Chapter 24: Damon Reid vs. Tristan Thomas: An explosive encounter…Craving for closeness!

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“Damon Reid, what the hell is the meaning of this?” Caleb bellowed, finding his voice after getting over the initial shock. He leveled a glare on Damon.

“Oh shut up Caleb. Let them be.” Stephanie admonished, drawing her husband away from the two who were obviously crazy about each other.

“He’s kissing my son in front of me, hon. He should show a little respect.” Caleb murmured to his wife.

“Put a sock in it, Darling. Besides, your son started it.” She answered wiping the tears from her eyes. “Look at them. They’re crazy in love with each other.”

“You do know you spoil him, don’t you? He always gets his way.” Caleb groaned.

“He’s my baby Cal. If he wanted Damon and Damon didn’t want him, I would have kidnapped Damon and tied him to his bed.” She said with a chuckle.

‘You wicked wicked woman.” Caleb leaned down to press a kiss to his wife’s temple. “Okay break it up you two. Come here, son.”

When Damon let go of Tristan’s mouth, they were both a little breathless and Tristan was looking kind of dazed.

“I’m so hot for you right now,” Damon growled into Tristan’s ear, his voice husky with want.

“Damon…” Tristan moaned unlocking his legs from around Damon’s waist. He stumbled when he tried to move but strong hands gripped his shoulders to steady him.

He laughed, slightly breathless, and gazed up at Damon. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.” Damon held him till he was sure he could walk before letting him go.

When Tristan finally turned around, he came face to face with a beaming Adriana who hugged him so tightly all the air left his lungs. He hugged her right back.

“You slut.” She whispered into his ear.

“You’re just jealous I got the hottest guy on the planet.” Tristan laughed.

“I’m so glad you’re okay. Come on go give mum a hug. I want to talk to your man here. Maybe he can tell me what he did to turn you into a zombie these past few days. I might even beat the shit out of him for doing whatever to my baby brother.”

“Don’t bother. I already did.” Tristan said dryly.

“What?” Adriana stared at her brother incredulously. Tristan would never hurt a fly.

“Let’s just say he’ll never forget my mean right hook.”

Brother and sister burst into fits of laughter. Whilst Tristan moved towards his parents, Adriana made her way to an amused Damon. Somehow, he knew what was coming. Tristan had told him how close he and Adriana were.

“So why did you do it?” She went straight for the jugular.

“Did what?” Damon managed to look innocent.

“Come on, Damon. He looked like an empty shell this past week thanks to you.”

“I just wanted to spare your brother the heartache that goes with this Adriana. I didn’t know how your parents were going to take this. Especially your dad. I didn’t want Tris to have to go through all that gay-bashing bullshit.”

“You could have let him down a little easier. Why did you have to hurt him so bad? Whatever you did, or said, broke him.” She looked up at him, those green eyes so much like Tristan’s, piercing and stern.

“You know how Tristan is. Your brother is very stubborn. I figured I had to be brutal to get him to forget about me. He obviously didn’t give a hoot.” Damon gave a ragged sigh.

“He loves you. And he always fights for what he wants.” Adriana said sounding proud. “You must have done something right too. Probably rocked his world.” She grinned mischievously at Damon. “Actually I do remember someone walking very funny after spending the night in the house of one smoking hot businessman.” She finished, fixing Damon with a dry recognition.

“Oh my God!” Damon groaned. If he had been a timid man, he would have blushed under that intense gaze. “No, he wasn’t.”

“Was too. I asked him about it. And he said he had a pain in his ankle. The lying slut.”

Damon barked with laughter. “Well, he did steal my heart. So you had better add thief to that list.” Adriana laughed at that. “And I’m crazy about him,” Damon added with so much emotion.

“Don’t hurt him again Damon. He’s had it very rough these past few days. His heart can’t take another hit like that.”

“Never again,” Damon promised.

“You know I heard him crying in the middle of the night some nights ago. Only to enter his room and realize he was actually crying in his sleep?”

“Oh shit!”

“Uh-huh. Don’t give him hope if you know you can’t give him what he needs. Hurt him like that again, and you'll pay. That’s a promise." Her voice was deadly quiet.

He didn't doubt it. “Yes, Ma’am,” Damon said glancing down at Adriana with surprise and respect. “You have my word.”

“Good.” Adriana turned to look at Tristan who was in his father’s embrace with Stephanie rubbing his back lovingly as they watched the news. It looked like Caleb didn’t have any intention of letting go of his son. “You know if you want your man back, you probably have to go take him from them.”

Damon laughed at that. “And you better go be with your man. He looks lonely.” Then bending down to drop a kiss on Adriana’s cheek, he went to get his man.

“Damon, I don’t know whether to kiss you or hug you senseless.” Stephanie gushed out. “My son is alive because he decided not to board that plane but to rather come back to you. Come here, my dear.”

She stepped into his arms, hugging him as tightly as she could, her cheek pressed to his chest. Caleb’s expression was unreadable. Damon knew he had a lot of work to do in that area. The only obvious reason why Caleb was not shooting him between the eyes this very moment was because he was also overwhelmed with his son’s near-death experience. For the moment, however, Damon’s main concern was Tristan, who looked shaky again. His eyes were glued to the TV.

"Hey," he said softly, pulling Tristan to him. Damon felt him trembling, almost vibrating when he drew him back into his arms. “You’re okay Tris.” Damon soothed.

“They died Damon. Listen to the news. Almost everyone in first class died. I was meant to be there.” He was almost becoming hysterical. “What happened to her?”

“What happened to who baby?” Damon asked softly. Tristan didn’t look too good.

“The nice lady. She told me to make up with you because life is short. What if she died too? Damon, I’m here because of what she said.” Tristan looked flushed, his mouth opened trying to draw in desperate breaths of air, his lungs heaving.

“Damon do something. I think he’s going into shock.” Stephanie cried, tears streaming down her face. “Caleb I think you should call Dr. Murray.”

“I’m supposed to be dead right now.” He said, with a sudden burst of calm.

"Tell me what you need Tris," Damon said softly, his strong arms sliding around Tristan’s waist and rocking him gently. “Talk to me, baby.” He added in a whisper.

"You. Need you," Tristan whispered into his neck.

"Got me." Damon kissed his hair.

"I want you to fuck me, Damon," Triston whispered shakily in Damon’s ears. “Make me forget. Please.”