Who the fuck had hurt our boy for him to put something like that on his chest? Like a daily reminder to himself every time he looked in the fucking mirror?
My jaw tightened, but I dragged my eyes away from the three words and unfastened his belt, then undid his slacks and slid down the zipper. Michelle tugged off his socks, and once he was only in a pair of black briefs—that left almost nothing to the imagination, honestly—I helped him down from the counter then gripped his hips to keep him steady on his feet when he stumbled and damn near fell.
Corvus was beautiful with lightly corded muscles running down his arms and broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. His stomach was flat and tight with a slight ab definition, and his thighs, while definitely not bulky, were still toned. He clearly took care of himself, which led me to believe he wasn’t much of one for drinking.
“Let’s get you in the tub, okay? Then you can take your briefs off and relax for a while. And clean up so you don’t smell like a dive bar.”
“Okay,” he mumbled. “Do you have coffee?”
He stumbled a little as I led him closer to the tub, but I was still gripping his hips, so he didn’t fall—just teetered into me. And I was a large enough man that I stayed steady on my feet when he did.
“We have coffee,chibi,” I assured him. “How do you want it?”
“Black,” he grumbled, swaying as he stepped over the lip of the tub. I tightened my hold on him, keeping him steady until hesank into the water. His head lolled onto the side of the tub, and his eyes shut. He was no longer crying, thankfully, but there was still a deep sadness and pain lingering all around him, letting me know this night was far from over.
“Sugar? Creamer?” Michelle asked, coming up beside me. She raked her fingers through his hair, and he let his head roll, so it rested closer to her.
“No. But stay.”
“Me or Kip?” Michelle asked, her voice soft and soothing.
His hand rose from the water, and he curled it around her wrist, keeping her hand in his hair the best he could. “You. Feels good.”
She settled onto the side of the tub without complaint. “Okay, bub. I’ll stay.”
Standing back upright, I kissed her temple. “I’ll get coffee. Keep an eye on him. And call for me if either of you need me.”
“I will,” she promised, her fingers never stopping their movement in his hair.
I stared at our boy for a moment. He had his head propped against her bare thigh now, where her nightgown had ridden up some, and he was lazily moving his hands back and forth through the bubbles.
Sighing, I reluctantly left the bathroom to get the coffee Corvus requested.
Whatever had happened to him, we’d get to the bottom of it. And then, whoever hurt him had better find a place to fucking hide because I was coming for them.
No one got to hurt our boy and get away with it.
Chapter Ten
Michelle
Seeing Kip carry Corvus into our room had been surprising. But hearing Corvus sob and watching him cling to Kip as if Kip could keep the entire world away from him had been alarming. It’d lit a fire inside me and a worry so strong it damn near took me to my knees.
I decidedly didnotlike the sight of Corvus in tears. And when I found out who upset him this much, I would fucking make their lives absolutehell. No one got to upset our boy like this and get away with it.No one.
Corvus shifted, the water sloshing around him a little, and he groaned, pressing his face against my bare thigh.
I paused my movements in his hair, my brows furrowing as I watched him. When he didn’t move, I quietly asked, “You okay, bub?”
“Feel sick,” he slurred.
I quickly got up and grabbed the trashcan we kept in the bathroom then sat back on the edge of the tub, holding it for him in case he threw up. He’d drank way too much, and it botheredme that I didn’t know why. He didn’t seem like the type who used alcohol as a way to escape, but all the crying he’d been doing when Kip brought him to me told me he’d been running fromsomething. Trying to escape whatever was in his mind definitely.
Kip appeared in the bathroom, the scent of coffee strong. Corvus slowly lifted his head, blinking up at Kip. Kip settled on the side of the tub in front of me and held out the black mug to Corvus.
“Here,chibi. Drink this. It might settle your stomach, too.” He glanced at the trashcan then at me. I shook my head, silently telling him he hadn’t thrown up. Yet.
Corvus wrapped his hands around the mug and lifted it to his lips, taking a tentative sip. When he didn’t immediately gag, he leaned back against my thigh once more.
