret. You’re the first person I’ve told. That’s why I don’t push. I don’t want you to regret anything you do with me. Jason cheated because I allowed it. I gave him permission.”
“He was going to cheat no matter what.” Rory held Bernard’s face in his hands. His soft, kind hands. “It was just a way to get there faster. It wasn’t your fault, and you shouldn’t blame yourself for what he did.”
“Thank you.” Bernard choked. “That means a lot to me.”
They held each other for what seemed like hours and Bernard didn’t want to let go.
“We should get some sleep. We have to be up early.”
Bernard put on his CPAP and lay there with Rory’s arms wrapped around him. He was still hard, but sex was the last thing on his mind. He’d told someone something that was eating him alive for years. Rory understood and didn’t blame him. The weight lifted.
