Chapter 23: Damon Reid vs. Tristan Thomas: An explosive encounter…Outed!

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“Then she decided to turn the water hoes on the poor old man.” Stephanie Thomas finished her story to howls of laughter from the people at the table.

Adriana, who was bent over in stitches managed to point an accusing finger at her mum.

“Mum it was your fault. You always told me to be helpful to people remember? I was probably only trying to help the…” She broke off into more laughter.

“Well, at least you know you’re marrying a very helpful lady Paul.” Damon couldn’t help teasing Paul, Adriana’s fiancé.

Stephanie Thomas had been giving them stories about a younger Adriana and how terrible she had been. They were all having fun. The food was great and in abundance. The only thing missing was Tristan. Though Damon knew it was better this way, he felt empty inside. He couldn’t help but miss Tristan. If all had gone according to plan, he would have been on his way to Paris with Tristan after all. He had come to the Thomases’ home early, hoping to catch Tristan before he left for the airport. He had been told on reaching that Tristan had already left. He didn’t have to be a genius to know why he had left for the airport way before time.

“Your phone is ringing Darling.” Stephanie prompted Caleb.

“It’s Tracy.” Tracy was their eldest daughter. “Hey, little lady.” Caleb greeted his daughter fondly. Then he listened for a while and went white. “Go turn on the TV Adriana.” He said urgently.

The anxious way Caleb spoke told Damon something was terribly wrong.

“Oh God No no no no.” Caleb kept chanting whilst rushing to the living room. Everyone stopped eating and followed him to see whatever was causing Caleb to lose it. “Come here, Honey.” He said to his wife who quickly rushed to her husband’s side.

Adriana cried out and sat on the floor. On the huge TV screen was the scene of the crush. Stephanie started screaming.

“Was that the flight Tristan was on?” Damon bellowed. He felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest like he’d gulped down an entire pot of coffee. His hands were trembling and his heart was beating too fast. He actually felt a physical pain within his chest.

“Yes, Damon,” Caleb said quietly with a tremor in his voice, moving quickly towards where his car keys hanged.

“Fuck!” Damon took his cell phone out of his pocket, ready to get some answers whiles moving urgently towards the door when the front door opened and a zombie-looking Tristan entered. Everybody froze.

Someone finally screamed his name but Tristan couldn't summon the interest to look in the direction of the scream and see who. He was focused on getting to just one person. And that was Damon. He didn't pay attention to any other person in the room, he just walked.

As Tristan moved toward him Damon braced himself, opened his arms, and caught him as he rushed into them, needing him. Relief flooded Damon as he pulled Tristan close and held him tight. Tristan buried his face in Damon’s neck and wrapped both arms around his waist. Damon locked him in a firm embrace, one hand cradling the back of Tristan’s head to press his face against his neck. Tristan’s trembling intensified, but he didn’t cry. Damon was glad because he didn’t think he could handle that. But Tristan was trembling so much Damon was getting scared.

“It’s okay, baby,” he murmured. Damon held Tristan tightly, running a hand over his back to soothe the muscles tight with anxiety. “Scared me shitless,” He murmured into Tristan’s hair. There was no doubt about it. He’d fallen for the sexy man in his arms. He’d fallen hard.

Tristan held him tighter, inhaling the delicious scent of his cologne. It felt good being held like this. Damon’s strong arms wrapped around him, tucking him against his hammering heart.

“Thought I’d lost you,” Damon confessed.

“Didn’t think you’d mind,” Tristan muttered still shaking real bad.

“I couldn’t lose you.” Damon’s voice shook.

The emotion in that voice was Tristan’s undoing. When the tears started flowing, Damon couldn’t stand it. He scooped him up into his arms and heard a gasp of surprise from their audience, who had moved closer to them. He ignored them. Tristan wrapped his arms around Damon’s neck and his legs around his waist. He sobbed against his shoulder, drenching his shirt in seconds. Damon stroked his back and rubbed his lips against his hair.

“It’s okay. I’m here. I’ve got you. Shh.”

“I d-don—don’t mind sharing yo-you with her if you’ll ha—have me.” Tristan stuttered through his tears.

“Oh fuck!” Damon turned to mush inside. He couldn’t contain the ferocious swell of emotion that coursed through him. He buried his head in Tristan’s hair and didn’t bother fighting the emotions surging through him. He could feel the man in his arms shaking and held him tighter.

With shaking fingers, Damon touched Tristan’s cheek, trying to smooth away the wetness that only returned the instant it was wiped away. Tristan nuzzled into his touch with a soft, plaintive moan.

“I love you,” Tristan whispered, his wet eyes full of passion. “I love you so much it hurts.”

“What is going on?” Caleb asked, confused by the scene unfolding before his eyes.

“I’m in love with your son Caleb. That’s what’s going on.” Damon had eyes only for Tristan. Everybody gasped. Including Tristan.

“To think you actually told my dad first,” Tristan murmured into Damon’s neck.

“Shut up.” Damon chuckled, his nose pressed under Tristan’s ear.

“You’re so warm.” Tristan snuggled closer.

Damon’s arms tightened around him.

There was a minute of absolute silence during which several things happened at once. Caleb's jaw dropped open. Stephanie gasped and put a hand to her mouth. Paul flushed and looked at Adriana. A slow smile crossed Adriana’s face as she looked at her brother and Damon. Then she reached out and gently rubbed Tristan’s back, silently showing her support.

“You know you just outed us don’t you?” Damon murmured into Tristan’s ear.

“Are you worried?”

“Do I look worried?”

Tristan brought his head out of Damon’s neck to look into his eyes, and couldn’t stop his gasp. Damon’s eyes glittered with so much love, Tristan caught his breath.

“You look like you’re waiting for me to kiss you.” He whispered.

“I am waiting,” Damon said huskily, rubbing his thumb over Tristan’s bottom lip. He’d never needed to kiss Tristan more than he did right then. But he knew Tristan had to make the move. This had to be consciously Tristan’s choice if this thing was to work between them.

Tristan didn’t bother stopping the sob that welled up from his throat. He sank his fingers into Damon’s hair. Then tipped his head forward and crushed their mouths together. Their first kiss…and it was fierce, possessive. The intensity of emotions and shattered control swept them both along, and they came together without any restraint at all, mouths wide and teeth clashing. Damon knew their audience was staring but didn’t care. All that mattered was that Tristan was in his arms. He had one hand tangled in his hair, and the other was around his waist, supporting him.