Chapter 27: Damon Reid vs. Tristan Thomas: An explosive encounter…Truth at last!

***

Upstairs, Damon eased Tristan into bed and gently eased out of him. After cleaning both of them up, he joined him in bed, turning him until they could hold each other. They didn't talk, just shared long kisses. The pleasure that had rushed over them in a tidal wave of sensation, had swept away any residual unease left in them. They were both satiated and warm in Tristan’s bed. Damon couldn’t seem to keep his hands off him.

“I never recorded us?” Damon said softly, breaking the silence.

“Why did you say you did?” Tristan asked after a long silence during which Damon thought he hadn’t heard him.

“I never said that. You chose to believe that. I said I had on record that you enjoyed it.”

“Same shit. What other lies have you told me?”

Damon groaned and rolled to lie on his back, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Damon?”

“Maya…is my cousin. She’s Maya Reid.”

“What the fuck Damon! Why did you feed me all that bullshit about marriage?”

“I didn’t want to have any problems with your folks. Put yourself in my shoes for a second Tris. Your dad trusted me to mentor you. I’m sure the last thing he expected was for me to fuck his son. And do you have any idea the difficulties you’re going to face being gay? I just wanted to spare you all that Tris.”

“So you decided to steer my life in the direction you thought it should be?” Tristan exploded getting out of bed.

“I’m sorry baby. I just…I didn’t want to create any problems for you. I wanted the best for you.” Damon moved to sit at the edge of the bed.

“Bullshit! You were thinking about yourself. You placed your relationship with my dad above ours. Do I mean so little to you?” His eyes flashed, a dark mix of anger and hurt.

Damon took a shuddering breath and let it out slowly. “Tris if I remember correctly, you were also worried about what your father would think. You were not ready for this.”

Tristan started shaking his head before Damon stopped speaking. His fists were clenched at his sides. He was so angry at Damon he was shaking.

“I don’t care what he thinks Damon. I only asked you whether you think he would accept me being gay. There’s a difference you asshole.” He thundered. “It would have been nice if you had fought for me no matter what my father or anyone for that matter thought. Do you have any idea what I’ve been through this past week?” He asked in a whisper.

“Adriana gave me a picture. I’m so sorry.” Damon got off the bed and walked towards an angry Tristan whose eyes were bright with unshed tears.

“Goddamn right, you’re sorry. Next time fucking tell me what’s going on in that head of yours before you decide for me how my life should be.” He raked his fingers through his hair, his voice now quiet but rough with fury.

“I’m so sorry Tris,” Damon whispered. “God, so sorry.”

Tristan looked around the room for a moment, obviously trying to rein in his emotions. He hated how easily the man pulled emotion from him. He turned to Damon and gave a quick nod. When tears welled up in his eyes and started to flow down his cheeks, Damon reached for him, pulling him close and holding on.

“I fucking hate you right now,” Tristan whispered stepping back from Damon’s embrace. He furiously wiped at his tears. He looked around, his expression panicked. Maybe he should get out of the room until he could gain some control, and Damon wouldn’t have to see him cry again. Was it too much to ask to maintain at least a shred of dignity around Damon? He’d about taken it all away. Tristan contemplated going inside the adjoining bathroom to compose himself. After all, he was buck naked and wouldn’t want to risk shocking his family by going outside his room.

But just as he was about to move, Damon’s voice stopped him.

“Please forgive me.” Damon's voice cracked. “It killed me inside seeing how hurt and angry you were. Knowing I was causing you pain. Give me a chance to make it up to you. To erase whatever damage I caused. I’m nothing without you baby. I ache all the time, I miss you.”

The desperation in his voice took Tristan by surprise. He wanted to touch him but felt rooted to the spot. He stared at Damon’s gorgeous face, saw something swirling in those blue depths he hadn’t dared hope for before today. Love!

“God, I would never have been able to forgive myself if anything had happened to you, Tris. I’d planned on going on that trip with you. We would have used one of my private jets.” Damon swallowed hard. “To think something happening to you could have been prevented…”

Damon’s voice was filled with so much anguish. Tristan couldn’t stand it.

“Shhh…” He cut him off, covering Damon’s mouth with two fingers. “Don’t think about it. Come here.” He drew a shaking Damon into his arms. To think they could have lost each other because of Damon’s stupidity fucking pissed Tristan off! But he knew he had to let go. “Just for the record, I would have hunted you from the grave if I’d died in that crash.” He murmured.

It took Damon a full five seconds to burst into laughter. He wiped at his own eyes as he laughed. Tristan couldn’t help but admire the handsome man in front of him. Damon’s yumminess never failed to make Tristan’s breath catch and his pulse race.

“God, you are sexier than any man has a right to be.” Tristan gasped.

Damon’s fingers clenched around the back of Tristan’s neck, and he dropped his forehead to his.

“You’re nuts you know that? I do love you, Tris.” Damon bent and captured his lips in a sweet kiss, pulling his bottom lip between his own.

“I love you too. I love you too much to ever live without you again Damon.” Tristan’s eyes darkened with emotion. “You sure she’s your cousin? ‘Cause that scene looked…”

“Well…her mother did tell my uncle that she was his. I’m pretty sure he didn’t ask for a DNA test but he…”

“Will you shut up Damon Reid?” Tristan couldn’t control his laughter.

“She had a problem with her fiancé. Caught him cheating on her. She was devastated and decided to come cry on the shoulder of her fav cousin. She is a medical doctor. And she is in Brazil at the moment. And her wedding is in two months.”

“To the dickhead?” Tristan asked.

“To the dickhead. After putting Maya to bed that night, I paid the prick a visit. Let’s just say he’s never going to fuck around again.”

Tristan chuckled. “What did you do? Use him as a punching bag?”

“At least I don’t hit like a girl.” Damon couldn’t help but tease.

“Oh no, you didn’t.” Tristan made a fist and started growling.

“Don’t you dare hit me, Tristan Thomas. You almost broke my fucking jaw with that right hook.” Damon laughed, burying his face in Tristan’s hair. He had almost ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. He’d been such a fucking idiot.