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“And I’m proud of you now for doing so well for yourself.” Kurt slid his hand up to wrap around Maxwell’s wrist, and his calloused thumbs stroked over Maxwell’s tendons. “You must have been so lonely.”
Garrett snorted, and Maxwell jumped at the reminder that he was there. “How could he be? He’s never alone. Everyone always needs something from him.”
Kurt didn’t bother to look at him and instead stroked Maxwell’s skin and looked deep into his eyes. “No one really knows, though.” Maxwell’s heart rate increased. “Do they, baby?”
Maxwell’s lips trembled, and he hated how his eyes began to warm and sting. He should have sent Garrett away. “Don’t,” he whispered.
Kurt increased the pressure of his fingers on Maxwell’s joints, but not enough to hurt. “Do they know you like I know you?”
Maxwell could feel Garrett beside him, could feel the tension in his body. The desire to grab Garrett and hide behind him warred with the desire to shove him far away. “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” Kurt smiled and released Maxwell’s wrist. He caressed Maxwell’s cheek and then finally—finally—put his hand back down beside him. “No one ever has.”
That was true.
Maxwell pressed his stethoscope to Kurt’s abdomen with the familiar bulk of the man looming over him. No one had ever known him like Kurt had—Maxwell had never again let anyone close enough. And he was loath to admit it, but he had been lonely. So incredibly lonely, and the feel of Kurt’s same calloused fingers on his cheek made his heart ache.
There had been times when Maxwell had been so happy.
“I don’t hear anything unusual.” Maxwell set his stethoscope aside. “I’m going to touch you now.”
Kurt chuckled. “Please.”
Thank god Maxwell never blushed. “Let me know if anything hurts.”
“I don’t even care if it hurts,” Kurt whispered as Maxwell pressed his fingers to various points on Kurt’s abs, feeling for anything out of place, and the yearning in his voice squeezed Maxwell’s heart. “I’ve dreamed of having your hands on me again for the past decade. I’d have done anything for it, Maxwell.”
Kurt loved him.
Maxwell had never really doubted that, but sometimes it came out so painfully clearly, and guilt pulled at Maxwell’s stomach that he couldn’t—didn’t—trust that. Because Kurt’s love… It wasn’t right; it wasn’t safe. Maybe Kurt believed it was love, but Maxwell knew better now. He started to pull his hands away, but Kurt caught them.
Maxwell let out a shaky breath. “I thought you were dead.”
“I know.” Kurt wrapped up both Maxwell’s hands in his and brought them up to his lips. “I don’t blame you.”
Before Kurt’s lips could make contact with Maxwell’s knuckles, Garrett suddenly clapped a hand down on them. “Let’s stay on task.”
Kurt’s mask slipped for a second, and his handsome face twisted savagely. “Garrett Twal, maybe you could give us a moment? I’d like to have a goddamn heartfelt reunion with the man I love.”
“The man you love is busy.” Garrett didn’t even blink at Kurt’s bared teeth. He pried their fingers apart, and Maxwell snatched his hands back.
Kurt didn’t take his eyes off Garrett. “Did you replace me, Maxwell? When you thought I was dead?”
“No.” Maxwell quickly rolled his stool to sit between them, his back to Garrett and his eyes on Kurt. “No, I never even considered it.”
Please, don’t do it. Please don’t. Please. Maxwell begged Kurt with his eyes. Please.
He saw Kurt debate using his ultimate weapon. He saw the calculation and the evaluation, then he almost fell to the floor in relief when he saw Kurt back down.
Kurt sighed and shook his head. “I know this is a lot for you, Maxwell. You need time to process.”
“Yes.” Maxwell grabbed the out Kurt gave him with both hands. “I’m just a little overwhelmed.”
“Alright. I’ll still be here when you settle down.” Kurt stood from the table and towered over him. “I’m not going anywhere, not again. I love you.”
Maxwell’s throat closed. He wouldn’t say it back. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t give in ever again.
Kurt lifted a hand, and Maxwell braced to feel it on him, but then Kurt’s eyes flicked to above Maxwell’s head, to where Garrett still sat on the counter behind him, and he dropped his hand back down. “I’ll be around.”
