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“Wow. This is some real modern-age-family-type shit you guys got going on here.” She put her hands in front of her as if asking for an explanation. “So how old is the dad?”
“That’s the thing.” Rayne bit on his thumb cuticle. “I don’t know. He sure as hell doesn’t look old enough to have a son Bishop’s age. But I haven’t been able to ask him anything personal. We’ve only had a few run-ins. But each one has been…” Rayne thought of how to word it. “More powerful than the last.”
The rumbling sound of a motorcycle engine revving, then shutting off made Rayne pause, but he assumed it was one of Edison’s neighbors and continued talking.
Chelsea’s face softened as she came and wrapped her arms around his waist, and he gladly welcomed the contact. “Hey. If you like him, then he must be amazing. And Bishop is mad hot, so if you say he looks just like—”
“Dad!” Bishop’s deep voice carried across the lawn, causing Rayne to stiffen in Chelsea’s hold. “It’s about damn time you got here.”
“Hey, Mike,” Edison called out next. “You made it. Now we can eat.”
“Holy fucking shit, he’s here.” Rayne swallowed the nerves that’d rushed up his throat.
“No way.” Chelsea’s eyes were as wide as his own as she released him and hurried to the curtain of branches, parting it oh so slightly as if she were a covert spy.
Rayne was frozen in place as he watched her every expression. Her shocked gaze tracked Mike’s strong form as he strolled across the lawn. Her mouth hung open as surprise and interest registered on her face. “Well, spread my legs open wide. You were not kidding.”
“I told you,” Rayne mumbled as he tried to slow his breathing.
“That is one smoking-hot dad.” She gaped. “He and Bishop look almost like twins.”
“Right?” Rayne whispered. “It’s so weird.”
“Well, we’re not going to find out anything hiding under this damn tree like a couple of scared squirrels.” Chelsea straightened herself up. “I want a closer look.”
Rayne was not expecting Mike to be there. Whenever he was around, Rayne couldn’t seem to control his feelings. He wanted to stand as close to the tall, brooding man as he could and inhale.
I’m losing my mind.
Rayne had wanted some time to speak to his sponsor about the whole situation and if he felt like it was a good idea to ask a man out. If he believed Rayne was ready to explore a relationship. But he already knew what Cliff would say. He could already hear his mellow voice in his ear asking him, “How do you feel about him?” It would always be Rayne’s choice when he was ready to put himself out there again.
Rayne gripped his temples. There’s no rush, remember that. He was just beginning to understand what he felt when he was around Mike and that he did want to explore more. Being a recovering sex addict didn’t mean he was prohibited from ever having sex again. Actually, maybe he was, but regardless, he didn’t want to fuck anymore; he had to be with someone he could connect with on a deeper, less physical level. Just talk to him like a normal guy meeting another guy and see how he responds.
Rayne opened his eyes, and Chelsea was standing directly in front of him with a teasing glint in her eyes and a coy smile playing across her lips. “What?” he asked.
“Are you done giving yourself a pep talk?”
“I think so.” His mouth felt dry, but his palms were drenched. He hadn’t been this nervous to talk to a man in… Rayne frowned. Never. He’d never been worried or anxious. He was always the one in control and working the angle on an easy mark. But Mike was no sucker, and Rayne had no game plan. It was just him and his raw, damaged emotions.
He inched toward the canopy of branches and pulled them aside. Rayne’s breath hitched as he watched Mike tug his son into a strong, one-armed hug while clutching a sleek, black motorcycle helmet in his other hand. Fire streaked between Rayne’s legs. Holy shit. “I can’t do this.”
“Oh yes you fuckin’ can,” Chelsea bit out. “Look at me.”
He was already looking at her.
“You can do this. You’ve been centered on yourself for almost a whole year. Completely celibate and focused on healing your mind. Now that you feel you’re in a good place, don’t let the doubt in.” Her smile was somber. “It’s not easy for us, y’know. To get people to understand this illness we have.”
Rayne smiled inside. Mike already knows, and he doesn’t seem to care. He was only basing that on a look and a couple of quick conversations, but he’d take it.
“Okay, it’s time to eat!” Rayne heard Edison announce.
“Where’s Rayne?”
“He’s asking for you,” Chelsea whispered with enthusiasm.
“I heard him,” Rayne breathed around his need.
If they weren’t being so damn incognito, Rayne would’ve laughed at the way his and Chelsea’s eyes widened to the size of silver dollars when they heard Mike’s throaty voice ask for him. If they were in junior high school, this would be the part where he and Chelsea held hands and jumped up and down in a circle, squealing with excitement.
