Samuel see him as a parent?
“That felt different though. You felt different. Every time you touch me, I feel warm all over. It’s like you’re a fire, burning me up from the inside.”
“Samuel…” Daniel held Samuel’s face in his hands, keeping his eyes on Samuel’s. “That’s how you make me feel too, Sweetheart.”
Samuel laid his hand on Daniel’s chest and sighed, still playing with the tips of Daniel’s hair. “What does that mean?”
Daniel hugged him tightly. Just how innocent and confused was Samuel? “I don’t know yet.” Daniel lifted him onto his thighs. “You're the most beautiful person I've ever met. Inside and out. I don’t want you to leave tomorrow. I'm not ready to let you go.”
“I'm bad news, Daniel. If I stay, people will come looking for me. Bad people. They’ll hurt you to get to me. It’s happened before.” Samuel pressed his finger against Daniel’s lips, brushing it lightly over them before Daniel held his hand.
“If anyone comes for you, they won’t get you. Not while I'm around. I won’t let them hurt you or take you away. I promise.”
“It’s not me I'm worried about, it’s you. They’re really evil, Daniel. You don’t know what you’re getting into.”
“So, tell me. Talk to me.”
“I can’t, not yet.”
“Don’t leave tomorrow. Promise you’ll stay.” Daniel fisted both his hands by his side to stop himself from touching Samuel. “Just a few more nights. See how you feel then. You don’t have to be on your own. Let me help you.”
“I don’t want to bother you with all my issues, and I have a lot of issues, Daniel. You might not be able to handle them, handle me.”
“Let me worry about what I can or can’t handle. All I want you to do is focus on you. You’d be safe here. I’d keep you safe, Samuel.”
“I know. I haven’t felt this secure since my mum died. I don’t want to leave, but…” Samuel sighed and looked into Daniel’s eyes. “Staying here is scarier than leaving. Out there I just have me, here… I’d have to think about you.”
“Let me worry about me. Please.” Daniel unfisted his hands and took Samuel in his arms. “I want to look after you. Let me do that and make me happy.”
“Why do you need me to make you happy?” Samuel played with Daniel’s hair again. “Don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“That’s… complicated.” Daniel laughed. “Right now, no. I did have… Recently we broke up. It’s a really long story.”
Samuel sat back and looked in his eyes. “You're sad about him. Do you love him?”
Daniel cupped Samuel’s face in his hands and kissed his forehead. “Yes. I love him. I have for a long time, but… It doesn’t work out no matter how much I want it to.”
“Ha, that’s the story of my life.” Samuel rubbed his eyes then smiled at him. “I feel sorry for you.” He laughed loudly.
“Why?”
“Because I'm going to stay, and one day, you’ll look back and think of this moment and hate me for it.”
“I won’t ever hate you, Sweetheart.”
Samuel looked into his eyes, searching for something which Daniel couldn’t answer, not without him talking first.
“Let’s sleep now. We can talk later. Nothing is easy to understand at this time in the morning.” Daniel let him shuffle off his knees and stand up. He stretched his arms above his head, his sweater rising above his hips and teasing Daniel by showing off his creamy skin.
He didn’t know what was going on right now, but at least he wasn’t alone. Samuel was just as confused as he was.
Chapter 8
M ilo slammed the car door behind him. He’d wasted the first hour of his shift visiting the hospital to interview Sleeping Beauty. It wasn’t a total surprise hearing he’d run, but he thought Daniel would have at least called to let him know.
Milo paused outside Daniel’s house and took a deep breath. He wanted to come round after he’d finished his shift, not on duty when he was pressed for time and
Ursula K. LeGuin
McLeod-Anitra-Lynn
Andrea Kane
Ednah Walters, E. B. Walters
V. C. Andrews
Melissa Ford
Hollister Ann Grant, Gene Thomson
T. L. Haddix
Joyce Maynard
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