Loving Bailey Read Online Free PDF

Bailey entered the
living room from the kitchen, and he looked like he hadn't slept at
all. "I was worried."
    "I'm sorry." Ashton pulled off his
sunglasses and tossed them in a pewter bowl on a small oak table
that served as a catch-all near the door. He automatically emptied
his pockets and filled the bowl with wallet, car keys, Chapstick,
and change. "Do I smell coffee?"
    He was crushed in a strong embrace which he
returned enthusiastically. Bailey was a stalwart young man, broad
of shoulder and lean of hip, and his very fitness made Ashton feel
like a too skinny too tall freak sometimes. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep
so I came back to wait for you."
    He'd told Bailey to make himself at home, to
use the key to the back door whenever he wanted to. He should have
just given him a key to the front door, but some insecure, cowardly
bastard inside him had held back from that. Giving him the key to
the front door meant something apparently, that he hadn't been
willing to deal with. Silly to balk at it though, when the cottage
itself was a tribute to their lives together. They'd done so many
weekend projects, improving and decorating the place, that it
really was theirs.
    "I wasn't doing anything, you know. I got
drunk and passed out on Arlo's boat." He held his breath, kept his
arms around his boyfriend, ready to do his best to keep him from
running, or force him to listen, or whatever it took to make sure
that they were still in tune.
    Bailey looked startled as his blue eyes
widened. "You know, that never occurred to me. I thought you might
be mad, that you might have been in an accident, all sorts of
things, but I never thought that you'd cheated on me."
    Relief melted the tension in his spine. He
relaxed, loosening his hold. "I never would, you know."
    "I know." Bailey kept one arm around his
waist and led Ashton to the kitchen. Two of his mother's blue on
white floral print bone china coffee cups sat out on the marble
breakfast bar. A jar of maraschino cherries, a bottle of dark
chocolate sauce, and a can of whipped cream surrounded the delicate
cups.
    "Are you inspired to make a dessert coffee?"
He laughed at the affront on Bailey's face.
    "You know I like it sweet."
    "And you know I like my coffee black."
    "There's no reason we can't both have what
we want, is there?" Was that a challenge in Bailey's voice?
Regardless of his intent, the words sent shivers of lust through
Ashton. If only he weren't so achy and tired.
    "No," he drawled slowly. "I suppose there
isn't. What are you up to?"
    Bailey smiled innocently at him and started
pouring the coffee. Ashton accepted his cup, steaming and black,
and watched, bemused, as Bailey began adding the other items to his
cup, ending up with something that smelled amazing.
    "Black forest cake. Have you tried it? All
chocolate and cherry and sweet cream… There was one at the party
yesterday and it was amazing, better than sex. I should have saved
you a piece, but I wasn't fast enough." Bailey said, catching his
gaze. He held out the cup of doctored coffee. "Want to try it?"
    "Er…" The thought of the sweet drink made
his stomach roil. "I think some other time. I have a touch of a
hangover."
    An inelegant snort was his answer. Bailey
began putting the ingredients into the narrow fridge with the
comfort and ease of long familiarity. Ashton watched him, sipping
at his coffee. "That's it, then?" he finally asked. "You're good
with last night, nothing else to say?"
    Bailey paused in the act of wiping the
countertop. Whatever he thought of Drew as a parent, he'd certainly
taught his sons well. Neat white teeth sank into the tempting lower
lip. "I'm not sure. I mean, I understand what you did, but it hurts
that you didn't even think about me while you were out, that you
ignored my calls and texts."
    Ashton flinched and set his coffee down.
"I'm sorry. I was upset, primarily because I was hurt that your
father didn't know about me. Can I make it up to you?"
    "You could tell me who Arlo is, if it