Tired of it all, he’d been praying for death when out of nowhere a boy half his size had slammed into Crispin and knocked him away from Maris.
Like some mythical hero, Darling had beat the bastard down and told him that he better never touch Maris again. Then he’d turned around, bleeding and bruised, and extended his hand to Maris. “Hi, I’m Darling Cruel. We should be friends.” In that heartbeat, Maris had fallen head over heels in love with him. And he’d been that way ever since.
He’d never met anyone who came close to Darling’s loyalty, kindness, or generous spirit.
Until Ture.
For Zarya, he’d put his life on the line without hesitation. A woman who wasn’t family, but a friend he’d loved and placed above himself. There weren’t many people who would do such a thing for anyone.
It didn’t hurt that Ture had one of the hottest bodies he’d seen in awhile, too. Best of all, Ture hadn’t freaked out over Maris’s “uniqueness.”
Ture swam over to him and boldly put his hand on the edge of the pool, right between Maris’s slightly parted thighs. “Can I call it a day yet?”
It wasn’t easy to understand those words as a fantasy went through his mind and left his brain devoid of all blood flow. “Um, yeah.”
Gah, I hope I didn’t just promise to buy him something really expensive....
Ture moved away and pulled himself out of the pool next to him. He grabbed a towel and started drying his hair. A handsome mixture of frown and smile came over his face. “It doesn’t take you long to change back, does it?”
Maris looked down at his normal “flesh” tone. “No. Within a few minutes of leaving the water, we return to a human appearance.”
“What about sweating? Does that turn you?”
Maris shook his head. “It has to be full submersion. The only real danger of accidental exposures are torrential downpours.
Ture took his hand into his and examined it. “That’s just so neat. Does it hurt at all when you change?”
“No. We don’t even notice, really.”
“It must suck, though.”
“How so?”
“Unless you’re with a Phrixian, you can’t shower with your lover.”
Maris quirked a smile. “A definite hardship in the past. I’ve offended several men over it.”
Ture pulled him to his feet then hugged him close. “Thank you for saving my life...both times.”
Maris forced himself to release Ture as he stepped away. His body hard and aching, he watched as Ture went to dress.
Hunger settled deep in his stomach, but he knew better. No good could come of dating Ture. It would be a titanic mistake.
Sighing, Maris had just finished pulling his shirt and jacket on when Darling came into the room. He drew up short as he saw Maris’s wet pants.
His jaw slack, he quickly turned to see that Ture was gone. “What happened?”
Maris towel dried his hair. “He almost drowned. I jumped in to save him.”
“So Ture knows?”
Maris nodded.
Which caused Darling to frown. “You okay, bud?”
Maris paused as he thought about how to best answer. “Honestly? I don’t know. He didn’t really react to it...which is good, I guess.”
Darling cracked a knowing grin. “But bad?”
Maris laughed at Darling’s ability to read him so well. “For my sanity, yes. It is terrible.”
“Why? He’s available... You’re available.”
Not really and that was the problem. His heart only wanted to love one man—Darling. “Yeah, but when we break up, it’s going to be rough to have to see him whenever he’s with Zarya. I like having boyfriends I can walk away from and never lay eyes on again. You know?”
“Since the only girlfriend I’ve ever had is my wife, not really. But I respect your decision. I always have.”
“And that’s why I love you.” Maris kissed Darling on his cheek then went to change pants.
But as he left, his thoughts turned to the one thing he’d always wanted yet never had found.
Someone who would be with him forever. That one person who could hold his heart in his hands and not shatter it.
CHAPTER 5
Maris walked around Ture’s bedroom with a lump in his stomach. He’d known in the beginning that as soon as Ture was healed, he’d return home and that he wouldn’t see him except for occasional visits with Zarya. And while that had seemed acceptable to him at the time...
Now...
He really missed him and he’d only been gone for a week. But it was the longest week of Maris’s life. Worse, he felt like something was now missing. How sad was that?
I am pathetic.
Honestly, he should leave here and find his own place to live. Darling didn’t need him anymore. He had Zarya now and the two of them spent most of their time together. Which was how it should be. A man’s spouse should be his primary focus.