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." Christian's hands slid down his thighs."Ditto." Christian knew Henry wanted that for real.He wasn't going to belabor the point at the moment.Christian chuckled, leaned a little harder."Want a cookie?" He reached for one, holding it up to Christian's lips."Thank you." Christian nibbled, hummed softly.His eyes were drawn down to the spiky black tat on Christian's stomach, and he traced it with hisfingers, finally asking the question he'd had at the back of his mind since he'd seen it the day they'd firstmet."So what's the story behind this?""I.It's not a cool story.It's ugly."He spread his hand over the tattoo."But you needed to mark it?"Christian took his hand, down low, to a long, thin scar beneath the ink."Hide it.""Man, I've been obsessed with your belly for days and I missed this.The tattoo does a good job." Hetraced the scar again, almost not wanting to ask.He had to, though."So what happened?""I left Blake, last March.I ran to Utah.Spent the summer there." Christian's eyes closed.Christian had already left Blake once, but he was somehow still with the man.Oh boy.Henry strokedPage 140 Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlChristian's belly with one hand and arm with the other."You told me about Utah, about runningwhitewater rafting tours."Christian nodded, sighed."I stayed until September.He found me.It was.I had friends that got hurt.Igot hurt.I got.That's.I mean, when I left, I told him he was never fucking me again, and he hasn't.Buthe can hurt me.""Oh, God.Christian." His arms tightened around his lover.What exactly was Christian saying? Henrywas a little scared to ask."I went back to keep him away from my peeps in Utah.Now I'm just trying to get my shit back.""I can't.God." He traced the scar."What did he do to you?""He hit me with the edge of an oar." The words were dull, flat, and Henry wanted to kill something.His fingers curled and he had to work very hard not to squeeze Christian in anger that was all directed atBlake."That.You." He took a breath and still couldn't find the words."My other option was to let him pin me down and fuck me again.I swore after the last time, no onewould ever do that to me again."Henry's anger wasn't going away.At all.He made a noise somewhere in the back of his throat that washalf scream, half whimper.Christian tensed, moved away from him."I'm gonna go.""No, no, it's okay.I'm sorry.I'm just so.fucking angry at that animal." He uncurled his fingers and slidthem on Christian's skin."I'm so sorry you went through that.""Don't be sorry.Don't be.I.I'm trying to fix it."He turned Christian and took a kiss, letting the wonderful taste of his lover help calm him.Christian wastense through most of the kiss, but then he relaxed, melted into Henry."I will never hurt you like that." It was a promise, a vow.Page 141 Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html"I know that.He's mean and he's pissed off, and he hates me.""Why? He's supposed to be there to help you.You're supposed to be a team, I mean, how does heexpect you to win anything like this?" How could anyone want to hurt Christian? Dull that happiness andjoy?"I think that.Shit, man.I think that.I don't think it's about boarding.I think it's about owning."Henry shuddered."That's not right.""No, but that doesn't mean anything, does it?" Christian met his eyes."What's important is that you don'tget hurt, that I get out for real.""Getting out for real sounds really good." He grabbed hold of Christian's hand and held on tight."Andthat you don't get hurt anymore either.That's important, too.""I won't.The next time, he'll kill me.He said so.If I ever left again, he'd kill me."He pulled Christian close."We're not going to let that happen.Do you hear me? You're leaving him, andyou're not dying.""I'm going to get my stuff and go to the bank, empty my accounts, and we'll get a lawyer."Henry nodded, ideas popping in his head; they'd get Christian out.There wasn't any other choice."Wehave a few more days before you're expected for the next games.We'll plan, make it look like you'recoming back to race."Christian's pretty, pretty blue eyes searched his."You're sure? You want to do this with me? You don'thave to.""But I love you, and I want to be with you." There, he'd come right out with it, laid it all on the line.Nomore "I think." He knew for sure, and Christian deserved to know how he felt.Christian grinned, the look suddenly young, hopeful."No one's ever been in love with me before.""Really? I find that hard to believe.You are." He shrugged and shook his head."I don't have thewords."Page 142 Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html"Well, you don't have to.I want you.""I'm all yours." He wrapped his arms around Christian and gave him the softest of kisses."I gotta tell you, man, I'm a little wigged about this whole going to get my shit thing.""Me, too.I'd really like to go to the cops and let them take care of everything for you.I don't supposethat's an option?" He could hope, right? That would be ideal, getting Christian's stuff without riskingChristian's ass."I need to get what money I can, man.Don't you get it? I need to know if I have a cushion to start overhere with you.""I don't need your money, Christian.Just you.""But I need to be able to help you out with shit, yeah? I need to know."He would have taken Christian knowing the man would never be able to give him a penny to help out,but he could understand that the man needed to be able to do for himself.Given how Christian currentlywas beholden to Blake for every little thing, it was hardly surprising that Christian needed to not be in thatposition or one like it again."I get it.I do." He wouldn't force Christian into another relationship where someone else had all thepower.They had to be equal, or at least both able to make their way on their own.He got that, and he'dhonor it."Cool." Christian looked.settled.He tugged Christian toward him and this time his kiss wasn't soft, it was full on; he poured everything hefelt into it.Christian didn't tense, didn't pull away.The man leaned into him and gave it up, fucking his lips.To know what Christian had gone through and how he'd still opened up to him was humbling.Henry slid his fingers through the blond curls
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