by Aliana James
“How about some food?”
“Not hungry.” Travis placed the remotes on the couch, leaned back, and closed his eyes. Alec started to pace.
Travis still had his head back and his eyes closed. Alec was sure that couldn’t be comfortable. He needed to make something for Travis to eat and get him to take some pain medicine.
Maybe he should call the doctor. The doctor couldn’t give him a prescription for how to get a stubborn man to eat. Screw it. He was hungry, so he’d make enough for both of them and hope that Travis took at least a bite.
Alec ventured back into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He knew how to scramble eggs. That and a little toast should work well for his stomach.
Plating the food, he grabbed utensils and placed it on the coffee table. Travis opened his eyes and looked at the plates.
“I told you I’m not hungry.” Travis grimaced as he moved to put the pillow under his head. Alec waited to see if he needed his help. When it became apparent that he did, Alec pushed his hands aside and readjusted the pillows.
He placed a cup of decaf on the coffee table next to Travis’s plate. Placing his mug on the table, he reached over and grabbed the remote. He muted the TV until he found one of those home shows that Travis got him addicted to and settled back to eat his breakfast. Alec made sure to sit close enough for him to smell the food.
Travis eyed his plate and coffee mug. “Doc said no caffeine.”
“It’s decaf.” Alec picked up his mug and took a sip. He might need two cups to make it through this morning. They still had to talk, but he would wait. Even if the waiting was killing him inside.
Picking up his fork, he shoveled another bite of egg into his mouth, balanced the plate on his lap, and picked up the English muffin. Those, he knew, were Travis’s weakness. He loved them toasted with the melted butter on top. He crunched away, watching the show and Travis at the same time.
Travis shifted on the couch and slowly sat up. He pulled the plate to the edge of the coffee table, grabbed the mug of coffee and took a sip. “Decaf is gross,” he said as he put it down. His left arm, bruised and battered, lay by his side. He picked up half an English muffin with his right and bit down.
Satisfied at some progress, Alec leaned back and finished his breakfast. He stopped paying attention to Travis. When he got up during the commercial to put his empty mug and plate away, Travis had eaten.
He returned from the kitchen to find Travis reclined on the couch, eyes closed. He placed a bottle of water on the coffee table and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey.”
“What?” Travis opened his eyes and glanced at him.
“You need to take these.”
Alec dropped a couple pills in his hand. He helped him drink some water and then picked up a blanket to cover him.
“Alec, can you sit here a minute?”
Travis
The uncertainty in Alec’s eyes unnerved him. He’d spent the last two days thinking about the conversation and the fight—the words Alec threw at him before he left and slammed the door.
He didn’t want to rehash and analyze the whole argument. None of that mattered.
When he saw Alec standing in the hallway earlier, the feeling of relief came over him so fast that he didn’t have time to question what it meant.
“I need to know one thing.”
He would lay everything out there and hope Alec still had the same feelings.
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“Did you mean what you said?”
Alec’s eyebrows furrowed, and he squinted at him as he sat next to Travis.
“When?”
“When you told me you loved me?” He extended his hand to grab Alec’s.
Alec nodded. “We may have started this to solve both our problems but that’s not what this is anymore. I want this marriage to be real, to be forever. I want to rip up contracts and prenups and make forever plans.”
“That sounds amazing,” Travis said. “I…”
Alec squeezed his hand and planted a kiss on his forehead. He brushed the hair off of Travis’s face.
“I love you too. Probably since college if I’m being honest. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before.”
“I’m sorry I was a selfish jerk.” Alec kissed him lightly on the lips.
“What? When?”
“When I complained that I wanted you to give me time. You do give me time. Hell, you’ve done so much for me, made this feel like a home, made me realize that my life isn’t about only work.”
“I took you for granted…took advantage of you, Alec. I’m sorry.”
Alec laughed. “You’re kidding, right? I had to fight to get you to take every little thing I offered. I wish you’d take advantage, babe.”
“I thought I wasn’t going to see you again.” He leaned back into Alec as his arm came around Travis’s shoulders.
“When?”
“When I was in the alley, in the dumpster.”
“I’m so happy you’re all right. When I saw you in the hospital…”
“I know.”
“Travis?”
Nestled in Alec’s arms, he was safe, secure. And now that he wasn’t going anywhere, he was happy.
“Are we going to do this?”
“Do what?”
“Be married?” Alec asked.
“We are married. You aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”
Alec chuckled. “I have a couple requests.”
“The thing I do with my tongue? You may have to wait a couple days.”
“I love that thing you do with your tongue. But no, I, ah…”
He looked up and caught Alec’s nervous glance.
“What is it?”
“I want kids, Travis. Kids, a house out of the city, maybe in Westchester by Grandfather or out on Long Island closer to your parents. I want a big Sunday dinner with my family and your family. And I want a honeymoon. We didn’t have one.”
He sat up and stared at him in awe. How did he get so lucky? Alec chewed on his bottom lip and waited for his response. He pretended to think it over. “That’s quite a list of requests.”
He slid his arms around Alec and squeezed, his head buried in Alec’s broad chest. His favorite place to be.
“I want all of that too.”
Chauncey chose that moment to weave his way between Alec’s legs and they laughed.
“Someone wants attention,” Alec said to the kitten.
He squeezed his hand and stared into Alec’s eyes. “I’ll give him all the attention I have.”
Epilogue
Travis
One week had passed since his attack, and while he felt better, he still had another week before they removed his stitches. He’d been under house arrest all week, with Alec as his warden.
He’d attempted to return to work on Friday but he was no match for people when they banded together in full force. Thalia and Antonio had called him this past week, and each expressed their need for Travis to rest and not return to work soon.
He argued but the reasons fell on deaf ears. The only compromise was that he could start working from home the following week, part-time.
They had spent most of the week cuddled up on the couch watching TV and talking. Honeymoon locations had been debated and discussed. Somehow they’d managed to narrow it down to three different spots with a promise to finalize a destination before the holidays.
He didn’t want any more secrets between them so he told Alec about Peter. He hadn’t been happy to hear what happened at Peter’s house and it was a good thing Alec didn’t know where the man lived.
Today was the day his family had dinner together. So with every ounce of persuasion he could gather, he convinced Alec that they could have it here, at their apartment. He missed his parents and his brother.
He squirted some mousse in his hand and ran it through his hair in an effort to tame it. Alec came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his torso, kissing him on the neck. He t
urned in his arms, leaned in for a hug and Alec kissed his forehead.
“The table’s set and the caterer dropped off the food.” Alec wore the househusband apron. It barely tied in the back but it was on and made him laugh. His husband insisted on doing everything to get ready for today’s dinner.
The doorbell rang, and he was happy to have a distraction for Alec.
“Do not set foot in the kitchen!” Alec said. Travis groaned and plopped himself on the couch. So close.
“Son, how are you feeling?” William walked into the living room and sat next to him.
“Fine, Grandpa. Doing much better, thanks. I’d like to get back to work.”
William waved his hand. “No need to come back so soon.”
“That’s what I told him!” Thalia leaned in to give William a kiss and did the same for him. “There’s no hope for his ugly mug, though.”
“Hey.” He laughed. “Good to see you. How are things?”
“I am under strict instructions not to discuss work with you Travis. Don’t get me in trouble with the boss.” She joked.
“Nope, can’t have that. I need her help too much,” Antonio said from the doorway. Alec told Travis that they were trying harder to understand each other and work together.
Travis shook Antonio’s hand. “Well, this is a surprise. It’s good to see you.”
Antonio sat in the armchair opposite him. “It’s good to see you well.”
Grayson appeared with Chauncey nestled in his arms. He stopped in front of Travis and stared at the bandage on his face.
“Uncle Travis?”
“Yes?”
Grayson’s adorable face scrunched up as it always did when he asked a serious question.
“That’s a really big boo-boo. Does it hurt?”
“Not anymore.”
Satisfied with the answer, Grayson nodded and ran off in search of toys for Chauncey to play with.
The doorbell buzzed, and he heard several voices this time but couldn’t make out any of them over the friendly chatter in the living room.
“There’s my boy!” Sarah swooped in and crushed him with a hug.
“Easy, Mom.”
“I know, I know. Sorry.” She wiped away the tears that gathered in her eyes.
“I’m fine.” He moved over so she could sit next to him. It was second nature for her to worry. She called him twice a day, and when he wasn’t on the phone with her, he was answering her text messages.
His father greeted everyone and shook William’s hand before getting to him. He stood and gave the man a hug. His father’s face was still filled with the same amount of worry he’d had when he visited him in the hospital the week before.
“Alec mentioned they caught the assholes who attacked you,” his father said.
“Yeah. They had my wallet and tried to use more of my credit cards.”
“Idiots.”
A large man he hadn’t met pushed Tyler into the room. He detached himself from his father and greeted his brother.
“Where’s Kane?” He leaned in for a hug.
Tyler shrugged. “Work thing, I guess.”
“How’s the leg?”
“Healing. I need another surgery. Maybe next week.”
“Ah, man, sorry,” he said.
“No big deal. How are you doing?”
“Better. Stitches come out next week.”
The doorbell buzzed again and since he was the closest, he got up to get it. Jonas stood in the doorway, a box of baked goods in his hand.
Emotion clogged his throat at the sight of him and suddenly he was in the alley, in the dumpster and Jonas’s face was peeking over the side. But this time, thanks to two visits from a therapist, it didn’t send him into full-on panic mode.
Instead, he pulled Jonas into him and wrapped his arms around him.
“You’re crushing the scones.”
He pulled the box out of his hand, tossed it on the table, and hugged him hard. Footsteps approached from the back and Jonas’s hand moved. He pulled back.
“How are you?” Jonas asked, eyes searching his.
“Good.” The nightmares hadn’t returned and he could sleep through the night. Whether it was the therapy sessions or Alec’s arms holding him tight, he didn’t know.
Jonas grinned and brushed his hair from his forehead. “What’s going on with your hair? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this long.”
“Not the right product.” He pushed it back out of his face. “But yeah, I need a haircut.”
“Everything good here?” Alec asked from behind him.
Jonas shook Alec’s hand. “Everything is fine. I brought scones for dessert.”
Alec left, and he stared at Jonas. There weren’t enough words to thank him.
“I know,” Jonas said.
He nodded and swiped at the tears. “I need a minute. Go on ahead.”
Almost two months had passed since Alec found Tyler in the hallway and his whole life had changed. Listening to everyone here, at their place, he couldn’t believe this was his life.
“Hey, babe. You okay?” Alec asked, his eyes searching Travis’s.
He laughed.
“Do you know how many times you’ve asked me that?”
Alec slid his arms around his waist and kissed his lips. His hands rubbed his arms and then Travis’s back.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you too.”
“Are you guys going to stay out there all day? We’re hungry!”
Please leave a review
Thank you for reading Desperate for Love!
If you have enjoyed this book, it would be a tremendous help if you were able to leave a review.
Reviews help me gain visibility and they can bring my books to the attention of other readers who may enjoy them.
Coming Soon!
Julian’s story is next!
He has a huge problem.
Alec asked him to plan a company celebration for New Year’s Eve and with less than two weeks to go everything is falling apart.
The party planner quit.
The chef has refused to honor his commitment.
And the venue has been flooded.
He needs help. Fast.
Coming December, 2019
About the Author
Aliana James is a writer of MM and steamy romance. She was raised to believe that love is universal and everyone deserves to find their special someone. Aliana lives in New York with her family and her dogs. She spends most of her time fighting her chocolate craving and listening to the voices of stubborn characters who insist she write about their lives.
Visit www.alianajames.com for upcoming releases!