Demarien’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. When Boone popped back to reality, the men from the sawmill were already pushing some tables together, eager to get some good food in their bellies.
“Feeling better than I have in years.” Boone leaned back in his seat. “Just the events of the night catching up with me.”
“Now you sound like Dad.” Demarien crinkled his nose. “Next, you’ll be complaining that the weather hurts your joints.”
“Well, it does.”
“See? What’d I tell you?” Demarien sighed. “Now, what’s really wrong? Your smile dropped faster than double-struck lightning.”
Boone forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Really.”
“Demarien narrowed his eyes. “Anyone ever tell you the right corner of your mouth twitches when you lie?”
“What’re you doing looking at my mouth, Mr. Watts?” Boone smirked.
“Can you blame me?” Demarien snorted. “Anyway, fess up.”
“It’s the way people look at my wounds,” Boone said quietly. “I don’t understand why they suddenly don’t know how to talkto me. Do these scars really change me that much? I sure as hell don’t think so.”
“Fuck no.” Demarien scoffed. “They’re justsoused to you being the perfect boy next door. And you are because you’reyou. So what if you have a few scars? Time will remind them that you’ve still got that golden heart, a never-ending well of kindness, and so much more.” Demarien took a small bite of his food, his eyes dropping to the table. “Your perfect lips.”
“You think my lips are perfect?”
Demarien flushed and choked on his food. “Shit, did I say that out loud?”
“Loud and clear.”
Demarien hid his face behind his hands. “Hell, you're everything is still perfect, Boone. Don’t get me wrong, you’ve always caught my attention, ever since Freshman year when we met. You defended me from Doug Marsh. You didn’t have to, but you did. You even kicked his scrawny ass one time.”
“And it felt damn good, too.”
“You could’ve gotten in so much trouble if you got caught.” Demarien bit his lip. “Yet you did it anyway.”
“Because I couldn’t stand back and watch him harass you. There’s nothing I hate more than people like Doug Marsh.” Boone growled under his breath.
“I’m glad you didn’t get caught and expelled. I looked forward to seeing you each day.”
“Because you got to stare at my perfect everything?” Boone smirked.
“Didn’t you notice? Why do you think I always walked a step behind you?” Demarien chuckled.
“And here I thought you just liked hanging around me because I stole some of my dad’s cologne every once in a while. But here we are. Me without my Dad’s cologne and you able todefend yourself, and you still think I’m perfect, even after all these years. I’m touched.”
“Yeah, I totally followed you around for the cologne.” Demarien chuckled. “I didn’t have my eye on your ass or shoulders, I swear.”
“Well, you wouldn’t believe what I have my eye on right now. A quirky chef, a guinea pig shepherd, a wonderful father-to-be,” Boone gently held Demarien’s hands and leaned forward, “a perfectly lovable omega. I can’t tell you just how long I’ve wanted to be near you, just how long I’ve dreamed of being able to talk to you like this. All I know is that I want to kiss you more than anything else in the world.”
“I dare you,” Demarien smirked.
Boone surged forward and captured Demarien’s lips in a kiss. PDA be damned, he needed this. It wasn’t hurried. It was careful. His hand curled into the fabric of Demarien’s shirt, and he fought the urge to put Demarien on the table, splayed out for Boone to feast on.I really needed this.
It felt like Demarien did, too. When they finally parted, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from Boone’s shoulders. His heart rose in his chest like a bird on its first flight, and it wasn’t coming down any time soon.
A loud commotion echoed in the diner, and a solid force slammed against Boone’s forehead.
“Son of a …” Boone cradled his head in his hand. “What was that?”
Boone looked up to see Demarien whirl around. Three people dressed in trench coats, large hats, and sunglasses smiled and waved at them from the corner booth. The smallest held a round hushpuppy in his hand, ready to throw it at Boone’s head.
