“I was freaked out. I thought they’d want some ID or something but they didn’t.” His cheeks turned red. Mateo kissed one, then the other. Josiah told him where he’d hidden the condoms and lube, and Teo went to grab it. His heart beat a million miles an hour the whole time.

He went back to the bed and kissed Jay again. They took off each other’s clothes, touching and kissing the whole time. He spread lube on his fingers before gently probing Josiah. He went slow, sliding one finger in and out, as he kissed him.

Josiah winced when he added another.

Mateo took his time. He did everything he could to get Josiah ready for him, wanting him to love this as much as Teo knew he would.

He looked down at Josiah, hard as he’d ever been in his whole life, and kind of felt like this was his first time, too. Like the others somehow didn’t count.

Josiah squeezed him tightly, breathed heavy and hard as Mateo worked his way in. “Lo siento, mi precioso. I’m sorry...” Hurting Josiah was a kick to Mateo’s gut.

But then Josiah moved against him. The sounds whispering past his lips changed—less pain, more pleasure. They moved together. Together, like he always wanted them to be.

“Teo...” Josiah whispered.

“Estoy aquí. Siempre aquí. Soy tuyo. I’m here. Always here. I’m yours.” Mateo wrapped a hand around Josiah, wanting him to feel all the pleasure he did. He stroked his hand up and down Josiah’s erection. They climbed higher and higher, the pressure building stronger. A slow burn started inside him, getting hotter and hotter.

“Teo...” Josiah tensed. The second he stepped over that ledge, Mateo was right there with him. Together.

As they lay there afterward, Teo asked, “Do you want me to run a shower for you? If we had a bath, that would be better. We don’t even have a fucking bath.” He shook his head and tried to get out of bed but Josiah held onto him.

“Just want you.”

Teo just wanted him as well. Only him. “Let me get rid of this stuff.” Once he disposed of the condom, Teo wet a washcloth then turned off the light. He cleaned Josiah off before wrapping around him in the bed.

“What happened to your neck, Teo? I want to know.”

He knew he couldn’t avoid the question this time. Wasn’t even sure he wanted to. “My dad did it when he found the magazine. He hadn’t meant to, I don’t think. He fought me, made me fight him. There was a broken bottle and I came out with the scar. The girls came after. They were older, didn’t give a shit that they were fucking a thirteen-year-old kid. Only cared they were making dad happy. Ricky Sanchez’s son couldn’t be a fag.” He shook his head.

Josiah squeezed him tighter. “No one will hurt us anymore. Not while we’re together.”

He sure as hell hoped not.

“I love you, Mateo.”

“Te amo.”

There was a pause and then Josiah said, “Please tell me we get to keep doing that now.”

A laugh jumped out of Mateo’s mouth, quickly followed by Josiah doing the same. They lay in bed, talking and laughing the rest of the night.

Chapter Seventeen

December

Josiah

“I’m not doing anything, Teo. It’s not right for you to have to be out there doing all the stuff you hate every day to support us while I do nothing.” Josiah paced the room, searching for the right words to make Mateo understand. “I’m eighteen now. If they find me, does it really matter that I ran away six months ago?”

Teo shook his head. “I don’t know how it all works, but if they find you, they find me. We don’t know what Molly and William told ‘em. I’m sure they said you ran away with me, which means they could be lookin’ for me. You were seventeen. I don’t think I can get into trouble for anything now, but I don’t really wanna risk it, either. Cops and me aren’t really a good combo, Jay.”

Logically, he knew Mateo was right. They didn’t need cops breathing down their necks, especially with what Mateo did for money. But then, if Josiah worked, too, maybe they could actually save and get out of here. And maybe I won’t risk him getting tired of taking care of me... “Can’t you... I don’t know, find me some kind of job like you do? Something so I can make some money, too?”

Mateo actually laughed. “Hell no. Fuck no. You’re not dirtying your hands with this shit.”

“But you can? I don’t need you to be my hero. I love you for it, but you’ve got to let me learn how to take care of myself, too!”