“No,” Logan finally said, and Tate felt his heart sink. “I’ll never see you that way again. Because before this, I didn’t know you were essential for me to feel alive.”

Tate let out the breath he’d been holding and brought his hands up to cover Logan’s as they stood there in the bathroom—stripped of their clothes and baring their souls.

He closed his eyes when Logan’s lips caressed his in a kiss so sweet that Tate’s toes curled against the tile floor. Then Logan’s mouth curved and he said, “But don’t think for a minute I’m not counting the hours until that follow-up visit. However, until then, you’re off-limits. So quit being so fucking sexy, okay?”

Tate’s laugh rumbled out of his throat, and Logan released him to walk over to the tub. He held a hand out for him to use and steady himself, and as Tate climbed in, he groaned. The hot water felt amazing.

Logan stepped in behind him, sat with his back against the tub, and invited him with a crook of his finger to sit down between his legs. “Come here.”

He should’ve looked ridiculous amongst the mountains of bubbles, but as Logan smiled up at him, Tate thought he looked incredibly inviting.

Carefully, he lowered himself down and nestled between Logan’s thighs. As he rested his head against Logan’s shoulder, he felt him twine his legs over his. Then Tate closed his eyes, luxuriating in the safety of the body surrounding his.

Maybe he did like being looked after a little. He just wanted to know that Logan was aware that he was the same person he’d always been.

“Logan?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s your turn to ask,” he said, arching his head toward the fingers Logan was threading through his hair.

“Truth or dare?” Logan asked and then kissed his temple.

Tate licked the condensation off his lips and replied, “Truth.”

The silence that settled around them was comfortable and felt as warm as Logan’s embrace—until Tate heard the question.

“If you told me yes today, would it be because you think you have to or because you want to?”

Tate’s eyes opened, and he grasped the side of the tub with his left hand, pulling himself up so he could turn. He knew exactly what Logan was asking, and as he looked at him, his black hair slicked back from his face, Logan’s eyes held his in a bold-as-hell stare. Logan wanted this answer, and he wasn’t going to be put off.

Tate maneuvered himself as close as he could get to Logan in their positions and said just as boldly, “I wanted to and should’ve said yes the first time you asked. I didn’t because I wanted to be able to give you something in return.”

Logan started to speak, but Tate placed his wet finger over his lips. “Shh. This is my truth, remember?”

Logan silently inclined his head, and Tate continued.

“I want to say yes right now, but I don’t think you’d believe me. Not in here,” he said, moving his fingers down to Logan’s heart. “I think you’d always wonder. So it’s my turn to wait. Two, three days… Hell, Logan, I’ll wait forever. But my answer will never change. So when you’re ready to really hear me, ask. And I’ll tell you.”

Logan didn’t say a word, continuing to hold his gaze until Tate decided he should let him off the hook and then turned around to settle back against him.

He understood Logan’s showing caution—he didn’t want a decision from someone who was feeling vulnerable and needy. He wanted it from a man who was strong and sure of himself.

I’ll get better, prove to him that I’m the same—

“Tate?” Logan’s voice cut into his thoughts.

“Yeah?”

He felt warm lips by his ear as Logan carefully wrapped his arms around him and asked, “Will you move in with me? I don’t even care where. I’ve waited long enough, and I don’t want to wait another second.”

Tate turned his head, and as Logan looked down at him expectantly, he simply said, “Yes.”

Chapter Nineteen

The next morning, Logan stood at the foot of his bed and tightened the knot in his tie. Tate was silently watching him from where he was lying with two pillows propped up behind him, and Logan had to fight the urge to climb back in beside him and call in one last day.

“Okay, I put my numbers on the side table next to you. There’s the main office, Sherry’s desk, my direct number, and my—”

“Logan,” Tate interrupted with a grin.

“Yeah?”

“I’ll be fine. I have your number in my cell. If I need anything, I’ll call.”

Logan dropped his hands to his sides and came around to sit on the bed. He took Tate’s fingers in his hand and rolled his eyes at himself. “I’m acting like a moron, aren’t I?”

“No,” Tate laughed. “You’re acting like you care.”

He sighed, leaning forward to rub his smooth cheek along Tate’s stubbled one. “Of course I care. And I want to know that you have every way imaginable to reach me if you need to.”

“You’re only going in for half a day,” Tate reminded him.

“So? A lot can happen in four hours.”

Tate turned his head, and when their eyes met, he said, “I’m going to get up, eat breakfast, and then watch some TV. Then I’m going to get in the cab you’re insisting I take to meet you for lunch.”

“Good,” Logan said. “And then we’re going to—”

“Cancel my lease.”

Logan kissed his lips and then lightly nipped his bottom one. “See, that sounds like the perfect day.”

“Of course it does, bossy.”

“And?” Logan challenged.

Tate pulled his fingers away so he could touch his cheek. “And nothing. I kind of like you bossy.”

“Do you?”

“Sometimes,” Tate was quick to add.

“I’ll have to remember that. For later.”

“You do that. Now, go to work. Otherwise they’re going to think you quit.”

Logan got off the bed and walked to his closet. As he shrugged into his jacket, he looked back at Tate and asked, “Are you sure you’re okay about moving in here? I don’t mind if we look—”

Tate started to laugh then—really laugh.

“Okay,” Logan stressed, knowing he was acting like a nervous shit. “I get it. You said yes. You meant yes. I’m going now.”

He made his way to the bedroom door but stopped when Tate said his name.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t forget to wear a scarf and coat. Weather said it was going to be icy this morning.”

A wide grin split Logan’s lips and he nodded. “Yes, dear.”

“Oh, and Logan?”

Logan cocked his head to the side. “Hmm?”

“Love you.”

Damn, Logan thought. Every time he says it, my heart just about stops.

“I love you too. See you at one, Tate. Don’t make me wait.”

An hour later, Tate had already received two phone calls and one text from Logan. All under the guise of forgetting something when it was more than obvious he was checking up on him. It was cute, but he knew that if he said that, Logan would go from concerned to annoyed in the blink of an eye.

What had he once told him? Oh yeah. Puppies were cute. Not him.

Tate was still grinning over the last text when the intercom in the condo buzzed. Not expecting anyone, he made his way over to it and hit the answer button.

“Good morning, Mr. Morrison.”

The fact that the doorman knew his name was the first shock Tate got.

The second came when he told him, “I have a man down here who says he’s your father. Can I let him up?”

Tate stared at the black box in front of him and felt his hand start shaking.

How the hell did he know where to find me?

Things had been tense after he’d woken up at the hospital. His mother had refused to come into the room while Logan was there, so that pretty much meant that, from the moment he’d woken to when he’d been released, he’d seen his parents twice. And each time had resulted in close to radio silence.