“You don’t have to tell me. I’m sorry if I…”
Corbin placed his fingers over the man’s lips to silence him.
“Once upon a time, I was abducted, and raped. They burned me with a lighter and a skull ring. I have one on the back of my sack too.”
The way he said it…
Alex stared into his eyes.
“Is this a landmine? Because I can back my ass out of this field and give you privacy. Just say the word.”
He was honest.
“It’s not anymore. Once, it was. Once, I couldn’t talk about it. Will had a rough couple of years with me. It stole my whole being, and sidelined me for a while.”
Alex ran his fingers through Corbin’s chest hair to soothe him. While he didn’t sound upset, he knew that had to be a scar on his soul.
How could it not be?
“Is this why you’re not able to…”
Corbin cuddled him.
“Pretty much. My ass has been off limits for most of my life, and then that happened. I’m not one to receive to begin with, but after that...”
Alex was curious.
“Can I see your scar?”
Corbin went there.
“Which one?”
Alex stared into his eyes.
“All of them. I want to see everything that the love of my life carries. Your scars are my scars.”
That touched Corbin. Once upon another time, another man said those same things. That was how Corbin knew he’d gotten lucky a second time.
Or Will had sent him a miracle, just when he was unable to hold on any longer.
Because he wanted no secrets between them, he rolled to his back, giving Alex full access to his body.
With gentle fingers, the man focused on his thigh. Then, he left a kiss on it. The tenderness of that moment touched Corbin in ways he couldn’t articulate.
He’d found a good man.
“I won’t let anyone ever hurt you again,” Alex admitted. “I’ll protect you, Corby.”
His heart skipped.
“I’m good, Alex.”
His lover was honest.
“I’m not. That anyone hurt the man I love makes me incredibly sad. I wish I was there. I would have saved you.”
That was sweet.
