Chapter 31

Messiah woke up to Javier's arm tight around his waist, face pressed against his neck. His body was sore in new ways but he felt... good. Safe.

"Stop thinking so loud," Javier mumbled against his skin. "It's too early."

"I gotta get up. Got class."

"Skip it." Javier pulled him closer, hands possessive on his hips. "Stay here with me."

"You know I can't." But Messiah didn't move yet, letting himself sink into Javier's warmth for a minute.

Finally he got up, wincing slightly as he headed to shower. He could feel Javier's eyes on him, watching how he moved.

"You good chiquito?"

"I'm fine." But something about how Javier asked made his chest feel warm.

After his shower, Messiah was careful putting his bonnet on when Javier came up behind him, arms wrapping around his waist.

"You sure you good?" Javier's voice was soft but his hands were firm on Messiah's hips.

"Yeah I'm good Javi." Messiah let himself lean back against him. "Just sore."

"Come back after class?"

Instead of answering, Messiah turned to kiss him. Different from last night - softer, but still deep. Like they had all the time in the world now.

At school Messiah couldn't focus for shit. His phone kept lighting up with texts from Javier:

"You eat?"

"Yeah"

"You take the medicine I gave you?"

"Yes. Stop worrying"

"Can't help it baby"

Later at Javier's shop, Messiah was in his usual chair but something felt different. The way Javier kept looking at him between clients, how his hands found any excuse to touch.

"You being extra," Messiah said when Javier pulled him close during his break.

"You love it though." Javier kissed him slow, like he couldn't help himself.

That night they was back at Messiah's place, tangled up on his couch. His cat had finally forgiven them for locking him out last night, curled up nearby while they watched some movie neither one was paying attention to.

"Stay tonight?" Messiah asked quiet, face pressed against Javier's neck.

"You know I will." Javier's hands slid under his shirt, touching gentle where he knew Messiah was still sore. "Always gonna take care of you chiquito."

And something about how he said it - firm but soft, possessive but sweet - made Messiah believe him. Made him feel like maybe this was what love was supposed to feel like.