"I know why you're running. You're trying to protect us, but it's still wrong," Wyatt insisted. He then grabbed Sam by the shoulders. "Sam, this isn't the time to run. This is when you stand your ground, protect what you found here."
"That's what I'm doing," Sam told him, but Wyatt wasn't hearing it.
"No, you're not."
Sam was trying to stand his ground right now, but against Wyatt, it was impossible. He was so weak for that man, but Wyatt didn't need to know how much Sam wanted him, how he didn't want to live without him. He had to be stronger than this, but how when Wyatt still had his hands on him.
Arguing next to Sam's car, with the driver's side door standing open and the car still running, they were both shaking with emotion. Neither one of them wanted Sam to leave. So why were they fighting? Sam didn't even know any more.
A shuddering breath escaped from him. "What are we going to do?" Sam practically sobbed, ready to fall apart, but just then Wyatt pulled him close and wrapped his strong arms around him.
"Love each other through this together," Wyatt told him and held him tighter to show him what those words meant.
Did he say love? Sam was too stunned to do anything but raise his head and stare at him.
"Yeah, I love you. And you're not going anywhere," Wyatt told him. Then he pressed his mouth to Sam's in a searing kiss. He eased off only a little to let him breathe, but his lips stayed soft against Sam's.
Silently parted, Sam's lips trembled against his as he struggled to breathe. He didn't want to cry, but he was breaking inside. He dropped his forehead against Wyatt's shoulder and let out a sob.
Then Wyatt spoke the words "I love you" again with his lips soft against Sam's ear. As Sam raised his head, Wyatt's mouth moved slowly over his cheek to kiss his mouth so gently that it hurt.
Sam felt dizzy, speechless, the words "I love you too" were fighting to burst out of him, but he couldn't even breathe.
"You don't have to tell me anything, Just stay. OK?" Wyatt told him.
"I have to stay now," Sam sobbed. How could he even think of leaving after Wyatt said he loved him? "You bastard, why did you say that?"
"It's the truth. You're amazing and I love you," Wyatt repeated cruelly, beautifully.
"Stop saying it," Sam begged. Those words were so painful to him, tearing him up.
"I'm not going to," Wyatt told him. "You have to know I love you."
He kissed Sam again, not letting up, repeating "I love you" against Sam's mouth over and over again, kissing him with those words.
With each kiss, Sam felt more of his strength draining from him. He only had enough to leave Wyatt once, not a second time. No matter what, he couldn't wrench himself free. The hold Wyatt had on him was too strong. Sam loved him so much and he wanted to stay with him more than anything.
"You're really horrible," Sam told him while pressing his cheek against Wyatt's.
"I know, but I can't lose you. I can't let you go." Wyatt had clasped his hands at Sam's back as he gazed at him like he was trying to judge if he was likely to try and run again.
Sam lowered his head. "What do you think I can give you?"
"Everything," Wyatt said but Sam shook his head. "We can have something so good."
"But I'm poison. I can only bring you trouble," Sam told him.
"No. You're a great guy, and this is your home now, with me and the boys. In fact I want you to move in with us," Wyatt said, shocking him for a second time.
"What?" Sam said and pulled back from him in surprise. "That's a terrible idea. That would put you all in danger."
"We'll take precautions to keep us all safe, including you. I'm not giving you up, Sam. We're in this together," Wyatt told him decisively then he lectured him. "And when something is bothering you, you're supposed to talk to me and not come up with any stupid ideas all by yourself. Now stop being crazy and come back home with me."
Instead of agreeing, Sam leaned into his car to shut off the engine. He then pressed himself to Wyatt hard, like he truly wanted to be one with him so they would never have to be apart. But then reality intervened, and he remembered that he was supposed to be at work right now.
"If I'm staying, I better go report for my shift," Sam said as he locked his car.
"No. Come home with me," Wyatt said as he held onto his hand.
