Secretly Dating the Lionman

by Sue Brown

  “Cold.”

  Cris wrapped an arm around him. “I know. You can warm me up.”

  “Lions furry.”

  Cris snickered. “You’re the furry one.”

  Bennett snorted and fell asleep again.

  THE NEXT time Cris woke, the world outside was nothing more than a sea of white. Snowstorms were forecast for most of the day. As Cris filled his coffee maker with water, Dan texted him to say he didn’t need to come in. Cris put the phone down and hoped the bad weather didn’t continue. He couldn’t afford to lose too many shifts—his rent was due later in the month.

  Bennett shuffled into the kitchen wearing just his jeans. “Is everything okay?”

  “My shift at the bar is canceled.”

  “Yeah, we’re closed too.” Bennett narrowed his eyes. “You don’t look happy about a snow day. Don’t you like crashing out on the sofa and watching your DVDs?”

  “Yeah, when I’m not worrying about making the rent. I’m gonna need to find an extra job soon.” Cris sighed and tugged Bennett in for a kiss. “I’m sorry. My money woes are not your problem. Did you sleep all right?”

  Bennett didn’t look happy, but he obliged with a kiss. “Coffee?”

  “I can do that.”

  They ended up on the sofa as entwined as they had been in bed with Bennett snuggled against Cris’s chest as they sipped coffee. Cris felt better as the caffeine spread through his system.

  Bennett raised his head. “You know I could loan you your rent.”

  Cris pressed his lips to Bennett’s mouth. “I know. Thank you. But we’re not at that stage yet.”

  “Okay.” Bennett nodded his head. “But the offer’s there.” He rested his head back on Cris’s chest.

  Cris sighed. “It’s a snow day. I have food. We’re not going anywhere. What should we watch?”

  “Whiteout, Frozen, Eight Below?”

  “Ha-ha. I have them all. Which one do you want to watch?”

  “You pick one.” Bennett got to his feet. “I’ll get dressed. My jeans are still damp from yesterday.”

  “You can take sweats and a hoodie or a long-sleeve T-shirt from my closet.”

  “Thanks.”

  Cris was still choosing a movie when he heard a strangled gasp behind him. He wandered curiously into his bedroom to find Bennett staring wide-eyed into his closet. “Is everything okay?”

  “I….” Bennett pointed at his costumes.

  “Yeah, I have more costumes than clothes.”

  “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “Aw, are you saying I’m unique?” Cris rested his chin on Bennett’s shoulder. “Everything else is on this side.”

  Bennett raised a hand to pat Cris’s cheek. “I can think a lot of words to call you. Unique is one of them.”

  “Thanks, I think.”

  Cris moved around Bennett and pulled out two pairs of sweatpants and two hoodies. “Do you need socks?”

  “Please.”

  He handed Bennett a pair of thick woolen socks. “My mom bought me these. She thinks I don’t dress warmly enough.”

  “Do you ever wear them?”

  “Only in here.”

  They got dressed again and settled back to watch movies for the whole day. Cris was used to watching movies, but having Bennett there made a welcome change, especially when Bennett leaned against him, Cris wrapped his arm around Bennett, and they forgot about the outside world as they snuggled together.

  Chapter 16

  “IT’S YOURS.” Cris held out Bennett’s phone as he walked into the kitchen. “I’ll make us some coffee.”

  “Thanks. Hello?” Bennett answered the phone, most of his attention on an article he was reading on his iPad. “Hi, Mama. No busier than usual. Just looking at potential land Tata might be interested in. I’ll email it later.”

  Cris rolled his eyes. He was going to make it his mission in life to make Bennett take some downtime, and Bennett had told him he was watching stupid videos on YouTube. The man never switched off. After two months together, Cris had realized his boyfriend—they’d both stopped hyperventilating over that word now—never stopped living and breathing the family business.

  “Does it have to be today? I’m busy. Yes, I know I said that, but I’m busy later.”

  Cris frowned. As far as he knew, both of them were free all day. They’d made a tentative plan to see a movie and go for Thai food, but that was all. He heard a clatter behind him and turned his head to see Bennett righting a mug he’d knocked over. The color had drained out of Bennett’s face, and Cris was worried he was about to pass out.

  “You okay, Bennett?” he murmured, not wanting to disturb the conversation.

  Bennett held up his hand and spoke into the phone. “Mama, it’s not really a good time.”

  He listened for a long time with a resigned look on his face. Cris wanted to go over and stroke his back, offer him some form of comfort, but every pore of Bennett was radiating “don’t come the hell near me.” Cris leaned against the kitchen counter and waited patiently until the call was over.

  “Okay, I’ll come, and Mikey too if he’s free. Yes. It’ll be good to see you and Tata. I’m going to bring a friend with me. No, not a girlfriend. He’s….”

  Bennett stared at Cris who mouthed, “It’s okay.”

  “He’s a good friend of mine. I want you to meet him.” Bennett smiled at Cris. “I’ll tell Mikey. I’ve got to go, Mama.”

  He disconnected the call and stared at Cris, his eyes comically wide. “What the hell have I just done?”

  “I think you just invited me to meet the parents.”

  “I repeat, what the hell have I just done?”

  Cris batted his eyelashes. “Aw, honey, does this mean you’ve met the right woman?” His smile faded when Bennett didn’t laugh. “Bennett? You don’t have to take me. I won’t be offended.”

  Bennett shook his head. “Yes, I do. I want to take you. I want to tell them about us.”

  Cris took both of Bennett’s hands in his. “I’ll be by your side.”

  “What if I turn out to be another Petrovski screwup?”

  Cris shrugged. “Never gonna happen. I love this Petrovski.”

  “I love you too.”

  IT WAS obvious to Cris that Bennett was freaking out and trying his best to show how calm he was. His face was pinched and his glorious eyes dull. Cris appreciated the effort, but he’d have preferred Bennett to come to him for comfort. They were a minute from leaving Cris’s apartment to go visit Bennett’s parents, but Cris wasn’t letting Bennett go anywhere until they talked. He grabbed Bennett by the biceps and forced him to look at him. It was the one time he really appreciated being the same height, because Bennett found it hard to look away.

  “We don’t have to do this now,” Cris said, his voice calm and soothing. “We don’t have to do this at all. My love for you is not conditional on you telling your parents.”

  “I know,” Bennett said. “But my love for you is conditional on being honest and open about our relationship. You’ve been nothing but honest with me, and I owe you the same.”

  “Some couples never tell their parents about their relationship, and I get that. Sometimes it’s easier to keep quiet. You don’t have to tell them today. I’m not walking out the door if you decide to keep quiet.”

  Bennett licked his lips, and Cris could see the fear behind his eyes. But there was more than fear. There was also determination. “Thank you for telling me that. I needed to hear it, but I’m not just doing this for us. I’m doing this for Mikey as well. He needs to see he’s got a big brother who has his back no matter what.”

  As Mikey had bailed on the meal once he found out what Bennett was going to do, Cris thought it was irrelevant, but he didn’t say that to Bennett.

  “Mikey knows you’ve got his back,” Cris said. “You don’t need to give him some big declaration.”

  “I tried the big declaration,” Bennett muttered. “He told me not to be such a
girl.”

  “How the heck does your sister let you get away with comments like that?” Cris shuddered, imagining the reaction if he’d made a “like a girl” comment in front of his own family.

  “He’s not stupid enough to say it in front of her,” Bennett pointed out. “Hannah would shred him limb from limb.”

  Cris could imagine Mikey’s reaction to Bennett being emotional, but he was having a hard time trying to imagine Bennett being emotional. Bennett was not a “hearts and flowers” type of guy. He showed his love in different ways, from repairing the faucet that Cris had been meaning to fix and never had, to collecting Cris from Cowboys and Angels every night even if he had to go to work a few hours later. It didn’t matter how many times Cris told him he was fine to come home by himself. Bennett was there outside the bar with a warm car and a hot drink. His guy was pretty damned perfect really.

  Cris looked into Bennett’s eyes. “Take a few deep breaths. You won’t help yourself or Mikey if you pass out now.”

  “I’m not that flaky.”

  Cris grinned at the snap in Bennett’s voice. That was more like it. “Come on, then, or your mother will be calling to find out where we are.”

  “She’s already called three times,” Bennett grimaced as he confessed. “I switched my phone off. The woman is nothing if not persistent.”

  “Let’s get going then before she turns up on your doorstep.” Cris held out his gloved hand to Bennett. “I’ve got your back.”

  Bennett tugged Cris in for a quick kiss and then let go. “Likewise, lover.”

  “You might not want to call me that in front of your parents,” Cris suggested. “Not unless I can call you baby.”

  “Isn’t going to happen,” Bennett said flatly.

  “Sweet cheeks? Pumpkin? Loverboy?”

  “I’ll end you right now.”

  Cris grinned at him. “Feeling better?”

  “Yes. I hate you.”

  “I know you do.” Cris drew Bennett into a longer kiss. When he raised his head, Bennett’s eyes were closed and his lips soft and red. If they hadn’t been going somewhere, Cris would have taken him back to bed.

  MRS. PETROVSKI was a smaller version of the two boys, although her hair was almost gray and in a neat pixie cut. She wasn’t quite what Cris expected. He realized he’d had some idea of a Hollywood Eastern European matriarch, and instead what he got was an immaculately dressed New Yorker.

  “Benny, I was starting to get worried. And this is your friend?”

  She looked puzzled as she studied Cris, but she hugged her son until he protested that he couldn’t breathe. Then it was his turn, and Cris flailed a moment before he hugged her back. She flushed and fluttered a moment and then invited them into the kitchen. Cris could see immediately that the kitchen was the heart of the home. It was about three times the size of Cris’s entire home and more like an industrial kitchen with an oversize oven and appliances. Just off the kitchen was a room with a table set for dining. The table was large enough for twelve.

  Mr. Petrovski sat at a breakfast bar, reading a newspaper. He put it down and peered over his glasses at the new arrivals. When he got to his feet, Cris could see he was barely an inch shorter than his son, but Cris knew exactly what Bennett would look like when he was older. He hugged Bennett and shook Cris’s hand.

  The welcome was much more than Cris expected, yet Bennett had said his parents were good people. He really hoped the warmth was still intact by the end of the visit. It would be a tragedy to fracture this loving family. He wondered idly when he’d introduce Bennett to his own parents and siblings. They knew about him, of course, but Cris had been so involved with Bennett that he hadn’t made it over to the family home.

  Mr. Petrovski offered them beer, and when they were settled, Bennett said, “Who else is coming for dinner, Mama?”

  “I’ve invited your sister and Adam for lunch,” Mrs. Petrovski said.

  Cris felt the tension flood through Bennett. It was one thing to have this conversation with his parents, but adding his sister and brother-in-law just increased the tension. Cris brushed Bennett’s leg with his, Bennett stiffened but he didn’t pull away.

  “I thought Hannah was away this weekend,” Bennett said.

  “Her in-laws canceled. Betty’s got the flu. I thought it’d be wonderful to have you all together.” Mrs. Petrovski beamed at them, but her smile faded at the tight expression on her son’s face. “What’s the issue?”

  Bennett shook his head. “Nothing. It’s okay, Mama.”

  “Then why do you look like I’ve just killed your puppy?”

  “You never allowed us to have a dog.” Bennett smiled, but Cris could see it was a struggle, and from the frown on Mrs. Petrovski’s face, she could see it too.

  Bennett glanced at Cris, who gave him the most reassuring smile he could manage.

  “What’s the matter?” she demanded as she reached out for Bennett’s hands. “Talk to me. You’re scaring me now, Benny.”

  Bennett grasped her hands, clearly unable to force out the words. The silence in the kitchen was deafening, and the sudden sound of the doorbell was both a welcome relief and an annoying distraction. Mrs. Petrovski bustled away to open the door, and Cris heard the enthusiastic welcome as she greeted her daughter and son-in-law. Bennett stared at some unknown point in the distance, and Cris waited patiently for him to focus again. The only person who seemed oblivious to the tension was Mr. Petrovski, who’d returned to reading the sports section of his newspaper.

  Watching Bennett and Hannah hug in the middle of the kitchen, Cris could see they were all cut from the same mold. Hannah was nearly as tall as her brother, although thankfully, she wasn’t built with the same broad shoulders, and her dark hair curled around her ears just like Bennett’s. From the scolding she gave him, it had been some time since she’d seen her brother. Bennett had that “deer trapped in headlights” expression as she pointed out what useless brothers she had, and she included Mikey in the tirade even though he wasn’t there. It was equally obvious they were all very fond of each other, and Cris could see why Bennett had fought so hard not to destroy the family balance.

  Then Hannah turned her attention on Cris. From the smirk on Bennett’s face, Cris wore the same trapped expression.

  “Who are you? I haven’t met you before.”

  Mrs. Petrovski intervened before any of the men could speak. “This is Cris, Benny’s friend.”

  Cris shook her hand and then her husband’s. Adam was thirtyish and stocky, with sandy-colored hair and startling light-blue eyes. He seemed familiar, although Cris couldn’t work out why until Adam said, “I’ve seen you at Cowboys and Angels. You’re Dan’s friend.”

  “Yeah, that’s right. I thought I recognized you.”

  If Adam knew he was a friend of Dan’s, then he probably knew Cris was gay. And if he knew Cris was gay…. From his pensive expression, the same thought had occurred to Bennett.

  “Did you make pierogies?” Hannah asked. “And kielbasa?”

  “Yes, yes, and golabki for Benny. Don’t worry all your favorite dishes are here.”

  Bennett kissed her cheek. “You’re the best, Mama.”

  She beamed at him, and thankfully she didn’t pursue her questions as she bustled away to serve dinner.

  Cris sat next to Bennett at the table, Bennett’s leg pushed up against his. Hannah and Adam sat opposite them, and they kept up a steady conversation about Cowboys and Angels. Adam and Bennett had been customers of the bar for years and had a stream of stories, mainly about Gideon and Ariel. Cris choked at Adam’s description of Dan’s reaction to Ariel knocking over a stack of glasses when she was playing baseball with Luis in the bar.

  Adam wiped the tears from his eyes. “I thought Dan was gonna kill her.”

  “If Gideon hadn’t been between them, I think Dan would have tried,” Bennett agreed.

  Cris chuckled. “When was this?”

  “A couple of years ago,” Adam said. “Before th
ey… uh… became family. But she had a dead shot.”

  “The girl has a mean aim,” Bennett agreed.

  Mrs. Petrovski sniffed. “That girl needs a good spanking.”

  “She’s a bit old for a spanking, Mama,” Adam said. “She’s working now.”

  She sniffed again. “No one is too old for a spanking.”

  Bennett pressed closer to Cris, who took that to mean Mrs. Petrovski practiced what she preached. He wanted to put an arm around Bennett, but he couldn’t, so he sat as close as he could and tried to project soothing thoughts to him.

  The food was out of this world. Cris ate everything on his plate and more besides. He was going to have to work his butt off in the gym or he’d never be able to strip again.

  “You’re the best cook I’ve ever met, Mrs. Petrovski.” He rubbed his belly. “Much better than my mom, but don’t tell her I said that.”

  She beamed at him. “Call me Mama. Everyone does.”

  “You’ve just found the way into my parents’ good books,” Hannah said. “They never like people who turned their nose up at Polish food.”

  “Anyone who does that is an idiot,” Cris declared.

  “For a man in your profession, you eat a lot of food,” Hannah said.

  “What do you do?” Tata asked.

  Cris looked at Bennett, who gave a tiny shrug. “I’m working at Cowboys and Angels as a bartender. Before that I was a stripper at Forbidden Nightz.”

  The silence was deafening. Cris could feel Bennett shrinking beside him. He expected to be shown the door, but to his surprise, Mr. Petrovski nodded. “I hear Lionman is very successful.”

  How did Bennett’s father know he was the Lionman? Was he having him followed? Cris bit his lip, but he couldn’t downplay his career choice just because it was unconventional.

  “Yeah, I was successful. I had a lot of fun doing it. I hope I will again.”

  “You should always do something you’re good at,” Mr. Petrovski said and calmly asked his wife for cream.