by E. M. Leya
"I'm okay with that." She looked up at Xander. "You like my dad?"
"I do." He nodded. "He likes ice cream and pizza. That makes him good enough for me."
Matt laughed as he glanced up at Xander, thankful that he was making this so simple. He hadn't really thought much about letting Faith know they were seeing each other. It wasn't like it had been anything official, but Faith wouldn't understand the casual thing. He hated that this forced Xander to make it seem like it was more than it was, but for Faith, it was best they play it that way.
Matt hugged Faith. "I love you, and no matter what, you come first. You are most important. I need you to know that."
She nodded. "I know, Dad, and Xander is cool. I like that he might be around more." She smiled up at Xander. "And he might let me have more ice cream than you do."
Matt laughed.
Xander shook his head. "Your dad's still the boss. If he says we can't have it, we can't."
Faith pouted. "I thought he'd be nicer to you."
Xander laughed as he stepped forward and rested his hand on Matt's shoulder. "Nope, he's just as mean to me as he is to you. In fact, I'd bet you can talk him into things easier than I can." He gently squeezed Matt's shoulder. "Are you done here?"
"Yeah, I'm done."
"Then, with your permission, how about we head back to your place? I'll stop on the way and pick up a couple of pizzas for dinner, then, if Faith can talk you into it, we can eat ice cream and watch a movie."
Faith nodded. "Can we, Dad?"
"I guess we can do that. I'd planned on having fish for dinner." He grinned at Faith since it was the food she hated most.
"Eww, Dad, pizza is so much better." She shoved him playfully. "So, can we go?"
"Yep, let me walk in and talk to Carter for a second, then I'll be out. You okay here with Xan?"
"Yep." She leaned against the wall.
As he walked inside, he wondered what the two of them would talk about. This was not the way he wanted Faith to find out, but after seeing her reaction, maybe it was easier this way. Xander hadn't seemed upset, and he'd taken control of the situation by not pulling away like two guilty teenagers like Matt would have done. He treated Faith like an adult, not lying to her or trying to make it look like something it wasn't. The only issue now was how Xander felt about Faith thinking they were dating.
"I'm heading out. You guys okay?" He stood behind Carter and Bryon.
"Yep, thanks for your help. Hopefully, we can get enough information now to take this ring down." Bryon glanced back at him. "Faith okay?"
"Yeah, she's with Xander. She had fun downstairs."
"I bet. That place was built for kids. Maybe big ones like the team, but it's still a cool place."
"Thanks for letting her hang." Matt gave a wave. "Call me if you need anything."
He walked out, excited to spend the evening with Faith and Xander. He'd missed Xander over the last few days, and it would make it easier now that Faith wouldn't be shocked if they kissed or held hands. He wondered if she was confused that he liked a man now after years of being married to her mother, but that was a conversation for another time. He needed to think about how to bring that up and talk to her about the whole liking boys and girls thing.
"Ready?" Matt gripped Faith's shoulder.
"Yep, can I pick the movie tonight?" Faith walked with them toward their cars.
Matt and Xander exchanged amused glances. "You can pick."
"Yay!" Faith got into the passenger seat of the car.
Matt turned to Xander. "Thank you for handling that so well. I didn't expect her to see us."
"It's for the best." Xander cupped Matt's face. "Now I don't have to hide this." He dipped his head and kissed Matt softly. When he pulled back, he continued to hold Matt's face in his hands. "Anything I should get on the pizzas?"
"Faith hates mushrooms, but anything else is good." Matt pressed his cheek to Xander's hand. "Thanks for being so good to her."
"She makes it easy." Xander kissed him again before stepping back. "See you in a half an hour."
Matt nodded, watching Xander stride toward his car, wondering when they could steal some alone time together because the taste he'd gotten of Xander today only increased his desire for more. Faith had to come first, but as soon as he found time, he was going to make sure Xander knew just how much he missed him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Xander nodded to Faith as she slept on the makeshift bed she'd made of pillows and blankets on the floor. "She looks so peaceful."
Matt leaned closer to Xander, nestling tighter against his side. "I wish it would last. She wakes up every few hours with nightmares."
"She told me. That's one of the reasons I detoured from getting pizza and got that nightlight for her. I think it will help. She said the shadows scared her." Xander tightened his arm around Matt, not wanting to let go. After the week they'd both had, it was nice to relax and not have to stress over anything for a few hours.
The movie Faith had picked actually turned out to be enjoyable, and they'd eaten ice cream and laughed at the comedy as if there wasn't a darkness cloaking them all. For a couple hours, Xander was able to put the negative things aside and just enjoy the company. He hoped it had been the same for the two of them. "Want me to carry her into bed?"
"I don't know. She hasn't let anyone touch her other than me since she got home." Matt frowned as he stared at his daughter.
"Then I'll let you do it. I don't want her to wake up and freak out at my ugly face holding her," Xander teased. It would destroy him to have Faith panic because of something he did.
"It's nothing personal." Matt looked worried.
"I know that. She's been through a lot. She'll come around in time." Xander picked up the empty ice cream bowls. "I'll get these taken care of while you get her to bed."
He left Matt to deal with Faith and headed into the kitchen, wondering if he dared sneak into the bathroom or even the garage for a quickie with Matt once he got back. It was horrible to be thinking about sex when Faith was just a few rooms away and could wake up at any time, but after sitting beside Matt all night, sharing soft touches and looks, his body was strung tight. It was going to take some getting used to having a child around all the time.
He rinsed the dishes and set them in the dishwasher as he waited. His mood had improved since his run earlier, but he still struggled with visions of the sting they'd had in Texas. Several times he'd wanted to pull out his phone and browse for news on it, but he resisted. As soon as there was news, Trenton would let them know.
"Hey." Matt came up behind up, pressing tightly against his back, his cock nestling against his ass.
"Mmm, I've missed that feeling." Xander pressed back, his cock going instantly hard.
Matt's lips pressed to the back of his neck. "Faith decided she was going to try sleeping in her room. She said something about having the light, so she would try. That means, as long as we're careful, we have my room."
Xander turned, wrapping his arms around Matt's waist as he thrust his hips forward, drawing his cock against Matt's, enjoying his hardness through the thin layers of clothing between them. "Think it's safe?"
"No, but I don't want you to leave tonight." Matt sucked Xander's bottom lip between his, then opened, kissing him deeply.
"We can stay here, go outside, maybe the garage." Xander worked his hips back and forth as he slid his hands under Matt's shirt. It had only been just over a week, but it seemed like forever since he'd enjoyed Matt's body against his own.
"She's going to have to get used to you being here." Matt licked up Xander's neck. "We'll have to be careful, but I don't want to have to hide."
The fleeting thought of how serious this was starting to feel hit him hard, but he forced it back, focusing on his arousal instead. "We can make it quick." Xander slid his hands around the front of Matt's chest, his fingers teasing Matt's nipples for a moment as he tugged at his earlobe with his mouth.
"Quick is b
etter than nothing." Matt groaned. "Come on." He stepped back, forcing them apart.
"Go lock up. I'll get the lights and meet you in the bedroom." Xander tugged him back for another long kiss before releasing him and turning for the living room.
His cock ached as it pressed tightly against the zipper of his jeans, and he couldn't wait to get to the bedroom and release it from the confines of his clothes, but even more, he couldn't wait to drop to his knees and suck Matt into his mouth. He wanted to taste him, feel him, and give him the escape from reality that Matt needed even more than he did.
With the lights off, he walked down the hallway, smiling at the dim light that showed underneath Faith's door. The nightlight he'd gotten wasn't a cool zebra one like he wanted to find her, but it was a teddy bear that he hoped would soften the room and help her fight the demons that haunted her at night.
Once in the bedroom, Xander started to undress. Memories of each time they'd been together flashed through his mind as he looked at the bed. Sex had never been so good, and he worried that he'd have trouble finding someone to satisfy him as well when things ended with Matt.
"Couldn't wait for me?" Matt smiled as he stepped into the room, shutting the door before lifting his own shirt over his head.
"Figured there was nothing wrong with getting a head start." Xander licked his lips as he watched Matt work open his pants and push them down his legs. When Matt's thick cock sprang free, Xander nearly groaned at the need that shot through him. He wasted no time falling to his knees and pulling Matt closer. "Do you know how many showers I've taken this week thinking about doing this?"
"Is this all we do in your fantasies?" Matt reached down, tangling his fingers in Matt's hair.
"No, but we'll get to that." Xander took Matt's cock into his mouth, closing his eyes as he took him deep, enjoying the gasp of pleasure he heard above him.
Using one hand to fist around his own cock, Xander moved his mouth up and down Matt's length, teasing along the bottom, then sucking harder on the head. They'd done this enough that they knew what each other liked. When Matt started to thrust harder, forcing Xander to take him deeper, he gladly welcomed the aggressiveness and opened his throat to take him the best he could.
Matt was the one to finally pull back. "Get on the bed."
Xander didn't have to be told twice. He climbed onto the bed, staying up on his hands and knees.
"No, on your back, legs hanging off the foot of the bed." Matt reached into the nightstand for a condom and lube.
Understanding how Matt planned to take him had Xander's cock dripping. He positioned himself the way Matt wanted him, and smiled when Matt stepped between his legs.
"So fucking perfect." Matt ran his hands down Xander's chest and over his stomach. "Look how hard you are." He bent and licked over the glistening tip of Xander's cock.
"Fuck, I need you," Xander growled as Matt released his cock and tore open the condom.
Matt lifted Xander's legs, tugging him so his ass hung off the edge of the bed. "It's going to be fast and hard."
Xander fisted the base of his own cock tightly. "Exactly what I need."
"Good, because looking at that ass, I don't think I could go slow and easy." Matt dripped lube over Xander's ass, then pushed two fingers into him without warning.
"Fuck yes!" Xander's head arched back, his eyes closed, and it seemed as if his cock grew two more inches.
"You want me here?" Matt fucked his fingers in and out of him.
"Hard." Xander braced his legs on Matt's shoulders.
"That won't be a problem." Matt pulled his fingers free and moved the head of his cock to Xander's hole. "I wish you could see how hot you look right now." Matt cupped Xander's balls, rolling them over his fingers before he started to press his cock forward, easing inside him.
"Jesus, I've missed this." Xander gritted his teeth as his cock jerked in his fist. "Make me come!"
"Bossy." Matt slid deeper and settled. He swatted a hand over Matt's hip, then started to thrust.
Matt's thickness was just what he needed. The burn, the stretch, the hard thrusting took him to the place he wanted to be. He couldn't focus on anything but the feeling of Matt inside him, the feel of Matt's cock taking him hard. Nothing else mattered, only the two of them and what they were doing. "Please." Xander fisted the blanket beneath him with one hand as he jerked himself off with the other, his hand almost painfully tight around his cock.
Matt kissed his leg, then bit the same spot. It wasn't a gentle bite either. Not enough to break the skin, but enough to get Xander's full attention.
"Do that again." Xander groaned. "Bite me again."
Matt did, this time sinking his teeth into the other leg, then again beside his knee.
"Fuck yes." Xander's fist flew over his cock, his mind a haze of lust and need.
"So fucking tight. I'm not going to make this last." Matt's words were broken, heavy gasps of air coming between each word. "Let me feel you come."
Xander loved that Matt always wanted him to come first. Coming with Matt deep in his ass was the most amazing feeling, and he loved the look on Matt's face when his ass would clamp down around his cock and hold him there. Focusing on nothing but the pleasure coursing through him, Xander worked his fist faster, precum rolling down the head, his body trembling as his balls pulled tight, his spine tingled, and he let out a silent cry, somehow aware that they had to be quieter than usual this time. His body exploded, cum shooting over him as he bucked his hips, forcing his cock into his fisted hand.
"I'm going to lick every drop of that off you." Matt started to move again, thrusting deep and hard. "In fact, I think I'll add my own to it." Matt jerked his cock free, tore off the condom and started stroking himself. It took only seconds before his cum was mixing with Xander's all over his stomach.
Xander dropped his legs from Matt's shoulder, then laughed as Matt bent and started licking the cum from his stomach and hips. "Come here." Xander reached for him, pulling Matt on top of his body, and kissing him hard, tasting their shared pleasure as their tongues met.
"That was fucking amazing." Matt collapsed on top of Xander, their skin wet with sweat as he rested his head against his shoulder.
"It always is with us." Xander smiled.
"Yeah, it is." Matt glanced up at him. "You'll stay all night, right?"
Xander brushed a stray hair back from Matt's face. "Are you sure I should?"
"No, but I need you here," Matt admitted.
"She's not stupid. She'll know I stayed with you." Xander wanted to be sure that Faith wasn't going to have a problem with things, and as fast as this was being thrust at her, it could go either way. She liked him, but having him date her dad was another thing.
"I think she needs you as much as I do, honestly." Matt rolled off Xander.
Xander wasn't sure how to take that.
"Stay."
Xander nodded. "Okay, but should she come in and need to sleep here, then I go home. I'm not forcing her out of her comfort zone, and you have to loan me sweats because I don't want to sleep naked when she could walk in at any time."
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Matt closed his eyes. "I don't want to move, but could use a shower. Join me?"
"Oh yeah. I'm not turning down any chance to hold you naked against me, even if it is covered in soap." Xander sat up. "Come on."
As they walked into the bathroom, Xander tried not to think about how comfortable all this was becoming. Not only was he at ease with Matt, but he loved hanging out with Faith as well. He needed to be careful. He wasn't the kind of guy to settle down. His job was too dangerous. The fact that he could end up in prison at any minute should have been enough to make him walk away, but as Matt turned on the water and held out his hand, Xander went to him. Walking away was just too hard.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Xander rubbed his eyes, thinking he was dreaming, but the soft sound of crying wasn't in his head. It was coming from down the hallway. He debated on wakin
g Matt, but he'd been up just an hour before when Faith had a nightmare.
She'd been doing better over the last week, sleeping in her own room, and only waking up a couple of times each night. Sometimes she screamed, others she cried, but each night she seemed a little better.
Leaving Matt to sleep, Xander made his way down the hall, softly knocking so he didn't scare Faith to death by just walking in. "Hey, you okay?"
Faith sniffed. "Yeah."
"Do you want me to get your dad?" He leaned against the door.
"No, but can you sit with me for a bit?" She turned, hugging her zebra to her chest.
"Sure." He stepped farther into the room, sliding down the wall across from her bed so he could see her without getting too close.
She still hadn't let anyone touch her besides Matt, and Xander respected that. He kept his distance and hoped in time she would come to him. He'd spent several nights with Matt since she'd caught them kissing, and seemed to be accepting the fact that they were fairly well.
"Bad dream again?"
She nodded. "I tried to count Zee's stripes like I usually do, but then my mind got thinking about other things, then I got scared again."
"Do you want to go sleep with your dad?" Xander was more than happy to move to the guest room or the couch if he needed to.
"No, I'm trying to be brave." She reached for a tissue and wiped her nose.
"Want to talk about it?"
Faith shrugged.
"Sometimes it helps."
"I don't want to make Dad mad." She fisted her hand into the pink blanket that was over her.
"Why would he get mad?" Xander brought his knees to his chest, holding his arms around them.
"Because he wants things to get back to normal, but I can't do that. I've tried."
Xander smiled. "When he says he wants things back to normal, that doesn't mean they have to go back to the way they were before. I think he knows that some things will never be the same. He just wants you comfortable and happy."