Acceptable Behavior (19 page)

Mel gazed at him dully. “So what’s the word? Do I get to go home today?”

“Levi made you some brownies.” He held them out but didn’t automatically hand them over, remembering the cookies.

“Thanks.” She accepted them and opened the plastic wrap to nibble them. “Who’s helping him do all this baking? Last time I checked, you didn’t know how to turn an oven on.”

He sat in the chair next to her bed. “I do too. But it’s Travis’ mom. They’re having fun spending some time together after day camp gets out.”

“Doesn’t she work?”

“She and her husband are both high-school teachers. They’re out for the summer.”

Mel nodded. “That’d be a nice job.”

Sam leaned back in his chair. “What about you, Mel? Any ideas on what might be a good job for you?”

She broke off another piece of brownie and popped it in her mouth. “I could be an official brownie taste-tester. These are pretty awesome.”

He smiled. “Let me know if you find someone willing to pay you for that. I might sign up, too.”

She set the plate on her tray table and crossed her arms. “I don’t know. Obviously I can’t go back to the bar.”

“Not sure why you’d want to.”

“All my friends are there.”

“Derek is there.”

She shrugged and picked at one of her fingernails. “Being with him was better than being alone.”

Sam sighed. “You’re not going to be alone. We’ll figure out the living arrangements, but first you’ve got to make sure you’re clean. The doctor here gave me the name of a good rehab center that accepts the state-funded medical insurance you just got. Travis made some calls. It sounds like a good place.”

“Travis,” she muttered. “He’s such an uptight asshole. What do you see in him, Sammy?”

“He’s really not, Mel. You don’t know him, and he doesn’t know you, either. I’d like to change that once you’re feeling better.”

“If he’s still around. You may have moved on by then.”

He gazed at her levelly. “He’ll be around. We love each other, Mel. We’ve talked about the future, and what we both want. It’s a little up in the air right now, but that’s okay. We have time.”

She frowned. “You’re waiting for me to get better so I can take Levi back? Sorry, I’m not sure when that’s gonna happen.”

“That’s not it at all. We love Levi, sis. We enjoying spending time with him. He’s becoming part of our family.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What are you saying, exactly?”

Sam shifted uncomfortably. He hadn’t intended to broach this subject yet, not alone, and not when Mel was still so fragile. He tested the waters carefully. “We wouldn’t mind if Levi stayed with us.”
Permanently
, he added in his brain.
We wouldn’t mind if Levi stayed with us permanently.
He just couldn’t say the word. Mel was calm right now. He suspected she might not be if he told her the rest of his thoughts.

“Oh, good. So I have more time to get my shit together, then. That’s great. I can use it. I’m glad he’s behaving, and not too much trouble.” She offered Sam the first smile he’d seen in a long time. “You know, I really appreciate your taking care of him. I’ve never told you that, and so I figured it was time.”

“I love Levi. I’ll always be here for him,” Sam said truthfully. He wanted to add,
Travis feels the same way.
He just couldn’t do it. Instead, he changed the subject. “So you think the rehab facility might be okay? I believe things will be a lot easier for you once you’re off the drugs and cigarettes.”

She blinked. “Cigarettes too? Why? They aren’t illegal.”

He shot her a look. “They’re over five bucks a pack, Mel. You can’t afford them. Besides, they’re bad for your health and while you’re tackling addictions, you might as well tackle that one.”

“I’m really not addicted,” she complained.

“And I’m really not gay. I just like sleeping with guys.”

“What a coincidence! Me too! You probably like them one at a time, though.”

“Generally speaking, yeah.”

She frowned. “Me too. Damn, that Derek was an asshole.”

“Forget about Derek. He’s history.”

“I should still have a paycheck coming from the bar. I don’t know what’s going to happen to all my stuff, either, if he’s still at the apartment.”

“We’ll take care of it. Travis talked about renting a storage unit for your things until you’re ready for them again.”

“I could just go back to the apartment, as long as Derek was gone.”

Sam shook his head. “You’re not going back there again. Your next place is going to be clean and bug-free. I plan to make sure of that.”

“And big enough for Levi to have room to play, something with a yard would be nice. If I can afford it.”

He bit his lip.
Maybe if Mel saw Levi at Travis’ house, she’d realize how happy he is there. Maybe…later.
“Which brings us back around to the job. What would you
like
to do, Mel?”

She shrugged. “I like to draw.”

“That’s something. You’re good at it, too. We’d just have to figure out a way to make money at it. Maybe you could go back to school to become a graphic artist, or something like that.”

She ran her hands through her shaggy hair. “That’s too much to think about now, Sammy. When I get overwhelmed I start to freak out.”

“You’re right, there’s no need to worry about that now. The rehab program lasts at least a month, but it might be longer if they think—or you think—you need more time.”

“Will you come visit me?”

“Absolutely. It’s an hour drive, so I can’t promise to come every day, but I’ll do the best I can.”

“Okay.” Mel nodded. “I need to do something to turn this ship around. Might as well start with rehab.”

Sam reached for her and drew her into a hug.

Mel clung to him tightly.

He felt her hot tears soak through the back of his shirt. “This is going to be good, Mel. I really think it’s just what you need.”

“I hope so, Sammy. God, I hope so.”

* * * *

Sam and Travis dropped Levi off with Kim and Dave after dinner, then drove to the bar to see about Mel’s final paycheck. Derek explained that he paid in cash, and gave Sam several hundred dollars. Sam wanted to tell the son of a bitch what he really thought about him, but knew nothing good could come of that. Derek had paid him without argument and said his things were all out of the apartment. They were done with him, and Sam left it at that. He and Travis agreed the extra cash was probably the owner’s way of saying he was glad Mel hadn’t raised a stink after the night she was brutally used.

At the apartment, he found that Derek had cleaned out almost everything of value except Mel’s clothes. Sam didn’t really care. The furniture stayed with the apartment, and she could replace the dishes and things that Derek had taken. They wouldn’t need a storage unit after all. They packed Mel’s clothes and personal items and loaded them into the back of the Lexus and Mel’s car. Sam left the keys with the Super, explaining that his sister was ill and unable to clean the place properly. Sam suggested they keep the security deposit for cleaning fees, and the Super was appeased.

“Aw, hell,” Travis chuckled as they stood on the street by her car. “He won’t use the money to have the place cleaned. He’ll pocket the dough and sweep the place out, and call it good.”

“No shit.” Sam shuddered. “I’m happy to be rid of that apartment.”

“Me too. Tonight we’ll wash the clothes she’ll need to take with her tomorrow, and the rest can wait until later. In the garage. Fucking cockroaches.”

Sam nodded. “Thanks, babe. I appreciate your help.”

“I’m actually surprised that it didn’t take longer. Mom’s planning on keeping Levi overnight. I figured we’d be packing late into the night.”

“She didn’t have that much stuff.”

“Especially once Derek was done going through it.”

“It’s fine,” Sam decided. “She’s making a fresh start. We’ll help her buy new stuff when she needs it.”

“Agreed.” He glanced at Sam. “So, we have the house to ourselves tonight.”

“And about four loads of laundry to do.”

Travis rolled his eyes. “It’s not like we have to wash it by hand, beat it against a rock or something. We stick it in the washer and then we have an hour to do something else.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Sam grinned. “Does this mean I get to kiss the cat?”

“Mmm-hmm. And I think the cat wants to be kissed leaning over the kitchen table. Or maybe tossed over the back of the sofa. Somewhere we can’t do it with the pipsqueak in the house.”

Sam smiled. “And to think, Mel asked me what I see in you. Of course, I couldn’t tell her I’m really in love with the cat.”

“Of course. What did you tell her? What
do
you see in me?”

“Somehow, I avoided the question. I never got the chance to tell her what a caring, supportive, thoughtful and intelligent man you are.”

“Aw.” Travis blushed.

“With the biggest, most gorgeous cock I’ve ever had the pleasure to swallow, and a tongue that would make any woman jealous.”

His lover laughed. “Oh yeah, you should have told her that. Right.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Then let’s get home and get busy. Park the car on the street, will you?”

“I will.” Sam gave him a quick kiss and got into Mel’s car and started it up. He followed Travis home and parked, then walked into the garage.

Travis pushed the button and lowered the door behind them. “Let’s hurry and sort her stuff out here. Two piles, wash tonight and wash later. You figure out that much, and I’ll get the machine going.” He climbed out of the car and looked at Sam over the hood. “Then I want you naked with a towel and some lube in the kitchen. My big fat cock is calling dibs on your sexy ass, for starters.”

“I’m there.” Sam winked and hurried to start sorting.

Twenty minutes later he was bent over and clutching the kitchen table, while Travis licked and sucked his ass in preparation for what was to come.

“Mmm,” his lover nuzzled his crack. “I don’t know why it feels so much more erotic
out
of the bedroom.”

“Sex in the kitchen is naughty. What you’re doing is naughty. Don’t stop! I’m just sayin’…”

Chuckling, Travis spread his cheeks wider and drove his tongue deeper into Sam’s musky hole.

Sam bucked his hips in approval. The table felt cool against his face, in contrast to the heat burning in his ass. He nearly blacked out whenever Travis went down on him this way, it felt so fucking good.

“Oh, yeah.” Travis rose to reach for the bottle of lube. “I could eat your ass every night for dinner. Sweetest spot on your sexy body.” He squirted the lube and let it drizzle over Sam’s crack. “But right now, something else is hungry for that sweet spot.” He nudged his cockhead to the opening and worked it around in the lube.

“Yes,” Sam sighed. “I want that, too.”

“Mmm, your ass is so receptive. It’s already sucking the crown in.”

Sam couldn’t hold back his laugh. “Well, aren’t you special? Even your cock wears a crown.”

Travis chuckled. “You’re gonna pay for that, you know it, right? Hang on, smartass. I’m gonna pummel you for insubordination to the king.” He drove in with one stroke, not pausing like he usually did to allow Sam time to acclimate.

Sam groaned but didn’t have any complaints. He’d discovered in their play that he liked it a bit rough on occasion, and Travis had just the right touch. “Yes,” he hissed. “If I say something else inappropriate will you do that again?”

“Over and over, baby. You just say the word.”

“Fuck me!” Sam ground out as Travis let him have it. He clutched the sides of the table and held on for dear life. The rough treatment had him so hot he was already itching to shoot his wad. “Damn, jack me, baby. I’m close.”

“Music to my ears.” Travis reached down and gripped Sam’s shaft. “Let’s have it, man. Fill my hand with your hot seed.”

Sam groaned as he shattered and Travis pumped him to completion. When his lover released his cock, he brought the hand he’d used to his mouth and licked the spunk clean.

Travis leaned down to Sam and gave him a creamy kiss. Sam groaned again and Travis exploded.

Warm heat filled his ass, and once again Sam had to struggle to remain upright. He held tight until his man’s load was spent, then raised his head for more musky kisses.

With a hand on the table on either side of him for purchase, Travis kissed him passionately. He eventually eased his cock out, and they faced each other to continue kissing and caressing.

“You’re the best,” Sam murmured affectionately.

“Only with you,” Travis replied, eyes closed. “Only you, for the rest of my life.”

“Only you,” Sam agreed. “And the cat.”

Travis’ eyes popped open, and he smiled.

* * * *

Travis arrived home from work a few weeks later, and found Sam cooking dinner. “Hey, handsome. What’s the occasion?” He kissed his fella and opened the oven door to check out what smelled so good.

“Pork chops,” Sam offered. “No occasion. I just decided it’s not fair to expect you to cook every night.”

“I don’t mind, you know I enjoy it. But you cooking for me is nice, too. Where’s the boy?”

Sam checked the vegetables steaming on the stovetop. “Actually, Levi is spending the night at Jimmy’s house. His mom will take them to camp in the morning, and I’ll pick him up after.”

“Okay. This is rather sudden, isn’t it?”

“What’s wrong? We’ve met Jimmy’s parents and we like them. He’s stayed here a couple of times. She thought it was their turn.”

“I guess, but a little more notice might be nice. If we knew we were going to have a free night, we could have made some plans. We keep putting off going out with Colt Crawford and his partner because we always have Levi.”

Sam leaned back against the counter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d mind. You usually jump all over a free night. Which reminds me, we still need to buy more upholstery cleaner for the sofa.” He grinned.

“I’m not against it, but it just feels sudden is all. I’m going to go change. I’ll be right back.”

“We’ll be ready to eat when you’re done,” Sam called after him.

Travis changed from his work clothes into shorts and a tank top. He washed up and returned to the kitchen where Sam was setting the table.